Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [114]
The seven warliners settled into orbit. From a great height, Jora’h studied the soft-edged continents, the large lakes and oceans, the mottled greens and browns. Dobro looked attractive, but…empty, a place where one could not help but feel isolated. Nira must have felt so alone.
He clenched his teeth to keep his emotions from showing. He was Mage-Imperator now and weary of such misery. For years he had been unaware of the situation. Now perhaps he could make a difference, somehow.
He saw the streak of burners as a shuttle rose up to intercept the warliners. He walked toward the exit of the command nucleus to go meet his brother.
“Do you desire an escort, Liege?” Without waiting for an answer, Rhe’nh lifted his hand, and a group of Solar Navy soldiers snapped to attention, ready to assist their leader.
“No. Certain things are better done in private.”
As he walked along the corridors, attender kithmen applied clear sealant to the deck where the Mage-Imperator’s feet had touched, as if he had somehow consecrated the metal. Jora’h did not desire such fanatical reverence, but he could not turn the Ildirans from their attitude.
By the time he reached the docking bay, the shuttle was settling onto the cool metal plates. The shuttle hatch opened, and two figures waited formally inside. Udru’h stood paternally next to the Designate-in-waiting, as if he had legitimately taken over the role of Daro’h‘s father. Jora’h felt a twinge of resentment because his brother’s mind-set was so different from his own. You stole my daughter from me, and now you intend to take my son as well?
The young Designate-in-waiting stepped forward and bowed. Showing no emotion, Udru’h did the same. “Liege, we are prepared to show you the strategic and vital project that will protect us from the hydrogues.”
“I am already aware of it,” Jora’h said coldly.
“A personal encounter will no doubt result in a greater understanding.”
As the three entered the shuttle and settled aboard, Jora’h turned to his young son. “And what do you think of this work, Daro’h? It will be your responsibility soon. I’m afraid I did not properly prepare you for it.”
“I am learning to the best of my abilities. It is very interesting.”
“He is truly gifted, Liege,” Udru’h added. “I have found him to be a diligent and faithful student in the short time he has been here.”
More than anything, Jora’h wished he had not been forced to send his son into such a situation. “But what do you think of it, Daro’h? What is your judgment of the project itself? What are its merits? Should it continue, despite all of the drawbacks?”
“Of course he believes it should continue,” Udru’h said, but the Mage-Imperator continued to search the young man’s face, waiting for an answer.
“I still have too much to learn, Father. It would be inappropriate for me to offer an opinion as of yet.”
As they rode down to the planet, buffeted by a few stray currents in the fringes of the atmosphere, Jora’h sat in uncomfortable silence. He could sense hope and uneasiness through the thism. Udru’h‘s thoughts seemed to be tangled in intentional knots, twisted and sheltered so that even the Mage-Imperator had difficulty following the threads to their true answers.
Finally, he turned to the silent Designate. Was he hiding something? “You know I find the basis of the current breeding program to be abhorrent, Udru’h.”
“It is my hope that you keep an open mind and think of our Empire’s future. The benefits to our Empire are incalculable, if we achieve our aims. Remember, you are a Mage-Imperator—no longer merely a man entitled to opinions. That right was cut away from you along with many things, when you ascended and took the thism to yourself.”
“By the same token,” Jora’h said, keeping his anger in check, “I became your Mage-Imperator—and you must obey my commands.