Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [200]
“And what about casualties, Mr. Chairman?”
Basil frowned. “Don’t trouble me with too many details.”
Stromo clasped his hands together as if he could barely contain his excitement. After being utterly defeated at Jupiter, he looked forward to a combat scenario in which he could attack without fear. “I’ll lead the operation myself.”
Chapter 101 — KING PETER
King Peter swore he would never trust Basil Wenceslas again—not that he had trusted the man in the first place. First, the Chairman had allowed the blundering attack at the Roamer depot, and then he’d prevented Peter from meeting with Speaker Peroni when she had come to Earth. As the situation worsened in the Spiral Arm, and the carefully arranged pieces insisted on falling out of order, the Chairman’s frustration caused him to lose his patience…and make mistakes.
Basil, you’re losing your touch.
Peter requested a brief meeting with Basil, and the Chairman grudgingly allowed him fifteen minutes in his schedule. For a moment, he wished Estarra could be with him, just supporting him with her presence, but the King had to face this himself.
Basil folded his hands on the computer desktop, where files and images blinked and jumped, clamoring for his attention. “It’s not usual that you go through proper channels, Peter. In fact, you’ve made quite a habit of simply barging in and assuming that your impulses supersede all Hansa business.”
Peter did not rise to the bait. “I am demonstrating my good behavior—so you don’t try to kill me again. Or Estarra.”
The Chairman dispensed with pleasantries. “I have to attend to another matter in a few minutes. What did you wish to discuss?”
“Prince Daniel. I know you’re hiding him in the Whisper Palace somewhere. I want to talk to him.”
Basil remained cool. “What would be the point?”
Peter raised his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t it give you more publicity mileage if the two of us were seen in public as one big happy family? After all, he’s my dear ‘brother,’ even if I’ve never seen him.”
“Daniel isn’t ready to be seen in public.”
“Will he ever be?”
Ignoring the question, Basil leaned forward. “Tell me the real reason you’re interested in him.”
Peter shrugged, realizing that he would lose nothing by being honest. “You announced his presence just so that I’d be intimidated. I want to see how much of a threat he really is.”
“That boy is just insurance against your…intransigence. At the moment, he is not my first choice to become the King.”
“So I have nothing to worry about?”
Basil gave him a hard look. “That depends on how well you continue to fulfill your duties.”
Peter knew that if Daniel had proved more tractable, he himself would already be dead. Preparing to leave, the King lied unconvincingly. “All right, then, Basil. I’ll take you at your word and not worry any more about it.”
On his private balcony in the royal suite, King Peter had a pleasant dinner with his Queen. Outside, he and Estarra enjoyed the late sunset that spread its colors far out to where the low ocean was barely a haze on the horizon. It was like a painting, very romantic.
The food had been prepared by the Whisper Palace’s most sophisticated chefs. The china was perfect, delicate and pristine. The flower arrangements smelled sweet and fresh. The food looked lovely and colorful on their plates.
Peter said, “OX, you’d better test everything for poison. As usual.”
The Teacher compy applied a chemical analysis probe to detect any toxic substances or drugs that might have been slipped into their food. While they waited, their stomachs growling, Peter peered into Estarra’s large dark eyes. “We know what Basil’s capable of. We can’t be too careful.”
“I know,” she said with a smile and touched his arm.
When OX pronounced every course safe, the King and Queen began to eat. He picked up a toasted cracker with slivers