Kahless - Michael Jan Friedman [41]
“He does good work here?” asked the clone.
Kurn nodded. “Fine work. He turns out warriors of the highest caliber.”
“Good,” Kahless remarked.
Then, taking Kurn’s arm, he led him toward the cul-desac. Nor did he wait until they reached it and took their seats to tell the governor why they had come. He began as soon as they were out of the headmaster’s earshot.
As Picard watched, Worf’s brother listened to Kahless’s suspicions. It took a while, but Kurn didn’t comment until he was certain the emperor had told him all he wished to tell.
“These are grave accusations,” he said at last. “Had they come from someone else, I would have dismissed them out of hand. But from emperor Kahless, the Arbiter of Succession, and my own brother …” Kurn scowled.
“I will conduct an investigation through my contacts in the Defense Force. Then we will speak of a next step, if one is required of us.”
Kahless nodded. “Thank you, son of Mogh. Worf told me you would not fail us.”
Kurn flashed a smile at his brother. “Yes, he would say that.” With that, he rose. “Unfortunately, I must complete my review of the Academy. But if you can linger a while, we’ll eat together. I know of a feasting hall in town where the heart of targ is worth dying for.”
“Done,” replied Kahless, obviously cheered by the prospect. “We’ll meet back here just before dusk.”
“Before dusk,” Kurn agreed. He acknowledged Picard, then Worf. “I will see you later, Brother.”
“Yes, later,” the lieutenant repeated.
He watched his brother leave them with a vaguely uncomfortable expression on his face-one which didn’t escape the captain’s notice. What’s more, Picard thought he knew the reason for it.
“He was holding something back,” he said to Worf.
“Wasn’t he?”
The lieutenant was still watching his brother withdraw.
“Or covering something up,” he confirmed, with obvious reluctance. “But what?”
Kahless looked at them. “What are you saying?” he asked.
Worf drew a deep breath, then let it out. “I am saying,” he explained, “that my brother lied to us when he said he would help. There is something preventing him from doing so-though I cannot imagine what it would be.”
The clone eyed him. “You’re sure of this?”
The lieutenant nodded. “Regretfully, I am sure of it.
And I intend to confront him with it when the opportunity presents itself.”
“Dinner would be such an opportunity,” the captain suggested.
Kahless made a sound of disgust. “Why wait for dinner? Let us pin him down now, while his lie is still fresh on his lips. Who knows? Maybe he’s part of the damned conspiracy.”
Worf grabbed him by his arm. Instinctively, Kahless spun around, ready for anything.
“My brother is not a traitor,” the lieutenant snarled.
The emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Then let him prove it.”
And without waiting to see if his companions would follow, the clone took off after Kurn with that swaggering, ground-eating pace by which he’d become known.
Worf made a noise deep in his throat and followed.
Picard did his best to keep up, though it wasn’t easy.
Klingons were damned quick when they wanted to be.
But just as Kahless caught up with his prey, Kurn was swarmed by a group of young admirers-warriors-intraining, wearing the black-and-crimson colors of their academy. The governor had barely expressed his surpr’ ise before he was assailed with questions-mostly about his encounters with the Romulans following Gowron’s succession.
Kurn would likely have answered them, too, had Kahless not shooed the youngsters away like a gaggle of young geese. When the emperor wanted something, he tolerated no delays.
Worf’s brother looked at Kahless, no doubt trying to conceal his displeasure at the students’ dismissal-but falling short. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
Worf answered for the emperor. “You know there is, Brother. You lied to us when you said you would investigate Kahless’s concerns. And I want to know why.”
“Yes,” the clone added. “Unless you’re a conspirator yourself. Then you may want to go on lying.”
Kurn bared his teeth. For a moment, he glared at Kahless