Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [77]
As she listened to the story, it occurred to Sarein that the subtle Cain had never really changed the subject. He was still talking about Basil. She felt a cold shiver down her spine, as if someone was watching her. She turned, instantly feeling guilty when she saw the Chairman standing in the doorway, a frown deeply etched on his face. She wondered how long he had been watching them. She quailed as she tried to remember: Had the two of them said anything dangerous or incriminating?
'I asked Captain McCammon to find you two. He said he didn't know where you were.' Basil made a disgusted noise. 'I grow less and less impressed with that man's competence every day.' He looked at the portraits, scowling at each of the Kings in turn. 'What are you doing here? Why are you two talking together?'
Sarein felt as if they were caught. The suspicious Chairman would assume they were scheming against him, plotting a coup. She held her breath to keep from blurting lame-sounding excuses.
Cain, though, remained cool and unruffled. Apparently, he had known the Chairman was listening, which was why he had switched his conversation so smoothly. 'We were discussing the past Kings and possible future ones, and I told Sarein of my private Velasquez collection.'
'And that is all you talked about? Are you certain?' Basil's tone held an edge of accusation.
'Mr Chairman, you are the leader of the Terran Hanseatic League. Surely you have better things to do than to micromanage two of your remaining loyal advisers?' Basil continued to wrestle with obvious doubts, but Cain had chosen one of the few topics the Chairman could never ignore. The deputy continued to look at him patiently. 'Was there something you needed from us, sir?'
'I just wanted to know where you were.'
'Would you like me to join you for dinner tonight, Basil?' Sarein said, a brief hope rising within her. Perhaps a last chance…
'No. I've got work to do.'
Forty-five
Mage-Imperator Jora'h
Adar Zan'nh's flagship returned from its unnerving victory at Maratha. Yazra'h was ecstatic. Her skin flushed, her eyes bright, she couldn't stop talking about their exploits.
With Nira beside him, along with Osira'h and her siblings, Jora'h listened to Rememberer Vao'sh tell the exciting story. Anton Colicos frequently interrupted the tale, adding details and breathless comments. It was obvious that both men had been terrified at the time, but now they could barely contain their exhilaration.
Among the audience members close to the skysphere dais, Ko'sh, chief scribe of the rememberer kith, diligently took notes to add to the full written reports Anton and Vao'sh would provide. The stern and dedicated scribe was already shaping precisely how these events would be incorporated into the official version of the Saga of Seven Suns.
The Solar Navy septa had strengthened the Empire by reclaiming the lost Ildiran world from the black robots. The Adar had left the other six warliners at Maratha along with work crews to re-establish the splinter colony there. And they had also discovered that the Klikiss were still alive.
Though the story was engaging, Jora'h found himself preoccupied with unsettling questions. Adar Zan'nh had acquitted himself well, but the encounter had resolved one question only to pose a greater one. The Klikiss - after ten thousand years! What did it mean? As Mage-Imperator, how should he deal with this new invasion? Was it even relevant to the Ildiran Empire? Was the insect race a threat to them? What if the Klikiss found out about the secret pact an ancient Mage-Imperator had made with the black robots, helping them to vanish into hibernation for thousands of years? Yes, the danger could be considerable.
Prime Designate Daro'h also attended the telling of the story. From now on, Jora'h wanted the young man at his side during all important meetings. The Prime Designate still suffered from his severe burn as ragged ribbons of skin peeled from his face, though the best medical kithmen