Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [189]
Though Basil appeared outwardly calm, he seemed to carry a thunderstorm inside, a simmering frustration that had been building as each small failure added to previous ones. “Don’t lecture me, Peter. Someday, at a time of my choosing, when I give you leave, the two of you might be allowed to have a child. But not now. Estarra will simply have to get rid of the fetus before it becomes public knowledge. I’ll have discreet medical specialists visit her shortly.”
Peter stared, trying to quell the anger and horror rising inside him. The Chairman could easily have taken Estarra and forced her to undergo an abortion without any warning at all—instead, he preferred to twist the knife and make absolutely sure the King and Queen knew what he intended to do.
Basil gave Peter a withering look and glanced meaningfully at the pasty-faced, drugged Prince Daniel. “And please don’t insult my abilities by imagining that you could stop me.”
Chapter 94—DOBRO DESIGNATE UDRU’H
Knowing there would be much more difficult conquests in the Horizon Cluster, Rusa’h had dispatched Prime Designate Thor’h with most of the maniple to absorb another Ildiran world into his ever-expanding web.
Meanwhile, one fully armed warliner would be sufficient to crush the small Dobro colony, if Designate Udru’h refused to cooperate. The giant battleship’s weapons could lay waste to the centuries-old settlement and the breeding compound.
Though Udru’h coyly continued to avoid giving a direct answer, Imperator Rusa’h showed little concern when he dispatched the single warliner to Dobro. Apparently he thought the Dobro Designate had no real options. Udru’h had always been practical, and he certainly would not allow Dobro to be destroyed.
The warliner carried a full cargo load of shiing to distribute to the Ildiran population on Dobro. If Udru’h himself did not force the conversion, then he would be slain, and the question would be put to the more malleable Designate-in-waiting Daro’h. If young Daro’h also refused, then he too was expendable. Giving Udru’h any choice in the matter was obviously a mere formality.
Ruling his new thism network from the citadel palace, he sent the Dobro Designate back home on the former flagship, with Zan’nh himself still prisoner aboard.
On the voyage to Dobro, the Designate was allowed his freedom aboard the warliner, but it was merely a larger prison. With the Solar Navy crew loyal to Rusa’h, the self-proclaimed Imperator had no worries about what one Designate could do. Once they reached Dobro, none of them doubted that Udru’h would shift his loyalties. Rusa’h claimed to understand his brother all too clearly.
Udru’h strolled down the warliner’s corridors toward the sealed private cabins where the Adar was held captive. Rusa’h had said, “Perhaps on their journey, even the Adar may see the light of reason.” Apparently, forcing him to watch the surrender and conversion of Dobro would be another blow to his resolve.
Udru’h knew he did not have much time.
The Dobro Designate’s expression remained bland as he approached the two husky guard kithmen stationed outside the door with crystal katanas and bristling armor. Unlike Udru’h, the Adar adamantly and vociferously refused to cooperate, and the guards kept him locked up.
The two guards snapped to attention at the Designate’s approach. Facing them, Udru’h used his much-practiced mental skills to mask any stray thoughts, just as a precaution, though these guard kithmen would never have had the prowess to unravel the thism connections in his mind. In turn, the converted soldiers were a blank to him, bound together in Rusa’h’s secondary mental network. The Dobro Designate considered that an advantage. They were weaker than he.
He gave them a thin smile. “Your Imperator has instructed me to speak with Zan’nh whenever possible. My brother believes I can wear down the Adar’s resistance