Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [64]
“By using your common sense,” Zan’nh snapped, but he knew the conversation was useless.
The main spaceport was a bustling complex. Numerous new cargo ships waited with open hatches in the mosaic-tiled landing zones; workers streamed aboard, loading tanks of fresh shiing gas. And now Rusa’h had a maniple of warliners, each ship with a brainwashed crew. Zan’nh felt ill.
I should have ordered the destruction of my own vessels.
After the shuttle landed, guards came forward to escort the captive Adar up the hill to the citadel palace. Thor’h strutted in the lead, his head held high. They took Zan’nh to a private, thick-walled chamber within the citadel, and Thor’h gestured for him to enter. “These quarters were last used by our poor brother Pery’h. He no longer requires them.”
Zan’nh said, “I doubt you did anything to prevent his murder.”
“Prevent it? I encouraged it. It was the only way we could bring you running with a whole maniple of warliners. It was an irresistible lure, a trap—entirely successful. Look at all we have gained.”
“What you have gained? You have lost your soul.”
Rather than leaving Zan’nh alone, Thor’h called for refreshments. After attender kithmen hurried in bearing the food, the former Prime Designate ate some of the sweets. He smiled as if this was a carefree social gathering, but Zan’nh glowered at him, refusing the food.
“Then I will eat. I have also called for shiing. Perhaps you would care to try some? It will increase your understanding.”
“I already understand enough.”
“You are too young to be a stubborn old fossil.” He held up a small vial of the pearlescent, milky liquid, freshly harvested from the plantmoths. He looked at it hungrily, as if he longed to consume it himself, but Rusa’h had forbidden shiing to anyone already converted.
“I will not be corrupted as you have been,” Zan’nh said.
“That depends upon your definition of corrupted.” Thor’h set the vial aside. “Our father is merely perpetuating the mistakes his own father and grandfather made before him. It is time for a change.” The young man clasped his hands together, his expression sincere. “Believe me, Zan’nh. I am doing this for the good of the Ildiran Empire, and so is our uncle Rusa’h. It would be so much better if the Adar of the Solar Navy were to join our cause willingly, rationally—as I did.”
Zan’nh refused to answer. Already his thoughts were directed toward developing a plan to escape, to send a clear warning back to Mijistra.
A guard stepped up to the door. “We have received word from Imperator Rusa’h. The forty-six warliners have been entirely subsumed. Their crews are now properly bound to the new pattern of thism.”
Grinning, Thor’h turned to his brother. “You see, Zan’nh—even if you choose not to cooperate with us, the rightful Imperator will spread his enlightenment across the whole Horizon Cluster. Now that he has your warliners, nothing can stop him.”
Chapter 30—KING PETER
On their swift return journey from Ildira, Peter watched his Queen struggle to maintain her composure despite a severe bout of morning sickness. In their quarters, he tried to comfort her through her nausea, noting the clammy face and hands and the grayish cast to her skin. He hoped that monitoring imagers wouldn’t pick it up. Both of them remained convinced they were being watched at all times.
While relaxing, he and Estarra played games in their quarters, making pleasant but guarded conversation. When she rushed to the sink for another bout of vomiting, she mumbled the lie they had decided upon. “My stomach must still be upset from that Ildiran food. Good thing we only stayed a day.”
Peter patted her forearm. “Yes, I feel a bit queasy myself. I’m sure the Mage-Imperator has the finest chefs, but we have different metabolisms.”
They hoped the excuse was good enough.
He told her to rest in their quarters, then went to the closed door of the Chairman’s cabin. He signaled twice, no doubt interrupting important Hansa work. “Basil, I just wanted to say that we’d love to have breakfast with you, but spaceflight has never agreed