Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [92]
“So you say.” Udru’h remained coolly skeptical, but not confrontational. “Are you aware that one of the seven suns is in peril? Durris-B has become a battleground for the hydrogues and faeros and is sure to be smothered soon.”
Thor’h obviously did not know, but he covered his surprise quickly with a haughty expression. “More evidence that the Lightsource has turned against my father. He must step down. Imperator Rusa’h can bring all Ildirans back to the proper path.”
Designate-in-waiting Daro’h—Thor’h’s brother—stood nearby in the colony’s communications chamber, striving to mask his anxiety. He observed the interaction without interrupting, learning from the Designate. But his star-sapphire eyes flashed from Udru’h, to the image of the warliner, to Thor’h’s mocking face.
From the moment Daro’h came to this planet, saw the breeding camps and learned of the hitherto unsuspected long-term mission to save the Ildiran race, he had struggled to understand and to accept. Making matters worse for Udru’h was that the Mage-Imperator had had such an open dispute with him over the Dobro scheme. However, the young Designate-in-waiting, to his credit, had tried his best to absorb details and fulfill his duty.
Unfortunately, the young man had never been prepared for such an unbelievable situation as this. And neither had Udru’h, but if he did not handle it, no one here would survive.
“I can see why Rusa’h believes I might be willing to join his cause. It’s no secret that I disagree with many of Jora’h’s decisions. He breaks with long-established traditions for his own convenience and has a personal grudge against my long-standing work here on Dobro.”
“Merely a symptom of the decay in his Empire.”
“That may be, nephew, but you are not making a very convincing argument for me to join your rebellion. How far has Rusa’h’s movement spread?”
“Hyrillka has been entirely converted, and we have forty-six warliners at our command. The Adar himself is our prisoner. By now, Dzelluria will have joined us, and either the Designate or his successor has accepted the new thism willingly.” Thor’h leaned closer in the imaging field. “The Imperator dispatched me here to see if you would do the same. An alliance would be most beneficial for all of us.”
“An alliance must be voluntary.” Udru’h did not allow himself to be intimidated. “Will Imperator Rusa’h force me if I refuse?”
“Because of your bloodline, Uncle, we cannot force you—not with all the shiing on Hyrillka.” Thor’h flashed a hungry grin. “But perhaps I can make my case to your satisfaction. We do have much in common.”
Seeing his only legitimate response, aware that even the one warliner could level his settlement and destroy the breeding camps and generations of work, the Dobro Designate nodded. “I will listen if I must. Give me evidence of Jora’h’s crimes and errors, and tell me what Rusa’h will do differently.”
Young Daro’h looked at his mentor in horror. “What are you doing? We cannot surrender—”
Udru’h answered as much for Thor’h’s benefit as for the trainee’s: “One does not make decisions without first gathering all the information.” He turned back to the screen. “First, Prime Designate, I suggest you shut down your weaponry and return to orbit, where you will be less provocative. We all know how much devastation your weapons can cause; there’s no need to further intimidate the people here.”
“Why should I weaken my position?” Thor’h demanded.
Udru’h smiled at him, treating him as a child. “Because once your warliner stands down from its threatening posture, I will be happy to come up there and speak with you face-to-face. Is that not what you want?”
The Prime Designate gave a mean little smile. “Excellent.”
While the warliner withdrew to space and gave Dobro a little breathing room, the Designate-in-waiting continued to protest, as Udru’h had known he would.
“You saw that warliner, Daro’h. We know that Rusa’h has already attempted to assassinate the Mage-Imperator, and he did kill Designate-in-waiting Pery’h. If the Hyrillka Designate has