The Best Laid Dinner Plans #3
Lady d’Lyre laughed her crystal-bell laugh again.
I wanted to grab her by the neck and squeeze.
However, her derision was not directed at me, but towards Prince Aureli.
“You can’t stand to see a former province eclipse your glory.
It’s not the twenty-three-hundreds anymore, it’s the twenty-fifth century.
Stand aside with grace before we force you aside.
Your time has come and gone. Now it is the Federation’s golden age. ”
It was a play for sympathy, hoping to strike a chord with the ‘might makes right’ mentality of the Imperial lords, but her mocking words played straight into Lynwyzc’s hands. He turned to the watching demons and began a thunderous tirade.
“Do you see how she speaks to me, her ally until today? Surely you see how the Federation will treat their allies of tomorrow. Lady d’Lyre talks of peace, prosperity, and a golden age she thinks she has earned, but her real aim is power, pure and simple.
Not only power over her erstwhile allies, but over the Empire as well.
If you allow the Federation to become the unchallenged hegemon in this quadrant, who do you think they will come after next?
Not the docile, subjugated relic of a Commonwealth, nor the disunited League states, but you, the only true challenger left.
If, on the other hand, you ensure the Commonwealth’s power in the region, we will keep the Federation’s grasping aspirations in check, and act as a natural counterweight to Federation expansion.
The balance of power will be maintained, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your conquest unmolested.
I implore you, not for our sakes, but for your own, do not allow the Federation to partition the Commonwealth. ”
Lady d’Lyre opened her mouth to respond, but the Emperor stood, silencing her counterargument.
“You both have spoken, and I have listened. Lady d’Lyre, although my Empire owes you much, you ask for that which is not in my power to give.
As the Duke of Lynwyzc says, the Empire cannot give Commonwealth worlds to the Federation.
If you wish to seize those star systems by right of conquest, that is your prerogative. ”
So it would be war. Astrid would not support the Federation takeover, but nor would she oppose it.
With the bulk of Commonwealth soldiers already on the front lines, and plentiful Federation armies no doubt already on their way to the border systems, it would be a race to see if the Commonwealth could hold off the Federation long enough to negotiate a settlement. Things were bleak, but not hopeless.
Then the Emperor spoke again, and my heart leapt.
“However,” the Emperor began, “it is our preference that the Commonwealth retain their colonies. It would be a cowardly and dishonorable trick, to force a friend to fight for you, to offer to police their colonies so they may send more soldiers to die in your stead, then reward their bloody sacrifice with a greedy grab at their profitable star systems. Especially when the bravery of Commonwealth soldiers saved your nation from domination, it seems unjust to punish them for their largesse. No, the Federation shall honor their agreement and return the colonies to the Commonwealth, in honor of their valiant stand against Imperial forces and to preserve the balance of power in the region. We shall take it as a sign of trust, for if the Federation cannot be trusted to keep their past agreements, the Empire cannot expect them to remain true to any agreements we may make in the future.”
I was stunned, unsure of what I’d actually heard, but once my brain parsed the Emperor’s formal language, I nearly cheered with delight. She’d seen reason! Someone had talked sense into her. I knew not who, but I would have kissed them if I knew.
Lady d’Lyre did not look pleased. “It is unfortunate to hear you take such an ungrateful position in this matter, Emperor. Are you certain your Empire agrees with you?”
Immediately, Astrid’s eyes flashed with anger. “I am the Empire. When I speak, it is the Empire’s words which are heard. My wish is the Empire’s command.”
My heart swelled to hear this, but a note of worry wormed into my brain as Prince Selnikov stood.
“My Emperor, I must speak. You have not consulted your court on this matter, and as its leading member, I believe I speak for all of us in saying we cannot support your actions here,” the massive demon said.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed into slits as Prince Selnikov continued.
“The Empire has no historical quarrel with the Federation. The Commonwealth, however, is our most ancient and dreadful enemy. While we applaud your dissolution of the hated Urgan Despotate, we refuse to accept your restoration of an intractable foe, especially for so mean a reason as the balance of power. The Empire is all the balance the Federation needs. Your choice to keep the Commonwealth in arms when you have the chance to destroy them forever shows remarkably poor judgment, as has your choice to halt the advance to hold this jubilee, as has your choice to conceal the New Melbourne Fall event from your court and advisors.”
“You dare contradict me in public?” the Emperor hissed. “You are lucky I let you live. Be seated now, and I shall consider letting you keep your head once I turn my attention to you.”
“I will not sit, Emperor. One misstep might be excused for your youthful inexperience, but three such grave errors in so little time implies a vast inadequacy for the post you hold,” Prince Selnikov shouted.
“Guards, seize him!” the Emperor commanded. Ankhelina’s blade was bare in a flash, and several guards turned their swordstaffs on Selnikov, but many demon lords stood, baring their blades in defense of the demon prince.
Ankhelina grinned, ready for the coming fight. “So, you choose treason and death.”
“Treason is a matter of victory and defeat,” Prince Selnikov said.
I caught Count Zukov’s eye. He had come to stand beside Ankhelina, blade bare, almost between the prince and the Champion, his sword pointed vaguely towards Selnikov’s chest. I nodded to him, and his face took on a grim countenance.
He pulled his lancer from its holster and aimed it, but not towards Selnikov.
Before I could shout a warning, Count Zukov pointed his lancer at Ankhelina’s head and pulled the trigger.
“No!” I screamed, drawing my broadsword and rushing forwards, but the deed was done. Several guards turned on the others with such alacrity, it must have been planned. The demon lords united behind their prince and charged, with only me in their way.
“Astrid, get out of here,” I shouted, wishing I’d worn my lancer, but reduced to relying on my blade. A demon guard came on, thrusting his swordstaff at me, but I parried the blow, slid in close, and drove my blade through his chest.
That was the last attack I made, for a pair of burly demons bore me to the ground.
I drew my dirk and drove it through the forearm of one, but then my wrist was pinned to the ground.
Astrid struggled against her attackers, all of them bleeding, at least two corpses lying before her, but she was beset by too many.
I watched as her limbs were arrested and bound, and she was carried away, screaming to shake the ceiling.
As her cries faded down the corridors, a deathly silence befell the hall. My battle-rage cooled, and despair began to take hold. My vision faded to grey, and I fell still, waiting for the killing blow.
As I wallowed in my uselessness, I heard footsteps approaching me. With great effort, I forced myself to focus my eyes, and saw the white-haired Count Zukov standing above me.
“Count Zukov,” I croaked, my throat surprisingly dry. “You betrayed us.”
The count knelt beside me, looking deep into my eyes. “You played the game well for a newcomer, but take the advice of an old player: when you discover an enemy is planning to move against you, you don’t give him a chance to correct his mistake. You kill him.”
I laughed without mirth. “I told you before, and I’ll tell you now – I am ready to die. Kill me and be done with it or bring me a drink so I may dull the inanity of your treacherous words.”
Count Zukov smiled. “I would have you dead, but the decision is not mine.” To the demon lords who held my arms and knelt on my chest, he ordered, “Take him away, and keep him alive. His worth alive is greater than any threat he might pose.”