Dwarven Ruby (38 page)

“Not exactly,” smiled Stafa Rakech. “You and your family will be allowed to remain on the estate. My mercenaries will continue to provide protection for you and your family.”

“Oh, thank you,” sighed Duke Tredor. “I will find a way to repay you quickly. I promise you will be satisfied.”

“The cost for your protection and use of the estate,” continued Stafa Rakech, “is to represent my wishes in the Council. Is that agreeable?”

“I will vote as you wish,” Duke Tredor nodded vigorously. “Just tell me how you want me to vote.”

“I can not be bothered with such trivial things,” scowled Stafa Rakech. “You will vote as the Sordoans do. In fact, just in case they don’t vote the same, you will always vote the same way as Lord Clava. No matter what the subject of the vote, you will vote identically. Is that understood?”

“Duke Everich and Duke Graves are not going to like this,” fretted Duke Tredor.

“You do not seem to understand your position very well,” sighed the voice beyond the silkscreen window. “This is not a request. The first time that you break this agreement, your estate is forfeit. Your family is forfeit. Your life is forfeit. Make no mistakes about this. My offer to you is generous considering the plight that you find yourself in. Cross me, and you shall find my revenge swift and painful. Do we have an agreement?”

“I will not fail you,” promised the councilor. “If I do as you request, will I get my estate back?”

“You will live free and protected as long as I remain in Tagaret and you follow my orders,” declared Stafa Rakech. “If you can raise the funds to repay your debt, I will allow you to do so. However, if you even think of raising the money by betraying me, you will die instead. Do not even joke about betraying me, because if you even voice those thoughts, you will die.”

“I will not betray you,” vowed Duke Tredor.

“Very well,” sighed Stafa Rakech. “You will also not reveal this arrangement to anyone. You will be returned to your own carriage. If you suggest that you met me today, I will deny it. Leave.”

The light behind the silkscreen window blinked out. Duke Tredor rose unsteadily and glanced back at the guards. They stood there stonily staring at him. He walked across the floor and left the room. Stafa Rakech peered through the silkscreen window and watched the councilor leave.

“He is scared enough,” frowned Konic Clava as he stood behind Oscar watching Duke Tredor leave. “Still we are risking a great deal on whether he actually votes as he should. Is there any reason to trust that he will follow through?”

“I do not know,” replied Oscar as he opened the door to the plush sitting room. “His word means absolutely nothing, but his fear is genuine. If he does vote as I told him to, we have five Council votes.”

“But only four if he thinks that Duke Everich will protect him,” frowned Konic. “This could go wrong for us.”

“Then one of the other councilors will have to miss the meeting,” shrugged Oscar. “The vote will be either five to three, or four to four. In either case, Duke Everich will not get his way.”

“How can you stop a councilor from attending the meeting?” questioned Konic.

“I think the mercenaries protecting Duke Graves have just received a very serious death threat,” grinned Oscar. “To properly protect the duke, they will keep him inside his mansion all day today. A pity that he will not be able to attend this crucial vote.”

“You had this all planned,” Konic said in surprise. “You are the most devious man that I have ever met.”

“Thank you,” grinned Oscar Dalek.

* * *

“Is the carriage ready?” Duke Graves asked his mercenary captain.

“The carriage is ready,” reported the mercenary, “but you will not be using it.”

“What?” scowled Duke Graves. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“We have received a serious threat on your live this morning,” declared the mercenary. “It is not safe for you to venture out today.”

“I am only going to the Royal Palace,” frowned Duke Graves. “Surely your men will not have any problem getting me there.”

“We cannot take that risk, Sir,” the mercenary shook his head. “I have men out now trying to assess the risk and eliminate it if possible.”

“Eliminate it?” echoed Duke Graves. “I thought that you did not act in that manner?”

“This is an extreme threat, Sir,” sighed the mercenary. “The information that we have indicates a rather large attack force. We believe that they mean to kill you directly after the Council session today.”

“After the session?” frowned Duke Graves. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they wait until after I had voted?”

“Perhaps they want you to vote as you intend,” shrugged the mercenary. “Afterwards, you would not be needed.”

“Everich,” scowled Duke Graves. “I never should have trusted him. I must get to the Council Chamber.”

“Out of the question, Sir,” the mercenary shook his head. “Even more so if you have thoughts that it might be Duke Everich. He has control of six thousand men and any one of them could be the assassin. Not to mention that every one of them would have access to the Royal Palace.”

“But what good is your protection if you cannot guarantee my safety,” scowled Duke Graves. “I am a councilor. That means that I attend Council meetings. Must I go without you?”

“That is not an option, Sir,” stated the mercenary. “Our job is to protect your life. We intend on doing our task successfully.”

“Then I shall fire the lot of you,” threatened Duke Graves.

“That is your option,” sighed the mercenary. “We don’t like to lose customers in that fashion, but it is preferable to losing them to an assassin. If you no longer desire our services, I shall inform the men to pack up immediately. We will be gone by nightfall.”

“Nightfall?” echoed Duke Graves. “Why would it take you so long?”

“We have already been paid for today, Sir,” smiled the mercenary. “That means that we will not allow you to die until nightfall. Either way, you are not attending that Council meeting. Should I inform the men?”

Duke Graves stared at the mercenary for a long time and finally shook his head in defeat.

“No,” Duke Graves sighed in defeat. “Carry on.”

Duke Everich stood at the head of the table in the Council Chamber. He stared at the empty seat where Duke Graves should be seated and frowned. He had delayed the meeting for a half hour waiting for his new partner to arrive, but the other councilors were now growing restless.

“Very well,” scowled Duke Everich. “It appears that Duke Graves will not be with us today. We shall have one quick vote and then I will reschedule another meeting for tomorrow.”

“One vote?” questioned Lord Clava. “It would seem prudent to address the many issues facing this council. The people of Tagaret depend upon this council to lead the nation. The absence of Duke Graves does not justify any postponement.”

“I will decide the agenda of the Council,” spat Duke Everich. “Need I remind the new councilors that I am head of this council?”

“I am aware of you status,” Konic shot back. “As head of the council, you do lead the meetings, but you are not privileged to control dissent and eliminate open discussion. In fact, I have a motion to present after we vote on the one you are presenting.”

“Your support is nonexistent,” snarled Duke Everich. “Why waste our time with your silly motions. Your last motions have caused more trouble than they are worth.” Duke Everich continued after a short pause, “The motion before us today is to eliminate the monarchy completely. After the spectacle of the figurative queen telling this council what we should discuss in our meetings, it has become obvious that her presence here is counterproductive. I make the motion that this Council eliminate all references in law to the monarchy and abolish it.”

“I second the motion,” Duke Jiardin said quickly.

“Very well,” smiled Duke Everich, “everyone in favor of the motion raise your hand.”

Count Melorn’s hand rose to join with Duke Everich’s and Duke Jiardin’s. Duke Everich waited for the rest of the hands to be raised. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Fredrik. Fredrik stared back at him. Duke Everich snarled audibly as he turned his gaze to Duke Zalski, who returned his gaze coldly. As his rage grew, Duke Everich focused on Duke Tredor, who was staring at the table in front of him. Everich could see perspiration forming on Tredor’s brow and lashed out at him.

“Well, Tredor?” snapped Duke Everich. “Are you going to raise your hand or not? Do not be a fool by aligning yourself with other fools. I will not wait forever.”

Duke Tredor’s hands began shaking, and he shoved them under the table.

Duke Everich snarled as he turned towards the door, “This meeting is adjourned.”

“I think not,” protested Konic as he leaped to his feet. “I have a motion to be presented to the Council.”

Duke Everich whirled and glared at Konic. Duke Everich was breathing heavy as rage ripped through his body.

“You have caused your last problem,” spat Duke Everich. “I may not be able to assassinate you in front of your mercenary guards, but they are not here now. Seize him,” he shouted to the two Targa soldiers near the door.

Gasps ran through the assembled councilors as they watched the most sacred taboo of the Council being abandoned. Even during the height of the Contest of Power, nobody had been as bold as to attack a councilor in the Council Chamber. The ramifications were unthinkable.

Fredrik’s chair fell to the floor as he leaped to his feet. His move was so swift and natural that most of the councilors failed to detect the knife that slid out of Fredrik’s sleeve. Fredrik hurled the knife at the door next to Duke Everich. It loudly dug into the door and reverberated.

“Call them off or you die before Lord Clava does,” Fredrik said coldly as another knife slid into his waiting hand.

“You traitor,” snarled Duke Everich as he glared at Fredrik.

The two Targa soldiers halted uncertainly as they looked to Duke Everich for guidance. He begrudgingly waved them back to their posts as he reached for the door.

“I am not done with my motion,” Konic declared stubbornly. “Shall we vote without you?”

Duke Everich hesitated with his hand on the door.

“I make the motion to disband this council,” Konic stated steadily. “Control of the government will rest with the Crown as embodied by Queen Marta. If she deems the need for a council, she shall have the ability to create one.”

“I second the motion,” Lord Markel declared without rising.

“I have already adjourned this meeting,” retorted Duke Everich. “Your motion is out of order.”

“All those favoring the amendment, rise to your feet,” smiled Konic.

Alan immediately rose. Duke Zalski promptly followed. Duke Tredor glanced from Duke Everich to Lord Clava. Slowly he rose to his feet. Konic looked at the two seated councilors. Duke Jiardin glared at him with venom in his eyes, but Count Melorn’s brow was creased with indecision.

“Let it be shown that the motion passed with six votes for it and two against it,” declared Konic.

“You are out of order,” shouted Duke Everich. “How dare you include me as a vote in your counting of this illegal motion? You shall rue the day you crossed my path Sordoan. This Council will meet tomorrow morning to discuss your arrest for treason.”

Duke Everich swung the door open and suddenly backed up when he saw the Red Swords blocking his exit. Six Red Swords entered the room and flanked the Targa soldiers. Queen Marta followed in their footsteps.

“Please sit, councilors,” Queen Marta requested softly. “I have some follow-up information regarding the requests I made of you earlier.”

“I was just leaving,” snapped Duke Everich as he tried to push past the Red Swords.

“I think your presence here is mandatory,” stated the queen as one of the Red Swords pushed the duke towards his chair.

“I asked this Council for an accounting,” Queen Marta began as the councilors took their seats. “I have not received it. As this city is in dire financial straits, I visited the clerks myself last night. What I found is most distressing. More than distressing, it is treason.”

Duke Everich tried to rise, but a Red Sword stood behind him and placed his hand on the duke’s shoulder to keep him seated.

“The money raised from the citizens of this fine city,” frowned Queen Marta, “are being sent to the Dark One.”

Gasps of surprise emanated from the councilors.

“Instead of feeding our people,” Queen Marta continued, “we are equipping the Black Devils and Dark Riders who are directing our enemies to our walls. Councilors, you are supporting the enemy. This is treason. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

“Your Highness,” Konic bowed as he rose, “many of us have not been privy to where the funds have been going. As to your charge of treason, I agree with your determination. I would like to report that this Council just voted to disband itself and turn the government over to the Crown. It is now your responsibility to dispense justice on your charge of treason.”

“I am pleased to see that the majority of councilors care enough about this city to forego their positions,” nodded the queen. “Was it a vote of the majority?”

“It was,” nodded Konic.

“The vote was quick,” interjected Count Melorn. “In fact, I had not managed to get to my feet to show my support before the count was taken. I would like the record to correctly record my vote.”

Konic nodded to Count Melorn as he addressed the queen, “There was only one dissenting vote.”

“That is commendable,” nodded Queen Marta. “Who had knowledge of the accounting for the government?”

All eyes turned to Duke Everich who was being forced to remain in his seat.

“Remove him,” Queen Marta ordered as two Red Swords seized Duke Everich. “Councilors, I will have need of advisors to effectively run the country. I invite each of you to submit your desire to participate.”

Queen Marta turned and left the room.

* * *

Alex tussled the hair of Darin and Daevo as the ship docked at Miram. The ten-year-old twins grinned at Alex.

“Don’t forget to say hello to Sergeant Matt Soligan when you arrive in Tice,” smiled Alex. “I think your Uncle Sydar and him will get along splendidly.”