Victoria's Challenge (53 page)

"Secret?
” Peter frowns not knowing what William's talking about.

"Brett
. You were going to tell her she was going to be a big sister on Mother's Day."

"She knew
...” Peter hadn't considered that.

"Yes
, she...
happened to overhear
.” The two men say together and share an understanding smile.

"You
never could keep anything from that girl.” Peter shakes his head smiling.

"So I
've learned and when Father's day came, she cried for
you
. We all sat together in the garden, she and Cassandra told stories about you. It helped them, then Kayden was born, and Victoria made sure Cassandra got a Mother's Day gift from him, that I did on Father's Day. When the boys got older she'd help them make things."

"The sculpture on your desk
," Peter guesses thinking of the misshapen lump of clay, proudly displayed on the High Admiral's desk.

"Kayden, four cycles old
. He was so proud to have made it with his own two hands. I still don't know what it is but I cherish it."

"I had one on Earth.
” Peter tells him.

"
Word started getting around the palace about these 'special' days and others started to do the same. Now both days are recognized by the House of Knowledge, other Houses are considering it."

"Really?"

"Yes and it is all because of you and Cyndy.” William gives him a serious look. "You were never replaced Peter, not by me, not by anyone, Victoria would never have allowed it, but she blessed me by calling me Uncle."

"And we were blessed that she had you,
you and Cassie.” Peter looks at William with clear eyes. "I couldn't have picked a better man then you, William, not for Victoria and not for Cassie. It would be an honor if you would walk with me to give
our
daughter away to the only man we will ever both agree, is good enough for her.” Peter holds out his hand and William immediately grips it.

"The honor is mine
, Peter, and if Lucas ever does something to upset her,
I
get first crack at him."

"
As long as you leave some for me.” Peter agrees.

“How much longer?” Gad whines.

“If you ask me th
at one more time, you little foabhor, I
will
eject you into the Relinquished Zone, fuck the credits!” Degas doesn’t know how much longer he’s going to be able to put up with this little foabhor. He’s done nothing but whined and complained for the last four days.

“Come on Degas
, it’s been like
forever
, I’m tired of being on this piece of shit, there’s no hot water, the beds suck and I want some
real
food not this crap.” He flings the ready-made packet aside, sounding like the spoiled brat he is, but he is also a dangerous one and Degas doesn’t forget that.

“If you don’t like the food complain to your father
. He’s the one who figured out how to forge orders. He's the one that chose this ship.”

“Right, like
he
figured that out.” Gad sneers.

“What are you talking about?
” Degas gives him a sharp look.

“My father doesn’t have the faintest idea how to forge an order
. He only discovered it because of Oschofield.”

“Oschofield?
”

“Yeah
. Teaching at the Academy doesn’t earn a man as many credits as an Assemblyman, yet Oschofield didn’t suffer, in fact he was doing even better. My father got suspicious and discovered that Oschofield had a Private on the Bering that was forging supply orders then selling them on the black market.”

“He didn’t get caught
? Using the High Admiral’s signature?”

“He didn’t use the High Admiral’s signature
. The Private wasn’t stupid. He knew that would be double checked so he use some other name, one that was common and only take small quantities, that wouldn’t be missed. That changed when my father got involved.” Degas looks at Gad for a moment then turns back to the controls.

“
Thirty more minutes and we’re at Messene. I get my credits then I’m gone. You call daddy to come save your ass, and you both forget about me or I’ll make you pay. I’ll give those codes to the High Admiral then tell your father how I got them, if I even
think
you’re going to double cross me. Do you understand me, Gad?” The eyes Degas turns on Gad, lets him see Degas’ true hatred for him and his father.

“Yes Degas
. Perfectly. I’ll make sure my father understands too. No one will ever bother you again.”

‘
Because you’ll be dead,'
Gad thinks to himself.

“Good, now buckle up and give me the landing coordinates.
” As he does, Degas transmits them to the Coalition forces on the Messene.

Cassandra’s eyes flash as she reads the data William’s obtained from Stannic’s files over the last few days. The man is insane. He truly thinks, with her death, that he will be named the first male ruler of the House of Knowledge.

“I want him
, William... him, Gad, Oschofield, all of them. I will not have this… this
disease
in my House. It goes beyond his threat to me, to Sabah, he threatens all of Carina.”

“
He does,” William agrees. “He was a strong supporter of Audric’s although he did it quietly.”

“Is he
in anyway involved with the latest Regulian attack?” she demands.

“I don’t know yet
, we’re still going through all the data, but secret meetings on Messene are never good.”

“No
. I expect you to keep me informed, High Admiral.” Cassandra looks to her husband and he understands what she is saying. The uninterrupted time, they’ve been able to have since her family’s return and the birth of their daughter is at an end. He needs to return to a more active role in his duties and that means leaving the Palace.

“You will go nowhere without your Guard
,” William orders.

“I will stay inside the Palace
, but I will also return to my duties.”

“Cassandra…”

“William, we didn’t hide from them before and we won’t hide now. I will take no unnecessary chances, not with myself, not with our children.” She puts a comforting hand on his cheek. “And neither will you or your
wife
will be very upset.”

William’s mind is filled with everything that needs done as he heads to his office. Seeing Lucas and Peter, he finds himself smiling, yes this could work.

“Captains
my office.” He orders, missing Peter’s raised eyebrow at the use of his old rank but both follow. “Hamlin, have the Arrow prepped, I will be leaving for Bering shortly and hold all comms unless it’s an emergency,” he orders, walking into his office.

“Yes High Admiral.
” Hamlin immediately turns to his consul.

“Close the door.
” Moving behind his desk, William pulls out the files he wants to take with him. Things are going to happen quickly now and he needs to be prepared. “Sit.” He orders, gesturing to the chairs. Finally satisfied he has what he needs, he sits, seeing two well-trained men awaiting their orders.

“There is a threat,
to the Queen, to all of Carina.”

The High Admiral
selects a transmission and plays it.

“Dad thinks he’s so smart. “He uses the moon cycle name then adds the name of someone he wants dead or who he’s killed. “See, we’re in the moon cycle of Nallag. It’s the cycle the Queen’s first son was born, Kayden. Therefore, the passcode is kaydennallagdeathtothetraitorsdescendents. He thinks the longer it is, the less chance anyone will figure it out.”

“That’s Gad.” Lucas pales at the thought of what he’s hearing. How can his father remain so calm, this is his brother they are talking about, his father’s son!

“Yes
. That's Intel we’ve been able to receive because of you.” William looks at his first-born. “And the cooperation of Degas.”

“Degas
! You trust him?” Lucas demands.

“So far
. He’s given us invaluable information, given us Stannic’s codes. It’s nearly as bad as Audric.”

“He’s been in contact with the Regulians?
” Lucas can’t hide his shock.

“Not that we can find
. It all seems to be within the House of Knowledge, with him terrorizing those he should be protecting.”

“
Who’s Stannic?” Peter asks.

“Assemblyman Rogue Stannic.
” William replies, looking to Peter. "He is a powerful Assemblyman for the House of Knowledge. He's been quietly working against the Queen since her return. He feels she should be removed due to her not being born on Carina and her Union to
me
. That
he
should be named King.”

“I thought only a female could rule the House of Knowledge.
” Peter says.

“
Yes, Stannic thinks he can change that,” William informs him.

“He has that much support?
” Peter demands.

“No
, but he
thinks
he does.”

“
Then he’s crazy.”

“Crazy dangerous
, especially now that the heir has been born,” William informs him.

“He’s los
t his opportunity.” Peter frowns, instantly understanding.

“Yes, so
we have to proceed carefully. The Coalition can’t touch him, he's not a member of the Fleet, not unless we can prove he’s endangered the Coalition, and the Queen can only accuse him of treason if she has proof.”

“And do you?
” Peter demands.

“Working on it
. Lucas discovered his son, Gad, had information he shouldn’t. H
e's
in the Coalition, and we’re working him. His father thinks he’s gotten him out of our reach, so does Gad.”

"That's how you got the transmission.
” Lucas says quietly. “He thinks he's safe."

"Yes, r
ight now he’s thirty minutes from Messene, on the Trier, piloted by Degas. He’s given Degas all his father’s codes in exchange for him helping him ‘escape’, not knowing they’ve been transmitted to me.”

“Degas
is willing to set him up? Knowing it will ruin him?” Lucas asks.

“As long as it d
oesn’t affect his younger siblings in the Academy.”

“And you trust him?
” Peter asks.

“He’s been forth coming with information
. He could have caused a great deal of damage on the Retribution if he’d wanted too, but he stood down even when Gad ordered him to fire.”

“They were on the Retribution…
when we were?” Peter looks to Lucas for confirmation.

“Yes
. I discovered he’d been transferred over right after the Regulian attack, he was on my flight deck and after what he did to Victoria, I couldn’t wait to get a piece of him but it quickly became something else.”

“What…
did… he… do… to… Victoria…” Peter says through clenched teeth, his eyes bore into Lucas.

“When Victoria was fifteen
, Gad physically assaulted her,” William speaks first. “At school, outside her room, he felt she should appreciate his… attentions… she didn’t and she put him down and filed a report. Gad tried to claim
she
attacked
him
for no reason but there was visual recordings refuting that.”

“You knew this and didn’t kill the little foabhor!
” Peter rages at Lucas.

“Lucas did what was necessary and because of
that
, we now know who has been threatening not only Victoria but the Queen!” Peter and William’s eyes clash, neither man willing to stand down in the protection of their family until Peter remembers something.

“Foabhor…
” He looks to Lucas. “That’s who you were talking about with Barek when Brett overhead.”

“Yes
. Barek was there to interview Gad and his two
friends,
” William speaks before Lucas can.

“Victoria knew
this… she was okay with the way it was handled.”

“Yes
. The only thing that upset her, was that because of him, I wasn’t able to return to Carina with you,” Lucas tells him.

“Because it would look like special treatment.”

“Yes.” Lucas acknowledges.

Peter is silent for several moments as he looks at Lucas, searching for the truth from his future son-in-law.