Utopia Falling, page 21
“That she is, Rotti.” Derr reflected, First Lady Kaythlin was a woman well-matched to suit the needs of her Chancellor. All his needs. Her acumen to satisfy her Chancellor did not stop at the bedroom door. “Whatever’s good for the Tomelais is good for the Kingdom of Adelle.”
The words Derr did speak brought a smile to Tomelai’s face. “The Tomelais are Adelle and Adelle is the Tomelais. It had been that way for generations and will be for many more to come.”
Captain Derr was pleased Kaythlin had not returned before he arrived. He needed time to speak to his Chancellor openly and without the necessity of holding anything back in the presence of others. When the two men spoke in private and alone, they held nothing in reserve, or so they told each other. As much as the Chancellor encouraged his partner in life to offer her opinions and insights, Derr was certain Tomelai was also thankful for the duo’s private time without her.
“Rotti, I have to ask, back in the passage this morning, I thought I saw something that suggested you knew more than you were saying. You killed their only survivor before we could get anything out of him,” Derr questioned his sovereign as though he was just another man by the good graces afforded him in the special relationship they shared. They had known each other since childhood when Madrotti Tomelai, the privileged heir apparent, and Druin Derr, a commoner, grew into men. Chancellor Tomelai rarely imposed his stature on their relationship. They were the closest of friends and could say anything between them as close friends dare to offer.
Tomelai, caught off guard, snorted out a chortle. “Who else could accuse the Chancellor of Adelle of plotting his own staged assassination attempt for publicity but Druin Derr, Captain of the KCG? Come on, Drew, that guy was not going to give us anything. It was obvious he couldn’t speak.”
Tomelai crossed his arms, and with bent knee, rested the sole of his shoe against the wall to mimic Derr’s stance. Derr immediately broke formation. He never enjoyed being mocked. For all his stoicism, for all his inner strength, for all his cold blue eyes offered as a defense against the world, Tomelai could always playfully get a rise out of him.
Pushing away from the wall with his foot, Derr turned to face Tomelai. “You’re good. Nice try, though, but you still didn’t answer my question. Did you set it up this morning? You could’ve killed us both.”
Druin thought he had gained the upper hand as the two men parried. With his back resting on the wall, Derr crossed his arms and returned his posture to bent knee, foot against the wall. Derr offered his friend the Chancellor a visual yet unverbalized, “Fuck you!”
It only made Tomelai laugh even more, pissing off Derr.
“Drew, how long have you known me? Maybe I am crazy enough to stage that for my benefit, but I would not put your life at risk.” The Chancellor’s foot pushed off from the wall.
Derr thought for a second. His eyes drew in tight before stating flatly, “You’re equivocating. You still haven’t said yes or no. I’ve questioned too many people over too many years to know when someone isn’t answering me, and besides, I know you too well.”
“Who says I have to answer you? I am the fucking Chancellor.” Tomelai’s smirk reached from ear to ear.
Dropping the playful back-and-forth, Derr asked softly, “You having fun with this? This is serious. Come on, Rotti, enough of this bullshit. Did you or did you not put someone up to make it look like an assassination attempt?”
The two stared at each other.
Derr broke first.
Tomelai won.
Even though the Captain of the KCG was up against the Chancellor, Derr won his fair share of these little stare-down contests. Just not this one.
Walking over to his friend, Tomelai put his arm around Derr’s shoulders. “Of course not, Drew, but some bastard did try to kill us today.” The Chancellor dropped his arm from Druin’s shoulder and stepped forward to face his Captain.
“Well, not really. They were trying to kill you. I just happen to be there.”
“Touché! And lucky for me, you were. Smacking that horse on the ass like that. You saved my life once again. You sure you want nothing your Chancellor can give you? We do this all the time. I beg you to take more coin. Take an appointment in the administration. Hell, take any woman in the kingdom you want. Let me say thank you for this and all the times you have come through.”
“You know the answer. I need nothing. I have enough. When and if I ever do want more, I’ll let you know. Until then, our deal stands. I’ll take whatever I want from your treasury whenever I want it. That’s my compensation.”
With pursed lips, cocked his head, and raised eyebrows aimed at Derr, the Chancellor said, “That is good. Just take more next time. You live like shit.”
“We’ve been through this a thousand times. Enough. You appreciate me. I appreciate the offer for more. Enough. Let’s move on. And besides, I live like shit only compared to you.”
Although his friend Druin Derr was being sincere, Tomelai looked upon the man with sadness. He wanted to heap riches upon him. Tomelai wanted to settle the debt he owed. He didn’t enjoy having it hanging out there. Derr was a weapon Tomelai used to keep himself in power. The man sought so little in return compared to the service he provided. Tomelai felt guilty. He owed his friend more than his friend realized and more than his friend was willing to accept.
Tomelai was Chancellor, and Derr was not. In his heart, Tomelai considered Druin Derr the better man. He would have been the better Chancellor. Not that Tomelai would give up his power. No, that would never happen. Druin Derr was the man Tomelai wished he could be. He had inner strength like no one Tomelai had ever known. Himself included.
Tomelai had been hurt by Derr’s accusation. It could have been because Derr was the better man, or it could have been that if Tomelai was being honest with himself, he was capable of such a stunt. Well-practiced at burying his emotions when he didn’t like what he felt, a stoic to the core, Tomelai swallowed hard and drove his hurt deep, beyond conscious thought, avoiding any need to face it again in the future.
Tomelai heard Derr continue, “Let’s get back to who could have done this.”
The Chancellor began, “Alright. There’s the possibility it came from within, and if so, we have to ask two questions. First, who would have the most to gain, and second, who could have pulled it off? We have the long list of wannabes. You and your network always keep close tabs on them. Is it possible any of them slipped past you in planning something like this?”
Derr considered it for a second, and said, “I always start from the position that anything’s possible. It leaves nothing out. In this case, the likelihood is remote. There are other, more likely candidates than the wannabes. We can circle back if we come up empty. Either it’s someone we didn’t have on our watch list, or the mastermind is from outside Tandure.”
Steepling his fingers in front of his face, Derr’s cold blue eyes stared out at nothing and everything. He added, “And I don’t like the idea it was someone we didn’t account for previously. We go over this shit often enough. We didn’t miss anyone who should be on our watch list unless you’ve been keeping information from me.
“How are things on the home front? Tane wouldn’t be the first Tomelai to step into the shoes of Adelle’s Chancellor before Mother Earth intended to reclaim the sitting occupant. Your family has a history of chancellors dying unexpectedly young. She’s not on my list of likely suspects, but what do you think?” There was no fear in Derr of questioning the Chancellor. The two were as close as brothers. No pretense of sovereign and subject.
“No. I do not think so. She is not like that. If it were Tane, her mother would have to be involved, and between the two of them, I do not see it happening. Kaythlin has not given up on me. Regicide to what purpose?”
“That’s one person you need to keep happy. Your wife is about the only person who might even outplay me. What about Loseff? He has shown little interest in anything, but I’m not there to know what goes on around you from minute to minute with him.”
“Drew, I do not have to tell you that you did not fail me. You know better than to think because an attempt happened, you failed. You saved my life today.”
“I’m aware. But I failed you today because I didn’t stop it before it happened.” Derr held his head low.
He failed. All his watching, information gathering, all his planning and not a single source within his vast network of agents, spies, and informants offered anything pointing him in the right direction. Derr had to admit that either his network was inadequate or there was a double agent in his ranks.
Tomelai gave emphasis to his words: “I do not have to tell you; do whatever it takes to find out who is behind this. My opinion, I think it is related to the proposal on electrics. As for failing me, it is true we did not stop it before it happened, and that is concerning. Concerns… not about you. Concern there is something in play, and we have to stop it before it happens again. Today was just the start. We stop them, or they stop me from living. It is just the way it is. Whoever they are, this person or these people are not just going to walk away after one try.”
“True. Consider this too. These may be new players on the board. Over the next few days, mull it over. I’ll go over those on the watch list again to see if anything was overlooked.”
“I know you like to keep them around, Drew, even though they want my job. It might be time to dispose of the more dangerous amongst them. We have a blind spot. We just got poked in the eye, and we do not know whose finger it was.”
Many times in the past, Madrotti Tomelai had added and removed names from Derr’s watchlist in myriad different ways. Derr himself quietly removed threats from the world of the living from time to time by delegating the chore to one of his trusted lieutenants. Keeping the Chancellor in the seat of power was not a simple task and not for the weak of heart. At least it was so in Tandure, despite the Covenant’s ultimate demand to preserve human life above all else.
Druin Derr puffed his cheeks, mulling over Tomelai’s comments. “Not just yet. Let’s watch them even closer. They failed today. There might be some fallout. Someone knows something, and whoever is pulling the strings, they may need to dispose of some unwanted loose ends. Someone we’re watching might lead us to the puppet master. I’ll shake the trees and start a few rounds of detentions. Something might fall out.” Lips pursed, giving the Chancellor time to consider his suggestion, Derr stood silent and waited.
Tomelai thought on Derr’s suggestion before finally saying, “Alright, make it happen. Now, what about my fellow leaders from Kantos and Greenlin, or that prick Jerithan Cree? I do not see the Prime Minister doing anything of the sort. He is too new to the game, and I doubt Dimenk would take the chance. I am leaning toward First Lord Jerithan Cree.”
Derr continued the exploration, “I’m not inclined to rule out the First Lord either. Early reports from my people suggest there may have been a few arrows from the Anatese in several of the dead would-be assassins. If the Temple leader, as much of an asshole as he might be, was involved, why would the Anatese help us? They answer to him alone. They wouldn’t have come to our aid. Unseen, I might add. Unless, of course, he was so confident he could pull it off and didn’t give the Anatese, those monkey men living in The Stand canopy, any heads-up. We’ll never know. They won’t talk to us. Never do.”
“Maybe.”
Derr continued his line of inquiry. “There’s also Jerithan Cree’s lackey, Razoal. I have him watched closely. He gave nothing away. Either he’s that good, and I doubt it, or the Temple wasn’t involved. On the other hand, we might have missed it, and that means we have holes in our intel.” Derr stopped to give Tomelai time to consider his words. He watched Tomelai evaluating his insights. He was always watching, even his Chancellor.
Shifting the discussion from the Temple, Tomelai said, “What do you think about F’Saad Dimenk? Excuse me, Madam President Dimenk. We have strained relations between Greenlin and Tandure of late. What with the ongoing squabble over the rights to the mineral deposit at the base of The Razors? It’s in unclaimed territory, and our people were there first. She’s tried to make the case its nearer to her border. Would she risk everything over mineral rights? A lot of money in trade, and she hates, utterly hates being made to look weak. What does your intel tell you? What information don’t I already have?”
With an exceptional memory, Derr pulled up from his mind the report about Dimenk. “I’ll get a copy for your review. It’s common knowledge she hates to lose. Hates to lose to men more than anything. It could push her to take a shot at you over the Razor’s find. But she knows we know of her preference to dabble in women. And she isn’t certified to partake in that particular Gift of Flesh since she’s produced no offspring yet. She wouldn’t risk the exposure. It’ll cost her everything. A national leader violating a core directive of the Covenant. She’d be ruined. Her as the culprit is remote. My instincts tell me to focus elsewhere.”
“But if it is her, you’ll need to find your way to extract quiet revenge. Your people could do it,” Tomelai stated directly, then added, “but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
Before the two men could explore any further, the door to Tomelai’s room opened, and First Lady Kaythlin stepped in. Dressed as she was for the parade, she looked like a polished jewel. Her smile met both men and her charm quickly unarmed them both.
“Boys,” she said playfully. “I know you both too well. Put your game pieces away for now. Druin, please allow me a few private moments with my husband.”
“Kaythlin.” Derr dutifully proffered a respectful bow. He wanted to continue the conversation with the Chancellor, but he knew better.
Kaythlin walked over to the Captain of the KCG. She hooked her arm inside his.
His needs and wants were no match for her charm. He’d lost too many times to fight it once more. Druin Derr did what he’d rarely ever done for anyone else: he surrendered to her. With her arm gently under his, she walked him politely towards the door.
A stunning woman of unmatched elegance, she was hard to deny when she wanted something. The power of her beauty, matched with intelligence and grace, did a funny thing to man or woman. Derr was no ordinary man, yet he couldn’t deny Kaythlin. It was obvious to Derr he wouldn’t be granted the opportunity to continue his conversation with Rotti. He could protest, but he wouldn’t get a reprieve.
With Kaythlin making an appearance and her will imposed, they’d finished plotting.
He was astute enough to read the lines on his friend’s face. Rotti aimed an impish grin at Derr, as if to say to him, “The Lady has spoken. Time for you to go.”
“Druin, I thank you for keeping my love safe today, but we have a banquet to prepare for shortly.” Walking him through the archway leading into the hallway, she slipped her arm free. She leaned in close and kissed him on the cheek. Kaythlin whispered in his ear, “I owe you more than you can imagine. Thank you, my dear Druin,” and turned away. The door closed, and Kaythlin was alone with her husband, the Chancellor.
Standing in the Temple Palace hallway, looking towards the door just closed on him, Derr turned to walk away, leaving two KCG posted at the entrance to the Chancellor’s chamber. Derr didn’t give his KCG guards a second thought.
He was thinking about Adelle’s First Lady. I know Rotti doesn’t think so, yet maybe I should look at her more closely.
Not What It Seems
Hensdale: 27th day of the Salmon Moon
Mithany | Mera
Reyne and Daedyn spent the remains of the afternoon regaling Mithany, Brenal and Mera with stories. Tales mostly about Mera as the butt of the boys’ childhood pranks. Mera proved to be a good sport about it. While Mithany heard them all before, she enjoyed the retelling and laughed along with everyone else. She especially enjoyed the pleasure it gave Reyne reflecting on the good times he and Daedyn shared. Reyne still exhibited side effects from the spiderworm venom in his system, highlighted by the almost imperceptible differences in his movements and his speech. Mera, she suspected, saw it too. Doc Brenal had assured them that Reyne would be back to his old self soon enough, but he wasn’t there yet.
Mithany used the gathering as cover for the opportunity to study Mera. While she laughed through the afternoon, as did they all, Mithany kept an eye on the newcomer. He was a mystery she needed to solve.
With dusk’s approach, story time ended and everyone headed inside but for Reyne, who told the group he needed to check on one or two things in the orchard.
Inside, Daedyn slapped his hands together. “I’m gonna start fixin’ some dinner. Mithany, you think your brother and his new girlfriend will be joining us?”
“I don’t think so. He’s been gone a long time. I’m gonna say that’s a good sign he’s found her. Knowing the things that interest my older brother, his plans for tonight won’t include any of us.”
“Well, the way you described her, I don’t blame him. Brenal, can you give me a hand? You don’t want Reyne cookin’ anything if any of us expects to eat tonight. My brother has a few outstanding qualities, but cookin’ ain’t one of ‘em.”
“Sure. Why not? I’ve eaten more than most in my day.” Brenal patted his well-nourished belly. “Cooked less than I care to admit, but I’m sure I can lend a hand.”
Brenal and Daedyn headed off to the kitchen, leaving Mithany alone with Mera. She was a little unnerved by the way Mera looked at her, as though sizing her up. She could see it in his eyes. It’s always in the eyes. “Can I help you with something, Mera?”
The previously disguised beggar leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “You’ve been studying me all afternoon. You don’t have to worry about me. The time for fear is coming, but not of my doing.”
Mithany’s smile opened wide in a welcoming gesture. “I’m just getting to know you. Not the ragged old bum from the stories we just heard.” She paused, wagged her finger at him, and continued, “I’m keeping my eyes on the new you.”
