Deathstalker (42 page)

William smiled and shook his head. “Sorry, but that’s not on. Duty calls. The Campbell sets the rules, and we have to follow them. If we didn’t, where would we be? In complete bloody chaos, and all the other Families would charge in like sharks scenting blood in the water. Or do they taste it? I’ve never been sure. Anyway, whatever else we may be, we’re Campbells first. Always. If it’s any help, I felt much the same before my wedding, and I’ve been happy enough. I suppose.”

“Keep on encouraging him like that, and we’ll have to
drive him to the altar with whips,” said a loud, carrying voice.

Robert and William Campbell looked up to see standing before them Adrienne Campbell, large as life and twice as loud. William flinched visibly, and was still trying to find the right words with which to introduce Adrienne when she stepped forward, brushing him aside and smiled at Robert.

“Hello, Robert. I’m Adrienne, Finlay’s wife. I’m the one you’ve probably been warned about, and you should believe every word. Mostly they try and keep me away from public functions on the grounds I embarrass them. Personally, I’ve never been embarrassed in my life. Fortunately for you, they couldn’t keep me out of a wedding this important. You come with me, dear. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Er …” said William.

Adrienne rounded on him, and he fell back a step. “Did you want to say something, William? No? I didn’t think so. You rarely do. Come along, Robert.”

And she took him by the hand in a viselike grip and led him off through the crowd. Robert went along with her. It seemed like the safest thing to do, if he ever wanted his hand back. They passed through the outskirts of the crowd, followed all the way by scandalized whispers, and then through a side door that led into a quiet sitting room decorated with antiques of considerable age and complete hideousness. And there, among the antiques like a single flower in a garden of weeds, sat Letitia Shreck, his bride-to-be. She jumped up the moment they entered, then stood quietly with eyes modestly downcast. She was sixteen years old and very pretty, with hints of a more mature beauty to come. The long white wedding gown made her look very fragile, like a delicate porcelain figure standing alone on a shelf. Robert looked at her and then at Adrienne with something like shock.

“I know,” said Adrienne briskly, “you’re not supposed to meet before the ceremony, but they’ll overlook it this time rather than have me make a scene in front of everybody. They tend to overlook quite a lot rather than have me make a scene. I can be very good at scenes, when I put my mind to it. Anyway, I brought you two together so you could talk, so get on with it. I’ll run interference at the door. You’ve got about twenty minutes before they come and drag you off to the ceremony, so make the most of them. Just … chat together;
you’ll be surprised how much you’ve got in common.”

And with that she disappeared out the door, pulling it firmly shut behind her, leaving Robert and Letitia standing looking at each other. It was very quiet in the room. They could hear the murmur of raised voices beyond the closed door, but that might as well have been on another world. For a moment that seemed to last forever, neither of them moved, and then Robert cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Would you like to sit down, Letitia?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

They sat down on chairs facing each other, careful to maintain a proper distance between them. Robert searched for something to say that wouldn’t make him sound like a complete idiot.

“Letitia …”

“Tish.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I … prefer to be called Tish. If that’s all right.”

“Yes. Of course. Call me Bobby. If you like.” They looked right at each other for the first time, and Robert smiled suddenly. “Tell me, Tish, do you feel as uncomfortable in your outfit as I do in mine?”

She laughed immediately, then put her hands to her mouth, looking at him to check he wasn’t shocked. Reassured by his smile, she lowered her hands and smiled back at him.

“I hate this dress. If it was any tighter, it would be inside me. I haven’t dared to eat or drink anything. I don’t think there’s anywhere for it to go. And everytime I go to the toilet, I have to take two maids with me to unlace everything. I’ve been going rather a lot. I think it’s nerves. And of course if I say anything, or try to complain, they just say it’s traditional, as if that solved everything.”

“Right!” said Robert as she paused for breath. “If I hear the word tradition one more time, I think I’ll scream. I was told I was getting married about six hours ago. How about you?”

“Same here. I suppose they thought if they gave us too much time to think about it, we’d run away or something.”

“They weren’t far wrong,” said Robert dryly. “This isn’t at all what I thought I’d be doing when I got up this morning. If I had known, I’d have headed for the horizon so fast
it would have made their heads spin. Of course, that was before I met you. I thought … well I don’t know what I thought, but you … you’re all right.”

“Thanks,” said Letitia. “You really know how to compliment a lady, don’t you?”

Robert grinned. “Well, actually, no. I’ve been a military cadet most of my life. It’s expected for those in the Family unlikely ever to inherit. You don’t get to meet many women in military training. How about you? Did you have anyone special … in your life?”

“There was someone, but … that’s all over now. They found out about us and stopped us seeing each other.” Letitia smiled wryly. “He was one of my bodyguards. I’m not allowed out much, either. Not since the Empress started raiding the Families for maids. I knew poor Lindsey, the Shreck’s niece who disappeared. She was so bright, so funny. Nowadays they keep us under guard as much as possible. Understandable, I suppose, but it makes for a very quiet life.”

Robert nodded. “And now, here we are, about to get married. It’s going to seem strange, having lifelong enemies as my in-laws.”

“Same here,” said Letitia, clapping her hands together suddenly and grinning wickedly. “Do you Campbells really eat babies for breakfast?”

“Oh, every day. Beats the hell out of bran flakes.”

“Maybe we’ll bring our Families together, like we’re supposed to. Stranger things have happened. Bobby. …”

“Yes, Tish?”

“If I have to marry someone, I’m glad it’s someone like you.”

“Same here, Tish. Same here.”

She put out her hand, and he took it gently, enfolding her small slender fingers in his. And they sat there, smiling together, for an endless moment. And then Adrienne came bustling in.

“All this time, and you’ve only got as far as holding hands? I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people these days. I’d have had him pinned up against the wall by now. But time’s up, I’m afraid. Finlay sent me to fetch you, Robert. Urgent Family business, and your presence is required.”

Robert gave Letitia’s hand one last squeeze and got to his
feet. “Family business is always urgent, especially when it’s inconvenient. I’m glad we had this chance to talk, Tish. I’ll see you shortly.”

“Bye,” said Letitia, and blew him a kiss. Robert snatched it out of midair, put it in an inner pocket over his heart, and only then allowed Adrienne to lead him away.

It turned out to be quite a Family gathering, all squeezed together in a side room, with guards outside the door to make sure they wouldn’t be disturbed. Finlay was there, at his most outrageously foppish, studying Adrienne through his pince-nez as though she were a stranger. William and Gerald were arguing quietly but heatedly, barely stopping to nod to Robert as he closed the door behind him. He took in their earnest faces, and his heart dropped. Something bad was in the wind. He could feel it. Finlay cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him.

“The Campbell himself cannot be here in person,” he said flatly. “He’s had a communication from our allies on Shub. It came via a series of espers, so we’re pretty sure it wasn’t intercepted. It seems that some other House has discovered our connection with Shub.”

“Wait a minute,” said Robert. “Hold everything. What’s this about Shub? What allies have we got on that hellhole?”

“You have a right to know,” said Finlay. He sounded surprisingly articulate, for once. “Now that you’re to be a central part of Family business. But you cannot discuss this with anyone outside the Family; not even your wife. No one must know. Our existence as a House depends on this. For some time now, we’ve been secretly intriguing with the rogue AIs on Shub, in defiance of Empire policy. The Enemies of Humanity have been passing us designs for advanced technology to help us win the contract for mass-production of the new stardrive in return for us making the drive available to them. They are desperate to remain the Empire’s equal, and we need to contract. Our finances are somewhat depleted at the moment.”

“To be exact,” said Adrienne, “we’re in deep shit. If we don’t get the contract, we’re ruined. Bankrupt.”

William winced, but nodded. “We must win the contract if we are to survive as a Clan. Everything depends on it.”

“Anyway,” said Finlay, “it appears someone has found out. They can’t have any definite proof yet, or they’d have
turned us in to the Empress. And we’d all be facing a quick trial and a lingering execution.”

“Can you blame them?” said Robert hotly. “We’re working with the AIs on Shub? They’re dedicated to wiping out Humanity in its entirety, and we’re giving them the new stardrive? Is it just me, or is this
completely bloody crazy!
”

“Please don’t shout,” said Finlay. “This has all been discussed and decided at the highest Clan levels. We have absolutely no intention of giving them the drive, whatever happens. We are ambitious and desperate but not, as you say, crazy.”

“In the meantime,” said Adrienne, “it’s vital we find out who knows our secret. That’s why you’re here, Robert. We’re already running several clandestine operations to discover our enemy, and you’re uniquely suited to investigating the Shrecks. But you’re not to discuss this with your wife. She may be marrying into the Campbells, but for now she’s still a Shreck. Use her, but don’t trust her. Don’t look so shocked, dear. This is Family business, and the Family always comes first.”

“It’s important we discover how much our enemy knows,” said William. “Anyone who knows too much must die. The safety of the Clan is at risk.”

“What’s the Campbell doing?” said Gerald anxiously. “Why isn’t he here? He should be making these kind of decisions, not us.”

“He’s busy reassuring the AIs through the esper link,” said Finlay. “We don’t want them doing anything impulsive, or … unfortunate. We’re only valuable to them as long as our connection remains a secret. He took a hell of a risk sending a messenger here, but it was important we know immediately. From now on, we don’t go anywhere without guards, and no one is to go off on their own. Our new rival might try to kidnap one of us to pump that person for information and put pressure on the rest of us. You’re especially at risk, Robert; you’re not as used to this game as we are. We can’t put you in seclusion right after your wedding; that would look just a little suspicious, like we had something to hide. But from now on, you and your new wife will have a double security presence. If she asks why, point out how easily that esper zealot broke in. Now, let us return to the celebration, before our absence becomes a talking point. Smiles and laughter, everyone; no point in putting weapons
in our enemies’ hands. After all, it’s not certain they know that we know they suspect. You’re looking puzzled, Gerald. Don’t let it worry you. Just stick close to us, and if you feel like saying anything, rise above it. William, keep an eye on him. If he opens his mouth, stamp on his foot.”

Adrienne looked at him thoughtfully. “Since when did you become such an accomplished conspirator?”

Finlay smiled at her dazzlingly. “It’s in the blood, my dear. I am a Campbell, after all.”

He took Robert by the arm and led him back into the crowded ballroom. Everywhere faces smiled and heads bowed, and Robert nodded numbly to them all. Some weren’t really there, of course. Attending in person was a compliment and a privilege; the less well connected usually had to settle for sending a holo. If nothing else, it helped to cut down on duels. Nothing like a wedding to bring out old Family quarrels. Robert thought about that to keep from thinking about anything else, but it didn’t work. He pulled his arm free of Finlay and gave him a hard look.

“Just how much danger are we in, Finlay? How much danger am I putting Letitia in by marrying her?”

“Not much more than she’s already used to. She is a Shreck, after all, and they have a history of intrigue that makes us look timid. Now forget about all that and concentrate on your wedding.”

James Kassar, Vicar of the Church of Christ the Warrior, called the gathering to attend him in the kind of voice usually reserved for a parade ground, and the two Families separated out to form two groups, so that they could look down their noses at each other. They left a narrow aisle between the two groups, and almost before he knew it, Robert was heading for the aisle, surrounded by Finlay and William and Gerald, all looking very stern and respectable. The bride was brought forward to walk beside him, surrounded by women of the Shreck Family. Letitia arrived amid a crowd of whispered jokes and comments and stifled laughter, but Robert’s companions stayed straight-faced, as custom required. Robert was grateful for that, at least. He had a strong feeling that just at this moment, even a bad joke would collapse him into howls of hysterical laughter. And then he and Letitia were walking down the aisle side by side, alone at last, both looking straight ahead and concentrating desperately on the moves and words they’d learned at rehearsal.

They came to a halt before Kassar, resplendent now in a purple gown, who bowed curtly and began the wedding service in a calm, businesslike tone. Personally, Robert preferred it that way. It made both the Vicar and the service seem less awe-inspiring. The words were familiar from any number of Family weddings Robert and Letitia had attended since childhood, and they made their responses in calm, dignified voices. Everything went smoothly, and Robert even remembered to raise the veil before he kissed her. All that remained was the ceremonial tying of the knot. Kassar gestured for the page boy to bring forward the ceremonial golden cord on its platter. He wrapped the cord loosely about both their wrists, binding them together, and then called forward the Church esper. Before the Church could give its blessing, and thus validate the marriage, it was important that both parties were proved to be who they said they were. Nobody ever said the word
clone
, but it was never far from anyone’s mind.