Hers to Command (31 page)

Quietly,
Ari ordered those commanders of questionable loyalty on sweeps of distant territory where the
diamantorre
were quiescent or no longer standing. It put them on the outside of the vast area now shield-wall protected. Unless the inter-transitional gates were open, the potential threat they posed was isolated.

The rays of the early morning sunrise
barely streaked the pale skies when one of the more promising of Doral’s protégés joined Ari and Doral in Ari’s office. Doral sprawled on the leather sofa that had once done service as Ari’s bed, while Ari held the heavy drapes back and stood thoughtfully gazing out the window.

A low masculine voice accompanied a smart rap on the door
. “Visconte?”

Doral rose and strode to the door, opening it further,
“Come in Captain Rigo, Sub-Lieutenant Donnovan. Sit, please.”

The slightly
built, cleanly handsome young cavalry officer sat in the space Doral had vacated. His aide, S-L Donnovan, remained standing behind the sofa. Ari remained at the window in silent thought.

Walking to the large desk, Doral picked up a thick envelope and turned to Tevon
. “I need you to contact Fleet Captain Micheol Ardain on Raegill II and give him this information.” Doral handed Tevon the packet. “Discreetly. The fewer people who see you, the better.”

Ari turned from the window
. “Stay alert, Tevon. There are those who will try to intercept you if they identify you as a Verdantian courier. What you are holding in your hand is the status of our shield walls and a brief explanation to Ardain as to how they got that way. Feel free to read it. This is vital information. There are those who will definitely try to suppress it. So, stay alert.”

Ari smiled slightly
. “The queen enjoys your company on her morning rides. I would hate to explain to her why I got her favorite riding companion killed if you don’t come back.”

Tevon’s mouth quirked up
. “No, that is certainly to be avoided. No disrespect intended, High Lord, but life gets uncomfortable for you when she is displeased. I would not want to be the cause of that.”

Ari sighed and looked at Doral
. “I am never going escape that infamous week, am I?”

“
She made quite an impression on the men. You could have all of them shot. That would slow down the gossip.” Doral shrugged, seemingly indifferent. “You would lose quite a number of highly skilled commanders and staff.”

Silently aghast, Sub-Lieutenant Donovan’s eyes flickered back and forth between the three
.

“
Hmmm.” Ari paused, tapping his finger on his lips considering Doral’s comment. “How many do you think?”

Doral looked at Tevon
. “Care to estimate how far that story spread?”

Tevon looked at the ceiling and shrugged
. “I would say at least five to six hundred military personnel, certainly all of the Blue Daggers and a portion of the Third and Fourth Cavalry battalions. Of course, by now, they will have told others and well, you may want to consider non-combatants also.”

“
Huh. Really? That many?”

Tevon shifted a little and cleared his throat
. “Yes, my Lord. It was, um—a—ah,” Tevon coughed slightly, “highly entertaining story.”

“
Guess shooting them is not an option, Doral. I would do more damage than the Haarb.” Ari crossed his arms. His expression was resigned but his downcast eyes lit with humor as his surreptitious glance took in S-L Donovan’s wide-eyed, patent relief.

“
I suppose that unfortunate week has been added to the many stories recounted about me around the mess halls.”

“
Actually, my Lord, we use it to warn new guards not to underestimate the queen,” Tevon said neutrally.

Ari looked up casually
. “Not at all taken in by that she-devil in angel wings, are they, Doral?”

“
No, Ari. They are wise to our little hell-cat.”

They both looked at Tevon and chorused,
“You never heard us say that, Captain Rigo.”

“
Heard what, my Lords?”

“
Precisely.” Ari smiled. “Just be careful, Captain Rigo.”

“
I always am, High Lord.”

* * * * *

“Mic, this changes the complexion of events dramatically.” Charise Lockwood finished reading the report she had received from her lover’s hand merely ten minutes previously. “Captain Rigo, how current is this information?”

“
Less than seventy-two hours old, ma’am.”

“
Knowing Ari, he positioned Herrimon’s forces where they can do the least amount of harm.” The admiral glanced over at Tevon, questioningly.

“
Both companies of Herrimon’s personal guard were assigned an extended sweep of the territories outside the perimeter of our shield walls. While we cannot confirm it, we believe Commander Treant and Commander Fosard are unaware of the scope of our new energy shields.”

Tevon smiled slightly
. “Strangely, the recall orders for the other LFP battalions were never received at command HQ in Sylvan Mintoth.”

“
Really?” Fleet Captain Ardain shook his head, his eyes twinkling. “Obviously, there is a problem with communications that will need to be addressed.”

“
Yes. Very regrettable,” Tevon responded gravely. “Unfortunately, this stranded the replacement divisions comprised of Herrimon’s territorial guard in Arkodaenia, their port of entry. The shield wall gates were closed and lacking the proper authorization, the military personnel under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Cristo of the 3
rd
Calvary, Green Ride, refused them entry.”

Lockwood’s eyebrows lifted
. “That’s why Herrimon’s been snarling like an injured Vortian blood-lizard.” She chuckled and cast a look toward Mic. “Well done, Conte DeTano,” she murmured under her breath.

* * * * *

In the considered opinion of Admiral Charise Lockwood, Verdantia had demonstrated more than sufficient ability to protect her surface from the onslaught of any invading force. When information was disseminated among the LFP Council chairs on Raegill II, all talk about changing Verdantia’s voting status would be summarily rejected. The LFP would do nothing to jeopardize their trade agreements for
cinnagin
. There would still be an official vote following the reception for the Council in Sylvan Mintoth, but there was no doubt in any mind as to the outcome.

Augoust Herrimon was sweating blood
. The raspy voice of his nightmares once again addressed him from a shadowed corner in his bedroom. “You will kill the Constante woman.”

His heart pounded in his chest. The room seemed to gray, becoming
indistinct.

“How am I supposed to do that? I can’t get anyone within miles of Sylvan Mintoth. The Verdantians are turning my militia away at the port of entry.”

“Herrimon, I said,
you
will kill the Constante woman. She is the last female with the genetic code.”

His brain refused to function. He must have misheard. His tongue wouldn’t work.
Finally, he forced out words. “Me? Me! How am I supposed to do that?” Though Augoust made a concerted effort to lower the pitch of his voice, his panic came through clearly.
I am going to faint.

“The
how
is your problem, Councilman. Do it at the reception. You will have access.”

Augoust
mopped at his sweaty face. “They will arrest me and put me in prison or execute me immediately. You will get me out, won’t you? Krakoll? I have been of use to you.”

A grunt came from the shadows. “Of course, Herrimon. And Herrimon
… I would stay away from the drugs.”

He watched as Krakoll slid out of the shadows and stopped in front of him. With a shark-like sm
ile, the Haarb leader tapped him in the chest with a meaty finger. “DeLorion attends her. You will need your wits about you.”

T
he Haarb leader slipped out unseen. Herrimon’s legs sprawled in an ungainly vee as the floor smacked him in the buttocks.

* * * * *

The Great Hall looks glorious. No one would ever guess Verdantia has been at war for three years.
Fleur had been mentally cataloguing the decorative effects for future use. Her mental exercises defended against the incredible monotony of the reception line.

Her awareness extended to the men standing by her side
. Doral’s tight-lipped, stoic demeanor hid a body on the brink of explosion. He was upset with her for including the Nuovo Terra council chair on the list of invitees—add his discomfort from assuming a publically visible role, and she had a most restless visconte. Elder Patricio, Doral’s polar opposite, was in his element, awash with pride. Ari had assumed his mask of smooth, practiced, diplomacy. It was impossible to tell what he thought.

She leaned over to whisper in Doral’s ear
. “Last Council head,
Segundo,
then, you are free to leave the dais and circulate.

“
Every single one of them came, all eighty-two council chairs for the LFP and their entourage. Will it be like this every time?”

“
No,
Segundo
, we are a novelty. When the new wears off we will go back to obscurity.” Fleur smiled and nodded to the non-human, three-eyed, Govinian Chairman.

“
Council Chair Tetaria, we are pleased you came to our small assembly. You know our
Primo Signore
and Verdantian First Ambassador, Conte Camliel Aristos DeTano, but you have not met our
Segundo Signore
, Visconte Doral Celestia Argentio DeLorion.”

Doral bowed, looking first at one
eyestalk, then another and finally the third. Fleur chuckled inwardly at his confusion. The Govinian Chairman lumbered past Fleur and Ari to pause in front of Doral. It chirped a pleased greeting into its translator.

“
Segundo Signore
DeLorion, beauty is. Male aspects most pleasing.”

Doral cleared his
throat, straightened and cleared his throat again, “Ahh…”

Fleur rescued him
. “Thank you, Council Chair Tetaria. We females always appreciate a good looking male.”

The translator echoed with something like a titter
. “With pleasure breeding, yes? Big
iongyam
? Big for female satisfy?”

“
Yes, very pleasurable,” Fleur smiled in response and the Govinian, chirping continually, moved away, one eye rotating backward on its stalk to inspect Doral’s groin with avid interest.             

“
Fleur, that, um, being was
female
?” Doral whispered.

Ari choked.

“Yes, my love, that being was a ‘she’,” Fleur said.

“
Did she just ask if sex was good with me?”

The medals on
Ari’s chest softly chimed as his shoulders shook. Strange, strangled noises escaped his closed mouth.

“
Ummhmm,” Fleur gurgled helplessly. “Stop it, Ari!” she hissed. “Yes, my love, she asked if having sex with you were pleasurable.”

Ari leaned over and in choked undertone commented,
“Oh in case you missed it, she also asked if you had a big dick.”

Fleur watched
him leer suggestively. Fleur blessed the many hours of court life that enabled her to maintain her features in a pleasantly benign smile.

Doral stretched his neck up to loosen his collar
. He clasped his hands behind his back and squared his shoulders.

“
Still think being a diplomat is a “fluff” job?” Ari chuckled under his breath. “It takes real skill to turn down an offer “to breed” without offending. Ah, the things I have done for Verdantia,” he mused then said knowingly, “She will be back. Good luck,
Segundo
.”

“
Ari, don’t tease. Doral, Council Chair Tetaria knows you are my ‘husband’ and off-limits.”             

“
Doesn’t mean she won’t be back for a little ‘touchy-feely’ to verify the size of his
iongyam
. On her world it would bring him enormous status,” Ari said.

“
I am going to check security,” Doral said.

Fleur watched
her lover’s rapidly disappearing back. “Bad, bad man, you know very well that won’t happen.”

Ari smiled
ingenuously. “To leave that quickly, his concerns about security must be urgent—but did you notice? He is going in the wrong direction.” The conte gestured with his head. “The reception is that way.”