Schism of Blood and Stone (The Starfield Theory Book 1) (33 page)

Archduchess Salena Teton-Sten

Duchess of Danvers, Archduchess of the Magdeborg Commonwealth

Sten Palace, Magdeborg, Magdeborg Commonwealth

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Salena tried to keep her dealings with Azuren to a minimum. It was safer that way. She'd had limited interactions with the Legate at Danvers, the stuttering old fool Thessilony. Fortunately Thessilony had not bothered to deal with mere humans often, so they managed to stay out of each other's way. She remembered the Legate of Magdeborg, Alos, who had attended her father's court and briefly her grandfather's. She'd seen him around the palace on occasion, but she had strict orders from her mother never to speak to him. Even when she was older she was never invited to attend those meetings. But now there was an Azuren waiting for her in the dining hall. Not any Azuren but Alos himself.

Filipov and her other agents had not been able to gather much intelligence on Alos Mazaridas. The report they filed was only a page long and indicated his name, rank and possible contacts with other human factions, and even that was limited to her family members. Because of their genetic alterations, Azuren lived an impossibly long life and Alos had been around to know Peter, Haakon, her grandfather and likely more aged members of the Sten clan. Filipov estimated his age at one-hundred and twenty, making him younger by Azuren standards, but with enough experience to make him capable of handling his post.

The name Mazaridas was comparatively well known, even for the secretive Azuren. The family, if Azuren even used the term, was the current Patriarch of the Faith and ipso facto the entire Azuren race. They deployed their family members as ambassadors to the great core states which included the Commonwealth and Dominion. Alos had masterminded the ceasefire between the two states with his Dominion colleague and presented the treaty to Dietrich when Peter died. He was effective and powerful, but also perusing his own agenda. She needed his support, but she wasn't willing to submit to his authority just yet.

The meeting today was to verify Salena's control of the state and to reevaluate the need for the ceasefire. Alos wanted to personally observe whether Salena was a viable archduchess as she promised. That alone was enough to cause her a nearly sleepless night and she stifled a yawn.

“I've never met an Azuren,” Richard said adjusting his cloak. He'd been fidgeting nervously for several minutes, increasing her own anxiety. Salena had always dealt with Thessilony at Danvers. Richard, happily, never was burdened by that responsibility.

“Try not to let it show. Now please calm down. We're masters of our own domain and he is a guest in our territory. There's no reason to fear him.”

Though maybe that's more for my own benefit than for his,
she thought. Azuren were dangerous both politically and physically. They were stronger, faster, and more intelligent than any baseline human and the Azuren occasionally reminded their human charges of those facts with an exercise in strength. It wasn't often Azuren took to combat, but she'd heard the stories.

A servant poked his head into the room, bowing slightly even though the custom had been largely done away with by former sovereigns. “Legate Alos is ready for you, Archduchess.”

She nodded and the servant disappeared. Normally, Filipov would have done the honors, but he was off on another more important assignment. There were rumors about her brother, Lord Damien, meeting with a concubine and Lord Conrad Sten late last night. Some of her advisers joked about some potential inappropriate activities they might engage in, but she angrily cut them off. Damien was the Lord General, not a philanderer. A thorough search indicated Damien was not in the palace. Filipov, who should have been watching him anyway, would get to the bottom of it.

Salena stood hastily and stepped into the hall, her boots pounding loudly on the marble and echoing through the halls. This particular hall led to the Archduchess' personal chambers, often called the Ducal Hall with a high vaulted ceiling and ornate columns. Along the left wall were huge windows overlooking the gardens below. Richard followed, his footsteps speeding to catch up. Along the right wall she passed great statues of former sovereigns, feeling their watchful vacant gazes on her back. Peter's statue would be revealed tomorrow at the funeral then installed at the end of the hall, furthest from her personal quarters which was the way she liked it. Not to say she disliked her brother, but she didn't exactly need his visage any closer to her than it really needed to be.

She thought she'd been seeing things lately. It was just the flutter of what looked like his cape or his face suddenly replace that of an adviser.
Too much stress and not enough exercise can play havoc with the mind.

She stopped in front of the two huge wood doors and waited for Richard to assume his position in a stance that at least appeared to be confident. She motioned for the two guards, both House Teton knights, to open the doors. They were wearing full blue and gold robes and chain mail armor that clinked and jingled as they moved. Both also wore swords on one hip. In addition to the anachronistic weapons they carried high-powered rifles as well.

They easily slid the two doors open then stood at attention while the Archduchess and her husband entered. Alos was standing at the end of the room admiring the view from one of the huge windows that overlooked the rest of the city. He ignored the entering royalty for just a few more moments than would have been proper. When he turned his face was entirely passive and completely unreadable.

Alos was built like a soldier and towered fifteen or more centimeters over her. Like most Azuren, his hair was white and his skin a pale almost translucent color. A braid draped from his head down over his shoulder covered in small computerized beads that detailed his entire life. His pale blue eyes were hard and scrutinizing and his mouth was thin and unwavering. Salena suddenly felt her breath gone as if she had just ran down the halls rather than strolled.
Oh Amrah, help me, for they are frightening,
she prayed silently.

“Archduchess Salena Teton-Sten, I am Alos Mazaridas, a special envoy of Leonidas Mazaridas,Patriarch of the House and the Faith,” he said by way of introduction. The words echoed through the hall as if his mouth were a machine gun. “I am sure you remember me from your childhood.”

“It's an honor to meet the Azuren Legate. I do remember you from my father's court. I hope you will find your stay on Magdeborg pleasant,” Salena said.

“I hope to find it brief, madam. I have pressing business elsewhere and I do not have time to spare on human matters. Shall we?” He asked gesturing to the chairs nearest the door indicating they should join him.

Suitably chastened, but not angry, Salena took a seat at the head, Richard on her left. Alos regarded him as a curiosity and studied him momentarily then seemed to file away his looks and personality for later reference if needed. Alos had the combined Azuren and human history and one hundred years of experience locked away in that azure-enhanced brain of his. She had no doubt he could instantly recall facts or names from any point in his life as if he had just learned them yesterday.

“Let me get right to the point, Archduchess Salena. While Azuren do not typically interfere with human affairs, we have expressed concern about the political condition of your Magdeborg Commonwealth. We understand the loss of Peter Sten was serious and unexpected, however, the issue of succession has taken far too long, especially in the light of the Dominion invasion. We have attempted to hold their pleas for invasion rights in check until the Commonwealth reorganized,” Alos said, settling into the chair and resting as if he were made of the same stone as her ancestors in the hall.

“Furthermore, we understand you have circumvented the usual succession procedure by taking the capital by force. While we do not rule on issues of human law, we understand such actions can be seen as illegitimate and cause for opposition. As the Commonwealth lies on the border of Azuren controlled space we are understandably concerned about spillover violence. We have not conducted an investigation into those claims, but there are opposition elements currently operating in the surrounding territories. Would you elaborate?”

That didn't take him long to hone in on those pesky Sørensens.
“My son, Magnus, will be leading his forces to crush the opposition,” she explained. “You see, before I launched my attack I received intelligence indicating the Sørensens attempted to take the throne through subterfuge. Some survived our attack and are running a small resistance in the countryside. Their attacks are illegal and they are little more than troublemakers and bandits. They pose no threat to my rule.”

Alos nodded, logging the information into his computer brain. “And your brother is also on planet and also had a legitimate claim to the throne, is this correct?”

“He is on planet attending Peter's funeral. You recall, I'm sure, that he was passed over before. Damien has made no moves indicating he is attempting to foment rebellion. Peter's funeral is today and he will be in attendance. At which point, I expect him to rescind his claim to my throne, as he has agreed. He will then return to duty in the Goteborg March,” Salena said confidently.

“”What steps have you taken to end this insurgency?” The Azuren asked folding his slender fingers together on the table.

“Magnus is controlling the situation in the countryside. We have rooted out several camps, taken prisoners and-”

“Numbers, Archduchess. How many camps, how many prisoners, how many weapons?”

Salena cleared her throat. “I don't know numbers off hand, but we are making progress. Stability will come.”

“Very well,” Alos said, standing apparently ready to conclude the meeting. Salena stood also, surprised at the meeting's abrupt termination.
He wasn't kidding.

“I leave you with a warning since I don't suppose your intelligence has picked up on this, yet. The chief tormentor of the Goteborg Duchy, a Lord Morlan Pershing has been sprung from your prison system and is back at the head of the Dominion forces. In the past he has routed your crack units and defeated your best general, your own brother. We have tried to limit the damage he can inflict; open violent warfare benefits no one except for perhaps the military contractors. I advise, since you are a new head of state, that you make peace with the Dominion as quickly as possible.”

Salena shot a look at Richard who shrugged helplessly.

Alos held up a finger. “Stability is the key, Archduchess. Maintain order. Along those lines we will be installing an attache between your government and our embassy. I expect daily updates and that you follow any measures the liaison recommends.”

Alos then waved into a corner. Salena never saw the second Azuren standing there, her pale features nearly blending in with the wall and the statues. There was a sudden flurry of movement and she joined Alos at the table. She was nearly his height with a braid of shorter length. She did not wear the same cloaks and robes as he companion. Instead, she was dressed more as a warrior. Her face was tight and angry. She almost looked like Cassandra when she was annoyed. “This is Legate Pergamon. She will be your direct point of contact and special observer. She has complete authority to operate as she sees fit and she will report directly to me. Do you understand?”

Salena nodded dumbly.
Two Azuren in the same place? Unheard of!

“The peace treaty between you and the Dominion will end today. You will hear from us further. Walk with Amrah, Archduchess.”

Alos and Pergamon then quickly walked from the hall, their long strides eating up the distance before Salena could formulate a response.

Finally, she whipped her head towards Richard. “Pershing escaped! Why was I not informed about this?”

Richard opened his eyes a bit wider, apparently afraid his wife blamed him for the blunder. “Filipov should have known about it,” he said, trying to shift the blame.

How in Amrah's boiling Ithix did that happen? I'll have the head of whomever was responsible!
She stalked to the same window Alos had been gazing out. A brilliant sun shone down on Magdeborg and the people going about their business. Some were commoners selling wares or traveling to or from work, others were nobles hurrying to or from the Conclave and mingled among them were her plain-clothed officers getting a feel for the pulse of the capital.

“Are you going to follow his advice, Salena?” Richard asked. “With the peace treaty ending-”

Salena gripped the window sill and closed her eyes. Finally: “We can beat the Dominion even if Lord Morlan is leading them. Alos' meeting was a double edged sword. If we told him we were too weak internally we risked becoming an Azuren client state. Because we told him we were stable he is going to give the Dominion the green light to invade Goteborg.”

“Are you willing to give Damien more military units? Maybe the House Guard or even Teton units?”

She glared at him out of the corner of her eye. “You sound like you've been talking to Filipov.”

“Magnus,” he said grinning.

“Of course.”

“He wants to be deployed on the border, you know? I don't know how much bandit hunting he can take here. He is a fully trained knight. He wants a real war,” Richard said, advocating for his son.

“And you're his official spokesman now?”

Richard shrugged. “Just trying to help. I can go too, to watch over him. I don't think Damien would put him in harm's way.”