The Phoenix Crisis (21 page)

Chapter 13

As the evidence was scrutinized by experts
and computers and the mood in the chamber became more palpably
pro-Akiran, Caerwyn realized Kalila was going to be acquitted.
Despite all the expense, and all the effort, to ensure that she and
her family would be blamed for the attack on Renora, the case was
evaporating all around him.

Damn you,
Zane
. He blamed his brother. Kalila was not
supposed to ever be seen on Capital World again. And she certainly
wasn’t supposed to be allowed to state her case before the
Assembly—and the general public. One of Kalila’s first requests had
been for her statements and evidence to be broadcast across the
networks for all the citizens of the Empire to see. A request that
Representative Tate had foolishly chosen to grant. Damn her. And
Damn Kalila. And Damn Zane. How had he let the princess slip
through his iron grip? Him with all his plans, and all his schemes,
and all his cleverness—always Father’s favorite—well he didn’t seem
so clever now.

With little recourse, Caerwyn decided to
speak up in Kalila’s favor. “After a thorough review of the
evidence, and with all the integrity of my soul, I hereby move that
we call an end to this investigation and proclaim our revered
Princess free and innocent before the Empire. Clearly the evidence
is overwhelmingly in her favor, that she and the Black Swan did not
participate in the attack on Renora, and that she has ever remained
true to the principles of our honorable government. I only hope
that she has it in her heart to forgive us for ever doubting
her.”

He smiled his professional smile. The forced
glow of his pearly-white teeth that he showed to his constituents,
and to news reporters, and to anyone who saw him when he wasn’t
behind closed doors. He hated the smile. Much like he hated the
words he’d just spoken. They were filthy and the very last thing he
believed—he did not want to see Kalila acquitted before the Empire.
To undo some of the shame he and Zane had worked hard to plant onto
the Akiran name. But there was no stopping her now. Kalila would be
acquitted. And with her powers restored to her, there would be a
thorough investigation. No doubt she would search high and low for
the souls who’d tried to frame her for the attack. And if Caerwyn
persisted in perpetuating the investigation into Kalila’s
evidence—which was certain now to end in her favor anyway—he would
only be painting a target on his face. True the Martels were
famously unfriendly with the Akiras, but so were the Savets, and
the Dorans, and the Conroys, and a host of other rival houses with
ambitions for the throne. No reason to draw unwanted attention on
the Martels…

“
I second the motion,” said
Representative Conroy. He gave Caerwyn a suspicious look and then
faced the center. He was always suspicious of everything Caerwyn
did, never wanting a Martel to do something—or think of
something—before he did. But that had its uses. Caerwyn had learned
quickly that he could lead Conroy around like a dog on a leash, and
all the while Conroy would assume he was acting to put the Conroys
ahead of the Martels.
Idiot.

The motion was called to a
vote and carried by an overwhelming majority. Caerwyn simply shook
his head. This development was indeed a setback. But, so long as
Kalila didn’t uncover anything truly detrimental, things would
still work out in the end. There were forces already in play that
were well beyond her control, and even surpassed her imagination.
He just needed to make sure—no
Zane
needed to make sure—the Martel brothers and their
closest associates kept their heads a little longer.

***

Calvin was surprised by Caerwyn Martel’s
motion to end the proceedings and officially acquit Kalila. It
didn’t seem in his best interests, the man wanted the throne more
than anything. Everyone knew that. And anything that made the Akira
House look bad—such as an investigation into the Princess’s
possible complicitness in a terrorist attack on Imperial
soil—seemed like just the thing Caerwyn would want to prolong and
draw attention to. And yet he hadn’t... Calvin looked at him and
frowned, scrutinizing the fat representative. Trying to read more
from the man’s plump face and features than one could usefully
infer from this distance. But the man gave away nothing.

The instant Kalila was officially acquitted
before the Assembly and the whole Empire—and her powers as one of
the Princesses of the Empire and a Royal Akira were restored—she
made a declaration. Her voice was strong, determined, and carried
over the mic for all to hear. Though she was physically quite
small, she had a large and confident presence. She spoke with the
authority of the King’s own voice and her words fell from her lips,
echoing across the chamber, like laws dictated in iron.

“
I hereby declare Lieutenant
Commander Calvin Cross a loyal citizen of the Empire. I revoke his
fugitive status and call for all our public, official, military,
and police authorities, local and Imperial, to desist any and all
attempt to capture Mister Cross. His name is cleared of all
wrongdoing and he is officially under the protection of the Akiran
House.”

Calvin had known this was coming, but he
hadn’t quite imagined the exciting feeling that rushed through him
as he stood on the Assembly Floor, facing the honored
representatives of every corner of the Empire, and heard the
princess herself call for his name to be cleared. For the slate to
be washed clean.

“
Furthermore, I hereby
instate Mister Cross as a full citizen of the Empire.”

This part surprised him. He was a
half-citizen, and would be until his mother’s death—or so he’d
thought. True, Kalila had once promised him that if he cooperated
with her she would make him a full citizen, but he hadn’t expected
that to be today—and wasn’t sure if she’d even remembered. He
looked down at his hands, not feeling like the same person, and
wondered what it would be like to no longer be secluded from
places, no longer be restricted to a lesser version of the justice
code, and no longer be frozen at Lieutenant Commander for the rest
of his life—assuming the military was eventually restored to its
proper status and he lived to see it happen.

“
With all my rights and
privileges, and all the rights, privileges, and powers of the King,
I am forming an investigative body to determine exactly how our
classified materials came into the hands of our enemies, and to
seek out those responsible for the slaughter of our citizens. They
will answer for their crimes. In the name of the King, I promise
you that.”

Calvin knew that, since it was traditional
for the Akira House to have a single voice on the Assembly Floor,
and that Kalila’s father had long-ago selected her for that duty
over even her older siblings, that meant Kalila did indeed speak
for the King. Which meant a real investigation into the Phoenix
Ring would finally be able to happen.  

“
Princess, that is a matter
for Intel Wing,” objected Representative Tate.

“
Intel Wing may run its own
investigation as well,” said Kalila. “But if Intel Wing is
responsible for leaking military secrets to foreign agents, and if
Intel Wing was therefore complicit in the attack on Renora, then
Intel Wing cannot be trusted to be the sole body investigating the
matter. I shall conduct my own investigation, under the banner of
the King.”

“
And who will lead your
investigation, Your Highness?” asked Representative Tate. Certainly
the Princess herself was not expected to personally direct such an
undertaking.

“
I hereby create the title
and position of Executor of the Empire. And I appoint Lieutenant
Commander Calvin Cross to hold and execute that position until such
time as it is dissolved or I designate a successor.” She motioned
toward him and all eyes looked his way. Calvin stepped out to the
center and joined Kalila at her side. “I am appointing Mister Cross
as my official representative, with all necessary powers and
authority. He will unilaterally direct this investigation. He is
now the Executor of the Empire.”

***

Calvin felt like a child with no swimming
lessons who’d been dropped by airship into a vast endless ocean,
kicking and punching the water with plenty of heart but no sense at
all of what he was doing.

“
You understand that I am
placing incredible trust in you,” said Kalila. They were in the car
again, and the motorcade was making steady headway toward the gates
leading to the Imperial Palace.

“
Yes, of course,” he said.
The name
Executor of the Empire
rang in his head over and over, like an echo. And
every time he heard it he felt a strange combination of pride and
utter terror.

“
You’ve followed my
instructions to the letter ever since I first met you on Tau
Station, and you’ve seen me safely back to my home,” she gave him a
short smile. “You have earned my trust. Now do not fail me.” Her
sharp eyes pierced his. “Far too much depends on you
now.”

He nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say, or
where exactly to start, but he knew that for the first time in his
life he had serious resources at his disposal. And with them he was
expected to get results. His fate was now irrevocably tied to the
Akiran House. They would succeed or fail together.

“
The victory we had today
will be short lived,” said Kalila. She looked out the window for a
moment, staring at the masses of people, and then looked back at
him. He watched her curiously, wondering what she would say. “Our
enemies will double their efforts, and they will do everything in
their power to see to it that my father loses his throne. Even now
the attitude in the Assembly is grim. Seeds of distrust are being
sown and, as the situation on Renora worsens, it is only a matter
of time before the Conroys, or the Martels, or someone else
challenges us for the throne. I don’t know who exactly is working
for whom, but I do know this,” her eyes sharpened. “If we lose the
throne, we lose the Empire.”

“
I understand,” said Calvin.
“But… what do you mean Renora will get worse?” He hadn’t heard much
about the ongoing revolt but had hoped it was winding
down.

“
My Father has landed troops
on Renora,” said Kalila, and she stared out the window. “Lots of
them.”

“
Why hasn’t word gotten
out?” asked Calvin. He certainly hadn’t heard anything about this,
and there was no mention of it during the Assembly
proceedings.

“
We have made great efforts
to keep it quiet. But it’s only a matter of time before the news
spreads across the Empire. Probably sooner than later.”

“
Why keep it a secret?”
asked Calvin.

“
My Father hoped to restore
order and put an end to the violence swiftly, and then allow the
news to spread. Let success be the first thing people
hear.”

“
But—?”

“
The situation is not going
well. Word will get out, and when it does, it won’t be good news
people hear…”

“
Ah…” Calvin looked away
from her and turned his thoughts inward for a moment. He wondered
what was happening on Renora, and why the plan to restore order
wasn’t working. Had they sent inadequate forces? Or was the
populace more defiant than expected? The most likely answer was
that the Phoenix Ring had its own plans for Renora and was working
hard to oppose the King’s interests.

“
This is why I need you to
get results, and to do so as fast as you possibly can,” she said.
“I need names, and evidence, and everything you can get your hands
on that explains what is going on and ties everyone together. It
has to be straightforward, irrefutable, and clear. Clear enough
that even the Assembly can understand it.”

He smirked but realized her last statement
hadn’t been meant to be lighthearted.

“
I will,” he said,
reassuring her. “I will get to the bottom of
everything.”

“
Good. And be swift,” she
looked at him once more. This time her eyes were pleading—those
beautiful, majestic brown eyes of hers.

“
I will. I promise. I
already know where to begin,” he said.

She looked at him curiously. Actually he had
several ideas and was going to follow up on all of them, but rather
than explain all of that to Kalila he decided to tell her about the
most important one—the one that he kept fixating on. “One of my
people… a friend, went missing here on Capital World not long ago.
I’d sent him here to investigate the conspiracy. After he’d dug up
a few things, he disappeared. No one has heard from him since. I
intend to use all of the resources at my disposal to find him, and
find him soon.”

“
As you should,” Kalila said
approvingly. “I hope that you find him soon, and that he leads us
to the enemies of the Empire.”

“
Princess,” he said, pausing
for a moment. She raised an eyebrow. “Thank you for all you’ve
done, for making me a full citizen and clearing my
name.”

“
Of course,” she said.
“You’d be a useless Executor if you couldn’t get in anywhere and
everyone was hunting you,” she smiled at him.

“
Yes and thanks. But I have
to ask you… why didn’t you clear the names of everyone aboard the
Nighthawk? My crew,
my
friends
. Technically they’re still at
large.”