"Knights of the Chosen" - читать интересную книгу автора (White Lawrence P)

Chapter Six

Val boarded the cruise liner after days of private meetings with Admiral Seeton’s senior staff. As the only proof here on Aldebaran I of the Queen’s existence, Admiral Seeton had insisted that the Knight meet as many of his officers as he could, and Val jumped at the opportunity. He knew exactly what it meant to these warriors to have a Queen. No longer were these officers adrift, as they had been for more than a year.

Too, he now had a clearer understanding of the methods used by the Rebels for taking control of sectors. Sector governors either swore allegiance to the new regime, or they were replaced with individuals loyal to Struthers. The new governors then set about replacing their staffs with members loyal to themselves, reaching into the military ranks after solidifying their own personal staffs. The process took time but was inexorable in its completeness. The sector commander, Seeton’s boss, had caved in to the new governor’s demands quickly and was working hard to establish his own command structure of loyal officers. He hadn’t gotten far. Seeton had blocked him at every step of the way, walking a tightrope for months as he delayed and in some cases refused to carry out orders that would undermine his own strengths.

Seeton had been hard pressed by the new governor to allow Chessori observers aboard his ships, but the visit by Krys, the Queen’s Seer, had alerted him to the danger. The threat had been reinforced by Val and Mike, and he now knew without any doubt that the Chessori were the enemy. He would risk everything before allowing the enemy aboard his ships.

Krys had delivered the same message to Orion III, and Val expected to encounter a similar arrangement there.

Val had two reasons for taking passage on the cruise ship. First, it offered a non-military, clandestine method for approaching Orion III. Second, one of Seeton’s clerks had discovered six Chessori listed as passengers, and Val wanted to study them.

He slept through liftoff and felt completely refreshed when he emerged from his compartment. He spent several hours perusing the various decks, astounded at the multiple forms of entertainment offered to guests. Sorely missing Reba, he nevertheless congratulated himself on not being forced to explore all the activities offered by the entertainment staff. Reba would have demanded exhaustive involvement in each and every one.

He developed a routine of an hour of hard physical exercise before breakfast, then lots of time cruising the corridors or simply relaxing in various lounges, drinking mild stimulants to keep up appearances while constantly searching for the Chessori.

After nearly a week of failure, he resorted to asking Captain Summers to seat him with the Chessori during a meal. The captain gave him a troubled look, wondering aloud why a fleet lieutenant would have any interest in the Chessori, but when Val returned to his room the following day, he discovered an invitation to join the captain for dinner.

He decided to put a little pressure on the Chessori. Discarding his plan to act as a civilian, he put on his best uniform. A crewman escorted him to a seat directly opposite the group of six Chessori. To his left sat a man and woman returning to Cordolla, the ship’s first stop, after a year-long vacation. They were wealthy farmers recently retired. To his right sat a self-important businessman and his wife heading to a meeting on Orion III.

In Val’s experience, every species had one or two strong suits, almost always something physical that set them apart from other species, something that had helped them climb the evolutionary ladder high enough to let intelligence do the rest. It might be strength or speed, claws, beaks, or hands, size, or any combination of such things, but it was usually obvious.

The Chessori had no visible strengths at all. Short of stature and hairless, their bodies were completely white. Slim, weak necks supported disproportionately large heads. To all outward appearances, they were frail. And they were frail. The Chessori that Mike had tackled beneath the ship on Earth had died beneath him, its bones crushed.

Their only remarkable feature, other than the complete lack of significant strengths, was their eyes. Dark and shaped like ellipses, the eyes of the Chessori dominated their features. And they never blinked, didn’t even have visible eye lids.

The six Chessori sitting opposite him looked like mannequins sitting eerily still, their eyes never blinking but seeing all. His skin crawled at the memory of the mind weapon hidden behind those eyes.

Clearly, the mind weapon had paved their way up the evolutionary ladder. Other than Mike and Reba, Val was not aware of any other creatures in the galaxy that were immune to the weapon.

He wanted to stare at them. Even more, he wanted to pull from them the means to inhibit this mind weapon of theirs, but he could not – yet. He wanted to keep a low profile. The very presence of a uniformed line officer aboard a cruise ship was unusual, and Val explained his presence at the first opportunity. Keeping one eye on the Chessori for reaction, he described how he had lost his job as a ship’s navigation officer after failing to comply with his captain’s demand that he swear loyalty to the Rebels. He made it clear to everyone at the table that he supported the old Empire and would not waver in that position.

Conversation about the coup and its effects on the Empire immediately erupted around the table. The Chessori watched stolidly, their huge eyes betraying no emotion, though he did see questioning looks pass between several as the discussion continued.

“How can there be an Empire when there’s no Queen?” asked the wife of the retired farmer beside him.

“What makes you think there’s no Queen?” Val replied simply.

“Well!” the woman snorted. “Everyone’s seen the pictures. Everyone knows what happened at the Palace.”

“How can you support anyone who would do such a thing?” Val inquired, spreading his hands wide and addressing everyone at the table.

Silence held for a few moments, then several replies came at the same time. The general consensus seemed to be that it was done and could not be undone. It was necessary to consider the future now.

“If the Rebel cause was just,” Val argued when the discussion seemed to be dying down, “I might agree. But to rebuild from a foundation of treachery, of wrongness, to reward the ones who caused it with loyalty and support, what does that say of our values? And what does it say of the eventual success of their venture?”

The table went silent. Val looked at each of them during the silence, then continued. “Would you build your home from defective materials? Would you begin a new business with a knowingly defective business plan? Would you teach your children that honor is dead, that it is proper to reward murder and treachery with loyalty?”

These were not new subjects to these people. He knew they had given careful thought to the ramifications of the coup, though perhaps not in the same terms he had. Probably most discussion centered on what was best for themselves or their own worlds, not what was best for the Empire at large.

“I can tell you,” he continued, keeping an eye on the Chessori for any reaction, “that all modeling I have seen regarding the future of the Empire shows it coming apart at the seams under Rebel leadership. Maybe that doesn’t matter to you, but I promise you it will matter to your descendents. Their Empire will not be the pleasant place you have grown up within. I would be surprised to see cruise liners like this one plying the space lanes in two hundred years. It will be too dangerous.”

He turned to Captain Summers. “Have you encountered any pirates yet, sir?”

Summers smiled a tight smile. “No, and it’s your job to prevent that.”

“It was, and I hope it will be again when I find a new ship,” Val responded openly. “Which I hope to find on Orion III. But what if the very people you count on to keep you safe from pirates become pirates themselves? Have you thought of that? Have you thought about what the military could become without firm, centralized political control? And without the values these Rebels have so blatantly abrogated? To whom will the admirals and generals swear allegiance? Might they not become local strongmen, responsible only to themselves?”

Val looked around the table again, then let his gaze come to rest on the Chessori. “What do our Chessori friends think about all this?” he asked in a pleasant voice, inviting a response from them.

The Chessori directly opposite him spread his small hands wide. “To us, this is an internal issue. We take no sides. We are simple traders.”

“Traders?” Val asked in surprise. “Where’s your ship?”

“Ah…” the Chessori responded, his mouth turning into a thin, grim line, changing his stony facade instantly. “You ask just the right question, young sir.” He spread his hands to encompass his comrades. “Like you, we, too, are without a ship at the moment. We hope to remedy that on Orion III.”

“What happened to your ship?” Val asked innocently.

“A long story, sir, not appropriate for the table. Though I do not take sides in this internal dispute, I applaud your integrity. Are there others such as yourself?”

“Many. Most, I think. At present, some are adrift in their loyalties. That will change. They just need the right leader.”

“To whom will they swear loyalty? As stated earlier, your Queen is tragically dead.”

Val looked around the table before replying, seeing looks of agreement on most faces. He turned back to the Chessori who appeared to be spokesman for the group. “The Queen is, indeed, dead. The line of Chosen is not.”

There were gasps around the table, though no slightest change of expression appeared on the Chessori faces. Val turned to Captain Summers, discovering him returning Val’s look through narrowed, intent eyes. Val simply raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question as his gaze swept around the table. He turned his attention back to his food, taking a bite and chewing deliberately.

Everyone followed his example for a time, then the businessman on his right asked the question on everyone’s mind. “Is there a new Queen?”

Val deliberated for a time before responding. “At this moment, I cannot provide a satisfactory answer to that question. I can only tell you that my loyalty to the Empire and my oath has not, and will not, waver.”

“But all the Chosen were at the Palace,” one replied.

“According to whom?” Val responded without hesitation. “Struthers?” He paused to let that sink in, then added before returning to his meal, “His whole future rests on your perceptions, and his actions prove he is without honor. The line of Chosen is not ended. I know that for a fact.”

Later, as the table extended its regards to the departing captain and couples began heading off in various directions, Val cornered the Chessori and invited them to share refreshments with him. To his surprise, their spokesman accepted, leading the way to a lounge that was only sparsely occupied.

“Your hang-out?” Val asked as they pulled two tables together, then seated themselves.

“Yes,” the leader replied. “I am known as Forg.” He introduced the others and let Val introduce himself.

“I’m Lieutenant Val.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Forg replied as he extended his tiny hand.

Val took it and shook, instantly aware of the fragility of that hand and limiting his own pressure to what would otherwise be considered a weak handshake.

“Thank you,” Forg replied to Val’s thoughtfulness with a smile. “I can’t tell you how many times this hand has been abused. It is a custom we Chessori do not share with you.”

“Then I thank you for the honor extended to me.”

“Just a courtesy. We traders are accustomed to dealing with local customs.”

“Have you been a trader long?”

“All of my adult life, as have my friends here,” Forg said, indicating the other Chessori seated at the table. “We all come from the same family, a family that has been trading for generations.”

‘I know little of the Chessori,” Val answered honestly and intently. “May I ask a few questions?”

“You may. We do not often share in this manner, but the integrity you displayed during the meal deserves the honor of sharing. Such is held in high esteem among us.”

Val allowed a natural smile to light his face, hoping it would take the sting out of his next words. “Honor among traders?”

Forg bowed his head in response. “I sense the humor behind your words and share the joke. We Chessori traders love to bargain, though we do so under very definite rules of ethics. The outcome of any negotiation is to our advantage, or else we turn away. Our profit margins are reasonable, and when we make a deal we always abide by the terms. No exceptions. Those are our rules, and we are well known for them.”

Forg thought for a moment, then added, “Perhaps not so well known in your Empire, yet. We are relative newcomers here.”

Forg’s words took Val by surprise. Either this guy was a very good liar or Val was missing something. He chose his response carefully. “I wouldn’t say the same is true of us. I’m no expert, but I think our traders go for as much profit as they possibly can.”

“They do,” Forg agreed as he nodded his head. “Not difficult to counter if one knows his business well, and we know ours very well. We belong to a large network of traders and usually manage to find buyers before reaching agreement with the sellers. We rarely guess at profit margins.”

“How can you do that?” Val asked in surprise. “Aren’t most of your deliveries completed in other star systems?”

“Yes, of course, or my ship and crew would not be needed. We’re part of a very large… guild… you would call it, and we have our methods.”

Was Forg hinting at the Chessori interstellar communications capability? Val decided to tread in less dangerous waters until he got to know these Chessori better. He changed the subject. “You seemed interested in the discussion about our Queen. Do you have a similar government where you come from?”

“Definitely not,” Forg replied. “All male Chessori belong to guilds of various kinds. Some guilds have superior status compared to others, but commerce governs all. For example, if you need a new ship, you bargain with the shipbuilding guild. If you need a new home, you bargain with the homebuilding guild. If, instead, you desire a ship that is not new, you would bargain with a guild specializing in used ships. I know that in your empire it is possible to deal directly with a ship’s present owner, thereby bypassing the ship-selling guild, but that is not possible among the Chessori. I and my friends here,” he said, indicating the others seated at the table, “belong to a trader guild. We buy, transport, and sell. That is all.”

“Are there other trader guilds?” Val asked, interested in Forg’s description of his society.

“There are. Most tend to focus on one or two sectors within our empire, though some focus on special items as well.”

Val spent the next couple of days getting to know the Chessori. The process seemed remarkably easy, almost as if they were helping to speed things along. He wouldn’t say they became friends, nor could he ever trust any Chessori after the horrible agony they had inflicted on him, but they became comfortable with each other.

Following another dinner at the captain’s table, a dinner the captain had not attended for one reason or another, Val settled down with the Chessori for drinks in the lounge they had taken to frequenting.

“Do your trading activities compete successfully with the other races in your empire?” he asked. “I mean, maybe Chessori traders deal honestly, but surely not everyone else does.”

“You ask many pertinent questions,” Forg responded, looking at him thoughtfully. He glanced at his partners, though no words were exchanged between them.

When Forg turned his attention back to Val, he continued staring for a time before answering. “It is clear to us that you seek knowledge of the Chessori. In addition to that, you have given each of us the strong impression that you are more than you appear, and that you are a person of great integrity. Integrity is important to the Chessori. It is a fundamental tenet of our existence, as we have explained. Is it possible that you seek something from us, and that in exchange you might have something we want? Care to deal?”

Val’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “What is it that you want?”

“A ship.”

“A ship!”

“A ship. Specifically, we would like our old ship returned to us.” Val stayed mute, caught completely by surprise. Forg added, “We are traders, but we cannot trade without a ship. “

“What happened to your ship?” Val asked guardedly.

“Have negotiations begun?” Forg asked, looking directly into Val’s eyes.

Val’s pulse quickened. “Maybe they have, and maybe they haven’t. We can call this off at any time if we don’t come to agreement, right?”

“Agreed.”

“So what happened to your ship?”

“Can you get it back for us if I tell you?”

“Probably not, but how can I tell unless I know the whole story?”

“You admit, then, that it is a possibility? Are you more than you appear to be, or are you a simple pilot looking for work?”

Val had a strong urge to rub the stubble on his chin, but he was not about to reveal his increasing tension to this Chessori.

“Forg,” he replied, “I’m a pilot, as I told you. I’m connected with others, with many others who might be able to help you, but you ask much.”

“Would one of them be this Queen you mentioned?” Forg asked quietly.

Without hesitation, Val responded, “I will not tell you who my associates are. We have to get to know one another much, much better before that discussion takes place.” Jeez, he thought to himself, this guy is sharp. He scares me. Where’s Reba when I need her?

“And we shall. Let me leave you with a further thought before we part this night. I am Chessori. As such, I am bound by the rules of my guild. All Chessori are bound by such rules. One particular guild, a very senior guild, has chosen to interpret one of our rules in such a way that I and my guild members consider incorrect. That interpretation has led to the annexation of my ship, and mine is not the only ship taken in this manner. I intend to right this wrong. I will have my ship back.”

“You speak of dishonor among your people.”

Forg nodded solemnly. “I do. I do not say these words lightly. What has happened to me and my crew is bad, very bad. It is against all Chessori custom.”

“I am not Chessori. Is this conversation appropriate?”

Forg leaned toward him. “Probably not, but all of us sense something special in you. We have given this careful consideration. There is much competition between certain of our guilds. Some competition strengthens, but this particular competition weakens.”

Forg rose from the table, his crew rising with him. “I seek that which is right for my people. We might well be strengthened if we do this right. We will retire now. Do you wish to continue negotiations tomorrow?”

Val nodded. “Perhaps over breakfast?”

They exchanged details on where to meet, then Forg bowed and turned away.

Val stayed for a while, deep in thought. ›Are we falling into a trap, Artmis?‹

›Maybe. Are these Chessori who and what they appear to be, simple traders, or are they part of the same group pursuing Ellie? I don’t know.‹

How in the world were they going to determine the truth, Val wondered? At the very least, the Chessori were not to be trusted. Yet, he might really be on to something here. He, Mike, and Chandrajuski had considered the possibility that not all Chessori were involved in the coup. Was Forg hinting at a split of some kind among his people? Was it possible this guild thing had anything to do with it? If so, how big a deal was it to the Chessori? Was he dealing with one shanghaied crew, or were there others, possibly many others, who felt the same way?

›Consider a larger scale, Val. Could the Chessori be in the midst of a civil war themselves?‹

›That’s too big, Artmis, and the timing would be pretty coincidental, don’t you think? If I’m not reading Forg completely wrong, my guess is that this is more of an inter-guild thing, not an empire-busting thing. But we’ll keep your idea in mind, as well as the fact that we might be reading Forg wrong.‹

Fundamentally, if what Forg said was true, the Chessori were traders, bargaining until an agreement was hammered out. If true, since the Chessori were assisting Struthers, it meant that Struthers had struck an agreement with them.

›Did he strike an agreement with all the Chessori, or was the deal with just some of them, maybe just one guild?‹ Artmis wondered. ›How well does Struthers know the Chessori? Could he have struck a deal with just some of them, perhaps thinking those he dealt with represented all Chessori when, in fact, they didn’t, or did he strike the deal with certain knowledge that the Chessori leadership stood behind the agreement?‹

So many questions and no good answers. Val had six Chessori to question and learn from, really just one if Forg was fully in charge. Surely Struthers had dealt with many others, was, in fact, dealing with many others at this very moment. The Chessori were spreading quickly through the Empire, and the ones he had encountered prior to Forg were definitely siding with the Rebels. But what if they represented just one guild? What if not all guilds supported the Rebels? Was Forg a good guy or a bad guy?

Val knew that Mike, Ellie, and Chandrajuski were counting on him to find answers to these questions. He spent a restless night, unaccustomed to dealing with such far ranging issues with no one to fall back on for help. He wished Reba was beside him, knowing she’d have crystal clear insight that would put them on the right track. When he woke up the next morning, Reba was still uppermost in his mind. He talked to her while he worked out, trying to focus his thoughts.

Her cheerful response was, as always, simple and uncluttered. “You’re going to do this thing the way you’ve always done things,” she said in his mind, flashing her incredible smile. “The right way.”

Forg was alone when he arrived for breakfast. The diminutive Chessori seemed lost at the table set for eight. Val had to consciously remind himself that he was not dealing with a child.

“How did you sleep?” he asked as he sat down.

“Not well. You?”

“About the same.”

“We may be juggling similar problems,” Forg said, folding his tiny hands together on the edge of the table, his eyes glistening as they stared at Val without blinking. “The stakes are very high. Neither of us is in a position to trust the other, yet trust is our only currency at the moment.”

Val bowed his head. “I believe you’re right: it is a dilemma. How do we solve it?”

“Through negotiation. Tit for tat as your saying goes.”

“This issue may ultimately go far beyond simple negotiation, Forg.”

“Perhaps, but isn’t that the highest form of negotiation?” The corners of Forg’s small mouth lifted in a smile as his unblinking eyes stared back at Val.

“I guess, then, that I’ll start with saying it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever restore you to your ship. Nor is it likely I’ll ever be able to supply you with a different Chessori ship. An Empire ship is possible, but probably not suitable to your needs. Can I just supply you with the money for a new ship?”

“So you have access to ships and funds. I thought so.” Forg waved his hands in a negating fashion. “I don’t want money. I’ve already received payment for my ship.”

“You have? I thought someone took it from you,” Val said in surprise. “Did you get a fair price?”

“Negotiations were conducted between myself and another Chessori. Of course I got a fair price.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem is fundamental to all Chessori negotiations: I could not walk away from the deal without completing it. I am grossly offended.”

Forg’s words confused Val. “Offended enough to negotiate for information that might be construed as treasonous to your people?”

“What information I might share with you is not treasonous. It is to the benefit of my people that this horror be stopped.”

“To what horror do you refer?”

“I suspect you know very well of what I speak. Do you deny such knowledge?”

Val hesitated, then plunged in. “I’ve been on the receiving end of the Chessori mind weapon.”

›Careful!‹ Artmis said in alarm.

›I know, buddy, but it has to come out.‹

›Mike and Reba are not here to deal with him. I’m not ready to go through that thing again.‹

Forg let out a long ‘sssssssss,’ and fell silent for a time. “I was not referring to any such thing. You are mistaken. I don’t know what you are talking about,” he finished weakly.

“No mistake, Forg. It’s excruciatingly painful and disabling. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Forg took his time responding. “If such a thing existed, and I am not saying that it does, you would not be alive today.”

“Well, here I sit,” Val replied nonchalantly, one hand reaching across the table to distract Forg while the other crept toward his weapon.

“If that is a weapon you are reaching for, it is unnecessary. I am unarmed.”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you Chessori, it’s that you are never unarmed,” Val replied, his hand gripping the miniblaster tucked into his pocket, its barrel pointed directly at Forg.

Forg remained silent for a long time, his eyes searching Val’s. “Have negotiations ended, then?”

“Depends on what you have to offer,” Val stated calmly. “I would know more about this mind weapon, for one thing.”

Forg frowned. “Please describe it.”

“I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know,” Val said, his grip tightening on the blaster. “I’ve seen a small number of Chessori bring an entire warship to its knees, round up crewmembers considered disloyal to the Rebel cause and lock us up, then release everyone else to return to their duties.”

“Such a thing is not possible.”

“You know it is,” Val responded with disgust. “This thing was used only long enough to secure the ship for its command staff, long enough to arrest those of us judged unwilling to switch sides. So far as I know, everyone survived, and I’m certain its use was condoned by the Rebel officers who commanded the ship, for it affected them as well.”

Forg’s eyes wandered. He seemed confused, but he eventually nodded his head as acceptance of Val’s words seeped into his mind. “I’m sorry, Val,” he said, returning his gaze to him, staring at him. “You can’t understand,” he continued after a time. “To have used the scree against an outsider is bad in and of itself. To have allowed anyone to escape that knows of its existence is breaking a most fundamental law of the Chessori, a law that relates to the very survival of my species. I am bound by law to kill you now.”

“Well, you’d better be good at it because any flinching on my part will cause my weapon to discharge. It’s pointed directly at you.”

“I have nothing to fear. Should I so choose, you will be instantly incapacitated. Perhaps I have spoken too soon. You have not really experienced the scree, or you would know.”

“I have, and I believe it was used at full strength. But before you get carried away, think about something. If you were to use this scree right now on me, how would you go about killing everyone else in the room?”

“They would all be incapacitated.”

“So you’d have to kill them all?”

“Yes.”

“Then everyone else on the ship? I don’t believe that’s possible,” Val added uncertainly.

“It is possible, but not practical. It is certainly wrong.” Forg was again silent for a long time. When he spoke, his voice was very low. “If what you say is true, the actions of this very senior guild have transcended all guild law, all Chessori law. I cannot believe that what you say is true.”

“Believe me or not, Forg – that’s up to you. I can tell you with absolute certainty that many, many sailors have lived through its use and survived to fight alongside their Chessori comrades. As awful as it is, these sailors have accepted its use, knowing that in the long run it protects them from their opponents. Your secret is definitely out.”

He leaned toward Forg, his blaster still pointed at him. “Our knowledge goes far beyond that, Forg. We’re certain that the Chessori have partnered with the Rebels to bring new leadership to the Empire.”

Forg stared at him, then mumbled, “Impossible.” He looked away, but after a long period of contemplation, he returned his gaze to Val. “I cannot envision an agreement with the Rebels that would betray this fundamental tool of the Chessori. It defies reason. I must have proof.“

“Stick around with me long enough, and you’ll probably get it,” Val replied sadly. “It seems to follow me around. I’d offer to show you the scars, but it doesn’t leave any.”

“No, it does not. You may remove your hand from your weapon now.”

“All right. As a show of good faith, I do so.” Val placed both hands on top of the table, knowing it would not matter in the long run. He sensed Artmis’ nervousness but pushed the thought aside. He was nervous enough all by himself.

“My appetite has disappeared,” Forg said, standing up. ”I am returning to my quarters.”

“Okay,” Val said, shaken as well. “Just know one thing. You can probably take me out one way or another, but doing so will not put this particular genie back into its bottle. Your secret is known by many. We even have a pretty good idea of how the weapon came into being. It’s obvious your physical bodies are not strong. From way back in your species’ beginnings, you needed a special tool to survive. Looks to me like you got it. It’s worked on everyone I’ve seen it used against.”

“Its use does, indeed, cross all species boundaries,” Forg agreed, much troubled. “No one is immune except the Chessori. We can meet again tonight in the lounge. I give you my personal assurances that you will not be harmed by me or my brothers, at least not as long as we are still negotiating.”

Val looked into Forg’s eyes. “I guess that will have to be the next item of negotiation, then.”

Forg shook his head. “It is not that simple. You have given me an impossible dilemma. Good day, Val.”

They met again that evening. This time Forg and his companions all attended. With them in attendance, Val knew that Forg had shared the morning’s conversation with them.

Forg opened the conversation without delay. “We must return to our people. Can you help?”

Val snorted. “Do you know what happened to the last ships we sent to visit the Chessori? Our trade delegation?”

“I know nothing of any such delegation. What was the outcome?”

“They were massacred to the last man. All five thousand of them. It was the first display of this scree that we know about. So much for the honesty and integrity of the Chessori.”

Forg and his group looked stunned. Forg recovered long enough to ask, “If all were killed, how do you know about it?”

“I said all men were massacred,” Val replied evenly. “Several women survived. My friends have all the gory details. I would imagine Struthers and his ilk have, as well. In fact, I know they do.”

“Can you prove this?” Forg asked.

“Yes, but not here, and perhaps not to your liking. I could let you interview our survivors, but I won’t. I don’t think they’re much in love with the Chessori anyway. I think your best source of proof is the Chessori that were there.”

“These things are not representative of the Chessori,” Forg hissed. “We seek to trade honorably with you, nothing more.”

“Well, some of you seek more, lots more,” Val replied. “Enough to join the Rebels as they try to overthrow my Empire. Your people have accepted a big part in this coup, them and their scree.” A nasty grin lit Val’s face. “They’re going to lose, too. Wait and see. They’re going to lose. Have you chosen sides?”

“We choose the side of the Chessori, of course,” Forg replied absently. Then his gaze locked on Val. “And I don’t mean the Chessori you have already met.”

Forg’s gaze wandered among his fellows for a time, though no words were spoken. Val suddenly had an insight. “You’re talking mind to mind!” he exclaimed.

Forg’s gaze shifted instantly back to him. “Are we back to negotiations, then?”

“Call it what you want. It’s your turn. I’m one up on you.”

“You may infer what you wish. I will not become a traitor to my people, but I am troubled by the wrongness you have described. I would like to right these wrongs.”

“At what price?” Val asked. “Are we still talking about getting your ship back for you?”

“We are,” Forg responded, “but the stakes have been raised. Your vision of the Chessori is wrong. It is up to all Chessori to correct the error. It begins with us. We are prepared to offer guidance that might be helpful to you and your Empire, but I would ask a question first. Does your Empire stand a chance against these Rebels? Are we assisting the winning side, or will our efforts serve only to delay the inevitable? I would ask for a true evaluation, not just your personal hope.”

Val hesitated. “The outcome is in doubt, primarily because of the scree. The Rebels can and are being dealt with. The scree makes the process more difficult, but we have a plan. I believe the Empire will be restored to its full stature in time. It may even be stronger and better as a result of this coup. Any information you choose to provide might serve to speed up the process, but, quite frankly, I doubt if you have any information I don’t already have or will soon have through my own resources.”

“How will you defeat the scree?”

“All I can say is that we have a plan, and it’s a good plan. If it works, and if you speak true, it may be to your benefit as well.”

“No one has ever defeated the scree. ”

“No one has ever tried to take over the Empire either. We’re very serious about taking it back, and to do so we will have to defeat the scree. We have a plan.”

“You believe the Empire will be fully restored. The cohesion required by your Empire comes from a certain line of women who lead, a line which we have been informed no longer exists.”

“Forg, I say again, the Empire will be fully restored.”

“Your conclusions are based on what? Fact, hope, what?”

“All the above. We have a Queen, she is from the line of Chosen, and she fulfills all our requirements.”

Val knew he might have said more than he should, but the Rebels and their Chessori friends were well aware that Ellie had survived. What he had just divulged would not be a surprise to Forg if he was in league with the Rebels. If Forg was not in league with the Rebels, if he was, in fact, opposed to the Chessori who were working with the Rebels, it might give him hope. However, Val had clearly set himself up as one who could lead the Chessori to Ellie. He would have to be careful.

“I see,” Forg replied. “She is completely restored?”

“No. She rebuilds her Empire from a hidden location.” Val leaned toward Forg. “Don’t even think about asking where it is.”

“It is not necessary that I know,” Forg replied. “I have one further question. If I can prove to you that not all Chessori support these Rebels, will your Empire reconsider its perception of my people? Will your Empire give us the opportunity to negotiate a new relationship between our peoples?”

Val paused. He had to speak carefully. His words were the Queen’s words on all worlds of her Empire. He could not force her hand, yet to open doors and to provide opportunity was exactly what her Knights were all about. He would keep those doors open.

“Your task will not be easy,” he said to Forg. “If you can convince me, you will then have to convince others. But know this: if you speak true, the door is not closed to the Chessori. If you speak true, you will have the opportunity to be heard. A promise from me in this matter is a promise from the Queen.”

Forg stared at him. “You speak for your Queen?”

“I do.”

Forg looked to his friends for a time, and Val sensed confusion among them, though no outward sign showed. When Forg turned his gaze back to him, he said, “I knew you were more than you appeared to be, but you are young. How can you speak for the Queen?”

“You ask too much, Forg.”

“I do not ask too much. I ask a lot, but a lot is at stake here. I am a simple trader, but who you are is not clear to me. Fundamental to every negotiation is that representatives of each party be decision-makers. Are you in a position to decide? These are weighty issues. What you and I decide today might impact the future of our two empires, a future that is at great risk at this moment.”

“What do you have to offer?”

“If your knowledge of the Chessori is as limited as you say, I offer a window to the rest of my people that is, apparently, closed to you at the moment. Your impression of the Chessori is very wrong. I ask again, who are you that you speak in the name of your Queen?”

Val considered Forg’s words, then he considered Forg himself. Forg was Chessori, and Mike had declared all Chessori to be the enemy, but what if Mike was wrong? What if some Chessori were not the enemy?

If Val chose wrong, it would be a terrible mistake, but at this point the only risk was to himself. Was he willing to risk his and Artmis’ life? Almost worse, was he willing to risk the horror of the scree?

›What do you think, Artmis?‹

›I think you’re on to something. As Knights, our duty is clear. It is time to risk.‹

He shuddered, and Forg noticed.

“You are frightened. Is my question so threatening?”

“No, but the consequences of my choice are. I deeply fear a recurrence of your scree.”

All six Chessori hung their heads, seemingly in shame. When Forg looked back to Val, he said, “I now believe you have truly experienced the scree. For that, I am sorry. I cannot make amends, but regardless of how our negotiations progress, I offer my word as a trader that you will not feel its effects from me or my crew. That is a personal promise made outside the terms of our negotiations.”

“Words are easy,” Val responded. “Can you offer proof?”

“You know I cannot. Are we at an impasse? Have negotiations ended?”

“Can you afford to end negotiations?”

“I can. I’m not so sure that my people can. I would like to keep the door open between our peoples, but I do not have the means to do so on my own.”

Val sat back in his chair and considered. At the moment, the threat was only to him and Artmis. Regardless of what he revealed to this Chessori, only the two of them were at risk. Then he wondered. He opened his eyes to Forg.

“Can you read my mind?”

“I cannot. If I could, it would be a two-way communication, and you would know that my words are true.”

“Then everything is based on faith in our words.”

“It is, and the stakes are very high. If you choose to risk, I will reciprocate.”

“In that case, do you understand the position of the Queen’s Knights within the Empire hierarchy?”

“I have heard tales of Knights, tales that are spoken with words of reverence. I believe they are simply that, tales of the past. Of those that have spoken the tales, none ever actually met such a person.”

“You have.”

Forg let his surprise show for the first time. He sat back in his seat with his mouth hanging open. So, too, did the other Chessori with him. “The Knights of the Realm are real?” he finally asked.

“Very real, Forg. Also very few in number.”

“The tales mention a talisman created by the Queen,” he said softly.

Val smiled grimly. “You may call it a talisman if you wish, but its principal purpose is to serve as identification, unquestioned identification. Only the Queen, using Talents found nowhere else in our Empire, can empower these talismans, and they are given only to her Knights in a very special and private ceremony. Once empowered by the Queen, only she and the Knight to whom it was issued can activate it, and if either of them dies, it ceases to function. For the Knight carrying this talisman, his word is her word on all worlds of the Empire. I can readily believe they take on magical powers in tales.”

Forg seemed frightened. He remained pressed into his seat, as far back as he could get in that seat. “What are you saying, Val?”

“You asked if I was in a position to make decisions. I am, and this proves it.” He tossed one of his Knights Pins across the table. It came to a stop before Forg, spinning slowly until it came to rest.

Forg stared at it, afraid.

“Pick it up, Forg,” Val ordered. “It will not hurt you. Open it.”

Forg hesitated, then, looking at Val, he reached tentatively for the Pin with his small hand. The other Chessori leaned away from him, looking as if they were ready to flee. Before picking up the Pin, Forg looked to each of his men. No words were exchanged, but Val sensed they were communicating in spite of that. When Forg turned back to Val, he said, “I have issued instructions that no matter what happens, the scree will not be used.”

Val nodded, and Forg picked up the Pin. He examined it, saying, “It is beautiful.”

“What’s inside is more beautiful. Open it,” Val ordered.

Forg turned it over in his hands, then reached a decision. He brought his other hand to the Pin and tried his best to open it. He could not, and he returned his gaze to Val.

“Let the others try,” Val demanded. The Pin was passed to each, and each failed to open it. “Place it on the table,” Val ordered when they were done. Forg did so, and Val turned the Pin in the proper direction, then passed his hand over it. The Pin instantly sprung open, and light poured forth. Within that light, a hologram coalesced, a picture of Ellie, the new Queen.

“Who is this person?” Forg asked, mesmerized. Unless he was an accomplished actor, Val decided, his lack of knowledge added credence to his story. This Chessori seemed utterly unaware of Ellandra of the Chosen.

“She is the new Queen, the Queen of the Empire.” Val reached for the pin, closed it, and returned it to his pocket. He didn’t want anyone else to see it just yet.

“Then Knights of the Realm are real,” Forg said after a time.

“Very real, but few ever know who we are.”

Forg bowed his head. “I am honored. I wish to continue negotiations.”

“Know this, Forg. Negotiating with me is negotiating with the Queen. Know, too, that we never lie. We are not required to reveal entire truths, but we never lie. Such is our promise to her, and such is our promise to the citizens of Empire.”

“I am not of the Empire.”

“You are not, and at this point in time, all Chessori are enemies of the Empire. You will serve your people well if you can convince me otherwise.”

“Then negotiations continue. The opportunity you offer pleases me. We Chessori traders have been quite successful here in your Empire. A return to normal will be good for the Chessori because it will be good for business. What would you like to know that I can tell you?”

Val was caught by surprise. He thought for a moment, then dove in. “Your ship was taken from you. Why?”

“I can only surmise, but your description of the use of the scree answered a lot of questions that had previously had no answers that made sense to us. The Chessori in some sectors appear to have been successful at insinuating themselves into your warships. Not so in Aldebaran Sector. Because of that lack of success, I believe the guild to which I referred earlier has elected to assist the Rebels by manning their own ships. My ship is probably a warship now.”

“But it’s a simple trader. Is it armed?”

“It is armed. We Chessori do not always trade among friendly people.”

“Surely a trader cannot be as heavily armed or protected as our warships. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Were there no warships among the treaty group?” Forg asked impatiently.

“There were many.”

“As you have surmised, we Chessori have methods of survival that do not require the use of heavy weapons and shielding.”

Val shuddered, knowing Forg was right. His memories of the scree would never be far from his thoughts, particularly when in the presence of Chessori. “Why are you headed to Orion III?” he asked.

“My guild is alive and well in Orion Sector. The senior guild of which I spoke has not needed to annex our ships there. We hope to join another Chessori trader for a ride home. Once home, we will begin the laborious process of finding a new ship.”

Val was thunderstruck. He’d been thinking too small. On his cruiser Beta IV, the Rebels had usurped control of the ship with the assistance of the Chessori. They had then expanded that control to the rest of the squadron without any fighting at all. It appeared that Struthers was, right now, expanding that plan to include the rest of the Empire. Even though the program appeared to have failed in Admiral Seeton’s sector, Struthers’ fall-back position presented an equal threat to Seeton’s ships. Would they be able to fight against even one Chessori trader, let alone a fleet of Chessori traders? He didn’t think so.

If the Chessori in Orion Sector had not needed to annex traders’ ships, that meant that Admiral Korban had caved in to demands to place Chessori aboard his own ships. Surely he would not have done so had he known the repercussions. Did he know, even now? How well had the Chessori infiltrated his fleets?

Then he remembered Harry Seeton’s lost squadron. Had it encountered the Chessori? His lips pursed as he considered the repercussions. If what he surmised was correct, Struthers’ strategy was brilliant, and possibly unbeatable. Mike had been the only one to see the plan in its entirety, and he’d been right. No wonder he was in such a hurry to get to Earth, to take responsibility for that project as First Knight. The Chessori had to be neutralized if the Queen’s forces were to have any chance at all against the Rebels.

“How can we fix this?” he asked Forg.

“You can’t. You may have already lost the war, at least in Orion Sector.”

“We have a plan,” Val assured him. “Will you help?”

Forg thought for a time, then Val realized he was probably discussing the issue with his partners. When he turned his large eyes back to Val, he said, “We don’t know what we can do. There aren’t enough of us. At this point in time, I suggest we continue our negotiations, knowing that much more is at stake than my ship.”

“To what do you refer?” Val asked.

“Our futures,” Forg responded. “If your Empire wins, there will be blood lust for the Chessori. I would avert that for both of our peoples.”

“And if we don’t win?”

“Your leader, Struthers, will be a figurehead. I believe this senior guild of the Chessori has gone rogue. It wants to own your Empire, and it will if we don’t stop it. Once your Rebels have won, what is to stop their Chessori partners from turning the scree on them?”