"Charles Ingrid - The Sand Wars 05 - Return Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ingrid Charles)

Prologue
^┬╗
Pepys, emperor of solar systems, sat in his communications web like a
bloat-bellied spider, his frizzy red hair alive about a face furrowed in
concentration and worry. His fingers twitched as his mind communed, but
he found nothing he wanted in the data he combed.
 He broke silence with a furious yell that echoed throughout the obsidite
rose-pink hallways until his minister heard him and came running, security
cameras panning every flap of his somber black robes as he answered the
call.

Pepys was unplugging from his computer network when Baadluster
gained the chamber. The emperor looked up, his pale, freckled complexion
drawn in anger over the skeletal bones of his face. Vandover paused,
thinking to himself that, underneath the anger, Pepys did not look well. An
unwell emperor boded ill for the Triad Throne as well as for the Dominion,
for Pepys was the war leader and main creditor of the armed forces. He was
a brilliant man, but he had always reminded Baadluster of a small star
shining brightly just before it went nova. The ambitious side of Baadluster
found the realization enlightening. He produced a smile.

"Can I help you, your majesty?"

Pepys pushed himself out of the chair holding his frail looking body.
"Find him."

Baadluster lost his smile. Pepys' battle with the commander of the
Dominion Knights was a war that had already drawn in and destroyed one
ambitious successor to the throne. Baadluster might be found out and
defeated, but he had no intention of fighting a losing battle not his own. He
said cautiously, "Commander Storm was reported lost in the skirmish on
Colinada. Although I give the Thrakian report as little credence as you do,
your majesty, it appears the information is correct."

"And Saint Colin walked out of there unscathed while the best soldier in
battle armor was blasted into ashes?" Pepys gave a snort of disgust.

"Then ask the Walker what happened. As a religious man, he should be
predisposed toward lying."

"I have. He confirms the Thrakian story." Pepys shrugged into an over
robe, its threads woven into a nearly impervious fabric. Its weight did not
seem to tax the emperor's slight shoulders. The red-haired emperor had a
wiry strength often overlooked. Pepys looked up, cat-green eyes glittering.
"Jack is an idealist. I lost his trust when I made an alliance with the Thrakian
League. In his eyes, we've sold out to our worst enemy. He understands
diplomacy about as well as you understand the emotion of love. If you can't
find him, find the girl. She'll find him."