by Mark Eller
"I like garlic."
"So do I. Is there enough there for another sandwich?"
"The first one is yours," Aaron said gallantly. He flipped the sandwich onto a plate and set the plate on the cupboard while she cleared a space on the table. Since she wasn't looking, he lifted the top slice of bread and added the garlic he had refused to use earlier. "I have enough fixings to make six. I don't believe we've met."
She laughed nervously. "I'm sorry. I'm Karen Dandledge. I met Amanda a few months ago when she attended an economics class I was teaching. I'm telling you the woman has the most amazing mind I ever encountered."
"Yes, my mind is amazing. " Wearing a robe, Amanda entered the kitchen, walked up to Karen, and gave her a brief hug and kiss. "Missed you when I woke up. " Releasing Karen, she moved over to the stove and kissed Aaron on his uninjured cheek. "Put garlic on mine and I'll kill you. Has anything interesting happened since we last spoke? I see your cheek is bandaged."
Aaron released a half-relieved, half-disappointed smile. His moral dilemma had found its own solution. Amanda was definitely not receptive.
"Aaron?"
"Hmmm."
"I asked you a question."
"Oh, yeah. " He shook himself to attention. "Sorry, I was woolgathering. " Thinking back over the previous weeks and months he wondered just how much he should tell her.
"The business is doing better than I expected," he finally said. "I got married again. " And Kit had denied him, and he had killed people, and he had crippled a man yesterday and almost been killed myself. Amanda needed none of that.
She smiled tiredly. "It's a good thing I got my time with you when I did. I suspect it won't happen again now because you've remarried. Congratulations. I hope she makes you happy."
"That's still debatable. Getting married was her father's idea. I'll tell you the story someday. Today is your time to talk."
"Why, thank you, Mister Turner. My life has been dull of late. I've expanded the firm, sold rights to a number of patents, started a few businesses too profitable to leave out of our hands, and I've pretty much expanded your total net worth more than six hundred percent since the last time we talked. We now own a few mines and two shipping lines. Several corporations from a few different countries are putting out feelers."
Pausing, she smiled. "Oh, yes, I also fell in love with Karen, whom you have met. She's very intelligent. Do you know she holds three doctorates, and um, I almost forgot. I'm pregnant. The funny thing is I was ready to give up on having any of your kids. Then you became the aggressive one. Before you ask, this one belongs to me. If you want to raise brats of your own, you better talk to your new wife."
Amanda's grin turned impish as she took in his stunned expression. "Flip your sandwich, dear. It's starting to burn. "
Chapter 19
Leaning over the table, Missy tried to blink sleep crud from her eyes while listening to Kim and Melna. When the front door opened, she turned her head to see Aaron walk in. Her gaze fastened on the bag in his hand.
"Are those what I think they are?"
"Two left. Want one?"
"No way buster. It's been a good many years, but I remember you always use too much garlic. I don't want anything you cooked, and I don't want you near me until you've brushed your teeth. " She shifted her weight on her elbow. "Mistress Turner tells me her night wasn't as entertaining as I expected. Her Stone only worked on her for a few minutes. After a little tingling, she grew tired and fell asleep. We don't know what her Talent is yet. She seems able to see a little better, but I doubt that's why Autumn wanted her to have the Stone. Kim's Talent gave itself away as soon as she got off the couch. She doesn't make a sound unless she wants to. She can stomp around as loud as she likes, and nobody will hear a thing."
Aaron gestured meaningfully toward the servant's door.
"I sent them out half an hour ago," Melna said. "By-the-way, there's another meeting in an hour. You received a special invitation from the Chins. Apparently, the emperor wants you sitting near him. The Chin who delivered the missive is quite impressed by this. She wanted to know everything we could tell her about you, and she seemed disappointed when you weren't in. She says she admires the skill and ruthlessness you showed yesterday. She said it takes a lot of mean to leave a man with no legs and only one working hand."
Melna paled as she spoke. Licking her lips, she straightened her shoulders. "It was cruel, Aaron. Why did you do it? Why did you cripple him for life?"
"Because he's a mean and cruel man," Aaron answered. "I know Johnston from years back. He likes to hurt people for fun. He ruined at least four men under his command, and I saw him shoot down the least promising of his recruits several times. He called killing them an object lesson for the others."
He looked around slowly, catching every eye. "I spent thirteen years not much better off than he is now. Johnston is more than welcome to spend the remainder of his life the same way. I won't spend one moment regretting what I did."
Kim's eyes were flat, empty. Those of the other women were wary and judgmental. Aaron knew Melna suffered uncertainty again about the man she had married. Missy probably wondered how much he had hardened since those years when she had known him well.
"I did not kill him," Aaron said firmly.
"I would have. " Kim held her Talent Stone in her hand. She rubbed her thumb over its surface in gentle circles. "I would have killed him without risking my life or yours. " She smiled a thin tired smile. Her eyes were dark with exhaustion. "He would not have suffered. He would have made a very bad messenger."
"What do you mean?" Missy demanded. "The man is crippled for life. Mister Turner, you were stupid to put yourself at risk, and I don't approve of what you did."
Melna relaxed in her chair, the tension suddenly gone from her back and shoulders. Turning to Missy, her expression brightened as she worked out the ramifications. "Of course! Kim is right. Aaron did several things at once. He revenged me and paid the man back for what he did those many years ago. Simply killing him would have settled those scores, but Aaron didn't kill him. Instead, he turned Johnston into a living message, telling this section of the world that Aaron Turner is a dangerous and ruthless man. Mess with him and a price will be paid."
"There's an assassin's contract out on Aaron," Kim told Missy. "He fought off one assassin. I warned off those who hired others. With this shooting, Aaron told the people responsible they had better step carefully, if they don't he will come after them."
Melna's admiring gaze fastened on Aaron. "It's something my daddy would do."
Aaron thought they were all crazy. If he had been thinking any of those things, his thoughts had been invisible even to him. He just didn't want another death on his hands.
Slamming his hands down, he abruptly pushed up from the table. "I have today's conference to prepare for. Kim, you'll need your sleep. I want you to come to Galesward with me."
He walked into his bedroom, closed the door, and packed for the journey.
When he went back into the main room, Kim had already left. Following the sound of snoring, he found her asleep in the spare room. In the center of the living area, Missy led Melna through her forms. Aaron watched for a few moments, noting how Missy calmly corrected several of Melna's small errors. Watching them, he realized he made a few of those same errors.
When he headed for the door the two women broke off to follow him. Rushing ahead, Melna opened the door.
Aaron gave them a hard look. "What's this?"
"Kim wouldn't sleep unless we promised to keep an eye on you," Missy explained. "She felt guilty about what happened yesterday."
Missy seemed not the least bit awkward about the night they had spent together, almost as if the matter had slipped her mind. Aaron did not find the insight flattering.
Melna curtsied. "As your wife, I insist on accompanying you. With the enemies you make, I don't want to be left alone."
Feeling guilty, Aaron frowned. He should have paid more attention
to Melna's safety after the Johnston incident. Being a small woman, Melna looked like an easy target.
A blond gentleman with a broken nose and a female assassin who had fallen beneath Melna's club gave testimonial to the reverse. She was not a compliant target, but she did look easy. Those looks were sure to attract a few human wolves. Like it or not, he was responsible for her.
He would just have to make the best of it.
* * *
Aaron soon discovered his social status had changed overnight. People who had been standoffish now took pains to be polite. Even the doorman's attitude had changed again. To Aaron, the whole thing was sadly amusing. Apparently, severely injuring a man in a duel was a socially positive thing. In Aaron's opinion, he should be shunned, not admired. He would never understand people.
When he reached the conference room and tried to enter the doorway, a young security guard stopped him.
"I'm sorry, Mister Turner. You have to leave your weapon outside. " Her manner was open and friendly, but her tone indicated she would brook no argument. Aaron noticed two men, plainly dressed, hovering nearby.
"You let me in yesterday. Other people are carrying knives and swords."
"We weren't aware you carried a projectile weapon yesterday. It isn't permitted."
Maybe so, Aaron thought, but he wouldn't hand his gun to someone he didn't know. He didn't recognize the guard, and the two men standing by wore acquisitive looks.
Missy nudged him. "Give it to me. I'll stay out here."
Aaron doubted the wisdom of handing a loaded weapon to someone unfamiliar with firearms. She must have read his indecision
"Cathy taught me how to use the one you gave her before she ran out of ammunition. Don't worry; I'll take good care of it."
He reluctantly handed her the gun and went inside.
"Sir, you are late," the greeter said. "A seat has been reserved for you near the emperor."
"I'll need a seat for my wife, also."
The usher pursed her lips in feigned thought. "That may not be possible. Every chair is already claimed except for your own. Other people have brought guests."
"I understand," Aaron said. "Please have two chairs reserved for us tomorrow. We may return then. " Turning to Melna, he smiled warmly. "How would you like to go birding?" He took her arm and turned back to the entrance.
Melna's brows creased. "I've never handled a falcon?"
"This is a different type of hunting. I'll show you."
"Sir!" The usher flushed. "It is possible another guest can be persuaded to move or leave."
Aaron sighed. "Oh, all right. See what you can do. " Holding Melna's arm, he felt her quiver with suppressed mirth.
An extra seat was soon found and moved beside the one reserved for Aaron. His seat was central enough to delay the proceedings for several minutes. As far as Aaron could tell, no one was asked to leave.
Eventually, they were seated with the Chin delegation, but not next to the emperor. Klein turned his head to wink broadly at Aaron before continuing a conversation with the broke-nosed blond. Bill Clack, Aaron suddenly remembered. The man was named Bill Clack. He was impressed with himself for finally remembering. As he recalled, they had only interacted a few times.
Clack's conversation with the emperor was too low for Aaron to hear, but it soon became apparent they argued. Aaron suspected the subject was him. His suspicions were confirmed when Clack turned murderous eyes on Aaron and Melna. Aaron yawned and refused to wilt.
Fortunately, Melna missed this byplay. She peered into the crowded room, eyes darting from face to face while listening to the poly-babble surrounding them.
The debates soon started in the same boring manner as the day before. Aaron's interest perked when the emperor finally made the expected proposal of forming a League of Nations. He generously offered to donate land where a city could be built to house the delegates. Klein proposed the concept of expanded diplomatic immunity, mentioned membership fees, and brought up the idea that the newly created body would form internationally recognized laws.
Helmet's plans were clear, precise, and showed hard and intelligent thought. Many of the ideas he spoke of had been tossed around by rumor during the past two weeks, but none had been put into such a concise form. Interpreters explained the ideas to their principles while scribes wrote every word down. For the most part, Aaron was impressed with Klein's proposals. He would have been more impressed if he had not known most of them were stolen from their shared birth world. Klein was a politician in the same manner Aaron was a manufacturer and inventor; he stole shamelessly.
Helmet chose that moment to put Aaron on the spot.
"Before anyone claims I brought forth these ideas only to further my own interests," the emperor said in a strong, clear voice,"I will introduce my friend and councilor, Mister Aaron Turner. This man has done more to improve the manufacturing process than any other in the last five hundred years. He is directly responsible for the new products and medicines Isabella has recently introduced. Aaron Turner wrote to me of his idea of a League of Nations. His ideas are sketchy, but my understanding of them is sketchier. Please question him if you desire further details and think about how you can flesh them out. Mister Turner."
Swallowing, Aaron glared at Klein who only gave him a veiled wink as a delegate began talking in short swift sentences. After listening carefully, the man's interpreter turned to Aaron. He spoke slowly and with great effort, but Aaron didn't understand a single word. Standing, he raised his hands.
"I'm sorry, but I can't understand you."
"He asked for a clarification of this league's duties and powers," Melna supplied. "He is Sir Arnault B'Nari from Aratinal."
"Thank you. " Facing the assembly, Aaron ran a nervous hand through his hair. His forehead dripped moisture. "The League of Nations will have the duty of establishing a unified international law. These laws will apply only to the dealings of one nation with another and not with the internal workings of a country's self governance. They will address such matters as trade, war, and the rights of a country to its coastal waters. For example, how many miles from a shoreline do those rights extend. To be enacted, the laws will require a two-thirds majority vote. Every member nation, no matter what its size, will have a vote equal to every other nation. The power of the body ranges from a verbal slap to trade sanctions to the ability of the league to field troops against an offending nation."
"Why should we do this?" one woman shouted out. "What are the benefits?"
"The benefits will be seen most strongly in trade," Aaron told her. "Fair rates and standards can be set, and the seas will be better protected from piracy. We all know most economies benefit from an easy flow of goods. We also know a great deal of the cost of international commerce is due to theft and bribes. A well run international organization should minimize those costs."
"The smaller countries need those bribes to boost their economy," somebody pointed out.
"What you are speaking of aren't bribes, but tariffs," Aaron answered. "Tariffs are fees set in place by a country upon foreign goods. Those fees should be kept reasonable, but even if they are not, the league will have no right to interfere with them. Please remember, the league can only interfere in the dealings of one nation with another. It will have no power over any nation's internal affairs. It can dictate only international laws agreed upon by the majority of its members."
Aaron looked slowly around the room, trying to catch every eye. "My ideas are rough. I've had little time to work them out, and I'm only one person working from a limited perspective. I have no right to do more than sculpt out a few rough ideas."
Watching the ambassadors, Aaron felt at a loss for words. Although he was familiar with his home world's League of Nations, he had never paid much attention to it. "Thank you."
A babble arose as he sat down and a lunch break was called.
"I didn't know you spoke other languages," Aaron whispered to Melna, waiting as people filtered out of the room. H
is skin prickled from nervous sweat.
"I learned several while traveling with my father," she replied. "Problem is, I never heard that one before. Don't even know what it's called. Aaron, I've understood every word spoken here today. Apparently, it's my Talent. Now tell me why you never said anything about this league of yours."
"Not my league or even my idea. I'm guessing Helmet didn't want it presented as his baby so he foisted it off on me. Melna, the idea isn't new. It's used in the place where he and I were born. He knew I was familiar with it so he dropped the ball in my lap because I'm neutral."
"More of a gull than a neutral," she observed. "From what I overheard, this thing already has its proponents and detractors. Some like it because it will put their nations on an equal footing with their larger neighbors. Others hate it for the opposite reason. Somebody noted such a league would be a great deterrent to a Chin invasion. Somebody else said the idea could be easily discredited if you are."
Drawing a deep breath, her face suddenly paled. Her eyes grew hard. "Mister Clack."
Aaron glanced around until his eyes rested on Clack's broken nose. Clack's smile was almost frightening against the backdrop of purple bruises around his eyes.
"Mistress Turner, when are you going to come see me again? I suffer disappointment over our broken dalliance. Please, Mister Turner, we are in public. Your glare is very unsettling."
"What do you want?" Aaron demanded, his face burning.
"Your wife. I do so want to play with her again. Please inform me when you tire of her."
Aaron started to rise, but Melna's unexpected hand connected with his shoulder, shoving him back into his seat. She had risen much faster than he. Standing close to Clack, she looked into his bruised face with satisfaction.
"I don't want to play right now," she said in a silky voice. "You're not in any condition to carry through. " Moving closer to Clack, she reached up to gently pat his cheek. "I thought so, you poor thing. You should wait until the swelling goes down before getting new ideas."
