Bride (The Unity Book 3)

by Gilbert M. Stack

  Jewel was absolutely certain that was true, but she suspected Kole hadn’t been completely honest in the way he phrased his answer to her father’s question. She knew that the Armenites viewed Kole’s visit as a form of exile, and that meant she did not know how much influence he would have back in the Hegemony if he did discover opportunities that he felt their two peoples should pursue.

  Footsteps rang on the corridor behind them and Jewel turned to find Foreign Liaison Captain Kae Wynne approaching them. Her black military uniform looked as crisp and perfect as it had several hours ago when Jewel had first met her. She came respectfully to attention but did not salute. “Empyreal Lieutenant, Captain Delling is now prepared to brief you on your new responsibilities.”

  Kole saluted the woman, which confused Jewel, because while the captain appeared to hold a greater rank, Kole was clearly an Empyreal and it was her understanding that Empyreals pretty much outranked everyone in the Hegemony. And who was Captain Delling? Was he one of Kole’s cousins? Perhaps a son of Empyreal Rear Admiral Delling?

  “Foreign Liaison Captain,” Kole snapped. “I stand ready to report to Captain Delling. Would you inform me of the arrangements to lead these civilian guests from the Khaba Cartel to a secure part of the ship while I receive my orders?”

  Jewel suspected that Wynne had not expected to be saddled with such a problem, but she proved more than flexible enough for the task. “I will escort them personally either to an unrestricted part of the ship or to their shuttle as they prefer while you attend the captain.”

  Nefer Reneb added her own suggestion to the quickly evolving plan. “Why don’t you escort Alexandra and Amon to their shuttle? They’re both tired and there is no need for them to wait here while we learn the specifics of the lieutenant’s new assignment. Jewel and I can wait in her quarters for her husband to return.”

  Jewel didn’t like that idea. “Actually, I’m going to go with Kole to learn what the Hegemony would like us to do.” She understood that the Hegemony, like her parents, was used to ordering people around, but she wasn’t truly an Armenite and she didn’t plan to simply passively accept their instructions. She also understood the ways that bureaucracies worked, so she knew that the chance of objecting successfully to Kole’s assignment diminished if he received and accepted it before she even knew what it was.

  Wynne looked at Jewel, a question in her eyes. “You were not included in Captain Delling’s summons.”

  Jewel made her tone sweet, but her posture uncompromising. “I wouldn’t be, would I? I’m not under his authority after all. But I think it would be polite of me to hear personally from the captain what the Hegemony wants us to accomplish in Cartel space. After all, I’m likely to have a better idea than any of you if their expectations are realistic or not.”

  Wynne bristled but didn’t verbally object.

  Beside Jewel, Nefer Reneb smiled.

  Chapter Five

  Can You Imagine the Embarrassment?

  “Empyreal Lieutenant Kole Delling reporting as ordered, sir.”

  Kole snapped a salute before the figure seated at the small conference table in Captain Krell’s briefing room on the Righteous Lightning. If Jewel were learning to read Armenite uniforms correctly, Captain Delling was a marine officer, not the higher-ranking naval man with the similar sounding title. His hair was so closely cropped he was nearly bald, revealing a smooth scalp completely clear of the blue-black tattoos that covered most of Kole’s body. He would be tall when he stood and his shoulders shared the same breath and extremely well-developed musculature that marked Kole’s physique. There was also something in the set of his square jaw that immediately reaffirmed Jewel’s suspicion that these two men were family. Cousins, she would guess, unless she was very much mistaken, this man was the son or possibly the grandson of Rear Admiral Hoyt Delling who had been so prejudiced against the marriage. That probably explained why he had twice rudely interrupted the wedding ceremony this morning with fits of what Jewel believed to be contrived coughing.

  For nearly a minute and a half, Kole’s probable kinsman ignored their presence in the room and pretended to be engrossed in the data displayed on the tablet lying on the table in front of him. Jewel thought the game of dominance absurd, but she let the man play it for Kole’s sake. It seemed unwise to start rocking the boat before she knew how deep the waters they were sailing in were.

  Finally the captain lifted his head. “Did I tell you to bring your wife with you, Lieutenant?”

  If there was any doubt left that Jewel was not going to like this man, he had just succeeded in dispelling it.

  Without hesitation, Kole barked out a response. “No, sir.”

  “And yet you chose to bring her anyway?”

  As Kole instantly agreed that he had, Jewel just couldn’t keep from butting in. “And why precisely did you think he could or should keep me away? He has no authority over me and the mission you are preparing to brief him on not only directly concerns me but quite probably will require my assistance if it is to succeed.”

  Captain Delling glowered at her, but honestly, Jewel had stood up to high ranking Empyreals in the past few days so Delling’s disapproval completely failed to move her. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jewel cut him off. She just didn’t like him and she wasn’t going to give him a chance to get the better of her.

  “Next you’re going to inform us that you can have me removed, but that would result in a strongly worded protest to your Council of Elders on both your discourtesy and your poor judgment in initiating a mission to the Cartel Worlds by grievously insulting one of your primary contacts in Cartelite business and society.”

  Captain Delling hesitated. He obviously did not want to concede any points to Jewel but just as obviously he was having difficulty aligning his arguments to convincingly exclude her from the briefing.

  Jewel wasn’t finished putting him in his place. “Assuming you don’t have a hidden agenda in this briefing—for example an espionage mission that you wish to keep from the knowledge of the Cartelite authorities—the proper course of action for you is to thank me for my time and my graciousness in attending this briefing so that our two peoples may get started on this new phase of our friendship on the best foot possible.”

  The captain sighed and half-conceded by simply ignoring Jewel’s presence. There was no apology.

  He moved his tablet across the table until it rested roughly halfway between himself and Kole and then placed his thumb securely on the screen. Kole stepped forward and did the same. The screen changed and both men withdrew their hands, so that the captain could begin reading.

  “Lieutenant Kole Delling, you have been assigned an important open ended liaison mission to the Cartel Worlds on behalf of the Council of Elders. The purpose of this mission is to familiarize yourself to the extent possible with Cartelite customs, practices and cultural perspective paying special attention to Cartel political and economic institutions. To assist you on this mission you have been assigned a foreign liaison team headed by Captain Kae Wynn and a military security detachment headed by Captain Hollis Delling. Both your foreign liaison team and security detachment will accompany you at all times and coordinate their activities with the nearest Hegemony embassy or diplomatic outpost. As an expression of our confidence in your abilities to perform this assignment and in recognition of your service, you are hereby promoted…”

  The captain’s voice stumbled for a moment but he quickly recovered himself. “You are hereby promoted two steps to the rank of major, detached from active military service and placed on special assignment under the seal of the Council of Elders. The only individuals remaining in your immediate chain of command outside the borders of the Hegemony will bear the rank of Ambassador to a Star Nation, Plenipotentiary to the Council of Elders or an Empyreal holding a rank higher than yours.”

  Delling paused to take a breath. To say he looked unhappy with what he had just read would be like suggesting that Cartelites were only a little bi
t fond of money. “To signify your comprehension of these orders and your willingness to accept them, affix your thumb print here.”

  Delling passed the tablet to Kole barely able to contain his disgust.

  Kole immediately stepped forward to press his thumb against the tablet screen.

  “One moment please,” Jewel said.

  Kole and Captain Delling looked to her in surprise.

  Jewel was pleased by how confident she sounded as she addressed her concerns. It appeared that all of her schooling added to her experiences on the Euripides and her negotiations with the Empyreals and Nefer Reneb had prepared her well for this first challenge as the wife of an Armenite. “The orders refer to both a security detachment and a foreign liaison team. How many people are in each group?”

  Captain Delling didn’t have to look at his tablet for the answer. “Twenty-two on the security team including me. Eight more in the foreign liaison team including Captain Wynne.”

  “Thirty people,” Jewel summarized. “Who will be paying for their travel, upkeep and the expenses incurred in the pursuit of their duties?”

  The captain sneered. “I’m given to understand that you are quite wealthy—even by Cartelite standards. Surely you can see that it is your duty—”

  Jewel cut him off at the ankles. “No, it is not. I don’t see the need for an Armenite security detachment—especially if we are traveling into the Cartel worlds. It seems more likely to cause difficulties than it does to eliminate them. If I need security in my home, I can hire the appropriate experts there who will answer to me. As for the foreign liaison team, I have no problem with Kole being provided a staff by his government to accomplish their objectives, but it seems only appropriate for them to cover the costs of their agents. After all, I am already incurring the expense of supporting seven thetes that were fostered on me as part of the marriage agreement. So I ask you again, how does the Hegemony intend to provide for its personnel on this assignment?”

  Much to Jewel’s amazement, the captain didn’t appear to know. Instead, he grew more belligerent. “You are a citizen of the Hegemony now. You will—”

  Jewel turned her back on him, walked to the com console on the wall and pressed the general call expecting an operator to answer her. “This is Jewel Sapphira-Delling.” Void but that sounded weird—not bad, just weird. “May I speak to Captain Krell please?”

  A crisp and efficient voice responded instantly. “One moment please, Ms. Delling. I will find out if the captain is available.”

  Jewel didn’t have to wait more than a minute before the ship’s commanding officer came on the line. “How may I assist you, Ms. Delling?” The positive difference between his tone and Captain Delling’s could not have been more pronounced.

  Jewel let her own voice fill with all the warmth and good humor she could muster. “I’m sorry to keep disturbing you, Captain Krell. I know you have far more important duties to attend to than playing nursemaid to all of my needs, but I’m having a small problem with Captain Delling here that directly violates a clause in the marriage agreement I negotiated with Justiciar General Farl. It’s almost tragic that we need to disturb the Empyreal over such a matter, but I’m afraid that if we don’t Captain Delling will soon elevate this to the level of international incident. Can you imagine the embarrassment to both our governments if we have to call in binding arbitration from a neutral third party in the very first day of my marriage to Kole?”

  Captain Delling shot to his feet. “What are you talking about?”

  Jewel smiled sweetly at him while Captain Krell answered her. “Of course, I can put you through. There is a small time lag in response time to the Vigilance but it will hardly rate as an inconvenience at this distance.”

  Jewel continued to smile sweetly at the bastard standing across the table from where her husband stood, enjoying the barely controlled anger playing across his face.

  After a couple of minutes during which the irritating Captain Delling resumed sitting, Justiciar General Ren Farl’s voice came over the speaker. Why Armenites didn’t spend the modest additional sums necessary to add video displays to these communications panels, Jewel couldn’t understand. “Ms. Delling, let me be the first Empyreal to congratulate you and your husband on completing your marriage obligations. This is an important day for the Hegemony and the Cartel Worlds alike.”

  Jewel permitted her smile to sweeten, hoping it would irritate the hell out of Captain Delling. “Why thank you, Justiciar General. Kole and I are most pleased to have the formalities out of the way so that we can focus our attention on the equally important task of working to improve the relationships between our two peoples.”

  She had to wait several seconds to hear his response.

  “Well said, Ms. Delling. In that regard, how may I be of assistance to you? I was quite surprised when Captain Krell informed me that a matter has already arisen which you feel is in violation of the agreements we negotiated.”

  The conversation couldn’t be going more perfectly, assuming of course that Farl’s good will was genuine. “I was surprised as well, Justiciar General,” Jewel confided. “But when we went over the financial issues, you made it quite clear that other than on certain limited issues of taxation to the state and my new House, I would have complete control over my finances.”

  She paused to allow Farl to comment on this point.

  The seconds of communication lag were irritating, but she trusted in her ability to keep such pesky emotions well off of her face.

  “That is completely correct,” the Empyreal confirmed. “What has happened to make you doubt my good faith?”

  “The Captain Delling in charge of Kole’s security detachment has informed us that I am wealthy enough to cover all of its expenses plus the costs associated with the foreign liaison team. Now I don’t know if Kole requires the assistance of these thirty individuals or not, but I do know any attempt to require me to pay for them is an insult to me and I strongly suspect that it as an insult to your honor, the honor of the House of Delling and the Council of Elders in whose names you negotiated our agreement.”

  She had to wait again, wondering how Farl would respond.

  He didn’t disappoint her.

  “Are you with Captain Delling now?” he asked.

  “He’s sitting about eight feet away from me,” Jewel informed him.

  After another pause, the Justiciar General’s voice boomed out from the speaker much more loudly than it had when he was speaking with Jewel. “Captain Delling, explain yourself.”

  Delling sat a little more rigidly, staring hatred at Jewel. Did he think that Cartelites built their fortunes by knuckling under to the first intimidating stare they encountered?

  “Sir, there is obviously a misunderstanding here. I assumed that the newest citizen of the Hegemony would be eager to demonstrate her loyalty to her new people by undertaking the modest expenses of this mission which was inspired to a significant degree by her marriage.”

  Another significant delay occurred before Farl’s response could be heard. “And did your orders give you the flexibility to interpret Ms. Delling’s responsibilities in this fashion?”

  “Sir, I—”

  Farl’s voice boomed out from the speaker again, cutting Delling off in an obviously pre-calculated manner. “No, they did not! And why doesn’t Ms. Delling and her husband know that they are not expected to incur these burdensome expenses? The supplemental materials provided to you as part of Major Kole Delling’s orders contain detailed information on the expense accounts available to cover the costs of deploying his teams. Why hasn’t he seen them already? Why was this call even necessary?”

  Farl was shouting by the end of his speech and Captain Delling was sweating as he listened to the Justiciar General.

  “I have not yet provided those materials to him,” the man admitted.

  After several seconds, the Justiciar General aptly demonstrated his disdain for the captain’s excuses. “Do so now.”

&
nbsp; A moment later Farl spoke in quieter tones to Jewel. “Ms. Delling, please accept my personal apologies for the incompetent and disrespectful behavior of this officer. I will personally place a formal reprimand in his file. Believe me when I say that this situation will not be repeated.”

  Jewel kept her smile sweet even as her eyes flashed daggers at the offending man. “Thank you for your assistance, Justiciar General. Would it be possible for me to have access to my husband’s orders so we can best figure out how I may assist him in these matters?”

  “Permission for your husband to fully brief you on his mission is included in his orders,” the Justiciar General responded after the time delay. “

  Jewel thanked Farl again and turned off the communications console.

  Kole had stood impassively during her entire confrontation with the captain and her conversation with Farl. Now he leaned forward, affixed his thumb to the appropriate spot on the other man’s tablet accepting his orders, and barked in an excellent rendition of a drill sergeant’s voice. “On your feet when you face a superior officer.”

  A startled expression flashed across the other man’s face and then he scrambled to his feet, knocking his chair over in the process.

  “Sloppy, disrespectful, and incompetent, Captain—you’re an embarrassment to the Hegemony!” Kole told him.

  The captain’s eyes widened with outrage. “I’m an embar—”

  Kole cut him off without letting him complete the sentence. “Did I give you permission to speak, Captain?”

  Years of military discipline and training were working against the captain. He broke off his remarks, stood even more rigidly at attention and barked out the only appropriate response. “No, sir.” Then he tried once again to make his own comments. “Permission to speak freely, sir.”