After the Crown

by K. B. Wagers

  I laughed. “Of course. We’ve had more than enough excitement lately and there’s plenty more to come. I don’t think we need to add explosive decompression to the list.”

  “No, we do not.”

  “Who was the traitor?”

  Sadness swept over Admiral Hassan’s face. “Cole. Commander Hamprasade,” she clarified for the others. “My aide.”

  I muttered the curse. “I’m so sorry.” I’d met the admiral’s aide several times. Alba had worked with her closely and I glanced at my chamberlain with a sympathetic smile when she gasped.

  “Me, too. I trusted her. Hell, I groomed her for the position. Phanin got someone on board down in engineering. Cole let him sweet-talk her into betraying the empire. Stupid idiot. Lantle shot her. We’ve got the man in the brig.”

  “Where are my BodyGuards?”

  “In your quarters, Majesty. As soon as we got them set up, they insisted someone be on duty at all times. They’ve been running in shifts for several days now.”

  “They’ll be happy for some relief then.”

  “I’d offer you food, Majesty—”

  “Don’t worry about it. We’re headed for a place to restock. Pass these coordinates to your fleet.”

  I’d chosen this spot because it was just a short warp hop away from one of Po-Sin’s resupply stations. I’d spent an hour on the com link haggling with him over the cost. Even Alba had been pleased with the results, though Matriarch Saito had gone paler than I thought possible as the cost went up.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  We came around the corner and I spotted Lantle at the door. The older man smiled, touching his hands to his heart and lips and forehead. “Your Majesty. It is a great relief to see you again.”

  I touched the back of his head, pulling him in and touching my forehead to his. “You as well. How are the other two?”

  Elizah and Ikeki were both new guards, which was part of the reason they’d been on the ship and not on planet with us.

  “They are sleeping, Majesty.”

  “Let them, and you go get some sleep as well.” I looked over my shoulder at Emmory, who nodded.

  “In a moment, Majesty.”

  Orders were issued in a flurry; Emmory stayed at my side as Kisah and Indula went into the quarters first. It all went like clockwork and I ignored Hao’s amused smile as I headed into our new quarters.

  “I’ll let you get settled, Majesty,” Admiral Hassan said. “If you’d like to com me when you’re ready?”

  “I will.”

  “You’re relieved,” Emmory said to Lan. “Good job, Lan.” He held out his hand and the Guard took it with a smile.

  “We’ve got quarters set up across the hall and just one door down,” Lan said to Zin. “I can show you.”

  “Majesty, I’m going to take Fasé to lie down for a little while in the BodyGuard quarters,” Stasia said, and I nodded.

  “The lieutenant said it would help her to stay with us. Take Kisah with you.” I didn’t know how long it would be before Hasai brought the other Farians to see me. I hoped to have a little more time with Fasé to convince her things were going to be all right before we did.

  “Is there anything to drink in here?” Johar flopped onto the couch, stretching her long legs out in front of her. “Would you believe those stupid Saxons didn’t have any alcohol on their ships? How do people live like that?”

  “We don’t all have mechanical livers, my darling,” Rai said, settling onto the couch next to her.

  “Mechanical liver?”

  “There was an accident,” she said with a grin, and patted her torso. “This one works much better. Drinks, O imperial one.”

  Hao snorted with laughter. “You should keep her around, she’ll make sure you stay humble.”

  “Rai would never let me.”

  “Rai’s not the boss of me,” Johar said.

  “I’m not sure Indrana is ready for you until after this whole coup thing calms down.” I blew her a kiss and went to investigate the bank of cabinets on the far wall. Three tries garnered me some glasses and a bottle of rather expensive Earth vodka.

  Johar took them and poured out drinks. “The universe is a horrible place. I like seeing it treat my friends well. To the Empress of Indrana.”

  I laughed and tossed back the shot. “Don’t break the furniture,” I said as I handed Hao my glass for a refill. Taking it back, I headed for the bedroom. “Alba, I’m going to lie down; let me know when the Farians arrive. I’ll—”

  The door slid open and Cas scrambled through. “Majesty, it’s Fasé.”

  “Bugger me.” I set my drink down, sloshing liquid over the rim onto the table, and booked it out the door. Emmory was right behind me. “Where is she?”

  “In the landing bay. I don’t know how she got past me, ma’am. She took Kisah down at the door.”

  “She didn’t…”

  Cas shook his head. “No, she didn’t kill her, just knocked her out. Stasia went after her.”

  “Majesty, what is going on?” Admiral Hassan met us in the hallway with Zin on her heels.

  “Admiral, call your Farians to the main landing bay. Emmory, tell her.”

  Emmory’s voice was clipped as he filled Hassan in on Fasé. I tuned him out, trying to calm the fear in my chest as we ran through the ship.

  “Get all these people out,” I said, pushing my way through the crowd that had gathered. Once the sailors realized it was me, the crowd parted.

  Fasé stood at the far edge of the bay with a gun in her hand. My maid was several meters away, her hands up, and though I wasn’t close enough to hear her words I knew she was pleading with Fasé.

  Tears streaked down Fasé’s face and her golden eyes darted wildly to me when I skidded to a stop. “Fasé, please put down the gun, we will fix this.”

  “There’s nothing to fix, Majesty. I am unclean. I abandoned my faith, everything that matters. I am broken.”

  “Fasé, you saved two lives,” Zin said from my side. “Please, there has to be some good in that. Your gods can’t be so unforgiving they wouldn’t see your intent behind your actions.”

  “I can feel it.” Fasé slammed her fist against her chest. “You humans can’t understand.”

  “Let me go.” I slipped out of Zin’s grasp. “Get everyone back. That’s an order, Zin,” I said when he didn’t move, and the sharp crack of my voice shook Zin out of his shock.

  “Fasé.” Holding my hands up, I crossed the yawning space between us. I could feel Emmory staring at me from my right side, but he didn’t move. There wasn’t time. There wasn’t any time to talk over a plan, and all I could do was hope that my Ekam had reached a point where he could at least guess my motives enough to play along. “You’re right, I can’t even begin to understand how you are feeling.”

  “Then don’t stop me, ma’am.” Tears spilled from her eyes, tracking down her face. “Let me end this awful nightmare.”

  “Don’t you see that I can’t?” I whispered, taking a step closer and reaching a hand out to her. “You are mine, Fasé. I won’t abandon you, not when you need me the most. I can’t understand your pain; I won’t insult you by trying to pretend I can. All I can do is tell you to take a breath. Put down this decision, even if only for a moment. Let me carry it for you.”

  Fasé’s empty hand fluttered upward, her fingers brushing mine. “Majesty, I—”

  “Your Majesty, please step away, you are putting yourself in danger.”

  Fasé stiffened at the new voice and pressed the gun to her chin.

  “Fasé, please, no,” Stasia whimpered.

  I swallowed my curse and glanced over my shoulder. Three Farians crossed the bay—Lieutenant Moren followed the two women. It was the older one who had spoken. Her red curls were streaked with white at the temples.

  “Child, put down the gun,” the woman said. “It does not have to be like this.”

  “I gave him life. I know I shouldn’t have, but Zin…” Fasé looked in his
direction. “I could feel his heart breaking and I just—”

  “Child, you sinned. It is not—”

  “The power.” Fasé shook her head. “The awful rush of playing god. Ripping life from the hands of death. There is nothing left for me. I crossed the line that should never even be approached, and this is what is required of me.”

  Her finger tightened on the trigger.

  “No.” I grabbed her hand and watched her eyes go wide. The Farians behind me gasped.

  “Majesty, no. Let me go.”

  “Why?”

  Fasé shook her head. “If you’re touching me when I—Majesty, please. It could kill you, too.”

  I tightened my hand around hers. “Then so be it, Fasé. You swore to me you wouldn’t hurt me. Remember?” I stepped closer and pressed my forehead to hers. “Death you deal and death you shall become. You have dealt no death, Fasé, only life. So many lives. Emmory’s life. Zin’s life. Captain Gill. How many people have you saved over the years? All you do is give life—how is that wrong?

  “Now it is my life in your hands, and on my honor, if you want to walk into the darkness, I will walk there with you.”

  No one breathed. I knew Emmory was close but not close enough to save me if Fasé pulled the trigger. I kept my eyes on hers, watched the pain slide through the golden depths and saw the decision in them before she even realized she’d made it.

  “I am loyal to my gods and to you, Majesty. I will not harm you.”

  I caught her as she sagged against me and sank to the deck with her in my arms. Grabbing the gun as we dropped, I sent it sliding across the floor toward Emmory and then wrapped the sobbing Farian up against me. “It’s all right. It’s all right. We will get through this, I swear to you,” I murmured.

  Fasé went limp in my arms and I looked up into the furious gaze of the older Farian. Emmory stood behind her, his fury better concealed behind his carefully blank face.

  “She could have killed you, Your Majesty,” the woman said. My smati identified her as Major Dio Morri.

  “The probability was better that she wanted to keep me safe more than she wanted to die.” I didn’t fight as the other two Farians lifted Fasé out of my arms. “Because she was dead set on dying until I made her add me into the choice.” I got to my feet and stared her down. “The better question is, did I just save her for a worse fate?”

  The question shocked the woman and she stared at me for a moment before she visibly composed herself and bowed. “My apologies, Majesty. This has been extremely upsetting for all of us. Forgive me for not being here sooner; I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation and I should have told Hasai to bring Fasé straight to me. I did not think Fasé would take it so hard. He had just informed us you were here when the call came. Thank you for what you have done for her. I do not know what the future holds; that will be up to her and to the Pedalion to decide. However, you gave her the time and for that I am grateful.”

  “I would do the same for any of my people, Major.”

  “Of course.” Dio bowed again. “I suspect your Ekam would like a word with you in private, Majesty. I will keep you updated on Fasé’s condition.”

  “I appreciate it. If you’ll allow it, I’d like Stasia to be able to go with you?”

  Dio glanced over at where my maid stood, slightly supported by Zin, and nodded. “Of course, it may help.” She gestured and walked from the docking bay with Stasia at her side.

  I headed for the door, Emmory and Zin falling into place on either side without a word. I got the distinct impression of being marched back to my quarters like when we first met. No one said a word until we came through the door and Hao got up out of his seat.

  “Is Fasé—”

  “She’s alive,” I said, heading for the liquor cabinet.

  “Should I go?” Hao looked between me and Emmory with a raised eyebrow.

  “No, stay, you’ll enjoy this.” I poured a drink and dropped onto the couch. “Emmory’s about to chew my ass.”

  Hao’s eyebrow went higher.

  “She grabbed a Farian with a death wish and practically dared her to kill them both.”

  “You what?”

  “Oh, bugger me.” I rolled my eyes at the ceiling and tossed back my drink. I’d heard that tone from Hao a few times over the years.

  “Are you kidding me? What were you thinking?”

  “That I didn’t want Fasé to die,” I snapped.

  “You don’t lead your people by throwing yourself recklessly into danger,” Emmory said.

  “Too right.” Hao nodded in agreement. “I taught you better than that, sha zhu.”

  “Oh shut up, both of you.” I got up for another drink and eyed Zin, who was leaning by the door with his arms crossed. He had been strangely silent while the other two shouted at me. “You especially, Hao, pretending to be a criminal, but where do you think I learned the concept of never letting my people take the fall for me?” I waved my drink at him. “I never once saw you put yourself ahead of the crew. And you—”

  “I haven’t taught you anything, Majesty.”

  “Cowshit. You care about Fasé the same as I do. You always put others in front of yourself, Emmorlien Tresk, even when you don’t have to.”

  My Ekam actually looked away and I could swear I’d embarrassed him. “Are you going to weigh in here?”

  Zin raised a shoulder in a half shrug. “She did good.” He shook his head and pinned his partner with a look. “Stop shouting at me, Emmory. You didn’t want Fasé to die any more than I did, any more than she did. Hail did something about it, possibly the only thing that could have stopped a grief-stricken Farian from blowing her Shiva-damned brains out all over the docking bay.

  “We’re not loyal to the throne or to Indrana as much as we may try to pretend otherwise. None of us are. We’re loyal to her.” Zin jabbed a finger in my direction. “Because she’s worth it. Because we know when it comes down to it she’s just as willing to sacrifice herself for us as we are for her. Even this one,” he said, pointing at Hao, “is here because of her; there’s no other reason a member of Po-Sin’s own family would be helping us.”

  Emmory closed his eyes. “Zin, she could have died,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

  “Hridayam.” Zin murmured the endearment, pushing away from the wall and grabbing Emmory by the back of the neck in a surprising display of affection. “So could we all. But Fasé is alive and so is our empress. I, for one, will take the wins where I can get them.”

  34

  Zin’s words hung around me long after my team had departed and left me to sleep. It had been desperation more than a concrete plan that had driven me to grab for Fasé, but I hadn’t really considered that I’d been counting on her loyalty to save us both.

  More than that, Zin’s quiet certainty that not only he and Emmory, but Hao as well, were here purely out of loyalty to me and not because of some grander purpose was something that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.

  That kept me up at night as we made the otherwise uneventful trip to the refueling depot. It was better than nightmares, even if it did result in me being right back to exhausted and unable to function. The resupply went off without a hitch, and later that evening I joined Admiral Hassan, the matriarchs, and several members of her crew for dinner.

  We’d brought eight ships to Red Cliff for the negotiations, and all of them had made it out safely. Eight more had defected from 2nd Fleet when Admiral Shul arrived, and a dozen more from Home Fleet had arrived at the rendezvous point just before us.

  We retired to her office to discuss the strategy for Canafey, joined by the matriarchs, Alba, Emmory, Nakula, Hao, Rai, and the admiral’s staff.

  “Thanks to the information the empress retrieved, we have a good idea of the number and types of ships the Saxons have at Canafey.” Admiral Hassan tapped a few keys on her desktop, and an image of the Canafey system appeared. It zoomed in around Major, where the shipyard and my Vajrayana ships could be fo
und.

  “There are few to no vessels around Minor; all the fighting there has been on the ground. Even if there are ships in that vicinity, it would take them the better part of a day to make the trip in system.” Hassan tapped another key, replacing the image with one of a ship. “The Vajrayana ships have a hive mind function that would enable us to warp them out of the Canafey system without having to put people physically on each ship.”

  “The problem is we have to either get someone on one of the ships to do this, or do it from the command center of the shipyard,” I said, rolling my cup of chai between my palms. “We’re hoping the Saxons will have some of the technicians who were working on the ships in the detention area of the shipyard so they have easy access to them. The alternative is they’ve sent them all down to the planet, which will make our lives extremely difficult.”

  “I’d bet good money they’ve got people in the shipyard, Majesty,” Nakula said. “Colonel Hume made several comments about how they could get help elsewhere once they’d gotten the lock codes from Governor Ashwari.”

  “True.” I nodded. “And Jia said she was sure they’d be trying to learn whatever they could. Which makes me think we’ll be dealing with a bunch of engineers rather than Saxon Shockers.” I pushed to my feet and leaned on the admiral’s desk, setting the image back to Canafey. “We’ll take two of the Saxon ships right into the shipyard. No one will question our presence. We grab a few techs from the detention center, head up to the command center, take over, get the ships linked up, and we all warp back out before anyone realizes what’s happened.”

  “Majesty, how do the teams get past the security in the docking bay? Any kind of confrontation and the alarms will be raised.” Admiral Zellin had shuttled over from the Helena Bristol. The slender officer didn’t show any outward signs of grief over her sister’s death, but I’d offered my quiet condolences when we met. We’d never found any proof that Matriarch Zellin was involved in the plot, but if she had been, her punishment had already been carried out.