The Burning Crown (Stone Blade Book 4)

by James Matt Cox

  "I have news, Lady Blue," said Karr, lofting the hover as soon as Blue strapped in, "Laird Fadding's dirty right hand is here."

  "Outremin?!"

  "Aye. Of late he has been a frequent visitor, sometimes for long stays and other times short. This time he seems in no hurry to leave. That's the sum of what I have but I do believe coincidence has just shattered into shards."

  "Truth and plenty, Sir Knight," replied Blue, "All our data plus Kittley and now Outremin? Truth indeed! Have you word from our Houses or Brightcrown?"

  "Just that Laird Brightcrown is facing a pond full of minnowsharks. Rumors of censure have reached the streets. Ordinary folk are now taking them as fact yet still they have no substance to them. House Brightcrown now has few allies save Gladius, Edders and McReely. Some few still speak words of fealty but their actions belie them.

  "There were also rumors of a League investigation into Lithigrove. House Edders is looking into that, but not to the point of risking their charters. Rumors surrounding that indicate that certain Houses will receive light treatment if any, while others will bear the brunt of it. It is known that a high League official visited Varl, Binkor-Sud and Snughblak along with some of their allies."

  Blue's mouth tightened. "Did Brightcrown receive this courtesy?"

  "Nay, m'lady, nor Edders or McReely. Rumors said even Gladius received none."

  Six-sigmas trouble, thought Blue. She didn't want to consider League action against her House or any of its allies. That Gladius received no visit boded ill for the Crown itself! Of all the many Houses, only Lore and Loosk maintained greater neutrality and uniformly friendly relations with all!

  Blue and Karr found Kelsey McReely waiting for them back at McReely Hall. The young Junior Apprentice Trader, and the one who spotted Kittley, had a great amount of news and a great deal more enthusiasm about conveying it.

  "We have data on Outremin's crew," said McReely, "He arrived on a standard small courier or priority cargo ship. The kind usually used for transporting emergency medical supplies or..."

  "Go on," prompted Blue gently.

  "Oh. Sorry. He had three crewmen with him. Outremin, that is. One was his pilot-astrogator. That's Wygnan Amal. He's been with House Varl for fifteen years now. He started there after he was discharged from the Elder Guard. He was a pilot, and a good one, but he used his position for some sort of personal gain. We think it was smuggling but don't have any hard data for it.

  "The second one is his engineer Brodie Zaba. He enlisted in the Hall of Merchants as a junior ship technician when he was seventeen. He learned a lot but never got more than an average rating from any of the merchants. He qualified well on all his tests, though, and as soon as he completed his training obligation he swore fealty to House Varl."

  McReely handed her a datacube which she placed into her terminal. It gave information on Outremin and his whereabouts as well as the information the young man just recounted.

  "What about the third," asked Karr.

  "Recently hired Sir... I mean Piotr. Arrived on Faircoast while Outremin was there. He applied as a House Guard and Outremin hand-picked him for himself. This is unverified but two sources said he ruddy... They said he beat and humiliated half a dozen guards during his interview. Almost killed two of them and put two more under the medics. Even now the other guards don't like him and we have verified that. The other intel on the cube hasn't been verified at all."

  "It says here that 'Vera Kittley' is a managing partner in Ion Skies Limited and that they're engaged in active trade with the Mekhajan Collective."

  "Aye, Lady Lacy. That we did verify. It's registered as a certified consignment merchant, verified and Guild-certified."

  Karr looked up, puzzled.

  "We call them paper traders," explained Blue, "They obtain certificates of ownership on various merchandise and sell those. It's cheaper than shipping the merchandise so the paper trader can sell for more than he paid but less than that plus shipping. We don't consider it... honest."

  "Splendid," said Karr, "That makes it just legitimate enough. I had hoped for more."

  "It's the perfect cover, too," said Blue, "Especially with such solid credentials. Anything on the volume of trade, Kelsey?"

  "Nak. Nothing past what they posted and they didn't post very much."

  "Heaven's flames!" Blue glanced at her terminal, then projected an image from it.

  "That's Micah Stone," said McReely, "He's Outremin's third crewman. The one who fought..."

  "He was in the library," interrupted Blue, "He and Kittley didn't speak but he was there! I would say coincidence but it's already shattered. Kelsey, can you have surveillance on Outremin and all his crew?"

  "Of course. I mean, we have it on him but we can add it to the crew, too. How thick?"

  "Goings and comings," said Blue, "For now. Make certain you brief everyone involved on this Stone. I'm not concerned about the other two; they're loyal Crown subjects, even if Varl. This one is an entirely different color of fish."

  ***

  Micah stood behind Outremin's chair and close to the wall, relaxed and not at all interested in the others in the room: Outremin, Victor Lord McConney, Dean Sir Simmons or the three guards they'd brought. Outremin was not at all pleased when heard of the pair's arrival but, he assured Micah, he'd not shame his House or Laird.

  "It concerns me that the schedule is, well, rushed," said McConney.

  "I concur," said Simmons, "My Laird received a League visitor ere we departed. He disclosed nothing to me but that is hardly necessary. It was no ordinary visit and that can mean only one thing. We are clearing a tidy profit now and I believe caution is appropriate."

  "We are, Sir Dean," said Outremin, "but the profits now pale to nothing against what they will soon be. This is to say naught of the... other considerations."

  McConney and Simmons exchanged significant looks at that.

  "Concerning those," said McConney cautiously, "Perhaps we should... reconsider matters. We did not think our initial profits would be so great. Patience, Sir Beau, to my mind would yield the much greater reward. Over both long and short time, as it were."

  "Patience?" Outremin tensed. "Patience?! The Great House of du'Varl has had patience aplenty! We have borne the slights and spurns of foe and friend alike. We have graciously accepted the full risk for our project and just as generously shared the rewards it reaped! Patience, my lord?"

  "Peace, Sir Beau," said McConney placatingly, "We do not counsel against the completion of the project, merely the timing of it. We are well and fully aware of what the Great House of Varl has done and what it has bourne. Do not mistake caution and prudence for reticence! We simply see no need in hasty action that might well spell the downfall for us all."

  Outremin relaxed and his tone grew a touch supercilious.

  "Very well, my lord. Such weighty matters are beyond my hand to decide. I shall message Laird Fyrelm immediately upon our adjournment and convey your concerns to him. Perhaps he will... embrace your beliefs."

  That disturbed both men, obviously. By what Micah saw they wanted Outremin to do anything but what he spoke. He could almost smell the smugness now radiating from Outremin.

  "Splendid," said Simmons with a plastic smile and no conviction at all, "Perhaps he will."

  ***

  "What is troubling you, Stone," asked Outremin, "I know something is, so do not bother denying it."

  Micah guided their hover through the almost-sparse traffic absently.

  "It was your meeting, Sir Beau. Those two lords didn't like what you said, sir. They didn't like it one milli."

  "You are correct, Stone, but that need not concern you."

  "I disagree, sir. I'm in your service, sir, and sworn to your protection. I'll do everything within my power to protect you, or Laird Fadding, and keep you both alive but I am only one man."

  After a moment trying to contain it Outremin burst out laughing.

  "Oh, Stone," he gasped, finally catching his brea
th, "You are indeed a treasure! A treasure wasted before fortune brought you here." He paused for one last chuckle. "Do not trouble yourself on that account, my friend. Neither of those pompous lordlings has the pith or pizzle to challenge me. Besides, there are rules governing such. Indeed, they may and will try to cause us trouble but nothing my words or my Laird cannot handle, I assure you. We are, both of us, safe as the books on Laird Fadding's shelves."

  "So why not just kill them?"

  Outremin's smile faded. "No, Stone. That is not an option open to us. Even if you spoke in jest you must not allow your mind to dwell upon that path. The spilling of noble blood is a serious matter, even with proper ceremony. Were things so simple we'd have been rid of Brightcrown long ago. For that matter, other Houses might well have united against House Varl."

  "Slib," said Micah, "But why not just kill them too? Not openly, I mean. Just give me a few spec op troopies, some supplies and a little time. Blip! No more problem."

  "Speak hypothetically, Stone," said Outremin sharply, "I shall enlighten you. If we did, ahh, blip-no-problem Brightcrown down to its root and kin, the other Houses would unite under the King and raze House Varl in a similar fashion. At the very least it would be stripped of all privilege and power.

  "I mentioned rules, Stone, and I cannot fully explain them quickly. I am a knight dubbed into the Order of House Varl: the Order of Shining Steel. Should I issue challenge to one of my peers, and it be granted, there would be no problem. Should I issue challenge to one of stronger blood, by title or by actual blood, even if compelled by honor there would be grave repercussions. Did I win, or even only spill his blood, my life would be forfeit. Only one of stronger blood than the both of us could excuse such a matter."

  "So. Speaking hypothetically, it would take stronger blood or a higher title to allow you, or me, to chop McConney to pieces."

  Outremin's face wrinkled at that. "Essentially correct, Stone. The higher the title, or stronger the blood, the less likely challenge is to be granted. Should, Heaven forbid, some witless fool spill Royal blood, meaning the King or any in line to the Crown, only the King could forgive him and then only with full Moot approval."

  "I see."

  "No, Stone, I doubt that you do. I mean no insult but I know our ways are yet strange to you. Sadly, Brightcrown and House Varl do still share blood. In their line it has weakened to the point of water yet still it remains.

  "Did House Varl issue blood challenge it could only be resolved before the full Moot. Even were it granted, and there is no certainty of that, the best outcomes would still leave Brightcrown and its toadies intact. No, Stone, only through Moot censure will Brightcrown fall.

  "Think on it thusly, Stone. Are you not familiar with the injustice of incompetent command?"

  "Yes sir, I am!" Micah didn't bother keeping the savage anger from his voice.

  "Yet even the most witless of commanders goes unpunished without the proper procedure. Even then justice is fickle."

  Micah took a calming breath. "Yes sir. I think I understand it now."

  "Excellent, Stone! Remain diligent in your studies and vigilant in your duties and you will receive both understanding and rewards past your deepest dreams."

  When Micah parked the hover and made to power it down, Outremin stopped him.

  "I have an urgent matter to attend, Stone." Outremin handed Micah a datacube and card. "Deliver this to the address here. Hand it personally to Seigneur Ken Tobart, his holo is on the card, and none other. If he has aught for you in return then bring it to me quickly, otherwise you may take the night."

  "Yes sir."

  Chapter 13. An Accent Remembered

  Blue and Karr lackadaisically guided a pallet full of crates toward a warehouse no different from the dozens of others around it. A Fallstar Lines ship arrived barely an hour earlier. Nothing unusual save that it departed Faircoast eight days earlier with a stated destination outside Crown space on the League side. A McReely working traffic control noted its departure and, per her instructions, reported the fact.

  Karr didn't like the rapid nature with which they formulated their current plan, but Blue assured him it would work flawlessly. Now garbed as port authority stevedores and wearing Hallings tabs, he and Blue trundled cargo from the suspicious ship to its destination.

  "Watch that, you duffage nubb," barked the floor supervisor, "Break it and you'll pay for it and for the cleaning!"

  "Sorry, sir," said Blue.

  The woman, mollified at the apology but irked at Blue's inattention, nonetheless turned her attention to the manifest. She directed them on where to place the boxes and promptly dismissed them from her universe. Once there, Karr parked the trundle, he and Blue pulled out datapads and they began wandering.

  To Karr everything appeared perfectly ordinary. Workers moved boxes, bales, crates, bundles and pallets on to or off of shelves. Others checked and directed as to what should go, where it should go, what should stay and where it should stay. Although Karr didn't have access to specific inventory data, yet, nothing looked exotic, strange or noteworthy. Still, he did in fact not possess inventory data and that was his mission.

  Moving with no undue haste, Karr sat at a terminal when its current occupant rose and left for other duties. He inserted a datacube and waited. The 'cube contained a variant of the virus they used on Tourmalin and it should compromise the entire net by the time they left. After a couple of minutes the terminal beeped and disgorged the cube. No security arrived so Karr assumed success. He checked his chrono, made sure his concealed datacaster was still in place and wandered through another part of the warehouse.

  As he passed the office Karr saw something that chilled his spine. Outside the door stood the supervisor, three men Karr didn't know and Outremin's crewman, Stone. He walked closer, casually, hoping to overhear something of interest.

  "... and as I said, Stone," spoke one of the strangers, "Do not close or limit your options. Such talent as yours should not be wasted. I can offer you horizons you cannot find here."

  "I'll keep that in mind, sir. Do you have anything for Sir Beau?"

  "Not at the moment. I shall contact him through other means if... Hai! You there!"

  Karr jumped and looked surprised. The man had shouted at him.

  "What do you want?"

  "Fresher, sirra," said Karr, thinking quickly.

  "Back of the building," said the supervisor, "Be quick, man! You're not being paid to pizzle!"

  ***

  "Solid success, dead on the beam," said Karr, now back with Blue and out of his disguise, "Pray forgive my doubts, my lady. Ere long we shall own the warehouse net."

  "Truth," said Blue, very subdued now.

  Puzzled by Blue's unusual reserve, Karr parked the hover. She called up a holo from her datacaster. As he watched, a group of workers uncrated items, some of them very large, and repackaged them into different containers.

  "This is significant," he asked.

  "Keep watching."

  Karr did. As soon as the workers finished repackaging the items a lone man affixed a seal to each one.

  "I still do not see it, my lady. What am I missing?"

  "The same thing I almost did. Look at that last man." Blue ran the recording back, zoomed it in and replayed it slowly. The man on the display once again affixed the seal, this time comically slowly. "There is nothing amiss, Piotr, save that those are original factory seals. Original seals! League certified directly from the manufacturer."

  "Heaven's flames! Heaven's flames and hell's frost! That means there is no knowing from whence those items truly originated!"

  "Truth," said Blue, "There is no way of knowing where they came but I'll bet my father's ships they end up loss-recovered to Brightcrown!"

  ***

  Karr drove back to McReely Hall in silence and he and Blue remained so for a long time. Alone in a small, secure room she lit a drugstick and he helped himself to one.

  "We should notify the League," said Karr finally
.

  "We can't, Piotr. We mustn't! They are part of this! Did you not see those seals? Ordinarily they are affixed by a Guild-certified auditor before they leave the factory. That man had a box of them! We know they are genuine because any forgeries would have raised alarms more places than at the starport! Sir Allan would have the Patrol present in force if he found a forged seal and any other portmaster would as well. That may well be where Laird Fyrelm's other agents misstepped. Do you think Sir Parl would not have reported such a thing?"

  Karr nodded. "But why, Lacy? Why would the League want to discredit House Brightcrown? That makes no sense whatsoever! House Brightcrown is the staunchest supporter of the League within Crown space. Perhaps they might wish to besmirch Gladius but even that is low-sigma. It does not make sense!"

  "Not a lot about this mess does," said Blue, "but the data fits and it is the best fit."

  Karr thought long and hard. Then again, and again, desperate to discredit his idea. He tried to find a flaw, any flaw, in his conclusion.

  "I have a thought," he said, "Perhaps... You must prove me wrong, Lady Brilliant! What if the League is tired of dealing with the Crown worlds through our Houses? Suppose they want greater control over our individual worlds. What better way to accomplish that than to shatter the Crown Worlds and re-forge them more to their liking?!"

  "No!! No, Piotr! I cannot believe that. Such an act would totally shatter our economies and devastate our worlds! No! There must be another explanation. That cannot be! I cannot believe it!"

  "Then prove me wrong," he said, "Please, dear Lady Blue, prove me wrong! But think first: how many worlds has the League absorbed by rescuing them from chaos?"

  ***

  Micah thought hard as he drove. The man, Tobart, received the datacube neutrally. For truth, he showed more interest in Micah than he did in reading the 'cube. He, as did Kenjai and the soldiers on the asteroid factory, spoke with a tantalizingly familiar yet strange accent and manner. Micah knew he should know it but still it eluded him.

  As to the meat of Tobart's conversation, he offered Micah a job without explicitly making the offer. He spoke of the many horizons beyond a single world, not that that should surprise Micah of course, and the myriads of opportunities to be had there. He also appreciated Micah's training, which he assured him he had reviewed thoroughly, and regretted and despised the fact that the League did not value it as well. By his words, Micah should own the stars and travel them to his purpose and not those of Outremin and his ilk.