Paying the Price (Book 5 of The Empire of Bones Saga)

by Terry Mixon

  “Send a destroyer over to recover the yacht,” she said, her voice sounding tired and hollow to her.

  Jared rose from his seat and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

  She should’ve cried like a baby, but the tears refused to come. She knew the shock wouldn’t last long. The flag bridge wasn’t the place to have a breakdown, either. “Thanks. I’m going down to check on my father.”

  The trip to the medical center was a blur. Her mind couldn’t pull away from the horror she’d tricked her brother into. Even after everything he’d done, she’d still loved him deep down.

  And she’d killed him just as effectively as if she’d leveled a plasma rifle at him and pulled the trigger.

  The little boy that had chased her through the Imperial Gardens, laughing like a fool, was dead. And she’d killed him.

  Kelsey walked into the medical center in a fog of grief so strong she almost ran into Lily Stone.

  The other woman gripped her shoulders and pulled her into her office. “Kelsey, what’s wrong?”

  “I killed my brother.”

  “Oh, honey.” The other woman pulled her into a tight hug and Kelsey cried. Another pair of arms surrounded her. Elise was holding her, too. All three of them cried.

  No one said anything or asked questions. They just gave her the support she desperately needed right then. She knew Jared would have done the same, but she couldn’t afford to break down in public like this.

  They pulled apart at last and Lily brought Kelsey some tissues. “I know this makes no difference whatsoever, but you did what you had to. He was a mad dog bent on wrecking the Empire.”

  “I know,” Kelsey said, her voice filled with grief. “But we were kids together. He was my world once. That doesn’t go away even when people go bad. And I have to tell my father, if he ever wakes up.”

  “Then let me give you some good news. The nanites have turned the corner for him. He’s going to be fine.”

  A man in white knocked on the hatch. “Doctor, the emperor is awake.”

  Kelsey hurried out after Lily. Her father lay on a bed surrounded by medical equipment, but his eyes were open. It took all her willpower to stand back and let Lily check the readings.

  “How are you feeling, Majesty?” Lily asked.

  “Like a grav truck ran over me and then backed up to make sure I was down.” His voice was a ghost of its normal self. “What happened?”

  Lily glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll let Kelsey tell you.”

  She stepped back and lowered her voice. “No stress just now. Save the bad news until he’s stronger.”

  “I’ll keep it easy, but he’s the emperor. I have to tell him something or he’ll keep after me and worry even more.”

  Kelsey stepped up beside the bed and took his hand in hers. “I’m so glad to see you getting better, Papa. You really scared us.”

  He smiled up at her. “You haven’t called me that since you were a little girl. Tell me true. Is everything okay?”

  She shook her head. “No, Papa, but things will get better now. I did what needed to be done. The Empire is safe and you’re going to make a full recovery.”

  “What happened?”

  “Not now. You’ll just have to trust me when I say the danger has passed. When you’re stronger, we’ll talk about it. I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

  He looked at her steadily. “Where’s Ethan?”

  “He can’t be here right now,” she said with more strength than she’d thought she’d had. “You’re on Invincible.”

  “I feel as though you’re leaving something important out, but can’t seem to focus. I’m sorry, but I’m so tired.”

  Lily stepped in. “Your father needs to rest. He’ll be a lot stronger tomorrow. Why don’t you get some sleep yourself?”

  “I think I will. Goodnight, Papa.” She kissed him on the forehead.

  Elise limped over to her as she was heading for the hatch. “Would you like some company?”

  She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I need to be alone.”

  The other woman hugged her again. “Call me if you want to talk. Day or night.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  A check of the ship’s systems told her that the pinnace with Talbot on board was just leaving Avalon. She had hours before she could cry all over him. In the meantime, she’d sit in the observation lounge and watch the stars. And remember the laughter of a little boy who’d once meant the world to her.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Elise sat beside Jared as he waited for the board of inquiry to make their findings public. The last month had been brutal. Most of the citizens in the Empire hadn’t had time to comprehend the emperor’s poisoning before the heir was dead, but that did nothing to stop the backlash it caused.

  Kelsey had retreated into private, but the more extreme news groups—both conservative and liberal—roundly lambasted her for not taking the heir into custody so that the authorities could discover the “actual facts” of the situation. Conspiracy theories abounded.

  And she’d taken her brother’s death hard. Harder than her father had. Her friends tried to be there for her, but she’d pushed them all away. Even Talbot.

  That hurt him, too, but he put on a brave face for her. Elise had helped him understand it wasn’t him, but that only went so far.

  He’d eventually bulled his way back into her life and she was starting to show signs of coming out from under the black clouds her life had become.

  Elise knew that she’d recover and be sad that she pushed them all away in time. Jared understood, too. They’d be there for her when that time came.

  The emperor had tried to blunt the criticism, but his own grief made that difficult. Now the Imperial Senate was locked in a vicious battle over whether to deny Kelsey the position of heir or not. That situation would come to a head today. Kelsey said she didn’t care, but Elise doubted that.

  Her strongest advocate no doubt surprised her. Senator Nathaniel Breckenridge gave fiery speeches denouncing those who fought against the emperor’s will. His usual stance as the opposition undermined his normal allies’ positions, but didn’t stop the fighting. It only made it bloodier.

  Nathaniel Breckenridge had insisted Elise not tell Kelsey what he suspected about her genetics. That he’d tell her when the time felt right. Elise thought that was excellent judgement.

  At least the Senate had settled the treaty issues before it had plunged off the deep end. The senate had accepted Harrison’s World and Erorsi into the Imperial fold and confirmed their new senators. They’d even validated Emperor Marcus’s edict.

  They’d amended the Imperial Charter to allow for worlds orphaned during the Fall, too. Pentagar was now officially an ally, but not part of the Empire. They’d exchanged official embassies and trade had begun. Captain Anton Keller and his new ship, Best Deal II, had made the inaugural run.

  The hatch to the side of the room slid aside and the members of the board walked to the table. Admiral Jack Lancaster banged a gavel and brought the proceedings to order.

  “This board has considered all aspects of the events that occurred during expedition fifteen and the actions of Admiral Jared Mertz. It has taken a long time to hear every bit of testimony and consider what happened. For that delay, this board apologizes. Admiral Mertz, please rise.”

  Jared stood. His back was straight, but Elise could see the tension in him. He was ready for them to send him to a court martial.

  “Admiral Jared Mertz, it is the judgement of this board that you acted in accordance with Fleet regulations and made the best decisions circumstances allowed. In your place, this board fears it would have made a catastrophic mess of the situation.

  “It is our belief that you acted in the finest traditions of Fleet and that no further action is necessary. This board stands adjourned.”

  There were some cheers, but mostly the mood was somber. The last month hadn’t brought anyone much joy.

 
Elise stood and took his hand. “I knew you’d be fine.”

  He smiled at her. “That’s one of us, then. I’m just glad it’s over so we can move on to other problems.”

  “Like Kelsey’s confirmation? If we hurry, we might be able to make the hearing.”

  “We’ll have time. That hearing won’t be ending any time soon.”

  “Probably not,” she conceded. “We should still go show our support.”

  “Then let’s go. We can just make the next cutter if we hurry.”

  * * * * *

  Talbot sat beside Kelsey in the emperor’s box at the Imperial Senate. He didn’t know how she kept such a cool expression on her face while that rat-faced bastard stood there at the podium slandering her. He was sorely tempted to go over the rail and punch his lights out.

  The pompous ass had no idea the horrible pain she’d been in. How much she still suffered. It had taken every bit of his love to get inside her dark world, plant his back to hers, and help her fight back. A lesser man might’ve given up, but he’d lasted her out.

  She’d spent most of the last month in the dojo. She’d earned her black belt and then devoted herself to earning the last mark of distinction. Sensei. Ned had grudgingly granted her the red stripe this morning.

  Kelsey tightened her grip on his hand. “Homicidal thoughts are acceptable. Actions, not so much.”

  “He pisses me off. Raving on about how you murdered your brother. He knows the facts, though he isn’t shy about saying you and the admiral made the whole thing up. Like you’re the villain of this story. Asshole.”

  “That’s the spirit. I don’t care what he thinks. I don’t care what any of them think. The only opinions I value are my friends and my father.”

  The emperor had taken the death of his son hard, but to his credit, he hadn’t blamed Kelsey. He’d blamed himself. He’d backed Kelsey to the hilt and nominated her to replace Ethan as the heir as soon as the official period of mourning was over. And hadn’t that been throwing red meat to the dogs?

  Leaving aside all the whacky conspiracy theories, they talked about her parentage as if she was a broodmare. And one senator had even called into question her place in the peerage because she was sleeping with Talbot.

  That bastard was going to pay one day very soon. Talbot had a fantasy about punching his lights out.

  Frankly, Talbot had mostly stayed away from listening to them “debate” to protect his blood pressure. And to keep himself out of prison.

  “What happens if they decline to name you heir?” he asked. “You were the second in line to the Throne. Are you no longer a princess? Not that I care one damned bit if you have a title or not.”

  She smiled at him. “Some people have advocated stripping me of my title, but odds are I’d keep it. Father has declined to disown me, so that movement won’t go anywhere.

  “More likely, they’ll decide I’m not worthy to be heir and start looking for someone more to their liking. I’m fine with that, too. I just want this over so I can put my life back together again.”

  She looked at him and sighed. “I’m so sorry I’ve put you through this, Russ. I don’t deserve you.”

  He kissed her, knowing that some bastard would get a picture. Screw them. “Well, I won’t say this has been easy, but I deserve you, so don’t give me any flack.”

  She took a deep breath as the senator speaking wrapped up his denunciation. “It’s time for me to go piss everyone off.”

  Kelsey rose to her feet and met Jared and Elise as they opened the box door. She hugged her brother. “Thank you for coming. How did it go?”

  “No court martial,” he said. “And we wouldn’t have missed being here for you.”

  “Thank God,” she said fervently. “Now sit down and watch as I set my future on fire.”

  His commanding officer and Princess Elise sat beside Talbot.

  “She’s joking, right?” Jared asked.

  “Her humor’s been so black recently, I’m not sure.”

  Elise looked at his dress uniform. “I see she talked you into wearing your medals. It looks good on you.”

  The emperor had held the longest awards ceremony in Imperial history last week. The list of all the people who’d died was read aloud at The Spire. Then they’d announced the posthumous medals for valor.

  The event had been acid on his soul. He’d wept without shame when the emperor awarded the Imperial Cross to Timothy Reese, laid to rest with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

  A number of living people had received the Empire’s highest award. Admiral Mertz, for example. Well deserved, there.

  He’d been less happy when they’d given it to him. He hadn’t earned it. Not like everyone else. And the knighthood that went with it was somehow subtly insulting. He was a marine ground pounder, not a pampered noble. He was as common as they came and them thinking they could change him into something else just rubbed him the wrong way.

  “I only wore it because she told me to,” he said stubbornly.

  He saw understanding in the admiral’s eyes. “She’s a smart one, my sister. Don’t let her get away.”

  Kelsey appeared at the podium. She gripped it and looked out over at the sea of faces in the senatorial boxes and the visitor’s gallery. Rather than speak, she just stared at them until the murmuring started.

  Then she spoke.

  “I come before this august body to discuss my place in the succession. Or, I should say, that’s what many of you believe I’m here for. It’s not.”

  Talbot swore he could hear a pin drop in the silence that statement left. Even with his enhanced hearing.

  “I don’t care one damned bit if you vote for me as the heir,” she declared in a ringing voice. “In fact, I urge you to find someone else. Someone less likely to offend your delicate sensibilities. Someone less like the ‘cold-hearted bitch’ one of you referred to me as.

  “If you do confirm me, I’ll do whatever I think is best for the Empire, no matter whose feelings it hurts. No matter the cost, to either me or anyone else. I killed my brother because he was a threat to the Empire. That’s the kind of person I am.”

  That started a lot of chatter in the boxes, making the speaker pound his gavel for order.

  Kelsey didn’t wait for them to quiet down. “And while we’re on touchy subjects, let me clarify how I feel about my parentage. I don’t have a single drop of Imperial blood in my veins. If that bothers you, go screw yourselves.”

  That brought a roar from both the boxes and visitor’s gallery. A mixture of rage and glee. Talbot found himself on his feet screaming his support of her.

  “Tell them off, Kelsey!” he shouted.

  She cranked the volume on her microphone up and spoke over the bedlam.

  “Do whatever you want. It’s all this body of puffed up, self-important chatterboxes has ever done. Find a talking head to be the next emperor and see how long he keeps the rebels off your necks. I’ll stick with fighting them face to face. At least that’s honest work.”

  She turned her back on the pandemonium she’d caused and left the podium.

  Jared stood there and started slow clapping. The visitor’s gallery picked it up next. Even some of the senators. The new senators from Harrison’s World and Erorsi were the most ardent in their support.

  Talbot noticed Nathaniel Breckenridge had a wide grin on his face. He inclined his head toward the senator.

  Kelsey rejoined them a few moments later. “Well, I think that should settle matters,” she said as she sat beside Talbot. “Now I can put this behind me and get down to the real work.”

  He squeezed her hand. “You were awesome.”

  “At least that should end the debate,” Elise said with a grin. “They’ll either love you or hate you for saying those things.”

  “You always have a spot with me,” Jared said.

  “Thanks,” Kelsey said. “I might need it if they banish me.”

  The speaker finally got things under control. He recognized S
enator Breckenridge.

  Breckenridge climbed to the podium and looked out over the senate. “Everyone knows I’ve never been the strongest supporter of the emperor, but today I stand by his side. Do we want a milquetoast as the heir or do we want someone with fire in her belly? Someone who says they love the Empire or someone who has demonstrated it with their every action? Their every sacrifice.

  “Princess Kelsey said some harsh things. Things that might have hurt your delicate feelings. Well, look at those of us who have disgraced ourselves in speaking of her like that. It’s unworthy of the Imperial Senate. Unworthy of a crowd in a bar, for that matter. We deserved to hear her tell us the truth.”

  He glared at the men and women before him. “It’s time to show your true colors. Are you men and women with spine, or weaklings made of ego? I nominate Princess Kelsey Bandar for heir to the Imperial Throne.”

  A voice cried out a second.

  “We have a motion to vote on Princess Kelsey Bandar’s petition to be recognized as heir to the Imperial Throne,” the speaker said. “Cast your votes on the electronic system now.”

  Talbot tried to hold out some hope, but he couldn’t see her winning after that dose of bitter truth she’d given them.

  A few minutes passed as various senators argued with one another. Some very loudly. Talbot wondered how many duels this was going to spawn.

  The speaker finally gave the senators sixty seconds warning. Once that time ran out, the man looked down at his board with a grave expression.

  “The Imperial Senate has spoken. All rise and welcome the heir to the Imperial Throne, Princess Kelsey Bandar, to her new position.”

  The tally board showed the vote had been close. The new senators from Erorsi and Harrison’s World had made the difference.

  Kelsey looked shocked, but she was more so when Talbot whooped and swung her into the air.

  * * * * *

  Angela turned off the vid. The sight of Princess Kelsey’s shocked expression was the perfect end to the whole crappy process.