Oblivion's Crown

by M. H. Johnson

  Kaupias blanched.

  “Your words are an outrage!” Craven roared. “We will not listen to your offensive slander a moment longer. Your Terran ape will surrender to the council, or your entire province will be blown out of existence by a fleet of dreadnoughts!”

  Dead silence hung in the air.

  And it was Kaupias who slowly shook his head. “No, Councilor Craven, the hour is not quite that late. Yet.” He turned back to the screen, peering into Val’s unflinching gaze, before giving the tiniest of nods. “Very well, Valor Hunter. In the interests of a fair and balanced investigation, to prove to all parties the objectivity of our pursuit, I will hear your conditions.”

  “Good,” Val said, locking gazes with Craven. “But you might want to clear the entire council chamber of everyone besides yourself and Craven. For what I am about to tell you involves a breach to the accords of such grand scale that it could well place our entire Dominion in jeopardy.”

  Kaupias blinked, disbelief clearly written upon his features as Craven burst out with mocking laughter.

  “Is that the best you can do to save your pathetic hide, monkey?” said Craven.

  Kaupias’s voice turned cold, his patience clearly at an end. “Explain what you mean, Contender. Waste not my time.”

  “Very well,” Val said, locking gazes with the man. “What I’m about to tell you involves a plot to simultaneously eliminate every member of every Dauda clan in every Dominion world in one fell swoop. Much like the ancient order of Templars were cut down to the last man in my world, centuries ago.”

  It was a desperate shot in the dark, Val already knew that. But putting together the pieces just in the time he had hitched a ride to Newford and stolen those mechs had made it all too clear his people stood on perilous ground. Hushed whispers regarding his clan between various inquisitors, the violent attack Dimitry unleashed on his own flesh and blood when he dared mock too openly about how the Dauda would already have been purged, were it not for their one deadly gift. The fear and contempt for his clan that even the council had exuded during the brief time he has spotted them. And most damning of all, the horde of video cameras discreetly placed before a business front for Dauda operations.

  It was only because digital information gathering was so much a part of Val’s world, and Jordian surveillance tech was comparatively clumsy and bulky in comparison, that he had even spotted it. And pinning down an enemy location before working backwards and ascertaining all their hideouts and places of business would be a crucial first step in preparing for the complete annihilation of an enemy that, unless caught completely unawares, could fade into the night like shadows and mist.

  But the truly damning evidence had manifested itself after he fled Newford, when he fought for his life against a Keeper-forged nemesis, a former Dauda callously used and thrown away by a would-be Overlord who had shown his absolute contempt for their people, for all intents and purposes consigning a hired agent to a fate worse than death for his own personal gain. Val couldn’t think of an accord or covenant that did not fly in the face of.

  And finally, the hate-filled promises of the sadistic inquisitor coldly butchering captive dwarves had made it all too clear that a dark faction within the Dominion had every intention of butchering the Dauda clan to the last woman and child, and that the inquisitors were very much a part of that plan.

  Still, it was the wildest of accusations heaped upon fragments of evidence that, though recorded, proved little more than oddly placed cameras and angry words. But the flinch Val thought he caught in Craven’s gaze, before his face turned beat red with rage, filled Val with a furious sense of triumph.

  He flashed a cold smile at Craven who was demanding that Val be executed at once for his vile slander against the council entire.

  “This insult must not stand!” Craven snarled at Kaupias, whose cool gaze was unfazed by the furious Highlord glaring down at him.

  Influence check in play: Neutral reaction! Your target remains unconvinced.

  “And where is your proof?” Kaupias said after endless moments, the entire council gazing at Val like deer caught in headlights, desperate fear turning instantly to furious hate.

  “And that’s the best part, Justicar. You need but peer into the minds of the councilmembers before you. Most particularly the blustering fool roaring in your ear as we speak.” He flashed a disarming grin. “Just ask dear Highlord Craven if he has any involvement whatsoever in any plot, or knowledge of any plot, to strike the Dauda clan dead. Even though daring such a foolish course of action would invite a retributive bloodbath beyond the High Council’s wildest dreams. For in that moment, thousands of trained assassins able to hide their minds in shadow across all the worlds of the Dominion would realize that they’re all dead anyway, and they have no reason not to butcher every single Highlord they can, knowing they and their children will always be a heartbeat way from extermination, so long as any Highlord lives.”

  You could cut the silence with a Psiblade. The entire Council was staring intently at a frowning Kaupias, his gaze locked upon Val’s own.

  Bluff skillcheck made! +6 bonus for actually telling the truth! Justicar Kaupias has no doubt that you at least believe what you say!

  “Do you have any physical proof?”

  The strangest expression crossed Craven’s features. Val almost missed it. But the fear in the councilor’s gaze was unmistakable. In fact, the entire Council looked like night-cloaked thieves blinking in shock and shame as their crimes were brought to light at last.

  Too bad Kaupias wasn’t looking their way.

  “Yes I do,” Val said, looking straight in the man’s eye before breaking his gaze, coating the most believable of lies with the truths he told.

  “Here, Christine. I took the liberty of making this recording when a certain group of councilmembers thought themselves alone.” He flashed a darkly bemused smile as he tossed her one of the cubes on the table before him. “Strange, how that worked out. Anyway, be careful. No doubt Craven’s sniffers have already found the recording device I had no choice but to leave there.”

  Craven’s eyes widened as Christine gazed at the crystal cube she had adroitly caught.

  “You would dare to infiltrate the High Council? I will have your head for that alone, worm!”

  Val gazed intently at the blanching Kaupias. “You see the mistake Craven just made, don’t you?”

  Craven’s furious scowl froze on his features as Kaupias’s gaze met his own. “Highlord Craven, I cannot help but note that your first instinct was to accuse Valor of infiltration. Not deception.”

  The larger man stiffened, understanding his mistake as well.

  Kaupias flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask for you to bear your mind before me, Councilor Craven. Of course, it goes without saying that any and all secrets I perceive beyond the scope of my questions may never be used against you. And any high crimes sensed beyond the single answer to my query are within my power to commute, so long as I can ascertain without a shadow of a doubt that you have absolutely no involvement in a plot to overthrow a millennia of peace with an act that would doom us all!”

  Craven’s hot gaze burned into the smaller man’s. “How dare you accuse me of such perfidy, imperial puppet! To dare suggest you would violate the sacred covenant of a fellow Highlord’s mind. Who do you really work for, Kaupias? Your master must truly be desperate to use a monkey’s flimsy pretext to violate centuries of tranquility between tributary states and throne!”

  Cold, cold eyes peered into Craven’s furious orbs. “Even should you be guilty of the most heinous of crimes, it is within my rights to commute your inescapable sentence to exile, should you not hesitate to reveal all the pawns of deception caught within your web of intrigue.”

  The diminutive man Val had once thought a minor functionary did not flinch under the powerful man’s glare. Kaupias only smiled, making it all too clear who really held the cards in that council chamber, no ma
tter Craven’s influence over Jordia’s High Council. For all that the corrupt Highlord held the entire planet in the palm of his hand, the Justicar could summon the military forces of a galaxy-spanning empire.

  The very forces Craven had thought to maneuver against Valor were now at risk of coming for his own head.

  All pretexts of obsequious docility faded as the hard gaze of a seasoned Justicar peered coldly at the entire council before turning back to Craven, near every member flinching before the man’s terrible gaze. “Councilor Craven, I’m afraid I must insist.”

  Val caught the furious-looking Highlord’s eyes and smiled. “Checkmate, motherfucker.”

  Craven sighed, his face suddenly void of the furious hostility he had shown just moments ago, dipping his head towards Val, as if in respect to one player from another.

  “Well played, monkey.”

  Insight check made!

  Time seemed to slow and stretch as Val’s heart lurched in his chest.

  He had been a fool.

  He knew exactly how this would play out.

  “Kaupias, get out! Craven’s going to cut you down. Get out!”

  But it was already too late.

  Kaupias had time for one surprised blink, gazing at Craven in stupefied disbelief, before his head tumbled to the ground in a shower of blood.

  34

  Craven’s eagle eyes, capable of piercing even Shadowmind, peered carefully about the room. His cold smile grew as his horrified council looked on. “You were bluffing, of course. There is no way you could have fit a recording device within this chamber. Having personally supervised half a dozen installations myself, I would know.”

  Val nodded solemnly, gazing at the gore-spattered man who was absently licking a drop of crimson off his pale white glove as he sheathed his Psiblade once more. “You are correct,” Val said. “And you fell for the bluff perfectly. And now we all know beyond a shadow of a doubt what your cabal is planning, once the signal is given. One can only wonder how many years Overlords and their councils were coordinating in secret, intent on wiping out the Dauda tribe to the last man. Otherwise you wouldn’t dare risk everything, butchering a sworn agent of the imperial council in cold blood.”

  Craven’s dark smile didn’t deny it.

  “Timothy! Flee for your life! Cut through the door and run! Warn our people! If you stay, he will kill you too! You have no choice!” Val suddenly screamed.

  And Craven only laughed, even as his council gazed about in panicked woe.

  “Did you really think I’d dare leave a loose end like him around to witness today’s meeting? No, boy. That fool is enjoying a beautiful day with his wife and children. Your aunt and cousins, if I’m not mistaken. And all of them blissfully unaware of how thoroughly I have mapped out all their places of business, the haunts favored by them and all of your filthy kind. The discreet homes where they raise their mongrel children, the hideouts they think will keep them safe from the sweet retribution none truly believe is coming for them!” Craven flashed a cruel smile. “Ah yes, I know all your secrets, Terran boy. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to the purge, Valor. How I will savor looking into your dying eyes, once I butcher your entire clan!” He gave a mocking shake of his head. “Such a shame, Valor. All that clever deduction, and still you only understand the barest glimmer of the brilliance involved. No matter that you were born of a monkey and a Dauda whore, even you must know your clan’s ultimate purpose, no? For all that you are sworn to the service of Councils and Overlords, you fools are but puppets of the emperor himself!”

  His eyes flashed with unbridled hate. “You vermin are the strings the emperor uses to make sure no Council oversteps their reach, no Overlord goes too far. To keep us all under that undying bastard’s thumb!” he roared. “Well no longer, worm. Soon we will be free of your burden, free of the curse of ever looking over our shoulders, free to take our rightful place as lords of all the stars in the sky! No longer will weak pathetic excuses for Psionicists be allowed to rule with impunity! Men with power, ambition, and drive will soon forge entire empires for themselves, and world after world will fall to their rule! Men such as those shall be beholden to no emperor or Dauda rat!”

  “You fool!” Christine shouted. “Your cabal’s madness would destroy a thousand years of peace! Even if our kind survived the retribution any attempts at purging the Dauda would invite, the mercenary codes and conventions that keep our bloodlust in check and leave peasants and cities intact would be no more! The entire Dominion would fracture as power-mad fools destroy entire planets with their armadas in their hunger for conquest! Our empire would shatter!”

  Craven’s grin was pure madness. “Of course you would think that, weak-willed harlot! Fleeing for Earth, thinking your horrid crime of commingling with that filth could ever be forgiven! The purge will be glorious, Christine. I can almost hear the screams of your daughters even now.”

  He laughed at her outraged shout even as he locked gazes with Val once more. “I can only imagine how much you wish you could warn your people. But considering the ten million credit bounty now on your head, no one will believe a single word you say! All will know it for the desperate attempt to buy yourself a few more hours of life, before the next contender comes for your head!”

  Cold eyes bored into Val’s own. “Who knows, Valor? Maybe you do have a few days left to live. I did request they be discreet, after all.” He sneered down at the corpse by his feet, kicking it once out of spite. “All so this fool wouldn’t be unduly alarmed. Ah well. It was an interesting game, monkey. I will enjoy seeing how long you last.”

  With a final mocking wave, the signal was cut.

  Val turned to meet gazes frozen with shock or horror, no one saying a word.

  Christine’s lips pressed in a tight line, tearing herself away from the monitor. Clearly in shock. “This… this madness goes beyond manipulating the High Council for the sake of his son. That fool and his mad schemes will doom us all!”

  Angelica’s eyes widened. “Kentric is Craven’s...”

  Christine jerked a nod. “There was once a rumor, quashed years ago with a convenient purge that took the lives of five Highlords, and made it crystal clear that certain things were not even to be speculated about. The difference in their appearance is considerable, but their eyes, my dear. The madness in Kentric's smile. They are kin. They must be!”

  Lucius smirked. “It makes sense. Why else would someone as ruthless and power-hungry as Craven reduce himself to aiding another’s bid for the throne, unless that person was his own flesh and blood?”

  Sasha and Lisa, however, were in wide-eyed panic. “We have to flee!” Lisa said. “That monster put such a bounty they’ll come after Val in droves, even if they are kin!”

  Sasha gave a sad nod. “It’s true. Even if it's just a handful of Dauda who don’t know Val, they could come for his head at any time. And if we’re not very, very careful… they’ll take us out as well.”

  Jake winced. “Damn, Val. Looks like you pissed off the entire High Council! But hey, on the bright side, I actually got some experience for being part of the party uncovering the plot to destroy the Dauda! Which makes it bloody ironic that they’re coming to kill us.”

  Everyone paled at those words.

  You have moved Greengrove gate! New location: Adjoining battle-mech hangar in close proximity to Blackenthorp gate. You have invested two territory points in reinforcing and enlarging Greengrove gate. Now your entire battle-mech armada can jump on through! Congratulations, Greengrove gate is now indestructible. Not even fellow contenders walking the Path of Kings will be able to disrupt your gate!

  Lisa’s eyes widened, her exquisite features filled with awe. “I sense reality shifting around us. What did you do, Valor Hunter?”

  “Angelica, tell Bethany to head to the hangar with every pilot fully equipped in their battle-mechs! She’ll spot two gates now. Have her jump through the leftmost one. It will lead to Greengrove Province. She is to immediately
broadcast that she flies under my banner, and all spell use within 20 yards of the manor is to stop until I say otherwise!” Val ordered, a still dazed Angelica snapping herself back into focus and bowing her head. “It is done, Valor,” she said breathlessly. “Bethany tastes your concern. We are still linked.”

  Val nodded. “And we’ll need someone to bring Yin and Chris’s battle-mechs, assuming they’re still flyable by others...”

  Here Angelica flashed a pale smile. “Bethany and I already tried to test their battle-mechs out ourselves, awed by what they accomplished so far. We can fly Chris’s no problem. Yin’s, on the other hand...”

  “Can you at least carry it through?”

  Angelica momentarily closed her eyes before nodding once more. “Bethany says that shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Good.” Val closed his eyes, quickly pulling up his Dominion matrix once more and focusing as intently as he could on the display. Perception check made! Congratulations! Psi-sense and Magesight are now fully attuned to matrix! No reds are slipping into your territory, unless their Shadowmind is higher than your Psi-sense! Dazed and confused as they would be, with Haunting Luminescence in effect. But we all know it’s only a matter of time before cloaked Dauda come for your head. Who knows how many of your friends they’ll kill along the way?

  “Christine, please contact Elise, Sten, Gregor, and Halvar. My father and your husband as well. Have them all head to the Greengrove gate immediately.”

  Christine frowned, absently touching the jade pins adorning her hair. “Now is not the time for panic, Valor. Now, more than ever, with so many forces stacked against us, a calm mind and a clear plan of action is all that will save us from certain peril.”

  Lucius Blackenthorp nodded his accord. “Christine speaks the truth in this, Valor.”

  Valor gave a frustrated shake of his head, even now peering intently at the door, slightly ajar, and everyone within the room. “Neither of you are fools. Do you really trust Craven’s words that Dauda were only just now informed of the bounty he has put on my head? Think! He mocked us with time to savor the fear of our own demise. He could have put out that bounty days ago, with orders to strike the minute he had finished his meeting!”