The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

  11. Dinner

  Supper was a festive affair. The meal was sent from the Manor, withPrince Edward's compliments, and Princess Ursula sent Cortin asilk-lined brocade evening robe with a note expressing the royalcouple's pleasure at the Captain's recovery. The robe was nothing likethe utilitarian one Cortin usually wore, but it was attractive, andproved more comfortable than she'd thought it could be. It had seemedtoo showy when she first saw it, but when the men appeared in fulldress uniforms, it seemed entirely appropriate. Only the two from thecapital appeared completely comfortable in their finery at first, sincethey were the only ones who wore dress uniforms regularly, but by thetime the group sat down to eat, her team looked more relaxed.

  When Bradford finished saying grace, Cortin looked at him, letting hercuriosity show. "A catered dinner from the Crown Prince, a robe fromHer Highness, and everyone in dress blacks--what's going on?"

  "Attempted bribery," Bradford said cheerfully. "For which I can't beprosecuted, since I'm operating under His Majesty's orders."

  Cortin stared at him, her mind momentarily blank. "What?"

  "You may not realize it, but since until recently you were St. Thomas'sonly female Enforcement officer, His Majesty follows your career withconsiderable interest. Try your soup; it's much better hot."

  Cortin obeyed. "It's delicious . . . I know I was, and I supposethat's reason enough for curiosity--God knows I've run into more of itthan I like!--but why bribery? I took the same commissioning oath youdid, to obey His Majesty's lawful orders." If she didn't like them,well, she could go rogue after all . . . "And why so suddenly? Beforethe operation, everything was strictly routine."

  Bradford shrugged. "That's what I thought, until this morning. Onething you'll learn, if you take the bribe, is that His Majesty asks forinformation and advice, but he keeps his own counsel and makes his owndecisions. He won't make this an order because I told him what youwere likely to do if you were kept from your revenge."

  She'd been certain he knew; she nodded. "And?"

  "He's always been impressed by the loyalty you inspire in those whowork with you, and he was also most impressed when he saw the films ofyour training interrogations." Bradford smiled. "Not as impressed bythe films as Ivan and I were, but His Majesty isn't an Inquisitor; hecouldn't see the subtleties that can make such a difference. Still,what he could see, combined with your truthsense, not to mention thereputation you've earned from your work at Middletown, have convincedhim that you're the one he wants for a new position. It's a major partof the increased anti-terrorist campaign, and it won't require you toleave the Strike Force or give up your team. There'll be less fieldwork, though--probably a lot less--and you'll be headquartered in a newbuilding near the Palace compound. This is a small sample of the lifeyou can lead there, one both His Majesty and I hope you'll findtempting."

  "I do," Cortin admitted. It would be hard not to be tempted by thethought of living close to the Palace compound, eating this sort offood, and keeping her Strike Force status and team as well. "What'sthe position? And, with all due respect to you and His Majesty, what'sthe catch?"

  "The position is High King's Inquisitor, which carries membership inthe Royal Household as well as the rank of Colonel, to match yourcounterparts in other Kingdoms." Bradford grinned at her expression ofdisbelief. "I don't joke about His Majesty, Joan. Or about aprospective member of the Royal Household, who'll outrank mere membersof the King's Own if she accepts the job, and might take offense."

  Cortin swallowed, hard. How could she refuse such an offer, whethershe believed it justified or not? She looked at Odeon, almostdesperately, but saw no help there; he looked both smug and as pleasedas she thought she ought to be, so she turned her attention back toBradford. Worse, this fit in with what she'd experienced--andpreferred not to think about--while she'd been under Sis' drugs. "Thecatch?"

  "We're hoping you don't think there is one--or at least not one badenough to stop you from accepting the position. As I said, there'll beless field work, but to balance that, you'll be able to flag any topicyou want information on, and you'll be able to requisition any prisoneryou want to question yourself. You'll also be asked to carry out themost difficult interrogations as well, and executions of the worstcriminals. What do you say?"

  "That it all sounds much too good to be true," Cortin replied. Jumpingfrom Captain to Colonel, the highest Enforcement rank, plus joining theRoyal Household, access to any information or prisoners she wanted. . . it was hard to believe she could be offered all that, even with thereputation she now took pride in. And the vision, or hallucination, orwhatever it had been that said this was going to happen. She sipped ather drink, a freshly-pressed cider. She did have to admit it was hardto refuse, though. "What else?"

  "The clincher, I hope," Bradford said. "A commander who can resistpersonal threats or promises is often vulnerable to the same pressureson his--or her, of course--people. So a reminder: your team willremain with you. If you're part of the Household, that means they'llbe attached to it--members of the King's Own, reporting to you. Not asprestigious as being Household members, and it doesn't carry automaticpromotion, but they'll also live near the Palace compound--in yourLodge, if they don't mind living in a building that also houses theHigh King's Inquisitor and a state-of-the-art interrogation suite."

  Not as overwhelming an offer as the one to herself, but Cortin nodded."You're right, Brad, that is the clincher. Even though you might nothave needed it, if you'd given me time to think; I would've realizedwhat the offer meant for them."

  "You accept, then."

  "Yes."

  "Good." Bradford smiled. "On His Majesty's behalf, then, as well asfrom me: Congratulations, Colonel Cortin." He stood, raising hisglass. "Gentles, I give you Her Excellency Colonel Joan Cortin, theHigh King's Inquisitor."

  The others followed suit. Illyanov and Odeon exchanged glances, Odeonobviously trying to look solemn but spoiling the effect with a smile hecouldn't hide. Illyanov raised an eyebrow, then nodded, and Odeonsaid, "To Your Excellency's continued health and happiness." Thediners drank the formal toast, then sat back down, and Odeon droppedhis attempt to look solemn. "High King's Inquisitor--Joanie, youcouldn't've asked for a better place to hunt those plaguers from!"

  "No, I don't think I could," Cortin agreed. "It's still hard tobelieve I'd get tapped for it, though--talent or not, I don't have thatmuch experience." She paused long enough to eat some stuffed shrimpand take a drink of cider, then she went on. "If there'd been aposition like this earlier, I'd've expected it to go to someone likeBrad or Ivan, with experience."

  "I do not know about Brad," Illyanov said with a smile, "but I am notqualified. I am immediately subject to Czar Nicholas, not to High KingMark. Since you express interest, however--I have been informed that Iam under consideration for that position on St. Dmitri. I should liketo teach you the advanced techniques we did not have time for earlier,but I should also like to return to my wife and children in New Moscow.Despite the climate."

  "New Colorado's bad enough in the winter," Cortin agreed. "I'd like togo to your home world some day, on assignment or leave--but I hope it'sin summer!"

  "It is far more pleasant then," Illyanov said, chuckling. "Should Iget the position and require your assistance, I shall try to assure itis in summer. Should you go there at any time, however, I would likeyou to meet my family. You will like them, I think, especially Elenaand the girls, but I must warn you: the boys, especially Pyotr, willbeg you for war stories, and they can be most persistent."

  "I think I can handle that," Cortin said, amused. "You'll all bewelcome at the Lodge, of course." She turned to Bain. "That goes foryour brother's family, too, you know."

  "Thanks . . ." Bain said, hesitantly. "But I'm not sure they'd becomfortable in the capital."

  "I'm not sure I'll be comfortable there," Cortin said, then turned toBradford. "Brad, all any of us know about life in New Denver comesfrom the news and--if we read th
em, which I sometimes do forlaughs--the society columns. What's it really like?"

  "I don't want to disappoint you," Bradford said, "but most of the timeit's actually quite ordinary. You'll wear dress uniform more often,you'll be expected to attend important Palace functions, and your teamwill act as bodyguards any time you leave the Compound; otherwise,except for taking orders only from His Majesty--no one else can do morethan request--you should find things fairly normal." He grinned."You'll find out, starting tomorrow . . . if Your Excellency cares tojoin Their Highnesses on the return flight."

  Cortin swallowed. That shouldn't have surprised her, but it did--aflight to New Denver with the Crown Prince and Princess wouldn't beunusual for a member of the Royal Household, and she would get used toit, she supposed. Right now, though, it was a shock. She broughtherself under control and said, "I'd be honored. Arrangements willhave to be made, of course, to return our horses and pick up ourpersonal gear. Oh, and we'll need proper insignia."

  "All taken care of," Bradford said. "We had plenty of time while youwere under treatment."

  Cortin absorbed that, starting on her dessert. It sounded at firstlike Bradford or His Majesty had assumed, even before asking, that shewould accept--and maybe they had, she couldn't know--but a littlethought told her that wasn't necessarily the case. Bradford couldcarry all the insignia in a pocket, all of their personal gear wouldn'tstrain a single packhorse, and if she refused, they could all bereturned to Middletown with only a slight loss of time. "Thanks--thatwas kind of you."

  "Call it enlightened self-interest," Bradford said. "And I do havesomething to ask, when and if your primary duties permit."

  "Of course, if I'm able."

  "You are; you've done it. Act as auxiliary confessor and spiritualadvisor to the Detention Center Inquisitors--I heard how much good youdid."

  "Gladly--but don't forget Dave; he's a Priest-Inquisitor too."

  "I've already said I'd do it," Bain said. "And I'll probably have moretime for that sort of thing than you will. I have a very strongfeeling your primary job isn't going to leave you much time foranything else."

  "Probably true," Cortin agreed. "I enjoyed helping, but if I'm goingto do a good job as King's Inquisitor I may not have time to do thatvery well. And I'd rather not do it if I can't do it right."

  "You'll be keeping busy, all right," Bradford told her, "with a wholeKingdom to draw from. The whole Systems, if your skills are necessary."

  Cortin smiled. "Good!"

  "And it might interest you to know that His Majesty doesn't interferein his Household's private lives," Bradford said. "I don't know yourpreferences that well, but as long as you don't flaunt them, what youdo is between you and your partner or partners. With the securityprovided at the Palace Compound and Harmony Lodge, you won't have toworry about outsiders who might be offended."

  "No flaunting," Cortin promised. "I have very basic tastes; the onlything most people would frown on is the amount and variety of partnersI like."

  Bradford smiled. "Such as this group?"

  Cortin returned the smile. "Exactly."

  "And is Her Excellency interested now?"

  "Her Excellency most certainly is."

  * * * * *

  When Cortin woke, shortly before dawn, she was still awed by her newposition. That sort of promotion and transfer simply weren't supposedto happen--but all the Kingdoms would have Sovereign's Inquisitors,according to Brad; soon she'd be one of a dozen, different only in thatshe worked directly for the High King. That made it a little lessdaunting--and they were supposed to leave for New Denver today. Shegot up, bathed, and dressed, unable to suppress a thrill when shefastened the Colonel's eagle and the Household badge to her tunic.