Grave Covenant

  Sun-Tzu smiled. "I have to say I think I am an excellent candidate and will do my utmost to rule with wisdom and justice."

  Candace's eyes narrowed. "Your mother once made that pledge. She failed to keep it."

  "I am not my mother."

  "Pity. She is dead."

  "Wait." Victor stood at his place and held his hands up. "This is pointless."

  Katrina smiled, waiting for Victor launch into a tirade. He does have a gift for character assassination when he gets going. This should be good.

  Victor's hands slowly unclenched. "As far as I'm concerned, if Sun-Tzu is good enough for my sister, he's good enough for me. He will have my vote."

  Katrina felt the blood drain from her face. What? How is this possible?

  Victor continued. "Sun-Tzu Liao, I don't really trust you further than I can throw a 'Mech, but I'm really given no real choice in the matter. Either you will accept the responsibilities of this office and see to its duties for the good of the Inner Sphere, or you'll leave it in such a shambles that the Clans will walk all over us. I grew up hating you and it hasn't done me any good. I don't suppose your being hated did you any good, either. Maybe giving you this responsibility will. All I know is that those of us who are going to be shedding blood for the Inner Sphere will be counting on you to get us the weapons and supplies we need to do our jobs. If you fail, we'll be the first to die, and far from the last."

  The sense of horror threatening to choke Katrina spiked as Victor sat down and winked at her. He winked at me! He had the gall to wink at me. Her hands tightened and she felt her fingernails stab into her palms. He couldn't have anticipated this move on my part. Now I have to support Sun-Tzu, which means he'll be selected First Lord. While Victor's off fighting the Clans, I'll have to put up with Sun-Tzu!

  She wanted to scream, but instead politely nodded her head in response to the Precentor Martial's call for the vote. Sun-Tzu beamed with his selection. He rose from his place, clasping both hands triumphantly over his head. Before he sat down again he looked in her direction and bowed his head respectfully, then flashed her a prideful smile.

  As if this victory means anything at all! Katrina's eyes narrowed. You did not get what you wanted, so now you must take what you've been given and find another way to reach your goal. Is there a way I can turn Sun-Tzu's election into something that will hurt Victor?

  Katrina directed a smile at her brother. First blood is yours, brother mine, but the winner in our fight will be the last one standing, and I have no intention of letting that be you.

  19

  Sigfried Glacier Reserve Environs, Tharkad City

  Tharkad

  District of Donegal, Lyran Alliance

  16 November 3058

  As Victor Steiner-Davion turned around, the snowball caught him square in the forehead. It exploded down over his face, the snow's cold caress feeling like fire on his flesh. He reflexively jerked his head back away from the blow, then found himself overbalanced to the right. He tried to steady himself, but the knee-high crusted snow trapped his legs.

  He went down hard on his side, crackling through the crust and launching a cloud of powdery snow into the air. He heard the fragments of crust pitter-pat over his parka, then felt the lighter snow drift down over him. As the sound of a child's happy laughter reached his ears, the haunting, uncomfortable sensation of snow working its way down the collar of his shirt made itself felt.

  Heavy footsteps crunched their way to his side. "Are you all right, Victor?"

  The Prince flicked snow out of his right eye and looked up at Kai Allard-Liao and the little boy peering from around Kai's leg. "Can't you tell your son to pick on someone his own size?"

  "He was."

  "Thanks."

  Kai reached down and hauled Victor to his feet. "He was throwing the snowball at Morgan's grandson when you got in the way."

  Victor glanced over to where Morgan Hasek-Davion was playing with his grandson, George Hasek, Junior. Morgan's father, Michael, had changed the family name to Hasek-Davion after he wed Victor's aunt Marie. After Michael turned out to be a traitor and was killed by Kai's father, Morgan announced that the Hasek-Davion line stopped with him. Now his son had a son and the Hasek line had an heir to continue its rule over the Capellan March of the Federated Commonwealth.

  Kai's son, David Lear, held up a snowball. "Here you go, sir. You can throw it at me." He waited until Victor had plucked the snowball from his mittened hands, then went running off across the top of the snow crust. The navy blue snowsuit so insulated him that the boy could barely move, but the happy laughter trailing in his wake gave no sign he noticed or cared about his restrictions.

  Victor lofted the snowball over David's head. The little boy watched it fly, spinning around to do so. He immediately lost his balance and crashed down, giggling madly as he went.

  The Prince looked up at Kai. "Were we ever that carefree?"

  "Probably, back when dust clouds were congealing into planets around stars." Kai winced as David tried to stand up and failed spectacularly. "And just as graceful."

  Victor smiled. "He's how old?"

  "Five and a half, same as George Junior."

  "Does it bother you that when we head out you won't see him? When you come back he'll be twice his age." Victor sighed and let the breeze carry his vaporous breath away. "I mean it's easy for me to go because I don't have the same responsibilities you do."

  Kai shook his head. "No. No, you don't. I have to look after my family, and you're responsible for billions of people, but I know that's not what you meant, is it?"

  "Isn't it?"

  "Nope." Kai pointed toward the chateau and the various people standing behind the great room's glass wall. "Yvonne will take good care of your people and govern wisely in your stead. You're worried about other things."

  Victor nodded. "Yeah, like Katherine."

  Kai laughed. "Seeing her reaction when you agreed to support Sun-Tzu was wonderful. She never saw it coming."

  The Prince smiled. "True, that was something she didn't expect. It was strange, Kai, because when she nominated Sun-Tzu I immediately saw red. I knew she was using him to provoke a reaction out of me, and she started to get it. Then I began to wonder what she would get out of having Sun-Tzu made First Lord."

  "Nothing, as nearly as I can tell."

  "Right, which is why I decided her motive must have been to draw a bad reaction out of me." Victor reached back and pulled a clump of snow from inside his collar. "All of a sudden things started to click into place in my mind. The only person who could be hurt by my angry reaction to the nomination was me. I realized that Katrina wanted me to start a fight, then she'd withdraw her nomination and, because she was a peacemaker, would be the logical candidate for the post. Only by agreeing to Sun-Tzu's election could I thwart her."

  "You could have blocked her election—the Coordinator and my mother would have voted with you—and suggested a return to drawing lots."

  "Sure, but then I might have won."

  Kai gave him a hard stare. "Are you telling me you don't want to be First Lord of the Star League?"

  Victor hesitated. "I know that was my father's goal, and the goal of every Inner Sphere leader since the dissolution of the Star League, but I guess I never got infected with that bug. I always assumed my father would win the post. Then the Clans arrived and priorities shifted. Given a choice between being known as the First Lord of the Star League and the man who conquered the Clans, I'd take the latter spot in history in a second. The First Lord's position is largely ceremonial anyway, and you know I don't like much in the way of ceremony."

  "I know. I also don't buy that as your reason for refusing to go into Tharkad City tonight to attend Katherine's birthday gala."

  "I sent a present." Victor shrugged. "Some planet or other."

  "That's all well and good, but this party is going to be a celebration of all that's been accomplished here. In another five days the constitution gets signed and the Star
League is reborn." Kai rested a hand on Victor's shoulder. "You've earned the right to celebrate."

  "Have I? Inside six months, if all goes as planned, we'll initiate an assault that will kill hundreds of thousands, even millions of people. It will be slaughter on a scale undreamt of by anyone within hailing distance of sanity." Victor snorted steam from his nostrils. "How can I dress up and celebrate before we go off to do that?"

  "You can and you will because by your presence at the celebration you will strengthen ties that will make the operation go more easily and smoothly. Comments you make there, positive comments, will be circulated. They will trickle down so every soldier being sent into that battle will know you're so confident of victory you dared take time to enjoy yourself. Your attendance may not boost your morale, but it will boost the morale of others."

  "I don't want to go, Kai." Victor frowned. "Don't people with children have trouble finding baby-sitters? That's what I'll do—watch over David and George and your Melissa while you all go off and have fun."

  Kai coughed lightly. "Ah, Victor, I hate to break this to you, but all the children have nannies and there are enough security personnel in this chateau of yours that nothing's going to happen to them. I'd also point out that I don't think you've ever changed a diaper. Talk about something that requires courage."

  "Right. I forgot the biohazard part of the job." Victor gave Kai a sidelong glance. "You don't really believe that morale-boosting pap, do you?"

  "It'll boost my morale to have you there."

  "How so?"

  "My wife indicated to me that a certain lady would be disappointed if you weren't there."

  "And your job was to make sure I would be?" Kai nodded.

  "Damn, you always take on the dangerous missions." Victor smiled. "Far be it from me to let you disappoint Dr. Lear."

  "Thanks." Kai smiled. "So what kind of planet did you give Katherine? A gas giant?"

  "Would have been a nice choice. Maybe next year." Victor shook his head. "Nope, it was a lifeless little ball; cold, hard, and ugly to the core. Reminded me of her. Hope she likes it."

  * * *

  Victor was so engrossed in watching Omi join her father on the dance floor for a waltz, that he didn't notice the woman's approach until he felt her hand on his shoulder. He turned toward her and gave her a pleasant smile. "Duchess Marik. I hope you are enjoying yourself this evening."

  "Isis, please." She smiled warmly at him. "May I call you Victor?"

  "Please."

  "I didn't mean to surprise you." She stood before him with her chestnut hair gathered on top of her head and a shimmery, sleeveless silver gown sheathing her slender figure. "I suppose I could be put out that you did not notice my approach, but that sort of pettiness is the domain of your sister, Katherine, isn't it?"

  Victor coughed into his hand to hide his surprise. "Forgive me. I did notice your approach, but I did not think you would be coming to speak with me. I haven't earned much favor with your family."

  She nodded sympathetically. "Joshua's death was a blow, but I very much appreciated what you did to keep him alive. I know your father started his treatments, but you could have terminated them after the Clan truce. Joshua was no longer needed as a hostage then."

  "But that would have been inhuman, which could sound funny coming from me, given what happened." Victor frowned. "I bore him no ill will, and the same goes for you and your father—for your nation, too."

  "I never really knew Joshua, so I did not have an emotional bond with him. I think I saw him as the wall between me and all manner of insanity."

  "Excuse me?"

  A certain sadness dragged at her face. "You know I was born out of wedlock while Thomas—I hardly think of him as my father—was missing. My mother and I were well taken care of, but we were kept out of the way. I only became legitimized after Joshua was diagnosed with leukemia, thrusting me into a position I never wanted to be in. Think of it: I was made next in line for the throne of a realm where assassination is seen as just an alternate manner of shifting the power structure. Then I was tossed like a bone to Sun-Tzu to tantalize him with dreams of power that will never come true."

  Victor scratched at his throat and tugged on his collar to loosen it. "You surprise me, Isis. The impression I had of you ..."

  "The one I made on Outreach when I started flirting with Kai and Sun-Tzu and caused that argument." She blushed. "I was young then, very young, and very taken with all the uniforms and celebrity. All of you, the young royals, you were all there together and you knew each other. I felt I had to make an impression. I did, but not the one I wanted to make."

  She reached out and clutched Victor's left forearm. "And I don't want you to think I'm here, now, making a play for you. It's rather obvious who you're waiting for. She's gorgeous and very nice."

  Victor glanced over to where Omi danced with her father. The gown she wore was cut along the same lines as the one Isis had on, including the plunging backline and teardrop neckline, but it was black, with red trim at the hem, waist, neckline, and back. Just like that bathing suit she wore.

  "Omi is wonderful."

  "And I think you two deserve all the happiness you can find together." Isis smiled. "What I wanted to do was to thank you for supporting Sun-Tzu and making him First Lord of the Star League."

  Victor nodded. "I would be less than honest if I didn't tell you I voted for him to frustrate my sister."

  "I know that. She's not easy to read, but not impossible, either." Isis let go of Victor's arm. "What you said to him, though, about responsibility and hatred, I think that got through to him. I think—I know—he's spent most of his life waiting for someone to come destroy him. He thought it would be Kai or you or Thomas and he went out of his way to provoke you just so he could survive your attack and thwart you. He never felt you respected him and I think he resented the fact that the Clans captured more of your attention than he did."

  Victor's eyes narrowed. "You're really in love with him, aren't you?"

  She stopped, clasped her arms around her middle, and looked down. "I hope that doesn't make you think less of me."

  "Not at all. In fact, I envy you." Her chin came up. "You what?"

  "I envy you." Victor patted her on the arm. "At least you have a chance to be with the one you love someday. That's more than I'll have."

  She shook her head. "You have as much chance at happiness as I do."

  "Then we're both doomed, because I have no chance of ever being with Omi and marrying her."

  "How can you say that?"

  Victor shrugged. "It's unfortunately easy for me, I fear. Were I to marry Omi, the people of the Draconis March would assume I had betrayed them. My judgment would be called into question and open revolts would result. Katherine would certainly do all she could stir up trouble. She'll point out that the Lyons thumb—which the Combine occupied at the request of ComStar and with my permission—stands as proof of how I will merge the Combine and the Federated Commonwealth. I'll be painted as the junior partner in that union. It would be utter ruin if I married her."

  "Utter ruin for whom, Victor?" Her brown eyes narrowed slightly as she pointed to the people on the dance floor. "When you look at them, do you see what I do? Look at Kai and his wife, or your Morgan Hasek-Davion and his wife, even Thomas and Sherryl. All of them are happy because they have found someone with whom to share their lives. No one questions their judgment and no one has a right to question their judgment. The only sign of insanity you could possibly suffer would be to let Omi go."

  Victor heard her words and felt them resonating in his soul. How is it that billions of people will march with me into war, yet will rebel if I choose to marry someone I love? If they cannot count on me to make the right decision concerning my personal life, if they cannot trust me to pursue my own dreams, how can they trust me to govern them?

  He looked up at her and smiled. "Thank you."

  "For what?"

  "For pointing out the border between sa
nity and insanity."

  "Victor, I saw my mother spend the rest of her life being profoundly unhappy because she could never again be with the man she loved. I live in dread of Thomas or Sun-Tzu deciding to separate me from Sun-Tzu. What I want for myself I can't but want for you and everyone else." She smiled carefully. "The heartache you know is the same heartache all humans go through. It is what makes all of us equal. Don't let the expectations of others strip you of humanity."

  "You're right. I won't do that." Victor smiled as the music ended and Omi came walking over with her father. "You know Isis, of course."

  "Good to see you again, Duchess."

  Isis smiled broadly. "You were magnificent out there, so graceful. I would love to dance, but Sun-Tzu doesn't like to dance."

  Omi frowned at Victor. "You should have invited her to dance."

  Victor blinked. "I would have but.. ."

  "... But he would be thinking of you while dancing with me, Omi." Isis shook her head. "He was too polite to say so, but I could read it in his eyes. The two of you should just go out and dance. I'll live vicariously through you."

  Victor offered Omi his hand. "If you would do me the pleasure."

  Omi looked at Isis. "It would not be polite to abandon you."

  "No, it is impolite for me to stand in the way of your joy. Please, put your concerns for me aside."

  Omi nodded and followed Victor onto the dance floor.

  "A wise woman, that Isis." Victor looked up into Omi's eyes. "She's grown up quite a bit since Outreach."

  "So she has." Omi smiled down at him. "What did you talk about?"

  "This and that." Victor nodded slowly. "She gave me a lot to think about—a lot for us to think about."

  20

  Hall of the Khans, Warrior Quarter

  Strana Mechty

  Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space

  19 November 3058

  In the rear of the Grand Council chamber, Vlad Ward of the Wolves sat back and steepled his fingers. He dared risk the hint of a smile, primarily because he knew it would infuriate Khan Asa Taney of the Ice Hellions. Vlad had even placed his helmet on the desk in front of him in such a position that Taney would have no trouble seeing him at all. He knows who has driven the knife into his back, now I want him to know who is twisting it.