Chapter 18

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The golden threads of the tablecloth stretched as far as the eye could see. The scarlet threads of embroidery flowed across it, now in thin, curving branches, now in dragon-like curves. Small lakes of light, honey-colored tea froze motionless in a haze, smooth with the porcelain shores of the saucers.

Above this pastoral scene towered mountains of cakes, topped with snowy caps of icing sugar and glittering peaks of bottles. In the gaps in the confectionery landscape, somewhere behind, the silhouettes of servants glided in vague white shadows. With quiet tinkling and faintly audible chatter, they set out, corrected, and checked.

The view, however, was very poor - it was literally being recorded from the table. So the cups, teapots, and cakes blocked a large part of the view. Alex was about to rewind that part and go straight to the interesting part when part of a perfectly white sleeve of cloth, similar to gauze, appeared in the frame, and a swarthy palm placed a pyramid of a suppressor on the table very close to the recording device.

The control light at the top of the pyramid glowed dimly yellow, streaks and rhythmic waves of distortion went across the screen, and the sounds became quieter and more metallic and scratchy, but the camera continued to work, and, in principle, everything was visible and audible.

"I wonder if that's how someone's recording us, too." Alex glanced at the suppressor pyramid next to him, which also had a yellow control light on it. "What's the use of them, then?"

"It's certainly the best thing to do," Taer frowned, taking the passage about the suppressors as a rebuke to herself.

Perfectionist! Alex sighed, watching the gloomy face of his 'personal security specialist', And a resentful perfectionist.

He leaned towards the screen again. This movement was echoed with a painful wave in his bruised ribs.

But brave and with a frenzied reaction.

Meanwhile, there was movement on the monitor again. Someone, judging by the build, a man appeared on the opposite side of the table opposite the recorder. He was dressed in something between a kimono and a gown of a delicate cream color. This something was adorned with massive dark stones around the collarbone. The man sat down at the table, and his face became visible, broad with a strong chin, a predatory nose with a slight hook, rather large lips, and brown, almost black, eyes.

"I think it's the same guy who met us at the station." Alex tried to remember the name, but the only thing he could remember was the 'wrong' handshake.

"Lord Velaske," Taer prompted.

Next to him sat a grey-haired man with a small "academic" beard and lively, slanted eyes that stood out in his wrinkled face.

"The professor the Marquis Degrasto was talking to!" Alex was surprised and raised his eyes to the ceiling and tried to remember his name as well. "I think. Takkar, and the name was something complicated... Fayur, or something..."

"Fayor," the "specialist" corrected without taking her eyes off the monitor.

In the meantime, a third person joined the crowd. Judging by the hand that flashed in the frame, it was probably a woman. And a young one at that. But that was all I could see - she sat behind the camera.

"I'm glad you were able to find an opportunity for this meeting!" Lord Velaske smiled, pressing his left hand to his chest. "I hope that we will have time to discuss what is happening and make any necessary adjustments," he took the saucer of tea in his hands and took a small sip.

"I am primarily concerned about Lord Cassard," he looked expressively at the professor. "Frankly, we didn't think it would be so difficult for you, given your capabilities. My colleagues and I have already had to improvise a lot."

"Inevitable accidents in such circumstances," remarked Professor Takkar philosophically. "I'm sure it will be a success tomorrow. The group is already in position, and the HGM is not a weapon that leaves any alternative for the outcome of this attack."

"I would like to hope so, Professor," a distorted, interfering female voice came from somewhere outside the camera's field of vision. "The inability of your people to cope with such a simple case is the main reason why my deadline is being disrupted in the first place!"

"I think it will go well this time," Lord Velaske hastened to put an end to the conflict. "And even if, by some improbable coincidence, Lord Cassard were to survive, the matter would be handled by the experts I've already summoned. And the professor's men can concentrate on their main task on Tallana."

"It's taking too long as it is," objected the lord's unseen interlocutor. "I can't wait for your 'specialist' to get to Cassard as well. The ships..."

What kind of ships were meant remained unknown. The picture froze - the recording came to an end.

"And why so much attention to me alone?" Alex sighed heavily as he watched the screen that hung in the air slowly fade away, scattering golden sparks.

Taer remained silent, ignoring the clearly rhetorical question. She sat absentmindedly with her head slightly tilted, clearly in contemplation and mechanically twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Not wanting to disturb the thought process of his 'security specialist', who was, in any case, more knowledgeable, Alex took advantage of the pause to gather his thoughts:

First, the "specialists" to whom the honorable challenge to "whack Lord Cassard in the shortest possible time" had been passed on. The thought of another assassination attempt sent an unpleasant chill down his chest. He had always thought he had no fear of death at all, but the determined consistency of these guys was beginning to act depressing, to say the least.

Second, what was it about me that displeased them so much? Third, who is Lady "X" and what interests do they have in common - the Lord of House Melato, the Professor of the University of Tallana, and the mysterious stranger? Fourthly, can't we just turn these woeful conspirators into the local police? Or the Security Service or whatever.

"It's pointless, even dangerous, to go to the Security Service with this recording," Taer's voice, which came out of her stupor, sounded like a commentary on his thoughts. "We can't prove the authenticity of this recording, and investigating its origin by the SS or Imperial Intelligence could create complications of such magnitude that it would be better not to even begin."

"Well, let's just say." Alex looked at Taer with interest. "What are your suggestions then?"

"Contact Countess Durlurl as soon as we get to the secure terminal and show her this recording," she stated flatly. "They're clearly plotting something against our entire House, and your murder is just a cover-up. Intelligence must be aware of that."

"I don't mind intelligence knowing about the threat to the House. But as soon as Daim Esta sees the video, she'll claw its source out of me and then eat them alive with their guts. I wouldn't want Lord Cassard's gratitude for providing vital information to be expressed in this form."

And I certainly didn't want to give Countess Durlurl any more leverage on myself. This time the very real fact of my association with the anti-imperialists

Taer thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers in triumph:

"I can tell her that the bag with the stick was amongst the mail. Or it was just planted. And you don't have to explain anything then. Let them think for themselves. You can even say if you like, that you don't know anything about it yet."

"And you really think Daim Esta would believe that?" Alex asked with an extremely skeptical expression on his face.

"What is there for her to do?" Taer shrugged her shoulders innocently. "She has no other sources of information. And I'm not going to tell her anything."

Except that some of the guardsmen react to Countess Durlurl like a rabbit to a boa constrictor.

"And then," the specialist pushed, "In any case, something has to be done about Lord Velaske and the Professor..."

For example, to kill so they don't try to kill peaceful lords

"... and House Fyron's intelligence has the means to deal with such a problem," Taer continued. "After all, it is their direct task! We, on the other hand, can't do anything about it."

Well, according to Isalaya, they managed to order the Ruling Lord with the Head of Intelligence. With a professor and just a lord, with four million danarii in cash, the matter would probably be resolved even faster, mentally objected Alex, but did not say anything aloud because deep in his heart, and understood that so, out of the blue, without connections and other things, to take and "order" someone - would be more expensive. But I don't want to go and bow down to that bitch...

"All right," he sighed heavily. "You get in touch with Countess Durlurl, tell her you were planted with the record, and you contact her immediately without even telling me so as not to worry me unnecessarily."

"That's good!" Taer got up from the sofa. "I can go and change now, can't I, Your Lordship?"

Alex just nodded wearily and waited for her to come out, then began to pull off his overalls as well:

I think she's having a nervous breakdown, he thought aloof as he stretched out on the couch. Just fifteen minutes ago, she was tearing and thrashing and ready to tear Lieutenant Sarvola apart with her teeth... and now she's smiling and cheerful, even trying to joke...

Though there was no point in nagging at the girl, Alex grinned grimly as he stared at his reflection in the dark mahogany panel, polished to a high shine. You're freaking out, too... deep down.

He was not allowed to lie on the sofa in peace. In just a few minutes, a call came on the communicator, and the captain of the yacht apologetically warned that the shuttle with Baroness Rional and the Marquis Degrasto would be arriving in just a few minutes.

Realizing that he was about to be jumped on and expressing his concern, perhaps even sincerely, Alex began to put the overalls back on, picking up the many fasteners, cords, and some wires that had previously belonged to the overalls and were picturesquely scattered around the bedroom. The lord was too lazy to go to the wardrobe to find something more appropriate.

By the way, it's interesting - the Marquis was definitely in contact with this Tallana professor, and the third "unknown" negotiator is young and female. It's a piquant thing if they're both in on it.

Adding to the spice was the recollection that the Marquis was traveling with four servants, three of whom, in Alex's view, were of the right build and age to be fighters.

Yes, Taer and I are clearly outnumbered.

Alex looked at Kayrin and Marquis Degrasto walking down the clear tube of the receiving port that connected the yacht and the small silver shuttle, something subtly similar to the sports boats of his world. With the Marquis, of course, were his servants - all four of them. The faces of all of them were very worried.

Well, let's hope they don't become so blunt as to attack outright.

"Alex! What's wrong? Are you all right?" Kayrin was pouncing with questions before she could get out of the shuttle. "When we were taking off, I saw the Flyer crash outside your site. I was so freaked out!"

"We were contacted by an intelligence representative and told that you were leaving urgently," Marquis Degrasto looked somewhat annoyed. "And he didn't explain anything."

Alex thought for a moment about what to say and what not to say. Then he decided that they would find out anyway:

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"There's been another attempt on my life," he said in as mundane and bored a tone as possible. Like bad weather, he complained. "He was unfortunately not without casualties this time - one of the guardsmen of my Arm was badly wounded."

"Is Taer hurt?" Kayrin exclaimed, stunned. "What happens to her?"

"Not with Taer, thank g..." Alex hesitated but corrected himself in time. "Luckily she's all right. Dudo's wounded."

When she heard that Taer was all right, Kay sighed in relief. She then asked a few general questions about Dudo's health out of pure politeness. His fate was far less interesting to Baroness Rionale.

I wonder why she got so excited - I thought they didn't like each other, to put it mildly.

For the next thirty minutes, Alex answered the endless questions of the Marquis and Kayrin. Though there wasn't much to say, from his point of view, it was almost instantaneous: the only things he remembered were the huge column of water surrounding the machine that had popped out of the lake, the howl of the phasers and the air filled with buzzing blasts of tracers, and then - he was knocked down and pinned to the ground by Taer, who was surprisingly heavy.

The results of the investigation did not shine with the variety either - "no witnesses, no suspects, no detainees, no evidence..." - so the Marquis soon enough left Alex behind and, bowing out, went with his servants to his quarters to change - he was still in his hunting suit, bearing the marks of a long walk through the wet thickets of Voigrom.

Kayrin, on the other hand, seemed determined to take the opportunity to squeeze everything out of Alex:

"I think you're hiding something from me," she sighed sadly as she and Alex walked to the main hall. "First the poisoning, the shield generator in the castle, and now another assassination attempt. Why won't you tell me everything? Maybe I can help you. And if I can't, my Clan can."

Really, Kayrin, you couldn't have killed Lord Velaske and Professor Takkar. And one other unknown damsel. Those bitches are on a deadline because of me, so they're trying to do their best. And if you can't, maybe your Clan can do it?

"You know, Kay, frankly, I don't really have much to tell you," Alex sat comfortably on one of the cozy couches around the perimeter of the main lounge where he and Kayrin had come "to talk". "Someone wants to kill me, but you already know that. It was obvious after the poisoning. Why someone wants to kill me, I have no idea," he said, and that's the plain truth. "I may have known it before. But after the poisoning, my memory is far from perfect."

"If you've forgotten everything," Kayrin arched an eyebrow. "Then why did you buy a shield generator and hire more people? Look, Alex, I'm not your enemy, I really want to help you!"

"Why?" tiredly asked Alex, who slightly doubted the sincere altruism of this young NLP-girl.

"That's a strange question! In our generation, I am closest to you. Blood to blood, fire to fire!" she quoted some local proverb. "You have to stick to each other in these matters! An attack on you is an attack on my Clan. You are the last of your kind, and if you are killed, I have no one else to avenge you."

"I agree," Alex didn't believe Baroness Rionale's version of 'one for all and all for one.' "And how exactly can you help?"

"Well..." she began, stepping closer and touching him on the shoulder as if unintentionally (I see, you have limited resources, my dear...). "It depends on what exactly is going on around you. But, at the very least, I could summon some of my Arm. Taer alone, for all its merits, is obviously not enough."

And find yourself surrounded by a bunch of armed brutes who obey you? Yes, you're my sweetheart - do you really think I'm that naive?

"I don't think that's necessary," Alex assured her. "It's unlikely the killers will dare make another attempt anytime soon."

"I don't understand why I deserve your distrust!" Kayrin frowned and pulled away. "I really want to help you! But you won't even tell me what's going on! If there's a secret involved, I'll give you my word!"

And after all, what am I risking? In any case, we've already decided to leak the footage to Countess Durlurl.

"The word?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

"I give my word as Baroness Rionale!" she pressed her right hand to her chest, and her voice was solemn. "That I will keep your secret, whatever it may be! I can swear on fire. If you want me to." She added after a moment's hesitation.

"I think your word is more than enough," smiled Alex, who had little faith in the effectiveness of any vow

"Then tell me about it!" Kayrin declared, moving closer again. "What's going on?"

"Well, all right," he got up from the sofa and held out his hand. "Let's go."

In his quarters he went to the suppressors first, out of a habit he had already picked up.

"It's very nice here." Kayrin looked around curiously.

Alex just nodded absentmindedly in response, saying that I liked it too.

This entry was in the mail. Unfortunately, we looked at it after the assassination attempt.

He switched on the cluster built into the small table. Two holographic screens flashed in front of the chairs, and the picture on them shook slightly, gaining depth and clarity, gradually revealing a familiar picture...

"We need to contact Countess Durlurl," Kayri said in a strangled voice after the recording had ended. "This is clearly directed against our entire House."

And so is she! She's not a countess. She's a lifesaver!

"That's probably what we'll do once the boat arrives in Copeira. I don't really like the idea myself, though."

"That's the most sensible thing to do in a situation like this!" Kayrin objected firmly. "Your Arm is very small, you have no Clan to fall back on, and for some reason, you refuse my help. And Taer isn't omnipresent. She's not enough to protect you. And Daim Esta has to be warned anyway: It seems to me that the attempt on your life is no more than a cover for an attack on our House. The girl was talking about some kind of ship."

"Yes, I understand!"

Alex was reluctant to let Kayrin in on his difficulties with Countess Durlurl and diplomatically overlooked the passage about people helping to guard him.

But Kay is right: Taer alone will not be enough - I must get some people together and people as far away from politics as possible!

"Are you having some sort of disagreement with Countess Durlurl?" guessed Kayrin, who couldn't help the lack of enthusiasm at the mention of the head of intelligence.

"Ah, never mind," Alex brushed her off. "A little misunderstanding..."

"Is that all?" There was a slight tinge of irony in Kayrin's smile. "What had caused this misunderstanding?"

He wrestled with doubts for a few moments - whether or not to tell - and decided, what the hell - it can't get any worse:

"Let's just say it relates to my possible marriage..."

"Оh!" Kayrin's eyebrows went up. "She's against marrying Valerie Bellar? I didn't know."

"No," Alex shook his head. "I'm against it."

"You?!" she exclaimed with a kind of joyful amazement. "Alex, but why?!"

He shrugged his shoulders with as indifferent a look as possible:

"I don't want to."

"I was told that you were almost the author of the idea! And you certainly weren't against it!"

"Maybe. But I, you know, managed to lose my memory in the process. And I lost it hard. And then I'm told I have to marry this girl, who I've never seen before! And why I need this marriage - I just don't understand! So I'm not enthusiastic about the whole idea."

"Well... Well, don't get married!" With the broadest and most sincere smile, Kayrin suggested. "What's the big deal? They haven't even announced the engagement yet."

"The difficulty lies with Countess Durlurl, who does not want the whole arrangement with House Bentar to go down the drain just because someone has suddenly changed his mind."

"Who cares what she doesn't want?" Baroness Rionale smirked defiantly. "Let her look for another candidate! I'm sure finding someone willing to be Lord Consort isn't the hardest thing to do."

"I understand that the Bentars insist on my candidacy..." Alex sighed. "But, generally speaking, I'm not in the mood for marriage problems right now..."

"I see..." Kayrin nodded sympathetically. "I think we should contact Countess Durlurl, anyway. And about marriage..." she cheered up again, winking conspiratorially. "You know, I think... no, I'm sure I have a way to help you. And without offending anyone!"

"I wonder how?" Alex raised an eyebrow with interest.

"Well," said a pleased Kayrin. "Let's just say I'm not promising anything yet. But if it works, it'll be a force majeure, and you won't be in any danger! Wouldn't you?"

Alex nodded silently, not really counting on anything.

You never know, but let's see!

She jumped up enthusiastically from her chair:

"I need to send an urgent message then. Where's your communicator?" Kayrin turned to leave and was about to go but froze when she saw the gently pulsing blue fabric of hyperspace outside the stateroom window. "Great shadows! We're already in the jump. I didn't even notice the transition!"

She sighed sadly but waved her hand:

"All right, then, I'll wait for the arrival on Copeira! By the way, Alex, what do you think of a light meal? I'm starving - the last time I ate was before I landed on Voigrom."

"I think that's a great idea!" Apart from the flag captain's attempt to feed Alex some cuttlefish, he didn't eat anything at all.

"Then, meet me in the refectory!" Kayrin suggested, sending him one of her dazzling smiles. "I'm going to take this off and change into something more appropriate," she pointed a finger at her luxurious reddish leather hunting costume.

Waiting for the door to close behind Kayrin, Alex let out a long groan and started to pull off his overalls, but then spat and began to zip them back on.

To hell with them all! After all, whether I'm an autocrat and a drunkard or not! I can walk around my yacht in overalls!

Alex spent the next nine hours, which it took for the yacht to jump to Copeira, trying to find out from the Marquis of Degrasto in roundabout ways what interest the Melatian lord and the Talana professor had in causing chaos in House Fyron by killing Allesandro Cassard.

No clear motives emerged: House Melato was, of course, a rival and almost an enemy of House Fyron, but they had no common border, and a direct attack was highly unlikely. The Tallana option was murky - the Tallana oligarchy had no interest in making trouble for House Fyron. Especially not in this way.

There was also the possibility that the Professor was, in fact, a terrorist representative from the PVD, but that did not add to the clarity since Alessandro Cassard was not an imperial official and had never even spoken particularly enthusiastically about the Empire.

So when the yacht landed near Blue Flame Castle nine hours later, Alex and Taer, having unloaded their guests to the majordomo, went straight to the bedroom of the "security specialist".

"Don't move, or you'll get caught in the terminal camera's field of view!" Taer instructed, making sure she was the only one in sight of the secure terminal.

After checking the fit of her uniform (which Alex thought was perfect) and brushing an invisible speck of dust off her shoulder, the "specialist" entered the number into the terminal.

A red griffin on a grey field appeared on the screen, enclosed in a golden circle. Beneath the circle was a stylized gold eye. After a few seconds, the screen saver disappeared, replaced by a blue-shaven young man of about twenty-five in a charcoal-black uniform:

"Identify yourself at once!" he blurted out. "Otherwise, you will be charged with resisting the investigation!"

"Er..." the stunned Taer only had time to utter before an angry shout came from across the screen, the picture blinked, and Countess Durlurl appeared on the screen.

A very, very pissed-off Countess Durlurl, to be precise:

"Lieutenant, remember! In this office, I, or my secretary, answer the call!" she hissed, looking sideways.

"They may be accomplices to the assassins whom you can warn in some way, so we have to limit your public..." the lieutenant started to object from somewhere outside the camera but was interrupted by the countess:

"Please come to me, Lieutenant," she chanted affectionately, smiling sweetly.

Soon a young man in a charcoal-black SS uniform appeared in the camera's field of vision.

"Tell me, Lieutenant, did they teach you the part of the law about the Great Houses of Tail and their liberties at the Academy?" she asked, flashing a charming smile.

"Yes, Your Grace!"

"Then you must be aware," Daim Esta continued smiling absently, twisting a button near the collar on the lieutenant's uniform. "That despite the witty legal loophole your office has found, the Grand House Guards, like the nobility, are outside the jurisdiction of the Imperial Security Service... Well, Lieutenant, what do you think would happen to you if I were to complain to the Emperor at my next meeting about a violation of the freedoms of the nobility by an SS Lieutenant? By the way, confirmed personally by His Majesty? Guarding a very distant asteroid or going straight to the disciplinary section?"

The Lieutenant swallowed frantically and opened his mouth to say something, but at that moment, Countess Durlurl surprisingly, for her submissive build, suddenly tugged at his collar. Her brown eyes were black with anger, and her face was so black with anger. For a moment, Aleix thought that Daim Eesta was about to clutch at his throat:

"So it's in your best interest to make sure I don't remember your name a month from now," she growled in his face." Have I made myself clear enough, Stack Lieutenant Asfi Terger? Do you have the right to conduct an investigation?" She inquired, a ring of ice in her voice, and without waiting for an answer, she brought her free hand crashing down on the table, causing everyone to wince in surprise:

"Well, then investigate!" raised her voice to a shout from Esta. "But remember, this is where I decide who talks to whom and when!"

She was silent for a moment, and after taking a couple of deep breaths, she continued in an angry whisper:

"And if those present continue to be inappropriate, I may be tempted to express my displeasure in other ways. And then it won't be up to the disciplinary section."

Countess Durlurl released the Lieutenant's collar. He immediately recoiled, squinting frightened at her, and began frantically tidying up his uniform.

"So please, Lieutenant," Esta's face brightened, and she smiled charmingly. "Don't interrupt - it makes me very angry."

"Yes..." Alex gradually withdrew from the scene. "The ability to work with people.is God's level."

The lieutenant mumbled something unintelligible and retreated to somewhere outside the camera's field of vision. And Countess's attention shifted to Taer, who, after the scene had played out, sat as quietly as possible, without any indication of her presence:

"Taer, sweetheart, sorry to keep you waiting, we're in grief..." she said in a ringing voice, giving Taer a sweet smile.

"Grief? What happened, your ladyship?"

"Twelve hours ago, the Ruling Lord of House Melato died," Esta sighed sadly.

"Oh...", said Taer, dumbfounded by what was happening.

"Yes, a grievous loss," the Countess said. "He was shot dead with a bullet gun. And, imagine, the Melatians think they have found the killers. Or rather, their bodies. Because they died in a skirmish with the guardsmen. Yes... And all three of them were carrying House Fyren's retainer medallions. And they turned out to be our retainers who disappeared on Tallana a week ago."

"But that's absurd!" Taer exhaled. "Why bring medallions with them?"

"I'm glad you understand me!" Esta smiled happily. "But unfortunately, our friends in the Imperial Security Service..." she paused, eyeing the button torn off the lieutenant with interest. "...Yes, our friends think otherwise. And they have found one legal loophole that allows them," her lips curled, and she spat out. "Investigate. And now they're literally everywhere, even in my office, getting in the way. We have, of course, already sent our complaint to the Emperor and the Imperial High Tribunal, but since the Imperial Navy has refused to allow us to use the zero-communication systems, it will be a couple of days before the message reaches the capital... Yes... So what did you call?"

Taër hesitated for a moment, probably wondering what to say, but then she answered immediately:

"There has been another attempt on Lord Cassard's life, and I wanted to ask for your assistance in transferring some Guardsmen to the Lord's Arm."

"Yes, I have already been informed of this distressing incident," the Countess nodded. "Well, send me the names, and I'll arrange for a transfer."

"Thank you for your help, Your Ladyship! I'll send you the names later," Taer nodded to Esta and disconnected.

"You know, I don't think we can count on Countess Durlurl's help for the next week. The shadows there know what's going on! It's unlikely she'll be able to deal with Lord Velaske and the Professor before she gets rid of the SS watchdogs."

"Well, that's not our only option. You know, I've been missing Isalaya for a while now. I think I should go see her as soon as possible."

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