“He called it Meditations on Successful Tyranny.”
“How spiritual sounding!” chortled Trae.
Helga, remembering the “trance-haze” in which her lover had spent many hours writing the thing, knew that the jesting phrase was far more accurate than Trae imagined. Adrian had finally explained to her the nature of his “spirits.” Helga didn’t really understand it, not fully at least. She wasn’t happy at the thought that two other disembodied intelligences were sharing Adrian’s mind—certainly not when they were making love!—but she had reconciled herself to the reality. And she understood how valuable their advice would be, to her father even more than Adrian himself.
“Just make sure he gets it,” she snapped. “Mind your big sister!”
PART II:
THE CONQUEROR
Chapter 16
“It’s incredible,” whispered Jeschonyk. The old Triumvir, formerly Speaker Emeritus, leaned over the railing and stared out at the gigantic fleet assembling below. The balcony was on the top floor of the building which Demansk had purchased for his own residence and headquarters in Solinga, and it fronted directly on the city’s huge and splendid harbor.
“Not even the ancients speak of such a fleet,” he added. The whispered words carried an undertone of awe . . . and not a little in the way of fear.
Demansk decided that, within limits, augmenting that fear was to his advantage. “That’s not the half of it,” he said forcefully. He leaned over the railing himself and pointed to the southeast. The gesture was awkward, since he was actually pointing to someplace behind the building. “Even Solinga’s famous harbor isn’t big enough to hold them all. I’ve got as many assembling in the smaller ports of the Emeralds, further down the coast.”
Then, he leaned the other way and made the same awkward gesture to the southwest. “And about half as many as this assembling in Rope. When the Roper League started whining about not getting any of the business, I threw a lot of the shipbuilding work in their direction. And they’ll be provided their share of the rowers, too.
“In short,” he concluded, straightening up, “what you’re seeing below is only two fifths—thereabouts—of the force I’ll be bringing down on King Casull’s head. Which I don’t expect that damn pirate will be keeping on his shoulders too much longer. Not unless bad weather saves him.”
He looked down at the smaller Triumvir. Jeschonyk’s face was pinched. Demansk decided that it was time to leaven fear with reassurance. Or, at least, what passed for it.
“Spit it out, Ion. You look like the proverbial greatbeast who swallowed a plow.”
“That’s about what my stomach feels like. We didn’t expect this, Verice. Not even me, much less Tomsien or the Council. We’ve been getting reports all through the winter, of course, but I finally had to come and see for myself.”
“I have not exceeded my authority,” responded Demansk coldly. “And I will point out that I spent most of my own fortune equipping this fleet—without, by the by, engaging in any tax-gouging or swindling.”
“Truth to tell, I’d be a lot happier if you had. Engaged in swindling and tax-gouging, that is. That’d be . . . business as usual. Whereas this”—Jeschonyk gestured with his thumb toward the harbor; then, jerked it over his shoulder—”and, what’s even worse, the popularity you’ve gained with the Emeralds . . .”
“The economy here is booming, Ion. Simply the normal taxes, fairly applied, bring in more than all the stupid shortsighted tax-gouging and stealing ever could.”
The old man’s face grew more pinched still. “That’s what’s really bothering me, Verice. You’ve not simply put together a much larger military force than anyone expected, but you’ve also created a real provincial base for yourself. And if most Vanberts sneer at Emeralds for being a lot of limp-wristed aesthetes and faggots, I don’t. I’m old enough to have fought in the last war against the Emeralds. They’re as tough as anybody, as long as someone else is giving them their orders and doesn’t let their incessant bickering get out of hand.”
He gave the fleet a glance. “Which, clearly, you haven’t. And now, if you don’t mind, let’s go back inside. I’m an old man, and a thirsty one.”