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Hanoree was enjoying tea with Varick when another message from the killer came in.
“You don’t want me to be caught or killed, Lord Hanoree. Perhaps you need to understand what I have.” There was silence, then the killer laughed. “I visited a certain bank vault. It wasn’t hard. I wasn’t the first. Beliani’s box was empty. She took the credits and certain jewelry when she fled. She spent quite a bit on cosmetic surgery trying to hide. I found the important stuff in her husband’s box. What was his name? Rico? You know, you hired him, didn’t you? He named you, gave details, and left proof of your guilt.”
“You have nothing.”
“Oh, I have your head. Your hands are all over the assassination. You must help me to protect yourself. I need credits and a way to leave the Empire undetected. It is too dangerous here. I didn’t count on this many people trying to take you down.”
He decided to play along. “What do you need?”
“Credits, a new identity, passage out of the Empire or off Bengar should do it. Not much considering I am giving you the Empire.”
“How are you giving me the Empire?” he shouted. “The infant is the heir.”
“Please, Hanoree, can’t you even take care of one little baby? He cannot be that hard to kill.”
Hanoree wanted to scream with rage. This woman tried to kill the heir with her crazy spider attack. He failed when he tried to get rid of the girl and that pretender to his throne. Something always got in his way. He could take care of two birds with one stone. “Would you consider finishing the job for me?”
The woman gave a bitter laugh. “Perhaps you help me, and I don’t turn this information over the Order, or the council. I think any one of them would pay me handsomely. If you don’t want to work with me, I am sure one of them will. You have made yourself many enemies.”
Hanoree wanted to throw something across the room or smash something. Taking several slow breaths. “I can get you new identity papers and travel documents. Where can I reach you?”
She laughed again. “Get the papers ready, and I will contact you in two days for a drop off place. Until then, try to at least call off your people.”
After he signed off, Hanoree signaled Varick and ordered that the investigation should slow, and they should, if possible, hinder others who were trying to find the killer. Because his heart was racing, and his head was banging, Hanoree took two sedatives and swallowed them with wine. He commanded that no one was to disturb him and locked himself within his chambers.
~ * ~
The League’s new ambassador on Bengar was interrupted at his dinner by an urgent message. He almost refused the request. What he saw when he turned on his view screen was an attractive woman in dark robes with dark red lips.
“Good evening, Ambassador. I believe you have been looking for me. I have information you want, and I will share it with you for safe passage off Bengar and funds for a new start. I am not picky, almost any League world will do.”
“We do not interfere in the politics of other worlds.”
The woman laughed. “Save the lies. You can help me get off Bengar and get what you want, or you can refuse, and I will either be killed, or I will destroy the evidence. Either way the truth will not come out.”
“How do I know you have the proof? I need more information.”
“Just call your people off and get me passage from Bengar. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
The ambassador huffed again and said he would have to consult with his superiors.
“Just don’t try to double-cross me or the evidence disappears and so do I.”
The ambassador swore and hit the desk with his fist. “The League will not be blackmailed.”
She chuckled and broke the connection. The woman had nerve. The problem was the information was important enough to make his superiors in the League order him to cooperate with her.
~ * ~
Tegani listened to Arturon’s report, and then she received a message from the Nobles. She could not believe their plan; it was crazy. They wanted Hiroto and Ninallia to go on a tour throughout the Empire to introduce them to the people. This was, of course, before any official declaration or ordination of the child.
“How can they want Ninallia to do this? It will be exposing her child to danger, and they refuse to crown him emperor.”
Houston agreed with her. There should be some official recognition of the child before such a step was taken.
Sayeri touched Ninallia’s hand. “I don’t blame you if you refuse. The council is receiving letters of protest because they have not acknowledged the heir. This is just a way of pacifying the people and delaying until they see what people like Lady Orand dig up.”
At Lady Orand’s name, Tegani sighed. Was there a more objectionable woman at court? If there was, she did not want to meet her. She pried into everything and made snide comments, starting rumors where she could. Even Dowager Empress Miette was not exempt from criticism.
The latest rumor she spread was that the Dowager Empress was feeble and senile. In reality, Miette was in remarkable health for her age, and her mind was sharp. It would not be long until she had enough and squashed Lady Orand’s pretentions.
Tegani couldn’t wait to see Lady Orand’s defeat, and Sayeri must be happier than ever her son would not grow up in the toxic environment that was court life in the Imperial City.
“I think we should do it. My son will rule these people and they should see him,” said Ninallia.
“Both of you will be in danger. The palace is secure. There are surveillance devices everywhere,” Houston reminded her.
Ninallia shook her head. “We cannot hide here. The emperor and empress were not assassinated on tour. They were killed in their beds, here in the palace, amid all the security the Empire has to offer.”
Sayeri agreed, “Yes, my lady. I will talk with the council and arrange something.”
“Tell the council we will agree if my chief of security oversees protecting the heir,” Ninallia added.
“Chief of Security?”
She raised her cup to Houston and said, “Remember, I appointed you Chief of Security for His Royal Highness Hiroto, the heir apparent and future emperor.”
Everyone laughed then Arturon spoke. “Ninallia is correct. If we want the people to accept her son as emperor, we must present him as such.”
They agreed. Sayeri began offering suggestions at once. “A full tour of the Empire will last at least a month, so we will spend many days on the road. There will be lots of dinners and ceremonies. You will need several court dresses. The baby will need robes and a traveling nursery. Almost each stop will have accommodations, but he will sleep better and feel more secure with familiar things around him. I don’t see how we can be ready in less than three weeks.”
This was short notice for such an endeavor. Everyone agreed it was possible, and Sayeri was dispatched to meet with the council. Houston and Arturon sat talking over security issues.
Tegani and Ninallia got Hiroto up and dressed. He was full of energy this morning and ready for breakfast. Now that he was crawling and pulling up on things, it took a lot to keep him entertained and out of trouble. He wanted to hold the spoon but managed to get more food on himself than inside his stomach. After breakfast it was time for a bath.
Tegani and Sayeri made the need for these workers almost nonexistent. Tegani doted on Hiroto, and Sayeri almost as much. Arturon laughed and warned them that Hiroto would be a very spoiled emperor indeed with these women in his life.
“There will be time enough for rules and proper court etiquette when he is older. Now I want my son to feel loved and safe,” Ninallia said.
They received a message from the Dowager Empress Miette She had learned of the tour and was pleased and wanted to lend her approval to the plans. Also, she would send some of the late emperor’s baby clothes. They would be brought out of storage and cleaned and serve her grandson.
Tegani thought that was most appropriate.
When the servants arrived with the clothes from the Dowager Empress, Ninallia was almost brought to tears. Miette herself arrived, and the afternoon took on the festive air of a party. Tegani, along with the others sorted the clothes and tried a few on a wiggling Hiroto.
“I remember sitting with my ladies and hand stitching some of these. Not the fancy ones; I never was much of a seamstress. Hanoree’s mother was the daughter of my first marriage, a very unhappy time. My son was different. I loved his father so. They will be suitable for appearances.”
Hiroto soon became fussy, and Ninallia rocked him until he quieted, and then Tegani put him down for a nap.
Miette said, “I want to give you a formal send off with my approval. It can be shown on the news nets. I will join you at a few stops, but I am afraid the entire trip would be too much for me.”
Ninallia murmured words of sympathy and agreement.
Miette was not finished. “Sayeri is perfect to act as chaperone and to take charge of the day-to-day affairs. You will need ladies-in-waiting as traveling companions.” Her head tilted slightly as she studied Tegani. “Since this one is to be included in your group, she will need adequate clothing for her status, as will Ninallia.”
Tegani protested. She had sufficient garments and didn’t need anything fancier. Miette would hear none of that.
When Ninallia also protested, Miette looked at Ninallia. “You are the mother of the royal heir. You need to dress and act for that role. It is what people expect.”
Seeing Miette was not to be persuaded, Tegani and Ninallia conceded. She and Ninallia would go and meet with her personal seamstress.
~ * ~
Hanoree heard the plans and insisted Lady Hanoree offer to join the heir’s court. He was affronted that Sayeri was selected to act as chaperone and leader of the ladies-in-waiting. It was common for the most senior or highly connected lady be chosen, and his wife should have the honor.
When he learned that Miette had presented the imposter with his uncle’s baby clothes he was furious. He was the rightful heir; his own mother was Miette’s first born.
Lady Hanoree calmed her husband. She assured him Lady Orand was finding suspicious ancestors in Ninallia’s background. She reluctantly agreed to spend a month traveling around the Empire but assured him she would prefer her own estate.
Hanoree thought for some excuse to join the tour. He decided his presence would only lend support for the child’s claim to his throne. He did not want to appear supportive or too opposed to Hiroto’s claim. When the child was discredited or eliminated some other way, he would step up and accept the throne. Hanoree was the most qualified to be emperor, and he had already produced and raised an heir. He was capable of producing another heir should something happen to his wife.
A pleasant though occurred to him. While Lady Hanoree was on tour with the imposter, he could see his mistress. That prospect cheered him. If he was discrete his wife need never know.
He voiced no objections when his wife announced that she needed to purchase at least three new gowns for the tour. He almost put the killer out of his mind. What information can the blackmailer have anyway? I am always careful and never met the assassin in person. There isn’t anything that can be traced back to me.
He decided not to cooperate and act as an innocent blackmail victim. The composite sketch and descriptions of this woman could be published. It would be easy to create a link to the assassination of his uncle, and it would be her word against his. He sent the info to the news links and laughed. He could prove she was blackmailing him. Even that worry-wort, Varick, could not find any fault in his plan.