Roland sat in the theater, a gigantic bucket of popcorn in his lap. He watched the screen, completely enthralled even though it was at least the twentieth time he'd seen that particular vid. The villain was currently winning. He popped a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
He pretended he didn't notice when someone sat next to him. The theater was mostly empty. It was the middle of the night for most people on the huge cruise ship that Roland used for his capital. He'd just been looking for an excuse to relax for a while. He sighed and set the popcorn to one side.
"What is it this time, Will? You promised me Jasyn and the others would be here by now."
"We've had some slight problems," Will answered in a low voice that barely carried over the sounds of the hero battling the villain on the screen.
"Slight? Where Dace is concerned?"
"All right, make that major problems." Will reached for the popcorn bucket.
"Is that all the dinner you've eaten today? You really should take better care of yourself."
Will didn't answer. His mouth was full. Roland turned back to the vid. Will would tell him, sooner not later. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Will had to say.
"We just got the message half an hour ago," Will said once the fight on the screen had ended. "The Patrol is after the Phoenix. They've got a line on all the beacons they've been using. Someone wants them very badly."
"How is that different than yesterday?" Roland asked.
"The Patrol is openly hunting them." Will sighed and rubbed his eyes. "More than half of my contacts in the Patrol aren't answering. We've been compromised."
Roland picked up the popcorn. "They knew the risks. I still don't like it. Why can't the Emperor just see reason? Why keep pushing a war with us?"
"It's the crime syndicates pushing for war," Will answered. "Or I should say, the Syndicate. They've all merged during the last year."
"Any more leads on the woman behind it all?"
Will shook his head. "She's on Linas-Drias. That's all I can find out. No one seems to have the same information. And anyone who gets too close disappears. She owns the government. And most of the Patrol."
"Which explains why they've declared war on the Phoenix."
"It doesn't help that they claim the Phoenix attacked Lukator Station five days ago."
"When did Jasyn install weapons? I believed her ship was a merchant ship."
Will just shook his head and helped himself to more popcorn.
"Any ideas where they would run?" Roland asked.
"If they read any of the files I made sure they got, they should be headed for Hawkmoor."
"But you can't be certain. Can we send ships?"
"Invade the Empire? I'm tempted." Will chewed popcorn for a moment. "We don't have a big enough fleet to make it that far. And it wouldn't be any help. If they make it to Hawkmoor, they can get help. They should be here within two weeks."
"If they make it there." Roland shifted in his seat, pulling his feet up and tucking them under the ragged hem of his brown robe. He watched the vid for a minute. "You know, just when things seem to be worst is when the hero begins to win. Dace will get them out."
"That's another problem. Dace was kidnapped from Tireo two weeks ago. One of my agents smuggled this to me. It arrived this afternoon." Paper rattled as he pulled it from his pocket. He handed it to Roland.
Roland smoothed the wrinkled and torn page. Dace's face looked at him from it. He held it up, squinting in the dark theater to make out the words printed across the bottom. He sagged back in his chair once the message came clear.
"We're trying to track the buyer," Will said.
"They won't be coming here," Roland said. "They're going to try to find her. All on their own. Why won't they believe we'll help?"
"Because they don't want to pay your price, Roland."
"And because it's out of character for any of them to think of asking for help." He folded the paper precisely across the center. Dace's face was hidden.
"We're helping them anyway?"
"Of course."
They were silent for a moment while the hero on the screen rode away on his white horse.
"How?" Will asked.
"Ideas are your department," Roland answered.
"I'm fresh out."
"Then we'd better hope they make it to Hawkmoor. You'll think of something by then."
"Roland, my information is at least five days old. They could have been and gone by now."
Roland stood, looking slightly ridiculous in his brown robe and rope belt. There was nothing ridiculous about the look on his face. He handed the paper back to Will.
"Then find her for them. It's the least we can do."