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Chapter 2
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Queen Alexia Targon stood in her quarters on board her flagship, a Star Cruiser, looking out the view screen. The jewels of her crown glittered at her in reflection against the backdrop of stars streaming by. She adjusted a strand of black hair into place, noting with satisfaction the perfect pale tone of her complexion. The dark forest green of her gown accentuated the depth of her brown eyes. She stood tall and erect, tugging on the sleeve at each wrist to adjust the gown just so. Her door chime sounded, interrupting her thoughts, and she turned from the view screen.
“Come.”
She moved to her desk as the ship’s commander entered, standing beside it whenever there was a man in her presence, so as not to appear to hide behind anything.
“Your Majesty. Based on landing port intelligence, a transport from the Exile Base landed at the Palace and then proceeded to Capra. We aren’t able to determine where it landed.”
Alexia frowned slightly at that. “Were there passengers?”
“Not that we’re aware of, though it seems reasonable to assume that someone got off. Perhaps Prince Dynan was returning.”
She shook her head at that, knowing that Dynan wouldn’t return until daylight at Ilthain, having gotten that from a Palace Guard she had in her employ. “Other transports?”
“No, Your Majesty.” He handed her a comboard. “This is the same one we learned left the Palace earlier.”
“Why aren’t you able to trace where it landed on Capra?”
“The security codes for the transport system were changed. That isn’t unusual, not for Trea. The codes are altered on a more frequent basis as part of the larger security precautions the King put in place. It will take some time to break the code again.”
“I see. Thank you, Commander.”
The commander bowed, and left the room. Alexia reached for the companel controls, activating it. “Alvuen, come in please.”
Lady Alvuen Oberqual entered the office and bowed. She could have been her own daughter as similar as they appeared, even in the choice of gowns she wore to flatter her queen. She was young and eager to please. Alexia held out the comboard.
“Have this information sent to Sir Bajain. Contact Corel Dos on Capra, and give it to him as well. They may conduct their usual investigations.” She turned to look out the view screen. “We’re one day from Trea.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Alvuen said.
Alexia glanced at her. “Tell Bajain and Corel Dos that I want information, and I want it now. Thank you, Alvuen. You may go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” She bowed and left the room, smiling.
Alexia smiled herself, seeing Alvuen’s excitement and a determination equal to her own. She always enjoyed participating in the designs of her Queen, especially when they involved destruction of character. In this particular case, Dynan Telaerin.
Not that Alexia wanted his complete ruin. She wanted to own him, as she owned so many others, and by owning him, rule him and the vast resources of the Cobalt System he was heir to. She’d waited years for the call for assistance. Throughout those years she’d listened and looked for any small bit of information, anything she could use as a threat. There were always rumors of impropriety, especially about Dain before he died, but not anything regarding Dynan. Indeed, since the disaster of his affair with the former Liselle Tremault, Dynan had conducted his private business with amazing discretion. Alexia found nothing of any significance that if exposed would hurt him. Nothing she could threaten him with.
Still, she knew from experience that there was always something. She also knew from experience that if she couldn’t find what she needed, she would create it. Always more difficult and more dangerous since such direct interference was against High Council law.
A delicate situation, she thought, her gaze again searching empty space. The other Council members, Trayanna Moren, Lorton Kyle, Creal Nyant, and of course, Drake Mardon, wanted to see an end to Kamien’s reign of Cobalt. Whether they wanted to see Dynan’s return to the throne was something she hadn’t been able to completely ascertain.
Creal disliked Dynan intensely, though Alexia hadn’t yet been able to discover why. The only reason he’d agreed to the coming meeting was at her bidding. Creal was unenthusiastic about getting involved, but Alexia felt certain if she agreed to assist the Prince, Creal would do the same. She would be the deciding factor on whether Dynan returned to Cobalt. She didn’t intend to give that kind of assistance without a very high price attached.
It was unfortunate, she thought, that she couldn’t just come out and demand a marriage to her daughter. Again, High Council would deem that inappropriate interference. Even though her influence with the Council had grown in proportion to Cobalt’s slow weakening, there were certain rules that wouldn’t be over-looked.
A marriage contract was what she would get though, would have to have if she intended to keep that influence and power. Dynan could become a significant opponent on Council, unless she was able to find a way to manipulate him. The sooner she found a weakness, while weakness still existed on Cobalt, the easier it would be for her to put him in exactly the position she wanted.
She had to be careful and not give away her intentions too early. She would have to handle the upcoming meeting just so. Give Dynan a little of what he expected, not agreeing to help him too easily, but in the end doing so. She would, at the same time, have to make it clear that she hadn’t really agreed to anything and therefore keep him obligated.
Alexia smiled, feeling that it might not be such a difficult task. Dynan feared her. She would concentrate on accentuating that fear. He asked a great deal and it seemed appropriate that his first lesson as King would be to learn that nothing came without a cost.
