The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight

“That’s not it.” Not that exactly, anyway. The idea of Gaiene and Morgan cooped up together on the freighter for a few days had bothered him, but not for the obvious reasons suggested by Morgan’s allure and Gaiene’s randiness. They both knew when to rein in those aspects of themselves. Just why having them jointly on that freighter for this mission did concern him, Drakon didn’t know, but he had learned to listen to his gut feelings. And he did want to make sure that he, and no one else, was the first one talking to the Free Taroans. “It’s about my being in direct contact with the people on the primary inhabited planet at Taroa. Your ideas of diplomacy are a little more aggressive, and involve a little more firepower, than may be appropriate there.”

Morgan eyed him, then grinned. “Well, yeah. I am better at breaking things. All right, General.”

“You and Malin will be on two different ships. Make sure it stays that way. I don’t want my command staff concentrated on one target.”

Her grin didn’t waver. “You also don’t want your command staff being cut in half if I got fed up with Malin and gutted him like a fish. Got it. But there was another thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Colonel Rogero. Alone here with her royal highness.”

“Do you mean President Iceni?” Drakon asked.

“Yes, sir.” Her smile fading, Morgan stepped closer. “General, we know Rogero had ties to the snakes, we know he has ties to the Alliance—”

“We’ve been over this.”

“—so how do we know he doesn’t have ties to Iceni? How do we know that he’s not feeding her stuff that only those closest to you are aware of?”

Drakon considered the question because he had learned to pay attention to Morgan’s instincts, too. “From the way you framed the question, I assume that you have no proof of that.”

“I can get it.”

“Real proof, Morgan. We’re not the ISS. We don’t find ways to prove someone is guilty by manufacturing evidence.”

She shook her head, looking unfazed by the rebuke. “No. I don’t have evidence. But I’m looking.”

“That’s part of your job,” Drakon said. “Are you suggesting that I leave you behind to keep an eye on Rogero?”

“No, sir. I’m suggesting that you do something about him before it’s too late.”

“No. That’s all, Colonel Morgan.”

* * *

TOGO stood before Iceni’s desk, his usual impassivity somehow seeming more stern. “I am concerned for your safety, Madam President.”

That didn’t sound good. Iceni focused her full attention on him. “What have you found?”

“General Drakon will be leaving the star system with most of his senior officers.”

“I am aware of that.”

“He will be leaving behind Colonel Rogero,” Togo continued. “The man who earlier attempted to kill you.”

Iceni shook her head. “I’ve double-checked Rogero’s record. He’s an excellent shot. If he had wanted to hit me when I stepped onto the battleship, he would have hit me.”

“We cannot know that with certainty. We cannot know whether he faltered in carrying out his orders.”

“You think that Colonel Rogero is being left behind to see that I am killed? Or to personally kill me?”

Togo nodded sharply. “While General Drakon is outside the star system. He will have perfect deniability.”

It was the flip side of the earlier argument. That didn’t mean the argument didn’t have logic behind it, though. “Do you have any information actually linking Colonel Rogero to an assassination plot aimed at me?”

This time Togo hesitated. “There are some very disturbing rumors concerning Colonel Rogero, Madam President. They call into question his loyalty and who he truly answers to.”

So some form of information about Rogero’s contacts with the ISS and that woman in the Alliance fleet had leaked out. “Rumors?” Iceni pressed. “You know how I feel about rumors.”

“I have nothing solid, but the nature of the rumors indicate that Colonel Rogero may be extremely dangerous. He should be dealt with before—”

“No.” Iceni leaned forward to emphasize her words. “That is not authorized. If you find proof, I want to see it. If all you have is rumors, I will not change my mind.”

“But Madam President—”

“Proof.”

“With all respect, Madam President, the proof may be your death.”

“I don’t think so.” Iceni sat back again, smiling slightly. “And I think too highly of your own abilities to believe that Colonel Rogero would pose a threat while you are nearby.”

Togo stood, irresolute, then nodded. “I will protect you, Madam President.”

“Of course.”

She watched him leave, then sighed and turned back to her work. Maybe Rogero was a threat, but she had no doubt that, whatever his orders, Rogero had deliberately avoided hitting her with that shot. A shot that had killed a snake whose intentions toward her didn’t have to be guessed. For that, Rogero deserved at least a little restraint on her part.

She had told Drakon that she wouldn’t order any more executions without informing him. Assassinations didn’t count as part of that agreement. Prudence, as exercised by Syndicate Worlds’ CEOs, meant erring on the side of ensuring that potential threats were eliminated.