The Alembic Plot Part 52

"Huh?" Cortin looked at him in astonishment. "They pet.i.tioned to join their enemy?"

"That's how I read it," Odeon confirmed. "My point, though, is that the Empire accepted them and is in the process of integrating their worlds and military--to the point where the Traiti leaders are now Imperial n.o.bles, and quite a few of their fighters have transferred to the Navy and Marines. They kept their previous ranks--hard to believe, but since a couple are now in command of Imperial warships, that part has to be true."

"One of them's the non-human Ranger I heard about?" Cortin asked.

Odeon shook his head. "No. You're thinking of the felinoid--I can't remember the race's name, though hers is Losinj--who reported a rebellion and was found to have the abilities one of those needs. I can't tell you what the abilities are, unfortunately; I'm not sure they've ever been mentioned."

Cortin started to say something, but the familiar sounds of a prisoner-escort team interrupted; seconds later, the team brought half a dozen handcuffed men and women in Imperial Navy working khaki into her office. "The first group of prisoners, Excellency," the officer in charge said. "Would you like us to stay?"

"That's not necessary," Cortin told him. "Just ask Matthew to have the rest of my team report, and wait till they arrive. In the meantime, I a.s.sume the one with what looks like major's leaves is in charge?"

"Yes, Excellency. He says his rank is Lieutenant Commander, but since his position is Captain of the IAS Columbus, he goes by that rank as well."

"Odd." Cortin turned her attention to the Lieutenant Commander/Captain while the trooper left to speak to her butler. "Which should I call you, Imperial?"

The man shrugged. "Whichever you want, Colonel. Either one's correct."

"And your name?"

"Ivan DeLayne, Lieutenant Commander, Imperial Terran Navy, ident code HERIE-1935-8586. Your Excellency."

Cortin chuckled, amused at the man's insolent tone.

"Excellency--" Odeon said behind her, sounding angry.

"Take it easy, Captain," Cortin said, smiling. "He doesn't know any better." She studied the Imperials for a moment, then said, "But I should caution you that my team is more protective of my position than I am myself, Captain DeLayne. It would be wise not to agitate them unnecessarily."

DeLayne stood silent, and Cortin nodded. He wasn't going to carry on a conversation, lest he inadvertently give her some information he didn't want to--but he wasn't reckoning with her truthsense. She didn't want to go to extreme measures with him unless she had no other choice--he wasn't a criminal, after all--but she did need some basic information, and yes-or-no questions would give her that whether he cooperated or not. "Were you looking for our worlds in particular?"

No answer, of course, but his reactions were clearly negative.

"No. All right." She turned to the troopers guarding the Imperials.

"How far into our s.p.a.ce did they get?"

"We caught them a pa.r.s.ec from St. Michael, Excellency. They sent off a message shortly after we came into sensor range, before we could destroy their transmitting antennas."

"d.a.m.n. So the Empire knows we exist." Cortin sighed, not bothering to hide it.

"What's so bad about that?" a young Imperial asked. "There's no reason to be afraid of the Empire!"

"Shut up, Conley!" DeLayne ordered.

"I don't think she ought to," Cortin said quietly. The other members of her team were entering by then, replacing the regular troopers.

"Miss Conley--I can't read your rank insigne, to use your proper t.i.tle--although my second in command disagrees, I believe we have every reason to fear an Empire we fled from some four centuries ago because our religious views were condemned. A number of conditions we've encountered since, causing changes in our way of life, can only make that condemnation worse, possibly--even probably--causing persecution that would wipe out the Kingdom Systems. Three ships held us then; now, we don't have enough to carry a tenth of our population to safety."

"Should you be telling them that, Excellency?" Odeon asked.

Cortin shrugged. "What can it hurt, Captain? They weren't looking for us in particular--but they did send off a message, so more Imperial ships will be coming. Which could doom most of our people, whether I talk to these honestly or not."

"NO!" Conley burst out. "The Empire's not like that, truly it's not!"

"Whether that statement's true or not, you believe it," Cortin said dryly. "Would you mind talking to me in more relaxed surroundings?"

The young Imperial didn't notice DeLayne's beginning objection or Tiny Pritchett's silencing of him. "Yes, sir, if you think it would help."

"At worst, it can't hurt." Cortin stood, addressing her team. "Take the rest to . . . hmm. The small guest suite, I think. Captain Odeon, Lieutenant Chang--let's talk to Miss Conley in the common-room of our floor."

As soon as the team and other prisoners left, Cortin signalled Odeon to remove Conley's handcuffs. When that was done, she smiled at the younger woman. "Since you're willing to cooperate, I see no reason to treat you as other than a guest. Would you care for anything to eat or drink?"

"Uh . . . do you have coffee?"

"Certainly. Sis, would you ask Matthew to serve us coffee in the common-room?"

"Of course. I'll meet you there."

"Thanks. Mike, Miss Conley--shall we go?"

As they left the office and went upstairs, the young Imperial said, "Excuse me, Excellency . . . may I ask you something?"

Cortin was amused at the not-quite-apprehension in her voice. "Go ahead."

"The ones who captured us called you the High King's Inquisitor. What does that mean?"

Cortin chuckled. "Exactly what it says. St. Thomas--this world--is the foremost planet of the Kingdom Systems, ruled by High King Mark.

I'm the best Inquisitor in the Systems, so when the Sovereign's Inquisitor positions were established, I was persuaded--" bribed, she thought, would have been more accurate, "to take the position. So I'm the Systems' chief Inquisitor, though we all hold the same rank of Colonel. That's why the first captured Imperials were brought to me for questioning."

"Do you . . . hurt people?"

"If necessary, but you don't have to worry; I don't even make faces at people who cooperate with me."

Odeon chuckled at that; after a second, Conley joined in, and by that time they were at the head of the stairs, entering the common-room.

The young Imperial caught her breath, looking around. "It's beautiful!"

"Yes, it is," Cortin agreed. "I don't really need this kind of luxury--at times I still feel guilty wearing boots on the carpet--but His Majesty says my position is such that I have to make a proper showing. Not that the High King's Inquisitor gets many casual guests; usually the only ones here are family and Enforcement Service friends."

"Uh-oh." Odeon made a quick grab, intercepting an orange streak heading for the guest. "Forgot to warn you about Tangerine," he apologized, stroking his prey's soft fur. To his combined relief and disappointment, Tanj was no longer fixated on him, though he told himself she did still like him best. "She's not called the attack kitten for nothing--she'll go after whoever's closest, just to get attention, though I'm her favorite target. And she likes to land about rump-high, with all claws out."

"Thanks for the rescue, then--I like cats, but that sounds painful."

"It is," Cortin a.s.sured her. "Worse now than when we first got her, since she's bigger, but even at six weeks old, she made herself felt."

She gestured to the couch in front of the fireplace. "Have a seat.

Matthew should be here soon with the coffee."

"Thank you." Conley sat down, Odeon joining her, while Cortin pulled up a nearby chair. "Will the others be okay?"

"Unless they do something stupid," Odeon said. "Like attack someone who's armed when they aren't."

Conley chuckled. "None of our crew is Sandeman--for one of them, it might work."