Royal diplomacy diplomat.., p.13
Royal Diplomacy (Diplomat’s Apprentice Book 6), page 13
He wondered where her loyalty lay. He strongly suspected it was with the queen. A queen she was worried about.
He could only hope Veraz had gotten the same message. After working with Veraz for more than half a decade, he felt sure Veraz would have gotten it and was adding things up the same way Mark had.
It was time to learn about his fellow prisoners. He stood and paced toward the front of his cell. His wrists and arms still ached from the rough handling while removing the force cuffs. He did his best to ignore that and focused on the positive fact of the two weapons he had managed to hide. Plus the need to learn about his fellow prisoners.
He wasn’t given much time. The door into the cell block slammed open, and a new squad of palace police entered. They marched down the aisle and stopped in front of Mark. The man in charge pointed. “Campos wants to see this one.”
The cell opened, and one man approached Mark with a set of force cuffs. He backed up and offered, “I’ll come without any trouble.”
The man in charge gave Mark a long look, then waved away the cuffs a second man held. He shrugged. “It’s not like he’s going to escape with all of us taking him upstairs.”
They marched him out of the cell and went to the opposite end of the block from where Mark had entered. They passed through a door and down a long corridor. There were several turns that Mark focused on memorizing before they reached a grav lift. They went up three floors and stepped out into a carpeted hallway. He guessed this part of the palace didn’t usually see prisoners.
He discovered he wasn’t quite correct in that assumption when one guard opened a door and shoved him into a luxurious sitting room. The occupants looked at him in surprise. Several of them jumped to their feet. He recognized most of them. He was in a room with the League hostages and the royal couple. Plus a few people he recalled from the briefing as government officials.
The guards shoved him forward again. He staggered as the guards left the room, slamming the door behind them. He managed to keep his feet under him, but the shove had propelled him partway across the room, much closer to the surprised occupants. He had enough time to message Veraz on his implant about his change of location before the questions began.
“You’re one of those mercenaries…” one woman began, and a man finished her sentence.
“That my son works with!”
Campos arranged for a holo screen to be brought into the room so everyone in the suite could watch the announcement. Angharad felt a mounting sense of horror. It had a positive effect on Oriel, who was suddenly as interested in escape as the rest of the League representatives.
The other members of the Estancian government who were held hostage with them were more concerned about the abdication than the death threats. Angharad shrugged that off as typical of politicians. If they managed an escape, which was now mandatory, she had every intention of leaving those people behind if necessary.
The queen reacted with horror and fury. In Angharad’s opinion, it was fortunate that the fury won out. “I will not abdicate!” she shouted while the prince consort tried to calm her down.
“You must if they threaten Esteban,” he countered, which probably sounded reasonable to him.
Angharad interrupted. “That’s when you must hold out firmly.”
Gregory looked at her in annoyance. “No matter what, we have to keep our son safe.”
“Do you honestly think an abdication will keep any of you safe? Campos has proved himself to be totally ruthless. Once he crowns Esteban, how long do you think you and Her Majesty will be free? For that matter, a fatal accident to one or both of you would be easy to arrange.”
Arabella’s eyes widened in horror while Gregory looked at Angharad with less anger and more concern.
Carpenter picked up on Angharad’s thoughts and continued. “Campos has indicated that he plans to declare himself regent. Once your son comes to rely on Campos, who do you think will rule Estancia? And if your son becomes difficult to handle, why wouldn’t Campos be ready with an accident for him as well?”
Angharad took up the thread again. “In the meantime, if Campos begins to execute League representatives, how long do you think the League will remain quiet? Campos isn’t thinking clearly. He’s pushing this planet into all-out war with the League, and we’re just a bit larger and better equipped militarily.” Her voice dripped sarcasm, which she fought to control.
The door to the suite slammed open at that point, shutting down all conversation. They turned to look and saw a man shoved into the room as the door slammed shut again behind him.
Angharad recognized him immediately. He had visited Mythrys a few times, meeting with her brother. He was tall, with a slim body that moved fluidly while stumbling halfway across the room. His wide, deep brown eyes matched his brown hair. Not bad looking, she realized for the first time, at least for a non-Mythri.
“You’re one of those mercenaries—” she began, only to be interrupted by Carpenter.
“That my son works with!”
She watched him take in the crowd quickly, realizing that he recognized most of them and was assessing the situation he found himself in. He straightened and bowed to the queen and her consort first.
“Your Majesty.” His gaze still darted around the room, taking in everything.
Before Arabella could respond, Leo appeared from somewhere. Angharad hadn’t been aware the cat was in the suite. The cat stalked toward Mark as if the mercenary was a large mouse the sleek Siamese was determined to catch. Mark glanced down at the cat the second before Leo leapt up. The mercenary caught Leo deftly in his arms, smiling slightly as the cat began his outsized, buzzsaw purr. Leo leaned into the strong hand that managed to pet the cat gently. Angharad smiled, knowing what was coming.
Mark twitched and shifted the cat away from his shoulder. He looked into Leo’s almost Hrithain-colored blue eyes. “That wasn’t very friendly.” He gently placed the cat on the floor.
It broke the ice, both the humor of Leo’s usual shoulder biting and respect from the cat lovers when the mercenary handled the cat so gently.
Angharad took the lead. “I believe you’re Mark?”
He nodded at her. “Ambassador Owens,” he replied.
“The shoulder-biting pest is named Leo. It’s possible the bite is a sign of affection, although none of us are quite certain of that,” Angharad added. Her moment of levity was over as Carpenter asked, “Where is my son?”
“More importantly, where is the rest of your team? I assume you’re getting us out of here,” Angharad interjected.
He glanced around, then stepped closer to Angharad. “I know you’ve been here for a while, but are you certain you can talk freely about this?”
“No,” Carpenter promptly replied.
Mark nodded. “I was arrested earlier this evening. I believe I was placed here to see if I would give away our plans to rescue you.”
That silenced everyone around Angharad while they thought that through. She realized how foolishly hopeful her question had been. Just because no one had stopped them from their stealthy explorations didn’t mean they weren’t being watched. It was why they kept the escape planning to only the five of them and why they continued to plot quietly.
She looked at the man with more respect. He had realized their hope could easily have been their undoing. “Please accept my apology for that question. Of course we need to be discreet.”
“You’ve heard the latest news?” he asked, and everyone in the room nodded.
“He isn’t making a whole lot of sense,” Carpenter replied. “It would be easier to get away with his coup if he released the League hostages first.”
“He still might. A threat is still something he can back down from. I think his real problem is Nuevo Havana.”
Mark spoke a bit louder, trying to be heard by whoever might be listening. “With the assistance from Lao’s World, the Nuevo Havanans are making progress in their rebellion against Estancian rule, aren’t they, Juan? You need the League to persuade Lao’s World to back off, just as you announced.” He looked around as he spoke as if hoping Campos would storm into the suite.
“You think he’s listening right now?” Angharad glanced around also.
“Why else bring me here? He could have left me in the detention center in what I think is the palace’s rear basement?” He looked questioningly at the queen and prince consort and received a nod from Arabella.
“If he isn’t listening now, I’m sure we’re being recorded,” Mark continued. “But if I were in his position, I’d have someone listening directly.”
Angharad felt chilled. They had been so quiet, so careful with their escape plans. Was it possible that Campos knew of every move they’d made? She thought about that for a moment, sharing a glance with Carpenter. She could tell he was also concerned.
No, she finally decided. She was certain Campos would have stopped them on one of their forays into the lower levels. The last two trips had delved into the food storage areas and tracked the food delivery schedule. It seemed likely they had gotten away with their explorations so far.
Now they needed to allay any possible suspicion by playing along with the desire for rescue from the mercenaries. She looked at Mark. “Is it likely that the rest of your team will be coming for you? And for us?”
By now the entire group in the suite had gathered in the sitting room, which made it crowded enough for her to get close and whisper to Mark, “Keep the conversation going for now. We have something to show you when we’re sure we can speak without being overheard.”
Glynnis joined her beside the man and introduced herself with a kind smile. “I’m Glynnis Wyn.”
Mark smiled at her. “I know your foster son.”
Angharad had to fight against glowering. How had that family secret become known among the mercenaries? She assumed it had been Owen, sharing with Anwyn or Veraz. Then she forced her mind back to the problem at hand. This was neither the time nor the place for concern about such things. She put on her diplomat’s face and steered Mark, followed by Glynnis and Carpenter, toward Arabella and Gregory.
“Overheard or not, we need to share information. Can we get you a cup of coffee while we talk?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The four mercenaries jumped off the ground car train as it passed the intersection they had designated as the best location to leave the crowd. The car had been unheated and uncomfortable, but leaving the shelter from the driving wind added a new level of discomfort.
Anwyn realized that although the Estancians didn’t dome their city to block the weather or control the weather as some planets did, they kept the streets well cleared. The snow hadn’t accumulated on it as much as she would have anticipated.
Drew squatted and slipped off his glove to touch the street. “Underground heating system.” He nodded.
“Strange that they do it but don’t dome over the entire city.” Anwyn tugged her long cloak more tightly around her.
“On the Hrithain homeworld, we have done away with most weather problems,” Rehan interjected in a somewhat superior tone.
Anwyn thought that was fascinating. Rehan said so little about his former home that each tidbit he shared was a small revelation. The Hrithain, like her people and the Bythians, were some of the most scientifically advanced planetary systems. Each for slightly different aspects of science. Mythrys focused on medical advances, among other things. While the Hrithain were considered the enemy, they were admired for their advanced terraforming technology.
Those thoughts passed through her mind during their rush to the slight shelter of a set of buildings that stretched down a side road. Anything to take her mind off the bitter wind and driving snow. At the end of this section of the street, they should be able to see one side of the palace on their right. They would need to travel farther down this same road and turn right to reach the rear of the palace. This was where their helmet maps showed them the location of the palace’s detention center.
As they turned toward the palace at the next cross street, Anwyn breathed a sigh of relief. The buildings partially blocked the wind. She didn’t feel much warmer, but it cut the snowy gale, which was welcome.
They remained in the shadow of the buildings at their side as they approached the palace. It was a blocky stone edifice, looming like a massive shadow before them. A wide gap between all other buildings and the palace lay at the end of this street. As much as Anwyn hated the snow, she hoped it continued, which would help hide them as they crossed that gap.
“Wait until the protest begins. We should see some of the security forces leave the detention center. Once they get around the side of the palace, we can cross that street and hide in the shadows of the palace wall,” Shir-ella communicated through their implants.
A noise grew louder in the distance. At first it almost sounded like the wind was picking up. As it drew closer, it became clear it was the roar of angry voices. Closer again, and it was no longer one loud voice. They heard individual shouts of anger.
The primary word shouted over and over was the name Arabella. The voices came closer still, and they could distinguish chanting. One person shouted over an amplified speaker, “Long live the queen!” The crowd replied each time with “Arabella!”
Anwyn grinned in the darkness of their shelter from the swirling storm. “Nice job, Shan!”
Shir-ella grinned, Drew smirked, and Rehan nodded somberly.
“Ready on my mark,” Shir-ella instructed as the palace security force boiled out of the entrance to the detention center. She raised one hand, ready to move them across the wide avenue that separated the palace from the rest of the city almost as effectively as the high wall that protected it on three sides.
She dropped her hand, and they rushed forward one at a time. Drew sped across the road first. He reached the shelter of the palace wall and motioned. Anwyn crossed next, nearly tripping as a powerful gust of wind hit her. She made it and motioned for the next person while Drew scouted ahead.
Anwyn heard the call from Veraz on her implant at the same time as the other three team members. Shir-ella, the final person to cross the road, paused at Veraz’s words.
“Mark has been moved. Hold on for further information before doing anything.”
“Moved where?” Anwyn glanced at the other three.
“It sounds like he’s been put in the same location as the League hostages.”
“We’re already here. Can we try for all of them at once?” Shir-ella asked.
“Let’s see what Mark finds out first. With last year’s upgrades, the Estancians shouldn’t be able to detect our implant links. Nor disrupt them. Hold off until Mark can share where he is and what he learns.”
“What do you want us to do now?” Drew asked.
There was a long pause, during which all four mercenaries looked at each other in concern. To have made it so far only to discover that Mark wasn’t there left Anwyn angry. She desperately wanted to get to Mark before anything else happened to him. All of them wanted to get this rescue underway as well. After the announcement by Campos, they couldn’t be sure how much more time they had before it would be too late.
“I think Mark accidentally found someone involved in what could be called the royalist resistance earlier today,” Veraz finally explained. “I want to speak to her. I had hoped to have Mark along, which is why I asked you to meet me there at 0400. I don’t want to rescue the hostages and leave Campos in charge. Sooner or later, that will come back to bite the League, especially with Lao’s World backing Nuevo Havana.”
“We could still break into the detention center,” Shir-ella suggested. “Odds are good that many if not all of the prisoners in there are political at this point. Freeing them would give Campos something else to worry about.”
“If it wasn’t for this Merlin-be-damned snow, we could hide somewhere nearby and meet up with you,” Anwyn grumbled. She was beginning to wonder if she’d ever be warm again.
“Shir-ella, I’m leaving a detention center raid up to you. If you think you can do it with minimal risk, go ahead. It would be good if you could get the woman I mentioned out of there. When you’re done, get back to Shan. But still meet me at 0400.”
“We’ll only raid the jail if it looks like we can get away with it,” Shir-ella agreed. “I hate to waste a good demonstration. We might not get another one like this.”
“I need to go now. I want to listen in on what Mark is learning from the hostages, including the queen and her husband.” Veraz went momentarily silent.
“I’m for moving forward,” Drew declared.
“Then you scout ahead and see what you can learn about the setup there. Since they moved Mark, it’s not worth risking anyone unnecessarily.”
The sound of the protest escalated, with the chants now interspersed with shouting. Anwyn heard the sound of gunfire. Then louder shouting and some screams. “Are they shooting people?” She was concerned for Shan, his crew, and the people they’d encouraged to get involved.
“Right now they’re shooting over the crowd,” Veraz commented through their links. “I’ve got nearly a front-row seat.”
She didn’t want to speculate about where Veraz was hiding, but it sounded like he was nearby. “Stay safe,” she warned as Drew returned.
“The door will be easy. Rehan and his plasma rifle should handle that with no problem. As far as I could see, there are only a few guards left inside.”
“Then let’s give them something else to worry about,” Shir-ella agreed. She told Veraz, “We’re going in.”
She looked at the team. “Rehan, you have the door. Drew and I will handle the guards. Anwyn, concentrate on freeing any prisoners.” She paused and gave them each a firm look. “We are not going to try to find Mark.” She held Anwyn’s gaze longer, waiting until Anwyn reluctantly nodded. “All right, let’s go!”
They made their way to a gate Drew had already opened. “I thought Mark did the lockpicking in this crowd,” Anwyn softly teased.
