In Fire Forged: Worlds of Honor V-ARC Read Free Page B

viewed, answered. A moment later, an image appeared on their screen.
    It was of a young woman, slim and graceful, her thick, dark auburn hair pulled back from her face. Even if her features had not been tight and stern from worry, no one would have thought Judith Newland pretty, but hers was a face that many would turn to look at twice, and then a third time, after prettier faces had been forgotten.
    The eyes were what would bring a person back—green eyes, ringed with brown, not blended as with more traditional hazel. Their expression was as fierce and focused as that of a bird of prey.
    Babette found herself pulling back when that gaze was directed to the screen, even though she knew the dummy program George had set up displayed a crowd of sexless, featureless wraiths. Their shadowed forms overlapped, creating an image far more ominous than a mere blacked out screen could ever have been.
    “Yes?”
    “Are you alone?”
    Babette heard George’s words twice: once as spoken, once in the whispery voices supplied by the avatar program.
    “I am. Is this call to do with my missing daughter?”
    Despite the research that had told them Judith Newland was a tough young woman, Babette was surprised by this composure. That same research had told them that if there was one person in this universe that Judith loved without reserve it was her young daughter, Ruth. Babette had expected crying and wailing, at least those green eyes flooding with tears, not this iron control.
    But George had permitted himself a chuckle. Without speaking, he pointed to a line of figures streaming across the bottom of the screen. Using infrared scanners and some very sensitive analysis programs, the computer gave lie to Judith’s apparent calm. Her pulse rate was elevated, and George tapped an overlay where green and black patterns showed hot spots beneath Judith’s skin, hot spots that revealed just how upset that composed young woman really was.
    Babette relaxed. George spoke.
    “We are. Here are our terms. Ruth is alive and intact—for now.”
    At that cue, a picture of Ruth, the date/time stamp showing it was concurrent with the transmission (although that stamp was a forgery) appeared on the screen for a tantalizing half-second. The little girl was curled on her side, wrapped in a pale pink blanket, sound asleep. Her balled fist was snuggled close to the rosebud of her cupid’s bow lips.
    Even Babette, who normally preferred almost anything to small children, had to admit Ruth looked adorable.
    George continued to speak.
    “If you wish Ruth returned in that state, you must convince your friend Michael Winton to publicly and openly behave in a fashion unbecoming his rank and station. Public lewdness would be an admirable choice. If he is asked about his behavior…”
    As we will make certain he is, Babette thought smugly. She already had the newsie picked out and primed.
    “…then he is to comment that he is a Winton, and that the Wintons have always done what they desired—and that nothing, especially not the reaction of a bunch of superstitious, prudish primitives even if they are the residents of a newly allied world makes the least difference to him.”
    For a moment, the wooden expression on Judith’s face changed to one of confusion.
    “Why do you think he’d listen to me?”
    “Just do it,” George said sternly, his avatar voices hissing and echoing in a truly frightening fashion. “And remember, mentioning to anyone that Ruth is missing would do at least as much damage as anything Prince Michael might say. After all, if the Wintons cannot protect those who live on their own home world, what can they do to protect those who live in distant systems?”
    Judith’s face again became carved wood. “And if I do as you wish?”
    “Within a day of Prince Michael’s announcement, you will be told where Ruth can be found.”
    “And if I refuse?”
    “Then Ruth will be returned to someone who wants her very, very much—her father,