Lieutenant Read Free

most of its wealth and practically all its influence.”
    “I see,” I said slowly.
    “Kandoro’s been vulnerable for decades,” Lord Robert continued. “It almost makes one believe in destiny, David, the way their fecundity has faded with their wealth. Even with modern techniques… Well, the Queen was sterile, you see. Save for a single youthful indiscretion which produced my brother, His Majesty is childless. But it’s not just him. James and his brother aside, the next-nearest heir is a fifth cousin.”
    “But…” No one ever mentioned Stephan anymore—he was a vegetable, after being mistreated by the Imperials.
    “Ah!” Lord Roberts replied. “You begin to see! If Stephan ascends to the throne, a lifetime Regency will be required. And who knows what House the Regent might be from? While if James is chosen, well…” He shook his head. “It’s already clear that he’s intelligent, able, and disposed to make his own decisions. Plus, the House of Marcus has been on a long, slow rise for a very long time now. We’re easily the richest and most influential of all the Dukedoms—and we’ll be a Dukedom within two years, I assure you! It would’ve happened long ago, but Milord felt it was wiser to keep a low profile. This proved to be one of his few tactical errors.”
    I nodded again. “So… You need all your influence right now to put James on the throne.”
    Lord Robert’s face fell. “Baldy put, I suppose that’s accurate enough. But there’s more involved—far more! For example, the Empire was born due to a similar schism between the Houses. What a tragedy it’d be if we were to split up humanity yet again! And that’s exactly what I foresee if Stephan is crowned. A Regency isn’t a lifetime position, you see. There’d be endless infighting and squabbling—we might go through a dozen Regents a year! Even if it doesn’t split us, it’d leave us terribly vulnerable to the Empire.” He sighed and looked down again. “So…”
    “So,” I replied. “I must go to Graves Registration, for the good of the entire Kingdom.”
    Lord Roberts nodded, looking a bit relieved. “You have my solemn word, David, that I’ll get you out of there the minute I can. If it goes on too long… Well, it’d hardly be an optimum outcome. But once you’ve served your five years we can always find an honorable, important place for you here in the Family.” His mouth hardened. “You have my sacred word of honor that you won’t be forgotten. Nor will James forget you, I’m certain, should anything happen to me.”
    I bowed my head again. “I owe the House of Marcus everything. For you, I’d serve in the hottest firepit of hell.”
    “I know,” Lord Roberts replied, his face softening into a smile. “For you’ve already served us—and served us well!—in circumstances every bit as awful.” He looked off into the distance for a moment, then nodded as he came to a decision. “David,” he said, opening his top desk drawer. “I have something for you.”
    My ears perked up. “Sir?”
    “I’ve always meant to give you something when you reached your majority, but here and now, well… This feels right.” He reached far into the back and pulled out a signet ring. It carried a single large ruby, and there were fire-lilies cast into the gold band. “James wears his father’s ring,” Lord Robert explained. “As is right and proper. This one, however, last belonged to a certain Elijah Marcus. Are you familiar with him?”
    I shook my head. “No sir.”
    “Actually, he was Dr. Elijah Marcus. This ring is well over three hundred years old, David, so I’m not surprised that you’ve never heard of him. Long ago, the House of Marcus was nothing more than a wealthy family from Mississippi. That was a region of Old Earth noted primarily for its poverty and backwardness. Elijah and his twin brother Moses, however, believed in the future. So they invested heavily in space travel and biotech. It’s