She stepped closer. “You dare to threaten me?”
I was treading a dangerous path. Push her too far, and she’d eliminate the threat—namely, me. But if I didn’t push her far enough, she wouldn’t meet with me, which meant Loch’s clemency hearing would go nowhere.
“Of course not, my lady,” I said. “I am merely offering an opportunity to find a mutually acceptable solution.”
“To what problem?”
“Mayport,” I said quietly, naming the ship Richard attacked in his attempt to retrieve me. “I have the security footage.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “That is not worth my time.”
“Lord Richard has been something of a disappointment lately, but I never expected you to abandon one of your own, Lady Rockhurst.” I shook my head sadly. “I had hoped to resolve this quietly, but now I suppose I must go to the full Consortium.”
“Listen here, you little bitch—”
“Lady Rockhurst, I could not care less about what happened on board Mayport.” It was a lie, but she didn’t need to know that. “But not everyone will feel that way. All I want is a private moment of your time to discuss matters.”
Her expression turned crafty. “Perhaps we can also discuss how you aided and abetted the universe’s most wanted criminal, hmm?”
“I look forward to it,” I said honestly.
That threw her. She blinked before the mask slipped back in place. “Very well. You get fifteen minutes to persuade me not to just kill you and be done with it. My assistant will set it up.”
“Thank you, my lady,” I said. I curtsied again then melted back into the crowd.
One down, one to go.
Bianca met me at the edge of the crowd. She looked drawn even through her public persona. Ian hovered at her shoulder. “Well?” she demanded.
“She agreed to meet, but she’s not happy about it. Now let’s see if I can piss off another High House tonight.”
We made our way through the crowd to Lord Yamado’s group. I pressed through the crowd until I stood in front of the man himself. Lord Hitoshi stood next to him. Lady Yamado tired easily and generally avoided evening events unless they were official government events.
Lord Yamado was older than Father, his hair snow white, and his face was lined with age. I curtsied to him and his eyebrows crept up his forehead. Lord Hitoshi did not look pleased to see me.
“Lady Ada,” Yamado said, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”
I’d always liked Lord Yamado, but his son Hitoshi was another matter. “My lord, I am afraid I am here on business,” I said.
He became guarded. “I cannot help you,” he said.
I understood his concern. If he was seen talking business with me, it could look like he meant to throw in with House von Hasenberg in the war. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to play nice, but I took one more stab at it before pulling out the big guns.
“It is not about the war,” I said. “It is of a more personal nature.”
He shook his head. “I should not even be talking to you now, Lady Ada, as much as I regret it.”
I’d spent the ride over here trying to decide the wisest course of action. Rockhurst knew I left TSD Nine with a woman. Hitoshi would review the surveillance video as soon as he found Veronica was missing, so he would know that I’d helped her. Still, she was my friend and it felt wrong to use her.
“I recently visited Tau Sagittarii Dwarf Nine,” I said in a seeming non sequitur. “I would like a short private meeting with you to discuss what I found, nothing more.”
Lord Yamado’s expression turned faintly puzzled. Was it possible he didn’t know what Hitoshi had done? In any other House I would bet against it, but House Yamado always had been a bit of an oddity. Lord Hitoshi, however, knew exactly what I meant. His glare promised painful, deadly retribution.
“What did you find?” Lord Yamado asked.
“Perhaps you should ask Lord Hitoshi,” I said with a wave.
“Father, we should not discuss this here. And definitely not with her.”
“What have you done this time, Hitoshi?” Lord Yamado asked quietly.
“Why would you believe this little wh—”
“Watch your mouth, boy,” Yamado said sharply, cutting him off. The kindly grandfather look fell away as his temper woke. “Lady Ada is a respected member of House von Hasenberg and will be treated as such.”
Lord Yamado turned back to me with a suppressed sigh. “It seems I will be meeting with you after all, Lady Ada. Please call my assistant to set it up, but I would appreciate your discretion.”
I curtsied again. “Of course, my lord. I look forward to our meeting.” I fled before Hitoshi could make a grab for me. Ian might be up to something, but at least he was paid to protect me from people like Hitoshi.
Ian’s eyes narrowed at me. “Should I be concerned?” he asked.
I glanced over my shoulder. I could no longer see Hitoshi, which wasn’t as comforting as I hoped. “I might have made Hitoshi angry,” I said.
“How angry?” Bianca asked.
“Murderous,” I said flatly. “Perhaps we should mingle over there,” I said, and pointed to the other side of the vast ballroom. Hitoshi would have to be crazy to attack me in a public space policed by RCDF soldiers, but it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
We worked our way around the edge of the room, stopping to chat with friends and enemies alike. A few brave gentlemen asked Bianca and me to dance, but we turned them down. Getting separated at this point seemed like a bad idea.
We were nearly to the far wall when Bianca stumbled and only Ian’s quick reflexes kept her upright. She went chalk white under her makeup and her pupils dilated until the black nearly swallowed her unusual golden hazel irises. “What is wrong?” I asked. I visually searched her for injuries but I couldn’t see anything amiss.
“They have Loch,” she said with a glance at her com. Ian swore viciously.
“What? Who? How do you know?” I fired off the questions too quickly for her to answer, but I couldn’t stop myself. I resisted the urge to shake her only because Ian looked like he might punch me if I tried it.
“Bianca,” I said as calmly as I could manage, “who has Loch?”
“Father,” she said. She looked up with a devastated expression. “He knows who Loch is. And he’s calling a meeting of the High Councillors to hand down the execution order.”
Chapter 29
Bianca’s information proved to be correct. A ripple went through the crowd as Lady Rockhurst and Lord Yamado made for the exit. The buzz of conversation climbed higher as everyone speculated about what was going on.
I turned to Ian. “You have thirty seconds to explain to me why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand,” I said. My voice sounded eerily calm.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “I didn’t tell Albrecht a damn thing about Loch. And I know it’s going to seem a little convenient now, but Loch is the one who asked me to keep an eye on you tonight.”
Ian was difficult to read, but I didn’t get the sense that he was lying. I nodded, accepting his answer for now. We would definitely be revisiting this conversation at a later point, once I’d hauled Loch out of danger. “I need to return home immediately,” I said. “Bianca, can you walk?”
She straightened and Ian reluctantly let her go. “Yes,” she said. She turned and headed for the door. “We’ll plan on the way. You won’t have much time.”
Ian sliced us a path through the crowd with sheer menace. A House von Hasenberg transport sat waiting for us at the entry. Once we were inside, it lifted off toward our House.
“They are holding Loch in the High Chamber,” Bianca said, looking at her com. “Father is waiting for Rockhurst and Yamado to arrive. Rockhurst is on her way but Yamado is returning home first, presumably to pick up his seal. What is your plan?”
“I’m going to get Loch back,” I said, “even if I have to break into the High Chamber to do it.” I rubbed my temples. “Have you learned anything else useful about that thing we talked about?” I asked. I couldn’t very well name the Genesis Project with Ian sitting across from us, but Bianca knew what I meant.