{"id":355,"date":"2013-04-28T00:00:21","date_gmt":"2013-04-28T04:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=355"},"modified":"2013-05-02T07:00:42","modified_gmt":"2013-05-02T11:00:42","slug":"sixteen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=355","title":{"rendered":"Sixteen"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a man playing a dangerous, dangerous game.\u00a0 Pray you figure out what the game is before everything comes to fruition.<\/h3>\n

— Ambassador Alexander Channing, Psychean Guard, c. 5205<\/i><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a010 Decem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWatch Morgause.\u201d Adam leaned back to murmur the words to Frederick as his friend leaned forward to catch them.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think that he knows for certain what\u2019s coming, but I\u2019m thinking he certainly suspects it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick\u2019s lips quirked into a brief smile as his gaze flicked toward the slender, dark-haired D\u2019Arcy Morgause.\u00a0 The Council\u2019s spymaster was deep in whispered conversation with one of his aides, a black-haired woman of maybe thirty years old.\u00a0 There was a knowing smirk on the woman\u2019s face as she listened to D\u2019Arcy, then leaned into his ear to whisper something.<\/p>\n

Frederick looked away, back to Adam.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s already plotting something,\u201d he said to his friend.\u00a0 \u201cI can tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can all tell,\u201d Adam said, eyes narrowing.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s just a question of what he\u2019s up to this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo good,\u201d Frederick suggested, trying to smother a grin.\u00a0 \u201cAnd your niece and her husband are on the watch for shenanigans<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam blinked, twisting to look at Frederick.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what they said, if I\u2019m reading their lips right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrederick, stop reading their lips and start reading D\u2019Arcy\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngle\u2019s bad.\u00a0 I can\u2019t see what he\u2019s saying.\u201d\u00a0 Frederick leaned back, glancing toward Rachel, seated in her own seat not far away.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam followed his gaze and then sighed softly.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t blame her.\u00a0 I would be, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019ll be fine.\u201d\u00a0 All of it will be.\u00a0 This is what she was born for\u2014what she was made for.\u00a0 She just doesn\u2019t know it yet.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Council will come to order, please.\u201d\u00a0 Sergei\u2019s voice rang from the Speaker\u2019s chair, possibly for the last time.\u00a0 \u201cI will have order in this chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hum of voices died away in response to his voice, eyes turning toward the Speaker.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s hands curled into fists as he watched the older man\u2019s face.\u00a0 Frederick patted his shoulder gently.<\/p>\n

Steady, old friend.\u00a0 All will be well.<\/i>\u00a0 His gaze flicked toward Lindsay, who was still watching Morgause, not the Speaker.\u00a0 I\u2019m certain of it.\u00a0 Your niece would be the first to sound the alarm if something were about to go utterly sideways.<\/i><\/p>\n

Sergei Petremoore waited two long moments before he gave a firm nod to the assembled.\u00a0 \u201cThere has been quite a bit of speculation over the past two days regarding why this meeting was called.\u00a0 Some of it was correct and some of it was wholly wrong.\u00a0 I am going to put all the rumors to rest right now, this very moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am retiring from my post as Speaker in two weeks\u2019 time.\u00a0 That should be more than enough time to bring my successor up to speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Council exploded into whispers and shouts\u2014most of the outcry coming from D\u2019Arcy Morgause, who shot to his feet, his face pale with a strange mix of fear and anger.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaker, we\u2019re going to war<\/i>.\u00a0 You cannot step down now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can and I am,\u201d the Speaker said evenly, his voice carrying over the din.\u00a0 The room quieted after a moment, though the whispers didn\u2019t die completely.\u00a0 Sergei\u2019s eyes smoldered as he met D\u2019Arcy\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cWar is a young man\u2019s game and I know that I am no longer young.\u00a0 It\u2019s up to others to defend this world and our mission against those who would destroy us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgause\u2019s hands clenched as he saw the Speaker\u2019s gaze momentarily flick toward Rachel Farragut.\u00a0 The spymaster swallowed hard and said in a tight, soft voice, \u201cYou\u2019d hand the reins of the Foundation over to the Guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no Guard anymore,\u201d Frederick said, surprising even himself as the words escaped his lips.\u00a0 \u201cThere are only the scattered survivors.\u00a0 This is our home now\u2014the colony is our home now.\u00a0 Our loyalty is to nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgause\u2019s eyes narrowed as he stared at Frederick, something dangerous and calculating flickering through their depths.\u00a0 His lips thinned as he turned back toward the Speaker, ignoring the rest of the Council, stunned into silence.\u00a0 \u201cDo you believe them when they say it?\u201d he asked softly.\u00a0 \u201cDo you believe them?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Speaker stared right back at him, his gaze tired and sad.\u00a0 He nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cI do, D\u2019Arcy.\u00a0 I believe the truth when I hear it spoken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour ability to hear it must be somehow broken,\u201d Morgause muttered, eyes narrowing.<\/p>\n

The Speaker gave him a long, hard look.\u00a0 He looked as if he might say something, but Amelda cleared her throat quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have a successor in mind, Speaker?\u201d she asked softly, chidingly.\u00a0 Effortlessly, she defused the situation\u2014at least for the moment.<\/p>\n

Frederick smothered a smile.\u00a0 She\u2019d be his successor if she was a few years younger, I suspect\u2014or if he dreamed she\u2019d say yes.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI do,\u201d the Speaker said quietly, straightening and tearing his attention away from D\u2019Arcy.\u00a0 \u201cMy choice for my successor is Rachel Farragut.\u201d<\/p>\n

D\u2019Arcy\u2019s hands slammed down hard against the tabletop.\u00a0 The Speaker looked at him sharply again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn interesting choice,\u201d Arigato Daichi steepled his fingers as he leaned back in his chair, dark eyes half-lidding.\u00a0 \u201cNot an entirely unexpected choice, but an interesting one nonetheless.\u00a0 I will second the nomination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick smothered a smile at the surprise that flickered through a half-dozen expressions and kept watching D\u2019Arcy Morgause.<\/p>\n

Brendan was watching the spymaster, too, worry in his eyes.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a worry born of knowing,<\/i> Frederick thought, brows knitting for a brief moment.\u00a0 That can\u2019t be good.<\/i><\/p>\n

D\u2019Arcy\u2019s expression was dark but controlled, rage smoldering in his eyes, only half-cloaked by an air of civility.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s angry,<\/i> Frederick thought, pursing his lips briefly and crossing his arms.\u00a0 But how angry?\u00a0 Angry enough for <\/i>what?\u00a0 To betray his own, I wonder?<\/i><\/p>\n

This one bears a great deal of watching.<\/i>\u00a0 There was something about D\u2019Arcy that reminded him of the past, of the old days when he was still with the Inspector General\u2019s office.\u00a0 I wish I could put my finger on what about him is tripping that synapse in my brain, though.\u00a0 It could bloody well be important.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI third,\u201d Kara Grace said after a moment, sitting forward in her seat and swallowing hard.\u00a0 \u201cIf the Council wishes, we can carry it to a vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so fast,\u201d D\u2019Arcy said carefully.\u00a0 His words were measured, his tone far calmer than the storm in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIf I recall correctly, there is room for a challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sergei\u2019s eyes narrowed slightly.\u00a0 \u201cThere is,\u201d he agreed.\u00a0 \u201cAre you putting yourself forward, then, D\u2019Arcy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI fear I must,\u201d the spymaster said.\u00a0 \u201cSince there is no one else in this Council that will raise their voice against the growing influence of the Guard refugees on this Council, it falls to me to be the voice of those of us whose legacies stretch back to the foundations of the colony.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stunned silence met his words.\u00a0 The members of the Council looked at each other, no one daring to speak.<\/p>\n

Then, Rachel stood up, shaking slightly, jaw set and eyes smoldering dangerously.\u00a0 \u201cD\u2019Arcy, I know that you\u2019re not suggesting that there is some kind of conspiracy going on here.\u00a0 I know you\u2019re not suggesting that I have some kind of nefarious agenda up my sleeve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot you,\u201d D\u2019Arcy said, his voice soft.\u00a0 \u201cBut perhaps your fellow refugees do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interesting.\u00a0 So that\u2019s his game.<\/i>\u00a0 Frederick tapped a fingertip against his lips, leaning forward slightly.\u00a0 Sow the seeds of mistrust in the Council and hope that they spread.\u00a0 When Rachel is still elected to the Speaker\u2019s chair, he\u2019ll be able to leverage his conspiracy theory.\u00a0 Her election puts him into a strange position of strength among those who might believe that there really <\/i>is some kind of plot afoot.<\/i><\/p>\n

Then again, Rachel has an advantage that I doubt he\u2019s taken into consideration, as bright as he may be.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t answer to the refugees,\u201d Rachel said.\u00a0 \u201cI answer to everyone here\u2014everyone who\u2019s thrown in their lot with the Foundation.\u00a0 The Foundation, I might remind you, founded by Sarah Farragut<\/i>.\u201d\u00a0 Her lips thinned, eyes aflame.\u00a0 \u201cContrary to what you may or may not believe, D\u2019Arcy, Ian Farragut\u2019s blood runs through my veins same as it does anyone who\u2019s been here longer that can claim the same descent as I.\u201d\u00a0 She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly before she plunged on.\u00a0 \u201cThis world is the only hope humanity has left.\u00a0 We know that now\u2014all of us do.\u00a0 This council cannot stand divided in the face of the threats that are out there, ready to destroy us at the first opportunity.\u00a0 This world, the Foundation, humanity as a race\u2014none of us can afford that.\u00a0 This world cannot be allowed to fall and this council being horribly divided by lies and supposition is nigh unto treason.\u00a0 We would become our own worst enemy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not allow that to happen.\u00a0 Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.\u00a0 Count on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick smiled.\u00a0 Bravo, Squeaks.\u00a0 Bravo.<\/i><\/p>\n

Rachel stared at D\u2019Arcy, a challenge in her eyes, as if she was daring him to speak.<\/p>\n

The spymaster met her stare for one long moment.<\/p>\n

Then, he sank down into his chair, lips pressed tightly together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI withdraw my nomination,\u201d D\u2019Arcy said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cYou have my vote, Farragut.\u00a0 Do not make me regret giving it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a man playing a dangerous, dangerous game.\u00a0 Pray you figure out what the game is before everything comes to fruition. — Ambassador Alexander Channing, Psychean Guard, c. 5205 \u00a010 Decem, 5249 PD \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWatch Morgause.\u201d … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two-ashes-to-ashes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s25yjF-sixteen","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=355"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":358,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355\/revisions\/358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}