“That essay was never published. My father blocked its publication, knowing that it was too dangerous a position to take publicly. Within the year, she would be cast out of the university and legislature, and all her works would be expunged from public collections.”
“Well, my father has already sent me to live in exile, so there is nothing more he can do to me. I will read what I choose.”
“Who gained access to my electronic archives for you?”
She was silent.
“Brandese, this is not a game. There are sensitive documents in that archive. I’m not talking about boyhood essays. I’m talking about matters that could compromise the security of the realm.”
She looked out the window.
“Tell me, or I’ll be forced to disclose this to Rocurt and he will hunt the man down.”
“No one helped me. I did it alone.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She turned her head and narrowed her eyes. “Then you’re foolish. Who else was so fascinated by you for years and also had access to spy on you as you keyed or spoke passwords? Who else was close enough recently to get your genetic key?”
He leaned back. Then he smiled. “Did you really do it alone?”
“Yes, of course.”
“But who taught you how to breach all those levels of security?”
“For the most part, I taught myself. Some things I learned from watching you.”
* * *
They could not takeher upstairs to the playroom since the household had seen her come in, but the commander stood, looking formidable and angry, in the darkened sitting room. All the drapes had been drawn closed and only a pair of desk lamps offered light to the large space.
When Brandese entered the room, she heard the click and turned to find that Evston had locked the door.
“She forged a military seal. My seal.”
“I know,” Evston said.
“It could have been used to order an attack.”
“I know.”
“It’s a complex hologram. Who helped her?”
“No one helped me. I’m very good at creating holograms. And your seal isn’t so different from Lana’s. I have access to the royal database, so I started with hers and added the army insignia and the Calex crest.”
“Her access to all royal databases should be removed.”
“Yes. I’ll see it done,” Evston said.
She said nothing. She had her ways of getting into systems without going through the proper channels. They would be hard-pressed to keep her out unless the entire system was erased and rebuilt.
“What else? This hasn’t gone unnoticed,” the commander said.
“She’ll have to be punished. It was your seal, you can choose how harshly.”
“I’m not talking about discipline, though I will be happy to whip her pretty ass over the trouble she’s caused. I’m talking about leaving her to her own devices with only Duckworth for supervision. Ducks is used to submissive little village girls. She is no fit guardian for this little wildling with royal resources.”
“No,” Brandese said, understanding exactly where the commander was heading.
