“I strive to support that goal with every action,” I replied.
Aureli leaned forwards. “Then stop antagonizing our allies.”
I snorted before I could stop myself. “Some allies.”
Aureli sat back. “Have some respect, Captain. Without Federation aid, the Royal Commonwealth would have lost this war long ago. The Federation provides much of the weapons and materiel used by Royal Commonwealth soldiers like yourself.”
“You mean the Fedssellus the zeroblades, lancers, and machines we need to fight the war for them,” I said.
“That’s unfair.”
“How, Your Highness? We bankrupt ourselves buying Federation goods, and in return, the Feds don’t even fight. Name one active front where the Feds currently hold.”
“Federation troops hold the Valdotian sector,” Boleslaw said.
“Valdotia’s been quiet for years. The Federation took the most valuable worlds, hunkered down, and dug in. They’ve spent the last few years laying quiet, refusing to join offensives, allowing the Empire to ignore their worlds in favor of attacking ours. The Feds look to win this war without sacrificing what’s needed to do it. If they’d thrown their full might behind the war effort, we could have driven the Empire back and negotiated from a position of strength. Instead, they’ve waited until we’re at the edge of collapse.”
“A soldier’s analysis of the war,” Prince Aureli said.
“Then tell me I’m wrong, Your Highness,” I said. I was gratified to see the prince withdraw behind his cigar.
At that moment, Wiktor appeared, possibly to rescue me from a Pyrrhic rhetorical victory. “Pardon me, sir, but there’s a matter requiring your attention in your chambers.”
“What?” I asked.
“It’s a matter better discussed in private.”
I was frustrated beyond my limits. Stupidly, instead of asking to be dismissed, I said, “Damn it, Wiktor, I don’t have time for games. What is it?”
Wiktor paused reproachfully before reaching into his breast pocket. “I have a letter for you, sir. It bears the Emperor’s seal.”
I took the letter, stupefied, and looked at it. “Excuse me, Your Highness. May I go?”
“Oh, no. I want to know what’s in this letter. You should open it,” Prince Aureli commanded.
With a sigh, I broke the seal and unfurled the paper. The note was short. “She’s inviting me to a moonlight stroll around the gardens.”
“Now? Does she never sleep?” Aureli asked.
“Circadian regulators are a Fall of a brain chip,” I said.
Boleslaw’s expression sharpened. “Do you know the Emperor has sleep-regulating brainware?”
I shook my head. “I only suppose. She slept an ordinary amount at the Academy.”
“Where did you get this letter?” Prince Aureli asked Wiktor.
Wiktor was as unflappable in the face of Aureli’s displeasure as he was in mine. “From an Imperial servant who bade me deliver it to Captain Boylan’s hands directly.”
“And you didn’t see fit to report this?” Aureli demanded.
There was a tiny moment between Wiktor and Boleslaw that I could not describe. Certainly, Wiktor did not so much as glance in the colonel’s direction, but perhaps it was the complete lack of response which made me realize Wiktor had already reported receiving this letter to Boleslaw. I’d messed things up by revealing it in front of the prince.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I’m sure it won’t happen again,” Wiktor said.
“Make certain it doesn’t,” Aureli replied, satisfied.
I raised the letter. “What do you want me to do about this?”
