“Even if those servants are Imperials?” I asked.
Wiktor haughtily raised an eyebrow. “Servants are servants, regardless of nationality. When it comes to state secrets, we are as patriotic as any soldier, but when it comes to serving our charges, our responsibilities bridge all divisions.”
I gave Tilly an appreciative pat on the chassis and sent her back to the stables with a few words of thanks. Wiktor helped me out of my ruined tropical uniform with a disappointed series of tuts and laid out my sleepwear. However, instead of going straight to bed, I asked for a personal computer. When Wiktor questioned me, I replied that I had some reading to do before the morning. Wiktor set the computer on my writing desk and left, promising to wake me before breakfast.
I set myself at my small desk with my computer, considering the vial before me. Did I trust Ingvar the hordling? Was this a stim vial, or a dose of poison? Even if it was what Ingvar claimed, was the data on the drive worth the risk?
I decided, what the Fall. The worst that could happen would be my death, and I was marking time anyways. I slotted the drive chip into my computer and downed the shot of sour liquid. In for a penny, in for a pound.
The drive folder came up on my computer’s VR display,and I opened it, leaning back as I looked through the data within. There were hours of information in the drive, days even. I couldn’t possibly get through it all in one sitting. Idly, I commanded the computer to copy the data to the vaulted hard drive and looked through to select the files which interested me most. In particular, I wanted to know what had brought Astrid back to the Empire, away from me, and what had happened to her in the meantime.
As I browsed the information, I suddenly realized I was perfectly awake. I wasn’t jittery and overexcitable, as if I’d taken a Commonwealth stim, but instead felt like I’d slept a full night in a soft bed. I wondered what was in the vial I’d drunk but decided to take the gift of a free night’s time. I’d have to thank Ingvar and ask him about the vial’s contents later.
I’m not certain how much time I spent reading about Astrid’s coup, but my next recollection of the outside world was Wiktor coming in to wake me. He paused upon seeing me seated at my desk instead of recumbent upon the bed.
“Captain, are you quite all right?” he asked.
“Perfectly,” I said, standing and stretching. I truly did feel excellent, alert, yet calm. In fact, I felt better than that. I felt in control. I held in my hands not only my own fate, but lines which could influence the fate of the Royal Commonwealth, the Empire, and the whole quadrant. I wasn’t a cork bobbing in an endless ocean, swept along by tides I was powerless to resist. I was a yacht capable of forging my own path over the waves.
I found I rather enjoyed it.
“Wiktor, please lay out my undress blues. I want to look my best for the prince this morning,” I said. Wiktor raised his eyebrows, but set about as I asked, helping me shave and wash up. When I felt appropriately attired in my snappy undress blue jacket and khaki trousers, I tucked my swagger stick under my arm and sauntered off to breakfast.
The table was set as usual. Prince Aureli sat at its head, Colonel Boleslaw at his right elbow, various diplomats and staff officers seated down either side, and a side table with coffee, cakes, and savories awaited my attention.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” I said as I casually strolled over to the breakfast table. I was aware of the stunned silence behind me as I grabbed a plate.
“Captain Boylan?” Prince Aureli asked, his voice incredulous.
“Yes, Your Highness?” I replied, serving a buttered muffin onto my plate.
“You went missing last night.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” I said, as though it was a matter-of-course activity. I snagged several eggs and a few rashers of bacon to arrange on my muffin. I was enjoying this.
I turned about to find Boleslaw standing behind me. “Where did you go after you left the party?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” I replied, moving to step around her and sit at the table, but Boleslaw snagged my elbow, nearly making me drop my plate. “Steady on.”
“Captain, come with us,” Boleslaw ordered as the prince stood, throwing down his napkin.
“Can I bring my breakfast?” I asked.
“By all means. Bring your tea, too,” Boleslaw replied. I turned and saw Wiktor standing impassively at the back of the room. The moment my eyes met his, he nodded and moved to acquire a teacup.
Prince Aureli led the way into the parlor, and Boleslaw dragged me along after the prince with an iron grip. Once the door shut, Boleslaw spun me about. “You have some explaining to do, Captain.”
I noticed a comfortable-looking plush armchair nearby. I took a step over and sat, crossing my leg and resting mybreakfast plate in my lap. As I took up my fork and knife, I innocently asked, “What would you like to know?”
“What were you doing last night, Captain?” Prince Aureli demanded.
I gave a thoughtful hum as I chewed on a bite of eggy muffin. “That’s a hard question to answer, but indirectly, I suppose I was gathering information.”
“What sort of information?” Boleslaw asked, her face impassive.
“Information about the state of the Empire, past and present,” I replied. “Most of it about the Emperor and how she’s changed the Empire since her ascension to the throne.”
“And how did you come by this information?” the Duke of Lynwyzc asked through gritted teeth.
