Chapter 53

On arrival at Vreekoos we were immediately shuttled down to Lassos and I, specifically, was called into a briefing being held by Aunt Vilgra along with Herrick and Meritocrat Vasuul, the High Bureaucrat in charge of Imperial Security and technically Vilgra’s boss, though, in de facto, it was actually my Aunt Taisha who was in charge of the Imperial Troubleshooters.

“The information supplied to us by Emir Grigo via his Paladin Command regarding the Hrenesh Group looks to be highly accurate. We’ve spoken to a possible lead in the control of Hrenesh and they will supply us with the data on various contracts,” Vilgra informed me.

“There’s a ‘but’ coming, isn’t there?” I asked politely.

“Yes,” Vasuul replied. “This contact will only supply us with the data if he gets a coloured portrait of himself, his partner and their children. A signed portrait at that.”

“I take it I’d have to visit Arconia itself, not the Spire?”

“Yes. The Protectorate’s rules are quite simple, if brutal. Families of their higher ... syndicates, must remain upon the planet, or a planet of the Protectorate, to act as a ... guarantor of good behaviour on the part of their Group.”

“I think we can call them hostages,” Vilgra added with a wry smile. “In a gilded cage, of course, but still hostages.”

“Yes, I think I’m in the Court too much and I forget to speak openly at times,” Vasuul chuckled. “That’s why we’re asking you to help us here, Dayyev. Only you will be allowed in his residence, but we’ll try to ensure you’re guarded at all other times.”

“No Imperial bodyguard?” I asked with a frown as I could see out of the corner of my eye a stony-faced Liono.

“No. They are very wary of Kilios operatives,” Vasuul replied. “Can’t think why,” she finished with a wry chuckle.

“I will remain in the base of the Spire whilst he does his duty, and rescue him if they breach the agreement,” Liono stated.

“I have spoken to the head of Kilios,” Herrick added. “A team from House Green will also be sent to assist.”

“Our very best,” Liono acknowledged. “Hopefully not needed, but if we need to pull Dayyev out, our people will be able to do so.”

“Yes, I believe so,” Herrick agreed. “So, Dayyev, will you assist?”

“Of course,” I replied with a firm nod.

“Arconia?” Amanda asked me when I joined her for the general debrief.

“Yes, full colour portrait of a Hrenesh leader and his family in exchange for information on the contracts they held regarding Rogoth and the medical seal mimickers,” I replied.

“Interesting exchange.”

“Yes, though only I will be allowed in his residence.”

“Figured I wouldn’t be able to go,” she sighed.

“Biggest danger will be after I’ve finished the portrait and before I get back to the Spire base,” I pointed out.

“Yes, though I know you’ll go anyway,” she sighed.

“It’s a direct opportunity to go after those who financed the Rogoth atrocity. There’s no way I’d say no,” I replied, giving her a cuddle.

“I know. I’ll just worry about you while you’re there.”

“Kilios will have a full team from House Green at the base of the Spire in case something does go wrong,” I informed her.

“That’s your Aunt Janilla’s House. She’s in charge of it and might very well take a personal oversight of the job,” Trusha informed us.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Seriously. Kilios were just as shocked and enraged over the Rogoth atrocity as the Empress. We also have not forgotten and will not forgive either.”

“Let’s hope that the information they are offering is worth it,” I added.

“Indeed so,” Trusha agreed.

After the debrief I was flown home to meet the family and allowed to let them know where I’d be going next.

“Arconia?” my dad mused, clearly remembering a few things. “Was shot at whilst I was on a mission with Myrialis.”

“I thought the Spire was neutral territory, hence safe?” I queried.

“Mostly safe,” he chuckled. “Plus your mum and baby Kiria were with me ... though not when I was being shot at.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“You’ll need to be. Any inadvertent comment can be taken as a challenge and they’d have no hesitation in gunning you down.”

“I think I’ll be able to help there,” Liono added.

“True and at least you’ll be armed,” dad chuckled.

“Kilios will have other operators there too.”

“They won’t be able to help whilst I’m doing the portrait though,” I pointed out.

“Yes, though I doubt it’s a trap,” dad replied thoughtfully. “Much easier ways to try to get to you than this.”

“Agreed,” Liono nodded. “Though expect a response after the portrait is completed. They have to report outside contacts to their organisation and there may be a reaction of some kind.”

“Won’t that affect my host?” I asked.

“That’s not the way their society works,” dad chuckled. “They’ll look at it from a business perspective and attempt to deal with the breach of their security afterwards, meaning you, not your host who just got an original Dayyev portrait at a bargain price. After all, it’s not like the Empire can cause them any real issues.”

“Will they warn the people who contracted them?”

“No, that would be an admission of their failure and would reflect on their reputation,” dad replied. “It really is a weird society, so be careful.”

“I will,” I nodded.

“Oh, look!” Hilli broke into the conversation. “Dayyev, your portrait of the Empress is being unveiled.”

“Oh yes,” I replied and watched the cube as Amantil unveiled the portrait of her, Amanda and Vicki to the court. It showed each of them as true leaders with their diadems of authority on their brows. Yet it also showed the loving aspect of the family as well as their love for the Empire.

“Wow! Just, wow,” Galh breathed out.

“I think she likes it,” Truna giggled.

“I suspect they all do,” mum added. “The commentators are impressed too.”

“With good reason,” dad agreed. “A copy will also be going to each world to be displayed in the debating chamber of their planetary Councils as chaired by the Governors.”

“Just letting them know who is really in charge,” I chuckled.

“No doubt about that at all,” Hilli agreed. “That picture simply exudes a vibe of authority.”

“Was the plan,” I smiled.

“Well, you managed it,” mum agreed for all.

The following working period, Liono and I departed on an orbital shuttle to the luxury starliner Soaring Spirit and a first-class trip to Arconia and its major claim to fame, the Spire. The Spire itself is a massive space elevator comprising a huge orbital station connected to and counterbalanced by an equally huge floating station over an equatorial ocean. All that is known about it is that it was built by aliens who vanished over a thousand years before but left it and all the facilities on the planet both working and well maintained by maintenance bots. What the aliens looked like, no one knows, nor where they went or if they intend to return. Arconia, the planet the Spire is situated on, is the capital world of the Arconian Protectorate. It is a very high-tech Realm that is essentially run by a series of criminal enterprises. The Spire and its base are however neutral territory ... mostly, and is used for various legitimate business dealings between Realms as well as a clearing house for various goods ‘obtained’ by various illegal means.

The Empire keeps an eye on them to an extent, though has no official dealings with the Protectorate, nor any of the other small Realms surrounding it other than tourism, warning its people not to stray from designated safe zones as it cannot guarantee their safety, nor will any of the Realms they are visiting. Occasionally someone will suggest conquering the Protectorate owing to its role in keeping that sector highly unstable with planet raiding and illegal goods and drug production. This invariably comes to nothing as such an act would draw in several other Realms who do not like the Empire throwing its weight around, if only because it can. This, coupled with the Arconians avoiding giving the Empire a casus belli, means that they tend to be watched, though not interfered with.

The Soaring Spirit was most definitely comfortable and I was able to get in some sketching as well as complete a couple of my coloured works. It was not, however the Gloriana and I did miss the company of Amanda and the Group, all of whom I considered friends. Liono had already identified a couple of spotters from my ‘client’ and noted that they were just ensuring I wasn’t breaching the terms by bringing along anyone other than Liono, who would still have to remain in the base of the Spire while I did my work.

The Spire though, when we did a slow approach, was definitely worth the sight and I furiously sketched away as we viewed it. It seemed an impossible structure, yet most modern tech worlds had the capability to build one. The main reason they didn’t being grav tech; by which it was simply easier to reach orbit via gravity manipulation, if not quite as spectacular as riding up and down on the huge elevators of the Spire.

Upon reaching the station, Liono and I wasted no time in simply stowing our luggage and heading down to the planet on an elevator as I gawked like a tourist through the viewing panels at the majestic sight it afforded me as we dropped seemingly slowly downwards to the lower station.

Once there though we parted ways as she was not permitted to accompany me to the residence of the Syndicate Lord of the Hrenesh Group. The Arconians are very fussy about not permitting any other than their own ‘hired muscle’ onto their worlds. Hence the few visitors they do get who venture beyond the Spire have to go it alone, with the attendant risk that trip can bring about as Arconians, if offended, will often go for weapons first and apologies ... assuming you survive, afterwards.

I was directed via my com channel to a waiting flyer, realising that the Arconian tech was at least compatible with my own. I also timed the trip as it represented the greatest risk for me upon my return, hopefully with the information the Empire desired on who financed Rogoth as well as the medical seal mimickers. Information that I was not supposed to have and whose presence upon me would be reported by my ‘host’ once the portrait was done and I had left his residence. I had also been warned by Liono that, because the base of the Spire was in the middle of an ocean, I had precious few places to actually run to and getting caught escaping in a flyer would be very risky.

What the Arconians could do however, was a mystery. I had noticed, as had others, that there was almost a sporting element to the few incidents that we knew of. So, the current thinking was that if an attack came, it would be in the base of the Spire, or in the actual Spire itself, despite both being neutral territory.

After thirty rotations, the flyer deposited me on a pad in the beautifully maintained grounds of what appeared to be a large dwelling that also fitted into the landscape as if natural. I was greeted by a single servitor and told to simply follow her and not to stray from the path as the grounds had defence mechanisms that were not tailored to my presence and the results would be ... unfortunate. So, I behaved and simply followed her to the house and into an office where there was man working at a desk.

“Master Courrant, may I present to you the Artist, Dayyev?” she introduced me to the young appearing man who was now observing me.

“Thank you, Alna. That will be all for now,” he replied. She nodded and silently withdrew.

“Salutations, Master Courrant,” I greeted him politely.

“It’s just Courrant between us, no need to be so formal, Dayyev,” he replied with a smile. “I’m glad you’re here and can provide me and mine with something unique.”

“Very well, Courant,” I acknowledged. “Now, take me to your family and I’ll see just what it is you want in the way of a portrait.”

“Please follow me, I’ll introduce you,” he replied and led me through an adjoining door into what was obviously a family area where a mature lady waited with three children, two boys and a girl.

“This is my wife, Rassaile, and my sons Darich and Gilm, along with my daughter Truven,” he introduced us as I gave a semi-formal bow to them.

“A pleasure,” I replied, noting the distancing between the family ... or rather Courrant and Rassaile.