Page 148 of Stars on Fire

He nodded to a second man sitting waiting in the lobby outside the King’s offices, who leapt to his feet and moved quickly to walk alongside him.

‘What did he say?’ his new companion asked.

‘He asked me to find out who wiped out The Technocracy. Whoever they are, the bastards eliminated our advantage just like that!’ The first man’s voice wavered with a mix of rage and disbelief.

‘Keep it down,’ his companion said, lowering his voice as they swept past a gaggle of ministers on their way to court. ‘We will prevail. Auban’s authorisation is all we need.’

‘I hope so. Our trackers show that the attacking ships did indeed have Edenite bearings. The King doesn’t believe they have the capabilities for this. I think they do. We’ve watched them take over the shipping world by storm. Their vessels are faster and better than our own. So is their tech. The operation on Dunia to retake the planet was cloaked in secrecy, but I believe they may have played a part. Perhaps in exchange for xentium, the very same thing we seek. This is probably why we couldn’t increase our stake in it, no matter how much we tried to twist the arm of their new Prime. The Edenites must somehow be involved in Dunia’s sudden revival, given that planet’s sudden confidence on the negotiating table. And if The Sable Group is indeed beginning to stand in the way of our progress, we must cut them off at the knees.’

‘Agreed. I’ll put the Rinnax brothers on it straight away. But how about the xentium we need?’

‘We can’t get the amount we require without force. Worse, we don’t have the resources to fight for it. So let’s enact Plan B, my friend. It’s time to find out if what Massimo Makori claimed - that there’s new tech being developed that could upset the xentium equation - is actually in play. Getting our hands on it could help rewrite the imbalance of power.’

‘Sounds feasible. What will The Klatsch say about this delay when they find out? They’ve invested schillions into this endeavour.’

‘Pah!’ scoffed the King’s advisor. ‘They’ve no choice but to invest in us; otherwise, they’ll become obsolete. They’re desperate for xentium because our depleting orhial stores already impact their manufacturing output. They’re also facing crises because their factories are shutting down due to power failures, leading to unemployment and mass strikes at their collective manufacturing plants. The waves of discontent are rising, and they’re demanding answers. They need us to exert our political influence to access xentium while protecting their monopolised power and manufacturing output. They hoped Dunia would be a shoo-in and they’d have access to untapped xentium by now. But Selene Munene has proven to be quite the adversary and a strong leader. With overwhelming support from all of Pegasi’s governments, especially after Dunia’s victory over the crats. I’m unwilling to push her to the brink or anger our neighbours by going anywhere near her again. And neither should The Klatsch. So we’ll need to find another way to gain what we want.’

‘You still haven’t told me what we should say to them?

‘We’ll play The Klatsch as much as they’re playing us. We’ll tell them we had no idea who these new rogues on the playing field were. We’ll also tell them that we’re working on finding out. But we’ll hold off on sharing any intel until you and I can determine how to use it to our best advantage. And remember, neither the King nor the Prime Minister are not to be told a thing. We’ll tell Auban when I think he’s ready to hear from us.’

‘As you wish,’ the second man said. ‘Always as you wish.’

‘To the Triumv.’

‘True and sure.’

Selene

The evening after her father’s funeral, Selene sat at his desk in the Prime Residence in New Malindi.

It had been a long day, from the private funeral to the small wake after. Kei’Lano had never been one to make a fuss, so they’d kept the ceremonies simple. The wake especially, which they’d hosted here at the formal residence. It had ended up being a tear-felt afternoon of laughter and memories as those closest to him shared anecdotes from his long and wonderful life.

Selene and Sheba knew their father’s life had been tragically cut short, no matter what anyone said. He would never see them flourish in their chosen careers, smile with them when they partnered in love, hold their babies,his grandbabies, in his hands. The only consolation was that his passing had freed his soul to join the love of his life and Selene’s mother, Astrea.

As the Dunia’s twin suns cast a beautiful dusky light, Selene gingerly touched the beautiful ebony wood desk in the expansive library, a place that she’d mostly avoided since his passing.

Apart from storing away his medals a few weeks ago, she’d not stepped into the room since.

Strangely enough, it was only after saying her final farewell to him earlier today that she felt comfortable in his most personal space. She settled back into the worn leather chair and breathed in deeply.

She was immediately flooded by the lingering scent of her father’s cigars that had announced him before and after he left a room. Closely followed by the menthol-like balm of the ever-mint sprigs he’d chewed to mask his secretive love for the skinny cheroots. She smiled, remembering how he’d tried to hide his bad habit from her for years. And how he’d failed each time.

Softly, she whispered the words she’d waited all these long weeks to say. In the most private and intimate place her father had inhabited. His library and office were where he had withdrawn to find peace and inspiration for his work and calling. The place he’d often invited Selene in to discuss the curliest of questions that had faced them while governing Dunia. This was where they’d read silently together or played a game of cards, with Sheba, with friends, but mostly just the two of them these past few years. She knew she’d miss him terribly, and her eyes misted over with emotion.

‘Thank you, papa, for the shared laughter, the wisdom and the unfettered love. Thank you for your guidance and wise words when I was lost and for loving forgiveness when I made my mistakes. And they were many. You taught Sheba and me how to love unconditionally. The greatest gift of all.

The silver lining of this tragedy is that I’ve now met my life’s love. He’s a good man - a man you knew and a man you cared for like your son. He profoundly respects you, too, which gives me so much joy. He is wise and kind, and strong. He fights for what he believes in and supports me wholly as the next Prime of Dunia. I know he’ll be a great father to our children if we choose to have them.

Farewell. Don’t worry about us. I think Sheba will be OK. I’ll be OK most days. But, other days, I may miss you so much it’ll hurt. I promise to keep your work and legacy alive. I promise to love and live as you did. I promise to keep making you proud.’

It was all she could manage. She turned her chair to the view of the expansive gardens and twilight ocean beyond and wept into her hands silently.

The storm of grief passed after a few minutes, and she used the cuff of her sleeve to wipe the moisture away.

When she finally felt back in control, she half-turned the chair again.

Her eyes caught a movement and saw Kainan’s silhouette in the lounge room across the corridor. He was pacing to and fro, deep in a silent conversation she assumed was with one of the Riders.

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