While King Peter remained at the Whisper Palace to prepare for the formal changeover of power, Admiral Willis headed back to her Juggernaut, resplendent in her dress uniform. Stepping onto the bridge and taking command again, Willis clapped both Tasia and Robb on the shoulder.

“Well, I sure am glad to be done with all this nonsense.”

“The Spiral Arm’s a big place, ma’am. I’m sure there’s plenty of nonsense left.”

Willis frowned. “Don’t rain on my parade, Tamblyn.”

When General Conrad Brindle’s shuttle crossed over from theGoliath, the Confederation soldiers formally received him. “Some things should be done face-to-face,” he had said, and Admiral Willis granted him permission to come aboard. Accompanied by an honor guard of ten (all of whom sported ceremonial sabres but no sidearms), Conrad wore his uniform immaculately.

Willis swiveled her command chair to face him as the General stepped out of the lift and saluted crisply. All of the bridge personnel remained hushed, wondering what the EDF’s commander would say. She favored him with a kind smile. “A lot of water under the bridge, General.”

He nodded stiffly. “Much of my fleet has been crippled or destroyed. A hundred ships lost to sabotage.”

Tasia crossed her arms, not standing on ceremony. “Shizz, sir, we could get by with a lot smaller fleet if our ships stopped shooting at each other.”

Conrad looked at her, then at Robb. “I’ve come to the same conclusion.” He gave a half bow to Admiral Willis. “As commander of the Earth Defense Forces, I am here to issue our transfer of allegiance to the Confederation.”

Tasia caught her breath. Willis blinked.

Conrad continued. “As a guarantee of our sincerity, I will volunteer the guillotine codes of all our ships.” He withdrew a folded document from the pocket of his uniform, smoothed the creases by running them through his fingers, then extended the papers to Admiral Willis. “Here is my formal surrender of authority. You are now in command of theGoliath and all my remaining ships. May you guide them well.” He took a step backward. “We could use some steady and rational leadership for a change.”

“Why thank you, General. I accept your surrender.” She cracked her knuckles. “There, now that the formalities are out of the way, we can talk turkey about how this is going to work — practically speaking, I mean.”

Brindle, though, had something to do first. When he turned to his son, Tasia could see the warring emotions on the older man’s face. “I just received a message from your mother, Robb. After all we’ve just been through, she’d be very grateful if you’d visit us at your earliest convenience. We have a lot to talk about as a family.” He looked at Tasia. “And, of course, Commodore Tamblyn is more than welcome to join you.”

160

King Peter

With Estarra and Deputy Cain sitting across the table in a small Whisper Palace room, they discussed what to do with the deposed King Rory. OX stood ready with his uploaded databases to recite chapter and verse from his files on Hansa law or diplomatic tradition, but no decision was made.

“My family died in an accident. if it was an accident.” Rory swallowed hard. “I just want my normal life back.”

“We could see to it that the boy lives comfortably, with a new name and a new identity,” Cain suggested. “If he disappears from public view, he’ll soon be forgotten.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Considering what the people are used to from the Chairman, they’ll probably assume he was killed,” Estarra pointed out.

Peter looked sadly at Rory, who seemed out of his depth. “Sorry, but you’re King Rory, for good or bad. But you can still help. You’llneed to help.”

“Perhaps find some ceremonial role?” Cain said. “Demote him, but don’t brush him away in disgrace. Let him continue to have a following.”

“The people have endured enough turmoil, and it would help with continuity,” Estarra said. “He’ll serve as a bridge between the old Hansa and the new Confederation.”

Later, soldiers lined up to hold back the crowds and the newsnet imagers for the abdication ceremony. As he and Estarra stood with Rory under the bright lights, Peter could see that the young man was sweating heavily. He looked so much like Peter’s lost brother that the cruelty of Basil’s trick burned like salt in a wound. But it wasn’t Rory’s fault.

Peter spoke quietly, so no one else could hear. “I hold no grudge against you. Don’t be ashamed.”

“I didn’t ask to be made King, you know.” Rory still wore his royal clothes. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t regret some of the things I did.”

“No one understands that better than I do,” Peter said.

“I’m glad the Chairman is dead. I don’t have to be afraid anymore.” Rory’s dark brown eyes looked up at him. “I don’t know how you were strong enough to stand up to him.”

“Sometimes I don’t know either.”

Basil’s portrait in the boardroom had been labeled “the last Chairman of the Terran Hanseatic League.” That room had been sealed off. Eventually, the gallery might prove instructive as a place of historical significance, but for now Peter didn’t want anyone staring at Basil’s portrait.

Earlier, he and Estarra had attended the subdued and poorly publicized funeral of Chairman Wenceslas out of a sense of obligation. As far as the King could tell, no tears were shed. Though Sarein had the opportunity to join them, she could not face returning to Earth yet and chose to remain aboard theJupiter. She would soon go home to Theroc. Colonel Andez might have been the only person whowanted to attend the funeral, but she and her cleanup crew had been arrested and charged; they were locked up awaiting trial.

Now, in front of the crowds, Peter and Estarra took their seats on adjacent thrones, while Rory faced them standing. The boy had memorized his lines for one last public presentation. The audience fell into a hushed anticipation, and Peter gave the young man a slight encouraging nod. Rory removed the intricately worked gold crown that rested atop his dark hair and held it up as if a great weight had been taken from him.

He said in a loud, clear voice, “The Hansa and the Confederation must have one leader, one true King. I did my best to guide the Hansa, but now that we have sailed safely through those troubled waters, I yield to you, Peter. I abdicate my throne and give you this crown for safekeeping.”

Peter accepted the crown and laid it on his lap. Applause swelled among the viewers, growing even louder as Rory dropped to his knee in a gallant, and unrehearsed, gesture of fealty.

Peter said, “The Queen and I ask that you continue to serve your people and help them feel welcome in the Confederation.”