Free Starfist: Lazarus Rising by David Sherman & Dan Cragg

"that's it. Would you join us for lunch, General?"
    Lambsblood shifted again in his chair. "No, my leader, but thank you anyway. I should be getting back to my headquarters, to get my staff working on these reforms. Thank you for putting your confidence in me, my leader." He stood, saluted smartly, and walked swiftly out of the room. Inwardly he seethed. He had cast his lot with de Tomas thinking he'd be allowed to remain independent or coequal, but now he saw his role as that of a mere order-taking functionary.
    "He's going to have to go," de Tomas said after Lambsblood had left them.
    "Give me the word," Gorman said.
    "Not yet, Herten, not quite yet. Next a spot of lunch, and then we meet with our newly sworn Minister of Propaganda and Culture, the esteemed but practically minded Reverend Dr. Joseph Oldhouse."

CHAPTER 6
    "Is this the residence of Miss—" the Stormleader, the equivalent of a lieutenant in the army, consulted a slip of paper in his hand, "Miss Uma Devi, ma'am?" Behind him in the gathering darkness loomed the figures of two shooters, armed and in full uniform of the Special Group. In the dimly lighted street the wizened old woman who'd opened the door saw a landcar with at least one other man in it. Her mouth went dry as her heart pounded and her lower lip quivered with fear. She struggled to speak. A visit by men of the Special Group meant only one thing for her granddaughter—death.
    The Stormleader bowed politely from the waist. "Ma'am, Miss Devi's presence has been requested at Wayvelsberg Castle. We shall escort Miss Devi there and return her safely to you when the interview is done."
    "Who is it, Grandmother?" a female voice said from inside the house. The old woman attempted to block the door by shifting her body in front of the very pretty young woman who had appeared behind her shoulder.
    "Miss Devi?" the Stormleader asked. "I am honored to inform you that your presence at Wayvelsberg Castle has been requested. My men and I will escort you there and back again." He bowed politely and gestured with one arm that she should step outside and join him.
    The old woman shook her head and moaned softly. The town was abuzz with the news that only that morning the Special Group had hung the dean of the College of the Immaculate Conception and left his body swinging out on the quad. But the young woman looked back at the Stormleader with interest plainly written in her large black eyes.
    "Grandmother, the Collegium has been abolished, haven't you heard?" she consoled the old woman. "How long will we be?" she asked the Stormleader.
    "I really couldn't say, miss."
    "Why am I being summoned?"
    "All I know, miss, is that our leader has requested you for an interview. It is a very great honor, miss."
    She looked at the Stormleader speculatively, not contemplating flight, but thinking of advantage. Then she nodded. "May I change into something more formal?"
    The Stormleader nodded and stepped back from the door, which the old woman closed with a bang. One of his men stepped forward, but he restrained him with a hand. "Go around back, Moses. Just a precaution. She won't run, I'm sure of it. I'll stay here with Hung. No matter what happens, no force, do you understand?" The shooter named Moses nodded and walked swiftly around the house into the garden.
    Shortly, the door opened and Miss Uma Devi stepped out. She was dressed in a green silk sari that emphasized her full breasts and narrow waist. A green silk shawl completed the ensemble.
    The Stormleader smiled and offered her his arm, which she took gracefully.
    "Moses, join us at the car," he muttered into his throat mike.
    "That was hardly necessary," Miss Devi smiled when she realized the Stormleader had posted the second man out back.
    "My apologies, miss, but a lady as—as beautiful as you, we were afraid somebody might, ah, try to kidnap you?" The Stormleader laughed. "If we failed to bring you to our leader as ordered, we'd all be executed."
    "I wouldn't want