Free The Wolf Worlds by Allan Cole, Chris Bunch Page B

cupbearer to hand him a chalice of wine. He took a long, unholy gulp and then burst into laughter.
    "Oh, that's very good. Very good. Slipped it past security, did you? Through the scanners and skin search."
    The laughter stopped abruptly. The Prophet turned a yellow eye at an aide cowering nearby. "Have a word with security," he said softly.
    The aide bowed and scurried off.
    The Prophet took another gulp of wine, then began chortling again. He turned his head to a curtain beside him and toasted the shadowy recess.
    "Well, Parral. What do you think? Can we make use of our clever Colonel Sten?"
    The curtain parted and a small, thin, dark-faced man stepped out. He gave Theodomir a slight bow and then turned to Sten, smiling.
    "Yes," Parral said. "I think we should have a little chat."
    They sat in a small, dusty library. The chairs were cracked and ancient, but quite comfortable, and the walls were lined with vidbooks. Sten couldn't help but notice that the dust lay thick on the religious works and reference texts. A few well-worn erotic titles caught his eye.
    Mathias refilled their cups with wine—all except his own. The Prophet's son preferred water.
    "Yes, we are indeed quite fortunate to find a man of your talents, Colonel Sten," Parral said smoothly. He took a small sip of his wine.
    "But I can't help but think we might be too fortunate. By that I mean you appear, shall we say, overqualified for our remote cluster. Why is a man with talents in the Lupus Cluster?"
    "Simple," Sten said, "like all things military. After I, ah, resigned from the Guard…"
    "Ah. Perhaps cashiered would be a better word?"
    "Don't be rude, Parral," Mathias snapped. "From what we've heard of the colonel's background, the Empire appears to hold in low esteem a soldier who fights to win. The details of his leaving Imperial Service are immaterial to us."
    "I apologize, Colonel," Parral said. "Continue, please."
    "No apologies necessary. We are, after all, both businessmen."
    Sten raised the glass to his lips, catching the startled looks around the room. "You are in the business of trading. I am in the business—and I mean business—of fighting."
    "But what about loyalties? Don't soldiers fight for causes?"
    Theodomir asked.
    "My loyalties are to the men who hire me. And once the contract is signed, as a businessman, I must keep my word."
    He gave Parral a conspiratorial merchant-to-merchant look.
    "If I didn't, who would ever buy what I sell again?"
    Parral laughed. A cold bark. He leaned across the table. "And what exactly do you have to sell. Colonel?"
    "To you, a vastly expanded business empire. The first trading monopoly in the Lupus Cluster."
    Sten turned to Theodomir. "To you, a church that is whole again."
    After a moment, Theodomir smiled. "That would accomplish my grandest wish," he said dreamily.
    Parral remained unconvinced. "And where is your army, Colonel?"
    "Within reach."
    "To topple Ingild—and to destroy the Jann—would require an enormous force."
    "You have beautiful forests on Sanctus," Sten replied obliquely. "I imagine with very tall trees. Trees that die, but still stand. How much force does the woodsman need to exert to topple that tree?
    "Where my force excels," Sten said, "is knowing, just as the woodsman knows, where and how to exert the proper force."
    "To destroy Ingild," Theodomir whispered. "All those worlds would be mine again. That's quite a lot." He turned to Parral.
    "Don't you think so, Parral? Don't you think that's quite a lot indeed?"
    To Theodomir's delight, Parral nodded his agreement.
    "Since you come so well, ah, provisioned," Parral said dryly, "I assume you have a budget describing the costs of your operation?"
    Sten took the fiche from his inside tunic and passed it to the merchant.
    "Thank you. Colonel. Now, if you'll excuse us, the Prophet and I shall discuss your terms."
    Sten stood up.
    "Although," Parral said quickly, "I'm sure we'll have no difficulty meeting them."
    "I will show you to your