Free Hellhole Inferno by Brian Herbert Page B

seat. “We have thousands of images of Candela, General, but the conclusion is simple. No one is going to settle there for a long, long time. The damage is many times worse than what happened to Hellhole centuries ago.” She shook her head. “We’ll never be able to mine iperion from the wasteland.”
    â€œThen we need to find another source,” Adolphus said. “I’ve increased search parties and prospectors across the Deep Zone, but no one’s found any new evidence yet.”
    Tanja’s voice was husky. “I’ll devote my efforts to making sure my refugee population gets settled and integrated into Tehila society, and the same on the other planets where my people have been dispersed.”
    Walfor stood by one of the large windows, gazing out at the landing field. He seemed angry. “We could go back to my Buktu, rebuild there. It’s empty … all my people gone, taken prisoner by Commodore Hallholme.” He looked up. “Has there been any word from the Crown Jewels? Any ransom demands? Could we consider trading some of our military prisoners so I can get Erik Anderlos and my people back?”
    Adolphus had considered that already, but there were no lines of communication. “I can make overtures. The Commodore took them all prisoner, and we know he uses hostages for leverage in desperate situations.”
    â€œWe don’t even know if they’re still alive,” Tanja said.
    A dark expression crossed Walfor’s face. “And he portrays himself as a man of great honor! He keeps reaching new lows.”
    Adolphus said, “I suspect they are still alive. Commodore Hallholme will view the Buktu population as prisoners of war, which places certain obligations on him. He will expect the same treatment from us with his son Escobar and our POWs.” He felt he had the measure of Percival Hallholme, although he was less sure about Diadem Michella and Lord Selik Riomini.
    Walfor turned away from the filter-glass window and slumped into a seat at the table. “What about Theser instead? Lord Riomini’s warships leveled the main city, but the planet is still habitable. We could resettle there.”
    Adolphus glanced over at Tanja. Her friend Sia Frankov had been the planetary administrator of Theser, murdered along with all her population in the Black Lord’s attack. “It would be fitting to populate that world with Candela refugees. Sia would like that, wouldn’t she?”
    Tanja’s eyes flashed behind a sheen of bitter tears. “Rebuilding there would be a way to show the Constellation that their attack didn’t defeat us. It’s worth considering.”
    He remembered all the traumas and tragedies that Tanja had endured. “And what about the boy under your care—the son of your assistant, who was also murdered by Constellation treachery? Did he go with the Candela refugees to Tehila?”
    Tanja said, “Jacque saw his mother killed in front of him, and he was at my side when we watched Candela die.” Her voice hitched. “I didn’t want to leave him in a crowded refugee camp on Tehila. He’s been through so much already. I sent him to a school and a very welcoming family on Nielad. He’ll be fine—and far from the turmoil here.”
    Walfor gave her a wan smile. “Tanja wants to be sure the boy is protected, and this way, she can still travel with me.”
    Adolphus rose to his feet. “Resettling Theser will take time and considerable effort. Right now, I want you to go to Tehila to make sure the needs of the refugees are being met.”
    Before departing, Tanja and Walfor each shook the General’s hand. These were more than wartime comrades; they were friends, and he could count on them, just as they could count on him. It was one of the unexpected benefits of warfare and strife—learning who deserved such feelings, and who did not.

 
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