Free Schism: The Battle for Darracia (Book 1) by Michael Phillip Cash Page B

destroy the our economy, and trade with the outer planets will be affected. The Treaty of Seven Seventy-One will be rescinded. He thinks V’sair has a bright intellect,” he growled with disgust, and added, “Oh, yes, my dear. He says that the Elements shine in V’sair’s soul and that the prince is the anointed one.”
    “ General Xam is an old woman,” Beatha said, her voice filled with scorn. “My father hated and never trusted him.” She turned her beady gaze to Staf. “Much like your brother.”
    Staf didn ’t respond. Instead he stalked over to a decanter and poured himself a glass of purple liquid.
    “ Do you think that’s wise, husband?” Beatha asked with venom. “Does not krayum make your mind cloudy and your tongue heavy?” She paused with disgust. “I don’t think it’s prudent.”
    “No one asked you, hag.”
    Staf’s nevi beeped with urgency, and he removed it from his belt to see who was calling and turned his back to respond.
    Beatha watched through narrowed eyes, waiting breathlessly. As he shook his head and spun around, her breath caught in her throat.
    After ending the call, he turned to his wife. “ Generals Veril and Blyst are with us. They are sending a detail to take out General Vekin.” His bright-white teeth gleamed against this gray skin.
    “ What of Swart?”
    “ I am convinced I can turn him. He hates the idea of the accord.” He poured himself another glass of krayum, and it overfilled so that it puddled on the tray. Beatha eyed him with disdain.
    “ He is a king’s man. I don’t trust him. You must kill him. If you don’t act soon, the entire rebellion will fail.” Beatha turned to look at Staf, his face a deeper gray than usual. “Do your nerves fail you, husband?” she asked, her gaze steely.
    “ You dare question my honor?” Staf stood his full seven feet in order to menace his wife. “You dried-up piece of—”
    Their youngest daughter , Hilde, interrupted them, breezing into the room oblivious to any of their schemes. She was lovely, with long black hair; she had just learned to put it up with black ribbons. Staf and Beatha had introduced her to the court this year so she could make an alliance with one of the wealthy families that attended. It seemed like only yesterday when Staf had bounced this one on his knee. She was the last—and to his mind, the best—of his litter.
    “ Where is Pacuto?” she asked, eyeing her parents warily, knowing she had disturbed an argument. Hilde had an acute sense of smell and could detect the odor of krayum on her father when she pressed her face next to his hairy cheek. It was never a good thing when Dado drank. His temper could become uncertain.
    “ Never mind. You were told to return to the donjon and stay indoors. What brings you here, child?” Staf did have a soft spot for this child. She so reminded him of his own mother, dead these last hundred years. Hilde was brave and sweet, not like her sisters.
    “ The queen requested Pacuto. I was searching for him. I have called him, but he does not answer.”
    Beatha stiffened . “Does she think a prince from the house of Nuen is her errand boy?”
    “ Not now, wife.”
    “ Where is the queen now?” Beatha demanded.
    “ The Ambros room,” Hilde told them with a smile.
    The Ambros room was the queen ’s private room, where the females congregated. The uppity servant girl who was always at the queen’s elbow had left, and Reminda had given her niece some much-needed attention. As the youngest of five at seventeen years of age, she rarely was noticed, with Pacuto soaking up most of her mother’s praise. While she could wrap her father around her finger, she never saw him much. He was, after all, the king’s brother and a great warrior, as well as the grand mestor.
    “ She is seeing guests now,” Hilde said. “She needed Pacuto to escort the Quyroo leader to her room.” She smiled gayly. “The Quyroo and his mate have come. Oh, she is so pretty. I wish I