Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1) (7 page)

“Colonel Tyler Lucius Stone and the Lady Astra Varus,” said Stone to the young captain.

The captain seemed worried. A bead of sweat ran down the man’s forehead and his face began to turn red. After an uncomfortable pause, the captain spoke softly so no one but Stone and Astra could hear.

“Colonel Lucius, ah…Stone, Sir, I—s”

“Captain,” interrupted Astra. “did my father’s staff inform you of our arrival and introduction?” she asked coldly.

“Yes, Lady Astra.”

“Well,” replied Astra in a quiet but cold tone that seemed to tear straight through the nervous captain, “I suggest you do not keep us waiting any longer.”

“Yes, Lady Varus,” answered the captain as he turned toward the receiving line.

“Colonel Tyler Lucius of the 25th Air Assault Regiment, and his fiancée the Lady Astra Varus,” announced the captain as they approached the first greeter in the receiving line.

“Lucius,” Stone whispered to Astra. His common name had been omitted. His branch of the family had been barred from using their ancestral name in formal settings.

“The Lucius family has agreed to restore your lineage to full status within the family structure,” smiled Astra. “You no longer need to carry that common name.”

“Another present from your father?” asked Stone flatly.

Astra answered only with a smile.

Stone had no doubt that only a few generations ago a Varus family member would have needed to bathe if someone with a common name like Stone had so much as touched them.

Politics definitely made strange bedfellows.

Stone trudged his way through the receiving line, acting out the usual pleasantries. First he would be congratulated on his promotion or the jangling rows of medals displayed on his uniform. Next came the declarations of Astra’s beauty and ramblings about the stir the engagement had caused throughout the social elite. This theme played out all along the receiving line as he moved past magistrates, senators, two major generals, and three fleet admirals. Finally he and Astra had run the gauntlet of distinguished attendees and made their way to their table.

“I love these events,” exclaimed Astra as Stone pulled her chair out for her.

“Seems like a lot of pomp and circumstance for a decent dinner,” he whispered in her ear.”

“It’s not about the food, Tyler,” she snapped back. “Stop complaining. It’s about being seen and mingling with the right people.” 

“And who are the wrong people?” said Stone under his breath.

Astra smiled and put her hand on Stone’s knee.

“I’m only looking out for our best interests,” she said quietly, speaking through her smile. “Other than Arilius Tacitus the rest of your captains will never rise above the rank of major. I just want to make sure they don’t weigh you down, especially that woman, Martin. It’s scandalous that a woman, especially one as attractive as Martin, would lower herself to military service when she should be—”

“Marrying up,” replied Stone, his voice rising above the current volume of their conversation.

“Please lower your voice,” demanded Astra under her breath. “And, yes,” she replied. “But I can tell it isn’t the time for this discussion.”

“Or the place,” he replied.

“Very true, Tyler,” said Astra. “Rest assured, Tyler, you will get used to these functions and grow to enjoy them. Besides, I am sure you will find everything worth the effort.” As she spoke, Astra slowly ran her hand up Stone’s thigh to remind him that food wasn’t the only thing he had to look forward to as long as he behaved and played his role.

Stone suddenly realized he had neglected introductions.

“Gentlemen,” he squeaked, as Astra’s hand gave one last squeeze, catching him off-guard.

“Colonel,” replied Colonel Romanari Vatarus.

Vatarus was a well-respected officer and middle son of one of the more influential First Families. His wife, Lady Vespa Vatarus, was the daughter of Senator Germanicus Brutii, the Varus family’s major political rival. As such, Vespa and Astra hated each other.

“Lady Vespa, I am glad to see you could attend,” said Astra, her pitch slightly elevated to show that she was still being civil even though she would rather gouge her rival’s eyes out.

“It is my duty as a faithful wife,” quipped Vespa. “It sounds like you may soon understand what those duties entail, Lady Astra. Besides, your father does throw such quaint little dinners.”

Astra paused to take a drink of her wine and then swallowed hard.

“I’m sure my father is honored by your attendance and we are pleased you approve of our little gathering.”

Romanari Vatarus gave a quick glance at both ladies and then turned to Stone with a smile on his face.

“At least it will be entertaining, eh, Colonel Lucius? Dinner and a show.”

Stone could not help but let out a laugh. Romanari had been at this game for a while and was still able to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. As a middle son, he was not burdened by the duties of a future patriarch and enjoyed the freedom that it allowed him.

Stone was not as lucky. The laugh brought a quick kick on the shin by Astra and a look that he was sure would stop a sable tiger in its tracks. Seeing that Stone had gotten himself into trouble, Romanari changed the topic.

“Let me introduce you to the other regimental commander, Colonel Casius Neo.”

“Welcome Colonel Stone, ah, Lucius,” stammered Colonel Neo. In his haste to rise and greet Stone, the young colonel clumsily bumped the table nearly causing his glass to topple over. Awkwardly grabbing for the drink, he quickly steadied the glass and took a deep breath before continuing. “I look forward to learning from both you and Colonel Vatarus…and, oh, excuse me, may I introduce you to my quest, the Lady Ophelia Tacitus.”

A cousin of Captain Tacitus and niece of Cataline Tacitus, the “Lady” Ophelia could not have been more than seventeen or eighteen. She seemed as infatuated with the grandeur of the event as Stone was irritated by it. Her family had prepped her well for the evening, however, and she was ready with the appropriate greetings.

“Greetings, Colonel Lucius, your presence brings great honor to an already distinguished table,” she said, slightly bowing her head in the direction of Romanari Vatarus.

“Your grace is much appreciated at our table,” noted Astra, casting a quick, icy glance at Vespa. “You do your escort much honor, Lady Ophelia.”

With that Astra turned her gaze toward Neo. As she stared, she made a quick motion with her hand reminding the timid, delicate flower of a colonel to sit.

Casius Neo was just the type of officer that had come to power during a rapid mobilization. A member of a First Family, his great-uncle had been a Senator and his father a regional magistrate. Although he had served in the military for five years before the mobilization, Neo’s military experience had been limited to staff and administrative duties at High Command. When the war drums began to beat, his great uncle pulled some strings and had him transferred into a line regiment as Senior Major of the 34th Heavy Assault Battalion. Conveniently, the regiment’s colonel soon retired amidst rumors of inappropriate behavior with a servant of the Neo family and misappropriations of funds from the regimental budget. This paved the way for the promotion of Neo and, without a doubt in Stone’s mind, needless deaths of his men in future battles.

As Stone was sizing up the guests at his table and trying to stay positive about the evening, the appetizers arrived.

“Colonel Stone,” said Neo as he leaned back to allow the servant to place an appetizer on the table, “it must be nice to have your line once again associated with the Lucius family.”

Astra choked slightly on the grape she had just placed in her mouth.

Vatarus let out a cough, clearly meant as a warning to Neo that he had made a social blunder.

Vespa sat quietly, smiling at the discomfort she knew Astra must be feeling.

Stone, slightly taken aback, looked blankly at Neo. As he did, he saw Ophelia nervously turn her head slightly toward Neo and give him a cautious, warning look with her eyes and a slight shake of her head.

“Um, I…” Neo stumbled.

“I’m sure he is,” interrupted Astra, doing what she did best. “The Lucius family is honored to be able to restore Tyler’s branch of the family to their lineage. After all, his line has provided us with some of our most honored heroes. From Colonel Agrippa Lucius Stone down to Tyler himself, the line has served the Republic with bravery and won the right to reclaim the Lucius name.”

Stone saw Astra give a slight glance to Vespa, as she knew she had robbed her adversary of the opportunity to see her squirm. Astra was indeed at master of socio-political strategy.

“You are correct, of course,” added Vespa, conceding Astra’s victory.

“To the restoration of the Lucius line,” joined Ophelia quickly. As she stood to give the toast, she used her right hand to guide Neo to stand as well.

“To Colonel Tyler Lucius,” added Neo.

Stone remained seated and gave a nod of appreciation as the rest of the table rose to join the toast. As they returned to their seats, Vatarus leaned toward Neo.

“I think the battlefield may be less complicated than this dinner. If only you could enlist the Lady Ophelia into your regiment.”

Neo returned a smile of relief to Vatarus.

“Oh my!” gasped Ophelia in a playful response. “Could you see a lady of a First Family in fatigues in the muck and mire?”

“I most certainly could not,” replied Stone with a duplicitous smile.

The evening continued in the same manner, a little awkward and occasionally comical. As the dinner concluded, the quests retired to the ballroom to engage in more “strategic” mingling. In her element, Astra quickly flitted from one group to another graciously accepting compliments and giving them when required, all the while with her new toy in tow. Stone couldn’t help but be impressed; her conversations were tactical works of art. The epitome of social grace, she was never too complex or controversial—even though she had the political wit to talk most senators into a corner.

Stone had just found his own mental quiet place and had begun to grow numb to the glad-handing when Astra dragged him into a small group of high-ranking officers speaking with her father.

“Colonel Lucius!” proclaimed Dominotra in a loud voice as the couple came near, obviously feeling the wine. “Let me introduce you to your new Brigadier.”

As Senator Varus stepped out of the small circle, Stone’s new commander came into view.

It was Cataline Tacitus.

And he was a Brigadier.

“I have been looking forward to having you under my command, Colonel,” said Cataline, soaking up the shock painted across Stone’s face.

Stone was certain that Cataline’s negligence with security procedures had something to do with the Gateway virus. In his mind, Cataline’s body should be decomposing in the crucifixion fields with the other traitors and murderers.

Dominotra saw the tension and spoke.

“Following the Terillian attack on Gateway Station and given our rapid mobilization, General Tacitus has been assigned a position commiserate with his experience and his family’s status. I am sure with such leadership, the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division will soon be ranked among the most famous of our people’s illustrious history.”

Stone felt Astra’s hand squeezing his fingers white. A quick glanced at her father’s face showed his growing concern about Stone’s response. Feeling the pressure of Astra’s grip and Dominotra’s stare, he held his eyes on Cataline.

A few seconds passed that seemed an eternity.

“Congratulations on your promotion, General.” Stone almost choked on the words.

“And yours as well, Colonel,” replied Cataline, his mouth curling upward in a contented smile. “We will have to discuss my plans for the regiment, Colonel. I am anxious to hear your recommendations.”

Recommendations? In his mind he had already knocked the pompous ass unconscious. The 25th was Stone’s regiment and that paper-pushing, over-bred, elitist son of a bitch would have nothing to do with how he commanded his regiment. He felt his skin growing hot.

His gaze locked on Cataline, Stone felt Astra’s death grip on his hand and took a deep breath. “I will have to get settled in first. Perhaps in a few weeks I can come to your headquarters and brief you—”

“I think it would be better, and more appropriate, if I were to visit your headquarters,” interrupted Cataline. “Perhaps I could do a quick inspection.”

Stone felt his dinner start to work its way back up his throat. Sooner or later he would have his day with Cataline. Politics be damned. “As you wish, General,” Stone replied in a slow, tempered voice, trying not to explode. “I shall have my executive set up the details with your staff.” He glanced toward Astra. “Please forgive me, but I am still getting settled to my quarters and I believe my fiancée has promised me a tour of the city.”

“Beg my forgiveness, General,” interrupted Astra coming to Stone’s aid. “I am a woman and only desire to spend time with my fiancé as he has been so often away in service of the people. Please indulge a lady’s request.”

“Of course, Lady Astra,” smiled Cataline. “I would be remiss if I did not allow you time with the Colonel before he is called away to service yet again.”