Van Laven Chronicles (2 page)

Who knew the demure Duchess of Welbayne was such a boisterous vixen? he thought. The Duke of Welbayne, no doubt.

He recalled the Duchess having approached Comron shortly after his astonishing display at the execution, and as usual, Comron had been only too willing to oblige the lady with a private audience.

And now, they would both gain carnal knowledge of the Duchess.

I will taste of her now
, Crausin projected his thoughts telepathically to Comron.

As you command, my lord,
Comron replied, never breaking his stride.

Crausin felt the subtle mind convergence, Comron letting him in to experience every sensation he did, to fully experience the pleasures of the Duchess of Welbayne. The Duke tensed, sharply sucking in air as he gripped the arms of his chair. The Duchess felt even better than he’d imagined. The sensation pulsed through him, overwhelming him. For Frithe’s sake! They’d arch over the edge within seconds. He’d joined them not a moment too soon.

Welbayne’s moans reached a fevered pitch as did the relentless creaking of the bed. She felt like heaven, first heaven! Crausin thought as he lost all control…

Simultaneously, Comron threw his head back and groaned aloud, his body shuddered and then he collapsed onto the bed next to the Duchess.

As Comron caught his breath, he stared up at the com-eye embedded in the lighting fixture and gave Crausin a grin of satisfaction. The Duchess caressed Comron’s chest, running her fingers through its hair as she murmured words of admiration and suggested another go.

Will you take her tonight as well?
Comron inquired.

Crausin’s chest heaved as he recovered from the joining. The powerful mental link they shared, combined with their remarkable physical similarity, made for plenty of bedroom amusement with the ladies of the court.

Yes…keep her warm for me.

CHAPTER 2

Vaush Bastionli, Honored Lady of Ti-Laros, struggled to remain focused as the sales agent droned on about the latest breakthrough in surveillance technology. If the captain of her guard nudged her one more time, she’d scream.

“As you are well aware, the industry in which we operate is highly competitive and prone to industrial espionage,” the Mobias agent said with a charming smile. “Therefore, we’ve developed this project outside our primary facility in favor of a remote location known only to a few of us.”

Acquiring this technology would be a major boon to her house especially in the face of the rising discord on the home front and the rate of defection to the rebel lines. Still she’d rather be out among the people, doing what she could to leave this world a better place than she found it.

“So, if you would be so kind as to follow me,” the agent said, gesturing for them to stand. “I will escort you to our transport which will take us to our facility.”

“Consider it from this perspective, Your Highness,” said Captain Laney to Vaush. “You may never sit upon the throne of Ti-Laros, but close this deal and your father will view you as infinitely more valuable to him than your insufferable sister.”

Vaush gave her a half smile. “Careful, Laney, she is still an Honored Lady of Ti-Laros and well ahead of me in the line of accession. Nothing will change that.”

“More’s the pity. Of all your siblings, you’d make the finest ruler.” Laney’s eyes scanned the room, noting all the exits and any suspicious behavior. She motioned to the other guard to walk ahead to scout the area.

“They were born and bred for that purpose and I welcome them to it,” Vaush said.

“So that you’re free to trudge off to the next god-forsaken hellhole to save the village. Yes, you’re right,” Laney said wryly. “You’d make a dreadful ruler. Who needs a selfless, compassionate monarch lording it over them? You are the best of House Bastionli. Truly.”

“You know I harbor no aspirations for the throne. In fact,” she looked down at her common business attire, a three quarter linen cape over matching blue slacks, waistcoat and fitted sleeveless blouse. A smart pair of boots completed the ensemble. “I feel quite at home dressed this way.”

As they followed the agent down the corridor, Vaush caught sight of a tall Tellurian investor. There was something about his gait that set him apart from the others – the long, steady strides, squared shoulders and head lifted as if nothing below his line of sight was worthy of his consideration. As he moved through the group, the others gave way without him having to utter a word.

Vaush discreetly pointed him out to Laney.

“A member of one of the Great Houses, I suspect,” Laney observed.

“House Nostrom?” Vaush said. “Then again, the haughty air suggests Warbrenger.”

“Good choice of disguise,” Laney commented. “Unless he removes the helmet or speaks at length, we may never know. No matter, it needn’t affect your purpose.”

“True.” Vaush craned her neck to have a better look. “But how bright can he be? Marching around here virtually broadcasting his standing, he’s compromised his ability to negotiate a good deal.”

Outdoors, the roar of the transport engines made it impossible to converse any further. They followed the others across the lawn and into the mid-sized vessel. Within the cabin, the smell of new leather and carpeting suggested that the transport had been recently renovated. A kindly attendant directed them to their seats and Laney indicated that Vaush should sit between her and the other guard.

They were halfway to their destination when an attendant approached again, asking if she could refresh their beverages.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Vaush replied.

The cabin attendant smiled and moved on to the next row.

Vaush adjusted her seat to a more relaxing angle and stretched out her legs, reflecting on what her father referred to as the ‘finesse of negotiations.' Never let your—

Suddenly, the transport dropped sharply, jostling the passengers and spilling drinks. The startled cries finally died down though the anxious look in their eyes begged an explanation. The attendants scurried about calming the passengers and sopping up the spills.

“Look at them,” Laney said, eyeing the attendants. “They’re just as scared as the rest of us.”

“What was that?” Vaush turned in her chair. “Even the most basic nav-systems should’ve been able to handle turbulence.”

“That wasn’t any turbulence,” Laney replied as she leaned out into the wide aisle. “I don’t like this one bit.”

The Mobias agent pushed past one of the attendants and hurried down the corridor into the cockpit.

“That’s definitely not a good sign,” Laney said. She spoke into the communicator at her wrist, notifying House Bastionli of the situation..

“A bit much don’t you think?” Vaush said, trying not to sound nervous.

“Probably,” Laney said unconvincingly. “But your father would have my hide if I failed to follow protocol.”

The agent quickly emerged from the cockpit with a broad smile, but his shifting eyes betrayed him.

“Esteemed guests, I do apologize for the bit of roughness, but please everyone sit back and relax. We will be landing shortly.”

Vaush nudged Laney. “See, you heard him. We’ll be landing soon.” Vaush sat back with a light smile on her lips. “You’ve gone and alarmed my father over nothing.”

But Laney wasn’t convinced. “Is your restraint secure?” she said, jiggling Vaush’s seat belt. “Use the shoulder harness as well.”

“Really, Laney.” Vaush looked around. “I’ll feel like a fool in the shoulder restraints when no one else is wearing them.”

Laney gave her a hard look and lowered her voice. “At least you will be a living fool. Shoulder restraints on now.” She pressed the button on the armrest and the shoulder harness extended down over Vaush, securing her to the seat. Laney would not lose a member of the royal house on her watch.

No sooner had the restraint clicked into place when the sound of a hundred thunderclaps erupted all around, plunging the cabin into darkness. Terrified screams filled the air as the vessel dove downward through the atmosphere. A cacophony of crunching metal rocketed through the cabin as part of the cockpit tore away from the transport.

Vaush screamed as the wind roared through the cabin and sucked the attendants through the gaping hole.

Laney yelled into her communicator and kept a death grip on Vaush. One by one, seats were ripped from the floor and flung from the cabin with the passengers still strapped in them. The row of seats in front of them held, but the force was too much and the occupants were quickly torn away to follow the others.

Laney and the other guard tried to activate their shoulder harnesses to no avail. Realizing that the system was malfunctioning, Vaush tried to help them pull their restraints down manually. The harness wouldn’t budge.

The guard on Vaush’s left was snatched from her seat and hurled through the whole. “Gena!” Vaush screamed as her hair whipped around her face. She turned to Laney who had her harness halfway down even as she was jostled in her seat. The powerful suction pulled at Vaush, but the shoulder harness held fast. She reached over to press Laney’s harness all the way down, but before she ever heard a reassuring click, Laney was wrenched from her seat and sucked through the hole.

“Laney, Laney!” Vaush cried, as the pressure pulled at her. “Gods, no!” A foot struck Vaush in the head as two more passengers from behind went hurling out of the transport. The serving cart shot out and struck Laney’s empty seat sending both zipping through the hole.

Vaush screamed as blinding pain rendered her world into darkness.

CHAPTER 3

In the midst of the Privy Council meeting, Duke Crausin Van Laven’s personal communicator unfurled at his ear. He recognized his son’s voice immediately in the garbled, truncated distress call—

“…transport… down...coordinates…”

Ashen faced, Crausin leapt from his chair and left the council members without so much as a word.

The Duke raced down the corridor toward his private chambers and burst through the doors. “Get me the Patheisan government on the line immediately!” he barked at his chief administrator.

“Yes, Sire,” said the gray-haired rotund man as he hurried to comply.

Crausin tried incessantly to raise Comron on his personal com-link but there was no signal. His line was dead. With growing agitation, he tried to raise the Mobias Technologies executives.

“Sire,” the administrator’s voice came over the intercom. “I have the Patheisan chief liaison on the line. Is there someone specific with whom you wish to speak?”

“I want the prefect of the eastern district!” the Duke snapped.

“Yes, Sire.”

Crausin paced the floor with hands trembling as he waited to hear from the Mobias EIC. What in the hell had happened? His heart pounded and his palms grew sweaty. The call coincided with the time Comron would have been aboard the transport to visit the Mobias production site. But the cryptic message left much unsaid. What happened to the transport? Why couldn’t he raise Comron? He shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep them from shaking.

“Duke Van Laven,” said the Mobias assistant.

“Yes!”

“I’m putting through our EIC.”

Just then the holographic image of the EIC appeared.

The EIC forced a smile. “Duke Van Laven, this is an honor—”

“What happened to the transport carrying the investors to the site?” Crausin interrupted.

Before the EIC could ask how Crausin knew about the matter, he added, “My son was aboard that transport, he was one of the investors!”

The EIC’s face drained of color. “W-we are trying to locate it now.”

“Trying to locate it? How is that you lost it?”

Wringing his hands, the EIC replied. “To avoid the local authorities we flew below the radar, which meant even we could not detect them. They are overdue for landing so we are back-tracking from the facility to the place of origin.”

Glaring at him, Crausin said, “Comron called from the transport to say it was going down.”

The EIC lowered his head as he leaned upon his desk. “We received a message from the pilot saying the navigation systems had been tampered with. That was the last that we heard of them.”

Crausin raked his fingers through his hair, grabbing fistfuls, forcing himself to think clearly. “Is the search party underway?”

“Oh, we’re trying to, uh…”

“Listen, you blithering idiot. If I don’t find my son alive, I will rain down havoc upon your mortal ass!”

The EIC snapped to attention. “We’ll have the search party formed directly.”

“You make damned sure of it. Spare no expense. I will cover the cost for anything you need. Call in the local authorities and put every man that you have on it. I want a status report every half hour!”

“Yes, my lord Duke.”

“I am on my way as well. I will contact you the moment I arrive.”

The EIC’s eyes widened and he clenched the edge of his desk. “Very good, Your Grace.”

Crausin switched off the link and the hologram vanished.

“Sire, would you have me contact anyone else?” the chief administrator inquired.

“Get General Stland on the line,” Crausin replied, pinning his hands beneath his arms.

“Yes, Sire.” He started to leave, then said, “And several of your privy council are here inquiring into the matter.”

Crausin shook his head sharply, cursing himself for having sent Comron on that damnable trip in the first place.

“You said nothing of it?” the Duke asked his administrator.

“Of course not, Sire!”

“Inform them that I’ve been called away on personal business and that I will return in time for the banking conference. Say nothing of the prince. Now go.” Crausin knew he should have disclosed more but could not bear the thought of them spreading rumors of the crown prince’s demise making it all the more a reality. The very thought of it set off another fit of trembling. He gritted his teeth and fought to drive the grisly images from his mind.