Diltan went to the council tiers and sat down heavily. When other excited members of the council came towards them, Oiteil warned them off. “Not now, he won’t tell you anything further. You will have to review the records yourselves and come to your own conclusions.”
Diltan wanted to feel gratitude to his mentor, but instead dread filled him. Yuder had decided to take the fall for the whole affair, most likely in an attempt to protect his Imdiko and anyone else he could. The man courted a possible death penalty or life imprisonment rather than let others get hurt.
Diltan could understand that. If half the council was indicted as Maf wanted, it would rip the Kalquorian Empire apart. Yuder taking the entirety of the blame might be the only thing that would keep revolt from becoming revolution. Still, it made his heart heavy to think of one man burdened with the blame of billions of deaths ... deaths he was sure Yuder never could have imagined happening.
The other councilmen dispersed, leaving Diltan alone. Oiteil left too, heeding his own words though he no doubt burned to ask questions. Diltan felt thankfulness towards his mentor and vowed to stop by Oiteil’s chambers as soon as he felt capable of facing others.
For his part, Diltan pretended absorption in his handheld, tapping keys to build a document of nonsense words and phrases. He knew he hid behind the device like a frightened child, not wanting to address those who lagged behind. He didn’t care if it was cowardice. He couldn’t stand to discuss the matter with those who now found themselves in the line of fire or those who wished to be part of the firing squad.
Little by little, the angry muttering of those in the gallery faded as the public onlookers left. Diltan heard hushed voices from the dais at the front of the chamber but still kept his gaze down. He didn’t want to talk to the Imperial Clan either. He felt responsible for Yuder being placed under house arrest, though it was the Imperial Father’s fault for speaking out as he had. Still, Diltan had presented the evidence, and it had led to the shocking scenario.
A flash of green fabric and a very nice set of feminine ankles and calves appeared in his peripheral vision. At last Diltan’s head came up to the surprising and delightful sight of Cissy standing in front of him. If not for that special fire in her eyes, he would have mistaken her for Tasha. He thought her breathtaking in the skirt and blouse ensemble.
“Hi,” she said softly, not like Cissy at all. Again, Diltan thought he might be looking at Tasha. Then the woman tugged at the lace collar of her white blouse as if it made her ill at ease. Yes, this was his comfort-loving Cecilia, no doubt wishing she wore something not so prim.
“Hello,” Diltan greeted her. “Don’t you look lovely. Downright presentable, in fact.” He gave her a wink.
“I have my moments. Don’t tell anyone or I’ll pull your tongue out,” Cissy agreed with her more familiar challenging grin. Then her face softened again, giving him a look of concern. “Tough day at the office, huh?”
Behind her, Diltan saw the other women of the Imperial Family huddled with the Imperial Clan. Clajak had his arm around Imperial Mother Tara while Jessica held her hand. Tara’s face looked strained, but she seemed to be holding together pretty well considering her lover had been taken out under guard.
Diltan drew a heavy breath and returned his attention to Cissy. “A very trying day. I did not expect Imperial Father Yuder to be led out under arrest.”
“No one did, from what I understood was to happen. He was supposed to invoke counsel like Dramok Rajhir did. We had no idea he would announce his guilt.”
Diltan wondered if the Imperial Clan would take offense if he pulled Cissy into his arms to offer comfort ... and perhaps receive a little comfort in return. Then he decided he didn’t care. He put his handheld in his lap and reached for her hands. She came to him willingly, smiling a little. He tugged her down to sit next to him. She felt right with her body next to his, a perfect fit with his arm around her soft, warm frame.
Diltan said, “It seems Yuder is determined to keep everyone else out of trouble at the expense of his own freedom. Typical protective Nobek. I guess if you think about the kind of emperor he was, it shouldn’t surprise any of us that he’d do such a thing.”
He looked again at Tara. Jessica’s mother was a tiny thing, not substantial in the least. Yet she stood straight with her shoulders back, looking as unassailable as a Nobek.
“How does she do that? How can she be so calm when her mate’s future is in jeopardy?”
Cissy looked at her family. “Auntie Tara? We could all learn a thing or two from her. She’s quiet and sweet, but she’s the strongest person you can imagine. Jessica says she makes the Temple of Life priests look like nervous wrecks.”
Diltan chuckled. “If only we all possessed such grace.”
Cissy snuggled, peering up at him with those amazing blue-green eyes. Cool-colored eyes that still evoked fire. “Are you going to be all right?”
Diltan’s heart warmed. His rebellious little rascal, this scalawag who he would have turned his back on only days ago, was so much more than he’d credited her for. It made him feel good to be the focus of her concerns. He caressed her cheek, hoping she could see how she touched him.
He murmured, “I’ll be fine now that I know it matters to you.”
They stared into each other’s eyes, the moment perfect as unspoken emotion passed between them. It was an instant in which talking of what they felt would have detracted from it. It was beyond mere words.
This is the one. It’s not a matter of how she will appear to others when she is at my side. It’s not a matter of being the perfect mate for official appearances. Cissy fits me. I think she fits Rolat and Wal too. Even when we rub wrong against each other, it’s still right. Our moments of friction will only mold us more firmly together.
The realization was sudden. It should have been shocking. Yet it was not.
Diltan had just decided he was ready to call it a day, to play ‘hooky’ as Cissy called it so he could spend more time with her, when Maf’s aide Dramok Sitrel appeared before them.
The sharp-featured man looked from Diltan to Cissy and back before speaking. “Please excuse the interruption, Councilman Diltan. Councilman Maf requests your presence for an immediate personal meeting. He is most eager to get to work on readying for the indictment vote.”
A wave of disgust boiled in Diltan’s gut. Maf had kept himself restrained during the council meeting. Now that the report was public, it appeared he would proceed with unseemly haste. Damn it, he could have waited at least a day to hear from the rest of the council before rushing headlong into stirring up more anger.
Yet Maf was the head of the Ethics Committee, and he was well within his rights to begin proceedings. Diltan had no choice but to do his job. Again.
Without bothering to address the waiting Sitrel, Diltan stood. He felt incomplete without Cissy molded to his side, almost bereft. He wondered if she felt the same.
He bowed to her. “My apologies for having to leave you much too soon, Matara.”
She sighed, making him think that perhaps she did miss him a little. “Some days just don’t seem to end, do they?”
Diltan smiled at her. “I hope to see you later?”
“I think I can squeeze you into my packed schedule tonight.” She winked at him and looked him up and down, not caring that Sitrel hovered close enough to see her bold appraisal.
Her obvious lechery made Diltan want to laugh. Instead he reciprocated, bending down to brush his lips against hers. “Until then, my lovely.”
Diltan straightened, not missing the mischievous twinkle in Cissy’s eyes before he turned away. He passed by Sitrel without a glance. He felt mean satisfaction that Sitrel was surprised enough to have to hurry to catch up.
Diltan allowed Sitrel to precede him into Maf’s office. Despite what was coming, the Dramok felt pretty good at the moment. Cissy’s support made him feel like he could take on just about anything, including Maf’s newfound fanaticism.
Don’t get too cocky
, he warned himself as he crossed through the doorway into Maf’s private chambers.
Being high on affection will not do anything to fix this situation.
Maf sat behind his desk, muttering instructions to his computer. He turned from whatever task he performed as soon as Diltan stepped in.
He beamed at his visitor. “Good, wonderful, I am glad you were available right away, Diltan. There is no time to waste on this matter. As chairman of the Ethics Committee, it falls to me to lead the investigation.”
Diltan dipped a little bow and felt some of his euphoria drain away. “Of course.”
Maf waved his withered arm. “Oh, my apologies. I forget myself. Please sit down.”
“I need to stretch my legs after council meeting, but thank you.” Diltan remained standing before Maf’s desk.
The other man caught the coolness in his tone. He exchanged a wary glance with the silent Sitrel, who stood unobtrusively to one side.
Maf smiled again, though with far less wattage than before. His tone remained friendly. “As you prefer. I must have the entirety of Zarl’s records at my disposal. Will you give them to me?”
“Of course. Now that I have made the official report, the records are now a matter of public record. As of ten minutes ago, my computer loaded them onto the mainframe.
Everyone
has access.”
Maf gave him a conciliatory look. “I detect grave concern in your voice, my friend. I realize we are treading on very shaky ground—”
Diltan interrupted him. “Do you, Maf? Do you understand just how shaky the ground is right now?”
Maf settled back in his hover chair, wincing a little. “The former emperors lied. Over half the council benefitted from that lie. Most of our governing body was party to it. They aided and abetted the abductions of nearly 2000 women, which resulted in war, which resulted in an entire planet’s destruction. The Earther species is almost as endangered as ours because of this injustice.”
Diltan felt the twinge of desperation returning. “I have no argument with you there. It is plain that at least Imperial Father Yuder has many questions to answer. However, I’m not so certain as to the culpability of our fellow councilmen in the affair. I think it is a mistake to try to indict every one of them. Beyond that, I’m asking you to also note the bigger picture.”
Maf looked at him as if he’d gone mad. “The bigger picture? What could be more important than genocide?”
Diltan planted his palms on Maf’s desk and leaned closer to his colleague. “What about a second genocide? There are extremists out there who have been waiting for something like this to happen so they can tear the Empire apart. You have to know this will divide Kalquor. It may mean those who have opposed the Basma’s revolt will now flock to his banner and challenge our way of life.”
Maf sighed, his thin face settling into lines of regret. “Of course I realize how polarizing the issue could be. That’s why it is so important to get to the full truth of it. The Empire is built on a policy of no secrets from its people. Without it, we set ourselves up as despots, playing the common people like puppets.”
“If not fed to the public in a cautious manner, this scandal has the potential to blow up in all of our faces. We could have civil war if it is not handled right. Those who are adamantly opposed to the Earther Mataras will use this to further their agenda,” Diltan pointed out.
“I oppose the Earther Mataras,” Maf said.
“To the point of desiring bloodshed? Of shattering Kalquor?”
Maf shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable posture. He grimaced, and Diltan wondered if the man wasn’t above using his infirmities to elicit sympathy.
Maf said, “Grave crimes have been committed against the Empire and Earth. Those who carried out those crimes must answer for it.”
“Even at the expense of the Empire?” Diltan stood up and paced before the desk. “I do not support whitewashing this crime of abduction. I can accept the Imperial Fathers must answer for what happened. But to drag every single clan into the court that claimed one of those first Earthers? Three men to each clan; that’s over 5,000 men. As you pointed out, over half the current council is involved. The council itself would crumble, putting our government at risk.”
“They have knowingly blocked our investigations into the matter before. Gamas and Efo admitted they knew Ospar was part of it. They are guilty of obstruction at the very least. They must pay the price.”
Diltan wheeled to face him. “And what of the innocents who will pay alongside them? What happens to the Mataras and children of those clans, Maf?”
“They receive long-awaited justice for being brought here against their will. At least, that’s how I see it.” Maf gazed at him with kindness, though the light in his eyes was too bright to carry it off. “Diltan, you make good points. Don’t think I haven’t heard and considered every single word you’ve spoken. The truth is, it’s out of our hands. Demands from the public for trials of everyone involved are already flooding the offices. The people of the Empire demand this be settled. They scream for it. Have you looked outside?”
Diltan blinked at him. Had trouble started already? “No, I haven’t checked to see how the people are reacting.”
Maf cocked an eyebrow at him. “You should. Minutes after you revealed the contents of Zarl’s records, Global Security officers were called in to surround the Government and Royal Houses to keep the crowds at bay. They are talking about bringing in stun devices if the numbers don’t disperse.”
Diltan stared at him in horror. The situation was devolving faster than even he had anticipated.
Maf nodded. “It has already begun, my friend. Now it is up to us who uphold honor and Empire to do our jobs, no matter how unpleasant they may be.”
Diltan choked, “You are one of our more respected leaders. Your voice is as revered as the Head Councilman’s. Will you do nothing to try to calm the situation?”
Maf shrugged. “That is not my problem. Only the truth is.”