The Fight for Peace (21 page)

“I’ve been giving all the pilots lessons the last few days. We need to watch the borders, all the borders now, somehow.”

“They really have not attacked yet?” Arinna asked in disbelief.

“No,” Jared said. “It makes me nervous too.”

“It could be that they weren’t expecting to lose the satellites. Or maybe they hadn’t expected heavy losses, and not achieving yours, at the peace negotiations,” Derrick said to Jared and Arinna.

“Who died?” Arinna asked. “I didn’t really take the time to notice when we were fighting in the chapel,”

“Sergi Novikovich and two Generals: Ranosky and Avilov,” Byran said. “I think Damir was wounded.”

“Too bad he wasn’t killed as well.” Derrick snorted at Arinna’s dry statement. “Still if Sergi was as important as he liked to have us think, that might have slowed the FLF down. Have you gone back there?” Arinna asked.

“For bodies,” Jared said hoarsely. He cleared his throat. “The FLF had cleared out, but we swept for bombs. They’d rigged up most of the European side to blow. Must have snuck through a crawl space in the attic from the entrance hall. I never saw it earlier.”

“No one saw it,” Byran said. “We never should have chosen that place. You warned me against it. The fault is mine, not yours.”

“The fault belongs to the FLF who’d rather control everything than live with any country who is free,” Arinna said, holding Byran’s gaze until she saw something beyond darkness in his eyes. “Don’t forget that. What else has been happening? Have the protests in Europe calmed down?”

“No, they’re worse,” Byran said.

“Danielle is using the failure of the peace negotiations to call for Byran to be removed as incompetent,” Derrick told her.

“That is a little ... harsh,” Arinna said, understanding the brooding weight hovering around Byran more. “And you are thinking of stepping down.”

Byran took a long breath, glancing at her. But he looked away without answering.

“Don’t,” she told him. “We need you.”

“I’ve made mistakes,” Byran said.

“Everyone does,” Jared replied.

“Byran, we are going to war. Europe is going to war,” Arinna said. “You are the only part of this government I trust. The Guard needs you, I need you, to calm Europe down. This is what you are good at. I know you can.”

Byran’s hand trembled as he put it to his forehead and ran it through his dark curls. There was some grey in his hair, she realized. “I can’t promise anything, but ... I’ll see if I can figure something out.”

“So what now?” Kehm asked. Arinna looked at her Chief Communications Officer who no longer had satellites, communications, or really anything to oversee. And he was not a man who stayed idle.

“Well, unless you’ve figured out a way for everyone to talk to each other when we are in the field and how to make sure we get the dactyls to navigate without a GPS, I think that is what you need to work on. If Captain Vries concurs,” Arinna said.

“I was going to have him work on your wedding plans, but that does make more sense,” Jared said.

“In that case, it’s an order. Go raid every storage you can find. We must have something that will work,” Arinna said. “Besides, I think I’m not the only one who needs some rest. This quiet isn’t going to last.”

“No it won’t,” Jared said with a sigh. “I’ve got patrols flying the border and stationed Guard at strategic posts. They are planning something. I wish to hell I knew what.”

Arinna gave Jared a feral smile. “That’s okay. We’re planning something too. I don’t intend to wait to find out what they are up to.”

Chapter 24

PRIME MINISTER BYRAN VASQUEZ

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Byran watched his daughter size up Jared’s oldest son, Sevrin. Cerilla’s initial standoffishness wasn’t matched by her younger brother. Santi ran through the sprawling manor with Emma and Nate on his heels. Cerilla and Sevrin were just that much older than their younger siblings at ten and eleven to understand a bit of each other’s family.

“I think Sevrin does not know what to make of the daughter of Europe’s Prime Minister,” Jared said, watching the pair talk haltingly.

“I’m afraid what Cerilla will want to do when she fully realizes Sevrin is the son of one of the Captains of the Guard. She’s gained a fascination for swords,” Byran said with a sigh.

Jared chuckled. “Meeting Arinna last summer would have that impact.”

As if mentioning her name summoned her, Arinna walked into the sunlit back parlor, pace cautious without the use of her cane. Isabella followed behind, carrying a bundle of fresh flowers.

“I see you decided on a dress,” Jared teased.

“Shut up,” Arinna snipped, although her smile removed any bite.

“You look lovely,” Byran said, taking her hand. Isabella gave him a warm grin over Arinna’s shoulder.

“Thank you for doing this. I don’t just mean removing the restriction on marriage in the Guard. But for today especially,” she said as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

Warmth slipped through him, but it was not one of desire. It had taken years and a very turbulent summer and fall to finally move past that. A feat made all the easier to see her with Derrick and both so happy.

Derrick walked up behind Arinna, slipping his arms gently around her waist as she leaned against him. “Actually we need him to do this, otherwise it would be quite the battle between Byran and Jared over who got to be best groomsman or best bridesman.”

“Hah, it would take them the remainder of the winter to decide who stood where,” Isabella said with a laugh.

“Nah, we’d just swap halfway through,” Jared answered.

Byran chuckled at Jared’s grin. “I know we are under high alert, but it didn’t have to be here in this house. We could have slipped away to Merimarche just for a night.”

“If we’d gone that far, we could have flown to Kesmere,” Derrick said with a hint of longing in his voice. Arinna glanced up at him, kissing him lightly, in understanding of his desire. “But I certainly can’t recommend having the highest ranked personnel in both the government and the Guard slip away for a wedding, even if it is my own.”

The warmth in Derrick’s tone kindled joy in Byran. He’d longed to see Derrick married for ages, though not to his pretend fiancée Danielle. That arranged, and long kept, engagement and the estrangement with Derrick had made Byran doubt he’d ever see his best friend happy. But Derrick truly looked it where he stood in his Lieutenant’s uniform with Arinna in his arms.

“I swear you look like you are going to cry,” Derrick said to Byran.

Byran had to clear his throat to speak. “I think I am. Let’s get this going so I can blubber over dinner.”

“I’m more worried about you losing your voice from being so choked up,” Isabella said, threading her arm around her husband’s.

“That I’m not worried about,” Arinna said to Isabella. “I know you’ll take over for him and do splendidly.”

Jared nudged Derrick on the shoulder. “You need to remove yourself, Lieutenant. I’m walking Arinna down the aisle. Your role is to wait at the far end.”

Derrick rolled his eyes, kissing Arinna on her cheek before releasing her to walk into the next room.

“This verges on elopement, which was your suggestion,” Arinna pointed out to Jared. “I don’t know why you are taking the minutiae so seriously.”

“You’ll destroy Kehm if he hears you say that. Actually, I think we will upset quite a bit of the Guard by doing this,” Jared said, offering Arinna his arm.

“We could hardly invite the entirety of the armed forces, so keeping it small seems much more reasonable.”

“If the two of you are going to chat the entire way down the aisle, you are going to lose the privilege of escorting her,” Kehm said from the doorway, eyes shining.

“No,” Arinna said, placing a hand over Jared’s. “He has more than earned this privilege. I would never take it away from him.”

Jared’s eyes flooded with tears, the green the same color as emeralds. “Shit,” he swore, wiping his eyes. Arinna laughed.

“Are you ready?” Byran asked, not in the least impatient. Arinna waved him on.

It was still winter outside, with frozen trees and frosted lakes. But this was a wedding no one wanted to see wait, not for a war nor the weather. Miralda’s old manor that now belongs to Europe as the Prime Minister’s residence not only boasted elegant rooms that had survived the long war, but also a conservatory. Orange trees sweetened the air and flowers bloomed beside the serpentine path that led through the heart of the glass structure. Byran led the way with Isabella on his arm, letting her go when he reached the far end where Derrick stood.

Byran meant to settle for a shake of Derrick’s hand, but emotions overwhelmed him again. He embraced his best friend, happiness for Derrick’s joy as much as fears about the coming fight made Byran’s knees tremble. Then at last, Byran took his place facing the path where Jared and Arinna walked with slower steps. Jared released Arinna, kissing her cheek before standing by Arinna’s side and across from his wife Maureen. Besides Kehm, who stood with Maureen and Isabella standing next to Jared, there were no other guests. Quiet, small, and so intimate as it was shared by the deepest of friends, the moment felt that much more poignant.

As Derrick took Arinna’s hands and they faced each other, Arinna smiled radiantly up at him. Isabella cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow at Byran. Everyone laughed. With the reminder of his role, Byran began.

“Today, I am honored to join my two closest friends in matrimony ...”

They kept the vows simple and the ceremony short, though the kiss between Derrick and Arinna at the end ran long.

“So what will we call you now?” Jared asked Arinna over a dinner made raucous between the children’s antics and the good mood of the guests. “Captain Eldridge?”

“Oh
that
won’t be confusing at all,” Kehm said.

Arinna laughed. “It will be Eldridge, but no change until after the war.” Arinna smiled at Derrick as he kissed her hand. “You are right, Kehm. It is confusing enough. I should just stick to the Lady Grey. It has been the only name that has been solely mine.”

“And truly yours,” Jared said, raising his glass. “To the Lady Grey and the Lieutenant Eldridge. I suppose the Guard will owe you a honeymoon,” Jared continued, “when the war is done.”

“Oh no, I plan on taking one now,” Arinna answered, a glint her eye that made Jared snort champagne through his nose.

“Really, where?” Jared coughed.

“With a war going on?” Byran asked as well.

“To Argentina,” Arinna replied. Derrick didn’t look surprised at the announcement which settled silence around the table. “There are preparations to discuss with them, and I’d rather you be in Europe, as you are in the better shape to handle a fight. Plus, I think you suggested I go,” Arinna said to Jared.

“I thought you were both going to stay with us a few days?” Isabella said.

“We are. We’ll leave after that, assuming you both approve?” Derrick asked of both Byran and Jared.

“As was said, it needs to be done,” Byran answered.

Like it or not, war was coming. Hopefully not to their doorstep as Arinna and Jared were organizing to take it to the homes of the FLF. The preparation that Arinna had mentioned was not the only item needing to be completed. When Byran woke in the morning, he knew he had to begin his. And he finally saw a path to accomplish what he needed to.

“You are awake early,” Isabella said as she brought him a new cup of coffee.

Byran pushed a few pages of the many scattered across the table aside. “I want to have a Cabinet meeting.”

“That would mean you need to have a Cabinet, unless you meant me over breakfast,” Derrick said from the doorway.

“You are awake early as well,” Isabella accused. “You are newlyweds. Need I remind you? I would have thought you’d not appear for a few more hours,” she added to Arinna, who stood behind Derrick.

“We are on the verge of war and there are too many things to be done,” Arinna told Isabella, “including a few to take care of before we leave for Argentina. The sooner we end this, the sooner we will have leisure days to rest.”

Byran organized the remainder of his papers, waving his friends into the sunlit breakfast room. “I mean to select a Cabinet besides you. It was stupid not to have named anyone acting while I was at the peace negotiations. Dealing with the FLF seemed more pressing.”

“It wasn’t like Parliament was doing much before,” Derrick pointed out as he held the chair for Arinna. She winced as she sat.

“The wound still hurts,” Byran said, wishing he could erase the memory of her drenched in blood in his arms. He had been certain she would die.

“It is healing,” she assured him.

“Your point is well taken,” Byran said, replying to Derrick’s comment. “Half the reason it was wrong not to organize something before I took the best of the delegates with me to the peace negotiations. Parliament did not know how to react in an emergency. If I had died there as well, who would be left to pick up leadership? Danielle?”

“I’d move to Crystal City if that happened,” Isabella said.

“There wouldn’t be anything left to move to,” Arinna said flatly. The two women shared a dark grin.

“I think Cerilla gets her love of fighting from Isabella,” Derrick said with a laugh.

“I know it. Which is why my first act this morning is to name my lovely and very perceptive wife to be in charge of public relations for this government.”

Isabella stared at him. “Can you do that? There are nepotism laws an
d—
”

“Do you think I can be in worse trouble than I am at the moment? Don’t answer that,” Byran said in answer to the look that flashed across Arinna’s face. “I wouldn’t have become popular enough to be selected for Prime Minister if it hadn’t been for your work. If I have the power to name you to a position that will recognize what you’ve done, and may actually pay you for it, I’m doing it. If you don’t like it, take it up with the next Prime Minister.”

“I think he’s got you there,” Derrick said to Isabella.

“So what shall I be working on? The papers do not like my responses to Danielle’s jibes about the failed peace negotiations.”

“We need to change the focus. I want to have a public memorial service for the victims from the peace negotiations – Guard and political. We need to honor them for risking their lives. I’d like you here, if you can stay that long? People will want to see you are well,” he asked Arinna.

“You know you have my support. When will it be?” Arinna asked.

“End of the week, early next at the latest. I can introduce the new Cabinet there. I want to prepare Europe for what is to come.”

“You would choose something difficult for me,” Isabella said, taking Byran’s hand.

Byran began meeting with those he wanted to be a close part of his government that afternoon. Robert Cairns and Natalia Lennon, the only two other delegates who’d survived the peace negotiations were the first he asked, giving both the option to say no. After what they had both gone through, Byran would not have been surprised to see them leave Parliament. But both agreed.

That gave him a Secretary of State and Foreign Affairs. Next he tracked down Sari Ahuja.

“But I worked with Danielle le Marc on the articles to ...”

“Undermine me?” Byran offered. He smiled at her embarrassed blush. “Yes, I know. Yours were particularly well thought out and written. Look,” he said, sitting forward from where they sat at the small table he’d placed next to the floor to ceiling windows lining his office. “I need voices of intelligent dissension, not simply people who will agree with me or argue for the sake of arguing. But someone who will tell me I am doing something wrong and point out why, as well as what I should be doing. That is someone I want on my Cabinet.”

“I ... I’m flattered and surprised. Danielle was the mastermind behind the articles. She galvanized me to do something. I would have thought you’d ask her.”

“See, you are honest and not afraid of asking questions,” Byran said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t trust her. And if I do not, it will hamper any working relationship. Besides, you came to see me after the attack and offered your views as much as requested guidance. She did not. Danielle did not even send a note. Just another article ridiculing the failure of those who died.”

Sari did not need further convincing. So the week went as Byran filled the offices around his and tracked down as much information he could on how to run a government. He needed that for his new Cabinet as much as himself. He’d never dreamed of being Prime Minister of Europe when he’d impulsively decided to run for the Spanish Senate over a decade prior.