The Fight for Peace (24 page)

“Room,” Arinna said, taking Derrick’s hand. “We are married as of a week ago.”

Raoul paused, a smile stretching across his face. “I’m very happy to hear there is good news as well.”

They were given the same small headquarters Derrick had used when he’d stayed and helped train anyone willing to learn. As dusk settled, Derrick walked Arinna around Free Argentina, greeting those he’d trained and happy to learn they’d continued after the Guard pulled out. A celebration began in recognition of the four Cadets’ homecoming and graduation as they showed off Guard uniforms. They stayed for an hour but as it grew later, feeling it would last hours more, Derrick exited graciously.

Alone in their room as the party swelled outside, Derrick pulled Arinna onto the bed with him. “This isn’t as comfortable as Byran’s new home or Kesmere, but it does feel like a honeymoon of sorts,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

“I can imagine you here, training the recruits. I wish I could have seen it. I wish I could have seen you in Crystal City. It drove me crazy knowing the danger you were in there. At least here I tried to imagine you safe.”

The confession surprised him. Not that he hadn’t thought she cared, but that it was as much as her roughened voice and soulful eyes said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to show you around Crystal City as well soon,” he said. She laughed, but glanced away. He pushed the doubts the future held aside and grabbed onto the present. With Arinna in his arms, most problems over a continent away, and the sound of happiness lifting on vibrant music outside the door, it was not a difficult task. This was their honeymoon after all.

Raoul met with them after breakfast. “They are happy and ... Well we are proud of who they are as much as they are proud of who they have become,” he said of the four Cadets. “What is it that you are planning?”

“They’ve told you some of the equipment we have? The problem we face in North and South America,” Arinna said at his nod, “is that there are sub FLF bases stretching from Brazil to Isle Royale. The underground bunkers in Central America and the old US border worry me the most. What I propose is that we use our equipment and your volunteers led by the Argentinian Cadets to keep those two areas busy, as well as visit some of the larger workcamps to gain more people willing to help.”

“To attack Isle Royale directly?” Raoul asked.

“Attack might not be quite the right word,” Derrick said, leaning forward. “What we need is to keep reinforcements from going to help the city.”

Chapter 27

DANIELLE LE MARC

ONE STEP TOO FAR

“If Europe’s leadership hadn’t failed, we would not be facing another devastating war,” Danielle shouted as she stood on the floor of Parliament. There were just as many cheers as hisses. “We need real leadership, elected leadership. It is time the people of Europe had a chance to say what it is they want and in what direction their future lies.”

That brought cheers loud enough to silence any rebuttal or question. After all, what politician could complain about what she proposed? Yet there was not enough agreement on the matter to impeach Byran. Parliament stalled in day three of heated debate over leadership of its government while news of attacks fanned panic across the countryside. There were moments Danielle missed MOTHER. At least they had accomplished something.

Senators left in the afternoon at the end of session rubbing temples. A few flashed Danielle angry glances. She ignored them. It wasn’t her leading the opposition, another would.

“I need a drink,” Evan said as he joined her.

“Really? I hope it is in celebration. I think we are making headway,” Danielle said.

Before Evan replied, his gaze fell on someone walking up behind Danielle. His expression froze.

“Mr. Vasquez would like a word with you, Senator le Marc,” Sari said.

“So formal now that you are on his Cabinet, Sari? Please, what happened to the camaraderie we shared all those nights pointing out everything Mr. Vasquez has done wrong?”

Sari offered a polite smile. “He is available now, if you have the time?”

“See Evan, I told you we were making headway. Go ahead, I’ll catch up for those celebratory drinks in a bit.”

Evan huffed a laugh as Danielle followed Sari to the side doors leading into the depths of the offices for Parliament.

“What does he want to see me about?” Danielle asked while Sari remained silent as they walked.

Sari rolled a casual glance at Danielle. “Use your imagination, Danielle. You have such a good one.”

The quiet took on a chill as they walked to the top floor of the building. Despite Sari joining Byran’s Cabinet, Danielle had considered her an ally of sorts. She’d hoped to invite Sari to dinner and maybe use the woman for information or to remind Sari of the reasons she’d helped push the populace against Byran. Sari’s unexpected comment stung.

Sari knocked on Byran’s door, opening it wide enough to stick her head in and say that Danielle was there to see him, before stepping back and waving Danielle forward. Unaccompanied and with hackles up, Danielle walked across the wide space between door and desk, ignoring the sunset highlighted by the floor to ceiling windows.

However, Byran stood before the windows, his gaze on the rooftops of Prague. He waited until Danielle had reached the chairs on the opposite side of the large desk before turning to her. She dropped into one before he invited her to sit.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Danielle asked.

“Do you want anything? Water? Tea?”

“Really, Byran, let’s not pretend this is social. I doubt you really want to see me as you are still under some illusion I had something to do with the attack on your family. So whatever reason you asked me here it is best to get it over with. I have plans for this evening.”

“Do you really think you can lead Europe?” Byran asked her, gaze level and unflinching.

“Why? Are you going to give it to me?” Danielle laughed, filled with warm mirth by Byran’s serious demeanor.

“No. I hadn’t planned on it. After all it is you who is crying for elections, so handing control of the government to you wouldn’t exactly work well,” Byran said, sliding into his seat across from her. “Do you have a plan for all of this or are you just trying to make my life difficult? You do realize how insane it is to suggest elections while Europe is under threat of attack?”

“If we had carried them out as
we
initially planned in early January rather than you calling them off to run to meet the FLF for a very poorly executed peace negotiation, then we wouldn’t be having this argument.”

“Do you forget that what brought about the halt in the elections was an FLF attack here in Prague? Oh and the discovery that MOTHER really controlled the government. That was a bit of a mess to sort out.”

“How can I forget about the damn attack? Everyone thinks I’m behind it,” Danielle snapped.

“Funny, you are the one who just brought it up twice,” Byran said, blinking quickly as he looked out the windows. “Nervous?”

“Hardly,” Danielle retorted, freezing.

No matter how many times she’d wanted a confrontation with Byran, imagining it as a debate in front of Parliament most often, she was not prepared for this private reality. Of course Byran would make sure he controlled the situation as much as possible. Danielle flicked her gaze around the office, relieved to find they were alone. She’d almost expected a Guard soldier lurking in a corner.

“I have news that I wanted you to hear from me before you learned it from someone else. Yes, I did want to discuss the current debate you are leading in Parliament and in the press. It is causing unnecessary dissension and delay while we are facing the true enemy at our doorstep!”

There was the passion she was used to seeing in Byran. Danielle sat back with a smirk. “I wouldn’t consider the debate to have you removed as unnecessary. It might bother you, perhaps. But I consider it greatly necessary for the good of Europe.”

“You truly see nothing greater than that, do you?” Byran asked with a shake of his head. “I would like to see Europe unified to face a threat that nearly exterminated us before. Not arguments over withheld elections when there would be no way to guarantee safety if we held them.”

Danielle waved her hand. “Excuses and they are quite old. Did you copy that play from MOTHER? So what news did you drag me up here for since we are obviously going nowhere over our different views on what Europe needs.”

Byran took a long breath, gaze stormy where it rested on her. But whatever he needed to say held him back enough that Danielle felt a drop of sweat form on her forehead. The thought that he’d found proof of her involvement in the plot on his family and life broke her elation like it was thin glass.

“Derrick and Arinna married just over two weeks ago.”

The news was so unexpected and so outside of what they’d been speaking of, Danielle had no reaction for a moment. She simply couldn’t process it. “What? There was no announcement.”

“They eloped. We are on the verge of war. They thought a simple ceremony prudent.”

“Marriage in the Guard is not allowed!” Danielle sat on the edge of her seat, smacking her hand on Byran’s desk.

Byran mocked Danielle’s earlier gesture and waved his hand. “It was an unnecessary rule and hardship for our soldiers who have been fighting, as you pointed out, eight years.”

Danielle pulled in a lungful of air, fury making her tremble. “Thank you, Byran, for letting me know. That was almost kind of you.” Danielle paused, wondering if she would throw up. “Since you are being so helpful, I wonder if there is a favor I might ask of you?”

Byran’s gaze was dark and unreadable. “If I can.”

“It is funny you mention Arinna. I want to speak to Captain Prescot actually. There is a matter regarding something said between her and a soldier I wish to discuss.”

Byran tapped his finger on his desk, eyeing her. He glanced away. “She isn’t available.”

“Captain Vries then,” Danielle snapped, exalting in the news. She’d be damned if Byran won this meeting. Derrick and Arinna might have married, so be it. But Byran didn’t know about her role with MOTHER. He was unnerved by her growing power. She still had the upper hand. 

Danielle had thought of sending Chris a note. It would make what she wanted to attempt easier. But the rumor that Arinna was absent from Europe despite the FLF attacks on the border had come to her from several sources, and Byran had just confirmed it. That there appeared to be a rift in the leadership of the Guard seemed true. Danielle would capitalize on it in every way she could.

“You do realize the Guard is a little busy
defending
the border?”

“It is a serious matter. This war has gone on how long? Eight, nine years? I’d really not wait another decade before this is resolved.”

Byran’s hand twitched as if he wanted to pick up the paperweight on his desk and throw it at her. Danielle waited, smile cool and patient.

“I’ll see if I can arrange something,” Byran growled.

“Send the time and location to my house.” Danielle stood, draping the loose scarf around her neck. “And Byran,” she added, waiting until his attention was focused on her. “If you really want the unrest to end so the Guard and the government can concentrate on the FLF, you should step down.”

Danielle managed to keep her laughter in check until she closed Byran’s door behind her.

When a note came later that day, it simply read “Old Town Square, 10 p.m.” The handwriting wasn’t Byran’s. It took Danielle a minute to realize Jared had penned the message. Her heart fluttered as if it were love.

Normally the square would have been filled with people meandering between restaurants and bars at that hour. But when Danielle arrived only a few scattered pedestrians moved through the darkness. The comments that floated to her as she left her carriage were grumblings on the fighting at the border and complaints about the government. Danielle laughed quietly at that.

A figure walked from the shadows, approaching her at a pace reminiscent of Chris’ efficient walk. Danielle did not know Captain Vries and had rarely seen him except briefly when she’d been detained after the bombing in December. She held her ground, close enough to her carriage to make a run for it even though she tried not to look nervous. But despite the lack of military clothing, when the man’s reddish brown hair and green eyes became apparent in the meager light, she knew it really was the Captain of the Guard. Now she took his lack of military uniform as a good sign.

“I expected more people here,” Danielle said as Jared stopped a few feet away.

His gaze scanned the nearly empty square before returning to her. He shrugged. “So did I. The fighting has everyone spooked. You wanted to see me?” he asked when Danielle didn’t respond.

“You arranged a meeting outside of Guard headquarters.”

Jared snorted. “I figured you weren’t interested in spending more time in there. What do you want?” he added before she could dwell on the anger that rose at his reminder. “A walk? Grab a beer?”

“It is a nice enough night. I’m sure there is a quiet spot out here we can talk. I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression.” She bit off implying she meant his wife. She really meant anyone who might see them together. “What did Mr. Vasquez tell you of my request?”

“That it was regarding a soldier. I’m assuming you mean officer Makkonen?” Jared answered as he followed her leisurely stroll. “Although considering he is on the front and he reported he was no longer seeing you, I also found that doubtful.”

Danielle wobbled on her step, catching herself with a jerk. “I didn’t realize he wasn’t in Prague.”

Jared’s gaze held amusement. That he was perceptive shouldn’t surprise her. He was Captain of the Guard and had survived years of fighting, but Danielle hadn’t expected him to catch her by surprise in the first few minutes of conversation.

“He’s a good soldier. We need him. We need every soldier right now, preferably in the field and not keeping an eye on civic unrest.”

“I’m glad you mentioned that. It is the reason I really wanted to see you.” Danielle found her pace again and headed toward the dark benches. “What is, was, between Chris and I is private. All I have to say in that regard is that I didn’t appreciate you having him spy on me.”

“He wasn’t spying on you. Reporting relationships with high level officials is mandatory.”

“So did the Lady Grey tell you of her involvement with my ex-fiancé?”

Jared cocked an eyebrow at her. “Keeping who reports what private is also a matter of business. Which I’m sure you can appreciate.”

Danielle wanted to be mad at him, but Jared was disarmingly sincere. Where Byran’s presence made Danielle want to strike, being open with Jared was too alluring. She was glad they hadn’t gotten drinks. Instead of sitting, she stood, facing Jared with a more businesslike air.

“I’m pleased to hear you recognize me as a high level official. That will make this conversation easier. I have heard that there is some disagreement between you and the newly sanctioned Captain Prescot. It is still Prescot, is it not?” Danielle waited with a tight smile.

Jared eyed Danielle without his earlier humor. “It is still Captain Prescot,” he said, snapping the word Captain with a taint of anger. “I don’t know how the Guard’s leadership is your concern.”

“I would think considering the fighting once again on our border, the Guard’s leadership is everyone’s concern. Especially a member of Parliament’s.” Danielle paused, letting the implication hang in the air. “You followed her willingly for years despite her lack of authority within the military. What changed?”