effective.'
'Lies,' snarled Kalova. 'The bitch cheated. The fools who attacked me were deluded as to the real worth of the northern holdings. I should have crushed them all!'
As he had crushed Bulem and so halted all operations-the mistake which would kill him.
'The signal, of course, was your own bidding for the selected holdings,' continued Zao as if Kalova did not exist. 'Those who had been primed followed your lead and the rest was inevitable.' Emotive children driven by greed and imagination. The mere fact that someone wanted something was evidence to them that it had to be of value. Supply and demand. Crazed bidding and a form of hysteria too common to any society founded on financial manipulation. And Dumarest had instigated the debacle. 'I have a suggestion, my lady, which you may find of interest.'
Dumarest said, 'Talk to him later, Fiona. After I have gone.'
Zao turned, met his eyes, looked again at the woman. 'It would not be wise to delay. Opportunities should be seized when available or else another may gain the prize.'
A threat she recognized and what harm would it do to talk?
'Later, Fiona. Talk-'
'Hush, Earl!' She smiled at him as if he were an impatient child then looked again at the tall figure in scarlet. 'He is eager to celebrate my success,' she explained, 'but a pleasure deferred is a pleasure doubled-or so I have been told. Why don't you make some tisane, Earl? Take your friend with you-I'm sure that what the cyber has to say can be of little interest to either of you.'
She frowned as neither moved-a reaction noted and assessed by Zao. As he had predicted, the woman relished the taste of power and was already forgetting who had given her the present victory. But for Dumarest she would have been in Bulem's position.
Kalova said, 'I came to warn you, bitch! As Maximus I'm calling a full, extraordinary meeting of all holders to discuss the events of the past few hours. You are guilty of cheating, misrepresentation, collusion, conspiracy, the use of bribes and the employing of outside agents. I don't think there will be much opposition to my suggestion that the situation be restored to what it was before the last adjustments took place. A day,' he added. 'Perhaps two. We could even go back to the time before your lover took an interest.'
'You can't do that.'
'No? That's what you think.'
'That's what I know!' Her tone was sharp. 'You're talking of custom, not law. Just because it hasn't been polite to do what you accuse me of doesn't mean it isn't allowed. To win, Maximus, that's the only real law. To win!'
'And to continue to win, my lady.' Zao's tone was a contrast to the raised voices. 'That is what I'd hoped to talk about with you. A new Maximus will be subjected to tremendous pressures from other aspirants to the title and will need all the help available. You may, naturally, feel you do not need such help, in which case I will be free to offer my services elsewhere.'
Another threat, this time more open; either she employed Zao or he would work for another and, if he did, what then of her power?
She said slowly, 'Let there be no mistake about this, Cyber. You are offering to help me become the Maximus?'
'Exactly so, my lady.'
'And Kalova?'
A fool who would have been dead by now if it hadn't been for the woman who'd guarded his office. Two deaths within minutes, both of apparent cardiac arrest, both with a common factor, was to invite unwanted suspicion. And, always, had been the chance of his making an adjustment with Fiona. One irretrievably lost as he grasped just what Zao was proposing.
'Her? That bitch in my place?'
Zao said, 'I give you notice, my lord, that the Cyclan has terminated the services provided on your behalf as agreed. If you accept, my lady, I am now in your employ.'
To stand at her side, to take what she had and use his talent to build it into a commanding whole. To make her the largest holder-the Maximus. But what would be his price?
He said, in answer to her blunt question, 'The man at your side, my lady. Earl Dumarest.'
The display had stilled but color shifted in the mirrors adorning the walls; the shift of scarlet as Zao turned, a gleam from the acolyte, the sheen of lavender and gold, of emerald and amber from Kalova, the dull hues of Vardoon, the gray of his own clothing. Tints which grew by repeated reflection. A frame for the golden mane of the woman's hair, the warm velvet of her skin, the ebon of her gown.
Death in a rounded form.
She wouldn't know it or care if she did. Dumarest had no illusion; the bribe offered was too tempting for her to resist. To become the Maximus! The ultimate achievement of her world.
Vardoon said, frowning, 'You want Earl? What the hell for?'
'That is none of your concern. My lady?'
An illusion of dependence was skillfully maintained but Dumarest knew its real worth. One way or another Zao was determined to hold him fast. If he could continue in his position on this world then he would do so but, if he had to kill them all besides Dumarest he would do it without hesitation.
'My lady?'
'A moment,' she said. 'I need to think. You want Earl- but why?'
'A matter of justice, my lady. He needs to answer for crimes committed against the Cyclan.'
That was the explanation given to Kalova, which he hadn't bothered to give Vardoon. But still Fiona hesitated.
'A prisoner? You want to lock him in a cage? I'm not sure I can let you do that. But-' Gold filled the mirrors as she shook her head, her hair falling from the restraining band. 'Give me time.'
Seconds which could stretch to minutes at the most. Time which must not be wasted. As she began to pace the floor Dumarest checked the room, the people in it.
The chamber was large and made to appear larger by the mirrored walls. Fiona took ten long strides to cover it from one end to another, the long, smooth contours of her thigh flashing through the slit in her skirt. Small tables stood by the walls bearing various ornaments. The furnishings were sparse, some chairs, a couch, a tall vase filled with crystalline blooms. Doors to the other rooms were hidden in reflective deception. A warm, snug, tight and windowless room. One turning into a cell.
Vardoon shifted a little where he stood behind Dumarest and a little to one side. The man would be neutral if not an active ally. The acolyte, watchful, had his hands hidden in the wide sleeves of his robe. He was armed, one hand on a gun, ready to defend his master in case of need but he would hesitate before opening fire. Kalova stood with his back to a wall, mouth parted, eyes glazed. The sound of his breathing rose above the soft scuff of the woman's sandals; a ragged gasping with held liquid susurations. A man tottering on the edge of control, stunned by recent events, a victim of rage and fear about to collapse or explode. One of his hands was buried in a pocket, the other hung limp at his side. Fiona?
She turned and walked to the center of the room to pause and look at Dumarest.
'Earl-I'm sorry.'
He said urgently, 'Fiona, give me a chance. Wait for a few days. A ship's due and I can leave on it.'
A plea to gain time and fire the Maximus's rage, so he could utilize to the full his one, single advantage. Zao did not want him dead and would have impressed that on his acolyte. Even so he could be maimed, burned, blinded and rendered helpless. But to determine that would take an extra split second of aim; force an added assessment.
Vardoon rumbled, 'After what he's done, girl, it doesn't seem too much to ask.'
'You'll be the new Maximus,' said Dumarest. 'With Zao to help you how can you fail? Kalova will be no problem. He'll be dead before we leave this room. Why leave him to make trouble? A few days, darling. Just give me a few days.'
'Dead?' Kalova seemed to be choking. 'Dead?'
'Shut up, you old fool!' In imagination she was already the Maximus and he just an irritating nuisance. 'Earl, believe me, I'd like to help you, but-' Her shrug was expressive. 'A chance like this comes only once.'
