Conqueror

Raj raised a brow, caught by something unusual in the young man's tone. 'By all means,' he said.

'I thought I might be there,' Ludwig said. 'And possibly Gerrin?'

Raj leaned back in his chair. 'They requested that?' he said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Ludwig flushed slightly and looked at his fingernails. 'No, it was just a thought.'

'Then I'll see them alone in my private office in-' he consulted a watch '-twenty minutes. If that's all, messers? Not you, Gerrin.'

When they were alone: 'What was that in aid of, do you know?'

'Not really,' the other man said, taking out a small ivory-handled knife and trimming a fingernail. 'Ludwig has been talking to me of late. . and not for the sake of my winsome charm, worse luck. I think he's worried about this administrator they're sending out; he's convinced it would be a mistake to replace you so soon, if that's what he's going to do.'

'I was never much good at overseeing civilians,' Raj pointed out.

'These Brigaderos are scarcely that, my friend. They're used to a strong hand. And they respect you, which they wouldn't some lard-bottomed penpusher from East Residence. Things need to settle down here. A year as proconsular governor would be a good idea; five would be better.'

'A year might be advisable but it's unlikely, and five is neither,' Raj replied. It was firm Civil Government policy never to unite military and civil command except in emergencies.

He tapped a thumb against his chin. 'Ludwig's also been seeing a good deal of the late Ingreid Manfrond's widow, hasn't he?'

'My delectable young Arab conduit to the gossip pipeline tells me so. Ludwig's been hunting with Teodore a good deal, too. Hadrosauroid heads and deep conversation. I don't think you have to fear conspiracy; Ludwig's still of an age for hero-worship, and you're it.'

'Conspiracy against me, no,' Raj said. 'Hmmm. Ludwig and Marie. . that might not be a bad thing, in the right circumstances.'

Those being a new address in East Residence for Marie Welf. . or Bellamy, as she would be then. Teodore would probably be welcomed there also, encouraged to have the revenues of his estates shipped east, given lands and office, and never, never allowed west of the Kelden Straits again.

'In any case, stick around, wouldn't you?'

* * *

Raj's private office was fairly small; he'd never felt comfortable working in a room that had to be measured in hectares. It gave off the bedchamber he shared with Suzette, which was that sort of place, and he supposed it must have been a maid's on-call room before the Palace changed hands. He'd had the plain walls fitted with bookcases and map-frames, and a solid desk moved in. Right now the overhead lantern and the low coal fire made it seem cozy rather than bleak, and he smiled as he welcomed the two young Welf nobles. The smile was genuine enough. Teodore was a likeable young spark, an educated man in his way, and he had the makings of a first-class soldier. Marie was just as able in her own way, if a bit alarming.

And she'll probably lead poor Ludwig a devil's dance, he thought, but that was-might be-Bellamy's problem.

'Be seated, please,' he said. 'Now, you had something you wished to discuss with me?'

The two Brigaderos glanced at each other. He nodded. 'That door gives on to my bedchamber, and it's bolted from the other side,' he said encouragingly. 'The other door leads to a corridor with a guard party ten meters away. It's quite private.'

Marie gripped the arms of her chair. 'Heneralissimo Supremo,' she said, in fluent but gutturally accented Sponglish, 'we have come to discuss the future of the world. . starting with the Western Territories.'

Raj leaned back in the swivel-mounted seat. 'Illustrious Lady, I'd say that particular issue has been settled rather definitely.'

'No, it hasn't,' Marie replied. 'You've said you want to unite the Earth.'

'Bellevue,' Raj corrected. 'I've been instructed to unite the planet Bellevue, yes.' Exactly by whom he'd been instructed was something they had no need to know.

'We believe-almost all the Brigade now believes-that you've been sent by the Spirit to do just that,' Marie said passionately. There was a high flush on her cheeks, and her eyes glowed. 'How else could you have defeated the greatest warriors in the world with a force so tiny?'

Teodore coughed discreetly; his sword-arm was out of its cast, although still a little weak. 'I think I can speak for the Brigade's fighting men,' he said. 'That's about their opinion too, although not everyone puts it down to the Spirit. Some of them just think you're the greatest commander in history.'

'I'm flattered,' Raj said dryly. 'The Sovereign Mighty Lord has many able servants, though.'

'To the Outer Dark with Barholm Clerett!' Marie burst out. 'We've all heard of his ingratitude to you, his suspicion and threats-and we've all heard of his other servants, Chancellor Tzetzas and his ilk who'd skin a ghost for its hide.'

Teodore leaned forward. 'Barholm didn't conquer the Western Territories,' he said. 'You did. We're offering you the Brigade, as General-and with the Brigade, the world. You want to unite it? We'll back you, and with you to lead and train us nothing can stop us. Your own troops will follow you to Hell; they already have, many times. That'll give you the cadre you need. In five years you'll march in triumph into East Residence; in ten, into Al Kebir. Your Companions will be greater than kings, and your sons' sons will rule human kind forever!'

Whatever I expected, it wasn't this, Raj thought.

Marie was leaning forward, fists clenched at her throat and eyes shining. Raj looked from one eager young face to the other, and temptation plowed a fist into his belly. The taste was raw and salty at the back of his throat. He kept most of it off his face, but neither of the Brigaderos were fools. They exchanged a triumphant glance, and would have spoken if he had not held up a hand.

'If-' he cleared his throat. 'If you wouldn't mind waiting for me in the conference room, messer, messa?'

'I could do it,' he whispered into the hush of the room. Aloud: 'I could.'

It wouldn't even be all that difficult. The Western Territories were naturally rich, and they had at least a smattering of civilized skills among the native aristocracy and cityfolk. The Brigade hadn't known how to use them, but he would. Grammeck Dinnalsyn could have the factories here producing Armory rifles in a few months. Lopeyz was a better fleet commander than any Barholm had on the payroll. They could snap up Stern Isle and the Southern Territories before winter closed the sea lanes. That would give them sulfur, saltpeter, copper and zinc enough. Modern artillery would be more difficult, but not impossible.

In a year he would have a hundred thousand men trained up to a standard nobody on Bellevue could match. The Skinners would flock to his standard. With men like Muzzaf to help organize the logistics and a fleet built in the shipyards of Old Residence and Veronique, they could-

observe, Center said.

* * *

— and Raj Whitehall rode through the streets of a ruined East Residence. Crowds cheered his name with hysterical abandon, even though the harbor was filled with fire and sunken hulks.

Chancellor Tzetzas spat on the guards who dragged him before the firing squad. Barholm wept and begged. .

Maps appeared before his eyes; blocks and arrows feinting and lunging along the upper Drangosh. The towers of Al Kebir burning, and one-eyed Tewfik kneeling to present his scimitar. Fleets ramming and cannonading on a sea of azure, and the white walls of cities he'd only read of, Zanj and Azanian. The Whitehall banner floated above them.

Raj Whitehall sat on a throne of gold and diamond, and men of races he'd never heard of knelt before him with tribute and gifts. .

. . and he lay ancient and white-haired in a vast silken bed. Muffled chanting came from outside the window, and a priest prayed quietly. A few elderly officers wept, but the younger ones eyed each other with undisguised hunger, waiting for the old king to die.

One bent and spoke in his ear. 'Who?' he said. 'Who do you leave the scepter to?'

The ancient Raj's lips moved. The officer turned and spoke loudly, drowning out the whisper: 'He says,