"They have my gratitude and respect, and they know that. If I am to maintain their respect, however, 1 cannot say I was wrong, because I was not." Takashi's eyes sharpened. "Both Morgan Kell and Jaime Wolf believe it is unjust to expect noble warriors to commit suicide because they have not fulfilled their duty and their honor. They believe I could have prevented brave warriors they once knew from choosing such an end. This is the source of their enmity toward me, though other incidents have exacerbated it. Certainly their employer, Hanse Davion, has not tried to make them see the situation in any other light."
Theodore jammed his fists on his hips. "It was Hanse Davion who ordered their units here. Because he has agreed to send no Federated Commonwealth units into the Combine, he lent us his mercenaries instead. He has been able to change his thinking in the last twenty years. Why have you remained so ... so ..."
"Obstinate?" No flicker of amusement passed over Takashi's face. "I have remained resolute because I am correct. I no more doomed Yorinaga Kurita or Minobu Tetsuhara than I have any other man or woman who has committed seppuku.That act is one of personal atonement and redemption of honor. It is an individual choice that I respect. For me to do less, either then or now, would tarnish the honor of those who have the courage to cleanse themselves in such manner.
"However, my son, I will take issue with your assertion that I am not capable of change." Takashi looked beyond Hohiro at the remains of the battlefield. "Colonel Wolf was correct when he said that, given the old ways, the Clans would have destroyed us. You were correct in setting Shin Yodama as a brake on my anger and my need for glory. The defense of Luthien is not a victory for the mercenaries, it is a victory for your foresight and your generation."
Takashi's words, drained of the strident tones he used when speaking of the mercenaries, clearly shocked Theodore. "What are you saying father?"
"I am saying that I see the wisdom of your vision for the Combine. I regret having opposed you because it made the changes you made more difficult to accomplish. Yet I rejoice in the strength you have discovered in facing my opposition. You will have to persevere now without my objections, though I hope you will welcome my counsel from time to time."
The Coordinator of the Draconis Combine draped his right arm over his son's shoulders. "This House, though divided against itself, has defeated the Clans twice. Imagine their distress when they learn we now devote all our energies to fighting them together."
48
Solsveda
Satalice, Wolf Clan Occupation Zone
7 January 3052
Phelan watched the young man he'd captured. The youth strode away from the detention camp with his spine straight and his head held high. The Clan MechWarrior recognized the pride in the young man's bearing, knowing it was the means he used to hold in his pain. I must have looked just that way when I had to leave the Nagelring. Feeling like betrayed and betrayer at the same time.
"You did well, Ragnar Magnusson. I thank you for helping quell the disturbance in the camp."
The tow-headed youth's eyes sparked anger. "I couldn't let them get themselves killed, could I?"
"No." Phelan shook his head. "You are part of the Wolf Clan now." He pointed at a piece of braided white cord encircling Ragnar's right wrist. "That means you are a bondsman to the Wolves. You must begin to learn our customs. Avoiding contractions is the first of these you can master."
Ragnar tugged uncomfortably at the rope bracelet. "Does this mean you own me, Phelan Kell?"
Phelan's head came up. He's quick."You are a bondsman. Because I captured you, you are my responsibility, but I do not own you."
"Good. I could not stand being chattel to a traitor." Ragnar's face and voice sharpened. "I didn't know who you were, but some of the men in the camp remembered your visit to Gunzburg several years ago. I would have thought a Kell Hound would die before joining forces with the enemy. I should have known better. You are, after all, just a mercenary."
Phelan could see that Ragnar wanted him to take offense, but he gave the youngster no chance to further vent his anger. "Understand this, Ragnar: I was captured, and like you, I was made a bondsman to the Wolf Clan. I earned my chance to become a warrior, and I embraced that opportunity. As a warrior, working from within the Clan structure, I have been able to help keep the native populations of the worlds from suffering as much as they might have otherwise. There is no way to stop this juggernaut, so I have resolved to make it tread more lighdy.
"Right now, you speak from anger, and I understand that. I welcome your independence and will not try to extinguish it." He grabbed the white cord and twisted it so that it dug into Ragnar's flesh. "I look forward to the day when I can cut this cord and welcome you into the warrior caste. With you, Natasha, and some others, I believe we can persuade the Clans that their assessment of the Inner Sphere was wrong. Perhaps then we can stop this war."
Ragnar rubbed his wrist when Phelan released the cord. "If you are true to your intentions. I will join you. If not, I will become a warrior and kill you."
Phelan smiled. "Good. I would have it no other way."
Phelan started to guide Ragnar back to the bivouac established by the Thirteenth Wolf Guards, but before they completed the trek through the ruined streets of Solsveda's Drika section, they ran into the ilKhan and his entourage. Aside from the requisite phalanx of Elementals, the ilKhan was accompanied by Natasha Kerensky, the Precentor Martial, and a woman resplendent in long gold robes. Phelan recognized her instantly as the Primus of ComStar. Hearing the choked sounds coming from Ragnar, Phelan guessed that his bondsman knew it, too.
Ulric gave Phelan a salute, which the MechWarrior returned. "Primus Myndo Waterly, this is Star Commander
Phelan Wolf. You might know him better by the name he used before joining our people. In that time he was known as Phelan Kell."
The Primus smiled solicitously and held out her hand to Phelan. "IlKhan Ulric, I recognize the name Phelan Wolf from the Precentor Martial's reports of his exploits. My journey from Terra was hurried, but I kept fully abreast of your actions."
Phelan took Myndo's hand and brushed the knuckles lightly with his lips. "I am most honored that you take notice of me, Primus."
She continued to smile at him as she withdrew her hands into the sleeves of her robe. "Who could forget a warrior who negotiated the surrender of a whole world without a shot fired? Especially when that world was governed by a sworn enemy. I think you belong not in the Wolf Clan's warrior caste, but in a clan of sorcerers."
Myndo's gaze shifted from Phelan to Ragnar. "And this is the former Prince of Rasalhague. I see, from the bracelet, that you have made him your slave."
Phelan shook his head. "He is no more a slave than was I when captured by the Clans."
Ulric agreed. "His status relative to Phelan or any other warrior is roughly equivalent to the Precentor Martial's position in relation to your own, Primus."
"Ah," she said, clearly dubious of the explanation. "I hope, then, he will be as helpful to you, Phelan, as you were to Ulric." She smiled at the ilKhan. "And I trust Phelan will be yet even more useful in the future."