Two members of Helmo’s crew were clearing away the remains of food on the long supper table. Ean’s stomach rumbled as he saw that. He hadn’t eaten yet.
Yu looked him over as if he were inspecting something he was about to purchase. He glanced at the Factor. The Factor quirked an eyebrow. Ean got the impression that neither of them was impressed.
“So, Linesman,” Yu said, and Ean got the impression more than ever that he was being studied as a pending acquisition. “Why is Galenos hiding information about the alien line ships from Lancia?”
He was glad he’d seen Vega’s tape of Michelle’s meeting with her father. Otherwise, he might have replied that the Department of Alien Affairs was keeping information about the line ships from every world until it was safe to do so.
“Hiding information.” Ean managed a creditable Rossi-like laugh. “From Lancia, who gets knowledge before everyone else does. Who sends their own staff out to the Confluence every day. Other worlds should be so lucky.”
“That isn’t what I have heard.”
It was a pity Yu hadn’t been on ship long, for the lines weren’t picking up his emotions enough for Ean to interpret them. “I don’t know what you have heard,” Ean said. “But if it’s not that, I would question your sources.”
Yu’s eyes narrowed.
The Factor intercepted smoothly. “Tell me, Linesman. What is your opinion of the events today?”
Which events did he mean? The lockdown of the linesmen? Or the attempt to steal Scout Ship Three?
“I’m a linesman, not a politician. If you are looking for opinions, why don’t you ask—” Abram, he’d been going to say, but Yu obviously had it in for him. “Mi— Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess, I mean.”
“Assuredly, we will,” Yu said. “But does it not seem unusual that a man heretofore known as loyal and devoted to his ruler suddenly tries to steal a ship? One might almost believe that Captain Jakob was framed.”
He couldn’t be serious. But it seemed he was.
“By whom?” Ean asked, when he finally found enough voice to speak.
“Someone who wishes to keep the Worlds of the Lesser Gods out of the New Alliance.”
Like Abram, he meant.
“No,” Ean said. “The Factor was not set up. Jakob is working with Redmond. He’s sent them messages in the past.”
“Messages,” Bach asked sharply. “To Redmond. How do you know that?”
Bach’s high-tech center he’d set up on board the Lancastrian Princess would have picked up the transmissions as well. If Ean and Helmo hadn’t destroyed his listening devices.
“We’ve heard some of them.”
“Heard some of them?”
“Jakob sent a message before he left to go home.” Except he hadn’t gone home. “He was speaking Redmond.”
Yu, Bach, and the Factor exchanged glances.
“Why wasn’t I informed of this?” Yu demanded.
Now Vega would get in trouble because Ean had opened his mouth. “We were following it up. Jakob had replaced the camera in his cabin with old footage of him sleeping. We didn’t have any recordings of what he did or said.” Their emotions were stronger now; he was finally picking something up through the lines. Consternation, agitation. “Once we knew more, we would have notified Commodore Bach, of course, but Jakob and the Iolo tried to steal the ship before our investigation was complete.”
Bach asked, “Do you have proof of this?” while the Factor demanded, “Are you spying on us?”
The lines sang a sudden song of welcome. It took Ean a moment to realize it wasn’t because of what the Factor had said, but it was Michelle’s shuttle, arriving in bay three. One of two shuttles arriving at the same time.
It was a pity Michelle wasn’t here, right now. She’d know what to say. Still, he’d talked himself into this. It was up to him to talk himself out of it.
“We are not spying,” for that seemed to be their main concern. Although he didn’t know why, given that rulers spent their lives surrounded by people who knew everything they did. “We look for triggers.” It was even true. “Redmond language, in this case, which was what alerted us to Jakob.”
The three men looked at each other again.
“You have an alert for anyone speaking Redmond,” the Factor said.
“Yes. We do.” Ean did, anyway.
“On this ship.” Yu looked at Bach, rather than at Ean. “Why would they expect that?”
“Concerned they have spies on board,” Bach suggested. To Ean, “You should have informed me, as I am responsible for the Emperor’s protection.”
Ean nodded but didn’t answer.
Yu started to pace. “My own daughter is spying on me now.” He stopped close to Ean. “Why is that?”
He was way too close, and according to Rigel, one never invaded the ruler’s personal space. Ean knew he was supposed to step back, to give him room.
Ean had learned more about intimidation techniques in the last six months than he had in his whole life. He knew how to respond. He didn’t move—back or forward. He curled his mouth in what he hoped looked like disdain, and channeled his best Rossi. “You assume she’s spying on you.”
His hands were clammy. He was sweating. This was as bad as the trainees and had escalated as quickly.
Down in shuttle bay three, Michelle waited for the air to recycle before she could disembark.
A woman exited shuttle bay five. One of Vega’s staff frisked her for weapons.
“I see no need for this farce,” the woman being frisked said.
“I would be negligent if I allowed you in the Emperor’s presence without it,” Vega said.
“Clear, ma’am,” the soldier frisking the visitor told Vega.
“Thank you. This way.” Vega led the woman along the corridor. “I trust you had a pleasant trip, Madam Chen.”
“Fine, thank you,” Chen said, stiffly.
Ean dragged his attention back to the room he was in. It wouldn’t do to miss something right now because he was listening to the ship. Yu was frowning, almost as if he’d forgotten Ean was there.
The Factor said, “If Jakob is working with Redmond, we must decide what to do about him.”
For a moment, it looked as if Yu wouldn’t answer.
“Galenos will question him. I would like to be involved in that.”
There was emotion here, pungent, and sharp. Ean couldn’t pick who it was from, maybe both of them. He tested the taste with his tongue. There was a touch of fear there, too, as if Yu really was worried about what Abram would do. About a man he’d promoted to admiral six months ago.
If he weren’t so paranoid, he wouldn’t need to be scared at all.
Yu turned his back on Ean. “You are correct, Factor. Admiral Galenos will twist the facts to suit himself.”
Ean wanted to leave, couldn’t do so until he was dismissed.
Sattur Dow stepped up beside Ean. “I believe you know my fiancée, Linesman.”
“Of course I do. Everyone on this ship does.”
“But you know her especially well, I have heard.”
What had he heard?
Dow smiled at him. “As such, I would like to extend an invitation to our wedding.”
There was no way Sattur Dow was going to marry Radko.
“Others on this ship know her better,” Ean said, trying to be fair. “They’re as much her family as her real family is, and have been around longer than I. You should invite her whole team.”
He was saved from the awkward silence that statement caused by the arrival of Vega and Madam Chen. Vega withdrew after delivering the new guest. She glanced sharply at Ean on her way out but didn’t say anything.