“You do know the circumstances of your brother’s forced marriage.”
His brow furrowed, and there was a mix of incredulity and pity in his eyes. “Forced? I think not. They’d been engaged for a year and the date had been set for as long. If it wasn’t for the Ti-Larosian attack that damaged the High Cathedral, the wedding would have taken place as scheduled.”
She shook her head. “Comron had called off the wedding,” she said in a stern I’m-not-a-pathetic-delusional-tart tone, “but his hand was forced, nonetheless, when Thalonius’ forces threatened to attack Nethic unless Comron proved he had no designs on the throne.”
The skeptical look in his eyes vanished and the scowl melted away as if he’d suspected as much given the tumultuous circumstances of that time. “If this is true then my brother is to be commended for putting duty above pleasure. Nonetheless, Your Highness, the choice was made. Comron has a wife, which means you’ll impugn your honor and reputation irrevocably if you persist in this arrangement. Furthermore, you must know that we desperately need Comron here to tend to the business of Nethic.”
Again, Vaush was reminded that Rhence was Crausin’s firstborn son, the true legal heir to the throne of Nethic. Why couldn’t Comron relinquish the title in exchange for a greater one? After all, his son would be called emperor! Couldn’t he give Rhence his rightful due and be released of his obligations to Nethic?
“I appreciate your concern regarding my honor, but rest assured that we keep the true nature of our relationship carefully hidden on Novoxos. I’ve only shared this much with you because you are his brother. Now, as far as the business of Nethic is concerned, Comron can do far greater good for her on Novoxos than he can from here.”
Rhence raised his eyes to the ceiling in exasperation. “You don’t understand what Comron’s absence is doing to my father.” His desperation manifested itself in the inflection of his voice. “You’re an extraordinarily beautiful woman. There must be a thousand other men you could find to serve as your l—that is, your Economic Strategist. Please, leave Comron to us.”
Vaush’s heart wrenched with his anguish and her own mounting frustration. “You need to understand that I’m not some villain who has Comron locked away in a tower. Comron is exactly where he wants to be. I couldn’t make him leave if I tried.”
“But if he felt he had no reason to stay … if you made him believe there was no future for the two of you, then he—”
“He’d know instantly that I was lying. He knows me, Rhence, almost better than I know myself.”
The color rose in Rhence’s face. “My father is descending into madness!” he said through gritted teeth. “We can’t keep hiding it from the others. Only Comron can put this to right. That is why you must find a way to send him back to us.”
“What I need to send is a good psychotherapist for Crausin,” she said in a lower voice. “I’m not ignorant as to Crausin’s fragile mental state. I know far more than you do what Comron means to him. But it’s a burden Comron can’t bear anymore. Your father is in need of serious psychiatric help, and this family needs to stop enabling his psychosis.”
Rhence took a step back and stared at her as if she’d struck him.
Vaush resisted the urge to soften the blow. Someone had to state the obvious. “Comron merely prolonged the inevitable disintegration of Crausin’s sanity. The fall began early in Crausin’s childhood and has been forestalled by his inordinate dependence on Comron. But it’s not fair to make Comron put his life on hold to prop up your father.”
The emotions rolled across Rhence’s face in quick succession—shock, resentment, and resignation. “So, to hell with his obligation to Nethic and the rest of us.”
She shook her head. “Comron was placed in an impossible situation and only now has had the strength to break away. But, as far as Nethic is concerned, you have no idea what plans Comron has in store for her. The senior seat on the reserve board is just the tip of the iceberg.” She pressed her hands together in supplication. “Rhence, I swear to you, Nethic will be glorified and rise higher than she ever has.”
Judging by the perplexed look on Rhence’s face, she gathered that this was not the conversation he’d expected to have. How disconcerting it must be for him to have to report back to Gavin that she wasn’t the frivolous, pretty face they could easily persuade to go quietly into the night.
“Rhence, please trust that Comron and I are not the self-absorbed monsters you believe us to be. And know that Nethic is very dear to us. We won’t let her fail.”
Rhence’s mouth twisted to the side. “And meanwhile, what of my father?”
She closed her eyes. He wouldn’t like her answer. “If Crausin could be persuaded to take a temporary leave of absence and use that time to work with specialists who could teach him how to cope with his trauma in a healthier, more well-adjusted manner, that would be the best thing for him and Nethic.” As she held his gaze, she was surprised to find a look of somber relief on his face as if in his heart of hearts, he’d been thinking the very same thing.
“Have you expressed that sentiment to Comron?” he asked with a slight edge to his voice that said why is the fate of Nethic being determined by off-worlders?
“We’ve discussed it loosely. But, obviously, it’s a decision to be made by House Van Laven, not I.”
Rhence nodded and lowered his gaze. “Has Comron come here at this time to broach the topic?”
Vaush frowned. “To be honest, I couldn’t tell you what those two are discussing at the moment. But, regardless of your father’s personal fate,” she inclined her head at Rhence, “we’ll see that Nethic prospers.”
His jaw set firmly. “There was a time I believed my father was Nethic. He built it up from the morass grandfather had left it in and carried the weight of it on his shoulders.” His brow furrowed deeply. “Maybe it was all too much for him and, when Comron left, he collapsed under the weight of it.”
“Nethic owes a great deal to Crausin. But perhaps now it’s time to let him rest while you and your brothers bear the burden for him.”
“Comron was born to this, but me and Gavin?” He shook his head.
“Why not? You’re second in line to the throne of Nethic you should gain as much administrative knowledge as you possibly can.”
He rubbed his neck and lowered his eyes. “With my father and Comron around, it always seemed I was standing in the shadow of giants. It simply never occurred to Gavin or I to … try.”
Was this humble creature really the son of the distinguished Duke of Nethic? It was strange to her that Rhence seemed more like the man she imagined young Crausin would have become. She smiled warmly. “I grew up in a household where I was fourth in line to the throne, somewhere after a distant cousin. Ruling Ti-Laros was the furthest thing from my mind, but sometimes circumstances change.” Poor Rhence would be completely blindsided if he ever found out. “And suddenly you find yourself thrust to the very front of the line. Prepare yourself, Rhence … just in case.”
He looked askance at her for a moment, and then shrugged. “Given the circumstances, I don’t see that I have much of a choice.”
Chapter 25
Down the main corridor of Northridge Castle, Crausin’s cynical laughter could be heard from the parlor room. “How can you possibly doubt that my help would be of value to you? I’m the one who developed the playbook you’re tearing pages from to rout the Hegemony. I must admit, I’m flattered.”
It had irked Comron that while the Hegemony was in a tailspin trying to divine who was behind the sudden destabilization of the richya market, Crausin demonstrated his keen financial acumen and intuition by laying the blame squarely at Comron’s feet.
“Your operation is growing rapidly, but you’re still in the weeds. Now that Ahmed is suddenly enamored with the notion of settling trades in non-richya currency, the operation will grow exponentially. Pull back to a bird’s eye level to direct operations from there or it’s going to collapse in on you.” He leaned
forward in his chair, elbows on his knees. “You need someone else with a mind as keen as yours to oversee the day-to-day minutia, someone who would relish the opportunity to deal a deathblow to the powers that once crushed Nethic,” he said, striking his fist against his palm.
Did Crausin seriously think he’d consider him as a key business partner after all that had transpired mere months ago? He decided that Crausin required a healthy dose of reality.
“Perhaps, what you’re saying is true. But I make it a general policy not to do business with persons who’ve done any of the following things.” He ticked them off on his fingers, “One, hung me from the rafters to scourge me with poison laced whips, two, threatened to castrate me with a serrated blade and especially three, forced themselves on my woman while framing me for the violation!” He leaned forward and leveled a cold glare at Crausin. “You’re guilty of all three, so I’m afraid it’s completely out of the question.”
Crausin sat back in his chair and smoothed his pants material where his elbows had been. “At the time, I truly believed you were trying to abandon us and I was trying to recall you to duty.” He lifted his eyes to Comron. “I was wrong. You’ve won; I’ve lost. In your largess, can’t you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Comron laughed. “As if I could ever trust you after you swore you’d ruin any business venture I attempted.”
“Comron, haven’t you been listening? I figured out what you were doing weeks ago, but have I lifted a finger to ruin your present venture? I don’t want to sink your endeavor, I want to help you accomplish your goals more efficiently and effectively.”
Comron scoffed and shook his head. “I’d be a fool to trust you.”
“Then trust that you and I working side by side to strike at the heart of Hrollaugr and to glorify Nethic is everything that I ever wanted,” his voice was strained with deep currents of emotion. “When I was informed that House Van Laven had been granted a senior board seat on the reserve board, it all became so crystal clear. Everything has happened just as it was meant to so that Nethic would finally have the chance to exact its revenge on Sellusion Hrollaugr! Comron, I swear, I’m done trying to thwart and control you. I want only to champion this cause alongside you.”
The glorious vision of triumph over Hrollaugr made Comron hunger for it more than ever. Vaush’s plan to break the Hegemony and Nethic’s plan for revenge was a perfect marriage ordained by the heavens. That had to be why their paths, and eventually their hearts, crossed on Patheis.
And perhaps it was Crausin’s exuberance and the glint in his eyes that made Comron catch a glimpse of the eight-year-old child in Crausin, begging for another chance to impress his father and prove to him that, with a little faith, he could accomplish wonders.
“I want to believe you … that all this is possible,” Comron’s voice trailed off. What was he thinking? Vaush would never agree to this and, if he had any sense, he’d abandon the notion as well.
“Please, Comron,” he said quietly, childlike. “Give me this chance to finally prove to Edred that he was wrong about me, that I’m not his greatest failure.”
Damn it!
Crausin clenched his fist and drew it to his chest. “Let us crush Hrollaugr together,” Crausin said in a strident tone, “and earn our place in the history books as the Oath Brothers who avenged our noble King Rhaegor and brought great glory to Nethic.”
Comron tempered the zeal that coursed through him like a raging river. “And what happens the next time I disappoint you, Crausin?” Comron asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Is it back to the cellar for another of Edred’s lessons in obedience?”
Crausin’s eyes narrowed. “For heaven’s sake, you’ve the Royal Lion Guard about you, and you’ve been altered by a superior alien race. I am the one who should fear being dragged to the cellar.”
Comron’s eyes lit up at the prospect and Crausin frowned. “Maybe that would be the proper thing to give us closure and let us start anew. Nothing like a hearty flailing to drive out any lingering resentment.”
Crausin swallowed in a dry throat, but then met Comron’s steely gaze. “If that’s what it takes to make things right between us.”
But suddenly, the vivid memory of a horrified young Crausin trapped in the cellar while being stalked by Champion’s animated corpse, flashed before his eyes. Compassion and pity supplanted Comron’s resentment. In that moment, he found himself willing to forgive Crausin and accept his offer of help. But how could he ever forgive Crausin for hurting Vaush?
He lowered his eyes unable to utter his next words while looking into those childlike eyes. “Vaush is dearer to me than my own soul,” Comron said just above a whisper. “I can’t expose her to that kind of danger ever again. I’m sorry, Crausin, but the answer has to be no.”
In the deafening silence, Crausin closed his eyes and bowed his head. Comron couldn’t deny the great sense of loss he felt at not embarking on the glorious quest Crausin has described, but thought some compassion had to be exercised, Crausin had to be held accountable for his actions. He’d hurt Vaush, no amount of pity could make him expose her to that again.
Comron felt the telepathic brush of Crausin’s thoughts, and knew his deep regret and sorrow were heartfelt, sincere. But genuine as they may be, it was too little, too late.
Suddenly, Crausin’s head popped up and he stared at Comron. “Your mind is different … fortified … stronger. Strangely enough, now you’re more like the person I imagined you’d be in my childhood.”
Indeed, Chaiyse’s training had taught him to hone his abilities and build his mental defenses yielding remarkable results. “The Murkudahl have taken quite an interest in my development.”
“And to bring out your true self.” A nervous smile spread across Crausin’s lips. “You’ve greatly surpassed my abilities, and I barely managed to mind-link and grasp control the first time. Surely, you must know that it would be impossible for me to access your mind without your express consent,” his smile grew more confident, “which means even that last threat is gone, Comron.”
Comron searched Crausin’s emotions for any signs of mendacity or subterfuge. He found none.
“I know how precious Vaush is to you, so I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to offend or harm her, because I know it would mean the end of our partnership, if not my quick death.”
“Slow and painful death,” Comron corrected, acknowledging that his last solid reason for resistance had been duly addressed and dismissed.
Crausin’s eyes were filled with childlike hope and faith. “Then you will consider it?”
Could forgiving Crausin open the way for his own redemption from his past? He had to believe that there was hope for Crausin because believing in him was to believe in himself. That was a truth he had struggled with ever since he learned that he was Crausin’s exact genetic replica. If Comron had been subjected to the same traumatizing ordeals Crausin had as a child, would he have turned out any differently than Crausin? For the sake of his own redemption, he had to give Crausin another chance to prove himself and give Nethic the chance to achieve true greatness.
“Having you on board would mean a great deal to me, Crausin” he said and watched as Crausin’s chest swelled with elation. “But it isn’t my decision alone. I must present a convincing case to the empress.”
Another deep tremulous breath and Crausin regained his royal composure with a curt nod. “Thank you, Comron,” he said evenly. But, inside, Comron could sense the little boy rejoice with the knowledge that his dear friend hadn’t abandoned him as all others had. For the moment, he was that boy’s hero and they would both have their shot at redemption.
Chapter 26
Vaush couldn’t believe her ears. Her suspicions should have been duly roused during dinner when Crausin began treating her with deference and an inordinate degree of cordiality. He’d even rebuked Gavin sharply for plaguing Comron with questions concerning Spira’s absence. That alone should have been a flaming red flag.
All this time when she’d been discussing having Crausin temporarily removed from duty, he and Comron had been discussing having him join them on Novoxos.
“Are you completely out of your mind?” she exclaimed and hoped her voice hadn’t carried through the corridors of Northridge Castle. Sheally had assigned Vaush to the nicest guest suites, separating her from Comron’s bedchambers, as if that would bar him from her. “You know what he tried to do to us on the Emperor’s Majesty; you wanted to kill him over it.”
“I’ve already told you that Chaiyse’s specialized training has strengthened my mental defenses immeasurably, making me invulnerable to his telepathic attacks. Plus, I sensed no subterfuge in his argument or confessions.”
“Perhaps you didn’t want to sense any. I don’t trust him, not for one second.”
“Then trust his allegiance to Nethic and her advancement. Now that I’ve landed the board seat for our House, he can no longer deny my ability to effect great change for Nethic from Novoxos. He’s her sovereign and he wants to help.”
“Then let him help from Nethic,” she quipped, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
“Vaush, now that Ahmed has opened trade in non-richya, I’m going to need more help managing the day-to-day operations. Crausin’s contribution would be invaluable.”
“You’ve been doing a marvelous job and you’ve just recruited some of the best renegade minds in the field. So don’t tell me you need Crausin to make it all work. You’re the architect of my dreams and you don’t need Crausin mucking things up for us.”
The stricken look on Comron’s face unsettled her. He suddenly couldn’t meet her gaze and walked away a few paces. Did this really mean that much to him? And if it did, was it a thing she should deny him?
He finally approached her; the guilty look in his eyes tied her stomach into knots. “What is it you’re not telling me?”