Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 14

Chapter 14

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:33

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Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:33

A large, almost palm-wide, octagonal card of rough, dark green plastic lay on the purple velvet of the table, taking its place among its counterparts.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:36

"The Triple Ring! " Asmi Lertar, a beautiful woman in her thirties in a long, light green dress, proclaimed and looked around triumphantly, her light gray eyes fixed on Alexa. She smiled sweetly and asked. "How do you answer, Lord Cassard?"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:37

There was practically nothing to answer with. All of Alex's blocks had gone down at the beginning of the game, so there was no way to destroy the piece. There was some hope that the next hand would bring a pair of Golden Blades, but...

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:38

"I'll pass," he said with a sigh and threw the cards on the table. All Alex's experience of playing the local mix of cards and dominoes had been a couple of games with Baroness Rionale - he wasn't a fan of gambling at all, and to risk such slim odds...

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:39

"The Fyronians always pass when the odds aren't in their favor," Baron Janos commented with a lazy voice and, grinning wickedly, laid the Black Lord and Lady out on the table. The Triple Ring, so carefully constructed by the esteemed Asmi, appeared to be broken.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:39

Alex glared at the baron and, smirking kindly in return, once again pretended not to notice the outburst in his direction. Baron Janos had been trying to hurt Alex at every opportunity throughout the game. Perhaps the real Lord Cassard would have been annoyed by such remarks long ago, but he - hardened in forum discussions - such clumsy attempts at "trolling" only made him laugh: //"too fat, dear Baron, too fat.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:40

Seeing the smile, the Baron answered with a look of anger.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:41

Ser Ven Baron Janos was a brown-eyed, dark-haired, mustachioed handsome man with a dashing look, a kind of 'hussar'. He looked a little older than Alex, about twenty-eight, maybe thirty. A black leather hunting suit, girded with a wide belt that was laden with the hilt of a sword and a blaster. The rolled-up sleeves showed off his muscular arms, and a long, thin scar on his right cheek and a jaunty mustache completed the macho image. But this macho man was clearly not strong in verbal duels and fights. And he seemed to be well aware of this weakness, which made him even angrier.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:42

"We just know when to be brave and when to be stupid," retorted Lord Sargo Athand, who seemed to think the honor of the House had been touched.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:43

Three of his Blades covered the Baron's Black Lady and the Blue and Scarlet Knights took out the Black Lord.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:43

"It's a pity that not everyone can do that." Sargo Athand added with a sigh

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:44

The Three Rings were restored, and Asmi gave Lord Athand the most bewitching smile she could - her chances of victory were once again greater than ever.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:44

"Stopping in time? The Fyronians?" laughed Lady Nadine Pell, a gorgeous green-eyed beauty in a pale blue camisole decorated with abundant gold embroidery. "That was the most absurd thing I'd ever heard."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:45

Laughing out loud, she leaned back in her chair and shook her head to flick her hair away from her face. A wave of long, fiery red curls swept over Alex, scenting him with a delicate floral perfume. Lady Nadine had been paired with Lord Cassard and seemed to find it hard to do. For one thing, as the ruling member of the House of Peltar, she was forced to play in alliance with a Fyron, and not just anyone, but with Alessandro Cassard himself, son of the very Cassard who had planned and executed the unexpected and dastardly (from the Peltarians' point of view, naturally) attack on Pell. Secondly, and more importantly, Alex played a very average game, undermining Lady Pell's chances of winning.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:49

"Fyron won't stop until he's conquered the whole sector," Nadina added and dropped her cards too.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:50

"The last time House Fyron had expanded its territory was over four hundred years ago, adding a Neutral Sector that did not belong to any of the Great Houses," Baroness Rionale said as if casually, laying out a rack of Guardsmen on six colors. Kayrin was pairing up with Asmi, and everything was going towards a victory for this duo, which was clearly to her liking. And given that their main rivals for most of the game were the pairing of Alex and Nadina, the victory promised to be particularly sweet.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:51

"And the occupation of the seven systems doesn't count, of course?" A sarcastic man in his sixties with a large bald head and a small grey beard asked.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:52

Baron Antrem, head of the Privy Council of House Kilret. His dark green camisole was unbuttoned, revealing a snow-white shirt and a massive gold chain with links as thick as a finger. A broad golden belt only emphasized his rather imposing belly, and his powerful arms and shoulders indicated that the baron had once boasted a hero physique. He was paired with Baron Venom Janos and was now doing his best to destroy Asmi's Triple Ring, but his pair of Knights Black and Gold weren't even strong enough to deal with Kayrin's Four of Guardsmen.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:54

"These systems were never officially part of House Fyron," Lord Athand replied.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:55

"Oh, that's a caveat worthy of a Twilight Adept! Bravo!" Baron Antrem did not let up. "You could say it wasn't an occupation, but the transfer under a responsible administration."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:57

"Strange to hear you talk about excuses. Doesn't your house buy strike cruisers on Tallan under quotas for antipiracy ships, calling them - assault frigates?" Earl Marell Kerrim, a knight of House Ispar, inquired.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:58

"If he's not carrying his fighters, he's a frigate!" Antrem snapped, discarding his cards. "And besides, the Emperor's representative didn't find any wrongdoing in that!"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:58

"Oh, that's an excuse worthy of a Twilight Adept!" Marell returned the courtesy.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 20:59

"You and your ally Fyron are no better. Take, for example, the infamous representative program." Nadine Pell rushed to Baron Antrem's aid. After all, House Kilret remained the only ally of House Peltar.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:00

"What's wrong with our representative program?" Lord Athand resented it.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:00

"Well, for example - the purchase of yachts."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:01

"You know that, unfortunately, not all members of House Fyron can afford to buy their ship..." Lord Athand was eager to explain. "Lord Atand was quick to explain: "That's why, apart from pensions, our House has also decided to give yachts for representation purposes to those noblemen who are in certain financial difficulties so that they can lead a life in keeping with their status."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:01

//Wow, they live here! Mentally marveled at Alex. /So, if any of the noble class cannot degrade further on their own money, they will be provided with everything they need from the treasury. I wonder how much this 'poverty allowance' is?"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:03

"Is that why you bought three hundred boats?" Nadine innocently asked.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:03

"Why not? We can afford it!" Lord Athand shrugged. "And besides, we have over a hundred clans in our House - they are quite numerous, and we are even thinking of increasing the number of yachts!"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:04

Nadine stepped forward and asked, narrowing her eyes slightly:

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:04

"And the fact that the yachts purchased turned out to be Aegis models is surely a coincidence?"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:05

"A reliable yacht, well established. And spacious, and very many ladies prefer to travel with a rather large entourage."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:06

"Yes?" Nadine was indignant. "The fact that this ship has nearly corvette-like fields... The fact that it can be armed in two hours by four technicians... The fact that it has two moorings to which your stormtroopers can easily dock... Is that all it takes, a cute little thing? And then, of course, it's purely coincidental, just a silly coincidence, that House Fyron has decided to increase the number of Stormtroopers by six hundred vehicles. Isn't it?"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:07

"The Stormtroopers are being ramped up in line with the planetary security plan," Lord Athand replied in a condescending tone of voice. "And the Aegis' external sling assemblies are used to transport flyers and shuttles, as you know...

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:08

"You're simply bypassing the Emperor's edict limiting the number of hyperdrive warships!" Nadina persisted.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:08

"The Aegis is a civilian ship. And besides, the Emperor's representative found no wrongdoing in that." Lord Athand replied with a smile, taking advantage of Baron Antrem's argument, which was what Nadine was defending.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:08

"Please, no more politics," pleaded Lord Asparo Velaske, who was acting as the organizer of the current Voigrom from the House of Melato. "We are, after all, on a hunt, not at a meeting of the Council of Great Houses."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:09

"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about that since the entire Imperial fleet is at the disposal of House Melato," Nadine quipped.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:10

She stood up from the table, adjusting the dress that didn't exist, and turned to Alex with a cold smile:

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:10

"Thank you for playing, Lord Cassard. You have been a pleasant partner. And congratulations on your victory, dear Lartar, and to you, Lady Kayrin. My loss will be brought to you by my secretary," with these words, she quickly left the games room.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:12

"Pity the Lady Nadine has left us," Asmi sighed, leaning back in her chair and picking up her glass of wine, "Now we'll have to find another person for the fourth pair. Lady Kayrin, will you continue to be my partner?"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:13

And, after waiting for Baroness Rionale to nod, the esteemed Lartar suggested:

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:13

"Another match, then? Just find the eighth..."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:14

"Dear Asmee, I'm a little tired, so I'm going to hold off," Alex said. "And I'm not much of a player, so you can play three doubles."

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:14

He put his loss on the table - two cards of five thousand denarii - and hurriedly slipped away before Baroness Rionale could think of anything. After all, he had come to this voigrom to meet Liora, and that was a meeting best held without witnesses.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:15

//Well, almost no witnesses - Taer will know anyway. Alex mentally corrected himself.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:16

During the day's flight from Copeira to Estella (where the voigrom was taking place), he decided, after much deliberation, to tell the Taer everything, believing, not unreasonably, that he could not do without confidants, and that much depended on the Taer as it was. His only concern was whether his "security specialist" was "snitching" to Countess Durlurl, so to speak, "for old times' sake". Intuition said no snitching - not the right person - and reason countered that given the panic-stricken terror, Taer felt towards his former boss, she should only "ask properly" for her to tell it all herself. But, in any case, hiding from someone who literally follows you around and sleeps in the next bedroom is extremely problematic. So when Taer came into his quarters to report on the execution of the security arrangements, Alex decided to have a 'heart-to-heart' talk.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.23 в 21:18