Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 9

Chapter 9

Camrad_RIP 24.05.23 в 16:00

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Camrad_RIP 24.05.23 в 16:01

Over the capital, it was raining again, or rather a fine drizzle and all the light sources in it turned into long stretched streaks. Here were the navigation lights that burst into view with sharp strokes, as if they would freeze for a moment, only to disappear again in a smeared red blotch. With this beating, they set the rhythm to the otherwise unfamiliarly empty and austere sky above the imperial palace. The palace, through this water suspension, looked like a giant orange fire of smeared light in the dark circle of the gardens.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:51

"There's absolutely nothing to see," Taer muttered grudgingly, and activating her internal connection, she added louder so her friend could hear her. "Let's just say I owe you a tour.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:52

Rima didn't answer, looking at herself meticulously in the small mirror. This was the tenth time she'd done this clearly nervous.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:53

"One minute to arrival, sword." A warning from the pilot sounded in her headphones, and Taer, regretfully turning off the external view monitor, ran a glance over her uniform just in case. // "The lord will be accompanied by the emperor's daughter, after all."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:54

"Do I look all right?" To be sure, she asked Rima, sitting across from her, who was also wearing a uniform and a knight's cloak over her shoulders for the occasion.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:55

"One could cut oneself on you. You're so flawless." Her friend assured her, not taking her eyes off her mirror, though.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:56

The vehicles slowed down, and it became quieter in the cabin. Taër took off her headset, already able to communicate without it, and quickly fixed her hair. Rima frantically followed her example. From the look of her, her friend was on the verge of hysteria:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 13:59

"Calm down. You don't have to worry so much." Taer tried to cheer her up. She was a little nervous herself, but she tried not to show it. "You're always great in society."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:02

"I'm about to be introduced to the Emperor's daughter!" Rima's eyes widened. "I've been a squire for less than two decades, and now this. I could die of horror. I am to be presented to the princess!" She froze and asked again with a frightened look. "She can be called a princess, can't she?"

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:03

"No." Taer shook her head. "Only Lady Niazur, or if she is in uniform, by rank, Peleng Admiral Niazur."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:06

She herself never understood the subtleties, but the protocol department was literally screaming at her to never refer to Lord Cassard's escort as a princess, or worse, as a "young mother".

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:07

"I'm definitely going to embarrass myself," Rima whispered. "Maybe I'll just hide in here."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:08

"Don't be silly. All the more reason for you to take care of this new 'handmaiden' of the lord."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:09

The vehicles swayed softly through yet another palace force shield and came to a halt.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:09

A wide side door split open exactly in the middle, up and down, forming a visor and a landing ramp, and Taer descended to the base of the grand staircase of the imperial palace. The air was humid and cool even though the shields surrounding the palace kept out the drizzle, and the thin layer of slowly flowing water made them look like giant glass domes.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:11

The greeters were there. A few steps up the stairs, standing with the lord was a girl in a navy admiral's uniform, in which Taer immediately recognized Lady Niazur, and two in the black and purple uniform of the House Fyron Guard, Sir Ulter Ralval with whom she had had much contact while preparing the arrival of the Lord, and an older man of medium height with a flabby face, with a large wide nose that made the closely set brown eyes seem smaller than they really were. It must have been the head of the local House of Fyron representation, Count Barazu, whom the lord had warned her about. With Count Barazu, she had had little contact and only by correspondence, and it was most likely led by a secretary.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:14

Emphasized away from such dignitaries stood a girl in a modest blue maid's dress with a ribbon over her shoulder, most likely the lord's maid assigned by the court to this onstum. Next to her was a group of droids with the lord's luggage.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:15

"Allow me to introduce." Lord Cassard said with a smile. He was clearly glad to see her.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:20

"The First Blade of the Great House Fyron's Guard, Daim Taer Diltar. The First Blade of my domain and the man to whom I repeatedly owe my life. And her squire, Rima Talariv."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:21

"Pleased to meet you." Taer answered as Lord Cassard introduced his companions:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:22

Lady Niazur, as one would expect from a person of her position, was impenetrable and coldly polite, and the maid was to her likeness. Sir Ulter was nervous and very anxious about something, but Count Barazu was clearly struggling to hide his emotions and even tried to reflexively cover his face with his palm.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:24

The reason for such a violent reaction was also perfectly understandable. It was all about the vehicles in which they arrived. Three light landing bots: large, angular, awkward machines covered with a jumble of power cables and attachments looked wild and inappropriate near the front steps of the imperial palace.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:26

// And what bloodshed it cost to get them access to the palace grounds...". The palace security service naturally fell into a stupor when they found out exactly what she was going to fly for the lord, and for nearly four days its representatives literally crawled on the bots to make sure they were safe. Ter, however, did not regret the effort. //"Yes they look wild, but the level of protection is incomparable to even the most protected representative-class apparatus, and no problems with placement. There's room for a power team in armor if you want, or resuscitation equipment."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:29

The introductions and farewells were over rather quickly, and the departing men began to get into their vehicles: Rima, with the lord's new servant, in the first, and she with the lord and Sir Ulter and Count Barazu in the second. As Taer realized these two from the representation, so wanted to talk with the lord about something that they agreed to ride with him here and there. Otherwise, combining the schedules did not work.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:32

"Here, put these on." Taer handed out the headphones as the guests settled into the deep landing chairs. "It's pretty noisy in the cabin during acceleration, and you can at least communicate normally with them."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:34

"It's like going back twenty years, and it's war all over again." Count Barazu, still not wearing his headphones, twisted them in his hands, looking around the interior of the bot with a combination of bewilderment and squeamish disgust on his face. "I suppose our departure from the palace will be a highlight of the society pages. I understand, Lord Cassard, we all have our quirks, but there must be a time and a place for every quirk. Such things," the count grimaced as if it was something very unpleasant, "have no place at official events."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:35

"I was shot by a missile the other day." There was a serene smile on the lord's face; the count's grouchiness clearly didn't bother him. "And that's the only option I could find that could survive some hits without a problem."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:38

"Well, that's no reason..." The count was indignant, but the vehicles went beyond the power shields of the palace, and he had to interrupt to put on and turn on the headphones, it took him long and clumsy, and when his voice was heard again on the intercom, it sounded much more annoyed:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:39

"I don't know who advised you on this crap, but you've got to get all this nonsense out of your head. Immediately. You are now the First Lord of the High Side. You represent in the capital not only your clan but the entire House in such a high position. Your image, your reputation, is no longer just your own business, but the business of the entire House."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:42

"It was my idea." Taer intervened. She was beginning to get a little annoyed by this lecture. "I insisted that Lord Cassard use these vehicles."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:43

Count Barazu interrupted, looking at Taer in surprise as if he did not expect that she could talk at all:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:43

"Is that so? Very well. It is quite natural that such a young girl, not spoiled by the high society by virtue of her origin, is not aware of the questions of diplomatic etiquette and manners accepted in high society - this comes with experience. In the meantime, just don't give advice that is not within your competence."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:46

The Count was about to turn back to the lord without waiting for a response, probably believing that the question was closed, when he heard Taer's answer:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:47

"I am Cassard's First Blade. Matters of the lord's security are my competence."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:51

He froze, then turned to her again and stared at her from head to toe, as if he had seen something strange before him:

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:52

"I believe that you, young lady, possess certain unquestionable virtues," the Count said at last, fixing his gaze on her chest, "for which Lord Cassard, known for his keen judgment, deemed it possible to appoint you to such a high office. However, it will be absolutely better for all if you continue to do what your virtues dispose you to do and leave the advice to people whose virtues dispose them to these matters."

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:54

The count said all this, looking down at her with undisguised squeamishness.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:55

// "The elderly scum."-Taer's hands involuntarily clenched into fists."-"He dares say I got my place through the lord's bed?

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:56

She felt herself literally drunk with rage, she wanted to destroy it, to tear its jaws open. With a slight jolt, the perception booster turned on, the world became slow and grainy, and the sounds became lingering. The guider went to work, ready to grant the wish. In Taer's mind flashed an incredibly realistic vision of her easily, with one hand, effortlessly ripping the Count's lower jaw off, the ligaments and skin bursting, blood spurting to the sides and her tongue falling out of the open wound. How she pulls him out of the chair by his hair, only to have his own jaw in her eyes full of animal horror.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:58

And she saw this picture in the smallest detail as if it had already happened: a slowly settling body with its tongue hanging out and teeth in place of its bloodshot eyes. And the sight of that blood, that grotesque wound, gave her a sense of calm and "rightness," anger receding.

Camrad_RIP 26.05.23 в 14:59

That's what terrified her. Her reaction to this horror and this fear paralyzed her into stopping.

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:11

Thanks to the acceleration, her body only had time to swing forward when she froze and clung to the armrests of the chair with all her might to prevent herself from realizing what she had planned. Taer did not know how long this struggle lasted - the passage of time is difficult to gauge with the acceleration running, but at some point, it was over. She managed to feel a trace of regret because:

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:13

// Interesting image." When the guider and the acceleration shut down, and she suppressed her convulsive sigh, she heard the Lord's voice:

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:14

"...one of the virtues of Daim Diltar that I especially appreciate is that she has saved my life three times, and for that reason, I greatly value her advice in all matters concerning safety. I cannot say the same about you, Count Barazu, your advice in this area is of no interest to me at all."

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:15

"How dare you..." Count Barazu was literally panting with indignation, storming the lord with an angry look, and to Taer's relief, clearly not noticing her condition. "Boy, I fought..."

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:16

"Fine, but we're not at war," the lord interrupted him rudely. "And we're not discussing hostilities. If you have anything to say about my assignment, speak quickly because you've already bored me."

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:17

The Count froze, glaring angrily at the lord, and then defiantly took a few deep breaths and exhalations and continued:

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:18

"Good. As I said before, your appointment is not a favor from the emperor to you personally but his way of apologizing to all of House Fyron for what happened. Because attacking you is, first and foremost, an attack on the interests of the House. And this apology from the emperor gives us a unique opportunity..."

Camrad_RIP 27.05.23 в 10:19