Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 12

Chapter12

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 19:45

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Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 19:46

"If you'll excuse me." A resounding voice cut into the monotonous speech about "average weekly operating costs". The speaker stuttered as if choking on his words, and fell silent, establishing a resounding silence in the hall. The eyes of the audience turned to the miniature girl in a dark scarlet uniform of ergo-captain of the Guard, sitting at the head of the table.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:50

"An emergency." With a guilty smile, she explained, slipping out from behind the table. "It's necessary to go away. Carry on without me."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:50

The finger under the ring with the big red stone tingled insistently, warning of an emergency call. And Countess Durlurl, the head of House Fyren's "own intelligence," had figured out long ago that only bad news couldn't wait.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:51

The Countess quickly crossed the reception room and, with a gesture, stopped the secretary who had risen to meet her and entered the office, blocking the door behind her.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:52

A scarlet call light flashed on the secure communications terminal.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:52

She paused at the door for a few seconds, carefully examining her office, and then leisurely walked over to the desk and snapped her finger on the recognition unit, and sat down quietly in her chair.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:53

On the terminal screen, the intelligence emblem was replaced by a stout-looking man with a slight baldness in his dark hair. He wore an official's uniform, which was somehow unkempt, without gloss.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:54

"Daim Esta, I apologize for your..." He began, bowing his head, but was shooed away by the Countess's displeased exclamation.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:55

"Report!"

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:55

"About an hour ago, another report was received on Daim Diltar's condition. After a meeting in the Admiralty Council, one of the guardsmen noticed small drops of blood on the collar of her tunic. She looked as if she was washing her face..."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:56

He went on saying something else: about the actions, about the external observation, about how the samples were taken from her bathroom flush, about the radiation analysis... But the Countess was no longer listening to him. She already understood what had happened, and this knowledge pressed like an overload. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair:

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:57

// Taer's nose was bleeding." -Daim Esta knew all too well what that meant. - "Great shadows, why so early? Such bad timing. We'll have to think of something, something to explain..."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 17:58

She gave herself a few seconds of emotion to feel her heart begin to grind with despair, a drop at a time. A few seconds, but no more. // Okay, that's all for later damage control first.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:00

"These facts are confirmed by hardware control and indirect surveillance." The senior member of the escort team continued to report. "We analyzed the runoff from the latrine she used and indeed found traces of blood. The sample obtained is a match to ....."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:01

"How many casualties, and what of Lord Cassard?" Daim Esta interrupted this outpouring, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her index finger.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:02

Her interlocutor was somewhat confused by the question.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:07

"Lord Tsorto seems to have been very dissatisfied with the actions of Daim Diltar..." He cautiously suggested, "And there was some conflict with the head of the House representation in the capital. Otherwise, no casualties, Your Ladyship."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:09

"Yes?" The Countess lifted her head in interest. "What, nothing out of the ordinary?"

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:10

"No. But as I understood it, some important decision was derailed..."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:25

"It doesn't matter." She brushed it off, clearly cheered up. The Countess straightened in her chair, giving herself a more formal appearance, and ordered:

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:26

"Give your assessment of the condition of the object of observation."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:26

"Judging from the behavioral signs as well as the external control data, Daim Diltar was greatly annoyed and even angry about something, but she held herself well, looking calm and collected. I don't know what exactly was going on during the meeting, but from the information I have, we can assume that the reaction of Diltar had an external stimulus and fits into her emotional profile. I have prepared a brief report and have attached observation material, if Your Lordship pleases..."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:36

The Countess silently closed her eyes in agreement. // Yes, it will please me.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:37

"Thank you, Moal." She nodded as the line "data transfer completed" ran across the screen and was silent for a few minutes, gathering her thoughts and formulating her instructions:

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:37

"Increase surveillance as much as possible," she finally said in her usual unapologetic tone, "especially pay attention to her emotional state. Don't be squeamish about the means. If someone is discovered, don't deny it. Say you're observing by my orders for her safety. If anything starts to happen that you don't understand, immediately... I mean IMMEDIATELY, contact me through this channel. And contact Captain Asali in the capital city office. He'll help with people and equipment. Otherwise, proceed as instructed."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:40

"Glad to serve Your Ladyship." Her interlocutor bowed once more and, without asking any more questions, disconnected.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:41

Countess Durlurl sat for another minute, folding her palms against her lips and staring blankly through the disappearing screen, until finally, with a sigh, she shook off her stupor and summoned her secretary.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:42

The screen wove before her again, with the image of a young man in a Guard uniform with an obsequious expression on his handsome face.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:43

"Send a letter to Diltar. If possible, arrange for encrypted transmission over the zero-link so as not to lose three days. Tell her I'll be in the capital soon and I just need to see her in..." The Countess was silent for a moment, remembering which of the Cassards' properties in the capital was as secluded and remote from people as possible. "Let it be Black Lake. Try to convey to her, as politely as possible, the importance and urgency of this meeting. Do not give her a specific time frame. If Taer contacts you to clarify terms or circumstances, tell her I was distracted by something of incredible importance, and as soon as I'm free..." She paused as she felt she was beginning to teach the secretary how to do her job. "I think you get the general idea. If there's going to be an attempt at direct communication, then only connect her with me in an extraordinary case. And arrange for me to meet with Captain Talaydo, Dr. Mhaet, and Professor Tyria as soon as possible. Very quickly, literally immediately."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:47

"Will do, Your Ladyship." The secretary nodded, but instead of passing out, he continued. "Lord Tsorto insists on seeing you, he's extremely irritated, and he mentioned Daim Diltar."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:49

// She seems to have derailed some decisions for them... "Tell him I'll get in touch with him soon."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:50

"He's here in person, Your Ladyship."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 18:51

"Damn, it..." The Countess raised her eyes to the ceiling and waved her hand wearily. "Well, what to do? Ask for him in about three minutes. And warn the gathering that I won't be able to continue the meeting."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:14

By the time Lord Tsorto appeared at the door of her office, Daim Esta had already managed to order an unspoken increase in security, to form a battle group to move to the villa "Black Lake" and to prepare the most toothy smile from her arsenal to meet "old friends".

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:15

"Geard!" She exclaimed, spreading her arms as if about to embrace. "Why such haste? What happened? But I'm glad to see you, anyway."

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:17

Lord Tsorto only nodded curtly in response to this greeting, tearing the gloves off his hands angrily and glancing disgruntled at the secretary who had brought him. The lord was flushed and breathing heavily as if he'd run across the square separating the headquarters and the old castle.

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:18

"You've got to keep your girl quiet." He threw as the door finally closed behind the secretary. "She derailed the decision to relocate the Aegis that's been in preparation for the last two decades!"

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:19

"Are you talking about Taer?"

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:19

"Yes! Great Shadows, I'm about Taer!" shouted Lord Tsorto, losing all patience. "About your creature! If you needed another seat on the council so badly, why couldn't you at least find someone competent?!"

Camrad_RIP 12.06.23 в 19:21

"Well, why is she mine, Geard?" Countess Durlurl raised her eyebrows in amazement. "She is yours. Your colleague and Lord Cassard's First Blade. And, really, don't look so worried. Sit down." She pointed to a high chair covered in blue velvet. "Would you like some wine? I just happened to have a bottle of Kenarian Dark, prewar, great for lowering blood pressure."

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:26

"No, Esta." Lord Torto angrily cut off. "She is yours." And looking unhappily at the offered chair. Instead of sitting down, he began slicing circles around it with quick, nervous steps. "You promoted her, coddled her. Who transferred her to Copeira? Who made the leap from Intelligence to Guard and back again? Who suggested her candidacy to the Consulate? Who thought of introducing her into Cassard's 'Arm'?"

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:31

The Countess shrugged indifferently:

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:34

"I still think it's hard to think of a better babysitter for Allesandro Cassard. You needed someone who wouldn't fawn over the title and would do his job. All of the things you listed were necessary to fulfill that function. But it's one thing to look after the lord and another to look after the domain, not my idea, but Lord Cassard's. He wanted to thank her for saving his life, and I must say he was quite right to do so. And many people support this decision. It's a very sentimental story, in the spirit of the old nobility."

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:35

"As a Lord, so is a Blade." Tsorto muttered, clearly in his thoughts, "If a zwiggolot had saved his life, he'd have made him a blade of the domain, too. This is another one of his pranks. He threw it in our faces. Appointed his wench to the council, a pretty, unborn upstart - that's who he equates us with!"

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:36

"Your position in the area of primogeniture is well known to me, Geard." The Countess commented dryly. "I do not share it."

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:37

Tsorto stopped circling around his chair and looked at the Countess in surprise:

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:38

"Esta..." He stretched out reproachfully. "How could you think such a thing? Despite our former misunderstandings, your services to the House are unquestionable... But there's no comparison. No merit other than the marksmanship. Nothing!" Lord Tsorto erupted again, continuing to circle his chair. "Twenty-five years old! Twenty-five years old! Not even in the war! Without any experience! She wasn't even in command of a Corvette, and now she's got two important Stations under her! And instead of keeping her mouth shut, she dares me-" Lord Tsorto literally choked with indignation and, unable to continue, clutched his gloves in his hands as if he were trying to squeeze the juice out of them.

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:41

"How about some wine after all?" The Countess suggested nonchalantly, taking advantage of the pause.

Camrad_RIP 14.06.23 в 20:41