A Silence in the Heavens by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

tonight, a long, full-skirted gown of rich black velvet and a tartan sash pinned at her shoulder with a massive amber brooch, and she’d done something to her short blond hair—Griffin couldn’t tell what—that had smoothed out its aggressive spikiness into a gleaming helmet that emphasized the elegant lines of her neck. Dressed so, she looked very much like the Countess of Northwind, and very little like the battle-tested MechWarrior, heroine of the campaign against the Black Dragon pirates on Sadalbari.
    Griffin reminded himself that appearances could be deceiving, and that the petite porcelain Countess had been the martial-arts champion of the Northwind Military Academy during her student days. Her gown’s long sleeves and full skirts would be hiding not soft flesh but firm muscle, and her grace of movement was a fighter’s grace.
    He had watched the Paladin and the Countess long enough, he decided. It was time to make his official appearance and pay his respects. He set his empty glass and plate aside on one of the side trays provided for the purpose, and moved to join the small throng of guests waiting their turn for a minute or two of talk with the reception’s guest of honor.
    When Tara Campbell saw him, she gave him a smile of genuine recognition and not mere practiced politeness, then turned, still smiling, to Ezekiel Crow.
    “My lord, you really must meet the man who helped plan so much of this evening,” she said to the Paladin.
    “Paladin Ezekiel Crow, may I present Colonel Michael Griffin of the First Gurkhas?”
    Crow was in uniform, as was Griffin, and the two men exchanged salutes. From this closer vantage point, Griffin saw that Crow’s eyes were not brown or hazel, as the color of his hair might have indicated. They were, in fact, dark blue. Griffin found the mismatch subtly off-putting, for reasons that he could not clearly articulate. Tara Campbell also had blue eyes, but her fair complexion and platinum hair gave them a more appropriate setting.
    “Colonel Griffin,” Crow said. His voice was low-pitched, and free of any planetary accent that Griffin could identify. Maybe such blandness was a requirement for anyone who intended to play Republic politics at the Paladin level, but Griffin couldn’t help thinking that he’d prefer to hear an honest touch of local patois in a man’s voice. “It’s an honor to meet you tonight.”
    “I’m equally honored, my lord,” said Griffin. “Under the present circumstances, it takes a brave and committed man to risk travel to another planet for the sake of nothing but the chance of danger and hard work.”
    “I go where The Republic of the Sphere sees fit to send me,” Crow replied. “Which, for now, is Northwind.”
    Tara Campbell gave Crow another smile. To Griffin’s eyes her expression appeared slightly apologetic, as if she might be remembering her earlier ambivalence about the Paladin and his mission to Prefecture III.
    “And we’re all grateful,” she said. “Once these formalities are over, we can get down to work on the real issues.” She looked around the vast reception hall and added, “Under somewhat less crowded circumstances, of course. Out of all these people, I think I see perhaps half a dozen who might actually need to be in the loop. Maybe fewer.”
    “You and I, of course,” Crow said. “The Planetary Legate. The Governor. Colonel Griffin, will you be there as well?”
    “I’ve found that the Colonel wears many hats,” Tara Campbell said. Griffin couldn’t tell from her expression and tone of voice whether she meant to counter the Paladin’s subtle dig or simply to state a fact. “One of them is Prefect’s liaison with the local intelligence networks. So we’ll definitely need him on the team.”
    “It will be my pleasure,” said Michael Griffin.
    10
    The Fort
    City of Tara, Northwind
    December, 3132; local winter

    T ara Campbell was pleased to see that in spite of the last-minute nature of the operation,