Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz Read Free Book Online Page B

important planet but also for the excitement of being at the center of things, where a nimble politician could make a difference.
    The thought was sufficient to make him want to get up. He was careful to slide out of bed without waking his favorite slave. On his way out of the bedroom, Usurlus paused to peer out of a porthole-sized window and saw that it was raining. Then he made his way into the bathroom and a shower large enough to accommodate a party of six, something it was called upon to do every once in a while.
    Then, after a hot shower and half an hour spent in front of a big mirror, it was time to don a robe and make his way into the dining room. The Legate’s staff knew he was up and knew what he wanted—a cup of hot caf, a poached egg, and a slice of dry toast. They were waiting as he sat down. A voice command was sufficient to activate the wall screen.
    Political junkie that he was, Usurlus spent most of his time watching the news channels. And he wasn’t surprised to see that all of them were busy rehashing the attempt on his life the day before. That was satisfying in a way since it served to let everyone know he was back and still worth assassinating.
    But some of the other news stories were somewhat disquieting. It seemed that the warlike Vords had taken control of a rim world called Therat, a planet which, though at the very edge of Imperial-controlled space, was populated by Umans. It was a test, a way to gauge the Empire’s temperament, and, therefore, important. That was the way Usurlus and many others saw it. But rather than send a fleet to confront the aliens, and force them to back down, Emperor Emor had agreed to diplomatic talks!
    It was a shocking development that Emor’s traditional supporters disapproved of, and the so-called pragmatists like Senator Nalomy supported, thereby turning conventional alliances inside out. Still, Emor was a tricky bastard, so chances were that he had good reasons for talking to the Vords. Or so Usurlus hoped as he finished his breakfast, gave a voice command, and began to play the last twenty hours of com calls on the wall screen.
    Given the assassination attempt, there were lots of them, including requests for interviews from all of the major news organizations and expressions of concern from family, friends, and associates. That was to be expected.
    What wasn’t expected was the absence of any message from the Emperor, who was a cousin, after all, and the person for whom Usurlus had traveled to Dantha. Although there were expressions of concern from people Usurlus normally thought of as the opposition, including members of the so-called Combine, a group of powerful business interests. All of which was very confusing.
    Usurlus touched a button, and Livius appeared as if by magic. “Make all of the usual preparations. I’m going out.”
    Livius nodded. “Yes, sire. And your destination?”
    â€œThe Senate.”
    â€œYes, sire. The cars will be ready in thirty minutes.”
    Â 
    Â 
    The worst of the rain was over by the time Usurlus and his body double stepped out onto the carefully landscaped veranda forty minutes later. It was necessary to circle the roof-top swimming pool before the two of them could access the landing pad, where two identical air cars were waiting. One would carry the real Usurlus, and the other was for the android that looked like him, a strategy calculated to make the Legate that much harder to kill.
    Four bodyguards were present—two for each Usurlus. Livius and a young man named Tupus waited for the Legate to board car one before joining him in the passenger compartment. Then, once both vehicles were ready, they took off. Car one banked away for the short trip to the Senate, while the other turned east as if headed for the spaceport and was soon lost in traffic.
    The pilot in control of car one was an old hand at navigating the city’s crowded skies and gave the sixteen-hundred-foot-tall