The Court of a Thousand Suns by Chris Bunch; Allan Cole Read Free Book Online

some fast thinking. Rule One in the unofficial Junior Officer's Survival Manual: When A Senior Officer Asks You What You Think, You Lie A Lot.
    "I like it fine," Sten said.
    "You're a clotting liar," the Eternal Emperor said.
    Rule Two of said bar guide to drinking with superiors: When Caught In A Lie, Lie Again.
    "No, really," Sten said. "This is probably one of the more interesting—"
    "Rule Two doesn't work, Captain. Drop the con."
    "It's a boring place filled with boring people and I never really gave a damn about politics anyway," Sten rushed out.
    "Much better," the Emperor said. "Now let me give you a little career advice…"
    He paused to turn the flame up under the sausage and garlic, then added the pepper-rolled beef as soon as the pan was hot enough.
    "First off, at your age and current status, you are luckier than hell even to be here."
    Sten started to agree, but the Emperor stopped him with a hard look. He stirred the beef around as he talked, waiting until it got a nice brown crust.
    "First tip: Don't be here very long. If you are, you're wasting your time. Second thought: Your current assignment will be both a huge career booster and an inhibitor. Looks great on the fiche—'Head of the Imperial Bodyguard at such and such an age.'
    "But you're also gonna run into some superiors—much older and very jealous superiors—who will swear that I had a more than casual interest in you. Take that how you want. They certainly shall."
    The Emperor finished the beef. He pulled out a large iron pan and dumped the whole mess into it. He also added the panful of onions and tomatoes. Then he threw in a palmful of superhot red peppers, a glug or three of rough red wine, many glugs of beef stock, a big clump of cilantro, clanked down the lid, and set the flame to high. As soon as it all came to a boil, he would turn it down to simmer for a while.
    The Emperor sat down next to Sten and took a long swallow of Stregg.
    "I don't know if you realize it or not, but you have a very heavy mentor in General Mahoney."
    "Yeah. I know it," Sten said.
    "Okay. You got him. You're impressing the clot out of me right now. Not bad. Although I got to warn you, I am notorious for going hot and cold on people. Don't stick around me too long.
    "When all is lost, I sometimes blame my screwups on the nearest person to me. Hell, once in a while, I even believe it myself."
    "I've been there," Sten said.
    "Yeah. Sure you have. Good experience for a young officer. Drakh flows downhill. Good thing to learn.
    That way you know what to do when you're on top."
    The stew was done now. The Emperor rose and ladled out two brimming bowlsful. Sten's mouth burst with saliva. He could smell a whole forest of cilantro. His eyes watered as the Emperor set the bowl in front of him. He waited as the man cut two enormous slices of fresh-baked sourdough bread and plunked them down along with a tub of newly churned white butter.
    "So here's what you do. Pull this duty. Then get thee out of intelligence or anything to do with cloak and dagger. Nobody ever made big grade in intelligence. I got it set up that way. Don't trust them. Nobody should.
    "Next, get thee to flight school. No. Shut up. I know that's naval. What I'm saying is, jump services. Get yourself in the navy. Learn piloting."
    The Emperor slowly buttered his slice of bread and Sten followed suit, memorizing every word.
    "You'll easily make lieutenant commander. Then up you go to commander, ship captain, and—with a little luck—flag captain. Form there on in, you're in spitting distance of admiral."
    Sten took a long pull on his drink to cover his feelings. Admiral? Clot. Nobody but nobody makes admiral. The Emperor topped the glasses again.
    "I listen to my admirals," the Emperor said. "Now do what I say. Then come back in fifty years or so and I may even listen to you ."
    The Emperor spooned up a large portion of stew.
    "Eat up, son. This stuff is great brain food. First your ears go on fire, then the