Chapter 14c

“I hope those trespassers were dealt with General Astrella? This is a secure area.” Damn the man! He simply just had to say something!

“Not exactly trespassers, but yes, they were attended to.” Ben tried not to snap. “Can I help you with anything in particular, Administrator Bonetti? As my father just said, this is a social visit.”

“And a very welcome one. I took the liberty of reserving a seat for Lord Astrella in my balcony at the arena this evening.” Bonetti smiled smugly at the look on Ben's face. “I know you like a wager or two, Lord Astrella.”

“Absolutely!” Herz enthused. “Lady Astrella has just mentioned how weary this travelling makes her, so I'm sure she'd like me out of her way while she rests.”

“No she wouldn't!” Ben blurted. “I ... mean ... I'm sure she'd like a social visit to involve her too, and the arena isn't the place for my mother.” Ben crawled to his mother's natural maternal instincts and Lily 'awwed' and smiled at her son.

“You're right Ben, but I am tired. I'm not long back from a four day round trip to Canuska so part of my being here is to rest up a bit. You go ahead with your father, don't worry about me.” Lily smiled and Ben nearly burst into tears. He hated the arena! He'd always managed to swap duty shifts whenever his father was due in the city purely to avoid attending the place with him. This occasion was doubly abhorrent because he'd actually know the main attraction, Kore.

“How fortuitous that you should have arranged this time off, General.” Bonetti smiled innocently. “I did notice that you'd swapped the rotas. How lucky!”

“Isn't it just?” Ben mumbled. “I'll escort you to the guest Villa. Thank you Administrator Bonetti, may all your wagers be productive.”

“And may Lady Luck light up your path.” Bonetti replied graciously.

“Up yours too. Shall we?” Ben held open the door for his parents.

Kore arrived at the infirmary like a whirlwind, only to be held up in the foyer. Leo heard his sister's approach before he saw it.

“Oh? Are you going to take it off me? Thought not. Come on Jyp.” Even though Kore was only five feet two, she seemed to fill the entire room as she made her entrance. Jyp almost did fill the entire room, literally. “Leo!” She ran at her brother and leapt on the bed to hug him, ignoring his coughing fit. “We have it all worked out, the bastards. Pfft! As though we're stupid enough to all get arrested for rioting, imbeciles. Well I thought Ben had Sillix give Lady Toller the once over but he didn't at all! She must have done that herself Leo! You'll never guess what jut happened! I went to Villa to thank Ben only it wasn't Ben after all, it was Ursus, but never mind. So there I was being exuberant and Lord and Astrella came in! They gave me a very funny look indeed, but she is so pretty Leo. Anyway, I excused myself and left but Jyp didn't know and barged in and started taking the place to bits looking for me! Then he assumed me and Ben were having it off somewhere and said something to Lord Astrella in Nellatian. What was that, by the way, Jyp? I had to all but haul him out before they locked us both up for insanity! You look like shit.”

“Are you going to pause for breath?” Leo laughed. “Yes it was Lady Toller who organised her own involvement. She's been to see me.”

“Has she? Ooo!” Kore was impressed. “She's nice isn't she? What the hell she wants with a greasy arsed old scrotum like Toller, I'll never know. Well Jyp?”

“'Scuse me?”

“What did you say to Lord Astrella?”

“Just telling how Jyp owes life to Little Lady. Jyp tells him Jyp is protector. Umm In Nellatia is very similar words so him might may have got it wrong.” Jyp fiddled with the hem of Leo's blanket and Kore glared at him. “Protector is similar as chaperoonie in Nellatia words. Not Jyp's fault.”

“So you told him you were my chaperone?” Kore fell into fits of laughter. “Are you hell bent on getting me married into the Military, Jyp? First Creed, now Ben! What about Lumni? Hey Leo, he told Lady Astrella to go chat up Creed.”

“Was innocent mistake.” Jyp sniffed. “Lumni no good, him only pissy Cadet. 'Bassador Astrella far too pretty to be peoples' mothers.”

“She is too.” Kore agreed. “Leo do you know what they're trying to do out there?” She held her brother's hand. She'd missed him so much.

“Trying, Kore. That isn't the same as succeeding. Come on, I've never known you be defeatist in your life. Look at the help you've got onside! Now we can add Ursus Toller to our numbers. They'll never reseal the Pit, Kore, we won't let them.”

“Maybe if they had funding to orchestrate a revolt, then to quash it.” Kore said carefully.

“No nation would fund such a procedure and the Azorian people would never tolerate public money being spent by the government in such a way.” Leo stated.

“What about an Azorian person? Just one?”

“Oh Kore, the whole thing has you paranoid.” Leo smiled. “Just think about what you've just said, then estimate the cost of facilitating a war. It isn't the sort of sum one could pull out of one's savings.”

“It is if one happens to be the last ruling DeGaise of Azoria.” Kore said quietly and Leo thought he'd misheard her. Kore told Leo of her and Lumni's encounter with Loram DeGaise. “No one else knows and I trust Lumni. He's as loopy as a wet hen Leo, but all the arrogance and the megalomania has long been worn away. He's just a nutty old man with a vast amount of money. He thought I was giving Lumni one, Jyp, so that's another one to add to the collection.”

“So he's been roaming about in secret passages all this time?” Leo said in shock.

“Looks like it. The fact that he never drew attention to himself at all proves he's no longer a threat. He lost his power years ago and he completely accepts it, and regrets his actions. I don't know what to do about it. He doesn't deserve his liberty, nor do I think he wants it. He'd be slain in no time anyway. He's being used, Leo, and surely he can't deserve that either.”

“Devious bastards.” Leo said in amazement. “If a war ever did come about and it went sour, as it's bound to do, then they'd have a standing, irrefutable scapegoat. DeGaise funding a full scale war. If they pull this off while Toller's still in office, he'll be forced out of the government.”

“Bonetti.” Kore nodded. “With his pet arseholes, Marx and Pape. Do I tell Ben?”

“You trust him a great deal.” Leo smiled. “I don't think you've ever stopped trusting him for ten years Kore, have you? We'll have to tell someone, even if it's only for security reasons. Remember, Ben's parents usually stay in that building, as do many other visiting persons. Even if DeGaise is now harmless, it's still an unguarded entrance to a high security building.” He stated the obvious and Kore nodded. “Damn it I need out of this wretched place.”

“Like hell you do.” Kore said seriously. “We don't want your crappy lungs sprayed all over the place, you're a public health hazard.”

“You're all heart, dear sister.” Leo laughed.

“And I'm also late for my evening shift brawl.” Kore got to her feet.

“Business as usual.” Leo sighed. “Don't you argue with me, I'm five minutes older than you and the only reason you came here is because you miss my pre-match fussing.” He smiled. “Go and kick some arse.” Kore kissed her brother, so did Jyp, and they left for the arena.