Path of the Hive Queen

Tim had to admit that June had surprised him, in recent months. Not that he hadn’t already respected her and thought highly of her, but she really was a surprisingly capable (and ruthless) spymaster and covert operator when she wanted to be.

He supposed it went with the territory for capable psychics. Regardless, when he had finally heard, almost as an side, how she’d arranged for the death of an enemy psychic, he was duly impressed. Even if it was one of those specialized students of Sazatore’s whose other abilities were limited — which they now finally had more confirmation existed, and for more than infiltration — he didn’t think being hyperspecialized in sensing would make an assassination easier. It explained a few things about the course of the battle.

On the other hand, when he had heard the report concerning how the team of elite soldiers and Star Guard June had sent had killed another enemy psychic, Tim wasn’t surprised at all. It was good that June had found them, but they’d been on the lookout for enemy psychics, who had been on the priority target list since the beginning.

For now, it did make him feel a bit safer as he looked at the Esemen prisoners they had taken, knowing that there wouldn’t be any surprise psychics among their ranks. Mages and people with high-level Classes were bad enough.

He wasn’t looking at them personally, at least not yet. Instead, Tim was sharing June’s eyes as she walked among them, reaching out mentally to test their mental states and look for any dangers or hidden threats without trying to break through their barriers. Tim kept quiet, trying not to distract her. He had quite a few other things to do, but he would have to read a report about this anyway, so he might as well watch. It would help to have a personal impression of them, too.

Anything so far? he asked after a while, feeling her attention shift to him.

Nothing particularly important, June replied. If they had any people we should be really concerned about, I think they escaped the city with the rest of their army.

Tim suppressed a grimace. They had won this battle, but not the campaign. While their troops had taken the city, it had been a slow grind, and eventually the Esemen had given up and withdrawn, but in reasonably good order. He suspected they’d kept back some of their Champions and used them to secure this retreat instead of contesting every meter of the city. Which probably made sense for them from a strategic perspective.

At least they appeared to have taken a few important commanders prisoner, which wasn’t nothing. Tim looked at them, trying to remember the information he’d previously read. Not being able to rely on the psychic link made many things harder, but he still had a good memory, anyway. And the fact that June was thinking about it helped. He had more personal knowledge, too, about at least some of them.

She finally stopped beside the most senior officer they’d captured and started speaking to him. Tim listened in silence. It was obvious they had at least heard of each other. June started probing for information disguised within polite inquiries, while the man gave curt answers.

“I might have mentioned that Ria is here as well, Lord Thebens,” June said lightly. “I’m sure she will be just delighted to see you again.” She paused for a moment. “Or Lady Marianne Neralt, she is also here.”

The Esemen general glared at her. Well, he was a junior general, probably; and he wasn’t that old, either. He looked like the last few days had not been kind to him. “Is that supposed to be a threat, Princess June?”

“Merely a piece of information,” June hummed. “I have found it can sometimes be easier to interrogate men if you have other people who know them available. And Lady Marianne tells me you were very dutiful an escort when she was in the custody of the Esemen.”

“I assure you, I was never less than a gentleman toward her,” he said stiffly. “The lady will confirm this if she has as much honor as I hope.”

“Oh, I believe you,” June said earnestly. At least that he thinks that’s what he did, she thought less charitably, and Tim picked it up with a bit of amusement as well. “And speaking of that time, you seem to have had an impressively swift career since, considering the debacle that was that particular expedition.”

Thebens sniffed. Some Esemen really had a knack for seeming superior. Tim idly considered how their faces might be improved with a punch or something. “I have been honored to be able to serve my country.”

“I’m sure. And it wouldn’t have anything to do with being one of the High Shaman’s favored knights?”

Now he glared at her slightly. “I warn you, princess, do not impugn the High Shaman’s honor. If he has elevated me, he had good reasons, and I can only hope to be worthy of his regard. High Shaman Usebius is the best and wisest of us, and he has been graced by the gods. Not that I would expect you to understand —“ he broke off, but Tim could practically hear the Heathen! he didn’t say.

“Such loyalty,” June said, unimpressed. “We’ll see how long your high opinion of him lasts. Well, at least you might not be worthless as a hostage.”

“No one back home would shy from doing what the gods will, from the righteous path, for me,” he told her.

June sighed silently, and Tim sympathized. Looks like he’s a true believer, he said. Do you think we could break that?

Probably, but I doubt trying would be worth it, she replied. Using extreme measures would be unethical, anyway. And he’s just one of our prisoners. Anyhow, I don’t think we’re getting much more than that today.

Then I’ll leave you to it, if you want to continue; I have other people to talk to.

June agreed, and he stopped listening as she continued speaking to the Esemen, before she broke their link. Tim shook his head, feeling a bit disjointed. June still didn’t have the kind of skill Regina had with psychic communication. But of course, it would be far too much to expect that of her.

At least no one else was there to see it, since he’d withdrawn into his current office for now. He had a lot of reports to go through, although they’d been ruthlessly prioritized. Just moving out of the range of the psychic link proper had already made Tim take on two new secretaries, and it was a drop in the bucket. He missed the ability to simply reach out and check in with his subordinates directly, but they were competent. And there were always options.

For now, Tim read the brand-new — and highly classified — report on how their operation to neutralize the conspiracy among Imperial nobles had gone. He’d had little to do with it, since there were only a few potential targets among the troops deployed here, but he still needed to keep up to date … And possibly look out for runners, it seemed like. A concerning number of suspects had escaped, and it was possible they’d try to leave the Empire through areas his forces controlled, try to get to Esemen, or even join friends or co-conspirators among his forces. The officer corps was still disproportionately composed of nobles (unsurprisingly, as warrior-aristocracy of the old kingdoms; when looking for people with literary and administrative skills who were trained for command, knights were the obvious group to pick).

Fortunately, Tim did have a few avenues for dealing with this concern. Though he made a mental note to seek June out as soon as he was finished to discuss his thoughts in person.

Before he could get much further, someone knocked on Tim’s door, and one of his guards poked their head in. “My Prince, Colonel Ash to see you.”

Tim gestured for him to come in, and Ash practically fell into the room with the door, looking a bit agitated.

"Sorry, Tim, but you should come quickly,” he said immediately. “Lianne and Neralt are, uh, having a confrontation. I think you should mediate, before it escalates.”

Tim quickly put his papers aside and stood up. “Where?” Hopefully it wasn’t too bad, but he trusted Ash’s judgment. Having a pissed-off psychic with few actual ties to the Empire wouldn’t be great, and the situation with Marianne Neralt was complicated already given her son’s actions, and his current imprisonment.

“Not far, they were out on the veranda last I saw.”

So mostly in public. Great. Tim nodded and left without further questions. That could wait. If Ash thought he was the best person for this, he was probably right. Ash fell into step with him, and one of the guards peeled off the door to follow them as well. This would be easier if we had the psychic link, he couldn’t help but think.

It didn’t take Tim long to reach his destination. He slowed down as he neared the veranda, glancing around, but he didn’t stop long enough to hear more than a few words of the argument coming from it. Instead, he pushed open the door with a bit more force than necessary and stepped outside, Ash following him.

At least it’s not too bad, he assessed quickly. Fortunately, while not exactly private, there were few people around. And fortunately, the two women hadn’t actually come to blows — at least not yet, but from their stances and positions, he suspected it might be a possibility.

“You self-righteous bitch!“

“And who are you to question anyone’s loyalty, anyway —“ Marianne Neralt broke off as she spied Tim, her eyes widening. She took half a step back and bowed. “My Prince.”

Lianne visibly hesitated just slightly before she did the same. “Prince Tim.”

Tim nodded at them, walking closer. He passed Ria, who had been hovering nearby, and spared her a disappointed look. She visibly wilted a little, and he almost wanted to take it back. Without the psychic link, it was harder to communicate such nuances, though.

“What is it you two are arguing about?” he asked directly. “Because it looked like you were shouting at each other, and you can guess how much I like that. Especially in public.”

Marianne had the grace to look abashed. “My apologies, Your Highness.”

“It was unbecoming of us,” Lianne added, inclining her head for a second. “I’m sorry you had to come here because of it.”

Tim frowned slightly. He still wasn’t really used to being around a psychic he still didn’t know that well without the psychic link, but that was hardly her fault.

“You said something about loyalty?” he prompted.

Mariannne nodded. She’d clearly decided the best way out was through. “I simply meant that, not to put too fine a point on it, Lady Lianne is not Imperial and has few strong ties to the Empire. She herself has said that she does not consider herself a citizen of the Empire or a subject of the Empress. I am sure you know what you are doing, my Prince — I don’t intend to question your judgment — but it would only be logical to keep some things classified. And I felt it was hypocritical of her to question my loyalty to a country that is not her own.”

Tim raised an eyebrow, turning to the psychic in question.

“I was rude, and I guess that concern would not be entirely unjustified,” Lianne said with a frown. “But while I might not be an Imperial subject, questioning my current loyalty is still questioning my honor. I agreed to work with you, and I’m not a traitor.”

Tim nodded slightly. “So I suppose you were questioning her loyalty, then?”

“Let’s just say I wasn’t prepared to take it for granted. I didn’t set out to cast doubt on it … at least originally.” Lianne looked apologetic. “But it is my task to protect this army and your command staff from betrayal and enemy influence, Your Highness. That’s what you asked me to do, in addition to fighting enemy psychics when necessary. That means I must assess people of note. And, well, given recent events, it should be obvious why I considered Lady Neralt a priority in that regard.”

So Lianne suspected Neralt because her son had betrayed them — and she probably wasn’t exactly delicate about it — and Neralt took that investigation badly? I guess I can see that, Tim thought, trying not to sigh. Both parties here kind of had a point and weren’t exactly wrong, even if they hadn’t handled it well.

“Alright,” he said. “I see. In the future, please use more discernment. Lianne, perhaps you should speak to June, and please try to be a little more … circumspect in the future. And I know it’s hard to remain unbiased for threat assessments, but we all need to make an effort. Lady Marianne, while I understand you might feel slighted, I’m sure Lady Lianne was just doing her due diligence. We have indeed placed trust in her, not without reason. If you had concerns about her actions or about facing undue suspicion and potential discrimination, you should have come to me.”

Neither of them looked happy at his words, but they both nodded.

“This does sound like you consider her suspicions justified, my Prince,” Marianne noted quietly. “Am I to be constantly questioned because of my son’s arrest?”

Tim crossed his arms, remaining silent for a moment. “Would you truly believe me if I said that no one would treat you any differently because of it?”

“No, I suppose not,” she sighed. She shook her head, glancing at Lianne and then back at him. “I apologize for overreacting. But perhaps, if I may be so bold, I could ask Princess June to assess me directly? Not to slight Lady Lianne’s capabilities, but I know intention is a factor and I would be willing to let her look into my mind.”

That couldn’t be an easy concession to make, Tim realized — Volunteering for a deep scan like that was something many humans would consider a last resort.

“I will speak to her and we can arrange something,” Tim agreed.

“Sounds wonderful,” Lianne muttered.

Tim looked at Lianne, letting her know without words that they’d have a conversation later. Then he turned back to Marianne. “Then this is settled, and I won’t keep you all from your duties. But if we could have a few private words, Lady Marianne?”

“Of course, Your Imperial Highness.”

Unfortunately, it took a minute or two of searching until they found an unoccupied room with an unoccupied balcony; a tense minute. Once outside again, Tim glanced at Marianne.

“I realize this situation can’t be easy for you,” he said quietly.

She barked a brief laugh, and it didn’t sound as composed as before. “Because my only child is in prison under suspicion of high treason?”

Tim sighed. “Lady Marianne, I respect you, and you have done more for the Hive and the Empire than almost any other human I know,” he said. “So believe me, this gives me no pleasure. But you should know that there is little ‘suspicion’ about it — while he hasn’t had a trial yet and thus we obviously can’t say anything final about the baron’s guilt, the weight of evidence isn’t in his favor. According to my letters, he as good as confessed to Mother and Max when they visited him. I’m sorry, but it seems evident that he did betray the Empire and was one of the leaders of this conspiracy.”

The lady remained quiet for a while. Tim didn’t know what she was thinking, but she didn’t really seem very surprised.

“I wish I could say I didn’t believe that,” she finally murmured. “But I can’t. It’s still shocking. Of course you’re right to question my loyalty, Prince Tim; he is my son.”

“You’ve proved your loyalty several times over,” Tim answered.

“Yes, and so did he.” She shook her head. “If I’m to be frank — I tried my best, but if this is how it is to end … It feels like I gave myself to the Empress and in return I get the ashes of my child.”

Would you have still joined and supported us if you knew this was how it would end? Would you be loyal to the Empire at all if you knew that he wouldn’t be? Tim wondered, but he didn’t ask it out loud. He was fairly sure he knew the answer, and didn’t want to know at the same time.

“I know,” Tim said quietly. “We would do anything for family. But, this was something none of us foresaw. Elric made his own choices, Lady Marianne. It was not the choice anyone would have wished him to make, but he did. He was a grown man.”

“That’s cold comfort,” she said sadly.

“It is.” Tim hesitated for a moment. But he had to ask. “Did he say anything about it at all? Any hint that he was joining like-minded disaffected nobles?”

“Did he try to recruit me, you mean?” She sounded bitter. “No, of course not. We had a few arguments. He didn’t like the way the Imperial government handled the war and recent reforms. He was concerned about escalating the war, about the consequences of shutting down the temples. He used to be a proponent of the schools, but lately, he started to sound like he had complaints there too; although he never mentioned anything specific, and I thought it was simply about the curriculum or equipment. Maybe I should have realized something was up — but we barely saw each other, recently, and I never had any notion that he was seeking out others, let alone masterminding a conspiracy.”

Tim nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need for that.”

He sighed again. Tim knew that, in principle, they couldn’t sentence Neralt more lightly just because he liked his mother. Justice had to be equal regardless of an offender’s family (unless it had a direct impact on the matter). Still, this sucks.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll be executed,” Tim said anyway.

She smiled, but it still looked forced. “Thank you, my Prince.”

Tim just stood beside her in silence after that. There wasn’t really anything else to say.