BattleTech Legends: Principles Of Desolation: A Dark Age Novel by Jason M. Hardy & Randall N. Bills

Author:Jason M. Hardy & Randall N. Bills [Hardy, Jason M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs

As it turned out, Ilsa’s earliest convenience was a mere two hours from the time Brand sent the reply to her inquiry. In the early afternoon, with the rain still slowly falling, Brand returned to Humphreys’ office to announce that the Magestrix of Canopus was there to meet with the duke.

Humphreys had taken some time to control himself, and though his insides still felt jumbled, his face was (he hoped) calm.

“Show her in,” he said in his fullest tones.

Brand nodded, walked out for a moment, then returned, followed by a woman who looked like she had stepped directly out of a classical painting of ancient Terran royalty. She wore a black dress of modest cut that still managed to cling to her waist and hips in a way that kept making Humphreys’ eyes drift downward. He steeled himself to look only at her face—this was a diplomatic meeting, after all.

Besides, her face had plenty of features to occupy his attention. The thin, even nose, the wide brown eyes, and the round, well-defined cheekbones gave her a distinct air of nobility. Duke Humphreys knew only too well what his own face looked like—features more suited to a neighborhood butcher, perhaps, than Andurien nobility. But he was what he was, and so he held his chin high and smiled graciously as llsa Centrella approached.

“Duke Humphreys,” she said, gliding forward and grasping his extended right hand with both of hers. “So good of you to see me on such short notice.”

“Not at all,” Humphreys said, trying to keep from sounding pinched. “I only regret that I could not arrange a reception more appropriate to your station. Please, sit down.”

Magestrix Centrella perched on the edge of a chair in a smooth motion. She leaned slightly forward as she sat, looking eager to speak with him. Humphreys knew the pose was calculated, one of hundreds of tricks learned over a lifetime as heir apparent and magestrix, but it was effective nonetheless. He could not help but feel flattered at her clear interest in talking to him.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” she was saying. “I realize my visit was unexpected. Honestly, I didn’t even expect it myself. I was traveling from Sian to Canopus when I happened to receive a message from Ambassador Rickard detailing his meeting with you. While I fully understand and even sympathize with your position, I could not help but think if we could get together and talk, just the two of us, without intermediaries, we might be able to work through some of the difficulties and come to a better understanding.”

She had put a special emphasis on the words “just the two of us” that Humphreys had not failed to notice, and it had the intended effect. But he was still rational enough to realize her speech was, to put it politely, a gentle shading of the truth. Leaders of large nations, even nations in the Periphery, simply do not happen onto another nation’s capital planet on a whim. She was on Andurien for a specific purpose, but she wanted to pretend it was an informal social call.

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