Empire at Gloran by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781644703144
Publisher: Knotted Road Press

TWENTY-SEVEN

RAN FLAGSHIP URUMCHI

Kohahu wasn’t acting as a representative of the RAN today. Heather had asked her to entertain Frigate-Captain Zaman while an emergency meeting of only the local cruiser captains took place. And to do so as the Personal Representative of the Shogun.

So she had on the crimson and gold of Kugosu instead of the black and green of Aquitaine. Just changing uniforms had put her mind in a different place. Almost back to when Lord Morninghawk had stepped onto the deck at Ellariel-jo and saved the entire Hegemony from imploding. Or being swept away by the tides of history.

She wondered if Heather appreciated that. Worse, if the woman had planned it. Little got past Heather Lau.

Kohahu waited in a small, private lounge forward. Two comfortable chairs and a table with a tea set between them. Not all that far from the arboretum where Heather had met earlier with Zaman. Kohahu was alone, but a marine guarded the door outside, as she was here in an official capacity, rather than an officer-trainee like Shingo, over on Storm Petrel.

Knuckles rapped smartly on the hatch, a moment before it opened. Kohahu rose as Frigate-Captain Zaman entered. She had seen the woman officer at the first reception, but not spoken with her. At the time, it hadn’t seemed important, as Zaman was part of Gloran’s Penal Fleet.

Only later had Kohahu learned some facet of the truth. From Heather. Which was why, Kohahu suspected, Heather had insisted that they meet.

Kohahu was tall. Almost as tall as Heather. Frigate-Captain Zaman was shorter. Medium height for a Gloran woman. They both had broad shoulders and muscles, even more so than Heather did.

Was every comparison Kohahu would make centered on Heather Lau? So it seemed.

At the same time, Heather set a high bar. People meeting that were worthy of knowing.

Kohahu bowed her head in welcome as Zaman entered, the various marines remaining outside to give them their illusion of privacy. Kohahu had no doubts that the room was monitored. Maybe not every word spoken, but a cry for help or a scream would set off some alarm.

But they were alone.

“Frigate-Captain Zaman, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Kohahu said. “I am technically Lady Kugosu in formal company, but please, call me Kohahu.”

They shook hands across the table where Kohahu had tea steeping. The timing was perfect.

“Kohahu,” Zaman replied, nervous for reasons that Kohahu could not identify as yet. “I am Frigate-Captain Kira Zaman. Kira, please.”

“Kira,” Kohahu nodded again. She gestured. “Please, sit. The tea is ready.”

They sat. Tea was poured and began to cool as it warmed fine, porcelain mugs that Phil and Heather had supplied, with the RAN logo on one side and the patch of Urumchi on the other, a square tower with a wall to one side and an open gate, signifying the start of the ancient, fabled Silk Road and the Great Wall of China that had once spanned the entire northern frontier.

Kira noted that and studied it.

“Heather told me that you had temporarily enlisted as an officer in the Aquitaine fleet,” Kira said.

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