Impact Velocity (The Physics of Falling) by Leah Petersen

Author:Leah Petersen [Petersen, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragon Moon Press
Published: 2014-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

I was installed as Regent to the twenty-third ruler of the Empire. Whoever that would be.

iv31

I didn’t stay late at the coronation feast. My mind whirled with all that had happened in so short a time. Queen Aliana’s words rang in my ears. I retreated to the emperor’s office and sank into the chair at the large desk, but turned my back to it, staring out at the ocean through the expanse of windows. The night sky was bright and brilliant and less frightening here than it had been for me in many years.

It was an excellent room for painting. I always had admired the light.

I was stalling, I knew it. The triumph and headiness of power that had made me almost giddy only hours before had waned, and doubts were creeping back in. I didn’t want to admit even to myself how much her words had shaken me. I forced myself to turn the chair until I faced the desk squarely, though I didn’t take my hands off the armrests.

The throne might be more impressive, the symbol, but this was where the real ruling of the empire took place. I had been in this room many times but always on the other side of the desk. If I’d ever entertained notions of switching places, they felt now like a little boy’s dreams. The sort of nonsense we live within as children—harmless but impossible fantasies.

I looked down at the desk. Scrolling readouts, open documents and reports were scattered across the digital surface, like a deck of playing cards. If I let my eyes unfocus, it almost looked like a movie playing. The Story of the Empire. The story of the rule of the House of Blaine.

I shivered and then, angry at myself for weakness, I lay my palms flat and began examining reports with a feverish intensity.

In the notification area, a persistent blinking finally caught my attention and I opened the waiting message.

The face of Rikhart IV appeared. “Hello, Your Excellence.”

I catapulted out of my chair, my heart racing. I stared, wide-eyed as a mischievous grin spread across his face. “Still sounds strange, doesn’t it? You get used to it. Though every now and then it still throws me.”

I looked at the timestamp on the recording: more than seven years ago.

“There’s a long tradition of each imperial ruler leaving a message for his successor. I hope very much that I’m talking to my own child, but as I’ve only just gotten married, and haven’t broached the subject of children with Jake yet,” he smiled almost shyly, “I know it’s possible that I’m not. So I won’t assume.” He grimaced but then smiled.

“In any case, the purpose of this message is twofold. First, when this message closes, it will open up your private access portal, which will let you into everything in the empire, no exceptions.” He grinned. “Including the private network the upper nobility thinks we don’t know about.” My mouth nearly fell open.

“It’s more technical than I can

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