Longshot Hypothesis: Shadow of the Dominion: Book 1 by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward [Ward, Blaze]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64470-068-6
Publisher: Knotted Road Press

12

Valentinian

At no point had Valentinian mentioned his previous itinerary, but he supposed that Madame Cleray’s schedule was public knowledge, if you were into that sort of thing, so people might know that they had come here directly from Dominion Prime.

And left just before news had emerged that the Dominator, the old Dominator, had been assassinated, suddenly and effectively.

Little was known publically about the upper echelons of the Solar Party and the capstone of the Dominion government himself. Valentinian supposed Qetesh Intelligence, or maybe Lei-Zu would have insights, but he was just a spacer.

So he played it as stupid as a sheep when the news exploded and every broadsheet on every table over breakfast had every dribble of news available that their sovereign lord and master was dead. Ignored the people around him when they chattered back and forth around him as breakfast was ending. And even more columns of talk were dedicated to handicapping the sudden entrants who might be admitted into the Tournament of Domination that would culminate in the next ruler.

All the news was at least two weeks out of date anyway, so nobody could do more than speculate. And Valentinian really didn’t want to take a guess at the timing that had him here.

Too much chance of truth serum in his future.

Especially now.

At least most of the information was held as a state secret. Timing wouldn’t tell anybody anything, especially since he could honestly say that the last person he talked to before he left Dominion Prime was one of the White Hats. And he would, if asked.

Anything to maintain stupid.

They were down on the surface of Aestrolathia today, having landed last night, probably about the same time that a courier dropped out of warp with the official news, once the government felt it needed to tell the population. The spies around here had probably learned just about as fast as Longshot Hypothesis had originally gotten here.

At least nobody had come to talk to him.

Valentinian was late to breakfast for the usual crowd. Right at the tail end, just before brunch people would have started to wander in. The starport where they had docked had indeed belonged to a cousin of Ahdramenites, more or less, but it was centrally located, close to the main transit hubs, and the rates were good enough.

Plus, the restaurant specialized in what they called a farmer breakfast, served all day. Heavy on carbs and meat, slathered over with gravy at the slightest excuse. Hiranur’s cooking was fantastic, but she was absolutely dedicated to keeping young girls svelte and healthy.

Sometimes a man needed drop-biscuits covered with sausage gravy and cheese, plus a couple liters of black coffee, to start his day.

Valentinian had let Dave sleep in, the planetary clock being offset some from the ship, but the man was up and walked in looking like he had just run fifteen kilometers and showered afterwards.

Valentinian considered hating him on general principles, but Dave was a good guy, as near as he could tell. Or a good enough actor to make up for it.

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