The Valkyrie Stratagem (House Adamant Book 3) by Glynn Stewart

Author:Glynn Stewart [Stewart, Glynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faolan's Pen Publishing
Published: 2025-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

At a gesture from his Pentarch, Vigo followed Lorraine into her office. No one needed to give orders to Palmer and the other member of the close detail; they swung apart to flank the door.

“You doing okay?” he asked his charge. She was off-balance, he could tell, and that was a dangerous place for her to be. For all of them.

“I’m fine,” she growled, then sighed. “No, I’m not, but I’m not wholly sure what it is. Part of me is furious at Alastair for interrupting me on the Bridge—and part of me is worried, because he shut down and hasn’t talked to me since.”

“Want me to reach out?” Vigo asked. He doubted it was a good idea—if nothing else, Alastair Devine knew perfectly well that Vigo wouldn’t get between the couple without a request from Lorraine!

“No. I think we both need a bit of time. He was pretty insistent that we keep our identity under wraps here in San Ignacio, but…” Lorraine sighed. “We need their help and we’re not going to get it by deceiving them.

“I have some faith in their discretion, but it was a risk. I hope it’s worth it.”

“So do we all,” he agreed. “But from what I can tell, San Ignacio is pretty reliable for their discretion. They won’t pretend the Valkyries weren’t here, but I don’t think they’re going to sell us out to the United Worlds.”

“That depends on what the United Worlds has to pay with,” she said grimly. “Or threaten with, as the case may be. From Alastair’s attitude about this, I can’t see the UW being gentle in their inquiries.”

“Maybe not, but I think we can at least trust the San Ignacians not to immediately send a courier to the UWN,” he pointed out. “They might come clean, faced with the right threats and bribes, but that will be later, once the Terrans have already arrived.”

“True enough.” She sighed. “Val, you had a summary of the situation back home?”

“I do,” the SI replied. “If it helps, my assessment of the archives I have access to so far agrees with Vigo Jarret’s analysis. San Ignacio may be compelled or convinced to reveal who was aboard the flotilla when my former employers are asking direct questions, but they will not provide that level of information of their own initiative.”

“It does help, I suppose.”

“Back home?” Vigo asked softly. Like his Pentarch, he needed to know so desperately, it hurt. He’d picked up a few bits and pieces, but he’d been busy while she’d slept.

“The situation in the Kingdom of Adamant appears to be complex,” Val noted. “The last news couriers left Adamantine on August twenty-fifth. The news is one hundred and two days out of date, from one hundred fifty-six days after Benjamin Adamant’s coup.

“His government continues to maintain control of the Short and Long Houses and the military, but it appears that questions about the lack of a Royal Election have been raised in both the House of the People and the House of the Realm.

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