Mask of the Sphinx: Outlanders, Book 30 by James Axler

Author:James Axler [Axler, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2022-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

Grant, Kane and DeFore all eyed the tall woman suspiciously. “It’s a little late to try to swing us to your side, Erica,” Grant told her. “Your bitch of a baroness, Beausoleil, tortured me with an infrasound wand not too long ago. You might have forgotten that, but I haven’t.”

“I’m not trying to recruit you,” Erica responded crisply. “I’m simply stating a fact. But without the support of Sam, your insurrectionist work against the barons is doomed to failure.”

“I think you’re forgetting,” Kane intoned in a low voice, “that Sam tops our list of targets.”

The tall, violet-eyed woman shook her head. “You are such fools. Sam will rule with compassion. He has no desire to see the people of the world suffer any longer. There is no need for the humans and hybrids to live apart, and Sam will insure that with your help, and others who are drawn to our cause, that a new age will be ushered in.”

Grant rolled his eyes and groaned, “Oh, for the love of—”

Erica pressed on, speaking with such confidence and reverence, the outlanders knew it was a rehearsed speech for the benefit of the rulers of Aten. “Sam was born to unite the nine baronies under his leadership, and eventually unite the world. In the end, we will answer to the imperator, and the imperator alone.”

Mavati chuckled. “Countless despots and dictators have said those exact same words throughout history. My own grandfather for one.”

Erica sighed and rubbed her hands together. “Perhaps. But unlike them, Sam is not ruled by his own thirst for power. He follows the great plan.”

Mavati’s eyes burned hotly as she gazed intently at Erica van Sloan. “So you said when you arrived. But no matter what you say, power breeds only a thirst for more power.”

“Exactly,” Kane said, relieved that he appeared to have a sympathizer in Mavati. “He’d want to add your city to his list of holdings.”

Erica didn’t appear to have heard him, but she said, “Would it help our position to strike a treaty that would keep your kingdom safe for all time? We have no interest in annexing Aten, unlike the baronies, who would only absorb it into their territories and enslave your people.”

She gestured to Kane, DeFore and Grant. “They can offer you nothing except to involve you in bloodshed and struggles with barons that would put Aten at risk of being discovered.”

“And you wouldn’t?” Grant demanded, sweeping a hand toward the imperial soldiers. “You already brought Sam’s forces here.”

Mavati scowled. “Enough of this. All proposals will be given serious and due consideration…but in the council chambers, not here.”

Erica tilted her head slightly. “As you wish. I’ll be in my chambers until I am summoned.”

Her tone of voice was so calculatedly contrite, so unctuous, Kane could barely control his gag reflex. Gesturing imperiously to her soldiers, she left the chamber. When she was gone, Decard asked, “Mavati, why does your mother listen to her? Even I can tell she’s not to be trusted, and I don’t have psi abilities.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.