The Last Hawk by Catherine Asaro

Author:Catherine Asaro [Asaro, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2006-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

Late-morning light poured into the Hall of Teotec through its arched windows. Jahlt looked out over the Managers arrayed around the Opal Table. "Based on the Council recommendations, it is my decision to impose no new tariffs on the Shazorla wines."

No surprise there, Ixpar thought. As Minister, Jahlt could have vetoed the tariff vote, but she let it stand. The next vote was different; a motion concerned with the support of an entire Estate could neither be overridden by Jahlt nor passed without a majority.

"We now address the Wardship of the Miesa Plateau," Jahlt said. "Placing a diamond cube is a vote of yea to moving the title of Ward from Miesa to Karn. The obsidian cube is a vote of nay and the crystal ring is an abstain." She turned to Ixpar. "Proceed."

Ixpar poised her quill over her scroll. "Tehnsa?"

Instead of placing a vote, the Tehnsa Manager said, "Tehnsa will follow its Primary of Viasa." When Ixpar called the other two Secondary Estates, Evisa and Lasa, they also deferred to their Primaries.

Ixpar turned to Savina. "Miesa?"

Savina lifted her hand. For an incredible instant it hovered over the crystal ring. Then she picked up the obsidian cube and set it in the center of the table.

No Miesa surprises after all, Ixpar thought, hiding her disappointment as she noted Savina's move on her scroll. "Viasa?"

Khal Viasa set a crystal ring by the Miesa cube. "Viasa abstains."

The Tehnsa Manager placed her ring. "Tehnsa follows Viasa."

Another disappointment. At least Viasa hadn't voted with Varz. "Ahkah?" Ixpar asked.

The Ahkah Manager placed an obsidian cube. "Nay."

The Lasa Manager placed her black cube. "Lasa follows its Primary."

Ixpar was growing worried. If Henta Bahvla abstained, Karn would lose the vote. "Bahvla?"

Henta gave Savina a look of apology. Then she placed a diamond cube on the Table. "Bahvla votes yea."

Dahl voted with the Ministry, as did Shazorla and its Secondary Eviza. Rashiva's successor, an adolescent girl, placed the black cube for Haka. After Varz and Karn played their dice, the vote was done; five diamond cubes, five obsidian cubes, and two crystal rings sat on the table.

Jahlt spoke. "The pattern is clear. The vote remains deadlocked."

Avtac Varz smiled.

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.