Sacrifice

Chapter 34 - The Offer

Kalli re-entered the manor as quietly as a ghost, hoping that Feyalnna wouldn't see or remark on her unusual dress. She was about to pass her father's study when the light came on and she froze.

"Well dir Liran, the truth is that you've been put in a very peculiar position."

Her father had a visitor, but Kalli didn't recognize the voice.

"And what position would that be?" Lord dir Liran inquired.

"Your post as Chancellor of the City gives you unique access to and control over all portions of the city, no matter who inhabits them," came the voice.

"That is true."

Kalli's father answered as she eased herself into a shadowed corner in case someone left the office.

"But I have been in that position for years."

"Indeed," was the answer, "but given how close your daughter has come to the Crown Prince, our group has become more confidence that you can be trusted with delicate matters, such as the venture we're planning."

"My daughter is eager to please her sovereigns in any way that she can," murmured her father. "As am I."

"I'm glad to hear that." The voice now became brisk and more business-like. "As I'm sure you're aware, there are certain—peoples—within the city walls who have entered into business with the Emperor and some of his closest courtiers. They have been less than honest in their dealings, and recently the Emperor has grown concerned with the amount of leverage that they are able to employ. We would prefer that this problem be dealt with quickly, quietly and ... permanently. Something that has been made a good deal more difficult with the recent changes to the Princely Project."

There was a crinkling sound that Kalli recognized as the flexible crystal sheets often used by architects and engineers.

There were a couple of minutes of silence, and then her father spoke again. "I see that the solution you have devised is indeed permanent. How will any, awkward, questions be answered?"

There was a hard laugh, and then the owner of the other voice spoke again. "What makes you think that there is anybody who would care enough to ask questions? This is practically a public service akin to removing vermin."

"I couldn't agree more," Kalli's father answered with feeling.

"So, you'll assist?" asked the voice.

"Of course, simply leave the plans with me, and I'll see it is done," Kalli's father said. "Now let me have the servants bring us a drink in the parlour before you leave."

Kalli squeezed even further back into her crevice, as her father and his guest left the office. Once they had descended the staircase she started to head back to her rooms, but as she passed by the open door, she saw that the plans she had heard unfolded had been left on her father's desk.

A slow knot formed in Kalli's gut as she replayed in her mind the words she had heard. Kalli knew that her father had had less than reputable dealings in the past, but what she had just heard sounded even worse.

Kalli was frozen in indecision. The larger part of her argued that she was powerless in her father's schemes and that it would be better for her to stay away from them least she provoke his anger. A very small part, though, was standing there looking down on the rest of her with disapproval. Then the two sides of her reached a compromise. She would go and just take a peek; after all, peeking didn't mean that she had to DO anything. With every sense alert, she eased her way into the office and looked at the plans lying on the desk.

Much to her relief they made no sense to her. The left side of the plans was dark so she pulled a blank sheet of crystal from a shelf and pressed it to the plans laid out on her father's desk. For a moment the top sheet went black and then it cleared leaving the same set of plans on the top sheet as was on the original below. She eased her way back out of the office and then ran as fast as she could to the safety of her rooms.