The Contract

24: Return from the Edge

Twenty-Four: Return from the Edge

The Granite Office was the seat of the President of the United Archipelago, a magnificent space lined with grey mottled granite and dominated by a black granite desk, marked with a few iridescent inclusions, poised to a mirror sheen. The Archipelago Flag hung behind the black leather chair of the President, which was occupied by the precise shape of Viggo Grimborn, signing Presidential Orders with a flourish. He barely looked up as the door opened and three shapes walked in.

"Ah-Vice President Winger," he said smoothly. "I have been expecting you. I trust this is to do with Drago Bludvist's trial?" Atali Winger planted her hands on her hips and sighed.

"I regret I have another matter of equal severity to report," she said and Viggo finally looked up.

"Oh?"

"We have located the fugitive, Ryker Grimborn-hiding at your home," she told him as he gave an exaggerated sigh.

"My brother knows my home well and I am certain he would find it easy to..." he began but Atali shook her head.

"He was in your kitchen making breakfast-and had been sleeping in a guest bed upstairs," she added. "I doubt you would have failed to notice him, sir." Viggo steepled his fingers and leaned forward.

"Family is family," he explained. "That comes above all."

"Indeed," Astrid said as she walked forward. "Three years ago, the village of Jaegerby was annihilated by the men of Oswald Oswaldson. Not one single person escaped alive. And among the families that were wiped from existence...were the whole Grimborn family." Viggo stiffened.

"A fact I am not unaware of," he said tightly. "If that is all, I have a million things to do..."

"It's not," Atali said quietly.

"At the same time, Drago Bludvist was fighting Oswald in the polls...and of course, he won by a landslide," Eret continued, his delivery smooth and assured. "His Vice President and running mate saw the opportunity to eliminate the man who had wiped out his entire family, his home village. He raised the matter of Oswald at an extraordinary meeting of the new Cabinet. His demands for a final solution to Oswald was rejected."

Viggo's hand slid slowly across the desk towards the drawer and the concealed gun.

"Undeterred, he amended the cabinet minutes and issued the executive Order in Drago Bludvist's name to Heimdallr Black Ops Unit-and its finest sniper, Lieutenant Hiccup H Haddock," Astrid continued. "He proceeded with the mission as if it were authorised by the President...because as far as he was concerned, it was. You know, we thought it was Bludvist eliminating a Presidential rival...but it was too soon in his reign to make such a decisive move that even the dimmest voter would realise was a very large step towards despotism. We never considered that Oswald's death itself would be for revenge. Yet that's what it was-murder using the instruments of Government an the Armed Forces to take your vengeance on the evil man who killed your family."

"I am afraid you are mistaken..." Viggo interrupted her.

"Every digital transaction leave a trace-even after two and a half years," Astrid told him evenly. "And we had security footage showing you at the very console at the time the minutes were overwritten and the 'Presidential Order' was issued. I am afraid there is no mistake."

"You really cannot imagine how terrible it was to find them strewn like dead livestock, the homes burned and everything gone!" Viggo snapped. "A thousand years of history of my Hunter clan-erased. Ryker and I were the only ones left. And of course he would never betray me-family is above everything. But one of us had to go with him when he made his move and we knew I had to remain separate so I could assume power once he was impeached...so Ryker 'joined' him. And escaped when it all went south. Even if he overdid his acting..."