reaction he’d expected from the moment he stepped aboard. He was just surprised it had taken this long.
“Computer open long-range channel to the Keran’vuis, and General M’rln.”
Nyek’s eyes widened fractionally at the order. It was well-known that the K’Vass were favored by the empire, but he hadn’t thought Danaar would be well-connected enough to have a direct channel to the Emperor’s champion himself. General Xaandril M’rln was a legend, a hero of the Battle of the Nine Wastes. Most war commanders would be bowing and scraping if such an honored warrior deigned to answer their call but not Danaar.
As soon as the general appeared on screen, his short hair mussed and his expression decidedly unimpressed, Danaar barked.
“What the draanth do you think you’re doing sending me a Vesh?”
“Hello to you as well, War Commander. How are you today?” the general snapped back sarcastically.
Danaar grumbled, shooting a dire look at Nyek as he was forced to remember his manners. “Apologies, deshenal, I forget myself. I hope you and your mate are having a fortuitous day.”
“We are indeed. Thank you for asking.” The general inclined his head. “And likewise to you and your mate. Now... what is so important that you deem it necessary to contact me over long-range?”
Danaar growled and waved toward Nyek at the other side of the chamber. “I understand that my previous conduct warranted some repercussions, but to assign a Vesh as my second in command? Surely the emperor trusts me more than that?”
He obviously wasn’t intended to be part of this conversation, so Nyek didn’t comment. He merely stood there as his stomach lurched. He hadn’t been sent here to be dishonored as he’d thought… He’d been promoted? To second in command for a war commander?
The elation and pride died a quick death, though. If he hadn’t been Vesh maybe Danaar would have been welcoming him. But, as he was, Danaar looked as though he’d like nothing more than to kick Nyek off the ship without a shuttle.
Picking a spot on the wall, Nyek focused on it. He was used to this, at least he should be by now. It was an oft-repeated scene, the fury of his new assignment commander when they realized what he was. For even the most enlightened of Lathar, even the blessing of the goddess wasn’t enough to endear him to them. The stain of the Vesh, the ritual of atonement, was never-ending, even though he’d passed it and been granted life.
General M’rln’s expression didn’t alter. “Nyek S’Vaan is a good warrior, from an honored traditionalist background, and the emperor considered him a good fit for your second.”
“Trall!” Danaar spat. “This is a punishment, pure and simple. I could have promoted any number of solid and honorable K’Vass warriors.”
Nyek’s fists clenched at the unwitting slur against his honor. He had honor. That’s why he’d undertaken the ritual of judgment. His past sins were too many for anyone but the goddess herself to forgive and so she had. No one else could make a judgment on him... and yet they did. All the time. No doubt within the hour, he would be reassigned away from the Izal’vias.
“And that right there is the problem.” The general’s voice was like a whip, stern but fair. “There have been grumblings that too much favor is shown to the K’Vass, and the emperor wishes to address these concerns. Appointing a non-K’Vass warrior as your second will go a long way at court.”
At that Nyek couldn’t help his eyebrow winging up. If that was the reason behind his assignment, the emperor had played a blinder. Not only was he not K’Vass and about as far from being in the favor of the royal clan as it was possible to get, he hailed from a clan so traditionalist they were a hairsbreadth from turning purist and declaring Ursal-Kai the one true god.
“It is the will of the emperor then?” Danaar didn’t sound happy about it, eyeing Nyek with, if not outright distaste, at least dislike.
“It is, and mine as well. And, if you’ll recall, I have a personal stake in this. You have my daughter on board with you. Do you think I would have approved an assignment that would put her in jeopardy?”
Surprise rolled through Nyek, even though he was careful not to let it show on his face. The general had a daughter? He was not aware of any females who had survived the plague, so this daughter must be another human, perhaps a foundling the general