House of Lust by Tony Roberts Page A

whose mental faculties were starting to unravel.  The man should have been retired the previous year, but Astiras was keeping him on out of a sense of gratitude.
    Back in the castle, Vosgaris looked at the wax-sealed edict from Astiras, written by Pepil, the major domo.  Pepil was curious and looked quizzically at the order.  Vosgaris had shrugged and kept his mouth shut.  Pepil wasn’t known for his discretion, and Vosgaris distrusted the slimy kivok anyway.  He was too obsequious and fawning, smiling when it wasn’t necessary.  He never trusted anyone who smiled that much.  Nobody should do so, ever.
    He went to his office and waved the Order in Alenna’s face.  “I’m seconded to the emperor for the foreseeable future, darling.  Got to do some secret project for him.  Nobody is to know, including you, what it’s about.”
    “Oh,” Alenna’s face fell.  “Does that mean you’ll be away somewhere for a time?”
    “Possibly.  For the moment I’m to stay here so you’ll still have my company to enjoy,” he smiled.  “My immediate replacement is General Teduskis.”
    Alenna didn’t look impressed.  “He’s getting terribly forgetful.  I’m going to constantly have to remind him of things!”
    “Keep a written record, sweetheart.  Sorry, but the emperor ordains it.”
    “Pah.  Favouritism.  He criticised my family for that, yet here he is doing it himself!”
    “Alright,” Vosgaris said soothingly, “don’t start that, or you might have your job taken away from you and you being replaced by some ignorant illiterate from this town.”
    “After all the work I’ve done to get it up in order?  Agh!  Alright, I’ll keep my peace, but you’ll be moaned at each evening.”
    “Just how I like you,” Vosgaris grinned rakishly.
    “Oh!  You….” Alenna gasped, going red.
    Vosgaris chuckled, then kissed her full on the mouth.  They held it for a long time, then he pulled away with regret and slipped the sealed letter into his jacket.  “Right, off I go to prep the good old general.  He should be along shortly.  I think he likes his klee quite sweet.”
    “What am I, his personal servant?” Alenna demanded as Vosgaris reached the door. 
    Her husband blew a kiss and left, propelled on his way by a scream of frustration.  He made his way swiftly to Teduskis’ personal room, a small chamber at the end of the passageway, and knocked.  He got permission to enter, and shut the door behind him.  The room was homely, well furnished, and cluttered.  Teduskis had a bed against the far corner and chests along another wall.  Narrow slits looked out onto the countryside and a small opening in the far wall led to a garderobe.  Simple, unpretentious.
    “Yes, Captain?” Teduskis asked, getting up from the only chair in the room by a small writing desk.  “What is it?”
    “General, I have been asked by the emperor to conduct an enquiry.  I have his authority here,” and he passed it to the curious man, who was grey-haired, his face lined with age.  A man whose health was visibly fading.  He had to angle the paper against the light coming in from the slit, and peered closely at the lettering.  His eyesight was getting bad. “Oh.  What sort of enquiry?  I would have thought Astiras ask me first.”
    Vosgaris smiled briefly.  “General, my post includes security of Zofela so it was natural he would seek out myself rather than you.  I understand you’ve not been feeling that well recently, too.  I believe he thinks you should be allowed to rest as much as possible before being given new tasks.”  The captain had no idea whether this was true or not; Teduskis was getting too forgetful and short-sighted these days to be trusted with any responsible job.
    “Ah, yes.  That’s thoughtful of him.  He’s always thought kindly of me.  He’s a good man, Captain, and one day might even make emperor.”
    Vosgaris caught himself before he corrected the elderly man.  He looked