The Rebel of Rhada by Robert Cham Gilman

learned to be cautious, not warlike. Is the Emperor well?”
    Landro inclined his head. “Well and waiting to receive you.”
    “And is that why I was met by a regiment of Imperials?” Kier asked quietly.
    “These are troubled times, cousin. Any starship landing so far from the walls is apt to be met with--precautionary measures.”
    “And now that you know it is only the loyal Rhad, you’ll withdraw your troops, of course.”
    “The Emperor will give the order himself, no doubt,” Landro said with a strange and nervous laugh.
    Here, then, was the moment of truth, thought Kier. To refuse to accompany Landro would be to confirm himself indeed as The Rebel of Rhada. Caution and deep suspicions of the Imperial urged him to withdraw to the security of his starship and depart. But to do so would mean rebellion, war between Rhada and the Empire, and possibly the premature death of all that Kier’s father Aaron, Glamiss the Magnificent, Kier himself, and half a hundred loyal star kings had sought to create: a rebirth of Empire, perhaps the foundations of another Golden Age.
    “I am here to escort you to Torquas and the Regent, cousin,” Landro said.
    Kier’s war mare pranced nervously, showing her teeth.
    “A moment, Landro,” Kier said, and turned his mount to canter back to the Rhadan perimeter. Nevus, dismounted, walked reluctantly to his stirrup and looked up, anxiety on his bearded face.
    “We will go with him now, Nevus,” Kier said. “You have your instructions.”
    Nevus touched his king’s mailed wrist. “May God protect you, sir.”
    Kier signaled Cavour and Gret to join him, and the three trotted their animals through the lines to where Landro waited, now flanked by a wing of his guardsmen.
    “My greetings, Cavour,” Landro said. He did not speak to Gret. The Vegans had exterminated all their Vulks a generation ago, and their prejudice made them suffer in the presence of the strange creatures.
    The guardsmen formed files on either side, and the party cantered through the massed Imperials and Nyori to the city gate.
    Cavour said, “Think what it must be, Gret, actually to live on this tel, where every foot of ground must hold some ancient secret.”
    The Vulk, riding close behind his young star king, turned his blind, wise face to the warlock and said, “Yes, many things are buried here. Mysteries and artifacts--and trusting men.”
    Cavour grunted. He could hear Landro nattering foolishly to Kier, giggling his tremulous laugh. Behind them, the armored ranks of the Vegan Imperials closed so that when the warlock turned to look, he could see the great hull of their starship seemingly afloat on a sea of conical helmets and menacing spears.
     
     

5
     
    In the second decade of the Second Stellar Empire, stealth and political chicanery contrived to enlarge the Vegan garrison of the capital to a point where Landrite troops were very nearly Praetorian in their influence. Surrounded by the Veg, the Vykan Dynasty stood in mortal danger.
    Nv. Julianus Mullerium, The Age of the Star Kings, middle Second Stellar Empire period
     
    Who has a Vegan for a friend has no need of an enemy.
    Proverb, early Second Stellar Empire period
     
    The ride through the streets of Nyor began as a progress, but once within the walls, the Rhadan sensed the change. The way was lined with Vegan Imperials, far more than courtesy demanded. And these were skirmishers, light-armored men, each with a drawn crossbow across his saddle.
    The people of Nyor, who had cheered Kier and his party outside the gate, now stood silently, sensing that they might be witnesses to some great treachery, but helpless to prevent it.
    The rain fell in a steady, gentle drizzle out of a high gray sky, and Cavour murmured, “This is headsman’s weather, King.”
    If Landro heard, he gave no sign.
    Kier said, “Do you need so many troops to control the Nyori, Landro?”
    “Why would you think that, Kier?” the Veg said easily. “We only seek to do you