Fracture (The Chronicles Of Discord, #1) Read online

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Tula

  Senator Burton looked at his unexpected guest in surprise. Today he was scheduled to tour the factories under Councillor Sendel’s control, but it seemed that these activities had been cancelled. Councillor Ladron sat across from him a faint frown touching his brow.

  Corbani Va Dic Ladron had decided that it would not be wise, under the circumstances, to allow Councillor Sendel anywhere near the Senator. If he thought it would help him, Sendel was bold enough to tell Senator Burton what had happened to his son.

  Corbani sighed, Sendel was becoming harder to control. He had always been too cunning by half, and ruthless along with it. As ruthless as he was himself, thought Corbani.

  For many years they had worked well together. Sendel had thirsted for power, and Corbani had been in a position to grant him that power. Sendel had been very useful; he had efficiently removed the previous Councillor of Industry when the man had opposed Corbani. Councillor Ladron had rewarded him by nominating him to take over the position on the Council.

  However, since peace talks had resumed between the Free Nation and the Tula High Council, Sendel had become bolder. Corbani knew what was in his head; his ambitious mind had seen a way to snatch leadership for himself. Yes, Sendel would have to be removed, but not yet. He could afford no suspicion at this time. He would have to wait until the diplomatic envoy had left.

  “I’m sorry to hear that Councillor Sendel is unwell, I hope it isn’t serious?”

  Corbani was pulled from his reverie by Senator Burton’s words.

  “No, just a reoccurrence of a stomach malady he suffers from.”

  “How unfortunate.”

  Something in Senator Burton’s tone gave Councillor Ladron the vague idea that he was aware that he was being lied to, just as he was aware that the Councillors did not hold equal power. Senator Burton was no fool. It was the only reason why Councillor Sendel was still alive.

  “If you still wish to tour the factories I will be happy to accompany you.” Corbani raised his eyebrows.

  “Or perhaps you would enjoy a day of rest?”

  Senator Burton shook his head.

  “Ben is visiting Astra’s house today.” He leant forward, placing his empty cup on the table between them. “It might be nice to join him.”

  Councillor Ladron froze, his cup halfway to his lips.

  “An excellent plan, you have seen very little of the day to day lives of the Tula people.” Councillor Ladron smiled. “I will arrange for your transportation, but first it would be an honour if you would lunch privately with me in my Council chambers.”

  Senator Burton inclined his head.

  “It would be my pleasure Councillor,” he accepted.

  “Excellent, if you follow me everything has been prepared.” Councillor Ladron stood. “It will be much easier for us to talk in a private place.”

  “Certainly it makes it easier to say what you really mean,” observed Senator Burton dryly.

  Councillor Ladron stiffened. The barely concealed meaning of Senator Burton’s words not lost on him.

  Senator Burton was not going to ruin his plans, he would not allow it.

  As they passed through the waiting area in front of Councillor Ladron’s office, he paused for a moment to speak with his subsidiary. The girl was very young, and had a frightened look about her, she cringed when

  Corbani stopped before her, and Senator Burton watched as she gripped the sides of the seat she was sitting on until her knuckles turned white.

  Corbani ordered her to have the kitchens send up lunch with a blithe disregard for the fact that all of this was supposed to have been prepared already.

  “And coffee while we wait, Deb, an Arabica I think,” he instructed calmly.

  Senator Burton had not thought it possible for the girl to turn any whiter, but at this point she blanched until her blusher stood out harshly pink against her white cheeks.

  “A-Arabica, sir?” she stammered breathlessly.

  Corbani's lips thinned at her question and Senator Burton saw the girl quail before his anger.

  “I... yes, Reverend Councillor.”

  Councillor Ladron motioned Senator Burton into his office with a smile.

  “Please forgive her, she substitutes for Astra but she is still in training.”

  They entered Councillor Ladron’s spacious and well lit office. At the far end of the room, two large dormer windows allowed sunlight to fill the room. It fell on the black stone walls, making them glitter.

  Everything else in the room was white. Two overstuffed suede sofas faced each other over an opaque glass coffee table. A large white-blue orb cast light from where it hung in the centre of the room. Set into a recess in the wall was a large glowing globe that gave off enough heat to make the room pleasantly warm.

  At the very end of the office was Councillor Ladron’s desk, glowing softly with the many wires embedded into its surface.

  “My computer is connected to all the Council networks,” explained Corbani, seeing the direction of Senator Burton's gaze. “Every mainframe in the Tula strongholds can be accessed from that computer.”

  Senator Burton suppressed a shudder. Corbani Va Dic Ladron was a man with too much power.

  “There is little that escapes your notice then?”

  Councillor Ladron smiled thinly.

  “I like to be aware of any problems that arise.”

  “Forearmed is forewarned,” murmured Senator Burton sarcastically.

  Councillor Ladron looked blank.

  “I'm sorry?”

  Senator Burton shook his head.

  “Nothing, it’s just an old saying,” he returned, settling himself across from Corbani on one of the sofa’s.

  Councillor Ladron watched him with an irritable twist to his features. He disliked these ‘old sayings’ of the Free Nation; he mistrusted anything he didn’t understand.

  A light rap on the door heralded the subsidiary’s arrival with Coffee. She entered the room nervously, her movements clumsy. As she placed the cups before each of the men she jarred them, spilling some of their contents into the saucers. She hesitated and looked up at Councillor Ladron in horror.

  Senator Burton felt sorry for the poor girl, but he saw a curious expression of satisfaction on Corbani’s face. His hand clenched involuntarily; Corbani was enjoying her fear, feeding on it like some twisted parasite. When she had finished she stood clutching the tray in her hands. Senator Burton thanked her, and raised the cup to his lips. The bitterness of coffee mixed with the sweetness of milk slipped smoothly over his pallet.

  “You — you did say Arabica didn’t you, Reverend Councillor?” gasped Deb nervously.

  Councillor Ladron sent her a look that could have frozen boiling water instantly.

  “Leave us, Deb.”

  The girl made a brief Tula salute before beating a graceless exit. Senator Burton watched the door close behind her, and took another sip of coffee.

  “I’ve never understood what people mean when they specify Arabica coffee,” he remarked at length.

  Councillor Ladron watched him closely before taking a meditate sip of his own drink, rolling the liquid around his mouth appreciatively.

  “There are several species in the coffee genus,” he responded, contemplating Senator Burton through half closed lids. “The two most popular are Arabica and Canephora. Canephora Robusta is bitter and less flavoursome, but it has a better body than Arabica. It is also resistant to coffee leaf rust, and can be cultivated at lower altitudes and in warmer climates. Yet for taste, nothing can beat Arabica.”

  “I see you are an expert on the subject, Councillor,” observed Senator Burton.

  “I am a firm believer in knowing ones own weaknesses thoroughly.”

  “Very wise.”

  Senator Burton moved his tongue against the roof of his mouth. It felt strange; thick and unwieldy. The coffee cup in his hand was growing heavier as though the gravity in the room was
steadily increasing. He moved to set it down on the coffee table in front of him, but his actions were slow, blurring together strangely.

  “Are you alright, Senator Burton?”

  Councillor Ladron’s voice’s sounded hollow, deep, and echoing, coming from somewhere far away.

  Senator Burton tried to talk but no words would come. Slowly he felt himself slump sideways, and was caught with surprising gentleness by Councillor Ladron. He tried to struggle, but his body was heavy and would not respond. Franticly he attempted to fight the urge to close his eyes, but the task was impossible.

  His last thought was for Ben, and what Councillor Ladron would do to his son.