Part 14 (1/2)

Pete came in, looking about the room. ”You brought Don Michaels here, Father?”

Waern shook his head. ”He came. He insisted on talking to you, Petoen.

And I find he is very persuasive.”

”Oh.” Pete turned. ”I'm sorry, Don. Father thought that I----”

Don laughed shortly. ”He was right--to some extent. But I'd like to talk to both of you about a few things.”

He moved back, to perch on the edge of a heavily carved table.

”Let's look at it this way. I got into trouble over the affair. Not good, of course, but what happened to me is just one small incident.

All over Oredan, good intentioned people have things happening to them.

Sometimes, they're pretty serious things--like someone getting killed.

And they usually can't figure out what hit them. These things happen pretty often. Why?”

Waern looked uncomfortable, but said nothing. Don looked at him curiously.

”Do you really think, Mr. Waern, that you can sit here in peace? That if you ignore this whole mess, it'll go away?”

Jasu Waern spread his hands. ”What dare I do? My brother was trying to do something. He is gone.”

”True. He tried to clean up a little here and fix a little there. And that only in one city. He didn't come boldly out and demand. He was playing on the edge of the board, not in the center. A king could do much more than that.”

Waern looked at him, shaking his head.

”Yes, I know about the succession,” Don told him. ”And why shouldn't you demand? You could get the support of the hill tribes. All you need do is ask.”

”I have thought of that. Perhaps we should have done that--once. But now? After my brother's death? And what could the hillmen do against the weapons of the plains?”

Don smiled at him. ”Would the hillmen believe the stories about your brother in the face of your personal denial before their own council?

Would they accept such a thing about any of the Waernu unless it were proven by strong evidence? Yours is one of the clans, even yet, you must remember. And how about the honor of the Waernu?”

Jasu's face was suddenly drawn. Don continued.

”And would the plainsmen dare use their weapons against a legitimate claimant? For that matter, what good would their weapons be against a Federation Strike Group, even if they did use them?”

”You seem so sure.”

”Not just sure. Certain.” Don glanced at his watch, then frowned.

”We've lost a lot of time.” His voice sharpened.

”Come on,” he snapped. ”My sportster will carry three people. Let's get out of here while we can still make it.” He made shooing motions.

Waern moved toward the door, then turned.