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    An Imperial Death
    An Imperial Death
    An Imperial Death
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    An Imperial Death

    By Rob Shelsky

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    About this ebook

    Earth, locked into a degrading status quo by the Five Races, aliens determined to watch earth's civilization rot from within. But when Kavin Dubaire travels to the planet Tiartha, one of the few colonies allowed Earth, he makes a momentous discovery about the aliens. Then a new alien race triggers an interstellar war. For Kavin, Deidre von Holstead, and the whole human race, all bets are now off!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRob Shelsky
    Release dateJul 8, 2010
    ISBN9781452368023
    An Imperial Death
    Author

    Rob Shelsky

    Rob Shelsky is an avid and eclectic writer, and averages about 4,000 words a day. He has several novels to his credit and two anthologies, with two romances out now, a Regency romance, Verity, along with the sequel, Faith, and soon to come, a time-travel romance.Rob has written science fiction articles for such magazines as The Internet Review of Science Fiction, numerous articles for AlienSkin Magazine, Neometropolis, Midnight Street (UK), Doorways, and other publications. Rob has had short stories published with Jim Baen’s Universe, Aberrant Dreams, AlienSkin, Gateway SF, Fifth Dimension, Continuum SF, Sonar4, Uncial Press, Planetary Stories, Pulp Spirit Magazine, Sex & Murder, and many more. He has a novella coming out in early 2010 with Aberrant Dreams Magazine’s first hardcover edition anthology, The Awakening. Rob’s novella, Avenger Of The People, will appear there alongside the works of such sci-fi greats as Alastair Reynolds, Ian Watson, Jana Oliver, Robert Madle, and just so many others. There is even an introduction by Jack McDevitt.Rob has a short story, Green Waters, now out with Sonar4’s Phase Shift anthology, and a paranormal story, Light On The Moor, coming out with Smashwords and Amazon.com.Now, Rob Shelsky is not only a writer, but a contributing editor for Currate.com travel articles, as well as being a reviewer for Novelspot. He is also a resident science fiction columnist for AlienSkin Magazine.Although widely traveled and continuing to travel, Rob now lives in North Carolina. He enjoys contemplating ideas for new stories while watching the sunsets over the mountains and sipping a glass of red wine, preferably a decent Merlot.Oh and check out this site for my Smashword books:Ebookswelove.com

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      Book preview

      An Imperial Death - Rob Shelsky

      * * * * *

      AN IMPERIAL DEATH

      by

      Rob Shelsky

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      * * * * *

      PUBLISHED BY:

      Rob Shelsky on Smashwords

      Smashwords ISBN: 978-1-4523-6802-3

      An Imperial Death

      Copyright © 2010 by Rob Shelsky

      All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

      * * * * *

      There is one person I’d especially like to thank, because I owe him so much.

      George Kempland, I wish to acknowledge you for your loyalty, dedication, mountains of help, and always just being there for me. Again, thank you, so very much.

      * * * * *

      AN IMPERIAL DEATH

      * * * * *

      Prologue

      Once, before there was an Empire… Jebella said this in a voice that had gone sand-whispery with age. This made her hard to hear. Perhaps this was partly on purpose. Jebella often commanded with quiet where others tried to dominate with noise.

      We ceased our frolicking. One by one, we drifted over toward her and knelt in the long blue grass there. We formed a tight cluster near the base of the moss-spattered bench upon which the Great Lady sat. So still was she, this last descendant of the Marcher Lords. With skin like ivory parchment and hair of alabaster, she looked as if she were some sculpture carved of marble, just a mere extension of the very stone supporting her.

      We waited, strained to listen over the gentle breeze that blew so constantly here in this valley on the Planet Tiartha, for it was rare these years when Jebella spoke of such ancient things as empires. It was rarer still when she would speak of those times before such times.

      …and before the Sacred Moonflower bloomed for the Imperial Vasilovs, she now continued. It was as if there had been no pause at all in her speech while we had gathered.

      "In the days when aliens still troubled humanity and those others known as the Elders ruled all. Humanity labored under the grave oppression of the Status Quo. Our own distant forebears, Kavin Dubaire, and his beautiful wife, Deidre von Holstead, were the ones tricked into lifting that burden, but it was at such a terrible price…"

      Chapter 1

      A strident hissing, one dopplered with urgent warning, like a viper’s angry sound before fangs sought flesh, came from out of the darkness.

      Ssshh, the older of the two men whispered. We have company.

      Kavin nodded, not knowing if his uncle could see the gesture in such dim light, but he dared not speak. Melkor Shin-Jo was not one for needless theatrics. This caveat was real.

      Kavin heard the reason for the warning. Voices wafted from the adjacent balcony. Although he could clearly hear them, Kavin could not see who was speaking. The privacy partition hid the participants in anonymity, despite their being just a few feet away from them.

      Magnus, dear, I said not now! Somebody might come out and see us. It was a woman’s voice, low and plaintive. Kavin heard what sounded like clothing rustling and then a low throaty moan escaped into the night.

      But I need you. You know how much I need you. This was a man speaking. He sounded muffled, as if he buried his face into the woman’s neck, or elsewhere…

      A high-pitched laugh, a brittle one, floated to them on the air.

      You need me or just my money and connexions? I’m inclined to think it’s both of those last, Magnus, my dearest.

      There was a moment of loaded silence, a premonitory stillness.

      All of them, the man admitted at last. Why should I lie about it? I need and want it all, including the seat in the Grand Assembly you promised me. Will you deliver it?

      Ah, now we get to the truth. So that’s why you dragged me out here. And all this time I thought it was because you wanted to have your way with me.

      Oh, but I do. His voice was a gruff rumble, as if filled with a bowstring-taut, sexual tension. You know how I always do.

      Of course, but I don’t think we’re talking about sex now, are we? There came a melancholy sigh. It carried on the darkness to the two listening men.

      Very well, the woman said, you shall have what you want within the month. I suppose, considering everything, you’ve earned it well enough. Besides, I’ve already set the wheels in motion and called in a few favors. So you see, you didn’t have to go through this elaborate charade of pretending to want to seduce me. You needn’t have wasted your time.

      I happen to like seducing you.

      Do you, Magnus? Why don’t I quite believe that?

      You doubt me?

      There came a shrill laugh. It pierced Kavin’s ears, had a desperate and brittle note to it.

      Magnus, not only do I doubt you, but what’s more, I don’t trust you--not at all. I never have. And I assure you, I never will.

      Then why are you so willing to do all this for me? The voice sounded genuinely surprised, confused.

      There was another pause. Again, the two men heard the faint sound of clothing rustling, then the deep throaty groan of male pleasure.

      This is why, Magnus. Oh, darling, how excited you are! Whether or not you ever make it big in politics, you’re already quite big enough for me in other respects. I like that--a lot. Probably, too much, I know.

      Well, you know what they say; those that can, do, and those that can’t, watch porn of those that can. Why don’t you let me give you a live demonstration?

      Yes, of course, but not here. Someone might come out. Her voice sounded breathless now, flustered. "And you must keep your word. My Cluster must never know, not now, not ever. Betray me in this one thing and you've betrayed yourself, because I promise you, you will lose all support from me, and gain my enmity.

      Now, she added. Let’s go back inside. We’ll separate for a short while and then I’ll meet you in the Great Foyer. I think we can manage an hour or so alone together somewhere without anyone noticing. There are so many people here tonight. We shouldn’t be missed.

      It is quite the party.

      Let’s make one of our own later, shall we?

      You’ve got it, milady.

      Not yet, Magnus, but I do intend to have it. Another laugh came, a resonating, dirtier-sounding one. It faded away into the distance, as the two hidden ones must have left the balcony. Then, except for the faint sigh of the cool evening breeze, an uninterrupted silence followed.

      Well, that was interesting, Melkor said at last, and in a too-hearty tone of voice. For all their electronic suppressants, it never occurred to them that some good old-fashioned lurking and eavesdropping would give them away. What a titillating tidbit. I can use this to good advantage.

      Was that the Lady Astora Canady? Kavin was curious. It sounded like her.

      Oh, yes, it was she. There’s no mistaking that particular voice! And in all her animal glory, the corrupt bitch! More importantly, the man with her was Magnus Vasilov. I recognized his voice immediately, too. He's heir apparent to the Vasilov Cluster, for what little that's worth these days. At least, he will be if he gets his way, and judging by what we’ve just heard, I think he will.

      Well, I’ve never heard of him, or his Cluster, for that matter. Should I have?

      The older man's teeth flashed a white smile into the darkness.

      Ah, Kavin, he said, "I

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