Nadir

Posted on Sun Mar 23rd, 2025 @ 4:11am by Commander Kevin Lance

1,391 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The days of our lives
Location: Amar VI
Timeline: Current

on:
{Cargo Bay, Jubilant Embrace}

“You are insane,” Garvik roared, “It will never work!”

“That is my problem,” Kevin replied, “Will you back my move?”

“My obligation is to take revenge upon the House of Duras for the killing of Lurkan,” Garvik say, folding his arms.

“You won’t have a chance until Rurik releases D’rown,” Kevin countered, “Not without creating a blood feud between Har’lock and Noggra.”

Garvik growled lowly but did not answer.

“Until then,” Kevin continued “we have a mission to complete.”

“You have a mission, human,” Garvik objected.

“The whole purpose of getting Lurkan betrothed to Shan’nara,” Kevin reasoned, “was to strengthen Noggra’s alliance on the High Council by keeping the House of Har’lock out of the enemy’s camp. We can still achieve that but I need your backing.”

Garvik considered Kevin’s plan. Honor demanded that he immediately avenge the death of Lurkan but the human was correct. Killing D’rown while he was in the custody of the House of Har’Lock would be a dishonor that they would be obligated to repay. The leader of the House of Noggra thought that the union was so important that he had offered his grandson and he would be upset if House of Har’lock were united with an enemy in addition to the murder of Lurkan. The plan was risky but it gave Garvik an honorable path to fulfilling Noggra’s wishes and avenging Lurkan.

“Then you shall have it,” Garvik snarled.

{Great Hall, House of Har'lok}

Later that morning, Kevin found himself standing once again with Garvik and the other escorts at the back of the hall. He was again disguised and in full Klingon "battle rattle" but this time he hidden beneath his tunic a copy of the Great Seal of the House of Rasmehlier, as did the other members of the deceased Lurkan's entourage. He didn't want to tip his hand to the other Klingon factions before he was ready.

As Rurik moved feebly to his throne on the dais, Kevin could see why Shadow believed that he wouldn't live another month. Void, Kevin thought, he will be lucky to see the beginning of the next week. The hall was silent as the elderly and infirmed Klingon settled himself.

"At Lord Rurik's command," the steward announced in his clarion voice, "routine business will be dispensed with this morning. The only issue to be addressed is the betrothal of his granddaughter and heir Shan'nara. After due consideration of the proposals made and much time spent in vigil to Kahless, Lord Rurik has selected..."

"A moment!" Kevin shouted to the steward. He had removed the skull prosthetic and the holographic disguise dropped away immediately, revealing his true self in all his pale skinned and blond-hair glory. "Given the incident yesterday, there is one more proposal to place before the Lord of the House of Har'lok."

There were loud murmurings from the other factions in the hall but above the sudden din, accusations of treachery and deception abound. Kevin's plan relied, perhaps too heavily, on surprise and speed of execution so he ignored the indictments and let Garvik response that if the other factions were too lazy or so easily deceived, it was their own fault.

"I am Kevin Lance, son of Sergi, mate to Lady Rasmehlier and representative of the Great House of Rasmehlier," he shouted as he displayed the House's great seal. Being an official representative was a bit of a stretch and he wasn't confident that Mira would honor the commitment that he was about make. He had spent most of the previous evening and night considering alternative courses of action. This one seemed to be the only one that would work.

There were objections to his presence and Kevin could practically feel the daggers that the other factions undoubtedly wanted to plunge into his back. The steward banged his staff to regain order and once it was quite, Lord Rurik weakly said, "Har'lok greets Rasmehlier."

The murmuring returned although in a much quieter tone. "I propose a union between our two great houses."

"To whom?" a Klingon shouted from the crowd behind, "IF you are mated to Lady Rasmehlier you can not present yourself for betrothal to Shan'nara."

Kevin ignored the slight and continued on, "I am authorize to propose betrothal of Shan'nara to..." he had to stop himself from saying 'our', "...Lady Rasmehlier's son and heir, Kolar Rodale." Again, Kevin was careful to omit the boy's last name. This would go much easier if the Klingons assumed that Kolar was the child from Mira's first marriage to her Klingon husband.

Rurik perked up. Marriage to the House of Noggra was a convenience but to ally with the House of Rasmehlier was a dream beyond reach...until now.

"If the House of Rasmehlier intended to propose," the steward asked, "why did the boy would not present himself to make the proposal?"

"The House of Rasmehlier supported Larkan's application such that there was little need for Lady Rasmehlier or her son to present themselves. The unfortunate incident yesterday and the need to conclude this betrothal quickly is to blame for the unusual nature of the application" Rurik's acceptance of Kevin authority was the edge of the blade upon which his gambit would either succeed or fail.

"Liar!" one of the envoys from the House of Duras shouted, "You can not make such an application."

Kevin turned coldly to the representative from the House of Duras and asked, "Do you formally challenge my authority?"

Lurkan's mistake had been to be goaded into making the challenge and giving his opponent the choice of weapons. Kevin was careful to avoid doing the same. The weight of the heavy stones in his pocket were reassuring as he intended to select them should he be challenged. It was archaic and barbaric, even by Klingon standards, but using them to smash each other's brains out was legitimate. If it was good enough for Kahless' ancestors, the reasoning went.

Additionally, Kevin was relying on an educated guess that D'rown had been the best fighter amongst the Duras delegation and with him in custody, it would fall to one of his minions to make the challenge. And there was a chance that the surprise of his proposal would put them so far off of their game that a little intimidation would be enough to keep the challenge from being made. Kevin drew himself up to his full height and puffed his chest out. Still, he was inwardly relieved as he felt the presence of Garvik and one of the other guards flanking him.

The Klingon from the House of Duras looked back and forth between Kevin and Gavrik and the steward observing the exchange. There was a tense moment that Kevin feared he would need to fight but the Klingon merely threw up a hand and snarled in disgust.

A wave of weakness threatened to buckle Kevin's knees as the tension in his body released and turned back to the Rurik and the steward on the dais. "I will not waste time with an unnecessary recitation of the glories of the House of Rasmehlier," he said, "and will merely point out that a union will be advantageous to both." It was a much better deal for Rurik than for Mira and truth be told, Kevin couldn't list any of the House's glorious deed if his life depended on it. The less he said on the matter the better.

The steward was clearly disappointed at the brevity of Kevin's application but he leaned down towards Rurik and the two were deep in conversation. Kevin locked his eyes to the front, an expression of disdain for the threat that the other Klingons represented, hoping that Garvik's presence would be enough to keep the foolish at bay. Finally, Rurik and the steward broke their council.

"After due consideration of the proposals made and in light of the unusual circumstances surrounding this most recent application, Lord Rurik has agreed to the betrothal of Shan'nara to the heir of the House of Rasmehlier."

The hall once again broke out in pandemonium but Kevin wasn't listening. He was too engrossed with his own thoughts.

"Mira is going to kill me," he muttered.

:off

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

 

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