Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

and Robert nodded formally to each other, faces utterly impassive, and then Finlay abruptly stuck out his hand. Robert shook it, after a moment’s surprise, and the two men relaxed slightly.
    “Congratulations on your new command,” said Finlay. “First Campbell to make Captain in three hundred years.”
    “I’ll do my best to do the Family honor,” said Robert. “You’re… looking very sharp, Finlay.”
    Finlay shrugged. “You want to play with the big boys, you have to dress the part. It’s been a while since I fought my battles with sharp words and barbed bon mots rather than cold steel, but I think I’m getting the hang of it again. We’ve… been too distant, Robert. Friends and allies come and go, but Family is forever.”
    “You’re the one who never had much time for the Family.”
    “I’m trying to change that.”
    Robert looked into Finlay’s steady gaze and then nodded slightly. “You were the one who kept a distance. And I was too busy holding the Family together and serving in the military to search you out.”
    “I know that. I’m grateful for what you’ve done. We were on opposite sides during the rebellion, but that’s all over now. We need to stand together, or our enemies will drag us down.”
    Robert raised an eyebrow. “And what enemies might we have in common, exactly?” “People like Blue Block maybe. People who want to turn the clock back, make things the way they used to be again.
    You’ve no reason to love the old order. You suffered under it more than most. Blue Block stood by and did nothing to stop the Wolfes when they butchered our Clan.”
    “And my Letitia died on what should have been our wedding day. Murdered by the Shreck in the name of Family honor. While you stood by and did nothing to stop him.”
    “I was wrong,” said Finlay. “I still believed in the Families then. In the honor I thought held us together. I had to learn I was wrong the hard way. But I didn’t fight and bleed in the rebellion just to see the Families take control again behind a different mask. I’ll do whatever I have to to stop them. Can I count on you to help? Parliament may not be much, but it’s the only hope we have.”
    “I never thought of you as a politician, somehow,” said Robert. Finlay shrugged. “It’s the new battlefield.
    And I had to learn a new form of fighting, or die of boredom. So, will you stand with me?” “I’ll think about it, and we’ll talk further. See if we have as much in common as you think. If we do… I think I’d be proud to have the legendary warrior Finlay Campbell at my side.”
    “Same here,” said Finlay, smiling for the first time. They shook hands again. “God help us, they’ll be bonding next,” said Adrienne. “Getting drunk in disreputable bars and telling each other those jokes that only men think are funny.”
    “I think it’s very sweet,” Evangeline said firmly.
    “Hello, Adrienne,” said Finlay, putting on his best polite face and voice.
    “You’re looking… very you.”
    “I suppose that’s the nearest you’ll ever get to a compliment,” said Adrienne. “I see you’re still using the same tailor. Did I hear he’s got himself a new guide dog?”
    “You’re so sharp you’ll cut yourself one of these days. You and Evangeline have a good gossip, have you?”
    “I hear you’re trying to get into mainstream politics, Finlay. One word of advice. Don’t. I’ve no doubt you mean well, but the last thing we need is another enthusiastic amateur raising everyone’s hackles and muddying the waters. Especially someone with your temper. You can’t kill your opponents just because you’re losing the debate. They have laws against that sort of thing now. Though admittedly that might add a little excitement to the budget debates… Look, Finlay, I know you, though I often wish I didn’t.
    You’re too soft-hearted for politics. It would mean too much to you. You couldn’t bear to lose one argument so you could win another later. You get out of hand in this business, and I won’t be able to save you. Nor will anyone else, for all your great exploits in the rebellion. Heroes are ten a penny these days.” “You’re sounding very you as well, Addie,” said Finlay. “One of these days you’ll say something nice to me, and I may faint from the shock. I survived everything the Empire could throw at me, and the horrors of Haceldama. I think I can handle a few politicians. Don’t worry, if I have to kill