Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

juggle all these groups you want to work with? Pure Humanity and the Church Militant are bad enough, but these others you want to bring in… They're not stupid, and they're very dangerous. How long do you think you can keep these fanatics from finding out that you're just using them for your own ends?"
    "As long as it takes," Finn said airily. "All I have to do is play them off against each other, and they'll be too busy trying to do each other down that they'll never see what I'm really up to until it's far too late."
    "But to approach the Hellfire Club and theShadow Court …" Anne looked at Finn. "You watch yourself, Finn. These people are vile and treacherous."
    "So am I," said Finn. "But I am smarter and sharper than they are, because I don't share their obsessions. And because I'm the only one who knows everything that's going on. I'm the only one who sees the Big Picture. I'll always be able to outthink them because I'll always be one step ahead."
    Anne thought about that for a while. "At least they all have their causes. They believe in something. What do you believe in, Finn?"
    He smiled dazzlingly. "I believe in me."
    Anne decided it was time to change the subject. "Do we have any fresh news on the Terror?"
    "Nothing new," said Finn, tacitly agreeing to the change in subject. "Presumably, it's still on a course towards its next projected target, Heracles Four. We can't be sure until it emerges into our space again.
    But assuming it holds its course, even traveling at sublight speed it should hit Heracles Four in a matter of months. They're still working on beefing up their defenses, and bankrupting their whole economy to pay for state-of-the-art shields and weaponry. The latest hot rumor is that the Swart Alfair of Mog Mor, those enigmatic bastards, have supplied them with some entirely new forms of weaponry, for an exorbitant price, along with a handful of observers to see how well they work. If I was Heracles Four, I'd be sure to keep the receipt somewhere handy. I've arranged for a few observers of my own, just in case
    this new weaponry really does do all the marvelous things Mog Mor claims it can; but I don't think I'll hold my breath."
    "Do you think these extra defenses will make any difference?"
    Finn pursed his lips. "I don't know. But whatever happens, it'll be a learning experience."
    "Finn! That's cold-blooded, even for you!"
    "Stick to what you're best at, that's what I always say."
    "But… what if none of it works? Do you have any plans on how to stop the Terror?"
    "Oh, yes. I always have plans."
    "You always say that! Why won't you ever tell me what you've got planned? Don't you trust me, after all we've done and achieved together?"
    "Hush, hush," said Finn. "You're getting loud. I don't want to raise false hopes, until I'm sure what I've got in mind will work. We have time. It'll be ages until the Terror can penetrate this far into the Empire.
    Now, my turn to change the subject, I think. I need to know what's in your heart, dear Anne. Do you feel at all guilty about removingDouglas from the throne and replacing him with James? I mean, you and Douglas were friends for a long time."
    "So were you and Douglas."
    "No, not really. Stop evading the question. Is deposingDouglas as King going to be a problem for you?"
    "No," said Anne, meeting his gaze firmly. "He let me down. He let us all down. He didn't have the guts to be the kind of King he promised he'd be. To be the legend I would have made of him. I won't back losers anymore."
    "And what about Lewis, the valiant Deathstalker?"
    Anne's gaze was very cold now, her voice unforgiving. "He ran away."
    "And your oldest and dearest friend, the lovely Jesamine?"
    "I made her the perfect deal. She would have been Queen, and a legend alongsideDouglas . I had it all worked out. And she threw it all away. We could all have been glorious, but in the end they were all too weak. Let them all die and rot. James will be King, our King, and we will rule through him. Until the time comes when we can have him safely put aside, and then you shall be King, Finn. You're strong enough to rule this Empire. Strong enough to be a legend."
    "I could make you Queen," said Finn. "If you wanted."
    "No," said Anne, looking away. "I've always felt most comfortable operating from the shadows."
    Finn took her chin in his hand, and made her look at him again. "That's the old Anne speaking."
    "I'm not afraid of the spotlight," said Anne, jerking her chin out of his grasp.