Act 3 - Depression[]
With A Bared Sword[]
Chapter 52[]
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Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
28 February 3058
“Your highness,” Horatio DuVall declared loudly. “I beg to report that the High Council has been assembled at full strength with three hundred and forty-four attendees, thirty-two proxies and three members who are confirmed as medically unfit to attend and who are unwilling or unable to name proxies to cast their votes.”
“I think,” Marie Davion declared loudly enough to be heard from the gallery, “That any world whose representatives can’t be bothered to attend or send someone for a vote of this consequence may wish to review the fitness of those representatives. I acknowledge, however, that we have a legal full house of the High Council. “What is first on the agenda?”
As if anyone didn’t know and it was a rare person on the floor or the gallery who didn’t lean forwards in anticipation as DuVall struck his gavel. “My lords and ladies of the High Council, I open the floor to nominations for the vacant office of First Prince.”
Hands went up as if it were a classroom, but Kate’s aunt stood forcefully. “As regent,” she declared, “I claim the right to speak.”
“That is your privilege,” the Speaker allowed, gesturing for silence.
Marie moved forward from the throne. “My lords and ladies, I nominate my nephew Victor as our First Prince.”
There was a ripple of mutters and she gestured sharply. “My nephew is an able warrior and his reign has been far from peaceful. He has been criticized for making the peace with the Mariks and for forming a friendship with members of House Kurita. To this I remind you that only a fool fights a war on more than one front and that his every action was calculated to reduce the number of enemies we must face. He gambled and to some extent he failed, but we have not removed First Princes for military reverses in the past, not even in the darkest days of the Succession Wars.”
“Would we even see him?” a voice called.
“Order!” called out DuVall, but the words had been said and could not be unheard.
“Victor has assured me that if elected, he will return here and make a full account of his reign so far,” the regent said heavily. “If not, he has a military campaign to command. I believe that at least one of my brothers would agree with his priorities. Perhaps both.”
“My lords and ladies,” Count DuVall called. “We have before us a nomination, I ask you now if his candidacy is endorsed.”
Hands went up, but from the gallery, Kate saw fewer than she liked. It was understandable. This wasn’t the election vote, and each member could back only one nomination. It didn’t require that one vote the same way in the actual election, but nomination votes could not be taken back and there was a natural reluctance to commit them. A weak beginning was not likely to draw in the lukewarm.
Horatio DuVall consulted with the stewards assisting him and then turned to where Marie had returned to the throne. “I regret, your highness, that your nomination of Prince Victor has failed to reach the requisite twenty percent. As such, it does not stand.”
Kate sank back into her seat. She hadn’t had much hope of this, but a part of her had still clung the idea that things could go back to the way they had been.
That road was closed now.
Pravin Singh, Duke of Panpour, stood. “My lords and ladies, I understand that the esteemed Duke of New Syrtis has previously renounced his claim upon the throne of the First Prince, but this was in the lines of legal succession - something set aside by the removal of the sitting First Prince. None can doubt his exceptional military achievements, nor his integrity. I propose that we offer the throne to Morgan Hasek-Davion.”
Kym Hasek-Davion stood up, but waited for Horatio DuVall to point to her in permission to speak. “The possibility has been raised to my husband, my lords and ladies. His response was in absolute terms: his previous decision to renounce the claim on behalf of himself and of our children is not conditional or open to reconsideration. His loyalty is unshakeably to the legitimate heirs of Hanse Davion.”
Singh grimaced and then bowed towards Kym. “With regret for what might have been, I withdraw my motion.”
“Count Zibler,” DuVall recognized another speaker.
The Count of Euclid rose to his feet. “My lords and ladies, there is a gentleman amongst us who I feel is worthy to lead us. He has served in the military, commanding a Regimental Combat Team before retiring to serve in our government, where he was personally chosen as a minister by the late Hanse Davion. That being the case, I nominate Jerric Hammond Davion, the Duke of Argyle.”
The duke stood from where he was seated among the nobles of the Crucis March. “My lords and ladies, I respect the Duke of New Syrtis’ integrity, but we differ slightly in how we see our duty. If elected, I will serve the Federated Suns to the best of my abilities.”
Kate restrained herself from questioning his loyalty openly. It was clear that he had either deliberately or through oversight allowed the High Council to boil over, neither of which reflected well upon Hammond. But as viceroy, she was easily open to the same accusations and that wasn’t something she could risk right now.
The vote was called and hands went up all around the room. Unlike her brother, Hammond had a tide of support behind him and even after stewards firmly reminded a pair of representatives that they had backed Victor’s nomination and that turning one’s coat was not acceptable, the count was well over the minimum with over a hundred votes.
“Do I hear further nominations?” DuVall asked once Hammond was confirmed as a candidate. If there were none, then they could move directly to a vote whereas if there was more than one they would need to spend time being queried on their positions by the High Council until everyone was clear on what they claimed to stand for.
“You do!” Russell Payne, seated only a few chairs away from Hammond, rose to his feet. “Hanse Davion had several children and I see no reason that their brother’s failures be held against them. House Steiner-Davion is the principal branch of our ruling house and it is a travesty not to have one of them in consideration.”
“Could you be more specific?” challenged DuVall crisply. “Archon Steiner-Davion has four siblings.”
“Count DuVall,” Marie declared. “I call forward Yvonne Steiner-Davion to address this nomination, before the vote is called on it.”
The Speaker frowned but had no grounds to protest.
Yvonne looked very small and young as she descended to the dais from where she sat facing Kate on the far gallery. “My lords and ladies,” she greeted them. “I speak to you on behalf of myself and my brother Arthur. In the absence of our other brother Peter, we have exchanged letters on the question of how to address the removal of Victor from the throne.” She squared her shoulders and took hold of the microphone with both hands. “We are resolved that it is in the best interests of the Federated Suns that we while we do not renounce our positions in succession, we do recognize that our sister Katherine has greater experience in government and military experience. Not,” she added wryly, “Difficult when Arthur is not yet twenty-one and I am younger yet.”
There was a ripple of laughter, but they were laughing with her sister, not at her. Kate gripped the arms of her chair.
“My sister was Victor’s viceroy,” Yvonne continued. “She is familiar with the duties of the First Prince, and during the recent crisis, she has also proven herself as a military leader. I endorse the nomination of my sister, because I know she will see it as a duty and a responsibility, not a privilege of our birth.”
She surrendered the microphone and as Yvonne left the dais, the Speaker turned to the gallery and scanned it to find Kate. “Your highness, do you accept the negotiation.”
Stiffly, Kate nodded.
DuVall lowered his gaze to the floor. “My lords and ladies, do I hear your support?”
“You do!” called Helen Trempeleau and in an impressive show of unity more than sixty hands went up from the representatives of the Outback.
James Sandoval’s hand also rose, as did Marshal Payne’s, and others across the room until the count was called and - endorsed by more than a hundred men and women - Katherine Steiner-Davion was confirmed as a potential First Prince of the Federated Suns.