Successio by Alison Morton

and your culture and I speak a little of the language. Also, I’m not on his budget.’ He grinned. ‘As it turned out, I was the perfect person for the job.’
    ‘How was that?’
    Before he could answer, a ball of fire erupted out of the window of the nearby building. We clapped hands over our ears and ran.
    ’Bugger me, that was loud.’ He shouted. ‘What the hell do you use?’
    ‘Trade secret.’ I grinned at him, as we reached a rise ten metres away. I shook my head to try to get rid of the blast effect.
    ‘Anyway, your Nicola—’ he continued.
    ‘Not my Nicola. In any sense. Ever.’ I heard the ice in my own voice; it mirrored the ice in my gut.
    ‘Very well. Nicola Hargreve turns out to be a deceitful young woman. She was born in an Army town and like a lot of youngsters there, went into the armed forces herself. She applied herself and was promoted sergeant and because of her excellent record was accepted into the special forces. She had a talent for single-mindedness and was tough enough to stand the endurance training. Her OC commended her for her tradecraft and outstanding performance in two operations where she worked with the security services. The only problem was that she called herself Sandbrook and had been very clever in establishing that identity. It was only after she left and I started investigating that this all came to light.’
    Gods. This was getting better all the time.
    ‘In fact, you met her.’
    I stared at him. ‘No, how could that be?’
    ‘She was acting as admin staff for your exercise.’
    Click.
    ‘Not the one with the plaited blonde hair on the check-in table at the end of the exercise?’
    *
    Lucy came back at that moment and we toured the rest of the training area. Michael took the opportunity to ask questions wherever he could, and try a few things. In a borrowed helmet, carrying a standard service weapon, he melded with the rest of them. Every step he took was purposeful and controlled; the slightly hesitant academic had completely vanished. Impressive. And dangerously deceptive.
    As soon as my mind was freed up from concentrating on observing him and the others running through a rescue drill, Nicola resurfaced. Ignoring my instincts never did me any favours and they’d been right off the scale when I’d come across her in England.
    What exactly did Michael’s information mean? For one, she’d become a much more serious threat. She was trained in deception, had patience and endurance and fighting skills. And probably that damned Tella pride. Fabulous.
    I absolutely had to know more so I tackled Michael on the way back.
    ‘So, Michael, has your buddy told my buddy?’
    ‘No, he thought I might run it past you first.’
    ‘And why was that?’
    ‘He thought you might be more objective,’ he said, glancing at me. ‘I’m not so sure now.’
    ‘No, I don’t think I can be objective. Like it or not, I’d like to beat the crap out of her.’
    ‘Hm. Perhaps I was wrong, then.’
    ‘Whatever,’ I shrugged. ‘I suggest you go and see the legate yourself and tell him your news. I’ll arrange to collect your body after you come out of his office.’
    ‘I see.’
    We rode back in silence after that.
    *
    By the time I parked my car in the courtyard at home, it was a little after ten. I found Conrad in his study. I had to talk with him about the Nicola threat. Somehow we hadn’t coincided during duty hours, not even at mealtimes. I was starting to think it was intentional. Or maybe he was just distracted.
    ‘Hi.’ He looked up as soon as I walked into the room. He half sat, half lay on the dark green leather couch, his ankles crossed on the second cushion with his feet hanging over the edge. He discarded his book on to a side table and looked at me intently.
    I scanned his face for any signs of stress; I could see only a gleam in his eyes. A slow smile built on his lips and I felt twenty-five again. How simple it had been then, despite the danger. Warmth spread