*** Jinstain, Bayan Province - Kerrigan Lokir ***
Kerrigan lay in bed as the screen went dark. "Gah, Reilynn, take this away please."
Reilynn slipped forward from the shadows and closed the laptop, setting it on the desk along the wall. "You did well, my lady."
"Yeah, well I feel like crap still. I hate lying to her." She tried to sit up straight in bed but the stitches on her side pulled and her shoulder screamed when she tried to put weight on it. "hells fire."
Evalynn was at her other side and helped her sit up and pushed a pillow behind her. "Miss, it's only been a week. Your wounds are doing well, but the assassin struck true. It will take time to heal properly."
"Do you think Natalie suspected anything?"
"No. What little bruising is on your face was easy enough to conceal with the foundation. The camera angle prevented us from having to worry about much else. You hid any discomfort well. The book was a good touch."
"Thankfully my right arm works well enough to hold it." Kerrigan signed. "Ladies, you are going to have to find a way to get me out of here soon. I don't care if its just to that lake outside. But I need to get away from this room. the longer I am here, the stiffer I feel."
"The grounds are safe enough. It may be a few more days before we can really get you out anywhere else and that will have to be discussed heavily with Colonel Eli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Brantley to decide where is even safe to consider taking you." Reilynn said with concern.
"Fine. Start with the pond. Just get me outside."
A few hours later, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, Evelynn and Gabriella walked along the winding path that had been paved around the pond next to Dreadnaught Law Firm's tower. They took turns pushing Kerrigan in a wheelchair Colonel Eli had found for them earlier in the week. Reilynn trailed behind them, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
"Finally." Kerrigan breathed, stretching her arms wide, ignoring the pain in her shoulder just to enjoy the sun on her face. "I never realized just how much I took for granted the freedom to get outside whenever I pleased."
"We are glad you are around to enjoy it my lady." Evelynn said with earnestly.
Kerrigan turned her attention inward as the group continued around the pond. 'Abraxas?' He had been silent since the attack, barely a hum to remind her that he was still with her. Even now, she only felt the faintest hint of consciousness from him in response.
As they came around the final bend in the path, a familiar tan suit and fedora come into view, sitting on a bench staring out at the pond as the last rays of sun glistened off the ripples from a small fountain's spray. Kerrigan called out gently, "Mr. Brantley, is that you?"
He looked up, a light smile creeping out form under the rim of his hat. "Ah, Miss Lokir. Good to see you out and about finally. I take it this means you are feeling better?"
"Bored and trapped more than anything." She replied.
"Well please forgive our lack of hospitality then. Perhaps we can arrange for better entertainment."
"An outing would be nice."
"Outing?" Conor asked, surprise crossing his face.
Kerrigan watched those steely blue eyes flick to her guards.
"Is an outing safe for you, especially in your condition?" he asked with a pointed glance at her leg.
She glared at him, but reluctantly shrugged, "Likely not, but that doesn't stop the desire. If you think of anywhere that might be safer, please let Reilynn know so she can check it out."
"I will think on it. Perhaps your current state might make it easier to disguise you being that no one will suspect you to be in a wheelchair. A face mask and hat are easy enough as well. Captain Reilynn, I will have Parker Townsend meet with you tomorrow to discuss some possible options to explore."
"I will look forward to meeting with him." Reilynn said with a bit more enthusiasm than Kerrigan expected from her stoic shadow warrior.
"Well, ladies. Clearly it is getting late, and I likely should drive home. Perhaps I will see you tomorrow. Have a pleasant, and safe rest of your evening. Celia guard your rest."
Kerrigan watched as he strode from the garden path, disappearing around the building.
Evelynn piped up, "He is not bad to look at. I'd say that Parker fella has him working out on a regular basis. I have seen them training on the roof a few mornings this week."
"And what were you doing on the roof?" Kerrigan asked.
"Why, following Parker of course. You have seen him right?"
"He is like twenty years older than me!" Kerrigan protested.
"So? He is still fit as that fiddle of yours, and those shoulders. He may not be bulky like some of those meatheads back at the fortress, but he is all tone and definition." Evelynn fanned herself as she walked, giggling a bit as she tried to avoid eye contact with Reilynn who was glaring daggers at her.
"You say Brantley is training with him in the mornings?" Kerrigan asked.
"Yep, I even saw Colonel Eli up there the other day drilling both of them. Now he is one I wouldn't mind taking a few lessons from. Professionally of course. That man is legend from the old days. I don't know how Mr. Brantley convinced him to work here."
"Let's just be thankful for now that they all appear to be on our side." Kerrigan said sinking down into her chair as Evelynn pushed her back inside. "Please meet with them tomorrow and see when we can go do something more than just strolls around the pond."
***
***Targu Province, Kelan Benedict***
Kelan fumed as he sat in his car staring up at Dragon Corporation. Kerrigan had refused to meet with him all week and now her guards were going to kick him out of the building? Fine. Nuclear options were available. He made his way back to Zadok's office atop the temple mountain fortress. When he arrived, he was surprised that Zadok had actually placed a guard at this door. Perhaps his previous visit had finally prompted him to use some common sense.
"I need to see the Prima. Tell him its urgent."
The guard disappeared inside. Well, clearly Zadok had only hired a doorman, not a true guard then. A moment later he reappeared, "The Prima is waiting."
"Good." Kelan went in, trying to check his impatient nerves. He found Zadok sitting at his desk reviewing a stack of papers. Kelan tried to appear jovial and friendly. "Zadok, Good man. How are you today?"
"What do you want now, Kelan?"
"I just was wondering if you had heard from our dear Kerrigan lately. I have tried to visit her several times this week and she has refused to see me. Just now, her guards even had the audacity to toss me out of the building!"
"What? Was she even there? They tossed a representative of the Benedict Group out? One of the Lord's counselors own son's ?"
"I know! I couldn't believe it! That is why I can straight here. It seemed so out of character for Kerrigan to be so rash. She may not like me, but she knows better to publicly insult someone like me."
Zadok gave him a condescending look, "Don't forget your place Kelan. Your Father is the one on the counsel. And from what I hear, you have yet to earn his approval to succeed his title as head of Benedict Group. You are still a free agent for now."
Kelan bristled at the reminder but said, "There may be some merit to your statement, but this doesn't mean I cannot be of great help to you in making Dragon Corporation better than it ever has been before. After all, you said yourself, I am currently a free agent, so the Board of trustees naturally can consider my assistance when it comes time for major shifts in management. I have been training with my father my entire life. Plus with my at your side, I can bring the Benedict Group resources to aid many of the Dragon Corporation project. Surely that would get the board's attention right?"
"What do you have in mind?" Zadok asked, putting down his papers.
"Well, as you say I am a free agent and as such, I have curried much favor with the board members of Bayan Rail line. If I am in a position with Dragon Corporation, I could help negotiate favorable rates for starters. I know things have been rough for you in that department."
Zadok looked unimpressed. Kelan realized Zadok likely didn't have much of a clue how daily operations worked at Dragon Corporation or how much such rates affected business. He tried a different route. "If I were granted the president position under you here at Dragon Corporation, My father has agreed to work directly with you to make the CEO of Dragon Corporation have a permanent seat in the house of lord's economic counsel. This would of course be just a stepping stone to getting you next to the king, but it would be an easy first step."
That got Zadok's attention. "And in exchange for granting the CEO of Dragon Corporation a seat on the economic council, you, the heir of Benedict Group would be named president?"
"As you said before, I am currently Benedict in name only, and hold no official position in that company so securing my services would be a strong win for dragon Corporation and be a step toward future ties between the companies instead of competition."
"I suppose we will have to see what the board has to say. They are having a emergency meeting on money at my request anyway to begin discussing Kerrigan's actions of late. It is doubtful such a momentous decision will be made then but you should come. It will be the first step to formally denouncing her."
"I will be there!"