Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 42

His options were limited and they were all bad. His offensive had been broken and his defence was wide open. The opposing army was advancing on his centre with ruthless determination, driving a lance into the heart of him. His most precious assets were exposed and vulnerable and his attempts to avert his doom had fallen short. There was no two ways about it: he was losing. Saffor had no other choice save to pick up his white Cardinal and move it across the checkered board to cover his Sovereign. A moment later a slim and manicured hand picked up a black Astartes and moved it boldly across the board right into his centre as a cool and aloof voice declared, "Checkmate."

Saffor sadly tipped his sovereign over and said, "Well played."

Across from him a tall woman with long black tresses and high cheekbones spat primly and said, "Not so well, You're distracted."

This was Melisandre, one of his concubines. As one might expect she was a haughty beauty, with a ruthless eye and a sharp wit, the perfect nobleman's paramour. She could look like a queen when she wore her full finery and jewels, but today she was clad in a comfortable robe that removed a layer of her icy demeanour. Melisandre had a mind like a razor, keen and sharp, her gift for strategy was matched only by her skill for rooting out crooked numbers in a deal, or inserting them when it suited Saffor.

They were currently sitting in his private quarters, located deep within his flagship, the Fortune's Fool. The quarters were large and filled with the prizes of his many and varied adventures. There were rugs from Inwit and rare animal heads upon the walls. Cabinets filled with Jonquil and Amasec, game boards from a dozen cultures and fine clothes in the latest High Necromundian fashions. A variety of Xenos weapons hung in display cases, though not his favourite Shuriken pistols which he kept within an arms reach, he had endured punishing lessons about the need to keep them close at hand. The ship itself was just as eclectic, modified and adapted over a millennium of service. The Fortune's Fool has served the Teliday line since they had been issued their Warrant of Trade and Saffor had inherited it from his parents, along with his middle name 'Rodoth', which he was less thankful for.

Saffor leaned back in a priceless hand-carved chair from burnt Tanith and said, "I'm just wondering how much longer this voyage will take."

Melisandre demurely reset the board as she remarked, "House Chamandley granted us their best Navigators, but the voyage is long, it took months last time. We will get there when we get there."

From across the room another voice called, "It's the Warp, who knows how anything works in the Immaterium."

That was Messina, a sister to Melisandre. She was a beautiful singer, in every sense of the word, able to entrance and beguile with her voice. Her skill was surpassed only by her knack at ferreting out secrets, she could get men to tell her anything and then walk away not realising they had just spilled their agendas. Saffor appreciated her cunning and guile, almost as much as he admired her long blonde tresses. She was idly playing with a lute in the corner, tuning its strings as she continued, "Are we sure returning to Athelling is a good idea?"

Melisandre concurred, "You barely got out alive last time, most of your guards didn't make it."

Saffor dismissed their concerns, saying, "I was unprepared last time. This time I have hundreds of Huscarls and transports with me, thanks to Walkaq Chamandley. If that's not enough I have my new allies, the Amber Vipers will prove more than a match for those feral Eldar."

Messina looked up as she questioned, "Why bother to go in all guns blazing? You've traded with Eldar before, why be so belligerent this time?"

Saffor touched his pistols, feeling the warm Wraithbone contours caress his skin, as he replied, "If that was an option don't you think I would have done it already? The feral breed are isolationists, they had no interest in trade. Not even for free passage through their forest. The starship isn't even theirs, but they really don't want anyone going near it. I can't imagine why, there can't be anything in there of any value to them."

Melisandre cocked an eyebrow as she replied, "If this ancient colony ship is as valuable as you say then you should think about your future. Maybe even start approaching a noble family about marriage."

Saffor sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes as he replied, "Not this again, I told you I don't want to be tied down. Besides no noble lady would welcome you three sharing her husband."

Melisandre countered, "Pick the right family and they wouldn't care, on some worlds it's practically expected for a noble wife to choose her husband's consorts. We certainly wouldn't mind another face around here."

Messina chimed in, "Too right, there's been nobody to talk to since Inquisitor Vevara departed. You're pleasant enough company but we can't talk to the crew, not really talk, and fleecing brainless merchants and Governors gets stale and repetitive."

Saffor spread his arms and generously said, "How about this, when we finish here I take you to a Garden world. You can walk on real soil and feel the warm sun on your faces, maybe even meet some other companions accompanying rich nobles and talk where their idiot paramours can't hear you."

His concubines didn't argue and Saffor thought for a second his promise had won him this round but then Messina said, "You should be wary about your new allies."

Saffor grinned cockily as he replied, "The Amber Vipers? I can handle them."

Messina retorted, "That's what you said about Inquisitor Zerban, and he nearly got you killed and stole the ship from us."

Saffor countered, "Space Marines aren't half as bright as he was. Mighty warriors yes, but they have all the subtly of a beating a Grot to death with a plank of wood. They will play their part and win us riches beyond compare."

Another voice arose then, proclaiming, "I think you're underestimating the danger, these Amber Vipers aren't nearly as warm and cuddly as the Storm Heralds were."

That was Merisa, the youngest and most fair of the sisters. She had a dancer's grace and a keen eye for antiquities, often seeing the worth of items Saffor would dismiss as junk. With her long gingery locks and athletic build she was Saffor's favourite concubine, though he knew enough of women to never let them know that. The trio had been born and raised in the flesh markets of Pascum, groomed to be nothing but ornaments to the rich and bored. Saffor claimed he had saved them from a life of denigration at the hands of a lecherous cardinal but in truth it had been their idea to run off with him. He had been wary of making so important an enemy but their sharp intellects and subtle cunning had made him see they were worth far more than they had been trained to be, so he had agreed to their plan. They had since made an arrangement, he provided them with luxury and safety and they played the role of 'Captains Women' in public, partly to impress dignitaries and partly to keep the hands of his crew at bay, no voidfarer would dare touch the Captain's Concubines. It was a highly profitable arrangement, his vast wealth owed no small part to these three and after a few years they'd even unthawed enough to invite him into their beds.

Saffor shook his head as he protested, "Space Marines are all alike, obsessed with fighting and honour. They'd charge a million Orks head-on if a ten-thousand year old book told them to, but ask them to put poison in a goblet and they get all squeamish. It's like dealing with a child's image of a warrior, all bold shouting and waving guns about, everything else has been cut out of them."

Melisandre didn't sound convinced as she said, "I think you underestimate them, I've watched the recordings you made and listened to the conversation. These Space Marines are different, dangerous even."

Saffor had indeed been discretely recording the presentation in the Navigator's palace, one never knew when such things could come in handy. He had showed the results to his companions and it seemed they had something to say on the matter. Messina explained, "That Apothecary is without principles, he has no loyalty to anything. The tech-adept is a wide-eyed boy, inherently unpredictable and that warrior with the axe is loyal only to his lord, he'd cross any line, betray any alliance to protect his master."

Saffor wasn't impressed and scoffed, "You just described every Space Marine in the galaxy, they'd all kill on command. That Coluber has them in hand."

Yet Messina argued, "Their leader is the most dangerous one of all, he has power but worse than that he has a vision. He's not content with his lowly lot, he dreams of taking his order to greatness. He has the drive to make his Chapter the equal of any other, that kind of ambition is dangerous, he wants more than he has and will do anything to get it."

Saffor grinned as he quipped, "Wouldn't we all?

Melisandre frowned as she spat, "Will you be serious for a second?! We're trying to tell you this could go badly wrong, you're taking a huge risk."

Saffor's grin faded as he said, "I know it's dangerous but there is no profit without risk. Think of the reward, think of the archeotech we could recover. Priceless treasures from antiquity, marvels beyond compare."

Merisa cocked a delicate eyebrow as she queried, "Priceless?"

Now Saffor did laugh as he replied, "Maybe not priceless, I intend to set an exorbitantly high price tag on what I recover. I will be the richest Teliday who ever lived, wealthy beyond my parent's dreams. I could buy a fleet of starships with the reward I will demand."

It was a nice dream but Messina softly cautioned, "Don't forget the Chamandley House, Walkaq will want his share and more."

Saffor sighed, "I do owe him, he won't let me forget that. But worry not there's more than enough riches to go around. We will all come out of this covered in glory."

Melisandre's eyes narrowed as she spat, "Only if you come back alive."

Saffor cocked his head as he quipped, "Don't I always?"

Messina shook her head and said, "It's no use, he won't listen. He'll do what he always does, stick his head in the noose and dare the universe to hang him."

Melisandre stood up and Saffor's grin faded as she spat, "We won't waste words arguing, we're going to bed. Without you."

With that the sisters stood up and marched out, leaving Saffor at the desk all alone. Yet before she left the room Merisa paused and looked at him with concern as she said, "Promise me this, if things go bad then you won't lose your head and play the hero. If it comes down to you or your allies you'll take care of yourself first."

Saffor laughed at that, "Is that what's got you all so worked up, thinking that I'll contract a bout of foolish heroism? You don't have to worry on that count, if there's one thing Saffor Teliday does well, it's look out for Number one."

Merisa smiled and departed, leaving Saffor to dream of the riches that awaited him on Athelling. He wasn't sure how this was going to go but he was certain he'd find some way to turn it to his advantage. In a pinch he excelled at winging it, it had always worked for him before. No matter what Saffor intended to come out of this adventure on top.