Bond Proof Read online

  Bond Proof

  The Apprentice, Volume 7

  EG Manetti

  A Twelve Systems Chronicle

  The Twelve Systems Chronicles

  The Cartel: The Apprentice, Volume 1

  Bright Star: The Apprentice, Volume 2

  Transgressions: The Apprentice, Volume 3

  Fortuna: The Apprentice, Volume 4

  Serengeti Valor: The Apprentice, Volume 5

  Nightingale: The Apprentice, Volume 6

  Bond Proof: The Apprentice, Volume 7

  *** Coming in 2020***

  Chalice Bearer: Thornraven, Volume 1

  Copyright

  ©2019 by Buniac Entertainment, LLC.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or used in whole or in part by any means without the written permission of Buniac Entertainment.

  All Rights Reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978-0-9997371-4-9

  In Memory

  Mary Eunice Gorman Manetti

  1932—2019

  She took the road less traveled by,

  And that has made all the difference.

  CONTENTS

  The Twelve Systems Chronicles

  Copyright

  List of Characters

  The Twelve Systems

  1. Phantoms and Fantasy

  2. Enter the Heir

  3. Free-Traders

  4. Cotillion

  5. Recall

  6. Bright Star Command Crew

  7. Free-Trader Negotiations

  8. Gray and Black Commerce

  9. Wayward Kin

  10. The Third System’s Governor

  11. Margovians and Mercios

  12. The Inversion

  13. Rats in a Maze

  14. Villains and Heroes

  15. Free-Traders and Festival

  16. Jonathan’s Cotillion

  17. Investigations and Revelations

  18. Advancement

  19. Discipline

  20. Prize Hunters

  21. Final Trials

  22. Bond Proof

  Chalice Bearer: Thornraven, Volume 1

  The Apprentice Protocol

  Devotional Litanies

  Glossary of the Twelve Systems

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  List of Characters

  ~The Glossary of the Twelve Systems is at the back of the book.~

  The Serengeti Group

  Blooded Dagger Cartouche—Vistrite

  Lucius Mercio, Monsignor—Preeminence of Serengeti and Blooded Dagger

  Nickolas Cyncad, Protégé

  Lilian, Apprentice

  Marieth, executive servitor

  George, Lucius’ driver and bodyguard

  Diana, Western Fisheries Master

  Marco, Seigneur—Bright Star

  Blythe, Apprentice

  Solomon, Seigneur—Vistrite Conservator (fallen in battle)

  Amanda, Chief Refiner, Vistrite Refinery

  Cedric, Refinery Master, Desperation in the Sixth System

  Jurian, Seigneur—Vistrite, Metricelli Deuce

  Prospero, Protégé

  Rachelle, Seigneur—Serengeti and Blooded Dagger Research and Development

  Irina, Protégé (fallen in battle)

  Chrys, Apprentice

  Simon, Senior Associate

  Magnus, Associate, Mercium

  Raleigh, Eleventh System Deacon, Mercium agent to the Eleventh and Twelfth Systems

  Caoimhe, Security Chief

  Bran, Navigator

  Trevelyan, Seigneur—Serengeti and Blooded Dagger Security-Privilege

  Deidre, Associate

  Malcon, Master Associate

  Tabitha, Associate

  Rebecca, Apprentice

  Rodolfo and Joyce, Associates, also known as the ‘Grim Twins’

  Clifton, executive servitor

  Sheila, Commandant—Blooded Dagger Militia

  Mr. Stefan, driver/bodyguard

  Mrs. Zdenka, security guard

  Nemilis, Seigneur—Blooded Dagger Media Management

  Gil, Associate (self-slaughtered)

  Hadrian, Seigneur—Serengeti and Blooded Dagger Financials

  Daphne, Senior Associate

  Demitrov, Senior Associate

  Grey Spear Cartouche—Logistics and Distribution

  Hercules Mehta, Monsignor—Preeminence of Grey Spear

  Sebastian Mehta, Monsignor—former Preeminence of Grey Spear (banished from Serengeti)

  Martin Argon, protégé (banished from Serengeti)

  Aristides, Seigneur—Serengeti and Grey Spear Media Management

  Douglas, Associate

  Ayesha, Seigneur—Grey Spear Logistics and Supply

  Damocles, Seigneur—Serengeti and Grey Spear Security-Privilege (executed)

  Emalia, Apprentice (fallen in battle)

  Gwyneth, Seigneur—Grey Spear Bright Star

  Jasper Mollari, Protégé

  Garwynn, Seigneur—Grey Spear Financials (kinsman to Sebastian Mehta)

  Jarrod, Captain—the Nightingale

  Ann Hunter, Associate (murdered; former sycophant to Martin Argon)

  Okoth Custennin, Seigneur—Grey Spear Fourth System

  Natalia Custennin, Seigneur Okoth’s heir and Lilian’s former friend

  Graham Tudorian, Senior Associate—Fortuna Logistics and Supply

  Vanek, Seigneur—Grey Spear First System

  Iron Hammer Cartouche—Controller Fabrication

  Elenora Odestil, Monsignor—Preeminence of Iron Hammer

  Kemeha, Seigneur—Iron Hammer Engineering

  Fletcher Detrenti, Protégé

  Herman, Seigneur—Legalistics Lead, Cartel and Cartouche

  Clarice, Apprentice

  Tristan, Seigneur

  Verity, Apprentice

  Roger Macomber, Associate (slain in battle; sycophant to Martin Argon)

  Cartel

  Straus, Associate Master

  Vicenza, Associate (fallen in battle)

  Fyona, Apprentice (slain in battle)

  Liger, Archive Master

  The Matahorn Alliance

  Broken Blade Cartouche

  Horatio Margovian, Monsignor—Preeminence of Broken Blade and Matahorn

  Damien St. Gervais, former Protégé

  Basil Vylasi, Protégé

  William, Seigneur—Bright Star (Horatio’s son and heir)

  Dark Axe Cartouche

  Omar Petrovich, Monsignor—Preeminence of Dark Axe

  Gregor Matwan, Associate, Crevasse City (executed)

  Fenrir, Seigneur—Bright Star (executed)

  Mayling Boreas, Protégé

  Bright Fire Cartouche

  Sarah Guedez, Monsignor—Preeminence of Bright Fire

  Benmyn Empire, Seigneur—Cartouche Security-Privilege

  The Leonardo Society

  Steel Spike Cartouche

  Angus Blackthorn, Monsignor—Preeminence of Steel Spike and Leonardo

  Declan Red-Eagle, Protégé

  Aidan, Senior Associate

  Pippa Kailani, Associate

  Red Saber Cartouche

  Coyote Meterand, Monsignor—Preeminence of Red Saber

  Crevasse City

  Apollo Acacia, Adelaide’s Lord Prelate

  Aurorabella (Rorie), Solomon’s daughter

  Brianne Detrenti, Fletcher’s twin sister

  Bronwyn, Conrad and Tobi’s daughter

  Cesare, Lucius and Estella’s son

  Ch
loe, Lady, Solomon’s wife

  Conrad, Seigneur, Persia’s son

  Darvyd, Sinead’s Lord Prelate

  Elysia, Lucius and Estella’s daughter

  Estella, Lady, Lucius’ wife

  Flavia, fallen Adelaide’s Discipline Master

  Gilead, Jonathan’s Lord Prelate

  Gloribelle, a sparkly tree wombat and Katleen’s pet

  Harold, Conrad and Tobi’s son

  Helena Faesetili, Lilian’s mother and Sinead’s Seer

  Hidaka, café owner and friend to the Faesetilis

  Hilda, legitimate odds manager

  Jamal Argon, Nickolas’ cousin

  Jenica, Marco’s daughter

  Joachim, Conrad and Tobi’s son

  Katleen Faesetili, Lilian’s sister

  Kyndel, Rimon’s Shrine Keeper

  Lynette, Lady, Marco’s wife

  Marigold, Estella’s personal servitor

  Marisa, Aristides’ daughter and heir

  Micah, Solomon’s son and heir

  Moira, Third System Lady Governor

  Nessa, Raphael’s personal servitor

  Persia, Monsignor, Preeminence of the Third System Commodity Exchange

  Raphael, Lucius and Estella’s son

  Remus Gariten, Lilian’s father (executed)

  Sabri, Lucius’ personal servitor

  Sam, Mercio pastry chef

  Spider Stone, enforcer for Tiger Sylvester

  Signy, Captain, Third System Militia

  Tiberius, Lucius’ father (deceased)

  Tiger Sylvester, black commerce raider

  Tobi, Lady, Conrad’s spouse

  Tulip, driver and bodyguard for Raphael, Cesare, and Elysia

  Virgil, Socraide’s Shrine Keeper

  Waiman, Sinead’s Shrine Keeper

  Other

  Andreas, Master Scholar of Ancients Studies and Lilian’s former lover

  Joseph, Dean, Preeminence of Mulan’s Temple and Lilian’s foster father

  Karin Kailani, Mulan acolyte on Fortuna and cousin to Pippa

  Orpheus, Master Scholar of Rimon’s Canon, University of Socraide Prime

  Rhyliss, Chrys’ sister and youngest sibling

  Ronan, Universalist Balance Way Master (slain by pirates)

  Rupert, Dean, Preeminence of Rimon’s Academia and Rebecca’s academic bondholder

  The Twelve Systems

  The society of the Twelve Systems is dominated by the warrior elite, the genetic descendants of the Five Warriors of Antiquity. These five warlords ended three centuries of interstellar warfare known as the Anarchy and established the modern Order and its governing protocols. In the millennium since the end of the Anarchy, the warrior elite have consolidated societal control into a handful of vast commercial interests. The most powerful and wealthy are the cartels.

  For centuries, the Serengeti Group has controlled Vistrite, the semi-liquid crystal essential to all advanced technology and the cornerstone of Serengeti wealth and prestige. Under the command of the devious, ruthless, and unconventional Lucius Mercio, the Serengeti Group recently catapulted from fourth to third among the cartels due to the formation of the Bright Star Consortium—the first significant attempt at stellar expansion in over two centuries—and the discovery of a synthetic form of Vistrite known as Mercium. These two endeavors have not only propelled Serengeti forward, they will also forever alter commerce in the Twelve Systems. After a decade of strife, Lucius has also finally succeeded in deposing his rival, Sebastian Mehta of Grey Spear, for control of Serengeti. Guilty of treason against the cartel, Sebastian was ruled Disordered in His Wits and banished to a distant system.

  Known to only a few is that Lucius’ notorious apprentice, Lilian, is at the center of Serengeti’s rise and Sebastian Mehta’s downfall. In the aftermath of her father’s execution for terrible crimes, Lilian was convicted of Guilt by Blood. In return for her life, Lilian vowed to serve three years as Lucius’ indentured servant, yielding him total control of her body, intellect, and will. However, Lilian proved to be a great deal more than brilliant; her loyalty and courage were the catalyst for Mercium well before Bright Star was formed, and her consortium of apprentices and low-ranked associates were instrumental in uncovering Sebastian’s many crimes.

  With Lucius’ ascendance, few in the cartel will openly torment Lilian for her despised father’s crimes and her corrupt genetics, though many continue to intrigue for her destruction. With the aid of his inner circle, Lucius was able to avert Lilian’s downfall long enough to prove that Sebastian’s enforcer, Seigneur Damocles, sabotaged the valuable Desperation refinery where Lilian is conservator and responsible for operations. When Damocles and Sebastian were unmasked as the leaders of the Despoilers, a foul cult of Anarchy, their followers invaded the cartel to free Damocles. Only the intervention of Lilian and her consortium preserved the cartel, although during the battle many loyal Serengeti retainers were slain.

  In the aftermath of battle, the search for Despoilers continues throughout the Twelve Systems. Determined that nothing will halt Bright Star, Lucius maintained the schedule for the launch of the stellar exploration vehicle, Nightingale. Yet the voyage to its construction site on Fortuna twice required Lilian to defend herself against assassins and a rogue prelate intent on her death. Even with increased security, now that her bond is entering its final season, the forces that wish to destroy Lilian are becoming increasingly deadly—and desperate.

  1.

  Phantoms and Fantasy

  The initial pirate assaults on the prosperous Universalist settlements in the Eleventh and Twelfth Systems were thought to be no more than aggressive black raiders exploiting those systems’ limited militia defenses and the Universalists’ refusal to engage in combat. It was not until a Serengeti supply depot was destroyed, and all on duty murdered, that the rest of the Twelve Systems suspected that these were organized attacks by vicious adversaries of order. With the aid of the governors’ militias, Serengeti forces protected the Vistrite trade routes while a rogue sect of Universalists sought to preserve the settlements in the Eleventh and Twelfth Systems. When the two groups united, Serengeti led the combined forces to the defeat of the pirates, restoring order to the Twelve Systems. ~ excerpt from A Modern History of the Twelve Systems, an instructional text.

  Sevenday 133, Day 6

  I am the sum of my ancestors. Perched on Master Chin’s examination table, Lilian attempts to sift the morning’s events. At dawn, Flavia performed contrition for defying the will of Adelaide’s Lord Prelate Apollo and the related attempt on Lilian’s life. The brutal scourging was difficult to witness, but the conditions Apollo placed on Flavia’s redemption are astounding. The fallen prelate is to be Lilian’s servant and bodyguard. In the aftermath, Lilian was taken by an insight that left her unconscious until milord could rouse her and is the cause for the master medic’s examination. For all she has denied ill effects, the strange blankness when she attempts to recall the morning’s insight is troubling.

  Examining his devices, the medic says, “I assure you, Lucius, whatever provoked the episode you describe, it was not arsenic. That substance was well flushed from her system a sevenday gone.”

  Adelaide’s grace. Milord’s dark expression lightens, reflecting her relief and giving her hope he will rescind his command that she return home for the day.

  Milord’s eyes narrow, and he shakes his head. “My will is unaltered.”

  He has read her mind. Again. With a morose nod, she accepts the decree.

  Oblivious to her exchange with milord, Master Chin taps his slate, his black eyes narrowing as he focuses on the reviewer. “The delivery method for the arsenic might yet have hold of her metabolism. That euphoric was a sophisticated agent. I would enjoy an opportunity to have converse with its inventor.”