Sword and Scepter

"Oh, come off it," Grant said. His voice showed irritation. "A land grant by a rebel government? Look, nobody's going to look too closely at what I do, but Franklin can buy one Grand Senator anyway-I can't risk it, John. Wish I could."

"What if the grant's confirmed by the local Loyalist government?" Falkenberg asked impishly.

"Well, then it'd be O.K.- how in hell did you manage that?" Grant was gri

Falkenberg looked up at Grant.

Slowly his expression changed to something like astonishment. "I've got a girl, Joh

"Marry the queen and become king, uh?"

"She's more like a princess. Anyway, the Loyalists aren't going to surrender to the rebels without a fight. That complaint they sent was quite genuine. There's no rebel the Loyalists will trust, not even Glenda Ruth."

Grant nodded. "Enter the soldier who enforced the Laws of War. He's married to the princess and commands the only army around-what's your real stake here, John Christian?"

Falkenberg shrugged. "Maybe the princess won't leave the kingdom. Anyway. Lermontov's trying to keep the balance of power. God knows, somebody's got to. Fine. The Grand Admiral looks ahead ten years-but I'm not sure the CoDominium's going to last ten years, Joh

Grant slowly nodded agreement. His voice fell and took on a note of awe. "Neither am I. It's worse just in the last few weeks-one thing, the Grand Senators are trying to hold it together, John. They've given up the Russki-American fights to stand together against their own governments. Some of them, anyway."

"Can they do it?"

"I wish I knew." Grant shook his head in bewilderment. "I always thought the CoDominium was_the one stable thing on old Earth," he said wonderingly. "Now it's all we can do to hold it together-the nationalists keep wi

Falkenberg nodded agreement. "But there's worse places to be-do me a favor, Joh

"Sure." Grant gave Falkenberg a twisted grin. "King John First-what kind of government will you set up, anyway?"

"Hadn't thought. Myths change, maybe we're ready for monarchy again. We'll think of something."

"Yeah." Grant filled their glasses again and stood. "One last, eh? To the CoDominium."

They drank the toast while below them New Washington turned, and a hundred parsecs away Earth armed for her last battle.