The Ruby Dice Read Online Free PDF Page B

and become subject to the Restriction.

    Kelric blew out a gust of air. He had to get Jeremiah out of there, and do it without alerting anyone. The Restriction protected Coba's extraordinary culture.

    And it protected Kelric's children.

    He sat back, staring at the Quis structures that covered his desk. "Dirac."

    The EI's voice floated into the air. "Attending."

    Kelric knew if he continued to ask about Coba, someone might notice. His interactions with Dirac were shielded by the best security ISC had to offer. But he knew Dehya. If she became curious, she could break even his security. He was taking a risk. But it had been so long, and he had so little time left.

    "I need you to find a Closure document," he said. "It was written ten years ago, just after the Radiance War." He leaned his head back until he was gazing at the stone ceiling. Outside his window, wind rustled in the dapple-trees like children whispering together.

    "Did you arrange it?" Dirac asked.

    "That's right," Kelric said. "I was serving on a merchant ship. The Corona. " He had escaped Coba in a dilapidated shuttle that had barely managed to reach another port. He hadn't had credits enough even to buy food, let alone repair the aging shuttle. The job on the Corona had offered a way out.

    "I have records of a vessel fitting that description," Dirac said. "Jaffe Maccar is its captain."

    "That's it. I filed a Closure document with the ship's legal EI."

    A long silence followed. Finally Dirac said, "I find no record of this document."

    Maybe he had hidden it better than he thought. Either that, or it was lost. "It's encrypted," he said, and gave Dirac a key.

    After a moment, Dirac spoke crisply. "File six-eight-three. Marriage to Ixpar Karn Closed. If Closure isn't reversed in ten years, Kelric Garlin Valdoria Skolia will be declared dead, and his assets will revert to his heirs. Ixpar Karn and two children are named as beneficiaries." The EI paused. "Your listed assets are extensive."

    "I suppose."

    "In one hundred eleven days," Dirac said, "Ixpar Karn will become one of the wealthiest human beings alive."

    Even though Kelric had known this was coming, it rattled him. "Ixpar doesn't know."

    "Do you wish me to cancel the document?"

    "I'm not sure."

    "You aren't dead," Dirac pointed out.

    "If you cancel it, I'll be married to Ixpar again." It was a dream he desired, but it meant too much danger to her and his family. The Closure didn't become permanent until the end of ten years. It was usually done when someone's spouse vanished, to declare that person legally dead. Generally, the abandoned spouse invoked the Closure, not the person who had disappeared.

    "Is marriage to Ixpar Karn a problem?" Dirac asked.

    He thought of Jeejon. His marriage to her been valid because of the Closure. She had been dead a year, but grief didn't end on a schedule. It receded, yes, but it crept up on you like a mouse under the table, until one day you looked down and saw it crouched in your home, watching you with pale eyes, still there after all this time. It was true, he had married Jeejon in gratitude. Maybe he had never felt the soul- deep passion for her that he had with Ixpar, but he had loved Jeejon in a quieter way. She had given up everything she owned to save his life, even believing he was deluded to think he was the Imperator. She had never expected anything in return, but he had sworn to stand by her.

    Dirac spoke. "Sir, the three people named as your heirs live on Coba. I don't think it's legal for inhabitants of a Restricted world to inherit from a Skolian citizen."

    "I'm the Imperator," Kelric growled. "If I say it's legal, it's legal."

    "According to Imperialate law, that isn't true."

    Kelric scowled at the ceiling. Unlike his officers, his EI had no qualms about contradicting him.

    "Who is going to tell me no?" Kelric asked.

    "That would be complicated," Dirac acknowledged. "May I ask a question?"

    "Go ahead."

    "Why set up the Closure?" The