Chapter 45

Ser Pesch is not pleased…

    “How can this be?” Emiliano screamed at his nephew, Chim Pesch. “How can my sister be living at the Residence? How can my stupid youngest brother be there too? Who is this woman they claim will be wife to that brain damaged fool, Megal Morales?”

    “Ser, I only bring what I have learned.” Chim was trying hard to back out of his uncle’s office. His father had called in quite a few favors to get this information. It was clear that his uncle who had been a representative for the family in Utopia was staying in the Residence of the Overlord. The aunt they had added to the list of ancestors was very much alive and had one of her daughters with her. The younger brother of his late friend Marianel was soon to be First Successor and married to his cousin. Chim had no idea she existed. And his uncle was furious.

    “I need Simeo Path.” Emiliano was red faced, panting, and holding his hand to his chest. “Get those of his clerks who handle our affairs over here immediately. We must stop this joining. We must.”

    Chim called out to a servant to get a healer for his uncle and hurried to find his father. The head of the House of Justice would not come when he called, but his father had the standing to get him to the house.

***

    The healer left after cautioning Ser Pesch that his heart was not strong and such expressions of anger were dangerous for him. Emiliano demanded he be fixed, then cursed the healer when he was told it would do no good if he didn’t make changes in his life.

    “Get out! Why am I surrounded by fools? What good is this mind power if you cannot repair what is damaged? Where is Path? I need a notice of expulsion.” Emiliano spilled more wine than reached his glass but gulped down the partial glass. The healer gathered his things and bowing, excused himself. He warned the house steward as he was shown out that he would not be returning — but to keep a close watch on his master, because he was a danger to himself.

    The legal clerks were shown to Emiliano’s home office and met a demand for the head of the House of Justice. Neither of the men had any idea where their senior was, but they were ready to do whatever Ser Pesch needed.

    “Draw up an official notice that Antonio Pesch is expelled from family Pesch,” Emiliano said. “Make a second one that Rita Pesch is also expelled, and both of their family shares are confiscated.” He paced up and down the room, pausing only to have Chim refill his wine glass. Chim tried to put only a small amount in the glass, but his uncle would glare at him to pour more. One of the clerks consulted his reader.

    “Ser Pesch, Sera Rita was listed several years ago as having joined the ancestors and her portion was awarded to her husband. I don’t think you can expel a dead person.”

    “Do as I say!” Emiliano threw his wine glass at the cowering clerk. “Alam lied to me to get the money. Why am I surrounded by such fools?”

    The glass narrowly missed Simon Path as he came into the room but spattered his official robe with the remains. He was followed by Chim’s father and the family steward. “Emiliano, what is the meaning of this?” Path demanded. “Why are you assaulting me and harassing my staff?”

    “You of all people should know.” Emiliano sank onto a large cushion. “Chim, tell them.”

     Chim ducked behind his father so he would not have to experience his uncle’s wrath again.

    “I gave the information to Chim, Emiliano,” Joachim said as he glanced over his shoulder at his eldest son. “Our sister Rita is alive and living at the Residence, as is our brother Antonio and a young woman who it is claimed is her daughter with Alam Nanna Pesch. The rumor is that she is to be joined with Megal Morales and he will then be declared First Successor. She is a woman of Port or Utopia, no one is quite sure.”

    “This must be stopped, Simeo.” Emiliano slammed his fist onto a small table next to his seat causing the table to collapse. Unfortunately, the wine pitcher and extra glasses were on the table. The steward called for servants to clean up the mess.

***

    “Emiliano, as my clerk said, you cannot expel a family member if they have been declared dead,” Path said. He accepted the help of a servant to remove his tabard of office so they could attempt to remove the wine splatter. “As for your brother Antonio, you must have a reason by law to expel him. From what you have said, his only sin is to stay at the Residence as a guest. I don’t think that will be accepted by the court.”

    “Then make something up. He had offended me and his family name.”

    “Being the guest of the Overlord is considered to be a shame to your family?” The head of the House of Justice was beginning to tire of his old friend’s family issues. “Emiliano, this stupid plan you have to become the next Overlord by replacing Morales has been a joke among the other houses since you started whispering about it last year.”

    “My house is older than Morales. We were the primary investors in the asteroid project and Franco’s grandfather had no right to take over when my grandfather was killed. As for my brother, make something up and charge him with it. Usurping the job of the trade representative — there, charge him with that.”

    “Emiliano, you have no proof. As for history, stop trying to change the past. What happened when we were dumped on this planet happened. As I understand it, had Philipe Morales not taken charge, we would have ended up like those pirates in Port, starving and living in thatched huts. If the wine won’t come out of this tabard, you will owe me a new one. White wool is rare and the stitching cost me far too many credits. You need to control your temper, and I need to get back to my office. Now there is talk of a new trade agreement with Utopia to match the one with Port. I have work to do.”

    “Go and take these useless clerks with you. Do not talk to me about Utopia. We need to demand they give us more land to grow food. This trade thing is demeaning,” He closed his eyes and began trying to do the calming exercises the Healers had recommended. It was not working.

    Emiliano ordered Chim to write a message to the Overlord inquiring about his brother and sister. “Be polite but don’t offer to have them come here. I remember that woman. My father had tried for years to marry her off but could not get a dowry for her. When Alam ran up some huge debts, he married her off to him to cut his broadcasting ability, but it didn’t work. He sent them both to Utopia and that was to be the last of them. I did not need this complication.”

    “What of Sera Josella? Should I inquire about her also?” Chim remembered the elderly woman had been mentioned earlier.

    “No, let her stay there. One less useless woman I have to feed and clothe.”

    Chim willingly left the office and went to his father’s office to send the message. He so wanted to get away from both his father and his uncle. His cousin, Ricky, Emiliano’s oldest, had managed to escape to the Hacienda Pesch after the debacle of the Poh’s election. He had not been so lucky.