This is the 10th free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).
Links to the previous free samples:
- Prologue
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
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The horses galloped across the grass, a loose triangle that raced around the edge of the arena. At its apex, they split up, galloping in different directions before crossing paths at the centre, coming within touching distance of each other, and the riders swapped horses. Huge applause and screams of delight rose from the crowd, and Violeta joined in with loud clapping of her own as the orange sky blazed above the arena.
“Now, that is impressive,” said Sebastian as he sat next to her, using his hand to shield his eyes from the early morning sun. Today he was wearing a less garish suit, not the local style but in a subdued blue-grey colour with matching tie.
“They’ve spent all year working on that routine,” she said, sitting back down. She was in a dark-ochre outfit, with matching jewellery set into her hair, which was tied back in a bun. “I think that work paid off.”
They were sitting in the VIP box in the arena, at the bottom of a U formed by seating, so the far end of the stadium stood open, giving a view of the huge river delta and wind farms beyond. The three horses repeated the manoeuvre again, this time at an even faster pace.
“So this is what I missed out on when I skipped the displays each year.”
“It’s our grand tradition. It’s very important to people, and they’ve put a lot of effort into it.”
“And a fair bit of skill,” he added as the riders moved the horses alongside each other before standing on them for a full circuit of the arena, to more rapturous applause from the crowds. “Not something you see on many worlds.”
She waved at the riders as they went past the box. “Horses were used extensively back in the day when the colony was new. It’s a lot easier to breed some of them than keep complex machines alive if you don’t have tons of skilled engineers around. Once this world was established, they weren’t needed anymore, so they became a show of skill and a link to our past. Which leads us on very nicely to the display you are watching today.”
“Well, thank you for the crash course in the history of horses on Arausio,” he said with a cheeky grin. “I’ll be sure to keep all that in mind.”
She playfully nudged him in the ribs. “Remember, you’re the guest of honour here, you need to be suitably awed when this is all over.”
“I’ve spent years as a politician practicing being awed and amazed by displays. I’m sure I will manage.” The riders began an intricate pattern of weaving in and around each other and over various jumps as if it were no more complicated than going for a walk. “Though, in this instance, I don’t think I’m going to have to fake it.”
“It is very impressive,” she said with a smile.
The riders swept around the arena one more time before coming to a halt in front of their box. They both stood to wave and congratulate them as the crowd showered them with love and adoration. The riders, all looking very pleased with themselves, led their horses off so the layout of the arena could be changed for the next group.
Sebastian leaned close to her ear. “How many of these will I have to sit through this week?” He got another nudge in the ribs as he winked.
“It’s good to have you around again, Seb.” She placed a hand on his leg.
He placed a hand on hers. “You too, Vi. It was a very nice welcome I got last night.”
“Well, only the best for our special guest.” She winked.
“I hope we don’t cause too much gossip.”
“No more than usual, I’m sure. The families brought it up the other day, and I told them exactly what I thought of that.”
“I wish I could’ve seen that. I hope that doesn’t make things more difficult for you.”
“I will not hide what we are.” She looked at him.
“Ah, so there is a ‘we,’ then?”
She rolled her eyes before squeezing his hand. “You know there is. There has been for years now.”
“Just checking.” He smiled and squeezed her hand back.
“I know I’m not the most open about us, but I’m yours.” She looked into his eyes. “It’s just difficult, being on different worlds and who we are.”
“You mean you a governor and me a member of cabinet.”
“It does make this more complicated, or at least makes me more cautious.”
“I don’t care what others think.” He gripped her hand.
“I know, neither do I.”
The arena roared as new riders appeared, ten of them holding the flag of Arausio aloft, black and red divided by a white diagonal line finished with a yellow star on the black.
“I saw the ads the families ran this morning.”
“I did think the burning flag was a nice touch.” Violeta waved as the riders looped around in front of them.
“I’m surprised none of the families are here today.”
“They are.” She tilted her head in the direction of a smaller box to their left. “They’re just not in the most important position as usual.”
Sebastian looked over at them and smiled. “You do like pushing them to see how they react, don’t you?”
“Oh, I know how they will react. Now I just do it for enjoyment.”
“Rather you than me.” He held up his hands. “Are you sure you can win that vote?” He turned to face her. “They still hold a lot of power.”
She grinned. “They can try and stop it. Oh, they can try, but they won’t succeed. My majority is too big this time. No amount of money they throw at people will change the outcome.”
“So this will be the next world to outlaw contracts.” He turned back to the riders to smile and wave.
“That will soon be true of every world in September, I hope. The president gave up too easily on banning contracts across the Republic.”
“It was agreed that it was for each planet to decide. We don’t try to interfere too much with planetary rights.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” she said through her smile. “I’ve lost count of how many powers have been revoked from governors recently.”
He shifted in his seat. “You know I don’t agree with that. Without the planets, there is no Republic. Pissing you all off is only going to end badly.”
“It’s a shame the President doesn’t see it like that.”
He shrugged. “All she cares about is making sure this war can happen, and she won’t let you get in her way.”
“So that means ripping up the structure of the Republic, does it? I’m not the only angry governor.”
“I know.” He rested his hand on her leg. “I’m not the president; remember that.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I don’t mean to take my frustration out on you. It’s just that the last meeting with her was the final straw for me. She has plenty of work to do to make up for what’s been done.”
The riders now formed a rippling wave of flags across the arena.
“She doesn’t think it will matter,” he said.
“What is she planning?”
He applauded the riders as they did another intricate dancing pattern of horses in the centre of the arena.
“Seb, what is the President up to?”
He scratched his neck.
“She doesn’t think she needs you anymore. Once the war has begun, she is betting that public opinion will back her and she’ll be able to label you all as traitors, working against the Republic in its hour of need.”
“Then she will remove the last of our powers, leaving us as relics of the past.” Violeta ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve thought that’s where we were heading, but it’s still not nice to hear your worst fear is true.”
“If you and the other governors have got anything planned, you’d better do it sooner rather than later.”
“Believe me, I’m trying.”
“Well then, let me tell you some other news that might interest you. Apparently, the Curators have tried to get in contact with the president.”
Her mouth fell open, but she composed herself as the riders pulled off another stupendous trick and her applause joined that of the crowd.
“The Curators?”
“I know,” he said.
“What did they want to talk to her about?”
“No idea, I’m afraid. All I know is that they tried to.”
“Things must be getting serious if they’re starting to get involved again. I wonder what else might be happening.”
More applause filled the stadium as the team of riders performed their finale, a rapid series of jumping over fences and each other, all in a whirl of flags. They both stood to applaud and cheer them as the whole crowd rose to their feet.
“Very impressive,” Sebastian said almost to himself.
“This is just the first part of the celebrations. There’s a lot more to come.”
“Another relaxing state trip for me,” he said with a smile.
All the other riders began to filter into the arena for the grand finale, a great parade of all who had shown their skills that day.
“I’m sure it will be for you; you don’t have to deal with two major political issues at the same time as all this smiling and waving.”
“I’m sure all that smiling is just tiring you out so much.” He winked at her. “You’re always trying to do everything at once.”
“I’ve found it’s the only way to get anything done.”
She stepped forward in the box, to a small microphone standing at the front. The crowd went silent, and the riders looked up from below.
“Well, what can I say after a show like that? That amazing display of skill demonstrated one of our greatest traditions in the best way possible. I salute all of you who have worked so hard for so long for today. I believe you can go home knowing you have beaten all the expectations everyone had.”
The riders bowed to her as the crowd cheered.
“It’s important we preserve traditions like this. They remind us of our past and how fragile Arausio was when it began all those centuries ago. It has expanded to the magnificent planet we live on today. But just as our relationship with horses has changed over those years, so must we be ready to change as a society as we continue to grow and prosper. This week must both be a celebration of the beginning of Arausio and also a celebration of the future we can achieve.”
More applause rose from the crowd as Sebastian came up to the stand. He waved to the crowd, his big grin broadcast on big screens above and below their box.
“What a breath-taking display that was. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it, and I can only kick myself that I never saw one when I used to live on this magnificent world. I‘m not sure I should tell anyone on Kama about this as they may get jealous.”
As he played to the crowd, laughter and more applause echoed from the many thousands crammed into the arena.
“Arausio has been vital to the Republic since it was formed. Its governor was the one who finalised the deal that led to its creation. It is my honour to be here today as the representative of the Republic government and to show how important you still are to the Republic and to all our futures. It’s also been my personal pleasure to be here today to see all this, and I thank you all for an amazing experience.”
The applause broke out even louder this time as they stood side by side waving to the crowd, the riders saluting them both. They stood there for minutes with the applause rolling on before it finally came to an end. The crowds began to filter out of the arena, but one person came in instead. The door to their box opened, and in stepped James.
“Governor, Minister.” He bowed to them both in turn.
“Bad news or good news?” she said.
“A bit of both, I think. There has been a protest near the palace against the Contracts bill.”
“Doesn’t sound like anything good there.”
“No, but a large number of people began to stage a counter protest in support of you.”
She stretched in satisfaction.
“Have our ads gone up yet?”
He looked past her, and she turned. The wall on the building behind the arena was covered in a huge advert. It featured Violeta and other smiling people looking up as a green rocket soared into bright skies. Beside that was the message “Let’s build a better future together, where all are equal.”
“Good advert,” said Sebastian, “and good placement.” He pointed at another ad on another building off to one side. It featured her, her face made suitably angry and evil, against the background of the flag of Arausio on fire. It said, “Arausio in ruins is the governor’s dream, keep contracts to keep us great.”
“Why is it always a burning flag?” she asked. “They’ve done that so often now it’s become a cliché. I think people get by now that they think I’m a traitor.”
They descended the steps towards a waiting convoy of cars.
“Can’t you do something about ads like that?” said Sebastian.
“Why would I?” She grinned. “Much better to give them enough rope to hang themselves with.”
“You’re really up for this fight, aren’t you?”
“Oh yes. It’s time to show everyone that they do not rule Arausio anymore.”
“We live in interesting times,” said James.
“When do we not?” She climbed into a car with Sebastian, and the convoy drove off to the next event of the celebrations.
—–
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