Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

on, ‘what do we do about this? It’s obvious that Taryn Borchardt Firmin is behind this. She’s attempting to undermine you, Mitsuko.’

‘I have no doubt,’ Mitsuko replied, ‘but she’s failing. I’m perfectly confident in my girlfriend. I’m a little surprised at your concern, Darius. We haven’t always been friends. I half expected you to run against me this year.’

‘Times, and opinions, change, President. My assessment of Taryn Borchardt is… I’d prefer to retain the current council. As is. You’ve been a good leader. I’ve no doubt we would lose Melissa too and she has been a most efficient secretary. I intend to assist you in rebuffing these accusations.’

‘There’s no way either of us can directly–’

‘Nothing you or Nava Greyling could say would make a difference if issued as a statement or anything similar. I agree. Leave it with me. I think I can come up with a way of turning the tables on whoever is spreading these rumours. Trust me.’

Mitsuko gave a small grimace. ‘Don’t say things like that before unleashing diabolical plans, Darius.’

Darius just shrugged. ‘I rather thought it was expected…’

~~~

The members of the News Club were not exactly ninjas. Nava spotted their ambush from a safe enough distance that she could have avoided it. Doing so seemed like a waste of time, however. She was heading home – Mitsuko, Melissa, and Courtney had another council meeting – and she would have had to deviate quite a lot from her route to dodge the interview. So, Nava continued on until someone was stuffing a camera and microphone in her face.

‘Nava Greyling Sonkei, we’re with the News Club. Can we have a word?’ The News Club had sent their ace gossip reporter, Vivienne Janvier Plank. She was not a tall woman, but she was very attractive and very assertive. Her hair was a fiery red and her green eyes flashed whenever she felt she had something to sink her teeth into. Rumour had it that her teeth were barbed and once she latched on there was no getting rid of her.

‘I’ve no doubt you’ll have some words whether I agree or not, Vivienne Janvier,’ Nava replied.

‘You wound me.’ Vivienne did not look wounded. ‘A number of rumours have been spreading regarding your behaviour since you joined the Greylings. You’ve made no effort to deny any of them.’

‘I didn’t think it was necessary. Several of those rumours are mutually contradictory. If I were seeing all the people I’m linked with, I’d have had no time for classes. Frankly, spreading that kind of gossip just indicates that you can’t be bothered to do your own research. Rebuking you would only serve to encourage others. The originator of those rumours is clearly an honourless coward. Were I to discover who they were, rebuking them would be pointless.’

Ignoring the insult against her own work, Vivienne jumped on the more inflammatory comment. ‘An honourless coward? That’s the kind of talk that gets you into a duel, Nava Greyling. You’re known to hate duelling, but you’re picking a fight.’

‘No one has come to me to lay these allegations before me. The originator of this baseless gossip is undoubtedly so far beneath my contempt as to be not worth the effort of striking. They won’t reveal themselves anyway. If they did, they’d have to face me and they’re clearly too cowardly to do that. If you’ll excuse me, I have homework to get done.’

‘Thanks for your time,’ Vivienne said. ‘That was great.’

Nava was not convinced she had done the right thing as she walked away. Vivienne had seemed rather pleased. When a gossip reporter was pleased, the object of her attention should probably not be happy.

236/2/21.

Apparently, Nava had things to learn about politics. Sometime around mid-morning, there was a subtle change in attitude from various people in class 22C. They had been giving her some nasty looks, and now they were back to something more like normal. Nava did not connect the dots until lunchtime when Melissa revealed what had been happening on the gossip channels.

‘Vivienne Janvier put out a vid post about eleven,’ Melissa said as they walked to the refectory. ‘There was some of that interview she got from you and another of her ambushing Darius. The whole thing basically says that it’s all lies and no right-thinking human would believe any of it.’

‘She was hyping the rumours herself yesterday,’ Nava countered.

‘Today she says they’re false accusations spread by a coward. Taryn Borchardt will be spitting mad.’

‘Try not to smirk so much when you say that.’

‘I’ll try, but I’ll fail.’

‘Hm. So, Vivienne managed to ambush Darius as well as me?’

‘It seems so,’ Melissa said.

‘Darius set it up,’ Mitsuko said when they joined her at the refectory for lunch.

‘He did?’ Melissa asked.

‘Probably Nava’s interview too. He set it up to take the wind out of Taryn’s sails. Vivienne is one of Darius’s classmates and Darius has strong political leanings.’

‘He did say he didn’t want Taryn taking Suki’s place,’ Melissa said, nodding.

‘He didn’t pull his punches either,’ Mitsuko went on. ‘Nava and I are showing great dignity in not reacting to the rumours. We couldn’t possibly reply, he said, but he can. Nava would never go behind my back. Anyone saying otherwise hasn’t met her or is lying. He mentioned a few things from last year which demonstrated your strength and he doubled down on the cowardice angle. Taryn can’t possibly respond at this point. If anyone comes up with evidence or even reasonable speculation suggesting she’s responsible, she’ll be crucified.’

‘I doubt she’s going to like that,’ Nava said. ‘I wonder what she’ll come up with next?’

236/2/25.

‘The Sunday before the election and no sign of any more dirty tricks,’ Courtney said. ‘I was expecting something else, I have to admit.’

‘I’m not sure dirty tricks are really her thing,’ Nava replied from across the lounge. ‘I think she likes winning fair and square. It’s just that politics is a dirty business, so she tried the one thing she could come up with and that’s the end of it.’

‘Maybe…’