The Complete Madion War Trilogy

by S. Usher Evans

"This time, we've got a bit of help," Bayard said. "You see, thanks to our intelligence division, a few years ago, we solidified an alliance with Herin and Jervan. They, too, are tired of Kylae's iron grip on their economies. We proposed a joint venture—with Raven firepower, Jervanian funding, and Herinese technology that makes us invisible to their radar, we built a bomb so large it could destroy Norose with a single blast. The Kylaens won't know we're coming until we're right over their shores."

  My hand desperately wished to cover my mouth, but I gripped my pants to keep it in place. I heard my own voice call out, "But this is a last resort, right?"

  The group turned to stare at me. "We are at a last resort, my dear," Lees said.

  "N-no," I said, glancing around at their solemn faces. Their initial surprise had turned to grim acceptance. "No, they're getting better! They shut down Mael—"

  "For now," Bayard said with a wave of his hand. "But Grieg will simply open another in a few years. His less-than-savory business partners have made that message clear with their attempted assassination of his son. There is no other option. In order for us to maintain our independence, we must destroy Kylae."

  I couldn't believe what I was hearing. More than that, I couldn't believe that the Raven ministers weren't arguing with Bayard, telling him this was a horrible idea. Rave had already lost hundreds of thousands of people, how could we justify killing the same number in Kylae? We were supposed to be stopping the bloodshed, not doubling it.

  There was never going to be an end to this war, not when Bayard was in power. I'd thought all our problems lay with Grieg, but Rave was just as guilty.

  There was no denying it now.

  I had to run.

  If only to warn Kylae about what was coming their way.

  Galian

  For once, I was thankful for a long set of night shifts. Hebendon had asked which I'd preferred, and I told him that I wanted to forget where I was for a while. I found it much easier to overpower the guilt and sorrow to sleep after a long night at the hospital.

  Mael had closed, but other than that, everything seemed to have reverted to before I'd crashed on the island. Faced with the consequences of my own actions, I was less eager to make waves. I'd stopped checking on the prisoner transfer at Mael, less willing to put Kader in danger by drawing attention to myself. I could barely look at Martin's family; how would I be able to face Rosie if I'd killed her husband?

  I was living in the castle, but I was quite good at avoiding my mother and brother, especially with my strange hours. But Mom, at least, was tuned into my schedule, because my first day off, I found a summons in my breakfast tray.

  So, at two o'clock, I put on a clean shirt and pants and hoped that "tea" included "coffee" because I was already in need of another nap.

  The guards at her door opened it for me and the left guard passed on her condolences for the loss of Martin. I didn't respond, but nodded with a tight smile. Kader's impromptu bar run had made it a little easier to bear, but not by much.

  I found my mother in her sitting room, reading a book. She was on her feet the moment she saw me, rushing over to pull me into a tight embrace. I returned it wordlessly and let her hold me.

  "Gally, I am so sorry."

  "Me too."

  She stepped back and her brow furrowed. "For what, son?"

  "Not listening to you," I said.

  "Come, let's have some tea," she said, putting her arm around me and guiding me to the small sitting table. Filippa appeared with the tea tray, setting it in the center before touching my arm comfortingly.

  "I'm so sorry about your loss, Your Highness."

  "Thanks," I said, patting her hand.

  "Ma'am, will there be anything else?"

  "No, dear," Mom replied with a genuine smile. Then her eyes lit up, as if remembering. "Actually, could you run to Rhys' office? He had a letter for me that I wanted to get answered today."

  Filippa blinked for two seconds, then smiled and nodded, disappearing out the door.

  "Well, that should keep her gone for a bit," Mom said before leaning forward to take my hand. "Son, how are you doing? I might send you back to Rosie's apartment, if only to get regular updates on you. For some reason, you're harder to talk to when you live three doors down from me."

  "I'm..." I shook my head. "I don't really want to talk about it, Mom."

  "I know you don't, but you will eventually. And when you do, you know I'm here for you."

  "Is that why you asked me to come see you today?"

  "No, actually." She picked up her tea and blew on it. "I wanted to apologize to you."

  "For what?"

  "You asked me to include you, and I let my emotions get the better of me. I wanted to keep you out of everything because I was afraid..." She took a sip. "I was afraid of what might happen to you. And you, rightfully, pointed out that I shouldn't coddle you simply because I love you too much."

  "Mom, it was my choice to go to Mael—" I closed my eyes, thinking about Martin.

  "But if I'd involved you sooner, the outcome might've been different," she replied. "One of my many ongoing projects was to get the barethium processors involved in shipbuilding. With the new port city in Duran, Silas Collins was going to need a brand new fleet, and the barethium processors had the machine equipment to make the ships. Of course, ocean-faring vessels don't need reinforced steel." She gave me a knowing look.

  I swallowed. "You were already trying to phase out barethium..."

  "Very slowly but...yes. As I'm sure Kader told you, they were a hard sell. Part of the trade agreement with Jervan was to allow them to expand their business there, too, but...well, that seems to have been put on hold."

  I squeezed my temples. There were so many interconnected parts.

  "Of course, that particular effort has been done in conjunction with your father's assets. Believe it or not, he saw the value in closing Mael."

  "Value." I snorted.

  "As evidenced by your great media storm, he knew that Mael was an embarrassment waiting to happen. The sooner we weaned Kylae off it, the better prepared we'd be for the inevitable collapse of that part of the economy. But..."

  "But we weren't weaned off it yet," I said, nodding. "And that's why—"

  "That's why a particularly nasty businessman thought that he'd remind your father how powerful he was," she said, with more than a little bit of venom.

  "Can't you do something about him?"

  "We're...trying," she said, in that same strained voice. "But that's neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is, had I told you we were close—within a year—of closing Mael, you might not have gone with the cameras."

  "And Mael would've been open for another twelve months!"

  "And Martin might still be alive."

  I nearly dropped the cup. "Mom..."

  "I'm sorry, son." She placed her cup gently down on the saucer. "But the fact of the matter is, your actions have consequences far beyond what you see."

  I stared at my teacup.

  "Which is why I want you to know...well, everything," she said. "You asked me to involve you, and since you obviously won't take no for an answer, I'm going to involve you."

  "A-are you serious?" I said, suddenly burning with questions. "What else don't I know? What was Kader doing in Jervan?"

  "Ah, that." She smiled. "I confess that when Kader asked me if it was all right to bring you along on the mission, we both agreed simply because we were tired of seeing you so upset over losing Theo."

  I quirked an eyebrow. "Kader?"

  "Yes, son, he actually cares for you quite a bit. I thought that it might cheer you up, but he thought that if you met up with Theo and she rejected you, it might help you find some closure. I won a lovely bag of Jervanian coffee in that bet." Her eyes twinkled as she smiled.

  My mom making bets with Kader was one thing, but I asked, "So which bedroom was Johar breaking into?"

  "Bayard's," she replied. "Rave is moving beyond simple defense, and soon m
ay escalate using some sort of super-weapon. So far, our attempts at finding out exactly what kind of offense have come up short. We know Bayard's been gathering international support, both money and technology. We know whatever he's planning has the Herinese and Jervanians eating out of his hands. And since your father has reduced the number of bombs sent to Kylae—"

  "Because he's trying to wean us off barethium."

  "Yes, son. But since there's been less need to defend the shores, Bayard has routed the surplus somewhere else."

  "Mom, you know I'm as pro-Rave as it gets but...really? They can't even seem to get their people fed..."

  "Who told you that? Theo?"

  "Well, yeah..."

  "You know I think the world of your amichai," she said, the word rolling off her tongue. "And while all our intelligence reports suggest she's one of Rave's best pilots, she's woefully out of her depth in Veres and hasn't been allowed into Bayard's inner circle. She, like your father, has no idea what Bayard is planning."

  "Father's not doing anything about all this?" I asked, incredulous.

  "In the first place, he refuses to admit that the Ravens are capable of such a thing. He, like so many others in this country, see Ravens as lesser beings, to his own detriment. Beyond that, he's more concerned with keeping the Kylaen economy afloat and keeping his warring ministers from starting a civil war."

  "So Kylae squabbles amongst itself while the Ravens build a superweapon?" I let out a long breath.

  "I, for one, am not going to let that happen," she said firmly.

  "Me neither!" I sat up straight. "Mom, I want to help."

  "I know," she said. "Which is why you'll be tending to a new patient. He'll arrive at the hospital at midnight and his name is Gerard McMullen. He will give you a message."

  "What do I do with the message?"

  "Kader will make sure it gets into the right hands," she said.

  I slouched. "So I'm not really involved. I'm just the messenger boy?"

  "Unfortunately, with your face so well known in Kylae and with the media following you, there's not much you can do unnoticed. But your place in the hospital, with so many faces coming and going, well, son, it makes you an ideal messenger...man."

  Her attempts to soften the blow didn't help. "So this is all I can do? After all that, all I do is relay messages?"

  "The first step in any negotiation is communication," she replied simply.

  "Wait...who am I meeting with exactly?"

  "The less you know, the less you can be questioned about. Just know that Mr. McMullen may provide us a means to a mutually agreeable end."

  SEVENTEEN

  Theo

  I had to get to Kylae as soon as possible, but thanks to my outburst at Malaske, I was now being watched even more closely. Flying was going to be my only option, but with my transportation into and out of Veres provided by the military, I couldn't just ask for a special trip to the nearest airfield. Besides that, if I flew to Kylae, they'd shoot me out of the sky—and the same went for Jervan and Herin, who were apparently in on this half-cocked plan to murder half a million people.

  Laying awake the night after visiting Malaske, the idea came to me in a brain wave. Galian had promised me if I went back to the island, he'd come for me, and then, at least, he could help me warn his nation. Although the safest option, I still needed to get to a plane, and also, land that plane on said island. The last time I'd tried that, I ended up with a broken leg and a Kylaen blood transfusion.

  Three days later, I began to fear time was slipping away. Every day Bayard grew closer to giving the order, and every day I sat on my hands, afraid to act and arouse suspicion.

  "Theo?" Emilie's voice drew me back into the meeting room and away from the thoughts running ragged in my brain.

  I glanced around at the faces staring at me and cleared my throat. "I'm sorry, I missed the question."

  "I was asking if you would be willing to travel to Fontnel next week," she repeated, giving me a curious look. "Bayard will be meeting with the local city government and discussing their latest proposals on funding improvements to the base there. We'd like to have you on hand."

  "Of course," I said with a smile.

  She nodded and continued on with the meeting. If Bayard was planning on meeting with a local government next week, that meant he hadn't decided to blow up Norose yet. But I couldn't stand to wait much longer. I had to give the Kylaens enough time to mount a defense, if there even was one. Maybe they could bomb Malaske, maybe—

  "Theo, are you with us today?" Emilie asked.

  Again, I apologized for my inattentiveness, and told her I'd provide my leave schedule for the spring. That was the last item on the agenda for the meeting, and Emilie dismissed the attendees with a smile and curt nod.

  When I rose to leave, she placed a hand on my arm. "Is everything all right, Theo? You've been...preoccupied since your return from Malaske."

  Something cold slipped down into my stomach as I considered who else might've noticed a change in my demeanor. I scrambled to think of an excuse. "I just...President Bayard...thinks that my brand has gotten stale. I've been worried about what that might mean for me."

  "Yes," she said, releasing my arm. "I've been meaning to talk with you about that. Have you given any thought to your next move?"

  Getting the hell out of here? "Bayard mentioned that he'd like to see me..." I grimaced. "Married with children."

  Emilie smiled and shook her head. "I told him that wouldn't go over well with you. You're not the maternal sort, Theo."

  "I'm not going to get married and have a baby for spectacle," I replied, glad that we were talking about something other than Malaske.

  "I agree with you. For a few years, Bayard tried that tactic with the general population. It didn't work then and it sure won't work now. Rave doesn't want to be reminded that it's sending children off to war." She tapped her pen to her chin thoughtfully. "But we still need something new for you. What are your interests?"

  "Vinolas," I replied, a quick plan forming in my mind. One that could get me out of this conversation with Emilie and maybe, just maybe, to Kylae.

  "Theo, it's not prudent to shine a light on one of our most heavily attacked bases."

  "I know, but..." I swallowed. "Do you know why I was so much better in Jervan?" I said, hoping I sounded wistful and thoughtful and not nearly as excited as I was. "I went back to Vinolas. I worked on the engines. I talked with the kids there. Met with Lanis. It reminded me of the importance of that place. Why I got into my plane every day. Why I...came home."

  "But it will be very tricky to craft a message that doesn't show Rave unfavorably."

  "Let me go back there," I said, a little too hastily. "Not as an official trip with the photographers, but just me. I'm sure...if I spend some time there, I can figure something out. I know there's something in Vinolas that Bayard can use."

  She considered me for a moment then released the tension between her brows. "Fine. I'll arrange a car to take you out there tomorrow. But if you don't think of anything, I do want you to consider the alternative. It might be a nice distraction to have the country preoccupied with a wedding."

  I smiled. "Absolutely."

  Now entering

  Vinolas Forward Operating Base

  My hands sweated as we drew closer. I had a semi-formed plan in my mind, but one that relied on a great number of unknown variables. I'd second guessed everything Galian had told me in his letter. How could he be watching the island? What would happen if I crashed there and no one came for me? I could survive, sure (this time I was going to bring a parachute), but all of this would be in vain because I couldn't tell Kylae about the bomb.

  Lanis was waiting for me, as usual, and looking at him, I realized this might be the last time I ever saw him. I thanked my driver and left the car, watching my old chief mechanic for moment before greeting him warmly.

  "What is it?" he asked, gripping my shoulders.

  "Can we talk?" I asked
quietly. "Somewhere private?"

  "Sure, the mess hall is empty this time of day. I'm sure you remember where that is."

  I grinned, but it felt plastered on. We walked through the old, familiar hangar to the back hallway that connected several of the main buildings of the base. We passed by the locker rooms, and a memory surfaced.

  "Hey, Lanis, what happened to Zlatan?" I asked.

  "Shot down a few weeks ago," he replied quietly.

  I looked down at the ground, feeling guilty for how I had treated him the last day I'd seen him.

  "Don't be sad. He was a jerk," Lanis said, opening the double doors leading to the large mess hall. Five long rows of tables stretched the length of the room, but, as predicted, the room was empty. Meal times were 0600, 1200, and 1700 every day, no midday snacks for us.

  We settled at the end of one of the tables, Lanis sitting across from me. "So, Theo, what's on your mind?"

  I stared at the plastic coating on top of the table, sticky from cleaner. "I have to go to Kylae."

  "I'm sorry...what?"

  I didn't lift my gaze, knowing if I looked at Lanis, I'd lose my nerve. "I have to go to Kylae."

  "Any particular reason?"

  "I have to warn them about what Bayard's going to do."

  "What is Bayard going to do?"

  I swallowed and considered that what I was about to say was grounds for treason. "He has a bomb in a plane that can't be tracked on radar. He's going to blow up Norose and kill half a million people."

  Lanis didn't respond so I finally looked up. He was staring at me as though I were crazy, and I was inclined to agree with him.

  "Lanis—"

  "What did they do to you in Mael?" he said.

  "They..." I closed my eyes. Well, since I was telling the truth... "I wasn't in Mael for two months. I was there maybe...six hours."

  He blinked once, twice, then shook his head. "Then where were you?"

  "On the island with Galian." His name rolled off my tongue, sounding unfamiliar in this space. But I'd known Lanis' reaction before the words came out of my mouth.