Path of the Outcast

by Gav Thorpe

  The man was dressed in a formal-looking blue frock coat with high collars around his neck, hemmed and braided with golden thread. There was a piercing in the side of his nose, of a small human rune made from silver, which connected by a slender chain of the same metal to a ring in his lower lip. His hands were bare – a pair of black gloves were laid on the table in front of De’vaque – and his hands showed signs of care and attention, with neatly cut and buffed nails that glistened with a dark red polish. On seeing this, Aradryan examined the man’s face again and detected a powdery cosmetic that had been applied to smooth away some of the blemishes and discolorations that marked his skin; it had not been immediately apparent in the dim lighting.

  De’vaque had bright blue eyes, surprisingly engaging and alert for one of his species. Blubbery lips turned upwards in an exaggerated parody of a smile as those eyes moved from Aradryan to Iriakhin to Maensith. The human stood up and raised a hand to his chest, presumably in a gesture of greeting, and then spoke. Aradryan knew enough of the human language to understand De’vaque’s words – though the human tongue was incredibly disparate and diverse across the galaxy, its underlying principles and sounds were easily learnt in comparison to the complexities of the Eldar language – but like his companions Aradryan had a translator device fitted to his shoulder. It was better that the humans believed that their ‘guests’ could not understand them without the devices.

  ‘Welcome aboard the Invigorating Glory, my allies,’ said De’vaque. Aradryan wondered whether the translator had worked properly, having indicated the name was that of the starship. It seemed a pompous title for such a small vessel. ‘I am Darson De’vaque, Viceroy of Carasto, Rogue Trader of the Chartist Captains and heir to the Imperial Command of this star system.’

  Quickly deciphering the meanings of the titles, Aradryan realised that Darson was the eldest son of Imperial Commander De’vaque. Though no expert in human physiology, he guessed Darson to be of middle age, if not a little older, and surmised that his father would be entering his final span of life shortly, if he had bred at the usual age for humans. While that much was clear, the concept of ‘rogue trader’, if the translation had been correct, was lost on Aradryan.

  ‘We accept your welcome,’ said the eldar pirate. It had been decided that he would act as spokesperson for the Fae Taeruth, which the humans would mistake for seniority, thus affording Maensith a degree of protection should matters turn sour. The translator spat out a few guttural syllables before Aradryan continued. ‘I am Aradryan, of the Fae Taeruth, lately of the Azure Flame corsairs with whom I believe you are already acquainted. It is a pleasant surprise to encounter you in these circumstances.’

  De’vaque listened to the translation with his fixed idiotic smile and then nodded.

  ‘Please, be seated while I send for refreshments and food,’ said De’vaque, waving a hand towards the seats opposite him.

  The odour rising from the plates and cups that were subsequently brought forth was nauseating in the extreme. Even the clear liquid that on casual inspection might be mistaken for water had a chemical taint to it, and despite such anti-microbial efforts was somewhat cloudy in the crudely-cut crystal bottle. Aradryan offered thanks for the repast, but did not eat or drink anything that was offered.

  What followed was a drawn out and increasingly tedious conversation, made all the more painful by the subterfuge of waiting for the translator; Aradryan was forced to listen to each meaningless platitude twice before replying while Darson had to genuinely wait for the device to render Aradryan’s lyric replies into his crude language. Try as he might to subtly indicate through word and posture that all was not well with De’vaque’s allies, the garbled nonsense spewed from the speaker of Aradryan’s device conveyed nothing of his implicit warnings.

  With Iriakhin listening to everything that was being said, it was impossible for Aradryan to be more overt in his cautioning. Khiadysis’s minion would have to be waylaid or otherwise removed for a short period in order to be blunt with Darson De’vaque, in such a way that Iriakhin would not suspect that anything was amiss.

  As Darson’s inquiries regarding the business of the Fae Taeruth became more insistent, Aradryan was at a loss to parry the human’s questions with meaningless pleasantries. There were few enough goods on board to offer as trade – due to the change of plans on the orbital station – and without Commander De’vaque’s cut of the spoils there was no reason to come to Daethronin.

  Struck by the genius of desperation, Aradryan picked up one of the curious cubes of food that had been left in a platter on the table close at hand. Not pausing to think what he might be consuming, Aradryan popped the morsel into his mouth. As he had feared, it was horribly overspiced and barely cooked, so that when he feigned a choking fit he was not far from genuinely retching.

  Doubling up, one hand slapping the tabletop, Aradryan imitated a paroxysm of suffocation, holding his breath until he felt quite dizzy. The humans clustered around him, Maensith and Iriakhin stood protectively over him. Out of instinct, Aradryan took a proffered cup, the near-stagnant water he almost gulped down throwing him into a new and entirely unplanned bout of choking. Eyes streaming, Aradryan forced himself to his feet for a few moments. In doing so, he managed to turn his back to Iriakhin and meet Maensith’s gaze. The moment their eyes met there was a flash of understanding between the two eldar.

  ‘What is the nature of this food?’ the pirate captain demanded through her translator. ‘Are you trying to poison us?’

  Catching the theme and thinking that some human plot was unfolding, Iriakhin snarled accusations at Darson, who was quite taken aback by the turn of events, though he remained seated throughout. In his remonstrations, Iriakhin became highly animated, forcing the human guards to intervene, their weapons pointed at the eldar.

  ‘Calm yourself, we cannot cause an incident,’ Maensith told Iriakhin in their own tongue, while Aradryan continued to hack in fraudulent asphyxiation. ‘Let us quickly reappraise the situation before we lose control.’

  Lulled by her calming words, Iriakhin allowed himself to be backed towards the door by Maensith. As a wall of men surrounded the two retreating eldar, Aradryan leaned across the table. With a thought, he muted his translator before hissing his words directly at Darson, low enough to be inaudible to Iriakhin.

  ‘Say nothing, we are spied upon. When Yrithain comes, he will be followed by others who are not friends. Have your ships ready to strike. We will assist.’

  The man’s eyes widened with shock, though whether at hearing his own language rolling from the tongue of the eldar or the message given was unclear. He nodded quickly in understanding as Aradryan flopped back into his chair, still coughing. The eldar reactivated his translator and said a few words between gasping breaths, directing them towards Iriakhin.

  ‘It is no heinous conspiracy, companions,’ he said, holding up a hand. ‘The human food was not to the liking of my palate, and nothing more sinister. I am recovered now, I assure you.’

  ‘Clear away this mess,’ said De’vaque, waving at the attendants who had gathered around Aradryan. Within a few moments the plates and goblets were gone, leaving the wooden table bare save for a single cup in front of Darson. ‘My most humble apologies. Please, return to your starship immediately, to seek assurance that your health has not been affected. Thank you for bringing word of Prince Yrithain’s arrival, I will ensure that my father greets your coming ships in a suitable manner.’

  Listening to these words, Aradryan did not know whether his warning had been understood or not. He had to believe that the warning had been delivered.

  Nodding, Aradryan turned to the other two eldar. Maensith came forwards, offering her shoulder for Aradryan to support himself. Iriakhin darted Aradryan an annoyed glance, but irritation was preferable to suspicion. Aradryan allowed himself a moment of satisfaction; that he had managed to warn Darson of the Commorraghan attack and fooled Iriakhin into thinking no such thing had happened.

 
When the Fae Taeruth rejoined the rest of the pirate fleet, there was time only for a brief conference with Yrithain and Khiadysis, to confirm that the humans were expecting the eldar’s arrival. There was no means to convey to Yrithain that a warning had been sent, and as the ships of the Azure Flame disappeared along the webway, Aradryan was left with a feeling of unease.

  Iriakhin left to report to Khiadysis on the events aboard the Fae Taeruth, leaving Aradryan free to voice his doubts to Maensith. The two of them spoke in one of the sub-chambers adjoining the command hall, furnished with a circle of armchairs around a low table, the walls lined with crystal-fronted cabinets holding a variety of drinks decanters and trophy pieces taken from raided vessels. Maensith sat, while Aradryan took a short-bladed, bone-hilted knife from one of the cupboards, idly twisting the dagger between his fingers.

  ‘We have overlooked a possibility,’ said Aradryan. ‘In all our concern for what Khiadysis might do, and our efforts to allay any suspicions he may harbour, we have neglected to fully consider the options open to Yrithain.’

  ‘Yrithain is under the same constraints as we are,’ said Maensith. ‘If he turns on us as well as Khiadysis he will be outgunned.’

  ‘Not now, with the humans as his allies,’ Aradryan said quietly.

  Maensith’s lips parted and then closed again, her argument dismissed. She shook her head slightly, brow creasing gently.

  ‘Do you think Yrithain will have the humans turn on us as well?’

  ‘If we were in the same position as Yrithain, would we not sense an opportunity to rid ourselves of all our rivals? It would be prudent to expect Yrithain will convince the humans to attack all of the vessels in the second wave, including ours.’

  ‘We cannot warn Khiadysis about the humans’ forewarning without implicating ourselves in the treachery. What are we to do, Aradryan? It was your idea to caution the humans against our plans, and now we are caught again between Khiadysis and Yrithain.’

  ‘I do not know what to do!’ snapped Aradryan, slamming the tip of the knife into the deep red wood of a cabinet top. He took a deep breath. ‘We have half a cycle before the rest of the fleet moves to Daethronin. That is not much time for the humans to prepare; their ships are very slow. We must think of something in that time.’

  ‘Or we can hope that Yrithain remains true to our common goal of dispensing with Khiadysis’s alliance, without any action against ourselves.’

  ‘I would prefer we took hold of our own threads of fate than leave them to dangle in the grip of Yrithain. I cannot believe we are utterly trapped with no third option.’

  ‘You are right.’ Maensith stood up and crossed the chamber to lay a hand on Aradryan’s cheek. Her skin was cool to the touch, but the softness of her fingers sent a flare of pleasure through Aradryan. Since the chance meeting with the Azure Flame and the Commorraghans, Maensith had been much preoccupied, and the two of them had enjoyed little intimacy. ‘Between us we will find a solution, I am sure of it. Maybe, if we take our minds from our immediate problems, an answer will present itself.’

  Aradryan smiled, a moment before Maensith’s lips met his.

  Everything at Daethronin was as agreed between the pirate commanders. Yrithain and the Azure Flame were in position behind the escort of small human ships that came out-system to greet the Fae Taeruth and the Commorraghans. The handful of destroyers were little match for the weaponry of the three eldar cruisers and the journey towards Daethronin’s primary world was uneventful.

  For all that Aradryan could see, the humans were ripe for the ambush and had taken no precautions at all against attack, despite the warning given. The timing of the Commorraghans’ arrival had been determined to ensure the humans would be caught between the two waves of eldar ships. When the flotilla arrived above the human world, the Fae Taeruth and Khiadysis’s ships would attack, driving the human escorts against the fleet of the Azure Flame.

  It would take at least five cycles to reach the prime world, probably more when accounting for the ponderous nature of the human vessels. Aradryan was not looking forward to such a tense time, wondering when they would receive the order from Khiadysis; at the moment it looked like there was nothing the humans could do to defend themselves, which would effectively leave the battle to Yrithain and Maensith against the Commorraghans. The odds were too close in that event, which was why the aid of the humans had been required in the first place. Not only that, the Fae Taeruth was in the most dangerous position, situated between the two dark eldar cruisers. In the event of the Azure Flame turning their guns on the Commorraghans, the most prudent course of action would be to side with Khiadysis.

  As soon as the second wave slipped into realspace, Aradryan left his position in the piloting chamber and joined Maensith in the main control hall. At a nod from her, he relieved Taelisieth at the main gunnery controls; to ensure security, neither of them had shared their plans and doubts with the rest of the crew and immediate action would be required whatever circumstances arose.

  After a series of customary hails had been exchanged, the combined human and eldar fleet started towards the heart of Daethronin. As the Fae Taeruth unfurled her stellar sails and turned gracefully in-system, Aradryan noticed that none of the scanner returns of the human ships corresponded to Darson De’vaque’s vessel. In fact, comparing the sensor sweep with those retained in the ship’s matrix indicated half a dozen ships were now unaccounted for.

  Aradryan sent this information across the matrix to Maensith, but the reason for the discrepancy became immediately obvious. Warning tones chimed across the control chamber, indicating multiple warp breaches. Maensith brought up the visual display, the globe of stars circling slowly above her command pod. Kaleidoscopic whorls broke the fabric of space-time as raw warp energy poured into the material universe. Aradryan counted six rifts opening, and from each emerged one of the missing human ships, directly behind the Fae Taeruth and Khiadysis’s cruisers.

  As the warp breaches closed, the holo-images of Khiadysis and Yrithain burst into view on the main chamber floor. It was the hierarch who spoke first.

  ‘We are surrounded,’ snarled the Commorraghan leader. ‘It is of little advantage to the humans. Their reinforcements are out of range at the moment. We will obliterate those close at hand first, and then turn our guns on the new arrivals. They cannot match us for speed and firepower.’

  ‘Those reinforcements are merely the lid on the trap,’ said Yrithain. In the revolving system display, the Azure Flame vessels were tacking hard, turning across the stellar winds towards the Commorraghans. Plasma flared as the human ships also reduced speed for tight manoeuvres, though far more laboriously than the eldar vessels.

  ‘Traitor!’ rasped the hierarch. ‘We will see you destroyed first!’

  Maensith said nothing, but looked across the chamber at Aradryan. He nodded in reply and activated both weapon batteries, locking on to the Commorraghan cruisers to either side even as Maensith sent the commands that would pull up the Fae Taeruth.

  Aradryan’s fingers danced across the gems of the console, unleashing a barrage of laser and missile fire into the neighbouring cruisers. The aftsail of Khiadysis’s cruiser turned into golden shreds flittering across the firmament, while the gun decks of the other erupted with fire and debris. Aradryan’s heart raced as he expected a destructive reply, but none came, such was the surprise with which the opening blow had been struck. The Fae Taeruth dipped sharply at the prow and rolled to starboard, giving Aradryan one last salvo at Khiadysis’s flagship before the weapon batteries could no longer bear upon their targets.

  Turning from the weapons controls, Aradryan fixed his gaze on the display, anxious to see what their new enemies would do. The view in the sensor sphere spun rapidly to keep the two cruisers in view as the Fae Taeruth turned sharply away from both the Commorraghans and the humans. Yrithain was far from the fight, and his loyalty questionable when he was able to intervene, and if Khiadysis was set on retaliation, the Fae Taeruth had little cha
nce against two adversaries. It had been a desperate plan Aradryan and Maensith had concocted during their second voyage to Daethronin and whether it had been successful or not was far from established.

  The Commorraghans had been trimming their sails to counter the approach of the Azure Flame, and the attack from the Fae Taeruth left them caught between two courses of action. Khiadysis’s ship, with its damaged stellar sail, stayed on its course change towards Yrithain’s ships; the other stuttered mid-manoeuvre as its captain sought to turn onto the tail of the fleeing Fae Taeruth.

  The holo-image of Khiadysis disappeared with a howl of rage. Yrithain’s apparition remained, arms crossed, his expression a little agitated.

  ‘Well done,’ said the prince of the Azure Flame, his smile mocking rather than good humoured. ‘I had told Darson De’vaque that you might not be trustworthy, but making the first strike has ensured he will not turn his guns against you. I commend your ingenuity and courage.’

  ‘And do not forget that it was we that first issued warning of the attack, not you,’ said Maensith. ‘I am sure the Imperial commander and his son will take that into account when the negotiations begin.’

  Aradryan briefly returned his attention to the scanner globe. Despite his threat of retribution, Khiadysis was breaking away from the combat as quickly as possible, abandoning his second cruiser, which was now continuing a sweeping turn away from the Fae Taeruth; her commander had no doubt realised that his damaged ship was outgunned by the other cruiser without the aid of the hierarch.