Blood for the Empress: Part One of the Empress Trilogy

by Lon Varnadore

  Lyra let out a scream. Kesh felt her pull back from him. He jerked Blue's head. The lizard slewed his body around, jumping up and raking down with his kill-claw. The scarred man's mount went down in a pool of steaming blood. The man's hand released Lyra as Blue whipped around and shouted out in pain as the mount fell.

  Before the group could recover, Kesh urged Blue forward. The smell of blood was driving the scytheclaw wild, but Kesh was able to get the lizard moving forward.

  Fourteen

  The sprint away from the Green Jackets tired Blue out after a mile. Kesh slowed the scytheclaw down when he noticed the flagging movement and then dismounted, bringing Lyra with him. The scytheclaw let out a low, whistling hiss and started to walk beside the two as they made their way through the snow and slippery ice.

  Kesh looked wearily at Blue.

  Lyra tried to settle him. "He wanted to eat that oola, didn't he?"

  "Is that what they are called?" Kesh asked. "Yeah, he did. He hasn't gotten much since he was out of the room. He is very hungry."

  "How can you tell?" She asked.

  Kesh smiled without looking back at her. "Been together long enough, I know Blue's moods. He's hungry and might start seeing us as a snack soon." He placed a hand on Blue's head. "Soon as we are clear, I'll let you hunt a little."

  They walked for a time in silence, Blue making the occasional mewling and grunting. "What are we going to do?" Lyra asked.

  "Find Jonica and Meph. Any ideas on where they are?"

  "How should I know?"

  Kesh looked at her. Can you hear me?

  Yes, she responded in his head. She looked at him, shocked.

  Then, find the cat. Kesh pulled Lyra and Blue towards a small vale of ice. It gave them some protection from the pursuing Greenies. Also, Kesh found that the vale connected to a long series of valleys. There was stark beauty to the area.

  "Why are you—"

  Kesh put his hands to his lips to quiet her. "We need to hide from the Green Jackets until you find them. This is as good a place as any."

  After a few minutes crouched down in the vale, Lyra started to rub her arms with her hands. "It's cold."

  "It is a planet of ice. It’s going to be cold."

  "At least give me your jacket or something."

  "Why?"

  "I'm cold," Lyra said, looking up at him.

  "So am I. Stay closer to Blue, he puts off some heat. He ain't cold."

  Kesh slipped his own hand over her mouth when she was about to speak. He held up a finger to silence her. Then he grabbed Blue's snout. He saw the agitation in the lizard, but he also heard the sounds of people tromping through the snow close by.

  Kesh took a long, slow breath as he heard the small cluster of Green Jackets walking by their little vale. He didn't move when he head something on the hill above. He tightened his grip on Blue's muzzle and stared at the lizard. Keep it together, you stupid beast.

  There was a squawk from above and when Kesh was about to go for his slugthrower, he heard the yellow ridgeback scytheclaw go storming off and the sound of the rest of the group going off as well. He looked at Lyra, whose eyes were wide open.

  What's wrong? He wasn't sure if there was another patrol around. He wanted to keep her quiet if he could.

  They're going after Jonica and Meph.

  Slag!

  Lyra looked at him. What are we going to do?

  Follow, maybe ambush them. Kesh pulled out his slugthrower and checked the clip. He had a full clip of seven, and there was one more clip in Blue's saddlebag. He knew Jonica had her rifle.

  The three kept to the low trenches and vales that crisscrossed the plains, keeping within earshot of the Greenies as they traveled. They were moving fast, but between Lyra and Blue, the three kept close enough to know where they were. After six kilometers, Kesh found that the Greenies had stopped and were firing off into the hills, and he thought he heard random shots coming from the the hills as well.

  The last of the small valley they hid in came to an end ninety meters in front of them, revealing a small knot of three yellow ridgeback scytheclaws and three Greenies. Kesh was thankful they were downwind of the scytheclaws, or they would be discovered. He kept Blue calm as best he could.

  Echoing through the trench were shouts from the Greenies, but the echoes were distorted from bouncing around that Kesh didn't understand. Then, he did hear something about "...just the girl..." echo, and he knew what they wanted. He turned to Lyra, who was shaking with fear.

  It's okay, Lyra. We won't let them take you.

  I know, still... Kesh, they spotted us.

  Kesh whipped his head around to see one of the three yellow ridgebacks had turned and was making a chuffing noise, the other two turned, as did their riders. Kesh pulled out his pistol and was about to let Blue charge when a particle shot slammed into one of the yellow ridgeback riders. They turned back, allowing Blue and Kesh to attack and take them both out.

  Reaching out, Kesh sought Jonica. Jonica, that you?

  Yes Kesh, Jonica's sardonic voice replied, so glad you could join us. Get your butt to the hill and help me. He then saw a mental image of where Jonica and Meph were being held down.

  We will be right there, Lyra said.

  We? Dammit Kesh, why'd you bring her?

  Kesh let out a sigh. You ran off and I didn't want to leave her alone on the ship.

  The only response was a wave of anger from Jonica. Fine, she finally said, hurry up.

  Kesh looked at the field between the small raised mound of rocks and ice and the position of himself, Lyra, and Blue. They were two hundred meters from any cover. This is going to be an issue.

  Jonica gave him a mental smirk. You think I can't cover you? And Meph has an idea or two to help you.

  What? Kesh asked.

  You call it a "whammy," human.

  Kesh swallowed hard and looked at Lyra. She was watching Blue rip into the bodies of the Greenies with a disgusted look. "Told you he was hungry," Kesh with a shake of his head. "Blue, don't fill up. I need you in fighting trim."

  Blue looked up, his blue-tinged maw dark with crimson. He let out a squawk and trotted over.

  "Get on, Lyra." She did so, but she was trembling and had a disgusted look on her face. She then touched Blue's neck. Kesh thought he saw something flash across Lyra's face, but the disgust went away, and she nodded as if she understood something. Kesh mounted up behind her. He reached around her for the reins.

  "Why?" Lyra asked.

  "In case they shoot at you, they hit me instead," Kesh said.

  She looked back at him. "Why does everyone want to kill me?"

  He patted her shoulder. "Don't know, but maybe Jonica's friend can tell us." Kesh reached for the mind-link. Ready?

  Ready, Jonica said.

  Kesh kicked Blue hard, and the scytheclaw leapt forward past the trench wall.

  As soon as Blue emerged from the wall of ice, there was a sudden sounding of plasma and slugthrower fire. A half-dozen shots peppered the ice around Blue's charging feet. Then he saw flashes from a space on the hill. Three of them fired in quick succession. The sounds from the Greenies fell to nothing. Kesh whipped at Blue's flanks harder. "Go Blue, go!"

  Blue scurried behind the hill, Kesh, Lyra, and Blue made it to the small crag of rock that Jonica and Meph had hidden inside. The Fedrats stopped firing for a moment. "We just want the girl. Let us have her, and the rest of you can go."

  "I don't think so."

  Jonica popped up for shot, fired off three more quick shots, and then down to cover again. Kesh watched as her eyes swept over the small depression before looking off to one side.

  "Any way out of here?" Kesh asked.

  "I think so, watch my back," Jonica said before popping off to one side of the small depression in the snow, rock, and ice.

  Kesh returned fire, counting his rounds. When he'd pulled back to get below the rim, the depression he sought Jonica in was gone. "Where did she —"

  He t
urned to see Jonica disappear behind a rock. "What is—"

  "It's a hole," Lyra said. She turned and sped towards the rock wall, and she squirmed around and disappeared as well.

  Lyra pulled his arm. "C'mon, she's safe."

  Kesh realized there was a hole hidden behind the rocks.

  Coming, humans?

  Kesh wasn't sure. He then heard the shots increase from the Greenies. He peeked over the edge and saw that the Greenies were advancing. He popped up and took a last shot at the closest Greenie. The man in green pressed his face to the ice, so Kesh wasn't sure if he had been hit before he ducked back below the rocks. Turning, Kesh grabbed Blue's reins and pulled him towards the hole. The beast balked. "Listen, you lizard, we need to hide. Get going."

  Kesh yanked at Blue's reins to head toward the rocks. Kesh spied one of the small cracks that was a slide. "Great, Blue's gonna love that." Blue growled next to him, looked at the slide, and then back at him.

  "You want to get butchered? Stay out here, ya brute," Kesh said and he jumped over the rocks and started to slide. Kesh got caught when he realized he still held onto Blue's reins. The beast let out a growling mewl. "Come one Blue! Move your feathered ass!"

  Blue chirped and pushed himself forward. He mounted the rocks. As he did, a shot rang out. Blue pitched forward and slammed into Kesh. The two tumbled and bounced hard from one part of the ice wall to the other. Kesh lost consciousness when he struck a hard corner, his head rebounding off of it like a doll bouncing off the ground.

  Fifteen

  He awoke to a creature of nightmare standing over him. It was bipedal, with a bullet-shaped head, big black eyes on either side of the strange head, and six quivering tentacles around a maw at the front of the "face." He let out a shout and tried to back away. The movement caused extreme pain in his head and shoulders. The creature backed up too. Kesh saw two thick muscular legs and ropey arms made up the other extremities. It let out a burbling gurgle, then turned to look toward Kesh's right. Looking around, he noticed they were in an ice cave, and a strange green-tinged light permeated the ice in flickering, twinkling variants. Not only the ceiling, but the coarsely-carved walls and even the ground of the of ice cavern. It was cool, but not as cold as it was on the surface.

  "Calm down, Salvager. They're friends," Jonica said from behind him.

  Kesh turned to see Jonica, Lyra, Meph, and three more of the creatures standing close to a large lump of green and blue skin and feathers.

  The movement caused pain, but seeing Blue made him jump to his feet. "Blue," Kesh hissed, rushing over to his friend before the pain of his body made him blink back stars. He touched Blue's flank and felt the scytheclaw's breathing was shallow, but there. A bandage had been placed on Blue's shoulder. It was a smelly mess of white wriggling things and green and blue ropey plants. "What is this stuff?"

  "Something that will help Blue heal," Jonica said. "We're safe. For the moment."

  "No thanks to you," Kesh said.

  "Had it not been for me and Meph, you and Lyra and that beast would be on a sledge back to Bruden Fort. Except Blue would be dead and butchered as soon as you were there."

  Kesh wasn't paying attention, he kept petting Blue's head and neck. "It'll be alright boy. They'll help you." He keep trying to sooth Blue as best he could. Blue let out a weak hissing gurgle.

  "I'm sorry, Kesh," Jonica said, putting her hand on his shoulder.

  For a moment, he let her keep her hand there. "I know," he said as a sledge moved towards Blue. "What's with the sledge?"

  The creatures moved closer to Blue, who let out a scream and thrashed hard. Kesh tried to comfort him as best he could. After twenty minutes, the Europans and Kesh were able to get Blue onto the sledge. Kesh did his best to keep Blue from thrashing, but one of the squidheads did get bitten. All of the group followed the squidheads along the ice caverns for what felt like miles. After hours with the constant light glowing overhead, they were led into a large chamber, with several offshoots to who-knew where.

  The cavern was a large inverted bowl of open air under the ice. The light was still there, amplified a little by the larger inverted bowl-like cavern. The floor of the cavern was covered in a mixture of slush, plant fibers, and judging from the smell, fish scales. Two hundred meters was Kesh's guess. He followed the sledge until another group of the squidheads stopped him from entering, burbling something at him. Jonica pulled at his arm, "Come on, Kesh. They will take care of Blue."

  "But… I—"

  "Trust me," Jonica said.

  Kesh shook his head watching Blue get pulled into the sledge before turning and following Jonica.

  Later, he and the rest were sitting around a squat stone table in one of the fifty huts in the cavern. It was made of mostly plant fibers, and there was some kind of skin used for the doorway. Kesh didn't want to ask. The owner of the hut, Qyi, was a good host. There was a lovely smell of fish stew hanging in the air, and Kesh was about to start his second bowl when Jonica asked, "Qyi, why are the Fedrats after us?"

  The squidhead burbled, his face tentacles waving here and there, and there was a strange noxious smell for a moment in answer. Kesh had no idea what was going on.

  Jonica spit. "Curse the Pit, how much?"

  "What?" Kesh asked.

  Jonica slid her eyes towards Kesh. "There is a bounty on Lyra and I. Five thousand credits."

  Kesh let out a whistle. "That each or total?" Jonica and Lyra snapped their eyes towards him. He held his hands up. "Only curious. It's lots of money."

  "Sorry that we are such a burden," Jonica said. "Maybe you should go so you can get your money."

  "I didn't mean it like that," Kesh said.

  The squidhead held an arm out, and the stench of rotten fish grew while the the squidhead burbled something.

  "What now?" Kesh asked, looking at Jonica for a translation.

  "Qyi thinks you should go too."

  Kesh pushed away from the table. "By all means. I'll see to my actual friend." Before he left, he took a handful of the green flatbread stacks, shoving one in his mouth as he walked away. "Blue knows when I'm joking," he said around the bread.

  Walking outside, he grumbled and continued to chew on the tough salty flatbread. At least I can get some fresh air. Smelled awful in there. He walked about a dozen steps before he felt a small furry body collide with his leg. He looked down to see Meph had rubbed up against him once and was walking beside him.

  Europans communicate with more than words, Kesh.

  Yeah, well I didn't know that.

  Now you do. Meph looked up at Kesh then back to walking slightly ahead of him.

  Why are you walking ahead of me?

  Where else is my staff suppose to walk but behind me? Kesh got the equivalent of a smirk in his head.

  Why are you—

  Can you speak to the Europans suddenly?

  No. Can you?

  No, but I can read their emotions and thoughts. Plus, it is better that I am not close to too many at once.

  Kesh stopped for a moment. Why is that?

  Instinct to eat them. Meph gave a mental smile. They are squid people.

  Kesh chuckled. Makes sense.

  For a handful of steps, the two walked in silence towards the medical hut. Meph.

  Yes?

  Did you let Lyra in on the mind-link without me knowing?

  No.

  Then, how—

  Do not stick your nose there, Kesh. Meph stopped and looked back at Kesh. Some questions do not need answers. Soon, you will be on your way, and you can forget all about this. The psi-cat continued forward into the medical hut.

  Yeah, I'd love to get back to a normal life. He glanced at his right hand and felt the familiar thrum of the sigil. If I ever had one.

  Jonica looked at Lyra and then at Qyi. Both were staring at her. "What?"

  "That was harsh, White-Hair," Qyi said.

  "How?"

  "He was joking, from what I understand about Terran humor," Qyi said.
He waved two face tentacles towards Lyra. "And the little one is unsure."

  Jonica looked at Lyra, seeing the girl's wide eyes and pulling in on herself. She even reached for Meph. The psi-cat crept closer, and let Lyra hugged her to him. You are nice to her.

  Hush human, Meph said. The psi-cat rubbed his head into Lyra's and even purred.

  Traitor. Besides Kesh will need—

  Meph leapt from Lyra's arms and walked out of Qyi's hut. I know. Wanted to reassure Lyra is all.

  Jonica narrowed her eyes at the retreating form of Meph then turned to look at Qyi. "He'll be back, I'm sure. You said that you know of a way to get out of here?"

  Qyi nodded.

  Jonica looked at Qyi. "When can we leave for Centauri?"

  "You can't go to Centauri," Qyi said with a shake of his head.

  "What do you mean?" Jonica asked, suddenly feeling ill at ease.

  "Centauri's rebels have been infiltrated. There is little help they can give her," Qyi's face tentacles quivered. "You would be better to stay here on Europa."

  "With the Greenies searching for her? Are you insane?"

  "What do you suggest?" Qyi asked. "My tribe will protect you. We will help you."

  Jonica bit her thumb. Damn it... I can't tell Meph. Can't tell Kesh or Lyra. Slag. She took a deep breath. "I appreciate the help, Qyi, but once Blue is mended, I think we'll get back to my ship and make a run for the Gate. Maybe I can make contact with some of the rebels on Centauri and can sort it out."

  Qyi face tenetlces rippled in annoyance and there was a smell of a sharp pungent stench. "It is not a good idea, Jonica of the White Hair."

  Jonica tried to change the direction. "How would you have gotten us out?"

  "Leyi, he is a good boy, for the most part."

  "What do you mean?" She asked.

  "I am not sure of his intent."

  Jonica cocked an eye. "I thought all of you could tell each other's intent?" she asked.