"You know I can get you and Berel away with a minimum of effort," he said.
"I know, and I thank you for that."
"Ildevar and Kooper have shields up already, and have included the High President," he added.
"I'm not sure it's that kind of threat—it doesn't feel close," I shivered.
"Quin, we'll get through this," Kaldill soothed. "Come with me and smile."
The Grand Hall was the chosen place to greet arriving guests, and Ildevar and his two companions were already there, speaking with Edden Charkisul as we approached. We never arrived, or so it seemed—Melis Norwal rushed in.
"Sector Two's Vice Presidents have declared war on Sector Three," he announced. "They're saying that you've sold Siriaa into slavery."
Chapter 11
Kondar
Quin
"Marid—again. Still meddling from his grave," Ildevar growled.
Edden's guests—at least some of them—were in a meeting with the High President in a room nearby while Kaldill, Berel, Ildevar, Kooper, Willem and I were in a smaller room down the hall.
"Yes—it is easy enough to see that he told those who now are at war with the High President that the Reth Alliance will take everything and force everyone to work under its yoke. It is the same lie told by criminals and politicians elsewhere, when they have no desire to change their despotic behavior."
"I felt nothing of the sort on Le-Ath Veronis," I sighed.
"You can't call back a lie, once it has been told," Ildevar nodded. "Some will choose to believe the lie, no matter how much evidence to the contrary is presented."
"Omina and Rath are dead," I whispered. I'd felt it, even amid the other fears and troubles that crowded into my mind.
"I'll send word to Amlis. I'm sure he suspected as much," Kaldill touched my face gently. "Still, it will be a blow—he loved her very much."
"I know. Why are these people doing this—preparing for a war, when the real war is happening beneath their feet?"
"At times, they are foolish enough to fight something they can see," Ildevar responded. "In order to ignore the greater threat they cannot conquer."
"Funds and resources will be diverted to this endeavor," Kaldill nodded. "The research facility is safe—for now. Sector Two has sent ships to destroy it."
"Our ships are still in the waters surrounding the facility—they arrived there earlier tonight after you moved the building," Berel's eyes widened. "We have to warn them." He rose from his seat and looked about him, as if attempting to determine how to do so.
"Shall we ask for Alliance backup?" Ildevar asked, turning to Kaldill.
"You're the Founder, that is your choice," Kaldill responded. "We can get the airships here, if you want."
"For the greater good?" Ildevar lifted an eyebrow, which confused me completely.
"Most certainly for the greater good," Kaldill said.
"We'll need five at least," Kooper pulled a tab-vid device from a pocket and tapped it with his finger. "Lissa, we need five air destroyers on Siriaa in five."
"Our goal is to protect the research facility only—everything else is off the table for now," Kaldill pulled me against him. "The fate of all worlds rests in what they may discover. It isn't only Siriaa anymore. The fool, Marid of Belancour, and other fools in Sector Two who chose to listen to him, have jeopardized every world."
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
"I'm going to Siriaa, and that's that," Lissa shrugged into a jacket. "I may not be there for long," she added.
"I will come with you," Merrill said.
"Honey, that's sweet, but," Lissa began.
"Come now," Merrill smiled. "You may need help."
"Fine. Come if you want, I can't stop you."
"You could, but you won't." Merrill leaned in to kiss her, before pulling away with a wink. Of all Lissa's mates, only five were vampire. Of those five, two were King Vampires. Merrill was the stronger of the two.
"Then let's go. Ildevar asked for five air destroyers to guard the research facility. He says the idiots in Sector Two believed the lies Marid told about the Alliance, and now they're sending ships to shoot at the research facility. They only moved it into deep waters this morning."
"What can they hope to gain by destroying the facility?" Merrill asked.
"How many politicians do you know who are completely rational?"
"Point taken. Let's go."
* * *
Kondar
Sector Five: High President's Palace
Quin
"We're preparing for the ground assault, but as they haven't taken the time to plan this invasion properly, I worry that the population in Sector Three will suffer because of it," the High President said.
"You mean they'll get trigger happy?" Kooper asked.
"We call it short shooting, but yes—I worry that they'll fire on anything in their path. A wiser move would be to send airships, but there aren't any bases there—by their own choice. They chose to house half the navy and a few ground assault facilities. I believe they're regretting their past decisions now."
"Where did the ships come from that are guarding the research facility?" I asked.
"From Sector Three," Edden smiled at my question. "Two and Three have coastlines appropriate to house half the fleet each. I know not to send anything from Sector Two unless I'm desperate."
"Have you spoken to them?" I asked.
"They're refusing my communications," Edden's shoulders sagged. "If they don't stop this madness, lives will be lost."
"We have another communication—from Avii Castle," Melis strode into the room and handed the sealed parchment to Edden. "It was delivered to one of our ships by a winged messenger, and the crew flew it here by airchopper, thinking it could be important."
"Well, let's see what the Avii say, then," Edden cracked the wax seal and opened the message to read. "It's in Gurnil's handwriting," Edden said. "Ah. The Avii King sends his greetings and says that ambassadors from Kondar are welcome anytime."
"Unless Kaldill or Ildevar wish to deliver them, I'd suggest waiting," Kooper advised. He stood, stretching his tall frame and cracking a few vertebrae before continuing. "I hear that Sector Two has sent ships to destroy the research facility. We have five air destroyers on the way, for protection only. I hope you understand that the facility is important to all worlds, and not just this one."
"Defensive only?" Edden narrowed his eyes.
"Yes. We're not authorized to do otherwise," Ildevar said. "I believe Queen Lissa and one of her consorts are on their way."
* * *
"You were in a meeting and there wasn't time to make any other decision," Ildevar said calmly to the High President. "Sector Two's ships have already reached the facility, but the air destroyers are merely hovering there, between them and the building."
"Will you take me there? I wish to see this for myself," Edden demanded.
Queen Lissa stood nearby, her arms crossed as she listened to the conversation between Ildevar Wyyld and Edden Charkisul. I understood the High President's fears, but I also understood Ildevar's motives. Both were right, but I worried they wouldn't see it in time.
"It is always thus with politicians," her consort, Merrill Leopard, leaned in to whisper. I blinked at him before nodding at his assessment. He was quite handsome, with black hair and piercing blue eyes, but he didn't care about that. He was special, too. He knew that as well.
"At least they're not threatening each other with weapons," I whispered back. Merrill chuckled.
"I'll take you," Queen Lissa said abruptly. "If you wish to go."
"I do," Edden nodded.
In a blink, we stood on the balcony of the research facility. The five air destroyers hovered around the building, which now stood above the waves on stone-like stilts. Not far away, floating upon those waves, were five large ships from Sector Two.
"Sector Three ships are behind you, on the far side of the facility," Kooper said. Heavy rain fell
where we were, and the winds blew rain into our eyes as we studied the military standoff.
"I believe the problem could be eliminated if you gave command of those airships to the High President," I said, pushing sopping hair off my forehead.
"What?" Kooper swiveled his head in my direction.
Lissa, whose hair was just as wet as mine, laughed. "It's not unheard of," she patted Kooper's shoulder. "Troops are on loan all the time to Alliance worlds."
"Well, fuck me and call me a two-headed lizard," Kaldill swore.
"At the same time?" Lissa smiled at him.
"If appropriate," he grinned back.
"Then we have announcements to make to all of Kondar," Edden said. "If you agree to give command of these ships to me."
"All yours, for as long as they're here," Ildevar agreed. "However, we reserve the right to pull them away if we determine that they are not needed or are being used for purposes other than intended."
"What are those unintended purposes?"
"To actually fire to kill," Ildevar shrugged. "We agree to incapacitate ships and equipment, but life-taking is the last resort."
"Then I am in agreement," Edden said, brushing rain off his face. "Shall we go, or are you not wet enough yet?"
* * *
Berel, Kaldill, Lissa, Willem, Merrill and I watched the news program, where Ildevar Wyyld, Kooper Griff and Edden Charkisul were answering questions at a news conference.
The conference was hastily put together, but there was a reason for that—Sector Two's war machines had already reached the border between Sectors Two and Three. For now, the only thing holding Sector Three's President back from mobilizing the troops stationed there was the High President's command. The other sectors had already chosen to go to war with Sector Two.
Second and third vid-screens in our meeting room showed journalists reporting on Marid of Belancour, and thanks to Queen Lissa's quick thinking, his image and the bounty on his head for spreading the poison to other worlds was presented to the people of Kondar.
There was no doubt now, where the poison had originated, or that it was set to destroy Siriaa if it wasn't stopped.
Then, images were shown of the warships from Sector Two, which were anchored near the research facility and threatening it. The people of Kondar were getting their first look at the air destroyers the Reth Alliance could provide. The news was widely broadcast that these airships were under the High President's command and that Ildevar said he had full confidence in Edden Charkisul.
* * *
"Where did the shield that hid this small continent originate?" Sector Four's President demanded at the meeting the following morning. Berel and I were there, as were Queen Lissa and Ildevar Wyyld.
Edden had instructed me to answer any questions I could regarding Fyris and its people. This I knew apart from that. "The wizard—Marid of Belancour—devised that shield long ago," I said. "He knew the poison was there and he could breech the shield easily because he made it. Collecting the poison made him ill, and when his attempt to assassinate the High President failed, he turned his weapon on himself."
I shivered as I stood before the crowd of politicians in the meeting, both from my discomfort at being there and at the memory of Marid's death in Edden's dining hall. I didn't bring up the ring that Justis delivered to Jurris—it was irrelevant, now.
Be brave, dearest. Kaldill's words filtered into my mind.
"Why would he kill the High President? What would he gain?" Sector One's President asked.
"He wanted Siriaa for himself," I replied. "He knew the Reth Alliance was prepared to make an offer to Siriaa for membership. He was already hunted by them, for other crimes. Once he controlled the planet, he could rule as he pleased and keep the Alliance out. Their rule, as I understand it, is that they must have permission from a planet's government to hunt a criminal there, if the planet is non-Alliance."
"So he'd be in charge and certainly not give permission," Sector One tossed up a hand in disgust. "What would he have done with the rest of us?"
"I only saw a little in him, but he was angry, greedy and had no care for others. I suspect he would have invited criminals to set up a base here, as long as they paid him for the privilege."
"He'd have made us slaves, just as he claimed the Reth Alliance would do," Sector Three exclaimed. "I have war machines sitting on my border, idling their engines and waiting for a fool's command to strike," he gestured wildly. "I want them gone."
"We have a message from Yokaru. Their physicians report an increase in the wasting disease," Edden broke in. "Until now, we've held back the news, but it is time they were advised as to what is afflicting Siriaa."
"I vote to authorize our ambassador to release the information," Sector One raised his hand.
Sectors Three and Four also raised their hands. "I agree," Edden lifted his hand. "I'll inform them when this meeting is over. It is time we took steps to safeguard all. Shall we make an attempt to contact Sector Two again?"
Four hands went into the air.
* * *
"It'll go back and forth—maybe for days," Berel said. He and I sat on the grass in his father's garden, eating a sandwich as our midday meal while the others ate and talked inside.
Ignoring the feel of the poison leaching into the soil beneath the soft, green grass, I nodded at Berel's assessment. "Father will send us to Avii Castle," he added. "You said yourself that the Avii who sickened had eaten fish pulled from the water or somehow got the taint from there. I think the castle is mostly safe for the moment."
"Only the old or very young were affected," I pointed out. "A healthy adult Avii was somewhat immune."
"At least we only had to deal with Presidents and First Advisors earlier," Berel said, changing the subject. "If we'd had Vice Presidents and a full Council, we'd still be there."
"I'm glad we're out here," I said. "Do you mind if I stretch my wings? They feel cramped."
"Not at all," he laughed. "Anytime."
My wings pulled away from my back and extended outward—it felt wonderful to get the kinks out of my muscles. I'd become used to flying short distances every day, and I hadn't gotten that exercise in the last two.
"Perfect," the journalist shouted as he held up a tab-vid.
"You're not allowed here," Berel rose angrily and stalked toward the intruder.
"He was just leaving. Weren't you?" Melis had the journalist by the collar quickly. "I could have you jailed, you know."
Berel and I watched as Melis was joined by two other guards, who took charge of the offender and escorted him toward the palace gate.
"That image will be broadcast in minutes," Melis said as he walked toward us. "I hope you don't mind," he apologized.
"I was seen earlier—in the meeting," I shrugged. Journalists had been there, too.
"But not with your wings extended," Melis said. "They're merely curious. So many of them dream of having wings, young Quin. This will only feed that desire."
"Do you wish for wings?" I turned to Berel, who took his place on the grass again.
"I do," he grinned. "White ones, with gold, silver and copper bands."
* * *
"You will go to the Avii tomorrow—with Berel and those four who call themselves your guards," Edden informed me after the meal in his garden was over.
"I will go with you," Kaldill said. "Daragar is already there, combing through the library. I think you should request those books you want from the King's treasury, while he is feeling generous."
"I will," I promised, although the thought of approaching Jurris frightened me. When I'd seen him the first time, he'd ordered my death. Yes, I'd saved his life. I'd have to see the changes in him for myself before I asked for anything.
"Will Sector Two see reason?" I asked.
"That is my hope," Edden replied. "The war machines still sit at Sector Three's border, but they haven't moved forward, yet. We've done our best to ensure that the news-vids reach the citizens of Sector Two
, but we can't say for sure."
"Quin," Queen Lissa came forward and smiled at me. "You will always have a place on Le-Ath Veronis if you want it. Send mindspeech—I will hear."
"Thank you," I said, surprise causing my voice to squeak. Her smile widened. "Don't forget—I will always hear you."
"I won't forget."
I barely had time to wave before she was gone.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
"It won't be long before the scientists at the research facility reach the same conclusions we have," Lissa said as she stalked into her private study. Merrill, who walked behind her, agreed.
"What shall we do when they make that discovery?" he asked.
"Go round up my Inner Circle. We need to discuss this."
* * *
Harifa Edus
"It cooks things so quickly—the contraption they call a stove," the master cook complained to Rodrik. "I've burned three batches of bread already."
"The instructions are there—have you bothered to read them? They took the trouble to translate it into our language," Rodrik glared at the cook.
"No. I was never good at reading," the cook hung his head.
"Send for someone who can read and put him or her at the cook's disposal," Rodrik called out. "I curse the day Tamblin decreed that education wasn't necessary. Let me know when you have edible food for the Prince," Rodrik snapped and stalked out of the kitchen.
* * *
"We have an illiterate cook," Rodrik flung himself into a chair inside Amlis' suite. "That's why we're getting raw vegetables right now, and no bread."
"I went out yesterday—an older couple invited me to share their midday meal," Beatris smiled. "They could read, and the lady loved the stove—she said it did nearly everything for her."
"Can you convince her to cook for us?" Amlis asked. "We have an abundance provided for us, yet we sit here, hungry."
"I've sent for someone who can read to help the cook," Rodrik grumbled.
"This place is beautiful," Beatris walked to the window and peered out at the city surrounding the castle. "Fyris hasn't looked like this in sun-turns. Are horses available? Might we ride to the farms outside?"
Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 Page 16
