by Nyk Nova
“I could offer them nothing.”
“Truly,” she said as she walked in a slow circle around him. “After all, what good is military information if there is no enemy to fight? And having faced defeat, once more, at the hands of our bitter enemies, there is, surely, no information to be given. Though we trust if there had been, you would not have given it.”
“On my life.”
She placed a single hand on his shoulder. “Final words, General?”
“I…” Tare searched for reasons to be spared. Jer’ren had zero tolerance for failure. And the loss of a war through surrender was a failure, even in his own mind.
“Ease yourself.” She turned and stepped toward the table in the middle of the room.
The feed on the surface replayed the very battle that lost the war. It had not been the first time Jer’ren had seen it.
“We would like to know the truth of things,” she said. “Of particular interest is how this happened?”
“My lady,” M’ruy said. “It is clear to us all, that Tare’s failure in this conflict was achieved through cowardice and—” The man’s head snapped from front to back and he dropped to the floor, dead.
Everyone in the room turned to Jer’ren who lowered her hand. The green glow of energies already fading away.
“We do not consider Tare’s surrender a failure.” She turned from the table to face the others in the room.
Tare’s eyes went to the only two advisors left. A part of him hoped she would do the same to them. An act he had little doubt she would perform if either of them spoke.
“We consider it a new strategy,” Jer’ren went on.
“My lady?” Tare asked, uncertain of her meaning.
Jer’ren pointed at the feed. “This man. Who is he?”
“Kade’Tor Lorenth. General of the Oscerian forces,” Tare told her, a hint of venom in his voice at mention of the name.
“He is a general as well.” She refaced the table. “How would you describe his tactics?”
“Brash. Fool hardy,” Tare said, pleased to be able to speak so ill of his rival.
“You seek to prop yourself up, Tare?” Jer’ren asked.
“Apologies, Empress.”
“Speak of him as an admirer.”
Tare sneered at the thought. Forced to surrender and now ordered to give accolade to Kade was almost unbearable.
“By your wishes. The Oscerian General—”
“Kade,” she interrupted, reinforcing her order for admiration.
Tare swallowed his pride. “Kade. From what I know, even before war’s end, Kade is little of a tactician. His attacks are head on, giving more emphasis on surprise than stealth. He relies on it to throw his enemy off guard.”
“Is that what happened? You were thrown off guard.”
“The use of a talisman for Spirit Division was unexpected. He was cornered and yet still managed to single handedly blitz my personal platoon.”
“So he is fearless in the face of danger.”
“An astute observation, my Lady,” Tare said. It was a workaround to prevent from giving Kade one more compliment. One that Jer’ren noticed all too clearly. Still, she let it slide. Her mind was too busy devising a scheme.
“Oscerians are not known for loose war strategies,” she said.
“He was one against many.”
“And that is how he won. Little to no troops to command. He put himself in the worst of the fighting and came out victorious.”
“An ill-advised strategy,” one of the advisors said.
Jer’ren glared at the man, her eyes glowing green. The stare forced both advisors to shrink down.
The glow gave way to another smile. “Perhaps, in the traditional sense, it would be ill-advised. A tactic, I’ve no doubt that you, General Tare, would never use.”
“To keep our forces strong, we need battle hardened soldiers. The more that come home, the better served your empire will be.”
“Of course. But, Kade’Tor Lorenth used such a tactic. The very reason for which we now find ourselves in this conversation. Tell me, how is our man in the Oscerian Capitol?”
“We lost contact with him, years go,” one of the advisors said.
“A pity,” Jer’ren said as she approached Tare. “Then this task will fall on you, General. We require you to infiltrate Osceria and bring Kade back to us. The two of you will share the duty of bringing Osceria and Dom Argus to their knees. Will you do this for us?”
Tare dropped to one knee, his head down. “My life for Lugaz and my Empress.”
“We are pleased and accept your offering.” She held out a hand for Tare to take. He gently clasped it in his own and kissed it.
“On your way,” she said.
Tare launched to his feet and immediately made for the doors. The royal guards opened them for him, wanting nothing to slow his haste but Tare was stopped and nearly bowled over by two more royal guards.
“Empress!” one of them shouted.
“Your meaning?” she asked.
“The survey ship from Razen is approaching. They have given word of prisoners. Oscerians, my Lady. And Kade’Tor Lorenth is with them.”
16
The prisoners in the survey ship rocked back and forth as the space fairing vehicle reentered Lugaz’s atmosphere.
“It has been some time since an Oscerian has been on Lugaz,” the woman in the hat said. “The trenches in the Vermil mountains have refilled since those days. I even hear rumor of Oscerian bodies making up the same filling.”
Kade jerked from his seat, ready to attack the woman for saying such a thing. But Roland eased him back down.
“If you believe such rumors,” Roland retorted to the woman.
The woman smiled at him, satisfied with riling Kade up.
“Ma’am,” the pilot’s voice said over the loudspeaker. “Palace guards are requesting call letters.”
“I hope your leg is not too sore little Oscerian,” she said to Jal. “Because there are no breaks in the trenches.” She smiled and made her way to the front, leaving the prisoners chained with only a radar monitor to keep guard.
“She’s confident in our bonds,” Payce said.
“Can you break them?” Lyra asked in a whisper.
“Not without the proper gestures. And I can’t make those while chained.”
“Best to ride it out,” Tuk told them. “See what’s what.”
Kade stared at the radar. The single screen was surrounded by other screens, all of them with different sets of data. Most of it was diagnostic but there was one that captured his interest.
The screen looked like a top down layout of the same area where they’d tried to take the ship. Except this one had a building seated over the ship. The finer details were hard to make out but the gun emplacement was unmistakable.
Kade nudged Roland and gestured to the screen. “What does that look like?”
Roland peered at the screen and studied it. “I see. Did you know about that?”
“Not with the war going on. And the law officers never mentioned such a thing.”
“They drop prisoners off and leave, never staying around long enough to survey Razen. I could understand if the war was still going on.”
“Perhaps they are planning another attack. A forwarding base so close to Osceria would give them considerable advantage. Even so, judging by that schematic, they are years from having anything remotely close to offensive capability.”
“Can you use the Silver Wire to get word to Oscerian Authorities? Let them know what’s happening on Razen?”
“Not here.” Roland pointed up at a red dome with a silk ribbon on it. The ribbon flicked side to side every time Payce shifted in his seat. “That sensor tracks magic use. Payce has considerable ability. Not quite a sorcerer, but his mere presence has had that sensor registering him since we sat down. If I use a spell, it will set off and we will be more closely monitored. I may even be executed. A thing I hope to avoid.”
The ship suddenly decelerated and the prisoners could hear the hover wells activate, sending a magnetic wave downward to keep the ship from touching the ground outside.
Four spot lights burst into luminance and arced toward the landing ship, lighting it from all angles as the vessel finally stopped its movement and hovered just one foot above the landing pad.
Five troops and four royal guard members rushed across the tarmac to the ship, taking up defensive formations. Five rifles aimed at the cargo bay door while the royal guard Heat Pikes lit up, casting an orange glow on those closest to them.
The door popped and hissed as it opened. The prisoners were already standing in wait to be off loaded while the guards on board rushed to join those on the tarmac.
One of the armored guards shoved Kade, forcing him to the top of the cargo door.
“Hold it!” the woman in the hat ordered. She rushed to Kade’s front and forced her lips onto his.
Kade jerked his head away, confused at her actions and disgusted that a Lugazian had kissed him.
She smiled. “Now I know what Oscerian tastes like. Our Empress awaits.” She backed away, letting the armored troops shove the prisoners off the ship.
“Oh, and the one with the red hair is wounded,” the woman said.
“Understood,” the lead guard responded before taking aim at Jal and shooting her in the head.
The Oscerian dropped to the tarmac, dead.
The prisoners tried to run to her, yelling words of protest at the cold action but the Heat Pikes of the Royal Guards blocked their way. The pikes rose, forcing the Oscerians to do the same.
“Best to forget about her,” the lead guard said. “The same will happen to you others if you’re wounded or step out of line.” He motioned to one of the Royal Guard. The guardsman’s Heat Pike slammed onto the chain shackling Jal to the others. The hot spear tip melted through the metal, disconnecting the dead woman from the others.
“Now, move!” the guard ordered.
The anti-chamber was barren and devoid of any windows. The single door on the far side of the room was the only way in or out.
Payce rubbed at his wrists. “At least we’re no longer chained.”
“That’s a cold thing to say after Jal—”
“That’s enough Lyra,” Tuk said.
“But she was our friend.”
“None of us were or are friends. We stayed together for survival. What did you think, we were going to sip coffee on the lake in the Capital City? Start families where our children would grow up and play together?”
“We are all upset at the cruelty of these Lugazians,” Roland said, hoping to calm them all. “But we are still in no position for a fight.”
“What about the general?” Payce said, pointing to Kade who sat alone in a corner of the room. His fingers rubbed at his eyes. It had not even been a full day since his banishment and the rigors of being awake for so long and under so many threats of death were taking their toll on him.
“You’re not giving up, over there, are you?” Payce asked.
“Just tired,” Kade said.
“Maybe a little dead inside?” Tuk asked.
“I am well past that.”
“Then you are still alive, outside,” Roland told him.
Kade stood, shaking off the self pity and joined the others. “There’s got to be a way out of this.”
Roland shook his head. “I am afraid not. Toward the end of the second war, I found myself in this very room. I thought just as you are, there must be a way out. But I can save us the time and the energy. I scoured every inch until that door opened.” He pointed at the exit. “And I can tell you, that door is the only way in or out. Much to my dismay.”
“Why were you here?” Kade asked.
“I still debate whether or not I regret that. It was a temptation impossible to ignore. You see, I—”
The foot stomps outside were heard well before the door creaked open. Just as on the tarmac, the guards stormed inside. There were six of them more heavily armed than those before.
“What do they think we’re going to do with our bare hands?” Tuk asked, confused about the heavy weapons.
Behind the guards marched in four more Royal Guard members, their Heat Pikes ready for use. Protected between them, Empress Jer’ren waltzed in. Her face was almost peaceful as though she had little concern for her safety while entering into a room with her enemies. But that peaceful gaze quickly turned to shock. Kade’s first thought was that her look was for him but her eyes hadn’t quite met his own. He glanced back, following her gaze.
“Roland?” she asked. “Is that really you, my love?”
17
Everyone in the anti-chamber was shocked at Jer’ren’s words. Her guards didn’t show it as much as the Oscerians had. Never in their lives could they have imagined that one of their own would have been addressed as such by one from Lugaz. And certainly not one of such import.
Jer’ren quickly made her way forward. The guards took larger steps to maintain their perimeter around her but the Empress’s hand glowed a bright green and all of her guards were immediately in stasis, leaving only her and the prisoners free to move.
Roland took the moment to step between he and Kade. He had hoped, in her distracted state, that she had yet to take note of the very general who defeated her armies.
“That is close enough,” Roland said.
Jer’ren did as requested. The look on her face was both joyous and hurt. “You come back to me after all this time and still keep me at arms length?”
“Would I come back shackled as I am? Had I my wish, I would not have come back at all.”
“You’re words are as cruel as the day you left. But I am willing to forgive if you will stand at my side.”
“My decision stands as firm as ever, Jer’ren.”
The Empress’s head lowered. “You still stand with the very people who outcast you. Banished you. That is what Razen is to Osceria, yes?”
“It was for a crime of which I was wholly guilty. I would not fully betray my people. Only those seeking to harm them.”
“Not even for what we shared?”
“A mistake I…” Roland’s words fell away.
Jer’ren stepped forward but Tuk tried to get between her and Roland. The same field of stasis that held her own guards now held all but Roland. The room had become a mausoleum of the living.
“If you cannot bring yourself to say the word, then how could you regret it? You should have left with me. I was ready to throw all of this away.” She motioned at their surroundings. “My rule. My kingdom. The war. All for you.”
“We would have been hunted by both of our peoples.”
“Not if we could have made Unification work.”
Kade listened to Roland’s words. He didn’t know the man very well but it was clear whatever Jer’ren felt for him, there was still a spark of that same fire inside the scarred soldier.
“Unification,” Roland said.
“Yes. And with you here, now, it’s still possible. Just think of the peace, everlasting, between our people.”
“We could have peace if you would halt your attacks,” Kade said. “What are you doing on Razen?”
Jer’ren stepped back, her demeanor changing to the tyrannical monarch. “Who speaks to us in such a way?”
“Brash fool,” Roland scolded, stepping out of her way and giving clear sight to Kade.
She smiled. “Ah. We had nearly forgotten. Kade’Tor Lorenth. You save us from having to abduct you. We are humbled at the presence of such a valiant hero.”
“Or I could end all recurrence of war by taking your head,” Kade threatened but still unable to move.
Jer’ren’s eyes lit up in green flame but Roland spun around and slapped Kade across the face. The inability to roll with the hit made the sting even worse. Still, the reaction had its desired affect. Jer’ren’s fury was immediately calmed at sight of her heart defending her honor.
“You see,
my love. You still burn for me as I for you.”
“If you truly feel that way, set us free,” Roland said.
Her eyes went hard. “You use the same words against me as I did when asking you to flee the war with me. You are not the same man. Clearly, my love died in the war. Right next to his beloved General Korren’Tor Lorenth.”
Kade’s eyes went wide at her mention of his father’s name. He gritted his teeth and strained to move against the stasis spell.
Both Roland and Jer’ren were shocked at how much Kade was able to move when no one else could break free at all.
“The will of his father,” Jer’ren said. “That won’t do. Guards!”
She raised her hand, releasing her men of the spell. One of them sprang forward and struck Kade in the side of the head with his gun, knocking the Oscerian out cold.
“I had such plans for this one,” Jer’ren revealed a dagger from her belt. “But there is only one path for wild animals. I will see Oscerian blood spilled, ending the line of Lorenth.”
“Wait!” Roland cried out. “Please, spare the boy! He did not wound you as I did.”
“No, my love, he merely sent my armies crawling away. I can handle the burden of heartache. I cannot shoulder the cost of my people doubting my power.” The knife rose into the air, her hand gripped the handle tightly as if her own appendage could not wait to plunge the killing weapon into its victim.
The air suddenly reeked of a repulsive incense and the smell of atmosphere. “If I may be so bold, my Empress.” A hooded man with a robe more elegant than Jer’ren’s own appeared, as if from nowhere.
“Epok,” Jer’ren said. “You dare halt a royal execution?”
“Only when it goes against my Lady’s own wishes.” The sorcerer’s voice was regal and dignified. “I have been in conference with General Tare. This one,” Epok pointed to the unconscious Kade. “You had such a grand use for. Yet, now you seek his head.”
“He was captured by survey guards,” Jer’ren said. “Perhaps his victory was a fluke and we killed the wrong advisor.”
“I live but to protect my Lady’s best interests. However, at this juncture, you have two very brilliant choices. Kill the man who has brought you shame. Or have him bring you honor in victory over your enemies. Both wishes are from your own machinations. Perhaps a test of trust is in order?”
