by Ciara Knight
She paused beside luxuriant green vines, covered in vibrant, deep pink flowers. “You must smell these blossoms.” She drew a vine to her face and inhaled then held it out for me to sniff.
With one whiff, an inexplicable joy filled me. “It’s wonderful, and unlike anything I’ve ever smelled.”
Helvetia smiled. “Yes, we are truly blessed. Our ancestors realized we could never assimilate into the native culture. Our appearance was too different. And as a race, we were too advanced.”
Curiosity got the best of me. “When was that?”
“During Alexander the Great’s time.”
I opened my mouth, a stream of questions on the tip of my tongue, but I closed it again. It was best we knew as little as possible of our children’s new home until this war was over.
We continued forward, exiting into a large white domed foyer area. “Your wounded are being cared for in our clinic. The children without parents will live with couples who have not been blessed with children. Those of advanced years have been given private rooms off a central garden. Would you like to see them? Come. Let’s allay your worries about your people’s safety and comfort.”
“Thank you,” I said, following her down a smooth, narrow, curved rock path. On one side was the mountain, on the other were hundreds of rooms. Unlike the Arc’s quarters, these were cheery and, as Helvetia said, exited on a verdant park filled with grass, trees, and an abundance of flowers in bloom.
At a junction, we turned into a large open room. “This is the children’s play area,” she said.
What I wouldn’t give to have grown up in this environment. From floor to ceiling, books lined three walls. Wooden toys abounded. Once again, the park took center stage, a wall of glass folding doors that could be easily opened separating the two spaces, allowing the children to play without fear.
Helvetia took my elbow. “It’s time to return to the main entry.”
Five minutes later, Ryder joined us, Annie at his side. “Semara, it’s dark. We need to be on our way.”
Her eyes widened in horror, Annie gasped and grabbed my hand. “No! You can’t leave me.”
I knelt in front of her and hugged her close. “I love you. You know that, right, Annie?” At her nod, I kissed her forehead. “I don’t want to leave you, but we have to go. General Bellator’s waiting for us. We have to stop Queen Valderak so we can all live in peace.”
“If you leave—”
“Having you here, knowing you’re safe will keep me from worrying that you’ll get hurt by the bad people. But I’ll think of you everyday and send you my love.”
“But you’re leaving me. Like Mommy and Daddy did.”
My heart ached at her words. “You’re right, but I don’t want to.” I stroked her long dark hair. I wanted to make her childhood better than mine, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to leave. If the Triune and the rebels succeeded then everyone would be free to live without fear of the yoke of slavery. “I’ve never lied to you, and I won’t start now. There’s a chance I won’t make it back. I’m part of the Triune and am destined to save our people. But you know what?”
Annie tilted her chin higher, her body stiff.
“For the first time in my life, I’m thinking about life beyond the war. If I come back, Ryder and I want you to be our little girl.” I glanced up. Ryder’s grin was bright enough to light the way on a moonless, cloudy night. “Would you like that?”
Her silence felt like a knife stabbing my heart. Then I looked at Ryder.
His eyes gleamed and mouthed. I love you.
“Wait.” Annie squeaked, lunging into my arms. “You want me? You really want me?”
Ryder lifted her then wrapped his arms around us, sandwiching her between our bodies. “We both do.”
“I-I,” She choked. “I want to be your little girl.”
Using my thumbs, I wiped her face free of tears. For the first time in my life, thoughts of my death scared me. Not because I feared it, but because I was loved by my husband, father, friends, and one special little girl. My life mattered to many people in powerful ways. Thinking of them, my resolve solidified. I’d take down Mandesa. I’d do whatever it took to keep them safe and return home to them. “We love you and of course we want you. But I need you to promise me you’ll be a good girl for Helvetia and obey all their rules and laws. Please, Annie, promise me.”
She threw her hands around my neck. “Promise,” she said, covering my face in kisses.
Ryder kissed her as well then set her back on the floor. “Annie, I’d like you to find Laos, Ask him to show you the play area. You’ll love it.”
When she didn’t move, Helvetia laid a hand on her head. “Run along, little one.”
Once Annie disappeared in the direction of the play area, I faced Helvetia and bowed. “We thank you.”
She smiled. “You’ve had quite the adventure. You were born free then became an enslaved princess, escaped, married, and now lead a rebellion.”
“When put like that, I guess my life has been an adventure.”
She looked at Ryder and me. “It is time we took you to the ship. While we condemn violence and war, we will pray to our ancestors you succeed in freeing your people from slavery, that the detestable torture and experiments the queen conducts will finally end.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Entering the barn, shock struck me dumb. I’d never seen the like. A sleek, black, wing-shaped vessel stood in solitary splendor. With the exception of the fuselage’s rounded glass windshield, it looked like the entire craft was made from a single piece of metal. From the gasps, and oohs-and-ahs of my fellow pilots, they were just as stunned and awed.
Only when one of them asked, where’d our ships gone, did I realize they weren’t there.
Helvetia held her hand out straight, palm down. It began to glow blue. The floor next to the right wall slid away, disappearing under the floor where Father’s plane stood.
We moved to the edge and looked down. Beneath us were our ships.
Helvetia glanced at the sky. “You must leave now before Queen Valderak’s scouts discover your presence.”
Stairs lowered behind the wing, as if to illuminate a welcome. I climbed into the cockpit and discovered a letter resting on the pilot’s seat. I quickly read it. “Ryder, take the co-pilot seat. The rest of you get settled. Everyone’s to buckle up and put one of those on,” I said, pointing to head gear that looked similar to pictures of Roman soldier helmets I’d seen in books. Each one had a faceplate and a type of mask with a hose that fit over our mouths and noses.
I rechecked the letter. “Snap the end of the hose into the opening beside you. It provides oxygen while were in the air and allows us to talk.” As each crew member followed my instructions, I took in their appearance. “You look like giant bugs,” I snorted.
Ryder glanced back at them and grinned. “And so will you in a few minutes,” he said as he finished buckling in. “Let’s go.”
I handed him the letter. “I think I understand Father’s instructions, but to be safe, guide me through the steps.” Sliding into my seat, I buckled into the five-point safety harness, slipped on the helmet then hooked the hose into the oxygen.
After Ryder and I completed the necessary takeoff checks and turned on the engines, I lifted my hand before the windshield, raised my index finger, and made a series of circles.
Helvetia nodded and motioned a man forward. He locked something around the front wheel then stepped back. Holding a device, with a wand sticking out of it, he pointed at the wheel. We slowly rolled out of the faux barn and continued to the base of the mountain. Gradually, we turned until we faced the valley opening.
The man raced to us, recovered his attachment, and returned to his position ten meters forward and to the side. Raising his arm, he made circles, dropped to his knees, and pointed to the end of the valley.
I nudged the throttle while Ryder pressed a series of buttons. Within seconds, we lifted off the ground and shot up into the air
. Leveling at altitude—thirteen thousand meters—I banked the plane, pushed the throttle forward, and the plane silently rocketed toward the RP. In our shuttles, it would have taken four hours to cover almost six hundred kilometers. In Father’s plane, it had taken under an hour before I started our descent, preparing to land. “We’re landing in ten,” I told the crew members, speaking into my facemask, my voice sounding raspy and deeper than normal.
Feeling the mental link with my father strengthen as our distance decreased, I reached out to him. We’re on approach. Where do we land?
Follow the lights.
Minutes later, flicking torches guided us down and into the side of a mountain that closed as soon as we cleared the opening. Once we had the craft locked down, we climbed out and stretched.
I spotted Raeth, with Penton by her side, wave from across the hanger. They maneuvered through the hustling of ground crew to reach us.
Penton clasped Ryder’s shoulders. “Thank God, you got here. The council’s waiting to talk with the Triune.”
“What’re they doing here?” I snarled.
“They aren’t here.” Before I could respond, he pointed to a shuttle. “We’re going there in that. To bring you up to date, the queen’s agreed to a cease-fire. But if Ryder and Raeth aren’t in the air by morning, she’s warned she’ll hit us with more assassins.”
Penton side-stepped one of the ground crew, moving closer to Raeth, but she moved around to the other side of me without a glance at him.
Confused by their behavior, I looked between them. “Does she know about this location?”
Penton watched Raeth for a moment, his eyes soft and sad, but she kept her gaze straight ahead. “No, she doesn’t. We’ll be with the general in the new council’s HQ. She thinks those of us who survived will all be there. Ryder and Raeth will leave from UE at oh-dark-thirty.”
I knew he liked that plan about as much as I did. “Any news on the nukes?”
“N-no. We c-can’t c-confirm they’ve reached Acadia.”
Penton shoved his hands in his pockets. “Let’s talk while we walk.” His voice dropped to just above a whisper. “The emperor’s been overthrown and it’s a mess over there. As for the nukes, our spies report they haven’t seen any evidence of them in Acadia or anywhere in Asia.”
“W-we th-think it was a bluff.”
“Well, that’s some good news at least.” Releasing Ryder’s hand, I fell back and walked beside Raeth. “Hey, you. What’s going on?”
Raeth shrugged. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“You and Penton. Usually whenever you two are near one another, you’re either touching in some way or hanging on every word the other one says. But you haven’t even looked at him since we arrived. So, what’s going on?”
“It’s private.”
“Private? Hey, I’m your best friend, remember?” I pulled her into a one-armed hug. “Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands. “He won’t marry me.”
“What? That doesn’t make sense. He loves you.”
Raeth shrugged. “W-won’t make me a widow. Says w-we should w-wait until the war ends. He th-thinks he’s gonna die.”
I tried to find the right words, but I knew from experience nothing would make her feel better. “I’m sorry, Raeth.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. Behind us, two people grumbled as they swerved around us. “It’s th-that stupid prophecy. Th-thinks it’s his destiny to die.”
“No. It isn’t. I never believed it was and after Father and I talked, now I know it for fact. It isn’t Penton. Because I lived, events have changed. We’re no longer sure the prophecy will even be fulfilled.” Though deep in my soul, I knew there’d be many deaths. “I can talk to him if you want.”
“No. I’m just gonna m-make sure he survives th-then tell the fool he doesn’t deserve m-me.”
I’d never seen Raeth so furious. Her sweet, giving nature had disappeared, replaced by an outraged girlfriend.
Minutes later, we boarded the shuttle and flew out over the middle of the Channel, headed for UE.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Two by two, we entered the council’s war room. Scanning the attendants, I spotted some of the council members we’d met after the battle at the Tower, the ventriloquist and Camilia, the woman who could change her appearance.
Without thinking, the four of us separated. Ryder and I took the two seats to the right of Father, while Raeth and Penton occupied the ones on his left.
Remember, never say anything aloud what you don’t wish the council to know. Even the walls have ears. For our stay, I will function as a bridge so the five of us can communicate privately. There is much to discuss prior to Raeth’s and Ryder’s departure.
Acting as if we hadn’t just spoken, Father tipped his head in greeting to us and faced the council. “Semara, glad to see you made it. Each council member has just given me his or her list of Neumarians.” He passed me his halo pad. Ready.
Yes. We’d planned how to manage the council in minute detail. Here was hoping they stayed true to form.
I scanned the data. “Did everyone protect these names, and not share them with one another as agreed?”
At all their affirmations, McCormick flicked us a derisive look. “Now that you have joined us, can we settle on the attack plan?”
Father arched an eyebrow. “My team,” he motioned to us, “and I will review the information you have provided and create a battle plan. All information will be compartmentalized and provided on a need-to-know basis.”
McCormick stood so abruptly his chair toppled over. “If you want me to risk my troops, I’m going to be involved.”
Disappointment flashed across Father’s face, disappearing almost instantly. “Never doubt we appreciate your willingness to support the rebellion. However, due to recent events, I pray you’ll pardon my lack of enthusiasm at sharing information and plans prior to action. Your walls have ears.”
Ridgecroft’s eyes hardened and his mouth narrowed. “Are you implying—”
“That critical information has been leaked? That lives have been unnecessarily lost? Yes.”
While the rest of the council sat in stunned silence, McCormick roared, “You malign us with your lies!”
Father kept his expression neutral as he said, “The bombing of the Arc was perpetrated by the human representative of UE. Over the intervening months, we’ve dealt with more of Mandesa’s spies, who came to us vetted by UE.”
Father nodded to me and I shoved clean halo pads across the table to each council member, their sole contents pictures of the spies, their bios, and documentation of the treachery. “And here’s the proof.”
I watched each member as they viewed the data. Ridgecroft turned ashen and looked nauseous. The reactions of the rest were identical—shock, horror, outrage, each of them staring at Ridgecroft.
“Councilman Ridgecroft, do you have something you want to share?” one councilman asked.
Ridgecroft’s gaze skittered around the table, like a rabbit trapped by a wolf. “They were former bodyguards. They left my service at last year’s attack on us, saying they wished to take their families to safety.”
The human next to him stood, glaring down at him. “How many on your list are still alive?” At Ridgecroft’s blank stare, the man snorted. “Unsure? That’s a problem, isn’t it?”
Father passed me Ridgecroft’s list and I groaned. The first five, all captains, were our saboteurs. I don’t understand. I thought our attackers were human.
They were. But they each have family members married to Neumarians in Acadia.
That explains everything. Do you want me to handle this? At Father’s mental affirmation, I looked at the crushed councilman. “I know you’ve always put your people ahead of yourself. You trusted those sworn to protect you. And why not, they’d saved your life many times. But any names they’ve given you aren’t trustworthy. When we background-checked the traitors, our agent
s reported their Neumarian family members were taken from UE on Mandesa’s orders. They now wear slave collars and work in the Mining Territory.”
Ridgecroft covered his face, shaking his head, his disbelief and grief mirrored on the rest of the council’s faces. Even McCormick looked ill.
Father squeezed my hand. You did well. They finally understand. “Keeping the plan on a need-to-know basis is the safest way. It protects you, those you love, and helps maintain the secrecy needed. We cannot afford any leakage. We must do everything within our power to protect the Triune.”
The human councilman beside Ridgecroft took his seat again. “We, the queen, and the people know the Triune is our only hope at freedom. And you, General Bellator, have proven yourself to be worthy of leadership and our trust. I put before the council that we agree with General Bellator. He, the Triune, and their weapons genius should plan our battle in private.”
Except for McCormick, all of the members unanimously agreed. “Here, here,” they cried.
As they quieted, McCormick snarled, “I am the council’s military leader. I have the right to approve all planning.”
Father’s hard gaze locked with his. “Not true. As military leaders, we sit on the council to provide guidance and assistance as needed. However, we are not members of the council. We abide by their rulings. And with their unanimous vote, they have declared their agreement with my plan.” He stood, walked over to McCormick, and clapped his hand on the other man’s shoulder. Don’t make a sound, any of you. With those words, Father telepathically linked us with McCormick. We have known each other since the crib. You know it’s for the best. Protecting the Triune and winning this never-ending war is more important than our pride. Never fear, you and your brave troops will be central to our victory. Once the plan’s in place, I will share your part. But be warned, do not tell anyone—including those who serve under you—the reason for your actions.
