The Last Immortal : Book One of Seeds of a Fallen Empire

by Anne Spackman

  * * * * *

  Wasting little time, the council relayed its decision to Eiron in less than a tenday.

  Eiron was sitting in a deep, cushioned navy blue chair in his grandfather’s quarters when the message arrived over the net. He got up and got a printed message, then settled back down in the chair.

  He would no longer be permitted to build any more ships, they said. They were going to do it without him.

  First, the council’s engineers first had to review the work for signs of sabotage. You’re a spy, aren’t you? was the implication.

  Presuming him already guilty, the government forbade Eiron to have anything further to do with his spaceship, Sukur.

  In the end, the council didn’t care if he’d been loyal or disloyal to the government. They had everything they needed to wage their own battle with the Orians. They would be the ones to decide if the ship Sukr would be used as a defensive, or if necessary offensive, precaution.

  They had promoted Vaikyur-Erlenkov; now they expected him to take up a new assignment, the position as co-commander of the remote Wysteirchan air base.

  Eiron read the print sheet aloud as Vaikyur listened, but kept his own opinions about it silent.

  “So much for that.” Eiron said at length, his disappointment coming through. He balled up the print sheet in his fist, squeezing it until his fingers burned from the lack of circulation. “I should have been more careful. I never expected they’d take away my project.” He shook his head. “I thought that they needed me, but apparently, they don’t.”

  Vaikyur was silent.

  “I’m not going to Wysteirchan.” Eiron announced suddenly. “That damned cretin Miran Lichesk is the senior commander.”

  “You’ll be disobeying orders.” Vaikyur said quietly but without surprise.

  “It’s been done before,” Eiron returned, with a flicker of a smile.

  “What will you do?” Vaikyur pursued.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “I hate to see you give up.”

  “I’ll do what I have to do. In an ideal situation, people who stand for what is right should prevail. But clearly I’m wasting my time here, and right won’t win this time.” He shrugged. “Don’t do it,” he warned. “Don’t ask me to stay.”

  Vaikyur threw up his arms and watched as Eiron vigorously rubbed his face, his elbows resting on his knees, his back hunched forward. In a moment, Eiron stood, adjusted the sofa pillow, and straightened his uniform. Vaikyur realized he was leaving and shot him a questioning look.

  “Look, I need to go. I’m sorry I can’t say anything more.”

  Vaikyur responded with a serious face and nodded. “How will you be able to get out of all this?” He asked hoarsely, then cleared his throat. “They’ll be watching you for any sign of attempted escape.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Eiron smiled and walked to the door, leaving without looking back. Vaikyur watched him sadly and with a sense of irony.

  Those were the same last words his daughter had spoken to him.