by Zara Quentin
“Lucky you, Gariq,” Leuven said. “The Lord Protector called in all units for an urgent briefing. You are excused from humiliating yourself any further. For now.” He let the threat linger, then addressed the unit. “We have to get moving to make it back to Force HQ on time.” His expression hardened. “I don’t intend to be late! Break camp—we depart in five minutes.”
Jade hurried to obey, dissembling her tent and packing up her things. There was no more in her bag than there was when they flew out, but as she attached it to the harness around her torso, it felt heavier. Fatigue dragged on her as she waited for Leuven’s order to depart.
She didn’t have to wait long. Jade leapt into the air and fell into the tail-end of a V-formation. They flew due north, the dry, red land spreading out before them. Jade let her eyes wander, mesmerised by the sameness of it. For leagues, there was nothing but red dirt and scrub. At Blood River, the unit turned west to follow its meandering flow from The Fangs in the east to the Western Sea. Its waters, tainted a deep red from the seams of red gold buried in the mountains, were a vein running through the landscape.
At this height, Jade saw a barge travelling downstream towards Ingresston, carrying a load from the mountains. In the air, the unit easily outstripped the barge below. In time, Jade saw the curved back of Our Lady towering over the Temple and the grey Portal clouds churning above.
Her wings beat steadily as she scanned the skies, searching for Axel. Their return to Force HQ would be a short interlude from the isolation of training, but maybe—maybe—she’d have the chance to see Axel before her unit left Ingresston again. Her breath quickened at the possibility.
Axel wasn’t in the air and, as the unit angled towards Force HQ, she reluctantly stayed in formation.
Force HQ was virtually invisible. From a distance, there didn’t appear to be any other structure along the cliffs except for the magnificent Temple. A moment later, a shimmer of light caught Jade’s attention. She focused on what looked like a large lake sitting just across the ravine from the Temple. It sparkled, reflecting the bright blue sky and grey clouds above.
When the lake came into view, the unit descended towards it and as they passed directly overhead the surface moved, sliding aside to reveal the cavernous space underneath.
Force HQ was underground; a network of tunnels leading off an open-air column where Travellers moved through the levels. Camouflaged by a retractable mirror designed to look like a lake, it was all but invisible to those who didn’t know how to access it. Impenetrable except by a single entry and exit guarded by Travellers, Force HQ was an underground fortress for those who protected the Dragonverse.
Leuven led them downwards, descending steeply, plunging through the levels of Force HQ in tight spirals. Faint marks in the metal sides of the column revealed sliding doors and retractable platforms, fitted with sensors designed to open and extend when a Traveller approached. Entering Force HQ reminded Jade of the Taraqan nature to discover and co-opt technology from the far corners of the Dragonverse. Papa always said that Taraqans didn’t invent much but were quick to adapt whatever they discovered. Force HQ was as modern as the Temple was ancient.
Numbers spaced at regular intervals marked the levels, increasing in value as they descended into the ground. Each level held a network of tunnels and rooms. The upper levels were used for security, and concealed the armoury, the mess and recreation halls, administration offices and dormitories. As they plunged lower, they passed the training halls, the gymnasium, and the healing quarters. Towards the bottom, was the library, study halls, and lecture theatres.
The movement of Travellers between the levels was always constant, but today the movement was all in one direction. Down.
The landing on Level 13 was a bottleneck as every on-world Traveller wanted to enter at the same time. Jade’s unit hovered mid-air, as Travellers landed in groups of threes and fours. While she waited, Jade looked down into the space below.
Below Level 13 was off-limits. That was where Special Traveller Air Regiment Command—STAR Command—oversaw off-world Traveller operations in secret rooms. She’d also heard about classified laboratories and weapons caches, but wasn’t sure how much of it was rumour and exaggeration. What was clear, though, was that Force HQ extended much deeper than the thirteen levels to which she had access.
When it was Jade’s turn, she entered a cavernous amphitheatre, big enough to hold the entire Traveller Force. A reinforced bunker, both water and fireproof—it was one of a few safe places where Travellers could seek refuge in an emergency.
The enormous room was packed with Travellers and had standing room only by the time she got there. The din was incredible; thousands of Travellers talking at the same time.
“My unit is taking bets about the reason for the briefing.” Jade turned to see Kyssa had slipped in to stand beside her. “Shortest odds are on a Yrax assault on one of the Portals.”
Jade’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Kyssa shrugged. “Nobody knows what this is about—that’s rare. Must be something big. Scosse never gathers everyone together like this.” Kyssa looked over Jade and gave her a pitying smile. “How’s training?”
Jade winced. Kyssa burst out laughing. “You’ll survive. We all did.” Kyssa nudged Jade on the shoulder. “When you graduate, we might patrol together—wouldn’t that be great?”
Jade shot her friend a sideways look. “Wouldn’t that make you my superior, Flying Officer?”
Kyssa grinned. “What’s wrong with that?”
Jade rolled her eyes, but she smiled too. She’d dreamed of travelling with Kyssa since they were children and all the more with every one of Kyssa’s stories. Of course, she thought they’d fly as teammates, but now that Kyssa had been promoted into the Officer ranks, it wouldn’t be possible. Not unless Jade made it that far too. She thought of her training so far and the glow inside her was dampened—promotion would be a way off. Then the smile slipped from her face. “Do you know if Axel has returned yet?”
Kyssa raised an eyebrow but before she could reply, the lights dimmed. Scosse stepped into a spotlight, flanked by another officer. Another figure lurked outside the spotlight, but the darkness cloaked his features.
The din fell to silence as all attention turned to the front. Jade was too far back to see Scosse clearly, but the spotlight gave his skin a pale, almost sickly pallor.
“I have called you here today to give you some grave and disturbing news,” Scosse said. “At times like this, rumour and gossip run wild—so we must be armed with the bare facts on which to base our decisions. It is my duty, therefore, to inform you all of terrible news: three of our fellow Travellers have been killed.” Scosse paused. “Murdered.”
Jade covered her mouth as a shock wave of chatter rippled around the amphitheatre. Scosse raised his hands for silence but it took another moment to get the crowd’s attention again.
Tension radiated around the room like a physical force. Jade was holding her breath, waiting for Scosse to continue.
“At this time, we have too few facts about how or why three of our bravest have been murdered, except that it occurred on a little-known world called Premye.”
Jade exhaled sharply and glanced at Kyssa, who frowned. The mutterings around the large hall took on the hard edge of anger.
A raised voice in the crowd called for an attack on Premye. Others joined the chorus, wanting revenge. Scosse held up a hand, appealing for calm.
“I am angry.” Scosse’s voice boomed through the room. “I am furious. We protect the Dragonverse so their peoples can live free of the Yrax. We serve the Dragonverse by keeping it safe. To murder those who serve and protect is an insult of the worst kind.” Scosse paused. The room hummed with anger.
Jade clenched her fists as his words settled over her.
“We must not let our anger colour our decisions. Reason must win the day,” he continued. “We will send a small unit to Premye to meet with their leaders. This unit will be charged,
primarily, with discovering the cause of these murders, and secondly, with keeping the peace. The information the unit brings back will inform any future action.”
An outburst of chatter was waved silent by Scosse again.
“This mission is under the control of STAR Command. In two days, selections will be announced. One day after that, Operation Grave Insult will depart for Premye. Your commanders will be updated with any news.” Scosse cleared his throat. “One more announcement. The Air Vice Marshall Wallen has resigned for personal reasons.” Scosse motioned to the man standing next to him. “Air Commodore Denger has been promoted to Air Vice Marshall and Chief of the Traveller Force as of today. Other promotions arising from this change will be notified in due course. That is all. You are dismissed.”
Scosse strode from the spotlight. The room erupted into chatter and the crowd started to push towards the exit. Jade was caught up in the departing mass.
“I wonder who died?” Kyssa ran a hand over her short hair, then leaned closer to Jade. “I wonder how they’re going to do selections,” she whispered as they were pushed forward.
Jade shrugged. She wouldn’t be selected.
“I bet they’ll be taking Special Protective Ops only.” There was a hard edge to Kyssa’s voice. “I’m so close to getting into Special Protective Ops Division. If I could get onto this mission, I know I’ll be a front-runner next time they do a selection round.”
Jade heard the wish in Kyssa’s voice and squeezed her friend’s hand. Kyssa would find a way—she usually managed to do what she put her mind to.
While they moved, Jade wondered why Wallen had resigned. Papa always said Wallen was so committed to the Traveller Force that he bled black.
A hand on her arm pulled her from her thoughts.
“I wonder who I could speak with to get onto this mission?” Kyssa asked. She was pressed against Jade’s shoulder, moving with the jostle of the pack pushing towards the exit. She squeezed Jade’s arm again. “I hear Zorman is old friends with Scosse…”
Jade only half-listened to her friend as she glanced around. She couldn’t see anyone from her unit and the knot in her stomach loosened a little. Everyone had been separated in the exodus from Level 13.
As Jade shuffled to the front of the platform that extended into the air column, she decided to use the time away from her fellow trainees to practice her archery. Maybe with some extra work, she wouldn’t endure Leuven’s humiliation again.
“You’ll speak to him for me, right?” Kyssa was still talking as they stepped out onto the platform. They leapt into the central column at the same time. “I’d be an asset on this mission. I’m sure if Zorman put in a good word for me…”
Jade nodded, although she barely heard Kyssa. She beat her wings to lift her feet off the platform and drew into the clockwise spiral of Travellers ascending from Level 13.
“Jade?” Kyssa melded into the spiral beside her. Jade racked her brain to remember what Kyssa had said, but didn’t pause in case Leuven saw her.
“Yeah, sure—see you later, all right?” Jade glanced over her shoulder to see Kyssa beaming. She pulled away, heading towards the middle of the spiral where the faster Travellers ascended. It was only when she’d been subsumed into the throng of Travellers that Jade realised she hadn’t received an answer about Axel.
* * *
Jade rose quickly to Level 9 and hovered alongside the notch in the metal side of the column. A small platform extended smoothly and Jade’s toes touched down on the rough, grooved surface designed to avoid slippage. She tucked her wings behind her and stepped through the entrance as automatic lights blinked on. Several doorways lead into small training rooms, where Travellers could practice one-on-one combat or swordplay. At the end of the hall, through another sliding door, a much larger room housed an archery range.
Jade was walking down the hall when her name was called.
“Neve?”
Neve had to work hard to make the ascent that Jade found so easy. She tried not to stare at the lopsided way Neve flew, one wing noticeably weaker and smaller than the other. She averted her eyes, pushing the accident out of her mind. “What are you doing here?”
Neve wore the simple white robes of a healer apprentice. Usually healers spent their days in the Temple healing centre and library. “I volunteered for a roster in the healing quarters here,” Neve explained. “But Kyssa said you were training on the southern plains—I was worried I wouldn’t see you. Can we go somewhere to talk?”
“Sure.” Jade turned into the first small room. It was pitch black, but when Jade stepped inside a light blinked on overhead. “What do you want to talk about?”
When the door closed she turned to Neve. She had to stop herself from tapping her fingers on the side of her legs. Every moment here, was a moment lost in her attempt to avoid further humiliation from Leuven.
“I’ve been wanting to speak to you for days. Almost since your father died. I’m so sorry, by the way. Please pass on my condolences to your mama, too.”
Jade thought of Mama banishing her from home and a lump formed in her throat. She opened her mouth to explain to her friend, then decided she didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, she voiced the question rattling around her head, refusing to be forgotten. “Have you seen Axel?”
“What?” Neve shook her head. “No, I—”
“I haven’t seen him since before Papa died. He didn’t come to the funeral and I just wanted…” Jade trailed off, her cheeks warming.
“I’m sorry,” Neve said. “But I rarely see him so maybe…” Neve hesitated, then changed the subject. “Look, the reason I wanted to talk to you is, well… did you know I assisted the Chief Healer with the examination of your father’s body when it was found?”
Jade swallowed, but the lump stuck in her throat. Tears threatened to break her composure.
“You didn’t hear anything about it?” Neve asked.
“It’s all right.” Jade said. “The Chief Healer already told Mama that Papa died of natural causes,” Jade turned to the exit, hoping Neve would take the hint. “Look, I was actually—”
Neve cut her off, “I wish I didn’t have to be the one…” She looked at her hands and Jade noticed they were trembling. “Magnus’ death was really strange, don’t you think?”
Jade blinked slowly, feeling a frown spread creases across her forehead.
“Strange?”
“He was fit and healthy. There wasn’t a mark on him. Then he just dropped dead?”
Neve’s words sent Jade’s mind into a spin, a contrast with the stillness of her body. “Are you saying it wasn’t natural causes?” Jade was certain she must have misunderstood.
Neve fidgeted. “Don’t tell anyone I told you this.”
“Told me what? What’s going on?” Jade wrapped her arms around her chest.
“When we were doing the examination, the Chief Healer pointed out all sorts of anomalies. His windpipe was crushed, causing prolonged blockage of his airway, but there were no external marks on his neck, no bruising or cuts.”
Jade shivered as Neve’s description brought back the image of Papa slouched across his desk. Papa’s death had been a shock, but it had never even occurred to her to question how it had happened. She shook her head, trying to push away the memory. “So…?”
“His internal injuries were severe and consistent with strangulation, but there were no marks on his neck. No other cause of death was found. He didn’t have a heart attack or stroke or anything like that. His windpipe was crushed. With such severe internal injuries, there should have been some bruising or marks on his neck. He was strangled, but it is as though no one did it.”
Jade’s stomach lurched. “He strangled himself?” She stammered, her tongue twisting around the words.
“No—that’s not what I meant,” Neve took a breath. “He was strangled, but without being touched.”
Tears brimmed in Jade’s eyes again and she blinked them away. “No… I don’t… How…
?”
“I know you’ll have a hard time believing this but… it’s as though your father was killed by magic.”
Magic.
The word echoed and Jade froze. Her hands were balled into fists where they gripped the side seams of her black shirt. Her heart skipped a beat, then raced ahead at a gallop. “Is this a joke?”
“No!” Neve’s eyes widened and she reached a hand out but Jade twisted away from her, putting space between them.
Jade’s eyes narrowed. Her lip curled in disgust. Playing a prank on her so soon after Papa’s death? She wouldn’t have believed Neve was capable of such cruelty. She turned her back to Neve and walked towards the door.
“Jade, wait…”
“There’s no such thing as magic.” Jade spat the words through gritted teeth.
“Please hear me out.” Neve rushed forwards to put a hand on her shoulder. Jade spun around, jerking away from Neve’s grip.
“Is this your way of getting back at me? Of finally getting even?”
Neve’s eyes widened. “What? No! Jade, listen—”
“THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC!”
Neve swallowed and lifted her chin. This time it was her turn to cross her arms across her chest. “The Dragon-Gods do magic,” she said.
Jade opened and closed her mouth. “Are you suggesting the Dragon-Gods killed Papa? Was it Our Lady’s doing?” Jade could hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
“That’s not what I meant.” Neve uncrossed her arms. “I’m not the only one to come to this conclusion. The Chief Healer said during the examination that he couldn’t find any cause of death and could only conclude magic had been used.”
Jade wanted to press her hands over her ears. This was absurd. “Why did he tell Mama it was natural causes then?”
Neve shook her head, looking genuinely confused. “He reported it to Scosse, which is normal procedure. After that, he wrote up the report saying it was natural causes. When I asked him about it, the Chief said he’d considered all the facts and formed his conclusion. He said stress was probably the cause.” Neve looked carefully at Jade. “Was he?”
