by Mari Collier
“Ye dinna use the normal entrances. Ye will use the seaway to enter a tunnel.” Jolene smiled in satisfaction at the stunned look on his face. “I suggest all the troopers disembark at least six legs from Donnick. Ye can then proceed to Donnick with your fishing nets and drop someone clad in the oxy garment with supplies sufficient for twenty-four hours. If the Sisters search ye, there would be nay troops. This bag also contains a map of the southern portion of Donnick's piers and the underwater location tis pinpointed.”
“If ye ken this, surely the Sisters do.”
Jolene's eyes were bright. “All of Thalia has secrets, but some are held by the Abs. My position means I ken what many in the Houses ignore or nay ken.”
“I was an Ab and nay heard of a secret entrance to the Maca's Tower, or…” his words ceased for he had heard of secret entrances to certain places in all of the Houses' older cities. Most were rubble or water filled, but still the tunnels and underground domains were there.
Jolene stood and smiled. “Tis my kenning that whoever enters this way must be slight like a laddie or a lassie still below one hundred. I could nay enter.” She studied him. His shoulders had broadened and he had gained weight since he had rejoined Ishner. “Ye may be too large also. Pick someone ye trust.”
She dropped the crystal back into the bag and opened her arms. “Now lay your head on my shoulders before ye go.” Her hands were itching for the touch of his young male body and she took her time.
* * *
The Maca of Rurhran, her counselor, Rollie, and their three lassies, Rennie, Rocella, and Roberta, were seated at their Maca's Tower conference room table. Joining them were Rennie's counselor, Rhodan, and their laddie, Ribdan, and their lassie, Rolla. Their clothes were the golden hue of Rurhran and all wore worried looks on their faces.
Ravin spoke to them all. “We are agreed then. The Sisterhood has gone too far.”
Rocella shrugged. “It looked so promising at first. What tis wrong with Beauty that she defies her Maca? Mayhap if we were to appeal to her…”
Ribdan broke in, his voice bitter. “Why would ye do that, my elder? I canna even plead my case to be taken into Flight with LouElla, Guardian of Flight, or her Counselor of Flight as long as the Sisters hold him in his Tower and Rurhran holds his beasties. I am condemned to remain here, a useless appendage to any of your enterprises as ye control all the agra-business details. Mither and Fither tend to what little diplomacy Thalia conducts. Someday Rolla hopes to join them.”
Rollie looked at his younger and swallowed. “When this tis over, I am sure LouElla will find a place for ye.”
Rennie looked at her parents. “Ye are fooling nay but yourselves. LouElla scorns anyone who does nay honor her laddie. Mither, ye agreed with us just minutes ago. LouElla will turn her vengeance on Thalia if her Llewellyn tis destroyed.”
Ravin's shoulders sagged and she closed her eyes. Her lassie spoke truth, and she had foolishly thought Beauty had listened to her and Rocella.
“Mayhap if I threaten to issue my own Maca's call she will listen to reason.”
Rollie looked at his counselor and reached for her hand. “My dear, I rarely say against ye, but all ye will do is raise her enmity and they will attack us once Don tis subdued. If we help Don, and Don succeeds, Llewellyn will still want his beasties back.”
“If they attack, I will have to issue such a call.”
“That, Mither, would be too late. Ye would be wiser to issue the call now. When ye do, make sure it reaches into all of Thalia.” Rennie stood.
Ravin nodded. “It will be for all of Thalia. Rollie, will ye accompany me? I need ye beside me.”
The two ascended by lift to the third floor. The conference room was on the second level. The third floor housed the stations for communications and defense.
On the third level, Ravin seated herself in the speaker's chair. Rollie sat beside her, his hand resting on her thigh.
Ravin opened the display screen and began. “I Ravin, Maca of Rurhran, issue my Maca's Call. All of Rurhran's inhabitants are to return to me and Rurhran by any means possible. This applies to anyone stationed in any other Maca's land or those who have entered the Sisterhood's Army. Fighting against the Maca of Don and the inhabitants of Don tis forbidden. Refusal will mean ye are considered an enemy and banishment to Ayran.” She sat back waiting for the storm.
Beauty's response was immediate. “Are ye switching sides? We had an agreement.”
“Which ye have nay honored, just as ye have nay honored your Maca's Call.”
“I intend to challenge her when this tis over.”
“That tis nay legal under Thalia's laws. Ye should have issued the challenge long before she issued her Maca's Call. Now ye have broken the laws of Thalia and are an open target. I will nay have any Rurhrans in your command.”
Beauty was staring at her in disbelief. “Did ye expect us to allow Llewellyn to destroy Thalia?”
“Ye forget, Beauty. LouElla will be avenged.”
“She will submit to our rule or be banned.”
“She will blow Thalia out of the galaxy the same as she did the Justine planet.”
“Tis ye who forget, Ravin. LouElla does nay command the Golden One. Tis the Justine mutant that captains it. He does nay care who rules Thalia.”
“What of the other mutants on that ship? They are related to LouElla from what she said. The woman mutant stayed with her. They may nay care who rules Thalia, but they will object to a dead Llewellyn. Be reasonable and recall the Sisters from Donnick. Then I will rescind my Call.”
“Any Sister leaving for Rurhran will be shot down.” With that, Beauty darkened her screen.
* * *
Ishmalisa, Guardian of Ishner, rose from her seat. She had taken over the duties of the scanner while the Keeper of Ops went to an early lunch. She needed her counselor, Illnor. He had insisted it would be safe for him to work on the accounts without the Sisters or one of their spies waiting for him to do something wrong. She kenned Illnor was of the opinion that all of Ishner's Keepers were members of the Sisterhood and all would report everything they did.
She hurried down the hall towards the office area, past the gym, and neared the school area when she heard their lassie, Ilyan, screaming. Ishmalisa ran to the schoolroom and pressed her two fingers onto the carved fish and charged through the door as it slid open.
Iwanda had Ilyan by her left arm and was raining blows with a strap on her backside and legs with a wild, satisfied look on her face. She looked up as Ishmalisa dove for her.
“Your lassie tis a sassy lot with nay respect.” She stopped talking and tossed the child away to bring the strap upward to slash at Ishmalisa diving at her knees. Iwanda went down as rapidly as she had when Llewellyn tossed her out of Don.
“Ye fool, I will issue a challenge to this child Maca and ye will be out!” Iwanda was screaming at Ishmalisa.
Iwanda had not considered the fury of an enraged mother fighting for her child. The meek, obedient Ishmalisa did not answer, but slammed her fists into Iwanda's face and chest area over and over again. And then, Iwanda stilled.
“Here, use the strap to tie her.” It was Illnor's gentle voice. “We must flee. They will condemn ye.”
“Mither, Fither, she hurt me.” Ilyan was still screaming.
“Shush, lassie, till they finish.” Issing had entered from the gym and was trying to put her arms around Ilyan.
Issing had pleaded with the Sisters that she needed to recoup her strength after being with the Abs for eight years. She had nay been given the Confirmation Rite to commerate the fact that she was a mature Thalian with the rights and obligations of an adult. They could nay enlist her till the Confirmation Rite was administrated before the Council of the Realm.
Ishmalisa and Illnor descended on their child, touching her, soothing her, and cooing over her. Ilyan started sobbing.
“She's horrible. Don't let her near me again. I'll hate ye if do. Send her to Ayran!”
Issin
g made a face and thought, spoiled brat, but aloud she said, “We must go. The Sisters will condemn all of us as Abs if they catch us. Thank Gar Ishmael tis on his ship.”
Ishmalisa straightened. “I'll have Ilyan issue a Maca's Call.”
“They will ignore ye on the grounds that she tis a wee one.”
“She tis right, my counselor. The Sisters will take over this House and our lassie will nay ever be Maca. Mayhap Brenda will give us refuge.” He picked up Ilyan.
Ishmalisa nodded and they ran for their House cairt. It was powerful enough to withstand the first onslaught of the Sister's converted fighter lifts.
Their cairt was on the padport at the back entrance to their home. None of the Sisters were lounging in the back during the noon hour. They were in the dining area, intent on eating and socializing. Once inside the cairt, Ishmalisa set a straight course for Betron. They were near Betron when two black fighters came into view.
Ishmalisa continued to speed towards Bretta. The fighters dove at them, their mounted stunners sent white streams of intense heat and power into their cairt. Ilyan began screaming.
“Get down all of ye!” Ishmalisa's voice was hoarse. The cairt bucked, but the systems remained up and they continued to fly at maximum speed. The fighters circled and came at them again, this time firing at her head-on. She yanked the controls sharply upward. She ignored the cries from Ilyan and Issing. Illnor was on the floor trying to stay by Ilyan. The control panel started blinking red warnings to land immediately. She banked towards the shore and the fighters turned with her.
Two green Betron fighters appeared and dove at the black ones, their firing power ripping black panels and sending the Sisters' fighters spiraling.
“Brenda welcomes ye, House of Ishner. Your cairt appears to be damaged. We will accompany ye to a landing and then transport ye to Bretta.”
Tears filled Ishmalisa eyes. Illnor was holding Ilyan. She could hear the soothing noises he made. Was there ever such a considerate counselor? She kenned how wise she had been to marry him.
* * *
“Director, Iwanda has been injured. There tis a lump on her head, she does nay respond, and her skin tis yellow. She needs Medicine immediately.”
“Stay with her, I'll attend.” Babara cursed the Sister called Ivana under her breath as she redirected her com to Medicine. Why hadn't Ivana called Medicine?
Magda's face appeared and Babara explained the situation on Ishner and about the downed fliers. “We need a rescue Medicine there when we pick up our injured fliers. “The coordinates are…”
“Ye and your leader have ignored your Maca's call and ye have nay right to destroy Don. Ye are attacking Thalians. Nay of Medicine will be sent to assist till ye leave Don.”
Beauty's face and voice replaced Babara's. “Magda, we are on Sisterhood business. Your allegiance tis to us. We need ye now and when we attack Betron for this flagrant violation of downing our fighters.”
“Ye are Army. The Council of the Realm has nay directed ye to fight. Ye have disobeyed your Maca. I fight for the rights of Thalia.”
Millay, Director of Medicine, broke in. “Maca, I beg ye, let me attend my Sisters.”
“If ye try to go, I will order ye confined. Failing that, I'll shoot ye down. My Maca defenses are intact. If Beauty wishes to dispose the Maca of Don let her challenge him. She has brought this shame on Thalia to hide her own shame of welshing. If any leave I will issue my Maca's Call.” Magda ended the cast.
“I'll order two flivs to rescue the downed fliers.” Babara's lips were white-rimmed with fury. “Tis this how our Sisters welcome our ridding Thalia of mutant males and rebellious Sisters?”
“Magda must be in her decline.” Beauty was perplexed. “Mayhap Millay can talk some sense to her or Melanie.”
“Bah, I hear Melanie tis friendly with Ishmael and the blind-eyed one.”
“Enough gossip, Babara, we are at war. The blind-eyed one may be making for the Maca's Tower. Double the patrols around it.”
“He canna be there. That Ab attack on Bi's village must have caught him.”
“That message was sent after the attack. He was nay in the village.”
“Bi claims he has the Kenning Woman's laddie.”
“Bi tis a lying Ab. There was nay Kenning Woman. That mutant canna survive in a primitive area. Our fighters searched the coast for a day. They found nay man or laddie wandering along it.” Beauty turned her back on Babara. She was tired of people contradicting her. She needed Belinda's soothing hands. Why hadn't Llewellyn surrendered? Mayhap as a mutant he would nay starve, but what of the others caught in the Don Tower? They were Thalians. They needed sustenance. Two days had passed since the occupation and the Houses were in open rebellion. Reports from Ishner claimed the lower ranking Sisters were complaining. Nay saw her vision of an all female Thalia governing without the Maca system. Worse, how had Brenda managed to salvage two of her fighters? Taking Betron would nay be as easy as she had planned.
Chapter 44: The Zark Station
The blue cairt piloted by Lisa, the elderly member of the Select, landed about a quarter-of-a-mile from the main buildings of the Zark Station. “Quick, get out.” She had seen something on the horizon and wanted the safety of the mountains and her own town.
Lorenz handed Daniel Di's crutch and helped her down from the cairt. “We thank you, good woman and all of your people. May God's blessings fall on all who live there.”
For a moment surprise flickered across her face and she slid the door shut before bringing the cairt upward and turning back towards York Delta..
“Laird, why did ye bless them when they kept all your traveling items?
“Call me Lorenz. It's my name.” Annoyance was in his voice. “And in answer to your question, it's the way I was raised. They are decent, honest people and they are going to feel guilty about certain things when Papa, Grandmère, and I go visit them.”
Walking was a slow process. The grass here was mown, but Di's crutch sank into the moist ground and Lorenz found himself steadying her. Her arms were powerful, but pulling the crutch upward put her off balance.
“Daniel, run on ahead and tell Luman or Lavina we need a transport of some kind.”
Daniel shot him a quick grin and turned to run.
“Nay, the Tris will run him off, Laird.
“Wee Da, stay here!” Di stumbled as she turned her attention to Daniel.
Daniel stopped. Which parent did he obey?
The problem was solved as a dark blue lander came barreling towards them. In the front were Luman and his Keeper of the Grounds. Lorenz raised his left arm in greeting and the lander stopped in front of them.
“Laird, we heard ye were killed by Abs.”
“It's surprising what one can hear on the news these days.” Lorenz was smiling broadly. Sometimes this planet was very much like Earth.
“It's good to see y'all, Luman. I don't think the Kenning Woman could have made it on this ground. Y'all must have had rain.”
Both had exited the lander and were staring at them. Finally Luman found his voice after stifling the words about her death and advising the Laird that House dinna give Abs a ride. The man dinna think like House. “Welcome, Laird, but landers seat but four.”
“We'll ride in the back and Daniel can sit on my lap. Di can't walk in this terrain.”
Leslie, the Keeper found her voice. “I have some zarks to check. I can walk back.” Her back was very straight as she walked towards the largest stable.
“When things calm down, fire that woman or demote her.” Lorenz helped Di into the back. “Daniel, ride up front. I'll sit back here and steady your mother.”
Luman felt the Laird's words harsh, but he and Lavina kenned that the Maca needed to win or their life together would be over. He turned the lander around.
“We could nay discern whose cairt that was. It looked like one of Don's.”
“It is. It belongs to the Tris that refused to kowtow to the Justines. They've kept it h
idden during the years of occupation. It probably hasn't been used since the Justines landed.”
“Dear Gar, was there a man named Labin?”
“Yes, he's the Select Man of the group. It seems he was selected to lead their council and help decide legal and land issues for their settlement.”
“He tis my elder, my fither's sib. He swore he would nay submit to the Justines and the Kreppies. He fled ere they landed.”
He started to drive toward the empty Ab quarters.
“Where are y'all going?”
“The Kenning Woman will need a place to stay.”
“She'll stay at the main home. She and Daniel will need protection while I'm gone.”
Luman swung the lander to his left and remained quiet. As they approached the home, Lavina and Leman walked out.
“Laird, ye are safe. Welcome.” Her words stopped and she stared at Di.
“The Kenning Woman, she lives. Laird, do ye ken what a prize ye have?” She moved closer to give him the Thalian greeting.
Daniel had jumped out as soon as they stopped and went running to his mither's side. He held the crutch as she grasped the side and slowly slid down, her cheeks flaming.
It took Lorenz a moment to disentangle himself and respond. “I don't have her. I rescued her and Daniel. Whether she stays after we drive out the Sisters is up to her. Right now we need showers, clothes, and food. Then I'm riding for Donnick. I'll need two zarks, food for four days, more dried food to deliver to Papa, and a weapon if you all have any extra. The Tris at the village didn't trust me and took mine. Frankly, I think they intend to use them if attacked.”
Leman now offered his greeting followed by Luman. It was, Lorenz decided, a bother, but something they considered essential.
“I have a room in the back for ye, Laird, but I fear the Kenning Woman will need to sleep in the great room if ye dinna wish her at the Ab quarters.” Lavina led the way into the home and through the hall.
“She and Daniel can have the back room. I'm not staying. I'm leaving as soon as I shower and eat. It's going to take days to get to Donnick unless you all can figure out how I can do it without the Sisters shooting down anything that flies.”
