by Craig Gaydas
“This has been coming for a long time, High Prince,” Hark-Kalech whispered in his ear. “Do not weep for the Consortium. Calypso will rebuild it and return it to its former glory.”
Hark-Kalech's daggerfish blade plunged into Meta's back. Varooq let go and the blade twisted. A sound like paper tearing came from inside his chest. The pain of his heart rending subsided, soon giving way to the emotional pain of betrayal. “Calypso!” Meta gasped. Dark blue slivers of blood fell from his lips.
Hark-Kalech tore the blade out and Meta fell to the ground. Blood bubbled from his lips when he rolled onto his back. Through dying eyes he studied his betrayers. Varooq looked on sadly but Hark-Kalech had a different look. It was the cold, emotionless look of an assassin. The treachery was complete. Calypso struck the first blow. Hark-Kalech struck the last.
“You will never take control of the Consortium,” Meta gasped. “The Consortium will die with me.”
Hark-Kalech snickered. “We are counting on it.”
Preview Chapter of Book 3 in The Cartographer series
The boarding bridge attached to the ship. Once it locked into place the dock doors of the Astral Spirit lowered slowly. The interior lights from the ship illuminated a lone figure in the doorway. Hark-Kalech stood tall, ready to greet his visitor. It had been a long time since Calypso stepped foot aboard the Consortium flag ship and he smiled when he glanced at his former colleague of the Council of Five.
“Welcome aboard,” Hark-Kalech beamed. “It's been a long time.”
Calypso reached out and shook his hand. “It has indeed, my old friend. I assume by your warm reception that the task is done?”
“It is,” Hark-Kalech let go of his hand. His smile faded when he saw the look of unease on Calypso's face. “Is something wrong?”
Calypso ran a hand through his flowing red hair and frowned when it came back moist with cold sweat. “It's the Insurgents. It seems they are not as disorganized as I originally had suspected. Our young Nathan seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve.”
Hark-Kalech narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Calypso started to respond but he heard a noise coming from the docking bridge. It was as if someone dropped a coin on a metal surface. He looked back and saw nothing except the empty corridor of the bridge. The dimly lit hall was only visible on each end because of light coming from the open doors of their two ships.
“Calypso?” Hark-Kalech was looking at him with concern.
“Sorry, my nerves must be fried,” he replied. “What I meant was that Nathan seems to have found new allies. The forces of Xajax have joined the scattered remains of Embeth's Defense Fleet. I assume after Corvus' failure on Vaire that the Hydrophants will not be far behind.”
Hark-Kalech shrugged. “Once we merge the Consortium forces with the Ascended, Nathan can rally an entire galaxy to his cause and it will not make a difference.”
“Perhaps you're right, but I prefer to take no chances,” Calypso replied. He started down the hall but stopped when the hairs on his neck stood at attention. He suddenly felt colder for no reason at all. The temperature was a bit cool but nothing like the iciness that wrapped around him like a shroud. An overwhelming feeling of being watched overtook him, despite the fact they were alone in the hallway. He found his gaze drifting toward the bridge but the gloomy corridor remained empty. He shrugged it off as simple nerves.
“Shall we adjourn to the meeting room to discuss our next move?” Calypso asked.
Hark-Kalech swept his hand in an arc, motioning for Calypso to follow him. They entered an elevator that stood at the end of the hall. When Calypso turned around to wait for the elevator doors to close, he saw the docking bridge in the distance. A shadow passed before the open doorway and he froze. Squinting, he struggled to make out a shape in the gloom but the only thing he observed was the light wafting in from his ship. After several seconds passed he chalked it up to the light playing tricks on him.
When the elevator doors closed the shadowy figure dropped from the roof of the corridor. He landed softly, almost cat-like. His wings folded tightly against his back attracting the surrounding shadow to him like a magnet while he surveyed his surroundings. He crept toward the hallway while the shadows followed him as if they were his children. As he moved through the empty halls he marveled at his luck. No crowds made it easier for him to work. His primary objective was discretion. His mission was simple; get in and get out unseen. Calypso's skittish behavior amused him. The shadowy figure had been well briefed on Calypso's ability to sway his enemies with hypnotic charm and he took great joy in unnerving him.
He reached behind him and removed an eight-inch jagged steel blade out of the sheath. Its hilt had been carved into the shape of a scorpion, a gift from the desert nomads of Verillion 5. The blade was black, like the shadows. The little bit of light which did manage to penetrate the gloom reflected the deadliness of the ebony blade. It was coated with the essence of Moonweed, the most poisonous plant growing in the badlands of Epsilon Prime. His blade had one purpose and one purpose only—assassination. To him, murder was an art form and the only thing he was good at.
Moro smiled and drifted toward the elevator.
Dear reader,
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Trouble
Solomon Corvus
The Curse From the Future
Kedge Mal'Dineen
An Old Friend
The Prince and the Pauper
Captain Lianne
The United Nations
Solomon Corvus
Kedge
A Cure For Boredom
Satou
Perceptions
The Ascended
Corvus
Redemption
The First Blow
Xajax
Calypso
Meta
The Voyage Home
After Earth
Solomon Corvus
Invited Guests
Hope?
Dead is Dead
Lianne
The Game
Starting Over
Broken
Gorganna
Grunts
Homecoming
Break Out
The Escape
The Beginning
Fear
Training
Deception
A New Beginning
The Aftermath
The Meeting
Epilogue
Preview Chapter of Book 3 in The Cartographer series
