The Iron Altar Series Box Set One: Books 1 to 3

by Casey Lea

  He entered a marble-lined link large enough to load pachyderm birds. It stretched ahead of its young commander, and brightly lit openings edged with gold spiralled around its glowing length.

  Free frowned at that opulent expanse. It was not only fully lit, it was also weightless. He hesitated at such unexpected signs of full power, but only briefly. He shrugged a hand and then pulsed himself sedately along the luminous passage. Corridor openings swept past in an ordered curve, all large and welcoming, but he resisted the temptation to explore. Instead, he pulsed his com again and moved more rapidly to the heart of the leviathan.

  Several minutes passed and Free’s awe returned as the plush passage continued to pass in blurred splendour. He increased his speed until the link was nothing more than a vague impression of black and gold that abruptly vanished when he finally shot into the nest. The marble walls disappeared into darkness on either side, despite the fact that the central consoles were all fully powered. Their gentle light barely touched the distant curve of the massive nest’s bulkheads. However, it did illuminate a familiar figure floating above the leader’s chair.

  “Gull,” Freefall called to his friend in relieved recognition. “Do you never rest, Sector Senior?” He braked hard, but realized he had plenty of space to slow to a sedate drift before reaching his console.

  Gull Snowbeak answered his leader’s grin with a precise bow of his head. “Welcome-on, sah. Also warm congratulations, Sector Leader.” He bowed again, this time more deeply.

  Free’s smile disappeared as he pulsed to a halt. “Full thanks, Gull, but this promotion is not all joy.” His fronds sent both warning and apology before he grimly admitted his failure to find true favor with the Arck. “We’ve a single ship for the whole sector.”

  His subordinate appeared unsurprised and unmoved. “No other attack-leader ships, sah?”

  “None.”

  “Hmmm… how many attack-senior and what level of sub-attack support?”

  “None.”

  This time, Gull did blanch and his fronds rose sharply in shocked protest. “Not one?”

  “Not,” Free confirmed grimly. “We’ve sole watch for all-sector with no support.”

  “Drakking gods,” Gull swore, with a blast of fury that hit his Leader hard. “What the hail did you do in Court?”

  Free paled at the emotional onslaught until the scars on his cheeks stood out in harsh contrast. He swallowed hard and then bowed his head while his left hand rose to his temple in apology. “I ask my crew to forgive. I should have been more politic.”

  “No doubt,” Gull snarled, and there was a moment of grim silence while Free stared at his Senior in shock. The old kres glared back until his face suddenly creased and his emotions flipped from anger to grief. His fronds bushed in apology and both hands rose to meet his bowed head. “My Lord… Leader, forgive please. I was in shock and spoke more than I should. I ask you to forget what was said and sent.”

  “Of course,” Free offered at once and Gull’s fronds sagged with relief.

  However, his head stayed up and his expression was as intense as his voice. “Take care,” he whispered hoarsely. “I beg you to hide your pride at Court. There’s no win with this defiance. I fear our Arck has come to hate you, Freefall.”

  A chill touched the young leader, but he managed a reassuring smile. “Have you only just noted such, Gull? You need to pass more time in gossip.”

  His Senior frowned in response and bowed once more, this time from the waist. “If you say, sah.” He straightened and they shared a smile, although Gull’s was clearly forced. “What priority? We’ve much to do before lift next week.”

  “Tomorrow,” Free corrected crisply. “We lift next day. Start the call up, because we lift in ten hours, even if crew light.”

  Gull’s fronds spasmed and his frown returned. “I need more time,” he protested. “We all do. Sar, our people need planet rest. They’ve earned such.”

  “I know,” his leader agreed bitterly. “I know full well, but there’s no time, Gull. Clan BackBeak are hunting and we need urgent planet-lift.”

  His Senior stiffened in affront. “They dare target you, sah?”

  “Myself and Sub-Plus Pinion. I’ll tell all once we lift, but for now we need total effort.” He paused briefly, giving Gull a chance to analyse their situation. “I’m sending all crew the option of tour-out for this one. There’s no disgrace to stay home.”

  Gull was silent, digesting the implications of such an offer. Free rested a hand on his senior’s shoulder, trying to read the emotions behind his now tightly curled fronds.

  “That means you too, Gull. You can tour down with no-”

  A hiss stopped the rest of his offer and the older kres pulled away from Free’s hand. “A Senior moves with his leader,” Gull barked, and his fronds quivered with suppressed emotion. “We lift together. Sah.”

  Free sighed, but managed a faint smile. “Good. Where would I get without you, Gull?”

  “Somewhere dull and second-rate. You’d be bored-as getting there and cetain-sure late too.”

  An amused snort escaped Free and even his unsettled Senior managed a brief, but genuine smile. However, they were quickly distracted. The whistle of an entry request trilled through the nest and several seconds later its echo returned from the walls.

  Free looked up to see which member of his crew was the first to respond to the call-up. He blinked at the image from the main hatch and leaned forward. “Is that Sub BackBeak?”

  Gull answered with a snarl. “You said they were hunting, sah, but this is beyond insult. To plant a spy so blatantly.”

  “Easy, Gull. I doubt he’s a traitor, but he’s too young for this trip anyway. Warn him off.”

  “Don’t mistake youth for innocence, sah. He’s still a BackBeak,” Gull growled, glowering at the image from the main hatch. The boy fidgeted, but had the good sense not to whistle again.

  “Send him off,” Free ordered and settled into the Leader’s chair.

  “Stand easy, Sub,” Gull said pointedly to the squirming youngster. “This mission is for bonded crew only, so you’re excused. It’s ranked as top risk, with no return date. Understood?”

  The young officer’s throat bobbed up and down, forcing him to pause before answering. “Understood, sah. I volunteer.”

  Free exchanged a frown with Gull, before gesturing to include himself in the video feed. “Why?”

  Sub BackBeak snapped into a bow. “Leader.” The youngster straightened to stare at them solemnly, his brown eyes wide and innocent. “Opportunity, sah. When my Uncle failed you and lost his rank, he not only dishonored himself, but also brought shame to the Clan.”

  “Your Tetrark is angered?”

  “Grandmai is most displeased. She’ll favor me instead, if I can redeem our position in the Fleet. A dangerous mission should offer me chances to advance.”

  “You’ll risk your life in the hope of a promotion that might make you First Heir?”

  “Of course, sah. Wouldn’t you?”

  A burst of laughter escaped Gull, followed by some throat clearing and a cough.

  Free gave him a warning look, but only in passing. The Leader’s mind was busy with his unexpected volunteer. “You wish to do your family duty?”

  “I wish to fulfil all my responsibilities, starting with those to you and then the Fleet, sah.”

  Free felt that strange twitch of the lips again, as if his mouth was trying to smile. “I like the way you order your priorities. Welcome on, Sub.”

  A grin split the chick’s face and he sketched a quick bow, before falling through the hatch the second the security field relaxed.

  “He’s truly giving me no chance to re-think.” Free shared his amusement with Gull, but his Senior stared dourly at him. “What?”

  “That one will need close watching.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job of that,” Free observed, making his friend sigh, but any reply was overwhelmed by an urgent entry
whistle. It shrieked through the nest, demanding link access.

  “Who’s using emergency coms?” Gull yelled, before flicking a finger to cancel the alert.

  Free called up the main hatch scan and his heart faltered then jumped when he saw who was at the door.

  Gull’s reaction was much less welcoming. “Sub-Plus Pinion? I’ll bust her wings straight back to sub if she uses a top-level entry claim again.” Free catapulted from his seat, slapping his Senior heartily on the back when he blasted past. Gull was driven across the nest, twisting to look back at Free with his mouth wide.

  “We could do that, or we could promote her instead. Complete the DNA tag and then let her in. I wish full level security for everyone boarding. I’m off to meet Clearwing. I’ll manage her debrief.” He was gone before the order was finished, accelerating hard for the link while his last words hung in the air behind him.

  “I’m certain-sure you will,” his Senior called after him, but Free ignored the cry.

  He accelerated down the link instead and it flew past in a creamy blur, but his headlong progress was interrupted by a chirp from his com. He glanced down at the image relayed by Gull and cursed loudly. It wasn’t Clear imperiously demanding entry to the ship, but her companion Lady Grace. He relayed permission to the nest, even as his face set and his fronds curled tight.

  Not yet. She can’t collect from me yet. However, he suppressed all trace of his feelings while he made a final drive to close with the couple now approaching from the end of the link. He sensed Clear’s surprise when she helped Grace drift to a halt and realized he was still moving at speed. He hurtled past his Sub-plus and heard the older kres cluck in sharp disapproval, but instead of annoying him, her reproach brought a grin to his lips.

  Free flipped smoothly and com thrust straight after the somersault to start braking. He flew feet-first at the sculpted opening of a major passage and his heels hit its silk wrapped edge precisely. Gravity reclaimed his lower body and his legs bent to absorb the impact before flexing to push back. He had lost most of his speed and wafted to a halt beside the leader of the BGP.

  “Welcome on, Lady Grace,” he offered politely, with a full court bow despite the lack of leverage in the weightless link.

  The old lady merely sniffed in response. “Still addicted to flash entrances, Sector Leader?” she queried, and he inclined his head.

  “So it seems. Much thanks for escorting Sub-Plus Pinion.” He turned meaningfully toward the main hatch, but Grace refused to turn back with him. Instead, she broadcast amused surprise.

  “I’ve no time to play nursemaid. Any-all, the Sub-Plus is quite capable of escorting herself.”

  “Of course-”

  Grace continued without the slightest regard for Free’s response. “I came with Pinion because it suited me. I wish to close-see my investment.” She looked innocently around the impressive vessel, but Free knew her real interest.

  “Why do I suspect you don’t mean the ship?” he asked dryly, and was rewarded by the conspiratorial flicker of a seamed eyelid.

  “Better, boy, better. I trust I’m welcome-on for the full tour.” She turned away from Free without waiting for his consent. “You, Pinion. You may escort me to my quarters.”

  However, the young officer turned first to her Leader. “Sah?” she asked calmly and waited for Free’s permission.

  He had to breathe deeply first, but the old lady was right. His confirmation was merely a formality. “Please.”

  “Yesah,” she answered smartly, but then hesitated before turning away. “And thank you, sah. I needs must say a total thanks. You held faith in me, despite all appearances. So heartfelt thanks. Thanks for all times. Thanks forever. I owe you so much. There’s no way to expres my gratitude. I don’t know how to say-”

  “Truly?” Grace asked drily, interrupting the flow of words, and Clear’s mouth snapped shut.

  “You’re most welcome,” Free said quickly, forestalling further comments from the old lady. “But my motives were self-serving. I’d no wish to lift without my DS.”

  Clear offered an automatic salute and started to turn away again before her fronds bushed in shock. She spun back wide-eyed to face her grinning leader. “DS, sah?” she croaked. “Data Senior? Senior? Really?”

  “Truly,” he assured her with genuine delight, although Clear was still solemn with shock.

  “Oh,” she managed in response. “Oh. Thank you, sah. True, utmost thanks. Absolute, full thanks.”

  Grace groaned and muttered, “Not again,” but her protest was ignored.

  “I won’t let you down,” Clear promised, and Free reached out to squeeze her shoulder in quick congratulations.

  “I know you won’t. I’ve complete faith.”

  “Good, sah, because I’ve the same in you-”

  “Oh pity an old lady’s digestion,” Grace moaned, throwing a hand to her brow, before moaning again.

  Free abruptly remembered his unwelcome guest and pushed away from his new DS before flicking a finger in dismissal.

  “Please place Lady Grace somewhere peaceful and too quiet to aggravate stomach acid.”

  “Sah,” Clear agreed, lifting the tip of a frond to acknowledge his hint to stow the old kres far from the nest and far from Free’s quarters.

  Grace obviously understood the order too, but cackled happily in response. “I’ll be well enough if I can’t hear you two tweeting at each other. I’ll take some rest now and join you pre-lift, Leader.”

  Free bowed to the inevitable and to Lady Grace. “As you wish. I’ll inform you when we’re ready. Do you have a preference in attendants-?”

  “My own will board soon-as,” she informed Free sweetly and his fronds tucked tight in an effort to hide his annoyance at the presence of more civilians.

  “Of course. If you need any-all just ask my Supply Senior. And again, welcome onto the Grace, My Lady.” He gestured at the ship surrounding them and the elderly kres blinked twice in quick succession, but that was her only response to the vessel’s new name.

  “Hmmpf. Trust it flies smooth,” she quavered doubtfully, and Clear stiffened beside her.

  “I’m sure it shall,” the DS stated with youthful certainty. “It has the very best leader in the universe.”

  “And the best crew. A leader only ranks with his crew,” Free quickly amended, making Grace scowl and clutch her chest.

  “Stop,” she ordered dourly. “I’m sweet intolerant and you two paired are sickly. Enough. Take me, girl.” She offered a withered hand, which Clear carefully clasped. “Haste, child. Before one of you feels compelled to speak and the other forced to answer.”

  The younger kres used minimal thrust to turn them both and drifted back to the large opening that Free had used earlier to stop his headlong dash. She looked over her shoulder while she ushered Grace carefully into its gravity and smiled at Free over her wizened charge’s head. He felt elated, despite the danger, and watched Grace’s departure with smug satisfaction. However, his happiness was plucked by her final words. They wavered back into the link and his kres hearing was hit hard by each one.

  “I get so sick of sweet. Where’s Nightwing when I need his selfish cynicism?”

  Free’s smile melted away, along with his contentment. He turned back toward the nest and toward a familiar sorrow. He doubted he would ever see his cousin again.

  23

  The Auction House

  Darsey’s foot flew forward to strike Nightwing squarely in the groin.

  “Ouch,” he complained and raised an eyebrow when he looked down at her target. “Are you sure you forgive?” he asked pointedly, and she answered with a feral grin that she hoped showed more teeth than pleasure.

  She feinted left, but, as she moved, tipped forward and spun so that the back of her heel connected with Nightwing’s temple. Surprisingly, he staggered, despite his defense field, and raised his palm in the signal to break off.

  Darsey was tempted to misunderstand, but controlled the impulse a
nd backed away instead. She silently ordered her new com out of combat mode and relaxed. It was a relief not to want to slay everything in sight. Not that she’d ever tell the kres that. Not any more.

  Darsey glanced back at Nightwing, who was perched on the edge of the console studying her. She returned his gaze coldly. She was willing to work with him again, but only because he had given her an illicit com and a plan of escape. She was still unsure how far to trust either of those things. How far do I trust you? she wondered, and he raised a brow in response.

  “You can all-times trust me, Darse. I swear it. You know the risk I’m taking with this. Com risk and training risk. Greon would gut me…”

  Darsey looked away, covering her mouth and pretending to yawn. Wing was so fixated on himself it was ridiculous, but he was right about the risk. He was making an effort and more importantly, her only escape plan had come from him. Her fingers strayed to the invisible com hugging her wrist, a habit that was already ingrained. She stroked the hidden metal and it seemed to warm with the contact. Her hand closed possessively around the unseen band and the kres frowned.

  “I’m pleased you enjoy the com, but it remains a loan. I need to swap it for a lesser one when we part.”

  “When you help me escape.”

  “Yes.” Wing held Darsey’s gaze and his fronds rose beseechingly. “Trust me. I will see you set for home.”

  She shrugged, before turning away. Could he sense how vulnerable she felt? Everything was about to change and her only hope of a good outcome lay with the monster who’d bought her and hit her and betrayed her. The monster taking her to auction.

  Darsey’s fingers closed around her com again. The monster’s com. His very best com, taken from deep storage and revealed to her as an act of faith. She still wasn’t sure if that was enough to restore her faith in him, but it was a start.

  A chime sounded from the console and Pertwing appeared. The icon looked at Darsey not Nightwing, which was warning enough for Darsey to taste bile.