by Casey Lea
Her jaw tightened, which was a sign of alarm for Misty and her wings swept backward, while Falkyn let his legs fall into a landing stance. They slowed at once and instead of swooping out through the opening ahead they settled on its lip. Falkyn looked for Jace, but he was following their lead and landed safely beside them.
Traya flopped onto the single step down into the cavern and Falkyn looked away from her charred feet. He doubted even the best healer could save them and rebuilding them from nothing would be a daunting task. He looked back to the rising golden mirror below and it felt cooler than before. Misty must have fed more energy to his flecks. She settled beside him on her haunches and her eyes brought a silver gleam to the glare of the chamber.
“How do we fight this?” she demanded and Falkyn let himself sag while he thought about it.
“Well,” he croaked, “the shield control must be close to the door.”
“Oh it is,” a shaking voice said and he jerked round to see Belthezeon on the other side of the shield.
The big man was shivering and hugging himself in a strange mix of loathing, fear and delight. Falkyn realized his fronds were working again. They could easily sense Belthezeon’s emotions, so at least the lava hadn’t left Falkyn frond-blind. That was a relief, but the brainwaves he was receiving weren’t. The tyrant was about to kill them.
“The controls are right here,” Belthezeon continued and flicked off a camouflage screen which had been hiding a series of icons on the wall beside him. He tapped one and a hologram appeared showing the cavern filled with different levels of magma. “You’ve destroyed everything I built, kres. Killed my best soldiers. Set this world back decades. Did you truly think I’d leave such acts unpunished? It’s past time for the Pot to cook you all.” He selected the full setting with a swipe of his finger and the response was immediate.
A groan rose beneath them, making their ledge shake and a bubble of lava rose with it. The entire surface of molten rock bulged upward. Jace and Misty bounced to their feet. She slammed her fists against the shield, while he used his com to peel layers from it. Both attacks were too slow.
“I won’t m-miss you,” Belthezeon stuttered with delight, but a cold voice covered his giggle.
“Ditto,” said Zak from behind the tyrant.
Zak reached past the luckless mermaridian to grip the control hologram for the chamber’s force field. His fist gave a single squeeze and it exploded in a shower of sparks.
Misty fell forward into the corridor and Jace stepped after her. Falkyn turned to drag Traya to safety, but stopped when Zak’s mind told him duck. He looked back in time to see his brother’s leg blur. Zak kicked Belthezeon in the chest to send him flying through the doorway. The burly man cartwheeled past Falkyn, just missing the Arck, before tumbling over the edge.
There was a moment of intense stillness and Falkyn lay stunned, watching the lava bulge. The wind howled with glee and he dragged himself forward to look over the lip. Belthezeon dangled from the pock-marked wall below, his expression as wild as the magma boiling toward him. He opened his mouth as if to cry for help, but the liquid rock lashed higher and he was gone.
Falkyn rolled over onto his back. Zak had done what was needed. The tyrant’s com could have reinstated the shield at any second and it was sure as hail a better outcome than Falkyn had expected two minutes ago. Still… it smacked of overkill.
He grimaced, while someone dragged Traya out into the corridor and Falkyn finally pulled himself after her. He didn’t feel like standing just yet. Lounging was good. He could just lie there and listen to Zak as the doctor tended to the Luck’s injuries. Which seemed to be taking a long time.
Falkyn managed to lift his lids and Traya’s calm face stared back at him. He jerked, but then realized her eyes were shut and she was on the ground beside him. He looked along her body and was relieved to see her chest rise and fall. It seemed Mermaridia still had a little luck.
He laughed - to see if he could - and it sounded tired, but felt good. He was alive and going home to Harry. He tilted his head to share his grin with his team, but none of them smiled back and the mental temperature was frigid. What was wrong?
“She’s badly injured,” Zak snapped in a tone that was curt, even for him. “I’ve knocked her out and put most of my med fields round her feet. Take her straight to the nearest hospital.”
Falkyn felt the last of his smile slide away as silence returned. The trio stood at different angles without making eye contact. Jace studied his fingernails intently and Misty looked sick. She dropped a hand to rest on her waist, while nausea rolled from her fronds, but she abruptly straightened and spun to walk away.
“I’ll fetch our ride,” she called over her shoulder. “Zak, be gone when I get back with the shuttle.”
Falkyn pushed himself to his knees and his view of Jace tilted to show his brother still gazing at his hand, while Zak was just as silent. Falkyn cleared his throat. “Is my brain fried, or are you two as frosty as an ice plague?”
Jace looked up briefly. “Not to you, Fal.”
“Pleased to hear such. Would you stop staring at your fingers like you broke a nail and explain?”
“Trinity business,” Jace said with a shrug. “You’d best go, Zak. Misty won’t take long.”
Falkyn staggered upright without help. It seemed he was invisible. A strange situation for an emperor, but probably good for his soul. A family fight wasn’t so good and he needed to get to the truth of it. Who would he get the most from though? Jace seemed the obvious answer, but Misty was spitting needles and the two of them were joined at the hip.
“Zak, wait up. I’ll go with you. Don’t want to be a spare egg in the lovebirds’ nest.” Falkyn slapped Jace on the shoulder as he passed and winced, then staggered after Zak, who paused to wait for him.
When Falkyn reached his brother he clutched his shoulder for support and tried another grin. “First time I’ve been glad you’re the tallest in the family.”
Zak grunted, which was progress, and Falkyn let the matter of Trinity’s argument rest for the moment.
“Let’s find Amber,” Falkyn suggested, ignoring his back which still seemed to be on fire, to stand straight and gesture down the hall. Zak went ahead and Falkyn hid his pain as he followed. They reached the lift, which boosted them smoothly upward. The breeze rushing past should have been refreshing, but it tugged at his burned clothes and the ruined skin beneath them. He started to shiver.
When they stopped fast enough to snap Falkyn’s head back, he was left confused and dizzy. They certain-sure weren’t on the roof. He stifled a groan and looked up to see that the shaft above had collapsed, blocking their path. It was time to walk. He looked at his brother, but Zak was staring into space.
“It’s our floor,” Falkyn grated and Zak finally stirred. He gave a distracted grunt, before striding off. Falkyn tried to follow, but staggered, just managing to catch himself with a shoulder on the wall. Zak was instantly at his side to support him.
“You’re injured,” Zak said. “More badly than I thought. What happened?”
“My back. Caught in the fire. Don’t worry. I’ll survive.”
“Self-diagnosis,” Zak growled. “The bane of all physicians.”
“I won’t survive?” Fal asked with a smile that became a grimace when Zak peeled back a piece of his singed shirt.
“Not if you try to do my job. I’ll see to that. Otherwise you’ll be fine. I don’t have a regen strip left that’s large enough to deal with this, so I’m spraying on a topical anaesthetic. I won’t drag you as far as the roof though. We should probably go down.”
“No,” Fal said and was shocked by how sharp and authoritarian his voice sounded. “I mean, we can stay at this level if you wish. Belthezeon entertained me here and there’s a balcony on the east wall overlooking the city. We can be picked up there.”
Zak nodded and offered Falkyn an arm to lean on. Fal did so with a sigh and they set off together. The sharp pain of his ruined back
eased to a distant ache and he managed to move faster. His mind cleared and he glanced at his brother.
“Sooooooo,” he said, “why are we chasing a separate ride instead of going with Misty and Jace?”
Zak’s arm tensed under his, before his brother managed an unconcerned smile. “Difference of opinion.”
“About what?”
“Forgiveness. Second chances. Regret. Perhaps even guilt. Deep and meaningful topics where I’m drakking well out of my depth.”
“Perhaps I can help.”
Zak gave a harsh laugh. “You’re years too late. This rift is past fixing. Go home, Fal and rule all those deserving kres instead. Don’t waste your time.”
“Helping you isn’t a waste of time. Just tell me what the problem is.”
They stepped out onto a crooked balcony and had to stop. The split platform sloped away ahead, into a dangerous drop. Falkyn’s wings stirred against his back and he winced.
“Stay here,” Zak ordered and stepped forward to the edge of their perch. His wings spread, snapping out to either side, as wide as the spacious deck. However, he didn’t launch himself. He leaned forward, much further than would be possible without an updraft under his wings. He studied the tower below.
“There’s room,” Zak said and returned to Falkyn.
“For what?”
“Our ride to get in nice and close. You shouldn’t fly.”
“I noted such.” Falkyn searched the sky and saw a shining blob hanging just above the horizon. Was that a ship? If it was their ride, then he was out of time for subtlety.
“Zakareon.”
His brother jerked and swivelled to face him.
“I promise I’ll fix this argument. I’ll make Misty understand. Whatever the problem is. So when I call you to Kresynt, please come.”
Zak’s jaw was taut and his mind shut tight.
“Please,” Fal repeated. “You can heal my back, Zak, but I can fix our family. I’m good at getting people to listen, which is why you’ll come when I ask.”
The edge of Zak’s mouth twitched. “Will you be asking or ordering?”
Falkyn opened his mind to let his brother feel his sincerity. It’s a request. Loyalty/concern/love.
Zak flinched and turned away again, but Fal knew he’d hit his mark. At least one strand of this knot was willing to be unravelled. The other two would need patience, but Falkyn had plenty of that.
He looked for the blob and it was growing closer. The sky turned to steel behind it, while the horizon blushed with the first hint of dawn. It seemed he’d survived to see a new day. That was always a good thing.
7
Anointed by Luck
Amber paced the smoky ruins of her safety cell, the toughened cocoon that had held its shape through the horrendous forces of the ship’s descent. Even scraping past the evaporating shield as it flashed and shut down had hurt their vessel. She was grateful Sweep had thrown her into solitary confinement in the cell. The chamber was as snug as a cleansing cube, but it had kept her safe and offered just enough space to pace around.
Its escape hatch hung open to let in fresh air, which was cool and bracing.
Unfortunately, Amber didn’t feel at all braced. She took another circle of her cave-like shelter and tried to ignore the clank of Raptor following her. The clash of his armor should have been reassuring, but the hostility washing from his fronds had the opposite effect. As he doubtless intended. She clutched her elbows and admitted she wasn’t going to relax until she saw Falkyn whole and well.
“Any news of the Arck?” she asked the shadow behind her and Raptor answered.
“None, as you doubtless know.”
More emotion spilled from Raptor’s fronds and Amber turned with a gasp. “You’re blaming me for this?”
“No.” Not all of it.
“Which part?” Amber twisted her fronds away from the faint gleam that was all she could see of Raptor. She didn’t want him in her head and she was sick of his sloppy mental control.
Something thin and sinuous wound toward her from the shade. One of Raptor’s fronds and it was fully bushed to send all the emotion it could, so it seemed her guard wasn’t just careless. He was furious and she was under attack.
Amber strode back into the darkness of the main ship, closing with Raptor until she could feel his breath on her forehead.
“I repeat,” she said, tilting her head back to glare at the vague oval of his face, “which part of this battle do you blame me for?”
Raptor stopped trying to push words at her with his fronds and she saw the glint of his teeth. “Everything and anything that happens to the Arck. I should be at his side, keeping him safe, but you diverted me for your own protection. Your selfishness and fear are criminal. If Falkyn is lost, I’ll see you dragged in beside Princess Goldown for execution.”
“You bring arrogance to new heights, Raptor. The strength you’d need to either save the Arck or bring injustice down on me is totally lacking. You hide behind your armor because you’re a bully. A ranked-up thug without enough faith in your Arck to follow his orders. I never wanted you guarding me, but I accepted the posting to draw you away from Falkyn, so more competent soldiers could keep him safe.”
An iron band clamped into place around Amber’s throat to smother her last word. She gagged and squirmed, but the pressure increased and she realized there were fingers locked in her neck. Her bodyguard was throttling her and doing a good job, despite her com field and his alleged incompetence.
The night grew darker and she ordered the full power of her wristband to protect her, but Raptor’s battle com crushed her shield. Stars spun across the ceiling of her safety-cell.
I’m dying, Amber thought and her heart leaped. Death felt like a relief. One that would solve all of her past mistakes. It would certain-sure stop her making any more and it wasn’t as if she had other options here. She wasn’t a warrior.
A thought fluttered past. Fight. Fight for your life.
The stars circling Amber grew brighter. They were so pretty… but she still had things to do. Saving everyone was her responsibility. She opened her fronds, unfurling their soft bristles to suck in infra-red and the darkness vanished. She could see the blue blob of Raptor’s face and her hand slashed out. She didn’t punch him, but dug her nails in as hard as she could, around his eye and across it. Something felt sickeningly soft and one of her fingers sank deeper, making Raptor yell and recoil.
Amber was tossed back into the safety cell and hit the floor like fresh kill being dumped. She knew she was still alive because everything hurt, but the world was dark again. Her mouth gaped, but all she could feel it drag in was pain. Where was the air?
“Doctor Grace,” the ship’s Leader called and light swept toward Amber’s refuge. “Are you well? We heard a cry.”
“All’s well,” Raptor answered roughly, stepping down the passage to intercept Leader Sweep. “The Lady was distressed by our crash and I reassured her. Now she needs rest.”
Amber tried to croak a protest, but no sound came. There was a brief silence.
“Do you need anyall?” Sweep called out, but Amber still couldn’t answer. She tried to send a com message instead, only to find all of her remaining power was supporting her crushed larynx. She lifted her fronds, to be met by a barrage of anger and concern from Raptor that swamped all other thoughts.
“Don’t disturb her further,” he warned Sweep. “The lady needs to recover.”
She surely does, Amber thought, but no one heard her.
Instead Sweep obediently backed up and the light swung away with her. Amber thumped a fist on the floor, but Raptor instantly took a step to cover the sound. She tried banging with both hands, but he broke into a trot, metal scales clanking, and ushered Sweep back toward the ship’s repairs. Fortunately he had to go with her in order to cover Amber’s desperate drumming. Darkness returned.
Amber collapsed to lie flat, while her mind helped her com heal the injuries to her throat. Curse Rap
tor to all the hells. She’d always thought he was an honest kres. Dull, but Honorable, which was foolish of her in retrospect. Any warrior who claimed Raptor’s high rank in the cruel and corrupt regime of Arck Sharpeye had to be guilty of something. Bad taste in the least. She chuckled and this time a sound came too.
The night began to lift around Amber and she realized there was fresh light flickering off the metal shell holding her. It was dull and ruddy, as if it came from a fire, but there was no sound of flames crackling. What was burning bright enough to light her shelter from a distance?
The Luck’s Palace. Amber’s throat constricted, but she pushed away the pain and staggered to her feet. Falkyn was still in that monstrosity and if it was on fire…
The escape hatch swung further open under Amber’s scrabbling hands and she stared out at a world of smoke and stars. More flames rose on the horizon, drawing her on, through the door. She knew she should stay somewhere safe, but after her bodyguard’s attack she had no idea where that might be.
Find Falkyn.
That was Amber’s mantra as she slunk through darkness. A dozen flickering fires lit the night, with the largest on the Luck’s hill. She scurried toward it, darting from a ragged bush to the shelter of a muddy bank. Find Falkyn. The ground crackled underfoot, still crusted with permafrost after the ice plague, and she broke into a jog. She was scared Raptor would hear her, but couldn’t stop herself from running.
The night closed in around her, as chill and forbidding as the walls of a metal cage, but she knew she deserved it. No, it was far less than she deserved. She had, after all, killed billions.
A sob carried on the night air, followed by a low moan, and Amber stopped. She stood there, hugging herself and listening. It sounded like the land itself mourned. There was a crackling to one side and a flicker of firelight. The sobs grew and Amber stumbled toward them. The ground got rougher then dropped away, to send her tumbling down a slope and into the side of a ragged hut.
The wall bowed beneath Amber and she fell through it in a tangle of ripped cloth. The crying stopped and she looked up into the startled gaze of a young mermaridian. The female gulped and shuffled back, away from the intruder in her rough home. Amber reached out to show open palms and made a soothing noise.
