by Cheree Alsop
Liora couldn’t get the words past her throat. She tried, but no sound came out.
“Would you like some water?” Malie offered.
Liora nodded. She kept her gaze on the pair while she took a long pull of the life-saving liquid.
Her eyes filled with tears just from thinking about what she needed to say.
Devren stepped closer to the screen. “Liora, it’s okay. You can tell me anything.”
“Tariq’s dead, Devren.”
Devren’s face washed pale and he took a step back that was more of a stumble. It was clear that was the last thing he had expected her to say.
Liora wanted to lean forward and sob into her hands, but leaning pulled at the healing skin on her back. She was trapped sitting there, watching Devren struggle to control his emotions while the tears ran down her face.
“Liora, are you sure you’re alright?” her father asked. “I think you need me there. I’m going to leave right now.”
Liora shook her head. It was a minute before she could calm herself enough to speak. “No, Dad. Please. I can’t do anything but rest and heal right now. I know you have a lot to do there.”
Senior Commandant Day glanced at Devren, then leaned closer to the screen. “Liora, you just lost someone very special to you. That’s going to require a whole different type of healing.”
There was understanding in his eyes. Liora remembered that he had lost Brandis’ mother. He knew what she was going through and wanted to be there to help. The problem was that she wasn’t ready to deal with it.
She hoped he would understand. “I’ve got to heal from one before I can even start with the other.”
“I understand,” he replied. His voice lowered with compassion. “When you’re ready, I’m here. Please don’t hesitate. The moment you let me know you need me, I’m there.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me,” Liora told him. She wiped her eyes.
Devren was hunched over in a chair with his face hidden in his hand. Liora could see the sobs wracking his body even though she wasn’t able to hear them. His pain pushed against her, tearing at the raw edges of the emotions she had dealt with over the past several days.
“Devren, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice cracking.
He calmed himself enough to wipe his face on his sleeve. He looked up at her and tried to say something, but the tears filled his eyes again.
“I’m sorry,” he said. He ducked out of view. Liora heard the sound of a door slide shut.
The sight of him unable to speak hurt.
“Dad, will you…?” She didn’t know what she wanted to say.
Her father nodded. “Of course. I’ll make sure he’s okay. I know his family’s going to take the news hard. Devren mentioned they were close. I’ll take care of them.”
Liora didn’t know how to express how grateful she was that her father could handle such things. Fresh tears welled up and she couldn’t speak.
The Senior Commandant’s gaze shifted to Brandis to give her a moment. “I miss you both. When am I going to see you again? If you’re waiting for Liora to travel, I can send our most comfortable ship.”
To Liora’s surprise, Brandis shook his head. “I need to make sure Malie gets home safely.” Malie ducked underneath his arm and gave him a warm smile.
Her father’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re escorting her to Cree? I’ll tell the pilots to make sure you get there without trouble. They can bring an extra Nine to carry you home.”
Brandis shook his head again. “I think I’m going to stay there a while.”
Liora could tell the statement caught her father off guard. He looked from Malie to Brandis. It took a moment for an accepting expression to cross his face.
“Let me know when you leave. It would be nice to keep in touch.”
“Definitely,” Brandis replied. “Thank you. I think I just need to get away from everything for a bit.”
His father nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Brandis turned to Liora. Malie smiled at her from his side.
“What do you think, Liora? Do you want to come with us?”
Liora looked from Malie to Brandis. The invitation took her by surprise.
“Cree is a mostly water planet,” Malie said, her lilting voice warm with her smile. “But we’ve created apparatuses where you can breathe under the water and our homes have oxygen pumped to them. You will be comfortable.”
Brandis’ words about getting away from everything for a while wrapped around Liora. As much as she hated the thought of possibly being a burden to someone else, the chance to escape anything that reminded her of Tariq felt so necessary she couldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“I would like that,” she finally replied.
“Really?” Malie said. “That’s wonderful! I’ll let my family know.”
Liora realized her father was still watching. “Is that alright?” she asked, turning back to him.
Senior Commandant Day nodded. There was an expression of pride on his face. “That’s more than alright. I’m glad you will have somewhere to recover that’ll be easier on you.”
Liora wondered if he guessed how she felt. The entire crew Tariq had worked with on the SS Kratos was at Corian. The thought of facing them and Devren’s family was overwhelming. She needed time, and Brandis was giving her that.
“Please keep in touch, both of you.” There was a longing in her father’s voice as though he wished he could go with them, but Liora knew his duties on Corian made it impossible.
“We will, Dad,” Brandis promised.
Liora nodded.
“I love you both. Be safe and come home when you can.”
“We will,” Liora said.
***
“Liora Day, you have been pardoned by the Council for the Unification and Order of the Cosmos.”
After three long weeks of learning how to cope with the pain of moving and healing, Liora was able to stand in the great hall again. Though the huge room had been cleaned and repaired from the damage caused by the Ketulans, most of the stands were noticeably empty. The absence Liora felt the most was that of the silver-haired woman.
“The role you played in saving vital members of this Council has been taken into consideration in this decision,” the green-scaled man said. “We would like to show our appreciation by giving you a ship to wherever you would like to go. You will also have the opportunity to ask a favor of this Council if you are in need of assistance no matter where you are in the Cosmos.”
“Thank you,” Liora replied.
She felt like there was so much more she should say. The expectant expressions on the faces of the Council members above and around her echoed the sentiment. Liora took a steeling breath and felt the familiar painful pull along her back.
“I’m not one for talking to crowds.” She glanced behind her and saw Brandis watching from the door. Her brother gave her an encouraging nod. She turned back to her audience. “But I want to say that I learned one thing while I was on trial here. No matter your galaxy, no matter your race, we all want one thing. We want to live away from terror, away from danger, and we want to keep our families from harm. The Council for the Unification and Order of the Cosmos has that one goal in mind, and I am willing to do what is necessary to help them achieve that goal.”
She forced a smile. “While being handcuffed and put in a cell might seem like a bad thing,” chuckles went through the crowd, “I am grateful that the Council cares about the survival of planets and the races that call them home. Thank you for what you do.”
Applause followed her out of the door. She walked with Brandis and Malie down the hall to the hangar. A ship stood ready with a pilot and crew. They wouldn’t be required to do anything but relax and enjoy the trip to Cree. It was something Liora was looking forward to. It scared her how quickly her body shook with fatigue.
“I didn’t know you were joining us,” Brandis said when the door to the lounge opened and revealed Rist wa
iting for them.
He stood at their entrance. “General Ludow offered to reduce my last two months of service in gratitude for my help in restoring Liora’s health.” He met Liora’s eyes. “Though I didn’t do much. If it wasn’t for Susa, you’d have bled out the day of the Ketulan attack.”
“I appreciate what you did,” Liora said. “I’m feeling much better.”
He gave her a searching look. “Are you?”
She didn’t like him recognizing the weakness in her. The Damaclan side of her heritage rebelled against it.
“I’m fine,” she told him, her words a bit clipped.
He nodded. “Alright.” But it was clear by his expression that he didn’t believe her.
Liora took a seat near one of the small windows and watched their liftoff. She hoped the Nines could keep the Ketulans at bay if they appeared. No one had spotted any of the machines in at least a week. The transition from the small planet’s atmosphere to the darkness of space comforted her. The Ketulans didn’t appear.
Liora took a calming breath. She was hoping to leave difficult memories far behind. A glance at Brandis and Malie showed them holding hands and watching the stars. Perhaps something good had come from all of the pain.
Chapter 19
The atmosphere of Cree cleared to show an ocean of water interspersed with tiny islands. Liora was surprised when the ship didn’t slow. The star shape of the ship compacted and it hit the water, cutting through it with ease.
Liora stood at the window with Brandis and Malie. Rist joined them on Malie’s other side. It felt to Liora that they descended quickly through the depths, yet the water didn’t darken. Liora stared at massive columns of reef bigger around than the spacecraft. Huge creatures darted in and out, flashing teeth and claws before disappearing behind drifting plants and coral.
“What keeps it light?” Brandis asked.
“The water itself is…what’s the word?” Malie turned to Rist and asked in her native language, “How do I say that it glows itself?”
“Luminescent,” Liora replied in the common tongue.
Everyone stared at her.
“You understand Tanli?” Malie asked.
Liora nodded. “It’s similar to Sevent, the language of the blue star cluster. The vowels are longer in Sevent, but the uplift to the consonants makes Tanli easier to listen to.”
Malie gave her a surprised look. “I didn’t think one of your skills included linguist.”
Brandis smiled at Liora. “She teaches me something every day.”
Liora couldn’t smile back. She might have been able to force a positive front for Council, but Brandis knew her well enough to see a false smile.
She turned back to the window. The coral was closer together and even thicker than before. Something moved inside the massive stalks. Liora’s heart skipped a beat when she realized those were people inside the stalks walking around and looking out windows placed through the reef. A figure pressed something beside the window, then swam out into the water. Liora realized that the small specks she had thought were fish among the coral were actually Creetians moving about the water that made up the great city.
“Is that where you live?” Brandis asked in amazement.
“That’s home,” Malie replied with a smile. “The water and the enclosed oxygenated buildings of Ries. Creetians can breathe in both environments. You’ll be given breathing devices to help you out in the water.” She sighed and turned her attention back to the window. “It’s been so long.” She squeezed Brandis’ arm and gave a little squeak of happiness. “I can’t wait to see my family again!”
“Maybe this will convince them that trading with Vantites is a bad idea,” Rist said.
Tension rose at his comment. Malie speared him with the first angry look Liora had ever seen on her face.
“My mother made the trade agreement because if we don’t get more tennamite for the floundit we won’t have any more eggs.”
Brandis broke the tension by saying, “I have no idea what you just said. Was that Tanli or the common tongue?”
The brought a small smile from Rist and a laugh from Malie.
“Floundit are the main source of food for us Creetians. They’re a type of fish. But harvesting and the growth of Ries, our capital city, has greatly cut into the amount of tennamite for them to eat. If we don’t do something soon, Cree is going to be in serious trouble,” Malie explained.
“We have other options,” Rist said.
Malie glared at him. “You know we have exhausted those avenues.”
Rist fell into Tanli when he replied, “We haven’t, really. Your mother knows exactly what needs to be done.”
Malie retorted in the same language, “You keep your opinions to yourself, Rist. I’m amazed you survived working for the Council at all. I figured they’d ship you off to Pion Seven before your two years were over.”
“Sold to slavers. That’s rich,” Rist shot back.
Silence fell and the pair glanced at Brandis and Liora as though just realizing they were there.
“I don’t know what was just said.” Brandis looked to Liora for clarification.
“There’s apparently some relation here,” Liora replied.
Malie nodded and replied in the common tongue, “Rist is my cousin.”
Rist gave a wry smile. “You can’t choose family.”
That brought an answering smile to Malie’s lips. “Rist never was one to go with the flow. He was sent to the Council to fulfill their family’s required two years of dedicatory service to the cause of the CUOC, as is required of every family on Council-protected planets. I figured Aunt Purlis sent him there to keep him out of trouble in Ries.”
“It’s true,” Rist replied with a shrug. “I have a knack for opening my mouth when it’s better to keep it closed.” He looked at Malie. “But you know your mother was wrong to work out a treaty with the Vantites. Otherwise, you would still be safe on Cree.”
“Why is that?” Brandis asked into the silence that followed.
Malie let out a soft breath, and when she spoke, her voice was quieter. “They sent me along to show our family’s faith in the trade agreement.”
Rist took over when she stopped talking. His tone had changed to one of apology instead of accusation. “Vantites are known for selling to the highest bidder. I just wish I could have gotten the Council to act before you disappeared.”
Malie nodded. “Me, too. I was terrified before Brandis came. He kept telling me that his sister would find us.” Tears filled her eyes when she looked at Liora. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you enough.”
Liora didn’t know how to respond to the gratitude of the young woman’s expression. She was about to say something vague but hopefully with enough words to satiate the woman’s expectancy when Malie interrupted.
“I almost forgot. I brought you something. Ludow had these and I asked for them before we left for Cree.”
She held out an oblong package wrapped in white silk.
Liora didn’t know what it could be. She untied the string and the silk fell away. Liora’s hand started to shake.
“Liora?” Malie said.
Liora couldn’t speak. She took the two knives from the box with trembling fingers. The purple gem on the one on top caught in the light from the ship.
Brandis set a hand on Liora’s shoulder. She shook her head, her throat tight and tears threatening to spill over. She could picture Tariq in the middle of Brandis’ Golden Condor. The rush of the crowd with their lists of required goods flowed around him, but he didn’t appear to notice as he studied the blade that had caught Liora’s eye.
Why he chose to buy it for the appalling price being asked still baffled her, yet Devren’s words echoed in her mind when she found him in the crowd.
“Tariq tried to buy a knife.”
“He should,” Devren replied. “He never spends money on anything.”
“That’s what Hyrin said.” Liora had paused, then continued,
“He wanted to buy it for a platinum bar.”
Devren’s eyes widened. “That must be some knife.”
“He wanted to give it to me.”
Devren stopped. The crowd flowed around them. Liora barely noticed.
“Tariq wanted to buy you a knife for a platinum bar?” Devren repeated.
Liora nodded.
Devren stared at her. His brow creased. “He’s never bought anything for anyone other than drinks at taverns for the crew. It’s not like him to put himself out there like that.”
Liora nodded again.
Devren blew out a breath. “He cares about you, Liora.” He watched her closely as if her reaction to his words meant everything to him.
She didn’t want to hurt him. Devren had been nicer to her than anyone she could ever remember. He had freed her from Malivian’s circus. He had sworn her in as a member of the Kratos crew, giving her both a purpose and a home. Liora owed it to him to be completely honest. “I care about him, too.”
A smile spread across Devren’s face. He looked as though he was so happy he could barely contain it.
“That’s wonderful!” he said with a laugh. “That’s amazing! Tariq needs somebody; he’s been so alone. He keeps inside of himself so much I always worry about him.”
Doubt filled Liora. With her past and her Damaclan heritage, there was so much that stood between them. Devren must have read it on her face.
He touched her arm. “Liora, if he’s fallen for you, he’s already fighting his own past. That means something.”
“You think so?” Liora studied Devren’s face, hoping for something she didn’t dare believe.
He smiled at her. “I think so.”
Liora traced a finger over the sunburst that had been crafted along the blade, its rays augmented by two different shades of metal. Her heart thumped irregularly and she felt torn between the moment Tariq gave her the knife and the one where she stood looking down at it, so painfully aware of his absence that she longed to fight so she could forget entirely.
In her memory, Tariq ran his fingers over the purple stone in the hilt. “I have never seen you want anything.” He glanced at her. “You fight for everyone else, you do whatever you need to, but you never ask for anything in return.” He held the knife out to her. “You deserve this.”
