I stared in shock as Caylon fell, almost in slow-motion.
"It's almost like having four arms," Bleek said beside me as Caylon studied me from his position on the floor. "Your wings, I mean." He held out one hand and pulled Caylon to his feet with barely a grunt.
"She gives good massages, too," Bleek said before turning away. "After that fall, you might need one."
* * *
Puntia
Brenten Arden
I watched as Barstle Cardino, now a mindless automaton because of the drakus seed he'd ingested, arrived to pull a clone away.
My suspicions went on high alert; would the clone be taken to the master suite?
Long ago, I'd been vampire, and half Karathian before that. I still held a vampire's gifts—when I chose to employ them.
I did so now, placing compulsion on Cardino and the clone, to take me instead. Whatever was going on inside the master suite, I would discover shortly. Feigning meekness, I followed Cardino out of the massive ballroom where the clones spent most of their time.
* * *
Quin
Lafe ruffled my hair when I appeared in the kitchen for lunch; I'd cleaned up after my training session with Caylon. After I'd dumped him once on the floor, he proceeded to trounce me soundly in front of everyone else.
I'd fallen three times to his one.
Still, Lafe thought it reason enough to celebrate. I was distracted, though—whatever caused the skin between my wings to itch when I woke was back and worse. A nameless fear nagged at my mind; one I couldn't set aside or ignore any longer.
When the Orb appeared, my fears were realized and my immediate fate sealed.
* * *
New Fyris
Lissa
"Push now," Karzac directed. Beatris was having difficulty birthing her second child; Tory, who spent much of his time in New Fyris, had called me the moment they'd discovered the problem.
Beatris had already been in labor for eleven hours and was exhausted. I asked Karzac to go with me; he would save mother and child if anyone could.
Rodrik was in the birthing suite with us; he fretted nearby, worried about his wife and child.
"She has no strength left," I informed Karzac before taking Beatris' hand and feeding her some of my energy. "Now," I said. "Push now, honey. You can do this."
The moment the baby's head crowned, the shield my Larentii mates had placed around Harifa Edus took a hit. While the shield held, everything inside it was shaken, including the planet.
Only one thing could do that—a ranos cannon.
The second shot it sent in our direction was worse. The child was born amid Beatris' scream of pain and terror.
* * *
Puntia
Brenten Arden
Some would have found them grotesque. I only felt pity as I gazed upon the creatures hiding the inhabitants of the master suite from even the most powerful. Twin Sirenali, joined through the tops of their heads to one another. They shared a large brain between them and neither could live without the other.
Someone had found the most effective weapon possible in hiding from those who sought him or her.
As yet, I hadn't seen who that might be.
Wylend, my father, and Erland, father to my grandson, who now sat the throne of Karathia, imagined it might be a talented warlock's spell that ramped up the effectiveness of a Sirenali to create this result.
Instead, the truth was so much sadder. They wore ill-fitting clothing—few comforts had been provided. It was my guess that they'd been used since they were very young for this purpose.
The saddest part was the metal cage in which they lived. I had no idea whether they'd ever been set free of it, once they were weaned. It wasn't even tall enough for them to stand.
Shoving aside my growing anger, I followed the empty-minded Barstle past the twins and into another section of the master suite.
* * *
Quin
I fell and rolled on the rub-mat of the ship, right into the midst of the crew on the bridge.
They'd already fired on Harifa Edus twice, and were preparing a third volley when I arrived. Most on the bridge I didn't recognize.
One stood out, however, and the moment he turned toward me, he raised a weapon to fire. Whip, Bleek's second-in-command aboard the Killshot, was commanding this freighter and determined to kill me before he destroyed Harifa Edus.
* * *
Puntia
Brenten Arden
His back was to me when the alarm went off—I watched as he snatched a comp-vid from a nearby table and shouted at it.
"What in the name of the bloody god's ass is going on?" he yelled.
Two more walked into the room while he waited for an answer.
I recognized both of them. They, fortunately, didn't recognize me in my disguise.
That left no doubt as to who held the comp-vid.
Lissa, I sent. We have trouble.
* * *
Quin
Whip was the first one I killed—he fell, his brain disintegrating inside his skull. I hoped his death would hold the others back.
It didn't.
"Prepare the cannon for a third pass," another shouted into a communicator while the rest rounded on me.
They are here, the Orb informed me, before sending images of every man aboard the ship. Kill them. Before they destroy New Fyris.
Without thinking about it, I dispatched all of them—except for the Sirenali chained to the walls.
They were helpless and I wasn't about to destroy them.
Pulling a ragged breath into my lungs, I shuddered at the lifeless bodies surrounding me on the bridge.
"Answer me," Whip's comp-vid squawked.
I have no idea why I lifted it and stared at the one speaking. He could see me in return, after all.
"You," he shouted. "How in my brother's name do you keep showing up? Where's my crew? Answer me!"
"Hello, Vardil," I said wearily. I could see right past the face he wore into the blackness of his soul.
"What?" he sputtered, shaking his head. "How?" he continued. He couldn't imagine that anyone might recognize him outside his small circle of trusted servants and employees.
Three more people walked into view behind Vardil. I drew in a painful breath. Deris and Daris Arden, and a disguised distant cousin stood there. "Never mind," Vardil lifted a small transmitter. "I'll destroy the ship." For a brief moment, Vardil smiled before Brenten Arden dropped his disguise and leveled a power blast at Vardil Cayetes, killing him instantly.
I screamed as the Orb flung me away from the ship, which exploded behind me. Cayetes had managed to trigger the remote detonator before he died.
* * *
Puntia
Brenten Arden
If I'd thought Vardil Cayetes the worst of the worst, I discovered how very wrong I was. I now faced Deris and Daris Arden, distant relatives of Wylend—and mine as well.
"Usurper," Daris screeched before Pulling a small device into her hand.
"Betrayer," Deris shouted as he hauled Vardil Cayetes' body up with power.
"You die," Daris hissed and pressed a button on the device.
I barely had time to build a shield about myself when the entire planet exploded.
Chapter 17
Mundia
Quin
The breath was knocked out of me when I hit the Mundian mansion's tiled kitchen floor. I'd held the glass sphere in my hand as I watched Vardil Cayetes die. The fall loosened my grip and the sphere now clicked on tile before rolling across the floor. Mell shrieked in terror at my sudden appearance.
"No," I shouted, reaching out in an attempt to grasp the sphere.
Terrett's foot stopped the sphere from rolling, but it was still out of my reach. I needed it more than I'd needed anything in my life.
In slow motion, almost, Terrett toed the sphere in my direction. A terrible light bloomed as I grasped the sphere in shaking fingers—part of that light came from the Orb
.
* * *
Harifa Edus
Lissa
They're all dead, an unknown voice spoke in my mind. The ship is partially destroyed and the ranos cannon is still aboard the ship. Please release us, the voice pleaded.
It's an old Larentii trick—to follow mindspeech back to its source. I'd never have sensed the ship, otherwise.
Karzac held Beatris and Rodrik's newborn son in his hands; my Refizani mate blinked at me just as I disappeared. The Sirenali who were still alive aboard the ship needed my help.
I also didn't want anyone else getting to that ranos cannon before I did; the sender of the mindspeech had sent out a blanket message—anyone with the talent to hear mindspeech would know.
I also sent a call to Winkler—to help with a wrecked and drifting ship, likely sent by Vardil Cayetes.
The moment my feet touched the remains of the ship's bridge, I went still.
It was the moment before impact.
The moment when you discover just how vulnerable those you cared for might be.
No! My scream was likely heard across the universe.
Vic'Law had just been destroyed.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Justis
"What's wrong?" Gurnil asked. He and I stood at the railing surrounding the library terrace.
We were watching the tour boats on the waters far below. Gone were the days when I could leap off the terrace and fly downward to pull a feeble-minded tourist from the rough waters.
Ardis and his troops kept watch, now. It wouldn't do for the Avii King to place his life in danger, just to rescue someone foolish enough to leap off a boat.
"I feel unsettled—like something's wrong," I said. "I can't shake the feeling, either."
"You worry too much, I think," Gurnil replied.
"Perhaps you don't worry enough," I said.
"What is there to worry about?"
The cry sounded behind us. I turned first; Gurnil was much slower than I.
"Quin?"
She'd landed hard on the grassy terrace, the breath knocked out of her with her cry. The Orb, shining brightly, appeared with her. Quin's eyes, filled with terror, locked with mine as she struggled to stand and draw a breath at the same moment.
Something was clutched tightly in her hands, which she refused to release.
Ignoring the pulsing Orb, I ran toward her; she lurched to her feet.
Before I reached her, she'd launched herself into the sky while I shouted at her to come back. Ignoring my call, her wings pumping in desperation, she lifted herself higher and higher on the winds surrounding the castle. In three blinks, she was high enough to fly over the tallest spires. At that point, the Orb disappeared.
Cursing, I snapped out my wings and leapt from the ground to follow her. Gurnil followed as quickly as he could to guard me. I had no idea where Quin intended to go; I was following her blindly, hoping neither of us were in danger.
Her wings had grown strong; I discovered that much as I worked to keep up with her. The glass at the top of the castle gleamed in partial sunlight—clouds had gathered overhead, predicting rain for the afternoon.
Once Quin was past the inside edge of the glass top, she dropped immediately, heading for the grass inside the bowl.
Quin? I inserted my voice inside her head.
She didn't reply. I'd shortened the distance between us—if she intended to fly away from me, then I intended to follow.
Black Wing guards rose from the bowl like a scattering of crows; their King was chasing something. They were determined, therefore, to chase it as well.
Stand down, I snapped, hoping they'd hear my mental voice. I didn't need or want Quin injured.
I was still yards from touching the grass of the inside bowl when Quin set down. It was probably just as well.
With an explosion of light and sound—mostly screaming, I noticed—the entire bowl was suddenly crowded with people.
* * *
Quin
Dazed. Addled. That's how I felt. I'd dropped onto the grass of the bowl while thousands talked, cried or shrieked around me.
I still held the sphere in my hand, but it had spent its usefulness, after the Orb and I had crammed the whole of Mundia's souls into it. Now it was dark—dead; its inner light gone. Sadly, we couldn't save all the innocent lives on Vic'Law—the sphere could only hold so many. The people we'd gathered in Mundia barely fit.
"My love?" Justis knelt beside me.
"Quin?" Barc had found me, his father following close on his heels. "You all right, Quin?" Barc leaned over, his head almost upside down as he gazed at me with concerned eyes.
"Barc," I opened my arms and pulled him to me. "Are you all right?"
* * *
Lissa
"A ranos cannon, hidden inside one of those outmoded satellites orbiting Vic'Law," Winkler growled. "Fuck."
"Who knows when Cayetes placed it there," I sighed. "It was a way to keep them all in line—after all, he could leave them to their fate if they failed to do as he asked."
"I killed Cayetes," my father spoke. "But I'm concerned. Before they disappeared, Deris and Daris took his body, the twin Sirenali and most of the clones."
"What would they want with his body?" I asked. It didn't make any sense.
"Hmmph. You should ask Erland about the reconstruction spell. It's outlawed for a reason."
"What does it do?" I asked.
"I think you'd refer to the recipient as a zombie, but that's putting it mildly," he shrugged. "I'm more interested in what Quin was able to do with that sphere."
"Don't ask me," I said. "I'm just as puzzled as you are. My question is this—what about Deris and Daris?"
"Oh. That. You may have to have a few drinks and an uninterrupted hour for that story. Wylend tells it best—perhaps you should ask him."
I wasn't sure I wanted to see my grandfather, but if he could clear up the mess with distant relatives, I'd dress up and invite him to dinner if he'd come and explain it.
"Soon," I said. "For now, Kooper and I have a ranos cannon to destroy."
* * *
Terrett
Justis thought to ask the question; it hadn't occurred to me.
"Why didn't you wait for me? I would have helped you," he lifted an eyebrow at Quin.
"I had to get them out of the sphere quickly," she rustled her feathers and stared at her feet. "If I'd waited, they'd have died—from lack of air."
We sat inside Justis' royal suite; he'd ordered that our dinner be served there. It had just arrived and we were ready to sit and eat.
Once they'd been gathered from the glass castle's bowl, the people from Mundia had been transported to Harifa Edus—Quin had somehow fit all one hundred sixty thousands of them, plus the inhabitants of the mansion we'd taken for ours, into the Orb.
It had been an uncomfortable experience, and she was right—I knew I was trapped somewhere and didn't remember breathing during what felt like an eternity.
Kaldill still marveled that she could stuff him into the sphere with everyone else. Perhaps he and a few others may have gotten themselves out again, but most of us depended upon Quin's talents to do that for us.
"How did you know you could do that?" Caylon asked her.
"I saw it in the Orb—just before I landed in the kitchen in Mundia. The Orb pulled everybody into the sphere, but people miniaturized and stuffed into it will only survive as long as they can hold their breath," she added.
"Strange," Justis shook his head. "Come, my love, let's eat. You must be hungry."
"I am," she agreed and took his hand.
* * *
Quin
Since our escape from Vic'Law, the Orb hasn't reappeared. It is my hope that Cayetes is forever dead, but after seeing Queen Lissa's father for the first time since our return to Le-Ath Veronis, I began to have my doubts.
Without seeing Deris and Daris again, I wouldn't know for sure. What I did know was this; Brenten Arden need
ed my healing. A part of his mind was misshapen. He often did the wrong thing for what he believed to be good reasons. Somewhere in his past, he'd been damaged.
I hoped to make him whole, but that would take time.
For now, I enjoyed my time at Avii castle. Without Farisa to pour poison into waiting ears, I had a much easier time fitting in as Justis' mate. Still, though, I wore black wings and I wondered at that. It made me think—again—that the troubles requiring my attention were far from over.
Sitting on the grass in Avii Castle's bowl, I watched as Caylon drilled the troops from Mundia, Jayna included. He said—and Queen Lissa agreed—that to interrupt their training would be doing them a disservice. They'd be allowed to protect Harifa Edus, once their training was complete.
I think Jayna was looking forward to it. Her disguise had been dropped—she no longer needed it. It made me smile, too, to see some of Ardis' Black Wing troops assisting with the training.
"Quin," Caylon turned toward me and barked my name. Rising from my sitting position in the way he and Sal taught me, I released my wings, lifted from the ground and glided toward him. Sursee Caylon intended for me to become an elite warrior.
I didn't know whether that was possible.
Only time would tell.
* * *
In'Frias
"It's worth a try," Deris muttered, preparing the syringe of blood. "At the moment, he's a drooling fool. We won't get those words to open the lock unless we do something. We have the money and the network to get what we want, now. We only need the spell and the coffin."
"If this doesn't work?" Daris glared at her brother.
"Then I hope Marid of Belancour told his son what the locking spell was before he died."
"I hear Morid is on Grey Planet," Daris huffed.
"There are ways to get around that," Deris held up a hand. "Come, help me inject Cayetes and pray to our royal ancestor that it works."
The End
BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Page 24
