by L M Lacee
Kardan quirked his top lip up in a smile. ‘Yes, and I want to thank you for helping cover our escape.’
Marlo remembered the explosions, and the resulting fires and the screams of the dying.
‘I suppose one could view it as cover, if they were inclined to.’
Kardan nodded but did not comment. Marlo rocked back on his heels as he told him. ‘I do not remember seeing you, we must have missed each other.’
‘It was a very intense time.’
Marlo pulled on his bottom lip then said. ‘We took four squads of young Elites with us that night.’
Kardan’s head reared up in surprise as he snapped out. ‘They were in tubes?’
‘Yes, we had heard rumors of them doing new experiments with new Elites. My squad went back to find out if it was true.’
‘And it was.’
Marlo nodded. ‘Yes, we got them and all the others out of there.’ He shrugged. ‘And you saw the rest.’ He looked out the window and murmured. ‘I fully expected to die that night.’
Kardan nodded, he had been there and witnessed the fury that drove the destruction that took place. ‘We had gone there for the same reason, to learn if the whispers we had heard were true.’
They both remained quiet for a time, remembering that night and the following days of despair and anger. ‘Marlo, where did you take the Elites too?’
Marlo shook his head, sorrow reflected in his eyes. ‘Each of my brothers took a unit and hid them on worlds with guards. When things calmed down, we returned but they had moved on.’
‘How long after, did you return?’
‘Ten yentas.’
‘I see.’
Marlo sighed. ‘Over the yentas we have searched for any information about them or their guards and have found nothing. In all these years nothing!’
Kardan rubbed his head and said. ‘I have searched for yentas for any mention of Elites, this is the first time I have heard anything.’
Marlo asked hesitantly. ‘Do you think they are still alive?’
Kardan nodded. ‘I do, I believe they are in hiding.’
‘Why?’
‘I have to and since I was revived, I swear I feel them calling to me.’
Marlo looked out the window, watching a large pink car slide pass. ‘I hope you are right. What does Peyton say?’
‘She believes we will find them, she has hope.’
‘I will send you the names of the guards and the Elites we took with us and the names of the world’s we took them too.’
‘You still have the information, after all this time?’
Marlo laughed. ‘Kardan, one of my gifts is emocartian.’
‘Which means what exactly.’
‘It means I never forget, I have a storage compartment in my mind that records everything I have done, spoken, read or witnessed. I can recall everything from my life.’
‘Harsh gift.’
Marlo shrugged. ‘Perhaps, but as far as gifts go, it is minor to some.’
Kardan grinned in agreement, thinking about his own gifts, which had on more than one occasion almost gotten him killed. ‘Does Peyton know?’
Marlo raised an eyebrow. ‘I am sure she does, but we have not spoken of it.’
‘Is that why you did not receive the download.’
‘Partly, but truthfully it was to see how far I could push her.’
‘She surprised you.’
‘That she did and still does. Did you receive the download?’
Kardan placed the drive on his desk before answering. ‘No, mating with Peyton bypassed the need.’
‘I see.’
‘Marlo, thank you again.’
He nodded, then asked before walking from the room. ‘May I ask what you plan on doing?’
Kardan stared at Marlo long enough that he thought he would not answer. ‘First, I am going to stop my mate from fretting over the Dorjinu family.’
Marlo asked quietly. ‘And the Elites.’
Kardan smiled grimly. ‘I will assign someone to search for them.’
‘Who?’
‘I do not know yet, but I believe my Elites need to be found and someone will come along that needs to find them.’
Surprised, Marlo raised his eyebrows again. He would not have thought Kardan had that much faith in divinity. ‘In other words, trust in the Star Child.’
Kardan lifted a skeptical eyebrow and nodded. ‘As my heart says.’
Marlo nodded. ‘So she does.’ With that, he nodded and left Kardan to return to staring out his window.
Ten minutes later, Kardan was still thinking about the information Marlo had imparted, when he caught a glimmer of white fire from the corner of his eye. Turning his head slightly, he saw a column of starlight next to him. He turned back to the vista before saying. ‘Greetings Star Child.’
Greetings Amahka. Do not fear, we are using the Crystal as a focus.
‘I do not, but I thank you.’ Kardan tried hard to suppress his anger as he asked. ‘Is there something you need?’
Why do you mistrust us? Did we not deliver on our promise?
‘You did and for my sanity I thank you. But you and I both know we are here at your benevolence only.’
This is my Universe.
‘And that is the problem.’
We cannot promise to not call her home. What we can promise is not to do so until she demands it of us.
Kardan looked over at the column of starlight. ‘You vow?’
We are not in the habit of being false.
Kardan could hear the annoyance in the Star Childs tone and backed off immediately. ‘I apologize and I thank you, her family and people will thank you.’
She is dearle to us.
‘You sound surprised.’
We are, it has never happened before that a child of our essence has become more than an instrument of our justice. We find we enjoy the sensations she brings to our Universe.
Kardan smiled slightly as he pointed out. ‘What can I say, she is the heart of us all.’
As we are learning. Amahka know the Elites you seek await the day they are also called home.
‘They are alive?’
In a manner of speaking.
Hiding his frustration, Kardan asked. ‘You will not send me to them?’
As you said, this task belongs to another. Sometimes a task is twofold and helps more than one person, as it will in this instance. Know your Elites are safe and will be returned to Maikonia in due course.
Kardan understood what the Star Child was saying, someone needed to find the missing Elites, and it was not him or his brothers. Perhaps the person needed to accomplish this mission as much as his Elites needed to return home. ‘Thank you, Star Child.’
The light faded, and Kardan realized his heart and needar felt lighter, as though a cloud had been removed. For the first time since arriving at the Capital, he let himself relax and his hearts fill with joy. He now had assurances from the Star Child that his mate was safe. She would stay with him, with their growing family, until she decided to leave. This was news his family needed to know, especially Hawk and Darby.
Peyton’s voice slipped into his mind. Was there ever any doubt?
Sadly, I believed there was.
Huh! Now you know you were wrong.
So it seems.
Was there tone?
Peyton, as pleasant as this is, I have a comm to make.
He just knew she was smiling as she asked. Are you going to make someone cry?
Smiling to himself, he said. Perhaps!
Kay. Enjoy yourself.
Peyton…
I’m going… I’m going.
ELEVEN:
‘Jax, are you reading this?’
I am Amahka.
‘Please, Kardan will do.’
Thank you Kardan, do you wish me to comm the Emperor?
‘Yes, his name is Janghi correct.’
Correct, he is the second cousin to the Empress Xinqu, who Shodian Lujunn was
accused of poisoning.
‘Convenient.’
Very, in fact, it was he who issued the death orders for the Shodian and his daughters without a trial.
‘Is that unusual for their world?’
Yes, a trial normally takes between one and two yentas. It appears the people of Xuboth enjoy procedures and pageantry which can involve yentas of preparation.
Kardan ordered tea from the dispenser as he thought about what Jax told him. When he sat at his desk, he asked. ‘The Shodian was convicted without a trial.’
Yes, within a matter of days.
‘Again convenient. Is there anything about him and his daughters, other than what we already know on the data stream?’
I have searched the stream and there is nothing more than an account of the death order. The Shodian was convicted immediately, and if his family had not spirited him and his daughters from Xuboth, they would have been put to death.
‘So why are they not actively hunting him? It has been what twenty… twenty-five yentas.’
A good question and one I have no answer for.
‘Well comm the Emperor, let us see what he has to say.’
Very well, this may take a while, they have many conduits to navigate.
‘Jax, my friend, do not be polite, break them if you must.’
I may cause irreparable damage.
‘To you?’
To their systems.
‘Why should I be worried by this?’
Jax laughed as he asked. Has anyone told you, you and your mate are very much alike?
Kardan sipped his tea and smiled at Jax’s observation. He thought perhaps it would not be the last time he would hear that sentiment.
Mins later, Jax said. Connected, they are very annoyed. It seems it is just past 02:00 hours on their world.
Kardan grunted as the screen filled with a very irate male, who appeared to be in nightclothes. Several females were trying to coax him into an elaborate robe while he stared at the screen and screamed at Kardan.
‘You dare, I am the Emperor or Xuboth. I will have your life for this!’
‘Calm Emperor Janghi or I will not only disturb you. I will visit your world with my Warriors.’
With one arm in his robe and the other clutching the robe closed. The Emperor stormed toward the screen while two females were dragged behind him as they hung onto a large train of material.
‘Who are you to threaten me, I am Emperor…’
Kardan cut him off, showing he was, as Jax said, very much like Peyton. ‘Yes… yes, I heard. I am Amahka Elite Kardan Roeah, mate to the Star Daughter.’
The Emperor backed away from the screen as though distance would protect him from those words.
Kardan raised an eyebrow as he asked. ‘I am sure you have heard the Star Daughter is moving in our Universe?’
The Emperor nodded, unable to speak as fear grabbed him by the throat. Not only did he know who Peyton was, he knew and feared The Elite speaking to him.
‘I will give you time to wake Emperor.’ Before he could respond, Jax froze the screen. ‘New technique.’ Kardan asked as he studied the captured image of the Emperor and several females.
Jax replied. I am trying something, Jean suggested.
‘I see.’
While he waited, Kardan studied the Emperor who was almost identical to Lujunn, except where the Shodian was hairless. The Emperor was endowed with swathes of blue hair, it almost touched the ground it was so long. Sadly, it added nothing to the look of the squat male, and as Kardan enhanced the image, he grimaced. It appeared as though the hair had been transplanted onto his head. In some races he knew hair meant virility and in others strength. He refocused the image and wondered what it meant for the Xuboth people, then wondered why it mattered to him. Apart from the Dorjinu family, he was unlikely to meet any more people from Xuboth. His eyes shifted to the females with the Emperor, as with the Shodian’s daughters. These females were taller than the Emperor by several inches, if not feet and all had blue hair. Kardan wondered if they were his daughters or his mates. Perhaps the people of Xuboth did not enjoy sex as other races did, they did not give birth like other races. He would have to ask the Shodian if Darby did not beat him to it.
Jax broke into his thoughts. He is ready now.
‘Thank you Jax.’
The screen unfroze and Kardan could see the Emperor had indeed pulled himself together. His robe was now draped around his small body, and his hair had been expertly dressed in a tall top knot. Composed he sat at an ornate desk, a small delicate cup at his elbow with several females lined up behind him. His voice when he spoke was with a trace of an accent. If Peyton had been in the room, she would have said he was descended from Russia.
‘Amahka Elite, please accept my apologies for my appearance. I was unable to welcome you appropriately because I was woken so abruptly by your servant.’
Kardan inclined his head but said nothing. It seemed the Emperor was not slow in letting him know he had broken protocol.
Not getting the appropriate response from the Elite, the Emperor cleared his throat and took a sip of tea, then said. ‘What dire circumstances necessitated you to comm me at this early hour?’
As polite as he, Kardan stated. ‘I wish to speak to you about Shodian Lujunn and his daughters.’
The Emperor smirked when he heard the name.
‘The Shodian is dead, as are his daughters. Why is this worthy of a comm from the Elite at this time?’
Kardan smiled, and the Emperor felt his bowels tighten in fear. ‘You and I both know Shodian Lujunn and his daughters are not dead. Otherwise I was conversing with a dead male not two hours ago.’
Janghi nodded and picked up the delicate cup again and took a small sip of tea. He was proud that his hand did not tremble. Very precisely he placed the cup on the saucer then said. ‘You are desiring to send the Assaen and his spawn to Xuboth for my judgment.’
‘I think you misunderstand Emperor. I am not giving you the Shodian or his daughters. In fact I am here to issue a warning.’
‘A warning?’
‘Yes, you will immediately remove the death order for the Dorjinu family and then you will recall any hunters you have looking for them.’
‘I do not understand, the Shodian killed Empress Xinqu, his first cousin, and you will protect him.’
Kardan almost smiled. It appeared the Shodian had not revealed everything about his past. ‘Emperor, you know he did not kill the Empress. No doubt if I came there I would find an abundance of evidence to persuade me of his guilt. But you and I know he is innocent, as are his daughters.’
‘Elite, there is much evidence. It was meticulously collected and catalogued. Lujunn wanted power and killed to obtain it.’
Kardan shook his head and put a little steel into his voice as he said. ‘But he did not inherit the position, now did he?’
‘No, I Emperor Janghi thwarted his plans.’
‘Emperor, will you do as I ask?’
‘Elite, why concern yourself with a non-person.’
‘Your Star Daughter enjoys his food. Do this Emperor or suffer my wrath. If I and my brothers are required to visit your world, we will uncover what really happened to Empress Xinqu. Then we will be forced to lay waste to the world of Xuboth.’
At the threat, the Emperor’s bladder released its contents, and he nodded as he hissed from between clenched jaws. ‘It will be done by sunrise.’
‘Thank you, I am sure we will see you at the Grand Meeting. I know the Star Daughter will especially want to meet you.’
The screen went dark, Kardan smiled. ‘Thank you Jax, I think that went well.’
I believe the Shodian will be pleased.
Standing Kardan stretched as he said. ‘As do I. Please monitor the Emperor to make sure he keeps his word.’
I will, do you think he will attend the meeting?
Kardan smiled. ‘Not a chance in hayda. I will wager no one from his world attends. Now if anyone needs me,
I will be with my children.’
Good-day Kardan.
‘And to you, Jax.’
TWELVE:
Willian grinned as he heard a roar from behind the closed door.
‘Stop smiling.’
‘Peneria, how was I to know he was having cuddle time.’
‘Dearle stars, do not call it that, and you don’t know that is why he roared.’
The door was pulled open by a half dressed Jorge, who scowled when he saw the smiling Willian and demanded. ‘What!’
Amelia came into view with a sheet wrapped around her and a big smile on her face.
‘Greetings you two, do you want tea?’
Jorge growled low and deep from his chest. ‘No, they furin do not and neither do you.’
Amelia laughed as she disappeared further into the suite. If Peneria had to guess it was back to the bedroom, they heard her say in a sing-song voice. ‘Someone is grumpy, I wonder why.’
Jorge glared at the unrepentant couple as they both tried not to laugh. ‘What do you want and make it fast?’
Willian passed him a data drive. ‘Here is everything you wanted to know about the owner of the restaurant that threatened Shodian Lujunn.’
‘Thank you, now go!’ He slammed the door, and they heard him yell. ‘Why are you dressing female?’
Willian looked at Peneria, who backed away from him, saying. ‘Do not get any ideas.’
Grinning, he stated. ‘Too late,’ He then hissed. ‘Run!’
Before the word had left his mouth, she had disappeared. With a wicked smile of anticipation, Willian strolled to the lift as Boaks told him where his heart was hiding.
THIRTEEN:
While Willian and Peneria were playing hide and seek. Peyton was once more in her office this time Klune was the one to walk in.
‘Greetings.’
‘Greetings Madam.’
She folded her hands on her desk. ‘So I am guessing this is about Kolin.’
Klune sat in the visitor’s chair and inclined his head. ‘It is.’
Peyton braced herself. She could tell from his brief answer. She was not going to like the next few minutes. ‘I am not going to like it, am I?’
