The Broken Reign

by Jeremy Michelson

  Joshua spread his arms, herding the crew toward Kojanza. “Come on, come on,”

  As they retreated, the soldiers starting coming to life. He heard Hurdroth screaming obscenities at them.

  They ran for the back of the ship. Kojanza standing by an open hatch. A bearded soldier came up behind her, a knife in his hand.

  “Down!” he shouted.

  With a smooth motion, he swung up the plasma rifle. A blast of blue lighting erupted from the end. Kojanza flattened herself to the ground. The bolt stuck the man square in the chest, flinging him back.

  Kojanza was back on her feet by the time he reached her. He put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. He pressed his lips to hers, feeling the heat of her.

  “You’re amazing,” he said, “Thank you.”

  A rare smile flickered across her face. “You are welcome, Joshua.”

  Her gaze went over his shoulder to the group coming up behind him. Her eyes widened. He guessed it was the red-haired woman.

  “I brought some company,” he said.

  “We must get into the ship, Joshua,” she said.

  The red-haired woman came up to them. She looked up at Kojanza. Emotions flickered across her face.

  “You are very beautiful,” the red-haired woman said.

  Kojanza reached out and touched the woman’s red hair. “I know you, don’t I?”

  The woman’s eye’s glistened. “Perhaps.”

  “This is great and all,” the Captain said, “But we should get this show on the road. The barbarian horde back there is getting closer.”

  Joshua looked back. Hurdroth’s men were regrouping, attacking the forest people’s archers. Light glinted off a large metal object. The giant plasma blaster.

  “Uh, the Captain’s right, we need to hurry,” he said.

  They rushed for the open doorway.

  There was someone already standing in it.

  Lord Fortune and Dovd. Dovd was crouched, bow in hand, an arrow nocked and drawn. Lord Fortune held something in his hand. A metallic rod, studded with buttons.

  “Come no farther,” he said, “Or death shall be your reward.”

  Eighty-One

  Joshua

  Joshua started forward. Kojanza grabbed his arm.

  “No, it is a sleep stick,” she said, “It will make us unconscious for several hours.”

  He stopped. Unconscious for several hours would make them very dead. Or worse. The battle raged behind them. They didn’t have time for this.

  “What do you want?” he said.

  Fortune smiled. He held the wand out at arm’s length. Behind him the dark opening into the ship beckoned.

  “I want a truce,” Fortune said, “I want the treaty restored and peace brought back to the land. And I want the weapons of Amaya destroyed. Or at least taken somewhere where they can not be used against anyone on this world ever again.”

  Joshua shrugged. “Great, that can probably be arranged. Now get out of the way.”

  "No!" Fortune shouted. The wand trembled in his aged hand. For a single nostalgic moment, he reminded Joshua of Grams before the painting fell on them. "I need to know what you are going to do with the weapons. They cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of Hemsdell or Hurdroth."

  The red-haired woman stepped forward. Fortune's look turned to one of barely restrained fear.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “I am The Red Witch,” the woman asked, “But you knew of me as The Gray Witch.”

  “The Gray–how did you escape!” he said, “I sent soldiers to capture you!”

  "I knew they were coming," she said, "I know many, many things. I know that you are not an evil man at heart. Not as Hurdroth and Hemsdell are." She raised the sword. "You know this blade."

  “Sonomorte,” Fortune whispered, “But you are not Amaya.”

  “Do you doubt I am of her blood?” The Red Witch asked.

  Fortune didn’t answer. His face was pale and his body shook.

  “I am here to take the weapons away,” The Red Witch said, “This ship and its cargo are leaving this world.”

  Joshua looked at her. Was she telling the truth? And if she was, how did she plan to accomplish it? The answer was in his mind even as he thought the question. The crew of the Seattle, of course. Somehow they were going to fly the ship out of there?

  “But the wars will continue forever,” Fortune said, “The treaty. We had peace...Queen Amaya made us accept it. But she hasn’t returned to enforce it.”

  “Amaya is here,” The Red Witch said.

  Joshua started. Grams? Or was this woman trying to claim Gram’s–Amaya’s legacy?

  "Where?" Fortune demanded. His face turned angry and he stood straighter. "Where is she? For decades I have honored the treaty. I have not caused harm to my fellow Lords. I have obeyed my King. I have treated my people fairly. And what has my reward been? The destruction of my family home. The theft of my lands and my possessions. I have been sent on fool's errands and ordered to do terrible things. I am in the twilight of my life. It is not fair that I should have to endure this!"

  The Red Witch shook her head. “Amaya never promised your life would be easy, did she?” she asked. She took another step toward Fortune.

  “Don’t come any closer, bitch,” Dovd said, “I’ll run this arrow through your heart.”

  “And if you have honored the treaty, why do you have that object in your hand?” The Red Witch asked. “Is that not one of the forbidden weapons?”

  Fortune’s face went red. “Everyone kept a few things,” he said, “It was unreasonable for Amaya to take everything from us.”

  “Ah, you wish the rule to apply to others, but for there to be exceptions for you?” she asked.

  Joshua glanced back at the fighting. The soldiers were getting closer. They were at the nose of the ship now. The forest people had scattered. Now it was Hurdroth’s men fighting Hemsdells. Hurdroth himself was at the front, slashing and hacking.

  “Guys we really need to hurry this up,” he said.

  Fortune’s hand quivered. His eyes darted from The Red Witch to Joshua. “Where is Queen Amaya?” he asked.

  The Red Witch raised her hands, looking up to the sky. “She is everywhere. She sees. She hears. She knows.”

  “That means nothing,” Fortune said.

  “It means everything,” The Red Witch said. She lowered the sword until it was at eye level with him, “This blade is the key.”

  “And where is the lock, child?” Fortune asked, “Is it inside the ship? Is Amaya in the ship itself?”

  The Red Witch laughed. Fortune’s face went white and he stepped back.

  “No. Amaya’s form does not rest there,” The Red Witch said, “When she returned to this world, her form became one with the world. She is the world now.”

  "Fortune," Dovd said, "I say we shoot this crazy bitch and get out of here. Or at least get the red-haired guy in to see if we can open the cases up."

  Fortune stared hard at The Red Witch. He bent his head and sighed. “I see no other choice.”

  He lifted the wand, his finger going to one of the buttons.

  Joshua pushed The Red Witch aside. Jumped at Fortune. He hit the old man hard.

  The wand went flying. Together they tumbled onto Dovd. Dovd’s arrow loosed. Searing pain went through Joshua’s leg.

  They were on the ground, Fortune moaning, Dovd cursing. Hands pulled him off of them. Lou and Vazsa were beating Dovd. The Captain was tying up Fortune.

  The Red Witch stood, brushing snow off her robe.

  Kojanza was by his side. She put her hands to his face, then crouched. He looked down to see an arrow sticking out of his thigh. It hurt. Quite a lot, actually. Dr. Fran was suddenly there, ripping at his leather pants, spraying something on the wound.

  “God damned barbarians,” she said.

  Men screamed behind him. He turned. The horde was breaking through. He pushed Dr. Fran aside.

  “Go! Get in the
ship!” he shouted. He raised the plasma rifle. “I’ll hold them off as long as I can!”

  He realized Kojanza was beside him, a plasma rifle in her hands, too. He looked at her. He wanted to tell her to go in the ship, but he knew she wouldn’t. He smiled at her and she gave him one in return.

  He glanced back. The crew of the Seattle were running inside the open doorway. The Red Witch was the last one. She paused, turning to look at him. Emotions flickered over her face. Sorrow, longing, resolution. Joshua wished he had time to ask her who she really was. He winked and gave her a grin.

  He turned away from her, dropping to one knee. He aimed the plasma rifle and started firing at the screaming soldiers charging them.

  Eighty-Two

  The Red Witch

  The Red Witch turned away from the doorway. She did not try to stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She had not known. Father had not told her. Never hinted. Never warned her.

  She would never be able to ask him why.

  The crew stood in the darkened room, looking around. Pete and Tony had small cylinders in their hands that projected light. The place smelled of oil and metal, and the magic father had called electricity. She touched a control beside the door. A block of metal slid across the opening and closed it with a clank and a hiss.

  “What now, Red?” the Captain asked, “The other hatch is locked. Can you open it?”

  “Is someone having a tea party in here?” Dr. Fran asked. She pointed to the teapot in the middle of the floor.

  Lou and Vazsa where crouching beside it. Lou trying to pick it up, but his hands kept sliding off it.

  “I can’t even touch it,” Lou said, “It’s got some kind of field around it.”

  “Never mind the damned teapot,” Captain Kelsey said, “Where’s the command deck on this heap? I want to get out of here. I think I saw–”

  The ship shuddered. The Captain looked to Lou.

  “Lou, did I see something out there that looked like a piece of our Armor unit?” he said, “You know anything about that?”

  Lou’s face flushed. “Sorry Cap.”

  “It’s my fault,” Vazsa said.

  “And who the hell are you?” the Captain asked.

  The Red Witch slammed the point of the sword against the deck. It rang the room like a bell. Everyone but her clapped their hands to their heads. They turned to her.

  “A good man and a good woman are giving their lives out there so we can escape,” she said. Or were they? How would things happen if they died this day?

  She waved the sword at Lou and Vazsa, still crouched over the teapot. “Move aside.”

  They quickly backed away. The Red Witch stepped closer and lowered the point of the sword to the teapot. It touched with a tiny clink of metal and a red spark. Lights came on overhead. She could feel power rush through the ship. The deck thrummed under her feet with it.

  “Now what happened?” Tony asked.

  A pleasant female voice issued from the ceiling. “Main systems coming online. Voice identification please.”

  The Red Witch had memorized this part from father’s red book. She closed her eyes. She didn’t have to like it, though.

  "I am Saven, great-granddaughter of Queen Amaya," she said, "I have the authorization code."

  “Hold your hand to the door control panel for verification,” the voice said.

  On the far wall, a panel lit up beside the door. The Red Witch stepped over to the door and pressed her hand to the panel. She felt a tiny pinprick on her palm. Pulling away she saw a small drop of blood well up on her palm.

  “Verified,” the ship said, “Authorization code, please.”

  The Red Witch rattled off the string of numbers and letters that father had written in his book. How had he gotten the code?

  “Confirmed. Welcome, Saven, blood of Amaya,” the ship said, “What is your command?”

  “What is your name?”

  “I am Cuore del Sangre,” the ship said, “What is your command?”

  The Red Witch turned to the Captain. “Captain Kelsey, put your palm on the place I did.”

  The Captain gave a questioning look to the ceiling, but went over to the lighted panel. He put his hand flat against it.

  “Cuore del Sangre,” Savin said, “This man is Captain Bill Kelsey. I am authorizing him to pilot you. Show him to the command deck.”

  “Acknowledged,” the ship said, “Captain Kelsey, follow the lighted panels, please.”

  The door slid open. The corridor beyond was dark metal. A panel on the wall lit up. It pulsed from right to left. The Red Witch looked to the Captain.

  “When you get to the command deck, lift off from the planet immediately,” she said, “Use these coordinates.”

  She rattled off a string of numbers.

  The Captain stared at her for a moment. He shrugged and motioned to Pete, Tony, and Lou. "Come on boys, let's do what the lady says."

  When he saw Vazsa following, he held out his hand. “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”

  “It’s okay, Cap,” Lou said, “She’s good with tech, she can help.”

  The Captain sighed and threw up his hands. “Why do I even bother?”

  The ship shuddered again as something hit it.

  “There is a class three plasma cannon being directed at my hull,” the ship said, “Shall I bring weapons systems online?”

  “Yes,” The Red Witch said.

  “Authorization code, please.”

  “What?”

  “Arming weapons requires authorization code,” the ship said.

  "What about the code I gave you? Doesn't that authorize weapons, also?"

  “No.”

  The Red Witch bit her tongue. Father had left out that part. Had he done it on purpose? She had little doubt the weapons on Cuore del Sangre could lay waste to the armies surrounding the ship in an instant. Did father not trust her with that kind of power?

  Could she trust herself with the power? It would be so easy to kill them all.

  Is this how you felt, great-grandmother? Did the dark pull of absolute power frighten you?

  “Never mind the weapons,” The Red Witch said, “Make the ship ready to leave the surface.”

  “Acknowledged. Powering drive systems,” the ship said.

  “I speak some Italian,” Dr. Fran said.

  The Red Witch spun around. She hadn’t realized the woman was still there. The doctor eyed the blade in The Red Witch’s hand.

  "You called that sword Sono Morte. You know what that means?"

  The Red Witch didn’t answer. The woman’s ramblings meant little to her. She put the sword back in its sheath, then knelt by the silver teapot.

  “It means: I am death,” the doctor said, “Nifty name for a hunk of metal made for killing people. And the ship’s name? Cuore del Sangre? It means Blood Heart. It sounds like whoever made this heap had a serious sword and sorcery fetish.”

  The Red Witch shook her head. “I do not know what you speak of, but you sound very foolish,” she said, “This is no game. If I fail here, then my world may be plunged into centuries of war again.”

  The ship shuddered. The floor seemed to shift under her. The ship was starting to move. She put her hand on the silver teapot.

  “What are you talking about?” the doctor asked, “I thought were getting off this wretched dirtball.”

  The Red Witch looked up at the doctor, her eyes narrowed. “This world is my home.”

  The doctor’s jaw clenched. “Maybe I’ll go see what the boys are up to.” She hurried out of the room.

  The Red Witch touched her fingers to the deck. It thrummed with power. She stood, holding the teapot in one hand. The teapot was heavy. Heavier than it seemed it should be.

  She closed her eyes and thought of the young, red-haired man and the beautiful blonde woman taking their stand outside the ship. She had to believe in her heart that somehow they would survive. Even if the odds seemed impossible.

  She opene
d her eyes and walked through the door into the metal corridor. Pulsing lights showed her the way to the command deck.

  The Captain would need instructions from her soon.

  Eighty-Three

  Vazsa

  Vazsa couldn’t help but stare in awe at the place the Captain called the command deck. She noticed all of the crew, even the Captain seemed impressed.

  “Holy crap, Cap,” Tony said, “Will you get a load of this place.”

  She breathed in the dry, odorless air of the room. Her eyes roved over the sleek surfaces of the control consoles. As they entered the room, the consoles began lighting up. A multitude of controls and screens came to life. The front of the room was dominated by a huge curved screen that stretched from floor to ceiling. A raised chair dominated the center of the room.

  “This sure makes the old Seattle look like a tin can,” Pete said.

  The Captain stepped up to the raised chair. "Shush, Pete, the Seattle was a good ship. She did right by us," he said, "Though she definitely wasn't a battlecruiser like this gal."

  He lower himself to the chair. A smile spread over his face.

  “Hello Captain Kelsey,” the ship said. They all jumped at the voice. It seemed to come from everywhere. Vazsa’s heart sped up. Lou would have told her it was just tech, but it felt like the ship was alive.

  “Hello ship, uh…what’s your name again?” the Captain said.

  “I am Cuore del Sangre. What is your command, Captain?” the ship asked.

  Pete, Tony, and Lou were moving to the other consoles arrayed around the room. Vazsa followed Lou.

  “Give me a forward view,” The Captain said.

  The giant screen flared to life. Vazsa gasped. It was a startlingly realistic view of the battle raging in front of the ship. She saw Hurdroth’s men maneuvering the Armor’s severed hand. Blue lightning flashed out. The ship shuddered as the bolt hit it.

  “Ship, do you have weapons to take that thing out?” the Captain asked.

  “Yes, Captain Kelsey.”