by K. Aten
All three sets of eyes turned toward Castellan. “It’s not like I set out to strain my channel. I was merely doing my job.”
Gen. Renou smiled at the woman who had become a highly capable commander in such a short amount of time. “It is your diligence and dedication that has resulted in your recordable increase in strength. That’s certainly nothing to scoff at and it will mean an entirely new direction of channel research going forward.”
“Think of the potential applications with those Psierians going into the Defense and Shield Corps if we could increase their ratings early!”
Tosh shook her head. “I don’t think it would be a good idea to make this knowledge public—”
“What?” Gen. Leniste’s face darkened at her words. “The program would benefit immensely if our soldiers had higher channel ratings.” He looked to Renou for support but she was busy staring at Castellan with a new kind of respect.
She smiled and addressed both Leniste and Keeley Greene. “I see what she is trying to say. If we made it public knowledge that pushing your limits could lead to increased channel ratings, our medican centers would be flooded with people who had drained themselves nearly dry. We would have accidental deaths on our hands because as we all know the higher the channel ratings, the more career opportunities will open. People would overextend themselves, and on what? Damage and injury for bystanders would certainly increase as a result. It could be dangerous to the public in general, as well as to the individuals trying to increase their power. Permanent channel damage is a recordable detriment.”
Castellan added another point that Gen. Renou had not covered. “It’s not only that, General, but we really don’t know the long term effects this increase will have. Will I eventually burn out? Will my cells break down faster? Psierians are fairly long-lived with our life expectancy near one hundred and forty rotos, but will the changes in my cells and aether replenishment affect my longevity? We don’t have answers to any of these questions.” She turned her head in an arch to meet each person’s eyes. “Honestly, if it were me I would not trade ten rotos of my life for a little bit more power. It’s just not worth it.”
General Renou sighed. “I hate to say it but she’s right. This is something that is completely unknown and perhaps unpredictable. While I don’t think it is anything to be concerned about insofar as Commander Tosh’s current assignment, I have to counsel against making it public knowledge. And if research is to be continued, it should be in a highly classified manner.”
Instrae Greene nodded. “I have already spoken with the Queen at length explaining the results. Strangely enough, she said nearly the same thing as General Renou. She pointed out that the current regime has enemies and we do not wish to give them the knowledge to become more powerful. Unrest and protests have been cropping up in the southern continent and she is concerned for the safety of citizens down there.”
“I’ve not even been gone half a roto yet but I don’t remember anything but the rare protest when I was stationed in Ostium. I wonder why the increase now?”
Gen. Leniste leaned forward wearing a keen look. While he was well known for being stubborn and resistant to change, he was also a brilliant tactician and often surprised his counterparts with how well he kept track of the many people under his command. He had been following Commander Tosh’s career since she was a mere lieutenant, long before the strong and well-respected officer was poached by Shield Corp. “I think the answer is you, Tosh. You were a strong leader, a solid presence in the southwestern region of Dromea. I think perhaps someone is taking advantage of your absence and the placement of someone less capable in command. I will send out inquiries, circumspect of course. I’ve never liked that Pon Havington.”
“Ser, if I may?” Tosh was only slightly surprised to learn that Leniste didn’t like the Praefectus of Dromea. The general gave a nod and she continued. “It was a well-known secret of the mutual dislike between me and Havington. At the time I left I had my suspicions, especially when further concern was brought up to me by one of my lieutenants. I trust her implicitly and gave instructions to keep an eye on things down there once I was gone. So if you need a contact on the inside, I would recommend First Lieutenant Cando. She’s probably due for promotion soon too.”
Gen. Leniste grunted at her news. “Lieutenant Commander Bello is in your old position, correct?”
“Yes, ser.” While she agreed with him, it was obvious in the tone of her voice that she didn’t particularly care for Bello any more than she cared for Havington.
“I’ll most likely have to initiate a full-scale investigation of the Ostium base but it helps to know who I can trust. Thank you for the intel, Commander.”
“Back to the business at hand, which is the channels of Castellan Tosh.” Three sets of eyes turned toward the Academy head. “The Queen suggested I put together a classified team of researchers who will report only to me. I think it would also be beneficial to send out lunely reports to Queen Olivara, as well as the both of you. What say you?”
Leniste gave a familiar grunt. “I’m amenable to that plan.”
Gen. Renou also nodded. “As am I. However, I would like to add one thing to that plan. I think it is necessary that Commander Tosh come up every half roto for re-testing.”
Castellan abruptly sat straight as a rod at that news. “I must protest, General!” She paused when Renou turned a hard-eyed gaze to the lower ranked officer.
“I know you haven’t been working for me long, Commander, but I don’t usually like having my orders questioned.”
Tosh grimaced. “Ser, I’m not questioning your orders, I would merely like to suggest once a roto, rather than twice a roto. With my duties to the Connate, it would be difficult to arrange a weke out of every twenty-five to come up for testing at the Academy. She is sure to be ramping up on her adventurist missions with the emphasis that the Queen has placed on finding the Temple of Antaeus.”
Tosh waited nervously for the general to deliberate her suggestion and finally Renou sighed. “You’re probably right. Fine, once a roto and I want the full battery of tests. As long as the research team isn’t actively trying to increase your power like they were this time around, it shouldn’t take more than a few daes.” She scanned the three other people in the room. “Are we finished here? I’d like to get back to Tesseron sooner rather than later. Pendar celebrates his dae of birth tomorrow and I still have things to arrange.”
Ins. Greene stood and waved her hand through the air. “Of course, by all means. I think we’ve covered all the bases going forward and I’ll make sure a copy of the test results goes into Commander Tosh’s record.”
Before leaving the office, Tosh saluted Gen. Leniste who stayed behind to speak with the instrae then followed Gen. Renou out the door. Her thoughts whirled with all that she had just learned about herself and channels in general. So much was Castellan in her head that she failed to hear Renou call to her the first time. “—I asked if you were already packed, Commander Tosh.”
Startled, Tosh met the smaller woman’s piercing eyes. “Yes, ser. I’ve actually left my duffel at the downstairs desk.”
Gen. Renou smiled at her. “It’s been quite a weke for you, hasn’t it? I bet you can’t wait to get on the dirigible that will take you across the cut to the railer station.”
“Yes, ser.”
It took them nearly ten meens to navigate the maze of hallways and corridors before they arrived at the welcome desk near the ornate entrance of the primary building. Tosh retrieved her duffel from the desk officer and they made their way outside into the duel suns’ shine. While the season had been getting noticeably warmer in Tesseron, it was still quite chilly in Scola. It was the norm given the fact that they were nearly a thousand mahls north of the capital of Endara.
Castellan pulled her jacket snug and flagged an Academy moto for transport to the airfield. The ride was short and they were in luck in that a dirigible was scheduled to exit within ten meens of their arrival. Gen. Reno
u smirked at Tosh as they settled into the passenger seats of the well-appointed official section. “Looks like Leniste will have to take the next one out two oors from now. Which means he’ll be stuck at the railer station barracks overnight until the next railer departs. As it is, we’ll just be catching the last one out at twenty-one hundred.” Wisely, Tosh didn’t reply to Renou’s glee at the other general’s discomfort.
It was roughly three hundred mahls by flight from the dirigible station in Scola to the small railer station across the cut of sea that divided the island of Instrucia from the mainland. Dirigible was the slowest of all transports, with a top speed of around forty mahls per oor. The problem didn’t lie with propulsion, but rather with the rigidity of the air bladder that held it aloft. The aether driven props could drive them faster but the flexible balloon itself collapsed underneath the press of air to the front section. They tried a rigid bladder but the gas they used inside to keep it aloft was not light enough to lift that along with supplies and a gondola full of people. Unless dirigibles switched to either a lighter toxic gas, or one that was lighter but highly flammable, the air transports would be limited in speed.
After the rigorous testing over the previous weke, Tosh took the opportunity to doze for the first few oors of the flight. She woke when a porter came around and asked her preference on evening meal. She took her dinner with Gen. Renou then they shared a snifter of brandy. After speaking on a variety of subjects, Renou broached a subject that had Tosh feeling flustered and highly uncomfortable. “So the Queen has filled me in on your situation with Connate Dracore.”
Castellan downed her drink in one large gulp then turned her pale eyes to meet the general’s. “I know that I’ve broken protocol...” She looked down and trailed off, prepared for the worst news from her superior.
“I think it’s grand.”
Tosh’s head jerked up. “Pardon?”
Renou laughed and leaned over to clap Castellan on the shoulder. “Easy there, Commander. The Queen also told me that she all but demanded you and her daughter continue the dalliance you began on the train.”
“Oh.” Tosh’s face was blank with shock.
Gen. Renou smiled, then called for another refill on their drinks. She sighed and took another sip of hers after the steward walked away again. “You may not know this, Tosh, but the Queen and I have been friends all of our lives. I’m actually Olivienne’s heart mother, or was rather. I suppose she’s old enough now to not need such a thing. But my point is, that girl has been wild from the moment she emerged squalling into the world. But since you came into the picture, she’s changed. No one thought the Connate would settle down but I’ve seen a difference in her the last few times we’ve met and I believe that difference is you.” When Castellan continued to look worried, Camen Renou reassured her. “That is a good thing, Commander.”
Tosh swallowed thickly. “Erm...thank you, General.” She took a healthy swig of her brandy to calm her nerves and nearly spit it across the aisle with Renou’s next words.
“So what are your intentions for the future, Tosh? My heart daughter is currently in need of a par. I think you’d make fine children with the Maker’s splicing technol—”
“General!”
Renou laughed at her discomfort. “What?”
“That is an incredibly personal question to come from my commanding officer. Olivienne—I mean, Connate Dracore knows of my feelings and intentions. Can we not just let it be for now? I do not wish to make a path public news until we can be sure where we are going.”
The general swirled her drink again and smiled benignly. “Very well, I’ll leave off for now. But I want a good seat at the Consorage Ceremony, savvy?”
Tosh choked as the brandy burned its way down the wrong pipe. She looked at her watch only to see they still had another oor on the dirigible, then another four oors on the railer before they were scheduled to arrive back in Tesseron. When she glanced back up at the general, she received a wink for her discomfort. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Twenty
IT WAS MUCH too late, or perhaps too early, by the time Castellan arrived back at the residence. She had not given Olivienne a time of arrival because she didn’t know if they’d make the connectors in time for the railer departure. She thought she’d put her things away then go upstairs and surprise her lover. Instead it was Tosh herself who was surprised to find Olivienne sleeping soundly in her bed. There was something touching about the fact that the Connate had chosen to sleep in her room while she was in Scola. She took a quick trip through the facility to remove the travel grime from her body then quietly crawled into her bed and moved to hold Olivienne from behind. However, she froze and a ball of dread formed in her stomach as her lover pulled her closer and whispered four unwelcome words.
“Gwennette...back so soon?” Angry and hurt, she started to pull away but Olivienne began laughing and refused to let her go. “Get back here, Commander! I was only teasing you.”
Tosh blew out a shaky sigh. “Good to know.”
When Olivienne turned to gaze at Tosh, light from a lamp on the property outside filtered through the windows and illuminated her face. “Surely the fact that I’m sleeping in your bed instead of my own should tell you how much I’ve missed you.” She leaned forward and gave Castellan a much needed welcome home kiss. “Your coverlets smell like you.”
“Oh? And what do I smell like?”
Instead of answering, Olivienne pulled her into a tight embrace and changed the subject. “What did you find out from all the testing?”
Exhaustion suddenly caught up with Castellan again and she nearly split her jaw with a yawn. “I’ll tell you tomorrow, but for now I must sleep. All right?”
Olivienne smiled and snuggled into the commander’s arms. “More than all right.”
THE PAIR SLEPT late the next morning and even after they woke, they continued to dally in bed, catching up on a weke’s absence. After bathing, they had a leisurely morning meal on the back patio. Tosh told Olivienne all about the testing and the surprising results, and Olivienne filled her in about the upcoming adventurist mission to Navis. When they ran out of words, Tosh’s gaze was caught by the depth of Olivienne’s violet eyes. She leaned toward the Connate for a kiss but was interrupted by the beat of heavy-soled boots on the stone steps leading up to the patio.
“Connate Dracore, everything is s—Commander Tosh!” Lt. Savon looked up from his slate as he noticed Castellan sitting with the sovereign. “I didn’t know you were returning todae!”
She shrugged. “Ah, well, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be up there and I came in late so...”
Gentry Savon smiled good-naturedly and didn’t remark on the color that had risen on Tosh’s face. “I’m glad you’re here, Commander. Per Connate Dracore’s instruction, everything has been prepared for the trip to Dromea. We have chartered the railer for our entire team to head south, including cargo segments that will carry the haulers. The railer will take us to Vesper, the little village we stopped in when Commander Tosh saved those children from the flood. From there we’ll follow the jungle road to the fishing village of Wahnish where we can charter a dirigible over to the island of Navis.”
Olivienne raised her dark brows at his words. “Do fishing villages down south normally have a dirigible available?”
“No, ser. It will leave from the station in Cordeesh and meet us there.”
“What about pyroclastic displays from Mount Ignis?” Castellan lived on the southern continent long enough to know all about the active volcano that was located on the northern end of large jungle island off the west coast of Dromea. There was a reason it was uninhabited.
Savon responded to her question with ease. “I was informed that winds typically carry the debris in a northerly direction, the same direction that the lava flows when there is an eruption. As long as the wind doesn’t change, the dirigible will be safe enough. The fishing boats will not travel so far as the island because of the Atlanteens. T
hey only have railer gun coverage along the coast of the mainland.”
“Hmm...” Tosh’s eyes were unfocussed as she thought about the information presented.
Olivienne looked at her. “Is that a good hmm, or bad hmm?”
“Mostly good. I wasn’t looking forward to tramping across that blasted island to the southern cliffs. The jungle road will be bad enough. I’ve heard enough tales to know that we’ll all feel like our spines have been bent out of shape by the time the journey is done.”
Savon shook his head with a grin. “It’s not as bad as it once was, ser. My coz’n is actually with the Engineering Corp down there and he said they finally smoothed and coated the jungle road a few roto’s back. He said we could achieve fifty mahls per if we had good drivers, but told me to watch out for the howlers at each stop. They’d steel the tires off our haulers and boots off our feet if we weren’t paying attention.”
Olivienne burst out laughing. “You cannot be serious!”
“No, ser. But they are tricky little primates just the same.”
“He’s right. They’d come to the country markets outside Ostium and beg for fruit or other food and if you didn’t give them just a bit, they’d steal something from your person and take off. I lost a timepiece when I was first stationed down there.”
“A timepiece?” The Connate looked at her in disbelief that the small animal could get a timepiece off the commander.
“As he said, they are tricky.” She looked back at Savon. “I’m assuming the entire team is going on this one? I don’t remember seeing anyone scheduled for leave.”
“Yes, ser. I think the unit has really begun to come together and Connate Dracore impressed them so much while you were gone that they’re quite excited to share her next adventure.”
