The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Leisa Wallace

  “First part of a good tactic: drawing the audience’s attention to one specific point,” Lena didn’t need to hear what went next, yet couldn’t pull herself away from the haunting story. “Our General, the great Zeke Merak, led the third task force that completed this assignment without a hitch.”

  Several people gasped at the on screen images, and Lena’s insides tightened remembering the gleaming knife plunging deep into her father’s heart. A sniffle caught Lena by surprise. Daring to glance around the doorway, she saw a girl sitting near the doorway, wiping her eyes with her fingertips.

  “Captain, you are much more familiar with our great General. Why do you suppose his tactic was so successful?”

  “His infiltration was perfect,” the Captain replied in a voice still gnawing with familiarity. “He spent years, nearly his whole life, building a friendship with the General of Everleigh, acting as his right hand man.” His voice sounded cautious to Lena, as if he chose his words with care. “He had built such a deep trust among the enemy, they didn’t know they were infiltrated.”

  “Yes, indeed, indeed,” Wetsel almost sounded excited. “Infiltration at its finest. I imagine you also were a part of it too, Captain, being his...”

  “We all had our assignments,” the Captain cut in. “But you can see through the great planning efforts of those like your instructor, they made it impossible for the Resistance to unite their forces.”

  Lena wondered why the Captain diverted the attention away from himself. Wetsel seemed to thrive on the applause of others. But if the Captain’s overall strategy was to draw attention away from himself, his tactic worked.

  “Wha’ about the fourth team sir?” the words came from the same girl Lena had seen wiping her eyes. “The team chasin’ the young girl across the rooftop?” Lena’s heart dropped as she peered beyond the door at the image projected from the girl’s insignia. She had never heard this part of the lecture. In fact, she felt sure it wasn’t part of the lecture at all.

  Wetsel raised his eyebrows. “Now we have someone who knows how to catch detail. Never in my three years teaching have I seen a student catch that before. In fact let’s bring it up on the screen, shall we? You may follow along on your own projections if you’d like. Birdee, would you like to continue?”

  Lena peeked around the doorframe again. There she was, in her beautiful pink lace dress that her mother had bought her, running barefoot across the rooftops.

  “Now ya see her here, dartin’ across the roof. She’s smart see, cause she’s familiar with the territory.” Birdee used a laser to point to the spot on the hologram. “She gets ta the exit door before the tactics team in charge of her can scramble up the quartz building to the roof. It takes ‘em a few minutes to find where she went. They probably should have done a little more research about their young target but it seems like luck was on their side that day.”

  Lena stood frozen in the doorway, struggling to breathe as she watched from the sky the scene that had so long lived in her head. Her heart raced, and she felt her nails digging into her palms.

  “Well, ya can’t see much. See, the smoke blocks the satellite imagery. But if you look here,” She pointed to a small opening in the smoke. “You can see she’s on the ground now, running toward something or someone. Now I personally seem to think that it’s a someone. Her action seems to indicate that it’s someone she trusts. Look how she runs toward the person without hesitation.”

  Lena moved out of the doorway. Leaning against the wall she closed her eyes as memories of that run flooded her mind. Gideon’s eyes, filled with worry, and his strong arms wrapping protectively around her. Then seeing the Priestess’ insignia on his shirt. Wetsel would say his infiltration also had been perfect. Lena’s chest tightened thinking of him. She wanted to both scream and cry at his perfect betrayal.

  “Now once again everything is obscured by smoke and debris. But there is a moment, though not clear, you can see an outline of a body on the ground.”

  Without thinking, she touched the spot on the left side of her chest where the bullet had gone through. Thora told her the bullet missed everything vital and came clean out the back of her shoulder. The shock of the impact had left her unconscious. Thora told her she was in and out of consciousness for a week.

  “Now here comes the tactics group, converging on the site of the body I just pointed out.”

  “Hmm, mostly well done,” Wetsel replied, “Can anyone tell me what Recruit Birdee left out?” He paced in front of the class between the image and the first row of seats, looking down his nose at the group in front of him.

  The students sat, silent, as heavy footsteps tromped down the stairs towards the front of the class. “Captain, perhaps you’d like to show us.”

  Lena glanced around the corner. The Captain was turned away from her with Wetsel standing between them. In the image, a thick layer of smoke concealed the girl. The Captain sped up the feed until the smoke cleared. The body was gone. In its place, several black clad figures lay motionless on the ground. It didn’t take a genius to know that they were the tactics team following her.

  “Captain, I don’t suppose you can tell us where the tactics team went wrong?” Wetsel questioned.

  “That, sir, is the million stars question,” the Captain responded. “It seems like you, of all people, would jump at the opportunity to use that piece of information to your benefit.”

  A chuckle spread through the classroom at the jab. “This is an picture of the girl,” The Captain announced.

  Still standing at the edge of the doorway, Lena stared wide-eyed at her younger self. The image showed her standing next to the lake, smiling her big toothy grin as her hair hit her shoulders in a wave of brilliant messiness. Lena knew her hair always looked that way when she let it dry without fixing it. Moving away from the door she continued listening.

  The Captain continued. “The big question is what happened to the girl of Everleigh?” Pausing for a non-expected answer he continued. “From the view Recruit Birdee showed us, to this one, all that can be seen is dust and ash. When the air clears enough, the body is gone, replaced by the tactics team responsible for her capture. The Priestess has launched an extensive search for this girl that all of you will be involved with upon graduation. The Priestess has promised a place in her court to anyone who finds the girl.”

  Waves of excited chatter filled the classroom as Lena’s soul soared in unbridled alarm.

  “Whoever has her, sure’s gone through a lot of effort to keep her hidden,” Birdee’s voice alleged, catching the attention of the class. “Which means fer some reason they think she must be a threat to the Priestess.”

  “That’s why we must find her,” the Captain replied.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The panic growing steadily inside her, Lena quickened her pace through the shadowed servants’ halls. Since hearing the Captain announce the reward for her capture, the day had been filled with the constant fear that someone would figure out her true identity.

  “Oh, girl,” Thora told her after hearing the news. “They will not find you here. Because they will not think to look at what’s right in front of them.” Then, with the eyes of a tender mother, she placed her hands around Lena’s shaking ones. “You are brave and strong. Be prepared for anything, but do not let fear control you.”

  She had promised Thora not to let the fear control her, but walking alone, at night, down a dark hall didn’t make it easy. Her nerves made her jumpy. Glancing over her shoulder, Lena surveyed the hall. She thought she heard voices but couldn’t see beyond the curve in the wall. She flexed her hands, trying to relieve the tension she felt. It didn’t work. Surely this is my imagination, she told herself. Moving faster, she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. The whispers grew louder. Not only louder, but they now came from both directions. Sharpening her senses she pressed herself against the wall, Ok, this is definitely not my imagination.

  From the sound of approaching footsteps, she knew
they were just around the curve out of her sight. Her nearest exit was past them, at the end of the hall’s arc. Her mind scrambled as she forced herself to reason. How did they get in here? Taking a calming breath she continued her line of thought. They couldn’t possibly be part of a tactics team coming to get me. That would require real soldiers. Whoever is surrounding me is too loud. This group screams amateur. It screams Lucius.

  Just as she thought it, Lucius stepped into her line of sight. Stopping in the middle of the corridor, his three friends surrounded him followed by several others he must have recruited. Lena need not turn to know the whispers behind her blocked any chance of escape.

  She stepped away from the wall, determined not to show fear. “Can I help you with something?” she asked, relieved that her voice sounded stronger than she felt.

  Lucius walked toward her, evil in his eyes. Without a word he grabbed Lena’s arm, slamming her against the wall. Pain seared through her back and the snickers of his equally horrible followers echoed across the hallway.

  “I’ve had enough of you, servant,” Lucius growled. Grabbing her other hand he pinned her arms to the wall on each side of her.

  Lena gasped and struggled against his grip. Laughter surrounded them as she looked around wildly for help. The crowd stood unmoving. Their eyes looked wild in nervous anticipation for what Lucius would do. No one stepped in to help. Defense training flooded her memory. Her eyes locked on Lucius as her bottled rage slowly bubbled to the surface. She pulled against Lucius’ grip. “If I were you, recruit,” Lena said, moving her eyes to his, “I’d leave now.”

  Laughter filled her ears as Lucius moved in closer. He pushed her harder against the wall. Leaning in so close that his foul breath hit her face as he spoke, he answered, “And what if I don’t?”

  Lena’s rage exploded. Kneeing Lucius between the legs, she twisted free of his grasp and plunged her elbow into the side of his head. From the corner of her eye she saw Lucuis’ friend Boarde coming at her from the side. In one motion she grabbed Lucius’ arm and kicked her legs into Boarde. The rebounding force made it easy to twist Lucius arm behind him until he let out a strangled cry. Throwing him to the ground Lena looked around the crowd surrounding them. They stood unmoving. Lena put her knee in the center of Lucius’ back and leaned in close to his ear. “Don’t you ever, ever, mess with me again.” Furious, she drew her breath. “Do you understand?” She pressed her knee harder into his back.

  “Attention!” a voice commanded.

  Lena turned to ice. His voice. The voice. The exact one she had heard in Thora’s room, stood unseen behind her. And like a puzzle coming together she knew where the voice belonged. The Captain’s voice and the voice that came from Thora’s room belonged to the same person.

  With her heart pounding, she raised her eyes toward the recruits standing silently around her, desperately searching for a way out of this one. Lucius, still beneath her, groaned. Releasing her hold and rising from the floor, she saw Jonah, standing at attention, and recalled his voice yelling her name moments before.

  Lena stood tall. She still faced away from the Captain, and wondered if she should turn to face him, like the rest of the soldiers. He answered by stepping in front of her. All she could see now was his back.

  “What is going on here?” he shouted.

  “The girl attacked me,” Lucius panted, rising to a seated position.

  “That’s not the whole story and you know it, Lucius,” Jonah yelled.

  Fury broke out as each soldier yelled the story, all making Lena sound like the attacker. All but Jonah. His eyes filled with worry as he looked into hers.

  Lena stood still, not daring to speak.

  “Attention!” the voice yelled. All soldiers snapped back into place.

  “Let me get this straight,” he said. “ The girl, who by the looks of things is no more than a servant, attacked you?” The disbelief in his voice was obvious.

  “Yes, sir,” Lucius spoke. “This girl needs to be shown her true position and be disciplined Captain.”

  “What’s your name, soldier?” his voice sounded young, yet full of authority.

  “Lucius, Captain,” he said now rising tenderly off the floor.

  “Son of Nagar, of the Priestess’s Court?” he asked.

  “Yes, Captain” Lucius smirked, standing taller and more arrogant.

  “Tell me, Lucius, how one of such high class and training came to be in the servants’ wing,with all his friends,” the Captain commanded.

  Lucius choked, unprepared for such questioning.

  “And tell me how a tiny-waisted servant girl was able to get through your group of fellow soldiers close enough to attack you and was then able to pin you, a soldier, to the ground?”

  “Captain, it’s not fair. I am a soldier. She is a servant. You should be listening to me, not her,” Lucius whined.

  “If I recall correctly,” the Captain fumed, “the servant has said nothing.”

  “Servant,” the Captain spoke. He turned toward Lucius. Lena saw the side of his face. His jaw looked chiseled. “This soldier says it isn’t fair and that you caught him unaware. Do you have a response?” His arms crossed in front of him. She couldn’t see his whole face without moving.

  “Captain, what the soldier says is true. I did catch him unaware,” Lena responded. She heard the recruits around her gasp at the unexpected answer.

  “And did you think your attack on the soldier was fair?” he continued his questioning.

  Lena took a steadying breath. “No, Captain. It was not fair. He had no idea of my abilities and therefore was far out-skilled.”

  Jonah chuckled, making her smile.

  Sneaking a glance at Lucius, she saw him turning purple in anger. “That is not fair, Captain,” Lucius stuttered. “ My skill is far above...”

  “Silence, recruit,” the captain demanded. “It is clear to me what happened here. But if fairness is what you want, soldier, let’s make it fair.”

  “It’s about time,” Lucius huffed.

  The Captain paced. Looking toward the recruits he declared, “In order to quell this recruit’s anger and even out the fighting field,” he paused, and turned to face Lena straight on. “Servant Lena, you are now recruited as a volunteered soldier in the Priestess’ Defenses."

  Lena’s heart stopped beating. Her breath caught in her throat. Instinct told her to run. But shock kept her feet firmly in place. Deep brown eyes stared emotionlessly back at her. And though older, his face was burned into her memory. She forced herself to take a breath. “Gideon?” she whispered.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gideon showed no sign of recognizing her. He just stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his broad chest, glaring. No one around them spoke as a sea of questioning eyes bore into them. Panic swept through her.

  “Dismissed,” he barked, breaking their gaze. “Recruits, return to your rooms” The anger in his voice left no room for argument and the recruits dispersed to different exits. Lucius moved more slowly than the rest, staggering past the two, glaring at her as he walked behind the Captain.

  The Captain filled his chest with air. Then without saying anything more, turned on his heels and walked away.

  Lena held her breath as she watched him leave. He looked different from what she remembered. His once lanky body was now chiseled with muscles. His long hair, cut short. And he somehow seemed shorter than she remembered. But she realized it must be that she had grown. There was no way he was going to just leave her without explanation. She took a step after him at the same time someone grabbed her arm.

  “Lena, are you ok?” Jonah questioned, eyebrows raised in concern.

  Releasing her breath, Lena looked at Jonah. Her brain felt so overloaded she didn’t know how to respond.

  “I can’t believe what just happened.” Jonah hooted. “And I can’t believe you never told me you were so tough. Man, to see Lucius thrown to the ground like that. It was priceless.” Laughing out loud he
added. “ Did the Captain really just volunteer you into the Priestess defenses?”

  Lena felt tongue-tied. She didn’t know how to answer.

  “Soldier Jonah,” the Captain shouted, turning back toward them.

  Both Lena and Jonah jumped to meet their Captain’s gaze. Lena’s heart pounded, looking at her childhood friend. She felt conflicted. He had betrayed her, and then shot her, and then hid her. And now he had enlisted her into the Priestess’s army. Part of her wanted to punch him, the other to hug him.

  “As it seems that you and the servant are already acquaintances, I am making it your duty to accompany the new recruit back to her room,” he spoke, glancing toward Lena.

  She saw a brief catch in his breath before he continued speaking, “I’ll send someone to you with further instructions. I’m afraid I may have caused some uproar among the new recruits. And though it is obvious Recruit Lena can take care of herself, it would be much to my satisfaction that she not be cornered and attacked again.” He glanced at Lena before spinning on his heel and marching away.

  ***

  Lena sat on her bed. A fog of anger and confusion swirled uncontrollably through her thoughts. The memory of Gideon’s betrayal reopened a wound she had hoped never to feel again.

  A knock came at her door. “Go away!” she yelled. Falling into her mattress she put the pillow over her head. The door slid open. Thora walked in. A stack of folded clothes rested in her arms—uniforms for new recruits. Thora set them on the bed. Lena sat up clutching the pillow.

  “I’ve been asked to bring you these and tell you to report tomorrow morning at six,” Thora said. Lena stayed silent, her eyes focused on the floor. She felt Thora’s eyes studying her. “Do you have any questions?”

  Anger welled within Lena and she jumped off the bed. “You’ve known Gideon this whole time, and you kept it from me,” she yelled. Turning away from Thora, she wrapped her arms around her waist. Holding tight, she fought the tears she felt coming. “You knew he shot me, Thora.”