by S. J. Higbee
Denzel’s dazed look of terror was replaced by a scowl. “Master Clete Gator. He’s the one that ordered the coms blackout. And the Brarian Major of Acinos requested to come along, too, once we arrived in Reseda.”
Clete Gator – what’s he doing here with Adurn? I didn’t have to guess as to why he wanted to get to Cnicus as fast as possible. Question is, why Clete Gator thought it a good idea to bring him along.
“And the fourth passenger – who is he?” asked Helston.
Denzel visibly swallowed. “Um… my mentor and fellow Brarian is an expert on failing tanks, so when he asked… I thought it… Master Trask Brarian wanted to accompany me and I said yes as I figured his expertise would be majorly helpful.”
I took a deep breath. “Right, Captain. Take our guests to the Reception building and offer them refreshments. Provide Denzel with an oldtech sunscreen – the others will have to wait. Stand the full squad down, it must be getting warm out there in full body armour. But I want two more spiderbots fully progged and ready to go by the time I arrive to greet our guests.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship,” said Helston.
*
At an hour when all sensible Cnicans were resting to avoid the full might of the noonblast, I was sitting opposite Clete Gator. While I was a little warmer than I’d have liked, given I was wearing full mourning robes, I was pleased that Clete’s patrician brow was beaded with sweat and his Uppie hair-halo, the height of fashion in Gloriosa, was now flopping in bedraggled clumps around his beet-red face.
“Care to explain exactly why you took it into your head to hitch a ride alongside my Brarian without telling anyone?” I dusted off my best Uppie accent, which was a tad rusty.
He gave me a soppy grin. “Did I ever tell you just how sexy I find your Acinos dialect?”
Felina cleared her throat. “Please recall Her Ladyship is married, Your Lordship.”
His smile slithered into a scowl as he glared at her. “And what is she doing here?”
“Chaperoning me,” I said, giving up on trying to sound like someone I wasn’t. “Just what d’you think you were doing? You so nearly ended up being blasted out of the sky!”
He waved his hand. “I’m sure the good Captain wouldn’t have performed an act so many strata above his pay grade—”
“My mother’s been murdered. There’s clearly at least one plot against me back in the capital, forget what Captain Helston was thinking – I was within a jasper’s hair of giving the order to fire!”
Finally the wet-brain seemed to realise just how close he came to dying. “For sure?” He shuddered, before stretching out his hand as if he thought I’d be remotely tempted to take it. “I’d no idea you were so twitched. Let me help you, lovely one—”
“Your Lordship, keep it respectable, if you please,” interrupted Felina.
“Please send her away! Have you any idea what a horrific journey I’ve endured just to be here with you?”
“And I’m asking for the third time – why? What possessed you to undertake such a journey in secret? Surely you must’ve realised it would trigger a massive security alert.”
“The journos will orgasm themselves into an early grave if they know where I’ve surfaced, after giving them the slip.”
“Indeed. Orgasming as we speak,” I said, bitterly.
“Your Ladyship. Inappropriate language, given this man isn’t your husband,” added Felina, throwing herself into the role of chaperone with far too much enthusiasm.
“And you’ve still not said why you turned up!” I thumped the table, wishing it was Clete’s sweat-beaded nose.
He extended his other moist, soft hand, looking like a sick puppy. “You opened it,” he breathed.
“Trunk? Tab? Eyes?” I was beyond exasperation.
He squelched in the chair, as he shifted. “Lovelights – the perfume I gave you. I sent it with a message, which you clearly got.”
Message? There was that wilt-witted poem I threw away… “Remind me,” I hedged.
He blinked slowly. Clearly someone once told him he had lovely eyes.
“Lovelights, lovelights – a touch of scent from your soft hand
I’ll immediately know, wheresoever you are. And
I’ll ride to your rescue through flood, snow and rain
So that we two can be together, happily once again,” he chanted in a sing-song voice.
Felina tutted. “Not an appropriate verse to send to a married woman, Your Lordship.”
“What rain and snow?” I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to drum my heels on the floor and howl. Why couldn’t Gloriosans ever say a thing straightline? “I’m clearly thicker than shi— mud,” I amended, as Felina glared at me. “But I’ve not the smallest notion what you’re talking about.”
“You opened the perfume,” he murmured. “I know you did. And then, I saw the holopic of you looking so tragic and sad as you stood in the doorway of some dirt-scurfed shack. Even wearing those goggles I could tell you were in pain. And I thought – she needs me. So here I am!”
“Let me get this straight. Just cos I opened a bottle of scent you gifted me and you saw some pic a roaching journo had holo-jinxed to make me looked heartcrushed, you took it into your head to hi-jack a ride halfway across the planet. And cos you wanted it to be a surprise, you shut down the coms array that serves Cnicus,” I said flatly. You might like to play the part of a lovestruck fool, but you knew exactly what you were doing. You shut down the coms array cos you didn’t want my security detail stopping your journey.
Clete flicked a look across at Felina, licked his lips and leaned forward. “Gator and Overlord, side by side. That’s how it’s been for generations. Our love was meant to be, given that I fell for you the first time I set eyes on you—”
Felina cleared her throat and drummed her fingers on the table.
His ingratiating grin slipped sufficiently to let me see the irritation of an entitled Uppie far too used to getting his own way, as his eyes glittered with sudden fury. “Must we go through this tedious charade, Kyrillia? We’re both adults, with adult needs. You aren’t some virgin miss unused to male attention.”
That’s exactly what I am, as it happens. “I’m also a married woman with a husband who has been profoundly loyal throughout our marriage.” It was my turn to lean forward. “And in Gloriosa that mightn’t count for much. But here, in Cnicus? My wedding vows matter. Never mind having the Codes or being able to bring the Nodery back from near-death – if I don’t abide by the rules that keep villages like this one stable and safe, then I’ll be regarded as some piece of Uppie trash with morals in the bog-box.”
Clete waved his hand in dismissal. “I know it’s your home village, but it’s the size of a pimple on this boil of a desert and in the wider scheme of things, it simply doesn’t matter.”
“So what’s changed in Gloriosa that has you rushing here, then?”
“I can’t sleep for thinking of you… hearing your voice… Can’t lie, Your Ladyship – I’ve got it bad—” As Felina cleared her throat, Clete surged to his feet and loomed over her. “And yes, I’m aware. Inappropriate and all of that. But I swear by Distant Dream I’ll find out exactly who you are and have you slagged down to counting sandgrains – or whatever you soilstained tics end up doing in this hellhole when you haven’t two swaps to call your own – if you don’t seal that mouth of yours. Understand?”
And the noonblast’ll freeze solid before I’d be wet-brained enough to tether myself to a bullying roacher like you, even if I was planning on leaving Seth. Which I’m not.
“I understand, Your Lordship. Keeping it sealed.” Felina leaned back in her chair, folded her arms and grinned at him.
As he subsided back into his chair, clearly taken aback at her chippy refusal to be daunted by his vile threats, love for her washed through me. And a chilly realisation that however Clete Gator wanted to dress up his pitch with a lot of romantic slurry, he was desperate. Something or someone had forced his hand, suc
h that he figured that he’d no choice but to rush halfway across the planet to wring an undertaking from me.
What’s going on in Gloriosa? I longed to know with a sudden intensity that knocked the breath from my lungs and blurred my eyes. Seth. I wanted him alongside so much it hurt. And while I was listening to the rehearsed lies dropping out of Clete’s mouth about how much he desired me… how much my beauty moved him… all I could think of was Seth’s micro-grin – the one that flipped my stomach and stole the strength from my knees. His endless capacity for kindness… his fierce independence… his lack of self-pity… his quiet strength…
“I do wish you could remove those goggles, Kyrillia. I’d love to see your glorious silver eyes,” murmured Clete.
“They’re too damaged.” I replied. No point in tipping off my enemies that my night vision is every bit as good as a hunting vore.
“I hear you’re going blind. And I want you to know that it doesn’t change my feelings for you. If anything,” Clete’s voice deepened, “it makes me want to cherish you even more.”
I’ll just bet it does. A wife who can’t see is so much easier to control. “How kind,” I managed, wishing I could have this roacher dumped in The Arids.
Vrox whickers in agreement, happy to drag this lying wetskin into the middle of a veinworm colony.
KEEP YOUR SCALY OLD NOSE OUTTA HER HEAD! roared Felina, causing Vrox to withdraw with a pained squawk.
Rubbing my forehead, I nearly joined in.
“This heat… you’re looking fit to drop, my dear. Frankly, I cannot think why anyone would live in such a godding awful place to be poached in their own juices. I’ll take my leave, dearest Kyrillia, to freshen up.” He placed his hot wet hand on my arm. “Please do me the honour of having dinner with me this evening. I’ve brought a selection of Gloriosan delicacies with me.”
“As it happens we’ll all be dining together, here in Mistress Keeper’s home.” I tried for a smile, fighting the impulse to flick his sodden paw off my arm.
“And you’re welcome, Your Lordship. Bring your Gloriosan goodies along to the kitchen, where I reckon Master Chef will think Gathering Day will’ve come if there’s your kinda food to cook,” said Felina.
Clete frowned. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“But it’s what’s on offer.” I pulled my sweat-soaked arm free and stood up. “Or you can eat at Mistress Stitcher’s with her other paying guests.”
“In which case, I’ll accept your kind invitation.” Clete swept into a flowing bow that put Kestor’s efforts to shame. “Till tonight, my lovely.”
I inclined my head. “Till tonight, Master Gator.” And headed off to my sleeproom, desperate to change out of my tunic, as one sleeve was now soaked with Clete’s sweat.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I’d jerked awake from my siesta with a sick sense of nameless dread. Instead of lying in a stuffy tangle trying to get back to sleep, I got dressed, alerted Helston I’d need an escort and headed off to the Nodery, before Ellern surfaced to start yabbering at me to take her treatments. Again.
The noonblast heat wasn’t as thickly oppressive by this stage in the afternoon, but the Nodery shimmered in the cooked air as we crossed the small square and I was grateful to be wearing an oldtech sunscreen. I knew that Denzel couldn’t have yet visited the Node, but I wanted to check the organi-packs were still healing.
As my escort and I swung through the gate, I suddenly found myself treading all over the heels of Rexton, who’d abruptly stopped and raised his weapon to his shoulder.
Vrox, that you? Though I’d sensed the old mantivore sleeping soundly on his bed back at Felina’s house, at least twice before he’d sent me fake impressions of him asleep while he was off doing something else.
“Freeze!” hollered Helston, his amped voice sounding even louder in the sun-baked silence of the siesta. Dogs barked, chickens squawked and somewhere nearby, a small child wailed.
“How dare you point that weapon at me, man! I’m the Brarian Major of Acinos. Ah, Your Ladyship, I didn’t see you there,” announced Adurn, stepping out of the shadows.
“Indeed, Major. And why are you attempting to break into our Nodery?”
“Breaking in? No, no, not at all.” Adurn gathered his robes around his plump figure like a bothered hen. “I was merely checking on the Node to see if these organi-packs are as in direly need of attention as has been claimed. But the key isn’t working.”
Just as well I reCoded the entrylock so that Kestor’s key and codings won’t open the door. “I’m disappointed that you didn’t see fit to swing by and pay your respects, first, Brarian Major.” I said, swishing up the steps past him, so I was now standing between him and door.
“I didn’t want to disturb you at this difficult time. Meanwhile, this key has been disabled, Your Ladyship.”
“I’ll take care of it, then.” I held out my hand, while he waited several seconds too long before giving it to me. “I’m sorry, but right now the Nodery is far too sick to be disturbed. We are dosing the worst affected organi-packs and hoping they’ll pull through.”
Adurn twitched, his gaze shifting sideways. And I knew I didn’t want this roacher anywhere near my Nodery. I don’t trust you further than I could flick you with my little finger.
“It sounds as if you’re doing exactly the right thing, Your Ladyship. Though there is still a chance they might not survive, as we operate in such difficult conditions out here in The Arids. I’ve been telling anyone who’d listen just how hard it is to keep the Node going in such temperatures for years.”
That’s a heap of slurry! “You make it sound as if the organi-packs are exposed to the noonblast itself, Brarian Major. And this Nodery has always been brimful of energy, which was why it was such a shock to see it brought to the edge of death by your son’s negligence.”
“I’ve been to see Kestor,” his voice trembled. “The boy is beside himself. And the conditions in that stinking Security Suite aren’t fit to house a nemmet, let alone a trained Brarian!”
“Indeed.” I’d become quite fond of this Gloriosan word.
“What he did wasn’t so very wrong. Just got swept up in a wet-witted quarrel. He’d been… close to Mai Brarian. I think her death badly affected him.” Adurn didn’t call her Mother Mai, I noticed.
“From what I can tell, no one was thinking all that straight just after her murder. And he wanted to protect the Node from those wilt-witted women and their interference. They’d no business messing about in the Node,” he continued.
“And yet it wasn’t the women who caused the damage. It was Kestor’s move in shutting the Node up and starving it for five whole days!”
“I’ll grant you, it was a witless moment—”
“Moment?” I shouted. “That’s the point, Adurn. It wasn’t a moment – it was five days. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was deliberately trying to sabotage the Node!”
Adurn’s face blanched. “He wouldn’t. That’s… with respect, Your Ladyship, that’s a terrible accusation. And completely unfounded.”
At least you understand the seriousness of the mess he’s in, while Kestor simply tried to threaten me.
“Your Ladyship… Kyrillia – I am begging you… Given it was me who notified The Council, leading to you being identified as Overlord Trislen’s lost heir, can you not find it in your heart to treat the boy with some leniency?” Gone was the fussy, self-important arrogance that normally enveloped Brarian Major Adurn. The white-faced trembling replacement in front of me was abject.
Bile hit the back of my throat as he sank to his knees on the stone pathway. “Don’t… Please get up, Brarian Major. This isn’t the way to go—”
“It certainly is if it will save my boy from being Collared. You of all people know what it is to face such a fate. Please don’t do this to him!”
I flung my arms in the air. “I tried to save him! Told him to pack his things and go – and he wouldn’t. Instead he threatened to te
ll the journos that I was hosing him away cos I was jealous of Onice. And – you must see – I couldn’t buckle to that kinda offal, or in no time flat I wouldn’t have a shred of honour to call my own.”
Helston gently helped the Brarian Major to his feet, who suddenly looked shrunken, despite his bulk and flounced robes.
“Can you imagine what would happen to Cnicus if the Nodery here actually died? The village would be gone within the year, with most of the people living here either working in Pistacia or reduced to begging on the streets in Reseda.”
“I’m not sure it would come to that, Your Ladyship,” he muttered, unconvincingly.
But I was right and we both knew it. I rubbed my forehead where sweat had gathered under the edge of my goggles in a stinging line. Given all that was going wrong in my life right now, I reckoned it was a minor miracle I wasn’t running around in the noonblast, naked as a new-born and howling at the sun. Though if things didn’t start getting better soon, it might just be an option.
Adurn took his leave and stumbled away, moving like a man in the middle of a bad dream. I hoped he was headed back to Reseda, as there was precious little he could do to help Kestor by staying in Cnicus. And I needed his begging pleas for mercy on Kestor’s behalf, like I needed a glass sunscreen.
I headed back to Felina’s, sad that Kestor’s wet-witted stubbornness had brought him to such a shoddy place. Because Adurn was right, given the Node would recover, it did seem a harsh punishment for getting too involved in a village quarrel. Could his sentence be mitigated to being Collared for only a couple of years? Though I can’t suggest such an option, given the slurry churned out by the roaching journos about our relationship.
I wistfully fantasised about approaching The Council to arrange the same deal they’d made with Uncle Trislen. No one wrote such damning lies about him during his time as Overlord, or they were whisked away by The Council to be MindTrawled or worse. When it soon became clear The Council wasn’t nearly so twitchy about controlling public opinion about my efforts to keep the Prime Nodery going, the journos had turned on me with all the venom of a thornback lizard. Even as I entertained such ideas, I could hear Seth’s voice explaining that we needed to show that we weren’t afraid of criticism, and that if we adopted Uncle Trislen’s ways, then we were taking on the mantle of a tyrant.