“I also had a little chat with that fake Captain Jirac who testified at my trial. Seems he has had several conversations with you over the years. He says he even acted as a courier between you and the Brotherhood.”
Meecham shot to his feet. “You can’t prove anything!” he hissed.
“Now that they really know where to look, I imagine they’ll find plenty of evidence. Real evidence,” stated Casey baldly.
“Then what are you doing here?” Meecham asked nastily. “Come to gloat? Or did you want to warn me to flee before they can extradite me like you did?”
“I just want to know why,” Casey said simply.
“Why should be obvious, Morten. Even someone as limited as you should be able to see what I was after.”
“Oh, I know you were trying to frame Premier Rhodam so you could take her place,” Casey conceded. “I’m sure you had that part all set up as well. What I meant was, why pretend to be my friend? You could have done everything without taking the effort to con me personally.”
Meecham shrugged. “You were the one person with the potential to mess everything up. The closer I was to you, the easier it was to keep you headed in the wrong direction.” Casey listened sadly. It didn’t surprise him, but still some small part of him had been hoping that it was all a mistake. So much for that.
“You know,” Casey began, “last time we met you told me that I needed a better defense. Now the tables are turned.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” Meecham replied airily. “I’ve planned for this as well, Morten. No jury is going to convict me.”
“I guess we’ll see. And I won’t even return the sentiment of ‘I hope you rot in hell,’” Casey said pensively. “I think that time on the prison planet will do the job just fine.”
Meecham scowled at him. Then Casey’s voice hardened and he stared unflinchingly at Meecham. “But I promise you this, Meecham. You’d better never return to Corizen, or plenty of people will see to it that you do rot in hell.”
Then the door burst open and Meecham found himself surrounded by five armed Armada soldiers. They roughly pinioned his arms behind his back and locked them.
“Councilor Cory Meecham, you are under arrest for treason against the Planetary Union,” one of the men said flatly.
“You can’t arrest me here,” Meecham protested angrily. “This is Corizen. The President or their Congress has to approve my extradition.”
Casey pulled an envelope from his jacket and tucked it into Meecham’s front pocket. “There you go, Meecham. Reading material for your trip back to Tyre. It was signed by President Gulann this morning.”
The soldiers led Meecham out of the room and Casey finally unclenched his fist. He had been itching to swing at Meecham almost the whole time. Walking to the window he stared thoughtfully out over the grounds. The grounds were nearly deserted, but with summer rapidly approaching the trees were green and brave little flowers were poking up through the neglected lawns. He was still lost in thought when the door opened again. He turned around to find himself face to face with Madge.
“Hello, Ambassador.” She walked to Casey’s side and gazed out the window also.
“The Admiral says the ship taking Meecham to Tyre is leaving in two hours and I decided to go with it. However, I had to come see you first,” she explained, her voice stiff. Casey half-turned toward her, raising his eyebrows.
“I owe you an apology. I was mistaken when I believed you were the traitor. I am ashamed to admit it now, but Meecham made statements about you that led me to suspect you. I didn’t realize he was setting you up.”
Casey sighed. “Yeah, well he was setting all of us up. Don’t worry about it.”
“I just wanted you to know that after I heard from the Admiral about Jirac, I pulled Kerry Laine’s files. I thought you should know that before Meecham hired her as a staffer, she worked as an administrator at a manufacturing facility that the Meecham family owns on Caligua. Apparently they made medical devices that can be implanted into people with spinal injuries to help them have motor control.”
Casey ruefully shook his head. “What a coincidence.”
“I’m sure that when it is investigated, things will be cleared up pretty quickly and all our charges will be dropped against you. In the meantime, President Gulann refuses to allow your extradition, so,” she sighed exaggeratedly, “I guess you’ll just have to hang out on Corizen for awhile.”
“Such a hardship.” Casey grinned. Madge shook his hand one last time and wished him good luck before moving to the door.
“Thanks, Ambassador. We owe you one,” she said, and then left the lounge. Casey glanced out at the grounds again.
Spring meant new beginnings, fresh starts. Casey had just been granted a fresh start. Maybe Corizen had just been granted a new beginning as well.
Epilogue
The afternoon sun was starting to dip down to the west, deepening the shadows in the park. A breeze rustled the branches of the trees lining the lanes of Waterside Park, cooling the pedestrians who walked along the water. Tiran watched the water sparkle and listened to the mad chattering of the birds. It was a nearly perfect summer afternoon here in Roma. When Zaq had come to ask her to take a walk with him, she had eagerly assented. With the death of Othar Eshude and the dissolution of the Brotherhood, Roma had become so much safer that for the first time in her life, Tiran was free to visit most areas of the city.
“So I hear you are moving off to the Provinces,” Zaq mentioned as they slowly made their way through the busy park.
“Actually, just my parents are headed off to live like hermits. Bret Ka got named Governor of the brand new territory Chiapa, and he convinced my parents to go too, now that the Security Council officially cleared my father,” Tiran explained, stooping to break off a reed from the marshy edge of the pond.
“Your father is retiring as Ambassador?” Zaq asked.
“Yeah, I think he had enough of politics to last him a lifetime. I think his aide Steven is going to be officially named the new Ambassador next week.” Tiran ran the reed through her fingers. It would be different without her father working for the Union. Nothing would ever go back to the way it had been during her childhood, but that wasn’t an entirely bad thing.
“What are they going to do then? Farm? Raise sheep? Isn’t Chiapa going to be a livestock-based colony?”
Tiran giggled at the mental picture that created of her father. “Yeah, I can just see my dad chasing sheep over the hills. Actually, he’s planning to teach school, which I can barely imagine either.”
Zaq laughed. “And your mother?”
“Planning to be the one who goes to Croask for supplies every other weekend. I think she was just anxious to be able to fly a ship again.”
They stopped and sat under one of the big weeping willows on the banks. Tiran shredded her reed absently. “How is your job going?” she asked curiously. Zaq had been spending the whole summer tracking down former members of the Brotherhood in Roma and convincing them to have their implants deactivated. He was technically working for the CPF intelligence division but the job was supposed to be temporary.
“It’s going fine. Same as usual. Some people I simply can’t find. Others want nothing to do with me. Still, I’ve been bringing in two or three people a week to have their implants deactivated. The CPF has been recruiting new agents from some of the deactivated Roma guys, so I don’t imagine they’ll need me here much longer.”
“Why didn’t they send you to Kruundin City in the first place? You actually knew people there—I would think you could be more effective,” Tiran mused.
Zaq shifted on the grass self-consciously. “They wanted me to,” he admitted. “I just didn’t want to leave Roma.” Tiran looked up, catching his eyes.
“I didn’t know you’d come to like it so much,” she said in surprise.
“It wasn’
t the city,” he confessed. Tiran felt a blush rising to her cheeks. Was he suggesting what she thought?
“So have you decided to go to the International University this fall?” asked Zaq, changing the subject. “I hear they are planning to offer more classes again.” Tiran brushed her hair back from her face and looked sideways at Zaq.
“No, I decided to go to school somewhere else,” she told him, trying to keep her face serious. She had some exciting news for Zaq but she didn’t want to tell him just yet.
Zaq’s eyes dropped. “Oh.” His shoulders drooped dejectedly.
“Do you think there’s a chance you could get your assignment switched to Kruundin City?” she interjected hopefully. Zaq raised his head. “Kruundin City? Are you going to the university there?”
“Yep, I just passed the entrance exam last week,” she told him happily.
“Congratulations,” Zaq offered, though his eyes were on the ground.
“I’m going to be spending the weekends back with Sister Marna,” Tiran told him, leaning back against the tree. “I think I might be able to learn things from the Sisters that I won’t from my classes,” she continued thoughtfully.
“There’s a good chance of that,” agreed Zaq. “There is more to life than books after all.” Tiran hesitated, and then decided to ask Zaq something that had been bothering her ever since her ordeal in Mazor.
“Do you think it was a coincidence, Zaq?” she said hesitantly. “The earthquake that killed the Oman?”
Zaq sat silently for a moment. “No, I don’t think it was a coincidence.”
Tiran squirmed uncomfortably. The thought that there really might be a Veshti who was able to strike with earthquakes was unsettling. Zaq squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I know you find that frightening, but it’s actually the most heartening thing that I’ve ever experienced,” Zaq continued.
“What do you mean?” Tiran wanted to know.
“Well, look at it this way. Our planet has been trying very hard for the last ten years to create a new world where everyone has a chance to make something of their life, no matter what their background. It only took a couple of greedy, evil men to nearly destroy everything. Yet some Higher Power stepped in and prevented us from losing everything.”
“Even saved our lives,” Tiran whispered.
Zaq sat up straighter, staring across the grassy meadow. “I always thought it would never be possible—that our new government was doomed to failure. Yet now I know we have a real chance to make something of this planet, Tiran.”
“Now I just need to figure out where I should start,” he added more quietly.
Tiran decided it was time to share her news. “I think you should start by taking the university entrance exam,” she suggested, looking slyly over at Zaq. “If I can pass it, I’m sure you can.”
“What are you talking about?” Zaq was puzzled.
“See, you’ll only be able to enroll if you pass the entrance exam. Of course, Jerrapo is only going to pay your tuition so you’ll still have to work to pay your board. What do you think? Would you like to go to the university also?”
“As a student?” asked Zaq in shock.
“Of course as a student!” Tiran laughed, watching his face as the news sank in. It was as if a sunrise had dawned in his eyes; it lit up his whole face.
“I don’t know what to say,” he stammered. Tiran climbed to her feet, pulling him off the ground.
“Say yes. This is your dream, isn’t it?”
Finally Zaq laughed and pulled her closer. “OK, I accept. Only if you promise to be there.” They stood there for a long moment, Zaq’s eyes burning into hers. Tiran relaxed into his arms. A future without the Brotherhood, and a future with Zaq by her side. Finally, she could look forward without fear. Truly, as Jerrapo had asserted months earlier, darkness does not last forever.
Acknowledgements
Once again, I finished this book with the help of so many of people, it’s hard to make sure everyone gets credit! Ryan Smith was one of my earliest readers, encouraging me with such enthusiasm that I kept going all the way to the end. Pete Brown again proofread for me, devoting countless hours to catching my grammar goof-ups. My mother, Jean Leavitt, read the manuscript in its final form, helping me make sure that everything was as polished as possible and provided me with some valuable insights.
Most of all, I am so grateful for all the support of my family. Everything I have learned about never giving up on those you love I learned first from my parents and my sisters, and later from my husband and kids. This story owes so much of its soul to those lessons.
Last but not least, I could never have written this without the support and encouragement of my husband Terence. It’s not easy being married to someone who would rather type frantically all day rather than do laundry, and he has patiently put up with my “disappearances” when the story urge strikes. Thanks, honey, I owe you big time!
About the Author
Heidi J. Leavitt is a book addict who cannot live without the written word. She has loved science fiction and fantasy since she was young, and eventually, being unable to find enough of the type of stories she loved to read to satisfy her cravings, she decided to write her own. She is the author of the Roran Curse novels.
Heidi lives in Arizona with her family, where she practices juggling life with a husband, five destructive children and two very wiggly dogs. She trains for road races and triathlons to keep her sanity and squeezes more reading into every spare nook of her day.
Visit her blog at www.heidijleavitt.blogspot.com.
The Roran Curse Novels:
The Legend of Sirra Bruche
Corizen Rising
The Quintan Edge
Rift (Summer 2018)
special preview of
theQUINTAN
EDGE
the next Roran Curse novel
Jenna Donnell is determined to escape her past and become a famous architect. When she lands her dream job with the most prestigious firm on the planet Zenith, her boss has given her an ultimatum: charm Zane, the son of the most notorious man in the world, to win the contract for his new resort or lose her job. But Jenna instead finds that her attraction growing toward Zane’s friend Jimmy.
Jimmy Forrest was banished from his home planet of Terra and shipped off to backwoods Zenith to stay with his father’s business partner, and he’s been given an ultimatum of his own: shape up and do his part to help the risky family business or else. But the Quintan Edge resort beckons, and he can’t get Zane’s girlfriend off his mind.
1. The Red Zone
“This area is restricted to adults. Travel at your own risk.”
The large red warning signs were not just for show. Jenna Donnell never traveled into the infamous Red Zone of Omphalos without making sure she was armed and prepared for anything. Nothing was illegal in the Red Zone. One could use drugs banned elsewhere, hire a prostitute, drive like a maniac, join a high-stakes gambling ring, or fly a skiff through the narrow alleyways.
One could also rob, rape, and murder with impunity.
Not a place for a young woman to walk at night. Not a place for anyone to walk at night, really. Yet here she was, heart racing, every nerve on edge, palms clammy, trying to walk casually into the Red Zone when she’d rather be hurrying the opposite direction.
Jenna usually gave the Red Zone a wide berth. She had no interest in mind-altering drugs, no interest in gambling, and definitely no interest in becoming a pillage-and-rape statistic. However, the most lavish (and notorious) resort in the whole Planetary Union was also located in the Red Zone: the Quintan Edge. Unfortunately, this was the one place where Jenna had been spending more and more of her time. It came with her job.
Jenna had graduated with honors from the University and had had the astounding good fortune to get hired with the most prestigious architect firm on the p
lanet Zenith, Carter & Yen. Her position was very junior and she often felt like a glorified errand girl, but she had hopes to climb higher and eventually make her mark on the capital city of her home planet. With the current boom, there were hundreds of new buildings going up and plenty of work for her firm. She had proven herself with the minor, routine jobs so well that when she received the message that Mr. Carter wanted to speak privately with her, she had been hopeful that he was about to offer her the lead on a project where she would have real creative license.
She should have known better, considering that all the project leads at Carter & Yen had years more experience than she did. Instead, she had gotten a different kind of assignment. One related to the young man walking at her side.
“Are you hungry, Jenna?” Zane asked solicitously.
“A bit,” she admitted, her eyes still roving in all directions. They were almost past the signs marking the line between order and lawlessness. Zane didn’t even seem to notice. Maybe being the son of the owner of the Quintan Edge made him feel invulnerable. Zane had explained to her that his father had his own private security that monitored the stretch around the resort. It would be bad for business if Mr. Quintan’s rich and high-profile visitors were regularly attacked before they could even enter the front doors.
Jenna still didn’t relax her vigilance. Horrible things tended to happen to the people around her. It would be her luck that some reckless Red Zone criminals would dare to attack them, despite the private security. Fortunately, the walk to the entrance of the QE was only a short one past the looming red warning signs. So Jenna was inordinately annoyed when they reached the nondescript metal door that was the official entrance to the resort and Zane insisted on lingering outside, chatting meaninglessly about some improvements he’d made to his rocket sledge. She wanted to drag him inside the door, but she held her peace, her only sign of impatience a slight tightening of her smile. She couldn’t afford to offend Zane. She’d been ordered to court Zane’s approval and interest in hopes that Zane would choose Carter & Yen to design his father’s new resort, Quintan West. Mr. Carter had been blunt. Carter & Yen wanted that project; it was going to be huge and probably the most high profile project the planet had ever seen. Jenna was the bait they were going to hook Zane with. At least, Jenna had to catch Zane if she wanted to keep her job.
Corizen Rising Page 33