“You are my life, Issa.” Kane’s hand slid along her hip. “You and the child you carry.”
“This child will never be born, Kane.”
“No, my love, you are wrong. I know what you Women of the Blood believe, that the future is not set in stone. There are many roads. I have seen the road before me and I’ve seen you and this child, our son, and you are both riding by my side. Aja and Ennat and I have devised a plan. It’s risky, but it’s a risk we must take. We shall not end like Tristan and Isolde. I swear it. I will save your life whether you agree or not and we will be together.”
Book III: Reborn
“Brother Draghure,” called the high priest. “How go the transports and the preparations?”
The brother smiled as he approached. “Well. Very, very well, Sire.” He rubbed his hands together. “We’ve found transports for upwards of twenty thousand brothers. Those who’ve already landed make preparations for your glorious arrival. There are supplies laid in for thirty days. The seekers beat the forests for Women of the Blood so all may have a share in the coming sacrifice. The edges of the holy knives are honed to razor-sharp perfection. The altars and the catch basins are being erected as we speak.” Brother Draghure rocked back and forth on his heels. The man seemed satisfied.
“Pride is a sin, Brother. I hear pride in your voice. All comes from the beneficence of the One True God. She comes to us through the His grace. He has blessed us and we must remain humble. You, Brother Draghure, in particular, must remain humble. As my aide, you are the face I show to the world. We of the Dark God are humble above all else. We are an example to the others. Remember this and meditate on the sins of the flesh and keep yourself far above them. Perhaps you should spend some time on your knees with the penitents.”
Brother Draghure bowed his head. “Yes, Father. I’m sorry, Father.”
“You have a question in your mind. I can hear it.” The high priest bit back the tiniest smile as he thought of the power her Royal Blood had bestowed upon him. His hand sought the pouch beneath his robe, the pouch holding the remainder of the seed cakes containing her blood.
His personal agent, Coppi Hesh, had been well rewarded. He’d been recommended to the High Council as an advisor on Calen affairs. He now possessed a compound on Matsu maintained by the Brotherhood. It came fully staffed with sharp-eyed, loyal men servants and maids and was surrounded by dwellings of the highest of the high. It was located within a stone’s throw of the Council Chambers.
Yes, in Estian Fermu’s opinion, there was not enough coin in all the Empire to repay Coppi Hesh for his service to the Brotherhood. He intended to see the man installed as Imperial President one day. Ah, such a glorious gift… “What did you say, Brother?”
“How can we be certain she will appear? How can you know the visions are accurate?” Brother Draghure repeated his questions.
For a moment, the high priest’s attention was captured by an unexpected movement within, something on the far periphery of his inner sight. He sensed something more out there, someone with the Empress, but he or she appeared as a mere shadow, hovering just beyond his reach.
“My questions, Father?”
“Oh, forgive me, Brother Draghure. I was lost in thought.” The High Priest patted the monk’s shoulder. “She will come because she places the future of her people above her own. I have seen into her mind. She is a willing sacrifice to our God. He will bless her and welcome her into His Kingdom. She has seen the wisdom of our ways and she knows the Empire will be safe in our hands.”
“But why would an Empress give herself up? Forgive me, Sire, but can’t she, well, if she wishes can’t she just vanish as she did before?”
Estain Fermu shook his head. “She can, but she won’t. The stakes are too high and she knows it. We are the future, my son. The reign of the Empress is long past. She was born in this time for one purpose and one purpose only, to be the source of our power. Her blood will give us the ability to control the minds of all men, to guide them along the right path, to keep them from sin. We can restore women to a state of purity and submission. They will bear sons and we will train them in our way. Their daughters will be closely guarded and bred to men of our choosing, producing children for our holy fires. Your concerns are groundless, Brother. She sees all this. She understands her time is past, and she offers her Holy Blood for our future. Yes, she will live forever in us.”
“But the people of Calen? They are obstinate and intransigent and they remain tied to the old ways. Their loyalty lies with the legends of the past. The reports I’ve received indicate they’ve retreated to the mountains, taking their women and children with them.”
Estian heard the doubt in his aide’s voice. Of course there was doubt. Poor Draghure had not tasted the Blood. He could not see the path set so firmly in stone before them.
“Walk with me, Brother.” The high priest turned in the direction of his office. Brother Draghure followed three paces behind as was customary. “Once we have her, once we’ve shared her blood and left that cold rock behind, the High Council will declare Calen a rogue planet. I have seen this, I assure you. The men and women of Calen will be fair game and we will capture enough women of the Royal line to breed our own sacrifices. No more hunting in the wilds of the outer systems. No more bribes paid to the scum below. Once we have the women of Calen locked away in our monasteries we can eliminate these slums altogether. Burn them to the ground.”
“But the residents…”
The high priest stopped in his tracks. “Residents? There are no residents. These creatures below us are subhuman. We will be well rid of them. The Empire will thank us.”
“But Father, they have served us. Perhaps we could show some consideration for…”
“Foul times require foul measures,” the high priest interrupted. “They have been a disgusting means to an end, nothing more. They’ve served their purpose and we’ve finished with them.” Estian resumed his slow pace. “Perhaps the last of us to leave should set fire to the sewers.” He nodded. “Yes, that would be a fitting end. Fire will cleanse their souls and we can re-sanctify the soil beneath the monastery if we decide to take up residence here at some future time.”
He turned to Brother Draghure. “See to it, someone you trust.” He waved a hand toward the window overlooking the slums. “Yes. I don’t want to think on that rabble again.”
Estian Fermu walked off, his thick robes sweeping along the stone floor. Brother Draghure clattered up behind him. “Father,” he called out. “When would you like me to arrange for your transport? The largest contingent will go in attendance with you.”
“Ah,” said the high priest. “Yes, my transport. Three days, Brother Draghure. Three days. That will put us there on the tenth day. Yes, that is what I’ve seen. Three days. Make certain to fill the transport with as many as she can carry. All of us, from the highest to the lowest of the brethren, shall bear witness to this glorious sacrifice. Oh, and send Coppi Hesh my personal invitation. He’s done us an incomparable service and it’s time we made him one of us. To have a Brother on the High Council, just imagine, my friend. Yes. See that he receives my personal request as soon as possible. He must join with us, as an official witness to our great God.”
Issa lifted her head from Kane’s chest. “What plan?” she asked.
Kane’s hand cupped her naked breast, stroking her sensitive skin. Issa felt herself grow warm at the thought of him taking her here, in this strange dream world he’d drawn her to.
“I didn’t bring you here for discussion,” Kane replied. “Besides, I don’t want the high priest, that son of a Chigalla, Estian Fermu, to sense anything amiss and he will.” Kane flipped Issa onto her back. “I brought you here for this.” He grinned at her.
His joy at their reunion was infectious and Issa felt herself melting beneath him.
“We have little time,” he said. “Later we’ll take it slow, but for now, hard and fast.”
“I should fight you,” murmured I
ssa, and she pushed against his chest.
Kane pushed back and Issa groaned as he urged her to open for him. Suddenly Issa grinned up at him, the weight of the world falling from her slender shoulders. She teased him. “If you want the Empress, you must first catch the Empress.”
She shoved him to the side and jumped to her feet, running across the meadow fleet as an ancient Earther deer. She giggled at the sound of Kane’s quick footfalls closing on her. It aroused her to know he would tackle her and have his way with her.
Kane was the only man who could wrest control from her. Every moment of every day was all about maintaining control, not only over her powers, but over her emotions. She had to keep a tight rein on herself or she would fail in her task and the Black Frocks would grind the men and women of Calen beneath their boots.
To let it all go in Kane’s arms? That would be heaven.
Issa sensed Kane gaining on her and she increased her pace, but to no avail. She found herself tackled from behind, brought down as if by a veercat and tossed roughly to the ground. The breath went out of her even though Kane rolled with her.
“I’m glad you ran, Issa. You made me harder than I thought possible. Let me in, woman, let me in,” Kane growled against her neck and he closed his mouth around her tender skin, biting down.
Issa let out a squeak. Compared to Kane, she was small. She feared the physical power he had over her, the mental control he could have if he wished to use it. Kane must have sensed her fear because he stopped moving. He replaced his teeth against the flesh of her neck with his soft, warm lips and he nuzzled her, gentling her as one would gentle a mare. “Shhh. Be still, love, be still.” His mouth was against her ear now. “I’ll go slow and easy with you. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
At the sound of Kane’s voice, Issa relented, as he began to shift his weight, thrusting deep and deeper still, his thighs hot against hers beneath the summer sun.
“Kane, did you…? Did you conjure a knife?” Here in this place out of time, with the weight of his body on top of her, she could forget that her death hovered just beyond the horizon. She could pretend for a moment there would be a tomorrow, a future for her with her one true mate.
In Kane, Issa knew she had met her match. He was the only man in her world who could meet her with a sword or a knife, on a horse, or with his body.
“Look at your palm,” he whispered.
Issa turned her head and looked. Her palm had opened without a knife. Her blood welled up and Kane’s hand reached for hers, his blood running red along his wrist.
“Steady.” Kane stretched both of her arms above her head, pressing their bleeding palms together. “This moment is for you, for us,” he said. “I won’t ever hurt you and I won’t lose you, I swear it. I love you Issa. I will battle the Gods for you and for our child.”
Book III: Reborn
Upo felt a booted foot against his thigh. He groaned in protest and turned away. After five days in the saddle, in the snow and rain and ice and wind, his entire body ached and he needed more sleep. The foot poked at him again and he shoved it away. A strong hand caught his arm and P’kit’s voice hissed in his ear.
“She’s gone.”
“Leave off,” Upo whispered, his eyes still closed. “The horse can’t have got far.”
“Not a horse,” P’kit’s hissed. “Your sister, the Empress. She’s gone.”
Upo reached behind him seeking Issa’s sleeping form, but he felt only warm air from the blazing stove. He sat up in a rush, clutching his sword. “What the hells? Where’d she go?”
“Keep your voice down,” replied P’kit. “Most of the men are still asleep. I don’t want them to know.”
“Know what? That the Empress went to relieve herself?” Upo rubbed his eyes. “For the Gods’sake, why would you wake me to tell me this?”
“No Upo.” His friend squatted down beside him.
Upo glanced at the other man on watch. Akki stood by the bolted door, a look of terror on his face.
“She vanished a few clicks ago,” P’kit said. “I was sitting at the table, my eyes on the fire, and she, well, she just disappeared from where she lay. One moment she was there, the next she was gone.”
Upo stared at the empty space where Issa had been. His hands reached for the weave he’d wrapped around her, wishing somehow he could conjure her by imagining he was still asleep and dreaming. He might have the Royal Blood in his veins, but he had no clue as to how this worked, how any of this worked.
If Issa had indeed vanished, what if, Gods forbid, she’d gone for good? What would happen to the men and women of Calen? What would happen to his world? He felt a horror grow in his heart.
“We have to search for her,” said P’kit, keeping his mouth close to Upo’s ear. “The men will fear her and they will lose heart if they learn what’s happened. Look at Akki over there, he’s already scared witless. It’s only because I threatened to slit his throat he’s not shouting.”
Upo pushed his braids out of his face. “There’s nowhere to search,” he told his friend. “I suspect she’s gone out of our time, but I don’t know how and I don’t know why. Was she asleep when she vanished?”
“Yes. She didn’t stir from the moment you set her down.”
“Then she’s been pulled away,” said Upo, his heart heavy.
“How? Who can do such a thing? People don’t just vanish.” P’kit’s voice held a slight tremor.
Upo knew who could do such a thing, the Red Demon, but he’d never say those words aloud. The men would refuse to follow Issa, and the battle for their way of life would be lost before it had even begun.
“She’ll be back,” said Upo. “Remember, P’kit, she left us for eight years. She’ll not abandon us now. Something must have happened and she was called away, but she’ll be back.” He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “An Empress can do this,” he reassured him. “I don’t like it any better than you, but I’ve learned to live with it. The Thousand Year Empress has abilities we can’t even begin to fathom, and for our sakes my sister tries hard to control her powers. She knows full well men fear what they can’t understand. I trust in her P’kit. She’ll return to us as soon as she can.”
P’kit fiddled with his knife. “But Upo, what do we tell the men?”
“I think we should wake the men and tell them the truth. I won’t have Akki making more of this than it is. We wait for her, my friend, we have no choice. We wait.”
“How long, Upo? How long do we wait?”
“As long as it takes.”
Issa slept the sleep of the dead, exhausted by her recent travels and Kane’s urgent lovemaking. Kane had cradled her against his chest and she’d drifted off in his arms, her body warm in the afternoon sun.
Many hours later, deep in a dream, she felt a slight chill and wondered if Kane had moved, or if perhaps the sun had set and night had fallen on them. Too tired to care, she curled onto her side and returned to a deep sleep.
When the chill began to seep into her entire body, Issa dragged herself back to consciousness by cold, wet, agonizing, sluggish degrees. She found herself sprawled in the snow in the middle of a vast meadow, at night, naked as the day she was born. She bolted upright, the icy wind catching her, knocking her back a few paces. Her body began to quake with cold.
Gods, who had sent her here? Kane? If so, he needed a great deal of practice with his time travel. More likely it was the Red Demon. Such a move seemed like the kind of challenge Tem might find amusing, but Issa didn’t find her jest humorous. Women of the Blood might be resistant to most diseases, but she could still freeze to death.
Issa sprinted to a nearby grove of trees. She needed shelter and she needed it fast. She hoped to the Gods she’d been returned to her own time. If not, she’d have to locate herself and then shift either backwards or forwards, and just now she wasn’t entirely confident she had the strength to move a single snowflake through time, let alone herself.
Her entire body shaking with
cold, Issa braced her back against the wide trunk of a tree, searching in all directions for anything or anyone familiar. The relief she felt at finding Upo brought her to her knees. He was in the cabin with the men no more than five kigs away, but five kigs was still five kigs, and in this snow, without any clothing, she would be hard-pressed to make it half that distance. Her only chance was to call to him and pray he would hear her. He’d come on the run with horses and blankets.
Issa aimed her silent shouts for help straight at Upo, and she provided him with a picture of her location to the best of her ability. It was all she could do.
Hoping her brother would listen and believe, Issa pressed her numb hands into the deep snow, forcing herself upright. She clutched at the tree to steady herself.
Issa began to run. She would run as far as she could. If she stopped, she was done for. She’d fall asleep and freeze to death within a few moments.
Horrific visions assailed her.
If she died such a useless death before the battle her people would suffer a terrible fate. Women and men of the Blood would be hunted down and slaughtered, their flesh eaten as part of an abhorrent ancient dark ritual.
Their proud way of life on Calen would be destroyed, ground to dust beneath the boots of the Black Frocks and their thugs, while the Imperial Council looked the other way.
Issa Bokinan would be the last of her kind. Aja’s descendants, the line of women born of the Empress Ya, would come to an end after four thousand years, and Issa would have failed everyone.
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