Out Past the Stars

by K. B. Wagers

  “I suspect we’ll manage, Majesty.”

  I hummed, frowning down at my bare feet. Even some of the latest medical tech had come from the Farians; I wasn’t sure we’d ever be able to completely separate our societies. The pressure to make sure this didn’t all fall apart grew with every moment that passed.

  “That’s a serious face.” Hao stood in the corridor outside my rooms; Alba and Dailun were with him.

  “Weight of the galaxy,” I replied with a roll of my eyes. “But hey, I’ve been cleared for duty and it appears the three of you are here to talk to me so that’s nice timing.” I gestured at the door of my quarters, patting Kisah on the shoulder as I passed.

  “Jiejie.” Dailun followed me into the quarters. “The Istrevitel wish to speak with you.”

  “Do they now?” I murmured.

  He held out a hand to me. I took it and the message passed from his smati to mine.

  I closed my eyes, letting the image play out in my head. The Istrevitel who appeared looked startlingly like Dailun, though with darker skin and wider eyes that were black as the night sky. Their hair was a gorgeous teal, swept back from a round face, and a trio of lines in the same color ran vertically down their left cheek.

  They reminded me of the Farian Hiervet’s markings and I was immediately curious about the significance.

  “Star of Indrana, I am Captain Dirah Zov, she/her, of First Company with a message of greeting for you. We would speak with you of the destruction that is bearing down on this galaxy but understand that the appearance of a force such as ours could create”—a smile fought for prominence on her full lips—“unwanted chaos. We are not welcome at home. However, the leaders of the Svatir would also like to meet you and so a spot has been chosen on one of our outermost worlds.

  “We have sent this invitation along with coordinates to our little brother and look forward to seeing you at the appointed time.”

  “Is it wrong that I like her?” I asked Dailun, and he smiled. Though I could see the hesitation on his face and the tension in his shoulders.

  “I would caution against trusting the Istrevitel, Your Majesty. I cannot vouch for them or their motives. They are, by all accounts, here for the glory of war and nothing else. If your mission is peace you should be very careful.”

  “My mission is to keep us all safe, little brother.” I leaned in and touched my forehead to his with a smile. “If that is peace, so much the better, but much as we may wish it, less violence is not always the option.” I saw the disappointment flash in his eyes. “I promise I will do my best.”

  “Your Majesty, let me see.”

  I passed the file on to Emmory and the others and waited for them to watch, rolling over the possibilities in my head. “I guess that’s our next step. We’ll have to figure out who’s coming with me.”

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  I turned and grinned at the trio in the doorway. “Taking a trip to meet the Istrevitel, want to come?”

  Fasé hid her smile behind a hand while Aiz had a carefully neutral expression pasted on his face. Mia did not smile back. “You’re just out of med bay, Hail,” she said.

  “Yes, cleared by my doctor and everything. Even Aiz said I was okay.”

  “Don’t drag me into this fight.” He held his hands up.

  “Are we fighting?” Despite our apologies, Mia had continued to withdraw from me, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

  “We are not.” Mia folded her hands together and shook them at me in a surprisingly deferential gesture that only made me more curious what was going on with her. “I am curious as to where you are going, though.”

  “I’m up for a bit of a fight,” Hao interjected. “Why do we think it’s a good idea for you to run off to meet with the Istrevitel? The last time you left here you came back bloody and no offense, Dailun, but we have no way of knowing what their motives are. They may not have Hail’s best interests in mind.”

  “None taken,” Dailun replied with a shrug. “You are not wrong, honored cousin.”

  “You heard them,” I said. “We can’t have a military force suddenly show up here, and they would hardly invite me to meet with them and a representative from the Svatir government if they were going to hurt me. Think of the intragalactic incident that would come from letting me get injured.”

  “It won’t mean a lot if we’re all dead.”

  I made a face at Hao. “They want to help. I’m supposed to assume they’re the enemy?”

  Aiz glanced at Dailun. “He just told you they can’t be trusted.”

  “I believe he was speaking in general terms, not in the ‘risk to my life’ portion of things. Dailun, how upset will they be if we show up for this meeting in force?”

  He wiggled his hands and looked to Alba for help. My chamberlain smiled and shrugged. “The Svatir would be upset, Majesty. The Istrevitel would likely be impressed.”

  “Interesting. So we either impress the ones we need help from or upset the pacifists. No offense, Dailun, but I think I know which way we’re going here.”

  “None taken, jiejie. Though you sound like him.” He grinned at me and pointed at Hao. “I do not disagree with your decision.”

  Fasé nodded. “If Hail can secure more allies in the fight against the Hiervet, that is the best course of action for us.”

  “Good.” I exhaled, trying to pretend that things going smoothly for once didn’t make my skin want to crawl right off me and out the door. “The next question is will Faria be safe if we take a combined force with us?”

  “Adora is in limbo, waiting for rebirth, as are a number of her followers. Even more of them are in custody. Her rebellion lost traction before it ever really got started,” Aiz replied. “Faria is as safe as we can make it at the moment.”

  “That’s good news. Dailun, send a message back that we will be happy to meet Captain Zov on the date suggested—” I stopped and looked at Fasé. “Are we going to be able to travel that far in this ship?” We still hadn’t tested the new engines in the Hailimi, and getting stuck even farther away from home wasn’t a great plan.

  “You should, Majesty,” she said. “If you bring a larger Farian ship with you, it will be able to tow the Hailimi back should there be an issue.”

  “Duly noted.” I smiled. “Obviously you and Mia and Aiz will stay here. Do you want me to leave people with you?” I knew Hao would protest, but it seemed like a good idea to leave at least a few of my people to remind everyone of my presence.

  Silenced rebellion or not, I knew all too well how quickly things could flare back up the minute people relaxed.

  “I think we’re good,” Aiz replied.

  “I will go with you,” Mia said, her words tumbling over the top of her brother’s.

  25

  There was a moment of stunned silence in the room at her announcement. Then Aiz said something in Shen too fast for me to catch. Mia’s reply was sharp, equally too fast for the translator in my smati as we all stood frozen, watching them.

  “I will go with you,” she repeated.

  I decided it was not in my best interests to ask if she was sure and instead looked around the room and rubbed my hands together. “All right, we’ll make our preparations and be under way. Thank you.”

  People started filtering out. Aiz and Mia left, the stirrings of an argument in their voices and on their faces.

  “Fasé?” She crossed over to me when I waved at her. “How are things?”

  “Do you mean present or future?” Fasé asked with a tiny smile.

  “Both, I guess.” I leaned against my desk and studied her. “You doing all right?”

  “One would think that should be my line, given that of the two of us you are the more recently impaled.” Fasé tilted her head to the side and studied me. “You are bothered?”

  “I have a whole list,” I admitted. “Which one do you want?”

  “Start at the top, we’ll work our way down.”

  I laug
hed and pushed myself upright to hug her. “We have come a long way from the floor of my ship, haven’t we, Fasé?”

  “You still keep ending up covered in blood, so I’m not sure,” she teased, hugging me back and then letting me go. “But mostly, yes. Also, thank you for the other day. After I saw the future that Sybil showed you, I had to admit to myself how very close I was to running. If you hadn’t come to speak with me—” She shook her head.

  “You really should thank Hao.”

  Fasé blinked and I laughed at the shock on her face.

  “I’m serious. He told me to talk to you. I would have missed the chance with everything that was going on.”

  “I suppose I will have to, then, won’t I?”

  I laughed again. “Try to say it a little less like you just got stuck on barracks bathroom duty.”

  “There is nothing worse than that.” Fasé shuddered with a grin. Then she sobered. “What is bothering you?”

  “So many things.” I rubbed a hand over my face as I tipped it back. “Do you know what’s going on with Mia? She seems distant.”

  “We have not talked beyond all the negotiations. I know she tangled with Thyra just after you all left, but—”

  “What?” I had to wave a hand at Emmory before he started over. “Hao said she wouldn’t let Thyra on the ship, not that they fought. Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

  “Not physically.” Fasé shook her head. “But after Thyra dumped you on Adora’s ship and came back, Mia tore into her. Demanded that Thyra take her to the ship. Thyra refused.” Fasé grinned. “I’m still not a hundred percent sure that Mia didn’t tell Gita not to let Thyra come with us to get you purely out of spite.”

  “Hao said Thyra wanted to come with you.”

  “Initially yes, and Gita would have refused anyway based on that vision Sybil showed us. She felt it would be safer not to have the Farian Hiervet on board. When Thyra heard the Hiervet were there and shooting at Adora’s ship, she scuttled back off to the Pedalion chamber.” This time Fasé’s smile was sharp, just shy of vicious. “They are really afraid of the Hiervet, Hail.”

  “It makes me nervous.” I shook my head and watched her smile fade. “That would be issue number two. As powerful as they are, how are we supposed to win against something they’re afraid of?”

  “I have faith in you.”

  “Let’s just hope that faith doesn’t get us all killed.” I watched her for a moment. “Fasé, I—have you seen me die? Permanently, I mean.”

  She tipped her head to the side, staring at me curiously. “You have never asked me that. Why now?”

  “I don’t know.” It wasn’t entirely true. I wanted to know if Mia’s visions were part of a chain or opposing choices, but I couldn’t force the words out into the air. I shook my head and shoved a hand into my hair with a sigh. “Morbid curiosity, I guess?”

  She studied me for a moment longer, golden eyes on mine until I was sure she was going to call me on my cowshit. “It will be all right, Hail. I am not going to tell you what is coming and for good reason. I think it is better this way. As I have faith in you, have some in me.”

  “Okay.” I exhaled a shaky breath. “I don’t want to mess this up.”

  “Trust yourself, Star of Indrana, you have never gone astray.”

  “Don’t let Hao tell you about the time I got us lost on Yavin-18, then.”

  Fasé’s laughter was bright as sunshine. “You know what I mean and he would, too. I meant what I said about the pair of you, a strange and contented orbit. At the time I may have viewed it with some contempt, but now? He is an anchor point for you and you for him. Hold on to that, you will need it later.”

  Something told me she was talking about long past what we were currently wrapped up in. I held out my hand. “I have been blessed with many great things in my life, but none so great as my friends.”

  Fasé reached out and took the hand I offered. “I do have a request. If you feel you could survive without Stasia for a short time I would not complain to have her with me.”

  “Done.” My maid wouldn’t go without an order and I was happy enough to issue it.

  “Thank you. Go talk to Mia.” Fasé squeezed my hand and then left me alone.

  Something told me I was going to have to say good-bye to Stasia sooner rather than later. The thought was accompanied by a funny little twist of sadness. She and Fasé deserved a happy ending after everything they’d been through, but I would miss her desperately.

  The same was true of all my people, really. As well as Aiz and Mia. The Shen had been at war for too long; they deserved peace.

  It was up to me to figure out some way to give it to them for good.

  “Astéri.” Talos tipped his head at me from the doorway of Aiz and Mia’s quarters.

  “I’d like to speak with Mia?”

  “Ah. She is not here. I believe she’s in the gym with your BodyGuard. With Starzin,” he clarified.

  “Oh.” I glanced over my shoulder, surprising myself with the hesitation. “Will they mind if I interrupt?”

  “I can’t see it being a problem.” Talos smiled.

  I nodded to him and headed off down the corridor, Kisah trailing along at my side.

  The gym wasn’t crowded, but a number of people—Indranan, Farian, and Shen alike—were working out, sparring, or even just chatting. I spotted Johar leaning against a wall on the far side watching Mia and Zin spar and made my way over to her.

  “Hey,” Jo said. “How’s the shoulder?”

  “Almost healed.” I suspected the ache would linger for a while, but I had my range of motion back and Emmory promised a return to sparring before we left to meet with the Istrevitel. “What are you up to?”

  “I like watching them spar,” she replied, tipping her head toward the mat. Mia threw Zin effortlessly, but he hit and rolled back onto his feet with a grin. “It’s like watching dancers.”

  “Zin mentioned that they’ve been doing this awhile.”

  “Since shortly after you came back to us.”

  I leaned against the wall next to Jo, pressing my shoulder into hers. “Did I tell you thank you?”

  “For what?”

  “Being you. Looking out for me. Knocking my ass out and carrying me through the jungle. Even if you did fall for me knocking you over and stealing your knife.”

  “I wondered if that was when you did it. You always were a hell of a pickpocket.” Johar snorted a laugh. “I don’t need it. You’re my friend. I was there to watch over you.”

  “I owe you for it. I know I wasn’t particularly grateful for it at the time, or particularly cooperative.”

  “I believe the term you’re looking for is massive pain in my ass.” She grinned and waved a hand. “Seriously, though, don’t worry about it.”

  I glared. “Will you let me say thank you?”

  “Or you’re welcome, Your Majesty. Whichever.”

  “I should send your ass home.”

  “You like having me around.”

  I didn’t reply but instead leaned against her again. Johar smiled and slipped her arm around my waist and we settled into a comfortable silence as we watched the pair in front of us.

  I knew how good Zin had gotten from our bout the other day, but watching Mia fight was beyond impressive. I’d experienced how fast she was the one time I’d tried attacking her on Sparkos, but I’d been so lost to my rage in the moment I hadn’t been able to appreciate her fluid grace.

  “Shiva,” I murmured as Mia spun out of the way and flipped, her brown braid trailing behind her. She landed, kicked the back of Zin’s knee, and followed the strike with a move that put two fingers into the hollow of Zin’s throat.

  But her control was perfect and a hit that otherwise would have killed him was nothing more than fingertips to skin.

  Zin laughed and folded his hands together in acknowledgment. Mia smiled in return and helped him to his feet. They separated, bowed, and started again.

  �
��It’s fucking impressive to watch,” Johar said. “She’s really good, but all the Shen fight at a level so far above what we’re used to.” She glanced at me. “Well, what I’m used to anyway.”

  “I don’t know that you can group me in with them after only a few months. They’ve been fighting all their lives.”

  “Maybe not, but I’d still put a lot of money on you in a fight.”

  “Aiz probably would have taught you,” I murmured.

  “Oh no.” Johar objected with a laugh. “As fascinating as they were, I wasn’t about to try to go toe-to-toe with either of them. Too many things could have gone wrong. I was set on just popping them both as fast and cleanly as we could so we could get you out of there.”

  I wasn’t entirely surprised by the idea that Johar had planned on killing the Cevallas while we were on Sparkos. If I’d been even remotely coherent it probably would have been my plan, too.

  “Gita stopped me.”

  “Gita?” That surprised me. I’d have thought for sure my Dve would have supported a plan by Johar to kill Aiz and Mia.

  Jo shrugged. “It was a good call. You were attached. In the end we were reasonably certain that killing them would have pushed you completely over the edge.”

  “She wasn’t wrong,” I said after a few minutes of watching Zin and Mia spar in silence. “I wasn’t myself.”

  “No, you were.” Johar squeezed me against her side with a sad smile. “You were lost to your grief and on the edge of a fury I hope to never see from you again, but you were yourself.”

  I didn’t know quite what to make of that, but I didn’t argue. Outside of Hao, Johar had known me the longest. Even if our association had been in bits and pieces over the years, Jo had always been straight with me. It made me more willing to listen to her when she said things like that.

  “They’re done,” Johar announced, removing her arm from around me and stretching. “Who do you need me to distract?”

  “What?”

  “Did you come to talk to Mia or to Zin?”

  “Oh.” I huffed a laugh. “Mia.”

  “I expected as much,” Johar said, and headed toward Zin. “Hey, Hail?” She stopped. “I know you’re busy, do you mind if Gita and I look into that army problem for you?”