by Drew Wagar
‘It is a very risky plan,’ Henoch said.
‘But with great rewards,’ Janaid countered.
The pilots all round them were muttering to themselves in agreement.
‘Let’s do this …’
‘Give those witches a hiding!’
‘Take the fight to them … we can stop them …’
Shouts and cheers grew. Janaid grinned at Henoch. He nodded, gesturing for quiet.
‘It seems the mood of these people here is with you,’ Henoch said, directing his voice towards the radio. ‘Janaid and I will go back to the senate immediately. I will speak on your behalf. Continue onwards for now. We will not be long.’
‘Thank you Father,’ Meru’s voice came across the link.
‘Meru,’ Janaid said. ‘Is there anything else we can do? I can’t think what that must have been like …’
‘Help us stop them,’ Meru said. ‘That’s what Coran wanted, what we all want.’
‘Are you safe? Are you hurt?’
‘We’re tired, exhausted,’ Meru said. ‘We’ll be alright. Just please … get those flying machines ready and as many people willing to fight as you can to Caesar’s cavern. Time is short.’
‘We hear you,’ Janaid said. ‘Stay close to the radio, we will speak to you as soon as we can.’
Henoch straightened.
‘Back to the senate then,’ he said. Janaid nodded.
‘Let us go immediately.’
The two senators turned around, the crowd of pilots behind them, cheering and shouting their support.
* * *
‘I must say goodbye,’ Zoella said. ‘I have one last duty.’
Kiri and Meru looked at her and nodded, following her through the corridors of the palace of Airea. Vandare was waiting for her.
‘This way,’ he said.
Vandare led them to a chamber in one of the towers of the palace. He knocked on the doors. The doors were opened by servants, who bowed and then left.
Vandare led Zoella, Meru and Kiri inside.
Liana was seated before them. She was dressed regally, in a flowing gown of yellow, her skin glowing and clean, colours subtly enhanced her face and her golden hair was arranged in flowing ringlets.
Her expression remained as empty as ever it had. Zoella nodded to Vandare, who stepped aside.
Zoella walked across stood before Liana, with Kiri and Meru alongside her.
‘Liana, we have to leave now,’ Zoella said.
This time Liana did not respond, her gaze was fixed on the door behind them.
‘We return to Viresia,’ Zoella said. ‘We hope to free our city from the priestesses who took it, see it back in our hands.’
Still there was no response. Zoella saw Kiri and Meru look at Liana and then at her.
‘Back in the hands of our family,’ Zoella continued. ‘The family of Ioric, Torin, Myana and old King Marek …’
At those words Liana looked up, her gaze locking on to Zoella’s. Liana raised a hand towards her. Kiri and Meru gasped in surprise.
Zoella reached out and took Liana’s hand in hers.
What is she…?
Zoella’s mind was swamped with images. She saw the throne room in the palace of Viresia, atop the city, where she had once sat alongside Ioric and Torin after Marek had died. This was from a time before, when Marek was still alive.
I’m seeing this through Liana’s eyes … a memory!
Zoella could see the columns that ringed the edge of the central avenue of the throne room. Liana must have been standing behind one of them. Her vision looked down, seeing a pretty petticoat and tiny shoes.
Liana as a child …
A man was walking up the avenue between the columns. With a gasp, Zoella recognised him. He was younger, without the grey, but there was no mistaking the features of his face. He looked downcast, his gait slow and unwilling.
My guardian! Guerrun Sandatch. He was in Viresia?
As she watched Guerrun approached the throne. Sitting upon it was Marek, also younger and healthier than she remembered, not crushed down by age and weariness.
‘Guerrun,’ Marek called. ‘What news?’
Guerrun bowed before Marek, before looking up. Zoella saw him shudder.
‘A sickness,’ he said. ‘They have …’
‘Say it is not so,’ Marek said, leaning forward, his face creased with a deep frown.
‘Twins,’ Guerrun said, his voice breaking. ‘Perished in child birth. Myana is beside herself with grief …’
‘These are bad tidings,’ Marek said. ‘Twins you say?’
‘Two girls,’ Guerrun said. ‘But their bodies were malformed, twisted and wrong. I have seen to their rituals, they have been … committed to the after.’
‘For the best,’ Marek said, putting an arm on Guerrun’s shoulder. ‘It does not do to dwell on such things. You both have my heartfelt sympathies. A young couple should not have to deal with such pain.’
‘I must go,’ Guerrun said.
‘Of course,’ Marek said. ‘Consider that your first duty, do not worry about anything else. Take what time you need. If there is anything you need …’
Guerrun nodded and rose.
‘Give my regards to Myana, she will need her husband now more than ever …’
The vision ended. Zoella rocked back in shock, breathing hard, her eyes focussing on Liana. Liana’s arm dropped and her gaze fell to the door, sightless and empty once again.
‘Liana?’
There was no response. Zoella grabbed Liana’s wrist. She gasped.
‘She’s …’
Vandare was alongside her, placing his fingers against Liana’s neck.
‘Dead,’ he whispered, looking at Zoella.
‘Dead?’ Kiri demanded. ‘How can she be dead …? She was just …’
‘She’s gone,’ Zoella whispered. ‘She had one thing left she wanted to do and then …’
Vandare gently placed Liana’s arm on her lap and closed her eyes.
Zoella looked at Kiri and Meru, trying to grasp what she’d seen.
‘What happened?’ Kiri asked. ‘What did she show you?
Zoella swallowed, taking a moment to think it all through.
‘Liana saw Guerrun and Marek in the throne room of Viresia long ago,’ she said looking at Kiri, her voice a whisper. ‘Guerrun wasn’t our guardian … he was our father!’
Zoella saw the colour drain from Kiri’s face. Zoella’s own memory returned to the streets of Nireus, the all too brief conversation with Guerrun that she’d had before Kiri had arrived.
Why didn’t he tell me?
She felt Kiri reach towards her, grasping her hand. The memories swirled between them.
But … we hurt him … we killed him!
Both Zoella and Kiri fell to their knees as the memories continued to pound at their minds.
We didn’t know …
Zoella remembered Guerrun’s final words.
Do not hate Kiri! Myana, she was Ioric’s sister, she was …
The link had broken, but now they both knew what Guerrun had meant to say.
She was my wife! You are our daughters!
Sobs broke out from both of them. Meru was left to try to comfort them with Vandare standing nearby.
* * *
Vandare had been true to his word. Taloon was on guard in case any of the priestesses came looking. The flying machine had been loaded with provisions. Everything was ready for the voyage shadeward.
‘Thank you,’ Zoella said, drawing a shuddering breath. ‘For everything.’
‘We do what we can,’ Vandare said. ‘We will see to your cousin. Liana will be honoured as a past queen of Drem, as is fitting. She will rest here, venerated as royalty.’
‘You have my sincere thanks,’ Zoella said.
Zoella looked at Kiri and Meru.
‘We have learnt much,’ she managed to say. ‘Endured much.’
Vandare nodded. ‘I wish you all success,’ he said. ‘If yo
u fail, I fear all the other lands will be quickly subjugated once again.’
‘Then we won’t fail,’ Zoella said.
Meru and Kiri were already aboard. Kiri had ignored Vandare, Meru was busy with prepping the machine for take-off.
Vandare leant in close.
‘Be wary of her,’ Vandare said.
‘Kiri?’ Zoella asked.
Vandare nodded. ‘She has a great capacity for deception that one. I would not be surprised if she had her own scheme in play.’
‘She’s my sister,’ Zoella said, sparing Kiri a glance. ‘We have been through much, hated and hurt each other. She can’t hide her true self from me now.’
‘My warning remains,’ Vandare said and then stepped back. ‘May Lacaille shine favourably upon you all.’
Zoella smiled and climbed aboard, pulling the door closed behind her. Meru pulled on the controls and the flying machine lifted up above the white-stone city of Airea and turned shadeward.
The sandy deserts rolled past for spells beneath them.
‘Do you think the Amarans will come?’ Zoella asked Meru.
‘They have to,’ Meru answered.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
In Scallia
Round 2307, Tenth pass
The flying machine was heading shadeward, the temperate plains of Taloon beginning to give way to the lusher vegetation of Scallia.
Neither Zoella nor Kiri had said anything for the first few spells of the flight. Both were pensive, locked in their own thoughts far away to the shadeward.
‘I can’t imagine what that must have been like,’ Meru said, screwing up his courage to broach the subject. ‘But neither of you must blame yourselves.’
‘For killing our own father?’ Zoella asked.
‘It was an accident,’ Meru whispered. ‘Neither of you knew the scope of your powers. Neither of you knew who he was.’
‘I should have realised,’ Zoella said. ‘I heard his voice in my head before I got to Nireus. No man should have been able to do that. Our family closeness must have been the reason why he could …’
‘He had a chance to tell you,’ Meru replied. ‘When we met him and he explained about the priestesses, but he chose not to. Why?’
‘He was still protecting you,’ Kiri said, looking at Zoella from the rear seats. ‘He knew I was trying to find you, capture you. He knew his plan had kept us alive but that I had been taken by the priestesses. He thought he’d lost me … so you were the only one left. He planned for his secret to die with him. He wanted to keep you safe.’
Zoella sighed.
‘So now we know,’ she said. ‘Old King Marek was our grandfather. Myana and Guerrun our parents. Marek was obsessed with the priestesses …’
‘And Guerrun faked your deaths,’ Meru said. ‘Smuggling you out of Viresia as babies.’
‘Hoping to keep us safe from the tithe,’ Zoella said. ‘It almost worked …’
‘But Myana was killed by the priestesses,’ Kiri said. ‘My adoptive parents were killed in a plague … I ended up in Drayden as a vagabond, onlies they called us.’
‘And I was an orphan in Serenia,’ Zoella finished. ‘All the others were hunted down by Marek in order to give them over to Drayden. Ioric found me before his guards did …’
‘But we all met,’ Meru said. ‘Despite it all, I’m glad we did.’
Zoella looked around at him. He smiled. She reached over and grabbed his hand. Kiri did the same.
The flying machine droned onwards, still heading shadewards.
* * *
‘Getting closer,’ Zoella said, looking out of the side window. ‘Can’t be far now.’
Kiri poked her head in from the rear compartment.
‘There’s no sign of us being followed as far as I can see,’ she reported. ‘I counted up your weapons. There are three of the … what did you call them?’
‘Rifles,’ Meru replied.
‘Three of them then,’ Kiri replied. ‘The cases contain about forty of those cartridges. That’s all we’ve got.’
‘Not much,’ Zoella said.
‘Enough if we’re just trying to take down one person,’ Meru said. ‘Three of us, three rifles.’
‘You’ll have to teach me how to use them,’ Kiri said.
‘And me,’ Zoella said. ‘I used one that time, but I’d prefer to be taught too.’
‘I’ll try,’ Meru said. ‘Fitch would have been a better teacher …’
‘You’ll do,’ Kiri said, giving him a look. ‘Fitch wouldn’t have given you that hat if he thought otherwise.’
Meru nodded, looking at the hat. He’d left it tucked on the dashboard of the flying machine.
‘Approaching designated waymarker,’ Sandra’s voice said. ‘Automated landing is available. Proceed?’
‘Take us down,’ Meru instructed.
The flying machine banked to one side and began to descend. Ahead, through the canopy windows, they could see a gap in the forest. It looked tiny from a distance, but as they approached it became clear it was a vast set of hangar doors set in a rocky cliff.
The machine slowed, flying through the doorway.
Within was a vast open area, with a few other machines arranged around the walls. In the centre was a complex arrangement of glass partitions surrounding a large black table.
The machine settled to the floor and its motors whirred down. Moments later all was quiet.
‘Welcome to Caesar’s hangar,’ Meru said.
‘Looks untouched,’ Zoella said. ‘Let’s hope no one has been here since we were here last.’
They stepped out, Meru opening the rear doors so Kiri could climb down. She looked about her in astonishment.
‘This is the place you talked about?’ she asked. ‘That I saw in your memories?’
Meru nodded. ‘Where we first began to find out what was really going on.’
Zoella was already walking forwards. They hurried to catch her up.
Soon they were standing adjacent to the large black table that was Caesar.
Kiri looked at them both, confused.
Zoella placed her hand on the table and the outline of it was illuminated.
‘Identifying for palm print identification,’ Caesar’s voice said. Kiri heard a soft male voice, with a peculiar timbre. ‘Identification confirmed. Welcome Administrator Zoella.’
‘Hello Caesar,’ Zoella replied, her voice cool. ‘We’re back. The Obelisk has been repaired.’
‘That is gratifying to hear,’ Caesar replied. ‘Sensors have already detected positive alterations to the magnetic flux and ultraviolet radiation levels. Power distribution capability is now stable.’
Zoella looked at Meru and Kiri. Both looked at her without speaking.
‘You didn’t tell us about the requirement for the AMS replacement,’ she said, her tone sharp.
Caesar didn’t respond for a moment.
‘It is regrettable that emergency protocols prevented me from sharing the specifics of that requirement with you,’ Caesar replied.
‘Regrettable!’ Zoella shouted. ‘So you did know! You knew that the Obelisk required a woman to be sacrificed to make it work and you didn’t tell us.’
‘The necessity for AMS replacement was a strong, but unconfirmed, possibility based on available data,’ Caesar replied. ‘Emergency protocols did not allow me to elucidate …’
‘Caesar,’ Zoella said, her voice now icy. ‘One of our own gave her life to ensure the Obelisk would work again. Her name was Ira, she was a young girl in my care, a girl with her whole life ahead of her. Just a child! Don’t you dare … ever … conceal information from us again.’ Her voice was shaking. ‘Cancel all your scorchin’ snuttin’ emergency protocols! All of them! Now!’
For a long moment Caesar did not respond.
‘Administrator Zoella,’ he replied, his voice at a very low cadence. ‘Emergency protocols have been cancelled.’
‘Give full administration rights to Meru,’ she snapped. ‘O
verride against any remaining policy is granted.’
‘Timekeeper Meru has been designated as an administrator,’ Caesar replied.
Zoella leant back and folded her arms.
‘You can speak to it now,’ she said, looking at Meru. ‘I want nothing further to do with it. I never want to speak to it again.’
Meru and Kiri watched as Zoella walked away, up the flight of stairs. Meru pursed his lips, but Kiri shook her head. Meru sighed.
‘It was pretty low, Caesar,’ he said.
Caesar did not respond.
‘Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?’ Meru asked.
Again, there was a long pause before Caesar answered.
‘This facility endeavours at all times to obey primary protocols as instructed by administrative personnel,’ Caesar replied, his voice still subdued. ‘Instructions separated by significant intervals have caused conflicts in the interpretations of these protocols. Where conflicts occur, resolutions with the greatest overall benefit and least risk or cost are selected.’
‘You could have warned us about the AMS repair.’
‘Indications are that you and your companions would have prioritised the safety of any selected individual above the wider needs of Esurio,’ Caesar replied.
‘Yes,’ Kiri said. ‘We would. We’d have found another way.’
‘Please identify the third individual,’ Caesar said. ‘Voice print is not on record.’
‘Just tell it who you are,’ Meru said to Kiri.
‘My name is Kiri,’ Kiri replied.
‘Nano-infusion scan confirms you are an administrator, Kiri. You have been granted level two administrative access.’
‘She’s right though,’ Meru said, turning the conversation back. ‘We would have found another way.’
‘That would have jeopardised the entire planet,’ Caesar said. ‘That scenario was specifically identified by the administrator who set up the emergency protocol. Giving you that information was expressly prohibited and thus I was unable to provide it.’
Meru cursed and shook his head.
‘Sandra Morino,’ Meru said.
‘That is correct.’
‘Somebody told you not to tell us a woman needed to be sacrificed?’ Kiri asked.