Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2

by Suttle, Connie

  What Marid did then, none of us expected. His smile was touched by madness as he pointed the ranos pistol at himself and fired before anyone could stop him. Quin, the young woman, shrieked and fainted as Marid's head exploded and his blood bathed anything nearby—so violent was his death and Quin's reaction to it, that it took some time and effort to revive her afterward.

  Sadly, the news she delivered when she awakened was not good. See attached witness report, labeled appropriately with her name and the date it was recorded.

  * * *

  Lironis

  Omina studied Tamblin, who now shared the shielded cell with Yevil atop the castle in Lironis. She wished to spit upon him, but the shield kept anything from traveling through the clear, impermeable surface.

  Torevik and the others who remained, including those from Avii Castle, had been in private meetings since their return, with only a few hours' sleep in between. Omina had no idea what they were discussing; she only cared that Tamblin was safely held away from her, Amlis and any other.

  She wondered at that moment how many deaths Tamblin had ordered, and how many of those deaths were by Yevil's command or suggestion. "You always were a pig," Omina hissed at him.

  Tamblin, sitting cross-legged on the stone floor of his invisible cage, refused to raise his head or acknowledge Omina's presence. He and Yevil had barely spoken to one another, too; they'd taken opposite ends of their cage and both sat on the floor of it.

  Yevil's remaining leg kept him from standing for long periods, although he did stand upon occasion, to stretch.

  "Filth," Omina flung at Yevil before gathering her skirts and whirling to stalk away. She cared not what happened to either, but death would be her first choice.

  * * *

  Kondar

  Quin

  Ildevar Wyyld, Founder of the Reth Alliance, was an honorable man. He was also many other things, but an honorable man was what I told Edden Charkisul when he asked me about him the following afternoon.

  "You think the Reth Alliance is also honorable?" Edden asked.

  "I can see that in him, too," I nodded. Ildevar had already offered teams of scientists who would travel to Fyris and study the poison. It was in his best interests to do so—Marid, just before his arrival at the High President's palace, had released hundreds of spheres containing the poison on hundreds of worlds—many of those worlds members of the Reth Alliance. Those worlds were now infected with the same poison that threatened Siriaa.

  Marid had been a fool—a treacherous one—and, as he'd managed to ensure the murders of too many people to count with his final act of perfidy, I silently cursed his name.

  Chapter 7

  Le-Ath Veronis

  Queen Lissa studied the ranos pistol taken from Marid's hand—it was relatively new and had likely been bought on the black market. The five others lying beside it in evidence trays were older. Far older.

  "Ancient," she sighed before lifting her eyes to Kooper Griff's. "This is the worst possible outcome, isn't it? Do we have any idea which worlds are now infected?"

  "Quin could only give us a partial list, and we're verifying what she gave us. She was only able to read a few things in Marid before he blew his head off."

  "How many did she give you?"

  "Twenty-six—that number is good and bad. Good that we have names for them, bad because she claims there were hundreds of those containment spheres that Marid spilled before traveling to Sector Five."

  "Morid has no idea where his father put them—I've already tried compulsion. He knows nothing."

  "The Sirenali is in your dungeons, but he's so happy that he's no longer under Marid's thumb that he doesn't mind being locked in a cell."

  "Can anyone communicate with him?" Lissa asked.

  "We haven't really tried—all we've done is mime eating and sleeping," Kooper shook his head.

  "Ask Morid, then. Maybe he knows. I'm hoping the Sirenali will have information the others don't. He may be able to lead us to other worlds Marid infected. If we can find the infection points, we can quarantine the area until we find a remedy."

  "If we don't find them, the entire planet could die and we'll be looking to relocate as many as we can."

  "We don't have enough planets to effect mass relocations," Lissa pointed out. "Quarantine is much better if we can get to it in time."

  "I'll get on it right away," Kooper promised.

  * * *

  Lironis

  "You're needed," Justis stepped inside Amlis' study after knocking twice.

  "For what? I've already been to the roof and spoken to my father. He chose to remain silent."

  "For a meeting, and then to lead your troops back here before dispersal—I hear many of them are still heading this way and stealing what they don't have funds to pay for," Justis snapped.

  "May Liron have mercy," Amlis scrubbed a palm over his face before rising. "Lead the way—let's get this meeting over with. Rodrik!"

  * * *

  Kondar

  "Father, Kaldill says there's an important meeting happening in Lironis, and he says Quin and I should be there. May I have your permission?" Berel gazed hopefully at his father.

  "Of course. Quin assures me that the threats against my life have been neutralized for the moment; therefore, it is imperative that you go. Report back to me as quickly as you can."

  "I will." Berel moved forward to embrace his father. "This is terrible news—that other worlds are now infected," Berel said after pulling away. "Perhaps this is what the meeting is about."

  "I hope some cure can be found—the images you sent of the land and the people of Fyris tell my scientists that the poison will kill them soon if things do not change. The samples we're collecting from seawater shows the poison is increasing. Siriaa will be engulfed in it if something isn't done soon."

  "I find it interesting that some still wish to engage in self-serving political pursuits while the fate of their planet is of no concern and its people are dying."

  "It will always be thus," Edden's brow furrowed with concern, "As much as we think it should be otherwise."

  * * *

  Lironis

  Quin

  I felt as if my wings dragged the floor behind me when we returned to Lironis. Events from the evening before haunted me still and Berel was nearly as troubled as I concerning the aftermath.

  He, Daragar and Kaldill surrounded me as I made my way to the Prince's chambers—he'd taken Tamblin's suite for himself and had his library and clothing moved over. As yet, he hadn't officially taken control of Fyris, but it needed to happen soon—the people required a steady hand and a wiser head than Tamblin's in the coming days.

  I understood, too, that Amlis had to take jurisdiction over the remnants of Tamblin's army, to keep them from plundering the farms and villages between them and Lironis. Rodrik would take charge of the troops, I guessed, once Amlis appeared and named himself Prince of the people.

  There would be no king in Fyris—Justis would make sure of that—at Jurris' command. Omina would no longer call herself Queen—Justis would see to that, too.

  Once we arrived in Amlis' new meeting room and took our seats at the table, Reah rose to speak. "I've asked two others to come at Kifirin's request," she announced before nodding to Kifirin. "I believe they may be able to shed light on Tamblin's behavior in the past. It is my hope we can explain everything before the meeting ends, but the news will be troubling, to say the least."

  Two people appeared beside her. One was another of her mates—his name was Gavril, although most people called him Teeg. The other Reah saw as a father, although they were not related by blood. I could see this in her, as I could read nothing from him—he was too powerful.

  "This is Karzac, the best physician I know," Reah introduced him, first. "Anything you hear from him will be truth, no matter how difficult it may be to accept."

  * * *

  Until Reah's announcement, I had no idea the prisoners would be brought to the meeting.
Justis, Ardis and two other Black Wings brought them in. Yevil cursed but quieted immediately when Justis sent a dark look his way. Yevil was then seated in a chair against the wall while Tamblin was brought forward.

  Tamblin growled softly but refrained from expressing his opinion with words anyone could understand. "Seat him here," Karzac pushed a stool toward Justis, who, with Ardis, held Tamblin between them.

  Justis shoved Tamblin onto the stool when he attempted to resist. Tamblin sat, his anger apparent as his face darkened. Karzac approached him, gesturing for Justis and Ardis to back away.

  Tamblin thought to escape when they took their hands off him. With an unconcerned wave of a hand, Karzac's power shoved Tamblin down again. He didn't attempt to rise a second time; instead, his body trembled at the power employed to hold him in place.

  "Please observe," Karzac turned toward the table and nodded. Reaching out a hand, he held it for a moment at the back of Tamblin's neck. Tamblin shrieked as something burst from his neck and slapped into the physician's hand.

  Ordin, sitting across the table, gasped at what Karzac had done. I blinked in astonishment—something had been buried in Tamblin's neck, for who knew how long? He wasn't aware of it, I knew that much. I'd have seen it in him, otherwise.

  After using his other hand to heal the bloody wound left on Tamblin's neck, Karzac strode toward the table and set the tiny object before Teeg. Teeg examined it closely for a moment before lifting his gaze and nodding to Karzac.

  "It's a controller," Reah's voice trembled.

  "Where did that come from?" Justis strode forward and lifted Yevil by burying a fist in his shirt collar and jerking him from his seat against the wall.

  "My father," Yevil spit in Justis' face.

  * * *

  "This device is so old it operated intermittently, which ensured that Tamblin at times had control over his thoughts. At other times, when the controller worked, he was under Yevil's spell," Karzac explained.

  "At this point, there isn't enough of his mind left to heal," he added. "It appears that many of Yevil's commands coincided with Tamblin's desires, so it would be more than difficult to sort controlled actions from uncontrolled ones."

  "It matters not to me—a murderer is a murderer," Justis growled.

  "I feel the same," Karzac nodded. "It is not my position to interfere—I merely wish to explain what I know. The decisions based on those facts will be yours to make."

  "I want to know where it came from; I've not heard of such in Camryn's treasury, which now belongs to Jurris," Gurnil fumed. "I doubt you can believe anything that liar Yevil says. He is the same as his father, who also spoke nothing but lies."

  "We know those ancient weapons used by Yevil to kill the Avii King and Queen were kept there," Justis said quietly. "While I know of nothing like this controller device, that doesn't mean that it also didn't come from there. My question is this—why were those weapons in Camryn's treasury in the first place? Berel says there are none such as these created on Siriaa, and neither Fyris nor the Avii have the technology required to produce them."

  Silently I sat and listened to the debate as it went on; Amlis and Rodrik had left only a few moments earlier, after ordering as many men as they could muster to travel with them. I had the idea that someone might transport them to the army so any damage caused by that now headless horde could be held to a minimum.

  Somehow, in my mind, I understood that the unusual weapons and devices had arrived when the Avii and Fyrians did, but I had no guess as to when that was or from where. It was a puzzle that I had few resources to solve, after all, no matter how much I wanted to do so.

  Had the metal box been transported at the same time? That thought was so far-fetched I discarded it immediately. I was no ancient object, after all. I was flesh, blood and bone; I bled when cut or whipped and my bones had broken—I'd experienced all those things in my brief lifetime.

  "It is clear that Treven stole from Camryn," Justis said. "And Yevil used that stolen property to kill. I would prefer that we take him to the King and allow Jurris to pass sentence. If I know my brother, he will force Yevil through the gate."

  "What about Tamblin?" Omina asked. "I'd prefer that Jurris pass judgment upon him as well."

  "Amlis asked us not to kill him," Justis muttered.

  "Amlis is on his way to the army Tamblin conscripted. Tell me Tamblin didn't order them to perform heinous acts against the people of Fyris," Rath spoke for the first time. "He attempted to kill my sister and me. How do you think we feel about that?"

  "He and Yevil tried to kill Amlis—several times," I spoke without realizing. "By poison, twice by ambush; these are the acts of mad men," I concluded. "Both are responsible in some way for Timblor's death."

  "I have no doubt those things are true," Omina wept. I knew she cared for her eldest, but he'd aptly followed his father's lead, rather than taking a stand against his injustices. I would speak no support of Timblor, whether he was loved or not. He'd taken pleasure in my beating when I'd acted to save Amlis' life. He would have made a cruel king, had he taken Tamblin's place.

  My dear, I see the sorrow on your face. Do not fret—all will come right, Kaldill spoke in my mind.

  At that moment, I knew two things—first, I wanted to huddle against him while past memories plagued me and new ones troubled me more. Second, I wanted to tell him those things, but dared not. The answers to the ensuing questions could harm me more than the questions themselves.

  "I suggest we wait for Amlis' return; he will make the final decision on his father's fate," Justis decided. "Yevil will go to Jurris for judgment."

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis

  "They had a controller, Mom," Teeg dropped onto a chair next to his mother's in the arboretum atop her palace. "It's not modern and larger by comparison to the one I created, but it worked well enough to do what Yevil wanted."

  "I guess you'd know what one looked like, then" Lissa huffed. "I'm grateful they're outlawed everywhere, now. They're an abomination."

  "I know," Teeg held up a hand. "That's the past and I understand my mistakes. We won't visit that again. Reah glared at me the whole time I was there because of it."

  "You think she's not justified?"

  "She is, but there are extenuating circumstances. You have to believe I'd never do that when I'm completely sane. Besides, Tybus would kill me. He wouldn't bother to think about it first; he'd just do it."

  "I know. He'd probably have help."

  "I understand that."

  "From me."

  "Mom!"

  "Come on, it's time for dinner," Lissa stood and jerked her head toward the door. "You coming?"

  "I'm coming."

  * * *

  Lironis

  "You may want this," Ordin handed a leather-bound book to Gurnil.

  "Have you read it?" Gurnil accepted the book and examined the cover. The leather was darkened by age but still pliable—the old physician had kept a personal journal throughout his life.

  "No. I have no idea who could be interested in it; I may offer it to Quin to read and ask for a more legible report to be handed to me afterward. She seems depressed after the events in Kondar; perhaps a reading assignment will help."

  "A good idea. She's always happy to read," Ordin agreed. "We'll have patients again tomorrow, but I'll only keep her four hours. She can read after the midday meal."

  "Good. How are they, by the way? The citizens of Lironis?"

  "Starving. Sickly. Many of them suffer from the early stages of the wasting disease. I've held Quin back from healing that—they'll only get it again."

  "That's my fear, also. When does Justis plan to take Yevil to Avii Castle?"

  "Tomorrow."

  * * *

  Quin

  "Will you read this for me and provide a report for the Library records?" Gurnil handed a leather-bound book to me after dinner. "This is the old healer's journal and I feel you would better understand it, as you've spent most
of your life here. Something you may find important I might discount altogether."

  "When would you like your report?" I asked, taking the softbound book from Gurnil.

  "Whenever you have time," he waved a hand and smiled. "I hope it is interesting reading."

  A part of me hoped it was, too. Nevertheless, I was glad to get it—and worried at the same time. What if the answers to my question about the metal box lay within its pages? Recalling my manners, I stammered polite thanks to Gurnil and went to find Berel and Dena.

  * * *

  "Ardis says they're leaving tomorrow to take Yevil to Avii Castle," Dena said. I'd found her and Berel inside Berel's suite—he'd moved to the research building as he was more comfortable there.

  His guards from the ship were also more comfortable there, although they hadn't complained about quarters in the castle. They stood outside the suite door, allowing us to talk.

  "Are they flying or taking an airchopper?" I turned to Berel.

  "I offered an airchopper. They prefer to fly him in," Berel shrugged.

  "Do you think it will be a form of torture, to hold him aloft over the sea for hours?" I asked Dena.

  "If I were unable to fly, I'd think it torture," she blew out a breath.

  "Then it will be awful for him," I said. "Perhaps he deserves it. Will they continue to fly if it rains?"

  "They'll only search for land if hail falls, and that seldom happens at this time of year."

  I recalled riding in a hailstorm with Amlis and Rodrik, but didn't say that. I didn't envy the journey Justis was determined to make, but it was evident that he'd kept his troops trained and ready, no matter the circumstances.

  I doubted Jurris cared whether the troops were trained or not—all he cared about was himself most of the time. He hadn't really cared about Halthea—he'd only cared about the color of her wings.

  Justis—as did I—hoped that one day, Jurris would be half the King Camryn had been. I hoped for all the Avii that the day would come soon. After all, when I worked in the kitchen at Avii Castle, Justis had no care for me but he ensured that the Black Wing who'd pulled my wing nub and drew blood was punished. Jurris wouldn't have done anything to help a half-blood girl, dumped on his doorstep as I was.