by Aileen Erin
A foreign ship approached us slowly, then barely stopped in front of us before Beta Omo Sha Yhona stepped from the craft. His foot caught on the edge of the door, he stumbled a step, then looked back at the craft as if he were upset that it had tripped him. As if it were the ship’s fault.
Weird.
This guy either wasn’t very smart or wasn’t on his A-game today. It was too early to tell which was true.
He bowed deeply and then rose. He started speaking in a quick language that I didn’t understand.
I patted my pockets and realized I didn’t have a translator. Dang it.
A light tap on my shoulder had me turning toward Eshrin’s outstretched hand. A small device was cradled on his palm. My translator.
I took it and mouthed a thank you to him, and quickly popped it in my ear. The device chimed softly in my ear as it activated, and a fraction of a second later the translation started.
“…our pleasure to welcome you to our home planet, Telnon. As usual, while you are here, you are to start no fights. To only act in defense of yourself. If found doing anything that could be seen as an act of war—even while actively in war with another alliance member—then you will be declaring yourself as against our alliance. Immediate expulsion from said alliance will occur, as well as the remaining members of the alliance joining forces with your opponent. It is strongly suggested that no fighting or disagreements occur—”
Yeah. No shit. What was this nonsense he was yammering on about?
Suddenly, coming here felt like a very, very bad idea. If SpaceTech showed up, a fight was inevitable. How could we prove that they were at fault when they’d managed to make an art out of twisting their lies so much that it felt like the truth to outsiders?
We’d already declared war. That was a fact. But now we weren’t allowed to act against SpaceTech at all, unless in defense.
I’d heard enough, and turned to look for Roan, but he wasn’t there.
Damn it. He was still coordinating with Fynea, but I was going to need one of his cameras. Not one of the flying ones, but one of the really tiny ones that disappeared to the eye.
I usually hated cameras. I’d had enough of them. They’d invaded my privacy and disrupted my safety too many times. But there was one thing that I’d learned that I would never forget.
It was better to cover your ass at all times than be caught unprepared.
If these people were so against anything disrupting the peace of this meeting—a meeting about the declaration of war that we’d made—then we needed to make sure we were preparing for any and all types of fights.
That meant burning extra power to counteract the natural drug in the air.
That meant recording every second we were on this planet.
That meant making sure that we didn’t get caught trying to get as much information on SpaceTech as possible.
Because this was war, and I wasn’t going to play nice just because the sweaty-assistant dude said so.
Chapter Twenty-Four
LORNE
I hated Telnon. I hated the heat and the drug in the air and the fact that the alliance was trying to police what I said and did. And I hated that I was still standing on the landing pad, dealing with Beta Omo Sha Yhona.
Sending this underling to tell me what I could do or not do was low and completely unlike Melina. The Yhona were actually a pretty bold people, despite how much they say they’re neutral and want only peace. They have a lot of lines they’ll cross to make sure no one disobeys their neutrality laws. The fact that they’d terraformed this planet, which led to an inhibiting drug being “naturally” released into the air, never really sat well with me.
The drug in the air took me by surprise my first visit here. I’d been warned, but I told myself I didn’t feel the effects. I didn’t try to focus my powers which would’ve counteracted the drug. I’d liked it. I’d liked it because it numbed the feeling that I was missing a huge part of myself. It masked the fear I felt from Amihanna through millions of light-years of space. I’d ended up coming back here for vacations and holidays again and again just for that feeling.
It wasn’t until I got myself into trouble here that I realized how dangerous it was.
The Yhona liked to play at being neutral, but there was a malicious undertone to them that everyone liked to ignore. I’d never fully trust them or their motives again. I always came here ready for a fight, even if we were supposed to remain neutral while on Telnon.
But I was going to pretend I was neutral this time, no matter what speech Beta Omo was rattling off.
Declaring war was the least neutral thing a king could do, and I’d done that. He needed to understand where both I and the Aunare stood.
He finally finished the last of his speech and waited for my agreement.
He wasn’t getting it. Too bad for him. “You’ve just read off a questionable, modified version of the usual contract for mutual protection, and I won’t agree to it. Not this time.” This man was the worst of the Yhona. He was the one who had gotten me into trouble before, and I would never agree to anything he’d just laid out. “Your leaders knew before you invited me here that I declared war with SpaceTech. You were told to keep SpaceTech away, and that was the sole reason that we came. If they show up or we find them here, I will assume that you are formally siding with them, I will declare the Yhona my enemy, and defend myself and my people as I see fit.” I stepped closer to him. “I answer to no one. Especially not you.”
Some of the nervous, sputtering assistant facade slipped, and the ugly beneath it peeked through. “That is unacceptable. If you break our agreement, you’ll answer to Supreme Leader Melina Ze Eta Yhona.” His haughty tone grated.
“No.” I let power seep out of my skin until I was almost to the point of flashing. “I am the Aunare High King, and I swear on all that is good that if SpaceTech shows themselves, that I will act as a High King would when faced with their enemy. I will not hide behind lies, false claims of neutrality, or sniveling assistants.” I itched to take out my faksano as I stepped toward him. “Scurry back to Melina and let her know what I’ve said.” I stepped around the little man, not caring what he said or did next.
He would never act aggressively toward us, but he would keep arguing forever. Which meant dismissing him was the best option.
We’d brought our own on-planet vehicles. In the time that he’d wasted reciting his idiotic speech, my ship’s crew had unloaded a few of them. The small, short-range ground ships were deceiving. They looked as if they’d need to hover close to the ground, but they could get us off this planet and make a few jumps to safety before running out of fuel.
I led Amihanna to one and pressed my hand along the side of the ship. The door slid open, and I let her get in first. I wanted to be by the door, just in case anyone decided to try to shoot through the window. Not that anything could penetrate it, but I needed to be able to aim and defend.
Ashino took the pilot’s chair while Eshrin slid in on the passenger side. I preferred my captain—Zaeshel ni Eiloa—to pilot any ship I flew in, but these were small. They couldn’t fit guards, us, and a pilot, so Ashino took pilot duties for me. There were two benches facing each other in the back of the on-planet vehicles, plus room for three up front. It maxed out at nine passengers, but was more comfortable —and quicker to maneuver—with six.
Usually, I’d have a couple of guards in the back with me, but not today. I wanted a moment alone with Amihanna. I’d told Fynea as much, and she’d hustled Roan off the bridge earlier, saying that they had work. Today, it was just four of us in the vehicle, and that was plenty.
Fynea, Roan, and the rest of our guards would meet us at the house we’d secured for our time on Telnon after Amihanna and I were done with our first meeting.
As soon as Ashino got word that all the other on-planet vehicles were ready, we took off.
“Are we allowed to stay on Telnon?” Amihanna asked softly. “I thought you had to formally consent to terms w
ith the alliance meeting or leave the meeting venue immediately.”
That was technically correct, but this wasn’t an ordinary meeting. “We’re here per their request. We didn’t have to come.” I glanced at her, and noticed her unease.
I hadn’t told her my history with Beta Omo. I honestly didn’t expect to see him, especially given our past, my current rank, and knowing that we had already declared war against one alliance member.
I wasn’t sure what Melina was thinking, but it wasn’t her best call. “I left out some past disagreements with Beta Omo because I didn’t expect to see him. He’s not a good man, and I don’t trust him. They knew we were at war when they arranged this meeting. I couldn’t have been clearer. If Melina thinks that the Yhona can invite SpaceTech here openly and have us swear to be civil and defend ourselves in the least aggressive way, then she’s lost her mind. Or maybe not since she didn’t show her face today.”
Where in the great beyond was Melina?
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. “This was absurd and insulting. If I didn’t have meetings already scheduled, we’d be getting back on our ship right now and leaving.”
She was quiet for a moment, and I wondered if she thought I was overreacting. I didn’t want her to think I was being overly aggressive but the fact was, we were at war.
Melina should’ve greeted me personally as she had always done for my father. She also should’ve understood that I’d never agree to that idiotic, modified version of the contract.
“Actually, I’m with you. The more I think about it, the more I think that Beta dude was actually incredibly insulting and that contract thing that he read was infuriating,” she said finally.
“Hmm.” I agreed. Completely. But I needed her to talk me down from being so angry.
“We’re past being civil or using lesser means to defend ourselves.” There was a bite in her tone that resonated in me.
“We’re eons past that.”
It seemed like we were both angry now. There was no doubt. In my mind, we’d passed that point thirteen years ago. That’s when this war should’ve started. That’s when this alliance should’ve backed us. But that’s not what happened.
Melina clearly thought that I was my father. Maybe I’d gone a little overboard with her assistant, but they’d learn who I was quicker this way.
It didn’t take long for us to reach the outskirts of the Shops at the Gardens. It was the Yhona’s version of Ra’mi market. We drove by little cottages set up as shops in a rolling hillside outside of Yhonie-atala, the capital city of Telnon. Painstakingly maintained gardens with flowers and little trees made the market seem like it was something out of a storybook. I could spend hours just wandering through, seeing what was being sold inside each of the cottages. It was one of the things that had drawn me back so many times to the planet.
Throughout the gardens were stands of food and beverages, with enough variety to make visitors and natives alike feel at home, at peace, and relaxed. That was the Yhona’s spirit. Calm. The very air they breathed made people feel at ease. It’s why so many came here for vacations and reprieve from their daily lives.
But ever since I saw the other side of it, I questioned the Yhona’s motives. And I’d only just touched on the ugly beneath the surface. There wasn’t this much peace and calm without a high cost. Who was bearing that burden?
Amihanna leaned forward in her seat, staring out the front window.
“What do you think?”
“I think fairies live out there.” She pointed out the window to one of the cottages.
I laughed. “Fairies?” That was something I never, ever expected her to say.
“Yeah. I read this story once. About these tiny little flying mischievous fairies.” She snapped her fingers. “Pixies. They were pixies. Anyway, I loved it. I mean the pixies were supposed to be the bad guys in the stories. Always causing trouble and being snarky and doing magic that caused everyone else a whole hell of a lot of trouble, but man, they were fun.” She turned to me with a small smile on her face.
I would do anything and everything to keep it there. “Okay. So, pixies live here?”
She laughed at my skeptical tone. “I know it’s silly, but I mean look at the cottages. The soft grays, whites, blues. All sitting in a sea of wildflowers and trees and flowing paths.” She finally leaned back against her seat and twisted to look at me fully. “It’s just all so peaceful and beautiful. I know that my father’s gardens are amazing, but…”
“They’re nothing compared to this.” It was a shame I couldn’t fully enjoy it anymore, but I was glad it brought her joy. “It’ll be nice to take a walk outside after so many days on board. Also, it’s a good place for a meeting.”
Ashino pulled into a waiting block of parking spots, and our other vehicles with the rest of our guards pulled in on either side of us. The sign across the spots had my name written in a few different languages. Beta Omo must’ve been tracking us and called ahead, which was fine and to be expected. I’d have preferred to stay a little more low-key, but it was already done.
I looked over and saw a similar situation for Vyic, sign included. He must’ve been so angry when he saw it. The spot was still empty, but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t here. I could see him parking somewhere else, or moving through Yhonie-atala via his very unique means of transport.
Altaestvyicolopanai—Vyic to anyone he enjoyed spending time with—hated anyone knowing where he was going or what he was doing. Which was a hard way to be when you had any sort of power. People always knew where I was, what I was doing, where I would be tomorrow. There were too many people coordinating my schedules, security, and transportation to have anything be much of a secret. Vyic was in a similar place, but he wasn’t ruling yet. Which meant he ended up lying to most people all the time to get around anyone having his precise location at any given time, and he didn’t have any guards to keep track of him.
There were times I understood his caginess, but sometimes it felt too close to deceit. If he was that way with other people, he could be that way with me. But that was the nature of politics. Twisting truths had been a necessity in his life. A necessity that was about to pay off for us if everything went as it should today.
And it would. I needed information. Something was off with Amihanna. I watched her on the last few jumps we took, and I was convinced something was still wrong. It was nearly imperceptible, but it was like a thorn in my side that ached off and on, warning me to keep an eye on her. The lucole had done something to her—she felt fragile to me in a way she hadn’t before—and I hoped it wasn’t permanent.
I held her hand as we made our way through the garden with our guards. The air was richer, thicker, warmer here, and I longed to be closer to Amihanna. That was something I could fix. I tugged her hand until she walked pressed against my side. Her frequencies strengthened a little when we were together, and until she stayed stronger, I was going to stick very, very close to her.
Three cabins down, past the second hill, on the right, was a pale yellow cottage with chimes hanging in the trees surrounding it. That’s where we were meeting Vyic. The wind blew past us and the chimes let off a symphony of twinkling tones. Some soft. Some low. But all seemed to go together in a harmonious flow.
My guards moved ahead with a few of Amihanna’s to make sure the cottage was safe. While we waited, Amihanna tugged me closer to a low-hanging tree branch, and lifted her finger to tap a chime. It set off a melody that had Amihanna smiling.
“You like it?” I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear it anyway.
She nodded, still looking at it for a second before turning her soulful brown gaze to me. “I do. They’re all beautiful, but this one has four layers of chimes and look at that glittering sculpture that’s hanging in the center.”
I had to bend down a little to look. Sculpture wasn’t really the right word for it, but I understood why she used it. There must’ve been some invisible strings that were hold
ing it together, but there were coils of clear iridescent swirls that spun, glittering in the wind. As they spun, it looked like they were exploding outward, but they hadn’t in fact moved.
The illusion was as beautiful as it was hypnotizing.
“Your majesty,” Ashino said.
I straightened. “Yes?”
“The cottage has been cleared. Altaestvyicolopanai is waiting for you in a cafe in the back of the cottage to the right of the entrance. Although cafe is a big word for what is merely a kitchen with a couple of small tables. Only one of us will fit in there with the two of you.” He pressed his lips together, and I knew there was a warning that he wanted to say but didn’t.
“Yes?” He wasn’t going to be okay until he got the words out, but something was holding him back.
“You didn’t fully agree to the terms the Yhona set, and I have concerns that they aren’t as calm and peaceful as they seem. The cafe is small, and I’m concerned about properly protecting both of you.”
Ashino had been my head guard for long enough that I didn’t like to dismiss his worries, and he was probably right to be concerned if the space was small enough that I could get cornered and taken or killed. But I was aware of the problem now, and there was no way I would miss this meeting.
“I’ll be careful,” I said to him.
“Thank you, your majesty.” Ashino led the way back to the cottage, going inside first to lead the way.
I went in next, taking in the room for any danger before letting Amihanna enter. Just because I was okay walking in on my own didn’t mean that I was going to risk Amihanna.
The inside of the cottage went off in two directions, but the entire place was filled with a light smoke. The scent was meant to ease the weary edges of a person’s soul, but I didn’t need easing. I let my skin brighten a little more, and turned to Amihanna to tell her to do the same, but she was already doing just that.