Amanda stood. Nearly everyone clapped.
“And Nona Hall, Ambassador for the Diamond Deep. Please stand, Nona.”
Nona stood. A few people clapped for her, and then a few more followed their lead, although some abstained completely. She said, “Thank you,” and sat down, partly bemused and partly disturbed.
She glanced down the table. Jean Paul was six seats away on the same side as Kyle and might not have seen him. He wasn’t looking at her, and she didn’t think it wise to draw attention.
During the first course of wilted salad with hearts of grain and a light dressing, table talk referenced the weather, the harvest, and the difficult state of the spaceport and Manna Springs.
Kyle ignored her. The older man next to her asked, “How do you like Lym?”
“It’s very beautiful.”
“Did you come here just to be the ambassador that we don’t need?”
She laughed. “How do you know whether or not you need me?”
“We need the station’s business. But that’s never been hard to get. We have good soil, and you have nothing.”
“Have you ever been to a station?”
“No need to. I’ve seen pictures.”
She stiffened, forced a breath and a diplomatic response. “Lym is truly beautiful. But there is beauty in the stations. Sunrise on the garden habitats, the bright and friendly lights of stations that we pass, incredible art.” She took a long breath, calming herself. “But I came here long before I became the ambassador. Just to see something we do not have. A sky.”
He grunted.
A young man interrupted and whisked their plates away.
The second and third courses were both served with wines, and the talk slowly turned to worry about the Next. Just as the main course arrived, Kyle asked her, “How is Charlie Windar?”
“I haven’t seen him for a while.”
“That’s too bad. I heard he left Hope.”
She started to shrug, thinking that she shouldn’t look like she cared too much. Except Satyana wouldn’t do that. She took another sip of wine and smiled sweetly at Kyle. She spoke in a soft, conversational tone. “Surely there are more important things to worry about. We’re on our way to verify rumors that there is an attack being planned on the Next.”
He smiled back and lifted his glass. “By who?”
“I thought you might know.”
She watched him closely, but he didn’t look secretive, or surprised.
“I have heard similar rumors. Something about Entare? I asked to sit close to you.” He smiled. “I thought maybe you’d have heard something. Being the ambassador and all.”
His tone disturbed her so deeply she had to force her voice to stay calm. “But there seems to be so many disasters or rumors or whatever that they can’t all be explored.” She made sure he was looking at her. “We could use more rangers to help.”
He raised his glass and slid his gaze away from hers. “Don’t you think the chef here is fantastic?”
The man next to her, the one who looked like Kyle, spoke across the table to him. “Don’t you think she might be right? That we can use all of the protection we can get?”
Kyle looked at her instead of at the man. “Forgive my father for his interruption. And forgive me for not answering your question. If anyone is planning to damage the Next, I hope they succeed.”
“There are a lot of people who share that sentiment,” she said, using a tone of voice designed to convey that she did not.
Now he looked interested. “Really? Who?”
She took a chance that he knew people in other first families. “Have you seen Amy Knight?”
He stopped with his nearly empty glass almost to his mouth. “Amy’s a baby.”
“I agree. And she’s gone missing. As have multiple other children.”
He looked down the table toward Amanda. “Really? Why haven’t I heard about this?”
“Maybe people don’t know whether or not to trust you?”
He looked hurt and surprised at her blunt comment. He finished his wine and pushed his plate away, standing a little unsteadily, and walked over toward Amanda, who was deeply involved in a conversation that Nona couldn’t hear.
Kyle’s father held his hand out to her. “I’m Luciano Glass. What is this about our Amy?”
As she patiently explained that children, and in some cases adults, were slowly turning up missing and not communicating much about it at all except perhaps to leave a note behind, he paled. When she began talking about ships on Entare, he said, “You know that war here could destroy all that we have? The farms, the re-wilding, all of it.”
“Of course.”
He took her hand in both of his, a pleasant warmth traveling all the way up her arm. “Forgive Kyle for being so stubborn. He’s wanted to come back to the fold since the day after he left it, even before the damned robots. But after his orders killed that man, he’s afraid.”
“The gleaner? Davis?”
“Yes. Kyle loved Charlie once. He still does. He just needs to get over his pride.”
She glanced down the long table, where Kyle leaned over Amanda. He was deep in conversation, the set of his body worried and a little stiff. “Do you have any ideas?” she asked Luciano.
“If I did, I’d have used them already. But I hope you find Amy.”
“Thank you.”
When Kyle came back, he looked shaken. He remained silent throughout the dessert course of berry sorbets topped with fresh cream and sun-sugared peaches. As soon as his dish was whisked away, Kyle hurried out of the room, his cane tapping audibly.
After their hosts stood up, Nona followed Amanda out. “Can we talk somewhere?”
“Yes.” Amanda looked both grim and determined. “Let me change, and I’ll meet you by the front door.”
Nona glanced down at her blue dress. “Good idea.” In addition to changing into comfortable pants and a warm shirt, she slapped cold water on her face to wake herself up after the long day. Amanda, Farro, and Jean Paul waited for her just outside the front door.
Solar-powered paths wound between tall trees, providing subtle and beautiful light. Here and there, glowing benches provided spots to sit and talk quietly.
Farro and Jean Paul followed behind them, lost in a low conversation. The path lights didn’t obscure the sky much, and stars and station lights shone overhead in a glittering, clear black sky. Nona pointed up at them. “That must be why they call it the Glittering. That whole vast space full of us.”
Amanda smiled but didn’t say anything in response.
In spite of the other groups wandering the garden and talking or sitting, or in a few cases holding hands, the space felt big and private. “What did Kyle say to you?” Nona asked.
“He’s worried about Amy.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“He’s angry.” Amanda frowned. “We’re all worried. My count of other kids I’ve heard about disappearing is up to seven. At least five adults.”
“Mine is nine and four.”
“I’m sure there’s more than either of us think. If they’re all getting ready to attack the Next, we need to stop them now. Amy’s been gone almost a week.”
They walked up and over a stone bridge that crossed a running stream. As they passed through a brighter light at the end of the bridge, Nona noticed a pensive—or maybe almost despairing—look on Amanda’s face.
“What did you hear about Manna Springs?” Amanda asked. “About us?”
“Nothing, really.”
“I did. Two of my best friends are here. They’re from my family’s farm, visiting. Lagara is safer. They were sent to come in and see what things are like here, find out if they need to worry, too.”
“What did they decide?”
“One of them—Oflanger—he’s never been a friend of Jules. But we used to date, before Ted and I married. We’re still friends. He said he came to this party to warn me that Lagara is unhappy with how Manna Sprin
gs is being run and they want Manny back.”
Nona managed not to say she agreed. “People are often unhappy with whoever’s in power.”
“He told me some people are agitating for another coup. He’s happy we’re out here, he said. He seemed to think it could happen any time. I know there’re some people in town that aren’t happy, either. But not that many!”
“Well, only ten people showed up to see us off.”
“That’s because they don’t like you. Well, not you specifically. But having an embassy here now makes them feel like the Diamond Deep is intruding in their business.”
Amanda was probably right about how the town felt about her, but Nona suspected they hadn’t wanted to hear Jules’ ponderous speech. “All right. But still, did you believe Oflanger?”
Amanda’s lips had thinned, and she gave a nod so slight Nona wasn’t sure she meant it. “Everybody’s crazy now. But that means Manna Springs won’t help us, and I should be there. I mean, I love Jules. He’s my twin.” Her voice broke. “But I can’t. Not if Amy’s in danger.”
“I understand. What did your other friend say?”
“Things we already know. People are scared. Even on Lagara they know about the Wall and they want the Next gone. They said they see more ships overhead there, too, over the farms. Not a lot. But they’re unhappy. They think they’re Next ships, but I don’t think so.”
“I wish I knew whose ships they are.” They stepped around a small group of three women, who were deep in a conversation. After they passed them, Nona asked, “So you think people here will help get the kids back. What about Lagara?”
“They won’t be able to do much. It’s harvest for the next month. Ted’s going to go, and he’s bringing a few with him. But it’s not an army. There aren’t that many of us out here on the farms.”
“Charlie will come.”
Amanda stopped walking and stared at her. She glanced around and whispered, “Charlie? Isn’t he banned?”
“From Manna Springs.”
Amanda starting walking again. It took a while for her to answer. “That’s good, I suppose. I always liked Charlie, and now that I know more about the Next, I suppose he never had a chance to keep them away.”
“Of course he didn’t.”
“Can he bring more rangers?”
“Let’s invite Farro and Jean Paul up.” Nona waved at the ranger and the soldier, and they found a well-lit bench under a tree. “So what did you find out?” she asked them.
Jean Paul grimaced. “People are as nervous as scared dogs and could bite any time. There’s a fight about to start.”
Farro nodded. “Maybe more than one fight.”
Nona leaned forward. “So we’re all on the same page. Have you heard from Charlie?”
“I did,” Jean Paul said, looking away. “On our way out of the house. He’ll be here in about half an hour.”
Nona asked, “Can you get more ships, or more rangers?”
Jean Paul looked at Farro.
Farro looked down at the ground. “No.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. “None?”
Farro swallowed. “The Port Authority is not exactly your friend.”
“I know that,” Amanda snapped. “But they won’t help defend Lym?”
Farro didn’t answer. She looked profoundly uncomfortable.
Jean Paul put a hand up to gather attention. A slight wind rustled the leaves above them. Jean Paul whispered, “Some of the ships carrying—whatever—down to the surface of Entare belong to Gunnar Ellensson.”
“Oh, shit.” Nona put a hand over her mouth and then took it off and said it again. “Shit.”
Jean Paul loomed close to her. “You don’t know what he’s doing?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?” he said.
Nona glanced at Amanda, who was staring at her with her eyes narrowed in surprise. Behind Nona, Farro looked away, watching all of their backs. Hers was stiff, and surely she was listening closely.
Nona found her tongue. “I didn’t. Don’t. He’s not my friend.”
“But he and Satyana . . .”
Nona cut Jean Paul off. “I don’t have any idea why he’s here. But he must want something. He plays games within games within games, and gets rich off of them.” She moved closer to him, so close she smelled his breath. “If I see him, I’ll ask him, and he’ll still lie. He might be doing good, or he might be making money. He seems to alternate between those two things. The only I’m certain of is that he’s not losing money.”
Jean Paul held his hand up in surrender. “Okay. Okay.”
“Satyana didn’t tell you anything?” Amanda asked.
Nona shook her head. “Not a thing. Which doesn’t mean she doesn’t know either.” She stopped talking and heaved in two long breaths, getting control. An ambassador didn’t skewer her home. Not on purpose, not in public. “It will probably be okay. Maybe we’ll learn something if we go to Entare.”
Farro turned around at the mention of Entare. Jean Paul turned a quizzical look on her. “Are we going?”
Farro looked away again and then back. “I think we have to. I’ll go file a flight plan. Call me back here when Charlie comes?”
“Okay,” Jean Paul said. “Don’t ask for permission.”
Farro turned back and stared up at him. “Don’t tell me what to do.” With that, she walked away, head up, not looking back.
Amanda stared after the diminutive pilot until she disappeared and then turned back to the others. “I’ll go find Rudolph and Eriba. I should tell them I might not make the next planned ambassadorial visits.”
“Is that wise?” Nona asked.
Amanda shrugged. “I can’t very well just disappear, can I?”
She could, but it wasn’t Nona’s place to tell her so. “We may not have a plan until we meet with Charlie.”
Amanda nodded at Nona. “We might not. But I have my duty.” She headed off, stopped a few feet away, and looked over her shoulder. “And call me, too, when Charlie comes.”
She marched away, and Nona let out a long sigh. The stresses seemed to be getting to all of them. Charlie might not have any more of a plan than she did. Go to Entare and do what exactly? Save the day, of course. She laughed.
Jean Paul looked at her strangely.
“Sorry. Just a long, hard day.”
He looked up at the night sky, as usual, not really engaging in a conversation with her.
Somewhere not too far away, someone played a flute.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
NAYLI
The bed shook. Nayli’s eyes snapped open. Not the bed. Her. Vadim was shaking her awake. She had been lost in a dream of . . . what?
It couldn’t matter.
His jaw was locked in worry; his eyes alight with something deep. “Come on,” he said. “Command. Now.”
She fumbled out of bed and slid her feet into slippers. She pulled on pants, a bra, and a uniform shirt and stuck a comb and hair tie in her back pocket for later. For now, she ran her fingers through her long, loose hair and tried to wake up as she stumbled down the corridor behind him. “What happened?”
“There’s an attack starting.”
“On us?”
“On the Free Men.”
That woke her up. A disaster. Brea and Darnal and maybe three hundred of their best officers and crew. More than usual; there was an induction and promotion ceremony tonight. She and Vadim would usually be there. Instead, they were on their way to meet a ship manufacturer to place some special orders related to the impending attack on Lym. “Is anyone hurt?”
“There’s a set of unmanned attack ships inbound. The Free Men doesn’t have to power to take them out.”
“Can they escape?”
“They can’t get far enough to matter.”
The words hit her like an acceleration force, stopping her completely in the corridor. “There’s nothing we can do? Nothing?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her
after him. The crew looked up when they entered, faces worried or angry or simply shocked. All of them.
Her calves and forearms shook with adrenaline jitters.
Vadim held up a hand to forestall any questions. “Go on.” He sat in his chair and pulled her down into hers. “Put on your headphones?”
She obeyed. Vadim’s voice. “We’re both here.”
Darnal’s voice crackled into her ear, an edge to it, but eerily calm. “You have to take over.”
Nayli could barely speak past the quick-rising lump in her throat. “You’re giving up?”
“Of course not. But we’re outnumbered by far and won’t go alive.”
She understood. Darnal’s worst nightmare would be getting forced into a metal body. “I understand.”
“There’s no time. You two will keep going, take over for us?”
Vadim said, “I told Nayli I would.” He looked at Nayli, waiting for an answer.
It had been talked about, perhaps even agreed on. But it had never seemed real. The small muscles in her jaw tightened and jumped. She swallowed and took a deep breath. He leaned toward her, reaching across the space between chairs. He touched her cheek, his fingers rough and promising. A request. She managed to say, “Of course.”
“We’re going to release the announcement.”
So they had anticipated she would agree. “Thank you. Take care.” What did you say to someone who knew they were about to die? She couldn’t say she loved them; they knew better. Thankfully she couldn’t see Darnal. “Thanks.”
No answer. Maybe Darnal had gone just after she agreed. Her thoughts raced. They would be the only obvious targets now. Her and Vadim. How long had the connection been open? Who had the lists? What would happen to Brea and Darnal? Would it be fast and painless? How would she and Vadim manage all that communication? How would they know what to do? How could they be in charge?”
“We need to prepare,” he said.
“Already?”
He stood up and held a hand out. “Now, for sure. We need to send out our own message.”
She wanted to just sit and watch the horror unfold, to absorb it. But she took his hand.
He pulled her up. “Let’s go into the office.”
A quiet place, shielded. They could talk together without being overheard. Nayli let him pull her up and found she was dizzy. She hadn’t been able to show weakness for years, and now it would be worse. She straightened. “Alright.”
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