“Silence! Do you think me blind to your perfidy? Long have I watched you scheme to take power from me. I suspect these riots are your doing.” The Warlord cast a baleful eye at him. He was old, ancient by Bikashi standards, but Hickory feared he was still as strong as the legendary warrior who’d taken many lives in the wars with Earth.
Jolphyr bent lower still, his eyes fixed on the feet of Kabutai. “Master, do I have leave to speak freely?”
“Speak, Directorate, but be brief.”
Jolphyr dispensed with the preliminaries. “The Scarg riots are a diversion created by this one,” he stabbed his finger at Hickory, “to allow these Earthlings to infiltrate the science block.”
“For what purpose?”
“They believed the Sword of Connat was here and had come to steal it.”
“This Sword you speak of, it is the one Vogel acquired?”
Jolphyr pointed to the fallen casket. “Our pilots found this container amongst the wreckage of the Prosperine space vessel that was launched into Eridanus. I believed the sword had been placed inside the casket for protection. Before I brought it to you, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a trap.” The Bikashi’s forehead shone with perspiration. “Our scientists couldn’t find any way to get inside, and it resisted my more direct efforts. There is not so much as a scratch on its surface. So, I set a trap to bring this one to Auriga. I thought she would know how to open it.”
The Supreme Ruler rubbed the top of his nose. “I see at least part of your plan worked.” He nodded at the casket.
Jolphyr glanced at the container lying on the floor. “The pod is open, yes, but it is empty.”
The Warlord’s eyes flicked to the casket again.
The Science Directorate drew himself up to his full height of six feet six inches. “I have failed you, my lord, and I will accept the consequences. But it is vital you understand the import of the message transmitted by the Bikashi supreme commander Vogel before he was vanquished by the Earth people. In its primary form, the Commander told us the sword is a weapon of great power created by the Segniori, a superior race who lived on the planet Prosperine long before the current inhabitants. The legends say a strong ruler can wield the weapon and bend it to his will. This leader will be invulnerable to harm, and the sword will grant him victory over all enemies.”
“This is the stuff of fantasy, Jolphyr. Is this all you have to say? You do not believe such nonsense.” The Warlord’s voice was filled with sarcasm, but he wore a thoughtful look as he glanced once more at the capsule.
“I trust Vogel’s honor, Lord. A truly strong Bikashi leader might achieve great things if he possessed this weapon. And, there is one further note sent by Vogel.” Jolphyr’s lizard-like eyes blinked rapidly.
The Warlord shifted his gaze to Hickory. “Go on.”
“Vogel believed if it were used by one with knowledge, the Sword would enable a ship to travel between the stars much faster by far than the technology we now possess.”
The leader’s eyes glittered. “Well, Captain Lace, what did you do with the Sword of Connat?”
Hickory’s heart beat so fast she felt sure they would hear.
“Perhaps I should call you Bertha? I have been watching with amusement as you work your magic on Sabrina. Now you will reveal the secret to your disappearing trick.”
Hickory wondered if the Warlord had known she was not from the Village ever since she arrived in Kaffur. Had someone betrayed her, or was Kabutai playing mind games? “There is no trick. If you do not see the Sword, it is because you are not worthy.”
The Warlord laughed, a grating, grunting sound that sent Hickory’s nerves jangling. “You are fortunate I must attend to this slave uprising; otherwise, I would deal with you now. Still, a night in the cells will loosen your tongues.” He signaled to four of his troops. “Lock them up.”
#
Gareth strained against the manacles pinning him to the ground, but to no avail. He looked around the cell. It was small and overcrowded. He counted thirteen, all Mitanni servants recaptured in their failed escape bid. He muttered to himself, “At least we managed to free the Yatzi, and most of the Mitanni are safe.”
Hickory switched to her SIM. We’re not done with yet, junior. Kabutai is hooked. He wants to learn the secrets of the Sword, so we’re safe—for a while. Use your SIM, this place is probably bugged, and I don’t want our friends here more worried than they are already. She understood the reason they still had their comms implants was the Bikashi knew of only one way to extract them which would result in their deaths. At the moment, they were more valuable alive.
So, was it some kind of magic trick, Cap? I’d be very impressed if you said yes.
Was the Teacher a magician, Gareth? He always had a rational explanation for what seemed like magic, didn’t he? No, the Sword is still in the capsule, shielded from the eyes of Jolphyr and the Warlord for the moment, although that may not last long. You remember how the capsule pulsated with light? You would have recognized that as a result of atoms or molecules becoming excited, but I discovered there was more to the sparks’ behavior. When I used my empathic power to detect any sentience within the capsule, I found nothing mortal, but I did sense intelligence and I was able to communicate with it.
Gareth’s mouth fell open. He blurted out, “Was it the Teacher?”
Hickory didn’t answer immediately. It had been a bittersweet moment. Initially, she’d felt sad then liberated, because her travail had come to an end and she didn’t have to wonder anymore, didn’t have to hold the candle until he came home to her.
Then, she’d found a part of the Teacher still remained.
For a moment, I did think the Teacher had spoken to me, and in a way he had. At Gareth’s look of horror, she smiled. Let me go back a bit. There was no physical presence—that’s gone forever. No, it was something much more ephemeral. Call it his ghost or his spirit if you want, although that doesn’t quite describe what I sensed. She paused, searching for the words to explain her experience. It was as though the central part of his existence had been distilled down to its essence after his mortal coil had been stripped away and was now present in the sparks.
The sparks spoke to you? Gareth couldn’t hide his disbelief.
Hickory sighed heavily. For heaven’s sake, Gareth. Stop being so literal. My empathic senses, coupled with my SIM, translated the sparks’ activity to something I could understand. I suppose you could say they spoke to my mind, yes. I sensed the sparks’ behavior had a distinctive pattern to it. At the first sign of danger, they formed into nanocrystals and began to vibrate intensely. Each cell reflected different wavelengths, such as yellow, orange or red, to match the walls of the capsule. This hid the Sword from the view of any potential attacker, much like a chameleon’s camouflage. When I opened the capsule and caused it to fall, the sparks activated their defensive pattern.
Gareth laughed with relief. Science was something he understood, parapsychology not so much. So, it’s still in the box, but if the sparks sense the danger is past, they will revert to their normal pattern. How long do you think we have before it’s discovered?
Not long. A few hours at most.
Gareth shook his manacles. I don’t suppose you’ve another magic trick up your sleeve to get us out of these.
Hickory smiled and reverted to normal speech. “A good magician is always prepared, junior.” There was much more to learn about the sparks, she thought. It was strange, but in a way, she felt the Teacher was protecting the Sword.
#
The sounds of distant battle reached the cell, the blast of laser rifles and shock pistols heard above the shouts of Bikashi soldiers and the commands of security forces to clear the area.
A pungent trail of smoke wafted down the corridor into the cell.
Hickory coughed as it caught her throat and her eyes began to sting. “Gas. Everybody cover your faces.” The Mitanni followed her example, wrapping their cloaks around their heads.
Anyar, d
o you hear me? Tell me what’s happening.
<
You must surrender, Anyar. Save as many of your Yatzi as you can. Your task is finished, and you have done well, my friend.
<
Renewed bursts of gunfire thundered along the corridor. Hickory risked a peep from under her cloak. The gas had dispersed, at least for now.
No, Anyar. Gareth has taken most of the Mitanni out of the city. Please give yourselves up. I will return for you, I promise. You must not die needlessly.
Anyar gurgled. <
Hickory buried her face in her hands as tears streamed down her face, not all from the effect of the gas.
Gareth held her shoulder awkwardly. “Cap, Anyar is she…?”
“The Bikashi want them taken, alive. Anyar and her people are being squeezed between two arms of the enemy as they push toward them. All they have are a few weapons retrieved from their dead enemies, not enough to make a difference. Anyar says the Yatzi will not allow themselves to be recaptured. Gareth, I’m afraid. I don’t think she will survive.”
#
Around midnight, a massive explosion shook the building, followed by a second. The crack of continuous weapon fire split the air.
“What’s going on?” said Gareth, trying to calm the Mitanni. “Those first two blasts sounded like rockets. The Bikashi wouldn’t fire those in the citadel, not if they wanted to take the Yatzi alive.”
Hickory concentrated on picking up any signals from the Yatzis. “As far as I can make out, the Bikashi have fired on their own people.” She raised her eyebrows at Gareth. Finally, she located Anyar.
<
It took a while for the Yatzi to calm down enough for Hickory to get a sensible picture of what had transpired. “Sikona arrived in one of the troop carriers from the Czirpitz,” she told Gareth. “He fired two rockets into the jet hangar and then landed a dozen armed resistance soldiers behind the Bikashi troops. They strafed the security forces with cannon fire and airlifted Anyar and what remains of her people to Sikona’s ship. They’re on their way out now.”
Gareth rattled the bars of the prison and shouted, “Way to go, Sikona! I never doubted you for a second,” He glanced sheepishly at Hickory. “Well, maybe for a second or two. I wish I could get out of here and help.”
Anyar contacted Hickory. <>
CHAPTER 23
Freedom
Hickory heard the concubine approach. Every few steps, Sabrina would pause and listen for anyone who might be following her. She was afraid and out of breath. This is so foreign to her. She must be terrified. It’s a massive risk for her merely being here.
“Mistress, over here,” Hickory called.
The Bikashi female stopped and cocked her head. “Hickory, is that you?” She tip-toed over to the cell grill and looked inside.
Hickory smiled as she approached, then her forehead creased with worry. Sabrina’s face was puffed with one eye almost shut. “Sabrina, what are you doing here? This is no place for a lady.”
The concubine shuffled over to the cell door and gripped the bars. “Then it is no place for you either, my dear one.”
“What happened to you?” Hickory stroked her cheek with the back of her hand.
Sabrina shook her head. “It is nothing. After Sikona rescued Anyar and her Yatzis, I foolishly decided to pick up a few things I’d left behind before coming here to you. Forgive my naivete, Hickory. Kabutai discovered me and punished me for having the temerity to defend my human friends. He has been eavesdropping on our conversations. My Lord has decided he has no further use for my services.”
Do the Bikashi shed tears? wondered Hickory. She couldn’t see any sign of emotion on the face of Sabrina, but she sensed her deep distress. How does she release her pain? I have a lot more to learn about these people.
“He sent me away. He told me to return to my parents’ farm in the west until he finds the time to deal with me. He intends for me to die there, hidden from other’s eyes. But I will not. I was trying to find you, and I lost my way. So, I returned to the hangar hoping to meet Sikona there. When I heard some Bikashi speak of you. I convinced them to tell me where you were. So here I am.” She rocked the gate back and forth. “How do I release you from this prison?”
For a second, Hickory thought the Bikashi was so upset she would wrench the door off its hinges, but the metal proved the stronger.
“Sabrina, Jess will be on her way to the city soon. I want you to return once more to the hangar and explain to her how to find us. Oh, and tell her to bring guns.”
#
Hickory, I’m on approach to the city. ETA is fifteen minutes. Hope the hangar doors are still navigable after Sikona’s little sortie.
Great to hear from you, Jess. Hickory signaled to Gareth to switch on his SIM. Sabrina said you should be fine to land. She’ll be waiting for you. What’s the latest on the Mitanni?
A bit of bad news there, I’m afraid. Jesque, the servant-master decided not to come with us after all. Aslexis saw him carrying a laser pistol into his room. We tried to speak with him but the door was locked. Otherwise, all are safe and accounted for except for the thirteen with you.
What about Vaques? messaged Gareth.
He’s here, keeping his head down, but he hasn’t gone unnoticed. There’s someone here who’d like to say hello to you.
<
Anyar, what are you doing? I thought Sikona took you and your people home to the fern forest. Hickory’s chest tightened. Mentally, she’d crossed Anyar off her list of things and people to worry about. The Yatzi had done more than their share. She didn’t want Anyar placed in any further danger. She sensed the Yatzi’s confusion.
<
Jess cut into the conversation. Look I don’t know what you said to Anyar, although I can guess from her expression. Sikona took all the Yatzi people home and Anyar spoke at length with Ogrid to ensure the rescued captives were cared for until she returns. But Anyar refused to stay while you were in danger. Sikona didn’t have much choice except to take her with him to the Czirpitz. If I hadn’t offered to bring her with me to pick you up, I’m sure she would have tried to pilot a plane herself. She’s a pretty determined girl. We’ve agreed she will wait here in the ship until I return with you and the others.
Hickory felt a lump in her throat. Anyar. Thank you for coming. Please take care. I will see you soon.
#
“Any trouble?” Hickory asked Jess as her shackles clattered to the ground.
“I avoided most of it, thanks to Sabrina. None of the guards were keen to query why she was meeting a Lakedweller in the spaceship hangar. I asked her to wait on board with Anyar until we got back. She made a very sorry picture. I have to say I never thought I’d feel sorry for a Bikashi.” Jess helped Gareth to his feet. “How’s the leg, boyo?” she asked.
Gareth held on to her shoulder and hobbled to the door. “Jolphyr’s man cut me deep, mother. But I can manage.” He exhaled a long breath.
“You’ll be right when you get back on board the Czirpitz.” She pursed her lips together then stooped to help release the Mitanni. “Right, everyone, let’s get moving.”
Hickory ushered the humans forward. “If I don’t meet you in the hanger in half an hou
r, you’re to fly out of here.”
“Hickory—”
“Jess, there’s no point. If I’m not there, I’m dead.”
“Why don’t you leave it, the Sword I mean. We’ve got the Lakedwellers out, isn’t that enough?”
Hickory smiled. “You know I can’t do that. I can’t leave it in the hands of the Warlord, and I have a strong premonition I’ll need it if I ever get back home.”
Gareth limped over, sweat covering his face. “Then I’m coming with you.”
Jess’s face was like thunder. “You? What help would you be? Look at you, you can hardly walk. And what would Jenny say? She’d never forgive me. No, you’re coming with me, boyo.” She gripped his arm.
Hickory waited until they’d gone out of sight, then headed to the Science Block.
Keep in touch, messaged Jess.
#
Hickory pushed her back against the wall, using her empathic sense to warn when anyone approached. She avoided being seen by melting into doorways and dodging along alternative corridors. This place is like a maze, an anthill. With very big ants. She gripped the sword Jess had given her. It had a nice feel and fitted well in her hand, but she hoped she’d never have to use it.
When she arrived at the Science Block, factory workers were entering and leaving. She checked the time on her SIM. Jess should almost be at the spaceport. Ten minutes, fifteen at the outside. She crouched down as a delivery vehicle pulled up outside the doors. The driver heaved a sack over his shoulder and jogged past the door security detail.
Hickory scurried over to the rear of the truck, grabbed hold of a sack, and pulled it onto her shoulder. She hid her head behind it as she passed by the guards.
Two Bikashi were working in the lab, scientists busily examining a computer readout at the far end of the room. Hickory looked around for the casket. She pushed with her empathic power and located the energy particles’ signature. Through that door.
The door slid open and she crept inside. A harsh cackle greeted her. Jolphyr!
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