by Zen DiPietro
He liked working for her. For a guy who made a living by providing tactical protection, actually liking an employer was a big deal. He felt a loyalty to Magistrate Trewe that did not feel like a burden, but weighed on him all the same.
Bare-chested and wearing only a pair of shorts, Will sat up and began stretching his tired muscles as he cooled down. After a quick shower, he donned a loose, casual pair of pants and shirt, then used the comm panel in his room to order a large meal for delivery. He always felt hungry after a good workout, and eating was a good way to pass the time while he waited to hear from the magistrate.
In his room, Luc reclined on the settee and stared sightlessly at the wall. He hadn’t anticipated the destruction of another town. He’d been naive to hope that the event at Umi Cabal had been an isolated incident. No, it had been a conceit, because there were no means of even trying to combat something—someone—so powerful. He understood far better than the two young men just how much mana the feat had taken, and how deranged a person must be to try to wield it. That burden of knowledge weighed on him like an anvil anchored at the end of a noose that hung around his neck.
By nature, Terath brimmed with the lush resplendence of teeming life. The majority of the planet—the mid-lats—flourished with trees and grasses, flowers and shrubs. Part of that fruitful abundance was the gift of mana. Terath, life, and mana formed a trio so tightly intertwined there was no way to tease one part away from the other two. Like trying to remove one strand from a braid, Terathian society required unity of the three. The use of mana to extinguish life was so unfathomable to Luc that it wounded the most fundamental part of his soul. Seeing Umi Cabal had forever changed him. If he were anything less than what he was, seeing Sorrow today would have broken him.
The questions and grief chased one another around his mind until the comm panel in front of him chimed. He suddenly realized the sun had descended and he now sat in darkness.
He took a moment to compose himself, then answered the chime.
Ina Trewe appeared on the small viewscreen. Luc felt some of the pressure in him relax at the sight of her. She was a gift in his life he was sure he hadn’t earned, but he nonetheless thanked nature every day. She’d arranged her dark hair into a sleek chignon, which showcased the fair-skinned features he didn’t see enough of on a daily, or even monthly, basis. Like Luc, she was past middle age, but she wore her age like a crown, exuding an elegance that increasing years only enhanced. Her skin did not betray her with wrinkles, but small laugh lines around her mouth showed good humor not currently in evidence. Luc recognized the subtle strain of worry in her deep brown eyes.
In quick succession, Will’s and Arc’s images joined Ina’s on the viewscreen. Luc was satisfied to see that both of the young men looked less tense than they had upon arriving at the station.
“Magistrate.” Luc greeted her formally.
“Luc.” A ghost of a smile hovered on her lips. Her gaze shifted almost imperceptibly in a movement familiar to those who’d grown up using comm panels for group exchanges. “Will, Arc.” She studied the two young men intently, drawing Luc’s attention to the same task. His current colleagues had few traits in common. Arc predated Will by a decade or so, though both were young men in his estimation. Will’s coloring was a deep golden brown while Arc’s skin was somewhat fair and his hair was a tawny brown. Arc’s eyes were mossy green, compared to Will’s practically black ones, and his roguish goatee contrasted with Will’s close shave. Though Luc knew they stood at a similar height, Will’s build was broad and thick while Arc’s was long-limbed and lean. Luc wondered if Ina had noticed some detail that he hadn’t perceived. She possessed a particular gift for divining details unseen by others that he respected and trusted.
With the perfunctory greetings over, Luc took charge of the conference and explained what they’d found in Sorrow.
The magistrate’s mouth curved downward. “You’re sure it’s the same as Umi Cabal?”
“I am.” Luc’s tone was resolute.
A long exhale escaped her, and she remained silent for several moments. Rather than rushing to fill the silence, the men respectfully waited for her next words.
She lifted her chin. “Since the people of Solace know nothing of what happened to Sorrow, we need to look elsewhere for answers. I want the three of you to travel up to the northern Sub-Apex. If there are rogue manahi with devastating ability, they’d need a place to avoid detection. The only place they could possibly do that would be Sub-Apex or Apex.”
Luc had spent quite a bit of time in both the southern and the northern Sub-Apex, but he doubted the other two men had. Unlike the middle latitudes, where the weather was temperate year-round and food was so plentiful that nearly every plant was edible, Sub-Apex presented far less hospitable conditions. The northern Sub-Apex was dry, cold, dusty, and nearly barren. Its only inhabitants lived in a number of small, rustic mining towns. Further to the north, the northern Apex itself was frigid, rocky, and completely uninhabited. The southern Sub-Apex and Apex were different, but no more welcoming.
Luc tapped a finger against the arm of the settee while he considered. “I’ll see we’re properly equipped for Sub-Apex, and we’ll get underway. For what it’s worth, I think we’re looking for one manahi, not a group. I could be wrong, but my instinct suggests the lingering mana signature belongs only to one individual manahi.”
“You’re not often wrong.” The magistrate’s attention flickered to her side panel and back. “I know a reader and a shiv justice with unique talents useful to this investigation. I’m assigning them to your team and will have them meet you at your current location. They might strike you as unorthodox, but they have my complete confidence. Just as you three have my confidence in your own areas of expertise.”
The two young men exchanged a look, and Luc hoped he’d done a better job of hiding his own surprise. They’d all assumed that they would be the only three on this mission. Luc supposed that that served him right for making assumptions.
Ina Trewe ignored their reactions. “On my authority, I formally sanction the five of you to do what must be done. Standard protocol does not apply to you. Dig, push, and do whatever is necessary to find the person who destroyed Sorrow. I forbid you to fail.” She let her statement resonate for a moment before she continued.
“It’s imperative you talk to no one about this investigation but myself. I am not informing the Council of my actions just yet. You five are the only people authorized to have this information. Use discretion in all of your actions and conversations.”
She stared each man down, then inclined her head slightly. “Keep me posted.” She touched the side panel and closed the comm channel.
Luc stared at the darkened screen. “I will.”
Will loved monorail stations. In just one place, he could shop, do his banking, visit the hospital, have dinner, and get a ride to the other side of the planet. He’d never done all of those things in one visit, but it was nice to know he had the option.
This particular station housed a talented group of local artists, likely from Solace. They displayed their works for people to admire, and if the artist was lucky, to buy.
Being an avid admirer of art, albeit a total failure at creating it, Will was pleased to spend his morning perusing the offerings. Examining the artwork in the gallery hall relieved his mind momentarily of the burdens he carried. He was admiring a particularly intriguing sculpture of a nude male holding a ladder when the back of his neck prickled. He sensed someone standing directly behind him, and he immediately felt uncomfortable and alert. He focused on the sculpture and sidestepped around the display, under the guise of examining the art from another perspective. He adjusted his stance to allow him to see the newcomer in his peripheral vision.
Fine, light blue hair grazed the woman’s jawline in a blunt bob. The unusual shade was surprisingly well-sui
ted to her whiskey-colored eyes and lightly tanned complexion. She was a good bit shorter than he was, and in her mid-twenties, he estimated. She wore a long, casual dress that did not shy away from the curves underneath. His appraisal skidded to a stop when he noticed her wide mouth curving into an even wider smile. Like his own, her gaze remained on the artwork, but she nonetheless had realized that he was studying her. And she apparently found it amusing.
He straightened and began to move toward another art display.
“You don’t like it?” the woman questioned.
He really didn’t want to talk to her, but didn’t want to be rude. Will re-oriented himself back toward her and the art. “I do. The lines are fluid but convey a great deal of energy. I have to wonder about his plan for the ladder.”
Her enthusiastic nod sent her hair swinging gently. “Yes, energy. Male energy. This piece has definite appeal for anyone who enjoys nudes of men, as you do.”
He nodded politely, then froze when he considered the potential subtext of her words. He didn’t care for the familiarity she’d assumed.
He looked straight into her eyes for the first time, and her smile grew wide again. As he struggled for a proper response, she chuckled.
“Never mind. It’s nice to meet you, Will Azrith. I’m Izzy Gin, your reader for this adventure.”
Surprised at being addressed by his name, Will began, “How did you . . . ?” then stopped. “Ah. I’m afraid I haven’t known many readers.” No doubt her professional skills had allowed her to identify him. Magistrate Trewe also might have sent her an image of him via the comm.
“Don’t worry about it.” She made a dismissive gesture. “If you accidentally say something rude, I’ll let you know.”
Will rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, thanks, I suppose.”
Izzy Gin tossed her head back and laughed. The joyful sound caused others to look up and smile.
“One thing you’ll learn about readers, Will Azrith, is that we like to needle people a little when we first meet them to get a baseline of their basic emotions and reactions. It gives us better insight into reading them and makes us better able to do our job. Plus, it’s really fun.” She offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“Not at all,” he replied, regaining his equilibrium. “It’s nice to meet you, and I look forward to working with you.” He offered his hand.
She glanced at the hand, then up to his face. A tiny, mysterious smile flickered and disappeared. She gave him a firm handshake, but he somehow felt as if she thought it was funny, and he didn’t get the joke. The effect was mildly vexing.
Will escorted Izzy Gin to Luc’s room on the other side of the station. They had all agreed to meet there to discuss their next steps. Will felt a brief moment of surprise when Arc, instead of Luc, admitted them into the room. All four of them converged in the center of it for handshakes and greetings.
The reader’s demeanor shifted to one of professionalism as she greeted and briefly chatted with Luc. Then she shifted again to relaxed-and-friendly with Arc. The other two men seemed at ease with her, while Will wondered if she might be mentally unbalanced. Were her personality shifts a common trait among readers? He needed to do some research.
“And the shiv?” Luc asked. “I thought the two of you would arrive together, but now I realize that no one actually said that you would.”
“We did, actually, so your assumption was correct.” Izzy Gin adjusted her small backpack. “He traveled with a little baggage and took a few minutes to stow it. I tend to travel light.”
“We’ll require a good deal of extra gear for this trip. Sub-Apex is not as harsh as Apex, but it’s far less pleasant than the mid-lats.”
“I’ve been there once, but only briefly. Just let me know what you need me to handle.”
“I’ve been there a few times, myself,” Arc said. “Every now and then, I’m contacted by a group of people who want me to take them on an expedition into Sub-Apex. But after a night or two of camping there, they always cut the trip short.” Instead of seeming vexed by it, Arc seemed to find the trend amusing.
The door signal chimed and they all looked toward it. Will felt a leap of excitement, because it must be the shiv. As a boy, he’d idolized the shiv order, and he was looking forward to working with a member that was not only a shiv, but a justice as well.
“One thing,” Izzy Gin said, “before you meet the shiv. He prefers to wear full shoka, so, as you know, he won’t speak directly to you.”
“Won’t that make it hard for him to work with us?” Will didn’t want to be rude, but it sounded like a significant hindrance. Full shoka meant wearing a hood and gloves, with only the eyes showing. It seemed like an awfully strange choice for working in a group. Besides, Will had been looking forward to having conversations with the shiv. No one knew more about weapons and combat than a shiv, and Will had several questions he’d wanted to ask. He was disappointed that he wouldn’t get the opportunity.
Izzy Gin’s attention shifted to him. “He can communicate via hand comm, gestures, even paper and pen if it comes to that. Of course, I’m here to assist as well. As I’m sure you know, justices and readers frequently work together to ensure a just adjudication.” She smiled at the three men reassuringly. “I’ve worked with this justice before. There’s none better.”
“Traveling with one will be useful,” Luc mused. “We should receive easy cooperation from whomever we meet.”
Will considered the potential benefits of having a justice along for their investigation, in spite of a lack of enlightening conversation. The door chimed again.
Will watched Izzy Gin escort the black-clad figure to meet the rest of the group in the middle of Luc’s increasingly-crowded room. The only feature he could discern was a pair of deep blue eyes.
She indicated each one of the men. “Justice, these are Arc, Luc, and Will.”
Like most children, Will had grown up admiring the shivs’ traditional shoka outfit. Loose pants paired with a wrapped, long-sleeved top to create a sleek outfit that allowed for great range of movement. Every person on Terath associated the shoka with both lawfulness and lethalness.
Shokas came in many colors, but Will most admired the black. He knew it was the traditional color for full shoka. Obscuring one’s individuality allowed a shiv to become the embodiment of justice. It was just that kind of extreme behavior that had discouraged Will from trying to become a shiv, himself.
The shiv nodded at his new colleagues.
“Magistrate Trewe briefed us on you three, so the justice and I already have some basic knowledge of you,” Izzy Gin explained to the men. “Although he does not speak while in full shoka the justice hears just fine, so don’t forget he’s there.” Her lips quirked as if recalling something humorous.
Each man offered a greeting to the justice, who did not offer to shake hands.
Arc peered at the shiv. “So . . . no name, either? Not to be rude, but we’ll be working and traveling together for who knows how long. A name would help.”
Will wouldn’t have voiced that opinion, though he shared it. Perhaps these oddities were what Magistrate Trewe had cautioned them about. “Unorthodox,” he believed she’d said.
“‘Justice’ will do just fine,” Izzy Gin announced.
Arc shrugged. “If it’s fine with the justice, it’s fine with me.”
“Shall we sit and discuss our plans?” Luc interjected.
As they sat down together, Will tried to act as though he sat down with a manahi, a shiv, and a reader every day. Maybe they didn’t find it unusual to interact with one another, but for him, the situation was almost surreal. He could only imagine what the coming days would bring.
Luc, Arc, and Will sat on the settee while the justice and Izzy Gin occupied the room’s two chairs
. While Luc outlined the provisions and the route he had planned, Arc took the time to observe the shiv.
He’d noted that the shiv nearly matched his own height, which was slightly taller than average for a man. The justice’s build was leaner than Will’s, though Arc supposed not all practitioners of edged weapons had to be built like an oak. Besides a pair of blue eyes, there was little else to assess, though Arc did perceive a sense of peace. Though he didn’t know if that was a real sense or if he was simply projecting his own expectations.
As he studied the shiv, a tingle roved across Arc’s arms. He shook them out. He often felt antsy before setting out to travel and would be glad when they could get underway. He was looking forward to experiencing their journey into Sub-Apex. This group certainly wasn’t going to turn around after just a day or two.
He liked Izzy Gin. She seemed competent and self-assured. Partnering with a shiv, particularly a justice in full shoka, must be an interesting experience. He imagined the reader had plenty of stories, and hoped he’d be able to tease a few of them out of her.
The reader’s eyes cut suddenly to Arc, as though she followed his line of thought. Rather than be embarrassed by her scrutiny, Arc offered her his own smile and reclined comfortably back into the settee. As he did, he noticed Luc studying the shiv with particular intensity.
“Good, then.” Luc rose to his feet. “The rest of the supplies will be delivered by mid-morning. We’ll meet for lunch, then set out for Sub-Apex.”