Drowned by Fire (Tales of a Dying Star Book 4)

by David Kristoph

  A boy.

  The child was seven or eight, with short curled hair and freckled skin. He wore the white uniform of the pilot Academy, and his hands were bound with rope. A second boy, no older than four, followed from the doorway, clutching the first's leg.

  "Jon, I'm scared," the smaller one said.

  "It's okay," Jon said. "Just hold my hand."

  Spider pushed them away from the door as more emerged. Two girls and three more boys, all students, bound at the wrist with wire. A tall woman escorting her frail grandfather, followed by a man and woman with scarlet hair. More students after that. Finally two Academy Instructors--Katy recognized them by their uniforms--with Onero taking up the rear. The Instructors bore the wounds of battle; one cradled his limp arm, while the other bled from her shoulder.

  "Follow Spider there to the other side of the roof," Onero ordered. "Do as you're told and I promise he won't bite." The line of captives shuffled forward, disappearing into the foliage.

  Fifteen steadfasts, bound and captured. Mother help us! Katy fell in beside Onero. "I thought you were going to get food."

  "Oh, we did. Spider has a bag of vegetables and fruit." He frowned. "No potatoes, though."

  Katy held back a curse. "You know what I mean. What are we doing with them?"

  "We stumbled upon them by the food," he said. "Couldn't very well leave them behind to tell others where we are."

  "You could have killed them," Katy said. She knew she sounded bitter but didn't care. "When I find a little girl on the roof I'm supposed to shoot first, but when you and Spider find a whole damned classroom you bring them up as hostages?"

  The Academy Instructor, a middle-aged woman with hard lines on her face, turned around and looked at them, alarmed. Onero gestured with his rifle and she continued walking.

  "Why should the ground forces have all the fun?" he asked, pushing aside a tall fern. "Conversions are the true battle, making them see the glory of our Mother. Especially the young ones--they've the best potential to see the truth, their mind not yet tainted by the false god's lies."

  The little girl on the rooftop had just as much potential, but Katy did not give voice to the thought. Let your rifle speak.

  Spider and Milana instructed the captives to sit on the ground in the clearing by the fire pit. The tall woman helped the old man to the ground, where he began mumbling to himself. Jarl unbuckled himself from the seat to turn around and watch, confused. When they were all huddled together Spider pulled a cloth bag from his back, shuffling through it with one hand before pulling out a big red pepper. He picked up a stick from the ground, speared the pepper, and held it over the fire to cook.

  Milana grabbed two fist-sized vegetables from the bag and tossed one to Katy. It looked like a tiny green tree, with a thick trunk and leafy branches covered in seeds. Katy bit into it uncooked. It tasted crisp and earthy.

  The female Instructor cleared her throat. "Please do not harm the students. Do anything to me or the other adults, but I beg you, do not--"

  "Quiet," Onero said. Her lips closed tight.

  He walked around the cluster of steadfasts, shaking his head when Spider offered him food. The only sound was the soft hum of the gas fire, and the old man mumbling to himself, incoherent. Onero circled the captives twice before stopping between them and the fire, casting his long shadow across them. His soft voice carried across the roof.

  "Imagine you are a Mother caring for your children. You've brought them into this world, nurturing them as they grow. They're the only thing that matters to you. They're an extension of yourself. You would do anything for them. Tirelessly, unappreciated, you rise and give them what they need day after day. Because that is what it means to be a Mother.

  "And then, after so much love and caring, a man comes along and takes them from you. Declares that the children are his, that you are not fit to raise them, that you are no Mother at all. He points his finger and accuses you, and everyone believes his lies. But that is not the worst of it. He claims you are dying, and insists you will kill your children before you go! So he takes your children and prepares to flee with them, to leave you behind, alone abandoned."

  Onero paused for effect. "No Mother would ever harm her children. Especially not ours. Our Mother is a god of flame and fire. Without her there is only darkness, deep and endless. But in her embrace is light!"

  He stepped aside to reveal the fire. Katy raised a hand to shield her eyes along with all the others, awestruck. Onero was most captivating when he preached.

  "The false god is dead, killed by Saria's own wrath. He has stolen our Mother's children from her, filling their ears with promises and lies. We are here in your inner city only to tear down the idea of the Emperor, to restore our Mother to her rightful glory. Soon you will see that His Luminance is a lie. We do not wish to harm any of you. We are here for peace. In the coming days all who accept Mother Saria into their hearts and eyes will be spared."

  The old man began thrashing, his mumbled words growing louder. The tall woman looped her bound arms over him, pulling him to her chest and whispering in his ear. Onero glared at them, annoyed at being interrupted, but before he could do anything one of the small boys spoke.

  "But Saria is going to die. All stars die eventually."

  Onero smiled. He was waiting for that, Katy thought. He walked over to the boy and crouched down. "What's your name?"

  He stuck out his chin. "Cairne."

  "Cairne, how do you know all stars die?"

  "Everyone knows it. It's what we're taught in school."

  Onero cocked his head. "And how do the teachers know? None of them have ever seen a star die, have they? Have you seen a star die?"

  The boy had no answer.

  "How do they claim she will die, Cairne?"

  Hesitantly, the boy said, "When she runs out of fuel for her fire she will expand, growing really big."

  In the firelight Onero smiled. "If she runs out of fuel, how can she expand? Does that make sense to you, Cairne?"

  The male Instructor spoke up. "It's more complex than that. When hydrogen fuses into helium..."

  Spider casually aimed his rifle. The Instructor fell silent.

  "Do you know," Onero continued, "any animals that grow when they die? I don't. Beetles, birds, dogs... they all shrink and shrivel in death. Even people, when they grow old." He nodded at the old man, still mumbling in the tall woman's arms. "So how does it make sense that our sun, our Mother, would expand?"

  He rose. "It doesn't make sense because it is a lie, and a poor one. Mother Saria will not expand or shrivel or anything else men claim. She is constant, the only unchanging thing anyone has ever known. Men live and die, false Emperors come and go, but she burns day after day, bathing us in her light."

  Onero went to the fire, standing beside it where he wouldn't block the flame. "There is only one true sun. Every other star in the sky is but a pinprick compared to ours. Starlight does nothing to fight the darkness, whereas Saria casts it away in full. No, all those other stars are illusions. They are not real. Everything the Emperor tells you--Saria's death, the Exodus Fleet--is meant to keep you in the dark, ignorant and afraid. Our Mother is the only thing that gives us light.

  "But fear not!" he suddenly cried, spreading his arms. "You have been lied to your entire lives. It is not your fault. We will forgive all who renounce the false god and accept Saria as their Mother. We are all her Children, and all you need do is speak the words to acknowledge her glory."

  The old man's protests grew more violent. He kicked his legs, thrashing onto the ground sideways, "...the Emperor, I... His Luminance... Emperor must live..."

  "Calm him down," Milana said, pointing her rifle. The two scarlet-haired captives turned around and helped stop his thrashing, but his mumbling continued until one of them filled his mouth with cloth.

  "It may be too late for him," Onero chuckled, "but the rest of you are not so old and brittle. Bend to us, speak the words and declare Saria your God, and y
ou will be allowed to go free. Now, who will be the first?"

  For a long moment the captives said nothing. They looked at one-another, waiting to see if anyone would rise. None of them want to be the first, Katy thought, tensing. The longer the silence stretched the more Onero's face darkened. He picked up his rifle from the ground and took a deep breath.

  This is going to be bad.

  Katy stepped forward. She grabbed the female Instructor by the arm and pulled her to her feet. "Save your students, set an example," Katy hissed in her ear as they approached Onero. She let go and stepped aside, leaving the Instructor standing in front of him. Everyone watched, transfixed by her, waiting to see what she would do.

  To Katy's relief the woman went to her knees.

  Onero smiled. "What is your name?"

  "Karrana."

  "Repeat these words: I, Karrana, renounce my false god of flesh and bone."

  "I, Karrana, renounce my false god of flesh and bone."

  "There is only one God, our Mother of light and fire."

  "There is only one God, our Mother of light and fire."

  "Declare your love for Her," Onero cried, "giver of light, birther of life."

  Katy watched the cluster of students. They seemed a jumble of emotions, confused and worried, eyes wide as their Instructor spoke the words before the fire. The old man no longer fought against the others; he'd been subdued and now appeared to be sleeping.

  "Go forth in her warmth," Onero cried as he reached the crescendo, arms raised high. "Walk in the light as one of her Children!"

  His voice rang across the rooftop and off the adjacent buildings, echoing in the flickering darkness. Karrana rose and returned to the group, hanging her head, defeated.

  That's fine, Katy thought, so long as the ceremony is performed. The Children knew converting the older steadfasts would be slow, that they would cling to their belief in the Emperor. Fine. Speaking the words was enough for now, even if they were hollow. The younger steadfasts were who mattered, the future of the Children. Hooking them early was the important part.

  And hook them it did. A small girl came forward next, kneeling as Karrana had and repeating Onero's words. After her they approached quickly, each one eager to be next. Onero converted the rest all at once, each student saying the words in time, a chorus of glory for their Mother.

  Only four had not spoken, or risen from their places at all: the tall woman, her grandfather, and the two with red hair. "Come," Onero beckoned to them when the students were converted. "Join the rest in acceptance. You will find it is quite easy."

  They remained seated. The two with red hair put their heads together, speaking softly. The woman began to rise, but the man grabbed her arm and pulled her down. More arguing, until finally the tall woman said something that calmed the others.

  The two with red hair looked bitter, but they stood. They came forward and repeated the words after Onero before returning to the group.

  Onero stared at the tall woman, his face hidden in shadow. "It is your turn, and his," he said.

  Gently, the tall woman laid her grandfather on the ground. His eyes remained open, looking around wildly. Mother is she tall, Katy thought as she stood. She would match one of the Shieldwardens for height.

  "I will speak the words," she said, stepping toward the fire.

  Onero held up a hand. "Bring him too."

  "He is in no shape," she said. "As you can see he is wracked with terrible fits. He can speak the words later, when he is well."

  "He will speak the words now," Onero said, "or he will not live to watch our Mother rise."

  The woman hesitated. She watched the old man, and Katy saw a look pass between her and the red-haired pair on the ground. Something's wrong. Katy didn't know what was going to happen but she held her rifle tight.

  The tall woman turned back to Onero. She stood very still, and for a long moment Katy thought she would attack. Onero eyed his rifle where it lay on the ground as if he wished it were in his hands. Milana tensed. Spider outright aimed his gun at the captives.

  Jarl broke the silence, his voice echoing across the roof. "Onero, aircraft scrambling."

  Chapter 18

  Onero whirled toward the operator. "Where?"

  "East, past the Chain. Headed toward our line of batteries."

  Onero grabbed his gun. "Spider, with me. Katy, Milana, take cover and watch the prisoners."

  Katy looked around. Although they were fifty feet away from the laser battery, the captives were exposed on the open roof. The gardened side would provide more cover... and also make it harder to watch the prisoners. "Onero," she called, "we need to take them downstairs, away from this."

  "I want them to see. They need to know the Empire's forces cannot save them."

  "They'll be easier for us to guard downstairs. There's only two of us, and fifteen of them."

  "Onero," Jarl called, "the aircraft are thirty seconds out." Katy could hear the distant rumble of aircraft engines. Were those the friendly craft in the west, or the approaching enemies in the east?

  Milana stepped forward. "Onero, she's right. If we take them downstairs we can make sure--"

  "No," he snapped, face orange and black with light and shadow. "Not all of them would praise our Mother. This is what happens to those who resist. Ready yourselves." He extinguished the fire by turning off the gas, and ran to take cover by the heavy laser.

  Milana shared a look with Katy before they sprung into action. "All of you stay seated!" Milana ordered, rushing to the east edge of the roof, crouching at the low wall near the heavy laser for cover. Katy darted in the opposite direction to the garden, throwing herself prone on the grass at the edge of the clearing. Shit, she thought, looking at the hostages. They were directly between her position and the heavy laser; if she had to shoot she risked hitting Onero and the others.

  Aircraft engines screamed closer as she crawled on her belly along the edge of the garden, moving to her right. She reached a tree--as good a cover as any--and turned back. Now she was at such an angle that she could shoot at the hostages and not cause friendly fire.

  Shoot the hostages. They were just children, tied up and scared. You've killed children before, she thought, remembering the bomb at the Academy. Somehow that had seemed different, an attack on an institution instead of the boys and girls inside. By hindering the Academy she'd saved countless others from being thrown into the steadfast school, not to mention the people those pilots would have killed in battle.

  These captives wore the same white Academy uniform but seemed more innocent. The capital city would soon fall, the Emperor was dead, and they just wanted to survive. Many had spoken the words before the fire with earnest. Many would be faithful members of the Children soon, in the new world they would create. Most were too young to be dangerous.

  The roar of distant aircraft drifted across the city.

  That tall one is dangerous, she thought. Same for the two redheads. They had a quiet readiness to them, like metal springs ready to uncoil. The tall woman had sat back down, cradling the old man's head in her lap. Katy took aim at her shape silhouetted against the fire. Even sitting she towered over the others. If anyone tries anything, it will be that one. She seemed intent on keeping the old man safe. What would she do if the battle raged, and she decided they'd be safer away from the roof?

  Let your rifle speak.

  To Katy's left, several blocks to the north, one of the other laser batteries fired into the air, wild and inaccurate. New beams of green appeared from of the darkness, falling onto the distant rooftop, revealing the enemy plane as it dove and fired.

  The heavy laser on her own roof pivoted, scanning the sky. Katy glanced at the black but could see nothing. The roar of engines was nearly on them.

  A flash in the dark sky.

  The beams struck almost instantly, punching into brick and tile by the laser, moving across the roof to kick up grass and dirt. The students screamed. Katy flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, wait
ing for the pain, feeling the building shake underneath her.

  The shaking stopped and she opened her eyes. She could see the incoming Riverhawk now, still small in the sky. For some reason it had stopped shooting.

  Their laser battery did not. Its thick beams reached for the Riverhawk, which continued toward them, still not firing. If it wasn't going to shoot why did it still dive on them? Was it malfunctioning?

  An explosion of sparks burst in the air with a high-pitched sound like scraping metal. The Riverhawk tilted, falling toward them. Katy watched, captivated, as it fell from the sky, trailing smoke and fire.

  Onero jumped up from his spot by the laser and ran across the roof, waving his free hand. Spider followed behind. It's going to crash, Katy realized, just as the ship disappeared beneath the building.

  Even prone, the crash knocked Katy onto her side, shaking her teeth and bones. She let go of her rifle and covered her head with her arms. The booming sound, the low vibration that threatened to make her sick, seemed to last forever

  When it stopped she quickly rolled over, grabbed her rifle, and looked back over the roof.

  A cloud of dust and debris hung in the air beyond the building edge, with a dark trail of smoke continuing into the sky, showing the plane's crash route.

  A section of the wall at the roof's edge was missing, along with the heavy laser.

  Katy blinked twice as if the missing section were a shadow on her eye, as if focus would make it reappear. It did not. Milana crouched at the edge of the abyss, where the remaining wall suddenly disappeared. Hesitantly, she lifted her head and looked around. In the middle of the roof Spider helped Onero to his feet. They stared at the corner for a moment before rushing there, looking out over the edge.

  Katy used the rifle to push herself to her feet. The students still huddled on the ground, some of them whimpering. The tall woman had thrown her upper body forward as if in prayer, shielding the old man with her torso. To the left a line of small craters stretched across the roof. The aircraft had missed them all.

  "Stay here," Katy told the prisoners as she joined the others. She leaned forward, looking over the new, artificial edge.