The Broken Kingdom

by Sarah Chapman

  ‘I’m just a bit tired.’ she sighed and closed her eyes. ‘Vann, I… I… I don’t know if I can pull this off.’

  ‘Come sit down.’ he led her over to the fire. The gemengs kept a respectful distance. ‘And here,’ he handed her her sword with a smile.

  ‘You found it!’ she said in relief, quickly taking hold of it.

  ‘What happened?’ he said as they sat.

  ‘It was terrible.’ she said as she put her face in her hands. ‘It was the only way I could escape, Vann. I couldn’t think of anything else.’

  ‘What did you do?’ he asked, his hand still loosely on her shoulder.

  She shook her head. ‘I promised him a meeting with a real valkar princess. Oh… I have to call Adila and tell her what I’ve done.’

  ‘She’s here.’

  Riley looked up. ‘Why?’

  ‘Aerlid… escaped.’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘They didn’t exactly imprison him.’ Vann sighed. ‘But they promise they will next time.’

  To Vann’s surprise Riley just closed her eyes again. ‘Maybe that’s not so bad.’ she mumbled. ‘He may be useful to me. If I can control him. If Adila can control him… keep him from trying to kill me…’ she rubbed her eyes again. ‘Ah… I have to put up with night again, don’t I?’

  Vann gave her a quick hug. ‘Sorry.’

  He let go after only a moment though. It was different when it wasn’t night. She didn’t need it when it wasn’t night.

  ‘Your nails look nice.’ he suddenly said, catching sight of them.

  Riley slowly raised her head. Fierce green eyes locked onto his. ‘You think they look nice.’ her voice was low and dangerous.

  For a moment Vann was still. And then he smiled calmly, ‘they always look nice,’ he said as if she didn’t look as if she was about to tear him apart, ‘but this is different, that’s all.’

  ‘My nails always look nice.’ she stated in disbelief.

  Vann shrugged. ‘Clean. Honestly, Riley, right now I think anything clean looks lovely.’ and he gestured over to the gemengs who weren’t exactly clean.

  Riley relaxed, the tension drained from her.

  Disaster averted, Vann quickly turned the conversation to something else as he made a mental note to never mention her nails again. Ever.

  When Riley went to speak to Adila that afternoon Vann went with her. As they approached Adila, Riley gave Vann one final look. Then she looked back to Adila, and it was as if she had put a mask on. A mask that was cold and hard and immovable.

  ‘Adila.’ Riley greeted. ‘As you see, I have freed myself.’

  ‘I am glad.’ she replied. ‘How did you manage it?’

  ‘I promised Andalla a meeting with Ladana and Ralana.’

  Adila blazed, in fury she screamed, ‘you did what?!’

  Riley withstood it unflinchingly. ‘I expect you to arrange it. I will be present.’

  ‘I will not! Andalla will never come near them!’

  ‘You have no choice in the matter, Sunsinger. Andalla expects it. If you don’t arrange it, he will, and I don’t need to say how that will turn out.’

  ‘Well unarrange it! He cannot have them!’

  ‘But he can have me, Sunsinger?’

  That deflated her as suddenly as a needle in a balloon. ‘I- I am sorry. You cannot understand-’

  ‘I understand well enough.’ Riley interrupted harshly. ‘I am only half valkar, you would prefer it if I didn’t exist. I do not care for your apologies, Adila. You left me to Aerlid, and you left me to Andalla.’

  That crushed what little resistance Adila had left.

  ‘Arrange the meeting. Or Andalla will.’

  Adila bowed her head. ‘I will arrange it.’ she breathed, defeated.

  More curious than anything, Vann approached Riley after Adila had left. The mask was gone, now she just seemed tired.

  He touched her arm, she looked at him, ‘what was that about?’ he asked.

  Riley sighed, started to speak. Stopped. She looked away, there was a painful look in her eyes. ‘I can’t tell you. I wish I could,’ she said fervently, ‘tell someone. So I know I’m not making a huge mistake. But Aerlid forced a promise on me, so I can’t tell you… if I told you a bit you wouldn’t understand.’

  Vann nodded, willing to accept that. ‘I’m here, Riley, whatever you need to talk about.’

  ‘Thank you.’ she sighed. ‘This could take a while, they both have such different ideas of time.’

  Then suddenly she said, ‘It’s so good to be back, Vann. I hated those places. They were lifeless, Andalla’s land and the ehlkrids’.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re back.’ He smiled, and then changed the subject. ‘I’ve been practicing my tree climbing. I think I’m even better than you now.’

  Riley’s eyes fixed on him. ‘You’re not serious!’

  ‘Would you like to find out?’

  Riley took the bait. And at least for a while, he took her mind off their problems.

  Chapter 30

  Saris Valais listened carefully to the dinner time conversation as he pushed cave mould around his plate. Cavachi, and then Coastside, had ruined him for the stuff. Right now, going hungry looked like a much better option than forcing down the gelatinous goo.

  ‘Hey, Ser, still nothing for you to do, huh?’

  Saris forced a smile as another pilot sat down opposite him. He’d long ago given up on trying to get people to remember his name. At least outside of Astar people were happy enough to call him Messenger, since that was what he was.

  ‘Yup. Pretty much.’

  The other pilot shovelled cave mould into his mouth, swallowing without chewing. I used to be able to do that, Saris thought.

  ‘I woulda thought they’d put you on regular rotation now, if we’re not visiting that other place anymore. Cavachi.’

  Saris nodded, ‘yes, Cavachi.’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know, Martis, I guess there aren’t enough Predators for the pilots.’

  The good humour of the other man faded. ‘I can’t remember the last time we lost a Predator.’ He said quietly.

  Saris shook his head. ‘No, neither can I.’

  Both fell silent as they tried not to think of the fate of the pilot who’d crashed.

  ‘Not even far from Astar.’ Martis murmured.

  The pilot had been flying a regular route, up to the mountains and back, just to check on things. The Predator had suddenly been attacked by an ehlkrid, out of nowhere. During the daytime.

  ‘And they said the Predators should be able to take them out no problem!’

  ‘He wasn’t expecting it, Martis.’ Saris sighed. ‘He was surprised. And we shouldn’t take these things lightly…’

  The Predator had gone down, the pilot with it. They only knew because of a panicked radio transmission. Since then patrols had been reduced to areas closer to Astar, and the Predators went out in groups.

  ‘I can’t believe they’re still looking for the Coastsider.’

  Saris looked up, ‘I thought they’d given up on him.’ Vann.

  ‘Nope, still looking, not so frequent though. That’s the only time they go any distance from Astar.’

  Saris considered that carefully. I wonder… perhaps they think… do they think Riley survived? Do they worry he went to her? Vann’s relationship with the gemeng leader had been a source of much concern for Mr Briggs.

  ‘Well, you really ought to be getting out there, Seris, otherwise how can you call yourself a pilot anymore, hmm?’

  Saris detected no bitterness in the other man’s tone and for that he was relieved. He was aware many of the other pilots thought he was shirking his duty, particularly now that being a pilot had become so much more dangerous.

  ‘Trust me, I feel the same. I don’t know why they aren’t giving me any shifts.’

  Martis shrugged. He stood up, his empty plate in his hands. ‘Well, just enjoy it for now, I guess. See ya later, Seris!’

  ‘Yup, bye�
��’ he waved.

  Saris looked down at his plate and with a sigh pushed it away. No, he wasn’t hungry enough to eat any cave mould. Yet.

  He wondered about his recent abundance of free time and sighed. They still have me translate when they speak to Cavachi, so I don’t think I’ve inadvertently offended anyone. It was really much more likely that they didn’t send him out because of the risk that he’d get killed. No one else in Astar spoke Ravki. That was a difficult concept for him to accept; that his life might be valued more than that of his fellow pilots, men and women he knew well.

  Well, if that’s it, I’m sure not telling anyone. People seemed to like talking to him, and getting his opinion on things, but he didn’t have many friends. Particularly since he’d discovered Cavachi, people seemed to view him as separate to them. It was definitely not a view he encouraged.

  He stood up, carrying his plate over to the kitchen staff. He smiled weakly and mumbled something about feeling ill.

  As he left the pilots’ cafeteria, he couldn’t help thinking of the crashed Predator again. An ehlkrid attack. During the day. They’ve never bothered us here in Astar before, never even tried to attack the planes or trucks before.

  He remembered hearing that ehlkrid preferred eating gemengs to humans. I think… I think that was relayed through Coastside- perhaps Vann heard about it and passed it along? Feeling ill, it suddenly occurred to him that by destroying the large group of gemengs that had lived with Riley in the caves, they may have made themselves a target for the ehlkrid.

  Chapter 31

  Riley was right. Days passed and nothing seemed to happen. But at least she was back. Karesh and the gemengs seemed much happier.

  So Vann, returning to the camp after hunting with Shiressa and Telag, was surprised to find Riley and Karesh having an argument.

  They were speaking in such loud and fast Plains speech that Vann could only pick out a few words. Then Riley threw her hands up in the air and stalked off.

  Vann quickly excused himself from the gemengs and ran after her.

  ‘Riley, is something wrong?’ he asked once he caught up with her. The trees put some distance between them and the camp.

  ‘Karesh is pretending he’s an idiot!’ She yelled angrily. ‘On purpose!’

  ‘What happened?’ Vann asked calmly.

  ‘He thinks… he-… he can’t imagine any reason I might need company at night!’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘He thinks we’re together Vann.’ she rounded on him. ‘I tried to tell him I’m just having nightmares but he won’t listen or believe me! Masters don’t have nightmares! No, I can’t possibly be afraid of anything! I’m not his Master any more Vann! Everyone’s dead! Dead!’

  ‘Alright,’ he said, trying to calm her down. ‘Maybe I can talk to him.’

  She grunted, ‘I doubt it.’

  ‘Maybe not. But even so, does it really matter?’

  ‘I’m not his Master, Vann.’ she said grimly. ‘I can’t be, and I don’t want to be.’

  ‘Let me see what I can do.’ he said. When she nodded grumpily Vann turned and headed back to the camp. Privately, he thought this explained why Karesh had been so deferential when Riley was away.

  When he found Karesh he was looking very wide eyed. ‘The Master is very angry.’ Karesh said.

  ‘She doesn’t think she’s your Master anymore.’ Vann replied in imperfect Plains speech.

  Karesh hesitated a moment, ‘only because she thinks she has no tribe.’

  Vann narrowed his eyes. ‘Do ten gemengs constitute a tribe?’

  ‘A small one.’ he nodded. ‘But the Master needs a bigger tribe, the biggest, with all of the gemengs.’

  Vann’s eyes widened. ‘I’m not sure Riley shares your plans for her.’

  Karesh shook his head. ‘She does. She just thinks everyone’s dead.’

  ‘Karesh, do you know something I don’t?’

  Karesh hesitated again.

  Vann crossed his arms over his chest.

  Cautiously Karesh said, ‘the Sunsinger is looking. She’ll bring them here.’

  Vann stared, then he closed his eyes and sighed. He considered telling Riley, but then what if Adila couldn’t find anyone? ‘Has Adila found anyone yet?’ Vann asked, his tone grim.

  Karesh shrugged.

  Vann looked at him a moment longer. ‘Don’t expect Riley to thank you for this, Karesh. At least not right away.’

  Karesh shook his head. ‘She’ll be very angry.’

  ‘On that note, she and I are just friends, Karesh.’

  Karesh paused again, then slowly he said, ‘a Master who has fear won’t be followed. But a Master with a mate… it doesn’t matter.’

  Vann opened his mouth to say something and then shut it. Then he tried again, ‘everyone’s afraid sometimes, Karesh.’

  He nodded slowly. ‘But you don’t let everyone see.’

  Vann could think of nothing else to say. Riley herself had said enough times that she was no longer anyone’s master. But that just fell on intentionally deaf ears.

  Vann headed back to Riley.

  He told her, ‘he wants you to be his Master. He knows, he’s just pretending.’

  Riley nodded moodily. ‘Perhaps I should try sleeping on my own.’

  Startled, Vann said, ‘there’s no need for that.’

  She frowned darkly at him.

  ‘Does it really matter if Karesh wants to pretend we’re lovers?’

  She glared at him.

  ‘Just forget about it, Riley. It doesn’t matter.’

  She sighed heavily. ‘Go back to the camp, I… I’ll go scout around the camp and make sure there are no ehlkrid around.’

  Vann wished her luck, and didn’t mention Karesh’s plans.

  Whatever anger or frustration Riley felt faded once night came. Fear crept up on her and took a stranglehold. It ceased to matter how stubborn Karesh was being. She was afraid. Vann came and kept her company without asking. And when she finally fell asleep, he was there too. When she woke up, her irritation with Karesh was forgotten.

  And then, over a week later, Andalla was introduced to the valkar princesses.

  Adila and Rose escorted Ladana and Ralana to the forest, where Riley and the gemengs were waiting. Rose’s expression was one of restrained fury. Adila’s was tempered by worry and perhaps guilt. Ralana looked nervous and was fidgeting. Ladana looked bored.

  They waited, not saying anything. Minutes slid by.

  And then they heard the sound of trumpets. Riley looked up. Andalla, surrounded by the Andallites, glided down towards them in a golden procession.

  When they landed the Andallites formed a corridor. Andalla strode through the rows of gleaming Andallites towards the princesses.

  The trumpets fell silent. Andalla, resplendent and golden, observed the two women curiously. Ladana gazed at him indifferently. Ralana’s eyes widened, she fidgeted even more.

  The Andallites spoke as one, ‘Andalla stands before you!’

  The two women had been told by Adila how they should act. Ladana curtsied gracefully. Andalla’s smile began to falter. But Ralana nearly dropped to the ground, whether in fear or awe. Likely fear. She kept her head bowed and trembled ever so slightly.

  And Andalla’s smile began to grow.

  ‘We are pleased to see you.’ Rose greeted him, bowing carefully and avoiding his name. ‘Here stand Ladana and Ralana, the daughters of our Queen, Rilodana.’

  ‘I see. You were right.’ he looked at Riley now. ‘They are far more suitable for me than you.’

  Riley bowed her head and said nothing. When his gaze moved on Riley looked up again, her attention on Andalla and her sisters.

  ‘Which one shall it be? Which of you will have the honour of being my wife?’

  Ladana pressed her lips together tightly. Ralana trembled.

  Andalla looked from one to the other. Then his gaze stopped on Ralana. ‘You may look up.’

  Slowly Ralana rais
ed her head. Her eyes were wide, she looked very fragile and pale.

  ‘Why do you tremble so?’ he asked. ‘Are you afraid of me?’ he said this with a smile curving his lips, as if the idea pleased him.

  ‘I-I have heard of your power,’ she wavered, her eyes dropping to the ground again. ‘y-your… I’m sorry, what should I call you?’

  Andalla smiled widely now. ‘You have nothing to fear from me.’ and he held out his hand to her. ‘It is fitting that you call me Andalla.’

  A bright flush suddenly lit her cheeks. His name affected everyone, to varying degrees. But perhaps it was not that, maybe it was the surprise of having his hand held out to her.

  When she took his hand he smiled. ‘I have chosen. It is clear from merely looking at you that you are by far more worthy than your sister.’ his gaze cooled as he glanced at Ladana, who returned his pointed look. ‘Both your sisters, they are but ugly frogs to your beauty. You shall be my wife.’ he said to Ralana.

  Ralana said nothing, rosy-cheeked and astonished. Ladana looked somewhat surprised at being called an ‘ugly frog’.

  ‘And if Ralana does not wish to marry?’ Rose said bluntly, her gaze dark. ‘You were promised a meeting, nothing more.’

  Andalla’s smile disappeared. ‘Do you wish to marry me?’ he asked Ralana.

  She ducked her head, her hair hiding her face.

  ‘You see? She is overtaken by joy at the prospect.’ Andalla proclaimed, smiling again.

  Riley was suddenly shot dark looks by Adila, Rose and Ladana. But their attention was soon back on Andalla.

  ‘Your magnificence,’ Riley finally spoke up. ‘Of course, anyone would be honoured by the thought of being your wife. But you see she is delicate. Your gloriousness may be too much for her.’

  ‘Too much?’

  Riley nodded gravely. ‘I understand your last valkar wife died.’

  Andalla’s face clouded, became stormy.

  ‘You told me yourself merely looking upon you can send someone mad. Surely it can’t surprise you that being married to you could cause someone to die of happiness?’

  He was momentarily taken aback, while the three other valkar women turned their iron gazes on Riley.

  ‘Let Ralana get to know you, see if she could survive being married to you. Surely you wouldn’t want her to die?’