“Ceta is building warships for Beacon, and Excelsior, despite their promise to destroy all nuclear weapons, has been paid vast sums to ignore the ban. Sanctuary is inundated with victims of war, pestilence and abuse, and the geological phenomenon that is Lintusillem is under siege from quarry workers - they are raping the stone for an obscure building enterprise. We believe the latter originates in a Beacon directive.”
Willow sighed and focused. “Look at me, please.”
The five women looked up at him.
“In itself no one factor is out of the ordinary. When you put the pieces together you begin to see a grander design emerge. Let us now discuss some of the factors. Inca, what are your thoughts on Lax?”
The dark-haired woman spoke quietly also. “A few months ago a transport entered Laxian atmosphere and orbited at low altitude without landing. Repeated hailing elicited zero response. A few days later it was gone, but Laxians were weaker in their work and many sickened. Nobody died, but it is a fact the lethargy mentioned is unstoppable. We hear via the chain scientists believe spores were scattered into the atmosphere, but they are unsure as to origin.”
“The ship had no markings,” Willow said, “but has been traced back to Beacon.” His attention shifted to another woman. “Poppy.”
This woman was large and muscled, her voice harsh. “I am based near Lintusillem and overheard unsavoury characters discussing the stone of that world. They are quarrying the grey mottled stone - it has a name that escapes me - and this stone has the peculiar property of blending in with every surrounding. They were laughing over how surprised certain powers would soon be. The raising of a stealth citadel would astonish the universe.”
Willow sighed. “As I said, we believe it is a Beacon directive. Rose?”
Rose bit the inside of her cheek. Beacon, it seemed, was about to be taken to task and it would lead to huge trouble.
“Sanctuary has been taking in young victims of abuse, most of them stowaways aboard Beacon ships. From what we are able to glean from these traumatised kids, big men entered the orphanages recently and beat at the smaller children with whips to ferret out the older and stronger. I am not certain how true this is, but one boy claimed Beacon needs soldiers and they force anyone over fifteen into camps.” Rose put her hand over her mouth. “Gods, Beacon is building an army.”
Willow did not respond to that. Instead he murmured, “There have been odd sicknesses also, we hear.”
Rose drew breath and nodded. “Yes. The university scientists work all hours to isolate each new disease.” She glanced at Inca. “Spores, designed spores, they say.”
“I am certain you begin to see the grander picture,” Willow murmured, “but let us hear now from Honeysuckle.”
Honeysuckle was tiny, a small handful of lively woman. She was Xenian by birth and universal by choice. Her brown eyes sparked as she began to speak.
“Ceta builds indeed. New warships with stealth properties. The purchase order was placed through a host of dummy corporations, but the chain heard the real story. Yes, Beacon is spending great amounts of hard cash and has offered lucrative deals for the future, for twelve new warships.” She stabbed a finger in the air. “Four are complete, four are near completion and the final four will be ready within a couple of months. Every technician involved has been sworn to secrecy and they are petrified; they believe they will be murdered once the contract is complete.”
“Where are they to be delivered?” Willow questioned.
“Yltri, but that will only be the collection area. Of course, Yltri may be where they are getting those spores and Yltri grows crops to sustain an army, I see.”
Willow bent his gaze to her anew. “Where are these ships headed after Yltri?”
She stared back at him. “No, it cannot be.”
He nodded and held his hand aloft. “Wait. Let us hear from Protea.”
The fifth member of the meeting was a reed-thin Ymirian.
“There has been a new wave of kidnappings on my world, but if we are discussing Beacon scenarios, then I must speak of something beyond the children. Ymir is on the outer reaches of the well-travelled space highways and yet we have overheard a new city of rings is being built in the desert wastelands. Why, when Ymir requires no added accommodation, for population growth is in decline? We hear the outer ring has a wall twenty feet thick and is impossibly high, as if raised to hide what is inside, or to withstand a siege. Heavy cargo ships have been sighted flying to the north, but they appear on no flight plan.”
She shrugged. “If I was to join the dots, I would say that is where a citadel is being raised, and the desert is a perfect staging area for an army, especially if Yltri supplies food able to cope with dry conditions.”
Willow nodded. “We have joined the same dots. Beacon builds a stronghold on Ymir of stone that not only hides itself from view, but is also able to withstand every bomb devised, including nuclear weapons. More worrying, however, is the stone is able to repel magic.
“The genetically engineered food from Yltri will soon make a soldier as immune to magic, and it can feed an army for years. Yltri itself will suffer, but Beacon has never cared for other worlds, has she? The ships can fly vast distances in the blink of an eye, akin to magical transport, and no one will see or feel them coming. This new speed is sourced in the device Elixir created for the Mercy Ships not so long ago, we hear. Aboard the vessels, no doubt, will be nuclear weaponry, among other equally foul devices, and we know even great sorcery cannot withstand an anti-matter blast.
“Spores were tested on Lax and they worked; soon now other worlds will suffer the same lethargy and no one will raise up arms to stop an army with great warships. Valaris’ sudden influx of pilgrims has proven people sense something massive is on the way and thus they seek to save their souls for the Afterlife. If they sense it, we should know it, we who are able to hear when others only guess. We have chosen to act.”
Rose clambered to her feet without permission. “Willow, where are those ships headed?”
Willow drew breath and released it.
“Beacon is dying. She is finally beyond over-population and Beacon Farm no longer sustains even half the Beaconites. She imports great quantities of food, but those sources prove limited, and all it takes is one drought to bring on starvation. Beacon is constantly watched, due to her reputation for exploitation, and she therefore no longer has the wherewithal to go out and pillage another world for food and resources.
“Beacon is desperate and thus it appears she is about to take by force whatever she needs for the survival of her people. She builds an army and she builds a citadel to withstand siege, and she builds ships no world will see coming in time. As an added measure, she disables populated centres with spores, giving her the right to enter easily or to neutralise likely threats. Beacon intends to succeed, and she has planned this a long time.”
Willow paced the cold stone chamber. He waved Rose back into position, which she reassumed.
“There are many signs, some innocuous and others cause for anxiety, and when one puts them together, the deviousness of Beacon’s long-range plans become clear. The first targets are coal and wood for energy, and then they aim to take food.” He paused. “Valaris is first on the list for wood, Xen for coal and Sanctuary for food.”
Silence.
“But Beacon has one huge obstacle to overcome.”
“Torrullin,” Rose breathed.
“Indeed, the mighty Elixir. And thus she raises a fortress able to withstand magic and feeds soldiers on crops to make them immune and builds ships that will be in any airspace before Elixir himself can be there, with bombs no magic can withstand. Beacon aims to negate Elixir.”
“Her first port of call is Avaelyn,” Rose whispered.
Willow nodded. “And thus we choose to interfere.”
“The Kaval must be informed!” Honeysuckle said.
Willow bowed over his hands. “You five are here to set certain factors into motion. Rose, you
are charged with informing the Kaval; most are known to you personally. And prepare Sanctuary for an invasion. Honeysuckle, you are to go to Valaris directly from here to speak with the Elders. By the way, is it not convenient the Vallorin has been kidnapped? Not only does it dump the Valleur into disarray, but Tianoman Valla is an ace that can be used to force his grandfather into compliance.”
Rose bowed her head.
“Inca, you are to send out tendrils along the chain to calm our farspeakers and to garner snippets of information that may lead to the timing of Beacon’s strikes. Protea, go back to Ymir …”
“To spy?”
“For want of a better word, yes.”
Protea smiled. “Consider it done.”
“And, Poppy, the Kaval will need a sample of the rock.”
“Consider it done,” the woman echoed her colleague.
“Meanwhile I have scheduled a meeting with Max Dalrish. Xen will be readied as far as that can go. Beware of every move and word; Beacon has spies everywhere.”
He stopped to look at each one and then sat again.
“Come closer; let us discuss the kind of details you will need to know when warning people.”
Avaelyn’s Moon
“ROSE?” TEROUX WHISPERED.
She shook her head. “Just listen, please.” Then she paused and seemed to reconsider. A few moments later she said, “I need to say something else first.”
Tristan’s gaze flicked to his cousin and then back.
“You all know about my abuse when I was younger and how it resulted in my lack of trust of all men. Then I met the Vallas and found love.” She found she spoke to Tristan rather than her husband. “Teroux and I were both damaged by our pasts and we knew how to support each other through it until we could function as a couple. We work, very well, and we love each other. What I am trying to say is, I learned how to trust people in general and men in particular, and also found I am capable of loyalty.”
She inhaled shakily. “And yet I kept something from you, but more importantly, I kept it from my husband.” Then she did face Teroux, who stared at her with an ashen face. “I am a member of the order that governs the farspeaker chain and am thus privy to information not widely broadcast.”
Teroux’s face cleared. “Thank the gods. I thought you wanted to leave me.”
Rose smiled, hand on heart. “I do so love you.”
Teroux grinned idiotically.
Tristan, after smiling at them, said, “What have you heard?”
“Beacon is on the warpath, but this time they intend to take on the universe.” Rose related what was revealed at the meeting at the fort.
“I have heard rumours about ship-building,” Tristan said. “I was told of Yltri’s genetic engineering. In fact, Beacon attempted such a project on Valaris. Remember that Farmer’s Conference, Teroux?”
“I remember. What are they up to?” Teroux demanded of his wife.
“Their initial targets are Valaris for wood …” Rose said.
“The Great Forest.” Tristan swore foully. The Great Forest was a magical haven few on Valaris would want touched.
“… and Xen for coal. And then it is Sanctuary for food.” Rose stared at Teroux. “We have great fertile plains where the buffalo roam free and the indigenous farming communities grow healthy crops, enough to feed themselves, our entire facility, the new towns and the university and they export. Sanctuary is a bread-basket for the likes of Beacon.”
“They will leave nothing behind,” Teroux said in a panic.
“They will rape the land and leave a world to starve, yes. But that is not the worst of it.” Again she looked to Tristan. “The ships can travel faster than magical transport, the soldiers will soon be immune to magic and the citadel is being raised with stone that wards against bombs and magic.”
He understood. “They protect themselves from Elixir. They intend to invade Avaelyn first.”
Teroux was aghast, but pointed out, “You forget about Elianas’ barriers.”
“They will not hold against anti-matter, cousin.”
“Nothing can stop a nuke,” Rose murmured.
The three stared at each other, and Tristan said, “I think we now know the why of our Vallorin’s kidnapping. He and Aislinn will be either on Ymir or Ceta.”
Rose shook her head. “I would guess Excelsior. Massive underground bunkers not even magic can penetrate.”
Chapter 15
Quiet, ladies and gentlemen of the congregation. Hear the jingle of the bells of your cathedral to invulnerability. You have been duped.
~ Unknown ~
The Dome
THE KAVAL WERE SUMMONED back to the Dome and, into a murmur of voices, Tristan brought Teroux and Rose, via the Dragon ogive.
There was no need to introduce them, thus Tristan simply said, “There is news.”
He spoke at length about the disaster Rose’s order had uncovered and then invited her to field questions, which she did with amazing confidence.
Belun roared, “Let them come, the bastards, and let them blow it all up! Nothing can kill Elixir!”
“Centuar, that is not the point. We need prepare and we need to warn Lord Torrullin,” Fuma said.
Jonas’ brother Minos was a geologist on Lintusillem and was thus likely under siege as well. Jonas had not known about the siege and now felt he had been inattentive, spending too much time on gadgets.
“My lord Tristan, I request permission to extricate my brother. Yes, it is personal, but he will also have information on this strange stone Beacon quarries.”
Tristan pondered before nodding. “Go and be careful.”
Jonas bowed and strode to the exit. He was gone a moment later.
Tristan faced Teroux and Rose. “Sanctuary needs you, Teroux.”
“And she will have me if and when an invasion fleet does arrive, but until then my place is with Torrullin.” He turned to his wife. “You need to go back, Rose, please.”
She did not fight it. “Agreed. I will plan for invasion. Besides, I am better placed there to filter new information upon the chain.” She cocked her head and looked at Tristan. “Caballa went to Luvanor to inform the Elders there and then she is headed to Grinwallin.”
“Damn it, we need you here, Rose,” Tristan muttered.
“No,” Teroux said.
Rose said, “I am better placed on Sanctuary. Anything pertinent will be passed directly on, I promise.” She smiled at her husband. “You stay safe, hear?”
“And you,” he whispered.
Her eyes said the things she could not say before many.
“Fuma, take Rose home,” Tristan said.
Rose was able to transport, but the ogives would not hark to her. The Deorc rose to offer her his arm and the two headed to his ogive. It chimed soon after.
Teroux squared his shoulders. Rose would be fine; she did not take unnecessary risks. “Tris, Beacon must be aware Elixir is back. She will not wait for the last four ships.”
“Agreed.” Tristan spoke to his Kaval. “Amunti, find out what those ships are capable of and, as for the rest of you, I want to know exactly who is behind this. Does Beacon’s President know or is this an underground operation with the backing of the wealthy and no political clout? Erin, I want to know how to get into Avaelyn yesterday and, Belun, move the Dome into orbit around it.”
The Centuar grinned.
“Not wise,” Teroux murmured.
Tristan shrugged. “Wise or not, the Dome has an arsenal to match a Beacon ship. I am prepared to stake her existence, as I am sure we are all prepared to stake our lives, to negate this new threat. Get to work. Quilla, I would speak with you.” As the team dispersed, the birdman stepped forward. “When you are so quiet, you really worry me.”
Teroux snorted. “Torrullin says exactly the same.”
Quilla raised a tiny finger. “Sometimes one must listen.”
Teroux groaned. “How many times haven’t I heard that?”
Quilla fixed him
with a beady eye. “And still it is true, my young friend.”
“What did you hear?” Tristan interrupted.
“I was listening to the nuances of the tale unfolded. Rose holds nothing back, but I believe she has not been told everything and she senses there are gaps. We, too, must seek to fill them. Then there is something I am loath to mention, but must simply because it is for the greater good. Teighlar may have a daughter. He is not sure, but if she is of his blood, she could know how to open the Diluvan portal into Avaelyn. This places her in danger, but perhaps she is also our means to Torrullin, and we need solve that riddle immediately.”
Tristan gaped at the birdman. “Everyone has a secret, unbelievable.”
The birdman shrugged.
“Go to Grinwallin, Quilla. Find this daughter. Give Caballa my love if you see her,” Tristan said.
Quilla left immediately.
Teroux scratched at his ear. “What about Excelsior?”
Tristan paced the Gatherers’ Circle. “I am between hot and heavy, and absolute stealth …”
Grinwallin
ALIK AND KYLIS HIT a wall of silence.
Nobody had seen, heard or knew anything. There was not even the whiff of a rumour to be had, and folk were friendly, sympathetic and had only good things to say about Alik’s mother.
She raged at Kylis in private, demanding of him to explain to her, if her mother had been so loved and liked, how come no one was prepared to say anything?
He, wisely, said nothing.
Then Dechend asked her to do something that utterly terrified her. He asked her to submit to a DNA test.
Stomping into his tiny office off the Great Hall, she shouted, “Why?”
He was serenity itself. “No one says anything because they think there is a chance you are the Emperor’s daughter. We can put that to rest, and then perhaps there will be an ending to this mess.”
Her stare was icy. “A double-edged sword, Elder.”
“I am aware. However, either you are the daughter of kings, in which case we need set serious protection in place, or you are not, and folk will reveal to a bereaved daughter who killed her mother, and why.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 142