The Iron Altar Series Box Set One: Books 1 to 3

by Casey Lea

  She sat motionless and silent, watching him after he stepped from the alcove. He raised a hand and pulsed himself down the link at reckless speed, but she made a supreme effort so that her mind pursued him.

  No! You’re the one without Honor! Do you hear me, boy? Wear those scars forever! May they sear your soul!

  His shoulders tensed, but he made no other response. The alcove field hung dim and featureless between them as he shrank in the distance, surging away from her accusation.

  The old woman hissed after her rebellious charge, but let the sharp sound catch in her throat. It emerged as a sob, which echoed from the scrolled metal walls when she fell to her knees. She tumbled forward to lie on the chilly floor, ignoring the pain involved. She arranged herself to appear a tiny figure, lost within a pool of russet dilmah. A fallen leaf, discarded and bereft.

  Grace peeked at her wrist and saw confirmation that Wing had indeed checked his com when she gave that echoing sob. However, he’d clearly resisted the urge to stop and help. The boy had always been more resistant to melodrama than Free. He continued along the link without further pause and she lay quite still until she was sure he had gone.

  Only then did Grace stir and with some difficulty push herself upright. She muttered a curse at her shaking arms and leaned against the chair leg to catch her breath. She clutched her cane, but was in no hurry to confront her frailty again by trying to stand. Instead, she accessed her com and displayed the scan Sparrow had stolen from Darsey. It showed a wealth of cells, rich with exotic matter and harvesting more from surrounding micro-singularities even as she watched. Cells that she would soon gain access to by offering longevity treatment to Darsey.

  Grace allowed herself a rare moment of hope as she sat patiently, with one frond extended toward the link. Her mind lightly touched Wing’s while she gauged the strength of his anger. She could still sense it clearly, despite the increasing distance between them. She sighed, but, at that moment, his thought patterns changed. They became more complex, less driven by emotion, and the old lady smiled. She shifted her scan of Darsey to one side, but kept it active while she made com contact with Wing.

  “I’m truly sorry,” she breathed, with all of the sincerity she could muster. “Truly, Wing, and I beg your pardon. Please. I should never have said such. We both know I owe you this apology and more. I hope you can accept it and forgive an old fool. Your business is none of mine and I’ll no more make it such. I am shamed by my words. By my plots. Deep shamed. I swear to you, Wing, that I will hold your wife dear.”

  There was only a brief silence before he answered. “You swear it?” he asked harshly, and Grace smiled at getting a response so quickly, but was careful to keep that reaction from her voice.

  “I promise to accept Darsey with complete welcome.”

  “Frond oath,” Wing demanded, and she answered without hesitation.

  “Frond oath, sworn on my honor. I mean it true and I’ll prove it with my acts.”

  “You had best,” Wing growled, and this time she did pause before answering.

  “I shall, and, to start, I offer long-life treatment. If you wish, I will give Darsey full longevity, at my cost. Do you wish such, Lord?”

  “I do.”

  Grace hesitated again, but more briefly than before. “Very good. Then I will do it, Lord, at your ask.”

  “I ask it now,” Wing replied, and this time Grace truly had to struggle to keep her elation hidden.

  “Ye, Lord. I will wait your call and, when it comes, join your lady soon-as. Best luck with proposing.”

  “Indeed,” came the somewhat surprised answer as Wing considered the implications of his new resolution. “Proposing, certain-sure. Soon,” Wing promised, and quickly cut the connection.

  There was a brief silence and then Grace sighed lustily. Her explosive exhalation was a welcome release. Manipulating Nightwing was always a challenge, with all the potential for complete disaster.

  “As I learnt at cost,” Grace muttered more sourly, before the satisfaction of her recent success returned. “As well and at last,’ she grumbled, almost afraid to give way to hope after so many millennia. She sniffed irritably, but managed to find a faint smile as she studied the data from Darsey that was still hanging before her.

  “Genetic catalysis. Ye, looks like. The mixing of species and finally cells that can passage. All the schemes were worth it, to find me this.” One trembling finger rose to gently caress the positive test that hung in the air before her. “At last it happens again and this time... this time I’m rightly placed. I won’t fail a third time. I can’t.” Grace gulped for air and forced herself to relax, just a little, not too much. In her aged body, such indulgence could be fatal.

  “Hmph,” she mocked herself, smiling at her persistent fear of death. “Some things are hard to get used to.” She sighed and her hand rose to the amber jewel at her throat. It felt cold and inert, its faceted edges sharp against her age-thinned skin. An empty vessel that she presumed to use, despite the ease with which it drew her blood.

  She lowered her hand slowly and blinked at the red pearls that now ran the length of a finger. Pain followed the sight of blood and she “tsskked” as her com automatically sealed the thin cut. The injury was of no concern and common enough with energy infused jewels, but it reminded Grace of her single hope for the future of all sentients. A hope that she still pursued, despite her past failures. A hope that was more substantial now. Perhaps this time she would finally succeed in making her cells passage too. All she needed was access to Darsey's DNA.

  49

  Proposals

  Darsey paced her room and practised the final exercise that Sparrow had downloaded to her com. She deliberately concentrated on something that annoyed her – Lady Grace – and let her anger build, while keeping any trace of it from her frond. To her relief that separation was much easier than she had feared. She had simply needed to be shown and already her thoughts were becoming private again.

  “Done it,” she murmured with some satisfaction, just before her console announced a visitor.

  “Lord Nightwing wishes entry.”

  A flush of emotion colored Darsey’s mind and frond and she rolled her eyes at the revealing lapse.

  “Give me a moment… okay, let him in.”

  The door field dimmed, but there was no one beyond it. Darsey frowned, but, as she stepped forward, Nightwing appeared and strode into the room. He was clutching a handful of brilliant flowers and their scent swept ahead of him. He stopped quickly and thrust the bouquet across the distance still between them. She took several paces to close the gap and let her delight at the gift carry to her frond.

  “They’re stunning, but wildflowers from Blossom? How?”

  “They’d already been collected for study.” Wing gulped distractedly.

  “Shouldn’t they stay in the lab?”

  “They can get more.”

  “Sure, why not. I think they’re lovely. Thank you, Wing. I’ll find something to put them in-”

  Darsey stopped when Wing snatched the bouquet back.

  “Ah, great,” she continued, “just whisk them into a vase, why don’t you?”

  “Of course. Done.”

  Darsey looked up from the flowers Wing was still grasping to study him more closely. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. No. Well, yes. But I can’t just glide away. What went between us was too good. I’ll not end it. Not yet. Not ever.” He paused in an effort to calm down and hopefully organise his words. “There’s still so much excitement for us, Darse, and I want to share it.”

  Darsey tapped her foot impatiently. “If you’re talking sex again-”

  “Not,” Wing protested and his eyes widened in what looked like panic. “Truly, I want more from you than the physical. I do.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t. Wing, please.” Darsey managed to halt her own flow of words and took a deep breath, before continuing with a shrug, “The people I love... they don’t do so well. With the s
taying alive thing. You’re already a frond down and... I just need you to think about this.”

  “I have,” Wing insisted fiercely. “I’ve thought it through in full, along with Lady Grace. That talk was a total horror, but an accusation she threw at me showed me much. I finally saw that my Honor is my own. The Arck can’t take it from me, not in any way. It grows from my own actions. And the single, most dishonorable thing I have ever done is withhold my total commitment from you. Darsey, I’m sorry. I know you’ve heard that too much and with too much cause. All I can say is that I truly love you. I need you and what I most wish is to found a new family, with you. Please… Please, just think of marrying me.”

  “What? Whoa, did you just say marry?”

  “As you heard.”

  “Wing… I don’t know where to start with that.”

  “Perhaps with what you truly feel.”

  “Okay then,” Darsey took a deep breath against nausea. Her hands were fluttering as fast as her heart, so she clasped them together. “When I think about it, I have to admit, it’s possible I love you. At least a little.”

  “How little?”

  “Oh, dammit. Completely and utterly.”

  “Such will do.”

  ‘I’m not so sure it will. I love you far too much to hurt you again. Please don’t ask me to.”

  Wing stepped close to Darsey for the first time since entering the room. She tried to look away, but he dropped the flowers, then cupped her cheek to turn her face back to his.

  “Look at me, sweet. Your other reason for saying no, your responsibility to your people, I understand, but I won’t stop for fear and I’ll not let you run scared just for me.” His frond lifted to touch hers and the instant intimacy that contact brought made her blush. “Risk is irrelevant. I want you.”

  “At what cost?”

  “Any,” Wing replied simply, but then shrugged a shoulder. “Certain-sure we can be more cautious. Use a little care and not so much abandon. Let’s try, because I can’t just end with my best friend.”

  Darsey swallowed and tried to smile. “I thought Free was your best friend.”

  “He was, but you have a wild streak Free doesn’t. You also have several other attributes he lacks.”

  “So it’s back to sex then?”

  “Always.”

  “You’re incredibly shallow,” she accused. “It’s one of the things I like about you. But the thing I like most is your love for family. Family and children.”

  Wing opened his mouth to protest, but Darsey raised a hand.

  “It’s right at the front of your fronds and it’s a problem. We can be a couple, but we can’t be biological parents. How do you think we’d cope with that? I can feel how much you want to be a father.”

  “I want you more,” he answered without hesitation and his sincerity ran through both of their fronds. “I’m willing to forego natural children and every duty others have loaded on me, for you. I’ll travel to Earth with you, Darse, and do my best to help. You can introduce me to your people. When they ask for proof of other species, they’ll not expect an alien spouse.”

  Wing paused for the first time and frowned. “What are your leaders like? Will they put me in a cage for experiments?”

  “We can only hope,” Darsey chirped, but her smile soon vanished and she paused, gnawing her lip, before leaning into Wing. “Earth’s not a problem. They need what we know and their technology sucks. They’ll listen to us.”

  Darsey shook her head and stepped back. “What am I saying? I won’t risk hurting you again, not ever. I need to know we can be together without me stealing bits. So, kiss me.”

  Wing obeyed at once and by the time he stopped they were both breathless, but still completely separate. His smile was huge and his frond relayed delight when Darsey’s wrapped tighter around it. However, his voice was wistful. “Please.”

  She leaned closer in response, pressing against him, but there was still no strange merging. She gulped and gave a half laugh, before stepping back in defeat. “I’ve never seen a guy beg to get married before.”

  “I can be more pathetic still.”

  “No, please no. I’d like to think that’s impossible. I’d also like to retain some respect for my fiancé.”

  “Darse?” Wing gasped, and his smile threatened to split his face.

  “Alright, I surrender. Yes, Nightwing FarFlight, I will marry you.”

  There was only one response Wing could make to Darsey’s acceptance and words were not involved. Instead, he continued to test their newfound ability to be close without merging and she had to admit she loved it.

  It might have become even more exciting, but they were interrupted by a whistle from the door.

  “Lady Grace wishes entry,” Pertwing informed them and Wing groaned, but was still the first to pull back.

  “Of course she does.” Darsey sighed, stepping away too. “Do you think she’ll go away if we ignore her?”

  “No such. She’ll just break in.”

  “She really doesn’t have any respect for personal boundaries, does she?”

  “None, but this time she’s here at my inviting.”

  Darsey’s annoyance kindled so quickly it flashed straight to her frond.

  Wing instantly sent contrition and appeal. “I wish to see you safe and Grace is part of that. The old bird makes the best longevity field any cells could have.”

  Darsey’s frond sent a much more polite query and he responded with a mental outline of the metabolic enhancements used to confer health and long life to anyone treated. “Lady Grace is the best at such-”

  “Tut, child, my hair would rustle if it was not so true.”

  Darsey and Wing spun to face the old kres as she hobbled into the room.

  “I grew fatigued with the wait at your door. No mind, girl, though you do send guilt most prettily. Should I offer congratulations here?”

  “Such would be most proper.” Wing beamed and pulled Darsey close again in a warm hug. “We’ve agreed to wed.”

  “Fortunately for my heart, I’m not surprised, but I am impressed. I know you’ve taken true care to consider the needs of others in this choice and I’m proud of you both. Well done.”

  Darsey and Wing simply stared at her and she cackled happily.

  “Lucky your hearts have more strength than mine, or my compliment would have dropped you both. No worry, just stay as you are while I take a first scan.”

  “Scan?” Darsey wondered, and would have taken a step back, but the old lady tottered forward to grasp her arm.

  “I mean you no harm,” Grace promised, and her fronds relayed the truth behind that oath. “I need to check that your cells are compatible with treatment. May I do such?”

  Darsey felt Wing’s entreaty underlying the request and sighed, then shrugged. “Certain-sure.”

  “Excellent, this will take but a moment.” Grace raised her com and tipped carefully forward, humming while her scan field swept across its target. “This looks good- Wait...”

  “Wait?” Darsey demanded. “What do you mean, wait?”

  “This is most odd. Every cell seems to host exotic matter. How is such possible?”

  Darsey and Wing exchanged a look and several thoughts, none of which did anything to solve the puzzle. “Don’t know,” Darsey answered succinctly. “Does it matter?”

  “No, I think not. In truth, it might aid the process – wait.”

  “Wait? Again?”

  “A moment, girl. This certain-sure needs checking.”

  A tense silence followed and lasted some minutes until Grace released a slow and satisfied hiss. “The result is true. You are fresh with child.”

  Darsey heard the words, but comprehending them was something else. “Huh?”

  “Congratulations, my dear. To both of you. There’s no doubt you’re pregnant.”

  This time, Darsey blinked and found actual words. “You’re joking.”

  “Do I look like a merry old maid filling my life
with jests? As I say, so it is. You’re with child, girl.”

  Darsey reached to Wing for support, but he was already sagging against her. They managed an awkward hug and slowly subsided onto the floor together. Mother, father and offspring.

  50

  Traitor

  Gull Snowbeak sat crosslegged on his cabin floor above a hologram of Blossom as seen from space. He appeared to hover over the planet and gazed down at it with hooded eyes. He always enjoyed using his floor as a window. It reminded him that he was part of the Royal Fleet and that once again he had a new world at his feet. Gull smiled, and at that moment words fell into his meditating mind like stones into a pool. His scalp tightened against their ripples.

  Report.

  Gull sat up even straighter. Is that you, Mightiness?

  Certain-sure, his Arck replied. Raptor follows my orders otherwheres and I also wished to make this contact.

  I’m honored, sire, but have little to report. All continues as was.

  Silence briefly returned and Gull was alone with his thoughts, but not for long.

  I hoped you would fail to answer.

  Apologies, sire, but targeting all three is a challenge. Since your order came, there is all times one missing. Even the cousins are ever apart. They seem to avoid each other.

  Can you not destroy the whole ship?

  Indeed, Mightiness, but that would not claim all three targets. We’re in orbit and they move often between the planet and the ship. Even the old vulture has made planet fall. There is most urgent news also, Sire.

  Tell.

  The exile has a mate who is with child.

  His child?

  Certain-sure, Sire.

  This is heavy news, old friend. I needs must consider a moment.

  Gull made no response and returned to his rapt contemplation of the planet below. Some minutes passed before his master’s mind disturbed him again. You’ve given me a choice that would burden any kres.

  Indeed, Mightiness.

  My heart aches to order it, but the child must also die.

  I feared such.