by Brandon Barr
As Winter crossed the threshold, she noticed more Guardians standing, waiting for them on the other side. At the center of a large, undecorated room stood four new faces. Each was clothed in the same white, fitted shirt wearing loose white pants, and on their right breast was the sigil of a starship bursting through a shattered sword. Three of the Guardians had the same white-red-black sigil beside the starship, just as Arentiss and Rueik had. The sigil of a Missionary. Winter was attracted to the title and wondered what kind of missions they were on.
The fourth man wore a different sigil. Green-red-green. He looked older than Karience, more creases around his mouth, and deeper lines beneath his eyes. His skin was almost as dark as Karience’s, but there was a reddish quality about it, as if a shading of crimson was stirred into the dark paint that made up his skin. He was not as handsome as Karience was beautiful, but the disposition of his face was that of an old warrior, full of stories and wisdom.
It was on this man’s shoulder that Karience rested her hand. “Welcome to your new home,” said Karience. “With the exception of Nephitus, my warden, these three men and women, along with Rueik and Arentiss, make up the total number of Guardian Missionaries here on Loam. I’ll let them introduce themselves, starting with my warden.”
The man stepped forward. “My name is Nephitus. I oversee the men and women of the Shield Force and, with them, monitor all travel coming and going through the portal. This tower is twelve levels. Below you are nine levels belonging to the Shield Force and to Loam’s security personnel. There are Emissary quarters amongst the Shield Force members, but Karience tells me you’ll be staying here, on these upper three levels with the Missionaries. Far too much energy and youth for my tastes,” he said with a slight grin.
“I have had the privilege of serving as warden on another world that achieved full chartered protection under our order, and I hope to live to see the day your world achieves this end.” Nephitus bowed and stepped back into place beside Karience.
The next person in line stepped forward. She was a short, round faced girl, her dark hair falling down her head in short curved strands, curling just under her jaw line where it was cut in a straight line. Winter thought she looked only a little older than herself, and she noticed that her skin was almost the same leafy brown as her and Aven’s, but it was distinctly lighter.
“Welcome,” said the girl, but stopped, a questioning look in her eyes. “Pardon me, Karience, but I thought there were three Emissaries coming?”
“Pike is with the Physician on the ship. His memory had to be wiped, as you all know. After he recovers, I’ll bring him to meet each of you.” She nodded for the round-faced girl to continue.
“I want to welcome you both to our order. Aven. Winter. My name is Daeymara, I’m a Missionary in C-group with these two on my left. I come from an upworld world very different from yours, so if you ever feel out of place, it’s alright. Come and ask me any questions you want. I won’t bite.”
She stepped back and a sturdy man on her left stepped forward. He was a mix of youth with a mature face, probably close in age to Arentiss. Muscled arms protruded from his white shirt, and his head and neck were strong, reminiscent of Grey Bear, only this man’s head was hairless to the scalp. She’d never seen anyone so young with a bare head. Had he some disease? Or was this normal from where he came? Perhaps he had cut it off? She couldn’t help thinking of a giant potato when she looked at his head. His complexion was potato-like, a blotch of dark brown freckles dotted his skin, competing for dominance against what appeared a very fair complexion. If not for the strangeness of his naked head, he would have been uniquely handsome, like Rueik. Rueik’s light skin was so fair, so exotic.
“My name is Hark. I’m a Missionary in C-Group.” He folded his arms across his chest, the fitted white shirt strained to accommodate the man’s muscles. “Like Daeymara said, welcome. I hear you come from a sape farm. Your berries work wonders on my intestines. I’ve never had such good shits in my life.”
Most of the Guardians laughed. Even Karience held a smirk on her lips.
“I come from a mining colony called Beryllium Hole. Lived on the same floating space rocks all my life. Then two years ago I joined Karience and her team here, and if she’ll pardon my bragging about her, she’s a damn smart leader. Surpasses all the crew captains I worked for in the mine pits.”
Hark stepped back in line.
“You’re in good company,” said the girl beside Hark. She was the last in line to introduce herself. “I am Zoecara. On my homeworld, my name means ‘pretty weed.’ As I see it, weeds can fit in almost anywhere, and so can I. There are many cultures amongst us, but don’t let that be a wall. You can be open here. The enclave is like family, but better. I know that sounds strange but it’s true for me. Everyone here has passed the rigorous psych tests. Everyone here is stable, competent, thoughtful, and intelligent. And as an enclave of Missionaries, we have a common purpose.”
Winter observed Zoecara’s hands; they moved gracefully as she talked, drawing her in, speaking to her in harmony with her words. Even the movement of her head and her shoulders had a soft, slow rhythm to it.
The girl’s parents were right, she was very pretty. Her skin was a mix of gold and bronze, and her dark lashes made her grayish violet eyes even the more captivating. Everything about her face and body had balance, smoothness.
“I want to assure you that, though we will befriend Pike when he recovers, we won’t forget who he used to be. We saw the report. Why he needed a brain wipe. Your Baron probably thought he’d have a little spy in our ranks, the bastard. I don’t know if that makes you feel better, but if I were in your place, I’d want to know others would never forget the true history.”
Zoecara’s lips pinched into a small, reassuring smile, then she stepped back into line with the others.
“Thank you,” said Karience. “I think Winter and Aven have had just about the fullest day one could possibly endure. Their land baron, Rhaudius, as Zoecara eluded to, was the worst kind of Royal oink you could imagine. I had to use the good night device aboard the ship and then, afterwards, negotiate with the Royal ass for Winter and Aven’s lives.”
“Do you expect him to cause trouble in the quorums?” Nephitus asked.
“I’d be surprised if he could. I talked to some of the Royals prior to the mission. King Darmelion made it seem that his reputation preceded him in most circles. Princess Liyza wrinkled her nose the moment I mentioned his name. I think the majority of Royals have enough good sense to humor his complaints but ultimately do nothing. I already sent a report to the Magnus Empyrean, just in case there is trouble.”
Karience raised an eyebrow. “I have to catch up with Alael about Pike. Nephitus, I’m sure you’re needed back at the God’s Eye.” She glanced at Winter and Aven. “I’ll leave you in the hands of our Missionary enclave. They can show you to your quarters. I’m certain you are near exhaustion.”
The moment Karience turned to leave, Winter felt Arentiss’s hand on her arm. “If I can separate you from your brother, I’d be glad to show you your room.”
Winter hadn’t realized how tired she was until Karience mentioned it. She was full of questions and anticipation of what was to come, but her eyes ached for rest. She lamented the loss of the cozy tree nooks and grassy knolls that dotted the woods around her farm. A bed would do, though.
“Thank you, Arentiss. I am tired.”
Aven was already in conversation with Hark, so Winter tapped him goodbye.
“See you when I wake?”
“What?” tapped Aven. “We’re not asleep? I thought this was a dream.”
CHAPTER 9
ZOECARA
“Kiss me. Again,” said Zoecara. “Harder.”
Rueik’s eyes were soft. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“That’s impossible. You’re too sweet to hurt anyone. Now kiss me like I want!”
He dug his lips into hers, pressing her hard against the wall. Zoecara dr
ank it in. It was good. Good enough. She wished he would scratch all her itches.
After a long while, he finally pulled away for breath. She pressed her forehead on his shoulder.
“That was good,” she said in a long breath. “I wish you would…you know. Finish me.” She sighed. “I want it. I want you.”
He lifted her chin with a finger and the fiery look he held startled her. Whatever thoughts were smoldering behind those green eyes, they were unreadable, not necessarily born of lust. She clenched her teeth behind closed lips and silently ground out her frustration. Prim cultures bred such strange moral qualms, and the sexual ones were really especially annoying.
She needed to back down. She had pushed him hard again. But it was right—she had to let her humanness show. You never wanted to be so in control you ceased to have faults.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a penitent whisper. “I lost myself in the moment.”
Rueik kissed her softly on the top of her forehead. “I love you.” His eyes almost looked remorseful as he ran a strong hand under her jawline and up the side of her cheek, brushing her ear. “One day, after our missions, I promise, I’ll wed you. You will be mine and I will be yours. We need to be patient.”
Sometimes she wondered if he didn’t have her by the balls, and not the other way around. But he loved her. He said it every time they were alone. And devoted love was far better than mere sex, when it came to getting something from someone.
“I found something for you. Something you’ve been wanting.” She retrieved a small device from a pocket in her uniform.
“Impossible!” said Rueik. “How did you get it?”
“Don’t ask,” she said with a smirk. “Now you can study the physician craft, without waiting another year to get approved. It’s the Physicians’ complete manual. Everything from brain wipes to broken arms. And it lists how to use the different devices.”
Rueik took the screenbook and held it in front of him. “You’re amazing. You know what this means to me. I’m holding a dream in my hands.”
“I know how much you want to make a difference in people’s lives. You’ll make a wonderful Physician, Rueik. And I’ve been busy with other acquisitions today. Good things come in pairs.”
He met her eyes at the hint. “You got the bug in?”
She grinned. “Yes. Three months of searching, and finally I have something.”
She saw the relief on Rueik’s face at her good news.
Together they had been hunting for the killer of the three Emissaries for over three months. The murders had taken place at the Royals’ masquerade ball.
Zoecara suppressed a wistful sigh. It had been fun creating a phantom murder plot so close to the truth that even Rueik was totally blind to the fact that the lips he kissed were the same lips that had delivered the poison to the three dead Emissaries. With wine in their stomachs, it had taken little persuasion to entice each Emissary to accompany her to the Royal garden for a walk outside, leaving the ball. An application of poisoned gloss on her lips, a short kiss, and then she’d held them tight as the exotic hallucinogen deadened them to the numbness spreading through their limbs. It had taken her entire life to build up an acclimation to the toxins, and the hallucinogen made each death its own euphoric thrill.
She stabbed them through the heart the moment they died, just to throw off the authorities. But she knew this wouldn't fool Karience. And that was what she wanted. But for Rueik, there were so many suspects she had thrown at him. Together, they’d narrowed it down to a select few, Prince Damien being the key.
“What did you find?” he asked impatiently. “Did you grid any documents?”
“I did. Three docs with big names. Princess Kyrnae of the Second Quorum. Queen Lani of the Second Quorum, King Drakenhaur of the First Quorum, Prince Damien—no surprise there. And also Chancellor Geraldus, the man I saw in the shadows, but now I have a name to his face. And of course, as we suspected, Detective Slee. Look for yourself.” She gave Rueik a curt smile and from across the room, pulled a screen from under her bed sheets, then handed it to Rueik. “Slee’s being paid a Royal purse to do the dirty work, or as they put it, twist things. There are some other names, but what I find especially interesting is that all five court astronomers seem to be pushing this. And there is a cryptic reference to the foreign contact or just the contact. That leads me to think that somehow they’re in-touch with an upworld, perhaps mercenaries, why else are the astronomers involved?”
She watched his eyes twitch back and forth as he soaked in her lies and filled in the missing pieces.
“A ship,” said Rueik. “Nephitus has the portal on lock. Any upworld has to come from space.”
“I think you’re right. The only question in my mind is…”
He finished her open-ended thought. “Is it from a Beast world?” He met her eyes. “Almost certainly the answer is yes. Killing Guardians is practically their call sign.” His eyes narrowed. “We have to tell Karience. Now that we have—”
“No! Not yet.”
“Why?” Rueik’s eyes were intense.
Zoecara had anticipated this. “I need another week. Maybe two. Look at the second document.”
He flicked his finger across the screen.
“There,” she said. “It mentions two seeds. And then down here,” she read aloud:
Give them time to infiltrate. Information is invaluable. Once the seeds have what they need, then we can move toward eradication. Our contact is adamant we remain patient.
Rueik bit on his lip as he absorbed the full import of what was read. A hunger stirred again in Zoecara for his lips to be on her. He was such a fun pet to play with.
“It’s clear to me who the two seeds are,” said Zoecara. “It’s the young farmers. The Baron’s son has a legitimate history, but his memories get wiped, and then two orphaned farm children with no family, no real contacts, and who have no legitimate reason to be here are chosen for Emissary duty. It’s borderline lazy how bold the Beasts can be.”
Rueik stared hard past her, his jaw tight. The shadows of his face were so attractive when he was tense. “If that’s true, they’re amazing actors. Just like we were warned in training. They seem so normal. Arentiss and I talked to them for a long time. It’s hard to imagine they could be someone else, underneath.”
Zoecara waited, her eyes searching his face, as if their next step was still uncertain and she needed him to help discover it.
“I’ll stay close to them. Be their friend. We have some time according to the letter. They could be here a year or more before they feel they have enough intelligence. But I think we should let Karience know right now. I see no reason to keep her in the dark.”
“I do,” said Zoecara. “We can tell Karience, but only once we get some dirt on them. And…” she let her voice trail off.
“Why wait?”
“Because. I’m not sure there isn’t someone else already inside. I’m not sure ‘the contact’ isn’t a Guardian.”
“One of us?”
“How else are two random, uneducated farmers chosen to be Emissaries? Like I said, it’s lazy. They had to have help to pull that off.”
Rueik shook his head. “The only person who oversaw the selection of new recruits is Karience, and she’s untouchable as far as I’m concerned.”
She wanted to tell him that no one was untouchable, but that wouldn’t be the best direction to lead his thoughts.
“Why did she choose them?” she asked. “There were certainly dozens of more qualified entries.”
She saw her question work just a little at his confidence.
“You see what I mean,” she continued. “I agree with you. Everything I know about Karience tells me she’s a Guardian from heart to soul. Maybe there’s something else going on. Pressure from certain Royals, or maybe from higher up in the Guardian ranks. But then, it’s unwise to dismiss the possibility she’s involved, no matter how unlikely.”
“Alright,” said Rueik. “I’ll k
eep quiet. In the meantime, I’m going to follow Winter and Aven around like a dog. And you, you’re going to use your bugs and figure out how those two got in here.”
Something else caught fire in his eyes. A spark that was already there. “I have an idea. I could try my hand at some of the Physician arts.”
“How would that help?” asked Zoecara, skewing her face slightly to hide her interest. What did he think he could do?
“Well, I read a lot about what’s in a Physician’s manual. This screenbook has a lot more than brain wipes in the section on mind. If there is an insider, I could search memory easily enough without anyone knowing, but I need a particular tool a Physician carries.”
“The mind probe?”
“Exactly.”
She waited, finding this aggressive train of thought slightly alarming. Maybe getting him the screenbook was a mistake. This was not the conservative, cautious man she was used to. Still, perhaps this avenue could be used to her advantage, but…how far was he willing to go?
Rueik shook his head. “It would be impossible to get our hands on one, even on the black market…and yet, there is one way. I don’t like it, though.”
She knew exactly what he was thinking. They had a Physician in the tower. Alael. It was a rare opportunity. But she needed to stay in control.
“What would you say if I could get it for you?” she said.
Rueik hesitated. She could see the storm on his face.
“We’re talking about a Beast infiltrating our ranks,” she pressed. “This is bigger than both of us. You brought the idea up because you know the stakes. We have to do what we can in the moment we are in.”
His eyes softened, and he nodded slowly.
She’d never actually get the tool for him, for it wouldn’t do having him look in one of the new Emissary’s minds and find nothing, but she wanted to encourage his fear. Keep him believing in her story. She leaned up against him and brushed her lips against his. She saw the moral and ethical dilemmas still fighting for life behind his green eyes.