by Cara Lake
* * * * *
Worried faces stared long and hard into the eyes of the warrior who stood before the Concordia, the council who oversaw Eunomi affairs. Here on Auriga, they had been shielded for many years from the chaos that eternally consumed other planets and when news of conflict arrived, as it often did, the council always appeared shocked. This time it was no different and the Concordia members fixated on the messenger as if by that action they could change the news he had given. Cygnus, the Concordia leader, coughed, releasing them from the inertia that had settled over their heads as they absorbed the implications of the current events unfolding on a not so distant planet. He shuffled the papers he held in his hands.
“These reports.” He frowned at the warrior. “Are they true?”
“Yes sir. It’s confirmed by the Eunomi commander spearheading that mission. Serpens is under siege. Belial has a force of five thousand outside the city gates and more on the way. The overlord Phenex is distracted and from what Borealis has reported the local population is ripe for rebellion.”
“So it’s good news then?” interjected the dark-haired man to Cygnus’s right. Cygnus touched his shoulder in reassurance. “Yes. It’s good news. Better than the news from Earth. Merak Espenson has reported that Lucius Whitaker, recently identified as Esseni of Light, is involved in a complicated situation.” Muttered curses swept around the table as Etanin held up his hand for quiet. “I have an update on that,” he said. “He’s on the planet Eridanus and we have protectors in place who are monitoring the developments.”
Cygnus looked grave. “The situation is in flux. The Balance must be maintained. The Eunomi can do most good on Ophiuchus so we should target our resources there for now.”
“It could be the chance we’ve been waiting for,” said another, “a chance to claw back some territory in a Discordant stronghold.”
“What news of the Esseni pairing on that planet?” asked the blonde woman to Cygnus’s left. As usual leave it to Terra to cut to the chase. She had been Esseni of Earth for over three thousand years and her focus was always on ensuring new Esseni pairings were able to bond. The messenger seemed unsure. “Last reports are confusing. Cassiopeia confirmed contact has been made but spoke of two potentials for Hate. Twin brothers. There is no news yet as to which one has manifested.”
“Well, that’s a complication we haven’t encountered for a long while,” said Terra with a wry smile. “Usually it’s hard enough to find one Esseni and now my daughter has uncovered two.”
“Leave it to Cassi to be different!” laughed the smiling man next to her. Terra returned his smile because he was Esseni of Sky, her Esseni partner and Cassiopeia’s father. “She takes after you, my love, so I am sure she will solve the puzzle.”
Cygnus spoke then, making a decision of which they all approved. “We will send in reinforcements and shore up the rebellion in Serpens. Those who wish to fight for the Eunomi on Ophiuchus will have our protection against both Belial and Phenex.” The Concordia ended the session with hope in their hearts, the promise of change on Ophiuchus the most encouraging news they had received in a long time.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Justice
Tani was shaking as she ran, following Phenex through the city alleyways. The confrontation with Jaro had left her drained but determined. She knew he was angry that she had thwarted his attempt to kill Phenex. His fury still clawed at her chest, slicing her to the bone. He couldn’t be allowed to sacrifice himself. Phenex had to die and she would be the one to do it. She needed Jaro to live.
What she couldn’t understand was why Phenex was heading for the palace. He was overlord of this city. Shouldn’t he be directing the city’s defense from the frontline? As he ran, Phenex shoved whoever he came across out of his way. Not that the frightened citizens needed much encouragement to leave his path open when confronted by their massive brute of an overlord bearing down on them at high speed.
It wasn’t until he was forced to come to a standstill by a group of five shedu warriors hurrying in the other direction, toward the gates, that Tani caught up with him. When she drew near, it was clear to her that the shedu were looking confused with regard to Phenex’s actions. In fact the leader of the group appeared to be questioning his direction. Shedu saevici were mercenary by nature and had little true respect for those who commanded them, obeying orders purely for coin. They had sworn no bloodoath to Phenex and therefore were free to change allegiance if they lost respect for the one they served. This group of shedu was staring at Phenex with expressions that ranged from disgust to loathing. They didn’t like him and it seemed to Tani that their allegiance was wavering.
“We need you at the gate, my lord.” The leader was saying. “Belial’s men know of your reputation. They will be in fear of us more readily if you are seen at the forefront of battle.”
“I pay you to serve me,” said Phenex, gripping Tani by the arm and pulling her close to his side. “Not to tell me what to do.”
“But my lord, how will it appear—”
Phenex grabbed the warrior’s throat with his free hand and stared down at him angrily. “I don’t care how it appears. I am taking this female to Choronzon. I am paying you to defend my city.” His grip on Tani’s arm tightened as she struggled to break free on hearing his words. So that was his game. Escape to Chthonia with her and leave his people to suffer! The shedu he held by the throat was obviously unimpressed with this response and went to unsheathe his sword but Phenex was too quick. Letting go of Tani, he shoved her aside and went in for the kill, disarming and then slashing the warrior across the chest. He fell to the ground and chaos ensued. The remaining shedu, enraged by the death of their comrade, drew their swords quickly, surrounding Phenex, their intentions clear.
Tani was surprised to see that Phenex did not seem fazed by the situation. She thought his current action—leaving the city to fend for itself—was cowardly, but she knew Phenex had a reputation as a fearsome warlord and that there must be some reason this was so. She soon found out. The four shedu suddenly flew backward as if lifted by a sudden gust of wind, each one flying a different direction until their bodies crashed against the side of the buildings on either side of the alley. It seemed Phenex had warloki powers. This power, the power of displacement, was always a difficult one to counter because opponents would constantly find themselves being thrown around, never able to get close enough to attack. Dazed and confused, the shedu stumbled to their feet while Phenex roared at them.
“Get out of my way, scum! I am overlord here and you will obey me!”
The stunned warriors were not cowed and Tani could only applaud them for their bravery. They began to shift into their beast form—huge gray, scaly beasts with leathery wings and bull-shaped horns. Within seconds their eyes were completely yellow with no pupils, and lethal razor-sharp fangs had erupted from their mouths. Tani took a step backward, joining the anxious onlookers who had been forced to stop their search for a safe haven because of the confrontation. Most of them were heading for the palace in the hope of finding shelter within its fortified gates. They were already panicked by Belial’s attack, and this standoff between their overlord and his guards was a fresh assault on their nerves and for many was the last straw. Shedu saevici in their beast form were truly terrifying and Tani could sense the crowd’s spiraling fear.
She was surprised when, even though outnumbered, Phenex stood his ground and laughed. The four shedu were poised for attack, their wings flexed and claws out, but Tani knew that any warloki powers Phenex possessed would probably still give him the advantage. The shedu charged. Women wailed and pulled their young closer. Among them, on the edge of the group, Tani noticed a frightened Liana hugging Sami tightly to her chest.
Suddenly the crowd surged forward, knocked off their feet by the force of Phenex’s displacement power. Seconds later they were forming a floating barrier of bodies between Phenex and the shedu who were bearing down on him.
Tani and the few remainin
g onlookers who hadn’t been displaced could only watch in horror as the shedu slid to a halt, narrowly missing a collision with the cloud of helpless people. It seemed that even so-called storm demons had some compassion. Phenex, however, did not. The moment he saw the shedu stop, he whipped his displacement power through the air, sending the dangling figures toward the beasts. Bodies crashed into them and fell at their feet. Those who could scrambled out of the way, and Phenex went in for the kill, taking advantage of the confusion his play had caused, drawing his sword and charging at the shedu. He hacked off two heads before they had realized what was happening. The two left standing howled in disbelief, their furious cries spluttering to a halt as Phenex used another power that held them frozen in place. The power of force. She now understood why Phenex had successfully ruled Serpens for so long. Too long, she decided. It was time.
Tani made a dash toward one of the decapitated corpses. She tugged at his clawed hand and prized the sword from his grasp. Phenex was still holding the remaining shedu at bay. Injured citizens were crawling around in the dirt screaming for help, while those who hadn’t fled were dragging them to relative safety. Realizing her flowing dress was going to be a hindrance, Tani quickly ripped the thin fabric at the hem, giving her legs the freedom of movement they needed in a fight.
Standing behind Phenex, sword in hand, she called for his attention. “Phenex! Turn and face me!” she cried, heart beating wildly. She had fought many battles but none as important as this one.
Phenex must have realized who it was that challenged him and merely gazed over his shoulder in contempt, still holding the shedu immobile. “Cease your shrieking, female, and put down that sword. I know that you are Esseni. It is a pity but I will have to forgo the pleasure of enjoying your delicious body and take you to Choronzon sooner than I wished. You will come with me and will obey my commands.” He turned back to the shedu and flung the displacement at them again, sending the two beasts crashing into each other. They lay in a heap on the ground, unmoving. Phenex slowly turned to face Tani, his expression of mirth clearly indicating what he thought of her aggressive stance. “What do we have here? A little girl who thinks to best me, the slayer of Serpens, Phenex the invincible! Stand down, woman, and do us all a favor. Choronzon would prefer you in one piece no doubt but if you persist with this action he will receive you with a few limbs missing.” He was laughing at her, his arrogance knowing no bounds.
Tanith glowered at the bastard in front of her and fought to tamp down her anger at his taunts. She knew the worst thing she could do was lose her temper. A wave of emotion from the crowd washed over her. Love. Respect. Admiration. It gave her the strength to stand tall. She swirled the sword in the air to let Phenex know she wasn’t playing a game and that she was deadly serious. He drew back a little, startled by her obvious skill with the blade. “I am Tanith Laska!” she cried, “warrior of the Eunomi and I am here to see justice done. Phenex, so-called slayer of Serpens, you shall pay for your crimes.”
Tani charged at Phenex. So shocked was he at her attack, he was almost too late with his own sword to block the slash of her blade, which managed to rip a small tear in the fabric across his chest. He appeared stunned for a second as Tani continued her assault and kept him on the defensive, too busy parrying her thrusts to use his powers, which needed his full concentration.
As she pressed forward, in her peripheral vision Tani caught sight of Liana dousing the comatose shedu with water. They shook off the cold liquid, regaining consciousness and shifted to their feet, ready to help Tani in her struggle. It appeared that Phenex was aware of them too. He gave a sudden roar, using his own sword to block Tani’s arcing swing and, engaging the full weight of his body, he shoved her forcefully backward. Tani lost her balance momentarily and stumbled into the wall, grazing her sword arm against the rough stone.
Phenex took the opportunity to use his powers again. The two shedu once again flew through the air, crashing into bystanders while Tani remained pinned immobile against the wall. Phenex roared with laughter. “I am Phenex the Slayer!” he thundered, puffing out his chest. “How dare you defy me?” So busy was he, puffing and preening, that he failed to see a small boy run toward him, dagger in hand. Tani heard Liana’s panicked shout and watched helpless, her heart leaping into her mouth as Sami plunged the dagger into Phenex’s side. The warlord howled, staggering slightly, wide eyed with surprise at the sight of the small blade stuck fast in his flesh. He slashed at Sami with his sword. Sami was too quick and Phenex was too off balance to make it count.
So enraged was he that he had missed the small boy who dared to oppose him, Phenex turned his powers full force on Sami, unwittingly releasing both Tani and the shedu from his hold. Sami’s small body flew up into the air where Phenex continued to torment him by keeping him suspended and twirling him around in all directions. His small body was a limp ragdoll that Phenex toyed with relentlessly, twisting and spinning him in the air. Liana was screaming for Phenex to stop, the crowd hurling abuse and Tani, now free from the force, did what she was trained to do. Sword in hand, she charged forward, slicing her blade across Phenex’s chest, enlarging the small tear in the fabric and cutting through flesh and bone.
Phenex’s roar this time was one of pain and utter shock. Blood poured from the open wound as he stood staring down at it, momentarily held immobile as confused emotions flitted across his brow. But he was still standing. Then he moved again, reaching for his sword, his expression morphing from shock to dark anger. In the seconds it took for Phenex to divert his attention from Sami toward her and raise his own blade, Tani had twisted to a better position. Her decision made, she took a deep breath and plunged her sword into his chest, straight through his blackened heart. Phenex’s eyes flared wide as he fell to his knees. Tani lifted her foot to his chest to gain purchase as she withdrew the blade slowly, her eyes never leaving his. Taking the sword in both hands she spoke in a whisper that only he could hear. “Justice is served,” she said and swung again, slicing his head from his neck.
Tani stood still, chest heaving wildly, her mind blank as she stared at the limp corpse at her feet. Then it hit her. She had killed a man. It was not the first time she had killed an enemy and was not something she enjoyed. But this victory meant so much more. It meant that Jaro was free. A sudden barrage of noise assaulted her ears and she blinked to awareness. The crowd was cheering enthusiastically and the two shedu warriors, one carrying a small boy in his arms, were bowing to her on bended knees.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Liberty
Xaphan could not help staring at the sleeping woman he had liberated from the temple. When Belial’s men arrived at the city gates, panic had spread quickly. The majority of sanguini, although vicious in many ways, were unprepared to fight a battle against so large a force that was threatening to overwhelm the city. They stood aloof from the general population at the best of times and felt no need to intervene in what was sure to become a mass slaughter. Belial’s reputation for savagery was almost as bad if not worse than Phenex’s.
The eldars of the Vita Cruor had evacuated the temple as a precaution, leaving only a handful of the most powerful sanguini warloki in residence to guard their treasures. Belial was known to be respectful of sanguini practices but they were not foolish enough to leave their sacred place totally undefended. Ophiuchi warlords were notoriously unpredictable.
Xaphan had been one of the last to leave and as the prime holder of their sacred texts, he had swept through the temple, ensuring the most precious artifacts were stored safely in the deepest recesses of the labyrinthine tunnels that lay beneath.
In the process he had stumbled across Morana D’Ath, one of the few remaining prisoners. The fact that Sitri had taken an interest in her was enough to spark his curiosity, so instead of leaving her chained as she had been, like an animal, he had brought her to his mansion, one of the most fortified in Serpens. This woman was more trouble than she was worth and Xaphan was confused by his own behavior
. He didn’t understand why he had taken her from the temple, only that he was compelled to do so.
Morana D’Ath was a beautiful woman. Unusually exotic. He had always found himself drawn to her aura of mystery. It was whispered that she had many lovers, kept her bloodslaves chained and engaged with them in sexual acts of the most licentious nature. If she did, then as far as he was concerned, she hid it well. Xaphan had never seen evidence of such behavior and although his contact with her was limited he thought he was able to recognize those sanguini whose proclivities were of an extreme nature.
His eyes remained fixed on her voluptuous curves as he weighed his options with regard to her presence in his home. Currently, her unconscious body lay across the bed in his guest room, her pose that of a fairytale princess awaiting a lover’s kiss.
“Who is she?” The young man beside him spoke in reverent tones that Xaphan had no trouble interpreting. His son was as intrigued by this woman as he was. Xaphan turned to Zahir. His boy was almost a man now, which in sanguini terms meant he was approaching his two hundredth birthday.
“She is not your concern, Zahir.” He spoke roughly, wanting to make it clear that she was off-limits.
Zahir’s green eyes blinked in confusion at the stark warning in his father’s voice. “I’m just wondering why you bought her here, Father. The eldars were holding her for punishment and now the Eunomi are asking about her. They must think she’s dangerous.”
Xaphan could not disagree. He had watched Morana for years, knew of the proclivities people whispered when they spoke her name. Morana had a reputation that linked her with the most debauched individuals on the planet. And she was feared. Why, he did not know. But even the sanguini eldars had treated her with respect. A respect not normally shown to one who was known for licentiousness.
The woman on the bed stirred. She had been blood starved and unconscious when he carried her from the temple. He had managed to quench her thirst by intravenously feeding her with stored blood but that was only a quick fix. She needed fresh, warm blood to heal or the wounds left by the punishments inflicted on her would scar.