by Seven Steps
“I only strived to communicate the King’s wishes. Anything that I might have said came from his mouth.”
“Like the Venian-Martian peace treaty?”
“Yes. He believes that there is much that we can learn from each other.”
“Such as?”
“Your domes are more advanced than ours. The food is richer. The air is better filtered. He hoped that some technological trade could be established.”
“In exchange for?”
“Slaves. Protection. The Venian Council has yet to grant me an ear so that we can work out the details. I can’t say that I’m surprised.”
“I have an ear. You can explain the details to me.” She moved closer to him, brushing his arm with her delicate fingertips. His skin was warm. The temperature in the room seemed to rise.
“I am afraid that I-”
“Afraid? I thought that Martians were fearless.”
Their eyes dueled with each other, the pull undeniable. Then, without warning, Boikis took a step away from her.
“Countess, I would not want you to think that I was taking advantage of you for political gain.”
“Who said anything about taking advantage?”
“I am not a slave, Countess.”
Jun-Su stilled. “What?”
“I am not a servant that obeys your whims. I am the Ambassador of Mars. I cannot be your slave, just as you cannot be mine.”
Jun-Su removed her hand from Boikis’ arm, her face reddening. She suddenly felt very foolish.
“Is this what rejection feels like?” She asked.
“I believe it is, Countess.”
“I don’t like the feeling.”
“Not many do.”
She turned from him, her feeling of embarrassment suddenly turned to rage. “Boikis, I am afraid that the Council is no longer interested in any peace treaties. You may go now.”
“I am here at the pleasure of the Czarina Arees. She may put me out if she wishes.”
“Then I will tell her to do so.”
“And only then will I leave.”
Jun-Su shook with fury and stomped off to find Arees. But the party was winding down, and the guests were already starting to retire. It would be foolish of her to try to get him kicked out now. Ignoring the women who came to greet her, she stormed out of the party and retreated to her home.
The anger ate at her as she thought about the man who rejected her. Who embarrassed her. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat, she couldn’t do any of her political duties without remembering that he had rebuffed her. Constantly simmering, she became a windstorm, brutally punishing her slaves for the slightest infractions. Publicly berating any Councilwoman who went against her. But it didn’t numb the rage that she felt inside of her chest at the thought of Boikis.
She decided to get revenge. She would chase him until he begged for her company, and then she would reject him, as publicly and as humiliatingly as possible. She set her idea into motion.
Calling a council meeting, she put forth her plan for a treaty with Mars. She volunteered herself to be the ambassador to the planet to work out the terms.
The council accepted and sent her away, glad to be free of the raging women that Jun-Su turned into.
Armed with a new wardrobe and a team of slaves to take care of her hair and makeup at all times, she headed to Mars as the new Venian ambassador. She became a constant fixture at the Kings side. They toured the fields where war games were played, visited the women’s barracks where Martian women were kept for the pleasure of men until they became heavy with child and were moved to the Birthing houses. She carried on long debates with the King and with Boikis. She made empty promises and grand gestures of Venian power. She strutted around the royal halls in attire that sometimes made her blush. But her plan worked. She had gotten Boikis’ attention. After a few weeks, he was her constant companion and escort.
It was all going according to the Countess’s grand plan. Or so she thought.
After a month’s time, she discovered a fatal flaw in her plan. They had fallen in love. A strange feeling that made her want to shout his name from the roof tops. He haunted her dreams. He illuminated her days. He had wormed his way into her very soul.
But, it could never be.
She was a Venian councilwoman and he was a Martian ambassador. The two planets had a long history of bitter rivalry. They could barely put a treaty together, let alone start a love affair.
Deflated and heartbroken, the Countess returned home, telling the Venian Council that the visit was a waste of time. The Martians were a heartless race of men with outrageous demands. Peace between them could never be. After that, she went into hiding, only to reappear a year later with two small children hidden in a secret home in Beta Sector.
Children that Arees had murdered.
Jun-Su’s mind returned to the present.
She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat at the memory of her children. Arees would pay for what she’d done to them. She and Boikis would see to that.
Boikis.
What would he say when he saw her face? How would he react? Would he still steal glances at her when he thought no one was looking? Would he still touch her fingertips when they passed each other in the hallway?
She adjusted her veil, not ready for him to see her mutilated forehead, and stepped out of the ship.
Boikis waited for her at the bottom of the steps. He gave her the traditional Martian three-fingered greeting, his eyes steady on hers.
“Countess. We’ve been expecting you.” Boikis’ greeting was cool, though his eyes warmed her.
Behind him stood several soldiers and other dignitaries. Martians who had no idea about the precious Venian cargo that was stashed in their jails. Boikis had taken the Venians with him when they parted.
“Ambassador Boikis. We meet again.”
“Unfortunately, I have spoken to the King. He does not wish to see you, however he has stated that you may refresh yourself on our planet before taking your leave.”
Jun-Su smiled tightly.
“Please tell the King that I have come to set up trade.”
“Mars and Venus don’t trade.”
“Foolish.” Jun-Su smoothed a hand over her deep purple garments, enjoying their rehearsed game. “My spies tell me that your planet is running low on women.”
Boikis’ face remained expressionless. “Is that what they say?”
“Venus will provide women for you. Strong women who will bear you sons.”
“And in return?”
“In return, we want armies.”
Boikis’ eyebrow ticked upward. “And who authorizes this trade?”
“I do. As Venus’ leader I am authorized to make any trade I choose.”
“From what my spies tell me, you are not the leader of Venus, or anywhere else.”
“You have heard incorrectly.”
“And what of the Council? What do they have to say about you trading away their citizens to be rations?”
“The Council is disbanded. I am the only one left. Perhaps you should get new spies.”
Boikis ran a hand over his jaw and looked up at the ceiling. He plastered a smile back on his face and looked back at Jun-Su. He bowed slightly.
“I will talk to the King on your behalf. Please, follow me.”
Jun-Su nodded and followed Boikis and his men through the spaceport.
Things were going exactly as they planned.
CHAPTER 18
Kiln awoke, shivering as blistering cold seeped through his thinly clothed body.
The room was dark, with only a flashing red light in the far corner to keep him company. He squinted, unable to make out what the light was attached to.
Where’s Nadira?
The door in front of him squeaked as it was flung open, revealing a trio of men in dusty red uniforms.
“Welcome,” said the first as he sauntered into the room. He was lit from behind, keeping his face mostly in shad
ow. “We are glad to see that you are awake and mostly unharmed.”
His two cohorts grabbed Kiln, and threw him against the wall, using wide hands to hold him there.
He didn’t struggle under their hands. Not yet. Not until they answered the one question that he cared about.
“Where is Nadira?” He growled.
“There will be plenty of time to speak of your lover later,” the headman said. “First, let me introduce myself. I am Boikis Poklar. This is Etree and Namic. We are here to secure your help in the most serious of matters.”
“I am not going to help you do anything until you tell me where my friends are.”
The man’s confident smile faltered.
“Dalio,” he called.
Another man peeked his head into what Kiln was quickly coming to realize was a cement walled cell.
“Bring me the comicore.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dalio disappeared.
“I didn’t want to have to do this so early. I’d hoped to appeal to your sense of reason.”
“What do you want with me?”
“I want to enlist your services.”
“How can I possibly help you?”
“What do you know about the Martian King?”
“Haggarty?”
“Yes.”
“He hates Venians.”
Boikis smiled. “Yes. That is what he is most known for outside of this planet.”
Mars? I’m on Mars?
“What if I told you that you could help convince him to ally with your planet?”
Kiln smirked. “Did you hear me? King Haggarty hates Venians.”
“But not you. You, Kiln, will be the bridge between our two worlds.”
“Me? Why me?”
Boikis motioned for Etree and Namic to step away.
The men complied.
“Well, you see, our brother has been less than helpful. I’d hoped that you could talk some sense into old Haggy.”
“I have no brother.”
“Although the Venians may have wiped your memory, it doesn’t mean that they erased your past. You are the twin brother to Praxis, the crown prince of Mars, and my elder brother.”
Frowning, Kiln swept his eyes over the man before him.
Brothers? It’s impossible. Isn’t it?
“You have the wrong man,” Kiln said quickly.
“Well, I do have my mother’s coloring.”
“I have no brothers.”
“Oh, but that’s where you are wrong, Kiln. You do. I have the evidence to prove it.”
“What evidence?”
Boikis threw his hands open wide, as if he were delivering a grand speech. “Not a week ago, one of our lesser ambassadors approached me and told me an amazing tale of a Venian man who was a copy of our prince. He’d met him at a Zenithian ball. At first, I thought that he was a fool, until he showed me a picture of you. Same height, same build, same face. It intrigued me, and I examined the matter. I spoke to the royal physician, and your mother, and they both told me the same tale. Two brothers born of the same womb. One was sent away to become a slave while the other stayed and became a prince. So, I sent Etree and Namic to fetch you, and while you were unconscious, we ran a test. You are a one hundred percent match to our dear Prince Praxis.”
Kiln’s head spun, and he held onto the wall to keep from falling.
A prince? I am a prince? This man who captured me is my younger brother? No, it can’t be! I’m a slave!
“I don’t believe you.”
Boikis flicked a switch to turn on the lights in the cell, then reached in his pocket, pulling out a photograph.
“Do you know this man?” He asked.
Kiln inched closer, staring in disbelief at the photo. He’d seen this man before on the war game’s feed on Venus. It was his favorite player, Praxis. The men called him Praxis the Immortal. Only now did he notice that the man looked like him, same blue eyes, same blonde hair, though his was shaved at the sides and back, leaving a long piece in the front. He wore a red cap with two stars above the rim. Except for the unshaved chin, and the haughty look in his eye, they were identical.
Kiln gently took the picture from Boikis’ hands, staring in amazement.
“If this is my brother, then-”
“Then you, brother, are now the crowned prince of Mars.”
“And Haggarty is my father.”
Kiln slid down the wall, unable to bear another sentence.
I have a family.
Boikis stooped next to him, and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.
“Welcome home, brother.”
Kiln’s eyes flicked to the man before him. His younger brother.
My brother.
“Brother,” Kiln whispered.
“Yes, brother,” Boikis smiled. “We are brothers.”
Kiln shook his head. “Why would you kidnap me, brother?”
“Kidnap?” Boikis stood, and placed his hands behind his back. “I rescued you. Brought you back home.”
“And Nadira?”
“Nadira is fine.”
“And what about Lex and Arees.”
“They are all fine. But what I am interested in is you. With Praxis gone, you, my brother, must pick up the family legacy.”
Yes, Praxis. Praxis is my brother, too.
“What happened to him?”
Kiln had never met Praxis, but it did bother him that something had happened to his twin.
“Gone. Dead.”
“Dead?’
“Yes. Killed in an accident only a day ago.”
“And our father?”
“Our father doesn’t know, and we have to keep it that way. If he were to find out that his favorite son is dead, his heart would break and he would surely die.”
“He’d want to know.”
“In time, but not now. First, we have a great mission to accomplish. You must pretend to be Prince Praxis.”
Kiln’s eyes widened in the dark. “What? Why?”
I just found out that I had not one, but two brothers. Now one of them is dead and I have to pretend to be him?
“Father is weak,” Boikis said sadly. “It is not known if he will make it to his next birthday. Being the old man that he is, he has old, dated ideas. That’s where you come in. Praxis is the only council that father trust. You must convince him to align with the Venians.”
“Why would Mars want to ally with Venus?”
Boikis turned away, his voice strained. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but Mars is on the verge of destruction. Our women are dying to suicide and disease. You must convince father to accept the Venian offer to trade their women for our armies.”
“The Venians are here?”
“Yes. Countess Jun-Su has graciously offered to setup trade with us. My father will not hear any of it. But, he will hear you.”
“Why can’t you tell him?”
“I am not his favorite son, you are. You must be the one to convince him.”
“I don’t even know him. Why would he listen to me?”
“He wouldn’t listen to you, but he would listen to Praxis. You must play your part, Kiln. Convince father to align with the Venians. Convince him that you are alive and well. Then, when he dies, you can claim the throne.”
“And you?”
Boikis’ smile never wavered. “I just want to do right by my family. Now, Kiln, I must request that you give me an answer quickly. Just think, you will have the chance to meet your father and mother. You will become the crowned Prince of Mars, heir to all of the wealth you could ever imagine. All you have to do is say yes.”
Boikis’ offer was the best thing that Kin had ever heard. And yet, something told him that his only living brother was not to be trusted. After all, hadn’t he kidnapped them from Zenith?
Kiln handed Boikis back the photograph of Praxis. “I’m sorry, Boikis. My answer is no. I won’t trick my father into allying himself with the Venians, and I won’t trick him into thin
king that I’m his living son. If he wants to see me, then I will see him, but I will see him as Kiln, not Praxis.”
Boikis’ smile fell into a sad frown.
Dalio noisily wheeled a cart into the room. On it was a small projector.
“Well, I didn’t want to have to do this. You see, I am a civilized Martian. I prefer to talk things out, to win my battles with words.”
Dalio flicked on the projector. A picture formed in the middle of the room. Dark at first.
“Do you know what you are looking at?” He asked.
Kiln shook his head.
“Dalio, turn on the lights, please.”
Dalio pressed a remote on his wrist. The screen lightened, revealing a young woman sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room. She flicked her head from side to side, seeming to search for the source of the light.
Nadira.
Kiln approached the image, reaching his fingers out to touch her.
She’s alive.
“Do you know this woman?” Boikis asked.
Above all else.
“Yes. I know her.”
Boikis smiled again. “You know, most people are very good at being martyrs. In fact, there are men who would throw themselves over a grenade just to save the lives of the men in their battalion. However, the true test of courage is, would you throw your lover over the grenade? Would you throw her?”
Kiln didn’t respond. He couldn’t.
“Pretend to be Praxis. Convince Haggarty to ally with the Venian army. Then, and only then, brother, will I let her go.”
Kiln stared at Nadira’s image. She stood and walked to the door, testing the knob to see if it turned.
“And if I don’t.”
“I am not a violent man, Kiln. I would not harm her. However, for every infraction, I can deny her. Food, water, light, protection. If you deny me, I will see that every soldier on this planet has her stinking body as she lays dying of thirst and hunger. But, if you do everything that I say, she will be safe, protected. I will see to it that she has food, water, a bed, a shower, books. If you truly please me, I may even allow you to see each other.”
“And at the end?”
“The end?”
“When you have what you want?”
“Then I will give her back to you. After all, she is my family now.”