The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Blood Moon Rising
Page 25
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Admiral ZabineaTizkertinah, better known among her close companions as ‘Tizkerina’, meaning ‘flower of the morning’, sat at the table listening to the discussion, her head cocked and eyes closed in concentration. Picking up on the new and strange dialect of Lowenah’s younger children had been difficult for her. In the short time since the Crimson Fleet’s return, she had managed well enough to become adept at one-on-one conversations with others. But when faced with several different voices and styles of speech, she struggled to make clear understanding of matters.
Tizkerina was a quiet woman with petite features and a gentle disposition. After the countless months aboard ship on the return trip, her skin had returned to its more normal color of light sandstone red, but the burnt-brick hues of her auburn-colored curls still rippled as she turned her head in the light. She was costumed in similar dress to that of TaqaEsem, wearing only laced sandals, an open cape, and a purse-like bag over one shoulder. The admiral carried no weapon other than a short, rosewood handle derker blade strapped in a sheath on the side of her left calf. She also donned a recently acquired crested morion for headgear. At Lowenah’s earlier council meeting, Jebbson had commented to Finhardt - one of the few people in his company who would understand the comparison - that the woman looked more like a sun-burnt Spaniard, albeit a very attractive one...who forgot her clothes.
Tizkerina was the youngest of all the Tarezabarians. She was but twenty years of age when the people left for the stars, just being released from her years of gifting to the man now called ‘Asotos’. It was said that she had become infatuated with one of the sojourners and chose to journey with him, fearing she would pine away from love lost. Soon after leaving, the girl became homesick for her mother and Chrusion, but it was too late. There could be no turning back. Eventually, Tizkerina settled into her new life and became quite a favorite among her large circle of friends. Her great trustworthiness, deep concern for the welfare of others, and keen mental abilities were reasons she acquired the position of admiral.
Euroaquilo and the others continued on with the debate of what to do. Tizrela opted to give things a little more time. Planetee disagreed, arguing the Trizentine’s boundary with the Frontier was too vast for patience. “A dozen fleets could be hiding just past those borders and we would never know. If Godenn is there, then he will have at his disposal at least one fleet, nothing less!”
Of the eight decision-makers in the room, four thought prudence in waiting for Gabrielle’s report was reasonable. The remainder fell in line with Planetee. Finally Euroaquilo, the one to offer the tiebreaker vote if needed, added his insight in the situation. “I have every reason to believe that Godenn is already, or will soon be in the Trizentine…”
Tizrela quickly interrupted. “Of what blessed value is that wild place? Few have chosen to live there because it offers so little. There are no uncommon resources to be found there. Its chief planet is among the coldest of the inhabited ones, being so far from its sun. What reason would Godenn have for wasting his time there?”
Euroaquilo calmly replied, “The most precious of all possessions lies within that territory. Asotos would send his entire army there if he believed that was the way to gain success. No, my dear Ambassador General, Godenn is there all right, doing just what he was ordered to do.”
“What?” Tizrela asked, puzzled. “What is so precious to Asotos that he would risk his future success on such a miserable place?"
Euroaquilo folded his hands under his chin and leaned back in the chair. With a wry smile, he replied, “Darla...”
Tizrela was stunned, pondering in her mind, ‘Why Darla? Was Asotos so obsessed with this woman as to have Legion send his chief lieutenant such a great distance from home to capture one person?’
Euroaquilo answered her question before she asked it. “Do you not recall the prophecy uttered against Legion by Mother on the day of Ishtar’s death in the arena?”
Tizrela thought about it, but couldn’t remember. Euroaquilo went on to briefly describe events of that day. “Legion called Darla a ‘tramp’ for interfering with his plans. In her anger, Mother told Legion that when his master requested the tramp to be his consort, Legion would suffer lost sleep and restless nights until his death. I believe after the Prisoner Exchange, Asotos made that request. I also am of the opinion that Legion will use whatever power is at his disposal to capture or kill Darla in an attempt to remove the curse and prove Lowenah wrong.”
Tizkerina’s ebony eyes popped open at news of the ancient prophecy. She rose to speak. “Please...this Darla person, who may she really be and what of words spoken in distant days?” The tone of her voice indicated a determination to not allow her question to go unanswered.
Euroaquilo obliged her. For nearly an hour, he summed up the girl’s life, telling of the demon residing within, the confrontation at the Prisoner Exchange, and what Zadar discovered with his blood share. Tizkerina came to feel the same as Euroaquilo about the matter. She then offered, “I will gather my command and make shadows for the child. Her danger is grave, much beyond any good reason. Why send her to such possible doom? Keep her safe.”
“I cannot!” Euroaquilo frowned. “There is a force at work with the child - a destiny, so to speak - that demands her presence in the Trizentine. I am compelled to let her go. Indeed, I find myself being drawn in after her. There is a fate that awaits us there - a fate, I fear, that, if it is interfered with, might destroy us all.”
Tizkerina nodded in acknowledgement and sat. The room remained silent until Tizrela spoke up. “So, Admiral, what do you suggest we do?”
Euroaquilo rubbed his chin whiskers for a moment, finally suggesting, “You have a man who will be here in a few days. He’s supposed to reconnoiter the Trizentine and other Frontier colonies to help speed up removal of valuable supplies to safer havens, correct?” Tizrela confirmed.
The admiral rocked back in his chair. “Well, let me suggest we give the assignment to the Shikkeron and have Major Darla escort our guest around. We can maintain a closer vigil on the girl because we would know what her planned destinations would be. With Admiral ZabineaTizkertinah shadowing the Shikkeron, we shouldn’t need to involve a major part of the fleet until we know the results of Gabrielle’s report. In the meantime, I can take the Oruomai along with some flankers and escorts and drift to the east, keeping the Shikkeron within arm’s reach.”
This information sounded good to Tizrela, but then she asked, “What if Asotos intends on making major war in that area? How will we hold against him?”
Euroaquilo softly replied, “We will not. As you well know, we have no intention of attempting to hold the colonies there when war breaks out. We will make a feint at keeping them, but slash and burn will be our main activity when hostilities begin. At the same time, we cannot leave the skies empty of our presence in that place. If he is not resisted, our enemy will have an opened path from the Trizentine to the interior territories, and then a direct shot down the channel to the Northern Rim and the Kalahnit Straits. So you see, if Asotos has built up power beyond the Trizentine, we are forced to support the area.”
Tizrela lowered her head. “I see...” With resigned disappointment, she stated, “So it comes to this: a place no one really wants may become a major battleground because a girl must remain there until the Fates are satisfied. Then, because Asotos will have gathered an imposing armada to this dismal hole, we will be forced to defend it for fear of losing the Straits. Our navy will fight to hold what we don’t care about, thousands will die doing it and, in the end, it will have solved nothing…nothing at all...Day of Tears all over again.”
“No, not quite.” countered Euroaquilo. “In fact, this may be a blessing much in disguise. Think of it, Tizrela, every ship Asotos sends here is one less to confront us at MueoPoros when your field marshal orders the invasion. Godenn and his fleet will be weeks away from Memphis. Plus, if th
e Shikkeron is attacked within the territories or the Trizentine, we will have our reason for war. Asotos will then be split as to what he should do... keep a large force in the East for little good reason, or protect his most precious territory, MueoPoros, and his southern colonies. It may work out to our advantage after all.”
Tizrela shook her head. “It’s a fool’s folly…” She looked the admiral of the Third Fleet in the eye. “But I’ll go along with your plan because it’s the only one we have that may work.” Then she shook her finger at him. “You just make sure you keep that girl of ours safe! If we lose her, there will be little reason to even fight this war. I’ll recommend to the admiral of the fleet that you be given a free hand in deciding how to care for Darla’s needs, and also how best to protect the Trizentine, that is, if the others here are in agreement.”
So the decision was made. It was unanimous. Euroaquilo adjourned the meeting, thanking all for their patience and support. Tomorrow would decide the fate of worlds, but tonight sealed the fate of one person. Upon her shoulders rested the future of the universe. Upon her shoulders rested the hope of all life. She must be held safe if at all possible, while at the same time, being placed in the lion’s den.