“It’s an idea.”
By late afternoon, they arrived at Legion HQ. They were herded out and escorted up the stone stairway. As they passed through the portico Jade sought out the details in the architecture. The traits of Vacua’s founder, Lucinda, were boldly carved into the white stone. Knowledge. Impartiality. Discovery.
Every nation had a founder. To some, the founders were like gods with powerful religious significance. Others accepted the founders as mortal men. Jade found the whole idea fantastical. She wasn’t serious enough for religion, but she was romantic enough for the appeal. The likeness of Dredici was carved throughout Harrowind. Dredici valued cunning, unity, and perseverance in his people. Jade thought it best to be a bit of everything.
The inside was airy with long, wide chambers and hallways all sculpted in hues of snow. It was cold inside and not just from the vibe of their don’t-touch-anything aesthetic. The enchantments woven throughout the place must have been substantial to create such a crisp atmosphere.
They were led to a line of benches where they would sit while each one was summoned into their trial. When Jade was called, she entered through a doorway into a space with stadium seating to fit a hundred. Counting her and a guard, there were only five people.
Two of those people were dressed in formal Legion uniforms. The other wore a tailored suit and dark-framed glasses pushed close to his face. Jade identified General Kannan even without the obvious difference of her gender. She was a short, thick woman whose bearing towered over everyone in the room. Her short hair was flaxen with rich tones of yellow and her eyes were a pale, piercing grey. When that icy stare shifted onto Jade, she had to fight the impulse to cower.
Jade was led to a chair and instructed to sit. Kannan remained standing. Jade’s guard handed Kannan a folder. She opened it and read. Silence reigned until the General finished.
“Jade Avaris,” She said finally, with a contralto voice that broke the quiet like a crack of thunder. “Aside from that name and your nation of origin your information has been recorded as ‘unknown.’ You have no official records, here or in your home nation of Harrowind.”
Exactly why I went through all this bullshit to get here.
Jade waited for more. Even though no question had been asked, Kannan’s stare didn’t waver until Jade felt compelled to respond. “Um, yes. That’s correct.”
Kannan focused on Jade for another second. She was in complete control of the room. Everyone there was on her time. She was a solid woman, built in a way that made the idea of fighting her idiotic. Yet, Jade noticed there was a hint of shadow above her eyes and nude lipstick was still lipstick. Simple. Understated. Achieving a soft beauty to an otherwise harsh face. “Very well,” she said, “Mr. Trent will be your lawyer for this case and the lieutenant has agreed to act as witness.”
Mr. Trent? Her memory wasn’t perfect and, admittedly, she had brushed all Alexi’s advice off as a joke, but when he told her about the lawyer he had called him Avery. Oh, shit.
Kannan continued, “You’re charged with piracy, theft, and the kidnapping of a legion officer. You’ve signed a plea of guilty.”
Jade swallowed. “Yeah—yep.”
“Is there something wrong, Miss Avaris?”
“No, miss—sir.” Jade grinned. Her leg started to tap with nervous energy. Alexi had coached her on what to say if Avery was her lawyer. She had no clue what to do now.
Kannan narrowed her eyes. “I am here to decide if you will be given the option of serving out the term of your sentence in service to Vacua’s Legion. There are restrictions, of course. Certain dis-qualifiers. And there is also my personal judgement on the case.” Kannan was quiet again, for a long time. Then she closed Jade’s folder and set it down. “I’m afraid you don’t meet the requirements for my Legion, Miss Avaris. You will be given the option of service in the mines or prison.”
Jade was frozen. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The mines? Prison? She couldn’t think beyond memories of clawing at her meals with her fingers and still being hungry. Of cold metal. Cages. Days passing with no sunlight or air, being hauled into a muddy yard with a knife shoved into her hand and a boy with no name and blue eyes teaching her to stay alive until the next fight.
Each memory came at her like an attack. It started to physically hurt. Reality was about to try and put her in a cage again. But she wasn’t feeble and small anymore. And as she sat with her mouth hanging open, watching the three in charge of her fate preparing for the next case, she found her voice.
“I saved his life.”
Their quiet talking stopped. The General raised an eyebrow. Jade hadn’t realized she was standing until her guard forced her back into her chair.
“You have already pled guilty, Miss Avaris.”
“I realize that, but the charges aren’t entirely accurate. I wasn’t the one who brought the soldier on board so...technically I didn’t kidnap anyone,” Jade said.
Kannan squared her shoulders, arms behind her back. “You were arrested as the Captain of this crew, is that correct?”
“Y-well, yeah, that was my official title—”
“Then it was under your command that your crew stole Legion property and captured one of my soldiers.”
Jade’s throat was too dry to swallow. The finality of this moment was sinking in like the dregs of a marsh pulling her down into its murky depths. “That’s true. But I didn’t give that order. My men acted on their own before I could have a say. And when our ship was attacked I made the Legionnaire’s life a priority. He’s alive because I—because my first mate, Liam, and I saved him.” It was only a partial lie and hopefully including Liam’s name would help him with his case.
“So you wish to change your plea?”
An idea came to her, a last chance to spin this in her favor. If Jade was reading Kannan properly, then the General would respond to integrity. However, if Jade was wrong she would be sealing her fate. Her instincts never failed her...when it mattered. She said, “No, I do not wish to change it.”
There was the slightest shift to Kannan’s features. Enough for Jade to hope that she was on the right path. Kannan was a woman who valued loyalty and honesty. Jade could fake both. “Then what is your goal here, Miss Avaris?”
Jade offered Lucinda and Dredici and the other founders she couldn’t name a quick prayer. “I plead guilty because as Captain, my crew’s actions are indeed my own. Under my command one of your soldiers was taken aboard my ship as prisoner. However, for the purposes of my trial, I wanted to clarify that my intentions were never to kidnap one of your officers, or anyone, for the record, because I don’t want to lose consideration for the Legion.”
Kannan nodded and her tone was less severe, “I don’t allow kidnappers into my Legion.”
“I understand, sir.” Jade still needed to tip the scale. She swallowed down the memories swimming in the back of her mind, forced them back into repression.
“I would like to add, if I may, General,” Mr. Trent leaned forward in his seat, pushing spectacles up his nose as he spoke, “We screen against all violent crimes when they are being considered for the Legion. I had interviewed the kidnapped officer, Dian Faer, and he named Miss Avaris and a,” the man leaned over his notes and read, “‘dark-haired surely friend’ as the two pirates who released him from the brig and aided in his return to the Peregrine. He made no further comment on their behalf, but it is worth noting that in his report he notes that his capture was a snap decision by the pirates. Which corroborates Miss Avaris’s story. It’s still up for your discretion, General, that, uh, will decide what the Legion allows. Yet official policy has not established strict parameters that would prevent Miss Avaris from achieving the—”
“Thank you, Mr. Trent.” Kannan sighed. She studied Jade a moment and then added, “You will answer one question for me, Miss Avaris.”
“Sure thing.”
Kannan moved from behind her table. “When your time is served, will you return home to Harrowind
?”
True anger soured Jade’s stomach. She was entirely honest when she replied, “I will never return to Harrowind, sir. If Vacua doesn’t work out, I’d sooner live in Helvik than return to that Vall cursed pit of misery. It was never my home.”
Kannan laughed. A terrifying, loud peel of laughter that echoed in the nearly empty room. She crossed back behind her table. “Very well. You are given the choice of sentence for your crimes. Mines. Prison. Or the Legion?”
With the terror of the General’s amusement lingering, Jade almost missed the question posed to her. Nervous, kind, wonderful Mr. Trent repeated it for her.
Relief eased the tight squeezing sensation in her chest. “The Legion,” she answered.
Kannan nodded. “A term of five years is to be served in her majesty’s Royal Legion. You’ll be escorted to Ravencross for training.” She handed the file to the soldier acting as witness. “I want these names possessed quickly. Get the files down to Operations and we can be done with this before lunch. You’re dismissed Miss Avaris.”
Once free of the room, Jade could breathe again. It was over. She was back on track. Getting into the Legion was the hard part. Everything after this would be cake.
4
The Operations Department was a network of small offices and cubicles located in the back of Legion HQ. A sign-in desk separated the waiting area from the maze of dividers and desks. Dian had left the lunch room a few hours ago, this stop being the last on his list. He signed in and sat in one of the stiff chairs. He’d been walking or standing most of the day and his right leg was aching.
Minutes ticked by as names were called up and the receptionist took calls. Until, finally, it was Dian’s turn. He eased up from his chair.
“Major Faer?” The receptionist, Hill according to his name tag, asked. “Your transfer has been enacted. Here’s your upgraded commission,” he held up a stack of papers and ticked through them as he continued, “your orders for post and I believe a unit roster for your new command. You’ve already signed the required paperwork so it looks like you’re all set. Have a great day, sir.”
Dian could tell he was being shooed away. He stepped outside the lobby and sifted through the stack of files. He read three words that stopped him dead.
“Excuse me,” Dian stepped up to the desk again and Hill let out a breath that indicated he was not looking forward to a difficult situation.
What he said was, “Yes, Major Faer, what can I help you with?”
“This says I’ve been given command of the Cobalt CCU.”
“If that’s what the paperwork states, sir...I didn’t personally read it.”
Dian placed his hands flat on the desk. “That’s a custodial unit. A convict unit.”
“Yes, sir.”
The conversation was pointless. Dian donned a pleasant smile. “Could I speak with your department lead? Thank you.” Dian sat down to wait.
Hill opened his mouth, then closed it, then pushed his seat out and threaded his way through the cubicles. Dian ran a finger along the rim of his lips as he waited, a tick working in his jaw. This was a clerical error. Dian hadn’t spent his career working toward command to be handed a custodial unit. He shifted in his seat.
Hill returned and Dian was directed toward the department lead’s office in the back. Dian stopped at the door and glanced at the name plate beside the door frame. His heart plummeted.
“Major Faer, you had a question you wanted to ask me?” Lt Roy Ryder waved his hand toward a faded chair in the tiny office, inviting Dian to sit. They were acquainted. Dian had a hand in Ryder’s demotion and current job posting in the backrooms of HQ. In fact, Dian had been the one to officially report Ryder for misconduct.
Dian stepped into the office and took the offered seat. “I’ve been assigned to a CCU—”
“That’s right.” The twang of Ryder’s accent was more pronounced than Dian remembered, as if he no longer cared to hide it. “You put in for command. That’s what you got. You don’t want it, I can find another officer who’d gladly take the pay raise.”
Dian could out-wit, out-fight, out-gun Ryder in any challenge. Yet he was out-matched by simple bureaucracy.
“This is the commission General Kannan assigned?” Dian asked.
Ryder’s nose flared. “That’s the commission I was told to assign you. If there was a miscommunication, well, that happens from time to time. It’s a complex system. Details can become...muddled.”
The room had a stale smell. There was a tight, claustrophobic effect of the walls pressing in on him. The desk was a mess of papers and crumbs, the visible parts of the wood surface dented and stained. The man behind the desk was poised for a long stand-off. He would not make this easy.
Dian reserved emotion. “You could double check the details to confirm this is the correct assignment.”
“Who do you think you are?” Ryder sat forward quickly, glancing at the door and then back again. “You think it’s my job to check and double check everyone’s assignment when they don’t like it? There’s thousands of men and women coming through here every day, Faer. I don’t do special favors, no matter how high the rank.”
Dian could use that rank to bully Ryder into doing what he wanted. He could also go over Ryder’s head and let the storm of what followed crush what was left of this man’s career. But while he would not let this slide, Dian prefered to avoid pulling rank. Colonel Arthas Faer would have pulled rank. The Colonel would have written up Ryder, destroyed his military prospects, and made sure he received dishonorable discharge for less than this blatant revenge.
Dian kept his tone cordial. “You are required to do your job correctly. If you’d rather, I could speak with General Kannan directly and confirm with her the details of my assignment.”
“She ain’t got the time to be pandering to every officer with a complaint over their paperwork. That’s an empty threat, Faer, you know it. Now you can accept this assignment or decline it. But I can’t promise where they’ll stick you after this.”
Dian leaned forward in his seat. “Let me make this clear, I’m not going to leave here until this is resolved. I want the command to which I was assigned. The longer you draw this out, the more it leads me to wonder if there are more clerical errors to root out. Errors that might call the efficiency of this entire department into question. A full investigation would no doubt be needed. Assurances put in place to prevent such errors in future.”
Ryder sat back, chest heaving. “You think you’re so righteous. Better than everyone. You’ll look down your nose at me, when I was once your commander, and now you threaten me.”
“It’s not a threat. I care that the rules are followed because when they aren’t, people like you think they can do whatever they want. You’re abusing your position to enact revenge. If you want to settle this animosity I will gladly oblige. Outside of our job as soldiers of the Royal Legion. Fix the error, Ryder, or I will.”
Ryder’s fingers squeezed the arms of his chair. His mouth drew into a tight frown. “It won’t happen overnight. These sorts of...oversights require time to track down. At least a month. Maybe more.”
Dian stood up. “If I’m not reassigned in a month I’ll take this directly to Kannan.” Dian left the office with a tentative grasp on his control. He kept his fists tight against his side and his head level. He maintained his composure even as his father’s berating voice began to tick through his thoughts. Commander of a CCU was the lowest he could have risen. Custodial Combat Units were a recent addition to the Legion. They were a joke among the commissioned and non-commissioned personnel. His record would forever bear the tarnished mark, unless the error was corrected.
Dian left HQ. This time of day meant traffic, but Dian preferred walking. His leg was beginning to groan. The joint where the prosthetic met his knee was sore.
You’re not weak, Dian. You have a challenge to overcome. One leg won’t keep you from service if you’re dedicated and strong.
His father had pu
shed him to be dedicated and strong. A son born with half his right leg, but Arthas wouldn’t let his dreams of breeding a soldier be dashed by something he deemed superficial. So he pushed harder.
Dian sat down on a bench a few blocks from headquarters. The enchantments in the prosthetic were beginning to wear down. He needed to have it recharged soon or walking would continue to be difficult. He would need to use his cane again, though he hadn’t touched it since his seventeenth birthday.
Once he was ready to stand, Dian headed for Banks Street. The businesses located there offered Legion discounts and promotions that drew in the off-duty soldiers. Dian had been there twice since joining.
He entered the Banks Street Tavern. As expected, Jesiah was leaning back in a booth, alone, sipping at a drink. Dian slid in across from him. The place wasn’t well lit, smelled of greasy food and beer, and was covered floor to ceiling with dark wood.
“Hey...what—what are you doing here? This is a bar, you know that right?” Jesiah’s face turned grave. “Who died?”
“No one died, Jesiah, damn it.”
Jesiah sat upright and set down his glass. “You just swore.”
“Look at this.” Dian set down the folder of paperwork. The pages were indented from his fist, but it was still legible. Jesiah opened it and read over the first page.
“Is this a joke?”
Dian shook his head. “Possibly my father’s hand from beyond the grave to test me.” There was a point where ‘try again’ stopped being encouraging. Dian slumped into the booth. “You’ve been approved as my second in command, at least. It’s a promotion for you. A pay raise.”
Jesiah scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “This is a waste. You’re better suited for an SRT. I thought for sure…”
Dian didn’t need Jesiah’s validation, but it helped. It made it easier to chase out his father’s voice, which he was reliving entirely too much today. “It should be cleared up in a month. If not, I’m taking it to Kannan.”
Catalyst (The Second Cycle Book 1) Page 9