“He’s still our brother,” Kor said.
Halek turned on Kor quickly and glared, prompting a surprised look on his younger brother’s face.
“He stopped being that when he left to join that cabal of zealots.”
Shaleen let out a long sigh.
“He’s right, Kor,” she said quietly. “Hishkara has chosen his path, and while I would like to know his reasons, I will not hesitate and ask for them. He knows the rules of our people as well as you do. If we see him, we kill him. For I have no doubt that when his eyes fall upon the banner of the Emerald Sword, he will try to kill us.”
“Many of us will fall, Kor,” Halek said, and his eyes drifted away from Kor to gaze upon his sister. “Maybe all of us. So long as Hishkara falls, nothing else matters.”
Shaleen nodded. Halek understood the truth of it. She pondered her thoughts when she’d stood upon the balcony at the hotel. Is this all? She’d certainly never expected that, only two days later, she’d be outbound for an alien world to engage in real combat. At first, she’d been terrified by the prospect. True combat, like the Subahn of old. But now…The idea of it had been rolling around in her head from the first moment she started sharpening her real sword…and as she packed her gear…and as they boarded the transport. Her fear had very quickly turned into exhilaration. She couldn’t believe it, but she was anxious to go into battle. Something deep inside had grasped onto the notion, wrapped itself around her like armor, and filled her with a profound sense of…bloodlust. That was the only word for it.
She’d read about the warriors of old, who rode into battle, won great victories, and died valiant deaths. Was this what it had been like for them? Were they, titanic Vorwhol warriors, driven by something inside that made them hunger for battle? She looked at Halek and then Kor. She wondered if either of them felt the same thing…felt the anticipation and yearned for the blood of their enemies. She didn’t dare ask, for she didn’t want them to think less of her. The Vorwhol had put such things behind them over a century ago, after the war with the Elwharri.
“Have you read any of the Tomahnkhor?” Kor asked. Neither he nor Halek had been interested in ancient history and a battle faith long lost to their people.
“Yes,” Shaleen replied, breaking out of her reverie. “I’m through about half of it.”
“And?” Kor asked.
“It’s…” she searched for the right words, “interesting.” She didn’t know how to explain it. She’d read about several great heroes and the beginning of the war against the Tahn Kree. Woven into it were passages that encapsulated themes like honor, truth, and protecting the innocent. There were also strong themes of avenging the dead. Others focused on knowing the enemy and how to defeat them under specific circumstances. She’d also found references within the text, added by historians, who likened the war with the Elwharri to the events in the Tomahnkhor. What she’d read thus far indicated that the Vorwhol companies fighting the Elwharri had lifted heavily from the Tomahnkhor as they moved across those alien worlds. And it had all started on Soung.
“Interesting?” he asked with a chuckle. “Most important book in our history, and you think it’s interesting?”
“I have a lot more to read, Kor,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll be able to tell you more once I’ve finished and digested it. I can see why Da wanted me to read it, though.”
“Really?” Halek asked, suddenly interested.
“Yes,” she replied. “There’s philosophy, faith, and even tactics woven into the text.” She looked at them both. “The game we play—Talgeth—isn’t just a game.”
“We know that,” Halek said, unimpressed.
“But what you probably don’t know is that virtually every battle that was ever fought two thousand years ago was fought in almost exactly the same way as the game. We’ve been fighting an ancient war and didn’t even know it.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I think it’s in our blood…and Hishkara’s. It’s also in the blood of those who ride with him.” She eyed Halek, wondering if he’d piece it together.
“I think I understand,” Halek said.
“What?” Kor asked, confused.
“If they are zealots, then they’ll be adhering closely to whatever is in the Tomahnkhor.”
“Which means, if that assumption is correct,” Shaleen said with a wicked smile, “I have their play book.”
Halek’s grin was all hungry teeth, and a moment later, the lights went on for Kor. He smiled right along with them.
“Keep reading, sis,” Kor said. “We’ll take care of everything else.”
* * *
The Discovery
Soung System
Two Hours After Gate Transition
“Can’t say I like those transitions much,” Kor grumbled, shaking his head. “I’d heard it was rough on Vorwhol, but I nearly heaved my guts out onto the deck.”
He stood beside Shaleen in a forward observation lounge where they’d been ordered to wait until a Bith representative arrived. They had been able to watch the transition through the gate, and it had left Shaleen feeling queasy.
“I’m not a fan either,” she said as stars swirled slightly around a brown, blue, and white world that was slowly filling their view.
“You should have heard the danketh,” Halek said from behind them as he entered the lounge. “I thought a few of them were going to rip their stalls apart.”
“Are they okay?” Shaleen asked, suddenly worried that some of their mounts might not be ready for battle.
“They’re fine. Me and the others checked them all, just to be sure. They’re shaken, but not enough to worry about. They’ll all be fine once we make planetfall.” He glanced around the room. “So, where’s our host?”
“He should be here shortly,” she replied. “He said there was more intel available, and we needed to hear it.”
Halek nodded. “It’s been two days. Hishkara could have done a good deal of damage in that time.”
“There’s something I can’t figure,” Kor said. He shot them both a confused look. “It’s expensive to go through the gates, right?”
“Very,” Halek said. He was the only one of the three who had been to space before. He’d spent a tour with the Vorwhol military, patrolling several of the outer Vorwhol colony worlds. “But you can mitigate that cost by hitching onto one of the big transports just like we did. The family had enough money to do that, but we never could have afforded the gate fees solo. I’m guessing Hishkara and his company did the same thing.”
“Okay, I sort of get that, but then where did they get the ship they’re using to get to and from planets?”
Halek and Shaleen paused for a moment. Neither of them had really thought about it.
“Maybe that cult was able to buy a transport of some kind…or they paid for passage.” Halek offered.
“Or one of them is rich and owns whatever they’re using,” Shaleen said.
“I’m thinking something more like the latter. I can’t see a Vorwhol captain, or anyone else for that matter, hauling a Vorwhol company around just so they can slaughter Elwharri, no matter how much money they have.”
“You have a point,” Halek agreed. “So, we assume they have their own ship, and at least enough funds to get through a gate or two. How does that help us?”
“For now, it doesn’t,” Shaleen said. “We have to figure out where he’s going, and so far, he’s hit only small colonies on Soung.” She scratched the base of one of her horns. “For now, we assume he’s still down there. Once I see what he’s hit, I may have some ideas of where he’s going next.”
“What makes you say that?” Kor asked.
“Because I don’t think he picked Soung at random.”
“The Tomahnkhor?” Halek raised an eyebrow.
“In part,” Shaleen said, “but mostly the referenced documents associated with the final war against the Elwharri. I think—”
“Greetings,” a voice called ou
t from the doorway. The voice was low and slow, as if its speaker were sedated, but they all knew that wasn’t the case.
The siblings turned to find a three-meter Bith standing in the doorway.
“Sub-Administrator Dokmor,” Shaleen said. “This is my brother, Halek, and our youngest sibling, Kor.” She motioned to them both as she spoke. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Dokmor said, lumbering into the room. His skin was a pale green, and his body was encased in a narrow, oblong shell that looked a bit ungainly to Shaleen. She couldn’t imagine the Bith had ever been warriors, but their hold on the galaxy via the gates made them the prevailing controllers, if not rulers, of known space. Her father had warned her not to anger the Bith under any circumstances. The results could be catastrophic for both the family and Vorwhol trade as a whole. “As I said before, I have some additional information I believe will be useful to you in your attempt to end the renegades’ attacks.” He stepped up to a table in the middle of the room and laid a large slate upon it. “If you will please come here,” he added, glancing at the three siblings, “I will be able to show you where the renegades have been.”
“Thank you,” Shaleen said, stepping forward. Her brothers joined her at the table as Dokmor hit several commands on his slate. A built-in projector began emitting a holographic projection of a planet half a meter above the table. It was a detailed, three-dimensional image of Soung, and in the center of a northern continent half covered with snow, there was a small string of six red dots. Dokmor moved around the table and stood beside Kor. Reaching out, he turned the image so that the red dots faced all four of them, and then he appeared to grasp the image and spread his hands wide, expanding the image so that the view zoomed in on what became a line of red dots running through a range of low mountains. A jagged line went through them, and there didn’t seem to be any pattern to what covered a distance of about seven hundred kilometers. The line did seem to draw a path from the southeast to the northwest. There were also faint blue dots spread out across the entire area. “As you can see, the entire range is dotted with small farming and mining colonies that have been there for decades or even centuries. Some of them were built upon the ruins of keeps lost during the war between your people.” He pointed to the first dot in the southeast. “This is where your brother, Hishkara, and about fifty renegade Vorwhol struck first…at a colony called Sithstral. They have systematically moved toward the northwest, attacking one colony a day.” He raised his eyes to meet Shaleen’s. His rigid face didn’t convey any emotion, but his words carried grievous dismay. “They have murdered at least seven hundred Elwharri, and they don’t appear to be slowing down.”
Shaleen gasped. “Seven hundred?”
“Gods, he’s a monster,” Kor added.
“He’s going to pay, Sub-Administrator,” Halek growled. “We swear it on our blood.”
“I sincerely hope you are right,” Dokmor said gravely. “Your government has already agreed to pay significant reparations to the Elwharri, which is why war has not been declared…yet.” The warning was clear. “And if you fail, the Elwharri have asked that we make all arrangements for resolving the situation. Should it come to that, we will be calling upon human mercenaries to exterminate the renegades as quickly and efficiently as possible. I am told they are very good at it, and the exorbitant cost of the endeavor will fall to your family.” He let out a long breath, and Shaleen got the sense that he didn’t like what he was about to say. “Your family is being given this one opportunity to bring this matter to an immediate close as was agreed upon in the Gate Accords signed by your people.”
“I understand,” Shaleen said. A wave of shame washed through her. She lowered to one knee, facing Dokmor, and bowed her head. “For what it is worth, and I know that isn’t much of anything at all, I offer my humblest apologies for what has happened…is happening here. Our shame knows no bounds, and I swear to you that I will do what I can to end this as quickly as I can. I also swear to the Bith and the Elwharri that, should either of you ever need it, you may call upon me for any service you require that does not stain my honor.”
Kor and Halek’s heads snapped toward their sister, disbelief filling their eyes. She had just made a blood oath in front of witnesses. She was honor-bound to fulfill that oath or sacrifice her life should she fail to do so.
“Shaleen,” Halek whispered, and there was worry in his voice.
Dokmor nodded, and when he spoke, the dismay in his voice eased somewhat.
“I know something of your people, young Shaleen, and I know what you have just sworn—the depth of it for the Vorwhol.” He motioned for her to rise off the floor, and as she stood before him, he continued, “I will, indeed, call upon you should the need ever arise, and I will pass your words along to the Elwharri Prime Minister. He is an honorable sort and would not abuse such an oath. But he, too, will hold you to it.”
“I understand,” she said. “I cannot repay a debt of seven hundred lives and counting, but I can give you my life should it ever be needed.” And as the words passed her lips, something occurred to her…about the planet below…and the line of colonies that had been attacked. She glanced at the hologram. “You said the first colony hit was Sithstral?”
Dokmor looked surprised, obviously startled by the change of subject.
“Why, yes.” Curiosity filled Dokmor’s eyes. “It was.”
Shaleen quickly pulled her father’s slate from a pouch on her back, activated it, and thumbed to the index.
“Bear with me, please,” she said as she furiously scanned through a list of names.
“The Tomahnkhor?” Kor asked.
“No,” Shaleen replied with a quick shake of her head. “History of the war…something I read yesterday…”
She found the reference she was looking for, scanned through a document quickly, and then read a passage quickly.
“Sithstral…” She scanned through several more passages and then looked up at the hologram again. Finally, she turned to Dokmor. “After Sithstral, he hit Relegeth and then Boemare—didn’t he?”
Dokmor’s eyes went wide as he slowly nodded his head.
“That’s correct.”
Halek and Kor stared at her.
“What did you find?” Halek asked.
Shaleen’s face was a mask of disgust. She turned to Halek slowly.
“It’s a re-enactment.” She wanted to vomit.
“A what?” Kor asked.
“Hishkara is re-enacting the Subahn push by the warlord Korsenn against the last of the Elwharri forces here. It was the last battle on Soung, and it basically ended the war on this world. In the end, after many had fallen on both sides, Korsenn challenged the Elwharri leader to single combat. He was badly wounded, but he managed to slay the Elwharri leader, and the remaining Elwharri forces surrendered.” She turned back toward the Sub-Administrator as her brothers chewed on her words.
Shaleen looked at the map. There were seven cities assaulted in Korsenn’s final push, starting with Sithstral and ending with Kumar. She looked at the last red dot in the northeast and realized there were four colonies in the general area where Hishkara might strike next.
“Which of those settlements is called Kumar?”
The Bith cocked his head to the side.
“I’m afraid I don’t know. Let me look something up.”
He turned to the table and keyed in several commands on his slate. A few moments later, each of the red and blue dots showed a short line of alien text beneath them. Shaleen assumed it was in the Bith’s language. Dokmor leaned in, peering at the names in the general area where Shaleen had been looking. Finally, he turned to her.
“There is no colony named Kumar, at least not near the other attacks.”
“But—” Shaleen started. She was certain it had to be Kumar. It was the only thing that made sense. Her eyes flicked to the map, and she scanned each colony name. The alien characters were meaningless to her. “Ca
n you translate this to my language?” she asked.
“Certainly,” Dokmor said. He keyed his slate a few times, and the Bith text changed to the Vorwhol common that all—or at least most of—its citizens could read. There were dozens of languages still spoken on Vorwhol, but everyone learned to speak and read the common tongue.
Shaleen scanned the map again, looking at the four cities near the last one attacked, and then something caught her eye. Beside a colony called Valaroos, there was a small symbol that wasn’t a letter in her language. The character was used to indicate a footnote. “Hey,” she said. She raised her hand and pointed at the small symbol, and when her finger came in contact with the edge of the hologram, a small frame of text popped up over the blue dot. It was a single entry, and Shaleen’s hopes soared.
Valaroos—the word for Peace in the Elwharri language—is an active colony subsisting on the sale of locally mined ores, lornak hides culled from the populous herds that roam the ranges, and farming the rare arctic blossoms of the juwhari plant. This is only noteworthy, as it is the only colony in the northern hemisphere to have changed its name in the past three centuries. Built upon the ruins of the ancient city, Kumar, the colony is a thriving community of miners, leather workers, horticulturists, and their families. The name was changed as a testament that the war was finally over on Soung.
“There it is,” she said, turning to the others. “Valaroos.” She locked eyes with Sub-Administrator Dokmor. “Tell the captain to set the ship down—” she glanced at the map again “—a kilometer due west of Valaroos. We know where he’s going, now.”
“Are you sure?” Dokmor asked. He didn’t sound dubious, but it was clear he wanted to be sure.
“Yes, Sub-Administrator,” Shaleen said. “And I have one other request.”
“What is it, Child?” he asked.
“I don’t want to broadcast anything indicating when or where we are landing. Can you look up what language the Elwharri might use when they want to approach a potential enemy and parley?”
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