Daughter Of Ethos: The Ascension Book 7

by L M Lacee

  Red Murturins said. ‘I did not.’

  ‘From anyone else, I would accept that, but from you Shonner Jen or you Red Murturins, I will not. You are both too close to the worlds to have missed the Star Daughter’s arrival at the Capital with Reeve and Hawk, or even mine and Wolf’s. So I will only ask this once and my next decision depends on your answer, so consider carefully what you tell me. Why did you not alert us?’

  As usual Red blustered as Kardan knew he would, for a male that had an uncanny knack of making wise business decisions. He always reverted to the youth of no import by not taking time to think. Instead, he would just blurt out an answer as he did now.

  ‘Why should I, it was no concern of mine? There was no guarantee that the Star Daughter would reward us. So as there was no value in alerting her, why involve myself. Far better to stand down and wait.’

  Kardan’s face turned to stone, his eyes were hard chips of purple granite. ‘And your reason Shonner Jen was the same. Not your business!’

  Shame etched her face as her eyes shifted from him to Reeve, then back to him as she nodded once.

  Kardan stared at them for so long they thought he would say no more. Then, in the same calm voice he used earlier, he stated. ‘You are mine from this day forward, you do not move unless I will it. Make it known, all who do not follow the Star Daughter will feel our wrath. Understand this, there is nowhere in this Universe and beyond you can hide from us. Our reach is long and for you not merciful. Red Murturins seek the council and explain a howl was sung. I give you one lunera to make sure the council is at these co-ordinates.’ He tapped in the numbers on his link. ‘If you remain alive, wait there for myself and my Elites.’

  He turned next to Shonner Jen. ‘As I am sure you know, I am still at the Capital. I expect you within the hour. Do not make me or my brother’s hunt you. The consequences will not be to your liking. This is the only warning I will issue. Consider it delivered.’

  He signed off, their faces etched in fear, stayed with him for a time and cowered the people in the room. All their stoic arrogance was gone, each of them had seen the fear on the faces of their most feared leaders. As they looked at the Elite, they wondered if he could make them tremble. What would he do to them?

  FORTY-EIGHT:

  Kardan turned to Lasing Undinly, but before he could ask a question, the pale green male burst into speech. ‘Two luneras ago, Leinii Undinly and our cousins Masier Undinly and Dener Undinly were struck from the family Undinly trading house. The last we heard, she and the brothers had been seen at the Capital. I swear Amahka Elite Roeah. I would have notified the Star Daughter or the head of Leesungha family if I had known or suspected anything. We sanction her and the brothers, their fate is in your hands.’

  Kardan inclined his head. ‘We thank you house Undinly and appreciate your honesty. Please go in peace.’

  Lasing bowed, and the screen vanished.

  ‘Jax send Harm and his people, have them find and secure her.’

  Commander Harm and his scouts have already left.

  ‘Thank you, Jax.’

  Kardan took a breath then said to the four males. ‘As you heard your Leaders have forfeited their futures for their complicity in your actions today. What you four have forfeited for your involvement in the kidnapping and abuse of my daughter, are your lives.’

  The skin around their eyes tightened, but not a sound escaped them. The three people who had allowed the Raiders access to the shop looked fearfully at Kardan who asked. ‘Explain to me, what it was Governor Interkinn promised you. To convince you your lives were of no value?’

  ‘He said I would have my own shop.’ The female cried and then whined. ‘He promised me I would have more than enough credits and I could buy my way to the next level. He said they would not hurt the girl, and that she was just a child from the Star Daughter’s entourage, no one of importance.’

  Kardan raised an eyebrow at this lie. ‘You knew this was a lie, she had been at the shop twice before with her cousins. You knew she was more than just the young of no importance, as you say.’

  She shook her head as she stated. ‘I did not think she would be hurt. Farken said they would not hurt her, didn’t you Farken?’ She pleaded with the male sitting next to her. He looked straight ahead and did not reply.

  Hawk asked, barely keeping his anger in check. ‘Or none of you cared. She is not of your kind, is she?’

  The female looked at him and shook her head. ‘No, and truly I thought the talk from the young girls was boasting. They brought with them those filthy savgells, to my Mistresses shop. Not caring that I had to spend time after they left cleaning. Me! I am a designer but did my Mistress care, did they? No, I had to sweep the floors and brush the furniture because of those savgells. What was I meant to think?’

  Kardan’s hands tightened as he breathed deeply. The female did not know how close to death she was in that second.

  Hawk asked to give Kardan time to recover.

  ‘And you two males, what story do you have to tell us?’

  The older of the two males answered. ‘He told us we were doing a service for the good of the Capital. With this one small favor, it would forever change the direction of the Capital. What were we to believe, he is our cousin’s hunband and powerful? He runs this world, why would we believe differently?’

  Kardan was stunned as Wolf asked. ‘Let me get this right, you are saying that he told you, the taking of a young girl, could change the future of the Capital.’

  ‘Yes!’ Both males answered.

  Fraken finally spoke. ‘He said she was a means to an end, and the end was justified.’

  Kardan’s voice was deeper and harsher as he stated. ‘One small girl, barely old enough to be allowed away from her parents. This little female was to change the course of the Capital, for the millions that live here and the whole of the Universe. You believed this was true, so you agreed to the kidnapping. Not once did the thought cross your minds to come to the Star Daughter or her Embassy, to tell what he had proposed.’

  The older male passionately explained. ‘Why would it? We do not know this female, our cousin told us she was an impoef.’

  Hawk asked. ‘Really, and why is that?’

  ‘Because if she was the Star Daughter, she would have sought his counsel, and she has not.’

  ‘What say you now, you have found out how wrong he and you have been?’ Kardan asked as he surveyed the seven people. ‘All seven of you forfeited your lives for nothing. I hope whatever afterlife you believe in is merciful, for we are not.’

  Reeve grinned. ‘There will be no afterlife or at least not the one they assume they will go too.’

  Wes Scrigtons scoffed. ‘What can you do to us, death is death?’

  Hawk laughed, a harsh sound that grated along their nerves causing them all to hunch their shoulders against the sound ‘No, you foolish male, death is just the beginning. The Star Child will not allow any of you to fade into the afterlife. You abused their Daughter’s child. There will be no reprieve for you?’

  The male known as Fenimrr yelled. ‘You lie, you are all liars. There is no Star Child just like there is no Star Daughter. It is all a myth you tell everyone to keep us scared!’

  As if he tempted the very fates themselves, the myth appeared as a column of Starlight. It swirled into existence, and the Star Child’s voices were almost too painful to hear in their anger. You have all you need, Amahka?

  ‘We do Star Child.’

  Then they are mine.

  ‘Yes, let your justice have no mercy.’

  It will not. Tell our Daughter this world has a foul taste. We wish it removed.

  ‘I will Star Child.’

  The column seemed to stare at Kardan and his brothers as it stilled. Wolf could almost make out a face as the voices said. Our Elites, daily you renew our belief that honor still exists in our Universe.

  All four bowed their heads and said together. ‘We thank you, Star Child.’

  The
column seemed to look at the seven people, causing them to gape in fear as their bodies trembled.

  You are ours, as the brother to our Amahka has foretold. Your deaths will take many yentas. It has been too long since we have had what our Daughter calls, fun.

  FORTY-NINE:

  Kardan and his brothers left the room and entered the lift to the suite.

  Hawk rubbed his face and told them. ‘They will run.’

  Kardan shrugged. ‘Eventually, Raiders if nothing else, are predictable.’ He looked at his brothers. ‘After all this time, they cannot change who they are. That is why we will have ships to hunt them down.’

  Reeve told him. ‘They will be more dangerous.’

  ‘Yes, and so are we. They should remember whose side we fight on and for whom, but they will not.’

  ‘Are we not just as predictable?’ Wolf asked Kardan.

  He smiled as he assured them. ‘With the Assaens and Terrans, not to mention all the others on our side. No, we are far from predictable and that is why we will succeed. Jax have Klune and his mate and her sister meet me in the suite please.’

  They are on their way, Amahka.

  ‘Brother, do you have need of us further?’ Hawk asked, wanting to be with his Karen.

  ‘No, go be with your mates. This has not been a good day, as Peyton would say.’

  They arrived at the suite and Reeve opened the door, saying. ‘No, and…’ He could say no more over the screaming.

  Kardan stepped into the suite and found his arms filled with a screaming, fearful Rayvan.

  ‘Papa, bad males pushing, pushing.’

  ‘Where Rayvan, where my son?’

  ‘In head, pushing bad pics in my head.’ He tapped at his temple as tears ran down his face. Draykin ran sobbing to Reeve who scooped him up, as the girls and young kits came flying into the lounge, along with the older ladies.

  Darby and Netta entered, and she was once more dressed for battle. Peyton arrived, pale and trembling. She stopped in the middle of the room and with a flick of her hand swept the furniture aside. Spreading her arms wide, she slowly spun in place.

  Suddenly a rush of males entered as Jarrod and all the Mystics ran into the lounge. With hand signals Jarrod motioned them to form a circle around her, then they all touched the tip of their fingers to one another and closed their eyes.

  Esther collapsed into Hawk’s arms, her face a mask of fear. He placed her on a couch along with Helen and Brenda. ‘Breathe Esther, Helen calm. Brenda listen to me, this I not real. Jax call for healers please’

  There was no response he called him again and still there was no response. He looked around to tell someone that there seemed to be a problem with Jax but everyone was in the midst of calming frightened children and older adults.

  Jarrod told Heather as she, Dinas and Patty arrived. ‘Do not make them sleep, the visions will be worse.’

  Heather told the others as she pocketed the injector. ‘Tea and sympathy it is then.’

  She looked at the circle and the brightly glowing Peyton in the center, and marveled how the light from her did not spill pass Jarrod and the others. Marlo and Larson arrived with stumbling steps and trembling hands.

  ‘Terrible, terrible! Where is my Brenda?’

  ‘I am here, dearle.’ She went into his arms as her body shook with fear.

  Larson stumbled to Helen and dropped to his knees in front of her. ‘My Helen. I thought you were dead. I feared for you.’

  She held him to her as she sobbed. ‘I thought you were gone.’

  ‘It is not real.’ Kardan told them. ‘Listen to me, what you see is not real.’ He told Dinas and Heather. ‘It seems the visions are only attacking the old and young, we seem to be immune.’

  Heather asked. ‘For how long?’

  Hawk answered. ‘I would say this is the first strike, the next will be more widespread.’

  Coraan agreed as he entered with Melody. ‘They are feeling their way. Watching for our response, this is just the first probe, to see what our defenses are.’

  Kardan called out. ‘Do not believe these thoughts, they are not yours, you are being given images. You are stronger than these visions. Esther, you know this. My friend Marlo think… think as you tell my Peyton to do.’

  Hope reached out and took Marlo’s shaking hand in hers. Her voice was trembling as she said. ‘Grandpa Marlo, it is not real. My Papa says it is not.’

  Enara took Larson’s hand in hers. ‘Grandpa Larson, look at me, it is not real.’

  The girls scrambled onto the adult’s laps, while other couples came stumbling into the lounge.

  Hawk watched the tension lessen in Larson, Marlo, and Esther as the girls sat with them. He looked around at the children being held, who were now quiet.

  ‘Touch, we must touch, it connects us. We need to touch. It will shield them from the images.’ He placed a hand on each of the shoulders of Klune and Rata, as Wolf placed his on Rita and Dantara. Kardan took the hand of Kenera as she held Cemeru’s tightly.

  Everyone was touching someone and within seconds they felt the battering against their shields lessen. ‘We are here.’ Karen said as she and the others entered at a run. ‘We don’t seem to be affected.’

  ‘You will not be this time.’ Coraan told them. ‘It is against the young and older of us.’

  She nodded. ‘They are testing us.’

  He smiled at the simplicity of her explanation. ‘Exactly.’

  Karen slipped under Hawk’s arm as Jorge, Amelia and Nina arrived. Instantly taking the babies who were scared and crying loudly from Dana. Keylan made grabbing motions for Netta, who took her from Nina as Koana squealed loudly when she saw Avana. She scooped her into her arms as she ran pass Amelia, calling out.

  ‘Senes, Prowlers everybody touch the person next to you. Skin on skin and with your hearts. We are under mental and emotional attack.’

  Prowlers and Senes poured into the room, finding someone to lean against or touch.

  ‘Yeah, we got that?’ Darby murmured from within her mate’s arms.

  Avana smiled and placed her hand on Draykin’s arm as Koana sighed softly. Her voice became serene, like a soft rustle of wind through the leaves of a tree.

  ‘This is how we banish the effects of the attack, let the thoughts and images flow through you and out like water. Little ones imagine a pool, now place the pics under the water. Now keep putting the bad pics in the water. Relax your minds and bodies, the visions work because you fight, let them go. Release the emotions, they are not yours, they have no power over you. Remember, we are family and we are together.’

  Darby said. ‘Yeah, that seems to be working. You are really very good at that.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Avana cuddled Koana closer as she told them. ‘It will suffice for the moment, but they will concentrate and return. This attack was not aimed at the Terrans. These Masters have no idea of your brain patterns but they will learn. For now you are our shields but it will not last.’

  Carrick arrived, sword drawn with Kate in the circle of his arms, Kitolin by their side.

  Kardan passed Rayvan to Jorge as he walked toward Carrick and ordered. ‘Stand down Urnu. Visions are being implanted in the young and old. Your mate is safe as are your charges, we are all safe.’

  He turned raged filled eyes toward Kardan. ‘They must die!’

  ‘Yes, we will take death to them, are you with us?’

  Carrick sheathed his sword. ‘I am.’

  Peyton and the Mystics dropped their hands. ‘Okay, we have shielded the building for now.’

  Rose, Trina, and Nina went to their mates and helped them to couches. The older ladies, now calm and once again centered, helped the other Mystics as Kenera and Dana walked around offering tea.

  Cemeru asked. ‘What are your orders, Amahka?’

  Before he could speak, Briark and Leiark arrived with several kits. Once more they had grown. Mama Star, we secured the kits.

  ‘Thank you my Protectors.’
r />   She now sent her senses out as she rubbed the ears of her bondmates.

  We are here for you Beloved.

  ‘I will need you, my dearle’s. Kardan I know where they are.’

  ‘One min my heart. Coraan have your Draygons ready to attack from the air. Rage your Prowlers will take the lower levels and help where they can. Warriors will fight everywhere else.’

  FIFTY:

  Kardan looked at Peyton and asked. ‘Star Daughter, who are we fighting?’

  ‘Elders, Masters, Capital and Earth soldiers.’

  Gunner and his unit arrived to hear Peyton’s answer. He cursed as Mark said. ‘I told them when we left to leave. Guess they didn’t like my advice any more than they liked yours Gunner.’

  He growled in despair. ‘Fools… stupid wasteful fools!’

  Kardan squeezed Gunner’s shoulder in comfort as he asked. ‘Kail advice?’

  ‘We need to cut the head from the snake.’ At their confusion, he smiled. ‘A metaphor from my Trina. It means if we take the Elders out, the rest shall fall. So Telfor, Malchol and Jarrmeru will need to go with the Elites.’ He asked Kardan. ‘I am assuming you are going to take care of the Elders?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘They will be at the points.’

  Kardan asked. ‘Points, explain please Kail.’

  Jarrod said. ‘Darby, map please.’

  She raised a Holo map of the Capital on the dining table.

  ‘Very nice, have you been working on that for long?’ Netta asked, admiring the map.

  ‘No, Jean and I made it with help from Coraan and his flyers, when we first arrived.’

  ‘Oh, that explains all the flights.’ Karen said to Zenerra, who nodded as she looked at the map. ‘Yep, it was Coraan’s idea. We had loads of fun doing it.’

  Jarrod said. ‘The Elders will be somewhere away from the immediate area. They will be pushing power to Masters, who will be in sight of the Embassy. Their entire purpose now will be in directing the energy against Peyton’s shields. If her shields fail, they will again renew their attack on the people inside the Embassy. The new visions will be far worse and deadlier, the images they will send will cause people to kill.’