by K. Aten
“Oh! Mayhaps you’re looking for the Fortuna Ligno!”
Both Olvienne and Tosh’s attention focused on the old woman. It was the Connate who spoke up. “Fortuna Ligno? Fortune tree? What exactly is that?”
Murph joined his par where she stood talking to their esteemed guests. “They say it’s the tallest tree on Mater. Now I’ve never been so close as to confirm, but they say that the tip of the tree turns golden when Archeos rises in the morning. Because of its famous size and strange gold tip, the local legend has always referred to it as the fortune tree.”
Castellan turned to the experienced historical adventurist. “What do you think?”
The Connate closed her eyes and recalled the texts she had been reading since discovering the Antaeus translation. Finally she opened them again and was caught by the intensity of her lover’s gaze. Tosh’s eyes reminded her of the pale blue light of Illeos and she had to give herself a mental shake to bring her mind back to the task at hand. “I feel as though we’re on the right track.” Olivienne turned back to Murph and Sarae. “Do you know where the tree is located?”
The couple shook their heads. Murph looked apologetic as he spoke. “As I said, I haven’t been there myself. But you may want to check with a few of those research types at the station. They have all kinds of maps of the island. Perhaps they can help you out. I’m sorry I can’t be of more assistance, Connate Dracore.”
Olivienne smiled at the older man. “No, you’ve done plenty already. Your information has aided me considerably and I appreciate it.”
“You’re much nicer than the publications always say.”
Murph’s face paled and abject horror crawled across his features. “Sarae! You can’t speak that way about a sovereign!”
Sarae looked at him and snorted. “Why not? She seems like the type to appreciate a little truth.”
Tosh covered a smile with her hand but Olivienne was unable to stop the laughter from bubbling up at the words spoken by someone easily old enough to be someone’s avia. “Actually, I prefer the truth. And to give you a bit in return, I’ve always taken my job as historical adventurist quite seriously. Unfortunately, not everyone else does. As a matter of fact, it irritates some members of the Imperium that I refuse to quietly settle someplace and wait my turn for the Cathedra.”
“Ahh, well that makes more sense!”
Cmdr. Tosh looked at the old woman curiously. “Really?”
Sarae nodded. “Sure. Our government is a system of balance and power. The Queen has the most power so it makes sense that the Imperium would want more. And controlling someone is just another way of stealing their power. If certain members can’t control Connate Dracore, then it stands to reason they’d want to control how others see her.”
Castellan and Olivienne looked at each other in surprise, then back at Sarae. Olivienne found the words to speak first. “That is surprisingly insightful and does make complete sense. Maybe you should come be my advisor when that time comes that I’m required to make my ascendance as Queen!”
Sarae waved her hand through the air and grinned affably. “Oh, nonsense! I’m much too old for all that. Besides, your dashing companion will give you better advice than most. I think you’ll be just fine with Commander Tosh.” Her words sent Olivienne deep into thought about her future as Queen. She sincerely hoped it was a long ways off.
Dismayed, Castellan looked closer at the old woman and received a wink for her trouble. She tried to fathom whether or not Sarae was prescient, or if she were just making a random guess. The implication was clear enough, she was saying in no uncertain terms that Castellan would still be around when Olivienne became Queen. Suddenly fearful for the safety of Olivara, Tosh took advantage of the Connate’s distraction. She gave a telepathic nudge to Sarae and was lucky enough to discover that the aged psera had the telepathy channel.
“Yes, Commander?”
Tosh sent back the words that had frozen her veins with fear. “Soon?”
Sarae gave a small shake of her head. “No, not for tens of rotos. It will be long after I’m gone and that is all I will say to you.”
“Sarae,” Castellan said the name aloud and suddenly it clicked. “You’re the weather witch that Commander Dendin was talking about!”
Olivienne snapped out of her reverie. “What’s that?”
Sarae shook her head ever so slightly at Tosh so the commander kept quiet about what had been said. “She’s the one that predicts many of the storms for the area.”
The Connate grinned anew at the old woman. “Well that is certainly handy in a coastal town!” She looked at both eatery owners with appreciation. “I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for your help todae.”
Murph finally spoke up. “The pleasure is all ours, Connate Dracore. It was an honor to serve you and Commander Tosh, as well as your fine guardians. Please don’t hesitate to stop in again before you leave.”
Olivienne glanced at Tosh then smiled at him. “Perhaps we will.” It was still raining when the large group left the eatery. Tosh set up a rotation for the guardians to cycle through the dorm shower facilities. She and Olivienne took a team of six to the research station office to inquire about possible maps of Mater. Much to their pleasurable surprise, they not only acquired a map, but it had the location of the Fortuna Ligno clearly marked on it. It wasn’t precise because researchers had to rely on their channels to get most information. But at least it was a start.
When they returned to the camp, Olivienne opted to go with the second to last shift of guardians to the dorm for her own shower and Tosh retreated back to her cube. The old woman’s words gave her much to ponder. Did they mean that her career was destined to stall, thus guaranteeing that she’d wind up as the Connate’s Shield Commander for the rest of her daes? Then Castellan thought on what else Sarae had said, that when Olivienne is Queen, she would be taking advice from Tosh. Advising the Queen was not the typical role of a Shield Corp captain. The role of advisor was usually reserved for the King...her own thoughts ground to a halt on that scenario. “Sheddech.” The profanity slipped from between Tosh’s lips as the true meaning of Sarae’s words dawned on her.
She stopped thinking after that, instead reviewing the plan that she and Olivienne had put together for their trip to the island. Castellan had no time for idle wanderings and half-worked premonitions of an old weather-teller. She had a job to do.
That evening after their meal, Olivienne, Castellan, Lt. Savon, and Lt. Madlin went over the plan one last time. The main island team’s goal was to make their way undetected through the forest until they came to the Fortuna Ligno. After that, six people would scour the tree from bottom to top, looking for anything that didn’t seem to belong and the other two would stand guard and watch for rocs.
Castellan was certain that she had chosen the right mix of individuals to go to Mater. She tried to select only specialists that had hard channels, assuming they would be the most help if things went sour with the rocs. Spc. Devin and Spc Qent were from the original unit and while Qent had no hard channel, he had a sub-degree as a historical adventurist and was the only one with advanced water training. Spc. Yazzie was the medican going to Mater and she had a telekinesis rating of four, as did Lt. Madlin who was also chosen. Spc. Legget was an engineer and had a ferrokinesis rating of four, and Spc. Dante Lazaro was the communications specialist and he had an apportation rating of three. With a three rating he could easily grab sixty pund objects at a time with minimal effort. One potential use for Lazaro’s ability was to apport stones above any rocs, should they happen to attack the team.
It was near twenty-two hundred oors when the two lieutenants finally went back to their own cubes. That left Olivienne and Tosh in the silence of the commander’s cube. It didn’t escape the Connate’s notice that Castellan had carefully laid out her bedroll in preparation for the night ahead. She half expected the officer to invite her to stay, hoped even, but Tosh never made mention of wanting a bedmate for the evening. Final
ly she stood and stretched, ignoring the cautious gaze of her Shield unit commander. “Well, I think I’m going to bed down. We have to be at the boat at second sunrise tomorrow, and morning comes early.”
Castellan’s response was just as careful as her eyes. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
Olivienne smiled ruefully. “I don’t know what is more exciting, finally beginning this portion of the adventure, or the thought of seeing the suns again after daes of rain. Though I’m sure your main thought is on the adventure ahead and the safety of the sovereign under your protection.”
“Honestly?” The Connate nodded. “I could do without the rain as well. And the adventure itself is exciting too. I’ve read so many documents with you that I feel as though I’m half adventurist myself!”
“Well, you’re certainly more qualified for the role than any other officer I’ve met.”
Tosh smiled and some of the awkwardness between them dissipated. “Well, I’m not just any officer. According to Commander Dendin, I’m famous in certain circles!”
Olivienne laughed at Tosh’s sarcasm-laced declaration. “I’d be willing to bet you’re infamous in many others!”
Her stoic shell cracked and Castellan burst into laughter. “That is exactly what I told him!” She shrugged as her humor settled. Silence descended on the cube again as the rain pattered against the fabric around them.
Seeing she wasn’t going to receive an invite to stay, Olivienne turned toward the connector that led back to her own cube. “Goodnight, Commander, I’ll see you in the morn.”
Their eyes met just before Olivienne went through the doorway and Castellan nodded back to her. “Good night, Olivienne.” Tosh stared at the opening for nearly five meens after it shut behind the Connate. She could see clearly what Olivienne had wanted, it was written in those expressive violet eyes. And it took all her self-control not to issue the invitation. Castellan needed a clear mind for the mission ahead and she would not have that advantage if she woke wrapped in the Connate’s warm embrace. Too much was happening between them that she didn’t understand. The confusing roil of emotions kept her unsteady and off-kilter and she wasn’t a fan of the lack of control she felt. Tosh was afraid that continued intimacy while she felt as such would mean a head left anything but clear when they set sail for Mater. And Psiere could ill-afford a lapse in diligence where one of the sovereigns was concerned.
THE SEA BREEZE and smell of salt in the air was exhilarating in the early morn. Olivienne stood at the bow of the large fishing vessel as it plunged through the two-foot waves that were the only remnants of the storms. Olivienne was frustrated because Tosh had reverted back to that professional officer with the coming dae. She had felt the other woman pull away the night before and it stung, but her rational mind knew that they had to focus on the mission ahead. She didn’t have to like it though.
“We’re approaching the drop off point for Lieutenant Savon’s team now.”
She startled when Castellan interrupted her ocean gazing. Olivienne moved over and made room at the railing for Tosh. “He didn’t seem too happy last night when you told him he was directing the backup team on Filia.”
Castellan smirked. “Is that your empathy talking now, Connate Dracore?” She teased with a referenced channel the Connate didn’t have but Olivienne remained serious.
“No. I’ve known Savon a few rotos now and I don’t need empathy to see how he’s feeling, just my eyes.” She turned to look fully at Castellan. The officer wore the black uniform so well, so strong. “Are you sure of your choices in this?”
“As sure as I can be. I refuse to second-guess myself now. I spent too many oors putting together your Shield unit, and even more selecting the teams for this particular mission. I know that Specialists Soleng, Dozier, Penn, and Calderon were disappointed at having to remain at base camp but the others had skills more qualified for this particular mission. The camp needs to be secured so they were chosen. But that will not always be the case and I made that very clear to them. Each mission we plan will require a unique set of skills and I did my best to make sure all skills were accounted for in this unit. Small teams are mutable and who knows what we will need in the future. Besides, this will encourage the younger ones to continue their advanced training and certifications. It never hurts to keep growing your skills, right?”
Olivienne wasn’t surprised that Castellan had put so much thought into her guardians, and the team placements for their current mission in particular. She looked up at the officer then and noticed a small lock of hair had come lose from her otherwise pristine appearance. They finally neared a small strip of beach on the eastern end of Filia and the boat began to slow. Before they could be distracted by the exit of Lt. Savon and Specialists Lear, Meza, and Holling, Olivienne reached up to smooth that distracting bit of hair. “And what skills have you been growing, Commander?”
Castellan recognized Olivienne’s grin for what it was and appreciated the small break in seriousness for the moment. She gave the Connate a wicked grin in return and let playfulness color her voice. “Why my dear Olivienne, you don’t know? Between the two of us, I think we’ve elevated dalliance to an art form worthy of Service Corp appointment!”
“It’s no wonder you’re infamous in those circles.” The Connate gave the officer a slight shove. “Now go see your team off so we can get on with the rest of the trip!” Tosh saluted her smartly then walked toward the stern of the ship and Olivienne was left in thought. Had she not been watching the officer’s face when she mentioned their dalliance, she may have been stung by the words. The Connate had finally admitted to herself the night before that her feelings for the staid and stubborn officer went beyond mere dalliance. But as she had just told Tosh, one didn’t need an empathy channel to see someone’s feelings. Sometimes their eyes told more than any words from their mouth, and those pale blue eyes held more than Tosh’s proclamation of dalliance. Only time would tell if Castellan’s lips would hold more as well.
The ship they were on was quite large and they used a smaller boat to ferry the team to the island. The owner of the vessel informed them that Lt. Savon and the others should be safe and secluded from the rocs that soared the ocean breeze above. There were no eggs or hatchlings on Filia, just an abundance of giant trees and black sand. It had taken the ship two oors to get to the first island and the steersman said it would be another oor before they arrived at Mater. Olivienne requested to be deposited as close as possible to the eastern end of Mater. That would give the team good tree cover for the entire trip to the interior of the island where the Fortuna Ligno was supposed to be located.
The remaining eight occasionally looked up and see the rocs circling high above. “They don’t look that big, nothing like our briefing vellums stated.” It was Lt. Madlin who spoke her mind, but the other specialists nodded along with her words.
The steersman laughed heartily. She was big-boned with fair hair and a face reddened by salt, wind, and suns. She glanced at the group of black uniformed Shield Corp guardians on the deck of the ship. “You only think that because they’re so high up.” She pointed at Spc. Lazaro who was the tallest of the group at six foot six inces. “Those rocs up there are probably near twice his height, and they’re strong enough to pick up the biggest of you and fly away.”
Castellan gave her a sober look. “Any advice you can give us about the island?”
The steersman nodded. “Don’t go near the boulders on the south shore, that’s where they lay their eggs. And they’re drawn to movement so avoid attracting their attention at all costs.”
Olivienne spoke up next. “How do we do that?”
The weathered sailor grinned and showed strong white teeth. “Don’t run.”
A little over an oor later, the small team of eight was deposited on a strip of black sand not even big enough to call a beach. The tree line came nearly to the water so it was no great effort to scramble up the slight hill and into the cover of the thick canopy. While the air still s
melled of salt and sea, it took on a different quality within the forest proper. Their boots made a muffled sound as they walked across the needle-covered loam and nearly half the light of the suns was blocked by the canopy above. “It’s no wonder they said we’d be safe from the rocs while in the forest!” There was a feel to the area that prompted Olivienne to keep her voice low. They weren’t really sure how good the hearing was of the mammoth birds, but no one wanted to chance it.
Tosh consulted the map that they were given at the research station. “According to our map, we’ve got approximately a sixty mahl hike to the general location of the treasure. Or at least what we guess is the treasure. You’ve been keeping in top condition and I’m going to warn you that this is still going to tax you. We’ve got twenty mahl hikes ahead of us for the next three daes in order to reach the interior where the Fortuna Ligno is located.” Someone in the group groaned and she cut a glance toward the sound. “Problem, Specialist Qent? Is that too far for your lily feet?”
The guardian’s eyes widened and his cheeks flushed at her words. “No, ser! The distance isn’t a problem, I’ve done adventurist missions in the past. But I’ve never done them kitted out with Shield Corp gear.”
Castellan frowned. “I know it’s going to be rough and we haven’t had nearly enough time to train for this but I have confidence in this team. All your packs are between fifty and seventy punds, easy enough for any of you to handle. I’ve lowered our loads as much as possible while still having the minimum to do our job. What is our job here?” No one answered as she glanced around at the six guardians. Olivienne watched and waited for Tosh’s next words. “Our job is not to protect the Connate—”