by Philip Hamm
*
Fratris asked, “Were you one of the confident ones, Professor?”
“I was one of the academics and for that reason alone she might have hated me. But my mother was Sagan and the Quill have no love for them.”
Crotal asked, “Did she pick on you?”
“Not particularly; even though I don’t have Sagan abilities, I think she was aware that it might be a very bad idea. Taylia and I were not friends back then but as a full-Sagan, she would have helped me if I’d asked her – and nobody messed with Taylia, she was the strongest student on the ship and could have sent Zizania into orbit if she’d wanted. But Zizania was always smart enough to know how far she could go. Apart from snide comments about my human father or my lack of interest in fashion, she left me alone and picked on the weaker students instead.”
The boys looked towards Taylia, now lying on her front, her naked back quilted with muscles. She was like a lioness on the savannah; it wasn’t difficult for them to imagine what she might have been like as a student on the Cissoid among ordinary humans.
Fengtai had sparred with Taylia in the dojo at his Shogun’s palace and knew she was formidable. Despite his enormous size, she was stronger and faster than he was. “I would have liked to have seen what she would done to Zizania if she’d wanted to,” he said. “I expect it would have been very satisfying to watch.”
“I’m sure it would have been,” Faam agreed. “But we had to be careful too. Zizania was the future Queen of Quill and despite the pleasure it might have given our tutors to see her with a bloody nose or broken bones, the repercussions against the ship would have been grave if she’d come to harm. Kalmia would have had no choice but to expel Taylia if she’d touched a feather on her head.”
Crotal asked, “What were your visits to Agnatha like?”
“We stayed on a tropical island called Zenana. We could go swimming and sailing, lie on the beach or walk in the hills; it was a holiday for all of us, including the staff. They stayed on another island in a big hotel or in huts beside the beach and we were looked after by the Agnathans.”
“I thought the Agnathans were quasi-human fish,” said Fratris.
“Their world was once part of the old Tun Republic that grew up where the Empire of Xramaria is now. Most of the human population emigrated to the Tun Empire in the Southern Hemisphere but a few stayed behind and they occupy the land while the aquatic population lives in the sea.”
“Did you meet the fish-people?”
“Yes – I went down to their underwater cities many times to visit their museums and attend cultural events. They’re lovely people; very kind and generous.”
Fengtai asked, “What do they look like?”
“Fish,” said Fratris, grinning to himself.
“Sort of,” said Faam. “But not like the fish here; the Agnathans have long bodies, like an eel, and arms with webbed fingers, like a frog. Their mouths are round with a circle of teeth, which can quite alarming when you see them for the first time, and their eyes are very small. Because they’re an aquatic species, it’s impossible to hear them speak without a device to project their voices.”
Crotal asked, “Did they evolve naturally or have they been created like the Ulupans and the Quill?”
“They were commissioned by the ultra-alien Uous and the Genetric made them. The Uous can only exist in the purest water, just as the Junopta can only fly in the cleanest air, and the oceans of the Third Sphere are too salty for their species.”
“What were the cities like?”
“They really are a wonder; like tethered balloons floating just under the surface. They trap air at the top so we can visit but underneath they’re full of everything you would expect on land; houses to live and work and places of entertainment – but like a coral reef rather than an ordinary city. We used to take a boat, surrounded by an Exarch field, and float through their streets and market places. Obviously, we couldn’t interact with the locals very well and there were places that were too narrow for us to go, but it was still a delight and, unlike the other water worlds, we were always made to feel welcome.”
“Did Zizania go with you?”
“No, she was only interested in the nightclubs in the hotels on the other islands. Boys are not allowed on Zenana and there was nothing to interest her there. Vade Mecum was always having to go after her but Zizania kept bribing Acromion, the Head of Security, to look the other way.”
“Did Nacyon visit the cities?”
“Occasionally but he didn’t like them. You have to remember; he’d grown up on the sky platforms of their empire and being underwater didn’t feel natural to him.”
*
The year before she became Queen, Nacyon was waiting for her above Agnatha when he was surprised by a visitor. It had become customary for him to stay on the Apus until the Cissoid arrived in the system and then they would send a boat to either take him to the Principal’s office or down to the surface of the planet. Sometimes they’d had to wait a fortnight but often it was just a week and once, the Cissoid arrived the day before them.
On their second visit, the Agnathans sent an envoy from their human colony to ask if the captain would like to open an account and do a little trade. By then, Stuggy was down to the last of their fresh food and it would be tins and dried-stuffs all the way home. The captain accepted the offer and from then on there was always fresh fruit, eggs and vegetables for the return journey.
While they waited for the Cissoid, boats came and went between Agnatha and the Apus and one of them brought Rimmon and his bodyguard, Naaman. It had been nearly fifteen years since Nacyon last saw Ynch’s protégé and part of him had hoped they might never meet again. He still felt guilty for stealing Zizania’s vial of blood and though he didn’t think she was worthy of the honour it was still sacred in the eyes of their people. The theft amounted to blasphemy. But fortunately, nobody ever noticed it was missing.
Rimmon contacted the Apus by radio and Quail prepared the ambassadors’ quarters for his arrival. Nacyon met him and his bodyguard by the entrance to the hold and took them down to the bottom of the ship. Rimmon had changed even more than he had; his head was now shaved and he wore a long leather coat with a komtur’s chain around his neck. His equally bald companion loomed behind him like the pink-headed condor the King kept as a pet.
Nacyon tried to make a joke, “You’ve brought a friend,” he said.
“This is Naaman; like me, he was a piece of refuse on the dumps of Barras but he’s now my bodyguard and a member of our little group.”
There were all kinds of rumours circulating about the Cult of Adramelech. To begin with, they had hidden in the shadows, a secret within the enigma of the Rickobites, but as their numbers had grown, they had become bolder and their objectives clearer. It was now known they were searching for the Zarktek, especially the seven princes and their imperial father, Apollyon. They were not welcome on many human worlds but because they had the protection of Rickobite money, most people simply kept out of their way.
Nacyon invited Rimmon to sit in the wide reception room outside his cabin, with the view of Agnatha before them. He asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m following the Cissoid Corindon,” he replied.
“You’re early – she isn’t here yet.”
“We must have passed her on the Nicol Road. We were on Arroba when we saw her last.”
“Did you see Zizania?”
“I did – I have to say, she was causing Kalmia’s security quite a few headaches. She managed to slip away to the nightclubs of Down Town and they had to fetch her back.”
Nacyon sighed, “That doesn’t unusual,”
“There was also an attempted break-in by some nomads from the desert. Captain Avania, the city’s Chief of Police, believes they were trying to steal Zizania’s jewels.”
“That’s more serious - was she harmed?”
“Not in the least and personally, I don’t believe she was the target. There is
a half-Sagan among the students, the bastard daughter of the Sagan wife of the former king of Cromorna and his brother. I think it’s more likely they were after her.”
“That’s a relief; if Zizania had been hurt, it might have caused a war.”
“It would probably be better if you didn’t tell the King.”
“I’ll have to say something; if she blurts it out in front of him, he’ll have my head.”
“You should say there was an attempt on the life of another student but it was dealt with efficiently.”
“And was it...?”
“Yes,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. I’m interested in the man who defended the half-Sagan. He’s been spreading rumours about us and I’d like to know the truth.”
“What kind of rumours?”
“About Variola; he claims it’s been re-occupied.”
“Has it...?”
“The planet is a nuclear wasteland – there’s nothing left. But I’d like to know what he thinks he’s seen.”
“And you’re going to ask him...?”
“No,” Rimmon smiled. “I want you to do it.”
“Why me?”
“There’s something else about him that I’m not sure of. I’ve been hearing stories all along the Nicol Road that have made me question whether he’s an ordinary human or not. Some say he’s a Sagan but I’m coming to believe he might be something else.”
“A Zarktek...?”
“Or created for them; he has unprecedented skills and we believe he’s telepathic. He may even have one of the ancient weapons of the Zarktek. I want to know more about him and what his mission might be. But I don’t want to approach him directly in case I compromise his position.”
“I see,” Nacyon replied, suddenly feeling frightened.
“You have a perfect excuse; Zizania was threatened and you should meet the man who helped to defend her.”
Nacyon sighed, “All right; I’ll ask if can meet him. Does he have a name?”
“James-Stone,” Rimmon replied.
“What kind of name is that?”
Rimmon shrugged, “Something new.”
*
“Your husband,” said Fratris.
Faam nodded, “He was just Kalmia’s employee back then. But even so, he’d caught the attention of the Cult of Adramelech.”
“And did the Rao speak to him?” asked Crotal.
“Yes – James told him about Variola but I don’t think Nacyon believed him. However, he was convinced my husband wasn’t a Zarktek or one of their creations. He seemed like an ordinary man to him and said so to Rimmon. The consequences, of course, were greater than either of them could have imagined.”
Crotal looked puzzled, “What do you mean?”
Fratris raised his eyebrows at him, “Look around you, silly,” he said. “The Professor’s husband had all of this behind him. If Rimmon had known about Panadawn, he would have tried twice as hard to capture him.”
“That’s very true,” Faam agreed. “Though I doubt if he would have succeeded, do you?”
The boys smiled.
Crotal asked, “Did the Rao speak to Zizania about the danger she put herself in?”
“Yes – another unpleasant meeting and more humiliation. He took her to task about running off to the seedier parts of Arroba City but she just laughed at him and said she’d never got a chance to bed any of her companions so, why was he so worried? And besides, she added, in front of Kalmia, ‘It’s not as though I can get pregnant, is it?’.”
The boys looked embarrassed again. But Fengtai asked, “Why was that?”
“That’s the way the Quill are – they can’t breed with humans.”
“Let’s get back to Rimmon,” said Fratris quickly, before Fengtai asked her to explain the finer points of Zizania’s biology. “What did he say when the Rao told him about your husband?”
“Nothing,” Faam replied. “He denied anything was happening in the Variola system or anywhere in the Rickoby Empire and agreed with Nacyon that James was probably just an ordinary human.”
“But he didn’t believe that, did he?”
“No – but the Penti found James before Rimmon could get hold of him.”
“My Shogun saw him on Penti Prime,” said Fengtai. “He joined the Karasor Rangers because he thought we should go the Third Sphere and see if your husband was right. But that’s a different story,” he said, “Apologies, Professor – please tell us about what happened when the Rao and Rimmon spoke again...”
*
When Nacyon returned to the Apus, Rimmon was waiting for him in the ambassadors’ lounge. It didn’t take the Rao long to describe his meetings, first with the stranger from nowhere, then Kalmia and then Zizania. The Komtur listened politely and asked a few questions but he seemed to have something else on his mind.
Eventually, when Nacyon had run out of complaints concerning his charge, Rimmon said, “Do you think she’ll make a good queen?”
Nacyon nearly laughed. “Long live the King,” he said. “Perhaps when she’s middle-aged and slept with every man in Evigone, she’ll have calmed down enough to make a reasonable one. But I doubt if she’ll ever be ‘good’ – if it wasn’t for our laws, I’m sure even Rhatany would make a better monarch.”
“Do you think he feels the same?”
“I’m sure of it – but that’s not the way our society works. Even if Zizania died, Prince Rhizic, as the next youngest, would replace her. Rhatany, as the eldest, doesn’t stand a chance.”
“What if there was a way to make Zizania more compliant?”
“Can a dodo fly?”
Rimmon smiled, “Possibly not but I might have a way of changing Zizania.”
“If you could, it would be a miracle.”
“A miracle of science perhaps,” and he smiled again. “But I won’t tease you, Nacyon; as you said, King Tragacanth has many years left in him and by the time he goes to meet your gods, Zizania might be a very different woman.”
“I doubt it but we can hope.”
“In the meantime, I have gift for you.”
“A gift...?”
“And a proposal for your people; in return for the generous way in which you have shared your Pavonine generators with us, we would like to help you in return. We are aware that you have been re-building your fleet but your weapons, your cannon and mines, belong in another era. They would be quite useless against a Zamut warship and the Tun Imperial Navy has far better fighters than yours. But if you had the latest Ulupan technology...”
“We won’t do business with the Ulupans,” said Nacyon, with absolute certainty.
“I know; which is why I’m proposing we buy the weapons and sell them to you as our own. This would be a secret between you and me, Nacyon. As far as King Tragacanth and your Royal Navy is concerned, they would be coming from the Empire of Rickoby. But as a result, you would be able to up-grade your entire fleet to a level where they might be capable of defending your Empire against any rival.”
Nacyon grew suspicious, “But how is that in Rickoby’s interests?”
“We believe Quill will become an important ally; Zamut now has the means to force the Sagan to join them and when that happens, we believe they might use their army, the deadliest in the whole of Evigone, to expand their borders and take control of the Third Sphere. That would include the Quill Empire, Tun and Saron; it would be a war just as terrible as the one fought against the Zarktek. But if the QRN was a match for the IZN, we believe they might not be contained because you would hold the balance of power.”
Nacyon could feel his heart racing. “I had no idea events were changing so quickly. But do you really think the Sagan will side with Zamut?”
“We believe it’s a possibility. And that’s why you need advanced weaponry on your ships; Zamut will think twice about using the Sagan against you if your warships are a match for theirs. And a Sagan might be the perfect warrior on the ground but he would need to rely on Zamut’s ships to get him to the b
attlefield; your navy could prevent that from happening.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right. But how do we get hold of these advanced weapons?”
“We have a large stock already; once you’ve confirmed with the King that Quill want to do a trade, we will begin an exchange immediately. The same ships that come for your Pavonine generators can be used to bring the weapons and nobody, except you and I, will know they were made by Ulupans.”
“But somebody is bound to guess...”
“Let them guess but let them see the weapons first; I mentioned a gift. I have brought some samples of what we’re proposing to sell to your navy. If you agree, I can have them delivered in the next hour. Take them back to Rhizic, show the King and his admirals, and I can have ten times as many delivered before the end of the month and another ten after that. By the end of the year, the QRN will be a force to be reckoned with and your security, in these changing times, will be assured.”
10 - The Quill Royal Navy
The Ulupan weapons came to the Apus on a string of long-launches from an ordinary trader flying the flag of the Zircon Corporation, a large northern company owned by quasi-humans from Podagra inside the Empire of Rickoby. Some of the parts were so large they threatened to over-turn the narrow boats.
They were unloaded onto the main deck by shaven-headed men dressed in the black leather coats of the Cult of Adramelech. Nacyon and Captain Tringa stood outside their cabin, watching as Cargo and Wayfinder directed the rest of the crew. Most of the smaller boxes could be carried down the stairs to the upper gun-deck, others were being lowered by winch to the hold-doors in the side of the hull, but the biggest items had to stay where they were.