by C A Ardron
‘I'm a Predgarian now.’
His mouth twisted in distaste. ‘Yes, I know. I heard, along with several others, since you didn't bother to tell me yourself. Michelle-’
‘I am White Dove.’ She knew she'd handled it badly, that Blue was bound to be upset. But it would've caused too many arguments if she'd said anything beforehand.
His hand gripped the glass tightly. ‘Dove,’ he muttered.
Even if Dove hadn't been able to feel his emotions, the contempt was clear in his voice.
‘Predgarians don't use legendary medallions,’ she reminded him.
He shook his head disbelievingly. ‘Why, Michelle? You were a Phoenix! Whole armies shook at the sight of you! Kings and Queens would defer to you, why would you throw that all away? You gave up one of the most powerful medallions in the world for a Dove?’
‘I'm a healer, Blue,’ she told him, trying to stay calm. ‘I wanted to help people. I couldn't do that locked up in a council chamber all day, every day.’
Blue Phoenix stared at her before starting to laugh. Dove could feel the riot of emotions emanating from him. She really couldn't tell what he was going to do or say next.
‘Yeah,’ he said and Dove cringed from the deep look of hurt in his eyes. ‘You always were a healer first and a politician second, and as always, I can't stay mad at you for more than three seconds.’
Dejectedly, he deactivated his powerful medallion, revealing to Dove's surprise, his smart black trousers and long-sleeved black Pharollin jacket, the collar and cuffs a deep blue. The jacket was done up with the traditional cords, also blue. He must have recently been in contact with a Steiron official if he was wearing his council uniform.
‘It’s good to see you again, Blue,’ she told him with a smile. ’It’s been a long time.’
He nodded, finally pouring a pale liquid into the glass in his hand.
She took it from him politely. ‘Thank you.’
He smiled at her. ‘Zolith We'oda, from Olphara in the Neba 6 system. We Pharollin do like our little luxuries, but you remember, I'm sure.’
Dove gave him a hard look. She'd always been partial to the different varieties of Zolith. It was underhanded of Blue to try and bribe her with it. Zolith was terribly expensive. She couldn't afford it on a Predgarian salary.
‘What are you doing here?’ She asked as Blue took another glass and poured himself one. ‘I came here to speak with the area commander, not a member of the Pharollin council.’
He grimaced at the question even as he savoured the zolith. ‘Red Phoenix.’
Dove stared, she hadn't thought things could get any more complicated. ‘He’s here?’
Blue Phoenix smiled again, shaking his head. ‘No, of course not, At least, I don’t think he is.’
Dove gave him a suspicious look.
‘You know Red, Michelle,’ he said with a laugh. ‘You could pass him in the street and never know.’
Dove decided to ignore the fact that Blue had yet again refrained from using her Predgarian name. ‘Is he causing trouble for the Pharollin Council again?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ Blue sighed. ‘Red remains one of the best warriors ever to work for the Pharollin Order. As you know he leads his own faction. The younger warriors are attracted to him because of his rebellious attitude. His unorthodox methods are more appealing than going through the proper channels,’ Blue grimaced again. ‘Of course, that’s when he actually shows up in Phoenicia at all. His core group of supporters are causing most of the trouble.’
Dove shook her head. She'd not missed all the involuted manoeuvring between the numerous factions that made up the Pharollin Council.
‘Why don’t you just bring them up short?’ Dove took a sip of the zolith. The sharp yet sweet taste of the delicately fermented flowers only native to Olphara assaulted her taste buds. She tried to hide the intense pleasure of experiencing it again after so long. She saw Blue smirking at her and chose to ignore him. ‘Red’s young supporters are nowhere near as skilled in politics as you are.’
Blue's smile turned sardonic. ‘Because the Red Phoenix is letting it be known he is going to take my place as Councillor of Interplanetary Relations.’
‘Red wouldn’t do that! He doesn’t even have an interest in it.’
‘True,’ Blue agreed. ‘But technically it’s not Red saying it. It’s his faction in Phoenicia. That’s why I’m here, the High Consul has suggested I try and track down our elusive brother and ask him to set his own people straight.’
Dove shook her head in disbelief. ‘I can’t believe anyone in Phoenicia would dare say that. Everyone knows you’re the best one for such a delicate job.’ She sighed, quite aggravated. ‘Red is barely competent to sit on the council, let alone to be head of one of the Pharollin Wardships.’
‘Think I don’t know that?’ Blue paused, taking a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry, Michelle, I shouldn’t take it out on you. It’s just the Consul wants me to sort this out and well, it won’t be the first time Red has tripped up an older Pharollin and taken their position.’
‘Blue,’ Dove said with an assuring smile, putting a hand on his shoulder. ‘Red would never do that to you, you shouldn't worry.’
‘The gossip flying around Phoenicia is saying differently.’
Dove wasn't sure what else to say. The Blue and Red Phoenixes had been at odds for years, for as long as she could remember. They never could agree on anything, even before they received their medallions.
As Blue's smile returned, Dove saw him straighten and she knew he was about to change the subject. He always did that motion before trying to evade a topic.
‘Anyway,’ he said, back to his old self. ‘This isn’t your problem, you’re a Predgarian now.’
Dove smiled faintly but with little humour. She wished she could help him, but he was right. She'd chosen a different path.
‘You said you came to speak with the area commander,’ he continued. ‘Well, for now that’s me. What can I do for you?’
Dove looked at him carefully, rethinking. She'd planned meticulously what she was going to say, but that was before she'd realised who she was dealing with. Dove couldn't afford to tell him too much, he'd take an open opportunity just as much as any Dakkonin.
‘My unit in West Sector have been assigned a mission,’ she began, doubting she could outmanoeuvre Blue Phoenix. ‘A mission the Pharollin would call an “off the wall.”’
Blue's eyes lit up at the prospect of intrigue. ‘Interesting, Predgarians are well known for their strict adherence to the rules. An “off the wall” implies there are certain parties you would like to keep in the dark.’
Dove pursed her lips, hoping he wasn’t going to cause problems. ‘Because this is an odd mission, the Predgarian Temple is unwilling to send us any aid.’
Blue Phoenix gave her a hard stare. ‘Are you going to tell me why this is an odd mission? It's unlikely I'll be able to help otherwise.’
Dove's stare was just as hard but after a second she sighed. ‘You’re right, of course,’ she conceded. ‘I can't expect you to lend us a hand without knowing what you're getting into.’ Despite her words, she decided the all-out truth would be a bad idea. ‘The Sarpiens have kidnapped a Predgarian candidate.’ She didn't like lying to Blue, but if they managed to rescue Jay, then he'd be a candidate my tomorrow night anyway. ‘Because Sarpiens are involved, we need to keep this as low-key as possible.’
Dove didn't need to explain further, Blue Phoenix was already nodding his understanding.
‘Because of the Dakkonin,’ he correctly guessed. ‘Their underhanded habit of stealing candidates is spreading through the Pharollin and Unician ranks as well. It seems they've become bored with just the Predgarian Order.’
‘We want this boy back but our unit only numbers seven, will you help us?’
Blue Phoenix leaned against the ornate desk behind him and sipped from his glass. ‘Well,’ he said, a crafty smile coming to his lips. ‘Pharollin units are always for hire
to the other Orders - for a price.’
Dove's eyes narrowed. ‘I'm not rejoining the Pharollin, Michael.’
Blue Phoenix shrugged in a non-committal fashion. ‘Your call.’
Dove's face turned flinty as the silence stretched out between them.‘I think you've been spending too much time with your brother. You're starting to sound just like him.’
Blue Phoenix gritted his teeth angrily. ‘Don't compare me to him. I'm nothing like Red!’
Her gaze remained hard as stone. ‘Then stop blackmailing me.’ She nodded in satisfaction when her brother dropped his gaze, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment. ‘A boy is in terrible danger, Blue,’ she told him in a softer voice. ‘Don't make this about us.’
Blue Phoenix smiled at her sadly. ‘You're right.’ He looked about the room, becoming hesitant.
‘What is it?’
‘I'm sorry, but the council will skin me alive if I help you without payment.’
Dove lifted her chin. ‘If it's payment you require then we can come to terms.’
Blue Phoenix looked sceptical. ‘On your salary? I doubt it.’
‘There are many ways to pay.’ A small smile touched her lips. ‘For instance, I'm aware the Sarpiens have been targeting locations where the Pharollin have been storing channelling orbs. There's been seven different hits, all in different towns, correct?’
Blue Phoenix's eyes grew wide. ‘Only the council are aware of the magnitude of the situation! How could you know...’ His eyes became suspicious. ‘All right, who's your contact on the council? One of them had to have told you that.’ He groaned, ‘it's not Red, is it?’
Dove's smile grew broader. ‘Red can be somewhat unreliable at times, Blue. You don't think I'd rely on him for information, do you? So what's your answer? Would you consider sending warriors to aid my unit in exchange for my personal channelling orb?’
Blue Phoenix thought about it and then gave a short laugh. ‘I'd lose some support on the council if I didn't take your offer.’
‘Yes.’ Dove's smile turned mischievous, ‘and if you don't take my offer, you can be sure a particular person on the council will hear about it.’
Blue looked shocked. ‘You're blackmailing me?’
She waved a finger at him and made a tsk sound. ‘Every member of your family has been trained in Phoenicia, Blue. You really shouldn't let your guard down around us, you know.’
Blue Phoenix grinned. ‘I'll remember that. All right, you’ve got yourself a deal. What do you need?’
***
Dove looked down from the ceiling. ‘The Pharollin can be complicated, but the area commander is willing to give us two of his units. He’s pulling them from the outskirts, so they won’t be missed much.’
Lion laughed with great relief. ‘How did you manage that? Didn’t they ask for a price?’
Dove's face remained calm. She didn't intend to tell Lion any more than she needed of what had passed between her and her brother. ‘I happened to know the one in charge, he owed me a favour.’
‘Thank the Light,’ He grunted as his radio began to vibrate. ‘Lion here,’ he spoke into it.
‘Wolf reporting,’ the deep-voiced warrior said, his voice tense. ‘We may have a problem.’
‘Go on.’
‘Hawk and Falcon aren't answering their radios.’
‘Have you tracked them onscreen?’
‘We can't, their radios are either broken or have been turned off.’
Dove tensed at this news. Both radios being broken at the same time was unlikely, and warriors never turned radios off.
‘Have you checked in with Tiger and Leopard?’ Lion asked.
He sounded unconcerned by this development, but Dove could feel the worry and tension beneath the surface.
‘Yes. Tiger says she saw them briefly when they ran into some Dakkonin, but she's heard nothing since. I'm worried, Lion. Jackal might still be out there and Falcon is untested in battle.’
‘Start searching,’ Lion ordered. ‘Dove and I will join you.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Jackal was irritated. If the small bulb which lit his room buzzed at him one more time, he fully intended to throw a dagger at it. As he scowled up at the ceiling from where he was sprawled out on his rickety bed, his thoughts raced. The Power Converter was running ahead of schedule, and Cobra wanted to put Jay into it this very night.
Jackal's scowl deepened. There's no way Cobra could know he secretly wanted Jay alive. His desire to kill the boy so quickly was terribly inconvenient.
The light above him buzzed again and Jackal's face hardened, instantly reaching down to the floor on the right side of his bed, snatching up a long steel dirk. He paused in the act of throwing it, studying its design.
‘Ah, I remember you. Ishetta, two years ago. Wasn't much of a fight, Predgarians die too easily.’
He looked around briefly, making sure all his other knives, daggers and various other blades were in their correct places. He liked to be prepared for surprises.
He returned to his study of the blade, thinking about the Predgarians. This time he wasn't dwelling on Karen though.
‘So,’ he murmured. ‘The Predgarians want to rescue Jay, do they?’ Jackal knew he couldn't help Jay directly. There were too many Sarpiens which might link him to the act, and only a fool would try to use the Dakkonin. The Predgarians however...
‘Predgarians do die easy,’ he mused, but then his face turned crafty. ‘But the Golden Lion might not.’
The plan was risky, a major gamble, but it was the only way he could see of helping Jay without incriminating himself. It wouldn't hinder him too much if the Predgarians took him either. It wouldn't be terribly hard to recapture him further down the line, after he'd taken care of the Power Converter.
His decision made, he took out his radio. ‘Stingray,’ he spoke into it leisurely after he'd keyed in the right numbers.
‘Red Jackal?’ the surprised male voice asked.
‘How would you like to earn yourself some extra money?’
‘You know the answer to that already, I think.’
‘Good, I've got a job for you.’
He quickly outlined what he needed doing before he ended the transmission and got up. He'd have to move quickly if he was going to get everything in place in time. In his eagerness to impress, Cobra had only given him so much time to work with. Before leaving he covered his green snake with his hefty black jacket and entered into the corridor.
Glancing both directions in the dark passage, Jackal studied the other doors lining the carved-out corridor. Only he and his Elite had quarters in this section. It was the old double-edged sword. Only the most dangerous Sarpiens could earn the right to be called Elite, but those same Sarpiens were just as dangerous to a general's continuing career.
Jackal managed to leave the area without any of the Elite appearing however, and the normal Sarpiens, though still dangerous, were not as important. He grinned to himself, it was the members of the Elite who had to watch the run-of-the-mill Sarpiens. They were always looking for ways to replace them or at least out-perform them.
Jackal focused intently on that line of thought, thinking about all the different plots, schemes and uneasy alliances hiding just beneath the surface. There were far too many for even him to keep up with, but the possibilities kept his mind cluttered as he approached an old part of the tunnels. He couldn't afford for Lord Trine to discover his plan. The sclithe approved of Cobra's idea, after all.
He knew very well that Trine would sometimes brush the minds of his Sarpiens. A sclithe couldn't keep a constant watch on his followers, but would check the thoughts at random from time to time. Jackal had no intention of being caught so as he went about his business, he very firmly kept his thoughts on something else.
He passed the occasional Sarpien but as he ventured even further into this part of the tunnels, he found himself very much alone. There was little of interest down in this section.
Jackal eventua
lly found the storage room he sought. He glanced behind him furtively before entering. He looked about, ignoring the large boxes of mining tools and work clothes until he located the ladder in one corner. He had to move several boxes to access it.
Eyeing the rusted ladder sceptically, he frowned, hoping it would hold. He lifted his head to study the even rustier hatch above him. There were far easier ways to get where he needed to be, but this route ensured he wouldn't be seen in the area.
Jackal took hold of the ladders gingerly and gave them a shake and they squeaked in protest. He sighed resignedly and began to climb upwards. The ladders groaned under the strain and he stopped to listen, they seemed to be holding. He slid the metal sheet above him to one side and climbed up through it and into the sewers.
He found he could stand his full height and he looked around at his dark surroundings. There was a vile stench in the air that invaded his nostrils and caught in his throat. He'd intended to activate his medallion once in the sewers, the Canine medallion's night vision would've been helpful, but he now decided against it. The medallion would also enhance the already intense reek that was pervading everything around him.
Jackal lost his balance in the darkness, his foot sinking into a hole. His hand shot out to the sewer wall but the surface crumbled at his touch and he fell on the mould-covered floor. He picked himself up and dragged his foot out of the crack, attempting to shake off the repulsive mix of liquid slime.
‘Great,’ he muttered, his voice echoing a little. ‘You better appreciate this, kid.’
Carefully, he continued along the sewer but paused when he heard voices. They were faint and after a moment Jackal decided they were coming from below, in the tunnels. He listened intently and picked out one of the voices as Cobra.
Jackal's eyebrows shot up. Cobra should be in Trine's chamber preparing for tonight, what was he doing so far out of everyone's way? The other voice took on a cross, haughty tone. Swallow, Jackal decided immediately.
He tried to make out what they were saying but the voices stopped. Then there was the sound of a door opening and closing. Jackal continued on his way, a thoughtful frown covering his face. If Cobra and Swallow were conspiring together, it probably had just one purpose, to replace the general. He scowled, both of them were extremely talented in the Power. Fighting both at once was out of the question. He remembered Cobra's warning earlier, Swallow was going to make sure the Dakkonin and Predgarians were in contact. Why would Cobra have said that if he was on Swallow's side? Unless he was trying to play both him and Swallow. Jackal's face turned grim, that could well be the case, the Bronze Cobra was certainly experienced and intelligent enough to think up such a plot.