The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2

by Elizabeth Price

  Another volley of fire groaned against the hall of the ship. Danstu turned to Cidele, his eyes wide with panic. Light flashed outside one of the windows, lighting up the cabin. Cidele peeked outside to see Rosanheer’s ship returning fire on the Marisheio.

  “Could you tell them to speed it up? I’m not certain how long our wingmen can hold them off,” Danstu called back.

  Moments later, a large explosion roared throughout the Corin. “Danstu!” Cidele screamed in a hoarse whisper. Danstu rushed to the window to see a Marisheio battle ship just off their starboard side.

  “Narkoy ship, prepare to be boarded,” called a voice thick with a Marisheio accent over the speakers.

  On Gathow’s bridge, the Corin’s signal cut off, sending Sedom into a panic. What had she done? She sent her friends out there into the galaxy, barely protected.

  “Get them back!” she demanded a young Crehail man, who barely knew how to handle the controls. He looked no more than fifteen, but he was handling the stressful situation quite well.

  “I’m sorry, Chadon. The signal isn’t there,” the young man returned.

  Sedom slammed her hand into the console. “Get out of my way.” She pushed him aside as she attempted to hail the Corin.

  Lolum rushed onto the bridge, followed by Nokinil. “What’s going on?”

  “The Corin is under attack,” the young man explained.

  “Sortec!” Lolum screeched.

  “Gathow calling the Corin, can you read me?” Sedom called out. Nothing return. “Repeat, Gathow to the Corin, respond!” she called out. Still nothing returned. She leaned her head back against the black, high backed seat, unsure what she should do next. “Do we have anyone else who can fly a damn ship?” Sedom barked out.

  Tremble raised her hand. “Two of my men can as well.”

  Sedom stood, pointing at her. “Good. Call them and have them meet—“

  “Chadon,” the Crehail boy interrupted.

  A yellow light glowed on the com panel. It wasn’t the Corin though. Narkoy communications always blinked with a blue light. Sedom quickly tapped it anyway. “This is Gathow,” she called out.

  “Gathow, this is Seronn Quimbsy of the Underground. We have your ships and your men are safe,” a man returned. Just hearing the man’s words caused Sedom to melt back into her seat.

  “Damage report?” she asked the man.

  “Minimal. My team is escorting them into our space now. We will let you know more when we’ve assessed the damage further,” the man returned.

  “Good of you. Have Danstu contact me once they land. Thank you,” Sedom returned, releasing a great sigh after. The signal ended.

  “That…” she closed her eyes, holding back her tears of panic, “was a nightmare,” she exhaled.

  Lolum and Nokinil both left the bridge without saying a word, leaving only the Crehail boy and Tremble behind with Sedom.

  She waved Tremble over to her side. “Two of your men know how to fly?” she questioned. Tremble nodded. “When Qilo returns, have them report to him. I know you’re here for my security, but I need pilots’ more than personal protection,” she ordered.

  Tremble nodded then took a step back to her position. Sedom waved for the boy to come forward. He nervously did. “You did well. What’s your name?” she asked him.

  “Bri Cossal, Chadon,” he returned boldly.

  “Bri, new communications officers are taking over in a few days. I want you to train under them. I think you’re a good fit. Until then, stay here and monitor communications. Remain here until relieved of duty… that means sleeping here if need be. If anything comes in, patch it to my quarters. Can you handle that?” she asked the boy.

  “Yes, Chadon,” he said, gulping hard.

  Sedom pointed to the food replicator. “Food is over there and I’ll have someone bring you up bedding,” she offered. She stood, giving the boy back his seat. She waved for Tremble to follow her. “This is the last time I let Danstu off this planet,” she muttered.

  “Sir, the only reason it’s a problem is your lack of manpower. Once he returns, it won’t be as much of an issue,” Tremble pointed out.

  Sedom turned to her, her eyes bulging. She pressed her hands out in front of her, taking a deep breath. “Yes, you’re right, of course. All this excitement has made my head fuzzy. I need some air,” she decided. Sedom left the bridge, with only one destination on her mind, the tower.

  All the way to the tower, she didn’t bother to look, but she knew Tremble was right behind her. When they reached the stairs of the tower, Sedom turned to Tremble. “Why serve as my guard?” she questioned the woman.

  “I heard what you did for those in the city. It’s an honor to serve you,” Tremble returned.

  “So you serve me not because I am Narkoy?” Sedom asked with amusement clinging to her words.

  Tremble shook her head. “Because you are a leader,” Tremble replied.

  “Huh,” Sedom thought. She began climbing up the steps. As Tremble followed, three orbs lowered down on her. “She is my guard. Let her pass,” Sedom spoke off-handedly. The orbs moved away.

  She continued over to the edge, resting her arms against one of the guard railings. She waved Tremble to her side. “You’ve been a warrior most of your life?”

  “Since I could shoot a pistol, Chadon,” Tremble explained.

  “I need a teacher. I need someone who can show me how to properly handle hand-to-hand combat. Could you do this for me?” she asked.

  Tremble nodded, a flock of her short blond hair falling across her nose. She whisked it aside. “Chadon, I am honored you think of me in such high respect. But, rumors state you are quite the warrior already,” she mentioned.

  Sedom nodded. “So I’ve been told, but I could be better,” she pointed out.

  ***

  On the planet of Cariou, Danstu and Cidele stepped off the ship and were instantly surrounded by thirty armed guards. They were quickly escorted into an underground bunker, much like Gathow, but far less impressive. Cidele took hold of Danstu’s hand for comfort. He squeezed it for reassurance, but the reassurance was mainly for him.

  Three long tunnels later, the group was led into a massive underground cave, where they were met by hundreds of armed men and women.

  “Danstu!” called a booming voice from the crowd.

  Danstu sighed deeply in relief as a dark-skinned man with bright silver eyes forced back the guards. He took Cidele by the hand, guiding her over to the man. “Quimbsy, you almost had me going. What’s with this insane display of manpower?” he called back to the man he called Quimbsy. He released Cidele’s hand, embracing the man.

  Quimbsy pounded his fist against Danstu’s back as they embraced. “We had our concerns. We don’t want anything to happen to the Chadon’s second in command while in our space. Come, let me show you to a place where you and your friends can freshen up.”

  Cidele glanced over her shoulder to see Qilo, Zion and Rosanheer behind them. As they followed Quimbsy, she whispered to Danstu, “Second in command?”

  Danstu shrugged. “Someone had to volunteer,” he joked.

  “I’m glad it wasn’t me,” Zion spoke up from behind.

  That evening, the team was escorted to a large cave where several rows of tables and chairs stood filled with nearly a thousand Underground troops. Two men guided the group over to the main table where Quimbsy and a dark-skinned man sat. Danstu whispered to the group that the other man was Doreel Adrein, the leader of the Underground.

  Everyone rose from their seats as their group entered, including Doreel Adrein, who welcomed Danstu with open arms.

  “Keriney, an honor to have you and your party here tonight,” he called out in a booming voice.

  Danstu paused just before reaching the table and bowed from the waist to the Doreel. “The honor is mine,” he returned. “Let me introduce you to my party…” he paused, turning to his group. One by one he introduced each by name and their position within Gathow. When it ca
me to Cidele, he paused.

  Cidele stepped forward, offering the Doreel her hand. “Cidele Rovantas, we met sometime ago.”

  Doreel Adrein nodded, grinning wildly. “Yes, of course, you’re Lolum’s little girl.” He softly kissed her hand. “You’ve grown up. And now you’re helping Sortec?”

  “I became involved in the AO project and I happened to be the one to save her life,” she mentioned as she took a seat before anyone else. Danstu’s eyes widened in a panic, fearing the worst that the Doreel would take offence. Instead, Adrein chuckled and took his seat.

  “Sit, sit,” Adrein insisted to a slightly confused Danstu. He sat followed by everyone else in the room.

  Food was brought to the table, yet no one ate at first.

  “It was quite the surprise to learn that not only did a Sortec survive, but that it was the Chadon herself who oversees Gathow,” Quimbsy mentioned from beside the Doreel.

  “Considering all that has taken place, she’s out for blood. She wants an army and she’s going to get one no matter the cost,” Cidele mentioned.

  “No doubt. But does she have the ability to go to war?” Adrein asked.

  Danstu took a sip of his water as he nodded. “The Chadon has the funds and the resources, just not the man power,” he explained.

  “That’s where you come in,” Quimbsy pointed out. “With all of your connections, it’s no doubt she hired you to do her bidding.”

  Danstu nodded. “Honestly, I seemed to have fallen into this position. I was visiting Matrador for my mother’s funeral and my city was attacked. Sortec single-handedly rescued nearly seventy-five percent of the city’s population.”

  “You among them, I take it?” Adrein asked, astonished by his story.

  “I came later when she found us hiding. My uncle ordered a group of hunters to hide me in the caves near the city. He knew I couldn’t be found by the Marisheio, considering my relations and history,” he explained.

  “Seriously, you?” Cidele whispered. Danstu nodded. “Sortec thought—“

  “I know what Sortec thought, but Alree is harmless,” he whispered back.

  Cidele turned to Zion, her eyes wide with panic. Zion nodded, understanding her concern.

  Danstu ignored Cidele’s comment, continuing his conversation. “I need to find a hundred-thousand men by the end of the year.”

  Adrein grunted as he began eating. “I noticed your ship is only large enough to carry about a thousand comfortably. We have five-hundred volunteers ready to send with you tomorrow. Your Chadon has arranged for us to transport others in the months ahead. She explained you’re not exactly at your best right now and you need time to prepare,” he explained.

  “That is correct. We’re still learning Gathow and her capabilities,” Danstu mentioned.

  Cidele raised her hand to her cheek. “Five-hundred members of the Underground simply volunteered to switch to working with the Tasgool?” Cidele questioned.

  “Same cause, but more comfortable accommodations,” Zion spoke up.

  Adrein pointed to Zion. “Exactly! We have thousands who wish to join our cause, but we simply can’t provide enough for them. The Tasgool are a blessing to us all,” he exclaimed. He raised his glass in a toast. “To the future where slavery is a thing of the past,” he announced to the hall.

  ***

  Sedom settled back into her seat at her dining room table and took up one of nearly a hundred computer pads that various people had left for her. From the other room, she could hear Garric answer her com.

  “Cidele, yes, I’ll fetch her immediately,” he said. He hurried into the dining room, motioning to Sedom. “Cidele’s on the com. She says it’s urgent.”

  She rolled her body out of her chair and plopped down in from of the Com desk. “Having fun?” she asked to the image of Cidele on her screen.

  “Sedom, the Marisheio were after Danstu, not Alree. Don’t allow Alree any access to Gathow. I believe he might be a spy,” she warned.

  Sedom closed her eyes. “Do I want to know why they were after Danstu?” she growled.

  “Something about his connections while he was working on Loos. He’s apparently been involved in politics for a while now and has made a name for himself. The Marisheio want the information he’s gathered over the years,” she explained. She turned her head to look at something off camera. “I have to go. Just know Alree is a spy and will attempt to harm Gathow,” she called back. The screen blanked.

  Sedom let her head fall to the back of her seat. “You hear that?” she called to Tremble, who was standing in the doorway behind her.

  “Chadon, would you like me to bring him here?” she asked.

  “No, confine him to the infirmary. I’ll have Zion handle him once he returns,” Sedom ordered. She watched the image of Tremble in the com screen as she exited the unit. Calmly, Sedom turned to Garric, who was standing in a doorway off to her right. “Alree is a spy?” she questioned.

  Garric shrugged. “My resources are limited. I didn’t know,” he returned honestly.

  “I better check it out myself, just in case,” she decided.

  ***

  Danstu watched Cidele as she stared blankly into the com’s view screen. She flexed her hands out in front of her to relieve the tension in her fingers. “Alree is a servant of Lord Sidoc Wyice, the man responsible for creating the virus that killed millions of Narkoy,” she spoke overly calm. She turned to him, rubbing her temples from a fast-forming headache. “We were under the impression he was hiding from the Empire, when in fact he’s most likely a spy.” She rose from her seat, looking Danstu straight in his eyes. “If you endanger Sedom again, you will answer not only to me, but,” she glanced over Danstu’s shoulder, noticing Zion and Rosanheer standing behind him, “a lot of people.”

  “Sortec?” Zion spoke up, startling Danstu.

  “Has been informed,” Cidele said as she moved past Danstu. “You two have the honor of ripping that piece of Hothworth to shreds when we get home. I’m calling it a night,” she turned back to Danstu with scolding eyes. “Gentlemen.” She continued on, leaving the men to talk.

  Danstu turned to Zion and Rosanheer, perplexed by Cidele’s words. “Who is she?” he asked in a hush.

  Zion chuckled, shaking his head amused. “We’re still trying to figure her out. She’s as much of a mystery as Sortec. All we do know is that the Marisheio employed over a thousand men to track Sortec, yet Cidele was the only one who found her,” Zion explained.

  “Ex-military?” Danstu questioned.

  Rosanheer shrugged. “She certainly doesn’t act like it, but I wouldn’t put it past Sortec for hiring someone like her,” he said.

  Danstu shook his head, unable to hide his frustrations. “Regardless who and what she is, she is Sortec’s best friend. I better go smooth things over with her,” he decided.

  Both men moved aside to let him pass. Danstu continued down the hall, finding Cidele’s door closed. He knocked, unsure what he was going to say. “Come,” she called.

  His hands shook slightly as he opened the door. Inside, the room was very small. There was only enough room for a bed, a chair and an end table. Cidele was curled up in a chair, which sat next to her bed, reading a book. She glanced over at him, not saying a word.

  “Rumors have it you tracked Sortec and found her?” he asked. She didn’t respond. “How? Not even the best Marisheio trackers could find her.”

  Cidele adjusted her body in the chair so she was more comfortable. “She wanted to be found. She was sick and injured and needed help. I was lucky,” she explained. “She allowed me to help her. I feel incredibly privileged that she calls me her friend.”

  “She was lucky you found her,” Danstu mentioned. “Look, I should have realized about Alree. I allowed my past to cloud the future… I mean I really am not as big of a narcissist as I sounded like at late meal. Please, realize I’m playing catch-up while attempting to make command decisions. Sometimes I may say something that seems off standard.
It’s not intentional. It’s simply how I’m used to handling certain situations. Sortec is my new commander and I vow to protect her, with my life if necessary. I’ve already proven that. Threatening my life will only cause strain between us and I desperately need your guidance and your friendship if we are to build a strong Gathow.”

  Cidele looked up from her book to Danstu. Her eyes peered right through him for a long moment then turned back to her book. “Sorry,” she said and then returned to reading her book.

  He waited a moment longer to see if she had anything else to say. She didn’t. Quietly, he walked out into the hall, finding Zion and Rosanheer waiting for him. Both watched Danstu with concern and amusement.

  “She’s sorry,” Danstu returned with a shrug.

  ***

  Sedom raced through the streets of Gathow, heading in the direction of the infirmary. In mid stride, one of the Crowarl's citizens jumped out in front of her, blocking her route. He was a husky man, carrying a large bag of fruit.

  “Get out of my way!” the man demanded, shoving Sedom aside with a heavy arm.

  Sedom fell back, landing on her rear. Moments later, Tremble hurried to Sedom. She grabbed the man, tossing his bag of fruit to the sidewalk. “That is the Chadon! You will show her respect,” Tremble demanded.

  “A child?” the man growled. “I will do no such thing!”

  Sedom slowly stood, waving her hand for Tremble to back away. With two quick steps, she forced the man to his knees. “You got those from the arboretum?” she asked the man, pointing to the bag of fruit.

  “Why should I tell you?” he growled back, spitting towards Sedom’s feet.

  Sedom stared down at the glob of spit next to her. With closed eyes, she turned to Tremble. “And it begins.” She had two options. The first, rip him apart and make him an example to the others or… she called down one of the orbs. “Remove this man from Gathow. If he returns, shoot him on sight,” she ordered.

  “There is no way—“ the man began in protest. The orb grew closer to him, its top glowing red.

  “Mr. Morril, you will follow or be destroyed,” the orb demanded. When the man failed to move right away, the orb shocked him.