Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 Read online

  "This is almost too much to think about," Edden breathed. "Son, I must go—Dorthil is stirring up trouble in Sector Two. We must see to this new threat. Keep me advised whenever possible."

  "I will."

  * * *

  "The High President is offering three ships?" Jurris studied Justis curiously. "I care not that he knows about Fyris," the King waved a hand in dismissal. "Perhaps the burden of the Ordinance can be lifted from Avii shoulders and placed upon the Kondari, instead."

  "You know that is not what the commands are," Justis said.

  "Whose fault is it that the poison spreads?" Jurris snapped.

  "Tamblin's, and if Quin is correct, his right hand, Yevil Orklis."

  "Yevil? I have not heard of him before. I care not. Let them send ships if they want. It matters not to me."

  "You are tired, my King. Shall I send for your dinner so you might sleep after?"

  "Yes."

  * * *

  Quin

  "I want to come with you." Dena's arms were crossed stubbornly over her chest.

  "I would say yes, but Master Gurnil must approve," I pointed out. "If you want to walk into that quagmire of intrigue, mistreatment and poison, you're more than welcome to it."

  "I'll go ask him now," she declared and almost ran from my bedroom.

  Squaring my shoulders, I surveyed the piles of clothing on my bed. Gurnil said to pack as much as possible, as he had no idea how long we might stay in Fyris.

  The plan, of course, was to travel to Lironis. Omina hoped to rally the people behind Amlis and herself, forcing Tamblin to come running back in an effort to reclaim his throne.

  Any way you looked upon this ill-conceived plan, it involved death and civil war. To me, that could not be a good thing, as the poison would only spread farther while people fought and died for a land already in its death throes.

  "He asked me to come." Dena was back, clapping her hands in excitement. I wanted to tell her what she would find upon the shores of Fyris. I couldn't—this could be the last happiness she experienced for a very long time.

  * * *

  "Ardis?" Justis called.

  Ardis, formerly a captain under Justis' command, woke from a light sleep. That's all he could do, now—eat the meals brought to him and sleep in between. His days were winding down, too; he no longer counted them. He'd be shoved through the gate for listening to a vindictive, Red-Wing Princess.

  "I'm sure you know Halthea is dead," Justis began as he unlocked the door to Ardis' cell. "My brother, who was saved from death after Halthea tried to kill him, has granted the request of the one who healed him of what should have been fatal injuries."

  "What?" Ardis stood, confusion crossing his features. "Then tell Master Ordin I will be forever grateful," he added after a moment.

  "You do not owe Ordin thanks. You owe Quin," Justis snapped. "I wouldn't have carried this request to the King had it come from Ordin, because he would not have made it. You nearly killed Gurnil, you thoughtless oaf."

  "I did not intend to hit him so hard. He rushed toward me, intending harm."

  "What were you intending toward Quin?" Justis hissed. "I fail to find reason in her request to spare your life. Nevertheless, the King has seen fit to let you go, if you agree to stand beside me when I travel to Fyris in three days. We may be fighting Tamblin before this is over, and you may as well pay Quin back by acting as a proper guard."

  "Fyris?" Hope lit Ardis' eyes for the first time in years. "I would be grateful for the chance to kill that bastard."

  "I am ahead in that line," Justis said. "You will be without rank—you lost your captain's privileges when you followed Halthea to the Library instead of coming to me, first."

  "It will not happen again, I swear it," Ardis slapped a fist on his chest.

  "Not for Halthea, anyway," Justis huffed. "Come. There is much to do."

  * * *

  Shaaliveer

  "How much do we have left?" Marid asked.

  "Father, we have hundreds of spelled spheres filled with it," Morid replied. "More than enough to destroy millions." Morid was glad that Marid had temporarily backed away from his scheme of ruling Siriaa. The fact that Cayetes stopped sending threatening communications helped a great deal.

  "Millions is exactly what I intend to make off it, too," Marid smiled. "Our first endeavors have gone well, don't you think?"

  "People are dead because of it," Morid pointed out. "I never thought you to involve yourself so readily in murder. Cayetes is sick from it, too. I'm just glad he isn't still trying to get back at us for mishandling the poison."

  "Cayetes knows better than to come against an entire family of powerful wizards. Besides, do you think your protection spells do not cause deaths?" Marid snapped. "Think again."

  "If someone attacks one equipped with protection spells, then they get what they deserve. These were unsuspecting and potentially innocent."

  "Faugh. You think too much," Marid waved a hand. "Get your equipment packed. We leave Shaaliveer in three days."

  * * *

  Grey House

  "Grandfather, I have news," Nissa said as she slid onto the chair before Glendes Grey's desk. All her life, her grandfather had never changed his private study. The spelled desk with clawed feet stood upon a priceless Serendaan carpet, also spelled against signs of wear.

  Glendes, too, looked no different than he ever had. The Greys were nearly immortal, after all.

  "What news?" Glendes looked up from his comp-vid—Grey House had just reported a profitable year and paid taxes to the Reth Alliance.

  "I heard the Belancours are moving away from Shaaliveer."

  "Marid, that old dinosaur, is finally leaving? The local government is likely cheering him on."

  "I heard it from Mom," Nissa reported. "She says there are other things going on, too. She wants all of us to be wary."

  "Queen Lissa said that?" Glendes' interest increased immediately. "Did she tell your father as well?"

  "Daddy knows," Nissa nodded. "We had lunch with her yesterday."

  "Why should we be wary?" Glendes asked.

  "She says there's a poison out there that appears to be radiation poisoning connected to nuclear waste, only she says she's never seen anything like it before," Nissa said. "It's showing up in dead bodies, on planets that have nothing nuclear about them. There's a rumor, too, that the Hidden may have been involved in this before they died."

  "So there's an unknown poison and the Belancours are moving. Anything else?"

  "No, only that the Belancours suddenly seem to have plenty of money, and six months ago, I'd have said they were nearly bankrupt."

  "I'll have someone investigate that. I don't know what to do about the poison, except limit visitors to Grey Planet."

  "That's what I was going to suggest, Grampa," Nissa sighed.

  * * *

  Avii Castle

  Quin

  Dena and Berel had become friends quickly, and both were overjoyed to be going to Fyris. Amlis was happy enough to be returning, although Rodrik looked grim and Beatris unhappy.

  Omina was determined, however, once she learned that three huge ships the size of small cities would be carrying her back to Fyris. I went in search of Wolter. I could find him and any other, after all.

  Wolter, Sofi, Deeds, Orik, Yissy and Fen stood against the balustrade of the Library terrace, watching the sea. There, the water was clean and blue—no litter or slop from fishing boats had been callously dropped into it. It smelled of sunlight and salt instead of fish guts and garbage, as the harbor in Vhrist did.

  "Which way will the boats come?" Yissy turned to me, her voice high-pitched and happy.

  "From that way, where Yokaru lies," I answered, pointing westward. "They should be here before the morning sun."

  "Do they travel fast?" Orik asked.

  "I assume they do. The airchoppers the Kondari build are quite fast indeed. I can only imagine that their ships are also fast."

  "They
travel by air?" Deeds asked.

  "They do, only machines must serve as their wings."

  "Have you flown in one of those machines?" Wolter asked.

  "Yes. I have been to Kondar," I nodded. "Twice."

  "What about the other—what did you call it?" Wolter asked.

  "No. I have only read about Yokaru."

  "So those notes were indeed yours," Wolter shook his head.

  "They are," I agreed. He'd found my old hiding place, beneath my bed. I no longer feared for my life if those were discovered, however. I feared for my life for other reasons instead.

  "Marisa is dead," Deeds informed me.

  "I know." I came to stand next to Wolter at the balustrade. "I do not mourn her."

  "Neither does anyone else," Orik cackled.

  "Who is running the castle in Tamblin's absence?" I asked.

  "Old Varnell," Wolter replied. "Too old to take to the road. Too old to put up much of a fight, either, once we get back."

  He'd named the eldest of Tamblin's inner circle. I'd seldom seen him, actually, and had no idea what he might do when Omina and Amlis appeared to claim the throne and dispense with his authority.

  "How many guards?" Orik asked.

  "Probably two dozen at most. Tamblin thinks the people are meeker than sheep. While most of the nobles and their sons have gone to Vhrist with the King, there are enough left to create difficulties for Varnell."

  "Or to stand with him," Deeds muttered. "Those who think to gain Tamblin's favor by siding with Varnell."

  "It will be our job to convince them otherwise," Rodrik joined us, with Amlis and Omina not far behind.

  "Prince Amlis, the ships will come from there," Yissy piped while pointing to the west.

  "Will they, now?" Amlis smiled at her.

  "Finder said so."

  "Yissy, her name is Quin," Sofi corrected.

  "She may call me Finder if she wants," I shrugged. "Yissy and I know one another, after all." I smiled at the small girl.

  "I have never been here. It really is glass, as Tandelis always said," Omina observed while gripping the smooth edges of the protective railing. Three Avii flew swiftly past, causing Yissy to squeal in delight. These were Brown Wings, likely curious about the ones from Fyris. I imagined that word had spread quickly of their presence.

  I hoped they weren't in danger as a result. I shouldn't have worried; Justis and three Black Wings arrived in moments. I recognized one of them easily enough—he'd tried to kill me twice and then plucked at least one primary feather from my wings.

  "Jurris granted you this," Justis nodded toward Ardis, a former captain in his guard.

  "Then I thank the King," I said, nodding respectfully to Justis.

  "Ardis will travel with us as an extra guard with no rank. He will have to earn his way back to my trust," Justis informed me.

  "I hope that happens," I said, nodding to him and to Ardis beyond. What occurred next surprised me greatly.

  Ardis dropped to his knees. "Thank you, Lady," he breathed, his head bowed.

  * * *

  Wyyld II

  "It took many centuries to make Gaelar N'Seith as we knew it," Kaldill Schaff, King of the Elves, said as he touched the leaves of the gishi tree growing outside his window. "We were never successful in our attempts to grow gishi fruit before. This soil seems suitable, don't you think?"

  "I'll wait to taste the fruit," Lendill Schaff, Prince-Heir and Kaldill's only remaining son, replied.

  "Cynic," Kaldill laughed.

  "I miss the old place," Lendill sighed.

  "As do I. One cannot be choosy when one's planet is reduced to rubble by rogue gods and a ranos cannon," Kaldill responded philosophically.

  "They were aiming for Ildevar. They had no idea that the elves and Gaelar N'Seith would fall as well. You hid us from everyone too successfully." Lendill's voice held regret.

  "We would have been overrun long ago, had that information been available to many."

  "My King, someone is here to see you," a servant arrived and bowed to Kaldill.

  "I had no idea I should expect guests," Kaldill replied.

  "I'm glad you're not cursing," Lendill smiled.

  "I can, if you wish to hear it."

  "No, thank you. Who is it, Hillen?"

  "A Larentii, my Prince. He says he has questions for the King."

  "Why did you keep a Larentii waiting?" Kaldill lifted an eyebrow.

  "I did not wish to interrupt your time with the Prince."

  "I see the Prince every day. I only see the Larentii once in a while," Kaldill waved an arm. "Send him in. Immediately."

  "Daragar," Kaldill crowed as the Larentii appeared before him. "I haven't seen you in years."

  "I have questions and important information," Daragar replied. "Shall we find a private place to converse?"

  * * *

  Avii Castle

  Quin

  The ships arrived before sunrise, their gray hulls blending with the water so early in the morning. Berel and I watched them approach, thankful the air was warm enough as we stood on the terrace outside the Library.

  The others—all of them—were still sleeping. Jurris informed them of what they'd already guessed the day before; they'd return to Fyris with three Kondari ships, their crew and a few Avii.

  It was my hope that Omina wouldn't become an insufferable monarch—I'd not appreciated her haughty attitude in Vhrist. I also hoped she'd realize that the crew on the ships would answer ultimately to Berel, who would represent the High President while in Fyris.

  "Will you have your guards about you in Fyris?" I turned to Berel.

  "I hadn't thought about that yet. Do you think I need them?"

  "Yes," I nodded. "No life will be safe in Fyris when Tamblin learns of your arrival."

  "Then I will arrange for Jhak and the others to be with me," Berel shrugged. "Do you believe the communication devices will work from there? I wish to remain in contact with my father and Melis, his Chief of Security."

  "I don't know—they have nothing of the sort there," I shook my head. "They are backward in comparison to Kondari standards. They ride horses and drive wagons made of wood. They have no refrigeration. When the day is hot, their only option is to open a window."

  "You think they failed to evolve—to make the steps toward technology?"

  "They have little there. Fyris doesn't have deep mines of copper, iron or other metals. What little they find is either made into pots, handmade tools or weapons. Before I became aware, they traded with the Avii; they make no glass in Fyris, either."

  "What can you tell me about Tandelis?"

  "Nothing. He was dead before I can remember. All records of his rule in Fyris were systematically removed from books, carvings and any other archive. Gurnil will have to supply information—he is the Chief Librarian, after all."

  "We have little time," Berel sighed. "Tomorrow we leave and I have preparations to make, as well as vid-meetings with Melis and Father."

  "Ask for books, then. I can read them to you if you wish."

  "That would be wonderful," he nodded his acceptance.

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis

  "A message from Kaldill Schaff," Renée handed the envelope to Queen Lissa.

  "Why didn't he send mindspeech?" Lissa asked, examining the envelope before extending a vampiric claw and slitting it open.

  "I don't know," Renée shrugged.

  Lissa pulled the single note card from the envelope and stood abruptly. "I have to go," she snapped and disappeared.

  Renée knew the disappearing feat was called folding space. The Queen could do it, as could several others of her acquaintance. It still unnerved her, however, whenever she witnessed it.

  Shaking her head, Renée lifted the card to read. It contained three words—Marid, Poison, Revenge.

  * * *

  Shaaliveer

  "Hurry," Marid shouted. "I've sent the spheres where we can find them later. We can't be caught with
the evidence!"

  Morid stared at the images, placed side-by-side, on Marid's comp-vid. One was a bulletin placed by the ASD, naming Marid as a suspect in the poisoning of many people. The other—that was the one that frightened Morid the most.

  It was an offer of a reward—ten million Alliance credits for Marid's head, Twenty million if he were delivered alive to Vardil Cayetes.

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis

  "Kooper, arrest Marid of Belancour. Immediately if not sooner," Lissa hissed as she stood beside his desk at ASD Headquarters. The Alliance Security Detail hadn't thought to watch Marid in a while—he'd been sinking quietly into ruin with botched spells and poor standards.

  Shaaliveer had been removed many times from the lists of candidates for Reth Alliance membership because of the Belancour Clan.

  "I'll have to get Shaaliveer's permission," Kooper began. Arresting a citizen of a governed, non-Alliance world required permission of the government and local support.

  "I have it," Lissa tossed a comp-vid onto Kooper's desk. "They can't wait to get rid of him."

  * * *

  Wyyld II

  "How do I look?" Kaldill turned before the mirror. He hadn't worn tight-fitting clothing in a very long time—he preferred loose robes, richly embroidered with spelled silks to keep their colors fresh.

  "Like you work for the ASD," Lendill grumbled at his father's appearance.

  "Perhaps trousers of a different color, then?" Kaldill lifted a dark-blond eyebrow at his son. With an absent wave of a hand, light-brown became black.

  "I'd change the shirt, too," Lendill said. "You look good in black, Pap. You always have."

  "You haven't called me Pap in at least a century," Kaldill beamed.

  "Look, I know you can take care of yourself, but this bothers me. What if it turns out to be something we have no power against? We don't know who devised this mess to begin with."

  "That's what I intend to find out. Daragar has agreed to go with me as backup if needed. The Larentii Council immediately gave permission when I asked for his assistance. They even offered to send more Larentii if I wanted them."