Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (21 page)

"Dena?" Ardis knocked on Dena's door inside the
library.

"Ardis?" Dena opened the door.

"I wanted to ask a question," Ardis began. "You
know I have no rank, now."

"Everybody knows that. It means nothing to me," Dena
said.

"I understand—or at least I hoped you'd say that,"
Ardis floundered. "What I came here to say is this—will you agree to share
my quarters? They're not much at the moment, but if I get my ranking back, you'll
be a captain's lady, as you deserve."

"I'd settle for just being Ardis' lady," Dena wiped
tears away.

"Thank Liron," Ardis muttered and pulled Dena
against him. "I think I love you," he added, making Dena laugh
through her tears.

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

"Mom, I found this on a website that Tybus and I keep an
eye on in the Campiaan Alliance," Teeg set a comp-vid in front of Lissa.

"What fresh hell is this?" Lissa narrowed her eyes
at the offering. "Is this that criminal bulletin board you haven't shut
down, yet?"

"We get leads from it, so it doesn't make sense to shut
it down. Give me credit for something, okay?"

"Fine. Have a seat. I'll send for drinks. After today, I
think I need one. Or several. Do they not know Marid's dead?" she looked
up at Teeg.

"Apparently it's not widely known. Those crime bosses who
bought that poison are sick, now, and out for Marid's blood for selling it to
them."

"Then we need to put out the word that he's dead. It
concerns me that they may target his family if they learn he's no longer
available to torture."

"There's not a lot of reason or common sense among them
if they feel they've been wronged," Teeg agreed. "Do you have any
old-Earth Scotch? I wouldn't say no to that."

"I have some. Renée?" Lissa called out. Renée
appeared quickly. "Will you ask Cheedas to bring a bottle of Scotch and
two glasses, please?"

"Right away," Renée nodded and hurried out of Lissa's
study.

"What else has gone wrong today?" Teeg asked.

"Send for Tybus, he needs to hear it too," Lissa
said. "Renée, bring three glasses," Lissa shouted.

"Yes, ma'am," Renée's voice floated back.

* * *

Kondar

Quin

"Quin, just smile and say, lovely to meet you,"
Berel grinned. "Kaldill and I will keep you out of trouble."

"But," I began.

"They'll want to see your wings. They'll be warned that
it's impolite to touch," he added.

I had no idea that there was a function, as Berel called it,
planned for the evening, and the High President chose to introduce Kaldill and
me to the politicians attending. Kaldill had no objections, and I learned that
Ildevar Wyyld, his guard and assistant would also attend.

I wanted to smile at the common titles given to Ildevar's
companions—one was an elvish seer and the other was the Director of a large and
far-reaching security department. The fact that he could become a huge, deadly
snake when he felt it necessary only made me want to giggle.

Kooper Griff was quite well-mannered most of the time. Someday,
I wanted to see the reptile he could become, but not while he was angry. I was
also curious as to what Willem Drifft, the elvish seer, might see in my past.
Perhaps he would allow me to ask.

"It's time—we'll stand with Father and meet the guests,"
Berel beckoned. I followed Berel; Kaldill offered his arm. I took it—I feared I
might need his strength to remain standing before we reached our destination.

"Stop worrying, we'll be fine," Kaldill assured me
with a smile. "Ildevar and I will make sure of it."

"Something isn't right," I mumbled. "I feel
shaky for some reason. Like something bad is about to happen."

"You know I can get you and Berel away with a minimum of
effort," he said.

"I know, and I thank you for that."

"Ildevar and Kooper have shields up already, and have
included the High President," he added.

"I'm not sure it's that kind of threat—it doesn't feel
close," I shivered.

"Quin, we'll get through this," Kaldill soothed. "Come
with me and smile."

The Grand Hall was the chosen place to greet arriving guests,
and Ildevar and his two companions were already there, speaking with Edden
Charkisul as we approached. We never arrived, or so it seemed—Melis Norwal
rushed in.

"Sector Two's Vice Presidents have declared war on Sector
Three," he announced. "They're saying that you've sold Siriaa into
slavery."

Chapter 11
 

Kondar

Quin

"Marid—again. Still meddling from his grave,"
Ildevar growled.

Edden's guests—at least some of them—were in a meeting with
the High President in a room nearby while Kaldill, Berel, Ildevar, Kooper,
Willem and I were in a smaller room down the hall.

"Yes—it is easy enough to see that he told those who now
are at war with the High President that the Reth Alliance will take everything
and force everyone to work under its yoke. It is the same lie told by criminals
and politicians elsewhere, when they have no desire to change their despotic
behavior."

"I felt nothing of the sort on Le-Ath Veronis," I
sighed.

"You can't call back a lie, once it has been told,"
Ildevar nodded. "Some will choose to believe the lie, no matter how much
evidence to the contrary is presented."

"Omina and Rath are dead," I whispered. I'd felt it,
even amid the other fears and troubles that crowded into my mind.

"I'll send word to Amlis. I'm sure he suspected as much,"
Kaldill touched my face gently. "Still, it will be a blow—he loved her
very much."

"I know. Why are these people doing this—preparing for a
war, when the real war is happening beneath their feet?"

"At times, they are foolish enough to fight something they
can see," Ildevar responded. "In order to ignore the greater threat
they cannot conquer."

"Funds and resources will be diverted to this endeavor,"
Kaldill nodded. "The research facility is safe—for now. Sector Two has
sent ships to destroy it."

"Our ships are still in the waters surrounding the
facility—they arrived there earlier tonight after you moved the building,"
Berel's eyes widened. "We have to warn them." He rose from his seat
and looked about him, as if attempting to determine how to do so.

"Shall we ask for Alliance backup?" Ildevar asked,
turning to Kaldill.

"You're the Founder, that is your choice," Kaldill
responded. "We can get the airships here, if you want."

"For the greater good?" Ildevar lifted an eyebrow,
which confused me completely.

"Most certainly for the greater good," Kaldill said.

"We'll need five at least," Kooper pulled a tab-vid
device from a pocket and tapped it with his finger. "Lissa, we need five
air destroyers on Siriaa in five."

"Our goal is to protect the research facility
only—everything else is off the table for now," Kaldill pulled me against
him. "The fate of all worlds rests in what they may discover. It isn't
only Siriaa anymore. The fool, Marid of Belancour, and other fools in Sector
Two who chose to listen to him, have jeopardized every world."

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

"I'm going to Siriaa, and that's that," Lissa
shrugged into a jacket. "I may not be there for long," she added.

"I will come with you," Merrill said.

"Honey, that's sweet, but," Lissa began.

"Come now," Merrill smiled. "You may need help."

"Fine. Come if you want, I can't stop you."

"You could, but you won't." Merrill leaned in to
kiss her, before pulling away with a wink. Of all Lissa's mates, only five were
vampire. Of those five, two were King Vampires. Merrill was the stronger of the
two.

"Then let's go. Ildevar asked for five air destroyers to
guard the research facility. He says the idiots in Sector Two believed the lies
Marid told about the Alliance, and now they're sending ships to shoot at the research
facility. They only moved it into deep waters this morning."

"What can they hope to gain by destroying the facility?"
Merrill asked.

"How many politicians do you know who are completely
rational?"

"Point taken. Let's go."

* * *

Kondar

Sector Five: High President's Palace

Quin

"We're preparing for the ground assault, but as they
haven't taken the time to plan this invasion properly, I worry that the population
in Sector Three will suffer because of it," the High President said.

"You mean they'll get trigger happy?" Kooper asked.

"We call it short shooting, but yes—I worry that they'll
fire on anything in their path. A wiser move would be to send airships, but
there aren't any bases there—by their own choice. They chose to house half the
navy and a few ground assault facilities. I believe they're regretting their
past decisions now."

"Where did the ships come from that are guarding the
research facility?" I asked.

"From Sector Three," Edden smiled at my question. "Two
and Three have coastlines appropriate to house half the fleet each. I know not
to send anything from Sector Two unless I'm desperate."

"Have you spoken to them?" I asked.

"They're refusing my communications," Edden's
shoulders sagged. "If they don't stop this madness, lives will be lost."

"We have another communication—from Avii Castle,"
Melis strode into the room and handed the sealed parchment to Edden. "It
was delivered to one of our ships by a winged messenger, and the crew flew it
here by airchopper, thinking it could be important."

"Well, let's see what the Avii say, then," Edden
cracked the wax seal and opened the message to read. "It's in Gurnil's
handwriting," Edden said. "Ah. The Avii King sends his greetings and
says that ambassadors from Kondar are welcome anytime."

"Unless Kaldill or Ildevar wish to deliver them, I'd
suggest waiting," Kooper advised. He stood, stretching his tall frame and
cracking a few vertebrae before continuing. "I hear that Sector Two has
sent ships to destroy the research facility. We have five air destroyers on the
way, for protection only. I hope you understand that the facility is important
to all worlds, and not just this one."

"Defensive only?" Edden narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. We're not authorized to do otherwise," Ildevar
said. "I believe Queen Lissa and one of her consorts are on their way."

* * *

"You were in a meeting and there wasn't time to make any
other decision," Ildevar said calmly to the High President. "Sector
Two's ships have already reached the facility, but the air destroyers are
merely hovering there, between them and the building."

"Will you take me there? I wish to see this for myself,"
Edden demanded.

Queen Lissa stood nearby, her arms crossed as she listened to
the conversation between Ildevar Wyyld and Edden Charkisul. I understood the
High President's fears, but I also understood Ildevar's motives. Both were
right, but I worried they wouldn't see it in time.

"It is always thus with politicians," her consort,
Merrill Leopard, leaned in to whisper. I blinked at him before nodding at his
assessment. He was quite handsome, with black hair and piercing blue eyes, but
he didn't care about that. He was special, too. He knew that as well.

"At least they're not threatening each other with
weapons," I whispered back. Merrill chuckled.

"I'll take you," Queen Lissa said abruptly. "If
you wish to go."

"I do," Edden nodded.

In a blink, we stood on the balcony of the research facility.
The five air destroyers hovered around the building, which now stood above the
waves on stone-like stilts. Not far away, floating upon those waves, were five
large ships from Sector Two.

"Sector Three ships are behind you, on the far side of
the facility," Kooper said. Heavy rain fell where we were, and the winds
blew rain into our eyes as we studied the military standoff.

"I believe the problem could be eliminated if you gave
command of those airships to the High President," I said, pushing sopping
hair off my forehead.

"What?" Kooper swiveled his head in my direction.

Lissa, whose hair was just as wet as mine, laughed. "It's
not unheard of," she patted Kooper's shoulder. "Troops are on loan
all the time to Alliance worlds."

"Well, fuck me and call me a two-headed lizard,"
Kaldill swore.

"At the same time?" Lissa smiled at him.

"If appropriate," he grinned back.

"Then we have announcements to make to all of Kondar,"
Edden said. "If you agree to give command of these ships to me."

"All yours, for as long as they're here," Ildevar agreed.
"However, we reserve the right to pull them away if we determine that they
are not needed or are being used for purposes other than intended."

"What are those unintended purposes?"

"To actually fire to kill," Ildevar shrugged. "We
agree to incapacitate ships and equipment, but life-taking is the last resort."

"Then I am in agreement," Edden said, brushing rain
off his face. "Shall we go, or are you not wet enough yet?"

* * *

Berel, Kaldill, Lissa, Willem, Merrill and I watched the news
program, where Ildevar Wyyld, Kooper Griff and Edden Charkisul were answering
questions at a news conference.

The conference was hastily put together, but there was a
reason for that—Sector Two's war machines had already reached the border between
Sectors Two and Three. For now, the only thing holding Sector Three's President
back from mobilizing the troops stationed there was the High President's
command. The other sectors had already chosen to go to war with Sector Two.

Second and third vid-screens in our meeting room showed
journalists reporting on Marid of Belancour, and thanks to Queen Lissa's quick
thinking, his image and the bounty on his head for spreading the poison to
other worlds was presented to the people of Kondar.