Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (22 page)

There was no doubt now, where the poison had originated, or
that it was set to destroy Siriaa if it wasn't stopped.

Then, images were shown of the warships from Sector Two, which
were anchored near the research facility and threatening it. The people of
Kondar were getting their first look at the air destroyers the Reth Alliance
could provide. The news was widely broadcast that these airships were under the
High President's command and that Ildevar said he had
full confidence
in
Edden Charkisul.

* * *

"Where did the shield that hid this small continent
originate?" Sector Four's President demanded at the meeting the following
morning. Berel and I were there, as were Queen Lissa and Ildevar Wyyld.

Edden had instructed me to answer any questions I could
regarding Fyris and its people. This I knew apart from that. "The
wizard—Marid of Belancour—devised that shield long ago," I said. "He
knew the poison was there and he could breech the shield easily because he made
it. Collecting the poison made him ill, and when his attempt to assassinate the
High President failed, he turned his weapon on himself."

I shivered as I stood before the crowd of politicians in the
meeting, both from my discomfort at being there and at the memory of Marid's
death in Edden's dining hall. I didn't bring up the ring that Justis delivered
to Jurris—it was irrelevant, now.

Be brave, dearest
. Kaldill's words filtered into my
mind.

"Why would he kill the High President? What would he
gain?" Sector One's President asked.

"He wanted Siriaa for himself," I replied. "He
knew the Reth Alliance was prepared to make an offer to Siriaa for membership.
He was already hunted by them, for other crimes. Once he controlled the planet,
he could rule as he pleased and keep the Alliance out. Their rule, as I
understand it, is that they must have permission from a planet's government to
hunt a criminal there, if the planet is non-Alliance."

"So he'd be in charge and certainly not give permission,"
Sector One tossed up a hand in disgust. "What would he have done with the
rest of us?"

"I only saw a little in him, but he was angry, greedy and
had no care for others. I suspect he would have invited criminals to set up a
base here, as long as they paid him for the privilege."

"He'd have made us slaves, just as he claimed the Reth
Alliance would do," Sector Three exclaimed. "I have war machines
sitting on my border, idling their engines and waiting for a fool's command to
strike," he gestured wildly. "I want them gone."

"We have a message from Yokaru. Their physicians report
an increase in the wasting disease," Edden broke in. "Until now, we've
held back the news, but it is time they were advised as to what is afflicting
Siriaa."

"I vote to authorize our ambassador to release the
information," Sector One raised his hand.

Sectors Three and Four also raised their hands. "I agree,"
Edden lifted his hand. "I'll inform them when this meeting is over. It is
time we took steps to safeguard all. Shall we make an attempt to contact Sector
Two again?"

Four hands went into the air.

* * *

"It'll go back and forth—maybe for days," Berel
said. He and I sat on the grass in his father's garden, eating a sandwich as
our midday meal while the others ate and talked inside.

Ignoring the feel of the poison leaching into the soil beneath
the soft, green grass, I nodded at Berel's assessment. "Father will send
us to Avii Castle," he added. "You said yourself that the Avii who
sickened had eaten fish pulled from the water or somehow got the taint from
there. I think the castle is mostly safe for the moment."

"Only the old or very young were affected," I
pointed out. "A healthy adult Avii was somewhat immune."

"At least we only had to deal with Presidents and First
Advisors earlier," Berel said, changing the subject. "If we'd had
Vice Presidents and a full Council, we'd still be there."

"I'm glad we're out here," I said. "Do you mind
if I stretch my wings? They feel cramped."

"Not at all," he laughed. "Anytime."

My wings pulled away from my back and extended outward—it felt
wonderful to get the kinks out of my muscles. I'd become used to flying short
distances every day, and I hadn't gotten that exercise in the last two.

"Perfect," the journalist shouted as he held up a
tab-vid.

"You're not allowed here," Berel rose angrily and
stalked toward the intruder.

"He was just leaving. Weren't you?" Melis had the
journalist by the collar quickly. "I could have you jailed, you know."

Berel and I watched as Melis was joined by two other guards,
who took charge of the offender and escorted him toward the palace gate.

"That image will be broadcast in minutes," Melis
said as he walked toward us. "I hope you don't mind," he apologized.

"I was seen earlier—in the meeting," I shrugged.
Journalists had been there, too.

"But not with your wings extended," Melis said. "They're
merely curious. So many of them dream of having wings, young Quin. This will
only feed that desire."

"Do you wish for wings?" I turned to Berel, who took
his place on the grass again.

"I do," he grinned. "White ones, with gold,
silver and copper bands."

* * *

"You will go to the Avii tomorrow—with Berel and those
four who call themselves your guards," Edden informed me after the meal in
his garden was over.

"I will go with you," Kaldill said. "Daragar is
already there, combing through the library. I think you should request those
books you want from the King's treasury, while he is feeling generous."

"I will," I promised, although the thought of
approaching Jurris frightened me. When I'd seen him the first time, he'd
ordered my death. Yes, I'd saved his life. I'd have to see the changes in him
for myself before I asked for anything.

"Will Sector Two see reason?" I asked.

"That is my hope," Edden replied. "The war
machines still sit at Sector Three's border, but they haven't moved forward,
yet. We've done our best to ensure that the news-vids reach the citizens of
Sector Two, but we can't say for sure."

"Quin," Queen Lissa came forward and smiled at me. "You
will always have a place on Le-Ath Veronis if you want it. Send mindspeech—I
will hear."

"Thank you," I said, surprise causing my voice to
squeak. Her smile widened. "Don't forget—I will always hear you."

"I won't forget."

I barely had time to wave before she was gone.

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

"It won't be long before the scientists at the research
facility reach the same conclusions we have," Lissa said as she stalked
into her private study. Merrill, who walked behind her, agreed.

"What shall we do when they make that discovery?" he
asked.

"Go round up my Inner Circle. We need to discuss this."

* * *

Harifa Edus

"It cooks things so quickly—the contraption they call a
stove," the master cook complained to Rodrik. "I've burned three
batches of bread already."

"The instructions are there—have you bothered to read
them? They took the trouble to translate it into our language," Rodrik glared
at the cook.

"No. I was never good at reading," the cook hung his
head.

"Send for someone who can read and put him or her at the
cook's disposal," Rodrik called out. "I curse the day Tamblin decreed
that education wasn't necessary. Let me know when you have edible food for the
Prince," Rodrik snapped and stalked out of the kitchen.

* * *

"We have an illiterate cook," Rodrik flung himself
into a chair inside Amlis' suite. "That's why we're getting raw vegetables
right now, and no bread."

"I went out yesterday—an older couple invited me to share
their midday meal," Beatris smiled. "They could read, and the lady
loved the stove—she said it did nearly everything for her."

"Can you convince her to cook for us?" Amlis asked. "We
have an abundance provided for us, yet we sit here, hungry."

"I've sent for someone who can read to help the cook,"
Rodrik grumbled.

"This place is beautiful," Beatris walked to the
window and peered out at the city surrounding the castle. "Fyris hasn't
looked like this in sun-turns. Are horses available? Might we ride to the farms
outside?"

"Our horses are here, but there are also vehicles we must
ask someone else to drive," Amlis pointed out. "The vehicles can take
us anywhere we wish to go in very little time. It will take a horse nearly half
a day to reach the outskirts of the city."

"The technology here—this is how it should have been, isn't
it?" Rodrik asked.

"I think so. So many things held Fyris back, the shield
being one of them. We thought only savages lived beyond our borders, when they'd
surpassed us long ago. Here we are, attempting to decipher what we should have
known already."

"Is there an inn outside the castle? Perhaps we should
look," Amlis said. "I want a cup of wine and a different view."

"Prince Amlis?" A health worker knocked softly on
the door.

"Yes?" Amlis stood and nodded at his guest.

"I've received word—my condolences, Prince Amlis. Your
mother and uncle are dead. They were consumed quickly by the poison in your
native lands."

Amlis cursed.

* * *

Avii Castle

"I think I'd feel better if Quin were here," Gurnil
said, stabbing at the potatoes on his plate.

"You've voiced what many feel, I fear," Ordin said.
He'd chosen to have dinner with Gurnil in the Library. Even Dena had left,
going with Ardis to share his quarters. Ordin suspected it would happen, it
merely surprised him that it happened so soon. "Justis wants to snap at
everyone, I think."

"What's this about me snapping at everyone?" Justis
set his plate on the library table and scooted a chair out to sit.

"We were merely remarking on the weather—and Quin's
absence," Gurnil said, placing the whole, small potato in his mouth and
chewing.

"I flew near the research building earlier," Justis
said, cutting into the lamb he'd been served. "The ships from Kondar's Sector
Two want to back away from those airships that appeared, but they don't know
how without appearing cowardly."

"You didn't get close enough for them to see you?"
Ordin asked.

"Probably not. I was just a flying speck to them. I think
they're more worried about those huge airships hanging in the air. Jurris
received word—Quin will arrive here tomorrow."

"Thank Liron," Gurnil muttered. "Why didn't you
say that first?"

"I like to see a Blue Wing break a sweat now and then,"
Justis grinned.

"Perhaps you find it humorous," Gurnil complained
and went back to his plate. "Where is that metal box, now? The one Quin is
so worried about?"

"It's in my quarters. I'd like to move it here. If I ask
Jurris, it'll disappear inside his treasury and we'll never see it again. I
just don't want it to upset Quin more than it has already."

"I'll find a place for it," Gurnil agreed. "I'd
like to study it anyway. I believe Daragar would as well."

"That is my desire." Daragar appeared, made himself
shorter and joined them at the table. "I will take the information I
gather to Nefrigar—perhaps he can help us with the mystery of it."

"Will Kaldill arrive with Quin and Berel?" Ordin
asked.

"Most likely. He doesn't like it if he isn't near her,"
Justis said.

"He showed me a star map, and indicated where his planet
is. His people share the same world as the Founder of the Reth Alliance."

"Reth Alliance?" Justis asked.

"The one who approached the High President recently. The
same one who likely provided those airships you ogled earlier. Kaldill offered
information and images."

"You have been busy," Ordin observed. "And
there I imagined you were lounging somewhere, reading a book while Quin and I
healed the sick in Fyris."

"While I can't claim to have done anything nearly as
important, I did ask many questions. Kaldill was happy to provide information.
He even gave me a comp-vid; one similar to Kondari tab-vids, except their
reception is better. If I could read Alliance common, I might know even more
than I do now."

"Quin can probably read it," Justis bit into a
generous chunk of bread.

"That's true—I haven't seen anything she couldn't read or
decipher yet," Ordin agreed. "You should see those medical reports
she translated from the original Kondari for me. They're wonderful."

"I have a question," Daragar said. "Has anyone
seen the Orb in Quin's absence?"

* * *

Kondar

Quin

"Are you ready?" Kaldill asked. He, Berel, Wolter,
Deeds, Orik, Fen and I stood together in the High President's study. Kaldill
had sent our bags ahead already—I wondered what Gurnil would think when all of
it landed unannounced in his Library.

"I am," I nodded.

"Ready," Berel said.

Kaldill moved us to Avii Castle in a moment.

* * *

Avii Castle

"You're to have dinner with the King tonight,"
Gurnil informed me the moment we landed in his Library. "You, Berel and
Kaldill. Justis is expected also."

The widening of my eyes betrayed my dismay—I was hoping to put
off that meeting as long as possible. With my wings clamped tightly to my back,
I walked past Gurnil and went to sort out my belongings.

"Don't let it unnerve you," Gurnil sighed. "I
should have let that wait until later. Justis wants you to join him for the
midday meal in the guard's mess," he added.

"What?" Holding my lower lip in my teeth to keep it
from trembling, I blinked hopelessly at Gurnil.

"He says it's time to face those who mistreated you."