Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (3 page)

"Father, may I go? I wish to see Quin," Berel asked.

"I believe I can send someone with him," Melis
offered. "Jhak, perhaps?"

"Yes," Edden nodded. "Jhak and two others will
travel with Berel to Avii Castle, to make amends."

* * *

Shaaliveer

"Father," Morid set a comp-vid at Marid's elbow. "There's
another communication from Cayetes."

"I have nothing further to discuss. He was told how to
handle the containment spheres. He was also warned that what they contained was
dangerous. He ignored those instructions and deserves anything he gets."
Marid shoved his journal into a drawer at his son's sudden appearance in his
study.

"You may be placing yourself in danger from two sources.
You run the risk of being crushed between them," Morid pointed out.

"You think those buffoons will be able to reach me? I
have a plan. That fool on Siriaa didn't know we'd already collected much of
what we needed; I only wanted him as a backup. With a brainless politician in
control of the planet, and with me in charge of him, we can effectively shut
out any interference by the Alliance. Eventually, even Cayetes may come to us
when we offer asylum—for the right price, you understand."

"Father, that's insane. Surely you realize that. These
criminals, if you offer them a place, will begin to fight for control. You'll
lose, as will the inhabitants of that planet. Look at Vogeffa I. Non-Alliance
and ruled by a corrupt government, it did the same thing you propose; offering
space to known criminals and crime syndicates, for a fee. Cayetes moved in and
took the others out. He has all their holdings, now, and the government is only
a puppet covering his hand."

"Their government wasn't run by a talented family of
wizards," Marid snapped. "We will hold them in check."

"I have no desire to hold criminals in check with my
talents, Father." Morid stalked from his father's study.

"You'll do it if I tell you," Marid huffed.

* * *

"Fly faster, you fools," Dorthil snapped. The
aircraft he traveled in belonged to the High President. It, and the title,
should be his. Who knew that killing a few foolish journalists would arouse
such anger in the population? He'd done the people a favor—journalists always
spoke ill of everything.

Even his allies on the Council turned quickly against
him—although three of them would no longer have a Sector to call home if he had
any say in the matter.

"None have been sent against us as yet," the pilot
responded.

"All the better," Dorthil snapped.

* * *

"Son, tell them they have nothing to fear from us—the
coward has run away," Edden dropped a hand on Berel's shoulder before
entering the Council chambers. "Never forget that Kondar is still in
danger from the poison. Find out anything you can—if you can—while you're
there. I've instructed Jhak to bring you back in three days."

"I will, Father," Berel nodded.

* * *

Avii Castle

Quin

The soft rumble of muted conversation greeted us as we walked
into the King's presence; I was surrounded by Justis, Gurnil and Ordin. Ordin had
beamed at my appearance moments earlier and nodded his approval at my green
clothing.

One cannot expect sudden acceptance, however, from those who'd
previously despised you. I knew this was so and had I used my gift, could have
seen it in the faces we passed on our way to the King's throne.

Jurris, a cup of juice at his elbow, watched as we approached.
The Orb, floating above our heads, silenced more than a few in the crowd.
Jurris still wasn't strong—he'd nearly died the night before.

I—and those around me—knew it, but few on the Council did.
They only knew that Halthea had attacked the King and died at Justis' hand as a
result. None faulted Justis; Halthea wasn't liked by any of them. I wondered
whether Jurris realized that.

"I have made a decision," Jurris announced once we'd
come to a stop before him. "In three days, those from Fyris must return
there—they have no place with us."

Shocked, I could only stare at the King while he held up a
hand to quell the immediate murmurs among the Council. "I know what the
Ordinance says. That is why I will do now what should have been done eighteen
turns past. I will send my brother and some of his troops with the Prince, who
will wrest the throne from his murderous father. I have decreed it; thus shall
it be."

Jurris' hand dropped, indicating the finality of his words.

Chapter 2
 

Avii Castle

Quin

"You are to go with me," Justis informed me later,
as Gurnil, Ordin and I sat inside Justis' quarters, still stunned by Jurris'
decisions.

"I wish to go as well, to record the events," Gurnil
snapped.

"I doubt Jurris will stop you," Justis ruffled his
wings in an agitated fashion. "I have no real desire to stand upon the
stones where Elabeth died, but that is greatly outweighed by my intention to
avenge her death."

"The poison is seeping into everything there," I
said, standing abruptly and voicing my concern. "We may all perish. What
does the King hope to accomplish from all this?"

"Quin, perhaps it will keep that filth who wears Tandelis'
ring from leaving Fyris and revealing it to all," Gurnil offered quietly.

"Master Gurnil, perhaps that is where we err," I
sighed. "Have you ever thought that Kondar or Yokaru might help us with
the conundrum of the poison? Perhaps their technology can at least define it
before it kills us all."

"The First Ordinance commands that we keep Fyris hidden
from all others," Ordin began.

"I believe that became moot the moment Queen Elabeth
died," Justis interjected. "Her saving of Fyris is also in the First
Ordinance."

At that moment, I had a terrible desire to race into Jurris'
quarters and seize what he kept hidden from all. I was desperate to read what
was written in that book.

"You think the First Ordinance is no longer a command
from Liron himself, then?" Gurnil asked.

"Nobody has seen Liron in a very long time," Justis
replied. "Surely he would have come when Elabeth and Camryn fell."

"You're saying he's never coming again, is that it?"

"I am saying that," Justis said, rising from his
seat and gazing out the clear glass window of his suite. I realized he gazed
toward Fyris. And Liron? A god that never appeared to exact vengeance against
those who cursed his name daily?

I doubted very much whether he was likely to appear again, as
Justis said.

"Then I shall come. Perhaps physicians from Kondar,"
Ordin began.

"You forget the coup," Justis pointed out.

"The coup has been overturned."

Berel stood in Justis' doorway, accompanied by three Kondari
soldiers and five black-wing guards. As he spoke in Kondari, I relayed Berel's
message to the others present while I trembled with relief.

* * *

"I am grateful; I worried for your safety," I said
as Berel consumed a dessert in Master Nina's kitchen.

"I was terrified," he said, his eyes meeting mine.
Justis, Gurnil, Ordin and the guards—Avii and Kondari—sat and listened to Berel's
tale of the coup while I translated. "Father is sending three ships from
the fleet to guard Avii Castle," he added. "He extends his apologies
for the attack."

"It availed him naught," Justis pointed out. "The
castle is impervious to attack, although three outside the walls died in the assault."

"I am sorry for that—more than I can say," Berel
admitted, his shoulders drooping.

"It was not your fault or your command that resulted in
those deaths," Ordin said. "Do not take responsibility for another's
crimes."

"I am my father's representative here," Berel said. "He
will be saddened by this news, just as I am."

"I will convey your condolences," I offered. "To
those closest to the ones lost."

"We must find a ship," Gurnil stood and stretched. "If
we are to leave in three days." He turned to walk toward the nearest
terrace; he intended to fly to the Library.

"You're leaving?" Berel blinked at me.

Justis opened his mouth to make excuses to the High President's
son. I held up a hand. "Commander Justis, I have never read the Ordinance
and do not feel bound by it. It is time they knew—they already know of the
poison, and unless I miss my guess, they know of the wood ships that come
occasionally from Fyris' shores."

If I'd fired Yevil's ancient weapon inside Nina's kitchen, it
might have caused less of a stir. Regardless, I found myself sitting in the
Library minutes later, Berel listening raptly as I told him what I knew of
Fyris and why it was hidden.

* * *

"Father, they don't know the origin of the poison any
better than we do," Berel explained. He sat on the Library terrace, his tab-vid
in his hand while he spoke with the High President.

"The King says the people who came last night from that
hidden land have to leave in three days. Quin, Commander Justis and several
others are going with them, but first they need a ship. None of the fishing
vessels the Avii have are large enough to carry that many people. The Chief
Librarian thinks they should take several small boats, instead. I find that
dangerous—those boats are too small to make a long journey."

"You think to find the source of this poison, don't you?"
Edden said.

"Yes. This may be our chance. I heard, too, that the Avii
think a magic spell hides this country from the rest of us. I can't believe
that is true. It has to be some sort of shield we haven't dreamed of yet."

"That would be my thought as well," Edden agreed. "Offer
them the three ships I'm sending. I'll make sure our best science teams are on
board. I hope we can unravel this mystery before it kills us."

"Commander Justis says that one of the residents or one
of the Avii must be aboard the ships to get through what he referred to as the
straits. I don't know what that means, but we'll have to carry some on each
ship to pacify their beliefs."

"Make sure Quin is with you on the flagship, then,"
Edden said. "Stay close to her. She will ensure that you do not fall ill
again."

"I intend to do so, Father," Berel said. "I
believe Commander Justis is thinking the same thing."

"What happened to their Princess?" Edden thought to
ask.

"More of their magical thinking," Berel explained. "There
is this thing—they call it the Orb, I think, and they attribute magical
properties to it. It is reported to have changed Princess Halthea's wing colors
to a servant's yellow, and when she attacked the King because of that, she was
killed for making an attempt on his life."

"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."