Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian (30 page)

They chose their path, as did she, only Tiva knew her side was just. Saddened, but unyielding, she fought alongside her family and friends until the Rebels began a slow retreat. She took notice, barreled through the thinning masses, and moved toward her father and uncle.

“They are pulling back, we should think of doing the same. Help our injured, and reinforce the market with fresh guardians from the palace,” Tiva said.

Rebels closed in around them.

Devler threw a dagger past Tiva, hitting a nearby man in the chest. Tiva spun around and slashed a second across the stomach. Kevler sliced another across the leg then stabbed him in the side with a long knife. The others ran away.

“I agree,” Devler finally said.

“I will contact Harer. Regroup near the palace gates.” Kevler squeezed his daughter’s arm and rushed away.

“Having the younger guardians on the roof was a wise plan, Uncle.”

“Thank you.” He smiled as he glanced around the area. “You are doing well, Tiva. You have become a fine guardian. We are blessed to have the strength of you and your peers in this battle.”

“I only wish to keep my siblings safe, I fear I have not the strength to stop their will.”

“You were much the same, Tiva. You always did as you deemed necessary, and you have yet to falter.”

“But this is no mission or altercation, this is war,” she said. “They are too young, just…just like these children.” She looked around at the bodies lying motionless on the grass.

“War knows nothing of age. Its victims and aggressors are young and old, its scars timeless. War knows nothing of understanding. It stems from the blindness in the hearts and minds of people. Something they don’t understand or accept shields them from peace.”

“War solves nothing,” she spat. “Life is wasted and ruined, yet we cannot seem to escape it.”

“One day we may, Tiva. War is an inevitable course that must be taken to achieve peace. But when people learn true acceptance and love, war will be unnecessary.”

“I pray for the day, Uncle.”

“As do we all, dear niece, as do we all.”

Kevler returned to the marketplace with a hundred legionnaires and thirty guardians. Many of her cousins were in the group, along with the elder level two and three guardians. Having no time for greetings, Darlew, Devler, and her father took charge of groups and spread out to cover the market and surrounding areas around the palace. Tiva, her father, Rux, and Tespor, guarded
the left side of the forest along the marketplace.

The suns began their decent back toward the horizon. Bright colors of gold, orange, and purple lit the sky. Another beautiful day as far as nature was concerned
, but nothing more than a day of bloodshed and death to Tiva. Noticing, yet unable to enjoy the scenery, she remained focused on her task. Her senses were fully receptive, but nothing caught her attention.

They waited and waited. A darkening sky enveloped them. Tiva pulled her cloak tight around her shoulders as a cold wind rushed through the trees.
Night approached and still nothing from the Rebels. This worried her more than an immediate attack; they were planning or waiting for something. With the threat of a night assault lessening the darker the sky grew, Kevler ordered Tespor and Tiva to rest, while he and Rux stood guard and contacted the others.

Tespor found a large log in a small clearing a few feet from
the others. He curled up on the ground next to it and immediately fell asleep. Tiva however, lay back against a rock and stared at the sky. She would not sleep, though her body desired it. Her ability to keep safe those she loved rested on her quick reflexes. If she was asleep, and something happened, she needed to be ready. Staying awake was more important under the circumstances.

Eventually, she allowed herself to relax and rest her eyes. Her sword tight within her hands, she tried to clear her mind. Tespor’s gentle breathing and the soft cold gush of wind eased her spirit. The scent of fresh air comforted her; no longer did it bring death. Thoughts of war and blood, battle and death floated away. She carried the sensation for a while, letting all her troubles go. A rustling in the trees broke her from the inner solace and she jumped to her feet, weapon ready.

“Hold, it’s just me.” Rux raised his hands and stepped back.

“Sorry, cousin.” Tiva lowered her sword to her side.

“I have news,” he said, stepping closer. “The captured traitors have talked. They told the king an attack is planned for first light; their final two groups have arrived.”

“So, tomorrow will bring the fate of Degort.”
She grabbed a braid and pulled on it gently. “What are our orders now?”

“We remain here for the first wave.”

The first group struck as the sky started to lighten. All along the border of the marketplace, the sound of fighting erupted. Tiva and the others fought their way through a small cluster moving toward the center of the market, as the masses of Rebels began to focus their strength. The guardians and legionnaires began to merge slowly as the Rebels pushed forward.

Tiva, side by side with her uncle and father, noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Too quick to be fighting, and not running away from the battle, she recognized the man.

“Father! Pethor…” She pointed to the figure.

“Are you sure?” he said.

“Yes.”

Kevler ran after him and Tiva continued to fight. Tespor and Rux moved near to help with the overbearing Rebels.

In the distance, she heard yelling. A soft rumble began at her feet. Through the mass of enemies, a couple hundred legionnaires stampeded toward them.

Rux slapped Tespor on the shoulder. “Look, these scum stand no chance now.”

Tiva’s eyes widened as the regiment ran through the Rebels, heading straight for the guardians.

“They are not here to help,” Tiva said, her worst fears confirmed. The legionnaires were against the king. “Uncle Devler, alert the remaining guardians from the palace, we need reinforcements!”

Darlew called for a retreat to the marketplace. Tiva fought as they fell back to the palace. Midway up the path, guardians and loyal legionnaires came to their aid, and fighting erupted all around.

Tiva spotted her father running back as she fought two young Rebels. He slashed through the traitors and ran to her side. “Did you catch Pethor?”

“No, Tiva, he got away.”

“We are outnumbered, Father, we cannot win this battle,” she said, her eyes full of worry. “It is becoming hard to separate the loyal Legions from the traitors. What can we do?”

“I do not know, we must keep fighting,
and we cannot allow the palace to be breached.” Kevler dodged, kicked a man to his knees, and slashed his chest.

“I understand.”

They battled the entire day, inching closer to the palace, and by the time the suns had set, the guardians and legionnaires fighting for the king were the only barricade between the Rebels and the gates to the Palace of Kinchar.

The Rebels retreated and the fighting stopped at nightfall. Using the time to their advantage, the injured protectors retreated to the healing houses, and Harer met with his elite in the summit room.

“Captain Wirto and his men will leave the grounds to gather help from the guardsmen and legionnaires in the south and west. Every available body within the palace walls w
ill now fight.” Harer pressed his fist to his heart. “Rest now while you can, be ready for battle on the morrow.”

Tiva stood on the stairs to the Great Hall, death all around her. She held Tespor’s sword in one hand, hers in the other. Her clothing, soiled with blood and sweat, was tattered and torn.

So many were dead.

Tespor, Skky, Loloa, her uncle…all gone.

Another Rebel ran toward her. She fixed a cold gaze upon him and swung both weapons high in the air before striking him down with each blade. One slash struck his stomach, the other his neck. Easy, she thought.

“Come to me, you traitorous scum!” she said, baiting the legionnaires and Rebels skulking through the tree lined path leading to the palace. “I will show you a wrath you will never forget!”

Her PCD beeped.

“Retreat to the research facility.”

She ignored it at first, and took down two more Rebels before hearing her father’s shaky voice calling again. Running around the palace, she fought her way toward the others. Guardians rushed into the forest to the facility hidden deep within. Tiva neared to see her siblings, mother,
and father—surrounded by cousins, her aunts, and the majority of the Finto family.

“Is this all?” Tiva said as she slowed.

“We have two dozen more inside. I don’t know where the others are.”

Yark Finto rushed over. “Some of our legionnaires retreated to the northern Yaan and Hentor provinces. They await orders.”

“Any word from Wirto?” Darlew asked, stepping out of the large glass and stone gray building.

“Nothing,” Jinka said, standing near Trach, and a very shaken Zizi. “He is not responding.”

Rux burst through the trees followed by another small group. “The forest is surrounded. They…they have more forces approaching…” He paused. “Where is my father?”

Tiva looked to her cousin, then to Rae who sobbed in D’laja’s arms. Rux walked to his mother. Zizi started to cry.

“Mother?” He wrapped his arms around her and his markings turned black. Kevler squeezed Tiva’s hand, but she held back her tears. If they didn’t stay focused, they would all die at the hands of the Rebels.

King Delos emerged from the building with a dozen guardians. Tiva, Darlew, and Kevler approached him.

“We need to protect you and your family, my friend,” Kevler said.

“The Rebels have surrounded us,” Yark said.

“What of the others?” the king asked.

“We are all that are left.” Tiva looked at the group of twenty or so guardians, more than half hers, and the Finto’s extended family.

“By the spirits!” Harer growled.

“We cannot win this battle. We have but two choices now.” Darlew rubbed his neck. “Fight until our dying
breaths and allow the Rebels to take over, or leave, regroup elsewhere and begin planning to retake the throne.”

“Did you not hear Rux, Father?” Yark said. “We are surrounded.”

“We have other means of leaving, Yark.”

Tiva glanced to the king, as did the others.

“Indeed,” Harer said. “This is not an easy choice, but we must make it together, for it is the fate of us all that rests in the hands of the Rebels now.”

“It hasn’t been thoroughly tested, Harer, we don’t know anything about how to operate it,” Kevler said.

“The scientists and engineers have already agreed to go.”

“Go where?” Tiva said.

Kevler looked up. “Off the planet.”

“The ship is finished, and is capable of flight. We will be able to remain in contact with the planet, and keep the king and his family safe while we decide what our next plan of action will be,” Darlew said.

“Is that wise?” she said.

“Either we leave, or die here and allow the Rebels to win completely. This way, we have a chance,” Darlew said.

Before anyone argued the matter, the trees and ground around them burst into flames. The group ran inside the facility and Tiva stood in awe at the new vessel. The ship resembled a mixture of the alien craft that landed on Abennelp and an elongated hovercraft with wings. It was as tall and wide as two homes side by side. Adorning the hull of the craft, a crescent moon—the symbol of her people.

“Our time is short, we must decide now!” Kevler reiterated.

They all looked at one another, then to the craft, and silently nodded.

“It is done. Grab everything out of the storage units and get onto the craft.”

Tiva and the others ran to gather provisions as the explosions outside grew louder and more powerful. The building shook. Scientists and engineers rushed about making sure everything worked properly. Running into the craft behind her mother, she heard the roof of the building creak open. She placed the items on the nearest platform, and ran back out. Grabbing the last of the blasters, she saw her brother and sister carrying food and water. She gave them a weak smile. Mirta appeared with Jenon and Kenon, Zenid their shadow, pushed them through the crowd.

Another charge pummeled the building. The roof opened fully. A detonator soared inside. The blast knocked everyone over. Rancid smoke filled the air. Several bodies went still, and the front of the facility began to crumble.

“Everyone inside!” Darlew’s voice echoed though the building. Tiva jumped up and ran to the ship. Having no choice but to leave the fallen men and woman, she helped Jenon inside, while Zenid held onto Mirta. Darlew moved to the gangway and paused to look around. “Are we ready?”

“We do not seem to have another option,” she said.

The last of the guardians entered and Kevler hit the control panel to close the door. The smooth metal secured itself against the ship. Darlew, Zenid, and her father rushed down the corridor. Tiva followed. Feeling the slight sensation of lifting off the ground was less noticeable than inside the hovers. It seemed almost as if they were not moving.

Charging through the group of family members and friends, she kept close to Zenid, and at the end of the corridor, climbed up a ladder to find the control center.

Scientist and engineers were at stations, working the controls for the vessel. Looking out the front window, Tiva saw the last of the trees vanish before her eyes. Rising up high into the air, she glanced over the shoulder of a scientist to see a view of the facility’s ceiling closing. Astounded at the sight, Tiva watched it grow smaller and smaller as they gained height. Everything above them grew darker; the vessel shook slightly as it continued rising. She glanced at her father, and Darlew. Harer seemed entranced with something on another console.

“What protection do we have on this craft?” she
asked.

“We are well protected; much like the particle weapons, only a larger form
,” Darlew said. “Chak, are we safe now?”

“I can orbit around the planet for the time being, Guardian Finto. We can remain in contact with the surface. Nothing the Rebels have can reach this far,” the engineer sitting at the ship’s controls said.

“Very well,” he said. “Harer?”

“Yes, yes. We must meet…” He glanced at the console again. “Amazing…” He stepped away and led the elite through a side corridor and down a set of metal stairs. “The scientist used the design from the alien craft. It is crude, but efficient. Assign everyone quarters so they may rest and wash up. Each room has a terminal to access the layout of the ship. I know not how long we will remain up here, but we have enough supplies and power for quite some time.

“There is little we can do now but wait to hear from Wirto and the communications array is giving the scientists a problem. Go rest and be with your families, I will call for you later.”

Tiva bandaged her wounds, and changed her clothing. She lay back on the lumpy bed, and willed herself to sleep. Nightmares plagued her, so she stayed awake and glanced out the window of her room. The stars seemed brighter and closer. Abennelp looked small and peaceful, but she knew that was only a façade. If her heart was not full of sadness, she might have enjoyed the view.

Someone knocked on the door and she beckoned them in. She hung her head seeing her father’s eyes and cried. He crossed the room and took her in his arms. She held him tight, sobbing on his shoulder. All the death she had seen haunted her. Every time she closed her eyes, the face of each person she had killed lingered in her mind. The smiles of her lost friends and family refused to let her go.

“We are safe now, Tiva.”

“But what of the others?”

“We will do all we can to help them, but we must find new strength first,” Kevler said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Mother wishes us to eat together, come to our room.”

Together they found Remock, Bintu, and D’laja gathered in her parent’s room, numbly sitting around a small metal and wood table. The family ate in silence, the weight of the situation heavy on everyone’s spirit. After the meal, D’laja took Remock and Bintu back to their room to sleep, and Tiva walked the ship with her father. She reached to her side, out of habit, and realized she didn’t have her sword, thought back, she didn’t recall it being in her room. She sighed and hung her head; she
lost it in the research facility. At least she had her Timbur and dagger.

Each of the six decks on the ship held members of her family. They crossed paths with Rae and Rux, who aimlessly paced the halls still in shock at the loss of their father. Tiva hugged her cousins, and allowed them to continue.

Tiva walked every inch of the ship with her father locating all the significant sections: the power room, the armory, meeting area, and supply room were all full of people working. Mostly engineers, but also some of the guardians who were interested in learning, were helping. When they reached their starting point, Kevler ordered Tiva to try to rest. She retired to her room, and for the remainder of what she only guessed was night, sat at the window and watched as the ship circled around her planet.

“Tiva report to the meeting area.” Her eyes opened hearing the comm. She rose from the chair she’d fallen asleep in and stretched her sore muscles. She walked through the ship, entered the meeting room. The remaining elite lined the walls.

“We have to break from the planet.” Harer got right to the point. “Chak intercepted a message on the surface from a Rebel camp near the palace; their alien friends are coming to drop off supplies.”

“Where will we go?” Darlew said.

“There is a small star map in our database, and the scientists have been scanning space since we’ve been up here. We can use the moon for cover. It will take half the day to get there; this craft isn’t as fast as we first thought.”

“Then we must go now,” Kevler said to the king.

“I agree, inform the others, gently.”

Tiva took the lower decks and alerted her cousins, Aunt Jinka, Lilla, and Zizi what was happening, and told a few other members of the Ispek and Finto families who were helping the engineers. She returned to the meeting room to find the king staring out into space. He was full of raw emotions and they were strong and overpowering. She wished not to disturb him and turned to leave.

“Do not go…” he said.

“Sire?”

“I am sorry this burden is upon you, Tiva.” He turned. “It was not my intention for such a travesty to happen.”

“Speak what you mean.”

“I lacked the strength to keep you safe, I have failed.”

“This was not your doing, Harer,” she said. “Your reign was just and peaceful. Whoever is controlling the Rebels is to blame.”

“But if the king cannot keep the peace, he should no longer remain in power.”

“That is not true!”

“So you would follow me, even if it meant your death? What of the people on Abennelp?”

“My duty is to you.”

“Mine is to the people.”

They stood in silence; she knew not what to say. The king was no longer in control, but would there be peace on Abennelp with the Rebels in power? It was unlikely. Though their cause remained unknown, they seemed fixed on overthrowing the king, and had succeeded.
What was next?

“What news from the surface?” she said, breaking the silence.

“Wirto has yet to be found, but we were able to contact a guardian in Hentor who escaped the attack. Hito Becha has begun gathering the parliament and province guardsmen. With a blessing from the spirits he will find strength among the people before our return.”

“Then all hope is not lost.”

Harer smiled and took her hand. The entire ship shook violently; an alarm rang through the ship. Tiva and Harer ran out of the room, down the hall, and climbed up to the control center. Chak and his men rushed about from console to console.

“Report!” Harer said.

“One of the alien ships has found us.”

“Bring up the defenses!”

“They are online and ready, sire.” Chak bashed a dozen keys on his console. The ship jolted again. Darlew, Kevler, and Yark appeared. Everyone gasped. An alien craft flew past the window faster than anything Tiva had ever seen before. A blast shook the back of the vessel, and one of the consoles in the control center burst into flames.

“Fire the weapons,” Harer said.

“We can’t hold them off,” Chak said. “They have some type of shielding around their ship.”