The Ashes of Worlds

“We’ll miss him,” Sarein said, her voice catching in her throat. “We know what really happened.”

Cain tapped the pointed end of the sheathed dagger against his palm. “Ironically, the Captain’s death, coupled with the faeros attack on the Moon, may have bought us a little time. The Chairman no doubt believes that we have been frightened back into our places. He’s moved on to the next problem, and I’m sure he thinks we’ll behave ourselves.”

“He showed me surveillance images! He’s got proof against me.”

Cain shrugged. “And he quite probably has proof against me, as well. The question is, will we act before he does?”

Remembering Basil’s cold touch, Sarein shuddered and wondered if he would come to see her again. She could not let that happen. “We have to.”

He smiled. “Agreed. And we have no choice but to act precipitously. You may have noticed that an opportunity arose at the banquet. Peter extended an invitation that the Chairman cannot afford to decline. I doubt he’ll take King Rory with him, since that would put him at a tactical disadvantage, but he will go to the Confederation flagship. Behind closed doors, he will hammer Peter with his ultimatum and back it up with significant threats.”

She lowered her voice, not convinced — even during a disaster alarm — that Basil wasn’t eavesdropping. “What kind of threats?”

“Now that King Peter has seen Rory in person, the Chairman is ready for the coup de grace. He’ll threaten to kill Rory. and I’m quite certain he means it. Under the circumstances, the Chairman is absolutely convinced Peter will back down, rather than let any harm come to his brother.”

“IsRory his brother?”

“I have no idea. And neither does Peter.”

“Basil thought the Mage-Imperator would bow to his demands, too,” Sarein pointed out.

“We won’t give Peter the opportunity, either way. There’s too much at stake. While the Chairman is gone, Freedom’s Sword is perfectly positioned and ready to move.” Cain slowly drew the knife out of its sheath and looked down at the sharp silver blade. His meaning was clear.

“While the cat’s away?” she said.

“It has to be quick, and a surprise. As soon as he leaves, we make our move. I need your help.”

The very thought sent a chill down her spine, but not as cold as the thought of how much harm Basil could do — to her, and to the human race. “You still intend to kill him?”

Outside the room, the alarms fell abruptly silent.

“Better than that. We’ll deprive him of his power.” The blade made a whispery metallic sound as he pushed it back into the sheath. He returned it to his jacket pocket, then spoke in an implacable voice. “While he is gone, you’ll slip away from Earth. Fly to orbit, lie in wait, and as soon as the Chairman leaves the flagship, request asylum among the Confederation ships. Queen Estarra will welcome you. Tell King Peter that there’s a revolution just waiting to happen on Earth, and it’s time for him to take the Hansa back. But he needs to move quickly before the Chairman can recover from the surprise I’m preparing. We’re at the Rubicon, and we’re going to cross it.”

“Peter and Estarra won’t abandon us.” The plan made her heart leap. At last, a real chance to leave here. “And how will I get up to the Confederation ships?”

“Ask Captain Kett.” He smiled at her shocked expression. “Yes, she and Captain Roberts returned here several days after the destruction of the Moon. They seem to think the Chairman has forgotten about the arrest order for both of them. Fortunately, I deleted all records before their ship could be noticed by any scouts. I’m sure she would be happy to hear from you.”

Sarein could not conceal her surprise. She felt giddy at the thought of slipping away from Earth, possibly even returning to Theroc. “I know how to contact her.”

Cain nodded. “Make sure King Peter knows that the whole population has turned against the Chairman, but they need an alternative in place. If he returns to the Whisper Palace, the people will be on his side.”

She got up from the hard bench, listening to the movement of people out in the corridors again. “And while I’m on my way up to take sanctuary among the Confederation, what will you be doing? Can’t you come with me?”

His expression was unreadable. “No, my place is here, giving Freedom’s Sword the last key weapons they need. By the time he gets back to Earth, the Chairman won’t have a government left.”

124

Tasia Tamblyn

Now that the faeros were in retreat, the Solar Navy ships were anxious to rush off to Ildira and finish the job. Adar Zan’nh issued orders for all remaining warliners to draw together and prepare for departure.

The intact Roamer vessels were also ready to join the campaign, despite having run out of frozen wental munitions. In one of the open, bustling hangar bays on the skymine, Tasia joined the others, studying the enthusiasm on their faces. Kotto Okiah flinched at every loud noise of loading spacecraft, departing ships, and hissing exhaust vents.

“We must pursue them,” Mage-Imperator Jora’h insisted. “Ildira is unguarded. Once they arrive, Rusa’h and his faeros will sterilize the whole planet just because he failed here. He will stop at nothing to hurt me.”

“Perhaps he is not as much in control of the faeros as we believe,” Osira’h said.

Jess said, “My water bearers have returned to Theroc and are ready to throw themselves into the battle. I will call them to follow us to Ildira.”

Tasia was glad to see just how pissed off everyone was toward the faeros. It reminded her of how she felt about the Klikiss since the ordeal on Llaro. The Klikiss. still unresolved. While she was pleased at the ten faeros she had helped to snuff with her icy artillery shells, Tasia thought the plan ill considered. “Now, don’t go off half-cocked. Shizz, I can’t believeI have to be the voice of restraint. Poor planning is poor tactics. Are you really as prepared as you can be? Sure, you cango to Ildira, but you won’t win the fight. Take a breath, and do this right.”

Kotto was also agitated. “Before we can even think about facing the faeros again, we need to reload the ships with thousands of frozen projectiles.” He frowned at Adar Zan’nh. “Your warliners can’t hold up against the heat of the faeros, and we know that Ildirans have a habit of crashing their ships into things. So you need better armor.”

“Our armor is the best ever developed,” Zan’nh said flatly. “There is nothing better.”

“Then we’ll have to come up with something better — maybe something a bit unorthodox.”

The Solar Navy commander’s expression relaxed slightly. “Yes, you human engineers are good at that.”

“Ideas, Kotto?” Cesca said.