THE SEVEN STONESphoto.goodreads.com/documents/1353880695books/16165360.pdf · sky blanketed the barren landscape. The metallic hover deck burned hot in the late afternoon sunlight

COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY A.E. CROFT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. eISBN 9781624880711

IMMORTAL ZERO:

~ THE SEVEN STONES ~

BOOK 1

~

A.E. CROFT



CHAPTER ONE:

THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY

Hot, dry air blasted over the open ship deck as the hovercraft blew up sand in billowing, hazy

clouds. The rolling, red sea stretched in every direction to the edge of the horizon, where a bright

sky blanketed the barren landscape. The metallic hover deck burned hot in the late afternoon

sunlight. Only two stood out on the open balcony, gazing out at the vicious desert surrounding

them.

One was a man, dressed in clean white cotton with silver trim along the edges of his light-

weight overcoat. His dark eyes gazed out at the unending sand. One hand relaxed on the hilt of a

finely decorated shamshir, while the other kept the sun from his eyes. He glanced over at the woman

standing next to him.

Just as he had been moments ago, she stared out at the landscape with a thoughtful

expression cast over her sharp features. She was shorter than the man, but even by appearance one

could tell she was his superior. The gold hilt of a long scimitar blade hung on her hip. The length of

the blade hid under the folds of her long silk robe, crimson red with golden trim. Her ebony hair fell

over her shoulders and down her back in straight locks, tamed only by a fine weave of gold and

silver that encircled the crown of her head. Sharp grey eyes returned the glance from her dark-eyed

subordinate.

“Have you ever been to Uvar, General?”

“No,” replied the woman.

They let the hypnotic hum of the hover engine lull them back into a stupor before another

blast of hot air dried the sweat on their faces.

“It’s not a place for Lamora-kin,” the subordinate continued. “I can’t believe Emperor

Ramnus agreed to have the treaty sighed in Uvar. Any other place would have done fine.”

“This will be a test,” the woman replied, simply. “If anything goes wrong during our stay in

Uvar, I fear war will continue.”

“Lamora has lost either way.”

“I don’t remember surrendering to Uvar, Colonel,” the woman said.

Despite his superior’s sharp tone, the Colonel seemed fairly relaxed as he replied, “Ten

thousand men in the ground after only one year tells me otherwise. I don’t need a legal document to

spell out defeat for me. Ten thousand men… ten thousand families in grievance, which means that

number, tenfold, will be angry with the leadership of Lamora.”

“You’re too soft, Jas,” the woman said.


Colonel Jas decided not to argue her. Instead, he turned his face away from the blast of hot

air and said, “Lady Allanis will need assistance to the Royal Estate once we arrive. I will escort her, if

you’ll allow?”

“Do so quietly. The Emperor has specifically asked that you stay with me, but the apes she

hired to lick her footsteps are nothing more than common thugs.”

“General Leonahari Almadzi, sir,” Colonel Jas bowed, “I will watch both of you.”

“Impossible,” Leonahari replied. “Focus on one priority at a time. We can’t afford any

casualties.”

“I know it’s bold to say, sir, but I don’t think you’ll need protecting as long as you are paired

with a sword.” Colonel Jas smirked.

Leonahari turned aside and brought a slender hand up to shield her eyes as she stared out at

the Northern horizon.

“We’ll be crossing into Uvarian territory shortly,” she said. “Keep your wits about you.”

“Yes, sir!” the Colonel saluted, as she passed by him and into the cabin of the hovership.

Despite the hovercrafts outward appearance, the inside was richly decorated with fine linens

and elegant furniture. The dominant crimson color appeared on almost everything aside from the

floor, which remained cold and lifeless. The scent of light burning incense wafted through the air-

conditioned room. Leonahari involuntarily shivered at the drop in temperature as the sweat on her

brow became evident and chilled her entire body pleasantly.

“Almadzi!” A sharp voice called from the center of the room. Leonahari’s head snapped in

that direction as her eyes landed on a willowy figure resting in a deep-seated armchair. Black eyes

followed the General’s careful movements through the room as she bowed and took a seat.

“Lady Allanis,” Leonahari said. Her eyes never broke the stare they held. The Lady sat,

adorned in gold, silver and what most would say, the finest silk in the entire Southern Continent.

Her dark brown hair lapped over her shoulders in thick waves, some pieces had been braided with

gold thread and tied at the nape of her neck with a band of silver. A thin weave of white gold

wrapped around the crown of her head. From it hung a delicate opal teardrop at the center of her

forehead.

“I heard there are bandits in these parts,” Allanis spoke. “I suppose you already knew that.”

Leonahari nodded. “Your protection is of the highest priority after all.”

Allanis crossed one leg over the other and arched her back. She gave Leonahari a stern look

and said, “It won’t matter whether the treaty is signed or not, Yasur of Uvar will never be an ally. I

will stab him myself if I ever get the chance.”

“Your son should have been the one to sign, my Lady,” Leonahari said in a dark tone.

“Thomas?” Allanis gave a soft laugh. “Leona, you really do have a sense of humor, and all

these years, you fooled me into thinking you were toneless.”

Leonahari’s frown deepened, but she remained silent.

“He doesn’t have the stomach to be in politics. It’s a shame I had a son so easily swayed.”

Allanis fell back comfortably into the deep seat of the chair. She smiled at the ceiling before letting

her eyes land on the General again.


“But, you…” she said, “you have always been my father’s favorite, haven’t you? He talks

about you almost as if you were his own.”

Leonahari stared indifferently over at Allanis. Again, she said nothing.

“I don’t blame him, really,” Allanis continued. Her eyes turned up at the ceiling almost lazily,

and left her reasoning to question. Leonahari ignored the bait.

“When we reach Uvar, Jas and I will do a thorough check of the Royal Estate before you are

summoned,” she said simply.

Allanis looked at her again with a raised eyebrow.

“Once we are in the Estate, two guards will be stationed outside your quarters until

tomorrow morning at dawn. At that time, Colonel Jas will personally escort you to the shuttle, which

will take you to the ceremony. Everything has been arranged so that the security at the gates at the

time of your arrival to the ceremony –,”

“Do you think of anything but work?”

The corner of Leonahari’s lip twitched up in amusement. She stood from her chair and

bowed slightly. “I people watch.”

“Well, that sounds incredibly dry,” Allanis said.

Leonahari made her way to the exit of the cabin again. “To each their own.”

“I was serious about what I said earlier, General,” Allanis said, before Leonahari could leave.

She turned to face her again. “And what was that?”

“I don’t care what kind of security you have installed. I will stab Yasur given the chance,”

Allanis replied, darkly.

“Remember the Fifth Inquiry,” Leonahari warned.

Allanis gave her an assuring smile. “Your Guide can rest easy. I will do nothing foolish.”

Leonahari stared at her for a few moments as if she thought otherwise. “Are you ready to

face him?”

Allanis shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I have no choice.”

“You have a choice. You can turn this ship around. I will deal with the force of Uvar when

he comes for Lamora. The Elites are fully capable of –,”

“General, I have no intention of running,” Allanis said, sternly.

Leonahari bowed. “Do as you will then.”

With that, she left the cabin.

Colonel Jas turned to Leonahari as she exited into the sweltering heat again. He gave a small

bow and went back to sightseeing. “The desert really is a rugged place out here. It’s hard to believe

people survive in places like this.”

“When Lamora was established several hundred years ago, its landscape was no different.

We made something of it. It’s the same here,” Leonahari replied. “The natives of this land are

familiar with where the water is, and that’s all one needs to survive long enough to make a living.”

“Doesn’t sound very fulfilling,” the Colonel commented, “I suppose anyone would turn into

thieves and bandits living out here.”

“Bandits come from all over. Even Lamora has a colony in the Broken Sands. You should

know that,” Leonahari said.


“Of course, sir,” Jas replied. “It’s hard not to notice when Port Ukrea gets raided every two

weeks.”

Leonahari frowned. The roar of the hover’s engine along the red sand became a constant

rhythmic lullaby for her. A tickle was on the back of her neck. Her hand came up and slightly

brushed away the sweat beads that lingered there.

“Have you spoken to Zero lately, sir?” the Colonel suddenly asked.

Leonahari shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her internal Guide. “Yes, I spoke with

him before we departed Lamora.”

“If I may, sir, did he say anything regarding the Emperor’s plans for an alliance with Uvar?”

Leonahari drew in a slow, deep breath and let it out with the same amount of control.

Reluctantly, she said, “Zero loves puzzles. He said our future with Uvar is undefined.”

Colonel Jas turned to her with confusion behind his dark eyes. His lip turned up in

amusement, “So, he’s clear about everything until the moment we need him to be?”

Leonahari didn’t join Jas in his amusement. “I thought he made himself clear enough. There

is no future with Uvar.”

Jas’ face paled a bit. “But, then – excuse my boldness, sir – our going to Uvar now is a

complete waste of time.”

“Not necessarily,” Leonahari corrected him. “Fate has sent us to Uvar for a reason. We may

not like what comes out of it. That is why I need you to tail Allanis like she is your own flesh and

blood.”

* * *

The Quixote landed neatly on the edge of a sturdy plain on the boarder of Uvar in Balfonhien. Short,

metallic wings collapsed sideways before the engine puttered to a stop. The hot afternoon sun

reflected off the copper-colored surface of the airships body. A small hatch in its belly opened up

and unfolded downward until it touched the sand. Two women stepped onto the ramp and stormed

forward into the sweltering heat.

“You idiot!” the shorter one snapped. She fell in tow behind the other woman, shoulder-

length brown hair flailing.

The taller of the two continued walking briskly towards a worn down tavern a few yards

away. Her copper curls bounced with every step she took. She seemed to be unaffected by her

companion, who continued to nag relentlessly. “How can you be so thick to think they wouldn’t

have security around the place? You know we’re not exactly invisible, Leas!”

Leas shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose we have a pretty good number on our heads about now,

especially after that stunt. I bet now we’re more wanted than Garret. He’s always bragging about

how high the numbers fly!”

The shorter woman frowned. “That’s nothing to be proud of.”

Leas approached the tavern with a smug smile plastered on her face. Her silver eyes flashed

with joy. “Now not only do we have those idiot Imperials after us, but bounty hunters too! It sort of

feels like a race, who can catch who first, you know?”


“Whatever you say,” the other sighed.

“Cheer up, Taih,” Leas chuckled as they approached the tavern entrance. “Since when did

you become such a pill? If you’re mad about what happened back at Uvar –,”

“I’m not mad,” Taih said, crossing her arms.

The tavern was an old mud building flanked in solar plates from top to bottom. A weathered

sign rooted next to the entrance read ‘Balfonhien Port Inn – Cold Beer, Water and Eats. Tank fuel

413 Uvar coin per liter’.

Leas scowled, “413 coin and these bastards are still in business?”

“We’re not low, what do you care?” Taih said, following her inside. It was dark and

pleasantly cool. The air was full of cigar smoke and the scent of cheap whiskey. Someone was

playing the old piano over in the corner of the dimly lit room. The tavern was spilt into two levels.

Leas seemed at ease with her surroundings and dropped into a wooden chair on the far side of the

room, in the corner, facing all exits.

Taih didn’t follow her immediately. Instead she turned her attention to a corkboard that

hung on the wall next to the dimly lit bar. Only a few notes and old newspapers were stuck to it. She

let her eyes wander over a few of them.

A new posting caught her attention and her heart plummeted to the bottom of her stomach.

She plucked it off the bulletin board and made her way calmly over to where Leas sat already with a

glass of amber liquid in her hand.

Leas saw the look on her face and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Taih sat down and slid the note over the table towards her. “Is this what you wanted?”

Leas frowned at the ice in Taih’s voice and glanced down at the paper briefly before looking

back up. An expression of complete indifference blanketed her features. “Dead or alive, eh? That

sucks.”

“It looks like you stepped on a few too many toes,” Taih said, snatching the drink from

Leas’ grasp and taking a swig to calm her nerves. When she slammed the drink down, she muttered,

“What are we going to do?”

“Don’t be like that, Tainean,” Leas said, turning suddenly serious. “It’s not like anyone can

come near us. We have every right to slay them where they stand if they even attempt to –,”

“Oh, yes, and raise the number on our heads a little higher?” Tainean replied. “Do you have

any idea how many bounty hunters will be after us now?”

“Headhunters,” Leas corrected, “and don’t forget I am also in the business.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“Relax.” Leas smirked and leaned back in her chair so that she was balancing on the rear legs

of it. “It’s not like anything changes. We had to avoid the Imperials before and now we’re just going

to have to be a little more cautious.”

Tainean did not look convinced, but after a moment or two she reluctantly said, “So, what’s

your new and brilliant plan?”

“The war between Uvar and Lamora looks like it might be ending soon,” Leas said, “and

Garret is such a hot head, I bet you anything he’ll be cooking something up for the time when the

top dogs of Lamora get to Uvar for the treaty signing.”


“He’s Lamoran, I thought?”

“I heard Lamora’s in bad shape. The treaty gives all ports along the Naberu River to Uvar,

but we both know once they have that they’ll be asking for the territory within the Broken Sands as

well,” Leas said. She pulled a crumpled package of slim cigars and a lighter out of her jacket pocket

and placed one between her lips as she spoke. “I don’t want those Uvarian assholes getting a hold of

Near.”

“We can move Near to West Town in Lamora,” Tainean suggested. “She’s accustomed to

change, she’ll fit in just fine, and she speaks the language.”

“No,” Leas said. “We’re not moving Near anywhere. If we do our job, we can keep them

away from her – problem solved.”

“The problem’s not solved, Leas,” Tainean scowled. “You just put everything on our plate!

Do you realize your involvement with the clans places you with the rest of those lunatics in the

Uvarian Prison? Frankly, I’d rather not follow if that’s where you plan on going.”

“Taih, you say that every time I propose a plan,” Leas said, taking a deep drag of her cigar.

Tainean let out a sigh and dropped her gaze to the white-washed table top. She picked lazily

at a chip in the wood.

“Did you hear who’s coming in from Lamora?” Leas asked.

Tainean shook her head. “I’m done with politics.”

“The Lady Allanis and General Almadzi.” Leas smirked at Tainean’s surprised look.

“Both of them?”

“Yeah, so you can expect it to be high security,” Leas chuckled. “I don’t know what Garret’s

planning, but it sounds like suicide to me.”

Tainean looked thoughtful. “Why would the Emperor send both of them to sign the treaty

instead of going himself?”

Leas finished her glass of whiskey and said, “Maybe he’s like you and doesn’t like

confrontations.”

She received a glare for her cheek.

“I’m being serious,” Tainean frowned.

Leas tapped on her cigar and leaned forward in her chair. Her sharp silver eyes pierced

through the haze of smoke as she stared at Tainean and said, “Garret goes for the gold most of the

time. If we beat him to it, we’re the winners, got it?”

“I thought you said that was suicide?”

Leas shrugged. “It is, but Garret will probably cause enough of a distraction for us to sneak

in. I’ve got it all laid out. By the time the Lamoran ship docks in Uvar tonight, everything will be

ready.”

“You have it all set up, do you?” Tainean mocked.

“Garret does his own thing,” Leas explained. “The Royal Court will be flocked with people,

mostly magistrates and the like, but before that it will be buzzing with servants and people setting up

the dining hall for all those picky-eating gold-suckers. It’ll be easy to blend into the crowd there.”

“And what exactly are we sneaking in for?” Tainean asked.

“Apparently, one of the seven Stones will be present at the ceremony,” Leas replied.


Tainean paused in thought. “Must be the Fifth.”

“Who cares which one it is, they’re all worth a pretty coin,” Leas said.

Tainean ignored her and said, “So, they’re signing the treaty in the presence of the Fifth

Inquiry.”

Leas sighed. “Which was that one again?”

“Principle,” Tainean replied. “So, Leas, by stealing the Fifth Stone we’re implying the signing

of the treaty is politics without principle.”

Leas grinned.

“That’s a nice touch.”

“Are you afraid?” Leas asked.

“Afraid of going back to Uvar?” Tainean shook her head. “No. Well, a little anxious maybe.”

“You think someone will recognize you?”

Tainean stared away in deep thought. After a moment, she said, “I don’t think so. I’ve

changed a lot since then.”

“I wonder if Near knows anything about what’s going on in Uvar,” Leas mused, putting her

head in her hands.

“She probably knows more about what’s going on than we do,” Tainean replied. Both

women stared off for a moment, each in their own world. After a time, they turned back to each

other and opened their mouths to speak.

“I was just going to say,” Tainean said, quickly before Leas could, “that we should do

something about the exterior of Quixote if we don’t want to be recognized.”

“And I was going to point out that we should use a different ship for tonight’s heist,” Leas

said.

Tainean cracked a smile.

“Ah, that’s the thief I know.” Leas smirked. She took one last drag and left the cigar in the

ashtray to burn out.

“Well, if we’re going to do this,” Tainean said.

“Yeah, already there,” Leas replied as she stood from the table. Tainean slapped a few coins

down and followed after her.

* * *

The hovership docked in Central City, Uvar, just as the sun was beginning to set above the ocean.

The water sparkled at the bottom of the city. An escort of Uvarian Imperial soldiers in their sapphire

blue uniforms waited by the port to welcome Lady Allanis and General Almadzi to the Northern

half of the Kalyn Desert. The Lamoran Elites stepped off the hover shortly after a few guards,

adorned in crimson and steel. The port of Central City was on the edge of a steadily sloping hill, on

which the city itself had been built.

General Almadzi looked up at the stunning view of the ocean that sat shimmering at the

foot of the city. “Beautiful.”

Lady Allanis shrugged. “I’ve seen it before.”


An Imperial of Uvar approached and bowed slightly. The badges on his breast flashed

proudly in the fading sunlight. A military cap chopped off his salt-and-pepper hair at the ears. He

didn’t bow. He held his right fist out and brought it across his chest; an Uvarian salute. “Lady

Allanis of Lamora, General Almadzi, I, General Capris Briggs welcome you to Uvar.”

“Where is your King? He should be the one to receive us!” Allanis said.

General Briggs looked a little taken aback. “He is waiting for you at the Royal Estate.”

“I will not stay at the Palace. I require separate accommodations,” Allanis said, “as does

General Almadzi.”

Leonahari glanced over at her, wondering to what lengths Allanis would go to make their

stay any more awkward and uncomfortable than it was already.

General Briggs seemed to sense she would take this much further because he replied,

“Anything you wish, my Lady. Of course, King Yasur is keen to make your stay comfortable. May I

suggest, perhaps, the Northern Estate? It has a spectacular view of the Saerys Ocean.”

“That will be fine,” Allanis said.

General Briggs turned to Leonahari with a small smile. “General, it is an honor to finally

meet you in person. Please don’t mind my men if they stare. A female in your position is unheard of

in these parts. You will also like to stay at the Northern Estate, I assume?”

“Given the situation, I wonder why you would even care to ask,” Leonahari replied.

Her words seemed to bounce of him. He gave her a curt nod. “Then, my men will escort

you.”

“No need,” Allanis said. “One guide will be enough.”

“Yes, my Lady.” General Briggs waved one of the Imperial soldiers over and ordered,

“Guide Lady Allanis and General Almadzi to the Northern Estate near East Dock.”

The soldier saluted them and started to lead the way into the city where a carriage waited.

General Almadzi followed Lady Allanis into the carriage along with Colonel Jas. The two men

Allanis had hired as well as a crimson wave of Lamoran Elites walked along either side of it as it

trolled slowly between buildings.

The city around them was steadily darkening. The tall, stone buildings flanked the street and

cast long shadows. Some markets were still open, but for the most part the street was quiet as people

returned home for the night.

As they drew closer to the sea, Leonahari could smell the water and feel the salt on her skin.

The air felt thick with moisture, something unfamiliar to those from Lamora. The sounds were

different too; waves crashed against the shoreline and birds called long, sharp calls.

The road turned sharply at the bottom and wandered along the shoreline. Leonahari looked

up at the hillside city in awe of its variegated buildings. In the shade of evening they silently waited

for the light of day to bring their colors and shapes to life.

“I suppose I was a little too harsh on that poor man,” Allanis said, though she didn’t sound

apologetic at all.

“There’s no such thing in a time of war,” Leonahari replied. She refused to tear her gaze

away from the sights surrounding their open-seated carriage. The ocean hugged the coast like a

shimmering blanket. Waves gently lapped at the shore.


“The war is over, Leona.” Allanis played with the golden hem of her robe.

Leonahari glanced at her. “It’s not over yet. Keep your eyes open. Until the treaty is signed

we are in enemy territory.”

Allanis gave her a softened look, but didn’t reply.

Jas’ eyes flicked between them before looking out at the ocean.

“King Yasur will be at the signing,” Leonahari said.

Allanis smiled. “You’re concern is touching, but I assure you I’ll be fine.”

Leonahari nodded and fell silent for the remainder of the ride.

* * *

It was dark. Not the kind of darkness that struck fear into weak hearts. Fog drifted lazily in no set direction. It slid

around in thick plumes. A soft blue light filtered through it, casting rays in all directions.

The sharp smell of burning wood drifted in from the darkness. It seemed to have appeared from nowhere at

all. The fog mingled with the smoke. The blue light was obscured and the darkness thickened.

A soft cry cut through the crackling of flames. The sobs grew louder and then softer like a heartbeat, but without

rhythm. At first they were distant cries, but they started to grow in pitch. Eventually they became noises without any

certain definition. The smoke thickened, completely shutting out the light.

The noises didn’t stop.

Leonahari bolted upright in bed.

She sighed and threw off the covers. A cold sweat was drying on her skin, chilling her. After

a fresh change of clothes, she left the room to prepare for the long day ahead. On her way through a

corridor she passed Lady Allanis’ chambers and noticed only one of her two guards were still

stationed outside the door. She approached the lone guard with a frown.

“Where is your partner?”

The guard regarded her nervously. “Leave of absence for a few minutes, sir!”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Leonahari said.

“He said he’d be back in a few –,”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know, sir!” he finally blurted. His face was so red Leonahari thought he was going

to faint.

She caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

“Do not leave your post until Lady Allanis has appeared. Do you understand?” Colonel Jas

said. The guard in question towed behind him with a frown.

“Not even to take a piss?” he said.

Leonahari stood shocked. The way he spoke to the Colonel in such language was so

disrespectful it left her speechless. Colonel Jas seemed to have more patience than she. He said

nothing.

“I don’t care if you have to piss where you’re standing. You do not leave your post for

anything unless otherwise ordered,” Leonahari snapped.

The guard didn’t say anything to this. He just nodded.


Colonel Jas raised an eyebrow as Leonahari left them. She thought she might find a butler

and get some coffee, but footsteps behind her told her that the morning had other plans.

“Seems a bit unruly,” Jas said, as he came up to walk beside her. “Don’t mind my saying, but

he seemed a tad afraid of you, sir.”

“Where did you find him?” Leonahari asked.

They rounded a corner into a grand foyer where a butler stood waiting. He bowed and

Leonahari briskly ordered black coffee before turning back to Jas.

“On his way from the bathroom,” he replied with a small smile.

Leonahari sighed.

“You seem put off by that, sir.”

Leonahari stared at him thoughtfully. “Word of the day, Colonel: undefined.”

Jas blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“Exactly.” Leonahari turned away at the sound of the butler’s footsteps on the cream-

colored marble. She accepted her coffee from him, and he bowed to leave.

Jas raised an eyebrow at her. Leonahari continued, “Don’t ask me. It’s just the day I seem to

be having, and it isn’t even light out yet.”

“Something I can help with, sir?”

Leonahari had started walking away from him, both hands clasped eagerly around the coffee

mug. “I’ll tell you when I know,” she said before disappearing around a corner.

* * *

“What a crappy idea!” Tainean hissed. She and Leas stumbled up the main stairs of the courtyard at

the front of the Royal Palace. They were dressed in servant outfits and carrying large vases full of

colorful flowers. The majority of the stumbling was due to the fact neither of them could see around

the flowers they carried. Leas sneezed.

They were among a group of servants helping put together the courtyard for the coming

ceremony so they blended in quite well.

“You didn’t have to come along. I wasn’t forcing you,” Leas replied. They lined up with

other servants carrying assorted decorations.

“Oh, please!” Tainean sighed. “Someone has to keep you in check.”

Leas smirked. “I guess we should have hired a third pair of hands then.”

When they reached the plateau, they found themselves in a swarm of other workers moving

about and placing things here and there. The courtyard was enormous. It rested above the city,

facing the ocean. Rich and colorful gardens surrounded the perimeter as well as carved stone and

marble statues of Uvarian Noble Ancestors. Leas couldn’t name any of them. The fountains and

statues added to the beauty of the courtyard. A network of cobblestone pathways laced between

them. Each and every pathway met before the proud stone steps of the Palace. At the center, an

altar had been placed before a marble desk. Two ornate chairs sat on opposite sides of it, facing each

other.


Tainean and Leas found themselves staring at the altar. Tainean shifted her vase of flowers

uncomfortably.

“Stupid rich people and their stupid rich tastes,” Leas mumbled.

Tainean ignored her and gazed up at the Palace in all its glory. It was tall and just as rich-

looking as everything else. It was the Royal Estate after all.

“How are we going to get in there?” Tainean asked.

Before either of them could come up with an answer they heard someone call, “All hands

helping set up the fete please follow me inside!”

Tainean and Leas shared a glanced and hurried over to join a crowd of servants. In front of

the group was an Imperial officer dressed completely head-to-toe in armor. Both Tainean and Leas

thought he looked a bit overdressed for escorting servants into the estate to let them decorate.

Leas snorted with laughter. “You’d think we’d all have pitchforks and shit.”

The Imperial checked to see if he had a large enough group and started leading the way

toward the Palace. “This way now,” he called. “Absolutely no wandering!”

“Hey, you.” Leas’ arm was poked by a small woman walking next to her. “The dining hall

doesn’t need any more flowers.”

“We were asked to bring them,” Leas replied. “So mind your own damn business!”

Tainean shook her head hopelessly.

Leas frowned. “Dumb cow.”

The woman threw her an offended look and moved away from them.

They started up the steps of the Grand Entrance from the courtyard. From the top, Leas

could see all of Central City in a glance. Tainean didn’t look at all thrilled to have to climb more

stairs. The foyer of the estate was a large rectangular room with a polished tile floor. There were

several corridors leading off from it. The Imperial guided the group onward into a corridor straight

ahead.

Tainean signaled to Leas with a glance and they slowed their pace. Eventually, they lagged

behind the main group and as the rest shuffled into the corridor, Tainean and Leas silently turned to

the side and entered a different one. They walked with haste. Tainean led the way through one

hallway to the next. To Leas it seemed they were just delving deeper into a maze. She doubted she’d

be able to find her way out on her own. She tried to memorize the corners and stairways, but it

made her head hurt.

“Are you sure this is the way?” Leas asked from behind the vase of flowers.

Tainean didn’t reply.

An Imperial soldier rounded the corner and almost ran right into them. They stopped. Leas’

heart pounded. She peered around the massive floral arrangement in her arms to get a look at him.

He looked more renowned than the guide who had led them into the building. His armor was

polished to perfection. A dark sapphire-blue robe hung about his shoulders. The Sigil of Uvar, a

shield and swordfish, rested in the center of his breastplate. His brown eyes glanced from Leas to

the vase of flowers Tainean hid behind.

“The fete is the other way ladies. There’s no need for decorations in this area of the estate,”

he said.


Leas looked at Tainean because she had no reply for the man that didn’t include stealing the

dynasty treasure.

“Lady Koeda Valentra asked us to place flowers in the guest chambers for those who are

staying in the estate tonight,” Tainean replied.

“Lady Valentra is here already?” The man blinked in surprise. Leas stared at him, hoping he

would take the bait and leave. “Well, I suppose it’d be a nice touch. Koeda is always thoughtful that

way. Go on then.”

Tainean brushed passed him with her face buried in the flowers. Leas fell in tow behind her.

When they were out of earshot she sighed in relief.

“Close call,” she said.

“Too close,” Tainean agreed.

After a few more corners, they came to a locked door at the end of a short hallway. Tainean

and Leas both placed their flowers on the ground and Leas went to work on the lock. After a few

seconds the door clicked open. They grabbed their vases again and entered into the Palace Treasury.

All along the walls were glass cabinets full of rare antiques, fine swords and jewels. Leas gazed

around as if she were in bliss. Tainean barely even glanced at any of it and headed straight for a

locked chest at the end of the room, stuffed in a corner. She immediately started to work on the

lock.

“All this behind a simple bolt lock?” Leas gaped. “What is the world coming to?”

“Don’t touch it, Leas,” Tainean warned. “The glass is laced with sensors. You’ll set off an

alarm.”

“That’s it?” Leas breathed in disbelieve. “Just a door lock and an alarm sensor? If I had a

team with me, I’d be rich in five seconds.”

“Look above you along where the ceiling meets the wall,” Tainean said. Leas did so. “Those

tiny black holes you see expel gas once the alarm is triggered. The gas sinks to the ground in under

two seconds and knocks you out cold.”

“Oh…”

There was a soft click and Tainean lifted the lid of the small chest.

“Then why is that so easy to steal from?” Leas asked. “Doesn’t seem right.”

“I suppose most of the security has already been waved to prepare it for the ceremony,”

Tainean replied. She slowly lifted out a palm-sized medallion. It was solid gold except for the center

where a large ruby was fitted neatly behind intricate golden lacework. Symbols of an ancient

language were delicately tooled around the outside edges.

Leas peeked at it from over Tainean’s shoulder. She frowned. “That looks like it. Now let’s

get the hell out of here.”

“The sentimental value counts for more than the weight of it, but I wonder how much it

would go for,” Tainean said.

“Who cares? Let’s go,” Leas replied.

Tainean gave her a curious look. Then, she turned and dropped the stone into the bottom of

the flower vase. They grabbed both of the vases and prepared to leave.

“There’s another thing that’s bothering me,” Leas said, “I haven’t seen Garret at all.”


Tainean frowned and closed the door behind them. The lock clicked automatically. They

started back, retracing their steps through the many corridors.

“That bothers me too,” Tainean replied.

“Maybe he was waiting for us to grab it, so he could take it from us,” Leas said.

“Are you actually admitting that you might have been played?” Tainean replied in disbelief.

Her tone hinted at mild amusement. Leas knew it was an ongoing game of hers to try and see her

outsmarted. So far, Leas had managed to prove her wrong every time.

Leas snorted. “That idiot couldn’t play me if I was deaf, blind and stupid.”

“Well, you are at least one of those…” Tainean snickered.

They heard footsteps coming. Leas thought quickly this time. She opened a door next to her,

threw the vase of flowers inside and closed the door. The person rounded the corner. And once

again, they came face to face with the same Imperial as before.

He raised an eyebrow at them and was about to question when Leas suddenly said, “They

only needed one vase in the guest chambers. Another one would have been a little overkill, uh…sir.”

He stared at her with a frown. Leas tensed under his gaze.

“I see,” he said. “Carry on then.”

Tainean grinned at Leas’ quick thinking and they made their way out of the estate. The

courtyard was starting to clear out. It seemed they had finished in time for the ceremonies to start.

An audience of invited guests had started to arrive to witness the signing. Tainean and Leas walked

between them awkwardly with their vase of flowers and out toward the exit of the property.

The Quixote waited on the edge of the city coated in mud. Leas and Tainean had managed to

rough over the identification numbers of the ship with wet clay. The two thieves entered the bridge

without a word and set the vase down on one of the seats. Leas riffled through the flowers in search

of the stone, while Tainean got the ship started.

Getting impatient, Leas started taking the flowers out of the vase by the handful. When she

had finally ripped them all out there was a moments paused as she stared into the bottom of it.

Tainean glanced over at her and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Leas looked up at her with a sour expression.

Tainean’s face fell.

“Bloody hell!” Leas threw the vase across the room. It shattered against the ship’s interior

wall.

“I thought you had vase with the stone in it?” she said.

“You should have checked before you threw it aside like an idiot!”

“An idiot?” Leas snapped. “The flowers were your idea! You should have known which one

you put it in!”

Tainean gritted her teeth. “So, it’s all my fault then? You’re a piece of work!”

“We have to go back,” Leas said.

“Are you crazy?” Tainean replied. “We’ll be recognized! Not to mention, the signing should

be starting soon. They’re going to go and get the stone and find out that it’s not where it should be.

Somebody might’ve even found that vase! It doesn’t take much to put two and two together. That

Imperial will know right away it was us.”


“I can’t believe we screwed it up!” Leas scowled.

“Well, I’m glad you’re admitting to at least half the fault. That’s an improvement,” Tainean

shot back at her.

Leas paced the bridge. She had been so close! There was still a bit of time left.

“I have to go back and see if it’s still there. I can’t just pass it up,” Leas said. She started for

the exit of the ship, and took off down the ramp. She ran like her life depended on it.

* * *

The babbling sound of many voices talking at once rose from the impatient crowd around

Leonahari, jarring her from deep thought.

Someone was talking but she wasn’t paying much attention aside from the audience and

people surrounding the courtyard. She glanced over at Lady Allanis as she stood next to her before

the altar. They stood before King Yasur and the seven members of the Uvarian Council, strangers

all. General Briggs stood next to King Yasur just as Leonahari stood next to Allanis. King Yasur,

adorned with a solid crown of gold, kept a steady gaze on Allanis. The longer Leonahari stared at

him, the more she wanted to poke his beady little eyes out. Utara Vandichi, Emperor Ramnus’

advisor, always commented on how protective she was around Allanis. Leonahari barely noticed

sometimes. It was her job. She would give her life to defend her Lady.

One of the Uvarian Council members stepped forward. He was an older man with grey face

whiskers and a long nose. The sapphire-blue robe he wore swished about his feet as he moved. The

babbling fell silent and was replaced with the distinct noise of whispering among the audience.

Leonahari watched as two Imperials approached the courtyard carrying between them a small crate.

They placed the crate on the table before the altar, under which King Yasur stood. General Briggs

stepped forward and lifted the lid and produced the Fifth Inquiry. He held it up for everyone to see.

Its ruby sparkled in the morning sunlight.

“About time,” Leonahari whispered to Allanis.

“All stand before the Fifth Inquiry!” ordered a member of the Council.

The audience stood respectfully from their chairs. After a moment of silence, General Briggs

returned the Fifth Inquiry to its resting place in the box, the member of Council signaled and the

audience took their seats again.

“Apologies for the delay. Let the ceremony begin,” said the Council member.

General Briggs gazed around. His hands moved as he spoke. “The Treaty here signed by

both parties surrenders all ports along the Naberu River, as well as Fort Twenty-One and the Kalyn

Canyon border, more commonly known as the Broken Sands from Lamora to Uvar.”

“Uvar will not take the Broken Sands from Lamora!” Allanis said, stepping forward with

clenched fists. “Those were not detailed in your original terms!”

“You are in no position to negotiate the terms of the Treaty, princess,” King Yasur said.

“Negotiate? The Broken Sands has been a part of Lamora since the Founding. It belongs to

Lamora-kin!” Allanis said.


Before anymore shame could be brought on House Capolite, Leonahari took a step forward

and gently pulled her back. When Allanis realized her hasty words had caused the audience to stir,

she fell silent.

King Yasur seemed amused by this. “Keep the tiger on a leash, Almadzi.”

Leonahari frowned. “The Fifth Inquiry is present implying that there are politics amid

principle, and we stand to honor it,” she reminded them.

King Yasur raised his eyebrows at her. A member of Council raised his hand. “How dare

you whip your tongue at the King!” he said.

“General,” Allanis said, “stand down.”

Leonahari stubbornly continued, pretending she had not heard Allanis. “Not I,” she said,

“but the Fifth Stone of Sirene. It was your ancestors, the ancestors of Uvar, who encased those

Seven Stones with a vow to hold each in place. Who dares bare their teeth at an Immortal? I stand

here only to remind you of that fact, sir.”

Whispers rose up around them. King Yasur stared coldly over at Leonahari. The Council

member looked abashed. He glanced uncertainly at his King.

“Are you quite done?” King Yasur said.

Leonahari bowed and took a step back. Her hands trembled from nervousness. She knew

her Lady would not let her disobedience slide. She had brought shame to her name, but at the same

time had managed to salvage what honor Allanis had lost.

The audience fell silent once more.

“The Treaty terms go without negotiation,” General Briggs cut in.

Allanis took a step forward to speak. Leonahari glanced at her face. She was sure and

confident, but fear lay deep within her eyes. Just beyond the profile of Allanis’ face, the sun glinted

off the barrel of a gun. Her heart lurched. She grabbed Allanis by the forearm and pulled her

around.

A loud shot rang through the air, crisp and sharp.

Pain pierced through her shoulder, white and hot.

The audience scattered, screaming.

Allanis grabbed hold of Leonahari’s robes as they stumbled. Leonahari dragged her up. She

could feel hot blood running down her arm. Leonahari only cared about getting Allanis to safety.

She pulled her through the wild crowd toward the estate above the courtyard. Her eyes scanned for

Colonel Jas but he was nowhere in sight. Allanis ran with her, attached to her. Leonahari guided her,

telling her to keep her head down.

The pain in her shoulder was starting to throb. She bared half a mind to the people running

past them. Some of them carried weapons of their own. Soon the screams and hustling noises

became muffled and drowned out by the sound of her own breathing. She could hear blood

pumping through her veins. She was becoming lightheaded.

Her vision narrowed when they reached the stairs. Allanis tripped and Leonahari pulled her

up with all her strength.

The noises around them grew louder in Leonahari’s ears. They were running, jumping up the

steps to the Palace. Leonahari felt a tingle on the back of her neck. She spun around and pulled out


her sword to defend against an attack. She couldn’t make out his face. Her vision started to blur. She

pushed him back. He tumbled down the stairs. She turned back to Allanis, but she wasn’t there.

Panic set in.

She looked around in desperation, but her vision clouded. She tried to blink it away but it

made her dizzy. Looking down she saw the wound in her shoulder. She put a hand on it in attempt

to stop the bleeding. The crimson poured over her trembling fingers.

She stumbled then, tripping down the stairs. She landed on her stomach at the bottom.

Gasping for the air she struggled to her feet. People were blurs of color and shapes now, and the

sounds were so mixed together she couldn’t distinguish footsteps from screaming.

“Allanis!” she shouted, staring around at the moving shapes of people. “Allanis!”

Someone with bright copper hair ran right into her. She fell to the ground and smacked her

head on the stair. Everything went black.

CHAPTER TWO:

THE BROKEN SANDS

As Leonahari came to, she realized the side of her face was planted against a cold steel floor. She

was lying on the ground of some small room. Storage bins and crates had been piled along the

edges. Slowly, carefully, she lifted herself from the floor, wincing at the pain in her shoulder. Her

head pounded and the throbbing behind her eyes intensified as she looked up at the hanging bulb

above. It swung from side to side on the end of a long chain. She realized she was moving.

She looked down and found that someone had roughly bandaged her wound to stop the

bleeding. Her crimson robes were stained with a darker red. Judging from the size of the stain, she

had lost a lot of blood. She absently noticed that all her jewelry was missing. The fragile crown from

her head was also gone.

She covered her eyes and rested her back against the cool metallic wall. As she lay there, she

realized that even though she rehearsed everything that had happened at the ceremony, she felt

disconnected from it somehow. She could remember nothing after being hit the second time and

she had no way of knowing whether Allanis was safe, or even where she was. Leonahari started to

feel sick to her stomach at the thought of her failure to protect Allanis. Yet, the shame and fear she

knew she should be feeling was absent from her. In its place, an odd calm had settled over her.

Ignoring the exhaustion that plagued her, she slowly got to her feet. The gentle rocking of

floor coupled with her sudden lightheadedness sent her stumbling into a large wooden crate. She

leaned against it, waiting for her head to clear, and then went to the door. She could hear muffled


voices through the walls, but neither one was familiar to her. She tried the doorknob and was

surprised to find the door unlocked.

She entered into the middle of a narrow walkway. She turned her head left and saw it split

into two stairways, one led down and the other led up. She heard voices again. They were coming

from the right end of the hall. Turning towards them she saw it opened into a wide room. That was

when Leonahari realized she was on an airship. A large windshield curved around and over the

bridge, giving a view of nothing but clear blue sky and the Kalyn Desert far, far below.

Leonahari’s eyes fell on the source of the voices. Two women sat operating the dash side by

side with their backs to her. One had curly, copper hair, and the other’s sat straight past her

shoulders in brown locks. The brunette handled the controls while the red-head attended to the

navigation dials. They seemed to be bickering.

“Can’t believe we missed it again…” said the copper-haired woman.

“I can’t believe you made me go back there,” replied the other. “We were so close to getting

caught. And now we’re kidnappers. I can’t believe you!”

“Not kidnapping,” the red-head corrected. “We saved her life. She’s the General of

Lamora!”

“This is one of your stupid moments, Leas. You’re digging yourself a deeper grave,” the

brunette replied.

“Might I remind you, you’re not being forced to tag along,” Leas scowled.

Leonahari leaned against the door jam, listening. She had no weapon with her. She must

have dropped her sword back in Uvar. Leonahari frowned, uncertain how to proceed. She was in no

state to fight in hand to hand combat.

Colonel Jas Armanti had said more than once that he admired her ability to solve matters

through discussion and careful negotiation. She was known for her silver tongue. She had settled

warfare in Avran ten years ago by rallying allies of tribes and whole Provinces to the Empire’s cause.

It had been the victory that made her famous.

Unfortunately, Leonahari wasn’t feeling all that confident this time. Her mind was still foggy.

She opened her mouth to speak and what came out made her wish she had just stayed silent. “What

the hell is going on here?”

The two women spun around in their seats with startled expressions on their faces. When

the copper-haired navigator saw Leonahari, she turned to her partner. “I thought you locked the

door?”

“You were the last one out!” the pilot shot back.

“Answer my question,” Leonahari said. So much for my silver tongue, she thought.

The copper-haired woman stood up and wandered over to Leonahari who couldn’t build the

strength to stand straight. Leonahari watched the woman’s silver eyes scan over her wounded

shoulder. “You’re a feisty one. I know you’re famous and all, but you’re on my ship. When people

are riding my ship they follow my orders, got it?”

“Leas,” the other woman said. She was still seated at the controls and looked reluctant on

letting Leas backtalk Leonahari.

“Shut it,” Leas replied over her shoulder.


“Leas Steele?” Leonahari said, staring at the woman with the copper hair and silver eyes. She

had heard rumors of Leas and her infamous thieves’ guild, Clan Steele. Leas Steele was the thief

every Commander of the Guard across Kalyn wished to catch. She was elusive, a ghost. Leonahari

had always wondered what the master thief would look like. She had not expected the red hair. “You

were at the signing? What were you there for? Were you the ones responsible for the attempted

assassination on Lady Allanis?”

“We had nothing to do with that!” the other woman replied.

“Yeah, we just showed up and – BAM – a gun went off and everyone went crazy!” Leas

exclaimed.

Leonahari watched her warily. “Then, if you’re smart, you’ll take me to Lamora Fortress,”

she said.

“Take you to the Fortress?” Leas scoffed. “No way. Do you think I’m stupid?”

Leas made to grab Leonahari’s forearm, but Leonahari pulled away from her.

“I guess I didn’t make myself clear,” Leonahari said, “I’m not giving you a choice. That was an

order.”

Her threat fell flat causing Leas to laugh sarcastically.

“My ship, my rules,” she threw back.

The pilot had turned back to the controls. Leonahari felt anger boil up in her veins. She was

frustrated that due to her injury, she could do nothing but glare daggers at Leas.

“I guess you’re used to pushing people around, so this will be a good experience for you,”

Leas said, as she reached for Leonahari’s arm again. Once more, Leonahari pulled away.

“I will not play puppet to thieves!” she snapped.

“I’m trying to help you!” Leas said. She gestured to one of the six seats in a column behind

the pilot. Leonahari blinked in surprise.

“I can do it myself,” she said after a moment.

Leas let her move past. Leonahari moved cautiously, careful not to take her eyes off Leas.

“I’m going to need a navigator eventually,” the pilot said.

Reluctantly, Leas returned to the dashboard. Leonahari watched them work together. Then,

a thought dawned on her. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the Broken Sands,” the pilot replied.

Leonahari furrowed her brow. “Why there?”

“You sure do ask a lot of questions,” Leas said with a hint of frustration. “I’m starting to get

a headache.”

“There’s someone there who can patch up your shoulder,” the pilot replied, throwing Leas a

look to silence her. Leonahari found this exchange interesting.

“Why would you want to help me?” she asked.

“The bullet is still inside your shoulder,” the pilot explained. “You should get it removed.

We know a doctor there who can perform the operation.”

Leonahari frowned, realizing she hadn’t answered her question.

“I know a better doctor in Lamoran Fortress,” Leonahari said. She knew it wouldn’t work, but she

was starting to enjoy how easy it was to irritate Leas.


“You’re not going to the Fortress,” Leas growled.

“Well, it’s only practical,” Leonahari continued. “If you’re going to sell me, you’re not going

to make a profit off of some patch-work surgery.”

“We’re not going to sell you,” the pilot said through a sigh.

“Really, Tainean, we’re not?” Leas mocked.

Tainean threw Leas another dirty look.

“I can’t image you would go to all the trouble to snatch me without thinking of the benefits

first,” Leonahari replied. “So what is it? Slavery? Were you commissioned by someone to steal me?

Do you want a ransom? I’m sure Emperor Ramnus would pay handsomely for me.”

“You’re going to do us a favor,” Tainean said.

“Doesn’t a favor imply I have a choice in the matter?” Leonahari countered.

“If you don’t help us, we’ll kill you,” Leas threatened, though the lack of vigor in her voiced

was unconvincing.

Leonahari grinned. “I dare you to try.”

Tainean let out a frustrated growl. “Leas, shut up and let me handle this. General,”

Leonahari raised an eyebrow at the sudden formality. Tainean continued, “We desperately need your

help. Since the Treaty wasn’t signed, I predict Uvar will invade the Broken Sands.”

“Congratulations, you are probably right,” Leonahari mocked. “In fact, not only will Uvar

invade the Broken Sands, but Lamora will be blaming Uvar for the attempted assassination on the

Empress – I bet you had nothing to do with that, did you? – Lamora will be tempted back into war

to defend Lady Allanis’ honor. Since kidnapping is usually a serious offense, and I am not just some

merchant’s daughter, I can imagine that if this were any other time you would be sentenced to hang.

Fortunately for you, I’m feeling kind. I need to return to Lamora immediately to make sure the

Elites are prepared for Uvar. If you return me, I will let you leave with your heads. I will not hunt

you, and I will not send other men to hunt you. You will be free to go.”

Tainean paused for a moment to consider her offer. Leonahari could see temptation behind

her eyes.

“Her armies have been fighting for ten years,” Leonahari said, impatiently, “Uvar will

trample Lamora! The whole point in the Treaty was to end it! Now Uvar will try and take what they

think they deserve. I am useless at the Broken Sands. I need to be at the Fortress to prepare my

men.”

“Look, lady,” Leas snapped, “your offer is tempting, but you don’t make the rules. You’re

coming with us and that’s that.”

Leonahari stared at her in disbelief. Leonahari was not known for lenience. She felt

embarrassed she’d even tried to settle the matter with kindness. It was obvious Leas was on a

mission to make her life difficult. It felt strange to feel her control slipping through her fingers like

water. She wasn’t used to it. She didn’t like it at all.

“Are you people stupid?” she spat, “I don’t make offers like that a second time. Take it, or I

swear to Isis I will have you hanging from a noose at the end of all this!”

Leas snorted. “You don’t think I’ve heard those threats before? Believe me, I’ve heard them

all.”


“Oh, it’s only a question of when. You can’t run forever,” Leonahari replied.

Pain shot through Leonahari’s body. She took a deep breath and leaned her head back

against the seat. She closed her eyes and felt the ship rock from side to side; every once and a while a

particularly strong gust of wind would cause it to shudder.

Leonahari could hear the two thieves whispering amongst themselves. She tried to make out

what they were saying over the engine noise and the whistling of wind against the ships wings. She

gave up.

Tainean spoke softly. Leonahari could barely hear her, but Leas’ voice seemed to resound

through the bridge no matter how much she tried to keep from being heard.

“When I went back, the ceremony had just started. The Stone had been found and it was at

the altar. But when the shot was fired and everyone went crazy I tried to get to it. When I reached

the altar it wasn’t there. Perhaps that was Garret’s plan after all. He used the audience to create a

distraction and that gave him the opportunity to take the Stone.”

Leonahari opened her eyes. Leas was leaning back in her chair and staring out at the cloudless sky

around them. Her arms were folded behind her head. She sat with one knee drawn up languidly to

her chest, a foot on the edge of the dashboard rocking her back and forth. A dreamy look was on

her face as she stared into the endless blue sky.

“So, it’s the Fifth Inquiry you’re after,” Leonahari said, confused, “I can’t attest to why you

would want it that badly.”

“Are you mad?” Leas said. “It’s worth a fortune!”

Tainean glanced at her. It lasted not even a second, but Leonahari noticed.

“I don’t know where you got your information from, but you’re an idiot. The Stone is little

more than a sentimental pebble to King Yasur, nothing more,” Leonahari replied.

Leas’ eyes widened. She dropped her foot and turned to Tainean, saying, “So that’s why

there wasn’t any security on the stone. But didn’t you say they had already stripped the security for

the sake of the ceremony?”

Tainean didn’t reply. Leonahari’s eyes flicked between them. She knew something wasn’t

being said, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Leas seemed a better liar than Tainean. Naturally,

Leonahari thought, she’d have to be in her line of business.

“Who’s Garret?” she asked them.

Tainean and Leas exchanged looks. Leas’ cold silver eyes glanced back at her. From where

she sat, Leonahari thought she saw a moment’s panic. She must have hit a nerve.

“From what I heard, he is somewhat of a friend of yours,” she continued.

“He’s not a friend,” Leas said stiffly.

“And you believe he’s the one who attacked Lady Allanis?”

“I didn’t say that,” Leas replied. “I just heard he planned on being there. I was going to

scoop him, but it didn’t work out.”

Leonahari was surprised Leas was being so forthcoming. She figured she’d keep asking

questions until her luck ran out. “He wanted the Fifth Inquiry as well?”

“We don’t know for sure what he was after,” Tainean said.


Leas glanced back at Leonahari, and said, “Enough with all the questions. You’re kidnapped…you

can at least pretend to be scared speechless.”

Leonahari ignored her. “Does Garret work for you? Is he a member of Clan Steele?”

Tainean opened her mouth to answer, but Leas rounded on her. “Don’t say another damn

word!”

The bridge fell silent.

Leonahari studied their reactions. She’d heard stories of Clan Steele for years now. Rumor

has it Leas Steele raised the Clan from the ground about twenty years back. The City Watch in

Lamora called her Ghost Thief. Leas was known to steal big ticket items from Lamora’s Inner City

folk, leaving no trace of her entry and no evidence to follow. In Queens, Avran, Leonahari

remembers the Captain of the Guard, Tidus Heller, saying the common people had taken to calling

Leas a Shal Ma’Drae in Avrani. In the Common Tongue it meant Shadow Walker. Leonahari found it

hard to believe someone with so much renown could be so thickskulled. She was under the

suspicion it was a ploy to let her guard down.

She closed her eyes against the blinding sunlight streaming in through the windshield.

“What is the name of this doctor?” she asked.

“Thamus Belis,” Tainean replied.

“Belis…” Leonahari repeated thoughtfully. “That’s an Avrani name.”

“Maldeib is inhabited by many different people. It’s a mix of culture,” Tainean explained,

with a touch of pride. “People go there to forget their past. It’s a place where people accept those

for face value, no questions asked.”

Leonahari frowned. “No doubt a home for bandits, thieves and murderers.”

“Think what you will. All of you noble bastards think everyone under you is up to no good,”

Leas said.

“When have you done anything that hasn’t benefitted yourself?” Tainean countered to

Leonahari’s surprise.

“I let you hang around, don’t I?” Leas retorted, flatly. “If anything you’re an expense.”

Tainean huffed, and said, “We’ll be landing shortly. General, it’s in your best interest to keep

a low profile.”

“Of course,” Leonahari mocked, “wouldn’t want all those assassins after your bounty.”

“Headhunters!” Leas corrected.

“It matters not. There doesn’t seem to be any difference,” Leonahari replied.

Leas groaned and Leonahari got the impression Leas had repeated her explanation of the

difference between headhunters and assassins more than once. She noted with amusement that Leas

seemed rather touchy about that topic.

“Would it make you happy if I hog tied you and stuffed you in a crate?” Leas suggested.

Leonahari raised her eyebrows. She may be injured but she still had some fight left in her.

“I’d be impressed if you could even get a hand on me.”

Leas was about to snap back, but Tainean cut in, “Leas, shut up! I need you to land.”

The ride became rocky as the airship descended towards the sandy surface. Leonahari

opened her eyes to peek out the window at a view most breathtaking. A massive Y-shaped canyon


scarred the endless desert. It was expansive, spanning across the bright horizon for miles and miles.

To Leonahari it looked like the Immortals had decided to cut into the land for no reason she could

fathom.

As Tainean slowly and carefully piloted down towards the eastern arm of the canyon’s Y-

shaped body, it dawned on Leonahari that she had never been to the Broken Sands before. She had

flown over it many times to get to Avran. She had travelled past it to get to Daekra Fort. But she

had never actually set foot on the cliffs of the canyon. She also realized, as the ship descended, that

Tainean lowered it between the canyon walls.

Leonahari turned to glance out the window to watch the rocky walls rise above the airship.

They became enveloped in shadow. Leonahari sighed at the drop in temperature as the sun dipped

behind the rock face. She strained her eyes to see buildings or any representation of the city Tainean

had spoken of, but she couldn’t. The canyon bottom remained flat and lifeless.

The ship jolted as the landing gear touched down. Leonahari shifted uncomfortably.

Absently, she wondered if Leas and Tainean had just made up a story about a city in the Broken

Sands, only to drop her off in the middle of nowhere. That thought made her heart lurch into her

throat.

“There’s no city here. If you plan to kill me, at least give my sword back and make it an even

fight!” Leonahari said.

“Calm down,” Leas replied, as Tainean killed the engine. They both stood from their seats

and came towards her. Leas smirked. Her steely grey eyes flashed with amusement. “We’re not going

to kill you. And besides, you didn’t have your sword with you when we grabbed you; must have left

it back in Uvar. Pity… it would have fetched a nice price.”

Leas laughed and stormed away into the hall, long leather jacket flapping behind her as she

went. Tainean held out a hand to Leonahari.

“I can fend for myself,” she said and stubbornly stood without Tainean’s help.

A loud rumbling echoed through the bridge as Leas lowered the ramp from the level below

the bridge. Leonahari could hear her whistling all the way down until she exited the ship. She drew

her gaze up at Tainean in bewilderment.

“There is a city here,” Tainean assured her.

They left the ship through the belly and out into the sandy bottom of the canyon. Leonahari caught

her breath as she gazed up at the towering red walls of rock that surrounded her. She felt so

incredibly small standing at the bottom.

Leas and Tainean had started ahead of her, leaving her to slowly follow, and she did so

reluctantly. There was nowhere for her to go out here. Even if she was able to run there would be

nothing but the desert to run to; a most unforgiving place. A moment of thoughtfulness made her

crouch down quickly to check her boot. She felt her heart settle at the feeling of her dagger tucked

there. Leas and Tainean didn’t seem to notice her stall. They were more careless than a pair of apes

with fruit. It was just her luck. If they continued being lazy about their security Leonahari would

eventually be able to slip away unnoticed.

“The city is hidden in the canyon side,” Tainean said when Leonahari caught up to them.

“Most people don’t go down to Maldeib, though. It’s too cold. Instead, they stay up on the Ridge.”


Leonahari followed the path with her eyes and saw that it turned and abruptly narrowed. The

section of the canyon they had entered was wide enough to fit an airship. The area they were

approaching would barely fit three men walking abreast.

“What’s the Ridge?” she asked.

Leas entered ahead of them, and Tainean waited so she could fall in tow behind Leonahari.

“A city on the cliff above us. Those who live there keep a keen eye on all the canyon’s

entrances,” she replied. “I like the Ridge more than Maldeib, personally. It’s in the light. Maldeib is

just one big cave. It’s creepy.”

A feeling of slight panic, of being closed in, brushed over Leonahari. She looked up and

found a strip of bright blue peeking in between the towering canyon walls. Rocks jutted out

unevenly along the side of them, some the size of houses. She didn’t much like small spaces. She and

her young apprentice, Semara Naomi, were the same in that way. The thought of Semara made her

heart throb painfully. Semara was one of the few people Leonahari cared dearly for like a mother

would her child. The girl was brought to her at the young age of fifteen when Leonahari was

searching for a promising squire to take over the paperwork for her when she was out of the

country. Little did she know, she would end up grooming Semara for apprenticeship. Leonahari was

painfully aware that if she didn’t return to Lamora in time she could not protect Semara for what

would come.

“It’s best if you don’t look up,” Tainean said, jarring Leonahari from her thoughts. It seemed

her concern had surfaced onto her face and Tainean had read it wrong.

Leonahari dropped her gaze, and asked, “Has anyone been killed by a falling rock?”

“Sure,” Leas replied from up ahead. Her boisterous laugher echoed off the walls. “Loads of

times. I remember a few accidents, in fact. Some guy’s head got split wide open. His brains were

everywhere. I got Ditus to clean it up.”

“That’s not exactly reassuring,” Tainean said.

“Taih, we kidnapped her and she’s walking around like she’s one of us,” Leas said, waving

her arms about. “We should at least make her feel uncomfortable or scared!”

“I’m quivering with fear,” Leonahari deadpanned.

“Leas, get over yourself,” Tainean replied. “This whole thing was your idea. At least execute

it with a bit of grace.”

The path opened up widely again and dropped several feet down into another chasm. At the

very bottom roared a narrow river. Leas teetered on the edge with a grin on her face. “Some view,

ain’t it?”

Leonahari stood a good distance from the edge. She had no desire to go any closer to it.

Watching Leas balance on the neck of the cliff made her stomach churn. A part of her envied Leas’

fearlessness. The other half of her hoped she wouldn’t have to watch the woman fall to her death.

Carefully, Leonahari inched forward and stared down at the depths below. Her mind

conjured a scene where she imagined Leas pushing her off the edge. So this was it then? The famous

General Almadzi of Lamora would be bested by two idiots who couldn’t even think to lock a door

to keep her caged, or take the dagger from her boot while she was unconscious. Fantastic. It didn’t

sound like the honorable death she had imagined for herself.


She licked her lips, and said, “Impressive, but I still don’t see a city.”

“Of course you don’t.” Leas smirked. “That’s the trick of it. Lamora and Uvar have

thousands upon thousands of men and warriors. Well, we have our own means of defense.”

She unsheathed a small dagger from her belt and Leonahari braced. Leas chuckled.

“Relax…”

She leaned over with a grin and tapped the side of the cliff face with the flat edge of the

blade. The sound of metal on rock echoed throughout the chasm even after Leas had sheathed the

blade. Leonahari gazed around with curiosity. Maybe a hundred foot drop to her death wasn’t in the

cards for her after all.

After a moment, Leas pointed over at the side of the chasm wall across from them. “Look

over there,” she said. Where she pointed was a small nook in the cliff face. It was just large enough

for a man to fit through.

“What is it?” Leonahari asked.

“That’s the entrance to the city,” Leas replied as though she was telling a secret she wasn’t

supposed to.

Leonahari frowned. “How do you get to it?”

“You’ll see.”

A man suddenly appeared in the nook and waved happily once he recognized Leas and

Tainean. “Ah, hold on, hold on!”

He disappeared and then reappeared with a long rod. Leonahari watched in disbelief as he

awkwardly placed the bamboo rod between the two cliff faces, making a narrow bridge over the

chasm. Then he appeared again with a second bamboo rod and placed that one also across the gap

next to the first. Then, he appeared a third time, this time with a coil of rope and tossed one end to

Leas, who caught it and tied it through a small discrete hook at shoulder height. The result was two

bamboo poles laying a foot apart from each other and a rope a few feet above.

“You’re not serious.” Leonahari gaped as she suddenly realized what she needed to do to

cross. Her heart gave a violent lurch. Fear gripped her in its claws. She fell against the cliff and sunk

to the ground, wanting desperately to stay put. Two feet on the ground; that’s how she preferred to

be.

“It’s simple,” Tainean explained. “Just shimmy with your feet on the rods and keep a good

grip on the rope for balance.”

Leas snickered. “You scared yet?”

Leonahari glared at her.

“You first,” Leas said at her.

Leonahari tried to ignore the chill that went through her as she peered down at the bottom

of the chasm and then at the two bamboo rods she was meant to cross on. So this is what fate had

in store for her. She was meant to make a fool out of herself before she dropped to her death. It

might be easier if she just asked one of them to push her.

Reluctantly, she moved the two pieces of bamboo together with her foot, building the

courage to make the first step out. She gripped the rope tightly. Telling herself it was going to be

alright didn’t seem to be helping. Taking a deep breath she stepped sideways out over the


treacherous drop. The bamboo was strong. It didn’t even bend under her weight. The rope tensed

against her grip. She took a second step out. It wasn’t so bad, but her palms were sweaty. She leaned

heavily on the rope to keep her hands from shaking.

“That’s good,” she heard Tainean comment from behind her.

She felt a cool breeze come from the river far below. Without thinking, she glanced down.

She felt her heart jump into her throat at the sight. Past her feet and a couple of narrow bamboo

sticks was a hundred foot drop. She felt her body tense up at a slight breeze. She swallowed, but her

mouth was dry. She could hear Tainean saying something to her, some words of comfort or advice,

but she couldn’t make sense of them. All that went through her mind was that her life depended on

her holding tightly to the rope.

Slowly, she brought her gaze up and away from the chasm bottom and focused on the man

standing at the other side. She was half way there. She could do this! She pushed the fear from her

mind and dragged her foot across the bamboo towards him. She moved her hands along the rope in

time with her feet. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the other side. The man grabbed

her arm and pulled her to safety. She landed and shrunk to the ground on her knees. It took all of

her willpower to keep from kissing the ground.

She watched Leas fearlessly cross the bridge. After her, Tainean untied the rope from her

end and, to Leonahari’s horror, crossed the rods without it.

When they were all on the other side, the man grabbed the bamboo rods and ushered them

inside a small hole in the cliff face. Leonahari followed Leas. They entered into a narrow

passageway. Flickering orange flames burned in small bowls of oil carved into the walls on either

side. She could feel the cool breeze come off the rocks. Voices echoed through the passage like

whispers coming from the walls.

Then the passage ended and opened up into a great cavern. Leonahari was surprised to see

people here. Shacks and tents were set up along the walls. People, hundreds of them, bustled around

with their own business. A few shared a look in Leas and Leonahari’s direction. Men and women of

many different diversities zigzagged through the rows of trader stands and merchant vendors. Spices

and herbs filled the air with a distinctive scent that wafted through the area and out into the

darkness of the cavern. Several different tongues became a common part of the babble surrounding

them and echoed off the stone. Maldeib seemed to be a market place alive with every culture and

character of the Kalyn Desert.

“Do yourself a favor and keep your head low,” Leas commented. “People around here don’t

really like people like you.”

“Honest?”

“Noble.”

They delved deeper into a chamber peppered with tents. Leonahari stepped unexpectedly

into a patch of sunlight and shifted her gaze upward to a small borrow carved through the cave

ceiling. She realized in awe that the ceiling was riddled with them, lighting the cavern as if it were at

the surface of the blistering desert. Leonahari stood bathed in this pool of golden light. She noticed

it made her shine majestically in sharp contrast with the tightly clinging shadows, and dull orange


torchlight. Her amazed expressions were starting to draw some unwanted attention. People glanced

at her with suspicious looks.

“Come. Leas told you to keep your head low. Is that how you blend in? Stand in a pool of

sunlight and act like you’ve never seen your own hands before?” Tainean dragged her by the arm

down a wide walkway between shacks. A few odd articles of clothing flashed briefly through her line

of vision; belt buckles, dark leather, stunted swords and rough tattoos. Leonahari stopped to stare at

them.

Tainean paused with a curious look over at her. “What?”

“Bandits,” she whispered.

“As long as they’re not bothering me I don’t give a damn,” Leas said, appearing at Tainean’s

side. “This place is crawling with every ruffian you can think of. Keep to yourself and you won’t

have any problems. But, if you go off spouting about your nobility, they’ll tear you apart.”

Tainean nodded in agreement and said, “Let’s hurry to the doctor. You probably don’t want

that bullet to sit in your shoulder for much longer.”

“Yeah, must hurt like a bitch,” Leas said. Her silver eyes wandered to her shoulder.

“I don’t feel it,” Leonahari replied. “Pain only exists if you give it attention.”

Leas raised an eyebrow.

They reached a tent that looked like every other along the walkway and entered. A small

man, stunted it seemed, sat behind a small desk reading a small book. Small, round spectacles sat,

barely hung, off the narrow tip of his long nose. His dark, beady eyes scanned the pages of the small

book as if in a trance. He was so involved in what he was doing he didn’t even notice them enter.

Leonahari stared at the imp without shame.

“Doctor?” Leas impatiently tapped her finger on the surface of his desk. This movement

seemed to jolt him out of his focus and he bounced out of his chair with such agility and enthusiasm

Leonahari thought he would keel over gasping.

“Ho! Steele!” he said. “What a great day, great day this is! Have you come to celebrate?”

“What are you talking about?” Leas replied.

Tainean gestured for Leonahari to take a seat on the bench beside the doctor’s desk.

Exhausted, she sat.

“Well the victory over Uvar, of course. What are you talking about?”

“The war is not over yet. Are you oblivious?” Leonahari said.

The doctor gave her an odd look. He walked around his desk and Leonahari could see his

legs were twisted. He stopped in front of her, and said, “I’m talking about the War of Avran. We

won it! Lamora overcame the greatest of all odds and emerged victorious.”

Leonahari glanced over at Tainean with uncertainty in her eyes.

Leas smiled. “Doctor, the War of Avran ended twelve years ago. There’s a new war now.

Surprise!”

The doctor stared at her as if she had insulted him. “I’m not a fan of practical jokes, Steele.”

“Is he going to be treating my injuries?” Leonahari asked Leas. She was extremely hopeful

that this man was just the bookkeeper to the surgeon.


“Dr. Belis doesn’t play with a full deck of cards,” Leas explained. “Something happened to

him back when the war ended - made him loose a few marbles.”

Leonahari stared at her in disbelief. “And he’s the practitioner? Are you people mental?”

“If it’s any consolation, he’s the greatest surgeon the Broken Sands has ever had.” Tainean

assured her.

“Not amused,” Leonahari deadpanned.

Suddenly, she felt her shoulder being grabbed. She cried out as white hot pain shot through

her.

Doctor Belis made a small huffing sound and inspected her roughly bandaged wound.

“Bullet to the shoulder…”

He roughly pushed her down so she was doubled over. She could feel her shoulder start to

throb with pain at his touch. For such a small man he had the strength of a giant. Sweat started to

bead along her brow as the pain intensified.

“And I see it did not exit. Not infected yet, though. Good sign, good sign…” he mumbled.

He let her go and wandered over to a small side table next to his desk. There were several vials of

various colored liquids on it. The one he picked up was a pale yellow.

Leonahari watched him approach her with it. “What is that?” she asked.

“I’m going to attempt to remove the bullet, but first I need you incapacitated,” Doctor Belis

said.

Leonahari glared at the vial he held up before her. He gave it a little shake and smiled at her

cheerfully.

As if as an afterthought, he turned to Leas and asked, “Compensation?”

“Fix her up like new and I’ll cover the bill,” Leas replied.

Leonahari’s head snapped in Leas’ direction. She took a moment to study her face. Leas

didn’t seem to give anything away. She looked incredibly smug.

“You can bet I’ll be writing a decent-sized bill then,” Doctor Belis said and turned back to

Leonahari.

“Now, please,” he added as he held out the vial, “drink this.”

* * *

The royal hover arrived at the steps of the Lamoran Fortress days after the ceremony had first

begun. The ramp unloaded onto the sandy walkway of the northern entrance and Allanis stormed

out. Colonel Jas hastened at her footsteps to catch up with her. The entrance of the Fortress was

guarded by a handful of Lamoran Soldiers dressed in cream-colored uniforms. Lamoran Soldiers

looked nothing like Uvarian Imperials. Lamora hugged the southern edges of the Red Sands, the

country’s largest desert. Lamoran Soldiers wore none of the heavy steel armor the Uvarian’s did.

Instead, their uniform was light in color to reflect the sun. Their coats were loose-fitting, thin wool

garments meant for keeping the sweat on their bodies. The slower the wind can take your sweat

away, the slower you dehydrate. They also wore head garments of porous fabric with flaps that hung

down around their shoulders, protecting their face and neck from the sun. Allanis had always


thought Lamoran Soldiers looked less impressive than those from Uvar in their drab uniforms, but

if there was one thing a Lamora Soldier wore with pride it was his shamshir. The deadly curved

blade of a shamshir was crafted in Lamora alone. It could sweep through flesh like butter.

As Allanis approached the gates, the soldiers pulled hard on a rope connected to a system of

pulleys. The heavy doors of the entrance opened outward for them and they entered into a lush

courtyard. A wide stone pathway led to the northern entrance of a massive stone structure that

loomed over the entire Inner City.

The Fortress was built many centuries ago by her ancestors of House Capolite. When Allanis

was young her father, Ramnus Capolite, would tell her tales of the creation of the Fortress. He told

her it took thousands of workers, slaves and soldiers to build a structure large enough and secure

enough to house them all. He said it took over a century to mine the marble and craft it into the

country’s largest and safest estate. It was a building made completely of white marble. It marked the

center of the Inner City of Lamora. With turret upon turret and level upon level, the Fortress was a

labyrinth of stone. It housed those of Noble and Royal birth, and employed thousands of lower class

workers. The army trained within its many large courtyards and Elite Class soldiers occupied

expansive barracks. It had its own medical facility, and its own airship dock. The Fortress was

literally a city within walls of stone. It was Lamoran architecture on the grandest scale.

Allanis rampaged along the path and entered the main building where she ignored anyone

who bowed or said their greetings to her. Her mind was set on finding her father. She still fumed

about what happened in Uvar. No word had come from Leonahari. She was in a panic state. Jas

seemed to be trying to stall her, to calm her down. It was very like him to stay level-headed at time

when all seemed lost. He had been Leonahari’s right hand for over five years now. Allanis had heard

Leonahari compliment him on his battle sense, but he didn’t seem to have any of the silver tongue

she did.

He sped up to walk next to Allanis, and said, “My Lady, if I may say so, perhaps it’d be best

for you to have some water before we speak to the Emperor?”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Allanis said. “An assassination attempt was made on my life,

the treaty did not get signed and General Almadzi is missing. How can I possibly calm down?”

Jas fell silent.

“I want Yasur’s ugly head on a platter. I want to pick out his eyes and feed them to the birds.

Then I may calm down.”

At length, they came to the upper halls of the Fortress. These halls housed the Royal Family,

the expansive library and the Emperor’s study. It was a wide corridor with courtyards flanking the

outer walls. Large domed openings along the corridor opened it up to lush areas letting sunlight

stream in. Allanis could see the entire city in a glance out one of the borrowed windows. Here,

Emperor Ramnus Capolite stood speaking to his faithful advisor, Utara Vandichi. For a man in his

seventies, Lord Ramnus looked healthier than fifty and still had a few slivers of color left in his hair.

He turned when he heard Allanis’ quick steps and smiled when he saw her.

“Ah, a safe return,” he said, holding his arms out to welcome her.

“Anything but that,” Allanis said, stopping short of his embrace.

Ramnus’ face fell and his eyes darkened. He dropped his arms.


“Speak,” he said.

Allanis took a breath and started, “Yasur has made it clear he is leaving us no choice. His

terms were unreasonable, and when we started to negotiate an assassination attempt was made on

my life.”

Ramnus looked between her and Jas. All cheerfulness had vanished from his face. “And the

treaty remains unsigned…” he said thoughtfully. He turned towards an arch-shaped borrow and

looked out at the courtyard beyond it.

His advisor, a man with long, grey face whiskers and sharp blue eyes, glanced back at him

and said, “We were afraid something like this would happen. Indeed, it is in Yasur’s favor whether

the treaty is signed or not. Most certainly he is readying his armies now to stampede over Lamora as

if we are nothing but ants.”

“We still have the Elites,” Jas said. “They weren’t used in the last battle. They are rested and

ready.”

“Lamora is tired,” Ramnus said. “We exhausted our options during war. There is little one

legion can do against an entire army.”

Allanis gritted her teeth. “Lamora will not bow to Uvar. I will see that something is done to

protect her borders.”

“And what do you suggest?” Utara said, raising an eyebrow. “There is no one left to take up

arms. The men are either injured or decrepit. Surrender is necessary for the survival of Lamora.”

“Gruman Yasur will never walk these halls again!” Allanis seethed. “I’ll have Immortal Zero

strike him down before he even steps through the gates of this Empire.”

“Allanis, you have much fire in you,” Ramnus said. He turned back to face them. “But you

underestimate Uvar. They are a powerful force to be reckoned with.”

“That can’t be it!” Allanis said. “Lamora cannot just sit back and watch her people be

terrorized by those barbarians! There must be something more we can do to stop Yasur.”

“Utara.” Ramnus glanced to his advisor. “Assemble the Senate for tonight.”

Utara bowed. “It will be done.”

With that, the advisor turned on his heel and left them. Ramnus looked back at Allanis and

then over to Jas. “I’m sure General Almadzi can come up with a few military options for the senate

to discuss. Please inform her of the meeting tonight, Colonel.”

Allanis and Jas froze. Jas awkwardly bowed to Ramnus, and said, “I’m sorry to have

informed you so late, my Lord, but the General has been missing since the assault in Uvar.”

Ramnus furrowed his brow. “Missing?” he repeated. His eyes fell on Allanis, but she

dropped her gaze respectfully. She knew her father favored Leonahari, both as a leader and like a

daughter. Sometimes it bothered Allanis to know that if Leonahari had shared the blood of House

Capolite, Ramnus would not hesitate to put her on the throne before Allanis.

Jas explained the events as they happened in Uvar at the signing from the late arrival of the

Fifth Stone to the gunshot to their escape to the hovership. He recounted how he’d spotted

Leonahari trying to get Allanis to safety. He had navigated through the panicked crowd to get to

them. But by the time he had reached Allanis, Leonahari was nowhere in sight.


“She had been shot, Your Grace,” Jas said. “If she hadn’t reacted in time, Lady Allanis

would not be standing here now.”

“So,” Ramnus said, “she isn’t missing. She’s dead.”

Allanis couldn’t gather the courage to face her father. She knew in the pit of her heart

Ramnus wished she and Leonahari were in opposite places now. It pained her to think he would

rather see his true-blood daughter shot than lose Leonahari.

“We can’t be sure General Almadzi won’t yet contact us, Your Grace,” Jas replied.

“She was abandoned in Uvar, Colonel,” Ramnus said, unconvinced. “She would never break

under interrogation, and King Yasur knows that. Uvar gains nothing from keeping her alive. If she

hasn’t already died from her wound then I’m afraid another fate has befallen her.”

He took a breath. Allanis and Jas waited for him to continue. Allanis’ stomach churned. She

didn’t want to irritate her father more than he was already.

“Colonel, I hope you are ready to fulfill the General’s responsibilities. Note that the Senate

will expect your presence at the meeting tonight,” Ramnus said.

Jas’ eyes widened and he bowed. “Of course, Your Grace. I will succeed General Almadzi

with honor and pride.”

Ramnus nodded and glanced at Allanis. “Best you rest up before the day is out. We have

long hours ahead of us.”

Allanis bowed her head respectfully. When she looked up again she saw her father walking

away from them.

“Father,” she called. Ramnus stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.

“What about Semara?” she asked.

Ramnus dropped his gaze and said, “Someone should tell the girl the sad news. I trust you

will figure it out on your own.”

“If it’s alright, I would prefer to do it,” Jas replied. “It would be best if she heard it from a

friend.”

Ramnus nodded and left Jas and Lady Allanis to stare after him. Allanis turned to Jas and

noticed he dropped his eyes respectfully. He looked troubled.

“What is it?” she asked.

A deep sadness lay behind his eyes. “There have been many ways in which I have imagined

rising to the rank of General. Not once did I ever think General Almadzi would be absent from it.”

Lady Allanis nodded, trying to show her sympathy. “There isn’t time for a formal ceremony,

but once things slow down, it will happen.”

“I understand, my Lady. It’s just…” Jas frowned. “I had always hoped General Almadzi

would have been the one to pass on the General’s Crest to me. Without her it doesn’t seem right.”

Lady Allanis watched him, wishing she could say something to counsel him. After a moment

of silence, he bowed. “I will go and inform Semara of the bad news, my Lady.”

“You are dismissed then,” she agreed.

* * *


“So, is that some new girl for the clan, Steele? Or are you makin’ friends from the higher

places now?” The barman, a burly man with a protruding round belly, chuckled from behind the

counter of a makeshift bar.

A few wooden planks had been set up against the cavern wall to be used as drink shelves.

The counter had been crafted to sit steadily on the unleveled floor of Maldeib. Leas sipped slowly at

a glass of whiskey.

The barman, Oden Sans, was an old time friend of hers. He had worked for the Clan for

years, almost since it had been established. Oden made sure glasses were kept full and that the men

got good and drunk after a hard day’s work. He smirked across the counter at Leas and continued,

“Saw you bring that woman in. She don’t look like one of us with her fancy robes. You must’ve hit a

pretty nice jack-pot with that one. Funny I don’ remember seein’ a bounty up for a Noble woman.

What’s the amount? Any jewels you get off her you wanna sell to me?”

“Cork it, Oden. I’m not selling anything off her, and she’s definitely not a virgin so there’s

nothing there for you either,” Leas said.

Oden chuckled. “Well, that’s a shame, ‘cause I came across some pretty pieces of shiny silver

just the other day and it’s burnin’ a good size hole –,”

“The answer is no, Oden,” Leas replied. She traced her finger around the rim of her glass in

thought.

Oden huffed. “Well, what’s the big idea? There ain’t no point in bringin’ her here if you ain’t

gonna sell nothin’ off her.”

Leas finished her whiskey in one last swig and slid the empty glass over to him, saying,

“That’s good, that is.”

“Picked it off some carrier passin’ through the Barrier not too long ago. Must’ve been

headin’ to some fancy fete or somethin’ with all the nice cargo it had on it.” Oden smirked. “Me and

my men picked it to the bone. Now there’s plenty where that came from. Another?”

“No, I’ve got business soon.” Leas stood up, brushing dust off her leather overcoat.

“Where’s Tainean? Haven’t seen her since you dragged in that stranger.”

Leas shrugged. “She’s around. Probably at the market spending my money.”

Oden snorted. “Yeah, I bet. Hey, listen. If you change your mind about sellin’ the goods, let

me know?”

“I won’t change my mind,” Leas said, grinning.

“ ‘Course you won’t. Never do. Stubborn wench,” Oden laughed.

Leas ignored him.

“Somethin’ on your mind?” Oden asked. “I haven’t seen you this serious since you lost your

favorite pistol.”

“Oden, do you know anything about the going’s on with Clan Varillis lately?” Leas asked.

Oden glanced around and dropped his voice a bit, “I did hear something about the big

signing in Uvar. My contact from Mandeev had news on Garret’s movements.”

Leas sat back down and leaned in. “What’d he tell you?”


“All he said was that he’d have the whole country in uproars about it, and that he wanted to

change the way of things,” Oden replied. “He’s got serious beef with you, Steele. Watch your back

out there.”

“The way of things?” Leas said, ignoring Oden’s concern.

“That’s what he said.” Oden nodded. “Apparently, Lady Allanis’ son, Prince Thomas, isn’t

all that happy about the arrangement of succession. Little prick has balls to try and get in touch with

the Assassin’s Guild. He thinks Viskar can help him.”

Oden snorted with laughter. “Man’s chasin’ a ghost!”

Leas nodded in thought. “Viskar is just a legend, Oden.”

“Yeah, that’s what they say, but it’s fun to imagine a Master Assassin like him exists,” Oden

replied, dreamily.

Leas stood up and nodded to him as she turned to leave. “Thanks for that drink.”

“If you’re headin’ to the main drag, stop by at Farid’s stand. He’s got some new stuff there

you might like,” Oden said after her.

“Will do.” Leas waved back at him.

She went into the tent city, to the very center of it, where merchant awnings were set up in a

line, one after the other. People mingled here, buying, selling, visiting. Merchants threw their voices

loudly into the crowded lane to attract a potential buyer.

Leas walked along between tents and trade vendors scanning the crowds for signs of

Tainean. She recognized her Clan members and if they saw her, they nodded or stepped respectfully

out of her way. She spotted a good sized crowd in front of a vendor selling weapons and made her

way over. Tainean sat under a lattice, watching the people swarm and bargain. Farid Lu, Clan Steele’s

Second in Command, and Leas’ good friend, stood next to Tainean, dealing and selling blades of

every kind from a chest. He had them all laid out across a counter in front of him. A short mass of

dark brown curls hung about ears and warm brown eyes flicked eagerly from customer to customer.

His copper-toned skin shinned with sweat even down here in the cool, shaded cavern. He wore

desert drab as if he had just returned from a journey through the sands, and hadn’t had time to

change before he started selling his loot. A fine shamshir sword wrapped in a grey leather scabbard

hung from his waist. He held out a steel cutlass to a man, and the man took it and felt its balance.

Farid’s soft features broke into a smile when he saw Leas come over, but he couldn’t stop to

greet her. The crowd surrounding the stand demanded his full attention. He simply nodded to her as

she came around the stall to stand next to Tainean.

Tainean grinned when she saw Leas approach.

“What’s all this about?” Leas asked, scanning the goods.

“Farid hit some good bargains out in Avran last night. Apparently, some of this stuff was

looted from Uvar during the ceremony,” Tainean replied. She picked a delicate scimitar blade from

the pile beside Farid and admired it closely. The black leather scabbard looked worn in places and a

unique design was masterly tooled along the face of it. The hilt was made of pure gold, intricately

molded around an oval stone at the crest of the handle; a diamond the color of ebony.


“That’s definitely one of a kind. I set it aside for myself.” Farid said glancing over his

shoulder at the sword in Tainean’s hands. He turned back to the customer, who was holding a bag

of coins out to him, and started to bargain a price over the cutlass.

“Can’t blame you for keeping it,” Tainean said.

Leas frowned down at the sword. She didn’t like it. There was something about it that made

her insides turn. She didn’t know why, but she wanted it gone from her sight. She looked away.

“Farid, have you seen Near?” she asked.

Farid caught another sack of coins and passed a long sword into the crowd. “I haven’t,” he

replied. “Last time I saw her, she was out on The Ridge…”

“And what the hell did you let her out there for?” Leas snapped.

Farid turned to her with a stern look. “I’m not her father, Leas. Don’t pester me about it. I

have my own to look after.”

Leas frowned but continued to glare at Farid even after he had turned back to his crowd of

eager buyers.

“How is that sister of yours?” Tainean asked, trying to break up the tension.

“Better, I guess,” Farid replied. He didn’t sound very convinced.

“I thought you took her to see Belis?” Leas chipped in.

“Belis saw her last week, but there doesn’t seem to be anything he can do,” Farid said. Leas

had known Farid for over ten years. She had seen him watch over his ill sister for most of those

years, and when most people would have given up hope, Farid kept working to find a miracle to

help his sister. He had earned his rank as Second in Command in Clan Steele, but Leas knew he was

only there for money. He was too honorable to take any joy from thieving. He needed the money to

pay for Belis to watch over his sister.

“Maybe it’s time she saw Near,” Leas suggested.

Farid sighed and closed the chest full of weapons. He turned to the crowd, and yelled, “All

right, you bastards, come back tomorrow! I’m closing up for the night.”

He received a handful of angry responses to this, but ignored them. After a bit the crowd left

and scattered to the other merchants, and Farid locked up the chest.

“I’m glad for your concern,” he said, “but, honestly, after this lot is sold, we won’t need any

help.”

“Suit yourself,” Leas said, shrugging. “Near’s been a little odd herself lately. I wouldn’t want

her wasting her energy.”

Farid gave her a sour look. His soft face hardened as he frowned at Leas. He seemed to have

forgotten about the merchandise in his hands. He dropped his arms to his sides like they weighed a

ton each. “Now, that’s uncalled for. Even coming from you.”

“I only offer Near’s assistance once,” Leas replied. Her calm indifference layered her voice

and her face. Even in her eyes there was only a flash of irritation, not even strong enough to be

called anger.

“I mean no disrespect, but it shouldn’t have to be said, especially to you,” Farid replied,

“Carmen wouldn’t see a Guide. She just doesn’t agree with that kind of magic.”


“She isn’t a Guide, she’s an Immortal,” Tainean said, her voice was as soft as a kiss. Leas

looked over at her and she dropped her eyes respectfully. Farid glanced over at Leas and bit his lip.

He nervously pinched the brink of his nose.

“Sorry,” he said, softly, “I knew that. I just…”

Leas watched him struggle for the words that wouldn’t come.

He gently took the scimitar from Tainean’s hands and turned it over in his own, admiring

the craftsmanship of it. The black diamond seemed to sparkle even in the faintest light. Looking into

it, Farid had the feeling the stone was growing larger in his range of sight. The bigger it got the more

light it seemed to absorb, until everything around it seemed dim in comparison.

He closed his eyes to clear his mind, to forget the darkness of the stone, but all he could

think about was the weight of the scimitar in his hands. It was incredibly light for even a half-length

blade. It weighed no more than a thin dagger.

Opening his eyes he noticed Tainean and Leas staring at him with wary expressions.

“I think you need a drink,” Leas mumbled.

“On second thought,” Farid said as if he hadn’t even heard her, “I think I will sell this.” He

cautiously glanced down at the scimitar again. Slowly, carefully, he drew it out of its sheath, only an

inch or so, to peek at the blade.

His breath caught. He had expected a well-polished steel edge, perhaps even folded to a

diamond tip. Instead, the blade was as black as the stone in the hilt. It too seemed to suck the light

out of its surroundings, except, unlike the stone, it didn’t sparkle, shine or give off any sort of

glimmer. It was like looking into an endless, dense darkness. He had no idea what kind of metal it

was, or even how one would come by such a material. All he knew, as he sheathed the blade with a

quick movement, was that he never wanted to see the entire blade at once.

“A cursed blade…” Leas said in awe. With a start Farid realized she was standing next to

him. A wary expression spread over her face. A shadow passed behind her eyes. She seemed

haunted.

“Cursed?” he choked. “Is there such a thing?”

Tainean eyed Leas intently. Leas avoided her gaze and turned to shrug at the main street. It

seemed the other vendors were enjoying the customers Farid had sent away. It was getting later in

the day. The rays of sunlight filtering through the cavern ceiling were slanting more and more to the

west. Other than that, there was no sense of time down under the desert floor.

“Black blades are forged in the capital city of Qui Darnae, Nal Tara,” Leas said. She turned

back to them and her silver eyes landed on the scimitar blade in Farid’s hands.

“Qui Darnae? The land beyond the Whitecap Mountains,” Farid said. A smirk turned his lips

up and he laughed warmly at the memory of childhood tales. “Qui Darnae is a myth. I was told the

stories about it in my youth; mountains moving to block routes through to the other side; an

underground labyrinth spanning beneath the whole country, haunted by those who wandered down

into the tunnels and never came out; dragons; men with wings on their back, and Isis only knows

what else. I’m very familiar with the tales.”


Leas’ lips thinned but she stayed quiet. Tainean looked as if lost in deep thoughts of her

own. Farid glanced between the two of them uncertainly. An itch of doubt was starting to claw at

the back of his mind. “It’s not real, right?”

“Think what you want, Farid,” Leas said. “I won’t tell you one way or another.”

A smile broke out on Farid’s face. “You’re fooling with me. I knew it! Curse the Sun, you

had me going.”

Leas chuckled. “Well, you looked like you were going to be sick looking at that blade. I

figured I’d run with it.”

He laughed. “Damn you, Leas!”

“Talking about that sword,” Tainean said. She stood and held her hand out to take it back

from him. “I believe I know who it belongs to.”

Farid’s grasp on the sword tightened and he looked over to Leas as if he expected another

joke. Leas furrowed her brow at her partner.

“He found that fair and square,” she said, sternly.

“It doesn’t matter. As soon as she sees it she’ll think Farid had something to do with the

attack. We don’t need that,” Tainean replied.

“Who are you talking about?” Farid asked. His grip was still tight on the sword. He held it

right up against his chest as if it was some precious thing he had cherished all his life.

Leas and Tainean spoke, both at the same time.

“Nobody important.”

“General Almadzi.”

Silence settled as Leas turned to glare at Tainean. She glanced back to see Farid’s face had

paled.

“General Almadzi of Lamora?” he repeated. He looked between them. “Oh, piss and

blood… what have you guys done now?”

* * *

The soft pricks of rough wool scratched at her body. Leonahari opened her eyes to the blurry room

around her. It took great willpower to force her eyes open. A heavy drowsiness still rested on her

mind. She blinked sleep from her eyes, but the room around her still danced and blurred wherever

her focus tried to settle. The canvas-covered room she was in was unfamiliar to her. It took a

moment for her to remember what had happened, and then it all came back to her.

Leas Steele and Tainean Solador. Their faces still hung in her memory like an omen, so

crystal clear despite her blurred vision. Thamus Belis, the doctor who believed the War of Avran

ended only yesterday. Then, she remembered Uvar and the signing. The madness of the day had not

ended yet, she knew. The murmurs of the people within the cavern echoed off the stone around the

doctor’s tent. Shadows danced across the canvas walls. A chill went through the room, and

Leonahari shivered against it.

Her shoulder ached as she sat up, and she gingerly touched the white bandaging. Someone

had left her some clean clothes folded on a chair next to her cot. They lacked the flash of nobility


her other robes had, but, she reasoned, in this place it was for the best. A simple sandy-colored tunic

and leggings, tailored to fit well against a woman’s shape had been laid out for her, as well as a pair

of leather slippers. She frowned when she realized no weapon had been left for her. The dagger she

had kept nestled in her boot was gone.

After she dressed, her vision started to clear. A quick glance through the room assured her

nothing was left behind. She left the tent cautiously and stopped. Tents and trade vendors clustered

within the cavern. People weaved between them with little mind for anyone else. Leonahari stepped

into the main lane between the vendors. She moved slowly, following the flow of traffic and

blending into the crowds. Sometimes she stood to try and see over their heads at a very excitable

merchant selling everything from spices to weapons to jewelry.

She carefully stepped out of the way of a man carrying a crate loaded full of, what looked

like, liquor bottles. A second later, someone shoved roughly past her shoulder. She winced at the

pain that burned through her arm. Cursing under her breath, she slumped against the side of a litter

to get out of the way of the bustling main street.

She hadn’t the faintest clue what she was doing or where she was going. She just knew she

had to get out of Maldeib. She somehow had to make it across the Red Sands to the Lamoran

Fortress, and seek out Emperor Ramnus. She had to be sure Lady Allanis was safe. The attack in

Uvar had obviously not been an accident, and if they had not succeeded the first time, she was

certain, the assassins would try again. Until she came face to face with Allanis, she knew Colonel Jas

would carry out her duties. It only pained her to know that whatever happened while she was here,

in the Broken Sands, was out of her control. She hated not being in control. She had to find a way to

get out.

First thing’s first, she’d be carrion meat if she didn’t have a weapon. Looking around she saw

many vendors selling weapons. The only problem was she didn’t have any money with her and

everything that she could have sold had been stolen.

Panic set in.

Closing her eyes allowed her to focus and think clearly. She pushed her frustration and pain

away. In the clarity of the moment, she knew she had to consult Immortal Zero, but it would have

to wait until she could find a place where she would be alone and safe.

That’s when she remembered the airship.

If she could get back across the gap in the canyon, then she would be able to reach Leas’

ship. She opened her eyes as hope returned to her. If she could figure out how to pilot it, that would

be her ride to Lamoran Fortress. Not to mention, weapons and gear might still be in cargo.

Her feet moved of their own accord through the street, weaving between the people and

avoiding the merchants. She caught the eye of a few passersby, but none bothered her and she was

grateful for it. The entrance to the cavern had been a narrow tunnel leading…

…from where?

She glanced around trying to decide on a direction. She couldn’t tell North from South in

this place. The cavern was large enough that everything, tents and people alike, were swallowed by

darkness on all sides. Only the star lights in the ceiling hinted at the world above.

That’s it! The rays of sunlight slanted toward the sun, westward, she thought.


That’s all she needed to know. From there, she turned northwest and slipped between two

trade vendors. When she came out on the other side, the path for her was clear of tents and people,

but the star lights didn’t go any further. She stepped into shadow, eyes wide open searching for the

faintest flicker of torchlight, dim in comparison to the golden rays of sunlight. She thought she saw

something orange glisten off the damp stone. The silhouette of the tunnel’s entrance flickered a few

feet away. She felt her way towards it and rounded a hard corner, stepping carefully over uneven

rock.

She squinted up at the torch above her head just as her hands came in contact with

something warm and squishy. She gasped and jumped back. She had come face to face with a beast

of a man. He towered over her, and her heart dropped into the bottom of her stomach as she

realized the sheer size of him. His arms alone were as thick as her whole body. The firelight danced,

catching the features of his face. He was grinning.

“Going so soon?” he said.

CHAPTER THREE:

TRAPPED

Thamus Belis tapped his heel lightly against the leg of his chair and puffed calmly at the pipe

between his lips. Across from him, Leas sat on the cot the General had once been in. Tainean leaned

against a filing cabinet staring at her shoes. Of all of them, Farid was the most fretful. He stood

rigidly in the middle of the room, demanding attention from those not willing to give it. His

normally warm brown eyes were wide and fearful. He spoke with his hands as if he were afraid he

was not getting his point across with his louder-than-normal tone.

“The General of Lamora!” he stared intently at Leas, who stared calmly back. “You may as

well have just gone and kidnapped the damn Emperor. What were you thinking? You’re going to

have the entire Imperial Army down on us any moment!”

“Calm down,” Leas said. She didn’t know why he was so worried. He had worked with her

long enough to know she always had everything under control.


“Calm down?” Farid repeated louder. “Calm down!”

“The Imperial Army doesn’t know who to blame,” Tainean cut in. Her voice was a quiet

whisper compared to Farid’s. “And even if they did, they wouldn’t know where we are or how to get

to us.”

“It doesn’t matter! They’ll find us!” Farid said. “They’ll tear the desert apart searching!”

Leas sighed. “I think that’s the fear talking.”

“No, this is logic talking. I know you don’t know how to use it,” Farid replied. Leas shot him

a cold glare. They had become friends in the long years Farid had worked for her, and sometimes

that made him ignorant of the fact she was his boss. Leas had more patience for Farid than most

other people for some reason. If anyone else had whipped their tongue at her she would have had it

torn out. Farid continued, “If she ever goes back to Lamoran Fortress and manages to get back in

power, we’re all dead. She is one of the most powerful people in the world, Leas.”

“Then you better make fast friends with her and give her back her sword,” Leas replied.

“What?” Farid blinked. His hand strayed to the black gem on the hilt of the sword. “This is

hers? How do you know?”

“It’s just a guess,” Leas said. She had seen Leonahari wielding a scimitar back in Uvar, but it

had had a different colored stone. She and Tainean exchanged a glance which seemed to infuriate

Farid even more.

“General Almadzi has always carried a scimitar,” Tainean said. “Though, if I remember

correctly, hers had a ruby in the hilt… not a black diamond.”

“How can you not take this seriously?” he gaped in disbelief. “That woman you dragged

here against her will now has access to Maldeib. If she gets out –”

“Then we kill her,” Leas said.

Farid fell into silent disbelief. Tainean’s expression had turned hard and the glare she gave

Leas was cold. Only the sound of Thamus Belis puffing away at his pipe filled the room. The smoke

drifted through the tent around them. Leas stood and surveyed Farid with a dark look. She had the

mind to tell him not to worry about any of it.

Leas pulled a pack of thin cigars out of her jacket pocket and put one between her lips.

Thamus offered her a light. The tip of the cigar burned bright orange in the flame for a second

before she stood straight and blew out grey smoke. “I’m taking this very seriously,” she said. “You

said that woman is one of the most powerful people in the world. I think you’re forgetting that I am

also not one to be reckoned with.”

Leas took a step towards Farid. She could tell Farid wanted to take a step back. She could

see it in his eyes, but she knew he would defend his honor. As she suspected, Farid stood his

ground. A chill hung in the air between them. Farid stared back into Leas’ silver eyes.

“Maldeib is a part of a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caverns; a network of pathways

connected to the water. I could have my people move deeper if the need arose. If Almadzi thinks

she can threaten me, I’ll remind her that we have an army of our own and she’s playing in our home

field,” Leas said. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”


Farid let go of the breath he had been holding when Leas stepped away from him. He found

his voice again, and said, “She may be at your mercy here, but she’s a part of an Elite Order in

Lamora. With all due respect, you cannot lay a hand on her, nobody can.”

Thamus raised his eyebrows. Leas puffed contently on her cigar. She looked completely

unconcerned. “Is that what she is?” she said. “No wonder she had such a haughty attitude with me.”

“He’s right, Leas,” Tainean cut in. “Use what little diplomacy you have around her. We don’t

need to be further in hot water than we already are. Let’s hope your men didn’t rough her up too

much.”

“Why can’t you two trust me? I have this all under control. I gave Ditus strict orders not to

harm her,” Leas replied.

Farid crossed his arms. There was no sense in arguing Leas. No matter how much he wanted

out, he knew Leas would not hear his excuses.

Suddenly, Thamus piped up, “I’m surprised she managed to leave this tent at all. The

sedative I gave her was quite potent for a woman of her size.”

As Thamus went back to thoughtfully smoking his pipe, Leas dropped down on the cot with

a loud sigh. “Yes, I have a feeling she’ll be a stubborn one.”

“Any brilliant ideas on what to do with her?” Tainean asked. “I mean we’re already stuck

with her. You can’t very well drop her off at the Fortress in Lamora and bid her farewell without

being hunted the rest of your life, and she won’t willingly work for us.”

“For Clan Steele…” Leas said. She stared up at the ceiling of the tent in thought. Farid got

the impression there was something she wasn’t telling them. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Decided? Decided on what? Do you even have a plan?” he said, heatedly. “Are you telling

me you just decided to kidnap the General of Lamora on a whim?”

Leas frowned. “I’ve got Garret. I can use him as bait.”

“What does Garret have to do with anything?” Farid asked.

Tainean was watching Leas studiously. Thamus leaned forward over his desk to tap the

charred remains from the inside of his pipe into the ashtray. He lifted the lid of an old aluminum pot

right next to it and started stuffing tobacco into the bowl. Smiling to himself, he said, “Ah, the hare

and the lion. Leonahari is the lion. Garret is the hare. The lion protects the herd, so the hare is

hunted.”

Everyone in the room seemed to pause to consider this, but there was something wrong

with the Doctor’s example as Farid was quick to point out, “How does a hare threaten a lion herd?”

Thamus only laughed, and said, “Now that is a good question.”

Leas shook her head, and said, “Leonahari is probably eager to find out about the attempted

assassination, and I’ve let her think Garret has something to do with it.” She suddenly turned to

Thamus, and added, “And the tale is about a fox and a hare, not a lion and a hare…crazy bastard.”

Thamus ignored her, and continued to puff on his pipe peacefully. He almost looked like he

was going to break out into a happy hum the way his eyes glazed over contently. The smoke rolled

over his face in heavy plumes.

Farid stared across the room at Leas. “So, you’re going to use the General to get rid of

Garret?”


“Garret has been a pain in my side for too long. Him and Clan Varillis need to be stomped

out of existence,” Leas replied. “Almadzi will have no other choice but to clear our charges and our

bounties when the proprietors of Clan Steele aid her – no, the Lamoran Empire – in catching the

assassin.”

“Well, that sounds dandy, but what if your plan doesn’t work? We lead Leonahari to Garret,

and he gets sentenced, but we get thrown in jail for even being associated with him,” Farid argued.

“And what if Garret had nothing to do with it?” Tainean raised an eyebrow at Leas.

Leas opened her arms and stared around the room at everyone. “Have my plans ever failed?”

“Fifth Inquiry in Uvar before the signing – you failed to procure the Stone,” Tainean

answered almost immediately.

Leas’ silver eyes went to the floor in an attempt to look thoughtful, but the blankness behind

them suggested she was out of ideas. Farid laughed. He always found Leas and Tainean’s bantering

amusing. For Farid it was refreshing to see hot-headed Leas get cut down to size every once and a

while.

However, Tainean stood a little straighter as she said, “Actually, we might have a shot with

this plan of yours, Leas.”

Leas’ gaze shot up into Tainean’s face as her hope relit itself. Farid stared at her in disbelief.

“Are you serious?”

With a small nod, Tainean continued, “Almadzi will negotiate with us if it means we are her

key to the assassin. Her foremost priority now is going to be ensuring the Emperor and his daughter

are safe, and then she will most likely hunt down the ones responsible. If we can make her job

easier, she may agree to our freedom in the end.”

“Do you even know where Garret is?” Farid asked, doubtfully.

Tainean paused, but Leas replied, “Probably around Mandeev Oasis in the Red Sands. The

Avran Connector and Royal Skyline are popular looting grounds. Not to mention, if he managed to

get anything out of Central City at the signing, he’s probably selling it to the merchants in Fort

Cambrie.”

“Seems like you’ve decided then,” Thamus mumbled through his pipe.

Farid didn’t feel any more at ease than he did a moment ago. He ran a hand through his dark

hair nervously. “This plan better work. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life rotting in a cell at

Fort Daekra.”

“Steele.” A large, beefy man opened the flap of the tent up and ducked in. His shoulders

were almost the same height as the top of Farid’s head. Not only was this man tall, but he was easily

twice the size of Farid in muscle and width, with broad shoulders and no neck. His head sat like a

round, red potato at the top of his body, with beady, dark eyes embedded above a thin mouth and

puffy, pink cheeks. Even his arms were the size of a normal man’s thigh. Farid and the others didn’t

even seem to notice the small woman struggling on the end of it. Farid had worked with Ditus many

times, but the man’s sheer size still caught him off guard from time to time.

“I’ve found your hostage,” Ditus said.


Everyone except Leas was too busy staring dumbfounded up at the man to notice who he

was holding onto. “Good work, Ditus,” Leas replied. She stood up from the cot and smirked at

Leonahari.

“Get your hands off me!” Leonahari snarled. One bucket-sized hand was wrapped around

her left forearm. Ditus didn’t seem to be putting any effort into his grip, but Leonahari seemed to be

struggling with all her might. She looked about ready to kill someone. There was urgency in her

silver eyes, driving her frenzied attempt to escape. Her hair whipped wildly around as she pushed

against Ditus’ forearm.

Tainean jumped forward, and demanded Ditus release her. When he did, Leonahari shot

forward. She pushed Farid out of her way and violently struck Leas across the face with a closed fist.

Leas stumbled back, a pained expression stretched over her features. She brought a hand up to

cover up the red welt that had started to rise.

Everyone in the room froze, stunned. Thamus had even forgotten his pipe as it hung limply

from his lips.

Leonahari straightened and watched Leas turn back to her. For a moment, they only glared

at each other. Leas, with her hand over her throbbing cheekbone, looked like she could murder.

Farid’s heart was pounding in his chest. He had never seen someone strike Leas. Nobody in their

right mind would raise a hand against her without expecting to lose it immediately afterward.

Leonahari opened her mouth to speak. Leas struck her back.

Eyes bright with fury, Leonahari turned back to face Leas in stunned silence. Leas scowled

and dropped her hand, exposing the beginning stages of a brutal bruise along her left cheekbone.

“I hope you liked that, because there’s more where that came from. People don’t hit me

unless they expect to get hit back,” Leas said. Her voice shook with anger. Farid could see the fire

behind her eyes, but he knew Leas had more respect than to act on it. If Leonahari had been anyone

else, she would have eaten a bullet from Leas’ pistol.

Tainean was watching with wide-eye anticipation. Ditus and Thamus had smartly decided to

fade into the background. Farid heard Leonahari let out a deep breath. The fury that had been there

before shrank behind her eyes. After a second she looked completely calm.

“I think, perhaps, we can understand each other then,” she said. Everyone in the room

seemed to let go a breath they were holding. Leas looked a little surprised by her response, if not

also a little disappointed. Leonahari grinned at the sight of the red, blotchy hand printed across Leas’

face, as she continued, “I don’t care about what you think you know about this war, thief. I have to

make it back to Lamora, and you are the only thing standing in my way. Don’t think I won’t take

you down if that’s what it takes. I’m giving you a chance to let me pass freely.”

Even in spite of the tension in the air, Leas laughed. “I can’t believe you’re still trying to

make the rules. You’re the bloody hostage. You’ll do as I say.”

“Leas,” Tainean warned, but Leonahari talked over her, “You haven’t a clue what you’re

doing! You’re a fool! I demand to be taken to Lamora at once!”

Farid didn’t know what possessed him to do it. He stepped forward, attracting Leonahari’s

cold, silver gaze, and said, “We want to negotiate with you.”


Farid seemed to shrink under her gaze. The confidence he had started out with drained out

of him, and he wished he’d kept his mouth closed. Leonahari’s eyes were as cold as the ice at the tips

of the Whitecap Mountains. They made him feel small and insignificant. Though, no matter how

much he wanted to step out of the spotlight, he could not make himself do it. His legs had frozen to

the spot.

“Negotiate?” she said. Her tone was doubtful. “You want to negotiate with me? You’re

joking, right? I don’t negotiate with low-lives and thieves.”

Farid bared his teeth, but his pride was damaged. A nagging at the back of his mind

reluctantly made him jump to defend it. “I am not a beggar or a thief! I am a well-respected

Blademaster, and I have never stolen a thing in my life.”

Tainean pinched the bridge of her nose and turned away. Farid glanced at Leas and

wondered why she did not meet his gaze. He noticed Leonahari’s eyes wander to the sword he had

strapped to his belt. His heart plummeted as her expression turned smug.

“Never stolen anything, you say?” she said.

Slowly, Farid unhooked the sheath from his belt. He could feel her eyes on him. The black

gemstone under his fingertips glimmered in the fading sunlight coming through the drapes of the

tent window. He swallowed as he held the sheathed scimitar in front of him with two hands, and

said, “I bought this fair and square from a trader in the Red Sands.”

“That sword belongs to me,” Leonahari said. Her voice was a low growl. Farid winced

inwardly at the threat between her words.

“That’s why I offer it to you now as a sign of peace,” Farid replied, though a little shakily.

“We want nothing but your cooperation, and we believe you may find our information useful in

helping the Emperor.”

Her silver eyes studied his face briefly before falling to the sword in his hands. Farid caught

the look of concern before she was able to hide it again. He glanced down at the scimitar, wondering

what could have caused her to worry.

“And what kind of information is that?” she asked. Though she seemed interested, she made

no move to take the sword from him. She seemed to be waiting. Whether he was supposed to do or

say something, he didn’t know.

Thamus stood to light the oil lamps around the room. One sat on his desk next to the

ashtray, and Farid hadn’t even realized it had gotten dark until he lit it. Orange light danced through

the room, casting long shadows over the tightly-knit canvas walls and ceiling. Ditus stood in the

doorway staring calmly across at the opposite wall.

“An associate of Clan Varillis may know more about the assassination than us. We have

reason to believe they were involved,” Farid said to Leonahari. “We can show you where they hide

out.”

“So Garret is a member of Clan Varillis,” Leonahari said. “And you don’t think I can’t find

him on my own? I wouldn’t be much of a General if that were the case.”

“Garret is the Clan Master,” Leas replied. “Good luck finding him on your own.”

Tainean crossed her arms and studied Leonahari from where she stood in the corner of the

tent. Her dark eyes narrowed. Farid could see her over Leonahari’s shoulder, fitting into the


background in an effortless attempt to judge the situation. Farid had only ever seen her act that way

when she became suspicious, like she was pulling at a string to see where it led her.

Thamus lit the last lantern and turned back to his desk with the burnt match pinched

between two fingers. Unlike the rest, he and Ditus seemed the least worried about anything that was

going on around them. Ditus stood like a pillar in front of the flap of the tent. Every once in while

his eyes would flick over at Leas, like a hound checking on his master. Thamus sat at his desk and

proceeded to pack more tobacco into his pipe.

Farid tried to relax his shoulders. He had been holding the sword out to Leonahari, but she’d

made no move for it yet. The weight of it seemed to be getting heavier as the seconds ticked by. He

wished she would just make up her mind one way or the other so that he could relax. As if on cue,

Leonahari’s guarded expression slipped away, and she addressed Leas directly. “So you want my help

in catching this bandit? Alright, I can see how we can both benefit from this. As long as I have your

word that you will drop me off with the fugitive at Lamoran Fortress, I will do it.”

She took the sword from Farid. Farid sighed and let his arms fall to his sides, but something

caught his eye. The diamond in the hilt of the scimitar changed color as soon as Leonahari touched

the sword. There was no mistaking a bright ruby had replaced the dark stone that had been there

before. It sparkled as it caught the flame light of the torches just as any regular stone would. He

thought maybe he had imagined the ebony diamond, but there was no doubt in his mind that it had

been there.

“Good enough for me, as long as you don’t track us once you get back,” Leas agreed.

Leonahari gave her a dignified nod. “You provide me with a free pass, and I will forget I

ever met you.”

“And Maldeib?”

“Safe and undisturbed. I don’t even remember being here.” Leonahari buckled the sword

onto her side.

Tainean’s frown deepened. “Going a little easily on us, aren’t you?”

“I hold the Emperor and Lady Allanis’ safety above my own,” Leonahari said, indifferently.

“If walking among thieves is the key to finding the assassin, then walk with them I must. I will work

with you, not for you. Don’t expect me to take orders.”

She stood before them, waiting for their decision. Farid stared in disbelief at her. Though

she looked less the Noble she was in the cream-colored tunic and leggings, and with her hair in need

of a good bush through, there was no denying the command she summoned by her presence alone.

He had read about her in newspapers, had heard the stories of the battles she had fought in and all

the armies she had led. Farid dreamed of joining the Lamoran Elites, Leonahari’s personal legion.

The Elites were known throughout the Kalyn as the greatest warriors in the history of Lamora. He

just couldn’t get over the fact that she was standing before him, agreeing to work with the Clan, to

work with him.

Farid looked over to see that Leas seemed less impressed, and Tainean looked like she was

staring into a viper’s nest. Not once had she taken her eyes off Leonahari.

Leas sighed as she noticed the cigar she had long forgotten had burnt out in Thamus’

ashtray. “I suppose we could work together,” she said, reluctantly, “but keep in mind, you go


nowhere alone. Farid and I run the show here. One of us will always be there to keep an eye on you

and make sure you don’t slip off again.”

Tainean frowned so deeply, Farid thought her face would stay that way permanently.

Leonahari didn’t look bothered by Leas’ condition. In fact, she looked calm and considerably

unconcerned. It was as if Farid had imagined she had slapped Leas. Leonahari bore no hint of her

former fury. She listened to Leas silently, and it made Farid wonder what was going on in her mind.

She could hide her emotions so well. In a way, he thought, it made her similar to Leas. He had seen

Leas switch from downright irate to joyful in the blink of an eye. It must be a woman thing, he

thought.

“And you can’t go strutting about either,” Leas continued. “The people here don’t need to

know who you are or you’ll have a target on your back. You have to change your name.”

Leas paused to study Leonahari. After a moment, she said, “Look a little less rich, dammit.

Slouch, or mess up your hair and clothes or something. And, for Isis sake, talk like a normal person!

You can’t go around speaking like you own the bloody world.”

It surprised Farid to see Leonahari shrug nonchalantly, and ask, “Are you finished?”

Leas ignored her. “Oh, and if anyone asks what you’re doing here, you’re apprenticing under

Farid, got it?”

Farid couldn’t meet Leonahari’s eyes. He could feel his face growing hot. The very idea of

him teaching the General of Lamora any sort of blade-work was ridiculous.

“I’d say you should get rid of that sword of yours too, but there’s been a lot of nice shit

coming through here lately. So you can just say you bought it from a vendor if anyone asks,” Leas

added as an afterthought.

“Sounds fair,” Leonahari replied to everyone’s surprise. “And you can call me Leona, unless

that’s too close for you.”

“It’s fine,” Leas agreed. “If it were anything else, I’d probably forget it anyway.”

Farid caught sight of Tainean shaking her head in embarrassment for Leas’ sake.

“Good, so where is Clan Varillis located? We should leave immediately,” Leonahari said,

glancing between Farid, Leas and Tainean. Farid inwardly winced as Leonahari failed in the first rule

of discretion.

Leas frowned. “Right, you’re not very good at this, are you? I should remind you: down here,

I’m the boss. If anyone sees you trying to push me around, they’ll get suspicious. So, calm the hell

down and let me decide when we should leave. Farid, get her out of here. Show her around or

something. I need a break.”

He swallowed and turned to Leonahari. His nervousness kept him from speaking. He felt if

he did say something, the words would get stuck in his throat. He brought a hand up to guide her,

and stopped when he realized his mistake. He couldn’t put a finger on her. It would be ultimate

disrespect. Ditus had orders to follow, but Farid would try his best to be a gentleman. Quickly, he

said, “Excuse me, it’s all for show.”

He let his hand hover a little less than an inch over her upper back, as he directed her away

from Leas and toward the exit of the tent. Normally, he would have just grabbed her forearm or

completed the movement with a solid slap on the back, but she was no ordinary apprentice.


He was surprised by her quick obedience. Ditus moved out of the way for them, and they

entered into the street. He dropped his hand as soon as the flap to the tent fell closed. Awkwardly,

he stopped and wondered where to go. If Leonahari had been any other person, Farid would have

told her to make herself comfortable. He would have wandered to the bar to visit Oden, and she

would do her own thing. But Leas wanted him to stay with her. This made things awkward.

The star lights in the ceiling had disappeared and had become one with the darkness of the

cavern. With the sun down, the only light flickered from the torches set up around the walkways.

The tents glowed with orange light. Exaggerated shadows loomed against the fabric walls. But there

were still a fair amount of people out..

He noticed Leonahari gazing around studiously. “A lot of business goes on around here at

night,” he explained. “Not proper by Lamoran standards, but here it’s not unusual. Come on, let’s

go have a drink. You can meet Oden.” He paused in step and added, “You do drink, right?”

He received a cold look in response. “You tell me.”

He shook off the shiver that went down his spine and continued on through the street.

Leonahari kept right beside him. He glanced over at her.

“Most down here are friends with the liquor,” Farid said, trying to make conversation. She

didn’t say anything to that. He knew it had been a poor attempt on his part.

They passed through the empty market place. The abandoned trade stands were crowded

together. They circled around them to the edge of the cavern where a small bar had been set up

against the rock wall. The place was lively, as Farid expected. Some people sat alone, staring deeply

into the contents of their drink as if in a dream. Others sat in groups muttering quietly enough that

no one around could make out more than a word or two. A couple men sat off to the side of the

bar; one played an old guitar while the other sang blues.

Farid led Leonahari to the bar, built out of random timber slabs and sanded down on the surface. It

was smooth to the touch. Ring-shaped stains told of every glass that had rested on the surface.

Before they sat, he muttered over to Leonahari, “Oden is a good guy, but he’s friends with a lot of

different people. Be careful what you say around him. You can get information from him, but you

definitely don’t want to give any in return.”

He saw her give a small nod as they both sat down and turned their attention to the man

behind the bar. He was a large, beefy man with a stained white apron wrapped around his

protruding belly. He was helping someone when they sat down, but as soon as he saw Farid he

dropped what he was doing and came over with a wide smile. “Farid! Good to see you and your lady

friend too.”

He blinked, and studied Leonahari’s face. Farid felt his heart slip into his throat, and he

hoped Oden didn’t recognize her. Farid would be surprised if Oden didn’t know exactly who she

was. If there was anything that would give her away it would be those silver eyes of hers. Farid only

knew two people with that coloring; Leonahari and Leas.

“Hey, aren’t you that little lady that came in with Leas and Tainean a while ago? Thought I

saw you from somewhere. So, what’s the deal? You join the Clan or somethin’?”

Before Leonahari could open her mouth to speak, Farid replied, “Oden stop harassing my

apprentice. She’s here for training. That’s all.”


“An apprentice, eh?” Oden said, frowning. “I don’t know if I believe that.”

Farid’s heart fell completely now. Leonahari raised an eyebrow. The two of them sat rigidly

in their seats, waiting for Oden to explain himself. Finally, he said, “Dressed the way you were a little

while ago, I’d say you’re some Noble or somethin’. Don’t know what a Noble’s doin’ down here,

but I doubt it’s as simple as apprenticing. And wearin’ a fancy sword and such… I don’t mean to be

nosey, Farid. I don’t mean to do wrong by you, but somethin’s goin’ on. I can smell it. Leas

wouldn’t sell nothin’ off her. That’s not like Leas, you know.”

Farid turned to Leonahari, and said, “We can grab a drink somewhere else if you want?”

He noticed a corner of her mouth turn up, as Oden snapped, “Hey, that ain’t fair! Alright,

alright, I won’t question you no more. Dammit, man, I was only curious. What do you want?”

“Same thing I always get,” Farid replied with a wide grin. Oden nodded and let his gaze fall

on Leonahari. “And you?”

It was the first time Farid had seen her grasp for straws. She glanced quickly at Farid as if

she needed guidance and then back at Oden. A little timidly, she mumbled, “I’ll have the same, I

guess.”

If Farid hadn’t been there when Leas had told her to put on an act, he would have wondered

what the hell had come over her. Even now, he really couldn’t tell whether she was playing or not.

Oden smirked. “Don’t know if you can handle it, but alright. Whatever you say.”

He ducked down into a cupboard beneath the bar, and said, “You’re gonna like what I managed to

get my hands on. I’ve got some real nice stuff, aged and everything. You want somethin’ like that?”

Farid sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The night was already proving to be more

extraordinary without Oden pushing fancy scotch on him. “The regular is fine.”

“I can tell you’re a bit on edge like Leas was,” Oden said. He poured them the drinks and

slid two short glasses of amber liquor towards them. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on, as you can see.

So, I’ll be a good host and let you relax. I’m busy as it is anyway. Just leave your money behind when

you’re all finished.”

With that he walked away from them. Farid pulled his drink towards him and took a first sip.

The first was always the hardest. It burned all the way down his throat, but he didn’t mind. He

watched Leonahari cautiously bring the glass to her lips. He was amused by the expression she made

after she sipped it. He was certain her expression had not been an act. He grinned a bit. “It’s only

good once you get used to it.”

She put the glass back down, and he could see she would not be picking it back up any time

soon. Farid grasped for conversation topics he thought wouldn’t be too intrusive. If he had known

before that he would be sitting at a bar with the General of Lamora, he would have prepared a

whole list of things to ask her. But now that he was here, sitting next to her, his tongue was caught.

His mind was stunned into a stupor, and all he could do was stare at her. He realized he must look

ridiculous, and in his attempt to do something aside from gape, he fumbled and took another sip of

his drink.

“Leas said she’s the boss. What exactly does she do here?” Leonahari asked. She was staring

into her drink like it held the answer to her question. Farid swallowed hard to answer her in time

and regretted it as it burned all the way down.


“She’s the Clan Master.” He coughed. “Everyone here is a member of Clan Steele. There

are two Clans in Kalyn: Clan Varillis and Leas’ Clan. Leas basically makes sure business is running

smoothly. There’s a lot more to it, but I’m not going to get into it right now.”

“What’s the difference between the Clans?”

Farid shrugged. “Believe it or not, mostly mode of transportation. Anyone else would tell

you that Clan Varillis attracts the bad eggs. You know, assassins, bandits; people without honor.

Those of Clan Steele are bounty hunters, in a way. A price goes up for a desired item and we hunt it

out for the client. Or, sometimes, we get specific requests. Leas handles those. Also, almost all

members of Clan Steele have access to personal airships. Clan Varillis members tend to be land

bound.”

Leonahari frowned, “Why are they separated by mode of transportation?”

Farid bit the inside of his lip. He wasn’t sure if he should say more than was necessary, but

he realized he wouldn’t have to share too much information. “Every Clan has a headquarters, and

new members can only join if they can reach it. Leas says it’s a way to sift through the junk. You

don’t want just anyone joining your Clan. You want them to be worthy of it. So, only people who

are really driven to find Clan Steele’s headquarters will be there. You can only reach it with an

airship.”

“So…” Leonahari paused. Farid could see her trying to mull it all over. “Even assassins are

condemned in Clan Steele?”

Farid nodded. “We have a rule. We’re thieves and bounty hunters, not murderers. We don’t

need that sort of reputation on our shoulders. Not to mention, you start to wonder who you can

trust if anyone’s willing to snuff you out for some pocket money.”

“And you mentioned special requests. What kind of requests?”

“Like I said, Leas handles them,” Farid replied, simply.

Behind her silver eyes Farid could almost sense her mind, working to absorb as much as she

could. It struck him. Just as he had never thought he’d be talking to her, she most probably thought

the same about someone connected with Clan Steele.

“I heard Leas say something about Headhunters versus assassins. So there is a difference

then,” she said.

Farid chuckled. “Yeah, don’t ever call Leas an assassin. It cracks her up. She’s a Headhunter.

Headhunters track down criminals who have a bounty on them.”

“I see.” Slowly, she brought her drink to her lips again. It surprised Farid that she would

bother with another taste. Her second reaction was not much better than the first, and he couldn’t

help but snicker at her. “I’m sorry, but you don’t have to drink that if you don’t want to.”

“I need it,” she said shortly, making Farid drop the subject. He thought perhaps he shouldn’t

be so unguarded around her, but at the same time he knew Leas arranged security around them.

Even if Farid didn’t notice it, he knew he and Leonahari were being watched. It made his skin tingle.

He pushed it from his mind.

“So, tell me about Tainean,” Leonahari said. Farid was grateful for the subject change. He

didn’t want to talk anymore about Clan business.


“Tainean is not a member of Clan Steele,” he replied. “She came from Uvar a couple of

years back, and I actually don’t know much about her except from what I’ve seen of her. Tainean is

like Leas’ shadow. If you see one, the other’s not far away. They’re close, and Leas is well respected.

So nobody bothers Tainean about anything. I guess she’s like an advisor to Clan Steele. She always

has some pretty good insight when we’re dealing with a job, especially if it’s in Uvar.”

“What did she do in Uvar to make her join up with bandits?” Leonahari sipped at her drink.

Farid shot her a cool glance, and she immediately rephrased, “Why’d she leave Uvar?”

“Like I said, I don’t know much about her. She doesn’t talk much unless she’s trying to get

Leas out of trouble,” Farid replied. “She was originally hired to fly Leas’ ship. She’s a damn good

pilot.”

Leonahari put down her drink. Farid caught her glance over at him, and somehow he knew

what she would say next. “And what about you?”

He sighed. Sometimes he hated being right. “I’m Clan Steele’s second in command. I am

also a Blademaster when I’m not running errands for Leas.”

He decided he didn’t want to be interrogated all night, so he flipped the conversation

around, “I know I’m supposed to pretend you’re not who you are, but that’s hard to do. I’ve heard a

lot of stories about you. Do you mind if I ask a few questions of my own?”

“I’d rather not talk about myself in front of you or our current company,” she replied,

coolly.

Farid dropped his gaze into his drink, trying to push that bitter flavor down. Leonahari was

downright rude. He supposed she had the right to be, considering the circumstances, but he hadn’t

done anything. He was only following Leas’ orders. He knew in her eyes he was just another thief. It

frustrated him to be grouped among outlaws. He had worked for Clan Steele for ten long years, but

he still had his honor. He had worked, not as a thief, but as a blacksmith. If he couldn’t smith

anything, he purchased cheap from vendors who had stolen things. He had no guilt. He earned

everything he had, including the gold in his pocket.

Unable to hold his tongue, he muttered, “I came from a very respectable household in Saska

and grew up under the teachings of my Master. I am not a thief.”

“Who was your Master?” she asked.

Farid replied, “Master Aelius Nerva.”

He noticed her pause and stare back at him like he had said something in another language.

She dropped her gaze and took another hard sip of her drink. Farid raised his eyebrow. “Have you

heard of him?” he asked.

In a voice as quiet as a breeze, she replied, “Aelius’ my Master also.”

Farid gaped and let out a short laugh. “Really?”

He couldn’t believe his ears. All this time he had been connected to the General by no less

than his Master, her Master. He felt a swell of pride. “I bet we know the same techniques and

everything.” Then, he caught himself, and added, “I mean, not that I could beat you or anything.”

He got a small smile out of her. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure if he had imagined it or not.

His smile faded, but his spirits had been raised. He took a final sip of his drink and put the empty


down on the bar. He started thinking he should probably show her to where she would stay for the

night.

Then his eyes landed on the scimitar. The ruby glistened in the hilt, but the memory of the

black diamond still haunted him.

“Never seen a scimitar before?” She had caught him looking, but he was glad for it. Now

that she had opened the topic, he didn’t feel bad about asking her, “Where did you get it? I’ve never

seen one like that before.”

“It was a gift,” she replied. Her tone suggested she was done talking, but he persisted.

“They say black blades are cursed…” he started, but she cut him off, “Did you look at it?”

A shiver ran down his spine at the memory of the dark blade, and how it seemed to suck at

the light. He seemed to have let his thoughts reflect in his eyes, because she said, “You shouldn’t

have.”

He looked up at her. “What is it?”

“I’m assuming you’re not going to have me sleep at the bar?” Leonahari said.

Farid blinked as she abruptly changed the subject. He knew pursuing the subject was

pointless now that she had closed it. So, he pushed the thoughts of the scimitar from his mind and

focus on the task at hand. He still hadn’t found a suitable place for her to sleep. “I usually have

apprentices sleep in the guest bed at my place, but –“

“Then, that’s what I’ll do.” She stood and waited for him to lead her. Farid blinked at her

sudden agreement. “But it’s not appropriate –“

“If that’s what your apprentices usually do, it’s best I do that.”

“But –“

“Lead the way.”

She was unyielding. Farid slapped some money down on the bar and nodded over to Oden,

who nodded back. Reluctantly, he led her back through the marketplace, and down a dark, winding

path flanked by canvas walls. His tent was near the edge of the cavern, away from all the busyness of

the marketplace. He felt a little embarrassed as they entered into the first half of it. The room was

split into two parts, one as the living room which had a small cot in the far corner, and the other was

a bedroom. The floor was covered by a wool rug. A table stood next to the entrance. It was a piled

high with paperwork. Farid immediately started to tidy up the mess left earlier.

“You can sleep there,” he said, pointing at the cot. “I’ll get you some blankets from the

other room. As you can imagine, it gets pretty cold down here at night.”

He saw her gaze around at the place, and felt even more embarrassed. In all his wildest

dreams he never imagined he’d be housing General Almadzi for a night.

Someone brushed through the flap entrance and Farid turned to see Ditus ground his feet

into the mat right in front of the door. The large man crossed his arms. At Farid and Leonahari’s

questioning looks he said, “Leas’ orders. I will stand guard here tonight.”

Leonahari frowned. Farid was thankful. He didn’t need Leonahari slipping away in the

middle of the night because he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He disappeared for a few seconds to

grab some blankets and came back with an armful and a pillow. After he set it all up for her, he


nodded to Ditus and bid goodnight, rather awkwardly, to Leonahari. He left in a hurry and closed

the curtain, separating himself from the tension in the other room.

His bedroom was simple. A bed and night table stood against the back of the canvas wall.

The chest of weapons sat next to the bed on the other side, locked. Farid unlaced his boots and fell

back onto the bed. He had stripped off his covers and one of two pillows and given them to

Leonahari. Normally, an apprentice brought their own supplies or they suffered without them, but

not her. He had to get on her good side. If things didn’t go well at the end of Leas’ plan, he didn’t

want to be caught on Leonahari’s black list.

He knew it was silly to think a little kindness would change her mind if it did come to that.

He just hoped Leas knew what she was doing. If not, this could end very badly for them all.

A fit of giddiness washed over him. He knew no one could see him. He still couldn’t get

over the fact that he was sharing a tent with the General of Lamora.

* * *

Leas and Tainean sat at a table inside their own canvas palace. A simple dinner of dried meat,

cheese, bread and wine had been placed before them a little while ago and they picked over it. Leas

was rather fiendish with the food. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in days. She looked over at Tainean’s

plate and noticed she’d barely touched it. They ate in silence. Leas could have counted the words

Tainean had said the entire meal on one hand, and it bothered her. Normally, the woman was full of

hot air, but tonight was different. Leas had beaten around the bush a few times, trying to find out

what was on her companion’s mind, but Tainean wasn’t catching onto the subtle hints.

Finally, Leas leaned back with the glass of wine in hand, and asked, “What’s bothering you?”

Tainean swallowed a piece of cheese and replied, “I don’t like the way she just agreed to

work with us. It seems a little odd to me.”

By ‘she’ Leas figured Tainean meant Leonahari. Leas smirked. “Odd? Everything worked out

just the way we wanted it to.”

“Which it never does,” Tainean retorted. “It was too easy, and that’s odd. I know that

woman better than you do, Leas. I’ve had to deal indirectly with her before. She is not a pushover.

She’s definitely up to something.”

Now Tainean had resorted to calling Leonahari ‘that woman’. Leas could sense a tsunami of

rage barreling towards her, and she had no way to stop it.

“What could she possibly plan?” Leas asked, sipping more wine. “I’ve thought of every

possible way she could escape and I’ve got it all covered. You worry too much.”

Tainean scowled, and pushed her untouched plate away. “Just don’t underestimate her. I

have a feeling –”

A loud bang echoed throughout the dark cavern tenfold. Leas and Tainean bolted, knocking

their chairs over as they stood. There was a split second where Tainean questioned the noise and

Leas turned to her and snapped, “Grab Almadzi and get out of here!”

Without further discussion, Tainean spun on her heel, almost knocked the table over and

tore out of the tent into the darkness. Leas drew her pistol and stomped towards the noise. In the


distance, she could hear the sounds of people sleepily waking up into a daze of confusion. Some had

left their tents to stand in the doorway with a weapon in hand. As Leas passed, one or two of her

Clan members followed her, walking along behind her. More shots were fired, loud, obnoxious

noises that caused almost everyone in Leas’ following to duck their heads. After the echo had

passed, Leas broke into a run towards the sound, near Oden’s bar. Almost the entire cavern was

awake now. Some shouts broke out in the distance, angry voices arguing and cursing. More torches

lit up around the chaotic end of the cavern.

Leas slowed her run and broke into the circle of torches. Every man and woman had a gun

or a blade ready. A small group of men, strangers all, stood surrounded by a mob of tired, angry-

looking Clan members. The stranger in the front of the circle had his pistol out, the barrel still

smoked slightly. At the end of it lay Oden Sans, dead against the sandy floor.

The angry shouts at the intruders died down as Leas entered the circle. She glanced once at

Oden and demanded sharply, “What the hell is going on here?”

The leader sneered at her. His three followers held their weapons ready. Two of them looked

extremely nervous, but the leader seemed confident. His face was so dark with grime and dirt he

looked like he’d descended from a tribe of the Taravine. Little black eyes squinted from under thick

eyebrows. His features were sharp. Skin clung to his cheekbones giving his face a shallow sunken

look. His clothes looked like they had been long travelled in and his hair stuck up in odd places.

Two leather holsters hung on his hips, but he only carried one pistol. “A name ain’t gonna be good

to you once you’re dead, little lady,” he said.

At once, everyone in the crowd drew their weapons. Some shouted that they would like to

see him try it. Leas smugly put her pistol back in its holster. She gave him a wide grin and held her

arms out. “I will have you bound and hanging by your toes in little less than two minutes, if you

don’t answer my question.”

A murmured laugh came from the members of Clan Steele. The leader looked a little more

nervous than he had been before. His companions had smartly back away. One man in the group

dropped his weapon and raised his arms. The leader shot him a glare, before he turned back to Leas,

and said, “We’re working on a contract, see. This bloke said something about our target being

around here, but he wouldn’t say nothin’ more about it. Now, maybe you can tell me what I need to

know, and I’ll get out of your way.”

Leas pitied them. They really had no idea that they had just walked into Clan Steele territory.

If the leader knew who she was he would have stopped talking a long time ago.

“Oh, boys, you misunderstood me,” Leas said. “I wasn’t just going to let you go.” The

leader’s smug look disappeared. Leas frowned. “I don’t know how you got access to Maldeib, but I

don’t know you, and if I don’t know you then you’re no friend of mine or Clan Steele. Even so,” she

stared to pace, “sometimes I let people slide by. I would have done that for you, but you killed one

of my men!”

The crowd seemed to tense as if having Leas state it made Oden more dead. Every person

glared at the intruders. Leas continued, “Oden was a good man. I can’t replace him. So, justice must

be served in the name of Clan Steele!”


Shouts and cheers rose up around them. The intruders looked downright terrified. The one

who had raised his hands in surrender trembled. Even the leader took a step back. Leas continued,

“So, here’s the plan. You tell me everything that you know about this contract of yours to my

satisfaction, and then I kill you, fast and simple. Second option, if your stupidity really knows no

bounds and you decide to be proud and hold your tongue, I’ll let my companions decide what to do

with you. I’m sure they can come up with some very creative ways to get the information out of

you.”

Some dark chuckles spread throughout the cavern as people smirked and whispered to one

another. Leas calmly stood before them, arms crossed, and confident that they would comply. The

leader’s eyes shifted uneasily between Leas and a few intimidating members of the audience, sizing

them up and weighing his chances. He stiffened and swallowed hard.

His hand twitched, as he shouted, “Hell if I die here!”

A loud bang exploded through the air.

There was a moment of dazed confusion as everyone fell silent. The leader hadn’t even

managed to raise his gun in time. Leas’ pistol smoked. The leader collapsed with a hole in his chest.

An eerie silence passed as the intruders stared down on their fallen leader in fear and shock.

The man who had stepped back and surrendered before gave a wild squeak of terror, and made a

mad dash for the exit. Ditus arrived in time to block his path. He wrapped his bucket-sized hands

around the terrified man’s shoulders and held him tight.

The other intruders slowly raised their hands. Leas put her pistol back in her holster. She

opened her mouth to speak, but something jarred her out of her thoughts.

It was dull at first, but just the hum of it was deafening to her ears. She froze, listening. Her

heart started to pound in her chest. Whispers sprang up around the crowd, but she ordered silence

and waited.

“Oh, please no…” she breathed. She waited for the sound again, holding her breath.

It came.

Rumbling echoed up from the depths of the caves; the first moan of an earthquake. The

audience scattered and people shouted to one another to get out and head for the exits. In a split

second there was a mad rush for the tiny, single-file tunnel system, the only known exit from

Maldeib. The intruders were forgotten as people scrambled, bumping into each other. Leas shouted

to Ditus to grab the one intruder he had blocked before and to follow her. She was almost trampled

down by a group of her own Clan members, who were too busy hauling their possessions away from

camp to notice her.

She fought her way over to Ditus, who still had one intruder in a firm grip, and motioned for

him to follow her out. The cavern echoed loudly with the shouts and screams of a panicked mob.

The first jolt of the earthquake came sharply after the deep rumble. It shook the floor of the cave

violently. People fell into each other, screaming. Tents were trampled to the ground as people

rushed to the exits. Even at the exits there was a hold up as more than three tried to cram

themselves into the narrow pathway at once, each with armfuls of possessions. The unmistakable

sound of rocks breaking apart caused the crowd to madden even more. Soon enough, people were

fighting each other to get through. A gunshot rang through the air and then a few more followed it.


The insanity was not calmed even by Leas’ shouted orders to pass through the opening one

at a time. People simply ignored her. Rocks had started to fall from the ceiling around them. The

torchlight kept the crowd blind to what chaos plagued the darkness beyond them, but the sounds

were sharp and unmistakable.

Abandoning her attempt to calm the mob, Leas let Ditus pull her through to the exit. She

allowed herself to be pushed and squeezed between people as the massive form of her bodyguard

led her through to the tunnel system. For a while she could hear or see nothing apart from the

crowd and the bodies she was pressed against. Ditus pulled her into the narrow tunnel behind him

and the intruder. Behind her came a flood of people fighting to get in first, but she could see

nothing beyond the rough outline of Ditus’ huge form directly ahead of her. The torches along the

walls had been doused, leaving them to fumble along in blindness.

After a bit of stumbling, Leas walked directly into Ditus. In turn the person behind Leas

walked into her. Ditus had stopped abruptly. A few cries came from up ahead that made Leas’ heart

drop. Before she could wonder what had happened, someone ahead shouted, “The way is

blocked… it’s blocked…”

“No…it can’t be…” cried the woman standing directly behind her.

Leas felt the earth tremble underfoot and braced herself against the stone walls. Her heart

pounded in her ears. Trapped, she thought bitterly, ahead and behind were both blocked. She could

do nothing but listen to the shouts and cries of her Clan members. A part of her wondered if this

was the end.

The sounds of people screaming and crying, combined with the rumble of the earth and the

cracking of stone, thundered in her ears until it all became one monotonous noise. It was all she

could do to keep her mind blank. She closed her eyes and felt damp sweat roll over her face. She felt

terrified.

Her mind drifted to Tainean and Farid, and she wondered if they had managed to sneak

away safely. What if they hadn’t? What if they were trapped like the rest of them? What if they were

killed during the chaos? She pushed the thoughts from her mind and told herself they were fine,

safe.

She took a deep breath as the woman next to her started humming a soft tune to herself. It

sounded like a child’s lullaby. She wanted to tell her to shut up, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead, she drifted with the notes and let her mind flow with the breathless music. It was beautiful

and soft, but such a tune hummed among the muffled sobs and cries of the people trapped with

them made for an eerie contrast.

Leas’ mind drifted with the lullaby. Her thoughts went out to Near, who was safe up on the

Ridge. The lullaby echoed inside her ears. She tried to calm her panicked heart.

She opened her eyes. She wasn’t in Maldeib. She was standing in the middle of a long, dark

corridor. The end of it stretched on and on into an inky darkness. Her heart jumped up in her throat

as she recognized the black walls. Hieroglyphics covered the walls and ceilings. They had been

scratched into the surface of the ebony stone.

“No!” Leas shouted. She spun around, hoping to see some exit. The dark hall stretch on

until it was swallowed by shadow. “I was out! I was out!”


Leas trembled and sunk to her knees. She felt hot tears rise up and she let them come. A

feeling of helplessness washed over her. She put her face in her hands, and wept like a child. An

eerie lullaby hung in the air. A child’s voice hummed the notes.

Suddenly, Leas was roughly shoved. She dropped her hands, but saw nothing. Complete

darkness surrounded her. She felt the comforting warmth of an arm around her shoulders. Ditus

leaned into her and whispered, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you cry before. If it helps, I’m right

here.”

Her mouth went dry. The woman next to her had finished her lullaby. The earthquake was

coming to an end, it seemed. The rumbles grew softer with each passing second.

Leas felt relief wash over her. She sighed, exhausted, and let herself fall into Ditus.

“I was back,” she told him, her voice as soft as a kiss. “I dreamt of Shal Darma. It was so

real.”

Ditus gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I know. I heard you.”

Leas felt the adrenaline release its hold on her. She relaxed into the numbness that followed.

CHAPTER FOUR:

PORT UKREA

When the gunshot went off, Leonahari bolted for the door with hope that Ditus had been distracted

enough to let her slip through. Unfortunately, the beefy man was quicker than his size suggested and

he grabbed hold of her arm before she managed to dash out of the tent. By then, Farid had appeared

with his sword strapped to his hip, ready for whatever waited outside. He looked as confused as

Ditus. His gaze fell on Leonahari as if he expected some sort of explanation.

Three more shots rang out. Leonahari, Farid and Ditus hit the floor with their hands over

their heads. They exchanged nervous looks, and Leonahari asked, “Is this what you call nighttime

business?”

She heard Farid mumble something under his breath as he stood. Ditus pulled Leonahari to

her feet just as Tainean appeared in the doorway of the tent looking pale and exhausted.

“No time to explain,” she said. “We’ve got to get out of here. Fast! Let’s go!”

Leonahari had just enough time to grab her scimitar off the cot before Ditus pulled at her

again. Tainean shook her head at him. “No, go and make sure Leas is safe. I’ll take care of Almadzi.”

Ditus turned and stomped away.


Leonahari felt someone brush by her. Farid ran out of the tent, shouting, “I’m going to get

Carmen. I’ll meet you…” The rest of his words faded off into the darkness with him.

Tainean led Leonahari quickly around the back of Farid’s tent to the wall of the cavern.

Tainean plucked a torch from the ground as they passed it and ran ahead, directing Leonahari to

keep a hand against the stone of the cavern wall. Leonahari did as she was told and let her hand

bush against the damp rock as they jogged onward. She glanced toward the tent city and caught a

glimpse of a mob carrying weapons, from lances to pistols. They seemed preoccupied by something

or someone. The torchlight made their shadows dance, creating one great mass of darkness that

drowned the floor to the bar; Leonahari recognized it as Oden’s bar. Their cheers and shouts sent

icy shivers down her spine.

Tainean’s voice jarred her out of her thoughts. “Let’s sneak out –“

Bang! Another shot echoed through the cavern so loud it left her ears ringing. Leonahari

glanced over her shoulder to see what had happened and felt the jagged rock fall away under her

fingers. She gasped and stumbled sideways into a narrow opening between the rocks. Tainean

muttered something under her breath and grabbed hold of her arm. She pulled her back up and led

her through, deeper and deeper into the canyon side – or so Leonahari thought. It wasn’t until they

pushed a paneled wooden door away that she realized they had exited Maldeib.

The icy midnight air stung her skin. Tainean gently placed the board back against the small

crack they had just climbed out of and dropped the end of the torch into the sand, dousing the

flame. A thin grey strand of smoke trailed up from it. They didn’t need it, Leonahari realized. The

sand underfoot gleamed in the moonlight.

Leonahari was quick to notice the exit was not the same way they had entered. There was no

rigid cliff and no bamboo sticks. They stood facing a narrow, fast-moving river. It traveled steeply

downhill between two cliff faces and further into the canyon. She stared uphill where the river

curved gently and the cliffs sloped into a shallow, sandy lump on either side; the end of the Broken

Sands.

“What happened?” she asked Tainean, who paced nervously along the edge of the river. The

spray got caught up in the wind from the canyon floor and doused them in icy water. They shivered

in unison and tried to wrap their clothes around themselves tighter. Tainean shook her head to

Leonahari’s question as if her jaw had frozen shut.

Before Leonahari could say anything more, the wooden panel, lying against the cliff face,

violently few back and landed in the sand. Farid appeared, awkwardly carrying a very frail-looking

woman in his arms. Even though she was clothed in thick, loose clothing, the sharp ridges of her

body suggested she was nothing more than skin and bones. Her face was pale and her cheeks were

shallow and sunken. Dark shadows circled her closed eyes, and her dark brown hair fell thin and

wispy around her shoulders.

“Are you waiting for sunrise? We have to leave!” Tainean shouted from downriver.

Leonahari realized she had been staring, motionless. As she turned to face Tainean, a bone-chilling

rumble ripped through the canyon. First it came as a sound and then it trembled beneath them.

“Shit!” Farid started running towards Leonahari, who stood frozen on the spot. “Move!” he

shouted at her. “Get out of the canyon!”


Snapping herself out of a daze, she spun on her heel and dashed uphill. It was more difficult

than she had expected, running while the earth shuttered and shook under her feet. She almost fell

flat on her face a time or two. The sand made her slip in step. Blood pounded in her ears as she

pumped her legs harder. The end of the canyon was in sight. A sharp noise whipped through the air

around them, the sound of rock breaking. Paranoid, she glanced over her head and was relieved to

see the clear starlit sky.

She stumbled clumsily when she reached the top of the hill, the end of the canyon. Her

knees sank into the sand and she buckled over trying to catch her breath. She heard Farid and

Tainean reach her. Their pants were the only thing she heard aside from the deep rumbling of the

earth. The sound of the quake seemed to have subsided. When she glanced over her shoulder she

noticed Tainean faced the canyon. She was as still as a photograph. Farid too seemed to have

forgotten his fatigue. They stood in silent shock and watched the cliff side crumble loudly into the

river below.

A sudden burst of frustration made Leonahari to throw her scimitar from where she knelt. It

landed with a soft thump in the sand a few feet away. Farid and Tainean took no notice of her as

they watched the earthquake crush Maldeib under airship sized boulders.

When the earth finally stopped growling, and the tremors faded away, it left behind an eerie

silence. The desert around them stretched on to the edge of the horizon in every direction. The

moon, full and bright, hung over them. A chilly wind froze the sweat on their skin and burned their

lungs as they gasped for air.

While Farid and Tainean stood transfixed, staring at the collapsed cliff of the canyon,

Leonahari stared off in the opposite direction at the stretch of sand that lay before them.

Nobody spoke.

Leonahari stood and wordlessly glanced over her shoulder to see Tainean’s face lined with

exhaustion and sadness. Farid held the unconscious girl tightly to his body. His lips were pressed

together, forming a thin line, as if he wouldn’t allow himself to give in to sorrow. She decided not to

bother them. She picked the scimitar from the sand. The ruby glowed brightly in the moonlight, and

the gold shone like silver. After shaking the sand off it, she glanced back to see if either of them had

moved. Tainean seemed to want to run back to the canyon. Her body slanted towards the crumbled

rock as if an invisible force pulled at her shoulders.

When Leonahari turned back to the desert she heard Tainean mumble Leas’ name.

Leonahari shivered against a breeze. It took all her willpower to step forward, into the desert, away

from Maldeib, but she knew they had to move on if they wanted to live. They didn’t have shelter or

food. They couldn’t waste any time. Once the sun rose it would roast them alive, if they didn’t find

some shade. She took another step forward, and another, and another. The chill that had settled in

her bones drove her forward with thoughts of a warm bath and bed waiting for her in the town

ahead. She would just have to follow the river.

* * *


Farid could no longer feel the warmth of Carmen’s body or the chill of the breeze that brushed past

him. He was numb. His mind as well as his body stood grounded to the spot as he stared out at the

collapsed canyon wall. He could feel his heart pounding somewhere in the depths of his chest, and

he paid no mind to the fatigue that plagued his legs and arms.

Maldeib was gone. A good chunk of Clan Steele was gone. Leas…

… he couldn’t finish that thought.

Tainean sobbed silently beside him. Farid wanted to run back into the canyon and start

digging, but he stayed rooted to the ground. It would be too dangerous to go down there now. A

movement to his left told him Tainean had taken a small step forward. Obviously, she’d had the

same thought. There was nothing they could do. He felt helpless. Maldeib had been his home for

almost nine years. Clan Steele was his family, and now the only members left of it hid away in the far

West Headquarters.

That’s when it hit him. Clan Steele…

…the Clan belonged to him now.

His mind remained blank except for that single thought suspended by empty sadness. Only

Carmen’s small shiver brought him back to reality. He drew her in closer to keep her warm, but the

deserts icy breezes seemed to go right through him. He looked over at Tainean to find her staring at

the ground. Her dark hair hung around her face, obscuring his view of her eyes. It felt like forever

before he managed the words, and they left his throat dry and coarse sounding. “We should find

shelter.”

He heard her let go a shuttered breath. “I have to find Near.”

“Near is fine. She was on the Ridge, remember? Dante will take care of her,” Farid assured

her. Tainean didn’t respond. She continued to stare at the sand as if it would provide an answer for

her. Farid frowned. He didn’t want to leave either, but Carmen needed shelter. She needed a warm

bed and food.

Suddenly, he remembered Leonahari. “What about you?” he asked without turning around.

There was no reply. He turned to see that she was gone. He spotted her about a yard away,

walking along the river’s edge. She held the scimitar limply at her side and walked, dragging her feet

through the sand.

“Does she not have a heart?” Tainean mumbled, staring after her with a deep frown. Her

face was streaked with tearstains. Her eyes were swollen and red-rimmed. He caught her eye for a

moment before she let out a shaky breath and started to follow Leonahari’s lead. Even though his

feet followed after them, Farid wanted more than anything to stay at the canyon and hope that he

saw someone appear from under the boulders. He knew it wouldn’t happen.

“Quixote is probably smashed to bits…” he caught fragments of Tainean’s muttering as he

walked behind her. “Maldeib couldn’t all be destroyed… Have to do what I have to… Can’t trust

her…”

He figured she was talking about Leonahari the way she glared at the back of her head. He

didn’t understand where her resentment came from. Eventually she fell silent. Every once and a

while, he heard her sniff at the cold night air. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he

couldn’t bring himself to say Leas’ name.


Up ahead, Leonahari had stopped to glance back at them, possibly to check and see if they

had decided to follow. It stunned him to see that she still held the same amount of calm indifference

despite everything that had happened.

She seemed undaunted by the fall of Maldeib, or the loss of their friends. Granted she had

only known them for less than a day, and had never wanted to be there in the first place, but her

lack of empathy troubled Farid. It made him wonder what else she kept quiet and unreadable behind

those silver eyes.

In a way, it angered him to think she cared nothing for his home, and nothing for those who

had lost their lives only minutes ago. Yet, as he studied her more carefully, he noticed the invisible

weight that hung on her shoulders, and the soft shadow under her eyes. With a pang of sadness he

caught a glimpse the bruise along her cheekbone where Leas had hit her.

“We’ll head for Port Ukrea,” Leonahari said once they reached her. “It’s only a few days

upriver. That is, unless you know of another place closer than that.”

“Three days…” Tainean breathed. “Will we even survive out here for that long?”

Farid noticed Leonahari’s eyes skim over Carmen’s frail form. “We’ve got water from the

river and that’s all we need to reach the Port.”

“We’ll have to eat something to keep our strength up,” Farid said.

“The human body can last for up to three weeks without food as long as it has water,”

Leonahari replied. Her eyes fell on Carmen. “What’s wrong with her?”

Her tone was less than sympathetic. Farid hugged Carmen closer. “She’s ill. If you can get us

to Port Ukrea in good time then please get us there.”

Leonahari’s eyes softened. “She needs a doctor.”

He was surprised by the concern in her voice now. It was a complete switch. Even though

her face remained expressionless, something passed behind her eyes.

“When we get to Port Ukrea…” he replied, but was unable to finish his sentence. He

realized Carmen would never get to see a doctor now. The money he had made the day before

selling weapons was still in his pocket, but they would need that for food and a bed once they got

where they were going. He would have had enough, but the chest full of weapons he had planned

on selling was now under a kilometer of solid rock. Fortune had a way of forgetting him it seemed.

If Leonahari sensed his worry she showed no sign of it. She turned and started northwest

along the side of the river. Tainean and Farid stayed a few paces behind her. Tainean hugged herself,

and kept her head down. She didn’t say a word to anyone the entire time they walked.

The river rolled smoothly over the land. The speed was unmistakable. It deepened and

widened the further they went from the canyon until Farid was certain even the strongest swimmer

would not be able to cross its silent, powerful current. They walked until the bottom half of the

moon rested just over the horizon and the sun, though not visible yet, stained the east a pale blue. It

seemed for the moment, they stood on the break of day.

Next to him, Tainean mumbled something about being tired. He couldn’t help but agree

with her. His legs burned with the effort to keep walking, and his arms ached from carrying Carmen

for so long. He knew that once he did get to rest, his back would protest painfully. But there was no

shelter here. A few tall cacti stood a little further from the riverbed. They spotted the desert with


rare green here and there. Every once in a while they would pass a small ridge or two lying along the

side of the river, but none were large enough to provide them with the shelter they needed. He

watched Leonahari trot on as if she felt no weariness at all, and figured that even if they did manage

to find a suitable spot to rest she would probably prod them to continue.

“Who is Near?” Leonahari suddenly asked. She didn’t bother to slow down to speak to

them, but spoke with her back to them as she went onward. Even though Farid couldn’t see her

face, curiosity layered her tone. He decided there was no harm in telling her. “Near is an Immortal.

People go to her for advice.”

He noticed her stall slightly in step. “But,” she seemed to pause in thought, “isn’t an

Immortal… Immortal’s can’t be human.”

“No they’re not. Not normally,” Farid said. He knew it would be difficult to explain Near’s

situation to her. “Immortals are the Gods of the Immortal Realm. There are seven of them. Are you

familiar with the terms Seeker and Guide at all?”

He heard her sigh. “We’ve got a long walk ahead of us. Enlighten me.”

He felt rather stupid for having to relay these things to her. He found it hard to imagine her

not knowing about Seekers and Guides already. Everyone knew the myths from early childhood

stories. Regardless, he said, “Well, basically, Seekers are people who go into meditation to try and

communicate with the Immortals. It’s kind of weird. On the other hand, Guides are people who say

they are actually connected to a specific Immortal. Apparently, they can talk to that God and even

use their powers. That’s even weirder.”

“I’m surprised you don’t know this already,” Tainean said, suspiciously, but Leonahari said

nothing.

Farid shared in Tainean’s suspicion, but he didn’t question Leonahari. “So, Leas says Near is

a Guide who has been completely possessed by Immortal Near of Wisdom.”

“You sound skeptical,” Leonahari said.

Farid frowned. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”

Tainean stared down at the ground as they walked. Her eyes darkened in deep thought.

Farid realized he had mentioned Leas and his heart dropped. He hadn’t meant to bring Leas up. He

bit his lip, wondering if he should say something to comfort Tainean.

“You’re not religious?” Leonahari glanced over her shoulder at Farid.

Farid chose his words carefully. “I am a spiritual person, if that’s what you mean. I know the

Immortals exist, because I’ve met Near, but I don’t pray to the Immortals like some do.”

“Seekers, you mean,” Leonahari said. “Indeed. I’m not a Seeker either.”

Farid felt some sympathy towards Leonahari at hearing her say that. There weren’t many

people, especially in Lamora, who didn’t plea to the Immortals for something. “Did you know that

in Avran the Immortals have other names?” he asked.

He saw Leonahari nod. Of course, he thought. She had spent years in Avran fighting the

war. He continued, “In Lamora, Immortal Zero is the God of Strength, but in Avran, they call him

the God of Destruction. It makes me wary. Who could trust a God of Destruction?”

Leonahari didn’t reply. He felt he had said too much. An awkward silence lingered between

them.


“Look,” he said, trying to lift the tension. “Guides are dangerous. The Immortals have no

regard for the lives of mortals, and, as far as I’m concerned, all Guides have the potential to do great

evil. Magic has no place in the mortal world. It’s just the Immortals’ way of toying with us.”

He heard her make a small sound of comprehension. He felt it unfair that he was expected

to give her information, while she gave none of her own. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have some

of my questions answered.”

She seemed to have anticipated this, because she said, “I’m sure you do.”

He frowned. Her statement was not an invitation by any stretch of the imagination, but he

pursued it anyway. “I’ve heard rumors. Your name isn’t really Leonahari, is it? Back in my

hometown, Saska, people called you the Hero of Avran simply because there were so many

conflicting ideas about your real name.”

It surprised him to hear her laugh. He had almost started to think she was incapable of

expressing anything but calm indifference.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that rumor, and I’ve heard many,” she replied.

Farid’s arms started to burn with exhaustion. Since she seemed a little more forthcoming, he

quickly thought of another question to keep his mind occupied. “Is it true you weren’t born in

Lamora?”

There was a moment of silence. “What do you think?”

Again Farid was surprised by her light tone. It almost sounded playful, but it made him

question his answer. Though it seemed harmless enough to say either way, he was sure there was an

ulterior motive behind it.

Tainean seemed to have been shaken awake by Leonahari’s strange response as well. “You’re

not?”

Leonahari chuckled. “No, I wasn’t born in Lamora. You have me very intrigued now. What

else do people say about me? I’m just dying to hear more ridiculous rumors.”

Farid gaped at her. He couldn’t believe his ears. “But what about the stories? You’re one of

the Ancient Lamoran Bloodline and the Elite Class…right?”

“I think you’re getting me confused with Empress Allanis,” Leonahari replied in amusement.

“Don’t get me wrong, I have worked hard to earn my way into the Elite Class, but I don’t have any

sort of ancestry rooted in Lamora.”

Farid exchanged a stunned look with Tainean.

“That’s all I’m going to say on the subject,” Leonahari said. She glanced over her shoulder at

Tainean. “What about you? I’ve been told you came from Uvar only a couple of years ago.”

Farid frowned at Leonahari’s inquiry. Her voice suggested she cared little about whether or

not Tainean told her anything. As Tainean’s lips tightened, he figured that had been the reason for

Leonahari to suddenly question her. With both women refusing to talk about their lineage, it left

Farid in a rather awkward situation.

He wanted to know what kept them so tight lipped about it. He had always wondered about

Tainean. She never seemed to open up about anything. Her silence made him curious, especially

now when she held her tongue before even the General.

“You said you grew up in Saska?”


He blinked. He realized Leonahari was addressing him.

“Yeah, Saska,” he replied. He felt lame. Compared to Leonahari, who was known around the

Kalyn Desert as one of the greatest Generals Lamora had ever seen, his background suddenly

seemed very boring. He decided not to indulge her. Strangely, Leonahari seemed to take interest in

him. She asked him what part of Saska he grew up in. He told her his father worked as a blacksmith

and taught him the trade. Leonahari even asked him about his home life, and Farid started talking

about how his mother used to make him and Carmen pancakes with fruit smiley faces. Leonahari

laughed at that.

Her questions about home let Farid forget about Maldeib momentarily. He told Leonahari

about the pranks he and Carmen used to play on their father, who always ended up suspecting the

neighborhood kids. Unlike Farid’s mother, his father believed he and Carmen could do no wrong.

“My apprentice grew up in Saska as well,” Leonahari said.

“That’s Semara Naomi, right? I knew her family well. My father and I used to go over to

their house to play cards every once in a while. Ever since she moved to the Fortress, my father says,

they never see her anymore,” Farid replied, “but it looks like she’s happy doing whatever it is she’s

doing.”

He fell silent. It seemed like a decade had passed since he’d been back home. Now, it pulled

at his heartstrings. It was the only place he had left to go back to with Maldeib destroyed.

“We’ll rest here for a moment,” Leonahari said. She had led them to a large rock structure

with a natural overhang. The awning created a small sheltered area right along the water’s edge. Farid

gently placed Carmen on the ground under it and shook his arms out, relieving the tension and

fatigue from his bones. Tainean crouched over the water taking it up into her cupped hands and

drinking deeply. He followed her lead and drank from the icy river until his stomach felt bloated.

When he turned back to Carmen he saw Leonahari leaning over her. He didn’t give it much

thought. His attention was occupied by the water. He needed to find a way to get some to Carmen,

and since he didn’t have anything like a cup with him he had to improvise. A few of the rocks

scattered along the bank were oddly shaped, curved and molded by the fast moving water. After

kicking a few over he found one with an indent large enough to hold a few sips. By the time he

brought it back to the shelter he saw Tainean sitting against the boulder with her eyes closed.

Leonahari lay on the ground with her back to them. He wasn’t sure if she was asleep or not.

“Fort Ukrea is still days away, and walking like we are… I don’t think I can handle it,”

Tainean said to him. He helped Carmen lift her head to suck up the water in the rock he’d collected.

He didn’t know how to respond to Tainean’s complaint. Everything had happened so quickly in the

last day, he wasn’t sure he knew what he felt about it. All he cared about was getting Carmen to

safety. She finished the water and he placed the rock aside for later. He might keep it for the

remainder of their journey.

“And look at her…” Tainean continued. She glaring at Leonahari’s back. “You would think

she hasn’t a care in the world the way she’s acting. How can someone sleep after all that’s

happened?”


He sighed and sat down next to her. The sun had come up completely now. The chill of the

air was gone and replaced by hot dryness. He dug his hands into the gravel as deep as they would go

just to feel the remnants of the night’s cool relief before it was sucked away by the sun.

“We’re wasting time sitting here. We could be on our way by now, but somebody had to take a

nap…” Tainean muttered disapprovingly in his ear.

He frowned. He did not want to travel the entire way to Port Ukrea listening to her

complain. He decided to put his foot down early. “She’s trying to help us. I know you’re suffering,

Taih, we all are, but you could be a little nicer.”

“Nicer?” She spat. “She’s not helping us. She’s helping herself. Once we get to Port Ukrea

it’s over for us. She’ll arrest us and sentence us for kidnapping.”

“No, she won’t.” Farid sighed wearily.

“Oh, right, I forgot the deal we made with her.” Tainean scoffed. “Now that Leas is dead,

the deal is off.”

Farid stared at her in disbelief. He thought perhaps she was in shock to throw Leas’ name

around like that, especially right after what had happened. He didn’t like it.

“You of all people should respect Leas’ memory,” he said, firmly. “How can you just brush

her death off like that?”

“I’m not brushing it off,” Tainean threw back at him. When she looked up he saw tears in

her eyes. He dropped his gaze in shame.

There was a good chance she was right about Leonahari, and he knew it. But it would do no

good worry about it now. They had other things to deal with at the moment; basic survival was one.

He didn’t care what happened when they got to Port Ukrea. He just wished they’d make it there

alive. He leaned his head back against the cool rock and closed his eyes. Tainean fell silent. He was

glad she had some sense to keep her mouth shut while they sat only a few feet from Leonahari.

Though, he figured none of it mattered now. The damage had been done.

He listened to the soft rhythm of the current and let it lull him into a stupor. He wasn’t sure

how long Leonahari planned to rest here, but the sun was already sliding over into the position of

late morning and the rocks shade was slowly starting to shrink. He could feel the heat of golden light

on his feet already. A dull hum joined the river’s flow in his ears. He couldn’t put a finger on what it

was; a song coming from a strange bug? It was steadily getting louder.

He was bumped roughly as Leonahari shot up from the ground, eyes wide and staring

around in search of the noise. He opened his mouth to ask what it was, but she put a finger to her

lips and silenced him. He and Tainean got up and crouched next to her. Leonahari peeked over the

top of the boulder, and her mouth fell open.

In the sky, not two yards away from where they hid, a fleet of airships large and small were

passing them by. They moved purposefully southward in a group. One particularly large ship floated

in the center and cast a long shadow over the desert floor. Farid had half a mind to jump out from

behind the rock and start waving his arms, but before he could move Leonahari put a firm hand on

his shoulder. There was panic in her voice as she said, “Uvarian Skyfleet… It’s in our best interests

to stay low.” Under her breath he heard her mutter, “Why are they so far West?”

“That’s one huge fleet,” Tainean commented.


“Which legion is that?” Leonahari asked, gazing over Farid’s head at Tainean.

“Why do you think I would know something like that?” Tainean asked. Farid could hear the

defense behind her tone, and he wondered what had caused it. He hoped Tainean had sense enough

not to pick a fight with Leonahari, but his luck wasn’t all that great so far.

Leonahari seemed to pause in thought. “Don’t people in Uvar know anything about their

military?”

Farid sneaked a glance at Tainean. Her face looked stern, and her normally warm hazel eyes

had gone almost as cold as Leonahari’s. “People in Uvar don’t make celebrities out of professional

killers, General.”

He bit the inside of his lip and wanted to scold Tainean like a child for her rudeness, but to

his surprise, Leonahari looked away towards the ships. She didn’t look angry. Quietly, she said,

“Probably a good thing.”

The fleet had pulled away from them now. They spotted the horizon like a disjointed dark

cloud. Leonahari stood up, he and Tainean followed her lead. It seemed they were done with the

shelter.

As Farid watched Leonahari pick up the scimitar, he wanted to ask her what she had meant

by that. He had looked up to war heroes since the day he was old enough to understand what honor

meant in Lamora.

During the Battles of the Barrier he had eagerly listened to stories about Desmond the

Thunderer and Armante of Eagle Foot. He grew up reciting names of military history from centuries

ago, every single one had been a hero. The stories of their fights and victorious struggles always kept

him in awe.

And then, when the War of Avran ended, Farid heard of General Almadzi. Lamora had

triumphed over Avran because of her. She was the military genius that thought up the strategy to

pull the provinces of the divided country together. She led the army through the roughest winters

and the driest summers for seven long years. The stories he heard about her were unmatched

because she was a woman. She was the first woman to command an army, and to become a military

hero.

Had she meant it was all for nothing? That the honor and glory should not be celebrated?

“Let’s move out while we still can,” Leonahari said.

Farid picked up Carmen, who seemed to be resting peacefully, and asked, “What was that all

about?”

With a dark look she replied, “Uvar has invaded Lamora. I fear I won’t be back to the

Capital in time to help hold them off.”

Farid realized he should have made his question clearer. It had not been about the fleet,

though he was curious.

“Do you have no confidence in those of your employ?” Tainean replied. There lay an

undercurrent of something Farid didn’t understand. She was picking at Leonahari bit by bit. Her

reason for why she did it still eluded Farid. He noticed the confused look Leonahari gave her, but

answered all the same. “The Colonel is not ready for such a responsibility, and neither is my

successor.”


“Semara?” Farid asked in surprise. They started to walk along the river’s edge again, but this

time the sun beat down on them mercilessly. It was an uncomfortable difference from the chilly

night they had endured hours previous. He wasn’t sure which he preferred, the bone-cold nights or

the scorching days.

“I have a few candidates in mind. The position I hold in the Lamoran Senate requires lots of

training and education. Semara is proving to be a fast learner,” Leonahari replied. A gust of wind

blew a cloud of dust into their faces. They walked with their heads down until it passed.

Before he could raise his head, he heard Tainean shout, “Over there!”

She pointed to what Farid thought was a camel-bound cart with a single driver perched at

the top. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Leonahari suddenly broke into a run towards it, and Farid

would have followed her if he wasn’t carrying Carmen. From a distance he heard her yell and attract

the driver’s attention. The cart stopped and by the time he and Tainean reached it Leonahari turned

to them, and said, “Hop in. He’ll take us to Port Ukrea.”

He almost laughed out loud. The relief that went through him felt terrific. The back of the

cart was full of supply crates, but with some help Farid managed to lay Carmen down in the center

while they sat along the sides around her. The driver was eyeing them suspiciously, but something in

the way he glanced at Leonahari told Farid she had dealt with whatever questions he’d had.

“I’ve got water,” he said. He pointed lazily at the crate next to Farid. He lifted the lid and

grabbed a full water sack and handed it around. They drank deeply from it before setting it aside. “I

don’t know what you guys were thinkin’,” continued the man. “It’s not safe to travel without

supplies. Did you get lost or somethin’?”

None of them bothered to reply. Farid noticed Tainean and Leonahari staring off in

different directions. The man muttered, “Suit yourself.”

“Thanks for the water,” Farid said, awkwardly. He wasn’t quite sure if the man had heard

him or not, and if he did, he didn’t acknowledge it. Farid settled down and tried to ignore the

beating sun. He closed his eyes and hoped that when he opened them again he would find himself

back in Maldeib, under the thick canvas roof of his tent with nothing but a vague memory of the last

day as a dream.

* * *

Port Ukrea was a group of small buildings huddled close to the river’s edge. A few docks

jutted out into the dark water. It was Lamora’s main trade post between Avran and Eagle Foot.

Most of the buildings were two stories high, narrow and built out of weathered brick. The first

floors of the buildings lining the main road were shops. They had tall windows, displaying a variety

of goods from trinkets to food. The hard gravel road cut through the town, and continued on along

the river further northwest, towards the Avran Border. The cart stopped in front of an inn with a

weather-beaten sign that hung swinging above the door. Farid could barely make out the words

‘Clear River Inn’ inscribed on it.

The cart driver twisted in his seat, and said, “That’s as far as I go.” His eyes landed on

Carmen and he added, “Is she okay?”


Farid had found a thin blanket in a crate, and he had thrown it over top of Carmen to keep

her out of the sun. He nodded to the driver. “She’s fine.”

Tainean started to rouse from sleep. By the look of Leonahari’s sunken eyes, she hadn’t

managed to sleep at all. Despite the obvious exhaustion, she hopped off the side of the cart without

waiting for either of them. Sudden panic flooded Farid as he realized all she needed to do was find

an Imperial watchman to pull rank and get them thrown in jail. Tainean seemed to have realized this

because she immediately followed after Leonahari. Farid let them go. He gently gathered Carmen in

his arms. As soon as he stepped of the cart the driver pulled away, leaving the four of them in the

deserted-looking town.

It wasn’t until the driver had left that Farid started to realize how quiet the place was.

Leonahari seemed to have noticed too. She and Tainean stopped and stared around. Farid glanced

forlornly over at the quiet inn. He wanted nothing more than to lie down in a cool, clean bed, but it

seemed the day had other plans for him.

“It’s a ghost town,” Tainean said, astonished, “but I thought Ukrea was a main trading port?

Where are all the boats?”

“I’m more worried about the people than the boats,” Farid said.

“In any case, we must get inside,” Leonahari said, heading for the inn. “If something is

amiss, we’re sitting ducks out here. There are too many silent eyes.”

Farid exchanged a look with Tainean, and wondered what she had meant by that. They

followed her into the inn where they at least expected to see a bartender and maybe a lone stranger

sipping ale. The room was void of life. Small round tables and chairs crowded the center of the

room. To the far side was a small bar counter and a door to the kitchens. In one corner was an

empty stage for local and travelling performers. By the tell-tale scratches on the hardwood, the tables

and chairs were moved often to open a space for dancing. A wooden staircase hugged the west wall

and led up to the rooms. If the place hadn’t been so quiet, it would have been rather inviting.

They stopped barely into the common room. As Farid kicked the door shut behind him he

heard Tainean say, “It looks like everyone just abandoned what they were doing and left.”

Indeed, he noticed drinks left on the tables half-finished and forgotten. One chair was tipped

over on its side. Even subtle tendrils of smoke still trailed from a cigar that had been left to burn out

in an ashtray.

Leonahari dashed across the room to open a door that led down to a dark basement. Farid

and Tainean stood uncertainly in the center of the common room. Leonahari disappeared down into

the basement, but they made no move to follow her. Unsure of what to think and how to act, they

simply waited. A few moments later Leonahari reappeared with an expression that made Farid dread

her next words.

“These people must have evacuated. They took what they could with them and left, possibly

to the next town over,” she said. Farid’s heart dropped into his stomach.

“But what would make them leave like that?” Tainean looked between him and Leonahari

expectantly. They had all seemed to come to one conclusion, but none was willing to confirm it.

Farid had hoped it was something as simple as a sandstorm, but he knew these buildings were built

to withstand desert weather.


“Bandits,” Leonahari said. “They were probably warned about the raid ahead of time and

left.”

They all stopped to stare at one another. The air suddenly felt very cold and tense.

“But,” Farid wished with all his might that him saying it wouldn’t make it come true, “it

doesn’t look like they’ve been here yet.”

Tainean’s voice suddenly raised a pitch or two in her attempt to stay calm. “But there’s no

way… I mean, Red Sand Bandits? They couldn’t get here that fast, right? They only travel by

horseback.”

Leonahari crossed the room. This time she headed for the exit. “It doesn’t matter. We have

to leave, and quickly.”

“Wait,” Farid cut in, stopping her before she could open the door. “We should grab some

supplies while we’re here. Food would be a start.”

“There’s no time!” Leonahari snapped, but Tainean was already running to the kitchen door.

“Who knows how long it will be until we reach the next town,” she said, and disappeared behind the

swinging door.

Despite her obvious desire to leave, Leonahari stood rooted with her hand on the door

knob. A deep frown made her disposition known. Farid avoided her gaze and hoped Tainean would

return soon. The tense silence kept him on edge. He started hearing subtle sounds of the wind

against the building, and Tainean’s hurried footsteps in the kitchen. He could even hear his own

blood pumping through his veins as his heart gave a jolt at every new noise.

Tainean finally appeared with a grain sack full of anything she had managed to snatch up

during her raid of the kitchen. Leonahari muttered something under her breath, and exited with

them. They started toward the end of the road, heading back in the direction they had come from.

Farid stopped. “Wait, where should we go?”

“Daekra,” she replied over her shoulder. “Further North is the border to Avran. Daekra is

closer, and it also has an airbase.”

“We don’t know what direction the bandits are coming from,” Tainean said. “They’re more

likely to come from within Lamora than anywhere else. You’re going to walk right into them if you

head back.”

“I’m not forcing you to follow me,” Leonahari replied. She strode away from them.

Farid exchanged a look with Tainean. He was not going to sit here and debate what direction

to go. Not while a bandit raid was heading towards them. It took all his effort to start walking after

Leonahari, and he knew Tainean would eventually follow. For now it seemed they had little choice

in the matter. Their guess of which direction the bandits would come from was just as fallible as

Leonahari’s, and Farid would never admit this to Tainean, but he trusted Leonahari with these

matters more than he trusted even himself.

Still, fortune seemed to have forgotten them, the thought of being safe at Daekra Fortress

kept some of his hope alive, even if it was an Imperial base. What happened between them and

Leonahari once they got there hung over his head like a weight waiting to drop. He knew whatever

the outcome, he and Tainean were not going to walk away from it bounty-free.


CHAPTER FIVE:

TEMPEST

It was a fiery mid-afternoon in Lamora. The sun blazed down on Inner City. The desert stretched in

every direction, surrounding the city’s stone walls with an ocean of blistering orange sand. Marble

buildings stood brilliantly waving in the golden light. Along the sand-strewn cobblestone roads rose

billows of dust. People passed and weaved between travelling traders, horse-bound riders in long,

light-colored cloaks, noble litters carried by eight or more slaves, and merchants. Not a breeze

dragged the heat from the still air. Not a shadow had less than a crowd of weary workmen huddled

within it.

William Thiessen quickly stepped out of the way for a horse-bound carriage. It was carrying

grain sacks pilled so high, the driver sat at the top to see above his seat. William drew his cream-

colored cloak around himself tightly despite the heat and wove his way through the madness of

Inner City’s main street. He absently fiddled with the corner of a leather-bound book he carried

under his right arm. He avoided the merchant's eye as he passed, and walked faster as if he were

being pursued by him.

"Dr. Thiessen! Good afternoon!" waved a young man from across the street. William gave

him a curt nod, and carried on. His grip on the book tightened as he turned down an alley between

two stone buildings, a glass shop and a butcher’s market. An old woman sat on the crest of an old

stone, her back against the wall and her hand out before her tired face. The lines of her skin were

worn with worry and sadness. William passed her by wordlessly, stepping over her outstretched leg

and bare, filthy foot.

An unbearable, sickly sweet stench met him as he turned behind the butcher’s building and

continued straight into a shaded cobble path. A door creaked open to his left, and he stopped as the

contents of a urinal jar were thrown onto the path before him. William turned his nose up in disgust

and waited for the door to close again before picking his way carefully past the feces.

At the end of the alley he drank in the dust-filled air, and stepped into the sun again, on a

less crowded street. His eyes fell on a man sitting on a doorstep with his head in his hands. Despair

was writ into his face. William crossed the street and the man looked up with widening eyes. He

stood and bowed a bit before beckoning him inside. "Thank you so much for coming at such a time.

I heard the rumors, but I never expected… well, be as it might, you are welcome here whenever you

need –”

William brushed aside the dust from his cloak and followed the man's finger with his eyes as

he pointed the way into a dark bedroom. The house was like a narrow hole burrowed in the side of a


larger building. Though the space was little, there was a certain amount of care given to keeping the

walls and surfaces clean.

A table sat in the center of the far room with three other men standing or sitting around it.

They each wore faded cloaks with the cowls drawn up over their heads. It made putting names to

faces difficult. But William didn’t need names or even faces to identify them. The man closest to

him had a nervous twitch in the corner of his mouth, and his hands were dry and calloused. He wore

no rings or house sign, but the material of his cloak was none but fine silk. He was obviously a

laborer from Lamora Fortress. Though he bore no other sign of his status there, the intricate hem

along the edges of the fabric paired with his rough hands told of his possible military involvement. A

Colonel? A Captain, perhaps? It mattered not to William.

The second man, a tall, broad-shouldered figure, wore his cowl with his face completely

hidden in shadow. The only thing that drew William’s attention was the signet ring he wore on the

middle finger of his right hand. On it was stamped a design known around the continent as the

Emperor’s Elite House, House Capolite. William thought him a fool to wear it to this place. When

he had thought to hide his face as well as he did, he should have taken the effort to remove the

signet ring before the meeting. William’s disapproval did not show on his face, though curiosity

pulled at his mind to know why he of all people would be standing here.

The last man leaned against the wall to William’s right as he entered. He, unlike the other

two, wore no cowl to hide his face. His icy blue eyes stood out vividly against his tanned olive-tone

skin, and his black hair fell in loose curls around his ears. He was visibly older than the other men in

the room as far as William could tell. If the lines in his face did not show it, then his eyes were

enough to hint at the wisdom behind them. His coloring suggested his lineage lay in the far

Northwest, perhaps as far as Yoté. William had only a moment to glance at him before he felt those

eyes search him.

William tried to shake the chill from his spine as the man who had led him inside, closed the

door at his back.

“You’re late,” snapped the man with the twitch.

“Took me some time to pick my way through the mess you left me,” William replied,

bitterly.

“The letter was clear enough. You ought to know I couldn’t just spell it out for any odd

person to find,” he replied.

“Shall we get to business then?” said the man with the signet ring. “Instead of bickering like

old women.”

“I agree,” the man with the blue eyes nodded and set down a large, clear crystal on the table

before them. The crystal was oval-shaped. It was wrapped in an intricate golden web. William raised

an eyebrow at the Stone of Immortal Adia, the Second Inquiry.

“Mercy?” laughed the man with the twitch. “You have an odd sense of humor, my friend.

Do you not know why we’re here?”

The man’s icy blue stare silenced any snickering that had erupted throughout the room. “I

know very well why we’re gathered here,” he said, “and I bring the Stone of Adia here not for the

target, but for my competition.”


William noticed the other men tense. The atmosphere suddenly grew hostile.

“Competition?” spat the man with the twitch. “You’re out of your bloody mind if you think you can

do it yourself.”

“I agree with Al’Dor.” The man with the signet ring stepped forward out of the shadow. His

cowl slipped just enough and William caught a glimpse of his face. It confirmed William’s

observations, but did not answer the questions that plagued his mind. The man with the signet ring

picked up the Second Inquiry with a gentleness that did not match his eyes. The man with the twitch

smirked contentedly like a dog that had been praised. “We’ve failed once. It cannot happen again.

We must work together.”

“There are rumors that she is dead. Perhaps the deed has been done for us? My contact said

she was hurt badly in Uvar,” said Al’Dor. William noticed he nervously twisted a handkerchief

between his calloused hands.

“Dead or not, we have to be certain,” replied the man with the ring.

“You,” William said, and gestured to the man with the icy eyes. His curiosity had finally

reached its limit. “I haven’t seen you before…”

“Call me Azani,” the man with the blue eyes replied with a sly smile. “I am not from these

parts so I am not surprised my face isn’t familiar to you.”

His accent hinted strongly at a native language influenced by harsh vowels and smooth-

sounding consonants. William had never heard such an accent before, but the native languages of

Western Avran sounded similar. Still it was different, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what made it

unique.

“As I’ve said before,” Azani continued, “I care not about myths and fabled treasure. My

target is Almadzi and the sword she carries.”

“You can just steal it, no?” Al’Dor said. “Instead of wasting our time and getting in our

way.”

Azani crossed his arms and studied the twitchy man. William noticed Azani stared as if he

were deciding which way he would prefer to kill him. “I have orders,” Azani said, simply.

“It is fair game,” the man with the ring said. “Whoever gets to Almadzi first can do the job.”

“But we don’t know where she is!” hissed Al’Dor, growing steadily impatient with his

companions. “We can’t very well go searching the damn desert for her. And what if to say she’s dead

already? Do we search for her ghost, then?”

“Almadzi will show up again,” replied the man with the signet ring. “I don’t believe the

rumors. They didn’t find her body in Uvar. There’s a chance she’s still alive.”

“You’re probably right,” William nodded and stepped forward, pulling the leather-bound

book from under his arm and placing it on the table in front of them all to see. “But for the time

being we should focus on the other targets. I have here recorded the daily schedules of each. There

is much room for innovation. Our only goal is to do it inconspicuously, so be creative.”

Al’Dor was the only one to snicker at his joke. The other two seemed to let it slide right past

them. Azani looked curiously over at William, and said, “There’s more? Well, my work is done once

the General is dead. I have no business meddling in Lamora’s other affairs.” Abruptly he made for

the door.


“Be seeing you then,” Al’Dor sneered at his back.

As Azani passed William, he heard him hiss back, “Hope that you don’t…”

When the door opened, the doorman was waiting on the other side guarding the door. He

saw Azani and moved aside for him.

“Now, for the other numbers… William.” William drew his gaze away as he was addressed

and heard the door close again behind him. Al’Dor’s companion, the man with the ring spoke to

him. “I trust you have some ideas.”

“Of course,” William drew himself up and opened the book allowing Al’Dor and the other

man to pour over the details of their target’s lives, written in his scrawl. With a sly smile, he added,

“I have many interesting ways to get the job done.”

* * *

“I’m telling you, this was a bad idea,” Tainean sighed as the three of them miserably scaled

the desert. They had been walking most of the day now and the sun was starting to drop to the other

side of the sky.

Farid glanced back in the direction of Port Ukrea. He could only see a small disturbance on

the sand. He blinked a few times to wet his eyes and looked again. The buildings of the town were

far in the distance now, and he was certain off to the side had been… something. He frowned and

turned back. The mirages must have started. He was exhausted and hungry and thirsty. The bag of

supplies Tainean had brought with them would be rationed out at the end of the day. That is what

Leonahari had said. Farid was ready to dig into his meal now.

“I think it’s time for some water,” Farid suggested.

“Not yet,” Leonahari said from up ahead.

He found his patience wearing off. “Oh, come on… we’re all exhausted. One small sip

would give us enough energy –”

“Don’t argue me,” Leonahari replied.

Now his patience was gone, and anger moved in to replace it. “Hey, you’re not carrying

anything! Tainean and I are carrying…” he made an apologetic glance at Carmen, “- stuff. We should

be entitled to more water.”

“I said –,” Leonahari spun around and Farid suddenly wanted to take his words back.

However, her angry glare dissipated immediately.

“Run!” She shouted.

Farid exchanged a look with Tainean as Leonahari spun on her heel and left them standing

there. Once they glanced over their shoulders, they too started running. The wind rushed up around

Farid’s face as his feet pounded the sand. The image of dark riders on the horizon had frightened

the thoughts of rest from his mind.

He heard the thunder of hooves far off behind them and hoped with all his will that they still

had some luck left. His body felt on fire with the effort to keep moving. He glanced to his side to

assure himself that Tainean was still following and found her lagging behind. The weight of the bag

she carried took its toll on her with every step she made. He thought for a split second about taking


the sack from her, but his body protested in every way possible. His legs started to feel as if they had

become thick elephant trunks, heavy and not easily moved. Before long he realized it became a real

trick to keep his feet under his control.

He felt the toe of his left foot catch his right heel. He watched the ground come at him. His

body slammed against it. Carmen rolled out of his arms. He felt a stab of panic as he tried to stand

again and only ended up fumbling and falling. Tainean stopped to help him, but with the growing

sound of hooves they knew the chase had ended.

The riders were upon them like a storm. By the size of their group Farid guessed there had

to be thirty of them. Only half of the raiding party stopped to surround Farid, Tainean and Carmen,

as the others galloped past. Their horses were dark, with nostrils flaring and wide eyes rolling in their

heads. The riders wore dark leather, bone necklaces and a strange assortment of weapons from

daggers to cleavers. Their faces were covered by masks of skulls, animal and human alike. A red

symbol in the shape of a paw print sat on each of their foreheads.

Weapons were drawn and pointed at Farid and Tainean, as the barbarians circled around

them like a pack of hungry buzzards. Tainean shifted closer to Farid as he held Carmen in his arms.

They felt helpless with their knees dug into the hot sand. They stared up at the hidden faces of the

riders and waited in terrified silence.

In the back of Farid’s mind he imagined a scene where Leonahari returned to them and

fought off the riders. Just before he got his hopes up, the group of bandits parted and a few of their

men delivered Leonahari into the circle. A large, gristly man, who reminded Farid strongly of Ditus,

held Leonahari by the arms tightly. She had been bound by her wrists and ankles and gagged with a

thick rope. He threw her unceremoniously to the ground where she landed before Farid.

The group laughed. The sound chilled him to the bone. He looked down at Leonahari and

saw that her shoulder was bleeding. The doctor’s stitching had opened up.

One of the bandits spoke, but the language sounded rough and unfamiliar. He pointed at

them and barked an order. Before Farid could wonder what he’d said, he was lifted off the ground

and thrown over the side of a horse. He saw Carmen get lifted up onto the horse next to him, but

from where he lay, stomach down, he couldn’t see Tainean or Leonahari. Before he considered

moving to see where they had been dragged to, another order was issued and everything went black.

* * *

The shrine of Isis, Immortal of Judgment, glowed and flickered with candlelight. Lady Allanis knelt

before it, shrouded in a veil of soft violet. Her fingertips brushed the edge of the foot of an ornately

carved statue, a depiction of judgment. It was the fourth night since she had returned from Uvar and

still the fate of the country remained uncertain. Allanis let her mind wander from her prayer. Colonel

Jas commanded the armies in Leonahari’s place, but he alone could not command their loyalty. The

Elite Core was unruly without Leonahari there. Semara had become nothing more than an elusive

shadow within the Fortress. Not even her servants had much to say when Allanis asked them what

she’d been up too all this time.


The gloom that had settled over Lamoran Fortress was unmistakable. With the armies of

Uvar expected at any moment, coupled with the disappearance of General Almadzi, Lamora would

meet her end in due time, and Allanis feared, so would she and her father. She felt helpless.

A gentle breeze blew across the courtyard, carrying with it the scent of jasmine and thyme.

Something struck Allanis as she sniffed at the summer air and wiped a thin tear from her face before

it could be noticed. In that moment she stood and became a part of the universe that surrounded

her, embraced it and cherished it. She knew this would be the last time she would breathe freely.

From here and onward, her world would spiral out of control, and she only hoped that she had the

strength to hold on. Her father would expect nothing less of her, and she knew her people would be

watching very closely.

She wondered what her mother would tell her if she were still alive.

She took a deep breath and blew out the candles at the foot of Isis. She watched the smoke

rise and get carried away by the breeze of the afternoon.

“Mother would say, ‘Change is good, Allanis, it keeps us on our toes,’” Allanis whispered.

“Have you read the paper today?”

Allanis spun around with her hand planted to her chest, and her eyes wide. Upon spotting a

young girl just shy of sixteen years old, she let out a gasp, “Semara!”

Semara, a petite girl for her age, looked up at her with brilliant blue eyes. Her dark hair

flowed over her shoulders, and braids tamed the sides around her ears. She bowed quickly, and

continued, “They’re talking about the attack in Uvar.”

“Who is?”

“The paper.” Semara held out a folded up copy of the Kalyn Inquirer. Allanis took it and

examined the front page. In the center of it a picture showed Leonahari and herself standing before

the assembly of King Yasur’s Senate. The absence of the Fifth Inquiry told her this had been the

only picture they had managed to get before chaos ensued. The title in bold read: ‘Attempted

Assassination in Uvar! General Almadzi Catches the Bullet!’

“They noticed that she didn’t return with you and Jas. They’re assuming she’s dead.”

Semara’s tone was bitter to the core and when Allanis looked up from the paper, the darkness in her

eyes was all-consuming. More tears threatened to rise up, but she pushed them down.

“I wish I could give you some sort of assurance that she’s only been delayed,” Allanis

managed without her voice cracking. She looked down at the article in her hands and read it quickly.

“Jas told me he couldn’t find her after he had secured the ships for departure,” Semara

continued. “He thinks she may have found aid somewhere.”

“If that is true, why hasn’t she contacted us?” Allanis replied. She finished reading and

handed the paper back to Semara. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard, but there is no use in denying it.

You’re only going to hurt yourself more if you get your hopes up.”

Allanis watched Semara drop her gaze.

“They’re calling her a Hero again,” Semara said with difficulty. “The people of Inner City

have hope. They think she’s going to come back and save Lamora like she did in Avran.”

Allanis bit her lip. “She’s only human, Semara.” It had barely been a whisper. Semara’s eyes

had turned red and watery.


“It doesn’t hurt to have a little faith, Your Grace.”

Their eyes met and Allanis immediately wished she had kept hers to the ground. The girl’s

raw emotion tugged at her heart. She found she could not bring herself to look away. “You’re right,”

she said, softly. “Let us hope she has only been delayed in returning home.”

Semara blinked and looked away. Tears streamed down her face. Her cheeks reddened in

shame, and she hastily wiped them with her already-dampened sleeve. Allanis watched her fumble to

keep the tide at bay, but it was futile. Her lips were tightly shut now and it seemed any further

conversation would prove difficult.

“Shall I send Belladonna to fetch some tea?” Allanis asked her. Semara shook her head and

gave a slight bow. “I think… I’m just going to lie down.”

Allanis watched her leave the courtyard. She could tell Semara was trying to avoid the staring

eyes of the servants and other fortress guests, who failed to hide their curiosity. Belladonna, a short,

round woman made to try and comfort her as she passed, but Allanis called to her, “Let her be.”

“She’s a right mess,” a voice said from behind Allanis. She turned to find Utara Vandichi

standing with his hands folded in front of him. His elegant dark robes moved about his body with

the soft breezes. He tugged at his grey beard absently as his brown eyes fell on Allanis. “If the public

hears General Almadzi is dead, and with only days before Uvar invades Lamora, we will have mass

panic on our hands.”

Allanis looked away from him and to the steadily darkening sky. “They love her,” she said.

She couldn’t keep the bitterness from creeping into her voice. “Do they not have faith in their

Empire?”

“To them,” Utara replied, “Leonahari is the Empire. Her fall symbolizes the death of

Lamora.”

“Lamora will not fade while I still breathe,” Allanis said. “Uvar will gain nothing. If Gruman

Yasur invades Lamora –,”

“He will invade Lamora. It is only a matter of time,” Utara corrected. “However, I think you

misunderstand what it means to invade.”

“Are you so bold?” Allanis snapped, but Utara held up his hand for silence.

“I beg your pardon, my Lady, but when King Yasur invades Lamora he will do so on a

purely diplomatic level,” Utara explained and Allanis had found patience enough to listen. “With

Lamora’s armies weakened by many years of battle, he will see no reason to trample what’s left of us.

Instead he will enter Inner City peacefully, and take over the Fortress like a parasite latches onto a

host.”

“My people hate King Yasur. They will not let him pass freely,” Allanis said.

“Oh, but they will,” Utara replied. “With the recent news of General Almadzi’s

disappearance, they will flock to the next best thing that, they believe, will provide them with

stability and safety, even if it means living under Uvarian rule.”

Allanis could hear her blood pounding in her ears. She found herself clinging onto every

word in desperate hope of finding something that could help her. “And of Father and myself?” she

asked.


Utara stared out at the torch-lit courtyard. Servants were lighting the pathways in preparation

for the coming night. “If King Yasur wishes to seem merciful, in order to win over some of the

people, you will be spared.”

Allanis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She noted the absence of her Father in his

reply. She knew her Father’s death was necessary for King Yasur to rule in Lamora. Her hands

twisted the hem of her robes as she stared bitterly down at the golden thread. “If he wishes to keep

me alive, you say? He alone is pulling the strings now, I suppose. It makes me wish I had the nerve

to cut his throat those years ago.”

“My Lady,” Utara’s tone reflected his empathy, “it is only the beginning. You still have the

power to help Lamora pull through. It will not be easy. It will take courage and great sacrifice of

pride, but you can save the Empire. Just know that no matter what, I serve House Capolite alone

and no other. No one can break my loyalty to the Empire. Not even all the legions of Uvar.”

Allanis nodded. “Then, I pray, Isis help Lamora, and I dare King Yasur to do his worst.”

* * *

The side of Farid’s face prickled with sand embedded into his skin. When he woke, he was lying on

his side, and hog-tied with his hands behind his back. He couldn’t see much of his surroundings

aside from a small fire, which crackled brightly at the edge of his vision. A few bandits sat around it

talking in a rough-sounding language. Their horses had been tied up at the edge of the camp, and

that was when Farid noticed they were surrounded by short palm trees. He recalled there being an

oasis near Daekra. If he could only spot the stars he would know exactly where they were now.

He tilted his head a bit, and noticed Tainean lay next to him, tied in the same fashion.

However, Farid couldn’t get a word in at her. His movement had aroused the unwanted attention.

Two bandits got up from beside the fire and came over to him. They peered down at him and the

darkness made it almost impossible to make out their faces. One nudged Farid with his foot, and

both bandits chuckled when Farid flinched. One of them knelt and mumbled in a thick accent, “You

scared of me?”

The other laughed. Leonahari’s scimitar hung from his hip. Farid noticed the stone glint in

the firelight. There was no mistaking the black diamond. Before he could wonder where Leonahari

had been dragged to, he was kicked hard in the gut. Pain shot through him. He braced for another

attack. White stars danced faintly in his vision.

Someone barked an order. Farid’s attacker backed away. He made room for another bandit,

a beefier-looking one, to take his place.

Farid watched him with anxious anticipation as the man drew nearer and crouched next to

his head. To his horror, the bandit drew a small dagger from his boot and made a show of waving it

before Farid’s face. Afterwards he posed a question to Farid, but Farid didn’t understand it.

When he didn’t reply, the bandit grabbed Farid roughly by his hair, forcing his head back.

Farid winced in pain, and his jaw locked. The bandit brought the dagger closer to Farid’s flesh. The

cool edge of the blade touched his skin. Farid shut his eyes, and braced for the pain.

A woman’s voice cut through the night. It made the bandits stop to listen.


It took a moment for Farid to recognize Leonahari’s voice. She spoke in their language, and

the callous sounds and words did not suit her voice, but it made the dagger pause. Farid opened his

eyes to see that the bandits were distracted. They released Farid, and went towards where Leonahari

lay, somewhere beyond Farid’s field of view.

Something Leonahari said seemed to anger the bandits, particularly the one with the scimitar.

He pushed his way forward to drag her by the hair into the clearing where Farid could see.

Leonahari struggled, but the bandit was too strong for her. Three men surrounded her. One struck

her hard across the face. She landed against the sand on her wounded shoulder. Unlike Farid, her

hands were bound in front of her body. She managed to break her fall, but barely.

Farid watched in shocked silence. His mind froze. He couldn’t think of anything to do to

help her. After a few nasty kicks, Leonahari had simply resorted to curling into a fetal position in the

sand. Her small frame had never been so evident, silhouetted against the orange light of the

campfire, hiding her face behind her forearms.

One bandit came forward with a dagger drawn. He bent down, cutting the bonds that kept

Leonahari’s ankles together. Farid’s stomach churned as he realized the bandit’s intension.

Leonahari’s face paled. When the bandit tried to grab at her pants, she kicked him hard in the groin.

He bellowed in pain, doubling over, grabbing between his legs. Leonahari kicked his face, and he

tumbled over, stumbling away.

The bandit with the scimitar ordered the rest to stop with a wave of his hand.

Silence fell around the camp save for the crackling of the fire and Leonahari’s shuddered

gasps. Blood pounded in Farid’s ears as he stared in horror. Leonahari had saved his life, but at what

price? Now he watched and waited, praying for her to move. Her legs were free. She could run, but

she lay motionless with her face still behind a defensive barrier. Between her wrists she watched the

bandit with the scimitar.

One of the horses kicked the ground restlessly in the background. It was then that Farid

noticed the shadows beyond the trees move. Other bandits squirmed as if aroused from a deep

sleep. Only the shadows hid their numbers. They approached the campfire and the bandit leader.

They stared down at Leonahari, Farid and Tainean with dark looks.

The bandit leader drew his attention back to Leonahari. Blood stained her shoulder and

streaked down her arm. She had a cut lip and a bruise on her cheekbone. She winced when she

moved, and Farid figured her ribs had also been damaged. Guilt settled on Farid’s shoulders. He

pulled against his bonds, but they held fast.

Leonahari pulled herself up so that she knelt to face the leader with the scimitar. She

fumbled her balance slightly and wrapped an arm around her chest. For the first time Farid could

see pain in her eyes.

Leonahari looked up at the leader and spoke in his language. Her words were slow and her

sentences broken. It sounded like she had a proposition for him. It seemed she would attempt to

negotiate.

Farid didn’t need to understand the language to know she had been declined. The leader

pushed her back and Farid watched in stunned silence as Leonahari let herself fall backward into the


sand. She landed on her back. The bandit leader unsheathed the scimitar. Its ebony blade sucked at

the light. Farid’s eyes widened as the bandit plunged the sword into Leonahari’s chest.

Farid’s heart stopped.

Leonahari’s eyes were closed. Her body went limp and lifeless as blood poured over her.

Cheers and shouts erupted from around the camp. The bandits celebrated their leader’s

victory. The black scimitar remained forgotten, embedded in Leonahari’s body. The bandit leader

cheered along with his followers by letting out a blood-curdling roar.

In the background all the horses reared and whipped their heads wildly. They whined and

kicked, pulling at the ropes to break free. Before long, their owners were at them, trying to calm

them down. The cheering stopped.

Lightning crackled across the clear sky. The white-hot bolt lit up the night for a split second

before disappearing into darkness.

Panic spread through the camp. Farid and Tainean were forgotten as bandits rushed back

and forth to calm their beasts. The leader spun around and shouted orders in every direction. Farid’s

heart pounded, but his mind was numb.

“What’s going on?” Tainean asked, but he hadn’t the faintest clue. His gaze landed on the

scimitar and Leonahari. Not even her blood marred the blade. It sucked once again at the light like it

had done in Maldeib. The firelight touched the sharpened edge and disappeared into it.

More lightning stretched over the velvet night sky. Its spidery fingers groped towards the

grouping of palm trees the camp sat under. Farid could see no clouds in sight. His mind reeled at the

possibility of a storm without clouds.

Around them, chaos erupted. The bandits jumped on their horses and galloped out into the

darkness, leaving everything behind. The shadows danced and grew, and looked like they reached

out with spidery legs to touch the scimitar blade. The hair on back of Farid’s neck stood on end. He

could feel the static on the air.

The lightning stopped as soon as it had started. Relief had little time to settle. Farid struggled

against his bonds again. The whining of horses and shouts faded into the darkness of night, and

once again, the only sound that accompanied them was the crackling of flames.

Farid struggled against his bonds. He cursed a few times when they left him feeling helpless

and vulnerable. He felt his anger subside. It was replaced by sorrow and exhaustion. He let his gaze

slide over to Leonahari. A great guilt rose in his chest.

“Is she dead?” Tainean whispered, as if afraid her voice would bring the bandits back.

Shadows clung to Leonahari’s small frame as she lay motionless.

Farid didn’t want to answer. He didn’t want to be the one to confirm it. He could admit it

terrified him to even consider it. The Hero of Avran bested by bandits? She sacrificed herself to save

their lives; General Almadzi, the same woman he had idolized for years. After all that, he never

considered her mortality and now more than ever she seemed human.

Something tugged at his wrists. He snapped out of his reverie to glance over his shoulder.

His heart gave another jolt.

Carmen’s shallow-cheeked face appeared against the firelight.


“Let’s get these off you,” she said. Farid felt the bonds loosen around his wrists and ankles,

but he didn’t move. He stared up at his sister in stunned disbelief.

“Carmen?” Tainean gasped. Carmen moved to her and, with a small dagger, sliced easily

through the ropes that bound her wrists. “I don’t understand…”

“They felt I wasn’t a threat to them so they left me unbound,” Carmen explained, and Farid

sat up, eyes wide.

“You’re alright?” he said, mouth agape. “You’re moving about and talking… but you were

so weak before. How is this possible? Did Belis give you something? Am I dreaming this?”

Farid turned expectantly to Tainean. Farid wondered if he’d gone crazy. Could Tainean also

see Carmen? But Tainean gave him the same confused look. Farid’s mind went numb. Too much

had happened. He put his face in his hands to clear his head. Maybe when he looked up reality

would sort itself out, but when he glanced up again he saw his sister kneeling beside Leonahari’s

body.

Farid made his way over to Carmen. He felt oddly calm as he reached out and touched her

face. Carmen’s skin was already glowing with health. Even as she sat there Farid could see her hair,

once thin and wispy, begin to thicken and shine. Like magic, the shallows of her eyes filled out, and

flesh grew around her boney frame. Farid blinked, and Carmen was as he remembered her ten years

ago; healthy and youthful.

“What is this magic?” Farid asked, wrapping a lock of Carmen’s brown hair around his

fingers. He gazed in disbelief at it.

Carmen put a hand on his, making him look up into her eyes. She looked sad. Then, Farid

remembered Leonahari. His gaze traveled to the sword still embedded in her flesh and felt his heart

plummet. Tainean sat across from him and Carmen, hugging herself. If it hadn’t been for the sweat

on her brow Farid would have thought she looked cold. Her face was lined with sadness.

“We should give her a proper sending,” Tainean said.

Farid silently agreed. He stood and gripped the hilt of the scimitar. It felt oddly stiff and he

took a deep breath before he pulled it from Leonahari’s chest. He dared not look at the blade and

see it in its entirety. Instead, he embedded it into the sand as far down as it would go.

“Here, hide it.” Carmen handed the elegant golden sheath to him. He exchanged a curious

glance with her.

“How did you get this?” he asked.

“I found it in the sand. It must have been dropped,” she replied.

Farid pulled the blade from the sand and sheathed it. Immediately, the charge settled from

the air, and the shadows stilled. A natural silence fell around them.

Tainean let out a shaky breath. “That’s unsettling.”

Farid held the scimitar, and couldn’t get over the eerie feeling inside him. He recalled Leas

had mentioned something about Qui Darnae cursed swords. But she had been joking, Farid

thought. He frowned at the tender wound within him. Many lives had been lost in the last few days.

He felt like his world had suddenly been turned upside-down.

He turned to Carmen. Her immediate recovery still baffled him, and he couldn’t help but be

a little suspicious. He only had one explanation for it: magic. In his experience, nothing good ever


came from magic. It was the accursed power used by the Immortals. He couldn’t help but think the

Gods were toying with him.

Tainean gasped. Farid turned to find her, kneeling over Leonahari, with a look of pure

astonishment on her face. He wondered what she was looking at, but then he saw it. The wound in

Leonahari’s chest had disappeared. A terrible bloodstain marred her clothes, but there was no longer

any gouge. The fabric between her breasts had been sliced by the blade, but the flesh beneath it

looked untouched.

“No way!” Carmen gaped. Farid leaned in a little closer, and Leonahari stirred. His heart

skipped.

“She’s alive!” he exclaimed.

“That’s impossible! We watched her die!” Tainean shook her head in disbelief, in spite of

watching Leonahari rouse. She coughed and licked her lips. There was blood on her tongue. Farid

rolled her on her side. She winced at his touch, and coughed violently until her windpipe cleared.

Shuddering breaths wracked her body, and he could feel her trembling beneath his hands.

“We should get her over to the fire,” he said.

“We can’t move her, she’s too badly injured,” Tainean replied. Farid felt helpless. Leonahari

seemed so frail. He thought the lightest touch might break her.

“Let’s roll her onto a blanket and carry her in a hammock,” Carmen suggested. They agreed

and Tainean left to search for a suitable blanket.

“Lucky they left in a hurry,” Carmen commented, looking around at the pitched tents and

camping gear scattered, and in some cases, trampled. “I bet we have food here, and water too.”

“Let’s hope they have medical supplies,” Farid said gazing down at Leonahari, who had

passed out cold.

Carmen frowned. “She’s hurt pretty bad.”

“Carmen,” Farid said, “Do you realize who she is? She is General Almadzi. I don’t know

what I’ll do if she doesn’t pull through. She saved my life.”

“I know,” Carmen replied.

Farid looked up at her curiously, but she shook her head. “I’ll explain later,” she added.

Tainean returned with a blanket. They moved Leonahari over to the edge of the fire. Some

wood had been left in a pile beside one of the tents. They threw a few more pieces on to get it going

again. The night took on its usual chill, but it bothered none of them as they tirelessly worked to aid

Leonahari. Tainean found a few medical supplies, and Farid politely left Tainean and Carmen to

remove Leonahari’s bloodstained shirt, and tightly wrap her ribs for support.

Meanwhile, Farid kept himself busy by making up travelling packs from what food and water

he could find around the camp. He felt after this whole ordeal, they made it out with some luck at

least; Leonahari was alive, though he couldn’t fathom how; and they were well supplied.

When he returned to Tainean and Carmen, Farid could see they had managed to find a clean

replacement for Leonahari’s shirt. Her left wrist had been placed in a splint and blood had been

washed from her face. It surprised Farid to see that she was awake, lying on her side. She stared into

the embers of the fire in deep thought.


Tainean’s air of ignorance seemed to have returned. Farid sat cross-legged next to Leonahari

as Carmen prodded the embers of the fire with a long cutlass.

“I found weapons around the camp,” she explained at Farid’s questioning look. “It’s

brilliant. They couldn’t have left us better off – uh, no offense.” She directed that last part at

Leonahari.

“They’ll return in due time. If we’re very lucky, they won’t return until morning,” Leonahari

said. Her voice sounded weak and oddly forced. Farid felt another pang of sympathy for her.

“She right,” Tainean said. She sat with her legs curled up against her chest. “We shouldn’t

risk staying here for much longer. Let’s pack some reserves and get out of here.”

“I’ve already packed what we need, but we should take some of these weapons too,” Farid

replied.

“That is the first rational thing any of you have said,” Leonahari snapped. Though her tone

was weak, her words still cracked like a whip over their heads. Farid almost smiled in spite of the

insult, but Tainean’s frown deepened.

“Good to see you’re starting to feel like your old self again, General,” Farid said. “You

scared us there for a moment.”

Tainean stared at Leonahari. “Yes, I would really like to know what happened back there.”

Carmen watched Leonahari silently across the flames. Leonahari didn’t take her eyes off the

glowing embers. Farid waited patiently for her to speak. Her brow furrowed against the heat of the

fire.

“I don’t know what happened,” Leonahari said, rather stiffly. Farid continued to stare at her,

but that seemed to be the extent of her explanation. He could see the confusion in her eyes.

“So, it’s cursed?” Tainean prodded impatiently. “Leas said something about blackened

blades, didn’t she, Farid?”

Farid nodded. “She spoke specifically about blades from Nal Tara in Qui Darnae, but I think

she was pulling my leg.”

“Well, what do you say about that?” Tainean turned again to Leonahari, who had closed her

eyes.

“My sword is unique, but I don’t know much about it,” she replied, simply.

Tainean’s eyes flashed in frustration. “You can’t brush off the question like that! Not after

what we just went through!”

“Actually, on the contrary,” Leonahari replied. “I can and I will.”

Tainean stretched out her legs, and glared at Leonahari. “After all that’s happened, I think

you owe us –”

“I do not owe you anything!” Leonahari growled, and for the first time since their meeting

Farid wished to be miles away from her. Her anger radiated like the heat of the fire they crowded

against. “If it hadn’t been for you and your idiot friend, I wouldn’t be here in the first place! I would

most likely be where I am meant to be, in Lamora helping abate the destruction of our Empire!”

Tainean dropped her gaze. A flicker of guilt and regret passed behind her eyes. Farid knew

as soon as he’d heard that Leas and Tainean had kidnapped the General of Lamora they had made a

terrible mistake. He had almost killed Leas himself. He could feel Tainean’s embarrassment almost


as much as he could feel Leonahari’s anger. Both emotions clung to the air and gave it an

uncomfortable chill.

“Instead, I am here,” Leonahari continued, wrapping her arms around her ribs. She winced.

“I’ve been captured by bandits. Now, I’m stuck in the middle of this Isis-forsaken wasteland with

injuries that render me absolutely useless! If I were ever to make it back to Lamora now I would be

nothing but a burden to them! How dare you say I owe you any – ah!”

She gasped and her face contorted in agony. Farid felt the greatest need to comfort her in

some way, but he knew he could do nothing. She wrapped her arm around her ribs again and fell

silent.

“You should rest,” Farid suggested. He bit his lip as he realized it had sounded like an order.

His tactlessness earned him a glare from Leonahari, and she snapped, “Do not tell me what I should

and shouldn’t do, commoner.”

Farid bit back a snide response for fear of losing his head later down the road. Even though

he figured he had already lost it by simple association to Tainean and Leas, he didn’t need to make

matters worse.

“You know what,” Carmen piped up, seemingly unaffected by the tension in the air, “we’re

all stuck here, like it or not, and we’re all hungry, tired and thirsty. Let’s just agree to forget our

differences for the moment and work together, because we’re not going to survive unless we do

that. General, you’re injured. You need our help even if you can’t admit it. Tainean, you should take

that chip off your shoulder and stop being such a prat.”

Tainean rounded on Carmen. “Excuse me?”

Farid jumped in and held up his hands as if he expected to have to keep them apart.

“Ladies!” he said. “Carmen, don’t say we need to work together and then call names, for crying out

loud. But you raise a good point. We need to work together, if we’re going to get through this.”

Tainean rolled her eyes, but Leonahari was looking across the fire at him. It was difficult to

tell what she was thinking.

Farid frowned and exchanged a helpless look with Carmen. He turned back to Leonahari,

who closed her eyes again. He bit the inside of his lip as his patience started to wear thin. Both

women needed to put their pride aside. Time ticked on and soon the bandits would return. Farid

didn’t care if Tainean and Leonahari straightened out their differences or not, they were all going to

leave, and together.

“You and Tainean need to suck it up,” he growled.

His sudden outburst made Leonahari’s eyes snap open in surprise. She stared at him with

something akin to amusement. Farid continued, “I don’t care if you won’t take orders from me or

any of us. You’re in no condition to go anywhere or do anything on your own. If we don’t leave

now, we’re all going to die tonight!”

Carmen’s mouth hung agape, and Leonahari was staring at him like his hair had turned a

primary color. Tainean stood with their bags, and Farid took his from her. He threw the slack over

his shoulder and moved towards Leonahari. He knelt down next to her. “I am going to carry you,

whether you like it or not,” he said.


He didn’t give her time to respond. In one swift movement he had her up. She winced, but

didn’t say anything. He looked to Carmen, and said, “Grab the scimitar. We won’t want to leave it

behind.”

They made their way out of the camp and into the darkness of the night.

CHAPTER SIX:

PARASITE

Allanis stood on the steps of Lamoran Fortress’ entrance. Crimson robes flowed over her delicate

frame, tussled only by the morning breezes. She wore the crest of Lamora, an opal teardrop that

hung against her forehead from the intricate golden weave of her crown. She stood and looked out

at Northern horizon expectantly. The Uvarian Skyfleet, which only resembled a dark cloud in the

distance, approached Lamora’s Northern Gates. She felt a shiver run down her spin at the thought

of having to welcome Gruman Yasur as a guest into her country. She knew she had no other option

but to accommodate him. Anger and shame burned inside her. She prayed for the day to come when

she could summon the courage to exact her revenge.

“Easy, my dear,” her father’s gentle words drifted to her like a breeze on a hot summer

night. “You needn’t be so angry. He is the victor in this chapter of Lamora’s history, but Uvar’s

foothold in Lamora, even in the past, never lasted long enough to cause any damage. You must be

strong now, and have faith.”

“I pray to Isis to strike him where he stands!” Allanis hissed. She turned to her father. He

stood next to her, adorned by House Capolite’s ancestral crown. Lamora’s signature opal sat in the

center of it. The sun made the colors dance and shimmer as if alive.

“If you pray to Isis for destruction, he will answer by doing nothing,” Ramnus Capolite

replied, “and praying to Immortal Zero for such a thing would be blasphemous.”

“I don’t understand why you hate King Yasur so,” came a drawled voice from the

Emperor’s other side. A man with dark curly hair and deep brown eyes raised his eyebrows at her.

He looked to be a younger version of Emperor Capolite, but his skin lacked the olive tone and his

eyes resembled those of his father.

Allanis frowned. “You have much to learn, Thomas. King Yasur is a treacherous snake, and

it seems he is in dire need of a reminder of that fact.”


“Well, if you do say so, mother.” Thomas smirked. “I honestly think you’re being too

stubborn. Really, Uvar and Lamora used to be united under great Grandfather’s rule. Do you not

remember?”

Allanis bit the inside of her lip and her eyes darkened. “Oh, it’s hard to forget,” she said.

At the end of the airship dock, Colonel Jas had organized a greeting party of Captains and a

few members of the Lamoran Senate. Allanis watched them salute King Yasur and his entourage as

they appeared from the airship. From where she stood, Allanis could only see that he wore Uvarian

colors of dark sapphire. Even from a distance, he could still make her heart clench uncomfortably.

Her stomach churned, and she felt ill, but suppressed it.

Her father placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a warm smile. “It will be alright,” he

said softly. “You can do this.”

Allanis stood a bit straighter, and ignored the warning in the back of her mind. She felt a

presence on her other side and noticed Utara and come to stand with them. He bowed his head to

her, and whispered, “Remember what we talked about, my Lady.”

She looked up to see King Yasur, flanked by his General and a woman with long blonde

hair. Lamoran Imperials saluted them, lining both sides of the walkway. The Lamoran flag upon the

crest of the gated entrance hung limply as Colonel Jas led the leader of Uvar through it and into the

heart of Lamora. They had reached the foot of the stairs and Allanis could see them all clearly now.

King Yasur, adorned by his heavily jeweled crown, stood behind his entourage. He looked

smugly up at Allanis and her father. His military guard followed and flanked them on every side.

They were clad head to toe in dark armor. The dark sapphire crest of Uvar rested proudly on their

breast plates; a swordfish. What a stupid symbol, Allanis thought. The soldiers glittered in the sun

like crystals in the form of men. They, not being used to the deserts harsh environment, had dressed

in heavy armor. The Lamoran Imperials surrounding them mocked the Uvarian Soldiers with their

eyes. A cortege of Elites, who guarded the steps to the Emperor, stood proudly in their Lamoran

desert drab. Crimson cloaks wrapped around their shoulders, a symbol of their status among the

guards.

King Yasur’s General, Capris Briggs, of whom Allanis had had the pleasure of meeting

during her short stay in Central City, looked almost as smug as his King. A woman with blonde hair,

pulled back into a tight bun, stood to General Briggs’ right. She wore a sapphire-blue uniform of the

Uvarian Skyfleet Legion, and upon her shoulder sat five golden stars.

Colonel Jas bowed to Emperor Capolite, and introduced, “My Lord, I present to you King

Gruman Yasur of Uvar.”

With a wave of Emperor Capolite’s hand, Colonel Jas bowed down on one knee. The

Lamoran Guard followed his lead. The eerie sound of several hundred armored soldiers moving as

one echoed off the tall stone walls of the Fortress like an ominous drum beat. They remained bent,

with their heads low over their knee.

Allanis realized with a pang of sorrow that the only color she could see now was dark

sapphire.

“I, Emperor Ramnus Capolite, welcome you, however reluctantly, to Lamora,” her father

said. His voice echoed over the heads of all who stood or knelt before him. Allanis had never known


her father to be influenced by anger, but she couldn’t doubt the undercurrent of resentment in his

tone. “You have defeated my armies and now you stand here bidding entrance to Lamora’s only true

refuge. I ask you, did Kalyn Canyon not sate your lust for power?”

King Yasur smiled, but his eyes remained cold. “Uvar and Lamora used to work together.

Our fathers were great rulers in that they understood the foundation of peace lay in the unity of the

two great colonies of Kalyn. You speak as if power comes solely from extending borders and

claiming land, but you forget that it is the people who give us that power. Your people let us pass

freely in North Gate, and even the proud and pure Lamoran Nobility of Inner City bowed to us as

we passed. I do not lust for power, dear friend. I have rightfully earned it among even your own

brethren.”

Allanis took a deep breath, in and out through her nose, trying to calm her nerves. She did

not trust herself to speak.

“You’re correct,” her father calmly replied. “The people give their trust and loyalty to their

Empire, and I must say I am content to end the fighting between our two powers, assuming we can

do so under reasonable terms.”

“Negotiations have proven difficult in the past,” King Yasur said. His eyes moved over

Allanis, and then back to her father without any sign of shame. “Unfortunately, our last meeting did

not go over as easily as we planned. The treaty was never signed. Empress Allanis and General

Almadzi, your two officials, were unable to complete that simple task without endangering myself

and the Council. All before the Fifth Inquiry, no doubt.”

“My daughter and General Almadzi are not to be blamed for the events in Uvar,” Emperor

Capolite said, sternly. “You and everyone who witnessed the event know that they were attacked. It

surprised me when I discovered this truth. I trusted that Uvar would obey the laws of their own

Inquiry, the principle to which they so highly claim to regard.”

“You say you trust, and yet, instead of going yourself, you send your daughter and a

General,” he pointed out. Then, his cold grin returned, and he added, “But let’s not stand here and

bicker about things that have past. Instead, now that I have gone to the trouble to come to you,

perhaps I could bother you for a glass of water. We will talk together about Lamora’s future, and I

will be, as you put it, reasonable about the terms.”

It surprised Allanis when her father did not seem to want to defend General Almadzi’s

memory, and she would remember to ask about it later. For now, he had bowed his head in

acceptance and it looked like they would have no choice but to accommodate King Yasur and his

entourage of military personnel. With another wave of the Emperor’s hand and a one word order,

Colonel Jas rose and led them up the stairs and into the heart of Lamora.

* * *

Farid, Tainean and Carmen stopped to rest under the starry night at the tip of a sand dune. They had

taken to travelling by night since they left the bandit camp for fear that they were followed. Now,

after several days and no sight of the ominous group of dark riders, they were finally starting to

relax. Still, they traveled during the night simply out of habit. The heat of day made it almost


impossible to get much rest, and the cold chill of night kept them on edge enough to get a few more

miles from the bandits. They used the stars and the orientation of the sun and moon to figure out

which direction they were going.

From his calculations, Farid figured they were headed straight for Daekra Fortress, which sat

on the border of Lamora and the Red Sands. Farid knew that once they got there, their fate would

be decided. Daekra was a Lamoran military base, and it was famous for its prison, which had been

built underground centuries ago.

A cold, dry breeze blew up the side of the dune. He threw the hood of his cloak over his

head, and shivered. They had decided that lighting a fire would give away their position, especially

on such a high point, surrounded by nothing but barren landscape of rolling sand. So they huddled

together, braving the desert’s chilly nights.

Tainean handed him some of the bread they had managed to take from the camp. It was

stale, but they had rationed it over many days and it kept up their energy. There had been dried meat

too, but they had been unable to tell what animal it had come from. For that reason, Tainean had

refused to eat it, and Farid didn’t blame her.

Carmen sat beside him and took her piece when it was offered to her. Leonahari, still unable

to move much, sat across from Farid munching slowly on her portion. Since the incident at the

bandit camp she spoke little and never met their eyes. Farid felt he had shamed her when he acted

brashly towards her, but he noticed her wince at even the slightest movements. He figured the pain

kept her from saying too much.

He watched her look up at the starry sky.

“Daekra is less than a day away,” he told her, even though he figured she knew it already.

She let her gaze fall across the landscape.

“We should get moving,” Tainean said. She wrapped up what was left of the bread and put it

back in the bag. Farid had to admit, they couldn’t have been luckier coming out of that bandit camp.

They each wore a weapon now. The food and water reserves were plenty to keep them alive until

Daekra. They had managed to grab cloaks to keep their necks and faces from the sun. And most of

all, they were alive.

He helped Leonahari stand. Farid noticed he had fallen into a routine with her. She would

stubbornly walk on her own for a little less than an hour, and then she would ask him to carry her.

After he let her up, he grabbed his bag, throwing it over his shoulder. Carmen yawned and followed

after Tainean, who seemed to have assumed lead at hearing there were hot baths and beds at the end

of the day.

Leonahari held back. Farid waited for her. He wondered if she would opt to being carried

early this time, or if something else kept her from moving forward. He decided it must be the

former and made his way over to where she stood.

“It will be dangerous in Daekra,” she said. He paused in step to study her. Her silver eyes

seemed to glow in the moonlight.

“I thought you wanted to go there?” he asked, recalling the conversation in his mind.

Leonahari looked troubled. “Uvar has invaded Lamora by now. I will be surprised if it’s even

still standing, and if it is, it will be run by Uvarian Imperials.”


Farid frowned. It seemed their luck would not improve any time soon. “You’re telling me

this now, after we’ve come all this way?”

“It was the only rational choice,” Leonahari replied. Her voice cracked, and Farid instantly

felt guilty all over again. He still hadn’t come to terms with Leonahari’s decision to sacrifice herself

to save him. In the back of his mind he felt he should have kept it from happening. “Daekra is our

last chance,” she said.

Farid studied her thoughtfully, and realized something that made his heart swell with relief.

Leonahari never planned on turning them in once they reach Daekra. She only wanted to get there

so that she could get on the first airship to Lamora.

“You know you won’t be any help if we get into a scrap,” Farid said. “If there are Imperials

at Daekra, what do you expect us to do against them?”

Leonahari gave him a small smile, and said, “You were trained by Master Nerva, were you

not? You’ll be fine.”

Farid shook his head, and inwardly laughed at the misunderstanding. “We can’t take on all of

them, General. We might have to sneak in or something. You said Daekra has an airship base,

right?”

“They have a small one,” she replied. “And I think we best sneak in, as you said. You can

call me Leona.”

Farid blinked. Had he really just earned the respect of the Hero of Avran?

“Really? I mean – are you sure?” He stuttered and his face grew hot. Leonahari scowled at

him, “Don’t get familiar with it, commoner. We need to sneak in, remember? It’s the only name that

suits."

“Oh,” Farid held out his hand for emphasis, and added, rather sarcastically, “And my name’s

Farid, not commoner – just in case. We don’t want you to slip up either.”

He was surprised her jaw didn’t hit the sand. It took her a moment to recover, but when she

did her smile surprised him. “Right,” she said, slowly. “Thanks for clearing that up.”

“Any day now!” Tainean called back at them. She and Carmen stood waiting at the bottom

of the dune. Farid nodded to them. He turned back to Leonahari, and asked, “Do you need me to

carry you?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” she replied. “Farid, right?”

He laughed at her mock. He didn’t know if she meant to be funny, but if she did he enjoyed

the change of heart. It struck him that Leonahari might not be as arrogant as he originally thought.

He smiled a bit at that. He noticed her dry humor when he had spoken to her about his hometown,

many days ago now. It seemed odd to him. She was so unlike what he had imagined her to be.

They walked for nearly the rest of the night before they started to see peculiar shapes on the

horizon. It was a low-lying building. Its sand-colored exterior made it almost impossible to see in the

light of dawn, and if it hadn’t been for Leonahari’s sharp eyes, they might not have noticed it at all.

Leonahari shifted in Farid’s arms and he noticed her lift her hood to hide her face. The faint

light of dawn would make it difficult for the guards to clearly see any of their faces, but they would

have to be careful nonetheless.


The front gate towered over them and Farid gazed up at the top in awe. From afar he had

believed it to be a short building, but it looked now to be at least three levels high. The gate stood

before them, a solid wall of dull, sand-blasted steel. They stood before it, with their tired feet dug

into the sand. Farid wondered if they were meant to knock or ring some bell. Then, a little hole in

the wall opened up in front of them and a pair of eyes appeared. “State your business!”

“Uh…” Farid said unintelligently. He realized they hadn’t really come up with a story to tell.

“We are travelling traders,” Tainean lied. “We were on our way to Port Ukrea when our

caravan was ambushed by Red Sand Bandits.”

“And you survived?” the voice sounded doubtful and rather unimpressed. Farid noticed the

man’s gaze fall on Leonahari in his arms. She had closed her eyes and looked to be sleeping.

“She is injured, and we are all travel worn,” Farid added. “Would it be possible for you to

spare us beds and food for a day or two until she recovers?”

The man grumbled something, and then said, “How do I know you’re not some Uvarian

spy?”

Farid’s heart rose in his chest and felt a weight rise from his shoulders. Leonahari fidgeted

and he let her stand. She drew herself up as much as she could, removed her hood, and said, “I

command you to open this door at once.”

“G-general!” The little latch shut closed and a metallic clunk echoed behind the gate. The

door slid slowly open just enough for them to squeeze one by one into the fortress. They entered

into what looked like the main hall of a military barracks. Doors flanked the huge room, and no one

but the gate keeper stood before them. Once they were all inside, he turned back and pulled on a

long chain. A massive system of pulleys closed shut the heavy steel door.

Then, the gate keeper quickly turned from them, and shouted, “Guard! The General is here!

General Almadzi is alive! Summon the Captain!”

The quiet soon faded as his voice rang off the steel wall. The sounds of many pairs of

scuffling feet thundered into the room. Farid watched in awe as fifty or so guards filed into the

entrance hall from the doorways. They organized themselves into line formation before Leonahari,

Tainean, Carmen and himself. The gate keeper backed away from them and went to stand with the

guards. Farid noticed with a touch of humor that a few of them did not wear uniforms at all, but

looked as if they had jumped straight out of bed. The rest were clothed in bland grey outfits. Once

they had organized into neat lines the room fell silent again.

Together they bowed.

Farid felt his face grow hot and wondered if he should join them or not. He had grown so

accustom to traveling with Leonahari that he had almost forgotten what sort of power she

commanded. It proved to be a stunning wake-up call, and he felt the greatest urge to get in line with

them and bow as well. His feet wouldn’t move. The awkwardness of the situation kept him

grounded to the spot. He swallowed and glanced over to Carmen and Tainean, and noticed with

relief that they, like him, stood next to Leonahari looking just as awkward as he felt.

On the other hand, Leonahari did not look impressed. She slouched a bit, her exhaustion

evident in her drooping eyelids. When she raised her hand to motion the guard to stand again he

noticed her wince, just barely. It seemed she would hold face for the sake of her honor.


“General Almadzi,” a voice from the side of the room echoed towards them. The sound of a

single pair of heavy boots bounced off the walls around them and announced the arrival of a man

who looked to be in his late forties. His brown eyes scanned them over one by one. When he smiled

Farid noticed a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth.

“Captain Al’Dor,” Leonahari breathed, and Farid noticed she held her side. He moved

towards her. The Captain stepped between them, drew his sword and pressed it against Farid’s

throat. Farid slowly raised his hands and dropped to his knees. His heart pounded in his chest. His

eyes widened in fear.

“No!” Carmen gasped.

“Captain!” Leonahari snapped. “How dare you! He is my guard!”

Captain Al’Dor glanced uncertainly between Farid and Leonahari. Despite his obvious

confusion, he stepped aside to let Farid approach Leonahari.

Farid swallowed, his heart still pounded. He gently put Leonahari’s arm over his shoulder

and let her lean on him. A touch of pride made him stand a little straighter.

“This commoner is your personal guard?” Al’Dor asked, looking Farid up and down.

“If you haven’t noticed, I am in dire need of medical attention,” Leonahari said. “We have

traveled quite far, without preserves. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

Farid tensed at her words. She only needed to give the order, and he, Tainean and Carmen

would be rushed off into a Daekra cell.

“They saved my life,” Leonahari said, making Farid blink in surprise. “They are not to be

harmed.”

Farid could see the stunned expression on Tainean’s face. It mirrored his feelings. So,

Leonahari was not sentencing them after all. In fact, she had made them out to be heroes. Farid

couldn’t believe it. Perhaps his luck was finally turning around.

Al’Dor ignored Tainean and Carmen, but studied Farid intently. Farid shifted nervously

under his cold, calculating gaze. If there had ever been a time when he felt as insecure as now he

could not remember it. “As you wish, General,” Al’Dor replied, though reluctantly.

He turned to the soldiers behind him and ordered, “Bring General Almadzi to the medical

wing immediately!”

Two guards broke line and came towards them.

“Also,” Leonahari said, before she let herself get led away, “prepare beds and baths for all of

us, and when we wake I expect a hot meal and some coffee.”

Captain Al’Dor bowed.

Farid transferred Leonahari to a young man. She leaned heavily against him. Farid caught the

smile Leonahari threw at him before she disappeared into one of the doors at the side of the room.

Suddenly, he felt even more uncertain.

“Apologies for that little misunderstanding,” Al’Dor said to him. “I will make sure to have

beds and baths made up for all of you soon enough. You look very tired.”

“Thanks,” Farid mumbled. The guards dispersed through the doorways again, and the gate

keeper approached them.


“I’m curious,” Al’Dor said. “Did you aid her escape during that terrible event at the

signing?”

Farid shared a glance with Tainean. “Uh…”

“Oh, never mind that now!” Al’Dor said. He gave them a twitchy smile, and added, “You’re

all probably starved. Follow Filius. He will make sure you are fed and watered. And by the time you

finish your baths, beds will be waiting for you.”

Someone gave a dreamy sigh, and Farid noticed Carmen smile widely. “Oh, real food and a

nice hot bath…” She looked like she would hug Al’Dor. Farid hoped she wouldn’t. “Thank you!”

“Any friends of General Almadzi are friends of mine,” Al’Dor replied. He bowed to them

and left them in the gate keeper’s care.

* * *

The medical wing of Daekra Fortress had one window, which was more of a rent in the wall than a

window. The room stretched along the eastern side of the barracks. Twenty beds separated by white

curtains were spaced along the edges of the room. Leonahari found herself in one of them with the

curtains drawn. She lay on her left side, as instructed. Doctor Feebus Gerard had rewrapped her ribs

and put her arm into a proper sling. Bruises from the beating she had endured a week before were

still prominent on her skin, but most of them were covered. The one on her face had started to fade

and was barely visible now.

“Well, good news is you don’t have any serious internal injuries,” Doctor Gerard told her.

“Looks like your ribs took the brunt of the damage. You should rest here and you’ll recover

shortly.”

“What is shortly?”

“About two weeks,” he replied. “Your forearm will be fine sooner than that. It doesn’t seem

to be too bad, but your ribs will take time to repair themselves. You have two broken and one

fracture on your right side.”

Leonahari let out a sigh. She didn’t have two weeks to waste lying in bed. “Can I at least

move around?” she asked. “I get stiff when I’m still for too long.”

“Be my guest,” he said. “I don’t advise moving around too much, but I won’t stop you.”

She almost laughed out loud. Of course he wouldn’t try to stop her. No one in their right

mind would try to tell her what to do. It almost got annoying sometimes. Nobody would ever tell

her something she didn’t want to hear. Nobody did, save for a few thieves she had been forced into

travelling with.

“Right,” she said and sat up.

He made a face and she knew if it was up to him, he would keep her from moving at all. “I

only ask that you take it easy,” he commented.

“Doctor, do you know anything about what’s going on in Lamora?” she asked hopefully.

Gerard’s face fell and her heart dropped with it.

“Uvar has moved in on Lamora, that much is clear,” he explained. “There hasn’t been any

fighting, but it looks like King Yasur has literally moved into the Fortress. Captain Al’Dor will have


more information for you, but I’m afraid not even he has had much communication from Inner

City.”

Dread filled her and her temple pounded painfully. So, King Yasur made his move. She

feared the worse for Emperor Capolite and Lady Allanis. No matter what King Yasur’s goal, she

knew it was only a matter of time before he made an example of Ramnus. On the other hand,

Allanis was no threat to King Yasur. He would keep her living in fear, yes, but he would not touch

her. The general public favored Allanis too much. King Yasur would be a fool to harm her.

“Do you have a quiet place somewhere here?” Leonahari asked. “A place where I will not be

disturbed?”

Gerard nodded. “There is a room downstairs where we keep the archives. People don’t go

down there too often. I can also have someone watch the door for you.”

“Take me there,” she replied, and as an afterthought added, “I will also need writing

equipment.”

A guard led her down to a small room on the first basement floor. It was dark inside and

when the lights turned on she saw that the walls were lined with files of archives pertaining to the

prison in the lower levels. A damp chill was in the air. She closed the door behind her, shutting

herself into the tiny room. She had been given a pen and some parchment, and she set it down on

the floor in the center. Here she sat, cross-legged, and looked around.

This would be as good a place as any, she thought. With a deep sigh she closed her eyes and

let each muscle in her body relax. It took a bit more concentration than she was used to since the

pain in her ribs kept jarring her out of focus. She started at her feet first and worked her way up her

body, letting go of the tension in her limbs and the ache in her bones. She focused on keeping a veil

of ignorance draped over her conscious, blocking sound, smell and even the chill from around her.

Eventually, she came to a space in her mind where her consciousness drew her away from

her physical state. Her vision blurred shapes and colors together, and only light and dark were truly

defined. Before her spread a vast emptiness that calmed her.

“Zero,” she thought, “as you said, the events in Uvar remain a mystery. They are, as you put

it, undefined. I have yet to find the culprit, but Leas Steele tells me the leader of Clan Varillis has

answers. Also, Uvar is in Lamora. I’m not certain but, judging from what I’ve heard, the situation is

dire. I am stuck here for the time being. I think that even if I were able to return to Lamora Fortress,

I would endanger the Emperor and Lady Allanis. Do you have advice for me?”

In her mind the vision of a young boy appeared. The image of him dulled the other shapes

and colors in comparison. He stood there watching her. His eyes were dark, almost black. His skin

stretched over his bones and muscles, making him look starved or ill. He couldn’t have been older

than seven years old, but his soulless eyes hinted at centuries of wisdom. He did not smile at her, did

not greet her in any way. Without moving his lips, he replied, “You have not yet understood my

earlier advice.”

Leonahari frowned at his taunt. “Isn’t that the point?”

“You still deal with Uvar, and now they have made a nest out of what was once your home,”

Zero said, ignoring her question. “They will taint it, if you decide to let them be.”


“I don’t plan on resting until I have settled the dispute between Uvar and Lamora, and King

Yasur and his lap dogs are back where they belong,” Leonahari replied.

“For the time being you are useless. You must make do with what you have.” Zero replied,

“A tempest is brewing, and this is only but the calm. You are still weak yet, and you will not be truly

ready for what lies ahead until you realize your true power.”

“I cannot control it yet,” Leonahari watched the colors around his image fade to black. “But

what do you mean I must make do with what I have? I have broken bones and very little time to

idle.”

“You think you are the only one interested in fighting this war?” Zero asked. “There are

people from every stretch of the desert willing to follow you if you wished it of them. No, not only

average people, but people like you.”

Leonahari furrowed her brow. “Like me?”

“You must seek them out. You are only weak now because you stand alone. Unite the

powers and you will be able to drive out the darkness from within Lamora,” Zero explained.

Leonahari pondered. “I don’t understand. What do you mean ‘like me’?”

“Take the time to understand what it means to be undefined like you failed to do before, and

you will have answered that question. Until then, do not bother me with anymore silliness. Solve the

first piece of advice. I cannot keep holding your hand.” With that the boy’s image faded.

Leonahari felt as if she had been dropped into a bucket of ice water. All of her senses

returned, and she opened her eyes. A stinging sensation drew her gaze down and she realized she

had dug her nails into the skin of her knees. She released her grip and sighed.

She should have known Zero would only give her another puzzle to solve, and she hadn’t

really solved his other one yet.

She shook out her hands and picked up the pieces of parchment in front of her. She would

send two letters, one to Allanis and the other to Semara. Leonahari would have to be careful about

it. It was in her best interests to keep King Yasur ignorant of her survival. If he knew she lived, she

would be hunted.

She bit her lip in thought. She posed the pen above the parchment, hoping the words would

simply flow out onto the page.

Click.

Leonahari blinked and looked back at the door. Dropping the pen, she stood and went to

the door. She turned the handle realized it was locked from the outside. Her heart plummeted. She

loudly rapped on it with her knuckles and waited. There was no answer.

Panic started to set in.

“Hello?” she shouted. She knew she had ordered a guard to stand watch outside. Why wasn’t

he answering her? Why was the door locked in the first place?

She pounded on the door with her fist. “I demand you open this door at once!”

Nothing.

She spun around and studied the room. It was small and tightly packed with archives. There

were no windows, and, she reminded herself, it was underground. She looked above her head at the

ceiling and noticed a small air vent in the corner, not big enough to climb into. She was trapped.


* * *

After a wonderful hot bath, a change of clean clothes and a large meal Farid could barely keep his

eyes open. He, Tainean and Carmen were shown to a common room where they sat around a table

and drank deeply from mugs of Lamoran tea. The room felt warmer than the other rooms of the

barracks in that it had been decorated with comfortable furniture. Narrow windows and steel walls

made them feel like they were in prison. Though the windows were small, the light still filtered into

the room in bright streaks of golden light. The sun seemed to be the only thing keeping Farid awake.

It felt odd to want to go to sleep in the middle of the day.

“This is great,” Carmen commented. “We should travel with fame more often.”

“Carmen!” Farid replied. “Keep it down! We’re supposed to be her guard, remember?”

Tainean sighed, and Farid looked over at her curiously. “We should be out looking for Leas

and Near. I wonder if those on the Ridge know about the earthquake,” she said.

“We may be able to convince the Captain to lend us a hover ship,” Farid suggested, “but I

doubt he’d do it without the General’s permission, and, honestly, I can’t tell what she plans to do

with us.”

“She’s acting like our friend all of a sudden,” Tainean said. “I mean, this entire time she’s

wanted to get rid of us, and now she’s treating us like royalty. She even said we saved her life! It

doesn’t make sense.”

“This is probably her way of thanking us for bringing her to Daekra,” Carmen replied. “She

probably thought we would just leave her for dead back at that camp. There’s no way she could have

made it here without our help.”

Farid studied Tainean’s somber look. She gazed off into her mug of tea in deep thought.

“Tainean,” Farid said, gently, “I’m sure we’ll find Leas. That tremor may have only rocked the upper

cavern, but she knows those tunnels like the back of her hand. She’s probably escaped already and

just doesn’t know where we are. Hell, she probably thinks we were the ones who didn’t make it

out.”

Tainean didn’t give any indication that she heard him. Instead she said, “You should see if

we can borrow that hover ship.”

“I don’t think the Captain is willing to do us any more favors,” Carmen said, darkly. “Did

you see the way he almost took Farid’s head off? I don’t think he likes us much.”

“Then I’ll ask Leona,” Farid replied, “I’m sure she’d let us use it.”

He received a couple unusual stares and realized his causal use of Leonahari’s first name had

thrown them off guard for a moment. Carmen recovered first. “Farid, you really shouldn’t use her

first name like that. Shame on you! You’ll embarrass the Lu Family if you carry on like that!”

Tainean nodded. “The Captain already doesn’t like you. Don’t push your luck.”

“She said I could call her that,” Farid replied in defense. He gave them a wide grin.

Tainean saw right through his lie, as she said, “Probably on the condition that she was not

claiming to be the General, and needed an alias.”


“Stupid brother,” Carmen said. Her lips spread into a grin. “You’re so infatuated with

General Almadzi. You’re like a helpless school boy.”

Farid felt his face grow hot. “You’re delusional.”

“I remember when Father brought home the paper and General Almadzi’s picture was on

the front of it. You took that clipping and put it on your bedroom wall!” Carmen said. “I think you

even still have it!”

“Where do you come up with these things?” Farid said. He turned to Tainean, who was

smiling at their banter, and said, “Tainean, when do you want to ask the Captain about the ship?”

Both women laughed, and shook their heads at him. Carmen patted him on the shoulder.

“Nice change of subject, Farid. You’re not subtle at all.”

“I’ll go ask one of the guards if we can speak with the Captain,” Tainean replied. There were

many men in grey uniforms about. The ones who weren’t on duty lounged at the tables, eating and

talking to one another.

Farid and Carmen watched Tainean cross the room and approach a group of the soldiers

stationed at the door. The man politely regarded her, and after a moment he nodded and left the

room. Tainean returned to them, and said, “He’s gone to fetch the Captain so we can speak with

him about it.”

“Isn’t he going to find it odd that we, as the General’s guard, are going to leave the General

here to look around in Maldeib?” Carmen asked.

Farid frowned. “Good point.”

“I suppose we could say we feel responsible for the citizens as well, and want to lend a

helping hand,” Tainean said.

“I think they might still find that a bit suspicious,” Farid replied. He stared into his mug

thoughtfully. His unfinished tea had already gone cold.

“Maybe we should split up,” Carmen suggested. “Two of us go and help out in the Broken

Sands, and one of us stays behind. That way, it won’t look so bad.”

Farid mulled it over in his mind. That way it wouldn’t look so suspicious, and they would be

able to help out Maldeib. The only thing wrong with that plan was the assumption that whoever left

would return.

“I think Farid should stay.” Tainean said at once, “It’s the most logical choice.”

Her comment jarred him from his thoughts. “What?” He spat, “Why me?”

“You’re the only one who can stand her,” she replied, bluntly.

“And besides, you will get some alone time with her,” Carmen teased.

Farid’s heart dropped, it seemed their minds were made up. “Are you guys even going to

return?” he asked. “How am I supposed to know if you found Leas, or where you’ll be if you

don’t?”

“Just go home to Saska.” Carmen smiled. “That’s where I’m going once we’re finished in

Maldeib. I can’t wait to hug Mom and Dad.”

“There’s no way we’re coming back here.” Tainean said, darkly. “You think I wanted this in

the first place? Nope. Once I’m gone, I’m gone. Even if I don’t find Leas, I’m going back to

Headquarters to give word to the rest of the Clan. I know you’re filling in for Leas right now, Farid,


but someone’s got to manage things while you’re both gone, or I’m afraid another hot-head will try

to take over.”

Farid frowned. He had almost forgotten about the Clan. He inwardly cursed at himself for

his carelessness. Tainean was right. First chance he got, he needed to get away from Leonahari.

Hopefully, she wouldn’t decide to hunt them down. He would probably have to lay low for a little

while.

“Once you reach Headquarters, send me word,” Farid said. “Let me know how things went,

and I’ll meet you there when I can.”

“It may be the only place left in the world that’ll be safe from Leonahari,” Tainean

mumbled, as to not alert the guards.

“Let’s hope she doesn’t decide to take her anger out on you when she finds out we’re gone

for good,” Carmen said. She bit her lip and looked at him with big eyes.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Farid sighed.

Tainean gave him an encouraging smile and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re tough,

Farid,” she said. “Leas knew that, and that’s why she made you her successor for the Clan. Do what

you need to do to and meet us back in Fort Steele. I’ll be waiting there for you.”

Farid nodded to her. “Look after Carmen for me,” he said, reluctantly, “and send my regards

to Leas when you find her.”

Tainean nodded.

Captain Al’Dor appeared in the doorway, and made his way to them. He came to stand

before them, shoulders back and hands clasped behind his body. He gave them a warm smile, and

said, “You wished to speak with me?”

Tainean spoke for them. “Sir, I know we only just arrived, but we witnessed a terrible

earthquake down in the Broken Sands. A friend of mine lives in that region. Would it be alright if

my companion and I borrowed a hover ship to scout out the area for survivors?”

As she spoke Captain Al’Dor’s face fell. “I really wouldn’t advise leaving the General here on

her own.” he said, sternly. “She is not in very good condition, and you also need your rest.”

“With all due respect, sir,” Tainean persisted, “I will not rest well until I know my friend is

safe. I only need two days –,”

Captain Al’Dor held up a hand for her silence. “If you are worried so much, I will send a

fleet of five of my men and one ship to scout for you. I will have them bring back any and all

survivors.”

Tainean stared at him as if she willed him to let her go about it on her own. As Farid

watched the exchange an idea came to him. He stood and bowed to the Captain. “Sir, please excuse

my boldness, but General Almadzi promised us that once we reached refuge two of us could take

our leave to search for our friend. Therefore, we are not asking for your permission to leave, we are

asking for your permission to use one of your airships. Two of us will leave whether or not you lend

one to us.”

Tainean and Carmen watched in shocked silence. Captain Al’Dor looked insulted, and Farid

wondered if he would see the sharp end of his sword again. He braced himself.


After a moment of tense silence, Al’Dor said, “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I

cannot let you leave.”

Dread swelled in Farid’s chest as he noticed a couple of the guards around them had moved

closer. He glanced around and noticed they were being watched by at least four guards, each

standing at a different exit. The men, who were off-duty, were ushered out of the room, leaving the

Captain and four guards alone with Farid, Carmen and Tainean. Farid’s eyes returned to Captain

Al’Dor, and he wondered if he had a reason to be worried. Cautiously, his hand went to the hilt of

his sword.

Everyone in the room stilled. To Farid’s left, Tainean slowly stood from her seat. The chair

legs scratched over the cement floor and became the only sound in the room aside from the blood

pounding in his ears. The drowsiness lifted from his body, and soon he found himself on edge again.

Al’Dor’s gaze never left Farid’s face, and from the look in his eyes Farid knew something

was terribly wrong.

“Carmen,” Farid said, without taking his eyes from Al’Dor, “stand up and follow Tainean’s

instruction.”

Farid heard the seat of Carmen’s chair move as she stood.

Al’Dor grinned, and scoffed, “Are you going to fight me, boy?”

Farid’s heart started to pound. He would not be the one to make the first strike. Attacking

an officer of Lamora brought ultimate dishonor. He would not only endanger himself, but his family

as well.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked. A thought flashed through his mind of Leonahari

ordering them dead without going to the trouble of sentencing them. He considered it. Maybe he

had been wrong about Leonahari. Maybe she had really ordered the Captain to execute them.

“This is war.” Captain Al’Dor explained, “General Almadzi was supposed to die in Uvar.

That didn’t happen, but now that she’s here I can fix that mistake. Unfortunately for you, well, I’ll

make sure to honor your names as the General’s guards who died in the line of duty.”

Al’Dor drew his sword. A flash of steel cut through the air, and Farid unsheathed his

shamshir to defend against Al’Dor’s vicious slash.

“Run!” Farid shouted over his shoulder at Carmen and Tainean. Tainean drew her pistol,

and grabbed hold of Carmen as Al’Dor’s guards stormed towards them. A few shots rang out and

two soldiers dropped to the floor.

Farid pushed Al’Dor’s blade, pushing him away.

“It’s no use.” Al’Dor said, smugly. “Are you going to fight all of us?”

He attacked again with an under swing, but Farid countered. If he could help it, Farid would

continue to be defensive until he saw an opportunity to hinder Al’Dor. If it worked, he wouldn’t

have to kill him, and he wouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath.

“Not if I can help it,” Farid gasped as he narrowly dodged another swipe.

He tried to keep his eye on the tip of Al’Dor’s blade, but he wanted to make sure Tainean

and Carmen were safe. He could hear scuffling to the side of him, and he feared the shots from

Tainean’s pistol would draw more soldiers.


A flash of steel announced an attack from the right. Al’Dor’s sword whistled as it cut

through the air. Farid blocked it again. For a Captain, Farid thought, he really wasn’t a very quick

swordsman. His footwork might have been fast, but his swings were heavy and too broad.

Farid defended from his left, and caught Al’Dor’s blade against his own. Al’Dor stumbled

back, and Farid stabbed for his side and grazed him.

Two more gun shots rang through the room and vibrated in his ears. He winced, and briefly

lost his footing. A piercing pain shot through his arm as he felt Al’Dor’s blade slice through the skin

of his forearm. He jumped back, and regained his balanced. When Al’Dor charged at him again,

Farid stepped out of his way and countered. His blade sliced clean through Al’Dor’s thigh. Al’Dor

screamed in agony, and Farid spun and shouldered the weapon from his hand.

It fell to the floor with a loud clatter.

Farid took a moment to glanced back and saw Tainean and Carmen watching him. The

bodies of four of the guards lay motionless around them. Al’Dor stumbled sideways, and Farid

pulled the blade from his leg. Blood poured out from the wound. He pushed Al’Dor down to his

knees.

“Please! Please! I’ll do anything! Just don’t kill me!” Al’Dor begged. He started crying. Drool

dripped from his bottom lip and mixed with the small pool of blood below him. His pant leg was

stained crimson from the hole his thigh. Farid had missed the main artery, but he knew if he didn’t

bind it, the wound would bleed out.

“Tainean,” Farid said, “get some rope. We’re going to tie him up.”

“Please! Don’t hurt me!”

“Farid! What are you going to do?” Carmen’s voice shook with fear. Her eyes widened on

her brother, and Farid couldn’t meet them.

“I’m going to let the General decide.” Farid replied. “It’s not our place to do any more than

we have. I don’t really even understand what’s going on here.”

“No!” Al’Dor screamed. “No! Please! I beg you! Don’t bring her here!”

“Maybe our friend here can tell us what’s going on,” Tainean said. She returned with a loop

of torn table cloth. They lifted Al’Dor by his arms and dragged him, as he spluttered and whined, to

a chair. Tainean worked to tie him firmly to it, while Farid stood before him.

“Where is General Almadzi?” Farid asked him sharply.

As he finished the question, three guards burst through the door across from them. Upon

laying their eyes on the scene before them they went to draw their weapons, but Tainean had her

pistol in hand and pushed it firmly against Al’Dor’s temple. “I wouldn’t do that,” she warned.

“You!” Al’Dor said to Farid. “You’re in charge now! Please, just don’t hurt me! Men, listen

to this man!”

The guards looked from their Captain to Farid in confusion. One of them, a young man with

blue eyes, was staring in horrified silence at the bodies of the fallen soldiers. His angry gaze rose to

meet Farid’s.

“Where is General Almadzi?” Farid asked the young man.

“Show him to where the General – Ouch!” Al’Dor said before Tainean backhanded him

across the head.


“You’re not giving orders remember?” she snapped.

“Tainean, are you and Carmen okay here?” Farid asked, and Tainean nodded. Carmen had

shoved herself into a corner behind her and looked as if she wouldn’t move even if Farid told her to.

“I’m going to find General Almadzi, and then I’ll be back.”

“We’ll wait here for you,” Tainean agreed.

Farid sheathed his sword with one last glance at Al’Dor. “You better cooperate, or she’s got

a bullet with your name on it,” he warned. Al’Dor whimpered at his threat.

Then, he turned to the guards and said, “Now...”

“She’s down in the archive room, sir,” The guard with the blue eyes replied. His tone was

icy, but Farid ignored it. He had other matters to deal with.

“So, you had no idea that Captain Al’Dor planned to murder General Almadzi?” Farid

asked, as the blue-eyed soldier led him down the corridor.

“We’re trainees!” he replied, angrily. “Daekra is a training ground for new recruits. Why

would a recruit know anything about what’s going on here?”

Farid’s mouth hung agape at his words. No wonder they had managed to come out of that in

one piece. If they had been Elites or seasoned soldiers they wouldn’t have stood a chance. He felt

terrible now. He glanced over at the blue-eyed man’s face and realized he wasn’t much older than

Carmen. His frown deepened as guilt swallowed his heart. Now he understood where the man’s

anger came from.

“Take me to General Almadzi, sir,” Farid said, gently. He tried to block the sorrow from his

mind, but it inflated his chest like a balloon. He felt his throat tighten and swallowed to try and

loosen it up.

He followed the blue-eyed man down into the depths of the fortress until they reached a

room barred by a solid steel door. The guard bowed to let him pass and Farid noticed the door had

been locked from the outside. It was a large bolt lock.

When Farid turned to the blue-eyed man, the soldier shook his head. “Captain Al’Dor must

have ordered it locked to keep her detained while he dealt with you and your companions.”

Farid unlocked it, and threw the door open. It crashed loudly against the wall and gave

entrance to a small room lined with shelves of old books and files. A pen and some scraps of

parchment littered the center of the floor, but Leonahari was nowhere in sight.

Farid glanced back at the blue-eyed soldier. He wanted to go inside, but he didn’t trust him.

The soldier seemed to sense this, because he took a few steps back, and said, “I won’t move from

this spot. The door will not close on you.”

Turning back to the room, Farid scanned it and noticed it was empty. He cautiously stepped

over the threshold. Something slammed him up against the opposite wall. He saw a flash of a sword

and felt pressure on his windpipe. He coughed and blinked tears from his eyes. His vision cleared

and he saw Leonahari glaring him in the face. She held the scimitar above her head ready to strike.

It took a second for Leonahari to realize it was him. Her eyes widened, and she dropped her

weapon. “Farid?”

It felt like his legs had turned to jelly. He leaned against the wall, coughing and trying to get

his breath back.


“I shouldn’t have done that,” he heard her gasp. She was still holding onto him with one

hand. It looked like she had ripped it out of its sling to attack him. Her other hand held the scimitar

limply, the tip scratched against the floor. Farid grabbed her by the arms and held her up. He was in

awe at how small and fragile she seemed. She winced and awkwardly lifted the scimitar to sheath it.

“What’s going on?” she said, weakly. “Why did I get locked in?”

“Al’Dor,” Farid replied. “It looks like there’s more to the attack in Uvar than we originally

thought. He attacked us in the common room. He admitted to us that he was going to kill you.”

Leonahari looked up at him. Her silver eyes clouded over with confusion. “Kill me? Why

would he want to kill me?”

Farid led her out of the room. The blue-eyed soldier was true to his word. He hadn’t moved.

He walked with them to the upper floors to where they held Al’Dor hostage. The guards they passed

nervously got out of their way. Word spread quickly in Daekra, Farid thought. But he knew they saw

him as a murderer. It did nothing to improve his mood.

“Al’Dor said someone made a mistake in Uvar, and that he was going to correct that

mistake,” Farid said to Leonahari.

Leonahari’s eyes darkened with thought. They reached the upper floor and entered the

common room.

When Leonahari’s gaze fell on Al’Dor, Farid felt the chill in the air drop even lower. He

thought he would be able to see his own breath. Al’Dor shivered. He struggled against his bonds,

but they didn’t budge. Farid stopped in the doorway and let Leonahari hang off him for a moment.

He wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Her sharp eyes were on him like a hawk when it spotted

prey.

“Nice to see you, Carlos,” she said. Al’Dor whimpered back.

Leonahari pushed against Farid and he let her stand on her own. She slowly detoured around

the bodies of the dead trainees. She waded through their blood, and Farid found her sudden

insensitivity jarred him from his admiration of her.

“You really have no boundaries,” Leonahari said. “The money must have been really good.

Good enough for you to give up everything for a chance at glory.”

Al’Dor’s sobs were the only thing to break the icy silence around them. The twitch in his lip

pulsed worse than before. His head drooped onto his shoulder and his eyes were shut closed. Tears

streamed down his face.

Leonahari came around the back of his chair, and put a hand on his shoulder. He flinched

violently at her touch. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. Farid could not hear what she said, but

whatever it was, it caused Al’Dor to frantically shake his head. “No!” He wailed through tears. “I

wouldn’t dream of it! I am being blackmailed! They have my wife!”

Leonahari sighed. A look of boredom stretched over her face. She stood behind him with a

firm hand on his shoulder, and said, “So, you really don’t know anything about who planned the

attack in Uvar? I need names, descriptions, anything.”

Al’Dor shook his head. Tremors wracked his body. “Please, I don’t know!”

“Who is blackmailing you?” Leonahari said.


Al’Dor shook his head again, but this time kept his lips firmly sealed together. Leonahari

leaned down, and took Al’Dor’s pistol from its holster. She checked the cartridge, as she said, “I

don’t believe you, Carlos. You’re lying to me.”

“I am not lying! Please, you must believe me!” Al’Dor sobbed.

Leonahari cocked the gun with a loud, ominous click that resounded through the room.

Farid bit the inside of his lip, wondering if he should stop her while she was ahead. This type of

interrogation bothered him. He’d seen Leas use the same tactics, but he always wanted to be out of

the room when she did. Carmen hid behind Tainean, obscuring her view of Al’Dor and Leonahari.

Tainean caught Farid’s eye, a dark look flashed behind her gaze.

“No!” Al’Dor blurted. “Okay, okay! I do know someone.”

Leonahari paused and studied him. She waited for him to continue.

“There’s a man – a man named Azani!” Al’Dor said, spiting blood. “He’s a foreigner in these

parts. I’ve never seen him before.”

“Azani?” she repeated, trying the name out on her tongue. “That’s a little vague. No full

name?”

“He didn’t give me any other name. He said his employer wanted you dead, and he wanted

your scimitar!” Al’Dor said through sobs, “Please! Please, that’s all I know! Azani’s the one you

want! Not me! I am loyal to you! I am being black –,”

BANG!

Leonahari threw the smoking gun aside. Farid watched as she turned and walked towards

him. His ears were still ringing, but as she passed him she stopped. He stiffened when she leaned on

him, and he heard her say, “Am I still a hero to you now?”

Excerpt:

The Seven Stones (Immortal Zero Series Book 1)

A.E. Croft

Chapters 1-6 out of 20

Visit for full version:

Kobo.com (Kobo)

Amazon.com (Kindle)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Sony Bookstore

eBookPie

Copia

Baker & Taylor

Gardner’s

Documents

THE SEVEN STONESphoto.goodreads.com/documents/1353880695books/16165360.pdf · sky blanketed the barren landscape. The metallic hover deck burned hot in the late afternoon sunlight