Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(53)

*

Le-Ath Veronis

"I'm going to Siriaa, and that's that," Lissa shrugged into a jacket. "I may not be there for long," she added.

"I will come with you," Merrill said.

"Honey, that's sweet, but," Lissa began.

"Come now," Merrill smiled. "You may need help."

"Fine. Come if you want, I can't stop you."

"You could, but you won't." Merrill leaned in to kiss her, before pulling away with a wink. Of all Lissa's mates, only five were vampire. Of those five, two were King Vampires. Merrill was the stronger of the two.

"Then let's go. Ildevar asked for five air destroyers to guard the research facility. He says the idiots in Sector Two believed the lies Marid told about the Alliance, and now they're sending ships to shoot at the research facility. They only moved it into deep waters this morning."

"What can they hope to gain by destroying the facility?" Merrill asked.

"How many politicians do you know who are completely rational?"

"Point taken. Let's go."

*

Kondar

Sector Five: High President's Palace

Quin

"We're preparing for the ground assault, but as they haven't taken the time to plan this invasion properly, I worry that the population in Sector Three will suffer because of it," the High President said.

"You mean they'll get trigger happy?" Kooper asked.

"We call it short shooting, but yes—I worry that they'll fire on anything in their path. A wiser move would be to send airships, but there aren't any bases there—by their own choice. They chose to house half the navy and a few ground assault facilities. I believe they're regretting their past decisions now."

"Where did the ships come from that are guarding the research facility?" I asked.

"From Sector Three," Edden smiled at my question. "Two and Three have coastlines appropriate to house half the fleet each. I know not to send anything from Sector Two unless I'm desperate."

"Have you spoken to them?" I asked.

"They're refusing my communications," Edden's shoulders sagged. "If they don't stop this madness, lives will be lost."

"We have another communication—from Avii Castle," Melis strode into the room and handed the sealed parchment to Edden. "It was delivered to one of our ships by a winged messenger, and the crew flew it here by airchopper, thinking it could be important."

"Well, let's see what the Avii say, then," Edden cracked the wax seal and opened the message to read. "It's in Gurnil's handwriting," Edden said. "Ah. The Avii King sends his greetings and says that ambassadors from Kondar are welcome anytime."

"Unless Kaldill or Ildevar wish to deliver them, I'd suggest waiting," Kooper advised. He stood, stretching his tall frame and cracking a few vertebrae before continuing. "I hear that Sector Two has sent ships to destroy the research facility. We have five air destroyers on the way, for protection only. I hope you understand that the facility is important to all worlds, and not just this one."

"Defensive only?" Edden narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. We're not authorized to do otherwise," Ildevar said. "I believe Queen Lissa and one of her consorts are on their way."

*

"You were in a meeting and there wasn't time to make any other decision," Ildevar said calmly to the High President. "Sector Two's ships have already reached the facility, but the air destroyers are merely hovering there, between them and the building."

"Will you take me there? I wish to see this for myself," Edden demanded.

Queen Lissa stood nearby, her arms crossed as she listened to the conversation between Ildevar Wyyld and Edden Charkisul. I understood the High President's fears, but I also understood Ildevar's motives. Both were right, but I worried they wouldn't see it in time.

"It is always thus with politicians," her consort, Merrill Leopard, leaned in to whisper. I blinked at him before nodding at his assessment. He was quite handsome, with black hair and piercing blue eyes, but he didn't care about that. He was special, too. He knew that as well.

"At least they're not threatening each other with weapons," I whispered back. Merrill chuckled.

"I'll take you," Queen Lissa said abruptly. "If you wish to go."

"I do," Edden nodded.

In a blink, we stood on the balcony of the research facility. The five air destroyers hovered around the building, which now stood above the waves on stone-like stilts. Not far away, floating upon those waves, were five large ships from Sector Two.

"Sector Three ships are behind you, on the far side of the facility," Kooper said. Heavy rain fell where we were, and the winds blew rain into our eyes as we studied the military standoff.

"I believe the problem could be eliminated if you gave command of those airships to the High President," I said, pushing sopping hair off my forehead.

"What?" Kooper swiveled his head in my direction.

Lissa, whose hair was just as wet as mine, laughed. "It's not unheard of," she patted Kooper's shoulder. "Troops are on loan all the time to Alliance worlds."

"Well, f*ck me and call me a two-headed lizard," Kaldill swore.