Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(54)

"At the same time?" Lissa smiled at him.

"If appropriate," he grinned back.

"Then we have announcements to make to all of Kondar," Edden said. "If you agree to give command of these ships to me."

"All yours, for as long as they're here," Ildevar agreed. "However, we reserve the right to pull them away if we determine that they are not needed or are being used for purposes other than intended."

"What are those unintended purposes?"

"To actually fire to kill," Ildevar shrugged. "We agree to incapacitate ships and equipment, but life-taking is the last resort."

"Then I am in agreement," Edden said, brushing rain off his face. "Shall we go, or are you not wet enough yet?"

*

Berel, Kaldill, Lissa, Willem, Merrill and I watched the news program, where Ildevar Wyyld, Kooper Griff and Edden Charkisul were answering questions at a news conference.

The conference was hastily put together, but there was a reason for that—Sector Two's war machines had already reached the border between Sectors Two and Three. For now, the only thing holding Sector Three's President back from mobilizing the troops stationed there was the High President's command. The other sectors had already chosen to go to war with Sector Two.

Second and third vid-screens in our meeting room showed journalists reporting on Marid of Belancour, and thanks to Queen Lissa's quick thinking, his image and the bounty on his head for spreading the poison to other worlds was presented to the people of Kondar.

There was no doubt now, where the poison had originated, or that it was set to destroy Siriaa if it wasn't stopped.

Then, images were shown of the warships from Sector Two, which were anchored near the research facility and threatening it. The people of Kondar were getting their first look at the air destroyers the Reth Alliance could provide. The news was widely broadcast that these airships were under the High President's command and that Ildevar said he had full confidence in Edden Charkisul.

*

"Where did the shield that hid this small continent originate?" Sector Four's President demanded at the meeting the following morning. Berel and I were there, as were Queen Lissa and Ildevar Wyyld.

Edden had instructed me to answer any questions I could regarding Fyris and its people. This I knew apart from that. "The wizard—Marid of Belancour—devised that shield long ago," I said. "He knew the poison was there and he could breech the shield easily because he made it. Collecting the poison made him ill, and when his attempt to assassinate the High President failed, he turned his weapon on himself."

I shivered as I stood before the crowd of politicians in the meeting, both from my discomfort at being there and at the memory of Marid's death in Edden's dining hall. I didn't bring up the ring that Justis delivered to Jurris—it was irrelevant, now.

Be brave, dearest. Kaldill's words filtered into my mind.

"Why would he kill the High President? What would he gain?" Sector One's President asked.

"He wanted Siriaa for himself," I replied. "He knew the Reth Alliance was prepared to make an offer to Siriaa for membership. He was already hunted by them, for other crimes. Once he controlled the planet, he could rule as he pleased and keep the Alliance out. Their rule, as I understand it, is that they must have permission from a planet's government to hunt a criminal there, if the planet is non-Alliance."

"So he'd be in charge and certainly not give permission," Sector One tossed up a hand in disgust. "What would he have done with the rest of us?"

"I only saw a little in him, but he was angry, greedy and had no care for others. I suspect he would have invited criminals to set up a base here, as long as they paid him for the privilege."

"He'd have made us slaves, just as he claimed the Reth Alliance would do," Sector Three exclaimed. "I have war machines sitting on my border, idling their engines and waiting for a fool's command to strike," he gestured wildly. "I want them gone."

"We have a message from Yokaru. Their physicians report an increase in the wasting disease," Edden broke in. "Until now, we've held back the news, but it is time they were advised as to what is afflicting Siriaa."

"I vote to authorize our ambassador to release the information," Sector One raised his hand.

Sectors Three and Four also raised their hands. "I agree," Edden lifted his hand. "I'll inform them when this meeting is over. It is time we took steps to safeguard all. Shall we make an attempt to contact Sector Two again?"

Four hands went into the air.

*

"It'll go back and forth—maybe for days," Berel said. He and I sat on the grass in his father's garden, eating a sandwich as our midday meal while the others ate and talked inside.

Ignoring the feel of the poison leaching into the soil beneath the soft, green grass, I nodded at Berel's assessment. "Father will send us to Avii Castle," he added. "You said yourself that the Avii who sickened had eaten fish pulled from the water or somehow got the taint from there. I think the castle is mostly safe for the moment."

"Only the old or very young were affected," I pointed out. "A healthy adult Avii was somewhat immune."

"At least we only had to deal with Presidents and First Advisors earlier," Berel said, changing the subject. "If we'd had Vice Presidents and a full Council, we'd still be there."