Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(72)

Then the job at hand became rounding up the mayors—Tory and those who came with him had no trouble sorting them from the crowd, although many thought to hide themselves from the Prince.

Tory, the one called Salidar and one set of twin Falchani—Drake and Drew—stayed, to make sure that the council meeting remained peaceful and ensure that any of the guilty were punished. Dragon and his brother, Crane, left after the crowd was subdued.

"I don't know what you were expecting—we've both seen what Tory becomes."

"I thought that was the most frightening thing I'd ever seen," Amlis shook his head. "Until today."

"This Queen Lissa must be powerful indeed to have such at her command," Rodrik pointed out. "I feel it would be most unwise to challenge her in any way."

"I had no such thoughts," Amlis replied. "And even less, now. Shall we go and sort through what we have? I think we should elevate those who disagreed with the rebels, making them council members, then work out a proper punishment for the murderer and those who supported him."

"I support that decision," Rodrik agreed. "Shall we, my Prince? Your people await the authority of their monarch."

*

Avii Castle

Quin

"These are the ulcerations, before you healed them," Berel showed me an image of a young woman who'd had sores covering much of her body. She'd bathed in a stream near her home before falling ill. Berel's image only showed arms and legs—I knew the rest of her body was covered with the weeping abscesses, too, as I'd healed all of them.

"Yes," I nodded. He added that image to the collection to be shown on the newsvids. Fyris had been a microcosm of all the diseases and ailments that would visit those who elected to stay on Siriaa, rather than moving to a safer planet.

"We have to save as many as we can," Berel sighed. "If we must shock them into making the right decision, then so be it."

"I worry that Sector Two will say it's all a lie again," I said.

"They say that about everything," Berel shook his head while continuing his search for appropriate images. "The other Sectors expect it."

"Are there none who live there that will be convinced?"

"Of course, but they are in a minority, you understand."

"Berel, how many do you think we can save?" I asked. "Your best guess."

"That depends on whether Yokaru's Emperor decides to leave or not. His people will go or stay, depending upon his decision. That's nearly one hundred million people. As for Kondar, it's down to a vote. If the majority votes to leave, then all should leave. If the majority votes no, it's the same. Everything hinges on those things."

I watched Berel—his jaw worked as he considered whether Siriaa would live or die. I understood that no matter what Kondar decided, Edden Charkisul expected Berel to leave Siriaa with me.

I worried that we'd have to plead with the peoples of Siriaa in order to convince them of their imminent danger, so they'd leave their dying world behind. "Father is sending three journalists—ones who have already delved into the mystery of the poison and reported what they knew to the public. These are reliable professionals who don't report what they can't substantiate. We need that unbiased reputation so we can present the strongest case possible."

"Perhaps I can convince Kaldill to record images of New Fyris, where Amlis is," I said. "Or of the place where Queen Lissa suggests that the people of Kondar and Yokaru will go. That may help to convince them."

"Again, we'll have to deal with the mentality of Sector Two, who will refuse to believe it or say that this is merely image tampering."

"I never thought of that," I shook my head. "Do people do that?"

"All the time. We'll have to do our best to prove the images we have are untouched and real."

"This is impossible," I mumbled, my frustration rising.

"It is healthy to question—most of the time," Berel pointed out. "Except in this case, where we don't have time for a debate. Father told me this morning that the Alliance scientists at the research facility are backing up their records and preparing to leave with the five air destroyers. He says Ildevar Wyyld has called them away—they're not needed for a dying world."

"What is happening?" I whispered. Once, I'd held hope that Siriaa could be saved. That was no longer true. Now, I could only hope to save those who lived there, and if they chose otherwise, even that would prove impossible.

"Father says he'll stay if the people of Kondar vote to do so," Berel hung his head.

My breath stopped. Edden intended to die with his people, if that was their decision. "What are we going to do?" Berel lifted his eyes to mine. They were bright with unshed tears. The High President was the only parent Berel had left, and I understood all too well what it meant to be an orphan.

"We have to convince them," I said. "We have to."





Chapter 15

Morningsun

Queen Lissa's Private Journal

"This is fine—the Southern Continent is suitable for the Kondari—the one farther north will do for the Yokaru." I waded through tall grass on the plains of the Southern Continent—the soil would grow grain enough to feed Kondar and Yokaru together.