Wings of Redemption (The Terra Nova Chronicles Book 3) Page 24

  “The Conclave,” Benit said, keeping his voice low, “they will pass judgment over the contest.”

  “Wait—pass judgment? I thought it was whoever didn’t surrender or pass out?”

  “They will judge the merits of your fight.”

  Carson raised an eyebrow at the Zeis. “You mean like you can’t fight dirty?”

  “I don’t…”

  “No cheating?”

  Understanding came over Benit. “Yes. That’s correct.”

  Carson shook her head. “Kind of hard to cheat when there aren’t any rules to speak of.”

  “If Jena believes in your abilities, I’m sure you will do fine.” Benit patted her shoulder then stepped back, leaving her alone at the edge of the diamond, facing Kalene.

  Not exactly a vote of confidence, Carson thought. But I’ll take it.

  One of the red-robed Conclave members entered the diamond from the side, his bulging midsection pressing against his robes more than most, lifting the hem several inches off the polished marble floor. The collar pinched at his thick neck, and his dark-bronze cheeks sagged. He held his arms out, motioning with swollen hands for the chamber to quiet. When he spoke, his voice was amplified so the entire auditorium could hear. “Silence! The Conclave will have silence!”

  It took several moments for the crowds to settle, then the speaker continued. “A challenge of honor has been issued and heeded.”

  The crowds roared approval, vibrating the marble floor under Carson’s bare feet.

  “The honor is a sacred tradition, one the Holy Conclave holds dear and has upheld and guided through the centuries since the Conclave’s inception…though, in those centuries, never have we encountered something such as this.” He pointed to Carson, disdain covering his dark-bronze face.

  The crowd seemed to echo his sentiments, jeering and shouting what Carson was sure were curses. The speaker allowed the uproar to continue for a minute then raised his arms again, calling for silence.

  “I have long wondered if this might be the ultimate goal of the galactics, finding other species to do their bidding for them. Allowing others to fight in their stead. Discovering more avenues to lay responsibility at others’ feet. As you can see, it’s already started. And with the honor, no less.”

  This time, the jeers and cheers seemed mixed.

  “Lies!” Jena shouted, getting to her feet behind Carson. “The falsehoods you spread are poison of the deadliest variety. Call the honor, Hisgar, and do not pervert it for your own grandstanding.”

  The speaker turned, keeping his expression devoid of emotion. “You have given up the right to speak for the honor, Jena Cassiel, daughter of Yentl. I would advise you—”

  “You will advise me of nothing, Hisgar. I am aware of the honor, as much as—if not more than—you. I actually apply its words to my daily life, unlike others assembled here.” She glared pointedly at Kalene as she spoke the last words. “You will call the honor, nothing more.”

  “Agreed!” Obison called from his seat beside Jena’s. He shook his fist in the air, his banded bracelets jingling. “Speak the honor!”

  “Speak the Honor!” Benit echoed.

  And soon, half the chamber was chanting the phrase. At the edge of the diamond, Jerry jumped to his feet, pounding his fist in the air, joining the chorus. Popov slapped him on the back of the head. He flinched, and she glared at him, pointing a finger at his empty seat. Carson couldn’t help but grin as the boy shook his head, slowly returning to his seat.

  Finally, the speaker raised his arms for a third time. “SILENCE!”

  This time, the entire chamber quieted almost instantly. Hisgar glared at Jena for a heartbeat, then turned away, addressing the audience. “The Honor reveals the brave.”

  “HONOR!” the crowd roared.

  “The Honor reveals the strong.”

  “HONOR!”

  “The Honor reveals the truth.”

  “HONOR!”

  “The Honor…” he paused, turning to face Carson, “…protects the Hearth.”

  “THE HEARTH!”

  Feet pounding against the floor echoed throughout the chamber as the crowd shouted the final words.

  The speaker backed out of the diamond. “The Honor will reveal the truth.”

  The lights around the chamber winked out, leaving only the diamond illuminated.

  “Commence,” the speaker said, now partially hidden in shadow.

  Kalene moved first, entering the diamond, fists up, eyes locked on Carson. She was surprisingly light on her feet, moving quickly to the center of the arena, bouncing back and forth on her feet, looking like a trained boxer.

  Great, it’s the Zeis Tyson, Carson thought, bringing her hands up and stepping into the arena. Memories of ground fighting and hand-to-hand combat came back to her, but not in the detail she’d hoped, and as she watched the Zeis woman dance, she knew if she was going to have any chance at all of winning, she was going to have to take her out fast and hard.

  Kalene sidestepped to Carson’s right and lunged in for the first attack. Carson knocked her punch away with an arm then charged forward, trying to drive her shoulder into the Zeis woman’s chest. Kalene danced out of way and Carson hit nothing but air, stumbling forward several steps before she could right herself.

  In a flash of motion, Kalene appeared again, this time on Carson’s left, arms already reaching around her waist. Carson felt herself being lifted off the floor, and before she could react, Kalene threw her backwards, arms flailing to grab on to something.

  Carson landed hard on her back, the impact partially knocking the air from her lungs. She coughed as stars danced in her vision. Kalene appeared over her, reaching again. Carson brought up a foot, catching the Zeis woman in the stomach and pushing. This time, Kalene went flying.

  As Kalene sailed over her head, Carson rolled to a knee and snapped her head back to see where the Zeis woman had landed. Kalene had tucked into the throw, rolling on her back and coming up on her feet. She spun to face Carson, the red arena marked only inches behind her.

  Kalene roared and charged again.

  “Come on!” Carson bellowed, stepping forward in her own attack.

  Kalene dodged Carson’s first punch, then knocked her follow-up blow aside with the swipe of an arm. Pain erupted in Carson’s side as Kalene landed a knee into her ribs. She cried out, her mind screaming at her to get away as her vision went red, seeing nothing but Kalene’s face, her eyes filled with rage and hatred.

  Clenching her teeth against the pain, she threw an elbow, aiming for Kalene’s chin. The Zeis woman threw her head back, avoiding the blow, but the move put her off-balance. Carson thrust her left palm forward, slamming the heel into Kalene’s sternum, knocking her back. She immediately followed through with a haymaker, connecting hard with the side of Kalene’s head.

  Pain flared in her fist and Carson realized she’d hit the bony ridge above the Zeis’s ear. Kalene stumbled back regardless, and Carson pushed the pain away. She had the woman on the retreat now—she couldn’t let up. As Kalene attempted to right herself, Carson charged forward, throwing a forward kick at her chest.

  Kalene caught Carson’s foot just as it struck, pulling Carson toward her, using her own momentum to bring her off-balance. Kalene twisted, throwing Carson to the side. She landed hard on her shoulder then rolled away, keeping to all fours as Kalene roared and came at her again.

  Carson barely had time to dodge the first kick and managed to bring both arms up to guard against the second. Lightning shot down her forearms as Kalene’s foot connected. Carson gave a roar of her own and kicked off the floor, wrapping her arms around Kalene’s leg, pushing her back. She lifted the Zeis woman into the air, her free hand pounding into her face.

  Kalene gasped in pain as Carson drove her spine into the floor, pinning her legs back and continuing her attack, slapping away the Zeis woman’s hands as she reached out in unsuccessful attempts to block her punches. Just when Carson was beginning to feel like
she had the upper hand, Kalene twisted beneath her, using her hips and Carson’s weight against her, rolling out from underneath her, getting to her knees.

  Carson dropped to all fours, immediately scrambling away from the princess’s next attack. She dodged a wide, sweeping kick from Kalene and got to her feet. The Zeis woman regained her footing and charged again, even as blood poured from her nose. Carson stutter-stepped, juking left, then quickly reversed directions. The move threw off Kalene’s attack, putting Carson in perfect position for hers.

  She twisted her body, using her momentum to add speed and power to her attack as her foot came up. There was a wet smack as the bridge of her foot connected with Kalene’s wrecked face, sending droplets of blood spraying. The impact knocked the Zeis woman off her feet, flipping her over. A loud crack abruptly cut off Kalene’s scream as she landed. Her screams resumed as she curled into ball, not bothering to look for her opponent.

  “Finish her!” someone shouted as the sounds of the auditorium returned.

  Carson stepped forward to continue and was cut off by the Conclave speaker, who entered the arena, running to put himself between Carson and Kalene. He spread his arms wide. “Enough!”

  Carson hesitated, her breaths coming in ragged gasps, her body still in full-on survival mode. She looked past the speaker to Kalene, who was uncurling, but outside the arena.

  “No!” Kalene screamed, struggling to her knees. Several of her guards rushed forward, helping her up. She screamed as one grabbed her left arm, which was bent awkwardly between the elbow and wrist. She lunged forward, her face a mask of rage, but her guards held her back.

  Carson backed up a step.

  “Arrest them!” Kalene screamed, her voice cracking. “Arrest the invaders!”

  Several guards not holding on to the princess moved around her, weapons in hand. Four robed Conclave members pointed, stepping aside, allowing more guards through.

  “No!” Jena shouted, jumping from her seat.

  As gloved hands pulled Carson back, West and Birch appeared on either side of her, stepping between her and the oncoming guards, their weapons up and ready.

  “Get back!” West shouted.

  Jena stepped into the arena, Benit on her heels. “Stop! You will stand down!”

  Moretti appeared to Carson’s right, Jerry to her left, holding her gear. “Here, Chief.”

  Carson shook her head and grabbed her rifle. “Leave it, no time.”

  Jena pointed at the speaker.

  “Seize them!” Kalene screamed again. “What are you waiting for?”

  The speaker looked confused, backing away from the guards as they advanced across the arena, his eyes darting back and forth between them and the Pathfinders. He looked to his companions, none of whom moved to assist him.

  “HONOR?” Jena shouted. “This is no honor! Chief Carson triumphed!”

  “Put your weapons down!” one of the guards shouted.

  “Stop!”

  “Stand down!”

  “Where is the Honor?” Jena shouted, now inches from the speaker.

  “The Honor…” The speaker hesitated.

  The guards stopped halfway to the Pathfinders, weapons leveled and ready.

  “Why are you stopping?” Kalene shouted. “Obey my commands!”

  “WHAT IS THIS?”

  The new voice boomed through the chamber, vibrating the floor, silencing everyone and stopping them in their tracks. The crowd to Carson’s left began to part as Zeis turned to see who approached. Two rows of guards, dressed in forest-green uniforms and armed with long-barreled rifles, cut through the crowd, creating a path through them from the entrance to the arena. They turned in unison, facing each other, and slapped their weapons with the palm of one hand before slamming the butt onto the marble floor.

  Six more Zeis entered—three males, three females—all wearing the same forest-green, though these wore tall, square hats that rose a foot high. Each wore a yellow slash trimmed in blue across his or her right shoulder, emblazoned with an image of a tall charcoal tree against a rising yellow sun.

  In the midst of this second group, a shorter Zeis, wearing a yellow tunic, green trousers tucked into knee-high, shiny black boots, and a jacket, kept pace. He was slightly overweight, though not as fat and bulging as some of the Conclave. His orange hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail; his light, almost pale skin glistened with sweat. Every gathered Zeis, Conclave member, and Cleric bowed as he stepped into the arena, moving pointedly to the humans, his face curious and furious in equal measures.

  The King, Carson thought. The nature of his arrival told her everything she needed to know.

  ****

  The royal guard formed a line directly in front of the Pathfinders. Carson thought she could hear a pin drop as the Zeis in the center of the line spoke.

  “Lower your weapons or you will die. There is no negotiation.”

  Immediately, Carson put a hand on West’s shoulder. “Stand down, Sergeant.”

  West hesitated for a moment then slowly lowered his carbine, the rest of the team quickly following suit. Carson stepped past the line of armored Pathfinders, presenting herself to the King just as she was.

  “Father,” Kalene said, her voice nasally and pained. She winced, wiping blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

  The King said nothing, only holding out a hand, silencing the princess as he inspected the humans. His goat-like eyes flicked to each Pathfinder in turn, studying them. He pulled a pale-yellow cloth from a jacket pocket and dabbed a line of sweat running down the side of his face.

  “No,” the King said finally, canting his head to the side. “Not Zeis after all. A trick, perhaps.”

  “It’s no trick,” Carson said before she realized she was going to say anything at all. Still trying to get her breathing under control, she glared at each one of the guards between her and the King in turn. Then she turned her eyes on Kalene. “And we’re not here to conquer or destroy you.”

  “Lies, Father,” Kalene said.

  Carson’s blood boiled as her heart pounded in her chest. “If we’d come here to conquer you, we wouldn’t have done so with seven Pathfinders and one ship. Use your brain.” Carson pointed at Kalene. “You are the one who attacked without provocation or warning. We came to foster a relationship between our peoples, not start a damn war.”

  “Enough!” the King shouted. “These are serious allegations you present to me. Have you any proof?”

  Carson felt the wind go out of her sails at that. The truth was she didn’t have any proof. She had some fairly concrete circumstantial evidence, but nothing solid, nothing that would convince the King at any rate. “I can prove that we didn’t come here to attack your people, much less invade. We came here looking for help, not to conquer.”

  “Help, you say?” The King dabbed at another line of sweat.

  “The Triumvirate has returned, your…” Carson hesitated, not knowing exactly how to address the King, then finally continued, “Your Highness.”

  “You can believe nothing she says, Father,” Kalene said.

  The King turned, pointing at his daughter. “I told you to be silent.” To Carson, he said, “I have heard the rumors. The reports from our people on Diasore are troubling to say the least. But that doesn’t mean—”

  “They will come for you,” Carson said, already knowing where he was going. “Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but they will come for you. They won’t stop until this entire galaxy is under their control.”

  “What have we to fear from them?” the King asked. “We are safe here. No weapon ever created has been able to penetrate our defenses. Our shield has stood for hundreds of years.”

  Carson thought about that for a moment, working through her argument. Terra Nova was likely the Triumvirate’s next target. If not next, then soon. What would they gain that would be a threat to …

  “Your Highness, if the Triumvirate defeat us at Terra Nova, they will gain access to a technology gre
ater than anything you’ve seen in this galaxy. A technology that could potentially allow them to bypass your protective shields entirely, without firing a shot. If Kyrios gets his hands on the Crucible, he can open a wormhole wherever he likes—right on top of this city, for example, and deploy his troops without ever assaulting your shield.” Carson’s stomach turned as she spoke, knowing Hale would probably have her head for sharing the secret of the Crucible with the Zeis, but she couldn’t think of any other way to convince them. And it was true.

  “Impossible,” Refradnar said, stepping out of the line of Conclave members behind the King. “Your Majesty, they fill your ears nonsense that violates the laws of physics. Do not be—”

  “I did not ask for your advice, Consul Refradnar. Nor do I require it.”

  Refradnar bowed his head, backing away. “Of course, your Highness.”

  “You come to me with no proof of your claims against my daughter. You come to me with no proof of this…Crucible. Is this how your species conducts business, without tangible information? You come here expecting a handout without providing anything in return? That is not a negotiation, human. What is your purpose here?”

  Carson bowed, imitating what Yentl and the over Zeis had done. “Your Highness. My name is Kit Carson. I represent the human colony on a world we call Terra Nova; however, I believe you might know it as Segamos.”

  “A Level 3 Exclusionary World, your Highness,” Yentl added.

  “That explains the Regulos’ reaction…and confusion. Just how did your kind get to Terra Nova?” the King asked Carson. “Where did you come from?”

  “We come from a galaxy we call the Milky Way, thousands of light-years away from here. The information about Terra Nova, Segamos, was given to us by a race called the Qa’Resh during a time of great need by our race. They told us this galaxy was unpopulated and that we’d be able to start a new life here without fear of being wiped out by the Xaros.”