The Synthesis and the Animus (The Phantom of the Earth Book 3) (30 page)

“My lady,” the lord said, “let me go. If she arrests—”

“I’m a woman, she’ll deal differently with me.” She looked at the twins and back to Thad. “If it goes wrong, get them out—”

“I won’t let her take you—”

“It’s the twins who need us now.” Parthenia disappeared into Thad’s many layers of silk when he hugged her. “We must protect them.” She closed her eyes and kissed her eternal partner on his fat lips. She darted up the spiral staircase, two, three steps at a time to the elevator.

She caught her breath and steeled herself, remembering who she was—the greatest developer in Dunamis Territory, the wealthiest territory in Underground West.

When the doors opened, she strutted out across her gallery, her golden gown and colorful beads flowing behind her.

Keeper bots and Janzers stood with the Lady Isabelle, though Parthenia noted she wore no weaponry.

“I know why you’re here,” Parthenia said. She hid the combination of fear and anger she felt from her face. The Janzers arced around her, holding activated pulse guns, the tips burning bright blue. She nodded to them. “Is this necessary?”

“Madam Developer, your reputation is well-known,” Isabelle said, not unkindly. She stepped closer to Parthenia, towering over her. “You harbor enemies of the state—”

“They’re children.”

“They’re likely near adolescence by now, no doubt, perfect for a courier’s training, and as heirs of Chancellor Masimovian, they are his to do with as he pleases, and he has spoken.” Isabelle held out a z-disk. “They will serve—”

“They will complete development,” Parthenia said, not accepting the disk, “as was agreed, as is commanded by the precepts, and they will compete in the Harpoons; and if deemed unworthy, or unbid upon, then they shall fall to the Lower Level.”

“You dare defy the Office of the Chancellor?” Isabelle scowled, closing her fingers around the z-disk into a fist. “Your chancellor has been defiled, your Great Commonwealth’s great birthday destroyed by traitors whose spawn you wish to see full grown. What happens when they turn traitor as well?”

“They shall never know their ghosts, my lady.” Parthenia paused, struggling for breath. It was only when the Janzers deactivated their pulse guns that she added, “They will grow as strong and wise as you, and behind these walls they will become true Beimenians, trained in the ways of the Formation, and the precepts, and attend your classes where I expect you will … further their education, to their benefit—”

“And to yours. Do you think me a fool, Lady Parthenia?” Isabelle moved closer to her. “Do you think I cannot see with your eyes or hear with your ears or sense the treachery beneath your façade?”

Parthenia’s expression didn’t reveal emotion. She steadied her singing heart.

“Is it a champion’s children you wish to have for your own?” Isabelle twisted away from her and walked in a semicircle, as she was wont to do during Harpoon classes. “Or would you dishonor Captain Barão’s lineage by removing his name from theirs?”

“I will not remove their surnames,” Parthenia said, a response the Lady Isabelle clearly did not like. Before Isabelle could offer a retort, Parthenia said, “I will develop these babies into loyal citizens. I will do what I must to serve the chancellor—”

“As will I.” Isabelle put the z-disk in her pocket and hand-signaled her Janzers. “I will hold your house and the chancellor’s heirs accountable should you falter, until I can complete their education.”

“My bots will show you out.”

“I know the way.”

When the entrance clanked closed, Parthenia Summerset covered her mouth, and though she wanted to cry, no tears fell. Instead, she leaned against the cold doors, and laughed.

Thanks for reading
The Synthesis and the Animus,
the third book in The Phantom of the Earth series. I hope you enjoyed it. The supplemental material beyond this note contains Marstone’s Database and Appendixes 1-6. I thought long and hard about whether or not to include this material in each book or simply provide it on my website. In the end, I included the material based in part on beta reader feedback and in part because I think it provides useful perspective into the characters and world building of the Phantom Series.

Please visit
http://www.raedenzen.com/
for more information including a form for my newsletter, details about the first five books in the Phantom Series (all available now on Amazon), the spectacular concept art, detailed maps, and PDF versions of Marstone’s Database (labeled by book; to avoid spoilers, don’t skip ahead), Appendixes 1-6, charts, and graphs. I also included a page to credit the team; over the last three years, a talented group of more than thirty people, including readers, editors, scientists, and artists, among others, from six countries and three continents helped me put this project together. I also listed them, and other inspirational sources, in the acknowledgments on the product page and at the end of the book.

Finally, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could post a review to Amazon. Reviews are a great way for fellow readers to discover a new series like The Phantom of the Earth and for new writers like me to learn from mistakes and improve. Please feel free to email me at
[email protected]
with any other feedback you’d like to share with me.

August 2015

Marstone’s Database contains classified dossiers on citizens of the Great Commonwealth of Beimeni. All information herein is the property of the Department of Communications and Commonwealth Relations, and the Office of the Chancellor. This iteration of the database was derived from Marstone for the government and is current as of the 179th day of the year 368 AR.

SEX:
Female

HEIGHT:
180 centimeters (5’ 11”)
WEIGHT:
62 kilograms (137 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Blonde, red, brown
EYE COLOR:
Gold, silver
BIRTH YEAR:
173 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
187 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Navita
BIRTHPLACE:
Livelle City, Natura, Underground West
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Pierre Adao
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Second Ward, Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast
OFFSPRING:
Neka Adao, Tex Adao
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Former RDD scientist; Harpoon developer
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
203 centimeters (6’ 8”)
WEIGHT:
86 kilograms (190 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Blue-violet
EYE COLOR:
Orange, silver
BIRTH YEAR:
188 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
199 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Zwillerzweller
BIRTHPLACE:
Angeles City, Angeles, Underground West
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Hyacinth Adao
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Second Ward, Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast
OFFSPRING:
Neka Adao, Tex Adao
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
Constructed
E. decontamination
, a synism designed to ingest nitrogen gas, used by the Reassortment Strain to obtain energy
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Former RDD scientist; Harpoon developer
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
198 centimeters (6’ 6”)
WEIGHT:
101 kilograms (223 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Yellow-green
EYE COLOR:
Red-orange

BIRTH YEAR:
127 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
N/A

DEVELOPER:
House Phanes
BIRTHPLACE:
Livelle city-state
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Previous: Donna Dupree (deceased); Present: N/A
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Comb Cove, Gallia, Underground Northeast
OFFSPRING:
Farro Alalia (deceased), Zentaro Alalia (deceased)
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
N/A
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Former commander of the strike teams
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
N/A

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
188 centimeters (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT:
105 kilograms (231 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Greenish-gold
EYE COLOR:
Bluish-brown

BIRTH YEAR:
247 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
254 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Perunineian
BIRTHPLACE:
Xerean City, Xerean, Underground North
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Svana Wenelow
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Second Ward, City in the Vale, Cineris, Underground Central
OFFSPRING:
Tahlia Algol, Dryden Algol
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Albian Consortium Granville sky engineer
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
195 centimeters (6’ 5”)
WEIGHT:
112 kilograms (247 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Dark green

EYE COLOR:
Bright green

BIRTH YEAR:
288 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
294 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Dragonet
BIRTHPLACE:
Arrowhead City, Columbia, Underground North
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Previous: Martha Tonian (deceased); Present: N/A
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Third Ward, Piscator City, Piscator, Underground South
OFFSPRING:
Perla Andretta (deceased)
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
No

NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Former farm owner; former Block fisherman; BP spy
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
Five

SEX:
Female

HEIGHT:
170 centimeters (5’ 7”)
WEIGHT:
59.5 kilograms (131 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Dark blue, green, brown, orange, yellow
EYE COLOR:
Reddish-violet
BIRTH YEAR:
354 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
N/A

DEVELOPER:
House Nueleio
BIRTHPLACE:
Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central
ETERNAL PARTNER:
N/A

LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
First Ward, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central
OFFSPRING:
N/A

ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
N/A
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Courier of the Chancellor
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
218 centimeters (7’ 2”)
WEIGHT:
115 kilograms (254 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Dark red
EYE COLOR:
Gold

BIRTH YEAR:
288 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
N/A
DEVELOPER:
House Nueleio
BIRTHPLACE:
Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast
ETERNAL PARTNER:
N/A
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
First Ward, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central
OFFSPRING:
N/A

ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Former Courier of the Chancellor; Lieutenant, Department of Communications Law Enforcement Division
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Male

HEIGHT:
198 centimeters (6’ 6”)
WEIGHT:
91 kilograms (201 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Reddish-brown
EYE COLOR:
Light bluish-gray
BIRTH YEAR:
367 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
368 AR (First Trimester)
DEVELOPER:
House Variscan
BIRTHPLACE:
Vivo City, Vivo, Underground Central
ETERNAL PARTNER:
N/A

LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Neophyte Dormitories, Alpinia City, Marshlands, Underground East
OFFSPRING:
N/A

ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Stenian Consortium neophyte
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Female

HEIGHT:
183 centimeters (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT:
63.5 kilograms (140 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Brown, black, green, red
EYE COLOR:
Blue-gold

BIRTH YEAR:
287 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
292 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Ectasian

BIRTHPLACE:
Gaia City, Gaia, Underground West
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Ilario Matheson
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Lovereal Citadel, Silkscape City, Lovereal, Underground West
OFFSPRING:
Macaria Matheson, Yue Matheson
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED:
Yes

NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION:
N/A
NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S):
Minister of Lovereal Territory, Underground West
THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE):
One

SEX:
Female

HEIGHT:
183.5 centimeters (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT:
73.5 kilograms (162 lbs.)
HAIR COLOR:
Brown, silver
EYE COLOR:
Blue-yellow
BIRTH YEAR:
217 AR

AUCTION YEAR:
225 AR

DEVELOPER:
House Olenikan
BIRTHPLACE:
Luxor City, Luxor, Underground South
ETERNAL PARTNER:
Charleigh Gabel
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE:
Phanes Citadel, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central
OFFSPRING:
N/A