Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind (17 page)

"Do we have the coordinates of the poles entered into the transport bank?” Kahmal asked.

"Aye and as soon as the last Reaper cadet is shackled, I'll have a transport beam locked on him,” Chanz replied.

"As well as on Cree and Dorrie,” Lt. Augenia Deon reminded her.

"Most assuredly on Cree,” Chanz said.

"I told him I would go check on his men,” Kahmal said. “I'll do that before meeting with Kym.

"You've a meeting scheduled with her?” Sern inquired.

Kahmal nodded. “Since Acet is incapacitated, it will be Kym who will present me with my Medal of Valor this evening. I asked that there be no ceremony and the Elders reluctantly agreed. I'll receive the medal in Kym's office."

"Do you think she knows what we are planning?” a worried Tyrian asked.

"You tell me, ‘Dilla,” Kahmal answered. “Our ship is being refueled and provisioned tomorrow morning in anticipation of our leaving for Amazeen directly after the Feast. I didn't even have to request that. It was already in the works before I got to Fleet. The Militaire, herself, put the plan into motion. I checked on where we will be docked and we've been assigned a berth at the very end of the line, as close to the iris as there is. After we and Sorn landed, the docking station was closed to any more ships. Both the
DarkWind
and Raphaella's StarRaider were ordered into orbit. There will be no hindering those ships when we blast out of here. They'll be right behind us."

"How many other ships are docked here?” Chang asked.

"I'm told five and that includes the
Areto
that docked just before we did."

"We need to disable as many of those ships as we can,” Aegean pointed out.

"'Genia and I will see about that tomorrow."

"I'll help,” Tyrian put in.

"Don't forget there will be many more ships bringing pilgrims to the Feast,” Deon said. “The sky will be wall to wall with them soon."

Kahmal smiled. “As a matter of fact there won't be,” she said. “Fleet told me due to anticipated overcrowding pilgrims are being housed on FSK-9 and 12 and then brought down in shuttles. The
DarkWind
and the StarRaider were the last allowed to move into an orbit pattern."

"Don't forget somewhere out there is the Necroman's ship,” Deon said. “Hopefully, he'll be monitoring the shuttles."

"Shuttles won't be a problem. They don't have weapons or the power to overtake an LRC in a chase. We can disable them in a heartbeat,” Sern said. “Don't tell me the goddess isn't working over time to help us."

"I'll need to knock out communications as quickly as possible so the ships up there can't be dispatched after us,” Tyrian suggested.

"I don't think that will be much of a concern. With all the women down here for the Feast, who would crew the ships?” Chanz asked.

"If we can disable the ships in the docking bay, we might be able to get out of here without a pack of she-wolves on our heels!” Sern said.

"That's the plan,” Kahmal agreed.

"I would still feel safer if there was no way for the ships up on the frontier stations to learn about what's going on down here,” Tyrian insisted. “Or for Fleet to put out a bulletin to any ships nearby."

"Do what you think best, ‘Dilla,” Kahmal told her. She glanced at her timepiece. “I've got to get to Kym's office.” She looked to Deon. “Would you make certain Cree gets fed? He has to be starving by now."

"Not a problem."

As she exited her ship, Kahmal was careful not to turn her head toward the cage but from the corner of her eye she checked on the man they were all risking their lives to protect. She bit down on her lower lip for he was lying on the concrete in a fetal position, his head on his arm. She knew he had to be uncomfortable. At least there were no women lurking near the cage to annoy him.

Kahmal entered the Fleet Command Headquarters and was surprised the halls were empty. The offices she passed appeared to be deserted and as she walked past one and saw a lone worker at her desk, she stopped, went back, and knocked upon the door frame. The worker glanced up at her and smiled.

"How may I help you, Major?” the woman asked.

"Are the Fleet offices closed already?” Kahmal inquired.

"Aye, ma'am, they are. We were given the remainder of the day off in celebration of the Reaper's capture."

"I see,” Kahmal said. “Yet you are still working."

The woman nodded. “I have nothing to celebrate,” she replied. “To me this is not a joyous occasion."

Kahmal tilted her head to one side. “Why not?"

"In my opinion Kamerone Cree was treated dishonorably, Major,” the woman answered. “He should have been left where he was. He posed no threat to the Multitude."

"I see,” Kahmal said. “Then you should be happy he isn't to meet the fate the Elders had reserved for him."

"Aye, but the fate looking him in the face is perhaps a far worse one than the bite of the guillotine's blade,” the woman replied.

"How do you mean?"

"He is alone, Major. He is without his beloved Bridget."

Thanking the woman for her candor, Kahmal continued on down the hall. She had not been expecting any of the women of Rysalia Prime to be concerned about Cree but it seemed the Reaper was not as hated as the Prophetess-Mother would have them believe.

Kym's office was in an opulent suite of rooms done in the style of Chrystallusian décor. The secretary who ushered Kahmal into the Auxiliary Prophetess’ office bowed deeply to the Major and inquired if she would care for a cup of green tea.

"Thank you,” Kahmal said. “That would be nice."

"Shei-Ling makes wonderful jasmine tea,” Kym said as she indicated a horseshoe chair in front of her desk. “Please, sit, Major Kahmal."

Kahmal inclined her head and sat down in the delicate-looking chair. She was surprised at the comfort it provided.

"How is he doing this evening?” Kym inquired.

Kahmal arched a brow. “The Reaper?” At Kym's nod, she shrugged. “I suppose he is well enough."

Kym smiled. “You are in the presence of a woman who has great concern over Kamerone Cree's safety and comfort, Major. I ask you again—how is he?"

Kahmal shifted in the chair. “He was lying down when I saw him last. I believe he has one of his migraines."

"And not able to sleep it off I would wager,” Kym said. “He has always had problems in that area."

"As I understand it, all Reapers have trouble sleeping,” Kahmal replied cautiously.

The Auxiliary Prophetess’ smile slowly leached from her face. “He deserves so much more than a bare floor upon which to lay his handsome head. Don't you agree, Major?"

"I agree the man has been treated abominably,” Kahmal replied. Despite what Sern had said about Kym's feelings toward Cree, trusting her was not something Kahmal could do easily. “Although he was responsible for the deaths of my sister and cousin when he fled Rysalia Prime."

"Deaths I am sure he regrets,” Kym said softly.

"He has apologized to me for them,” Kahmal said.

"I am told he has a son by Bridget,” Kym said, steepling her fingers beneath her chin. “To your knowledge, has he ever held that child?"

A deep frown formed between Kahmal's eyes. “Why should that be of interest to you, Your Grace?"

"Humor me, Kahmal. Has he or has he not ever held his son?"

Kahmal shook her head. “I do not believe he has."

"And I am sure that proved to be a problem between him and Bridie,” Kym said then sighed. “As if there had not been enough troubles already shared between them. I will need to speak to Kamerone before he leaves us."

A tingle of alarm rippled down Kahmal's back. “I don't follow, Your Grace."

Kym's secretary brought in a tray upon which two cups and a steaming pot of tea sat. She placed the tray on the Auxiliary Prophetess’ desk then poured tea for first Kahmal, then Kym. When she was finished, she bowed and backed out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

"My office has not been tampered with, Major,” Kym assured her visitor. “No unwanted ears will hear our conversation.” She took a sip of her tea. “By this time next week, I will be in different offices.” She smiled. “Much more prestigious than these."

"The Prophetess-Mother will be stepping down?"

Kym's smile widened. “Stepping down, tripped? Who knows? To paraphrase an old Terran saying, feces occurs."

Kahmal's lips twitched. “I see. Then I would like to be the first to congratulate you on your promotion, Your Grace."

"Duly noted,” Kym acknowledged. She nudged her chin toward a golden box sitting on her desk blotter. “There is your medal, by the way. Forgive me if I don't pin it on you."

"Forgive me if I don't pin it on, either,” Kahmal ventured to say.

The two women eyed one another for a few moments then Kym set her tea cup aside. “I know you are being cautious, Akkadia, but there is no need to be. I have no intention of seeing either Kamerone or any more of his kin murdered. I assure you when I ascend the dais as Prophetess-Mother, such atrocities will be banned."

"Surely there are no more Reaper kin out there to be at risk,” Kahmal said.

"There are two that we know of. One, we had in our grasp for a short while but he managed to escape with several others. His twin was not so lucky. That one was burned to death but not at the poles as his kinsmen before him. His death was an accident."

"Was he one of Cree's?” Kahmal inquired. “The one who escaped?"

"Aye. Sajin, twin of Aidan, who died. We were unable to find Sajin when we harvested this last batch."

"And the other?"

"Khiershon, Cree's eldest. I am sure you know Khiershon was taken to the Vex."

Kahmal looked down at her lap and plucked a piece of lint from her pants. “I had heard he'd been captured, aye. Do you have any idea where those two are?"

Kym shook her head. “No but when they are found—and eventually they will be—I will make sure they are well cared for. They will be incarcerated here in the Titaness but they will not have one hair on their heads harmed."

"I see,” Kahmal said.

"I hope you do, Akkadia, for I want nothing to happen to Kamerone Cree or his kin and I would rather see him take his bloodsons and blood nephews and leave this part of the megaverse for good,” Kym stated, meeting the other woman's eye with a stern look. “There are, however, those who would like nothing more than to see him burn alongside his men."

"I was once of that mind set,” Kahmal said cautiously.

"Understandable considering your sister met her fate at his hands."

"Another sibling apparently lost her life on the Vex at the hands of his bloodson,” Kahmal said. “Do you have any knowledge of what happened there?"

"Only that several Amazeen were there to execute a death warrant upon Khiershon Cree. It would not surprise me to learn the Serenians had a hand in his rescue. Your domestic queen made the comment that Khiershon had a great friend in a Serenian named Iyan McGregor and if they could find McGregor, they'd find Khiershon. I will need to consult with the goddess and see what She will tell me regarding Kamerone's eldest but my heart tells me he is well."

"Cree spoke with Her while he was on the
Alluvia
,” Kahmal said. “Or so he claims."

"Kamerone is incapable of lying,” Kym reminded her. “If he says he spoke to our goddess, he did.” She cocked her head to one side. “Did he relate to you what was said between them?"

"He said She swore not to interfere with him rescuing his bloodkin but that She also told him She would not help him."

"Now, that is curious,” Kym commented. “Five of the Elders on the Council are aligned with me to protect our glorious Reaper. The women gathered on the plaza today did not call for his blood."

"A few showed anger,” Kahmal disagreed.

"I would wager my left tit they were plants, instructed to behave as they did."

"That could be. I, myself, witnessed few women willing to condemn him,” Kahmal said.

"My thought is the goddess has decided to lend Her aid to Cree. Perhaps She feels it is best to rid us of him once and for all but in a way that will be honorable this time and not show the Multitude in a bad light."

Kahmal nodded. “That is the telling point, isn't it, Your Grace. Honorable?"

"If I had been allowed to have my way, you and your strike force would not have been sent after him in the first place. He deserved his freedom for what he did in helping our cause."

Kahmal looked down at her hands. “We would have been sent after him whether or not the Daughters asked us to or not. He killed three of our Sisters. It was the defense queen's decision to send us. One of those killed was her youngest daughter."

"Ah,” Kym said. “I am sorry to hear that. Will she press the issue when he escapes this time?"

"She might, but since her eldest daughter will be with him when he flees—never able to return to Amazeen for her treasonous act—she might decide not to intervene."

"To—as the Terrans say—cut her losses?” Kym pressed.

"It seems our queens each have a Reaper to thank for her daughter's treachery,” Kahmal said quietly. “Queen Rhia's daughter, Raphaella, fled with Khiershon Cree, helping him escape in the first place.” She closed her eyes. “Now Queen Melanippe's daughter will be branded a traitor, too."

"I am sure your mother will one day forgive you, Akkadia,” Kym said.

"Never,” Kahmal said. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. “She will never forgive me, but that can not be helped. Cree saved my life as well as those of Chanz and Sern. He is deserving of our loyalty and help."

"More than you will ever know,” Kym agreed. “By the way, send the Necromani and the Ionarians to see me as soon as you get back to your ship. I want to assess for myself their willingness to aid Kamerone and his kin."

Kahmal acknowledged the order although she found it a strange request.

It was dark, the hour well past midnight, when Cree heard the furtive movement coming closer to the cage. He lay on his side with his eyes cracked open just enough for him to survey the area immediately in front of him. With his acute psychic abilities homing in on the woman creeping toward his prison, he could not detect an aura of anger. All he felt was sadness and fright.