Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves (3 page)

“No, Majesty. I’m sorry, but I have no further knowledge than my report.” Treve bowed his head to show his remorse.

“Very well. To show your loyalty to Us and the whole of the Empire, you will be placed under the service of Xander Kei'Oren in his search for Brosen En-Harn and Impyra Sava-Harn until further notice. Dismissed.” The Emperor said.

Treve fell to one knee, then stood and made his way back through the chamber, his mind racing. What had Brosen gotten himself into? More importantly, why?

* * *

Gleyth leaned on the heavy wooden doors that lead to the Chamber of Justice, her ear pressed firmly against the crack between the two. She focused on slowing her breathing to make it easier to hear, but it did not have the desired effect.

If her father would allow her to sit inside as an observer she would not go to such lengths to overhear the proceedings. She knew that it would never happen. The only women who were allowed within the chamber were those who were on trial. Ky Gleyth Kei'Oren, High Princess of the Empire, was unwelcome. Even her mother the Queen had never stepped foot beyond the threshold.

It was a ridiculous law.

Her status as a woman was not enough to quell her curiosity. Gleyth had a right to know what was happening in her world. The slave girl was not unknown to her. When Xander sat Impyra idle, Gleyth often took it upon herself to employ her as a maid. That had given her access to information on her brother's behavior.

Xander had never been kind to his concubine, although she was his most prized asset. Part of it was rebellion and part was a desire for control. Ka Harn never approved of the coupling. The girl had exhibited powers in her childhood that were forbidden under Imperial Law. She had been experimented on, although Gleyth never understood why. When the Imperial Scientist Dreger Lei'Orthra released her as a subject he reported that her powers had waned, rendering her harmless. Despite that, she should have been destroyed.

Gleyth did not know when her brother had taken notice of the girl, but being the crown prince came with special privileges. It was he who saved her from death and instead granted her a lifetime of abuse and servitude.

Gleyth wasn't surprised when she heard the girl escaped.

The Enforcer was another story. His sudden act of treason was a mystery; a spontaneous impulse or a hidden desire prompted by seeing another act. There was no way to know, unless his partner had something to tell. Gleyth bit her lip wishing she had been born a boy.

The sound of heavy footfalls in the chamber beyond told her that the session was over. She scurried back to the bench where she had been told to wait. Playing with the ends of her raven hair she made her best attempt to look innocent.

The door swung opened to revel Ka Harn, weary with frustration. Quickly, yet gracefully, Gleyth stood and curtsied until she was nearly kneeling on the cold floor before pulling herself upright in one effortless motion. Ka Harn walked over to her, put one hand on each shoulder, then tilted her forward to plant a kiss on the top of her head.

“You are a good girl, Gleyth,” he sighed, a weak smile stretched his lips but did not reach his eyes.

“Thank you, father,” she smiled, lifting her doe brown eyes to his. “Was the meeting interesting?”

“Not really, my dear, but now why don't you go seek out your mother and continue planning your celebration. I don't know why you insist on following me around on the dull business of being Emperor.”

“I don't think it's dull, father.” Gleyth said honestly. 

Ka Harn gave her a wearied expression. “If only your brother were as persistent as you,” she could see his jaw tighten at the thought of her brother. “But, it is not every day that the High Princess sees her twentieth turning. Your attention would be far more suited to planning the party rather than here,” Ka Harn wrapped an arm around his daughter’s shoulders as he ushered her out into the hallway.

Gleyth clenched her fists but she didn't fight back against his insistence. She knew it wouldn't do any good to start an argument, not today of all days. She wasn't interested in planning her celebration; a traditional ball where a noble family officially announced their daughter to be an adult and ready for marriage. Gleyth did not have a choice of whom she would wed, let alone that she was being wed at all.

She would rather be involved in what was real and important. There wasn't anything she could do to save the slave and the Enforcer, but she didn't want to ignore that it was happening. More than that, she knew the Empire was having difficulty on many fronts. There was the collapsing economy, the talk of a rebellion massing an army to the south, and the threat of the Senna Plague epidemic still effecting those in poverty.

There was so much more she could help with than planning a party if her father would only give her the opportunity.

“Are you all right, Gleyth?” Ka Harn was looking at her solemnly.

“Of course, father, I...” she stopped, her eyes searching his.

If only she could tell him that she didn't want her celebration, or to marry, and that she should be his heir.

“I'm just thinking about my celebration,” she lied. “There's so much to do.”

“Hurry along then,” the Emperor's face flooded with relief. He steered her out of the small chamber, and closed the door, leaving her alone in the dim corridor.

CHAPTER THREE

Clenching her stomach, she moaned and curled into a ball on the mattress. A ray of sunlight found its way through a small crack in the ceiling to make itself a resident of her face. She opened one eye in annoyance. The old woman sat beside her patiently, her hands folded in her lap. Her warm smile radiated from her silver eyes. Energy flowed around her in a visible aura of pale white light.

Fascinated, the young woman couldn't help but stare, following the path of tiny wisps as they burst with power then faded into the stream. The old woman's face remained serene. This place was peaceful.

“What time is it?” the young woman asked.

“Just after seven in the morning, if the last chime of the Tower was correct, which it tends to be.” It was an unusual answer, yet somehow comforting. “I am Winifred Mei'Akar, my dear. Last heir of to the Ma Akar. You may call me Wini.”

The young woman had never heard of the Ma Akar, but she felt as though perhaps she should have. She already felt like an intruder and dreaded appearing uneducated as well.

“Impyra,” she replied, her eyes darting away nervously.

“What?” Wini tilted her head.

“My name is Impyra, heir to no clan and all of the other names my master gave to me are not suitable for polite company.”

Her anxiety twisted her stomach once more. Crossing her arms over her abdomen she leaned forward to ride out the pain. Stabbing waves beat against her before slowly beginning to subside.

“Are you all right, child?” Wini asked softly.

“Yes, it's just the sickness,” she grumbled.

“You have used a lot of energy today,” Wini said quietly, “I understand.”

Impyra had never met anyone else with the gift. Wini was more than gifted, she was a veritable well of power. Impyra had never imagined that was possible.

“You know about the sickness?” she asked as the pain subsided.

Wini nodded sagely. “Of course. It is common for young people to have stomach problems after the release of too much energy. Don’t worry, the more you use your magic, the less you will need to endure such pains.”

Impyra exhaled slowly. “Magic?” She let the word roll off of her tongue. It felt heavy and alive.

“I apologize, that is an old word for energy use,” a shadow of sadness passed through Wini's eyes, but vanished as quickly as the wisps in her aura.

Impyra took the pause in conversation to survey her surroundings. The sick lying on their mattresses, healers moved slowly between them to administer treatment. There was a stillness which edged on comforting but also hinted at the presence of death. This was not an ordinary place, but she did not have the words to describe what she knew instinctively. The energy flowed not only around Winifred but from her, circulating the room and returning once more.

“This is the Hospital of Mercy,” Wini said. “It is here that those too poor for medical attention come. I have evaded the eye of the Empire for a long time. You may rest for a while.”

“I appreciate that,” Impyra said, but the mere mention of her former prison put her on alert. “I need to get out of Rau’Tesche-Awn as soon as I can.”

“I know, but we must wait for the one who will be going with you.”

Impyra was surprised by that response.

“I can’t go with anyone.” The words spilled out before she could stop them. “I'm a danger to everyone and I can't allow more people to get tangled up in my problems.” She was already unhappy that she'd had to involve anyone at all.

“Perhaps,” Wini mused.

From somewhere outside an alarm began to sound, a monotone buzzing that vibrated the air. What few windows that remained intact began to rattle in their frames. Everyone in the room froze where they were, eyes lifted toward the ceiling.

“We are already caught in the web, child.”

Wini's words were gentle, yet Impyra felt the weight of reality behind them. It wasn't something she wanted to hear.

The door to the hospital opened. Impyra turned to see a familiar face; the Enforcer who had rescued her from the Tower.

“Brosen, you're just in time.” Wini called out.

He nodded to her, his face solid and emotionless. “We have to get going.”

Winifred stood, placing her hands on his shoulders to comfort him. She was shorter than Impyra had thought. Although her physical appearance was small, she dwarfed the muscular man with her power.

“You may have given up everything here, but I believe that what you are doing is just.” Her words were reassuring even if they felt like false hope.

“Yeah, well according to the Empire I’ve just committed high treason. Let’s go.”

“Wait,” Impyra had always kept her thoughts locked inside her own head. That wasn't who she wanted to be anymore. “I'm not just going to blindly follow after you. You brought me here, and I'm grateful for that, but this is my fight alone.”

Brosen glared in her direction. “I only brought you here because you asked me to. Do you think I wanted to give up everything on a whim?”

She did not falter under his ice blue gaze. His resolve wasn't as firm as he may have believed. She could see the doubts swirling around him, a subtle darkness.

“Yeah, I think you did. You had no reason to help me except that I asked you, and that's no reason at all.”

“It's my job to protect people,” he wasn't going to back down easily.

“It's also your job to serve the Emperor,” she shot back.

The alarm blared around them. Everyone in the room stood by watching. To her surprise, the Enforcer looked away. She grinned at her victory.

“Listen,” Wini said, stepping forward to end the discussion. “Whether or not you stay together is not the issue. Right now you both need to get out of the city.” Turning to Impyra she asked, “Do you have a vehicle or transport of any kind?”

The young woman hesitated. Winifred knew the answer, she wanted Impyra to say it out loud.

“No,” Impyra conceded.

“Brosen does. Get beyond the gates and then decide your next move from there. I cannot hide you here.” Wini motioned to the sick; she had responsibilities, too many lives were at stake.

Through the door three young boys came running, their faces red with exertion.

“Brosen’s picture was on the Big Screen up on Keller Tower! The news said he’s wanted for treason!” One of the boys blurted out frantically.

“All right, Gegen, what else did the report say?” Wini was asking gently.

“It said that he was with some girl, and…” the boy smiled shyly. “With that girl,” he said, pointing at Impyra nervously. “They're going to block the gates! And I saw Brosen’s bike outside, and everyone knows that it’s his bike, and they’re going to catch them!”

“No one is going to catch us,” Brosen said, his voice softened as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. “Unless we don't get moving,” he raised his eyes to Impyra.

Impyra scowled. “Fine, I'll go with you. But only until we’re out of the city.”

“Fine by me,” he shrugged.

“Here,” Wini lifted a backpack from the floor and handed it Impyra. “Some provisions for the road, nothing fancy but enough to restore your strength.”

“Thank you,” she said, confused by the kindness but not ungrateful.

“Yeah, thanks, Wini. I'll be back if I can,” Brosen squeezed the healer's arm affectionately before turning to walk away with measured steps.

“Don't worry about us,” Wini nodded to Impyra who reluctantly followed.

As they exited the building she instinctively ran her hands through her dark hair, energy spilling from her fingertips as the chestnut locks lightened to an ashen blond. Brosen turned his head, startled by the transformation. There wasn't time, however; and he didn't say anything.

Strapped to the back of the motorcycle was a long rifle. She'd seen White Energy guns before, but only while they were being carried.

“Do you know how to shoot?” he asked.

She looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Of course not.”

“Right, well, you might have to learn real quick.” He unstrapped the thing and handed it to her. Turning it to the side he pointed at a small red button. “See this? That's the safety. It's on and,” he pushed it, the gun hummed to life, “now it's off.”

“Right,” she said.

The energy coursed through the metal with liquid fire. It spread through her arms and into her chest. Deep in her mind she could hear the soft whispers and tasted the unbridled power the thing possessed. White Energy; a destructive force. 

“This is the trigger,” he showed her. “And this end down here is what you point at anything you want to fry.”

“I'm not stupid,” she snapped.

“I didn't say you were. This is your first time with a weapon. Everyone gets the same lesson.” There wasn't a hint of anger in his tone.

“Even you?”

“Especially me,” for a moment she thought he would smile, but he didn't.

Without another word he climbed onto the motorcycle and kick-stared the engine. Carefully, so as not to jostle the gun, Impyra took her place behind him, holding the weapon across her lap. The motorcycle began to roll forward. The sudden motion caused her to grab tightly to the sleeve of Brosen’s jacket with her free hand. He glanced at her over his shoulder before guiding the machine onto the road.  

Brosen didn't waste time in picking up speed. The wind whipped at her face and blew her hair wildly around her head. She breathed deeply. Beneath her the energy of the motorcycle flowed in a steady stream. It was different than the White Energy, hungering for fuel while the gun could produce its own supply of power.

Behind them the 
whoop-whoop 
of a high pitched siren was the alert that they were not alone. Brosen cursed.

Impyra turned to look but quickly turned back. “It's one of those big black Enforcer vehicles,” she told him.

“I know. That sound was the warning siren. They’re probably checking anyone suspicious. Well, guess what?” he said over his shoulder.

He turned at the next corner but the EOV stayed close behind.

“
Pull over to the curb or we will be forced to fire on you.
” The voice boomed from the EOV's speaker system.

Instead of slowing down to pull over, Brosen began to speed up. He took another corner, the bike tilted to the left. Impyra tightened her grip on both his arm and the gun. Another EOV appeared on a side street to their right. Brosen swerved to avoid the blocking maneuver. Just as they began to turn again she felt the energy in the air heat up. A flash of brilliant light flew past, landing in the street ahead of them.

“Shit!” Brosen shouted, swerving past the smoking hole left in the wake of the blast.

“Do you want me to fire back?” Impyra asked, unable to keep her voice from trembling.

He didn't say anything for a minute. She realized it wasn't an easy decision. Until this morning the Enforcers chasing them had been his allies. Another blast flew past, hitting a streetlight and sending it careening to the ground in a screech of metal.

“They're not too good at this, are they?” She ducked her head instinctively.

“They're not trying to hit us yet.” That would change if they continued to run. “All right,” he said. “You’ve got to turn and aim! Don’t aim for the windshield or body of the EOV, got it? I don’t want to kill them! Just slow them down.” There was another momentary pause. “Do it now!”

She released his arm. Brosen shifted to the right as Impyra turned to the left. She wasn't able to balance properly on the moving vehicle. Lifting the gun as best she could she realized she wouldn't be able to bring it up to her shoulder to aim. Instead, she did her best to guess at where it was pointing. With a deep breath she pulled the trigger.

Fire filled her mind.

The blast from the gun propelled them forward. Brosen was able to hold the bike steady but she nearly lost her balance. Turning fast to catch herself she fumbled with the gun. For a moment she was sure she had lost it. As it slid out toward the street she used her own energy to pull it back. The sound of metal crunching against metal sounded as the first EOV tried to avoid the blast and collided with the second.

Brosen glanced over his shoulder. “Hang on!” he shouted and quickly turned a corner.

A moment later, several energy blasts rocketed down the street they had just been traveling. He turned again, and they were on the Southern Road that would bring them through the gate in the city wall. It was a long, wide thoroughfare; a relic of a more prosperous time. They were almost there, excepting the barricade that blocked the opening. A line of EOVs waited in a semicircle, completely obstructing the way through.

“We won’t be able to break through that!” Brosen growled. “Shit.”

Impyra lifted herself up using his shoulders for support. “Speed up!” she said as she fell back into place.

“What? Are you crazy?” He shook his head.

“Just trust me! And lean forward!” She pushed hard on his shoulders. “As far as you can!”

Not really understanding, he did as she asked. She slipped her arms around his waist, stretching to lay her hands on the fuel tank. Closing her eyes, she began to draw energy from the world around her. The fuel from the tank, the magic in the gun, even the currents in the very air lent her power. An image of Wini sitting in her cocoon of power filled her mind.