Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (8 page)

“They weren’t you, my dear. I’ll bring this to the FNA, but there is another reason why I’m here.”

There was a long moment of silence, and Sarah leaned in to hear better.

“Verona is a good man. You would see that if you gave him a chance,” Roselyn said.

“He is reckless. The lifespan of a human is barely a hundred years. He will be an old man, and you will still have the measure of your life to live.”

“Did you say something similar to Aunt Cassandra before she married Reymius?” Roselyn asked.

Sarah stifled a gasp. She hadn’t known that one of Aaron’s grandparents had been a Hythariam. Aaron was the child of three worlds. Earth, where he was raised and the home to his father. Safanar, where his mother had been raised before fleeing to Earth at the fall of Shandara. His grandmother, Cassandra, was of the Hythariam and had fallen victim to the Drake.

“We could extend their lifespan and help them in a number of different ways,” Roselyn said.

“The Nanites have been both a curse and a blessing upon the Hythariam. Do you think that humans would fare any better, given such a burden?”

“They might not make the same mistakes we have,” Roselyn said.

“You always see the best in people. It’s part of what makes you a brilliant healer, but in this I’m not sure I can agree. Some of them have proven to be very wise and good, but by the same token many have not. It’s not because of pride or arrogance that I’ve always argued against sharing the Nanites with the people of Safanar. It’s fear of the repercussions of what will happen to them if we were to do such a thing.”

“What if the Nanites help prevent the Ryakul virus from spreading?” Roselyn asked.

“Does it?” Iranus countered.

“I’m not sure—” Roselyn began, but something chimed in the background.

Sarah heard the shifting of feet.

“What is this?” Iranus demanded. “These are Nanite update logs. The protocols have been changed to come directly to you rather than through our main systems in Hathenwood.”

“Verona has the Nanites in him. I’ve been adapting them for humans,” Roselyn said.

Iranus gasped. “You had no right to do this. You’ve broken the decrees set from the council.”

“Then have me arrested,” Roselyn said.

“You don’t understand the gravity of what you’ve done. The people of Safanar aren’t ready for this, and they might not even want it,” Iranus said, and Roselyn gasped.

“What is it?”

“Verona’s been hurt.”

Hearing the shakiness in her friend’s voice, Sarah went through the doors, abandoning the pretext that she had not been listening in on their conversation. “Are they all right?”
 

They turned toward her, surprised by her sudden appearance.
 

“I’m not sure,” Roselyn said.

Sarah joined them. Roselyn read through the report on her holo display, and the frown on her face deepened the further she read. “The Nanites report a foreign entity with virus classification and then skin trauma.” Roselyn repeated the last words to herself.

Iranus scanned the report. “It says he was wounded before he became infected, but it doesn’t look like they were able to beat the infection.”

“They slowed it down,” Roselyn said, and then looked at Sarah. “The Nanites don’t just beat infections. They enhance our own immune systems so that it can better withstand an infection.”

“I don’t understand where the skin trauma comes into play,” Iranus said.

Sarah thought about it for a moment and divided her gaze between the two of them. The Hythariam for all their brilliance had forgotten a form of disease prevention that they probably considered to be too primitive.

“They cut out the infection,” Sarah said.

Roselyn gasped and then nodded. “That makes sense. Tanneth is with them. He could tell whether the infection had spread. But if they didn’t get all of it, the virus could spread again.”

“I understand your hesitation regarding the Nanites, but are there any alternatives? If the FNA were to face an army of these things, then it would be disastrous for them,” Sarah said.

“The Nanites might help in some cases. Looking at the report, Verona was very lucky. The wound was shallow, but if it had been worse, then cutting out the infection wouldn’t have worked because it would have killed the person we’re trying to save,” Iranus said.

“Were any of the Hythariam exposed to this virus?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, but it appears the Hythariam are not affected by it. The virus shuts down for now at least,” Roselyn said.

Sarah frowned. “You think that will change?”

“Exactly,” Iranus said. “Viruses can change and even jump between similar species. For all our differences, we are also quite similar. In time, our race could be affected by the virus.”

“Father, I’m going to put my proposal before the council to formally begin human trials with the Nanites,” Roselyn said.

“One case hardly proves anything. Have you considered that it was Verona’s abilities that slowed the virus and not the Nanites?”

Roselyn frowned. “No, I hadn’t considered that. Then I will need samples of the actual virus to test against. Without samples, we can’t learn anything more. Working with the data from the Nanites isn’t enough.”

“Why?” Sarah asked.

“Because we need to be able to test against the virus as it attacks living tissue. This way, we can study how it works and figure out a way to prevent it,” Roselyn said.

Iranus turned away from them and scanned the room, focusing on nothing in particular. “Finding samples shouldn’t be much of a problem before long,” Iranus said quietly.

“How?” Sarah asked. “They’ve been burning the bodies to prevent the sickness from spreading.”

“There will be more instances of these events. Aaron and the others may have stumbled upon this when they faced that creature, but Halcylon has a plan. He will move toward more populated areas, and the sickness will spread,” Iranus said.

“Goddess be merciful,” Sarah whispered.

“Merciful indeed,” Iranus said. “We will begin sending out warnings and information about the virus. Containment measures may need to be taken. There are going to be a lot of tough choices ahead.”

The door to the lab opened, and Isaac came through. The former Elitesman, who had aided the Resistance in Khamearra, still wore his dark leather duster, though it now had the gold bars of an officer in the Free Nations Army.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry to disturb you, but we’ve had word from Khamearra,” Isaac said.
 

“What is it?” Sarah asked.

“There have been unexplained deaths in the city. They seem to be primarily targeting former Elitesmen,” Isaac said.

Sarah frowned in thought for a moment. “Who else are they targeting?”

“Some were healers, and then there was the head chef for the soup kitchens that feed the poor in the city. We had assigned former Elitesmen to protect and help with those duties as part of your request to reintegrate them into a more civilized world. The deaths seemed random at first, but the method was consistent among them. Some simply fell to the ground and were dead before they hit. Others would begin screaming at something only they saw. Then they would commit suicide. I witnessed the death of one, and just before he died he whispered, “The Prince of Khamearra has returned,” Isaac said.

“Rordan,” Sarah hissed.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Isaac said.

“How is he able to kill people?” Roselyn asked.

“He’s using some type of amulet crafted by Mactar,” Sarah said. “We had thought it was an apprentice amulet that the Elitesmen used to speed up an initiate’s ability to work with the energy.”

“We?” Roselyn asked.

“When Braden and I were in Khamearra,” Sarah said.

“How is the Warden?” Isaac asked.

“Committed to rebuilding the De’anjard,” Sarah answered. “I need to return to Khamearra to deal with this.”

“But Sarah—” Roselyn began.

“I know Rordan best,” Sarah said.

“This is what he wants. To draw you out,” Iranus said.

“I can’t sit idly by while he murders my people,” Sarah said.

“I’m not suggesting that you do, but you do have resources at your disposal,” Iranus said.

“And I intend to use them,” Sarah said, and turned as if to leave.

“But Sarah, you can’t just throw yourself in danger, what about the—”

“Roselyn,” Sarah said, and shook her head.

Isaac and Iranus traded glances, and then Sarah felt the slightest touch across her senses.
 

Isaac gasped. “By the Goddess, you’re pregnant. I can sense the lifebeat of another in you.”

There was a long moment of silence as they all waited for Sarah to speak.

“Yes,” Sarah said, and felt the edges of her lips curving upward, but she clamped down on her emotions at once.

Isaac’s eyebrows drew up. “Aaron doesn’t know?”

“No, he doesn’t. I only found out a little while ago with Roselyn’s help. I will tell him, but now isn’t the right time.”

“My Lady, I shouldn’t have come. I cannot put you in danger. I had thought you would be able to help with what you knew about Rordan, but now…”

“No, Isaac, coming to me is exactly what you should have done. Life won’t stop because I’m pregnant. I am going to Khamearra. I will find my brother, and he’ll answer for the crimes he is committing,” Sarah said.

“We can send additional protection with you,” Iranus said. Isaac all but glared at the old Hythariam, but he continued anyway. “There are some rules that apply to all species, and this one holds true, as I’ve fallen into its folly before: One doesn’t simply argue with a pregnant woman once she sets her mind to something,” Iranus said with a rare broad smile. “Let me be among the first to congratulate you, my dear.”

Of all the things that Sarah had thought to hear from Iranus, this was not among them. Despite herself, she felt a surge in her heart that would have her floating to the stars. “Thank you,” she said. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and for once she didn’t care. Under the shadows of danger all around them, their babies shone like a beacon of hope within her. But first she needed to deal with her brother, Rordan. She needed Khamearra’s leaders focused upon the Zekara, who could easily turn their attention to her homeland as well as Shandara.

“I would join you, but I need to keep working on countering this Ryakul virus,” Roselyn said.

“I understand, and thank you,” Sarah said.

Sarah left the room to find the hallway lined with heavily armed FNA soldiers. Most were from Khamearra. She sensed the lifebeat blazing within them, marking them as former members of the Order of the Elite. They were all battle hardened, and any semblance of softness had left them long ago. But something else lingered in the eyes of the former Elitesmen, a light that she hadn’t seen in any of them when they’d served her father. The soldiers came to attention and brought their fists across their hearts. Sarah saluted them back in turn and made the mark of the Goddess upon her forehead. She offered a silent prayer that they would make it safely through this.

Isaac cleared his throat. “Your Grace, Khamearra awaits.”

Sarah nodded, and the former Elitesman brought out his travel crystal. In a flash of purple oblivion, the hallway disappeared around them.
 

C
HAPTER
8

ALLIES

A small holding sat nestled along the eastern borders of Khamearra. Prince Rordan had journeyed here with his father and two brothers a few years ago. This was before he found out he had a sister. The day she returned to the High King’s court, startlingly beautiful and perfect in such a way that he despised her almost instantly. The fact that she thwarted all his attempts at removing her from this life infuriated him. Now, Sarah had been proclaimed High Queen of Khamearra, when the title should have come to him as High King Amorak’s rightful heir. He was the eldest son after all.
 

Weeks ago, he had returned to the palace, expecting to be welcomed as the next High King. Instead, the guards attempted to arrest him. Proclamations had been posted throughout the city of the disbandment of the Elite Order. The authority of the Elitesmen had been revoked. Soldiers of the Free Nations Army working with the Khamearrian Army had joined forces to remove the Elitesmen from power. They were to be arrested and faced with a choice of exile or enlistment in the Free Nations Army. More than half of the surviving members of the Elite Order had elected to throw their lot in with their former enemies. The whole thing stank of the Heir of Shandara’s influence. As Aaron was Ferasdiam marked, it would be suicidal for Rordan to face him in open combat, but he had other ways to strike out at the Alenzar’seth.