SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 (7 page)

Somewhere, in her past, someone had bullied her. I found myself hoping that she'd fried them with her power.

"I'll talk to her," Salidar passed me in the hallway. "Sometimes a punch is better than a spell," he added. "I just have to make her see that."

Yes, I admit that I felt the smallest twinge of jealousy as he began to walk faster to catch up with Zaria.

* * *

Zaria

I wanted to be alone. Salidar came barging through my door anyway. "We need to talk," he said.

"About what?"

"About that bruise on your chin."

"Look, I was just as responsible as you. That ought to be the end of it."

He shut the door to my berth and placed a shield about the room. I turned my back on him. "It's soundproof, so I can speak frankly. Bree didn't know that jolting the coffin when it landed in Avii Castle would wake you for an early release and frankly, we can't put the genie back in the bottle at this point. I know who you are and right now, only three people are aware of that. Two, as you may have guessed, are in the Mighty category. I didn't mean to get anywhere near your chin with my fist. You have to work with me on this, all right? Bree says you'll have to make friends with those you knew in the past all over again—it can't be helped."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? Or less lonely?" I turned to look at him, then. Dark eyes studied me for a moment before he answered.

"No. And I'm sorry about that. We need you—that's the simple truth of things."

"How much did she tell you?" I turned away again.

"Most of it. Some, I already knew because it's a legend with the Larentii, now. That their Vhanaraszh turned rebel to save billions of lives."

"Yet they'd separate my particles in a second if they found me again." My hand shook as I wiped tears away.

"No. Look, your sentence has been wiped from the Council records and the Larentii Archives. None of them would raise a hand against you, now."

"I don't belong anywhere," I quavered.

"I didn't mean to make you cry, either," he said. "I wish there was something I could do about it."

"Except I mean nothing to you and you mean nothing to me."

"Sort of. I was hoping we'd be friends—when I'm not swinging at you."

"I'll consider it. At least it's you swinging at me instead of Ilya. Before—he was the one who attempted to teach me Krav Maga. I think I'd just lie there and cry if he tried it, now."

"You still have PTSD," he stated flatly.

"I don't think it'll ever go away as long as I'm alive. Honestly, I thought I'd taken care of that problem around four hundred Earth years ago."

"We need you, remember?" He repeated softly. "I can probably get Kevis Halivar here if you need to talk to somebody."

"I've talked to someone in the past," I said. "It didn't help much."

"I know you can't just go out there and tell everybody what you've been through—it will mess things up. You have to keep your chin up and hope for the best."

"The same chin that has a big bruise on it?"

"Want me to kiss it and make it better? Or, do you want me to ask Ilya to kiss it instead?"

He wore a crooked grin when I turned to face him again. "How about you run out that door while I throw pillows at you?"

"That'll work," his grin became wider.

Before dinner that night, the entire ship was gossiping about how I'd tossed Salidar de Luca out of my berth and then thrown pillows at his head.

Chapter 4

Quin

I wasn't sure what Sal had talked about with Zaria, but she tried harder the following morning during training. He didn't hit her again, she was more in control of her limbs and they ended on a truce, bowing to one another while Zaria reluctantly thanked him for the lesson.

I didn't realize how tense I'd become over the situation until it drained out of me afterward. Jayna, who was training with Caylon while I watched Sal and Zaria, bowed to him and thanked him for her lesson, too.

"Anything else?" Caylon lifted an eyebrow in my direction.

"No, sursee," I said.

"Good. Breakfast is waiting."

* * *

When I arrived in the dining area, I found Kaldill, Bel Erland, Berel, Yanzi, Lafe and Terrett waiting for me.

"Why didn't you get your plates already?" I asked.

"We want eat with you," Yanzi declared. "You poke along."

"I want to eat with you, too," Barc declared, hugging me with all four arms. Bleek, standing behind Barc, gave a lopsided grin.

"Then let's eat together," I said and held one of Barc's hands as we walked toward the serving line. Somehow, Zaria had cleaned up and gotten to the galley before I did; she stood behind the line, helping the cooks serve breakfast.

"I suppose that makes sense; she did apply as a cook's assistant at Dad's palace," Bel Erland muttered.

"Hey, Barc," Zaria offered him a smile as he went ahead of us. "Want bacon? Ham? Turkey fritters?"

"What's a turkey fritter?" He laughed at the sound of it.

"No idea and we don't have any anyway," she grinned back.

"I want bacon," he declared. She gave him what he asked for, then offered to float his plate to an empty table large enough to hold all of us. Barc laughed when his tray took off on its own, floating gently through the small dining room until it landed on the table. Not even a drop of milk was spilled.

"Thank you," Barc clapped his hands at the simple trick.

"I'll never be able to serve his breakfast again," Bleek pretended to frown at Zaria.

"You want me to float yours, too?" she asked.

"Want to arm wrestle?" Bleek laughed.

"I guess that's a no," Zaria grinned at Bleek's overabundance of arms and piled food on his plate.

"Is it scary that she knew what I wanted?" Berel asked when he took his seat at our table.

"I doubt she means any harm—she probably wants you to be happy at breakfast. I believe she turns it off otherwise around those she knows—the legends abound of how the Q'elindis in the past wearied of what they constantly saw in others. They wore a veil most of the time, to obscure any images that might come." Bel grinned. "Come on, eat and stop worrying about it."

"I wasn't really worried about it," Berel pointed a fork at Bel Erland. "I've just never had that kind of service, before. Can you imagine if every waitress knew what you wanted when they came to your table?"

"Sounds like a time-saver," Bleek grabbed a basket of bread in one hand while helping himself to the butter and sipping tea at the same time.

"I don't think Zaria should hire herself out as a waitress," Lafe observed. "Kings, Queens and rulers in both Alliances would pay almost anything for her services."

"She's working with us," Bel pointed out. "Don't give her any ideas. We need her."

"I don't think she intends to go anywhere," Kaldill said. "This is her mission, I believe."

* * *

Ilya

I waited until everyone else was served and Zaria took her plate of food to a now-empty table. She barely looked up when I set my plate on the table across from hers and sat down to eat.

"I hear you had an argument with Sal," I began.

"I threw pillows at him." She dipped into her bowl of oatmeal.

"Heard that, too. I doubt he received any bruising."

"Hmmph." Her bruise had lightened some, making it appear deep brown instead of purple, with yellowing around the edges.

"I can get cream for it, if you won't accept the healing," I said.

"I'm fine. Really."

"Then eat your food instead of pushing it around. How do you expect to throw a proper punch if you don't take care of yourself?"

"Is that all you're concerned about?"

I'd upset her, when that wasn't my intention.

"No. Fuck, no." I lifted my plate and turned to walk away.

"Please, sit."

For a moment, I caught the bitter loneliness in her voice. It squeezed my heart in a way I didn't expect. Setting my plate gently on the table, I pulled the chair back as silently as I could and sat.

"I cannot guess at the troubles of your life," I began. "I wish I could take the sadness from your face. You will have to make that decision, someday, I think. Whether you choose to allow it or not."

"What nickname would you use?" She lifted her eyes to me and I saw they glittered with unshed tears. "For me?" she added.

"It would have to be special, as you are special," I replied. "Something out of the ordinary, that only I might use for you. I will think on this."

"All right."

"Eat," I gestured with my fork. "I will reheat it if necessary, with power."

"It's fine." She scooped a spoonful of oatmeal and lifted it to her lips. I hoped she'd made it sweet—to feed her energy.

* * *

Quin

Just before lunch, we received information concerning a distress call. Caylon had the information from Director Griff, with the last-known location of a beleaguered ship. This was a freighter, filled to capacity with food, vehicles and pharmaceuticals.

"Kooper believes that they may want the pharmaceutical packaging, in order to pass the drakus seed off to buyers without appearing illegal," Caylon informed us. "I've already instructed James and Nathan to set our course for the location of the distress call."

"I'll get us there faster," Kaldill offered. He intended to fold space with the BlackWing VII and everyone on-board. Caylon barked the coordinates; there was a moment of disorientation, which righted itself almost immediately.

"They're still unloading the ship," James called out from the helm. An image of the crippled freighter came into view, with another ship lined up beside it and connected through a makeshift walkway.

They'd punched a hole in the freighter's hull to remove the cargo, then intended to pull the walkway back to their ship, leaving the gaping hole in the other unprotected. If anyone remained alive on the freighter, they'd die.

"Who's going?" Caylon barked.

"Really? You have to ask?" Zaria spat before disappearing. Ilya cursed as he followed her.

"Ready?" Caylon lifted an eyebrow at Sal.

"Thought you'd never ask," Sal quipped and disappeared when Caylon did.

* * *

Ilya

I already thought Zaria was made of myth and legend. Q'elindis were so rare they almost didn't exist.

What I saw upon landing on the main freight deck of the captured ship was a child's tale come true.

While wrapped in a golden shield, Zaria, from a distance, destroyed any pirate who fired a weapon at her.

Yes, I'd read of the talent in an old book of tales. It was called mind-kill. I was forced to shield myself quickly, but found that Zaria turned her attention to anyone who fired at me, too.

One by one, they fell. I had no idea why they didn't give up and attempt to flee, but they didn't.

It wouldn't have mattered after a while; once all the vermin had crowded onto the freighter, I fired off a spell to seal the hull breach while Zaria took care of the rest. Caylon and Salidar stood nearby, also shielded but holding their weapons at rest while they watched Zaria work.

How had she escaped notice for so long?

How?

I heard that Quin had done something similar, but I wasn't sure whether to believe it. Quin—she had to be near the ones she killed—or so Caylon had said.

In the tale I'd read, the hero with Zaria's skill could do so from long distances; he only had to focus on the target.

So long as the target wasn't blocked.

Yes, I recalled in the tale that there were certain individuals who could block the targets.

I realized they meant Sirenali. After all, if one part of the tale were true, it made sense that the rest of it could also be. Without lifting a finger, I watched the last pirate die.

"Is anyone on-board this ship still living?" Caylon released his shield and strode toward Zaria. She was surrounded by the bodies of those she'd killed.

"In the small cargo hold," Sal supplied. Zaria didn't answer; she gazed instead at the bodies of the fallen.

They'd tried to kill her. If they'd given up, I think she'd have taken them prisoner, but they'd still be alive.

I probably should have been afraid of her. I was afraid
for
her, instead. How many would hunt her if they knew what she could do? Either to use her, or kill her outright?

Q'elindis were always protected by the crown of Karathia, and they'd never been so talented.

"Zaria?" I called out when she didn't move. She didn't acknowledge my voice. Something had happened.

Zaria?
I sent instead. Still she didn't respond.

Cabbage?

I don't know why I called her that. It just came to me. Her eyes locked on mine.
Ilya?
She sent.
My Ilya?

"Come," I said, beckoning to her. "If you cannot bring yourself away, I will do so."

She couldn't move; I discovered that quickly. Therefore, I employed power to pull her away from the mountain of bodies and set her on a bare spot next to me.

"Do you need help?" I asked, taking her elbow.

I barely had time to catch her as she lost consciousness and fell.

* * *

Quin

"Zaria's exhausted. We have four from the cargo hold who need healing," Caylon said.

I'd watched as Ilya carried an unconscious Zaria past me, once he'd folded space to get back to our ship. Caylon and Sal had transported the others, several of whom needed my immediate attention. I went to work, although a part of my mind wondered what happened and why only Zaria had exhausted herself.

* * *

Bel Erland

"My Prince," Ilya spoke softly from behind. I'd been watching Quin healing what remained of the freighter's crew. Most were dead, according to Caylon. All the pirates were dead. He and Sal had gone aboard the pirate ship to rescue the young Sirenali, but he required Quin's attention, too.

"Ilya?" I turned to him, then. He'd carried Zaria back; she was unconscious when he did so.

"Zaria is sleeping. I must speak with you," he said. I heard the urgency in his voice, although he attempted to mask it.