Astra couldn’t contain her glee at seeing the Ice Walkers in person. As empress, she had, of course, visited Ikalitek, where they regaled her with gravity defying acrobatics. However, it was another thing to be part of the crowd, to be caught up in the excitement. The one time she had seen their performance, Astra had been bound by protocol to her throne, and much too far away to see the acrobatics properly. No, this time she was right there, or as close as she could be, on one of the dozens of floating platforms. They seemed part of the choreography themselves, flitting in and about the Ice Walkers as they danced along the vertical shafts of glistening ice.

  It was exhilarating, to say the least.

  “Nadim, did you see that last Walker, the one who came from the mist far below? I swear they didn’t have a grav-belt on at all. I think they were…what’s the word, free-styling?”

  Nadim laughed and nodded, pleased to see the empress, Astra, enjoying herself so much. The closest he had seen her this relaxed was on those rare occasions they would surreptitiously visit a dark pub in Atlantara for a drink and a quiet game of chess in a secluded corner.

  “I did, and I’m pretty sure he was ‘free-styling’. That was Taskoru, the master Ice Walker himself, traveling here just for this performance.”

  Astra giggled and beamed while bouncing on her feet in their soft velvet slippers. They had left the Ice walkers and were meandering down the wide corridor on the third terrace. She was looking at everything with bright eyes, seeing everything as if for the first time. Her act as an innocent diplomat’s daughter from T’sannu on her first adventure, a perfect cover for her genuine enjoyment.

  The group, the three companions along with Davos and Aiden, continued aimlessly down the thoroughfare, taking in the sights, allowing the flow of the crowd to direct their steps. Nadim had tried to separate the group after the Ice walker performance, but Astra, having too much fun, would hear none of it.

  The two young men were trailing behind the high marshal and Astra, chatting amiably with Jovani, who had settled into his character of Astra’s brother. He was regaling the boys with some imagined hunt in the deep desert of his supposed home-world. The hunt in question sounded suspiciously like a story Nadim read once, years ago, but the boys seemed entranced by the tale and were none the wiser.

  Nadim heard a loud squawk and turned, reaching under his tunic for his small hold-out blaster. But it was just Astra exclaiming over one of the performers, a fire breather from Voltaro, who mingled among the strolling crowds.

  He forced himself to relax and caught up to Astra as they continued to walk about the celebration, just two friends out for an evening of fun amongst peers.

  ___________

  Jovani’s story enraptured Aiden and Davos. The two friends kept glancing at each other in disbelief at the wild tale being told. It sounded like a grand adventure from a fantasy long ago. There was no way it could have happened, could it?

  The captain was laying it on thick for the two young men. His hobby, or more accurately, his passion, were tales from the old fantasy novels. Stories, first written when this system was being settled. They told of new worlds being explored and colonized. Those ancestors had quite a few surprises in store for them as they spread throughout the system. The story he was telling may even have a bit of truth to it.

  Over the course of the evening, Aiden’s initial feelings of disquiet had all but dissipated; the excitement of the evening and the spectacles created by the various Powers had overwhelmed any sense of foreboding the young man may have first experienced. The three companions he and Davos had run into were easy to be with, and there was no real agenda for the evening. All five of them seemed content to wander taking in the sights as they came.

  Aiden was listening to Jovani tell of how he stalked a fire demon into its lair and was, in turn, trapped while attempting to steal one of its fabled eggs, rumored to bring good luck and a long life to whomever possessed one. Even as the story enraptured him, he watched the crowds, enjoying the multitudes that were flowing back and forth along the concourse.

  He wasn’t sure of their destination. He didn’t think they had one; they were all happily following behind Astra, who was a force onto herself, beguiled by each new entertainment they encountered.

  There was a fire breather a few paces ahead of the group. Aiden glimpsed spurts of fire flowing above the crowd ahead, to its delight. Evidently, Astra had just noticed the performer herself as she squealed like a little girl and hopped on her feet, speeding ahead to watch the act.

  Aiden frowned.

  He could swear he had seen Nadim reach into his tunic and his entire demeanor change, as if caught unaware by Astra’s excited shriek, sensing danger. For just a second, Aiden thought he glimpsed a shimmer around Nadim. For a fraction of a second, no longer than the blink of an eye, Aiden could swear Nadim had aged into an older man, one that seemed familiar to him. In fact, if pressed, Aiden would say it looked like Davos’ father, Nadim, the Lord of House Hakana.

  But that must have just been the light playing a trick on him, right?

  I think I should switch to something a bit lighter to drink for the rest of the evening.

  Those feelings, warnings of something out of place, came flooding back. Aiden slowed his steps and fell behind the group, his thoughts racing. He was trying to shake the cobwebs from his mind and think back over the evening.

  “Aiden! Come on! Keep up.” Davos called from far ahead.

  He had noticed Aiden missing from his side, only to see him standing still in the center of the concourse, the crowd parting for his beguiled friend, an odd expression on his face.

  The young man blinked a few times, noticing he had stopped walking altogether, causing a few passers-by to grumble about the ineptitude of youth these days, even as they unwittingly gave him a wide berth. Aiden turned red, a blush creeping up his face, and he hurried to catch up with his companions. He was debating pulling Davos aside to share his suspicions when Astra, with Nadim in tow, came rushing back to the group.

  “I just heard that the empress was going to be giving a speech on the upper tier in a little while,” she said, her excitement causing more than a few heads in the swirling crowds to turn her way. “Let’s make our way there. I wouldn’t want to miss it.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Aiden didn’t miss the odd look Jovani and Nadim gave each other at this, his hackles beginning to stand on end.

  That does it! There is something going on here.

  Aiden tried to catch Davos’s eye, but he was heading off after Astra. The young woman had turned on her heels, and Davos followed as if he had been ensorcelled.

  She’s just like Davos. He’s always confident of his place, I don’t know how he does that.

  As the companions made their way through the crowds, heading towards the lifts that would bring them to the upper tier of the palace, a low buzz went through the crowd.

  Was it true? Was the empress going to appear?

  The random chaos of the swirling crowd shifted, becoming organized. The direction of the tide changed, flowing to follow behind Astra and her companions, as if in her wake, pulled along by subconscious forces.

  _________

  Kosh had landed at the Cultivation Palace a few moments before, landing on a VIP landing pad, putting him right in the middle of the towering palace built for tonight’s festivities. He had messaged ahead to one of his lieutenants, getting an update on their activities. The report was brief and to the point, which is how he preferred them. He hated when people tried to pad their importance or achievements. Kosh had told his underling to pass the word, that they were to switch focus, helping locate the errant empress.

  Lord Ellrick would want an update soon. He was not a patient man at the best of times, and the Nthandian needed fresh information. Kosh had delayed that conversation twice already, but he had the good sense to not do so again.

  The problem was, he was no closer to having any answers. He had circled the palace when first arriving, overriding the central computer’s attempts at controlling his autopilot. Kosh found the empress’s landing pad, not seeing her shuttle. He used imperial codes his slicer had retrieved for him to access the site’s security and scanned the logs, wondering if perhaps she had landed elsewhere, but to no avail.

  Kosh had his data-pad out and was going over the reports coming in from his operatives throughout the palace, but the news was all the same. His frustration mounting as he read reports until a beep emitted, signaling a new notification. It popped up in the top right corner; Mr. Esplin was calling in on the secure channel.

  Well, that’s something. Hopefully, he’ll have some answers.

  “How are things on your end?”

  “I’m about to arrive with our friends. Do we know where we should meet up yet?”

  Kosh appreciated Mr. Esplin’s vague message. Even with encrypted communications, it was good to err on the side of caution.

  “Not yet. I’ve just arrived myself. I talked with my associates and they’re figuring out where everyone should be.”

  “I don’t have a lot of time. Our location may not be the most advantageous for tonight’s celebrations, and my group should relocate. Actually. Give me a minute. I may have something for you. I’ll call you right back.”

  The data-pad in Kosh’s hand went silent as Mr. Esplin disconnected the call. Kosh had mastered his pride long ago. Besides, he trusted Callon, the obstinate young man his second, Bitara, had plucked from obscurity on Nthandi, had grown into one of his most trusted, and capable, operatives. He took a moment to stare at the passing crowds. During his brief conversation with the Power, he had made his way across the landing pad and was standing just inside the wide, clear double doors that led out onto the concourse. The crowds were milling about, flitting from one form of entertainment or another, the wait staff mingling with the celebrants, providing refreshments and information as needed.

  His data-pad pinged, and he looked down, expecting to reconnect his call with Mr. Esplin. Instead, he received a coded text, which he ran through his encryption program. A few computations later at it showed a message, more detailed this time from the Callon.

  Target reported to be giving a speech on the upper tier in a short time. Main force of the team has dispatched. Captain and her second are with me. I’ll take them to the upper tier. Will coordinate with the team from there once the target’s arrival is definitive. Suggest you coordinate with your men. I’ll confirm target presence as soon as possible so you can start your side of the operation. Good luck.

  Finally, some good news. I knew I could count on Callon to come through.

  It was time to call his employer.

  Soon, the night’s festivities would be in chaos, which would spread across the planet and throughout the system. It was time to change the ruling dynamics of Solvonus, one that put Lord Ellrick in its center, with Kosh standing just behind him.

  ___________

  Zirenna blinked.

  Where the hell am I?

  She took a few deep breaths, willing herself not to throw up the contents of her stomach. Zirenna was unprepared for that sudden drop. She wasn’t sure she could have been, even if Mr. Esplin had bothered to inform her of what to expect.

  After a moment, the captain regained her composure and looked around. She could see that someone from her team had been unsuccessful in keeping their previous meal down. A splatter in the corner made the small room smell, with a sickly sweet odor that did nothing for her own stomach. They had orders to immediately vacate the closet, making their way out of the service hallway to mingle with the crowds.

  Tala was standing by the door, having cracked it open in order to survey the corridor beyond. Mr. Esplin assured them his contacts would keep this room, and the hallway, clear for a short amount of time, but that was time was evaporating.

  Where’s Mr. Esplin anyway?

  Just as she was about to ask Tala that question, when the young specialist backed away from the entrance and the man in question entered the small room, closing and locking the door behind him. Zirenna began to ask him what he was doing when he held his hand up for silence.

  Zirenna’s training allowed her to swallow her pride and follow his request. They were the enemy to these people, after all, and had infiltrated deep into their system. Now Zirenna and her team were deep in a palace with the empress nearby.

  The three of them huddled in the small utility closet, the smell wafting from the corner threatening to undo their plans. They froze when they heard a pair of voices approaching from down the hall. The pair of voices stopped right outside their hiding spot, and they could hear the latch being jiggled.

  “All clear in the back hall, sir.”

  “Copy that. Continue your sweep,” came a voice from the guard’s communicator. “We have reports that the empress is on the way. We haven’t had communications from the captain yet, but I’m expecting that call any time. I want to be as secure as we can be before he calls in.”

  “Yes, sir. We’ll continue our patrol. Team six, out.”

  Zirenna and Tala looked at each other in the dimly lit space. That was both good news and bad. It was good to hear with their own ears that their target was in place. That fact had been an uncomfortable uncertainty up to a moment ago, the Da’a’shori women having a difficult time trusting the aloof Traveler. It was bad, because now security would tighten up, making their jobs that much harder.

  “We should give them a few moments to finish securing this hallway and then try to exit,” Tala said, while tugging down on her wait staff uniform.

  “I agree,” Zirenna said. “Our uniforms and passes should be able to get us past any security, shouldn’t they, Mr. Esplin?”

  The two women turned to look at Mr. Esplin, expecting him to confirm their plan. Instead, he was staring at his data-pad. Zirenna could see a blueprint of the palace glowing softly in the darkened room.

  “Hmmmmm,” the man said, much to the annoyance of the two infiltrators.

  Zirenna didn’t quite know how to respond to that and looked at Tala, who shrugged at her captain.

  “Mr. Esplin…,” Zirenna said.

  He held up one infuriating hand, requesting silence, while continuing to study the blueprints. Zirenna stared at him, her mouth parting in frustration. A Corsair captain was not accustomed to being dismissed out of hand. Without warning, the Power slid his pad into an inside pocket of his jacket and removed a small tin from the opposite pocket.

  Mr. Esplin opened the tin and took a small pinch of something from inside before tucking it back in his pocket. Zirenna saw a flash of pink as he did so. Callon placed whatever he had removed into his mouth, chewing a few times, and Zirenna could smell vanilla again. The cloying smell mixed with the noxious vomit in the room's corner nearly overcame her tenuous grip of her stomach.

  Before either woman could ask what he was doing, he reached out to grab both by the arm and Zirenna again had the floor drop out from beneath her, plunging her into darkness.