Chapter 4.

The luminescent Biophyte was just starting to shimmer, another couple of hand breaths and dawn would break. Sipping from a mug of water Viky’s throat remained tight and dry. Jieleem lumbered into the room.

“What are you doing up dear-heart? Is everything alright?” He ran a meaty hand back through sleep tussled hair.

“I'm fine, you didn't need to get up.”

“Are you sure,” He rubbed bleary eyes. “You look, I don’t know, upset?”

Viky glanced away. She didn't often have nightmares, didn’t let her mind dwell on the days following her parentals death.

“Just a bad dream nothing to worry about.”

“You know can't talk to me about anything.” He came and sat by her side. “I probably won't know the answers, but sometimes it's good to talk.”

Talking accomplished nothing. Served no useful purpose, but Jaileen’s sincere honest expression was wistful. And he tried so hard. The big man settled himself on stool and waited. He was not the brightest light under the aurora, but he was patient. Would wait all night if she made him. Viky sighed, some explanation on her part was going to be required.

“I think it was the smell, a sort of sickly-sweet scent I now associate with death. It brought back memories of losing my parentals.”

They sat in sociable silence as he worked through a response.

“I am so sorry dear heart.” Jieleem eventually stopped massaging his neatly trimmed beard. “I wish I knew the right words to say, to make you feel better. You never told me, what happened to your parentals?”

He had no right to ask her, and the world did not contain enough words, in any language, to make her feel better. The flash of anger faded as quickly as it had flared. At least he was trying, tried to support her and if she told him an edited version maybe he would go back to bed and leave her to suffer in peace.

“A landslide covered the entrances to a cave complex. Nobody knew if the people inside had been crushed or were just trapped. My parentals went to help. To see if they could recover any survivors. More of the Cliff face collapsed and all those who went to help were killed. The area was deemed too unstable for further rescue attempts.”

Jieleem contemplated her words.

“That’s horrible. I am so sorry. I heard there was an earthquakes and landslides in First City last rotation but didn’t know there was also one in the Rifts. Did it happen during the Months of Shifts?”

“Yes, but it shouldn’t happen. No one should have died.” Viky held back the tears.

Gently taking her hand he in his own and choosing his words care the big man softly replied. “No beloved, it shouldn’t happen. It was a great tragedy. Your parentals were brave, to attempt a rescue. They were heroes. It’s beyond tragic that we don’t have the construction skills of the ancients. Most of the Rift’s structures existed well before the Great War and it’s a miracle a lot more of them haven’t collapsed. But that doesn’t make what happened to your parent and mother less heartbreaking. I am so sorry. But what’s that go to do with a smell?”

“I didn't believe they had died. Couldn't believe it. So, I flew down the Canyon, and eventually found the site. But by then, it was too late.”

“You found them?”

“Not exactly.” Viky whispered. “Clan Elders caught up with me before I had time to recover my parentals bodies. But they were not the only ones involved in the tragedy. I found one of my parents team-mates, and another man.”

Viky closed her eyes to shut out the anguish. A mental image she had endeavored to bury surfaced. Uncle Rusty, one of her parents teammates, a larger-than-life character with a mane of blood-orange locks. Opening her eyes Jieleem’s concerned face sprung back into view.

“My poor love, I am so sorry. It must have been awful.”

“It was. I don’t like talking about it.” She had been grief-stricken, but the sharp reproof received from her Elders had been the start of relationships deteriorating. Seven months later when Commanders had come to collect second daughters no-one in the clan had defended or even attempted to protect her.

After another protected silence Jieleem frowned. “Er, dear heart, why, how come you were reminded of this smell?”

Viky had chosen her life partner for his physically and fractal abilities, attributes she wanted her children to inherit. Intellectual capabilities could come from her side of the family. But Jieleem’s perception had surprised her before, and he was not as easy to manipulate as she had first assumed. She tossed up a few options but settled on the truth. Maddie’s life partner was Jieleem’s best friend, he would find out sooner or later anyway.

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“Maddie, Jess and I went to the forest. We passed an area where something had died. It was no big deal.”

Jieleem shook his head. “The forest. You went into the forest? Why, why would you want to do that?”

“We are going to make belts from Grip Rope vine.”

“You, harvested Grip vines, just the three of you?”

“Only for belts, we didn’t need long lengths.” Viky’s defenses rose.

“Viky, dear heart,” Jieleem took a sustaining breath, let it out and wisely decided to not comment further.

Jieleem poured himself a mug of water. Looked like he would have liked something stronger.

“Why, why do you want to make belts? Do we need sequin?”

Involuntarily the corners of her mouth turned up.

“No, don’t look so worried. I haven’t touched any of my allowance in months, we have plenty of sequins. But, do you know about Tushii’s situation?”

“Yeah, Ageoon says her family back in Amaraanth are destitute and she sends back her allowance to them.”

“Well, Maddie, Jess and I are going to make belts and Tushii is going to carve decorations into them. Sheeli and Shaar will offer them to their customers, and we are hoping it will help.”

A slow smile spread across Jieleem’s handsome features. “That’s great, hope it works. I bet you came up with the idea.”

“It was a collaboration.”

Jieleem nodded. “Okay but next time, if there is a next time, you want to head off into the forest could me and a few of the boys join the collaboration and go with you please?”

Viky didn’t want to commit, tossed up a few options and decided further distraction was necessary.

“That is so sweet of you.” She ran a soft hand up her life partners well-muscled arm, lingered caressing the powerful shoulder, before trailing fingers down his chest. “I don’t know how successful we will be, I’ll let you know how things go.”

His grin broadened as she put her mug on the bench and led him back to their sleeping chamber.

***

Ryukyaan hid his annoyance. Cassenteen’s appointment was not until tomorrow and an interruption to his schedule this early in the morning was always unwelcome. The man had also taken to incorporating gems into each strand of finely braided hair reminiscent of a Xiaanes style. Ryukyaan knew from personal experience they were an honourable people, but slander and misinformation since before the Power Wars had left the average citizen of the Coalition adverse to anything vaguely connected with the culture. Moss and Mould, Cassenteen wanted to stand out, wanted to attract attention. Not for the first time Ryukyaan asked himself why he was wasting his time training the man.

Cassenteen had taken up his usual position, leaning against a support colonnade with casually crossed his arms. Wearing an elaborate Ktar’kish skirt and cowl, extravagant and far above his rank, it only needed the hood, and he could be mistaken for a High Council member. His full beard never hid the perpetual, patronising smile and perfect teeth. His carefully cultivated reputation as a self-absorbed playboy like all good deceptions it was rooted in truth. Young fool.

“I presume you have a good reason for this interruption?”

“Of course, My Liege, most Honourable High Commander Ryukyaan.”

“Insincerity don’t suit you and is wasted on me. Why have you come.”

Cassenteen flashed him an engaging smile. “I was investigating the matter you requested and ran into Deputised Operative Commander Dereniik in the library. He is investigating the same subject, and out ranks me.”

“I am not raising your rank. You can earn it like any other man, so stop Nudging.” He gave Cassenteen’s statements consideration before continuing. “It’s a little sooner than I expected but not everyone on the Directives Committee is a complete fool.”

Ryukyaan frowned. He knew of Dereniik’s impeccable reputation. Had even used his former Team surreptitiously on a couple of occasions. As the teams Lancer Dereniik had played a pivotal role in closing cases. Cassenteen, possessing the unique sort of that treachery that left your standard Commander not even sure if there had been a conflict, was an instrument of stealth. Dereniik’s team had been a blunt instrument but epitomised the honesty and justice the Coalition was supposed to support. Working against such a brilliant man was counterproductive. How had he missed the Directives Committee offering this Commission? And why after ignoring the man for most of the rotation had they recruited his services now? He needed to talk to Archeery and would suggest additional attention to that section of their intelligence organisation.

“I was surprised. I see him about the library occasionally, but he is seriously not well, almost collapsed on me. I had to sit so he would. But there is nothing wrong with his mind. In a few heartbeats he worked out I was Reading him and Blocked. He’s crude and untrained, but effective. You told me there was no one under my age with those sorts of skills so I am going to infer you didn’t know about him.”

Cassenteen was grinning, enjoying the novelty of having unique information. The fool didn’t think of the long-term consequences or implications.

“I see.” Although he didn’t, “I will make inquiries and give you further instructions tomorrow. In the meantime, try to be discreet.”

Cassenteen laughed, his tawny eyes danced. The gems in his hair tinkled as he tilted his head back. “When have I ever been anything else.”

Ryukyaan did not answer, sure Cassenteen didn’t know the meaning of the word, made the hand signal for dismissal and bent his head over the parchments on his desk. Still chuckling Cassenteen leisurely stepped back three times before turning and ambling out.

“He’s gone.” Archery Sent directly into his mind.

“Arrogant fool. How did we not know about Dereniik?”

“I thought the Directives Committee were ignoring him. What do you know about him?”

“He was honest, clever and strong minded. A good man to have on side, a bad one to work against. I heard his condition was terminal and had dismissed him from my mind. Bribery won’t work on him; he sticks to his principles and now has no family to leverage. It would be a pity to work against him.”

“So we recruit him. He must have some Chinquaar blood to have inherited Communication functions. May even be sympathetic?”

“Maybe, I thought he was from Hunnaal, mixed Commander stock. Haven’t seen him in a few rotations. I’ll get Dos to look into it, we will move quickly, but be thorough. Make sure he won’t be a liability.” Ryukyaan twisted a knob under his desk.

“Oh, I don’t know I turned my life partner from a liability to an asset. It’s hard work, but someone had to do it.”

A rare smile crossed the cantankerous timeworn features. Flame and Assault he loved the woman, and she had turned his life around. He had thought himself beyond redemption and second chances, she had proved him wrong. They had shared a heart-harmony and rotations of partnered bliss, followed by the tragic loss of their son’s. Her spiralling health concerns and subsequent life-choice decision, his knee-jerk reaction and subsequent infidelity had nearly broken them, but somehow the relationship survive, recovered and blossomed.

A light flashed under his desk and Ryukyaan slid his hand to a lever. A section of wall slid open revealing an aperture and Dos stepping into the room. A warm smile graced handsome Chinquaar features.

“My liege, how can I be of service?”

“What have you heard about Commander Dereniik?”

“He is a cripple, possibly dying. Survived some terrible ordeal at the beginning of the rotation, all his team killed. Well spoken of and respected by the D’char. Have not met him personally but those who work in the library will have more information. I can talk to them.”

“Do that but also you are to break into the Records Room this evening, copy out his academic transcripts, original and final True Light assessments and the de-briefing from his last Commission. After that access any medical records you can get your hands and copy them out.”

“It will be done my lord. Do you want me to read his complete file at the records room and note any discrepancies?”

“Don’t think that will be necessary, at the moment, and I want you back with the report during my shift tonight.”

“I live to serve.” Dos grinned, gave the appropriate hand signals, back stepped and left.

Ryukyaan grunted. Storm blast, so much paper work. How had a man such as himself ever become embroiled in this mess?