By the time the paperwork was cleared, night had fallen. A lack of sleep and our early morning fight with Tonno and Zayn, not to mention all the revelations about Ryuuk that had been dropped on us, left me mentally and physically drained.
Most of my companions felt similarly and chose to engage in what we all hoped would be a quiet night’s rest back in our lodgings at Alchemy. AL assured us that people being assailed and kidnapped from his establishment was not a frequent occurrence. For an artificially simulated intelligence, he appeared to feel guilty that misfortune had befallen us under his watch.
After toasting the day’s turn of events at the bar with everyone else, I stepped away and headed to bed, purposefully avoiding looking in Dick’s direction as I did so. We still hadn’t mentioned our almost kiss that morning, and I was fine letting it slide into obscurity.
The next morning, after a shower and fresh clothes, I meandered back down to the bar for a chat with AL.
“Did Matthew ever come back last night?” I asked the bartender.
“I have not seen him Miss Skye,” AL reported. “Do you fear for his safety?”
“Not really,” I said, meaning it. “He’s a slippery guy. So, I doubt there’s much trouble he can get himself into that he can’t also blink his way out of. I’m just wondering if he thinks we’re still under arrest.”
“Speaking of your arrest and subsequent emancipation,” AL said, “this came for you earlier this morning.”
A holofoil letter materialized on the bar. In the Pact Worlds, advanced technology was as common as breathable air. Yet, I had never seen anything quite like AL’s ability to manifest items seemingly straight out of the bar, not with anything strictly technological. There were plenty of magic users who could do similar things.
“You’ll have to show me how you do that trick, one day,” I said, smiling at AL and thanking him for passing on the letter.
Miss Alnasi,
I hope you and your companions found your second night in our fair city much more agreeable than your first. If it would please you, I’d like to invite all of you to join me this morning for the mid-morning meal at my official residence here in New Horizon City to discuss the matter of your travel and exchange the information we have previously discussed.
Simply provide this card to any of the travel services in the city and they will deliver you to the proper address.
Regards,
Koraf
After waking the others and checking with AL to determine what time the mid-morning meal was usually served in New Horizon, we hailed a ride and were on our way to the Councilman’s home. Our hover vehicle dropped us off at one of the sprawling skyscrapers that dominated the city’s skyline.
The building rose from the street like a towering pillar of smooth marble and glass but opened up after four or five stories to a slightly smaller tower surrounded by lush gardens, landscaped waterfalls, and meandering pathways past all of it for those wanting a leisurely stroll.
As expected, security was tight and very high-tech. Just inside the front entrance, each guest had to go through a body scan chamber. Weapons were confiscated, at least the ones that could be confiscated. Both Ryuuk and Cash seemed unhappy leaving their beloved weapons with the security team, though they were assured repeatedly that their items would be carefully handled and securely stored.
Afterward, we were led through the courtyard gardens and into the central tower. The Councilman’s official residence was located at the very top. As expected, the place was expensively, yet tastefully decorated. White marble and bright gold dominated the color palette, except for the dining room on the open air terrace we were led to. It sported cozy wooden furniture with plush cushions in earthly hues. I got the sense that this space was a favorite of our host and more accurately reflected his own taste and personality. It felt welcoming and warm.
The terrace offered a spectacular view of both the city skyline and the cloud-shrouded ocean horizon beyond. Despite being so high up and open to the air, some sort of barrier technology blocked the whipping wind from disturbing the tranquil atmosphere without hampering the view.
Cash let out a low, appreciative whistle as he sidled up to the terrace balcony railing.
“I’ve been in a lot of rich people’s houses,” he said, “but this view definitely tops the list.”
“I’m glad you are enjoying it,” our host said, appearing in the doorway. “Please, everyone make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the food already set out. I’ll let the staff know we’re ready for the hot items to be served.”
He stepped out briefly while we took our seats and filled small plates with the sandwiches, pastries, assorted fruits and other items in the center of the table. I took a bite of a soft, buttery pastry filled with an orange cream of some type. The flavor was tropical and heavenly, though I couldn’t identify the exact fruit used, probably something local.
When Koraf returned, a team of servants emerged to serve generous helpings of everything from hearty soups to grilled sausages. Everything was delicious, and I found myself resisting the urge to moan happily every time I took a bite of something.
Conversation stayed light while everyone ate. Koraf entertained us with information about the city’s founding and his own upbringing in New Horizon City.
“I always make it a priority to remember where I came from,” he said, propping an elbow on the table and resting his chin thoughtfully on his hand. He pointed out toward the western edge of the city. “New Horizon, like any city, has its pockets of unfortunate, poverty-stricken souls. Many of those citizens hail from the western rim of the island and the rural areas surrounding the city.”
“There’s no such thing as light without dark,” I commented. “Wealth and power exist only when we can compare ourselves to someone less wealthy and less powerful.”
Koraf nodded understandingly.
“A wise observation, Miss Alnasi. Though it’s not all as grim as you might think, at least not here in New Horizon. Of course, some of it is exactly as you say. The rich and powerful take advantage of a system at the expense of those less fortunate. In some areas, however, especially in the rural regions of our greater island, people prefer a simpler life. In our society, power and riches are often entangled with the technological and economical advantages the city’s status as a regional trade hub afford us.”
As he continued his story, Koraf stood and walked toward the railing to gaze, not at the ocean horizon, but toward the island’s interior region, which presumably housed much of the rural communities he mentioned.
“My family preferred the old ways of fishing and farming the land—still do, in fact,” he continued. “For someone like my father, fishing represents our rich history, how we emerged from the sea that sustained us for eons. Farming represents our ascension into a new environment and new life—the evolution of our species, the mastery of our planet and all it has become. Farming, as you might have already witnessed, is very difficult and cost prohibitive in many of the Syreni cities underwater.”
Turning back toward the table where we still sat, Koraf leaned against the railing and folded his arms. His expression was soft, as if talking about his family was a pleasant experience he always enjoyed.
“So, my father sees his connection to these old ways of commerce as almost spiritual, though that often means his family must forego the type of riches you see so commonly around New Horizon City. It is a trade off he happily accepts.”
“But you weren’t happy to accept that life?” Vomero asked, gesturing to our surroundings.
“Quite correct,” Koraf admitted with a friendly smile. “As much as I respect and admire my family’s values, I do not share them, not completely. I’ve always had a mind for political machinations and a preference for the technological prosperity of our city.”
“If they live outside of the main city, do you still consider the rural dwellers citizens of New Horizon City?” I asked.
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“Indeed, we do,” he answered. “Technically, this entire island is considered New Horizon City, despite the city proper being constructed on only a portion of its landmass. But your question is once again quite insightful. There were times in our history where this was debated.”
Koraf returned to his seat at the table, pouring himself a cup of juice as he did so.
“Some in power wanted to annex the city proper from the island itself and leave those in the rural areas without protection or representation in the larger Commonwealth. This sentiment was a hotbed issue when I was a young Malunite. It’s what drove me to enter politics so passionately, and, to be honest, my determination to keep our island united is what propelled my career to its current status.”
“Is that what you meant when you said you always try to remember where you came from?” Dick asked.
“Yes,” Koraf said, nodding. “When you’re surrounded by the best of everything, it’s easy to forget those who rely on you to make the right decisions for their own prosperity. I believe that was Queen Lethe of the Syreni’s most egregious failure for her people.”
I felt the tone of the conversation shift from fond reminiscence to the business at hand. It wasn’t an unpleasant or unwelcome change. We were all eager to conclude our dealings with the local authorities and be on our way.
“What information do you think we possess that might be of value to you?” I asked.
“Before I answer your question, Miss Alnasi,” Koraf said, “let me back up and be fully transparent with you. I know you were the last ones to see Tor, Par, and Celo alive.”
At his declaration, I felt the tension mount among my companions. If he knew that, it was possible Koraf knew quite a lot more than we had anticipated about our time in Veridi.
“You were the one who sent them on their mission,” I surmised, and Koraf nodded. He had a sadness in his expression when he talked about them.
“I consider their deaths my own political failure,” he said. “I should have known the Syreni rebels’ offer was too good to be true. Yet, I was foolish enough to believe it given the devastating actions that had just been visited upon their people by their own monarch.”
“In the short time I spent with them, it seemed like they understood their mission might be a one-way trip,” Cash said. “I don’t think they went into it as blind and trusting as you might have thought. They knew the risk and were willing to take the opportunity, anyway.”
“Thank you for that,” Koraf said. “And they will be remembered and honored among our people, though the details of exactly why might be edited somewhat.”
“You seem to know a lot of what went on with us in Syreni, or at least enough,” I observed. “So, that brings me back to my original question of what information you might be seeking from us.”
Koraf nodded, acknowledging that he had yet to get to the heart of the matter.
“I don’t know what our operatives told you about their mission, but it was not strictly to kill Queen Lethe,” Koraf said. “In fact, it was not our goal to eliminate her at all, necessarily, unless it proved vital to completing the primary objective.”
“And what was that?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
I knew why Tor’s team was sent to Veridi; they had been sent to destroy the Drowned Diadem. Even before Owen’s manipulations, Queen Lethe had been leveraging Lord Acheron against the Malunites, holding the location of Maluna’s Scepter hostage and, by default, the Malunite people, as well.
Yet, I wasn’t about to let Koraf know we had it in our possession, not if he didn’t already know. That could not only put a target on our back but also put us in the middle of political negotiations we were unprepared to handle.
“Tor’s team was tasked with either acquiring or destroying a sacred object the Syreni people have used as a weapon against the Malunites for centuries,” Koraf said, candidly. “It is called the Drowned Diadem, and it is used to control the water beast Acheron. I know you’ve heard of him. He was responsible for the destruction of Mandala.”
“We are familiar with the Diadem and its connections to Syreni royalty and Acheron,” I said. “Are you wanting to know whether or not Tor and his team accomplished their mission before they were killed.”
Koraf nodded solemnly.
“I know you were with them when they died,” he said. “The Syreni are labeling you co-conspirators with the so called Malunite infiltrators who killed Lethe. It’s a fabrication, of course, but one the people will embrace.”
“We had only delivered them to the drop-off point when we were all betrayed by whatever group was pulling the strings,” I said. Honesty when possible was always the best policy. “I do not see how your team could have accomplished their mission. I’m sorry.”
“That is a true misfortune,” Koraf said. “It would seem that our people died in vain, then.”
I shared silent looks with the members of our group. They had all taken my lead in not mentioning the Diadem. Apparently, none of us, even Ryuuk was willing to blindly put our faith in someone we just met, even though Koraf seemed to genuinely care for the welfare of his people.
“I am sorry this is not the information you were hoping for, Koraf,” I added. “What you should know, however, is that the people who betrayed us both plan to put a puppet monarch in place. Their plan all along was to use us and your team as scapegoats for their coup.”
“It’s as we speculated, then,” he said, nodding. “After Tor’s team did not report in and news of your supposed assassination of the Queen began to surface, we realized that we were used by members of the commerce guild in Syreni to supplant their monarch at our expense.”
“What will you do knowing that Tor’s team was unsuccessful?” I asked.
Koraf leaned back in his seat as he thought about his response. I was sure he didn’t want to give state secrets away to virtual strangers. Yet, he had been surprisingly forthcoming, so far.
“Securing the Diadem has been a major goal of the Commonwealth for a long time,” he said, finally. “This was not our first attempt, nor will it be our last. You may not be aware, though it is certainly no secret, that another important artifact was discovered in recent decades. An item that literally holds the Malunite society up. The Syreni use Acheron to guard it from us, to blackmail our governments into making economic and political concessions that damage our own people. We can’t afford to simply ignore that threat because of one failure, or even a dozen.”
He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Anyway, that is a matter for Malunites to worry about,” he said. “You all have been drawn too deep into these affairs as it is, to no fault of your own, I’m to understand. Of course any information on the Diadem you might have or obtain would be a welcome exchange. However, there is still the matter of your transport. I know you are all eager to get back to the lives you were pursuing before whatever mishap brought you to Kalo-Mahoi.”
His statement couldn’t have been more accurate.
“If we think of anything that might help you, we will let you know,” I said. “But you’re right, we are eager to be on our way.”
Koraf stood, and the rest of us followed suit.
“I have administrators working on travel documents for you all,” he said. “It will take a few days at least to finalize them, but you’ll find that they will be necessary for you to travel through our quadrant. My intelligence tells me you are from the Pact Worlds.”
“We are,” Dick said. “We also have another companion with us, he was not part of the situation in the warehouse, and therefore, wasn’t arrested when we were.”
“Understood,” Koraf said. “Have someone send his information to our offices, and we’ll process his documents, as well. Just for your information, there are not many long-distance star-drive ships coming and going from Kalo-Mahoi. We tend to be more regionally connected. However, there are several neighboring worlds in our system that specialize in that type of travel. I’d suggest once your documents are clear, that you secure passage to one of them. I’ll have my office send you a list of possible destinations.”
“Thank you, Koraf,” I said, offering my hand. He shook it warmly.
“Of course,” he replied, and turned to leave. “If you don’t mind, my staff will see you all out. Oh! I nearly forgot. We’re hosting a ball here tomorrow night in honor of Tor, Par, and Celo. Please feel free to attend. I’ll also have my staff send information on that over to you.”
With that he departed, and a Malunite woman appeared to lead us out of the tower. We collected our items and weapons and were soon headed back to Alchemy in a hired transport.
“Maybe we should have told him,” Ryuuk said. “He seemed like a good guy. I hate the idea of people feeling like those Malunites died for nothin’.”
He was talking about the Diadem, of course.
“For all we know, they’d use it to get revenge on the Syreni kingdom,” Vomero said. “That means we'd be handing a weapon of mass destruction to the Syreni’s enemy.”
“Those guys sucked anyway,” Cash grumbled.
“Not all of them,” I said. “Think of Perl and Merl. All of the people we met in the market and other places. Those people are Syreni, too. It’s not just Owen and his bosses. In fact, they’d probably be the ones who suffered the least. I’m sure they’ve got contingency plans.”
“That’s true,” Ryuuk said, disheartened.
“Look, as long as we have it, and nobody else has it, the Malunites get what they want, or at least what they claim they want,” Dick said. “In addition, they can’t use it to turn the tables on the Syreni and become just as bad.”
“So, we’re agreed then?” Vomero asked. “We keep quiet about the you-know-what.”
“Tor, Par, and Celo...” Cash said. “They planned to destroy it. Maybe we can help them achieve their goals and rest in peace, even if nobody else realizes it.”
“I think we might want to look into exactly what kind of repercussions that would have for both sides of this conflict before acting on a whim,” I said.
Nods of agreement circled the vehicle as we all turned to look at Vomero. He rolled his eyes.
“Oh, I guess that means me right?” he said sarcastically. “Of course everyone agrees on a plan only I can accomplish.”
“Hey, if you don't want to do it, just say so,” Cash said.
“Of course I’ll do it!” he huffed. “We can’t just go destroying an ancient relic of this planet without knowing what it will do. That would not only be irresponsible, it would be stupid.”
“Good point,” I said. “Okay, we’re in agreement with you, then, right guys? Good plan, Vomero. Let us know how it goes.”
Everyone nodded again.
“Yeah, smart thinking,” Dick added, smirking.
“Wish I’d of thought of it,” Cash said dryly.
“Very funny, morons,” Vomero added.
Ryuuk looked around with a bemused expression.
“I have no idea what’s going on.”