“Acknowledged, Giniiri aac Nenn Maed.”
Nenn huffed.Task done.
A boom jerked him to a halt.He hovered, gawking at the burning Senate platform tumbling to the city below.He charged forward, not sure what he could do.When he neared, he spotted Drafe diving over the side, chasing a falling Ivoyan—his blue uniform that of a servant.
A glance at the Senate confirmed it was beyond salvation; debris dripped down like globules of lava.Already, salvage ships caught chunks of metal and stone before it hit the forests and rivers below.Nenn’s mind reeled.How had this happened?Who would dare?He didn’t know of any enemies.Nor could he fathom how’d they’d breach the shield around the planet of Ivoy.
Many Qaldreths blasted in, answering Drafe’s calls for aid.
They surrounded him when he landed on a sec-ship, the uz in hand.Questions bombarded Nenn through the nodules, louder when he, too, approached the crowd.Another med-tech or maed attended to Drafe, so Nenn sought the uz vomiting over the holographic guardrail.
“Do you require healing?”he asked the Ivoyan.
He straightened, his black eyes wide, but the tint of orange on his cheeks had faded to a peach.“I am well, Maed,” he said.“If not a little shaken.”He glanced at the gathered Qaldreth.“Though why the protector saved me, I cannot say.”
Nenn activated his wrist and scanned the uz anyway.Drafe must have rescued him for a reason.And Nenn had no doubts the Q.C.C.would want to question them both.
One by one, the Qaldreth commanders or udaps landed, barging through those gathered around Drafe.Too many voices bombarded Nenn, so he switched off his nodule, unable to bear the onslaught.Only when a sava or security officer collected the uz did he glance at the platform.
The crowd of warriors dwindled.
“We are to convene in the council chambers,” someone said when he reactivated his nodule.
He grimaced, expecting the next hour or so to be most unpleasant.The Qaldreths flying toward the chamber looked like a swarm of tiaez, their feet ablaze.He landed on the platform and strode into the dark passage where images depicting tribes and their homes were carved into the stone walls.Qaldreths of every color filed onto the staggered steps, all gazing at the curved dais where seven udaps sat.Under the circumstances, scowls marred every face in attendance.
Nenn unmasked from the waist up, baring his skin.Bright beams poured from the yellow, stained-glass lights up high, mimicking the suns on Qaldreth.All yearned for real sunlight and warmth—no one more than a Giniiri.Nenn’s symbiotes reacted with eagerness as if he would return home soon.
“Meorri aac Drafe Arrak, you have been brought before the council in the direst of circumstances.”Meorri aac Kish Udap paused, his face contorting in disgust.“By the grace of Ivoy and Osnir, you were welcomed as a karu, to train under those whoearnedtheir place to be protectors.”Kish Udap scanned the room, his lips curling further.
Nenn could only imagine what ran through the udaps’ minds.The planet was in chaos, losing a significant number of Ivoyan ots.With so many dead, the zi would be called to duty from their travels.As far as Nenn knew, all the ruling ots had been in the senate.With the younger ots still in training, the zis would have to rule.
And the Qaldreths would be blamed for having failed to foresee this.
Nenn studied Drafe who stood tall.Exile would be known to all generations of symbiotes.His family would never live down the shame.
“Worse, instead of rushing to savetheLuharp Vadril Ot or any high-ranking ot, you rescued Vizen Aehort Uz…a servant.”Grumbles rippled through the council and the witnesses behind him.“What say you, Drafe Arrak?”
Drafe opened his mouth to speak.
“Giniiri aac Nenn Maed claims your language implant failed, explaining your presence outside the Senate.”Borven aac Eran Udap gestured to Nenn to come forward.
Nenn jerked back, then hurried over the steps, not wanting the council to think he delayed out of doubt.
Drafe bowed his head to acknowledge Nenn.
Nenn stood beside him and met the udaps’ gazes.He raised his chin so his voice would be clear.“It is defective, Great Council.I attached a temp-device until his can be replaced.”
“Happenstance led you to abandon your ot?”Zuphayr aac Srim Udap hummed, his white hair draping over his temple.With the air tribe’s crisp blue eyes so reminiscent of Qaldreth’s sky, he peered at Drafe.
Nenn kept his shoulders stiff even though their focus wasn’t on him.Slumping would draw attention and raise suspicion.
“I rescued the only witness, Great Council, and yes, my implant did malfunction, causing Luharp Vadril Ot to suffer alongside me.Unable to bear the shared pain, he instructed me to seek medical attention.”Drafe inhaled, his nostrils flaring.“I ensured he was well-guarded, tasking Meorri aac Saha Karu to protect him.Under the circumstances, twenty-two arraks, twenty-three karu, and a dozen sava were sufficient protection against a corpse.”
The council nodded.
“You are wise to mention the protectors, the trainees, and the additional security, Drafe Arrak.Had I been in your situation, I would have acted the same,” Kish Udap said.
Nenn smothered a wince.Any udap complimenting a warrior was not to be trusted.Not that it smacked of evil intent, but praise was rarely given.
