was a truly strong Quisling family? It was a long time ago, decades, a family so strong that they put even Kavin's soldiers to shame. The leaders of the family had even defeated It, and in that moment when Kavin should have been subjugated, the Republic struck.
The scars across Kavin's back itched, the proof of Its hubris and lack of attention. Kavin snarled and pushed the memory away; the wish to be subjugated by a Human was a dangerous thought indeed.
"What information do you have?" Kavin asked.
The Humans shrank back, eyes fluttering between Kavin and the other same-faced Choxen that flanked their leader. "Uhh," the man stammered, "we have information on an alien relic."
"And? Describe it to me."
"It is an orb the size of my fist," the man held up a clenched hand, "midnight black with a single line that splits it into two perfect halves."
"What?" Kavin rasped taking a step forward, arms outstretched to seize the man. On both sides of Kavin, guns rattled from holsters and blades slid free from their scabbards. Kavin lowered its hands. "Is that true?"
"It is, Xe," the woman said, using the formal, gender-neutral pronoun of Kavin's people.
"Have you seen it?"
"No, Xe. Only heard of it from our contacts."
"You must acquire it!" At Its sides, Kavin's hands twisted into claws.
"We will, Xe. We will need time … and aid."
Perhaps they weren't as weak as Kavin had at first thought. A weakling would do as It was commanded, not use Its information for leverage. It had a mind to capture them all, torture them for their insolence and the information they harbored. But that would only grant Kavin information , not access to the item It coveted. It could not take the risk.
Yet agreeing to their demands would make Kavin appear weak and would instigate a new series of attempts at subjugation from within the guard, Kavin already knew that the Base Commander was on the edge, but that was another matter, and one Kavin relished.
Kavin shook Its head. To acquiesce was a small thing. To find the artifact was Its duty after all, assigned by the Siloth Makers before they left the planet, and the Siloths' imperatives preceded one's own.
"Tell me what it is you wish." Kavin could see their spines stiffen, nerves hardening as they perceived that this concession somehow meant the subjugation of a Choxen Princip.
"Xe, all we ask is for safe harbor in your lands, equipment, food, and clothing for our people."
"Done. You will return the relic to me within a month. See Brixaal about your needs." Kavin turned. The meeting was over.
Kavin was close now, the relic within reach. The Choxen occupation of this planet needed only to last until the relic was within hand and then Kavin would be saved from this fallen world and the lost battle for its control. It would reach Its goal, yes; and It would sacrifice everything if need be.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The forest crept forward. It wasn't sudden — that wasn't the way of forests. Ivies meandered along the ground, probing the defenses; ferns leaned their leaves across the burn-line. They were the forward scouts of the forest, the plants that grew and spread before the trees could take root. They met no resistance; there were no longer any inhabitants to beat back the advance.
The signs of Humanity were clear and unmistakable. Low plasteel buildings placed end-on-end formed the perimeter. Logs, sharpened on the upward end, comprised the gate. Clothing hung limp and forgotten on drying lines. Simple tools lay abandoned in the gardens, the cultivated plants indistinguishable from weeds.
It had only been a week since the civilians here were taken.
And they had been taken. It was too easy of a target to survive. Corwin knew this because he'd raided encampments like this before. The settlement had been doomed from the start. It was the layout; the denizens had relied upon the front gate for protection. They'd never conceived that someone could gain access by climbing up and over the buildings that
The scars across Kavin's back itched, the proof of Its hubris and lack of attention. Kavin snarled and pushed the memory away; the wish to be subjugated by a Human was a dangerous thought indeed.
"What information do you have?" Kavin asked.
The Humans shrank back, eyes fluttering between Kavin and the other same-faced Choxen that flanked their leader. "Uhh," the man stammered, "we have information on an alien relic."
"And? Describe it to me."
"It is an orb the size of my fist," the man held up a clenched hand, "midnight black with a single line that splits it into two perfect halves."
"What?" Kavin rasped taking a step forward, arms outstretched to seize the man. On both sides of Kavin, guns rattled from holsters and blades slid free from their scabbards. Kavin lowered its hands. "Is that true?"
"It is, Xe," the woman said, using the formal, gender-neutral pronoun of Kavin's people.
"Have you seen it?"
"No, Xe. Only heard of it from our contacts."
"You must acquire it!" At Its sides, Kavin's hands twisted into claws.
"We will, Xe. We will need time … and aid."
Perhaps they weren't as weak as Kavin had at first thought. A weakling would do as It was commanded, not use Its information for leverage. It had a mind to capture them all, torture them for their insolence and the information they harbored. But that would only grant Kavin information , not access to the item It coveted. It could not take the risk.
Yet agreeing to their demands would make Kavin appear weak and would instigate a new series of attempts at subjugation from within the guard, Kavin already knew that the Base Commander was on the edge, but that was another matter, and one Kavin relished.
Kavin shook Its head. To acquiesce was a small thing. To find the artifact was Its duty after all, assigned by the Siloth Makers before they left the planet, and the Siloths' imperatives preceded one's own.
"Tell me what it is you wish." Kavin could see their spines stiffen, nerves hardening as they perceived that this concession somehow meant the subjugation of a Choxen Princip.
"Xe, all we ask is for safe harbor in your lands, equipment, food, and clothing for our people."
"Done. You will return the relic to me within a month. See Brixaal about your needs." Kavin turned. The meeting was over.
Kavin was close now, the relic within reach. The Choxen occupation of this planet needed only to last until the relic was within hand and then Kavin would be saved from this fallen world and the lost battle for its control. It would reach Its goal, yes; and It would sacrifice everything if need be.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The forest crept forward. It wasn't sudden — that wasn't the way of forests. Ivies meandered along the ground, probing the defenses; ferns leaned their leaves across the burn-line. They were the forward scouts of the forest, the plants that grew and spread before the trees could take root. They met no resistance; there were no longer any inhabitants to beat back the advance.
The signs of Humanity were clear and unmistakable. Low plasteel buildings placed end-on-end formed the perimeter. Logs, sharpened on the upward end, comprised the gate. Clothing hung limp and forgotten on drying lines. Simple tools lay abandoned in the gardens, the cultivated plants indistinguishable from weeds.
It had only been a week since the civilians here were taken.
And they had been taken. It was too easy of a target to survive. Corwin knew this because he'd raided encampments like this before. The settlement had been doomed from the start. It was the layout; the denizens had relied upon the front gate for protection. They'd never conceived that someone could gain access by climbing up and over the buildings that
Similar Books
