must understand our frustration. So many people in our cell have spent time with the rats in the bowels of the Emperor’s palace. Their parents and grandparents served with The Source himself, and then He abandoned them. Now we’re presented with the reincarnation of His son, said to be our savior, and it’s difficult to believe, especially for those of us who are young. Our duties end when you leave the planet, and we wonder if you’ll abandon us like your father did.”
Trae didn’t know what to say, and pressed against Petyr, who remained mute but seemed to be listening seriously to the two men.
Evan’s face flushed. “We’ve been loyal for over a generation, but our waiting will end soon. The Lyraen underground, even in the caverns, is riddled with spies. Our own people are defecting every week. In a few years we’ll be helpless, but our cell and many others will not wait for that. We’ll bring terror to the streets, and to the Emperor’s palace, even his family, knowing full well that without the help your father promised us we’ll all die, and the Lyraen way will be gone forever.”
“What do you want him to say?” asked Petyr. “The boy is as ignorant of what will happen beyond today as I am.”
“Then how can he help us? By finding his father? I don’t think we’re being unreasonable when we ask for some assurance our fight can succeed and that The Immortals will keep an old promise to us.”
“I will not forget you,” said Trae. “I just can’t tell you if I’ll find my father again, or have any contact with The Immortals. The treatments I’ve been getting are supposed to help me do whatever it is I’m supposed to do. Finding you might have been the first thing. We were nearly killed, and suddenly I knew your face and how to contact you, and here we are. I wish I could tell you more.” Trae looked at Petyr for assurance, but the man was glaring stonily at Evan, and the man glared back at him.
“It has been nearly two generations,” said Evan.
“And I can tell you nothing will happen until we’ve escaped from Gan,” returned Petyr.
Evan nodded curtly, but then Darian leaned forward and said, “You’ll be in space by this evening. We don’t know your final destination, or how to contact you. How will you tell us what you’ve found, and if we can count on off-world support to fight the Emperor?”
“I don’t know,” said Petyr, and Trae shook his head.
Now Evan leaned forward, his face an angry mask. “Two years is what you have, and likely less than that. We’ve tolerated the Emperor’s spies and our own defectors beyond reason. Expulsions from our ranks will cease. The killings will begin within the month, and our enemy is sure to retaliate in kind. There will be war in the streets, with or without your help. Tell this to your father, or any other Immortals you meet. The Lyraens on Gan will live free, or they will all die.”
Darian, the man with the gentle eyes, nodded somberly in agreement with Evan.
“We understand,” said Petyr, and his body became rigid as stone.
They were taken to a small lounge apparently reserved for them in the outer ring of the complex and only a few steps from their departure tunnel. There were plush, leather chairs and lounges, and a bar with bottled water and juices. “Your luggage has been checked in for you,” said Evan, and handed them their pass cards.
“We have no luggage. It was destroyed in the car,” said Petyr.
Evan only blinked. “There are four suitcases, black, two for each of you. Each has a short strip of yellow tape on one end. Be sure to pick them up on Ariel right away. Use your diplomatic papers to bypass any search. This is important.”
“We presume someone will contact you there about your final destination,” said Darian. “You have our number. We don’t expect you to tell us where you’re going, but you should contact us when you have information we need to know.”
“Yes,” said Petyr.
Trae didn’t know what to say, and pressed against Petyr, who remained mute but seemed to be listening seriously to the two men.
Evan’s face flushed. “We’ve been loyal for over a generation, but our waiting will end soon. The Lyraen underground, even in the caverns, is riddled with spies. Our own people are defecting every week. In a few years we’ll be helpless, but our cell and many others will not wait for that. We’ll bring terror to the streets, and to the Emperor’s palace, even his family, knowing full well that without the help your father promised us we’ll all die, and the Lyraen way will be gone forever.”
“What do you want him to say?” asked Petyr. “The boy is as ignorant of what will happen beyond today as I am.”
“Then how can he help us? By finding his father? I don’t think we’re being unreasonable when we ask for some assurance our fight can succeed and that The Immortals will keep an old promise to us.”
“I will not forget you,” said Trae. “I just can’t tell you if I’ll find my father again, or have any contact with The Immortals. The treatments I’ve been getting are supposed to help me do whatever it is I’m supposed to do. Finding you might have been the first thing. We were nearly killed, and suddenly I knew your face and how to contact you, and here we are. I wish I could tell you more.” Trae looked at Petyr for assurance, but the man was glaring stonily at Evan, and the man glared back at him.
“It has been nearly two generations,” said Evan.
“And I can tell you nothing will happen until we’ve escaped from Gan,” returned Petyr.
Evan nodded curtly, but then Darian leaned forward and said, “You’ll be in space by this evening. We don’t know your final destination, or how to contact you. How will you tell us what you’ve found, and if we can count on off-world support to fight the Emperor?”
“I don’t know,” said Petyr, and Trae shook his head.
Now Evan leaned forward, his face an angry mask. “Two years is what you have, and likely less than that. We’ve tolerated the Emperor’s spies and our own defectors beyond reason. Expulsions from our ranks will cease. The killings will begin within the month, and our enemy is sure to retaliate in kind. There will be war in the streets, with or without your help. Tell this to your father, or any other Immortals you meet. The Lyraens on Gan will live free, or they will all die.”
Darian, the man with the gentle eyes, nodded somberly in agreement with Evan.
“We understand,” said Petyr, and his body became rigid as stone.
They were taken to a small lounge apparently reserved for them in the outer ring of the complex and only a few steps from their departure tunnel. There were plush, leather chairs and lounges, and a bar with bottled water and juices. “Your luggage has been checked in for you,” said Evan, and handed them their pass cards.
“We have no luggage. It was destroyed in the car,” said Petyr.
Evan only blinked. “There are four suitcases, black, two for each of you. Each has a short strip of yellow tape on one end. Be sure to pick them up on Ariel right away. Use your diplomatic papers to bypass any search. This is important.”
“We presume someone will contact you there about your final destination,” said Darian. “You have our number. We don’t expect you to tell us where you’re going, but you should contact us when you have information we need to know.”
“Yes,” said Petyr.
Similar Books
