Pawns

Acknowledgments

Book One of the Wielders of Arantha series is my fourth novel, and it seems the list of people I have to thank with each successive book just gets longer and longer. But that's okay, because I really like thanking people.

First, to my extraordinary family, who have supported my every literary endeavor, thank you for your endless wellspring of support. Without you, I would not be realizing my dream of being a published writer, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

To my army of beta-readers, many of whom are my colleagues at Young Adult Author Rendezvous, the best collection of YA authors anywhere, it's because of you that this book is as good as it is. Your feedback was beyond valuable. It was invaluable. I thank my stars every day that I have such an incredible resource to mine whenever I need creative input.

And I cannot forget my cohorts at the Central Phoenix Writers Group, who once a week took an excerpt from my story and told me just what the hell was wrong with it – which, in the beginning, was a lot – and without your myriad of opinions, skill, and verbal dexterity, Wielders would be a far less enticing product than it is now. I'd list you all by name, but there are too many, and the more special of you already know who you are.

Lastly, thanks to you, the reader. Though my first books dealt with the perils of childhood and middle school, my first love as a youth was always science fiction and fantasy, and being able to dip my toe in the waters of this genre is a dream come true for me. I hope that you find my efforts worthy of praise. I promise, there will be more than a few twists and turns before you're done.

Prologue

T he old woman lay on her bed, motionless, staring up at the ceiling of the only home she'd ever known. She was born in this room. She would die there too.

She'd laid her withered hands upon the Stone one last time the day before, feeling the surge of warm, familiar energy as it coursed through her frail body. Her mind beheld an array of familiar images: the past, present and future of her people, a history she helped shape. As the feeling of unity with Arantha began to subside, she felt suffused with a tremendous sense of inner peace. Her work finished, she would soon be welcomed into Arantha's waiting arms.

For her people, the road ahead would be difficult. Their isolated way of life, the path Arantha put them on centuries ago, would end. The chain of events she'd set in motion with her final order would see to that. And it would be up to her daughter Kelia, as her successor, to discover a new path for them. New enemies would arise, as would new allies. She saw them all, time and time again, in her mind's eye: the dark twins, the northern mage, the painted woman from the Above.

One last, lingering doubt crept through the old woman's mind. She'd prepared Kelia for her role as Protectress her entire life, and though Kelia didn't possess her mother's level of foresight, her elemental abilities were unequaled. She was a strong leader, well-respected, and wise beyond her years. But would it be enough?

It has to be, she thought with a regretful sigh. To fail would mean oblivion for my people, and for all of Elystra.

Her vision darkened, a curtain of blackness that stole her sight one inch at a time. Her breath became ragged, and she felt her heart beat for the final time.

As her spirit left her body, her final thought was a silent prayer:

Arantha, watch over them.

Chapter One

R ichard's dead.

Maeve blinked back tears as the Talon powered through Earth's atmosphere. They'd evaded the Jegg's ground-based weapons, but that was merely the first line of defense.

Once they hit open space, their problems increased exponentially. She didn't have to look at the sensors to confirm the Jegg ships were following them. The Talon was the first Earth ship to be airborne in five years. Even though the hull was black and silver, it may as well have been pink and yellow with a huge bull's-eye painted on it.

For eighteen months, they'd planned this mission. With the help of his contacts in the Underground, Richard not only restored a junked Space Corps cargo ship but somehow combined a Jegg quantigraphic rift drive with a Terran supralight engine. Two completely different technologies, and he miraculously got them to speak the same language. This brilliant engineer, the man she fell in love and had a son with, was the key factor in the Underground's last-ditch effort to find a way to escape the alien conquerors who had subjugated the human race.

They'd celebrated last night, the ten of them: Maeve, Richard, their fourteen-year-old son Davin, Richard's protégé Gaspar, and the entire team that toiled in utmost secrecy to get this bucket off the ground. The mood was ebullient, as it seemed their mission would finally commence.

Mission! Maeve snorted as the ship burst through the stratosphere and out into open space. A Hail Mary is what it is. We're hanging our last hope on the word of a shimmering alien being and praying there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Brushing strands of her purple, shoulder-length hair away from her face, she cast a sidelong glance at the copilot's chair. Seeing its emptiness, a tear escaped her violet eyes.

Richard's dead.

My husband is dead.

So are Manny, Kacy, Calvin, Ji-Yan, Suri, and Mahesh.

She chided herself. Now was not the time for these thoughts. They threw her adrenaline rush out of whack and disrupted the concentration she badly needed right now. There were still three lives to save, including her own. Fighting down her emotions, she called upon the piloting skills she spent fifteen years in the Space Corps sharpening.

Jegg fighters were nearly impossible to detect unless they were right in front of you, one of the reasons the Terran Defense Forces had been so helpless against them. Gaspar increased the sensors' capabilities just enough for them to know fighters were in pursuit. Judging from the number of explosions detonating near the ship, causing it to rock back and forth like a kayak on white-water rapids, there had to be at least three of them.

Regaining her focus, Maeve banked sharply to the right and fired the sublight thrusters, making a beeline for the Asteroid Belt. Once they cleared that, and the Jegg dampening field that effectively rendered supralight technology inoperable, they could engage their makeshift QRD and be out of the Terran system in the blink of an eye.

The pursuing Jegg fighters increased their speed. They were gaining.

Maeve flipped a switch on her panel. Gaspar! she shouted. I don't think they're gonna let us go without a fight!

Oh, ya think? came a frazzled voice from the other end of the intercom.

Any ideas? Maeve asked. She pushed the steering column forward a few inches, and the Talon increased its speed. The vibrations intensified, as if the ship was about to fly apart at the seams.

Hold on a sec, Gaspar said, pausing briefly. I've got four canisters of D34Z ready to jettison. Let me know when to detonate. Maybe we can take a few of 'em out.

She checked the sensors, which indicated five Jegg fighters in hot pursuit. Stand by!

The Belt loomed in front of them, millions of rocks that had floated in space between Mars and Jupiter for eons. A few more seconds, and they could lose themselves within it. Or die a fiery death.

Davin burst through the cockpit door, threw himself into the copilot's chair, and fastened his safety belt. Anytime you want to get us out of here, Mom … Sweat and grime caked his freckled face and curly red hair, but his eyes shone with fierce determination.

She returned her gaze to the viewport, gripping her controls even tighter. Don't start, kiddo, we're in some deep-level shite here. Where've you been?

Helping Gaspar load the canisters into the airlock. Let's blow this pop stand and go, okay?

Roger that, she said as another explosion rocked the ship. Into the intercom, she yelled, G! Eject the first three canisters … now!

The sound of a metal hatch clanging open echoed through the ship, followed by a whoosh of compressed air as three large, yellow containers shot from the airlock, one after the other. She followed their trajectories on the scanner, watching as the Jegg fighters pressed in.

Detonate on my mark!

Seconds ticked off as the enemy ships drew ever closer.

Mark!

A huge explosion violently rocked the Talon again. A control panel behind Davin sparked and began to smoke. He unhooked himself, leaped out of the chair, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and sprayed the panel with fire-suppressing foam.

Maeve checked her scanner again. Where before there were five faint blips following them, there were now only three, and one was falling behind, obviously crippled.

She allowed herself a smile. Three down! Well done, G!

Major? came Gaspar's voice, laced with desperation. We have a big problem!

What now?

The quantigraphic rift drive is offline! That last explosion blew the containment field!

Oh, shite. Not good. Can you restore it?

Assuming the manifold stabilizer isn't fried, yes.

Maeve gulped. Be careful, G.

You got it. Give me two minutes.

No promises. Maeve executed a barrel-roll, evading the maelstrom of rocks that seemed to fill nearly every square inch of the window. The two remaining Jegg fighters were still right behind them, firing in a continuous barrage.

Just then, a crazy idea came to her. Dav, is that fourth canister ready to go?

Davin, back in his chair, checked the panel in front of him. Locked and loaded.

Perfect! She pulled back on the controls, banking upward and narrowly missing a huge, jagged asteroid. It was impossible, but Maeve swore she felt the wind of it going by.

One of the pursuing fighters wasn't so lucky. It tried to veer off at the last second, but it was too late. The asteroid clipped its starboard thruster, and it spun out of control until it crashed in a fiery conflagration on another enormous rock.

One more down! yelled Davin.

The last remaining fighter bore down on them, firing salvo after salvo. The Talon rocked again, and sparks poured from another control panel.

Maeve activated the intercom again. G, we gotta go! Is the containment field back up?

Yeah! came Gaspar's voice. Thirty seconds to power up the jump!

Okay, here's what's gonna happen, Maeve instructed, banking hard left again. We eject the final canister, and detonate it at point-blank range just as we make the jump.

Are you crazy? Gaspar sounded frantic. The hull's already been weakened! You detonate that close, it'll tear right through us!

Maeve sighed. The Jegg's long-range scanners will think we were destroyed. It's our only hope right now.

Major –

"No time, G! Prepare to eject! Twenty-second countdown till jump, mark! Get yourself to safety!"

On my way, he said, and the intercom cut off.

Maeve and Davin both held their breath.

The Talon twirled around another flying asteroid. They'd cleared the Belt.

Eject!

Another clang, followed by another whoosh.

Maeve's thumb hovered over a button that read 'QRD – Engage'.

Detonate! she shouted.

The screen displaying the ship's rear sensor array flashed fiery orange and red.

Half a second later, Maeve pressed the button. Mark! Hang on, Dav!

A whir of built-up energy filled their ears as the quantigraphic rift drive powered up. The control panel on Maeve's left erupted in a shower of sparks, and she felt an intense burning sensation on her arm.

Her mouth opened in a silent scream as an energy field enveloped the Talon.

Chapter Two

T he midday sun hung high in the cerulean Elystran sky, and the view was magnificent. Kelia shrugged her kova-leather satchel off her shoulder and took a long, quenching sip from her water-skin. She'd worked up quite a thirst during the hour-long walk from her village to this spot. She stood upon a prominent outcropping of rock, overlooking the vast Praskian Desert that stretched out between the Ixtrayan Plateau and the distant Kaberian Mountains. Over her thirty-six years, she'd visited this spot many times, but never with such a profound sense of purpose as today.

This outcropping marked the western edge of the Ixtrayu's territory, which ran from Lake Barix in the southern range of the Kaberian Mountains through the large expanse of forest north of the Plateau the Ixtrayu called home. Not for the first time, Kelia smiled at the irony that this part of Elystra belonged to a tribe of women, and not a single one of the distant kingdoms, ruled for millennia by men, even knew of their existence.

Arantha has been good to us, she thought. Eight centuries, she's kept us safe and hidden.

She took a deep breath of the warm, dry air and sat down in the shade of a large huxa tree that grew a few yards from the edge of the overlook. Its trunk was thick and its bark hardened to withstand the desert climate, but it seemed to welcome her presence like an old friend. She absently moved a tress of her long, dark brown hair over her left shoulder, where it hung past her breasts. She took a moment to admire the intricate braid her aunt, Liana, had woven for her, and how beautifully it complemented her loose-fitting reddish-brown robe.

Her hand then moved to the lump of lustrous brown metal that hung from the loose leather string around her neck. The necklace had been crafted by her daughter Nyla when she was only six years old. It consisted of six wooden beads strung together, three on either side of the tiny piece of metal that hung between it. Touching its smooth surface brought forth memories of her mother, as it had been Onara's final gift to her before her death.

Even though her powers of divination paled in comparison to those of Onara, she was still able to discern much from the images that flashed through her mind during her most recent consultation. Since assuming the mantle of Protectress, she'd hoped each consultation would reveal the reason Onara had decreed a halt to the Sojourns; but every time, Arantha chose to keep that knowledge to herself. Since her mother's death, not a single Sojourn had been taken, and therefore, not a single daughter had been born to the Ixtrayu. Kelia's people pleaded with her, wanting answers she couldn't provide.

For the last thirteen years, her visions had been unremarkable—frustratingly so. That morning, however, Arantha finally showed her something new.

She saw, clear as the waters of the River Ix, an image in her mind of this exact spot. She felt the image pull at her, as if her very essence was being drawn here. She knew there was something of grave importance that Arantha wanted her to see. Liana packed a satchel with provisions for Kelia, who set off from the village within two hours of having her vision. The Council suggested she not travel unaccompanied, but Kelia insisted she go alone. What Arantha had in store for her was for her eyes and no one else's.

She opened her satchel and surveyed its contents: several pieces of riverfruit, a few strips of dried kova meat, a loaf of holm-grain bread, and two extra skins of water. Liana had even included several sachets of jingal-root tea and a small metal kettle for steeping. As an Elemental Wielder, she didn't need a fire to get water to boil; she could not only manipulate water's physical form but also its temperature. She knew she would need the tea to help her stay awake and alert, since she had no idea how long Arantha would require her to keep watch.

Kelia nestled back against the trunk of the tree. Her dark brown eyes scanned the barren wasteland that lay spread out before her, searching for anything out of the ordinary. She felt a faint tingle of excitement as she wondered what Arantha had brought her there to behold.

Chapter Three

E lzor watched the riders approach at a full gallop: five men, dressed in fine, high-quality armor. The merychs they rode were well-bred and strong, with long, flowing manes; suitable mounts for those who commanded the Agrusian army.

He cast a quick glance to his right. As always, Elzaria stood at his side. Like him, his twin sister was tall, with black hair and dark eyes that blazed with as much determination as his own. She, unlike Elzor or the six hundred soldiers that followed him, wore no armor. She wore a tight, emerald-green tunic, cinched at the waist by a thick leather belt, which hugged her slim frame. She was never shy about showing cleavage: it turned the heads of men who would invariably underestimate her.

Elzor heard the crackle of energy pass through her body as her power began to manifest, making the face beneath his short, dark beard itch, and a cold smile formed on his face. She'd come so far from the submissive, broken girl she once was.

Were he one of the many gullible fools who worshipped Arantha, he might have reasoned that finding the Stone was their destiny. Without it, he and his sister would have just been two more faceless orphans to work themselves to death in the mines of Barju.

On occasion, Elzor cursed the fates for choosing to bestow so much raw power upon his sister and not himself. Her capricious personality, coupled with her deep-seated rage, made her abilities difficult to keep secret. She spent years learning how to focus her mind, until such time as Elzor could gather enough followers to seize power for themselves.

He'd been patient, cunning and industrious. His masterplan was about to come to fruition. The power Elzaria channeled made her the most powerful weapon on Elystra.

It was now time to unleash that weapon.

As the riders drew nearer, Elzor scanned his surroundings. The road upon which they traveled, the main thoroughfare between Agrus and their former homeland of Barju, was wide and flat and accommodated most of his army, whom he'd dubbed the Elzorath. Six hundred men stood in impassive silence as the riders approached. Every man had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

This particular stretch of road curved through a thick forest of deciduous nipa trees. Most of the buildings in Agrus were made from this sturdy wood, the largest exception being the Castle Tynal. The centuries-old castle was the seat of power for Agrus's rulers, and by day's end, it would belong to him.

With a chorus of merychs' whinnies and the clip-clop of their hooves, the riders slowed to a halt. Elzor waited for them to dismount, but they did not.

He stared up at their leader, whose high-quality machinite armor bore the Agrusian emblem of two crossed swords. The commander's long, fair hair spilled down from his head, his jaw as square as his shoulders were broad. Elzor waited for the man to speak, but received only a contemptuous glower.

Another useless tactic. One would think that marching an invading army, in broad daylight, straight to his country's borders, would convince him that I'm immune to intimidation. What an arrogant braga.

Shall I destroy them? Elzaria whispered.

Not yet, dear sister. Patience.

She did not object. She merely cracked her knuckles in anticipation.

Finally, the commander spoke in a deep, booming voice. When my scouts informed me earlier this morning that an army bearing no country's standard approached our borders, I was certain it was a mistake. Now that I have laid eyes upon this gross violation of our boundaries, I can see I was correct: this godless rabble has no business calling itself an army.

Elzaria's lips curled into a snarl, the quietest of hisses escaping her lips. Elzor put a steadying hand on her arm as his eyes turned back to the Agrusian commander. Bold words indeed, he said, for a man whose death is but one gesture away. He raised his hand, and the front line of soldiers edged their swords several inches out of their scabbards.

The man's face hardened at the threat. I am Nebri, High Commander of the Agrusian army. I have fought, and defeated, far more worthy foes than you, Elzor of Barju.

Elzor's face broke into a humorless grin. I see my reputation precedes me.

Nebri gave him a dismissive smirk. And what a reputation it is: a deserter, a coward, a captain who slaughtered his commanding officers and fled Barju like a whipped tigla.

Right behind and to his left, Elzor heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. He turned to see a bald, bearded, barrel-chested man glaring at Nebri while taking several lumbering steps forward. Elzor held his hand up, halting the man's forward progress. Stay your hand, Langon, he said firmly.

Langon stopped at the order and stood at Elzor's side. Yes, my liege.

The big man's words elicited a peal of mocking laughter from the commander. "'My liege'? Great Arantha, you are an arrogant fool, aren't you?"

Elzor's eyebrows knitted together. Taunt me at your peril, Agrusian, he shot back.

"You are a fool, Elzor. No other description fits the folly of your presence here."

And what folly might that be?

Nebri gestured back in the direction from which he'd come. At the end of this road, the entire Agrusian army is assembled. We are better trained, better armed, and outnumber your filthy gang of heathens five to one.

He raised his voice, addressing the Elzorath. You men! If you turn back now, King Morix gives his word that you will not be pursued. But if you dare engage us in battle, I can assure you, no quarter will be given. You will die in ignominy, your lives cast asunder by the whim of a fool.

A few of the assembled soldiers looked at each other while others shuffled their feet in momentary indecision. But none spoke, and none made a move to depart.

As you can see, Elzor said with a smug grin, my men are loyal to me. No quarter would be asked for.

Nebri scoffed. "Then they are as foolish as you. What self-respecting soldier would follow a leader who would bring a woman, he turned his glance toward Elzaria, into battle with him? Who is she, Elzor? Your own personal whore?"

The surge of power that resonated from within Elzaria increased as her seething, silent anger turned into white-hot hatred. A blue corona of energy appeared around her body, crackling and sparking as the power of the Stone coursed through her.

The Agrusians saw it too. They sat in slack-jawed silence for a few moments before pulling back on the reins of their whinnying merychs.

Before the riders could retreat, Elzor and Elzaria locked eyes. Elzor returned his sister's pleading look with a whispered, Leave two of them alive.

She nodded and smiled, strutting forward. She raised her arms, holding her palms outward. Addressing Nebri, she spat, I am Elzaria, and I am your death!

Intense blue energy shot from her hands. It diverged and formed branches like a bolt of lightning, striking Nebri and two other riders in the chest. Frozen in place, their bodies shuddered and twitched as their blood boiled from within. The three men let out a collective unholy scream that Elzor hoped could be heard by the rest of the Agrusian army. Wisps of smoke curled upward from their leather armor as their skin charred and split.

The other two riders, unable to help their comrades, turned their merychs away and spurred them back the way they came, riding like the wind.

After one final blast of energy, Elzaria pulled her hands back and studied her palms. She watched as the blue light flared and vanished, leaving not even the slightest mark or burn upon the skin of her hands. Her work done, she stepped back and returned to her brother's side.

In unison, the three riders toppled from their mounts and crashed to the ground. The merychs, though terrified, had not been touched, and would probably have bolted if three Elzorath hadn't come forward to grab their reins.

Elzor nodded, admiring his sister's precision. He glanced up, his eyes locked on the two surviving riders, who were already a hundred yards away and would soon disappear around the bend in the road.

Langon spoke up. The archers you had me deploy behind the tree-line are in position, my liege. Shall I give the order to fire?

Elzor shook his head. No, Langon. Let them go.

The big man looked incredulous, but Elzor ignored him. He stepped forward and took the reins from one soldier before placing his foot in the stirrup of Nebri's merych and hauling his body into the saddle. Elzaria and Langon climbed onto the other two.

Elzor turned to face Elzaria. I have a task for you. Have you the stamina?

Of course.

Then ride with all speed to the road that runs parallel to the Saber River. When those two fools report what happened here, Morix will send messengers to his allies in the east, calling for aid. You must intercept them before they reach the northern forest.

Consider it done, my liege, she said.

When you have completed your task, join us on the plains northeast of Talcris. Kill any who stand in your way.

Elzaria bowed her head, and immediately kicked her merych into action. The legion of soldiers parted as she rode through their ranks.

Elzor watched her go. Two miles away, this road intersected another that bore due west. Elzaria would then follow the tree line until she reached the Saber River. He had no doubt she would succeed in her task, and even less doubt that the Agrusian army knew what lay in store for them.

On his other side, Langon gave a deep, throaty chuckle as he shifted his massive bulk on top of his equally thick-muscled steed. I've always wanted to ride a merych into battle.

Elzor chuckled as well. Today is the day, my friend.

Langon raised his meaty arm, and a hush grew over the assembled army as they awaited the order. A faint smile played on his lips as he bellowed, Elzorath, move out!

As one, Elzor's army began their inexorable march across the Agrusian border, on the heels of their leaders who urged their merychs into a slow canter.

Elzor smiled again. His men were capable fighters, and were more than adequately prepared for battle.

Victory was theirs for the taking … after Elzaria had her fun.

Today, two legends would be born.

Chapter Four

S hite! Maeve waved her soldering gun at the control panel. After five hours, the Talon still refused to budge. As she looked out the viewport, her eyes locked onto a bluish-green orb that hung, tantalizingly close, only seven light-minutes away: Castelan VI.

We can't fail now. Not when we're so close.

She took a few deep breaths and wiped the sweat from her brow. She was about to make another attempt when she heard a voice behind her.

Mom?

Maeve turned around to see Davin, his curly vermillion hair matted and unkempt, poking his head through the cockpit door.

What is it, Dav? she asked, shoving her frustration aside for the moment.

He crossed the threshold, cradling a small bowl in his hands. I brought you some soup. You haven't eaten in over eight hours.

She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear, let out a sigh, and put down the soldering gun before taking the bowl from her son. What kind of soup?

A bemused smirk appeared on his face as she lifted the spoon to her mouth. The label just said 'soup mix', but I'm guessing tomato. I gotta warn you, though –

Maeve took a slurp of the watery liquid and gagged. In an effort to keep the soup in her stomach where it belonged, she threw her head back and bellowed, Saints alive!

… it tastes like shite, Davin finished.

Where'd you get this from, the reclamation tank?

He grinned. No, you're thinking of breakfast.

Maeve made a face, abandoned the spoon, and took another hearty gulp directly from the bowl. Yikes, that's bad.

Davin pulled a canteen from his belt and handed it to her. Here, you may want to wash it down with this.

She grinned. Whiskey?

He rolled his eyes. Water.

Pass. Haven't had a chance to fix the purifiers yet. The water tastes worse than this soup.

Not any more. I fixed 'em. He shook the canteen in his hand, quirking an eyebrow.

She looked at her son with pride as she took the canteen and unscrewed the cap. How'd you find the parts?

Um … A guilty look crossed his face, as if he'd just been caught sneaking back in to the house after curfew.

You know what? Forget I asked. I'm sure I don't wanna know. She took a swig from the canteen, letting the surprisingly refreshing water slide down her parched throat. Whoa. That's the cleanest water I've tasted in months. Great job, Dav.

Thanks. He took the empty bowl from her and placed it on the copilot's chair. How's your arm?

Maeve looked down at the field dressing on the upper part of her left arm, which Davin had applied a few minutes after confirming they'd successfully escaped from the Terran system. They hadn't been followed, so she deduced the Jegg must believe them destroyed. With the quantigraphic rift drive non-operational, they were completely vulnerable.

It's okay. Just a minor burn. I can feel the salve working. It actually itches more than it hurts. She scratched at the surface of the bandage. I hope my peregrine is still intact.

Davin smirked. I wouldn't worry. That falcon's as tough an old bird as you are.

Hey now, she said with a scowl. That's the pride of my flock you're talking about. It's the first tattoo I ever got, right after I joined the Space Corps. It means a lot to me. And I seriously doubt there's a tat artist on this planet who can give me a touch-up.

Yeah, yeah, her son said as he gazed out the viewport at the nearby planet. I … covered Gaspar up, he said, unable to keep his voice from trembling.

Maeve cursed under her breath. Her dangerous plan to escape the Jegg was a success, and by the skin of their teeth, they'd fled to the outer reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy. The final explosion hadn't caused a hull breach, but the ship was thrown sideways so violently that Gaspar lost his balance and cracked his skull against the bulkhead. By the time they found him, there wasn't anything they could do.

Another friend gone, she thought. Another life I couldn't save.

Fighting to quell a rising tide of emotion, she endeavored to keep her voice as comforting as possible. We'll bury him as soon as we land. Promise.

Okay, he said as he continued to stare blankly out the viewport.

Maeve gazed at her son, cursing whatever higher power had forced them into this predicament. He shouldn't be here. He should be at home, starting University and chasing girls and sneaking his first beer. Not here.

Farking Jegg.

Is that where we're going? Davin said, gesturing at the planet.

Maeve took another sip of water. Yep. Castelan VI.

He sat down in the pilot's chair, stretched his arms out, and interlocked his fingers behind his head. Looks kinda like Earth.

Yeah, it does.

I mean, there's only the one really big continent, but other than that …

Maeve stood up and took the copilot's seat. Castelan VI, she said, reciting a report she committed to memory months ago. Slightly smaller than Earth, with a comparable atmosphere and gravity. Rotates on its axis once every twenty-two-point-five hours, takes three hundred and eighty-nine Earth days to make one revolution around its sun. Total population is approximately two hundred sixty-three thousand humanoids, ninety-nine percent of whom are clustered on or near the coastal regions of the northern half of the main continent. There are some undeveloped areas farther inland that can support life, but most of the central land mass is inhospitable terrain: deserts, mountains, et cetera. There are a few other small islands, but they're far from the main continent and look to be uninhabited.

He nodded. "Of all the places Banikar suggested, why'd Dad choose this planet to come to?"

Several reasons. We had to choose a planet with a breathable atmosphere and far enough away from the Terran Confederation that the Jegg would ignore it. Ideally, we would have chosen a world with no humanoid life, but … well, let's just say our options were limited. Ironically, the final two choices were this world and Denebius IV. Believe me, I was not in a hurry to go back there.

I bet. You're sure the information is reliable?

She gave him a grim smile. I've asked myself that question at least a thousand times. Honestly, I have no idea. What it comes down to, unfortunately, is that we really have no choice. When a trans-dimensional being tells you that your best chance to defeat the Jegg is by finding some mysterious energy source, you shut up and listen.

He scoffed. If the Eth are so flippin' powerful, why couldn't they just get rid of the Jegg themselves?

She turned to face him. You may find this hard to believe, Dav, but they wouldn't answer that question.

Great. How exactly is this energy source going to help us beat the Jegg?

Fark if I know. I'm just supposed to fly the ship and see to the mission's safety. It was your father and his brain trust that were going to figure that part out.

Davin sat up straight again, covering his mouth just in time to sneeze into his hands. Maeve reached under the console, grabbed a clean rag, and threw it to him. Blow your nose, kiddo.

He snatched the rag out of midair and blew into it. Sniffling, he leaned back in the chair again. So, what's the plan?

Well, she cast a dirty glance at the offending control panel, once we get a little closer, I'm going to initiate another planetary scan. I'm not sure our sensors are calibrated to locate this energy source, but I'm hoping we can find a healthy quantity of it in one of the unpopulated areas. With a butt-load of luck, we can carry out this mission without having to deal with the locals.

Why are you worried about them?

"Because they're primitives, that's