Overlord Page 6

  What Kantor Alonov knew was that he needed to immediately take control of House Alonov, which meant shutting her out of any important decision from this moment on. What he didn’t realize was she didn’t care, had no interest in anything that had been tainted by the Alonov name. “That’s probably for the best.”

  Her apparent disinterest surprised Malik, but he only nodded in reply.

  Obviously ready to move on, Indrex asked Malik, “What did this battle cost us?”

  “Eleven dead, thirty-two wounded.” He scowled as he listed the totals, but Eza was anxious to speak with him alone. She needed to find out if he blamed the Outcasts for the disaster or her brother, which was where the responsibility belonged. It would be horrible if Cagor’s final act of aggression destroyed Malik’s willingness to work with the Outcasts. The rebellion had no hope of succeeding unless they had the backing of the military.

  “And the savages?” Indrex wanted to know. “How many did they lose?”

  “I don’t know,” Malik admitted. “The disrupter pulse brought down one of their ships. The general intended to cause a major collision. We fell short of that goal, but at least the ship is on the ground.”

  “Meaning you failed,” Indrex snapped. “The nature of our weaponry was revealed, but the enemy sustained little or no loss of life. I define that as a complete failure.”

  Malik’s expression didn’t change. He met Indrex’s hostile gaze with icy calm. “I will gladly take responsibility for any plan I enact. I was ordered to fly assault runs on their fighters, and that’s what I did.”

  Indrex and Malik glared at each other for a long, tense moment. Eza could almost hear their mental snarling.

  Finally, Indrex raised his chin and continued, “A new general must be named. Do you intend to participate in the advancement challenge?”

  “I do.” Malik’s hostile gaze dared Indrex to object, to give him a reason to unleash his temper, to break protocol and speak the words so obvious in his expression.

  Indrex was too slick for that. He was the consummate politician. “And who are you likely to face?”

  “To my knowledge, War Chief Apex is the only other warrior planning to attempt the challenge.”

  “You honestly think you have a chance against Apex?” Indrex’s smirk made Eza want to slap him. She didn’t know how Malik managed to stay in his seat.

  Rather than lunging across the table and beating the high counselor to a bloody pulp, Malik just shrugged. “We’ll find out in a few days. The challenge will take place as soon as the sendoff concludes.” He looked at Eza, and his expression softened. “I refused to participate any sooner. It would be disrespectful to the fallen.”

  He didn’t want to be disrespectful to “the fallen,” his comrades, not her brother. The distinction was subtle yet important. Malik had not been a fan of Cagor and likely shed no tears over his passing. Good. The rebellion desperately needed his support.

  Her emotions regarding her brother’s death were complex and convoluted. She loved him, as she’d loved their father, but both males eroded her affection with cruelty and indifference. She felt obligated to show her respect and some semblance of grief, yet what she felt most was relief.

  “Lady Eza,” Ralnor, the representative from Sestaul, used the pause to draw her attention away from Indrex and Malik. “You just spent three days at the mercy of those barbarians. First of all, were you treated with respect? Secondly, were you able to learn anything useful regarding their goals?”

  Everyone looked at her expectantly. Eza felt exposed, vulnerable. They were judging her, assessing her expressions, her subtlest gesture as well as her words. Each representative had their own agenda, and often those agendas conflicted. All she could do was remain true to herself, and the goals she found important. “I was treated with absolute respect and surprising courtesy. I know my brother used my abduction to justify the attack, but it was an excuse. I was never in any danger. In fact, the hostage exchange was mutually agreed upon. I was attempting to negotiate a meaningful alliance when we learned of the impending battle.”

  “Then why didn’t they release you?” Indrex arched his brow, accenting the challenge in his tone. “If the Outcasts really wanted peace, the battle could have been avoided.”

  “The general would have found another reason to attack them,” Malik predicted. “The battle was unavoidable. Cagor just didn’t expect to lose.”

  Indrex narrowed his gaze, appearing thoughtful for a moment before he said, “I gave in to Cagor’s browbeating too often. That was a mistake. The Guiding Council is the ultimate authority, and we should be treated as such. Hopefully, General Apex will be more willing to do as he’s told.”

  “If Apex wins the challenge,” Dayun Hathor, representative from Niffal, and the only other female on the council pointed out. Niffal was the lowest designation, so they had the most to gain by the rebellion. Her support had been assured from day one. “The outcome is not a foregone conclusion.” Before Indrex could argue with her, she looked at Malik. “If you win the challenge and are made general, you become ineligible for this council. Do you know who is likely to challenge for the right to represent Jintta?”

  Eza hadn’t even thought about that. The rebellion could gain a general but lose a council member. Or they could lose control of both if Apex won. But that wasn’t going to happen. The Shadow Circle would see to that. If all went as planned, the military would become the backbone of the rebellion, and a rebel would still represent Jintta on the Guiding Council. So much would be determined in the next week. It made Eza anxious and uncomfortable.

  “Two of the males who mentioned an interest in the promotion were among the casualties,” Malik explained. “That leaves three that I’m aware of, but there could be more.”

  Malik listed their names though none of them meant anything to Eza. Not surprisingly, none were among her brother’s inner circle. The Ayrontu officers only associated with other Ayrontu.

  “With all of this uncertainty, perhaps we should vote on the new proposal now,” Dayun persisted. She’d always been outspoken, but Cagor’s death had clearly emboldened her. “Having a clear direction will prevent conflicts from flaring into—”

  “I have no intention of allowing a vote until all of the challenges are fought, and the sendoff concludes,” Indrex stressed. “Even a Niffal can see that voting now would be incredibly offensive.”

  “Then what’s the purpose of this meeting?” Dayun shot back, undaunted by his attempted slur. She’d endured disrespect from the upper designations her entire life. Indrex would have to try harder if he hoped to rattle her. “Unlike you, the rest of us have other responsibilities.”

  “Councilor Dayun is correct,” Ralnor said sternly. “This is a waste of time.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Summon me when you’re actually ready to accomplish something.” Without a backward glance, he walked from the room.

  When everyone just stared at him, Indrex snarled, “Meeting is rescheduled for midmorning one week from tomorrow.”

  Indrex, followed by the representatives from Layot and Witernel, stormed from the room. The three supporting the rebellion remained. Eza was glad to see Malik linger. He had always voted for change, but she hadn’t been sure how Cagor’s death would affect him.

  “Any chance we can recruit Ralnor?” Dayun asked once the others had gone. “He voted against abolishing the designations, but he’s never committed one way or the other to establishing a merit-based system.”

  “Ralnor married an Ayrontu,” Eza reminded her. Ayrontu was the only designation determined by birth rather than accomplishment. Making it merit-based like all the other designations would alleviate many of the problems plaguing the world below. Eza really wanted to abolish the entire corrupt system, but the members of Ayrontu would fight any change tooth and nail. At least the merit-based compromise had some hope of succeeding.

  “If his mate is Ayrontu, so are his children.” Dayun sighed, clearly disappointed by the fa
ct. “I’d forgotten. Now his reluctance to pick a side makes sense.”

  “Indrex is the one I don’t understand,” Malik shook his head, looking at the door through which the others had fled. “He has always remained neutral in the past, as a high councilor should. What changed his opinion so profoundly? Half the time, I close my eyes and hear his sister speaking, not him.”

  Malik was more or less joking, but trepidation rushed through Eza. “Oh gods, do you think she implanted him with shadow lenitas?”

  “What are you talking about?” Dayun looked back and forth between Eza and Malik, eyes wide with uncertainty.

  “I’ve heard the rumors for cycles,” Malik muttered. “Do you know for a fact that Lady Isolaund completed her father’s work?”

  “What are shadow lenitas?” Dayun touched Eza’s arm, drawing her attention.

  “They’re micro-bots that make a person extremely susceptible to commands. Some say the implanted person becomes a mind-slave to the person controlling the lenitas. Lady Isolaund’s father was developing the technology when he passed beyond. Rumor has it that Lady Isolaund succeeded where her father failed.”

  Dayun’s pastel-blue gaze shifted to Malik, “You think Lady Isolaund implanted experimental tech in her own brother?”

  Malik scoffed softly under his breath. “Clearly you haven’t spent much time with the bitch. She’s one of the most ruthless creatures I’ve ever encountered.”

  “This is not the place for in-depth conversations,” Eza reminded them. They’d already said far more than they should have. Her brother had every public space in Riverside under surveillance. Many of the private rooms too. Her brother might be gone, but she didn’t know who controlled the security grid. “You know how to contact me,” she said to Dayun. “Give me an hour or two. I need to check in with my family.”

  “Of course.” She bobbed her head, then added, “I’m sorry to be so insensitive. Losing any family member is difficult.”

  Eza and Malik walked out of the council chamber together and headed toward the common area. “How are you holding up? These past few days have been particularly traumatic.”

  She glanced up at him and offered a faint smile. All she saw in his eyes was compassion and friendship, so her answer was more candid than usual. “The Outcasts are not barbarians, no matter how much my brother wanted to slaughter them.”

  “They arrived in spaceships. Their technology is nearly as advanced as ours. I never thought they were barbaric, just misguided.”

  “They honestly believed this planet was uninhabited. Our shields protect us, but they also create the misconception that the planet is deserted. The Outcasts are not the first to believe they were alone. This would stop happening if we weren’t quite so secretive.”

  Malik chuckled. “Are you sure you’re Ayrontu? No one would ever guess by listening to your perspectives.”

  “My perspectives are unique. I’m the first to admit it.” They stood at the mouth of the corridor, the common room in front of them, the meeting rooms behind. War Chiefs had private quarters, but they were down the same passageway as the soldier barracks, which was in the opposite direction from the Ayrontu hall. “If you win the challenge will you—”

  “When I win the challenge,” he corrected with a smile. “I will best Apex. He’s overconfident, and I’ll use it to my advantage.”

  “All right. Once you have won the challenge, how will you approach the Outcast situation?”

  “Unlike your brother, I don’t believe everything must be resolved on the battlefield. I’m hoping that you can negotiate a mutually agreeable alliance that will make military action unnecessary.”

  Relieved by the conviction in his gaze, she nodded. “I was hoping you’d say something like that. I really do believe there is much to be gained by interacting with them.”

  He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Interacting with them or interacting with their leader?”

  The merry gleam in his gaze told her the insinuation was intentional. “The overlord...intrigues me. He was very different than what I expected.”

  “Well, none of us have managed to intrigue you. Perhaps I need to take a closer look at these human females.”

  “Each of the females has a mate among the Outcasts. If someone wants war with the Outcasts, that’s the fastest way to bring it about. Just ask Toxyn Jow.” The foolish soldier kidnapped two of the humans and was punished harshly for the unsanctioned act. He’d been stripped of his elite designation and sentenced to a life of manual labor.

  Malik nodded as he gazed out across the busy room. “Are you planning to come to the challenge? It would be nice to know at least one Ayrontu was rooting for me.”

  She genuinely liked Malik, considered him a good friend. “I’m not a fan of violent competitions, but I’ll make an exception for you.”

  “Until then.” Clearly pleased by her decision, Malik headed toward the military corridor.

  Eza walked across the common room and down the wide passageway leading to the elite apartments. After the back-to-back meetings, she needed a few minutes alone before facing her family. Kantor, her nephew, had always been obnoxious. His new position as head of Alonov House was sure to intensify his arrogance. His mate was nice enough, but—

  A large male lunged out of a shadowed doorway and slammed into her side. She hit the opposite wall hard and cried out, more from surprise than actual pain. Her assailant spun her to face him and clasped his hand over her mouth, pinning her against the rough-hewn stone with the weight of his body.

  “Listen carefully, sister,” Tajon Marr sneered, his hateful face nearly touching hers. “You are going to resign from the Guiding Council as well as the Shadow Circle. Do you understand me? I will not have your twisted mind tainting my rebellion.”

  His rebellion? How ridiculous. If she hadn’t recruited Sculptor, Tajon would still be drinking and whoring while he waited for his father to die. The lazy bastard had never had any real ambition. He knew nothing of hard work or sacrifice. He wanted to enjoy the benefits of his father’s accomplishments because he had none of his own.

  Unable to speak, yet refusing to be bullied by this coward, she just glared into his eyes.

  “Nod if you agree.”

  The wisest course was to nod and then scream her head off as soon as he moved his hand. She was an Ayrontu lady. Any Jintta better have a damn good reason if they put their hands on a member of the elite. Instead, years of frustration and anger brought her knee up between his legs.

  He grunted, turning away in the niche of time. “You vicious bitch.” He grabbed her braid and yanked her head back, his other hand still firmly covering her mouth. “Both committees will meet next week. You will not attend, but send a message announcing your resignation.”

  “Like hells I will,” she yelled, her words muffled but understandable.

  “If you don’t. You die.”

  She rolled her eyes, not impressed by the threat. Sculptor’s abilities would make it possible for Tajon to kill her, but Tajon didn’t have the balls to take on House Alonov. It didn’t matter that she was barely on speaking terms with most of her relatives. Any act of aggression against an Alonov required immediate retaliation.

  Apparently reading the skepticism in her eyes, he said, “Oh, I won’t kill you. I won’t need to. The Guiding Council will do it for me.”

  She stilled, much more concerned by this threat. What in the universe did he have planned?

  “How will I expose you without endangering myself?” Tajon asked with a cruel smile. “I’m sure that’s what you’re thinking.”

  It was, but he was clearly more comfortable with this cowardly one-sided conversation.

  “I will disappear for a few months and my father—you remember him, Chief of Wind Rider clan, respected and honored by village leaders everywhere—will tell the Guiding Council that I was seduced by a manipulative whore, that you used your beauty and lust to lure me into this ill-fated rebellion. He will explain that you a
re the driving force behind the rebellion and not only participate in the Shadow Circle but organized it. I doubt you’ll survive the day. I’ve seen Indrex Farr react when someone betrays him.”

  She continued to glare, but her mind had gone blank, and fear raised the hairs on the back of her neck. After flashing a triumphant smile, Tajon finally removed his hand, but he didn’t let go of her hair. “What do you really want?” she demanded.

  “I told you what I want, you out of my rebellion.”

  The rebellion didn’t belong to anyone. It belonged to everyone!

  “One week.” He shoved off the wall and released her hair. “Resign. Or die.”

  Chapter Four

  The next five days passed quickly for Kage. Dealing with the aftermath of the downed spaceship kept him busy and his mind well occupied, but the nights seemed endless. He lay in bed, staring into the darkness, wondering what Eza was doing, thinking, dreaming about. Had her people accepted her return with sympathy and concern or had they been hostile and suspicious. If she were in danger, he would have sensed it, but she’d been dealing with emotional abuse her entire life. It would take more than bad attitudes to upset her enough to activate their link.

  By sundown on the sixth day, Kage was restless and irritable. He stood facing the river that meandered through the Outcast settlement. Watching the undulating current and slightly distorted reflections helped him calm his mind and prioritize his thoughts. At his back stood the barracks, a large structure recently erected to house troops rotating down from the ships or displaced by couples on the Wheel. All of the cabins aboard the Wheel, except for high-level officers, had been shared by four to ten crewmembers or unclaimed females. This arrangement had been unavoidable during the voyage to this secluded sector of space, but newly-joined couples required privacy, which created the need for additional housing.