Crusades by S.J. Madill

Author:S.J. Madill [Madill, S.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

"Thank you, governor. Until later."

Zura tapped a gem on her console, and the holoprojection image of the sector governor dissolved into thin air. His name disappeared from the list of people she needed to contact, leaving the list empty.

She leaned forward over the desk, hands gripping its edges; her bandaged right hand throbbed angrily. She'd spoken to every admiral and general under her command, and the governors of every sector outside the Home Worlds.

Almost without exception, they'd been pleased to hear from her. Pleased that someone was opposing the Temple's coup.

Idiots. The Temple had what it wanted — control of all five Home Worlds — but nothing else. They weren't interested in the colonies, or the frontier territories. All they wanted were the 'sacred' Home Worlds: the nucleus of purity their dogma spoke of. As if the Palani living in colonies were somehow less pure; less Palani. They were leaving the colonies to their own fates, not even trying to use them as leverage. That zealot Ivenna had decided that taking control of the five Home Worlds would be enough to usher in a new golden age for the Palani.

Zura's body tensed as she coughed, the kinetic bandage clenching tight. As the taste of blood flooded her mouth, she took a handkerchief from her coat pocket. She spat the blood into it, then folded it up and tucked it back in her pocket.

She could feel the pain despite the painkillers. The sharp stabs in her gut; the jagged, scraping rasp in every breath. The ache as the edge of the bandage bit into her skin, transferring her weight from bruised chest down to bruised hip. Her body was failing her.

Pari had been in every few hours to check on her. She replaced the medical packs, scanned her — the bandage made scanning difficult, she said — and adjusted her medication. She rarely said anything; she just came in, did her work, and left. Always a quick kiss on the cheek, but nothing more.

She checked the time display. They'd be at the Reserve Fleet anchorage in twenty-six minutes. Pari had bought her time, as promised. Time enough to be awake and alert during the battle to come. If they were victorious, the war could be won with or without her. If they were defeated…

Zura took a deep breath, feeling the faint gurgling deep in her chest. On her last visit, Pari had left behind the datapad that was connected to Yaella's. She hadn't said anything; she'd just left it on the bunk.

One last call to make. Zura pushed off the desk, her body slow to move as the bandage chattered and shifted. Her left foot was determined to drag, sliding across the floor as she stumbled to the bunk. Bracing one hand on the bulkhead — leaving behind a smudge of blue — she bent over, fighting the bandage that was determined to prevent her. Her fingertips grazed the edge of the datapad; she grabbed it and stood up straight.

"Nsal 'neth," she muttered, as she made her slow return to the desk.

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