On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs

On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs

Author:Bethany Jacobs [Jacobs, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780316463522
Amazon: B0DDXR42LJ
Goodreads: 207567884
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2024-10-14T22:00:00+00:00


“You know,” says Jun Ironway, “there is something to be said for a matriarchy.”

Masar sits across from her at a small table in a requisitioned private office. They’re in the newsnest, which the newscasters of Farren Eyce have vacated under Hyre’s orders, relocating to a different part of the colony. The newsnest has private offices, contained in a larger office space in the government quarter of Level 8. These offices share a hallway, have no windows. They’re easy to guard. And now some of the rookie collectors (Eda and Layez and Iyrini and Siel) have requisitioned the retired uniforms of the Jeveni sentries and stand guard throughout the office space.

As for the particular “cell” where Masar finds himself, Hyre had the desk and the sofa replaced with a trio of makeshift cots. Bene and Luja are sitting on one of the cots, Bene with his arm over her shoulder. He looks calm but tired. Luja wears a blank expression, as if she always knew this would happen, and has dropped down into the blankness she learned on the farming station. Masar, body sore, chest tight, holds Bene’s gaze. He’s shocked by the compassion in Bene’s face, the obvious concern for Masar’s health. Even now, stuck in a cell by Masar’s superiors, Bene is worried about him.

Masar snaps out of his distraction, looking at Jun. “You really think a matriarchy would solve our problems?”

“Absolutely,” she drawls, fingers tapping the table in the restless gesture of a caster who can’t cast. “If the Jeveni had a matriarch, this farce would never have happened to my family. How is Effegen? Her Wheel has lost its basic sense of reason and there doesn’t appear to be anything she can do about it.”

Bene says, “It’s not Effegen’s fault. She wants us freed.”

Masar nods agreement, entreating Jun, “This wasn’t her idea.”

“In my whole life I’ve only had my access to my neural link cut off twice, and both times it was by your Wheel. Remind me, Masar, who saved all your godsdamned lives again?”

“Look, don’t get sassy with me, I—”

“They arrested my cousins.” Jun seems to bite the words. She gestures at Bene and Luja. “I brought my family here to be safe and you’ve locked them up. Do you know what I could—”

She breaks off, chokes the words down. Maybe she knows that Fonu is watching via the surveillance camera in the ceiling, and this tack won’t convince anyone of her innocence. She looks away. He watches her. He’s never been on opposite sides with Jun, never worked counter to her or experienced the brunt of her genius as a weapon raised against him. Most of the time, he treats Jun like an obnoxious sister, poking at her grumpiness, treating her skill set like a coworker’s aptitude for math. Now, for the first time, he contemplates the idea of being Jun’s enemy. Of seeing her turn her brilliance against Farren Eyce. He’d be a fool not to quail at that.

“I’m going to get you out, Jun.



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