Shadow of the Swan by M. K. Wren

Author:M. K. Wren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Science Fiction/General
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-06-03T04:00:00+00:00

6.

Amik’s summons was a source of annoyance, and a time-consuming one with the two hundred-kilometer ’car flight and the long passage via airscooter through the labyrinths of mine shafts. Alex had almost forgotten to activate his face-screen when he arrived at the shafts lock and met the Brotherhood “blade” sent by Amik to act as his guard and guide, and now his annoyance lengthened his stride as he moved through the arched corridors toward Amik’s sanctum.

A matter of some interest, the Lord of Thieves had said, and refused to amplify that engimatic statement. Amik enjoyed his little games.

But Alex was in no mood for games. He had only three loyal Phoenix techs to oversee the work at the Cave of Springs. The Brothers Amik had assigned him were conditioned, but it still made him uncomfortable to be away when Jael wasn’t there to supervise them, and he was in the Inside today on assignment for the Helen chapter.

Alex wiped a hand across his forehead, and it came away streaked with grime. The work crew was enlarging one of the chambers in the Cave for the hangar. The dust was full of bitter reminders; the Kasai Orongo mines. He wondered how long he could live in a place that continually called up such memories.

He was expected. The blade stopped in Amik’s anteroom, where Yuba glanced up from his desk and casually waved Alex through. Within the sanctum he paused, undecided whether to laugh or swear, finding Amik, as usual, at ease in his lush chair, filling the air with the sweet scent of his tobacco, golden teeth revealed in a languid smile. In the background, a Gariletti Sarbande cast its sinuous strains.

But Amik wasn’t alone.

At first Alex didn’t recognize the young woman who was sitting on one of the couches, tense, wary, and, despite her obvious effort to hide it, frightened. She wore a filmy, tawdry costume designed to enhance her physical attributes in the most blatant manner, and her face was marked with the remains of heavy cosmetics that spoiled her clear skin.

It was Valentin Severin, and for a moment Alex was overwhelmed with the old anger, yet behind the fear and degradation in her eyes there was still a spark of defiance. When he saw no hint of recognition, he realized his face-screen was still on. He switched it off and saw her eyes widen, defiance—and fear—dissolving in bewilderment.

“Alex? Is it—oh, dear God . . . Alex—” She rose, started to come to him, then broke into tears, which seemed to anger her and add to her confusion. He eased her back down onto the couch and accepted the linett handkerchief Amik offered with only a brief nod of acknowledgment.

“Val, you’re safe here.” He pulled her clenched hands away from her face and gently wiped away the ugly smears of cosmetics with her tears. “It’s all over.”

She recovered faster than he expected, finally taking the handkerchief to finish the job herself, frowning at the dirtied cloth.

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