Apex Magazine - Issue 10 by Apex Publications

Author:Apex Publications
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: apex magazine, apex publications, freeman ng, science fiction, fj bergmann, mary robinette kowal, apex book company

As Pimi’s mother rounded the bend, she pulled back on her varamid’s reins. Four strides more and Pimi could see around the bend.

An army of men and women filled the pass.

They were trapped as surely as an irarad snared from the sky with a net. Pimi pulled her varamid to a halt, having nowhere else to run. Beside her, Mother half stood on the back of her varamid.

She would not be returned to the seraglio if she was caught. Neither of them would be allowed to live. Pimi reached over her head and fumbled a sword free of its sheath. Holding it aloft, she bellowed as if disgorging all the helplessness she had held inside.

An answering shout rose from the throats of Abarine men and women as they raced forward to pin Pimi and her mother between the two forces. How had she thought this would work?

In that frozen moment, an officer broke from the ranks of the soldiers behind them and brought his varamid beside hers. Not until he was close did she recognize him as Uramikk from Hadan’s apartment.

Uramikk kept his attention on the force facing them, watching for some signal. “Councilor. Did you plan to parley?”

She whipped around to face him. He still thought her to be Hadan. Pimi turned back to the front, as her mind caught up with her body. The troops in front of her must be from Repp-Virja. Flashes of Hadan’s conversation crystallized. …other sorties might…, …stay within their borders…. The Abarine had not been chasing fugitives, they had been following their leader into battle.

If Uramikk thought she would parley, then that is what she would do. Pimi grunted, and kicked her varamid into motion. Her mother’s varamid followed with the flocking instinct of its kind.

The ranks toward which they rode leveled their weapons at her. Sweet goddess on the mount—the Repp-Virji thought she was attacking them. Pimi pulled up her varmid sharply.

Beyond what she had seen at the theater, she had no idea how someone would signal that they wanted to parley. And she could not say anything without Uramikk realizing that she was not who he thought she was; only the night and the armor hid her identity.

She swung off the varamid.

Uramikk said, “Councilor—”

Pimi held up a hand to stop him, keeping her face turned toward the Repp-Virji. Her legs wobbled as she strode forward four paces. The soldiers kept their weapons aimed at her, but made no move to attack, though surely they would willingly kill her at the slightest signal.

The line of men and women stirred and a group of four tall women stepped out to meet her. They stopped eight paces away. One said, “Speak, Councilor Hadan. I have at my back the combined forces of four of the Deep Houses of Repp-Virja with a warrant for your execution. Will you surrender for the sake of your followers or will you force us to lay open your gates by force?”

Pimi did not speak. Her voice would carry to the man behind her, as clearly as to the women in front.

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