Returning Heroes by Harry F. Rey

Author:Harry F. Rey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, action, adventure, aliens, dark, MM romance, #ownvoices, royalty, sci-fi, futuristic, space, folklore, gods, intercultural, interspecies, war of worlds
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Antari’s bare feet pounded the polished floor, leaving sweaty footprints in his wake. The siren continued, an aching pain indicating something was terribly wrong. In the elevator, he pulled on his boots while peering out the glittering windows at the world below. Jiwani remained as green and pristine as always. The setting sun cast the city in a brilliant array of rainbows. The emergency was not something flying toward them, at least.

He ran alone along the corridor where he’d apprehended Ales only hours before. Boots echoed, but only his. Panting, he burst into Valeri’s chambers. The broad window was tinted dark, and the figures were focused on the holomap swirling around the room.

“Nice of you to join us,” said Nolani with a nasty look. Beside him stood Bavardi, titular head of the imperial guard and a barrel of a man, who’d only found himself in this position because he was about as smart as a barrel, and Gashti, her hair tied back in a sharp bun and arms folded. Head of intelligence, her job had once required doing little more than relaying information from the network of Omniscients to the imperium. But with that secret society across the empire and the galaxy having declared official neutrality, which meant supporting Osvai by default, Gashti was a spymaster with no spies left.

“I came from the baths,” Antari protested, but Valeri ignored his rushed entrance.

“We’re under attack,” Valeri said, highlighting a subsection of the star-map which showed the slipstream leading from the Valdian Gateway right into Kyleri space, one system away from Jiwani. “The Confederation of the Seven Suns has amassed the largest fleet the galaxy has seen in millennia, and they will soon enter the edge of our capital system.”

“That many ships?” Gashti said, swallowing shock as she wandered around the holographic renderings floating in the air, frigates and cruisers, troop carriers and fighters. “The usurper is with them?”

Antari had to remind himself she was referring to Osvai. Apparently so did Valeri.

“What? Oh…yes. We believe so. He and his husband.”

“Daeron?” Antari said. Everyone looked at him. “I saw the newsburts of their wedding.”

“The troops that came from the Crejan border,” Nolani said. “They will defend the capital to the death. And we can activate the planetary defense network, lure their ships in and—”

“You’re insane!” Valeri screamed. The small man with the thin moustache positively vibrated with anger. Like he’d been sitting atop an engine for too long. “The land-based artillery is achingly out of date. We’re more likely to destroy the Crystal City than hit one of their ships. And the troops drafted in? Half refused to come, and the rest are ready to pledge allegiance to this blasted Captain Ales.” Valeri shot a look at Antari. “He’s securely in the baths?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good. At least that. Gashti, can you handle giving Ales the same treatment as that pesky ambassador Navron?”

Antari froze. They were going to kill Ales? And in the same way they’d murdered Daeron’s father? Antari started to shake. But Gashti nodded.

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