The Lodestone Trilogy (Limited Edition) (The Lodestone Series) (168 page)

The first Kelanni to enter the space above the clouds.
When the new Diametric Drive project had been conceived, Shann had made clear her fervent wish to pilot the craft. No one was about to veto the ‘fervent wish’ of one of the ‘six heroes’. However, the look in Rael’s eyes betrayed his secret hope that she might yet choose to stay by his side, rooted to the ground.

For the first time since she had met the boy from beyond the Great Barrier, she felt sorry for him.

Greetings and farewells concluded, they parted, allowing the fussy blue army to reclaim Shann and lead her out to where the great, cold ship waited to bear her to the great, cold stars.

~

Later that night, Keris sat alone in her darkened office. Outside her window, fireworks clattered and wailed and burst into flowers of blue and yellow and pink—yet another innovation, courtesy of the scientists of Kelanni-Skell. The people of Kelanni-Drann had embraced the new science as fervently as one might embrace a new religion. Yet in spite of all its wonders, Keris sometimes found herself wishing for the uncomplicated, trusting faith of simpler times.

She felt old. Old and tired.

There was a movement at her back, and a darker shadow filled the open doorway. “Yes, Alber. What is it?”

The youngest of her nine lieutenants stepped into the office as if he were treading on holy ground. “Sincere apologies, my Lady. I was not certain I would find you here at this late hour. A matter of some importance... ” He trailed off, as if frightened by his own audacity.

“Go on,” she encouraged, in a gentler tone.

“It concerns the hu-man, McCann. We received a report from Dannel, the agent assigned to keep watch over him. Seven days ago he left his cabin and headed to the ruined city of the ancients at Gal-Mador.”

Left alone on their world, McCann had chosen to take up residence in the wilds of Kelanni-Skell. He said it was because it reminded him of somewhere called Scotland. As far as she was concerned, the decision to spy on him seemed at best a waste of time and at worst a manifestation of paranoia. However, she had held her tongue on the assumption that the Ruling Council would eventually see the futility of the assignment.

“The Council has determined that McCann has the right to live anywhere on our world and to travel wherever he wishes.”

“Indeed, my Lady. Quite so. However, Dannel reports that while there, he made a discovery—a cache of ancient spheres, similar to the ones found by my Lady at Kynedyr.”

Actually, it was Patris who made that particular find. She refrained from correcting him. “What were they?”

“The experts in Kieroth are still translating the ancient. However, it seems to be a complete history of the Kelanni prior to the Goratha— the dark time. It is said to be the greatest archaeological discovery ever.”

Although Annata had granted her a vision of the thriving city of Kynedyr as it appeared prior to the disaster, almost nothing was known of the people of that time.

“Why does this concern the Security Division?” she asked.

“Dannel reports that after playing the recordings at the central archive, the hu-man left, abandoning them. When Dannel inspected the box, she found that there were sixteen receptacles. Only... ”

“Only what?” she pressed him.

“Only, one of them—the earliest of the recordings—was missing. Dannel believes that the hu-man took it.”

It was a serious charge. Her investigator training kicked in. “Did Dannel see McCann take the sphere?”

“No, Lady Keris. However, he could easily have concealed it about his person. Dannel lost him amid the ruins and he has not been seen since; nor has he returned to his cabin.”

For thirty turns and more, hu-mans had oppressed the Kelanni. It was perhaps only natural that people would continue blame them for every morsel of misfortune—every crumb of calamity. Like putting on a favourite shirt or a comfortable pair of old, worn-out shoes.

She steepled her fingers. “The sphere may simply have been missing when McCann first found the cache. Besides, what possible motive could the hu-man have for stealing one of our ancient artefacts?”

“Dannel has a theory. She believes that the sphere may have revealed that hu-mans were meddling in our affairs in the distant past— that they may even have been responsible for the Goratha itself. When he discovered its contents, McCann took the sphere and ran, fearing what the Council might do to him when they learned the truth.”

It was a garment, threadbare and full of holes—yet compelling enough to anyone who still nursed memories of oppression and would welcome an opportunity to exact revenge against the hu-man. Any hu-man.

McCann sacrificed everything and stranded himself alone on our world. He should have the opportunity to defend himself.
Honour demanded no less. Fortunately, being head of the Security Division afforded her a certain degree of freedom.

“I am familiar with hu-mans and their ways. I will take personal charge of this investigation.”

Alber’s eyes widened in the flickering illumination from the window. “My Lady... ?”

“I will travel to Kelanni-Skell using Dagmar Tower.”

“I will arrange for an escort to accompany you.”

“No,” she said. “I will travel alone. You will Ring Dannel and tell her that she may continue with her enquiries, but she is to take no action until I arrive.”

“Yes, but—”

“Brant is to be in charge of the Division until I return. Neither you nor he are to reveal where I am or what I am doing. As far as anyone else is concerned, I am... I am visiting the Chandara in the Forest of Illaryon.”

“The Council—”

“Under no circumstances is the Council to be informed of my whereabouts. Is that clear?”

Alber shifted his feet unhappily. “Yes, Lady Keris.”

She stood up from her desk. “Do not concern yourself. I will be quite safe. I will return as soon as I can.”

She swept out of her office and set out in search of the last hu-man remaining on Kelanni.

— End of Book Three—

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