Valkyrie (The Galactic Empire Book 1) Page 3

  But Ava had no choice. If the stone were to fall into the hands of the Realm, the consequences could be devastating. She closed her eyes and focused all of her energy. She could feel the power of the shard. She stepped into the snow, her bare feet sinking into the icy powder. She had to have faith that the stone would protect her. Keep her warm. Keep her from freezing.

  She marched away from the mountain with the snow at her knees. Each step was an arduous task. Her body was trembling, and soon she couldn't feel her feet. She wasn't entirely sure the shard could keep her safe. She sure didn't feel warm.

  Ava glanced over her shoulder, looking up the slope of the mountain. She could see flames and black smoke billowing over the ridge where the majestic temple had once stood. Imperial fighters swarmed the air. The clouds grew thick and the sky darkened. Snow flurried down. It was like the gods were angry, and perhaps they were.

  Ava kept trudging through the snow, into the increasing blizzard. It didn't take long before Ava could barely take a step. Her whole body was numb. And then she went beyond cold. She stopped shivering, and she lost all coordination. She was confused. She knew she wanted to take another step, but she just couldn't make her foot move forward. With each passing moment, she grew more and more lethargic. Her eyes began to droop. Her vision began to fade. Her body stopped responding. Until finally, she collapsed, face planting into the snow. From here, it was only a matter of time. She would freeze to death.

  This was the summer time on Crysolos—the warmest part of the year, and the temperature was still brutal. No one was ever going to find her body. She was going to be a frozen artifact, perhaps discovered eons later by some future race. Maybe, one day, she would end up in a museum in an exhibit of primitive species.

  Dying alone in the frozen wasteland was yet another reason not to have faith in the stone, she thought. It had let her down.

  6

  Imperial Soturi flooded into the temple. They moved with tactical precision, clearing the chambers and securing the oracles. Their heavy boots crunched across the debris. The panicked screams of Oracles filled the passageways.

  Lord Maldovan stormed into the temple after the platoon. He was an imposing figure, almost 7 feet tall. He wore ornate armor that was indicative of his stature within the Realm. His helmet and face mask were more reminiscent of a demon than a soldier. No one had ever seen his face, and there were rumors that he wasn't entirely human, but rather something else. A demon, perhaps. It was probably all just bullshit. But one could never be sure. He had survived the battles that no others had survived. He was impossibly difficult to kill. He seemed to have an aura about him. Some said that the Empress herself had conjured him from the depths of the underworld. Others said that he had made a pact with the dark gods in exchange for worldly protection. Whatever the case, Lord Maldovan seemed to have no fear, and he had a ruthless sensibility.

  The Soturi brought the Great Mother, along with two other high ranking Oracles, before Lord Maldovan. They looked upon him with disdain.

  “Bring it to me," the Dark Lord said. His voice was low and booming. You could feel it in your chest when he spoke.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” the Great Mother stammered.

  “Don’t play games with me. I want the shard."

  "I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place. There is no shard here." She forced a smile.

  Lord Maldovan pulled a dagger from his belt and plunged it into the chest of one of the Oracles standing beside the Great Mother. She coughed and choked up blood. It drizzle down her chin and dropped onto the grey robe, staining it with crimson speckles.

  Maldovan twisted the knife, then wrenched it upwards from her belly to her sternum. When he pulled the knife away his hand was covered in rose-red blood. The Oracle's face went pale as she collapsed to the ground, splattering in a wet heap.

  The Great Mother swallowed hard and tried to remain calm.

  “You would be wise to comply with my request."

  “And you would be wise not to meddle with things you do not comprehend,” she said defiantly. “The shard contains a power far greater than you could possibly control."

  “I will give you one more opportunity. Hand over the shard."

  “We have no shard here.” She forced another grin.

  Maldovan could see the fear in her eyes. Without the energy of the shard, she was powerless. He plunged his dagger into her chest. She crumpled before him.

  The dagger made a sucking sound as Maldovan pulled it from her gooey insides. The Great Mother lay in an ever increasing pool of her own blood.

  “Find the stone,” Maldovan commanded. “Tear this place apart.”

  THE BLIZZARD RAGED, blanketing the ground with fresh snow. The air was a white haze. The stinging wind was brutal. Ava’s body was barely visible as the snow piled up. She wasn’t going to last long face down in the snow.

  Suddenly, headlights slashed through the haze. A snow vehicle rumbled as it approached. It crunched to a stop several yards away from Ava. The door to the cab swung open. Sheets of frozen ice that lined the door crackled and fell away. A figure emerged from the cab, sinking into the knee-deep snow. Bundled in thick warm clothing, the figure trudged toward Ava. The snowy savior scooped her from the icy tundra and carried her back to the cab. The figure pulled open the passenger door and placed Ava in the seat and wrapped her in a silver thermal blanket. She swung the door shut and marched around to the driver’s side. A moment later, the engine clattered and the snow craft plowed away, disappearing into the milky haze.

  The inside of the cab was toasty warm. Hot air rushed out of vents in the dash and floorboard. Visibility was down to zero. But a navigation display in the dash allowed the driver to maneuver the lumbering vehicle precisely to its destination.

  Before long, a small home emerged from the snowy haze. It was a series of prefabricated containers that were popular housing structures on outer colonies. It wasn't going to win any awards in Galactic Architecture Today, but it was functional and thermally insulated.

  The driver rolled the vehicle to a stop, then killed the engine. The figure hopped out the cab and marched around to the other side and carried Ava toward the structure. The figure fumbled with the entry pad—an instant later, the door slid aside.

  Icy wind rushed inside the cozy home as the figure dashed in and set Ava on a couch. The door closed behind them, sealing out the elements.

  The figure pulled back the hood of the puffy jacket and peeled off the face mask revealing a beautiful brunette woman with dark eyes and olive skin. She knelt down beside Ava and checked her vitals and looked for signs of frostbite. She scanned for areas of discolored or waxy skin. She checked Ava’s nose, cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes—usually the first areas to go. Miraculously, Ava’s skin looked healthy. The woman looked somewhat perplexed by this.

  The thermal smart blanket monitored Ava’s core temperature and brought it up slowly. Ava was beginning to stir. She was groggy and confused. Her heavy eyes glanced around, startled at her surroundings. It all seemed so foreign. She was trembling again.

  “It’s okay, relax,” the woman said. “You’re going to be fine.

  Ava settled a little.

  “How long were you out there?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You're lucky to be alive. You're not exactly dressed appropriately. Just FYI, it helps to wear shoes.”

  Ava shrugged.

  “I’m Grace.” She smiled.

  “Ava.” She paused. “Thank you.”

  Grace smiled again. “I’ll make you some hot colaka. That will help warm you up.” Her voice was soothing.

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ve never had hot colaka before?” Grace arched a curious eyebrow.

  Ava shook her head.

  “What rock have you been hiding under?” Then it dawned on Grace—her eyes went wide and she knelt down in reverence. “You’re from the temple?”

  Ava nodded.

  “What a
re you doing outside?” Grace said with concern.

  Ava clutched for the stone, realizing the shard was missing. A wave of panic rushed over her. Her heartbeat skyrocketed. She tried to sit up.

  “Whoah. Take it easy.”

  “I had a leather pouch. I need to go back for it.” The words spilled out in a flurry.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got it,” Grace reassured her. She reached into her pocket and produced the leather pouch. She could feel the sharp contour of the shard through the supple leather. She stared at the pouch for a moment. “Is this…?”

  “Give it to me,” Ava demanded.

  Grace paused a moment, almost transfixed. Then she handed it to Ava.

  The young Oracle clasped it tight. Her heartbeat settled and she sat back with a sigh of relief.

  Grace studied her curiously. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Ava nodded, hesitantly.

  “I thought the stone was never to leave the temple. What are you doing with it?”

  Ava told Grace about the attack. Rage brewed in Grace’s face. It was clear she had disdain for the Realm.

  “I need to get to Ultrava. Can you take me?”

  Grace raised an eyebrow. “That’s not exactly in the neighborhood.”

  “How far is it?”

  Grace grimaced. “Far. I don’t have a ship. And even if I did, it’s best I avoid regulated space.” She paused. “I can take you to Sol Elans. I know a pilot that might be able to help you.” Then she added, “Do you have any money?”

  “Money?”

  “You know, credits?”

  Ava shook her head slowly.

  “Something to trade?”

  Ava continued to shake her head. The concept was foreign to her.

  Grace realized how absurd the question was. “Of course you don’t. You Oracles have no need for material things.” Grace lost herself in thought for a moment.

  “If the men who attacked the temple come into possession of the stone, it could be disastrous. You must help me,” Ava pleaded.

  A grave look washed over Grace’s face as she realized what the Realm was trying to accomplish. “They are trying to reunite the five shards.” She seemed almost dazed. The result could be cataclysmic.

  Ava nodded.

  “In the morning, I’ll take you to Sol Elans. I promise, I’ll help you get to Ultrava.”

  A slight smile curled on Ava’s lips. She felt a little relieved. But she was still shivering, and her stomach twisted with anxiety over the coming journey. The boredom of temple life didn’t seem so unappealing at the moment. But there was no going back. She wondered if the same thing had befallen the other temples. Then a horrible thought rushed through her mind—was she the last Oracle?

  Grace moved to the kitchen and brewed the hot beverage. She returned with a steaming mug and handed it to Ava. The young Oracle stared at it, quizzically. She smelled the aroma. It smelled good. Her eyes flicked to Grace.

  “It's good,” Grace assured her. "Take a sip. Be careful, it's hot."

  Ava’s full lips blew over the steaming mug. Then she slurped a small taste. Her eyes lit up with glee.

  “Told you,” Grace said.

  Ava took another sip.

  “What do they feed you in the temple?”

  “Nothing like this.” She took another gulp. "We live a very modest life. Free from desire and material possessions.”

  “Don’t you get to have any fun?"

  “We try to live a life of neutral balance. Detachment from both pleasure and pain. We are keepers of the stone, and must not succumb to emotions which may lead to corruption."

  “Sounds boring.”

  “It is,” Ava said. "But that is yet another emotion that must be overcome."

  “I don't know how you do it."

  “Neither do I.” Ava smiled. "I don't do it very well." It didn't take long for Ava to reach the bottom of the cup.

  “Want some more?”

  Ava nodded with enthusiasm.

  Grace took the mug and started back toward the kitchen. The tiny home began to rumble and shake. The sound of ion thrusters rippled in the air above the house.

  Grace’s eyes went wide with panic. It had to be the Imperial Realm looking for Ava, and the stone.

  7

  “Hurry!” Grace hissed. She pushed aside the couch and ushered Ava into a secret compartment under the floor. “Don’t make a sound.”

  Ava slipped into the darkness. The blue glow of the stone seeped out the pouch, illuminating her delicate features.

  Grace sealed the compartment and pulled the couch back over the hatch.

  The rumble of the dropship grew louder. The house vibrated, and cookware rattled in the kitchen. She could hear the craft crunch against the snow as it landed. The ramp lowered, and she heard the footsteps of troops marching into the snow. Soon they were pounding on her door.

  A muffled voice shouted through the door. “Lieutenant Clegg, officer of the Imperial Realm. Open up, or we will take your home by force.”

  Grace took a deep breath, then strode to the door. She pressed a button on the wall, and the door slid open.

  The biting wind whipped in, along with a flurry of snowflakes and Soturi. With weapons in the firing position, they cleared the room quickly, with precision. Textbook moves. These guys were pros.

  “Clear,” one of them yelled. Then they began to ransack the place. They looked in cabinets, storage closets, underneath the bed. The tidy home transformed into a trash heap.

  Grace stood with her hands in the air, trying to remain calm. She tried to put on a pleasant face. “What can I do for you?”

  Lieutenant Clegg stepped into the room. He removed his battle helmet. His cold eyes surveyed the area, then bore into Grace. “We're looking for someone. A young girl. An Oracle that has lost her way. We’d like to help return her to the temple.” He flashed an insincere grin. It made Grace’s skin crawl.

  “How considerate of you. What does she look like?”

  “I can't give you an accurate description. We only know that someone is missing from the temple, unfortunately." The lieutenant flashed another insincere smile. His lips curled, but his beady eyes betrayed him.

  “I haven’t seen any Oracles. I don't get too many visitors out this way.”

  “No. I can’t imagine that you do.” His eyes pierced into her. He didn’t believe a word Grace said. Clegg scanned the room and saw Ava’s mug on the table. “It's unusual… a beautiful young woman like yourself, living out here all alone. Very dangerous. Anything could happen out here.”

  “I like the solitude.”

  “Only criminals and degenerates live on these outer colonies.” He let that hang in the air for a moment. It was half statement, half insult, vaguely directed at Grace. “We find all kinds of trash. People avoiding the system for whatever reason. Everyone out here has something to hide."

  Grace smiled. “I’m an open book."

  "I'm sure you are.” The lieutenant eyed her suspiciously. "And you haven't seen the girl?"

  "You're the first person I've seen in weeks."

  Ava shivered under the floor in the hidden compartment. She could hear the muffled voices above her. Her heart was thumping in her chest. It was beating so loud she was sure the Soturi could hear.

  One of the Soturi called out, “It's clear, sir. There's no one else here.”

  Ava breathed a small sigh of relief. But she wasn't out of this yet.

  Clegg pulled out his PDU. It was a clear piece of smart glass with multiple functions. He thumbed through a few apps and launched the retinal scanner. “You don't mind, do you?"

  Grace swallowed hard. "No. Not at all."

  The lieutenant held up the device, hovering millimeters from her eyeball. It only took a second to scan her retina. It cross referenced the image against the Realm’s database. A moment later it returned a profile—a young woman who looked strikingly similar to Grace, but it was hard to say with any certainty if it was actually Gra
ce.

  “Saava Rejnick,” the LT read from the device.

  “That's the name they gave me.”

  Clegg’s eyes flicked from Grace to the image on his PDU, then back again. “Are you sure about that?"

  “Positive."

  “No retinal transplants?"

  “These are the eyes the gods gave me." Grace smiled. “Could you shut the door, it's getting cold in here.”

  Clegg’s eyes narrowed at her. He studied the image once again. “We were just leaving.” He called to the rest of the squad. “Lets move out!”

  The Soturi marched out of the home making a ruckus.

  “I apologize for the inconvenience.” Clegg turned and followed his men. At the door, he paused and craned his neck back over his shoulder. “Your file lists you as deceased. You might want to have that information updated.”

  “I'm not surprised. Have you been to the Department of Registry lately? Have you seen the people they have working there?"

  Clegg almost chuckled. He marched into the snow. Grace trotted to the door and sealed the hatch. She leaned against the wall and exhaled a deep breath. She stayed there and listened to the troops load into the dropship. She listened to the engine spool up and lift off. The craft rumbled away into the snowy sky.

  Soon, there was silence again. Just the way she liked it.

  Grace dashed to the couch and pushed it aside. She opened the secret compartment, and Ava climbed out.

  Grace gave her a hand and pulled her from the darkness. “Something tells me traveling is going to be tough. They’re going to be looking for you in all the major ports.”

  Ava nodded.

  “At least they don’t know what you look like. We’re going to have to find something a little less conspicuous for you to wear.”

  There was a little glimmer in Ava’s eyes. “You mean, you’re going to loan me some clothes?”

  “Don’t get too excited. I’m not a fashion maven.”

  “Anything is better than this robe.”

  Grace cringed as she looked over the garment. “True.”

  The two shared a smile.

  “Come on. Lets find you something to wear.”