distant a memory-some time around his eighth year the massacre had stripped him of his family and his people. It was in this place where his mother had been murdered by the Horva. This was the place of Tiet’s dreams and his nightmares.
Orin, Tiet and Ranul followed their guides down through a large open area serving as the town square then on through a series of large columns hewn out of the rock into a smaller chamber. All around them, people milled in the walkways, looking at them curiously. Tiet noticed that almost all of them wore the Barudii clothing which had been left in the city after the massacre. It was an eerie sight to him-like his people raised from the dead.
The irrigation canals still functioned, and Tiet could see fresh water coming in from one of the underground mountain streams. Evidently the gardens must still be in production to keep these people alive down here. As they came into the adjacent chamber, several men sat convened in a meeting. One, who was dressed as though he might be the leader, got up to walk toward them. One of their guides intercepted him and whispered his report.
“Gentlemen, welcome to Vaseer. My name is Estall,” the man said.
Tiet thought how strange it was to be welcomed to his former home by this man who had only taken possession of it because of the slaughter of his Barudii clan.
“I’m Orin Vale, this is Dr. Ranul K’ore and this young man is Tiet Soone,” Orin reported.
“Ah, then you must be the son of Kale Soone the first, the Barudii King,” Estall said.
“How did you know that?” Tiet asked.
“Both of you Barudii are written about in the city’s archives. We Aolene clansmen have studied your history. We have trained our people in your fighting arts for some years now,” Estall said. “We came to the city nearly six years ago to escape the Horva after the war. After the Barudii were wiped out, the Vorn staged a massive takeover against the remaining clans. They released the Horva on our people and killed thousands. A very few still remain in what was left of the Aolene cities. We chose to flee.
“At first we went into the wilderness not knowing where to go. Then some of the elders among our group suggested we take refuge in one of the abandoned Barudii cities. Once we arrived, we realized how well the city was fortified. Finding an ample supply of fresh water and the irrigated gardens, we knew it was the right place for us to stay.”
“Have the Vorn not patrolled here in all that time?” Orin asked.
“At first we feared they might eventually make their way out this far. But they seem to have largely forgotten this place since the demise of the Barudii. Many of our people began to research the Barudii archives. We discovered the warrior art. Our people trained according to your ways. The weaponry was still here in your armories and in good supply. Even without your special mind powers, I think we’ve learned a great deal of the techniques,” Estall said proudly.
“Of that I’m quite sure,” Orin said. “This young woman showed exceptional skill. I was quite impressed.”
Tiet looked again at the girl, only to find her staring at him. He looked away quickly then back, trying to appear as though he were surveying the room beyond.
“Dorian is my younger sister,” Estall said. “She is only in her eighteenth year, but she has been an eager student of your ways. She has instructed many of our people.”
Impressive, Tiet thought. Each time he glanced at her, he noticed she was staring at him. He felt uneasy, embarrassed. He wasn’t sure why.
“I guess you’ve been a very eager student as well to be leading this people when you are so young a man yourself,” said Orin.
One of the elder men standing near spoke up. “Estall is young, but he has proven his courage and his wisdom to our people.”
The men continued talking, but Tiet wasn’t listening anymore. He had now become preoccupied with Dorian. Tiet decided not to be a coward about it. He lifted up his eyes to Dorian. She still stood behind her brother, Estall. Tiet returned her stare.
She smiled slightly-he had definitely seen it. She broke away from the group and walked past him, back toward the public area they had come through. Tiet suddenly realized he may have been smiling himself and pursed his lips to disguise it. Better to pay attention to what’s important right now, he thought.
“If you don’t mind my asking,” Estall said, “the archives contained nothing concerning the last battle of your people. What happened?”
“Something we just weren’t expecting,” Orin said. “The Vorn assembled a massive ground force and we were prepared to meet them. What we didn’t realize was that they had developed some new technology. They just walked right out of the walls, like some dimensional portal. Thousands of Horva clones poured into the mountain cities while we had our warriors on the surface preparing for the ground assault.
“Our king, Kale Soone, had chosen me to guard his wife and son. We tried to fight, but it was only women and children, besides myself, left in the city. The enemy got to Queen, but I managed to take the boy and flee the city with him. I later investigated the battlefield up in the valley. From what I could tell the Horva in our cities came at our warriors from behind as they fought on the surface.”
Everyone was silent for a moment. It was a tragedy which had cost all of Castai’s clans their freedom.
“Now may be time to act, though,” Orin said. “We’ve just discovered their main cloning facility is no longer in production-supply lines are dry temporarily.”
“That would explain what our spies have been reporting,” said Estall.
“I don’t understand,” Ranul said.
“We have spies which go into the cities on a regular basis. They have reported seeing hardly any Horva at all. The Vorn have even taken to patrolling without them.”
“It won’t remain that way for long,” Ranul said.
“Have you heard something specific?”
“I work in weapons development,” said Ranul. “There has been a lot of talk about a fleet coming through the transdimensional rift some time very soon. They’re supposed to be establishing Vorn colonies on Castai.”
“It doesn’t sound like we have much time to left,” Estall said.
“We have to find a way to stop that fleet from coming through the rift,” Orin said. “If your people could attack their main complex directly, then perhaps we could seize a ship from the hangar and take it through the rift to intercept their reinforcements.”
“But we have a ship here,” said one of the men with Estall.
“What kind of ship?” Ranul asked. “Is it Barudii? Is it operational?”
“Yes, at least most of the systems work,” he said. “We’ve never fully ignited the engines. There hasn’t been a need.”
“We had hoped that it would provide a last stand defense, or an escape if the Vorn discovered us,” said Estall.
“They’re going to discover you eventually,” Tiet said.
“Estall, it’s now or never,” Orin said. “Your people are trained and the Vorn are at their weakest moment. But the opportunity will pass if we don’t finish this war and free our people.”
Estall considered a moment, looking at the other men with him. “Please allow me a moment to speak with my elders.”
“If it’s all right, we should take a look at the ship,” Ranul suggested.
“Of course. Millo will show you where it’s docked.”
Millo, one of the men with Estall, motioned for them to follow as he led the way down another corridor out of the chamber. Orin and Ranul fell in behind his lead.
“I’m going to locate some more weapons and meet you down there, okay,” Tiet said.
Orin looked out through the doorway where Dorian had exited then back at Tiet. “All right, but don’t linger, we still have work to do.”
Tiet turned and walked back toward the city center only to find Dorian standing near the large stone fountain. When their eyes met again they both smiled. Tiet walked over to the fountain, not exactly sure what to say next.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you need more weapons,” Dorian said.
She either had excellent hearing, or had been closer to the chamber entrance when he said it. “Well, as a
