The Starlight Lancer

Chapter 120

"Why should this heretic be allowed to join our sacred Order? We have been tasked with safeguarding the galaxy, with being the protectorate of its peoples, a task given us by Riiva itself. To allow such a blight within our walls is an insult to the countless and hallowed dead who sacrificed everything to keep their kind from burning the galaxy. Heretics are called such for a reason: The Reign of Laogoth the Terrible, The War of the Blackswords, the War of the Black Ships, the Return War, the many-numbered Heretic Wars, not to mention the numerous wars of the Marked Empire—what benefit do you have to weigh against all of that suffering?"

—Antokritus the Ancient, former Scholar Suprema of Directives in the Order of Riiva and founding member of the Scions of Riiva

Baeus's glyph landed his small, atmospheric ship on one of the many circular platforms built atop Port Isle, Kaado's main hub of incoming and outgoing traffic.

"Here we are," Baeus said, his bed-pod detaching from its restraints. "Next stop, the Ship Charter­—then Ganthelia."

"Ganthelia?"

"That's the world where our little friend comes from. Maybe the manufacturing plant will be able to help, or at least point us in the right direction."

She stared down at Gizmo, who was still in her lap and still in low-power mode. "I hope so."

The ship's doors opened, and Baeus led the way out. Zaina walked alongside him, noticing the glares and glances from lancers, scholars, and attendants alike as they traversed the steel jungle of landing platforms.

Try not to think about them. They're not what's important right now.

"Okay," Baeus said, "so when we get to the Ship Charter, I'll go in and do the talking, if you don't mind waiting outside."

She shot him a nasty look. "Why, they don't rent ships out to my kind?"

He sighed. "It's not that, though they would be more likely to ask questions should you come inside; mostly, though, I don't want them to see Gizmo. They'd have more questions about him than they would you."

She hadn't thought about that. If someone asked her what was wrong with her glyph, what was she going to say? Battery issue?

I probably should have planned this out a little better.

"Don't worry," Baeus said.

"I'm not worried."

"Your anxiety is palpable. It's going to be okay, Zaina."

Her lips tightened. Nothing was ever that easy for her, but Baeus wouldn't understand. Instead of engaging further she changed the subject. "Why don't we take your ship?"

Baeus chuckled. "That little thing? That's not rated for interplanetary travel. No, we'll need something with a few more bells and whistles."

Zaina grumbled, wishing she didn't have to be out and about on Kaado.

They finally came to a windowless, square metal building supporting three separate landing platforms. Upon reaching the door Baeus turned to Zaina and said, "I'll be right back."

She nodded. Once he was inside she hobbled over to a bench near the entrance and plopped down. Beside her was a decorative plant, a Monmoran thrushcaller sculpted from transparent glass. In school she'd learned that thrushcallers spread their seeds by a partnership with birds—the plant produced a sweet nectar to attract birds, and while they gorged themselves, the powdery seeds of the thrushcaller would attach to the bird's leg and fall off during flight.