Anne Winchell - The Last War

“The woman, Nalia.”

Kaela snapped back to reality and stared at him. He was leaning close, yes, but he wasn’t looking at her seductively. He looked more like he wanted her to understand something. Kaela swallowed and nearly choked. She coughed and pounded her chest. He drew away from her and rubbed her back. Again, with no emotion other than concern.

“I think we need to talk to Medane. Nalia needs to return to her people, and I—” he patted her back and shook his head. “I don’t think I can do this anymore. Medane will make sure you’re safe,” he added.

“What do you mean? Where will you go? I could go with you.”

Even as Kaela spoke she knew that he would refuse. He had allowed his vulnerabilities to show and now he was closing up, retreating, and she couldn’t think of a way to stop him.

“No, you deserve better than to go into hiding with me.”

“Nothing in the world sounds better,” she said, gripping his arm to show her sincerity.

He shook his head again. “You don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand? Tell me.”

Raven sighed and glanced in the direction of the Nalia girl’s room. Kaela dropped his hands abruptly. Was he in love with that girl? After meeting her once? Was that why he didn’t want Kaela around? She stood up stiffly and started to leave. As she passed the door, heading somewhere away from Raven, she turned and tried to appear poised and calm when she spoke.

“We will speak to Medane. Tomorrow.”

He nodded and almost looked like he was about to follow her, but he remained seated. She exited dramatically, not knowing where she was going but knowing it would be someplace alone.

Medane knew that he was losing Raven as soon as the small group entered the main building. Raven had requested a private meeting in a room near the entrance and hadn’t given a reason. He had said that he and Kaela had taken one of the rebels captive and would be bringing her. Medane studied them intently and was aware of Atheus doing the same. He had attempted to prevent Atheus from coming, but Atheus insisted on being a part of everything relating to the díamont hunt.

The moon was still out of communication but Atheus had quickly figured out what had happened and why Kaela was now on Earth. Atheus couldn’t officially reprimand the Eastern World until communications resumed; until then, he appeared content to passive aggressively sabotage Medane. Not always so passive, though, Medane thought with a grimace. He hadn’t spoken a word to his former friend after Atheus smashed through NeoLondon. Atheus might have had a legitimate reason, but Medane knew he really just wanted to destroy something Medane held dear.

Raven led the group, Kaela behind his right shoulder and the rebel behind his left. He seemed to be protecting both of them and Medane reassessed each woman. Raven had never been able to connect with many people, probably a result of his unusual breeding. He had little in common with the average human alive today. Medane knew that Raven did have at least one close friend, a male, and he also knew that Raven had never been in love. Raven treated love like a disease and did everything in his power to keep from catching it. But his behavior now suggested to Medane that he had developed a close relationship to at least one of the women.

It would be natural to assume that he would fall for Kaela, since they had so much in common. Similar childhoods, similar jobs now. But the rebel girl was truly beautiful and held herself with a mixture of arrogance and fear that was identical to Raven’s the first time he and Medane had met. If she were intelligent as well, Medane wouldn’t be too surprised if Raven was attracted. Especially to someone who reminded him of one of the relatively happy periods in his life.

Atheus’ attention was on the rebel as well, particularly her wrists. One was handcuffed to Raven, the other displayed a thin bracelet. It looked familiar, and after a moment Medane recognized it as the bracelet that had fallen from the sky at his first meeting with Galley. He hadn’t seen who picked it up and he wondered why she was wearing it now. The rest of her outfit was simple, typical lower-class clothing. Bright blue denim pants, rough cotton shirt in a slightly darker blue. Thin brown slippers, not the type people usually wore outside. Her hair was loosely tied back with a band and she wore no other jewelry.

“Raven, please explain why you wanted to speak to me in person.”

Medane already knew that Raven was leaving. It had always been a matter of time. Raven appreciated his job because it allowed him to protect large numbers of people and eliminate the few who threatened others, but he had never enjoyed the job. Eventually, Medane knew he would want to return to a simpler life. It had been a risk sending Raven back into his old life and home, and even more of a risk to give him so much money for doing it. Raven hated bribery and was extremely loyal; it was natural that this mission would test his commitment to Medane. Medane just hoped he had uncovered the díamont’s identity and would be willing to share it.

“Before I speak, I would like your assurance that neither I nor Kaela will be killed or punished for anything that has happened in the past week.”

“I can only guarantee your safety, Raven,” Medane said, glancing at Atheus.

Atheus was glaring but he seemed pleased for some reason. Medane made a mental note to find out why.

“Kaela will be safe,” Atheus said.

Medane noticed Kaela shiver as he spoke and wondered again how Kaela had ended up working for Atheus. It didn’t appear to be a friendly relationship and Atheus wasn’t above blackmail or even torture to get what he wanted. Atheus hadn’t always been so brutal, though, and Medane often found it hard to believe that his childhood friend could do the things Atheus was capable of.

“Medane,” Raven began, “I respectfully withdraw from this mission.”

Medane nodded and began to think of the other possible ways to locate Galley. Raven was the only person capable of infiltrating the resistance, but there were less delicate ways of finding information. Atheus might insist on keeping Kaela here, but he would probably be content to withdraw as well and leave everything to Medane. That way Atheus would still appear to be helping, but there would be very little chance of anyone finding the rogue díamont, let alone learning who created it. Medane knew Atheus well enough to know how he would rationalize abandoning the rogue díamont to Medane and he wished that Atheus would put his personal prejudices aside for once and do something without personal benefit. Atheus had put the lives of the planet at risk when he created another díamont. Medane thought that he should at least be willing to put his own life on the line to prevent another war. But Atheus had changed in the years since the Last War and no longer valued other lives above his own. Even without the rogue díamont, it was only a matter of time before Lethe would be forced to kill both of the díamonts.

Raven took a deep breath and glanced at the girl to his left, the rebel. He seemed on the verge of speaking and Medane recognized the way Raven held his head high and fists clenched. He was about to do something rash, something that they both knew he would regret. But no matter how many regrets Raven might have, Medane knew that he never changed his mind once he had made a decision.

“I will also be leaving your service. Permanently.”

Medane winced and glanced at Atheus. The other díamont had a wicked look in his eyes. If Raven had announced his decision to Medane in private, Medane could have assured his safe evacuation from the city. But with Atheus here, Medane was required to arrest him immediately. Raven was, after all, a known killer.