Ancient Hunter
Chapter 43

I watched the two Valkyrie leave as their shuttle launched into the air. I hadn’t asked if they knew the way or needed an escort. That wasn’t the Valkyrie way so I wisely shut up. My comms pinged making me jump a little. I hadn’t realised I now had a working comms. 

“Yes?” I answered it.

“The last of attendees have arrived so no need for you out by the shuttle port come back to the Admin Building.”

I recognised Joyce’s voice. “I’ll be there.”

She must have contact with the Confed ship in orbit and that was the reason my comms were working. Or it could be that my comms were still linked through the Valorous Star. With that thought in mind I trooped back to Admin Building, Frialmold and Rodrifa following as my guardians. Joyce was waiting by the door her arms folded.

“There you are we can’t start without you.”

I had to ask the question. “Why me?”

“Because the Landottir died here and we need to know why.”

I was taken aback by her words numerous questions were raised in my mind. “I thought this was about now?”

“It is and what happened to the Landottir all those years ago. I’m certain there’s a link and it is up to us to find it.”

That did go some way to making sense I guess. “And I here because?”

Joyce gave me a look and shook her head. “Don’t sell yourself short Gwen. Just get your butt in there!”

Through the corner of my eye I saw Rodrifa grinning like the Cheshire cat. She might have thought it funny I didn’t.

Inside the table had been placed in an angular ‘U’ shape with the Confeds down one side and Xenai, my former team and the two Valkyrie on the other side. A holo projector stood on the floor between the desks. The head of the table was empty two empty seats occupied the space. Joyce sat in one then gestured to me to take the other. Reluctantly I sat in the chair provided feeling self-conscious.

“Good now we can start!” Joyce said glancing around. “Introductions first.”

She smiled at me. “This is Gwen Hunter, some of you are already aquatinted with her. The rest should know she is also a Landottir.” I noted she addressed her last comment to the Valkyrie in the room. “Two my right are…” She went on to name Xenai and my former team along with Skerifa and Regingrior. “Who are representing the TCA and the Elders on Alfheimir.” She turned to the other table. “And this is Colonel Andrea Myers of the Confederacy Ground Forces.”

That must be the Confed woman in the grey uniform. She was more interested in Xenai than the others.

Joyce continued. “This is General Unagi of the Demeros Security with him are First Minster Rita Harding and Prince Bertand Cole both representing the Demeros Civilian Government and most here know Captain Kyrikia.”

I wasn’t sure what the government type on Demeros was. I did know there were as many types of government as there were planets in the Confederacy. Ranging from monarchies to full democracies and everything in between. Just thinking about that had me pausing I realised something was missing. “There’s no one here to represent the Empire?”

“You can do that Gwen,” Joyce answered.

I opened my mouth to protest but shut it again with a look from Joyce.

“As I was going to stay. Gwen Hunter has the ear of Lady Camelia Broaden, the Empress’ mother.”

I knew I couldn’t win even though Joyce was the Empress’ aunt and a lot higher up that ladder than I was if I was correct. Feeling I was under a microscope I spoke up the words that exited my mouth weren’t the words I had intended to say. “I can do that.”

Joyce smiled I had been out foxed. “There I think that includes all the interested parties introduced?” she glanced at Unagi. “General Unagi do you have anything on the Orsini corpses we sent you.”

“Nothing conclusive,” he replied. “Just a parcel of conundrums. We’ve asked for experts from Nithus.” He frowned. “They’ll take a few weeks to reach us.”

“That can’t be helped I suppose,” Joyce said.

“We need to know what’s going on here?” The Prince asked. “I understand your need meet here but what is the context we could have done this back at the palace?”

“Your highness,” Joyce said and went on to detail what her team had found. “The city the Landottir built upon was destroyed by a device called the Heart of the Sun.”

“That’s a very specific name?” Rita said.

“From the Archive of Melanos,” Joyce replied without hesitation.

I stared at her shocked I hadn’t thought she’d lie for me. I felt touched that she had done that and grateful she hadn’t mentioned that the information had come from a First One. It would take more time and probably cause an awkward moment.

“Fortunately the Ancients stopped its use. We do not have any more data at this moment.”

I saw more than a few relieved faces around room.

“We can only speculate why this town was targeted again.” Joyce stated.

“Any ideas,” Kyrikia asked.

“We have discovered something called a Stepping Stone,” Joyce added.

“Stepping Stone?” Xenai said. She had her eye on me. She might not be able to read my mind Joyce’s was open to her. Which would mean she’d seen through the lie. It was an added complication. I hoped I’d be able to talk to her about it. To my relief I saw Xenai nod in my direction.

“What does this Stepping Stone do?” the Prince asked.

“It transports you to another location to another of these stones,” Joyce told him. “In this case the Cloudy Mountains five hundred kilometres away.”

“You sure?” Unagi said.

“Certainly,” Joyce affirmed.

“There is one of these in the desert of Saros,” Xenai mused.

I was worried as to what she was going to reveal. A cold feeling ran it way up my body.

“I haven’t seen that one,” Joyce commented.

I felt the veiled invitation in her words. She knew the Keepers were there.

“This info comes for the Archives on Melanos?” Colonel Myers asked.

“And from a person that knows how to use it.” Joyce said.

I felt ill I couldn’t believe she was betraying me this way. I though she was my friend.

“Didn’t Saros get attacked a couple of years back,” Unagi enquired. His question was directed towards Xenai.

“I was there those Orsini were the real thing.”

“Meaning these weren’t?” Unagi said.

“Yes the debris and bodies we recovered weren’t like these ones here,” Xenai told him.

“So we can rule out a link there?” Colonel Myers said.

“It was an ordinary attack. I did take a careful look into it since we were involved,” Xenai said to her.

I still didn’t know if it was something to do with Vanessa, I’d never find that out not from her anyway. I could feel a bitterness in my chest Solstrid would never get here peace I’d failed horribly in that.

“We all know this attack wasn’t,” Unagi stated. “We don’t have any debris and the only shuttle they used was destroyed.” I saw him glance at Kyrikia. “Somebody destroyed the only evidence we had?”

“My job is to protect the citizens of the Confederacy.”

“To which you did an admirable job,” Rita assured her.

“Yes, yes you have the gratitude of the people of Demeros,” Prince Bertand added.

“We are in your debt.”

“Where is this Stepping Stone. Is it far?” Rita asked.

“About fifteen minutes walk,” Joyce replied.

I was getting one of those feelings about this.

“Why don’t we go see it,” Rita suggested.

“Good idea,” Colonel Myers said, the other Confeds echoed her words.

Joyce led the group out of the Admin Building. She was in full archaeologist mode chattering easily about her team and their finds. I’d managed to leave Frialmold and Rodrifa behind but I was sure I’d get an earful later for it. I dropped back so I was in step with Xenai.

“Hello Gwen,” Xenai said. “Our last meeting wasn’t so pleasant. We have a lot of catching up to do.” I saw her glance around. “But not here or now.”

“You will be discrete with what you’ve learned for Joyce’s mind?” I winced I hadn’t meant to be so harsh.

“That goes without saying I won’t exploit yours and her secrets. But I will ask for a favour?”

“Blackmail?” I responded bleakly.

“What’s that?” Xenai said completely throwing my thoughts of track.

“Never mind,” I sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Xenai smiled. “Were all friends here.”

With nothing further to say on the subject I glanced to see Kelli with her gauntlet on and waving it in my direction.

“Kelli!” I grouched. I should really reign in my temper. I was being too Valkyrie.

“Sorry Gwen force of habit.”

Kyrikia had dropped back to join our party. She appeared to be in awe of Xenai.

“Captain Xenai,” she said hesitantly.

“Kyrikia,” Xenai replied. “What can I do for you?”

The two stepped back and to the side their heads close in conversation. It wasn’t about me so I kept away. We reached the stones it was a clearer view of them the Orsini had stripped away the bushes that surrounded it. I didn’t know the reason why nothing these Orsini did had any logical reason. The surface of the Stepping Stone was unmarred a testimony to its durability.

Joyce waved me over. “Over here Gwen.”

I had a sinking feeling I was about to demonstrate how the stones worked.

“Ok lets get this over with,” I said walking to the middle of the stone.

“Gather around Gwen,” Joyce said.

Not everyone got on. I raised my hand and a panel formed under it. I felt us drop.

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