Blood Of The Covenant

They arrived at the palace of Khosana DKRT late that night.

The unique landscape, a natural fortress, enveloped the stately home, which was a marvel of architecture.

It was nestled in a sheltered valley, its grandeur accentuated by the two mountainous ridges that loomed over it.

The castle provided a haven from the volcanic destruction happening elsewhere on the planet, creating a sense of safety and tranquillity.

Its impressive front reached up into the night sky. Its white walls and gold columns reflected the moonlight, revealing detailed carvings covering every surface.

The House DKRT's ship descended with a graceful touch onto a sub-orbital pad nestled amidst the sprawling gardens, a scene of beauty and elegance.

Zoran's men emerged as the vessel's portal opened, cradling a precious bundle in their grasp. Each was a self-styled protector of the sleeping children.

Katya's arms cradled the ebony-haired cherub.

She was followed by Katya's mother, Kiko, leaning on Xion.

The unlikely cluster advanced to the palace entrance, which slid open with a whisper.

To reveal a woman.

She was stunning, with trailing silver and black tresses, an unlined dark-skinned face, and unmistakable features that Xion marked at once, for she resembled Duke.

Youthful and lithe, she appeared like a sister, not his mother.

He handed Kiko to Zoran and bounded up the steps towards her.

‘Khosana DKRT,' Xion said with a formal bow and click of his heels.

Duke had taught him well how to greet a Ccyth noblewoman.

She smiled, appreciating his effort. ‘You're Xion Sable, one of the famous Riders and Duke's friend.'

‘I am, ma'am,' the Rider rasped.

The Khosana turned her attention to the posse. ‘The rest of these lovely ones are my new charges?'

Xion nodded, presenting the children and their carers. ‘Naam, the D'Hanna family members we rescued from the ALMQ facility. They need your protection, Your Highness.'

KhosanaDKRT's eyes softened as she gazed at the group and the tousled heads of the sleeping young ones. ‘My heart aches for the tragedy they've endured. Bring them in at once.'

She gestured for the group to enter the palace, her voice strong and commanding.

‘Take them to East Wing, closest to my private chambers. They will be well cared for and receive my house's finest treatment.'

Zoran's soldiers swept past, carrying their precious cargo inside. They moved with efficient speed and tenderness that belied their giant forms.

She turned back to the Rider. ‘They will be well taken care of here, Xion. I am grateful for your efforts in their rescue,' the Khosana murmured, eyes flicking with curiosity over him.

‘The pleasure was mine, Your Highness,' Xion replied, his gaze never leaving Katya and the youngsters as they were escorted away.

Katya paused, her arms still around the cherub. She reached a hand and squeezed his bicep, her eyes filled with gratitude. ‘Sante, Xion. For everything.'

‘De nada,' he rasped, jolting at the emotion that sparked between them.

‘I'll put Kaaia to bed and return soon to find you,' Katya whispered.

‘We'll be in the small salon,' the Khosana advised, her eyes glittering as she assessed the pair. ‘Ask one of my staff to bring you back to it when you're done.'

Xion slumped with heavy limbs into a lounge chair inside House DKRT's sumptuous lounge.

Crossing one leg over his thick thigh, he leaned back into the recliner and stretched.

His body ached, thoroughly bruised and battered.

His mind was weary, his ego wounded, his soul sore as all fokk.

How much more could a man take in a short period?

He teetered on the precipice of blowing up against a cliff of steep feelings.

‘A whisky perhaps,' came the direct yet gentle utterance from the impressive woman who swept to the salon's bar.

‘Naam, please.'

The woman poured a scotch and handed it over, her gaze never leaving his.

‘Sante.'

He clutched the glass, hands trembling as he took a sip. The alcohol burned down his throat, a welcome relief from the tension building up inside him all day.

‘You're quite the specimen,' came the Khosana's statement, seating herself down, her eyes raking over him.

He winced.

‘I also see you loathe being objectified.'

‘I'm fokkin' over it,' he growled.

‘You're sulking, Rider, and somehow, I don't think it's your style. Perhaps it has less to do with your physical magnificence and the predicament it brings and more with the complex woman you tracked into my home along with you.'

His heart lurched, and he tipped back the drink down his throat to mask his reaction. ‘Who? Katya?'

The Khosana gave him a faint smile. ‘Is that her name? I recall she's a D'Hanna. It's a small house, and I've never met any of them. But Duke told me she's quite the temptress who walks a thin line between what's right and wrong. I looked her up, asked around, and discovered she was tangled up with Akira Claw. Now that got my hackles up!'

It did the same to Xion.

He knifed up. ‘Did you say Claw?'

‘Naam. Black Claw is a -.'

‘I know of their reputation,' he grunted.

‘He's not even Iccythrian. He's Falasian but has modded himself to look like one of us. Y'know, the embedded gems, long hair with jewel strands and maglev worth of ink. All so he can act and look like a mobster when he struts around Pegasi. They were lovers, I believe.'

‘What the fokk?' Xion choked and hissed under his breath, his mocha-jade eyes flashing with an unholy emotion: Jealousy.

When he caught the amused expression on the Khosana's face, he cursed.

He'd been suckered into revealing his heart. ‘Oh, you're more than what Duke described. You're dangerous,' he growled at her.

‘I'm ALMQ. We play dirty, which I presume is what my uncle did to you. On that note, it's karma, baby. His dues have been coming for a long time. He must fall on his sword and let others sit on the throne.'

Xion shook his head, mesmerised by the woman and how fast her mind zipped around. ‘Back to Claw,' he murmured, unable to help himself. ‘What do you know of him?'

‘He holds kinais to ransom and plagues the pirate lanes between here and Falasia. He eschews the Rhesia, Galicia, and Eden II routes for a good reason. You and your badass Sable brothers are a major deterrent to raiders and buccaneers like him.'

Xion huffed. ‘So we are.'

He stared into his glass, heart and mind churning.

Katya had been stealing from her ex-lover?As retribution or an attempt to get his attention. He had no clue.

He was lost in thought when Katya stepped into the room. Her face was flushed, and her hair was untidy from her recent experiences and tending to her kids.

Still, she was fokkin' beautiful, and his heart lurched.

She bowed to the Khosana, scanned the room and found him, her eyes filled with concern and emotion left unsaid.

‘Are you alright?' he rasped, not for show and all for her benefit, his soul navigating his complex reactions to her. ‘The children settled in?'

She nodded and sat beside him. ‘Naam, they're resting.'

She turned to the older woman, who'd been studying their exchange with glinting eyes over the edge of her crystal tumbler. ‘SanteKhosana.'

‘Don't thank me,' the woman shrugged, rising to pour Katya a drink. ‘You're doing me a favour by filling our empty rooms with some life. I'm curious, though, the youngsters; where did you pluck all of them from?'

Katya's face flushed, and she took a moment to respond. ‘They're born of a mix of Ccyth and other race backgrounds. As you might be aware, Khosana, the strict laws in Iccythrian society prevent interracial marriages. Resulting in these little ones being abandoned by their Iccythrian mothers. I found them on the streets of LeCythi and brought them under my care. My mother Kiko and I take tend to them, and I've hired three more staff to help, plus bought a home on the city's outskirts for them.'

‘How do you feed and clothe them all?' Duke's mother demanded, thrusting a cognac tumbler into Katya's hand.

The Iccythrian beauty lifted her chin, facing the other woman's defiant gaze. ‘I'm a famed card shark, fencer, cat burglar and safe-cracker. I steal from criminals to pay for what they need.'

After her wild statement, Katya raised her glass to her lips and took a good slug. While Xion stared at her, transfixed by her account.

The Khosana's jolted. ‘Of course. How noble of you. I can't believe, however, that in this day and age, mixed children are outcasts in our society. Tis an old-fashioned notion, one I wasn't aware was still an issue.'

‘Perhaps not in the upper classes that can afford fortunes and multiple income streams,' Katya said, her brow furrowed with the earnestness of her argument. ‘With poorer Iccythrians, marrying externally means having any family inheritance spread out and too thin. I know the higher borns have let the practice fall, but for some, it's still a major concern that's not widely acknowledged.'

Silence fell for a beat.

‘But it's a desperate and tragic situation for these kids,' Katya continued.

The Khosana nodded, his face a picture of sympathy. ‘It's a disgrace that our people should be so discriminatory and backward, which is why His Highness is on his way out. He does not advocate for the poor, neither for women whatsoever and holds onto outdated ideas of us as the weaker sex, relegated to kitchens, nurseries and bedrooms.'

She turned to Xion, who'd been staring at Katya with a new sense of revelation. ‘K'Sumi is weak, ineffectual, a clown. Sensing his weakness, numerous houses are rallying and opposing the Supreme Sovereign. Many want to dethrone him and take over. We also know he's using Iccythria's reserve budgets to bribe politicians, judges and the media to garner favour.'

‘Agreed,' Katya said. ‘I, too, happen to know the House ALMQ presents a clean image to the populace while he has used death squads to kill anyone who rebels against him. To fund his little war and small private army he's allegedly embezzled hundreds of millions in public funds.'

The Khosana sucked her teeth. ‘Someone needs to take him out! You have my full support for helping to rip him off his fokkin' throne.'

The Rider sat forward, resting his hand on his knees and steepling them. ‘But isn't he an ALMQ and your relative?'

Khosanaclapped her hands for emphasis and raised an eyebrow, her stare unwavering. ‘Naam, but I'm no fool. Iccythria is sliding into disrepair and crisis because the man has mired himself in corruption and sold us all up the river. No more.'

‘Who would take his place?' Xion pushed.

The woman's face closed up, but he tagged a gleam in her eye. ‘Duke,' he grunted.

She met his gaze with dancing eyes. ‘Perhaps. I've been priming him for leadership all these years, and it's about time he stepped up into it. You know, use his brain to understand that transformation is necessary. But it's not just about K'Sumi's backward and degenerate ways. It's about the entire fokkin' messed-up system that's been holding us back for generations. It'll take more than one person to change that. Perhaps that's where you, Rider and Katya come in,' she said, folding her arms defiantly. ‘Perhaps this whole debacle has just handed me what I've been chasing for years on a platter. This might be just the start of Duke taking down K'Sumi and his cronies piece by fokkin' piece.'

‘The poor bugger has no clue, does he?' the Rider murmured with a quirk to his lips, referring to his friend.

‘Not a one, and don't you dare breathe a word to him yet,' the forceful woman before them declared. ‘Now, you two, what's the plan? Do you intend to keep gazing at each other with moon eyes? Or are you going to fokk senseless and make up for whatever shit you've put each other through?'

Katya's eyes dilated, and she clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.

Xion jolted and then rumbled with laughter. ‘Damn.'

He and Katya exchanged glances and slid their eyes away from the other.

‘We have much to discuss, that is for sure,' Xion rasped. ‘First, though, Khosana, I'll have you know that K'Sumi stole more than just my metanoids. He filched access to Sable HQ, and we need to find out why—fast. Given he's probably apprised by now of our rescue, which has lost him his only leverage over us. We thank you for your warm welcome, but Katya and I will be leaving in the morning to find out more.'

As he spoke, a soft tingle sounded in the room.

‘Naam?' the Khosana grated.

You have a call. It's from the Royal ALMQ palace.'

‘Speak of the devil. Patch him through.'

A holo display shimmered between the Khosana and the couple on the couch.

It cleared to show the cold face of His Highness K'Sumi, his glower aimed at Duke's mother.

The holo's camera faced his niece, so Xion and Katya were outside its scope.

The Ccyth King, therefore, had no clue they were listening in.

‘House DKRT vessels were reported violating a secret ALMQ base and secreting away my guests. Is that accurate?' he snarled, leaving out any niceties.

‘Guests, K'Sumi? More like hostages,' the stately woman smirked, the warmth not quite reaching her eyes.

K'Sumi's body stiffened, and from where they sat, Xion and Katya saw his eyes dart about, the gears in his mind turning.

He understood that he had just slipped up, and the Khosana had him right where she wanted him.

His face rearranged into arrogance, but his eyes flickered with a hint of panic. ‘You're playing a dangerous game, Sonaya,' he warned.

His cousin smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. ‘Am I? Or are you the one who's lost control of the board and scores, K'Sumi? I got word two of your safe houses were infiltrated in one day, and prisoners were set free. News travels fast on Iccythria.'

K'Sumi's face darkened into a shade resembling eggplant purple. ‘I assure you, I always know where my pieces are placed and that I'm on top of the situation. I know exactly what you're trying to do, rattle me,' he bit back.

‘I think you rattled the wrong cage, Uncle, and your sway over your coffers, mining investments, and cabinet has diminished. How much more will the bribed deals you made hold up? When you can't keep up with the streams of payment?'

‘I have a plan in place,' he sneered. ‘What it is is none of your business. You're lucky you're ALMQ, or right now, I'd be sending the military to blow House DKRT into oblivion.'

The Khosana smirked. ‘Thank fokk for blood then. Remember, though, the blood of the covenant is thicker than the womb's water. And there's one covenant I understand you've tried to fokk up, causing its keepers to get riled up for you.'

The ALMQ monarch leaned in. ‘Which one?'

‘The Sable brotherhood. They don't take too well to being fokked around with.'

K'Sumi twisted his lips. ‘I'm not playing with them; I just need something they have with great urgency, and I won't let up until I have it.'

‘K'Sumi, you're getting desperate, and I'd watch your back if I were you. Now I must leave; I've guests to attend to.'

She ended the call with an abrupt wave, closing the display off just as the King's mouth opened to share more of his high-handedness.

‘You heard him,' the Khosana clipped, her eyes burning as she stared down Xion and Katya. ‘He's on the lam. Get your asses to wherever bum fokk they're needed to trace his plans down and hand his ass to me. With full proof evidence of whatever crimes he is about to commit.'

Xion stepped out of the salon with Katya in tow.

‘I'm fokkin' exhausted, D'Hanna,' he grated. ‘Here's what I think needs to happen next. You climb those stairs and spend the night with your family for a few hours, at least until dawn. I'll track to my ship, hovering above the palace, and get some rest. In the morning, we'll lift off for Eden II. Hear?'

Katya's eyes traced the weary lines of his face. ‘Understood.'

He jerked his chin at her and strode away.

‘Xion?' she called after him.

He stopped midstep and rotated to face.

‘Sante.'

Their eyes locked, clashed and flamed.

With another jerk of his jaw, he turned away and kept walking.

She stared at his lithe, muscled beauty and took a breath.

Was he her portion or not?

She had no idea how to navigate the next few days with him.

But fokk, she already missed him and longed for the touch of his lips on hers, his lean fingers stroking and bringing her to incandescence once more.

A woman could dream. She sighed as she shifted towards the stairs leading to House DKRT's private suites.

Where she found a little girl curled up on a bed.

She shucked her boots and power suit and slid under the covers, careful not to wake the slumbering child.

She wrapped her arms around her most precious treasure.

‘Mama,' the toddler whispered, patting her face.

The sweet utterance broke Katya, and she closed her eyes as tears fell over her cheeks.

A few hours later, night had passed, and dawn was slipping its purple threads of light over the dark sky.

In a lush bedroom deep within the opulent palace, an older woman with silver hair woke to the shake of a hand on her upper arm.

‘Mada, it's me,' Katya said, smiling down at her mother, Kiko D'Hanna.

‘What time is it?' Kiko yawned.

‘6 AM, just after sunrise.'

‘Kaaia OK?' Kiko asked.

‘She's still sleeping,' Katya confirmed.

The pair glanced over to the second bed in the room where the young girl was nestled.

Kiko let her daughter slip a shawl around her shoulder and lead her into the small living room of the bedroom suite that the Khosana had assigned them.

‘Mada, sorry to wake you.'

‘De nada, my love. In the forthcoming days or weeks, I'll have all the time to sleep in a comfortable bed again.

‘I must leave you again,' Katya breathed.

The softhearted woman gave her daughter a long hug.

‘There's no need for thanks,' Kiko replied, barely a whisper. ‘As your mother, I must look after my only child and her kids.'

‘Nada, I should be their primary carer, but in recent months -' her voice trailed off.

They shared a moment of silence, and then Katya pulled away. ‘I'll never stop thanking you,' she murmured. ‘You've always been there for me, Mada. And for that, I will always be grateful. Yet again, I feel guilty leaving you all on a mission to save the Iccythria from the clutches of K'Sumi's madness.'

‘You've no choice, my girl. If you don't save the planet, you can't save us, so go. We'll be fine.'

‘Will you? Even without father?'

Kiko's face hardened. ‘He bartered with our lives and those of your kids in particular. I've loathed the man for many years and do not intend to love him or devote myself to your brothers any further. I'll be a grey rock to them like you've done yourself.'

Katya shrugged with a sad shrug. ‘They've made their beds. Now, until I return, you'll be safe here. The Khosana DKRT has promised you and the kids can stay here for as long as you like.'

‘Sante,' Kiko said with a soft smile.

‘Perhaps look at it as a holiday. The staff here are the best. I've already been offered massages, facials, and a personal chef,' Katya laughed.

‘But this is no escapade, my darling,' her mother urged. ‘His Highness is playing a dangerous game; we're all pawns. Our lives, our families, and our existence are at stake. So while I hold the fort here, go with your Rider and fight for us.'

Katya raised a brow. ‘My Rider?'

‘Don't you think I have eyes, child? I see how you two look at each other, and I approve.'

‘He doesn't see me that way, mada, not after everything I put him through.'

Her mother clucked. ‘He more than likes you, Katya. He's not Akira, who treated you like shit. What man comes charging in on a sleek ship to rescue an older woman and twelve kids unless he's invested in you? Think about it.'

Katya's face was a canvas of shock.

Kiko enveloped her in her arms with a laugh. ‘Take your blessings where you find them, daughter. Now kiss your sleeping princess and go,' she said, squeezing Katya's hand. ‘I'll see you soon again, I know it.'

Katya nodded, her eyes brimming with mist. ‘I'll be back for all of you before you know it. I swear it.'

Kiko gave her a fierce hug once more before the younger woman turned and left the room.