Sword Empire Read online

  CHAPTER ONE

  The flight from Earth to Dooma, the fifth planet of the solar system, took eight long weeks. The launch sequence and the breakout from Earth’s orbit were the nearest Kananda had ever come to experiencing pure terror, but after that had come the awesome fascination of seeing the universe in all its starry glory. The ship’s telescopic viewscreens could probe into the very heart of distant galaxies, as well as provide stunning close-up images of every moon and planet in the solar system. His initial fears and uncertainty gave way to pure wonder as he watched the Earth rotate like a gorgeous jewel in the heavens, and witnessed the gigantic, leaping solar flares of the sun.

  After a week, the novelty faded somewhat and the voyage began to dip into frustration and boredom. The crew quarters were cramped and privacy and movement were limited. There was an extensive computerized library on board, but staring at a video screen and absorbing knowledge for hours on end soon began to lose its fascination. Zela was able to show him all of Alphan and Gheddan history, but after the first few weeks Kananda would almost have given his soul for a horse to ride, a river to swim, or even a flower to simply hold and smell.

  Zela completed his education in the Alphan and Gheddan languages, and taught him as much as possible on the differences of the two cultures. Kyle and Laurya added as much as they were able and soon Kananda counted all three as good friends. Only Cadel, the taciturn engineer, seemed a little aloof. But he was the only one with a definite job to do during the long haul between planets, and made almost a religion out of the constant checking and double-checking of the smooth and silent running of the ship.

  When the time came to strap themselves into the body-contoured landing seats for the second time, Kananda felt the same thrill of fear, but this time it was tempered by a new-found trust in his companions. Kyle now occupied the First Officer’s seat beside Zela that had been Blair’s, and over the Alphan’s silver-suited shoulder, Kananda watched as the planet below loomed large in the viewscreen. Like Earth, Dooma was cloud-covered with a breathable atmosphere. There were great land masses of red-brown earth, white ice-caps and green forests, with vast grey green oceans between. Their pre-landing orbit picked its path between three moons, two of them dead grey, crater-mottled by meteor impacts, and the third flashing silver in the sunlight.

  “The third moon has a thin atmosphere,” Zela told him as she deftly fingered the keyboard pilot controls under her hand. “But it is enclosed in ice. The iron core is heavily magnetic, which causes most of the violent tides and storms in our oceans.”

  Kananda nodded in answer, oblivious of the fact that she could not see him without turning her head. He was mesmerized by the planet below. During the launch from Earth he had kept his eyes firmly closed, but now that he was more familiar with the ship, he was determined to miss nothing. He no longer thought of the Tri-Thruster as a Temple of Steel.

  A wave of white vapour washed over the viewscreen as the ship dipped into the atmosphere, and Kananda felt cheated and disappointed. A few minutes passed and suddenly they were below the upper cloud level, racing over a vast expanse of glittering ocean where islands of white cloud hung between the sea and the sky.

  A continent reared up on the horizon, appearing to Kananda like some huge, grey-headed green elephant. The shoulders were lush forest slopes, the head a blunt crag of caprock, and two great white streams pouring downwards were its mighty tusks. Zela banked, and the elephant mountain slipped swiftly away behind them. Ahead stretched more rugged forest, followed by a patchwork of green and gold fields, split and silvered by streams and irrigation channels. Then came a great city of sun-kissed, golden-tinted pinnacles of glass and steel that put the red sand-stone turrets of mighty Karakhor to shame. From the images he had been shown during the long flight, Kananda knew without doubt that this was the capital city of the Alphan civilization, the City of Singing Spires.

  Zela landed the Tri-Thruster at the large space port to the south of the city and within minutes they were descending from the ship to meet a welcoming committee of two. One was a tall man with a neatly clipped golden beard, direct blue eyes, and a military bearing and uniform that reminded Kananda immediately of Warmaster Jahan. The physical and facial differences were unimportant, for Kananda instinctively knew that this man and his fierce uncle and teacher were two of a kind. The second man was older, his hair and beard almost white, wearing a loose, tunic-collared, white flowing robe.

  The older man smiled warmly and Zela ran into his arms where they hugged with undisguised affection. She kissed his cheek and the old man had to blink a tear from his eye. When they broke apart, Zela faced the second man for a moment, holding up her hand with the palm outward in salute. The tall man returned the gesture smartly, then he too smiled. They embraced briefly and more formally before Zela turned to make the introductions.

  “Kananda, this is my father, Laton, Prime Member of the High Assembly of Alpha. And Supreme Commander Antar of the Alphan Space Corps.”

  Kananda stared for a second longer. He had never seen neatly trimmed facial hair before. In India, older men always wore their whiskers in a fierce, bristling bush. Then he remembered protocol and bowed slightly, the form of respect he would have afforded his father and his uncles, before copying the palm-raised Alphan salute.

  “I am Kananda, First Prince of Karakhor,” he announced quietly.

  “Commander Zela has spoken of you in her reports,” Antar acknowledged. “But as our inter-space communications may be monitored by the Gheddans, I am sure there is much more to tell.”

  “Tomorrow,” Laton said firmly. “You can debrief Laurya and the others in the meantime, but I am taking my daughter and her guest straight home.”

  “Our time may be short,” Antar said seriously. But then he shrugged. “After eight weeks in space they all need some time to re-adapt. Tomorrow will be fine.”

  Laton linked one arm with Zela and the other with Kananda. “Welcome to Alpha,” he said cheerfully as he led them away. “I’m sure you can both use a bath, a good meal, and the chance to breathe in some real air.”

  Laton led them directly to his sky-car which was parked in one corner of the space port. To Kananda, the vehicle had the shape of a flattened spear head, but there was just enough room inside for the three of them. Within minutes, it had risen vertically and was flying north at the speed of a fast chariot. Kananda’s concentrated period of learning meant that there were no real surprises, but he found it all a thrilling experience.

  They circled the city, giving Kananda a closer look at its soaring skyline of spires and towers. The buildings were of honey-coloured stone, while its broad dissecting avenues were shaded with vivid green-leafed trees and paved with slabs of white marble. More sky-cars buzzed like orderly bees along the avenues, keeping strictly to three separate flight levels. The higher spires were carved with niches and honey-combed with openings which amplified the soft winds as they sighed and resonated sweetly through the tunnels and hollows. It was these sounds which gave the city its name.

  Laton talked non-stop, exchanging news with Zela, but never forgetting to point out the passing sites of interest for Kananda. He was obviously delighted to see his daughter, and she was equally pleased to be home. After an hour’s flight to the north, Laton put the craft down beside a small white-domed dwelling in an oasis of palm-like trees and neat flower gardens. It was on the edge of a small blue lake, and Kananda knew without asking that this was where Zela’s two brothers had drowned.

  The house proved larger than it had first appeared from the air, with a central hall under the dome and a series of rooms leading off on three sides. Laton led them through to a large sleeping room at the rear of the house. It overlooked a shaded garden with a fountain trickling into a water featur
e made up of different coloured, striated rocks.

  “This was my son, Lorin’s, room.” Laton said simply. “It is yours now, Kananda, for as long as you wish to stay with us.”

  Kananda thanked him and Laton turned to his daughter. “I am an old man and I talk too much. I will go to arrange a meal and we will eat in two hours. In the meantime I will leave you two young people alone. You can show Kananda anything he needs—take time to bathe and rest, a walk in the garden—do anything you wish.”

  Zela kissed him and he withdrew, closing the doors carefully behind him. Zela turned to Kananda and smiled. For the first time in eight weeks, they were alone together.

  “My father says I can show you anything you need,” she said softly. “And we can do anything you wish.”

  Kananda was uncertain how a guest should behave on this planet. He said slowly, “Perhaps your honorable father did not intend that we should take him too literally.”

  Zela’s smile broadened, becoming almost wicked. “My father knows that I am a woman now, and that I make my own decisions.”

  She came closer and rested her hands on his shoulders. Kananda looked into her teasing eyes and smiled. He enfolded her in his arms and pulled her closer against his chest. Their mouths met and melted in a long, sweet-tasting kiss. Kananda felt his blood pulse and his heart begin to pound, and knew that she was similarly affected. They had been so close, and so frustrated for so long, that now was the time for complete abandonment.

  “You know what I wish,” he said huskily, when they at last paused to breathe.

  “Then do it,” Zela whispered against his cheek.

  They kissed again, becoming open-mouthed and passionate as their tongues caressed together. Kananda explored her body with his hands, feeling hers moving gently over his chest and shoulders. After a moment, she leaned back while he held her easily with one arm. He saw only encouragement in her eyes and pulled down the front zipper of her silver suit, drawing it slowly from just under her throat to its full length just below her navel. Her gloriously voluptuous golden breasts burst eagerly free, her nipples standing ripe and firm and sensitive. She groaned joyously as Kananda transferred his attentions to those upthrust sentinels. He, too, wore one of the silver spacesuits, borrowed because it was the most comfortable garment to wear in space, and she quickly began to unzip him in turn.

  Moments later they were rolling naked on the large, soft bed. Their enforced celibacy meant that both of them were more desperate for sexual relief than they had ever been before. Kananda’s erection was huge and painful, Zela’s loins were quivering with a swiftly unleashed inner heat, and neither of them could wait. They exploded together in a white-hot intensity of emotion and release that left both of them weak, sweating and gasping.

  Their second coupling, some ten minutes later, was almost as violently volcanic, but the third, after another hour or so, was more loving and gentle. By then they both knew that their passion was not just the natural outcome of a long abstinence, but something deeper, infinitely more binding, and promising permanence. They had not only joined bodies, but somehow on a far more magical and spiritual plane, they had joined souls.

  “You are my woman now,” Kananda told her as they kissed for the thousandth time. It was something he had known from the first moment he looked into her eyes. “From now on I shall want no other. You must be my Queen, and we will rule Karakhor together.”

  “I am your woman,” Zela agreed softly. But she was aware that there were many harsh realities between them and their final happiness, and she finished more cautiously, “Perhaps one day we will rule Karakhor together.”

  The next morning they returned to the City Of Singing Spires, summoned to an urgent meeting of the High Assembly. Laton piloted them again in his sky-car, dropping down onto a mid-level landing port. It served the majestic Palace of Assemblies that dominated the centre of the city. The vast, many-spired complex hosted a score of separate assemblies dedicated to the different aspects of government, all in horseshoe shaped rooms where tiered ranks of seats sloped down to a central dais. The Supreme High Assembly Hall was the largest of all, with elegant gold pillars and a high ceiling that was a marvel of painted stars, planets and galaxies. Its position on the highest level of the complex meant that it had many tall, encircling windows open to the sky, but the heavy red and gold drapes were drawn across many of these. Inside, the light seemed to sparkle from the ceiling stars and for a moment Kananda could only gape upwards.

  The huge hall was almost empty. Only the first semi-circular row of seats was partially occupied. A score of elderly men sat there in plain gold robes, similar to those worn by Laton. Kyle, Laurya and Cadel sat stiffly at one end of the row, looking self-conscious in their best silver uniforms. Beside them was a young, black-haired woman who looked out of place. She wore a leather tunic and leggings, and Kananda was startled to see that her skin was blue.

  Antar stood at the central dais, awaiting their arrival, and nodded for them to take the places that had been left vacant between Zela’s crew and the elders of the assembly. Kananda was aware of the curious but not unfriendly glances that followed him as he took his seat. He wore a blue shirt with white waistcoat and leggings, supplied by Laton. With his borrowed clothes and smooth brown face, he knew that he was as much a stranger here as the blue-skinned woman among all these uniforms and formal robes.

  Antar coughed briefly to gain attention, and then spoke directly.

  “I believe all of us know of the Prince Kananda, who has accompanied Commander Zela on her return trip from the third planet. Because his homeworld will be prominent in our business today, and because I deem it right that he should understand our situation before we ask for the help of his people, I have asked Prime Member Laton to bring him here today. Does any member of the assembly have any objection to this?”

  Most of the faces that turned toward Kananda were still gravely curious, but there was no voice of dissent.

  “Then may I welcome you to our High Assembly, Prince Kananda.” Antar gave a formal bow.

  Kananda was not sure whether he should rise again and bow in return, but Antar was moving briskly on.

  “It is rare for an emergency assembly such as this to be called, so most of you have guessed that I have some disturbing news to impart. For many years now, we have countered the threat of full scale Gheddan invasion of Alpha with an array of nuclear and solar-pulse missiles. They are capable of crossing the Great Storm Ocean and destroying all their major cities and war-base centres. The Gheddans have also succeeded in building up a similar array of rocket-launched weapons that could virtually wipe our continent of Alpha from the face of this planet.”

  There were a few solemn nods, but most of his listeners remained impassive, and Kananda realized that this background detail was mainly for his own benefit.

  “The balance of power was always a dangerous concept,” one of the assembly delegates said softly. “So now you are going to tell us that the balance has shifted.”

  Antar nodded briefly. Whatever emotions he felt on the matter were masked behind his grim, lean face. “Yes, Prime Member Allor, the balance has shifted. We have known for several years that the Gheddans have been trying to build a lazer battle station which they can maintain in geostationary orbit above the planet’s surface. They believe that with such an orbital battle platform they can use lazer pulses to destroy our missiles between launch and impact. Thus we will be defenceless to a first strike attack from their missiles.”

  The tall Space Corps Commander paused again, and Kananda heard a muffled choking sound from Laton who sat beside him. Zela’s father was swallowing hard and his face had turned pale. Beyond him, the semi-circle of faces of his colleagues were also registering varying levels of distress and anguish.

  “They have succeeded,” Laton said at last.

  “Twelve hours ago,” Antar confirmed. “Our warning systems detected the launch which placed a major satellite in fixed orbit above the City of Swords.
Our other intelligence sources, and the position of the satellite, tell us that this is the lazer battle station they have planned.”

  There was a cold, shroud-like silence. Kananda felt their fear and could almost taste it, like a thick dark incense filling the vast assembly hall. Then the delegate Allor spoke again.

  “So when can we expect their attack?”

  “Not yet.” Antar’s lips almost cracked a smile, although Kananda guessed that it was forced to help relieve some of the palpable tension that was stretched almost to breaking point. “Our intelligence suggests two other factors that may save us for a few more weeks. First the Gheddans plan to launch two similar battle stations. The first one alone would not be sufficient to stop all of our war missiles. It protects The City of Swords, and it protects Steel City at the mouth of the Lesser Steel River, and the war bases in between those two cities. However, it cannot also protect their other cities, or the war bases in the Great Gar and Stone Deserts. The second and third battle stations need to be in place before their defence against the possibility of an attack by our weapons is complete.”

  “How long do we have before all three of those battle stations are in their appointed positions?” A delegate at the end of the row raised his head from his hand for a moment to ask the faltering question.

  “A few weeks,” Antar shrugged helplessly. “A few months. My intelligence is not complete.”

  The man who had asked the question groaned audibly and let his head fall back into the support of his hand again.

  “You said there was a second factor that might be in our favour,” Allor probed hopefully.

  Antar nodded. “The Council of Twelve in the City of Swords is divided. We have made it plain to them that an exchange of these huge war weapons from both sides may well destroy this world for all of us. We made the initial mistake of siting our first missiles in the natural caverns along the foothills of the Greenwall Mountains. We now know that they are too close to a major volcanic fault line, and that Gheddan missiles aimed to destroy them would almost certainly penetrate the planet’s crust. If that happens then Alpha would be ripped apart, possibly the whole planet would explode. Dooma would no longer exist, except as an orbiting belt of radioactive asteroids and rubble. Some members of the Gheddan Council of Twelve have accepted that in this we are telling the truth.”