Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [130]
Trin had told Mira that the Insignia craft was hidden on the Principe’s island so she flew once over the area to visually confirm her bearings before landing the AiV high on the broad, flat beach on which she and Trin had kissed. The memory of it had become dim now, overshadowed by the horror of the present.
As the AiV sank into the sand Mira half-expected the Principe’s Cavaliere to emerge, but the island seemed deserted. Preceded by Mira, Rast and Catchut carried Latourn up the beach to a line of brown salt-scrub. As they approached the Principe’s chalet two frightened Galiotto servants appeared.
Mira called out a traditional greeting. She recognised the stout woman wearing a royal household fellala as one of Jilda Pellegrini’s own. Was there a chance that the Principessa was here?
‘Galiotto, we have news,’ said Mira. ‘I am Baronessa Fedor. I come from the young Principe.’
The Galiotto woman wailed. ‘Don Trinder? Is he alive? Thank Crux. You must come to the chalet.’ She glanced around wildly as if danger might fall on her from the sky.
The Galiotto male was less trusting. ‘Who accompanies you, Baronessa?’
‘Interstellar Hire. They help our cause.’
‘What cause is that?’ he asked suspiciously.
‘Araldis has been invaded by creatures called the Saqr. The towns have been captured or destroyed. I have come from the royal palazzo. The Principe has been killed.’
The woman sobbed loudly. ‘We have prayed for better news. Our shortcast is no longer functioning. The Cavaliere left us and went to—’
‘Hush,’ the man told her. He pulled out a rifle from behind his back.
Mira’s throat tightened. ‘The young Principe has asked me to take the Insignia ship to OLOSS. Our world needs sentientarian aid. Without it we will all perish.’
‘The Insignia will not fly without a sanction.’
Mira reached inside her fellala and pulled out the lozenge. ‘The mercenaries made it possible for me to retrieve this and reach here alive.’
Beside her, Rast shifted impatiently. Latourn moaned in their arms.
‘Baronessa, you may enter the chalet but the mercenaries must stay here.’
‘My crewman needs help and somewhere to lie down,’ said Rast.
‘We shall return with some medic,’ said the Galiotto man.
‘No!’ Rast took a step towards him.
The man raised the rifle. ‘You may not enter.’
‘Please,’ said Mira to the Galiotto. ‘Let them come. They will do no harm—’
But the male servant fell forward before she could finish, his rifle discharging into the sand near her feet. Blood flowered across his hair and spattered the sand. The woman at his side made a small inarticulate noise and fainted.
Mira turned on Rast, appalled. ‘What have you done, animale?’
‘Latourn will not die on this beach because of a scared servant. Your oath might be to your people but mine is to my crew. Now pick up that rifle and move.’
In that moment Mira did not care if Rast killed her as well. She went to kneel by the woman.
Rast stared at her. Then she shrugged, picked up the rifle herself and marched up the dune to the chalet.
Mira stayed by the Galiotto woman until she regained consciousness but she could not persuade her away from the body.
‘Mia fratella,’ the woman moaned, over and over.
Mira held her until her sobbing subsided.
‘What is your name?’ said Mira.
But the Galiotto pressed her hands across her face and curled into a ball.
Mira grasped her arms and shook her hard. ‘Listen! Saqr have invaded our world. I want you to stay here until the young Principe comes. Tell him that I have done as he asked and that he should go on to the Galgos. The Saqr will not like the water.’
The Galiotto quietened, listening to her.
‘Do you know somewhere to hide?’
‘Si. I know because the Principess—’ She broke off, cupping her hands over her mouth.
‘The