Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [16]
"Yes, you could. But if you chose that course, we would weaken you--maybe enough for the faeros to finish you off. Are you willing to risk that? What purpose would it serve?" The emissary remained silent, and the Mage-Imperator continued in a threatening tone: "In the ten thousand years since our last conflict, our scientists and engineers have developed tremendous defenses. You will not find us easy prey."
Osira'h fought to keep her silence. She knew that the Ildirans had changed little in many centuries, that the Saga had gone so far as to cover up all record of the previous war, that the Mage-Imperator's people had not prepared in the slightest to battle the deep-core aliens. In fact, they had developed only one new defense: Osira'h herself. Though she tried, she could not hide her disappointment in her father and his people. The lives of so many humans had been sacrificed on Dobro. All for . . . this?
And though she struggled to cover her reaction, the hydrogues drew the revelation from her mind. The emissary didn't spare a glance for Osira'h. "Your attempts at deception are feeble. We do not believe you. You have developed no new defenses against us."
The girl squirmed with anger and frustration. Jora'h looked at her, as if his own daughter had betrayed him.
But she was upset with him as well. The Mage-Imperator must have planned something before sending her on her mission. Right now, he could at least call in Adar Zan'nh with his warliners. A full-fledged attack would surely destroy the warglobes overhead, though it might cost much of the Solar Navy and probably ruin most of Mijistra as well.
The emissary no longer had any patience for the meeting. He seemed very disappointed in what the hydrogues had found here. He spoke dismissively. "We cannot waste time trading threats with Ildirans. The wentals are not extinct, as we believed, and humans continue to harass us. We have a greater war."
Jora'h walked down the dais steps to stand directly in front of the emissary's chamber. His voice was strong, but Osira'h could sense his fear. "Long ago, we worked out terms not to engage in mutual hostilities. We must do the same now, as we did in the last war. It might save you from the faeros."
"You can do nothing for us. We do not need Ildiran assistance. We are strong enough against the faeros--whether or not you fight us."
Osira'h felt a tug-of-war in her head, and she tried to balance the condemnation of the emissary with the thoughts of the Mage-Imperator. As if thrusting a dagger into an enemy's heart, she pounded the demand into the hydrogue that he must offer a solution, must grant the Ildiran race a stay of execution.
Reeling from her mental onslaught, the emissary paused. Finally he said, "All rock-dwellers damage the song of the universe. Unnecessary notes must be eliminated, but discordant notes must be eliminated first." The shifting shape paused, as if forming a new idea. "Ildirans cannot help in our war with the faeros. However, you can assist us against another insignificant opponent."
Jora'h stonily regarded the quicksilver shape, waiting for the explanation.
"Among rock-dwellers, humans are our greatest enemies." Thick mists swirled around his sculpted face. "Help us destroy them all, and perhaps we will ignore your planets."
Osira'h had never been to Earth or Theroc, had met no other humans except for the isolated Burton descendants on Dobro. But they were her mother's people! She hammered a deafening mental No! at the emissary, but the hydrogue shut her off.
Jora'h swayed. "Humans have never harmed us! They are our allies."
"Humans are enemies of the hydrogues. You cannot ally yourselves with both. Choose."
Osira'h stared at her father, but his attention was centered on the terrible choice he had to make, obviously torn between honor and survival. Above, through the skysphere, she could see the warglobes looming closer. With such a deadly armada, the hydrogues could level Mijistra much more swiftly than Adar Zan'nh could bring Ildiran warships to defend it.
But