Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [8]
Suddenly, the girl's face twisted as if ripples of pain were shooting through her, then she calmed herself. "I have shown the emissary an acceptable route through the Palace. Otherwise his intent was to smash through the skysphere dome. Hydrogues have little patience for obstacles."
Sensing the disturbing presence, shimmers in the air and in the light, Jora'h climbed out of his chrysalis chair and stood beside Osira'h. He did not wish to appear weak.
A small environment chamber drifted through the wide arched doorway. Osira'h fixed her gaze on it, caught between two opposing forces. Inside the chamber, swirling mists of superdense atmosphere masked the liquid-metal shape that pulled itself into a humanoid form. It clothed itself in a mockery of an embroidered jumpsuit with pockets and zippers and clips. The face was human, the hair long, though carved out of flowing quicksilver. Apparently, hydrogues had copied the image from one of their early victims.
The emissary's voice manifested as a throbbing hum, as if it were manipulating air molecules to transmit sound waves rather than using a simple speaker system. "We have come. Do you wish to be destroyed?" From the tone of the hydrogue's voice, it sounded like a legitimate question rather than a threat.
Standing tall, the Mage-Imperator kept his voice calm, though he felt trapped in a flash flood of events, searching for a lifeline. "I called you here to discuss peace between hydrogues and Ildirans."
"Peace with Ildirans gains us nothing." Jora'h was disturbed to notice that Osira'h's lips moved in perfect synchronization with the emissary's words, as if they were inextricably linked. "Our war was against the verdani. Now we fight the turncoat faeros. And we recently learned that the wentals are back. You are but a minor distraction to us."
Hydrogues gather enemies as easily as a Prime Designate gathers mates, Jora'h thought. "We know the hydrogues have already lost much to the faeros."
"The faeros have lost more. And Ildirans will lose everything if you continue to get in our way." The emissary's tone was entirely dismissive.
Jora'h said, "I remind you of our compact from ages ago--an agreement that you seem to have forgotten." He thought of the merciless hydrogue attacks on Ildiran colony worlds; the hydrogues' actions were nonsensical.
"Only because of that ancient alliance did we agree to this encounter. But the Klikiss robots no longer speak for you."
"Osira'h speaks for us now. We wish to discuss terms." From her place on the step, the girl looked up, as if expecting the Mage-Imperator to suggest an instant and viable solution. If only it could be that simple!
"You have no terms that interest us," the alien voice boomed.
Jora'h searched for a lever with which he could change the emissary's mind. He didn't know what the Klikiss robots had done to force the cessation of attacks against Ildirans, so long ago. What key did they use? Once again, he cursed his predecessors for keeping so many secrets, for censoring the accurate record in the Saga of Seven Suns. Without that knowledge, he was handicapped now.
The Mage-Imperator recalled Adar Kori'nh's surprising success, smashing numerous warglobes at Qronha 3. Perhaps the reminder of strength would change the tenor of the negotiations. He raised his voice, exuding as much confidence as he could muster. "Your warglobes have damaged Ildiran splinter colonies, and our Solar Navy has destroyed many of your vessels. These attacks harm both our species, and benefit neither."
"Planet-dwelling species intrude and spread taint. You comprehend nothing. Your squabbles and conflicts merely distract us from our true enemies."
Jora'h seized on an idea. "The humans continue to deploy Klikiss Torches against your planets. How many of your worlds--how many of your race--have they already incinerated?" He raised a finger. "I can make them