Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [88]
The girl looked at the curious faces. The captives were just as surprised to see Osira'h walking among them as they were to see Nira. Half-breed children had always been taken away and held in the Ildiran section of the settlement. "We're going to live here now. Here in the camp," Osira'h said. "We need a place to stay." She opened the door of one of the communal sleeping quarters.
"There are empty beds inside," Stoner said. "We have meals together, then stories and a few songs." He shrugged. "We used to be assigned hard work, but no one seems to know what to do anymore, not even the Ildirans. The breeding barracks have been closed. The whole camp is practically shut down."
Nira glanced up in wonder. "No more rapes?" Maybe it was some further trick by Designate Udru'h, giving them a shred of hope just to take it away again. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
The captives looked healthy but confused. Their world had been shaken, obviously for the better, but somehow they were not comforted. Stoner ran a hand along the back of his neck. "No one will tell us why."
"There's no longer any need," Osira'h said. "The purpose of this breeding camp is complete." Though she was small, the girl carried an authority that made everyone listen. "They have me. They got what they wanted." She found a clean bunk and sat down on it. "I'll take this one. The Mage-Imperator says you and I are supposed to wait here, Mother."
"When will we see him?" Nira asked. "Do you know when he's coming here? I haven't seen him in so long."
Osira'h's small voice sounded profoundly bitter. "He remains in the Prism Palace continuing his schemes. He doesn't want you to know what he's doing. He doesn't want me to see him either. I think he's embarrassed or ashamed." She lowered her voice. "I hope so."
"You're not making any sense, Osira'h."
"None of this makes any sense. The Mage-Imperator will summon us back to Mijistra whenever it serves him to do so. He no longer needs either of us."
51
DOBRO DESIGNATE UDRU'H
The female green priest had a talent for making things difficult, even her own rescue. Udru'h had never expected Nira to escape and cause more problems, especially now that he was trying to do the right thing.
At least he would not need to create another deception--another lie--for Jora'h. He knew that all the previous ones had been necessary, however. His brother's irrational attachment to a breeding mother could have brought down the very program designed to protect the Ildiran race. Udru'h had had no choice but to shield the new Mage-Imperator from his own bad decisions.
The Designate simply had to wait and bide his time. All of his actions would be proved right, and justified, sooner or later. The Mage-Imperator, though still angry at Udru'h's treatment of Nira, would know the Designate's true loyalty and dedication.
Now Jora'h had commanded that Nira be kept safe, and he had even sent Osira'h to stay with her. Udru'h had not expected that. He didn't understand why the girl would not prefer to stay with him in his dwelling outside the camp. She was a living justification for all that had been done here. He had been her guide and mentor for most of her brief life. At first, he had hoped that perhaps the girl returned to Dobro to be with him. Now he scowled at his foolish thought. She seemed to want the company of her mother--a human woman she barely knew.
Nira was a thorn in his side reminding him about certain questionable decisions. She was like an unstable explosive in their midst, and would be even more dangerous when she returned to Jora'h. She would burden the Mage-Imperator with sob stories of her pains and sorrows, no doubt blaming everything on Udru'h without understanding the necessity--when Jora'h could ill afford to be distracted.
Pacing alongside him, Daro'h looked with concern toward his uncle. Though the young man didn't speak a word, his body language