Preda's Voice (Guardians of Vaka Book 1) (25 page)

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P
reda stood in front of the white scar in the middle of the Heart Stone. It was at least 200 yards in diameter. Blackened, scorched stone now surrounded the white ground. The fire had not touched the scar. She turned to Will and accepted his help walking back over pieces of soaked ruins.

Will was watching her carefully, as if she was glass that might yet shatter in front of him. Preda was not scared for herself, though. She was only terrified of what she was now sure she was capable of doing.

That morning she had stood at the edge of the water and tried with all her might to make the water move. Even using her voice as she had done before, nothing had happened. Preda shook her head and thought about how little control she actually had over her ability.

Will and his father had tried to persuade her not to come today, but Preda had argued that the Vakans needed to see she was still alive and strong. The coronation that was to take place, however, was now a memorial service for the men and women who had died in the fire.

Preda had remained unconscious for almost twelve hours—seven hours in Vakan time. The Vakan day and night were longer, each almost nineteen Earth hours long. They marked the time only by the sunrise, midday, and the sunset. No smaller increments appeared necessary. It would take Preda some time to adjust to that.

When she awoke that morning, Will had been sleeping in the chair next to her bed. She had looked down and seen her hand resting in his. As soon as she tried to sit up, he was awake. She sighed. It was as if he had his own Preda-based internal alarm clock.

They were no longer staying in Hakkan but in living quarters in a nearby apartment building. They would be there until repairs could fix the Hakkan’s fire, smoke, and water damage. Al had apologized for the lack of luxury, but Preda felt more comfortable where they were staying now than in her rooms in the Heart Stone. Living like royalty was another thing that would take some time getting used to.

When Preda walked out of the front of Hakkan, a crowd had gathered. The people were gathering to see her and hear her speak. Preda would not disappoint. The occasion was much more somber than the day before, and she did not have to silence them before speaking this time.

Preda found she needed no microphone to be heard across the square. She first looked to Will and felt him eagerly accept some of the burden, and then her legs felt stronger beneath her. Foxy, Al, Laney, and Jim were on the steps in front of her.

“Someone tried to silence me last night. In doing so, they tried to silence you.” She swept her arm out over the crowd. “They did not succeed. Today we mourn for those who have been lost, but we are not afraid. I am not afraid. Make no mistake, Vakans. I am your voice.”

The responding roar was deafeningly loud. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Ukra hidden in the crowd, but the girl disappeared before she could be sure. Preda walked with her back straight and her head held high while the crowd parted before her. She could feel the wind coming off the ocean behind the red stone of Hakkan strong at her back. Without looking she knew her guardian was also behind her.

EPILOGUE

U
kra looked down in disappointment at the sniveling form before her. Macera was on her hands and knees and begging for mercy.
The Vank woman is just like her son,
Ukra thought. Both were spineless in the end. Macera had run like a whipped dog back to her life of luxury and intrigue as soon as they had landed back on Vaka.

“I swear, Great One,” Macera continued to plead, “I had to stay out of sight in order to continue to do your work. They have been watching me too closely. I could not get away last night to help with the fire.”

Ukra did not hesitate. She kicked Macera’s face in and broke her nose in an instant. Blood ran down in rivulets and covered the woman’s mouth and chin. Macera spluttered but did not stop groveling at Ukra’s feet. Blood was staining the floor in front of her and getting dangerously close to Ukra’s shoes.

It was not enough. Macera was useful, but she needed to be taught a lesson she would not soon forget. Ukra’s hand made a twisting motion, which caused the other woman to scream and writhe in pain on the floor.

Macera’s mind was so weak and susceptible. It was almost too easy. She was like a pathetic Earth human. When she was unable to scream anymore, Ukra kicked her hard in the ribs. She spit in Macera’s hair, and in her mind she said,
You will listen the next time you are summoned to act. Do not forget whom you work for.

Ukra could not get the scent of Macera’s blood out of her nose, and she held a cloth over her face even as she walked out of the Vank house. Her guards had advised her to stay clear of the crowd gathering outside Hakkan, but she couldn’t resist getting one last glimpse of the hideous Vozia before retreating.

Ukra’s insides recoiled at the sound of Preda’s voice. She had been so close to ending the Vozia line. Standing over her bed in her bedroom just after setting the fire, she had been prepared to sacrifice herself for the greater good. The girl had woken up at the last second, though, and Ukra had been forced to retreat before Preda used her voice against her.

Ukra listened in disgust to Preda’s impassioned speech and then decided she had heard enough. She retreated though the crowd until she was out of sight amid the winding buildings. After making sure no one would see her, Ukra pulled a hidden lever under an abandoned cable car, and the ground underneath gave way.

She and her retinue slipped under the city and climbed down a ladder built into one of the support beams. Below was a submersible ship waiting to take her back to her home. Ukra had learned invaluable information about the enemy while on the
Feria
. She had gained intimate knowledge of Preda’s strengths and many vulnerabilities. Now her people, the faithful Soundless, were waiting anxiously for Ukra’s return.