BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Read Online Free
Author: Connie Suttle
used my gift to search for the closest one.
* * *
I hadn't felt poor in a while. I recalled those memories while we rode toward the village after our meager breakfast. I'd used the end of a tiny branch to clean my teeth and chewed mint leaves I'd found to improve my breath—wild onions can be quite pungent on the tongue later if nothing is done about it.
We didn't even have saddles for the horses we'd stolen.
Yes, we were officially thieves, but those who'd forced us to leave Gungl would have stolen our lives. The theft of three horses was small in comparison, and an easy decision for me to make.
* * *
Vogeffa I
Vardil Cayetes' Compound
"We imagine LaFranza's two assistants got him away, but there's little they can do—his wounds were mortal—Bleek saw to that. He's likely dead from the ride out of Gungl." Magul offered his explanation to Vardil's most recent incarnation. "The meeting went well; we will have the other dissidents taken care of and the remaining citizens of Gungl allied with us or too afraid to disagree."
"How long before you're ready to lead them into the outlying areas?" Vardil snapped. "You and Bleek brought me only six decent bodies, and I've already used this one," Vardil tapped his chest.
"We've emptied Gungl of suitable replacements. You understand that, don't you? We've had this discussion," Magul said. "Unless you want to be easily identified by taking on deformed or mutated bodies, then we have to look outside Gungl. We've left the farmlands alone as they're feeding the city while acting without suspicion as your breeding grounds, but it's time to take what the planet has to offer. With enough bodies, we can move to another set of worlds elsewhere."
"We have to find something suitable that isn't contaminated by that fucking poison," Vardil snapped. "You know I want Vic'Law, but I have to get there, first. Two applications have been denied already. I intend to take it anyway. I have spies and plans in place, but I need time to solve the problem of my changing appearance—I've hidden myself on Vogeffa I, but I already had control of it. Taking another world for my own will require a constant, recognizable presence. I can't keep changing faces every three days."
Magul held his tongue. If Vardil hadn't dealt with Marid of Belancour when the wizard sought to sell the poison to begin with, Vardil wouldn't be searching for new bodies and new worlds that weren't tainted with it.
Marid was dead and five years had passed since Vardil destroyed Siriaa, the source of the poison. The ranos cannon he'd paid to have constructed had blasted space dust from that infected world outward to land upon other worlds, spreading the poison for which none could find a cure.
Wherever they moved, the new location would have to be checked and double-checked by Vardil's well-paid scientists, to verify that the new world was clear of the creatures responsible for manufacturing the poison. That endeavor took them away from more lucrative activities, but Vardil valued his life above designer drug production and a host of other things.
Vic'Law had already been cleared and approved by those scientists, but Vardil could have a fight on his hands—Vic'Law was already governed by crime families and he'd have to plan his takeover carefully. Likely, he would need a temporary home while his plot to take Vic'Law blossomed.
Yes, they understood the creatures and their poison better, now, but that was little consolation against the fact that it was unstoppable, once it infected a world. Vardil and his empire needed to get away now, before anyone was infected with the creatures responsible.
The poison had reached Vogeffa I; that was the primary reason Vardil searched for a new location. It was only a matter of time before Vogeffa II was also infected.
"I spoke with Bleek—he says the same thing about LaFranza—that he delivered a mortal wound," Vardil gruffed. "I'm no longer concerned about that particular problem. Take
* * *
I hadn't felt poor in a while. I recalled those memories while we rode toward the village after our meager breakfast. I'd used the end of a tiny branch to clean my teeth and chewed mint leaves I'd found to improve my breath—wild onions can be quite pungent on the tongue later if nothing is done about it.
We didn't even have saddles for the horses we'd stolen.
Yes, we were officially thieves, but those who'd forced us to leave Gungl would have stolen our lives. The theft of three horses was small in comparison, and an easy decision for me to make.
* * *
Vogeffa I
Vardil Cayetes' Compound
"We imagine LaFranza's two assistants got him away, but there's little they can do—his wounds were mortal—Bleek saw to that. He's likely dead from the ride out of Gungl." Magul offered his explanation to Vardil's most recent incarnation. "The meeting went well; we will have the other dissidents taken care of and the remaining citizens of Gungl allied with us or too afraid to disagree."
"How long before you're ready to lead them into the outlying areas?" Vardil snapped. "You and Bleek brought me only six decent bodies, and I've already used this one," Vardil tapped his chest.
"We've emptied Gungl of suitable replacements. You understand that, don't you? We've had this discussion," Magul said. "Unless you want to be easily identified by taking on deformed or mutated bodies, then we have to look outside Gungl. We've left the farmlands alone as they're feeding the city while acting without suspicion as your breeding grounds, but it's time to take what the planet has to offer. With enough bodies, we can move to another set of worlds elsewhere."
"We have to find something suitable that isn't contaminated by that fucking poison," Vardil snapped. "You know I want Vic'Law, but I have to get there, first. Two applications have been denied already. I intend to take it anyway. I have spies and plans in place, but I need time to solve the problem of my changing appearance—I've hidden myself on Vogeffa I, but I already had control of it. Taking another world for my own will require a constant, recognizable presence. I can't keep changing faces every three days."
Magul held his tongue. If Vardil hadn't dealt with Marid of Belancour when the wizard sought to sell the poison to begin with, Vardil wouldn't be searching for new bodies and new worlds that weren't tainted with it.
Marid was dead and five years had passed since Vardil destroyed Siriaa, the source of the poison. The ranos cannon he'd paid to have constructed had blasted space dust from that infected world outward to land upon other worlds, spreading the poison for which none could find a cure.
Wherever they moved, the new location would have to be checked and double-checked by Vardil's well-paid scientists, to verify that the new world was clear of the creatures responsible for manufacturing the poison. That endeavor took them away from more lucrative activities, but Vardil valued his life above designer drug production and a host of other things.
Vic'Law had already been cleared and approved by those scientists, but Vardil could have a fight on his hands—Vic'Law was already governed by crime families and he'd have to plan his takeover carefully. Likely, he would need a temporary home while his plot to take Vic'Law blossomed.
Yes, they understood the creatures and their poison better, now, but that was little consolation against the fact that it was unstoppable, once it infected a world. Vardil and his empire needed to get away now, before anyone was infected with the creatures responsible.
The poison had reached Vogeffa I; that was the primary reason Vardil searched for a new location. It was only a matter of time before Vogeffa II was also infected.
"I spoke with Bleek—he says the same thing about LaFranza—that he delivered a mortal wound," Vardil gruffed. "I'm no longer concerned about that particular problem. Take
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