Spectra's Gambit Read Online Free

said.
    “But our culture would disappear, and we would die out over time anyway,” he said.
    “That is the likely outcome,” I said. “Another option is that I could provide you with a carrier and you can fly your people off to uninhabited space somewhere and attempt to regrow your population in secret.”
    “That cuts us off from any help,” he said.
    “Yes, which brings us to your final option. Currently only three nations are stable: the Zalionian Empire, the Old Empire, and our nation, the Wizard Kingdom. The rest of the galaxy is locked in a constant struggle for control and power. In short, in most places chaos rules.
    “I control a large region of space, but my nation is sparsely populated. There are many worlds, currently unused, which have great potential for colonization. If you were willing to join us, I could give you one of those.”
    “Your nation is at peace?” he asked.
    “We have many enemies at our borders, but internally things function much as they did under the former Empire. The only catch is that we are constantly rooting pirates out of the uninhabited sections but they do not represent much more than a nuisance to the population centers,” I said.
    “If we take you up on this offer, would we be moving into their space?” he asked.
    “They will probaby feel that that is the case, but I own it all. The navy would make sure the area is clear before you move in and you would have the same protection as any other world. The pirates would not be any more of an issue for you than any other common criminals would be ,” I said.
    Again we sat in silence, they looking at each other and me feeling left out. “Kellyn, what do you think they are doing?”
    “My love, they are talking,” she sent.
    “I hear nothing,” I replied.
    “They communicate at a frequency well beyond that of human ears,” she sent.
    I can fix that , I thought to myself and began to weave a spell, but before I got far Kellyn interrupted me.
    “Vydor, stop,” she sent. “Let them have their privacy as we do.”
    “Of course; you are right, as always,” I conceded. She was correct; it would be wrong to eavesdrop on their conversation. I just hated not knowing what was going on around me. Besides, I was sure they were discussing matters to which I could make a useful contribution.
    “We would be honored to join the Wizard Kingdom,” he said after what seemed to be a yearlong silence. “As for whoever tried to kill us, we can just hope they try again and this time we will catch them.”
    “Excellent,” I said. “I will ask one of my wizards to brief you on the possible planets so that you can choose one to live on. Once that is done, I will assign some engineers to work with you to help you begin to lay the foundations for your new home.”
    “We will need a complete listing of all our citizens who survived in these pods so we can work out a plan to wake them in the best order possible,” he said.
    “Of course,” I said. “Doctor Hawthorne will get that for you. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to see to things at home. I will visit again as matters advance.”
    Before I could leave the station, Doctor Leslie called me into her office for a private conference. When I entered her office, however, she was not alone but in the company of a tall woman with yellow eyes, straight red hair and pointed features, wearing purple enchanted armor. As I entered the office, this woman dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
    “Greetings, Grandmaster,” she said without lifting her head.
    “Greetings. Please stand and tell me whom I have the honor of meeting,” I replied. I recognized her, but she did not know that I knew who she was. I felt it better not to reveal that I had kept an eye on her and Narcion, at least not yet.
    She slowly stood and said, “Grandmaster, I am Raquel of Ravenwood, though it has been ten thousand years since that name was known.”
    “Ten thousand years?” I asked.
    “Yes, Grandmaster. I