Vareen & Mica (The Alliance Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

went wrong?”
    “There were anomalous readings and we feared a core breach. The crew was
ordered into escape pods. Dak, Arik, Tae, Drake and I were the last to leave
the bridge. I’m not sure how we missed getting found by The Cariyel . That is a ship from Atheon that we sent a distress
signal to.”
    “Hmm. That is odd.” Vareen kept eating, letting what Mica had told her so
far sink in. When she was ready she asked, “You said earlier that your clan
dispenses justice on Titus. Can you explain the clan system for me?”
    Mica leaned against the wall at his back and crossed his feet. Vareen wondered how long this was going to take if he was
getting comfortable to do the telling.
    “It was many generations ago that a member of the Renari clan worked to
unite all of the different factions for the safety of the citizens. Each clan
is distinguished by the color they wear. Dak’za, or Dak as he prefers, is from
the Denary Clan. They wear the golden color to symbolize the agriculture zone
they control. Tae is from the Takari Clan. They wear red to symbolize industry. Arik is from the Metari clan. He wears blue for the water zones
his clan controls. Drake wears purple, to symbolize the mountains where
trianium is mined. His clan is the Renari. My clan is the Jataci , we wear black to symbolize blind
justice. Our clan is responsible for holding trials, finding criminals who have
fled into the outer regions, and patrolling the borders of all the clan lands.”
    “Why did the clans need uniting. What was the conflict?” Vareen took a
bite from an especially juicy fruit and waited for Mica to continue. Licking
her fingers to keep them clean she waited. When he remained silent, she looked
up to see him watching her intently. “What?’
    Seeming to snap out of it, he shook his head. “You asked what the
conflict was?” at her nod he cleared his throat, “With everyone on the planet
having special abilities, there was the possibility that someone would take
extreme risks in getting the upper hand over the other clans. Biological
warfare being the main fear. The clans uniting for a common goal was the only
way to ensure peace.”
    “So how does it work?” Vareen was finished eating and leaned against the
frame holding the bed in place. Her legs stretched so their feet were parallel
to each other. “How do you maintain peace?”
    “All five clans produce something that benefits the others. For example, the Metari supply the water for industry, the mining
of trianium and agriculture. In return, they are supplied with food, mineral and the newest technology. We allow the
clans to intermix. For example, if you have an affinity for plants, but are
born in Metari you can live in Denary if you wish. The years of using this
system have built a trust among us, we
live in harmony now, when before it was chaos. There are those we call Others
that live outside the clans, but they are relatively harmless. It is their
choice to stay apart.”
    “Who provides the leadership for your clans ?”
    “There is a council of representatives that meet once a month. Each clan
is allowed one representative on the council. Those five men vote on the items
set before them by the sub-councils .”
    “Who sits on the council for Jataci?” Vareen asked.
    “My father,” there was unmistakable pride in Mica’s voice.
    “How was he chosen?” Vareen was curious how a group of males like Mica,
with their abilities, would choose one to rule for them.
    “Each clan has a line of succession, chosen from the strongest male line.
In Jataci, my family line has ruled for many generations. All five clans have
the Challenge of Succession every four years. Any number of males can challenge
for the right to lead their clan. The sitting representative from each clan faces
his opponents in feats of strength, tactics, and hand to hand battle. If that
representative is beaten, the new line of succession would rule from that
family line. Only the males of a family