Zotikas: Episode 1: Clash of Heirs Read Online Free Page A

art that preserved
the rich achievements and foundational principles upon which a more visionary
Omeron had been established. This was the sigil handed down to the successors
of House Ortessi.
    That the Cortattis held this jeweled emblem
was only rumored. The fire that destroyed every member of family Ortessi was
officially deemed an accidental tragedy. But every house knew who had arranged
it. And every house had looked away from pursuing justice because of the
personal cost. To do what was right would have attracted the retribution of
House Cortatti. No one wanted to add their own sigil to this growing
collection—it wasn’t worth the risk.
    Kieler’s thoughts translated to his fierce
grip on the sharp-pointed clasp. He almost drew blood from his own hand before
the pain cut through his anger to his rational thought. Time to get out of
here. He had what he needed.
    He took a long last look around. There were
so many artifacts of unimaginable value in the room around him. He licked his
lips. To take even one more piece—not to have but to sell—would change his
fortune forever. But Kieler had a higher calling; he wanted to bring down this
corrupt regime, not become like it. Besides, the other pieces were known to
belong to House Cortatti. Possessing one would incriminate Kieler.
    This piece, this signet, was not supposed
to be here. They could accuse him of nothing without incriminating themselves.
    He tucked it into the pocket of his coat
and turned to leave.
    He spun out of the private collection room
and pulled up short—almost crashing into a guard. The man stood in numb
confusion, staring at the broken pane of glass. They stood frozen, mutually
shocked, trying to process implications.
    While the lackadaisical guard could not
fathom that his cushy job had just turned into a nightmare, Kieler reached an
actionable decision: He smashed the guard’s face with the palm of his hand.
    He had intended to knock him senseless,
forestalling any reaction by the guard. But instead the man fell backward,
losing his maggun down the metal stairs. Whether he was conscious or not, the
metal gun on two stories of metal stairs clanged and echoed as loudly and
effectively as any alarm bell.
    Kieler flew down after him, barely touching
every fifth step.
    He dashed from the library and hit the
grand hall—and hesitated. He didn’t want to cross that open area. But it was
the shortest and surest route back to the secret exit. He ran.
    Before he was half way across he saw guards
coming from the sides to investigate the odd alarm. One was coming straight
toward him.
    Kieler didn’t slow but called out to the
approaching man. “It’s Corwain! He fell down the stairs and hit his head. I’m
going for help!”
    The guard, not recognizing Kieler, but also
not able to believe he could be an infiltrator in the dead center of the keep,
stopped and motioned for Kieler to stop. “Who’s Corwain?”
    Kieler passed him running and called back.
“The new guy. Get a doctor!”
    The man started chasing Kieler, slowly at
first. “Who are you?”
    But Kieler had run out of names and
diversions. He poured on the speed. He heard the whine of a maggun being
powered up. He started veering randomly to make a harder target, opening up the
distance.
    “Stop that man!”
    The first maggun bolt was fired from the
man he had passed. It went wide in the dim light, but not so wide that it
didn’t add adrenaline speed to Kieler’s feet.
    Other alarms were ringing now. Real alarms.
Before he reached the stairs he saw lights come on in the long suite of rooms
on the second level. Feleanna Cortatti’s rooms.
     He reached the wall and bounded down
the stairs. Grabbing the banister he swung around the first landing and
glimpsed a guard coming up. Kieler launched himself, using the high ground advantage
and his plunging momentum. Catching the unready guard full in the chest with
both feet, the guard flew backward all the way to the next landing, never
touching