A Warrior on a Harsh World Part 1
An unexpected reunion
A Warrior on a Harsh World is a story resurrected from our archives. It’s a prequel to The Lyra Cycle, telling the tale of how Kandi — Kandira Sakherani, dutiful daughter, promising soldier — ended up joining the ragtag crew of the Lyra.
“Kandira Sakherani, step forward.”
Kandi tried to suppress a grin as she lifted her head to meet the eyes of her mentor, Surprefect Pilhadi Makterani. Unsure if she’d succeeded, her gaze flicked sideways to the Matriarch. The woman’s indulgent expression did little to ease Kandi’s nerves. The few times she’d been this close to the leader of the Antaran Commonwealth, the woman had appeared just the same — beneficent under the robes of office and the headdress that must have weighed 50 kilos. But then the Matriarch always came from the ranks of the military so she had a wealth of experience carrying weight.
Taking a deep breath, Kandi slowly stepped up the two stairs that led to the dais, careful not to trip, to join the Surprefect and the Matriarch. Behind her, a rustle arose in her cohort. Some would be happy for her, and some upset. All of them would be jealous.
Kandi knelt in front of the Matriarch as the woman stood. The astringent scent of Cat’s Paw cream tickled her nose, wafting through the bulky robes. She knew the smell — her own mother had started using the cream on her old warrior’s knees before she’d gone to serve as an ambassador. A gnarled hand came to rest on Kandi’s head, the fingernails digging in slightly. A welcome breeze disturbed the heavy heat, rustling the hairs at the back of her neck.
The Matriarch’s gravelly voice spoke words in Middle Erivan, the precursor to Old Antaran, and still used for deep ritual. Even though Kandi was a haphazard student of the ancient language, every pledge to the Antaran Brigade had the words of honour were burned into their heart — she was no exception. Her cheeks flushed, and it wasn’t the heat. She struggled to keep the smile from her face.
This was her second commendation in as many years. The first was for acts of bravery, valour and self-sacrifice in the exercises with the Dominion army to suppress the Rezerian uprising. And now, for acts preserving the security of all Antarans at home by helping quell the latest Nouminen riots.
“Sarissan Kandira Sakherani, rise.” Kandi glanced up, and her mouth opened a fraction before she caught herself. Makterani half smiled as she peered down at her and held out the multi-functional dagger of a Sarissan, the insignia of Kandi’s new rank embossed on the pommel. Anyone in her cohort who might have been happy for her probably wasn’t now. A commendation had been expected; a promotion was not.
In a swift movement, she stood. Her head spun, which she attributed to the heat and the speed of rising. Some soldiers served for years without accolades, let alone advancement. Being named Sarissan put her a big step closer to following in Makterani’s footsteps. She reached out her hands to take the weapon. A smile tugged at the one side of her mouth as she thought of trying it out.
“Don’t be irreverent,” Pilhadi mouthed so no one else could hear.
Giving a sharp nod to the Surprefect, Kandi turned to the Matriarch. As she bowed deeply, she spared a glance for the man at the woman’s side. The Dominion Governor General. From what her mother told her, the position of Governor was usually a stepping stone to positions higher in the Dominion administration. However, Governor Quail had been the Antaran governor since she was a child. He seemed competent and nice enough. Yet he was still here.
A sussuration in the crowd caused her to come out of her bow sooner than was proper, but the Matriarch wasn’t watching at her. The Matriarch’s Own leaned over the old woman’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.
“Now?” The Matriarch had switched from Old Antaran to the common dialect, and spoke loud enough for Kandi to hear. A frown marred her serene expression, and her fingers played at the Stave of Benevolence, which hung from her vestments — according to all reports, the weapon was not merely ceremonial.
“You did say you wanted him back.” Governor Quail peered at Kandi as he spoke. Kandi’s stomach squirmed under his inspection. Other than an arched eyebrow, his face betrayed nothing of his thoughts.
The Matriarch’s lips pulled into a frown, and Surprefect Makterani shifted away from the woman and the weapon she now clutched. Kandi inched closer to her mentor, teacher and, in recent years, lover.
“What’s going on?” she whispered. Makterani’s head spun around, and she shook it, her lips pressed together.
The breeze had grown stronger, and lifted a curled lock of her short hair. A thrumming filled the air. She turned towards the sound.
A ship. And it wasn’t landing at the main commercial port or the military base. It was coming down at the House Mount’s pad, the Matriarch’s private landing area.
“I didn’t say right now.” The words were a growl as the older woman stood, swiftly and stock straight despite the weight of her robes. She waved a hand, and Surprefect Makterani flashed a salute, then turned sharply on her heel to face the cohort.
“Attention!” Makterani’s eyes flicked to her face before looking over her shoulder. Kandi’s training kicked in, and she snapped to attention despite her confusion. “Honour guard formation. Hie.”
In unison, boots squeaked on the marble paving stones, and Kandi jumped down the two steps to take her position at the head of the cohort. As a Sarissan. Makterani stepped into place beside her. As one, they started marching, leading the Matriarch towards the landing pad.
When they passed through the colonnade that led to the House of the Mothers, the throbbing hum stopped. The ship had landed. Kandi squinted against the midday sun to make out its markings. But at this distance, in the heat, they shimmered, and the ship melded with the greenery of the House gardens. With the thrum of the ship gone, she noticed the buzz of the fire bugs — a storm was coming if the bugs were to be believed. With sweat she couldn’t wipe away dripping into her eyes, she glanced skyward: no sign of it yet.
The cohort kept up their march across the Lawn of the Martyrs before stopping sharply and separating into two even lines, forming an aisleway for the Matriarch. Surprefect Makterani stepped into the space to meet the Matriarch. Out of the corner of her eyes, Kandi saw that Governor Quail had joined them. Once the Matriarch passed through their aisle, the members of the cohort turned on their heel to face the ship. Standing at the front of her line, Kandi could finally discern the ship’s markings: an eight-pointed star hugged by a crescent.
“The Sisters of Elazir.” Kandi straightened and clamped her mouth shut when she realized she’d spoken her thoughts out loud. Regaining her composure, she examined the backs of the Matriarch, Makterani and Governor Quail. The Sisters of Elazir hadn’t had a real presence on Antaran soil since the Plague of Vesperas. For some reason, they were no longer welcome, but they maintained a hospice on Miina Station, the Dominion gate port parked at the edge of the solar system. Kandi felt the impulse to rub the phantom ache in her arm at the memory of her furtive visit to the Sisters, but she ignored it.
A ramp opened at the side of the ship, where no lines had been visible a few seconds before. As soon as the near end touched the ground, a figure clad in the cassock of a medical Sister appeared in the dark opening. He started down the gangway as two more Sisters took up positions flanking the door. Kandi squinted, trying to make out what was happening behind them, but all she got was a sense of movement. Finally, the man stepped onto the grass and approached the Matriarch, who tipped her head at him in the scantest bow.
From her position at the front of the line, Kandi made out a few words, her Standard being marginally better than her Old Antaran. Weren’t expecting you…main port…Basherin.
Kandi’s eyes went wide at that, and her gaze flicked back to the dark opening. Another figure emerged.
“Bash.” Her mouth moved but the word was barely more than a breath. Still, the Sister’s eyes slid her way and narrowed. Her cheeks felt hot as they reddened. They’d take away her commendation if these slips continued. Forcing her eyes forward, she refused to look at the ramp, but she still sensed the figure descending. It felt like it took an eternity, if she counted the time by the tick of heartbeats in her neck.
“Kandira Sakherani, at ease.” Makterani’s voice broke her trance, and she met her mentor’s gaze as she relaxed her posture a fraction. “Stand easy.” Kandi loosened her muscles further, and her head drifted back to the Matriarch, who peered at her.
“Sarissan Sakherani, take charge of your brother.” The old woman’s expression was neutral.
Kandi nodded sharply and stepped towards Bash, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth despite herself. Her stride faltered as she got her first good look at him. His appearance was markedly different from when he’d left three years ago. He’d always been athletic, ruddy — if he’d been a woman, he’d have been a shoe-in for the Brigade. Now, his skin had an unhealthy grey pallor and tugged at his gaunt form. She continued towards him as Makterani guided him in her direction. His gaze drifted in her direction, but it was as if he didn’t see her. When she reached him, she snaked her arm around his waist, making her embrace appear like she was supporting him. He tensed in her arms, and his head twisted as if to glance around.
“Bash.” She brought her hand to his face, realizing he might not recognize her. Screens were different from in person. “It’s Kandi.”
His eyes snapped to meet hers. “Don’t let them tell you I’m crazy.” His voice was hushed, the words rushed. “I’ve seen them. I know their secret.”
She shook her head. “I—”
“The aliens.”
Kandi sighed. Her brother had been fascinated by the idea of aliens since he was little, despite hundreds of years of searching by the best scientific minds in the Dominion had found nothing. Whatever was out there — if anything — had disappeared into stardust. “Bash….”
His fingers came up to grasp hers, tightening to the point of discomfort. “It’s real.” His voice rose. “I studied them.” His free hand waved towards the sky. “They’re studying them, dissecting, injecting.”
As his voice kept getting louder, Kandi pulled away, and glanced at her mentor, Makterani and the Matriarch. Neither of them paid her any mind. A few members of her cohort, however, peered intently at them, even though they were supposed to still be at attention. She tugged her hand from her brother’s grasp. “Bash, you’re tired.”
A shadow loomed to their right, and Kandi turned to see its source. The Sister stood beside them, his gaze on Kandi. Her eyes fell to the man’s hand and the medpen it held. “It will help relax him.” He peered at her, as if requesting permission. She gave a sharp nod. The medication seemed to take effect immediately, as Basherin became silent.
“What’s wrong with him?” Kandi asked the Sister.
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I’m his transport medic. I wasn’t there when he fell ill.”
“But—”
The man shrugged. “They say he broke under the stress of an imperial education. It happens.”
Kandi snorted. “Not to Bash, it doesn’t.” Her brother was the smartest person she knew. The first man allowed to study off-world in…Hera knows how long.
“Kandira.” Makterani stepped close. “Call Citizens’ Hospital 1. Have them send a team to take your brother into treatment.”
Kandi’s eyebrows pulled together, confused as to why no one had mentioned her brother was sick, and why he was being taken to the citizens’ hospital rather than the House hospital. Still, she tapped her wrist patch to start the call.
“That won’t be necessary,” a voice said, the words cascading from the darkness at the top of the ramp. “I called ahead. They’re on their way.”
Kandi’s stomach fluttered. Her wide eyes latched onto the opening in the side of the ship. Sure enough, Arta Sakherani stepped out of the ship and strode down the gangway, coming to a stop between her and the Matriarch. The General Sakherani bowed low to the Antaran ruler, then straightened and pinned Kandi with her gaze.
“Kandira.” The woman’s chin dipped to her chest.
“Mother.” Kandi nodded sharply.
Stay tuned for Part 2.