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Prologue

The moon Fuyra

Orbiting Etteria

N erx barely chewed the bite of kreso steak he shoved into his mouth.

The succulent meat, as delicious as it was, served a purpose for the activities they’d planned for the day.

He was trying to finish his morning meal before his brother, Kyerx, woke up.

The magnus sun skimmed the horizon, casting its great rays across the silver landscape. was about to rise.

“You still eating, damu ?” Kyerx beamed from the doorway.

Nerx grimaced, slowed his paced, and chewed. He should’ve known better than to out-awaken his older blood-bond.

Kyerx leaned his shoulder against the frame. In his armor, a dagger and a blaster strapped to his thighs, he cut a strong figure in his military garb.

“Expecting trouble?” Nerx gestured to the weapons. He wore his military pants and a padded vest. When they reached the Pools of Berrann, he’d strip faster than his brother would.

“I had food prepared for you, Kyerx,” Father said, entering the room. “All your favorites.” He gestured to the stuffed pack on a counter.

Kyerx straightened. “My thanks for your consideration.”

“Guard Kyerx,” Father snapped, tossing Nerx a glare on the way out.

Kyerx thumped Nerx on the back. “You will see. Once I am gone, he will show you favor.”

Nerx snorted. “You are perfect, and even though we both bear Father’s likeness, you did not kill Mother from the womb.” He downed his giyua juice, using the tart flavor to remind him that not all sour things in life were bad. “It is also no secret he hoped I would be a female.”

“A foolish hope when females are rare.” Kyerx hoisted the pack onto his back. “Come, let us not tarry. The shuttle awaits.”

“It is good Father knows not our destination. The southern sparring fields?” Nerx pushed out of his seat to trail his brother. “I do not know how you can deceive so when it is dishonorable.”

“With Father, some things are best not mentioned. I lie for his health.”

Nerx arched a brow at that silliness. He chose not to dwell on the reasons behind his father’s hatred.

He could understand grief, but still, Mother hadn’t been Father’s Dar Eth.

Nerx’s heart panged. Had Mother been more than a female, had she triggered the Ethera in Father, he and Kyerx would never have known him after she died.

The loss of her and the bond the Ethera created would have taken Father too, orphaning Kyerx and Nerx.

Some days, when Father tormented Nerx more than usual, he’d wished him dead.

And other days, with the way Father adored Kyerx, he’d longed for Kyerx’s death too.

Now on the cusp of malehood, Nerx preferred to shove such bitterness aside.

Soon, he too would leave for Gikaet and begin his training. He’d never see Father again.

“Nerx, my blood-bond, are you ready to disembark or would you prefer to waste your day dreaming like a damu ?”

Nerx snapped out of his thoughts then punched Kyerx in the gut, but getting no reaction for his efforts.

“One more day of your personality is all I can endure,” Nerx said, then ruined the scathing remark with a grin. “You will miss me.”

“Of course.” With a smirk, Kyerx stepped into the kuta , dropped the pack on the grated floor, then assumed the pilot’s seat.

The rectangular shuttle was geared for mining with the console using the least amount of space. Miners and blocks of Fuyra stone would fill the compartment on normal days. Not even a rehydrator or replicator was fitted. Father prided himself on his efficiency and the mines’ increased productivity.

Nerx caught a hanging strap as Kyerx powered up the kuta . It rose then shot north under his smooth handling.

“They say there are no pools on Gikaet,” Kyerx said.

“That cannot be true.” Nerx stared out the open door as the stark landscape of Fuyra zipped past. “Gika need water to survive.” Pops of deep red trees added color to the silver-white mountains and lakes.

Blinding sunlight brightened the orange-tinted clouds feathered across the gray sky.

He’d heard that Etteria had a pink sky with red oceans and deep gray soil.

Perhaps one day he would see it for himself.

“Perhaps they have underground sources?” He tossed Nerx a grin, drawing him back to the moment.

He huffed. “Do not search for one alone, and warn the males in your unit if you do fine one. Not all Etterians can swim.”

“Such a pessimist,” Kyerx called. “If I had known you would be this grumpy, I would have left you at home.”

Nerx gritted his teeth, just imagining what Father would have to say about not backing up his blood-bond.

It took the better part of an hour to reach Berrann Falls.

The clear river snaked toward a dark scar where a pale mist hovered, a rainbow arcing over it.

They landed on the rocks beside the falls.

Already the thundering of water forced him to lower his hearing sensitivity.

He leaped out of the kuta onto the gray rock slick with water and yellow moss.

He tightened his grip on the pack while he waited for Kyerx to join him.

Nerx drew in a deep breath. The air tasted sweeter and cooler.

The falls were forbidden to them, no doubt because Mother died here.

Kyerx had brought Nerx the day Father had made his hatred known.

This place had become their secret, and they only traveled this far from home when their father inspected the farthest mines. He was certain to be gone all day.

Maloidian steel strips had been embedded in the rock wall, forming stairs into the crevice. Having almost slipped last time, Nerx ventured down with one hand on the side. Already the minus sun had joined the magnus sun to warm them.

The spray from the waterfall cooled his skin.

Without omeika, the water was clear and not red.

Also, no carnivorous fish meant it was safe to swim.

One palm-sized fish could devour a male in seconds.

He’d never tasted an omeika. They were purported to mimic the consumer’s favorite meal, and for this, were Etteria’s greatest export.

Breaking onto the pool’s sandy bank, Nerx took a moment to gaze at the bright sliver of pink sky through which the water tumbled. He lowered the pack onto a patch of soft moss.

“Nerx!”

Nerx whipped around, searching for Kyerx. Used to pranks, he half-expected a surprise attack. But Kyerx wasn’t behind him nor was he on the bank beside him. He swept his gaze up and froze.

Without thought, he bolted to where Kyerx dangled off the edge midway along the cliff. His legs swayed wild as he bore his weight by his fingertips. Nerx sprawled across the steel strips and caught Kyerx’s forearm.

“Give me your other hand,” he roared.

“I cannot reach,” Kyerx gritted, pain hardening his features even as his eyes widened.

Nerx leaned over the edge to where Kyerx’s arm hung limp, blood dripping to the ground below. “What the Maker did you do?”

“Now is not the time—” Kyerx yelped when his grip slipped.

If it wasn’t for Nerx’s hold, Kyerx would have fallen. “I have you, my blood-bond.”

“You cannot pull me up, damu . The steel will shred me.”

Nerx clenched his jaw, studied the sharp edges, then the long path down. Already, Kyerx’s weight burned Nerx’s arm and shoulder. “I am going to shift you one step at a time.”

Kyerx nodded.

The way down was longer than up but less risky. Should Nerx’s grip fail, at least the distance Kyerx might fall would be shorter.

Nerx stood with care, hoping to counter Kyerx’s weight threatening to drag him off the ledge. He straddled two steps, using his thighs for maximum stability. His knees trembled when he made the first move. He teetered and threw out a hand to find his balance.

“You are a heavy bastard,” he muttered through his gritted teeth.

Another shift down a rung had Kyerx swinging too close to the sharp metal, missing it by a hair. The descent was slow going, with Nerx’s arm, shoulder, and back on fire. Throwing caution to the wind, he clasped Kyerx’s forearm with both hands. It brought him a small measure of relief.

“Thirty to go,” Kyerx said.

“That is not helpful.” The pain returned, growing excruciating and absorbing all of Nerx’s attention. He wanted it to end, for him to die if it meant the agony dissipated. He dared not think about it.

After three more shuffles, his breathing became ragged. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the falls and Kyerx’s faint and labored breaths. His skin had taken on an ashen hue.

“Speak to me,” Nerx said. “I need the distraction.” He inched to the next sheet of metal. Every muscle in his body had tightened to snapping point.

“I glanced down to find where you had gone and misjudged the next step. My ankle caught in the gap and toppled me.” Kyerx offered a tight smile. “Foolish me.”

Nerx glared at him. “I see no humor in this. How do I hide this from Father? He will know the moment we use the med-E.D.”

“Let me deal with Father.”

“When he will blame me regardless?” Nerx snapped and swung Kyerx along a strip, then another.

He could release him now and perhaps the fall would break only a leg. He peered at the gray rocks below. No, he couldn’t risk it.

A pop in his right shoulder snatched his breath.

He bit his lip to silence a moan. A wave of blinding pain blurred his vision.

His fingers slipped, the strength in his muscles gone.

He fumbled but caught Kyerx’s wrist. With his dislocated arm useless, all of Kyerx’s weight pulled on Nerx’s good shoulder.

It was a matter of time before he dislocated that one too.

“Release me,” Kyerx commanded in a thready voice.

“A few more,” Nerx muttered. He shook so hard, he swung Kyerx outward. “How about I lift you so you can grip onto something? I need to pop my shoulder back in.”

“Do it,” Kyerx said.

With a roar, Nerx yanked up with all his strength until Kyerx’s palm passed the metal’s edge.

“Got it.”

Nerx released him to slam his shoulder against the rock wall. He bit his tongue to swallow the cry then, while swinging his slightly numb arm, he turned to Kyerx.

Who was gone.

“No,” he screamed and peered over.

Below on the yellow-mossed bank lay Kyerx, his leg at an odd angle. Blood dribbled from his mouth.

Nerx raced down and kneeled beside him, running his hands over his body. “Why, Kyerx? We were almost clear.” He snatched his med-gun out of his pocket, but the device beeped. Tapping it didn’t change its reading.

“I thought…” Kyerx spluttered, blood droplets beading his lips and chin. “It did not look far.”

Nerx touched and held his fingers to his Optical Data Implant, or O.D.I., embedded in his wrist. “Emergency. Emergency. Track co-ordinates for immediate evacuation. Send a medic.”

“Acknowledged. Estimated arrival thirty minutes,” the male intoned.

“No, sooner. Send a scimitar. Inform Ambassador Tarx.” Nerx grimaced. “Kyerx is…dying.” His face cooled as he stared at Kyerx’s dulled eyes. Again he tapped his O.D.I. “Father, it is Nerx. Kyerx fell.”

“Where are you?” Father demanded.

He sucked in a sharp breath before blurting, “Berrann Falls.”

“Alodon’s balls!” The comm ended.

Nerx splayed his bloodied fingers over Kyerx’s chest, increasing his hearing sensitivity to listen to his dwindling heartbeat. “Hurry, Father.”

Darkness expanded in his chest, urging him to cry out, to roar at the universe. He raised his gaze to the sky and sent a prayer to the Maker who’d been absent for all of his life.

This time was no different.