Galileo's Ascension: The New Dark Ages, #3

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Chapter 1

Kieva was lost. Five days had passed since Ellia vanished. She gave no word, no warning. She just left.

He and Ellia came to the Order, a secret group that stood against the Church and its teachings, for safety. They’d been driven from Brea and chased across the countryside.

The Order rescued them, gave them shelter, a place for Ellia to recover from her wounds.

Then Seth, the leader of this faction of the Order, told Ellia her plans. She wanted to launch a rocket, an ancient piece of technology from before the Great Burn. She wanted to abandon mankind and go to the stars.

Kieva knew Ellia wasn’t comfortable with that. She felt an obligation to stay and stop the Church, but to just go like that. She left no word. There was no warning. She was just gone.

Seth flew into a rage.

She sent a dozen trackers through the camp and another dozen through the woods outside, desperate to find Ellia.

Kieva was confined to quarters away from everyone else. He thought he would go mad stuck in a room day after day. He needed sunlight and fresh air. Rovers lived on the road, slept under the trees, woke with the sun, slept with moonrise. He received none of that. Just the same flameless candles as in the tunnels under Brea and air that was ‘cycled’ through the tunnels here.

Whatever that meant.

He spent his days in bed. He rarely rose to eat or drink. What was the point? He was a prisoner here and escape seemed like a slim hope.

Just as he closed his eyes to go back to a fitful sleep, the door to his room burst open and several of Seth’s guards pushed in. They pulled him from his bed roughly and yanked him to his feet.

Kieva jerked his arms away from the guards.

There’s no need, I know the way, he said.

The guards backed away and ushered him into the hallway. The underground space in the Order’s camp was much cleaner and better built than those in Brea. The walls were smooth and the lighting was better.

Which made it worse. Each hall looked much like the next. There were no landmarks, nothing to guide his path. You had to memorize your way around.

They took him from a dizzying path of halls and tunnels. Kieva had memorized the way from his cell, but it still left him light-headed. He tried to put on a tough face. He didn’t want them to know how uncomfortable he was. There was no way to know if they would use it against him.

They stopped at a door that could be any other door in the camp save for the paint applied by the resident. It was common among members of the order to paint and decorate the outsides of rooms here. Part of it was for recognition, but it was also to bring some much needed festivity. Many rooms were decorated with bright colors, drapes, pillows, anything to detract from the stark gray and white of the place.

The door opened and there she was. She sat at a small, white table, hands folded in her lap. She wore a pale blue nightdress. Her hair was swept from her face. A teacup and saucer sat on the table in front of her.

Please, said Seth, have a seat.

They had played this game for the last five days. She greeted him in her sleeping chamber, half dressed and offered him refreshment.

Kieva never ate or drank in her presence and never any time before he was brought to her. He couldn’t trust that the food wouldn’t be drugged.

Not that any type of truth potion or other concoction would give them anything other than what he’d already told them.

He sat in the chair opposite her and crossed his arms.

You don’t look well, Kieva, she said. Are you eating enough? Are you sleeping?

He said nothing.

I am not your enemy, she said. I only want to help you.

I thought you wanted to find Ellia? he said, raising an eyebrow.

Seth sighed and nodded. Of course I do. She knows about this place. I worry what she might do.

Whatever she does, you drove her to it, said Kieva.

So you don’t deny she has ill intent? said Seth.

I don’t know what she intends, he said, dropping his hands. She didn’t tell me where she was going or what her plans were.

It was Seth’s turn to cross her arms. I have a hard time believing that. You two were very close.

We still kept things from each other, he said. His shoulders slumped. I sometimes wonder if I had been more open with her, she would have stayed.

There, said Seth, you admit she had reason to leave. Where did she go? Is she going to her mother? What will she tell her?

I don’t know, said Kieva. Really. I went to look for her after your argument. I don’t remember anything else before your guards brought me here.

Seth pursed her lips. You still claim you were drugged. Did Ellia drug you?

I couldn’t say, he said. I remember nothing after you showed her the rocket. Everything is a blank.

Seth pushed away from the table, rattling Kieva’s teacup and spilling the contents into the saucer. The scent of tea and sugar assaulted his nose.

She paced for a time and turned back to him, pointing a finger. You’re going to slip up sooner or later. Something isn’t going to match and I will catch you in your lie. I have my guards scouring the woods for Ellia now with orders to kill her if they find her.

Now who’s lying? said Kieva.

Take him away, she said with a snarl.

The guards lifted him from his chair. His knee knocked the table, over-turning the teacup with a clatter. Milky brown fluid seeped over the table, staining the paint beneath it.

Kieva let them pull him away. He had no desire to fight them anymore. Seth had to know he had nothing else to tell her.

Well, there was one thing.

He remembered it was Lorensa, one of the scientists working on the rocket, who drugged him. She had something to do with Ellia’s disappearance. He needed to find her, talk to her. Find out why.

Unfortunately, due to where they kept him in the camp, he never saw anyone but the guards and Seth. How was he supposed to find her when he was isolated from everyone else?

Escape was a slim chance, but he had to try.

He’d given it a great deal of thought since the second day of his imprisonment. There were only two of them and they were both about the same size. He’d have to incapacitate both of them before one of them could cry out in alarm. The problem after that was where to go? He had no idea how big this place was, how deep it went, or where all the different hallways and tunnels went. If he was ever going to find Ellia, he had to do something.

First things first, the guards.

As though someone knew what he was thinking, one of them crumpled beside him. The other spun on his heel in alarm and Kieva used the opportunity to kick the man behind his knee. The guard sucked in a breath and fell to the ground. Kieva kicked him again, this time in the kidney. The man doubled over and Kieva clasped both fists together and hit him in the head.

The guard sprawled forward. Kieva darted to his side and pulled his weapons. He found two blades and a small hand pistol. Not entirely effective, but it would have to work.

He glanced up and saw Lorensa standing over him.

You didn’t have to beat him so brutally, she said. He was only following orders.

I’ve read history books that would argue differently, said Kieva. I had to make sure he wouldn’t get up and follow us.

She thinned her lips. Let’s go.

Go where? he said.

To wake the others, she said.

What others? said Kieva.

You’d never believe me if I told you, said Lorensa.

***

Subal stopped again for the third time that morning. He was slowing them down, but Ellia couldn’t make herself leave him behind. He was not well and he had answers she needed. So she waited.

We can’t stay long, she said. I think Seth’s people are getting closer.

He nodded. Doubtless. We need to get out of bandit territory and back into Rover country.

And then what? said Ellia. They’ll catch up to us long before we get to lands controlled by the Church.

The Rovers can help hide us, said Subal.

Ellia didn’t remember much before five days ago. All she remembered was being on the run.

She did recall a conversation with Seth, the leader of a group of people known as The Order. Well, one of the leaders. Ellia didn’t know how many groups there were.

Seth wanted to launch a machine called a rocket into the heavens and find a colony of humans who had settled the stars. It was far-fetched, but they both saw evidence of life above. Lines that cris-crossed the moon and Mars. They looked like roads. Which meant people.

Maybe.

There was no way to tell if anyone was still there. If they were, why hadn’t they tried to contact people left on Earth? Ellia believed they were wiped out just like the rest of mankind.

Only some survived here on Earth, a voice told her. Why couldn’t they survive on Mars as well?

Even so, it would be wrong to leave so many people behind in the throes of a war. She had a duty to stop it. It was her mother who started it. Ellia knew she had to finish it.

That was the sensation she felt when she woke up outside the Order’s camp five days ago. She had to stop her mother. One way or another, before more people got hurt.

No, Ellia said, shaking her head. I won’t put anyone in danger. The Rovers have done enough for me.

You are assuming Seth will hurt the Rovers to get to us, Subal said.

She murdered your sect, said Ellia.

His head jerked up and he blinked at her. You cannot be sure of that.

Of course I can, said Ellia. You are.

His nostrils flared. I think no such thing.

You do, said Ellia, lowering herself to the ground in front of him. Seth realized your group was a threat so she eliminated them before they became a problem.

And why would she feel threatened by us? Subal said.

Because you would have tried to stop her, said Ellia. Because you would have recruited me long before her people got to me. She needs me.

That was my intent, Subal said after a time.

Ellia nodded. I thought as much. When did you know?

When she attacked me through the Nana, he said. At first, I thought it was your mother, but how would she have access to that technology? When I heard her in the camp, I knew. She never let on though.

Probably waiting for you to make a move, said Ellia, or her people don’t know how disturbed she really is.

That is a possibility, he said.

A noise made Ellia hold up a hand to silence him. He glanced around.

We should get moving, he said.

Have you rested enough? she said.

No, he said, but that matters not. You have a mission.

Ellia stood and extended her hand to him. He took it gratefully.

We need horses or a cart, she said as she pulled him to his feet.

It would be faster, he said, but it may bring us more attention than we wish.

The soldiers? said Ellia.

Subal nodded.

That wouldn’t be so bad, she said. I could demand they take me to my mother. She’s trying so hard to find me anyways.

Assuming they believe you, he said.

Ellia froze. I hadn’t thought of that. Why wouldn’t they believe me?

He shrugged. I imagine many have made that claim, hoping for reward from the Church or perhaps sanctuary from the war.

I see, she said.

He patter her on the shoulder and gave her a sympathetic smile.

It had never occurred to her that someone might not think she was who she said. Everywhere she went, it seemed people knew who she was. She often fought to hide her identity. She found it strange she would ever have to prove who she was.

She found it even stranger that someone would claim to be her. Ellia wanted as far away from her mother as possible. The woman was a tyrant.

But, she supposed, there might be those who were worse off. People who needed to lie, cheat, and steal to get along in this world.

She pitied them when they got to her mother.

How far to the next town? Ellia said.

Not far, said Subal, but whether we will find hospitality there, I cannot say.

Ellia nodded. She remembered Brea. The people were scared, standoffish. They were suspicious of foreigners. Ellia remembered them from her childhood as warm and friendly. The war changed them. She imagined many places would be like that.

Seth cannot have always been this way, said Subal. She has been a fierce woman for as long as I have known of her, but she was never cruel. There were so many stories of her fight against the Church. She was always honorable. I cannot imagine what must have happened to make her so.

My father died, said Ellia.

Subal looked at her in shock. My dear girl, that was years ago. Could she hold such a grudge for so long?

It wasn’t all that long ago, said Ellia, and anger can build. She blames my mother for his loss. I think she loved him.

Subal thinned his lips. But to kill members of the Order? To wipe out an entire cell because she feared what we would do with you? What we would tell you?

Grief does funny things, Ellia said.

You would know, a new voice said.

Ellia spun on her feet and saw an old woman approaching.

I know you, said Ellia. Your name is Jue.

The woman gave a short bow. At your service.

How long have you been following us? said Ellia.

Long enough to keep that madwoman’s hounds off your trail, said Jue. You really are terrible at losing a tracker.

Well, you would know about sneaking around, said Ellia. You saved my life and no one ever knew you were there.

I didn’t sneak in, said Jue. Subal let me in.

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Chapter 2

Lorensa led Kieva through more dizzying hallways than he ever knew were possible. His head spun and his stomach churned. At one point, he stumbled, nearly taking them both down.

Get up, said Lorensa. Seth will send more guards soon and we have to get deeper into the city, where they can’t find us.

Kieva looked up at her and his vision swam. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried very hard not to vomit.

You’re too big for me to carry, she said. You have to get up.

He shook his head. The motion sent another wave of nausea and he dry heaved against the wall. Lucky he hadn’t eaten anything that morning.

Lorensa slumped down on the ground next to him. I forget some people can’t handle it underground like this.

He didn’t dare look at her. Instead, he focused on a spot on the floor, willing it not to spin.

How so? he said, his voice a croak.

You’re a Rover, right? she said.

Kieva chose not to answer, not because he didn’t want to, but because he feared what would happen if he tried.

You grew up in open spaces, she continued. The trees and sky were your canopy. The woods your bedroom. No doubt a campfire was your hearth. Being stuck indoors like this must be difficult, even terrifying. How do you know which way to go?

I don’t, he said, trusting his voice again. It’s a maze. I have to memorize which tunnel goes where. I could get lost in here for days and never find my way out.

She put a hand on his. Not a good way to feel for someone who’s been persecuted most of his life. No escape, no way out. That’s got to be frightening.

Just tell me how to make it stop, he said.

Kieva knew he had to get up. He had to find Ellia. He couldn’t do that rolling around on the floor.

Lorensa’s hand appeared in front of him holding a small vial of bluish liquid.

It’s a sedative, she said. "It will help calm you. I brought it along because I