The interceptors were right behind us. Weapons charging. Preparing to fire again.
Twenty seconds.
The hull screamed—a terrifying, grinding sound of metal pushed past its limit.
“Shields at fifteen percent!”
“One more hit and we’re done,” Kallum said.
Ten seconds.
The interceptors fired.
We broke orbit.
The transition was instant. Atmosphere to vacuum. The ship’s drives shifted. The artificial gravity stabilized.
And the interceptors couldn’t follow. Tarsus’s authority ended at the atmosphere. We were outside his range now.
“We’re clear,” Kallum said. His voice was tight. “Shields are at eight percent and we have hull damage. But we’re clear.”
I looked at Brevan. He looked at me.
We’d made it. Actually made it.
The comm crackled. Tarsus’s voice. One last transmission. “You think you’ve won? You think you’re safe? The Conclave knows you’re out there. Every system. Every planet. They’ll find you. And when they do, they’ll make you wish you’d died on Valyria.”
The transmission cut off.
Brevan reached over. Took my hand. “Let them try.”
The ship’s engines hummed. Carrying us away from Valyria. Away from Tarsus. Toward whatever came next.
Kallum appeared from the cockpit. Tall. Lean. Dark hair. Red eyes. Another Vinduthi. His traceries were black, not gold.
“So,” he said, looking at me. “This is the curator who’s worth starting an interplanetary incident over.”
“Carys,” I said. “And I didn’t ask for an incident.”
“None of us do.” He smiled. “I’m Kallum. Welcome aboard. We’re on our way to The Penumbra.”
“The Penumbra?”
“Our ship. Home. Mobile headquarters.” He gestured to the interior. “This is just a transport. The Penumbra is the real thing. You’ll meet the rest of the crew when we dock.”
“How long until we dock?” Brevan asked.
“Four hours. We’re meeting at a neutral waystation. Talon wants a full debrief.” Kallum looked at the Regalia still secured in Brevan’s jacket. “And he’ll want to see the fourth key.”
The Regalia. The reason for all of this. The artifact that Tarsus had murdered for. That the Sovereign’s Hand needed to unlock the vaults and destroy the Conclave.
It felt heavier now. More significant.
“Get some rest,” Kallum said. “You both look like hell. There’s a cabin down the corridor. Not fancy but it has a bed and a shower.”
He returned to the cockpit.
I looked at Brevan. “A bed sounds amazing.”
