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After a beat, she spoke again, her tone softening. ‘Apologies, Sika. I shouldn’t be so sharp with you. But it’s been a fokkin’ long span of planning, waiting, and watching.’
Her companion clucked. ‘I understand. Have faith, your purpose will not be thwarted.’
Sana’a sighed, disbelieving, as she slid her blades onto a flat tray on the console. ‘Please sterilise these for me, then polish them.’
‘Of course.’
With a smooth hum, a hatch opened, and the unusual weapons disappeared into the machinery.
Sika chirped. ‘I have news on our next target. Care to hear more, or do you prefer to take some rest?’
The shikari fell into a crash couch behind the captain’s chair. Her hands rubbed at her joints, still tensed from hours of continued aching. ‘I’m all ears. The sooner we wrap up this cursed oath, the better.’
‘There’s chatter coming from Eden II. Of a rare visit by a small band of Katánian warriors.’
The woman knifed up from her seat. ‘Pray to tell.’
‘Even more interesting is the presence of the Kogun War Eagle on the rock. The King of Katáne’s personal warship.’
Sana’a unfurled her lithe legs and strode to the pilot controls. ‘Do we have vision?’
‘Naam,’ the intelligence said. ‘Pulling it up now.’
A holo flickered to life above the console. On-screen, a massive avian-shaped vessel resembling a predator bird was parked just off Eden II.
Sleek and bristling with steel, rail guns and power, it dwarfed the extensive port.
‘It’s freakin huge,’ Sana’a breathed.
‘I can confirm it’s one of the largest warships in all Pegasi. They’re readying for a long flight, most likely back to Katánopolis. I also happen to know that there are rumours of a formidable trio of Hawk Hunters strutting the city.’
‘What are they doing there?’
‘A wedding, as I understand it. They’re guests of the Sable Riders.’
The woman cursed under her breath. ‘Fokk, the Riders. Are you confident the royal is on board? That he is among them? Can we make certain lest I make a mistake?’
Sika responded after a beat. ‘I’m not sure I can get you that level of intel. Not until we land. For now, I’ve accessed data that shows numerous confirmations, including a copy of the wedding invitation. The only Katánians on Eden II on the list and allowed off the ship are a trio of Imperial Hawkers from the royal craft. One of them has to be their Consort. No one else can command or travel in the Kogun.’
‘Hunt down anything you can find on where the heck those three are spending their time.’
‘They’re probably wandering the bars and pleasure halls of the rock.’
The shikari grimaced. ‘This could be the break we’ve been waiting for. We can’t chance missing it.’
‘Do you want me to burn for -’
‘Please. And hurry. They won’t be on Eden II for too long.’
The lithe woman nodded to the Edenite guard checking her Sys-ID at Eden II’s expansive entry port.
She kept her head down, and her diamond-flecked eyes averted, trying to avoid his scrutiny.
‘Ay! Eyes up!’ he grunted.
With reluctance, she glanced into his face, which was lined with languor, mottled with scars, and pitted with acne.
He flicked his eyes over her plain, ordinary features, her chiselled chin, and her dark, severe ponytail. ‘Don’t I know you? Like know you, know you?’
