Free Plague of Mybyncia by C.G. Coppola Page A

surprised.
    “Of course,” I head out of the tunnel, the
princess following, and matching me with each step.
    “It will be dangerous, Fallon.”
    “I know.”
    “For you,” she tosses me another glance. “It
will be dangerous for you . If they see you, they will try to
kill you.”
    “They’re going to try to kill all of us,” we
move through the Great Hall, Mae scurrying after us as a stampede
of feet echo in the tunnel behind her. “So what does it
matter?”
    “You are more of a prize to them. They will
want to see you dead first.”
    Trying not to wince, I make for the East
Wing, and when I reach our quarters, I gather my black suit and
clothes. Mae rushes into the room just as I turn my back to the
entrance and strip off the shelled bra. I reach for my own when
Reid arrives, stopping the other Rogues with a stern command.
    “Wait out here.”
    Pulling on my shirt, I strip the cobalt skirt
next and apply my jeans before stepping into the black suit.
Grabbing the headgear next, I finally reach under the bed and
retrieve my Enidd. I move for the entrance, finding Reid’s back to
the room.
    “Let’s go,” I enter the tunnel, the princess
and Mae on my heels again. Reid is at my side and the Rogues follow
after.
    “How many can we expect?” I ask Princess
Ariana.
    “It is one of Perio’s prouder moments—he has
captured a human girl—so he will want to show off. It will probably
be the entire Musko population…” she’s thinking. “Perhaps
fifty?”
    “Shit!” Werzo mumbles.
    “Any vulnerabilities?” I ask the princess.
“Or advantages?”
    “Surprise,” she says. “No one knows where the
Musko lair is. They will not expect an attack.”
    “But when they show up,” Mae asks, “won’t
they know you told us?”
    “Perio will know immediately. It does not
matter.”
    “Why not?”
    “He…” she flushes, “…he is still in love with
me.”
    “Oh…” Mae whispers. “…Are—are you?”
    “No,” Princess Ariana is quick to clarify.
“That is why we are no longer together. It is his radical view that
Mybyncia is the most important of the Three Worlds. I understand
the importance of loyalty to one’s home, but I believe in the Way . We all are one people, one World. He
never understood this.”
    “But he still wants you,” Tucker meets the
princess’ eye. “Doesn’t he?”
    “Yes.”
    “And your mother likes him?”
    “She does not particularly favor him, but she
has no qualms with his beliefs. I think… sometimes… she might be proud of him.”
    “Even after abducting a guest?” I ask.
    “My mother wants the best for her people,”
she turns to me. “She adheres to the Arizal ideals because it is,
above all, a notion of international peace. But she is a slave to
her responsibilities and that is the protection and preservation of
her home.”
    “But she allows the Muskos to exist?” Reid
narrows his eyes.
    The princess looks at him. “They have never
done anything like this.”
    “What do you think your mother will do when
she finds out?” Jace asks.
    “I am not sure…” Princess Ariana frowns, her
eyes unfocused on the rocky wall ahead. “If it was Blovid or the
Fychu, she might order an immediate execution. But for a human
girl…” she finally looks to us, offering an apologetic frown. “…I
am not sure.”
    “We’re losing time,” Reid moves faster for
the Great Hall.
    “Mimi will take you up the left bank,”
Princess Ariana leads us through the Great Hall and into the tunnel
leading back to the Docking Station. “It is where I always entered
when he asked me to attend his meetings.”
    “Do you miss him?” Tucker mumbles at her
side.
    “No. It would have never worked. We did not
see eye to eye on things...” her thoughts drift, “…on several things.”
    “Your mother said you barely escaped
earlier,” the Rogue Leader’s voice is raspy.
    “Yes—from the Southern Waters.”
    “What uh… what happened?”
    “The North was already