Crusade Across Worlds by C.G. Coppola Page A

higher and higher and
once fully exposed, water laps at their scaled, iridescent backs,
waves sloshing around the rest of their hidden bodies. Walker
retreats a step, his mouth agape. He gawks at the sea creatures,
and then at the sage female straddling the central beast. Maris’
feet dip beneath the water, one hand gripping a Bair—one of two
nubs at the base of the Millix’s neck—while the other hand rests on
the black suits laid across her lap.
    “Welcome friends,” Maris dismounts and
presents the suits to Qippert. “The queen has had sudden business
to attend to so she will not be able to join you for
breakfast.”
    “Oh?”
    “But she is excited to welcome her most
valued guests,” Maris offers a business-like nod before a warm
smile spreads across her face. “It is good to see you again.”
    Haven’t Sampson and the others been back to
convince the queen to disclose the Shadow Bag’s location? Perhaps
only the Fychu and Blovid have returned. Perhaps this is the first
time everyone else has been back too.
    “It is good to see you as well,” Qippert
smiles, taking the suits as he glances over her shoulder. “I fear
there are not enough Millix for all of us.”
    “My apologies. There was a shortage of
available Millix in the city, but I have gathered the seven used
for your last visit so there will be some familiarity. Most will
have to double up.”
    Fallon—is that you?
    I know that voice. I know it immediately.
Instinctively, like Clarence or Sampson in my head. My focus flies
to the far left, to the last Millix on the line and that’s when I
see her.
    Lalu?
    Hello, Fallon , her voice rings in my
head . You are completely healed from the Gorgen poison?
    The Gorgen. I almost forgot about the dark,
spider-like creatures that dwell outside of the royal city.
Probably because I wanted to. The last time I saw one, it was
crashing down on me and I knew I would die. Except I didn’t.
Somehow, I’d managed to stab the creature with its own tooth and
after that, I awoke in the Foreign Headquarters. Queen Ravan
forbade our mission to secure the Dilly—the Gorgen’s food
source—but we desperately needed it to aid the dying Mybyncians
who’d been infected with Perio’s plague. I was glad we were able to
get what we could, but if I ever see another Gorgen again, it’ll be
too soon.
    Yes, I answer Lalu’s question .
Completely healed.
    That is good.
    I look around, eyeing the seven other
Millix. They’re still wading in the water, observing us with the
same curiosity and apprehension that we possess toward them. I turn
back to Lalu.
    Would you like to ride together again?
    Of course, Fallon.
    Qippert distributes the dome-shaped helmets
and long black body gear. Examining the material given to him,
Walker watches the rest of us climb into our underwater suits and
follows along quietly.
    “How are we doubling up?” Pratt asks.
    “I’ll ride with Fallon,” Clarence says.
“Walker and Jace, why don’t you two ride together? Vix can ride
with the Fychu, Jothkore with Blovid, Reid with Pratt, Booker with
Werzo and...Able with Mae? That sound good?”
    “And myself?” Qippert asks.
    “With me, of course,” Maris indicates to
Shaya, her Millix. “We will arrive at the Docking Station like last
time. Once we reach it, Chancellor Keller will escort the males to
their wing and Salva will escort the females. You can dress for the
breakfast, and the lunch feast later.”
    “Lunch feast?” Jace perks up.
    “Yes, Queen Ravan has decided to hold one in
honor of your arrival. There will be much socializing in the Great
Hall.”
    Werzo rolls his eyes with a sigh. “Great.
Because the last one went off without a hitch.”
    “What happened last time?” Walker asks.
    Sampson shakes his head before turning his
focus back on Maris. “The feast is a great honor indeed… but when
do you think we will be granted a private audience with the
queen?”
    “I am not sure that is something that can be
arranged in