Darkness Risen (The Ava'Lonan Herstories Book 4) by Ako Emanuel Page A

this cue Otaga drew a
breath and straightened her back.
    “I formally report to my Queen: First, and foremost,
the High Heir has been successfully retrieved. She had suffered injury, but no
lasting harm, I am told.
    “Second: I announce, only for completeness, the
presence in our ewgae of the delegate of the Katari Tribe Zwin’buta’lngi, the
First Filla Rama’Kyl and her escorts.
    “Third: I report treachery in the High Queen’s Realm
on two counts; one, the seeking with intent to destroy sapient life and two, a
direct threat to the life of the High Heir. Warru in distinct Tribe colors
sought the life of the High Heir and the one with her, and pursued them to the
edges of the Cribeau’lons. A comprehensive list of all indicated is in my
written report...” Otaga broke off as Audola’s posture, remaining unchanged,
still acquired a stiffness like granite cooling from lava and her eyes hardened
to diamond in the magma furnace of her rage. But she held her silence, a
command that Otaga complete her report. After an uncomfortable sils, Otaga
resumed.
    “Fourth: I report infractions of the law of the
Realm - it has been brought to my attention that unknown persons have bred and
planted dangerous mutated species of plants, plants already inimical, in
certain sections of the unclaimed lons. It was one of these which caused the
Heir injury. It seems quite possible, though only as speculation, that there is
a connection between these plants and the warru attempting to kill the High
Heir. Armed scouts have been left in place to reconnoiter the area for more
information.” Otaga went on to report all the other things that had befallen
and pursued them, the traps, the attacks by wumans and beasts, the desperate
fighting, the healing of the Cribeau, the treachery and enslavement of the
Katari by wumans. Everything she had noted in her journal, she recounted for
those who had not been present. The picture she painted was truly frightening,
and when she was finally done, all eyes turned to the High Queen, fear becoming
a new member of the lorn, seated among them.
    The High Queen’s rage turned to silence, deep and
patient as an underground steam vent, building to the blowing point. None dared
say anything while the High Queen’s silence grew solid and tangible as she
digested this news. R’Kyl, immobile along with the rest, at last understood the
reputation of the Obsidian Queen’s wrath. Even her own mother, the Herdress,
did not wield power of rage such as this. Awed, she watched and waited.
    “These things,” she said finally, her voice echoing
just the slightest bit, “must be addressed at once. Thiam, Ashmisa, send a
message now to three eboku of investigative warru. Apprise them of the
situation. Otaga, is that all?”
    “No, Av’One. I have one last thing to report. Acts
of treason, two counts. One: I formally report the death of the High Queen’s out
runners, sent to shorten the way for the egwae. The image was captured with the
assistance of R’Kyl and her escorts. Two: the means of their death and an
attack upon this egwae, both by beings that seemed Nih’macha, constructs. Their
origin is unknown.”
    This time all hints of the rage disappeared as Audola
closed her eyes. But there was a titanic shift of power, a gathering of forces,
like the movement of tectonic plates, felt more than heard, sensed more than
felt. The stillness before the eruption. When she opened her eyes they were a
flat black, and when she looked Dariaku and Sinyi, they seemed transfixed for a
moment, caught in a hypnotic stare that robbed them of animation. Then they
were ‘tunning almost audibly to warru and assistants at T’Av’li, setting things
into motion that would come to fruition much later. There would be a reckoning
with those who dared to break the laws of Ava’Lona set by the Goddesses
themselves, and not even the far reaches of Ava’Lona would be enough for the
ones responsible to hide.
    Otaga bowed, just a bit