Maid in Stone (Tales of the Citadel Book 59) Read online

  The job hadn’t been bad. She had gotten physical and the accountancy training that she wanted. She was now as much as she could be, professionally. Her job was done, so it was time to find a new one.

  She came out of her inner conversation and smiled as the flier settled in the stop near her mother’s shop. “Thank you.”

  She paid the driver and got out of the vehicle, watching it disappear before she took the stairs down to street level. A few folks looked at her in surprise, and she glanced down. Ah, right. She was still wearing the formal gown in scarlet and black.

  She walked past a number of restaurants and gift shops that glowed with light, even this late in the evening. The light coming from her mother’s shop was surprising but gratifying.

  Kiala pushed open the door of the shop and smiled at the customers who were lounging around and sipping tea with piles of little cakes were on the low tables in front of them. It looked like a good night.

  The young woman who was acting as hostess looked at her with a helpless expression. “I am sorry, madam, we are full.”

  “That is fine. I wish to speak with the proprietor. Could you summon her, please?”

  The young woman blinked, bobbed a curtsy and escaped to the back. In forty-five seconds, Kiala heard her mother’s footsteps.

  She stood with her head high, and she locked gazes with her mother the moment that she turned the corner. The happy shriek and the run toward Kiala got the attention of all the clientele.

  The hug was wonderful, and it drew applause from those who were watching. Kiala focused on the feel of her mother’s arms around her. It was like breaking a fast.

  “I didn’t mean to disrupt service for you this evening.”

  Her mother smiled. “Food prep is over. We are just in the end of service. Come back with me; I want to hear all about the wedding.”

  “It was a big party. There was dancing, one assassination attempt, and a big fuss made over the punishment. So, no one died and one pain in the ass is banished. It was a pretty good event.”

  “Did anyone get hurt?”

  “No. I caught the knife, and it shattered. No problem, no injuries, and Soora gets to keep both her eyes.”

  Her mom sighed. “I hate that you took on such a dangerous job. You were too young for all that.”

  “I become a legal adult in two days, Mom. I have always been too young for everything.”

  “And yet, I recall you in several vid reports in adult environments beside Soora.”

  “Occupational hazard.” She grinned and followed her mother through the kitchen and into the very comfortable back office.

  “Well, you are a sight for sore eyes.” Her father got up from behind the desk where he was obviously doing the books.

  She grinned, lifted the edge of her skirt and ran forward for a hug.

  “Are you going to expense that gown?” Her dad hugged her close.

  She laughed and enjoyed his practical sense of humour. After their years of running from the guild, he had delighted in the ability to pursue his true passion—after his wife—math.

  “It was expensed by the guild. A final gift to me for my service in bringing a live bride to the ceremony.” She smirked and leaned back to check that his good looks hadn’t faded over time. They hadn’t. He still looked like a masculine version of her own features.

  “Excellent. How are your savings?”

  “Better than anticipated. I got a bonus for each time someone took a shot at her.” She smiled ruefully. “It was quite a bonus.”

  “Did you pay taxes on it?”

  She laughed. “I had it set up for automatic payment. It was nearly a year’s pay, but I am up to date with the government.”

  “Good.” He hugged her again. “It is good to have you home. Now, when do you move out on your own?”

  Her mother was aghast, but Kiala cackled. “In my own good time, Dad. You lived with your family until you were nearly forty. Allow me to become a legal adult before you kick me out.”

  “Fine, but you are going to pay rent.” He grinned.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, who can you put me in contact with to finish my certification?”

  “I have the application on my desk. They are sitting exams in nine days.”

  She rubbed her hands together. “Excellent. My life truly begins today.”

  Her mother cleared her throat. “I beg to differ. I was there when your life started.”

  “I know, but this is when I finally have some say in my own destiny. I have been looking forward to this for a very long time.”

  Looking at her parents, she saw the realization in their eyes that they were now just as free as she was. They stood looking at each other with foolish grins until the hostess came in requesting Nila’s help with some of the clients. The moment was broken, but they would have more. They had all the time in the world.

  Chapter Three

  Sitting in the middle of a field doing a herd assessment wasn’t her idea of a good time, but then, few things were. Ki remained immobile as the large creatures bumped into her, trying to topple her over.

  Holding the density of her skin was a reflex now. She could maintain it as long as she needed and that was usually until she saw someone breaking the law. Today, that moment was now.

  The thieves rode into the herd and attempted to divide the pregnant animals from the immature ones. That was what she was waiting for.

  Kiala got to her feet and gripped the stalks of the whips at her hips. She kept her skin stone and lashed through the beasts and into the thieves. One by one, they screamed in shock and fell to the ground. She got seven out of ten of the thieves down before the others abandoned the project.

  One of them was still jerking and twitching. He grunted. “What hit us?”

  She tied his hands behind his back with a small synthetic strip and went on to the others. When she had pulled them all into a pyramid of limbs, she went to the one who was still awake. “It’s called a psychic whip. It only has an effect on those with higher intelligence. The animals don’t feel it, but you do. Fun, huh?”

  Kiala stepped back and called in support. “I need peacekeepers on the Murdan breeding farm, pasture nine, paddock seven. I have seven captured thieves and video of the act along with psychic imprint.”

  “Confirmed, auditor. Backup is on the way.”

  “Good. I will wait here.”

  “Confirmed.” The computerized dispatch that took her calls was always calm, controlled, and dispassionate. It was everything she aspired to be while she was working.

  She crouched silently near the pile of thieves and didn’t rise until the collection vehicles were landing.

  The peacekeepers emerged from the vehicle, and Kiala stood slowly, her hands away from her body.

  She remained where she was, the pile of slowly stirring bodies between her and them. The assassin’s relationship with peacekeepers was never an easy one. She could never give them an excuse to shoot her.

  “Auditor. Do you have the evidence?”

  She nodded and carefully peeled the monitors from her brow, jaw and ear.

  “Here you go. There is online backup right until this moment as well. Just in case the monitors go missing.”

  He gave her a sober look, his grey and blue skin stripped and his pupils narrowing with disapproval. “Thank you. Your service to your community is laudable... considering.”

  She gave him a calm look and remained immobile while the thieves were hauled into the transport skimmers.

  Kiala waited until the transport was removed, and then, she contacted the farmer. “I have maintained the population of your herd and the encroachment is no longer a threat. Contact me if any stock goes missing in the next two weeks. There were three remaining thieves that were not captured, but I do not believe they will resume activities.”

  “Thank you, Kiala. I will let your father know that you have taken care of matters.”

  “Thank you. I am sure
he will be relieved. He is always happier if I can take care of his clients and their inventory or livestock.”

  “He’s a good man who raised a good daughter.”

  Ki smiled slightly and continued on with the pleasantries until she could disconnect the call.

  The slow exhale was how she resumed her normal skin, but her body was more used to the stone than flesh lately. She needed a nice cup of tea, it was a good thing she knew just where to find one.

  “Ki, please have a seat. You look exhausted.”

  Kiala settled on her knees as the server left her at her table for one. The tea came quickly, and soon, there was a tray of snacks and a hot towel for her hands.

  Kiala wiped her face and hands before settling in for a delightful snack. Her mother joined her when she was into the first meat roll.

  “What’s wrong, Ki? You look irritated and wiped out at the same time. Suda is worried.”

  Ki looked over to the server where she was fidgeting near the desk; she smiled slightly and watched Suda exhale in relief before she continued her cleaning routine with the tables.

  “There, now, she is less worried.”

  “You didn’t answer me. What is wrong?”

  “While I have been enjoying the freedom to act as an investigator for dad’s clients, I find sitting in the fields and masquerading as a stone to lack a challenge.”

  “Funny you should mention that. I got a message for you today. There is a recruiter in the area, and she would like to meet with you.”

  “I have told you, I don’t want to join the Assassins Guild.”

  “This isn’t that kind of recruiter. She’s with the Citadel. I think you might be a good candidate for it. You could learn a lot, and you have a lot you can teach.”

  Ki blinked and leaned back. “You want me to leave?”

  “Yes and no. I don’t want you to leave; I want you to be happy. You are not happy. I am happy, your father is over the moons, but you are not happy. I want you to find your true joy. If finding happiness involves you leaving here, I will adjust to it. At least hear her out.”

  Ki nodded and reached for another roll. “I will. How do I get in contact with her?”

  Her mother coughed, twisted, and said, “Suda, can you bring more tea and get our guest from my office?”

  The teashop assistant nodded, bowed, and disappeared in the rear of the building.

  “She’s here?” Ki continued to eat her way through the snacks on the tea tray.

  “She is. It is a very interesting coincidence.”

  The woman who followed Suda around the corner was very impressive. Six and a half feet tall, deep burgundy skin, and black hair, her bright amber eyes and embroidered blue robes definitely made an impression.

  “Greetings, Mistress Kiala. I am Citadel Recruiter Doo-linth of Citadel Hurato.”

  “Pardon my lack of rising, Recruiter Doo-linth. I have been out in the cold all morning and I am trying to warm up.”

  The recruiter inclined her head. “Your reasoning is acceptable.”

  Suda returned with more tea and another tray, bobbing a quick bow before resuming her housekeeping.

  The recruiter smiled as Ki filled her cup, and then, she lifted it with both hands in a salute. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”

  “Thank you for coming out to see me. So, why would the Citadel be interested in someone with a boring talent like myself.”

  “Your talent is not very common, and based on reports, we believe that it could become something even more extraordinary.”

  Kiala cocked her head. “It is what it is. It can’t become anything.”

  Her mother gave her a look that begged her to listen to what the recruiter was saying.

  “You are incorrect. That is why the Citadel exists. There is always room for a talent to grow, and when the growth slows, you can teach.”

  Kiala cocked her head. “What do you want from me?”

  “Your willingness to use your talent on assignment, and aside from that, simply an open mind. Your parents have offered to support your training for the first two years.”

  Ki looked at her mom. “No. That is not necessary. I have more than enough saved up to take care of myself.”

  “Yes, but we did not get to send you to school or take care of you the way parents should. This is the least we can do.”

  “You kept me alive.”

  Her mother laughed. “You are very hard to kill, Ki.”

  “I know. That is why the Citadel is here.” She winked at her mother.

  The recruiter poured her own refill and sipped at the tea. “That is precisely why I am here. Word of your particular and unusual skill set has reached the Citadel, and there are a dozen assignments that would be able to use your skills.”

  “So, if I already have a built-in desirability, I would ostensibly begin as a Specialist the moment that I landed.”

  Doo-linth smiled. “I see you have researched the Citadel.”

  “It was definitely something on my alert system. I was not going to be a bodyguard forever.”

  “If you would care to sign up for six months, I can assure you a running start in regard to your first assignment.”

  Ki kept eating at the tea tray and smiled slyly. “Tell me more.”

  The next hour was spent negotiating the price for what the recruiter wanted her to do, and the amount of space and type of training she would be given at the Citadel. Finally, the contract was signed, and she was given until dawn the next day to get ready to travel.

  There was time for a family dinner and not much else. Given that it was a night where the shop was open, their family dinner was held with community members coming in and wishing her the best on her new journey to another world.

  Kiala spent the evening writing her will and putting her affairs in order. It was the traditional task for a member of the Assassins Guild, but it seemed the right thing to do before she headed out and into the embrace of an alien world.

  * * * *

  Ki watched the recruiter at the controls and smiled slightly. “May I have the actual details of the mission now?”

  Doo-linth gave her a wry look as they passed the outer satellites. “You have excellent instincts.”

  “I truly do. Now, I am not just handling the fans who are fawning over a Guardian in the Nyal Imperium. I am not going as a bodyguard. Why am I being sent?”

  Doo-linth brought up a file, and a display unit lit up to the right of Ki’s face.

  The handsome face, silvery skin, and huge leathery wings were offset by the armoured suit of a Guardian.

  “This is Luzor. He is being exhausted and traumatized by women who are leaping from rooftops in an effort to get his attention. Two have died when there was another jumper nearby and he could not get to both in time.”

  “That must have been horrible for someone pledged to work for the safety of the citizens.”

  “He was devastated. His work is suffering, and yet, the jumpers continue to live out the fantasy that he will fall for them if he rescues them. He has literally rescued seven hundred and forty-three women on that world, but they think that they are the one to win his heart.”

  “Insane.”

  “Indeed. So... do you think you can help him?”

  “Sure. I need to speak with him first, but I should be able to have it sorted in short order as long as you can find sympathetic news stations who are willing to report a fatality.”

  “It can be arranged. What are you going to do?”

  Ki looked at her and smirked, “My dear recruiter, I am going to jump.”

  Chapter Four

  Kiala looked down at the three hundred-foot drop that she was about to engage in. It was just as creepy as she had imagined it would be.

  On the wrist unit that Doo-linth had given her, she heard the Guardian’s voice as he stated that he would no longer try to catch the jumpers. He could not save lives that didn’t want to be saved. The interviewer asked him if he felt guilt about
the women who had died. He replied that he was in agony, and if he couldn’t save them, he couldn’t save anyone.

  Ki heard the pain in his voice, and she watched the direction that he would be coming from.

  Her plan involved him making an absolute declaration of intent then his carrying out the ultimatum.

  When she saw the flash of his wings, she gauged his speed and climbed over the edge of the balcony she was waiting on.

  He was approaching the area where she was staging, and when the distance was right, she jumped.

  She saw a few lenses aimed her way, but she counted on her clothing to hide what was happening.

  The Guardian swooped toward her, and she met his gaze. “Swerve away. I will be fine. No matter what you hear, I am fine.”

  The air was pushing on her, and she pulled her stone around her. His eyes widened as he saw her face taken over, and he flew away, continuing on his way as she fell.

  It was not her first fall; it was not even her seventh. Kiala watched for markers, and when she was three stories from the ground, she tucked into a ball with the blood packs on her back neatly lining her spine.

  The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, and she bounced. This was the critical moment. She had to let the momentum of the impact carry her into a suitable position.

  The blood packs burst as she flopped bonelessly on the ground and thickened the skin over her body, just enough to deter any attempt to read her vital signs.

  Now, she just had to lie motionless while videos were taken of her and the med services took her to a hospital.

  It was awkward to lie passive while they tried desperately to find out where her heart was. They didn’t find it, but she had had enough blood that could have been hers on her back, their guess was she had simply shattered on impact. She was declared dead and sent to the morgue.

  Doo-linth cleared her throat. “It worked. He has what he wanted, but now, they are calling him a monster.”