Broken Circle by John Shirley Read Free Book Online Page B

thunder!” He heard exclamations of awe as he strode into the crowd—for some ironically regarded him as a kind of prophet as well, a divine being.
    The throng parted for Ussa; he was aware of Ernicka, as per orders, a few steps behind him, watching warily.
    Ussa stopped at a warmer for brood eggs, lifted an egg up himself, and placed it gently in a carrier—though this was normally a female’s work, a great leader sometimes did it as a sign of love for his people. A general murmur of approbation followed. The applause of clashing jaws followed, and he walked on, patting the unhelmeted, scaly head of a Sangheili childling; stopping to closely examine a plasma launcher being prepped for transport; lifting a crate of dried meat onto an autodray. All around him, not to be outdone by their leader, his adherents busied themselves, frantically packing up.
    â€œGreat Leader!” called a lanky, helmetless male, carefullysetting a box filled with burnblades on another dirty, scarred old autodray. The Sangheili kept one hand on the open box of swords as he turned to Ussa, ducking his head in respect. “May I inquire . . . ?”
    Ussa recognized him: a known weapons dealer. “Yes, Vertikus, anyone may inquire of me. What do you wish to know?”
    â€œOn the world to which we go . . . how will we bring new weapons there? We have some here—these are genuine Qikost swords. Their blades are ever fine and true. But can we learn to make such in this new world? Is it so far that we cannot find a way to send a secret delegation from there to Qikost?”
    â€œYou wish to know if it is near or far from Sanghelios?” Ussa asked, glancing at the box of murderous burnblades. They were forged of metal, heated from within for extra destructive power. “It is indeed far—but I will not tell you, or anyone, where it lies. I will guide us all there. I will say only that we must go there immediately, for I take an action that cannot be reversed. This cannot wait.”
    Vertikus made a resigned hissing sound, the equivalent of a Sangheili sigh, and then blurrily fast, he snatched a sword from the crate. Slashing viciously at Ussa’s throat, he snarled, “Truly this cannot wait!”
    But Ernicka the Scar-Maker was suddenly there, leaping in front of Ussa, his own burnblade intersecting Vertikus’s weapon, so that red sparks spat at the contact. Ernicka’s weapon stopped the would-be assassin’s sword the width of a childling’s tooth from Ussa’s exposed throat; Ussa could actually feel the heat of Vertikus’s burnblade lightly scorching his flesh.
    Larger and vastly more experienced, Ernicka forced Vertikus back with a single powerful thrust, so that the would-be assassin staggered and fell to the ground.
    Other Sangheili rushed in, tearing the sword hilt from the traitor’s grasp.
    â€œFools!” Vertikus shouted, scrambling to his feet. “Ussa will lead you into damnation! The Covenant is our only hope for redemption!”
    He tried to run, but the crowd closed in around him.
    â€œWait!” Ussa called. “We need to interrogate him! He might have knowledge of—”
    Jaws flashed, talons slashed, purple Sangheili blood spurted, and Vertikus—attacked by ten at once—was already torn to gouting shreds.
    â€œIt is too late, Ussa,” Ernicka said, sheathing his sword. “But you cannot blame them.”
    â€œNo, I cannot. So be it. Have the traitor’s body disposed. Load up the transports. We will depart before the Covenant knows we are gone.”
    â€œYou spoke of an action to be taken? Do you intend to strike before we go, or . . . ?”
    Ussa made a rachitic sound that expressed dry irony. “No. That was merely to draw out the spy.”
    â€œYou took a terrible chance, Ussa, walking among them all so boldly.”
    â€œI have great trust in you, Scar-Maker. I knew you