Three Square Meals Ch. 058

As she lay helpless, flopped down in her chair, a lithe figure moved into her field of vision, and placed a small black box on the desk directly in front of her. Her angular magenta eyes flickered up to see who her assailant was, and she stared in shock at one of her own assassins that she had complimented so gratefully less than an hour earlier. The assassin gave her an apologetic smile, and leaned forward to press a button on the holo-projector.

***

Aradrea Ghilwen felt the warmth of the open fire seep into her weary limbs, and she let out a blissful sigh as she sipped her Telanaris wine. It was a heady vintage, and the delicately spiced beverage spread a wonderful feeling of warmth throughout her body. She took another long sip, then relaxed in her chair, relishing the comforting sensations, just as much as she was enjoying gloating over Edraele's brutal demise. A beheading after being critically injured in an explosion... how marvellous.

She heard the door open into her sitting room, and she glanced over in that direction, and asked, "Is that you, Leena?"

"No Matriarch, I'm afraid Leena is indisposed at the moment," another woman's voice replied, as she strolled into the sitting room, then sat quite brazenly in the chair directly opposite Aradrea.

Aradrea immediately recognised one of the assassins she'd spoken with earlier that day, and was shocked at her minion's impudence. "How dare you be so presumptuous!" she snorted indignantly. "I'll have you flayed alive for your lack of respect!"

The assassin had a sad smile on her face, and she said, "I'm afraid not, Matriarch."

Aradrea reached for her communicator to summon her guards, but she found she was totally unable to move. The warmth that had spread through her chest now felt uncomfortably hot, and her body was completely paralysed from the neck down. Her eyes went wide with horror, and she gasped, "What have you done?!"

Reaching into her pocket, the assassin placed a small black box on the table between them, and said quietly, "I'll let an old friend of yours explain."

She pressed a button on the holo-projector, and Edraele Valaden's face appeared as a crystal clear hologram. The House Valaden Matriarch looked radiantly beautiful, her smooth fresh skin making her look decades younger than the last time Aradrea had set eyes on her. Even more disconcerting than that was the long, flowing white hair that framed the stunningly attractive woman's face.

"Hello Aradrea," Edraele greeted her warmly, a kind smile on her beautiful face. "Please accept my apologies for the way I went about this, but I thought you deserved to know the truth."

Aradrea could only sit there in stunned silence, forced to listen attentively to the holograph of Edraele speak.

***

Minuvae Loraleth glanced over at the coffee table at the other side of the lounge, as a flickering hologram suddenly sprang to life, catching her eye. Turning to her sisters and mother, she asked curiously, "Did any of you leave a holo-projector over there?"

Shaedra glanced in the direction her daughter was pointing, then blinked in surprise at the holographic image of a youthful woman with scandalously long white hair, which had appeared above a black cube.

"Hello Shaedra," the holographic woman said in a friendly manner. "I do hope this recorded message reaches you intact. I really wanted to speak with you at this pivotal moment in Maliri history."

Shaedra felt a cold shiver run down her spine, instantly recognising Edraele Valaden's voice, even if the image of the young woman looked nothing like that venomous Valaden witch. She rushed over to get a closer look, then gasped in shock when she recognised the woman's face, realising at once that it was in fact Edraele speaking to her now.

"Something wonderful has happened," Edraele continued, staring off into the distance with the fervent gleam of a true believer in her eyes. "The Mael'nerak has returned, or the benevolent equivalent at least."

"The Mael'nerak?!" Arbane snorted contemptuously. "What's this slutty imbecile babbling about?"

"Silence you fool!" Shaedra snapped. "That's Edraele Valaden! Now let me listen..."

The holographic image of Edraele let out a happy sigh, and said, "John's incredible; so powerful, yet kind and loving at the same time. I wish that things could have been different, and you could have met him, then this would have been so much less unpleasant." With a look of regret on her beautiful face, Edraele continued, "The behaviour modification just isn't strong enough to overcome the decades of hate between the Matriarchs, so I know I'd never be able to convince you to agree to my plan."

"Behaviour modification?" Minuvae whispered quietly to Arbane, who shrugged helplessly.

Shaedra shot her daughter a dangerous look, then stared at the holograph, listening intently.

Edraele's face brightened and her expression filled with wonder as she said, "I see such a bright future for our people. John explained his plans to me, and with my help, the Maliri will flourish under his benevolent rule. Unfortunately, there are some obstacles in the way, so I'm clearing them for him as a present for when he returns."

Shaedra felt a feeling of absolute dread rising within her, and she cast a fearful glance at her daughters. "The door!" she hissed, on the verge of panic.

Minuvae caught that look, and she turned and ran to the double doors, pressing her hand against the touch control to open them but to no avail. "They're locked!" she cried out in fear.

"You might be wondering where Kali is, so let me put your mind at ease. Please don't worry, I'll look after her like she was my own daughter. Through her, House Loraleth will live on through the centuries," Edraele said with a loving smile. Her expression grew mournful as she added, "Even if you and your other daughters won't be able to share in this Utopia."

"No!" Shaedra shrieked in terror.

***

"Have you secured the package?" Avelissa murmured under her breath into the concealed comm device.

"Package secured," Renaya replied seconds later, sounding calm and confident.

Avelissa had been carefully watching the cam-feed on a holo-viewer from a small street cafe in the streets of Ishalon. The sound was being relayed to the earpiece she wore, and she could hear everything that was happening in the Loraleth Palace, high above her on the hill overlooking the city. When the perfect moment arrived, she flipped up the safety on the detonator, and held her thumb down on the trigger.

She looked up just as a massive explosion rocked the gleaming Loraleth palace, the top of one of the high towers blown apart in a huge detonation. Wind from the blast wave swept past her, and she closed her eyes as the dust swirled by in the strong breeze. She reached over to her glass, a fruit punch with no alcohol, as drinking on a job would have been shockingly unprofessional.

Raising her glass in the air, Avelissa took a sip, then whispered, "Rest in peace, Shaedra Loraleth."

Returning the glass to the table, she stood, then strolled away through the gathering crowd of stunned onlookers, who'd been out enjoying the balmy Ishalon evening. They were staring in shock at the smoking ruin of the palace tower, which was brightly illuminated in the moonlight from one of the planet's twin moons. Avelissa could hear furtive gossiping from the citizens, with guesses at the cause of the explosion, as well as speculation on who might have been the target.

The assassin had no time to savour her handiwork however, as she was in a hurry to report in to her Matriarch. She had no intention of disappointing Edraele, and she smiled happily at the thought of seeing the benevolent Matriarch of House Blake.