The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

Lipton Falls, and it seemed to all present that the time of exclusive human leadership within the Aegis was at an end.

At Volka’s silent invitation, Nameless and his bond-mates followed her and the Antlion Queen inside, the angel leading them into one of the large briefing rooms on the main floor.

Happy or not, the Aegis council soon joined them.

“I... apologize for my abruptness. My name is Julia Antonia Longinus. My daughter is Avita Antonia Longinus; she has been missing for several weeks now.”

“And why is that a failure of the Aegis?” One of the councillors asked, trying and failing to keep his tone neutral.

The queen’s eyes flashed with anger.

“Was it not you that kept a secret from the rest of us? I have heard of the Chimera Evadne and your unsuccessful hunt for her. Or did you think no one would notice when she slaughtered an entire town?”

There was no hiding the accusation in her tone.

And Booker couldn’t argue with her about Evadne, because she was right, the Aegis had kept the secret in hopes of preventing a panic.

Given the ever growing number of refugees flooding the city, that plan had blown up in their faces.

Queen Julia turned away from him to address Volka again.

“Please Dominar, please help me find my child.”

“Where was she last seen?” Booker asked with a frown, trying to get to business.

One of the Antlion’s antennae twitched at another question from a human, but she answered.

“My Avita was establishing a new colony in the mountains south of Algrade. From surveying the area she suspected that there was a system of caves beneath the rocks and wished to exploit it. I was leery of her decision to leave my side so young, but I could not deny her ambition, nor could I deny her birthright.”

“Understandable.” Margaret Bloom said sympathetically; “And the countryside in that area is mostly unoccupied. On the surface at least. Much too rocky.”

The queen swallowed and wiped away a sudden tear.

“She was not ready. I should have... she was not yet at the stage where she could produce her own soldiers, only workers. One day all word from her stopped, so I sent some of my legionnaires to find out why.” She had to take in a breath to steady her nerve before she finished; “They found her colony in ruins, all of the tunnels collapsed and no trace of her or her workers.”

Heavy silence filled the room as the seven foot tall ant bowed her head and clenched her fists in helpless frustration.

Milly reached out, as only Milly would, and pulled the enormous woman into a warm hug.

At first Julia made to push her away, but instead she held her tight for a long embrace as she shed a few more tears for her missing child.

“Thank you, Minotaur. For your kindness in my moment of weakness.”

Milly shook her head firmly.

“It isn’t weakness to be sad. Or afraid. We’ll find your daughter. I promise.”

As the Minotaur made the ill-advised pledge, Booker looked like someone shoved a lemon into his teeth and squeezed it.

One of the things both Grant and Miranda had told Nameless and his girls on more than one occasion: never make promises on the job, because all too often they simply can’t be kept.

“Were there any signs of a struggle? Blood? Bodies?”

“No. But for an Antlion to collapse her own colony? It makes no sense!”

Margaret Bloom scratched at her scarred cheek.

“Maybe she found a better location? Or her workers struck groundwater in their digging and were forced to abandon it. Maybe they found those caves and decided to occupy them.

“None of that would explain why she never contacted me!” Queen Julia exclaimed.

“We speak too much of hypotheticals.” Volka shook her head; “We must deal with what we know. Queen Julia, can you lead us to her colony?”

The Antlion nodded.

“It took weeks for my workers just to locate her original digs. They are there now, excavating them and I would know if they found anything. But I could not just sit and watch while my daughter could already be-”

Her hand moved swiftly to cover her mouth, forbidding herself from giving voice to the unthinkable.

They all gave her a moment to regain control of herself, Milly silently taking the queen’s hand in hers to once again support her.

“Her colony is still the best and only place to start an investigation. You need trackers of some kind.” Booker mused.

“I know a couple.” Nameless volunteered, but immediately regretted it when the entire council turned on him; “Ah, assuming the Aegis can spare them.”

It was very clear that more than one of them wanted to demand what the rookie Aegis member was even doing there, but none of them dared in front of his Valkyrie.

Somehow oblivious to the awkwardness in the room, Volka dipped her chin in acknowledgment.

“Bruti and Jan. Which means Miranda and Grant.”

“That ties up an enormous amount of manpower for one missing girl!”

Queen Julia wrenched her hand out of Milly’s and wheeled on the councillor who’d spoken, looking about ready to murder him.

“She is not a missing girl! She is a queen of the house of Longinus!” She snarled; “I would have you kneel before her, even if I have to sever your legs myself to make it so!”

“This is getting good.” Nina remarked; “Twenty coins on the queen.”

Erica smirked.

“I’ll take that action. She looks like a badass, but he seems pretty scrappy.”

“Girls, please.” Nameless pinched the bridge of his nose; “We need to stay focused.”

“I will accompany you, Queen Julia.” Volka declared, setting her hand on the angry Antlion’s shoulder before she could deliver on her threat.

Curbing her anger with the aid of the Valkyrie’s aura, the Antlion dipped her head in gratitude.

“I