Prologue: Dust Of The Desert

No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky.

Bob Dylan

NEREID

I had not spoken to Lady Aphrodite XXVII many times but despite that her agitation and urgency had shone through clearly when she had relayed her request to me. At the time it had seemed rather... uncalled for; but now that I was walking across the red plains of Mars the urgency and underlying fear seemed far more sensible.

Violence hung heavy in the atmosphere, the sound of battle echoing through the smoky air. The air carried with it the scent of death but it was only as I crested the next set of hills that I took in the full extent of what was happening.

A young girl, surrounded by an inferno, was holding an entire regiment of soldiers at bay. I could see the wild eyed rage in the girl's form as she knelt beside the bloodied body of one of the priestesses. The pain in her was to an extent that it made the girl seem almost uncomprehending of the world around her... and of what she was doing.

I watched on in horror as men were incinerated with nothing more than a look from the child. The ground was cracked and blackened about her from the heat that radiated off her body. Her hands clutched uselessly at the fabric of the woman's robes, not burning them despite the fact the child's hands were wrapped in flames.

I felt a stirring of surprise, I had been told that I was going to Mars to retrieve the girl who was betrothed to Lady Aphrodite's eldest daughter, I had also been told that the girl was Cycnus' daughter and the Avatar of Ares... but I hadn't expected this.

Agonized screams rent the air as the fire arched between the soldiers who approached, this time their end was not swift and painless... it was drawn out in a deliberate manner.

I fought down the wave of sickness I felt, drawing on what moisture I could to try and dispel her chaotic outburst. However it turned out I wasn't needed, the Autokrator of Mars intervened before I could act.

A vicious clash of power had the flames racing towards nonexistence, the crackling roar faded as quickly as it had appeared but the heat lingered... clutching us in its stifling grasp. The power that filled the air ebbed away as Cycnus loomed over the girl before viciously backhanding her.

When the girl faded out of consciousness all that was left behind was ash to be cast across the Martian desert by the wind... the bodies of friend and foe alike were simply gone. Cycnus brought his sword up, preparing to execute the girl as Aphrodite had predicted.

"Stop." I ordered in Martian, my voice stopping him dead in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder, hiding his surprise at seeing me; instead projecting an air of irritability.

"With all due respect Queen Nereid, you have no authority over anyone on Mars." He said scathingly. Nonetheless he sheathed his sword and approached me, stepping over the unconscious form of the girl I knew to be his daughter.

"That's where you're be wrong, Autokrator, because I am giving the order on behalf of someone you have sworn to obey." I told him firmly, holding out the amended Alliance for him to read. "If you wish to remain a part of the Alliance, and continue to benefit from all treaties and trade agreements contained within it, you will not kill that girl."

"Is that a threat?" He growled, some of his guard were approaching. I met his eyes solidly, refusing to back down.

"Take it as you like, Cycnus." I told him, we'd had dealings before and I was very familiar with the way Martians tended to communicate. All negotiations were handled from a position of strength... or at least they tried to maintain the illusion of it.

Cycnus' demeanour was almost overpowering, I knew he was ruthless when he needed to be and this matter was no different. From what I understood, this... this massacre was the final step in removing the threat of a religious order on Mars. I had only basic knowledge about the group but I knew enough that this level of brutality was uncommon from the Autokrator.

There was something else at work here, every other time the Bonehunters in question had simply been removed from the equation and prevented from spreading the 'poison' as Cycnus put it. This time there was malice in his actions rather than just the drive of necessity. This butchering of the final stronghold of the Bonehunter religion was uncharacteristic on Cycnus' behalf. That meant this was going to be one of the times the unpredictable aspect of Cycnus' character would take a hold of my dealings with him. And with Cycnus... unpredictable was deadly.

Cycnus studied me for a moment then relaxed with a noise that sounded impressed... and surprisingly close to a laugh.

"Fine." He grumbled as he snatched the papers from my hand. "I'll read the damn thing."

There was silence as he flicked through the papers, his scowl deepening as he read. Finally he looked up at me again, anger was burning in his eyes and I could already see the scorch marks spreading across the pages.

"They want her as a part of the treaty?" He snarled, causing the papers in his hands to catch fire. I let them burn, if Cycnus wanted to fight this there was nothing a piece of paper could do to stop it. It would have to be done in a more direct and upfront manner... one with no room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Sparks started to fly through the air and flames licked the earth, edging closer and closer to the girl. I felt a surge of motherly protectiveness flare within me, prompting me to douse his creeping flames. The hiss of steam drowned out the sound of crackling fire.

"I am owed, Cycnus." I told him quietly, drawing his full attention. He gestured for the Crimson Guard to leave his side as he came closer; trying to keep this conversation just between us. He knew as well as I did that this would be the final attempt at negotiating before a decision was reached.

And he had to maintain the appearance of strength... or risk having his planet snatched out from beneath his feet.

"In return for all I, and Neptune, have done for you and your people... Honour the Alliance. Unless you want the relationship our planets have to become strained." I continued my spiel in an undertone, I needed for him to keep up the show of strength just as much as he did. If he were to be overthrown all my hard work for peace between the planets would come undone. There were far worse rulers on Mars than the current Autokrator.

"Is that a threat, Nereid?" He asked, his eyes hard.

"It is a request." I paused, kneeling down next to the girl and looking away from his gaze before continuing. "Unless you refuse to spare her life."

There was a long, icy, silence between us before Cycnus broke it with a sigh, it was as close to defeat as I'd ever seen him.

"The amended treaty states that she is to visit me on Neptune once a year until she reaches the age of majority to..." I paused, trying to remember the diplomatic wording of the agreement. When it wasn't put in political terms the arrangement sounded rather judgemental of Cycnus' rule.

"To make sure she still lives...I did read the document, Nereid." He grumbled, finishing my sentence for me. "Consider this the first inspection and get her off my damn planet."

AN: Well, I seem to be on a roll. Hopefully the start of this story lived up to your expectations and all that. Maybe I'll actually see how much more I can get up on the site before my weekend is over... I'm really quite captivated by the whole damn series at the moment and should probably take advantage of the internet access (and my creative streak) while I can.