Page 142 of Stars in Nova

Four days later, the forested highlands of Skardis came into view.

Rolling emerald plains gave way to jagged peaks, their snow-capped summits piercing the clouds.

Rivers snaked through the valleys, their surfaces catching the sunlight and reflecting it like liquid silver.

The Cephei touched down at the spaceport, a modest facility surrounded by dense forest.

Sax disembarked, his cassock shifting with the breeze. He turned to Kisan, his grin as irreverent as ever.

‘Take care of your water queen,’ Sax rasped, teasing.

Kisan smirked. ‘Try not to burn down your freakin’ stills and the monastery.’

Sax arched a brow and extended a palm. ‘When do I get those hundred schills you owe me now, given my card mastery?’

‘You got afokkin’ free ride to Skardis. Consider us even brother.’

The Sarabaite barked a laugh and threw a mock salute before disappearing into the throngs of Skardis’ spaceport crowds.

Headed toward a distant tree-lined path leading to an abbey perched on the side of a mountain cliff.

Closing A Chapter

Kisan’s holo display showcased a vision of Eden II’s sprawling port.

The bustling terminal brimmed with full berths, numerous miniature flyers navigating the area, and an overall atmosphere of lively activity.

A variety of ships, both small and massive, had docked at the pier. Most featured the simple, streamlined design preferred by Allorian and Dunian merchants and traders who couldn’t afford the steep cost of more elegant Rhesian yachts.

Porters in space suits hurried to and from the concourse and air bridges outside the vault.

Transferring heavy goods onto smaller passenger boats and pushing them toward the moon’s enormous dome.

The dock gleamed with a brand-new shine, and the Cephei’s thrusters fired in cadence as the ship slowed and landed,

Grapples groaned, and there was a slight jolt as the gunship slid into her berth and latched to the spaceport.

Kisan sensed the vessel matched its gravitational pull force to the port’s standard g’s.

The pressure of gravity returned, anchoring him to the floor. A green light flashed throughout the cabin, indicating a successful docking. The propulsion rumbled and then cut off.

Unstrapping himself from the pilot’s chair, Kisan retrieved his duffle bag from storage, swung it like a cross-body pack over his broad form, and stepped out of the airlock. It opened to a climate-controlled air bridge, down a corridor to an auto gate.

That led into the private hangar.

He took a fly cab to the central city, to the Sable Group headquarters.

The polished corridors of the facility were quiet as Kisan made his way to the Riders’ boardroom.

He stopped in front of a nondescript gray doorway. He punched a code into a keypad beside the door and used his wrist comm once more for further authentication. The input device gave a soft beep, and the portal slid open.

He stepped into an expansive room dominated by a huge table. Thick, tactile walls surrounded the room on three sides. One solid partition was covered in backlit shelves of books, artifacts, and antique pieces from all over the System.

The view from the high-density anti-ballistic glass overlooked the extensive empty bar and dining area of the Osirian club.

Five imposing, commanding men, each dominant in their own right, sat at the sprawling table.

Kage, Xion, Zane, Riv and Kainan.

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