Page 133 of Stars in Mist

The AI did as commanded while Killen stepped before Phantasm’s screens.

‘My name is Killen Sable, and I believe I have what you’re after.’

A second holo showed the ships tracking towards Devansi, slowing and coming to a dead stop. Right above the same salt plain that the Riders had visited just a day earlier.

The holo view flickered, and a Katánian filled the screen.

It was not the spokesperson from their earlier conversation.

This time, the holo was dominated by a humanoid figure, an older being with a lined eagle-like face.

His eyes glowed like ice-cold diamonds, sparkling with hardness and a familiar lilac and silver flare.

His mouth was beaked and twisted with disdain, and he wore menace like a cloak.

A full, burnished beard tracked past his breastbone.

He, too, sported an impressive crest of chromed and lilac feathers. They flowed around his face in silvery wisps, joining the back of his head to create a plumage that shone with light and energy.

The effect was majestic, awe-inspiring, and nothing like Riv would have imagined.

The imperial creature leaned in, disbelieving, as he scowled at Killen. ‘Who thefokkare you that dares to wear the hawkstone?’

His vocalization was a merge of whispers, screeches, and echoes in the dark.

Killen seemed unmoved and smiled at the older Katánian. ‘Don’t you recognize me, grandfather?’

The Katánian jolted. He turned his hawk-like head to someone off-screen and let out a series of clicks and calls.

Killen lifted a hand. ‘Don’t bother yourKiama. They had no idea of my existence. Mother did a great job at hiding me from you.’

The imperial man swung his crested head back, the anger in the older Katánian’s eyes abating. ‘Where is she?’

Killen closed his eyes. Riv felt his woman move away from his embrace, and his heart fell as she stepped into view.

She met the old timer’s narrowed, glowing gaze with still and calm defiance. ‘I stand before you, Tempest of Light.’

The elder Imperial Hawk glowered at the silver-haired woman for a silent while.

His eyes glittered with emotion caught between resentment, rage, and longing.

His lips twisted as he spoke. ‘K’Élisa. After all these years.’

Élisa inclined her head. ‘It has been a long time.’

‘Many seasons of trials. Is that how much you hated me? That you chose to hide yourself from me for decades?’

‘I don’t hate you, Father. I loathe what you stand for.’

The Tempest of Light smirked. ‘And what is that?’

Élisa straightened her back, taking her time to firm the right words. ‘Your cursed out-of-date philosophy. One set in the old ways and stirred up by angry old K?str?ls who stop at nothing to blaze and burn the galaxy. Incompetent, bloodthirsty crones, in thrall to worn-out ideologies, who care nothing for the young who always pay the price.’

Riv raised a brow, pride flooding his chest at his woman’s defiance.

The K?str?l King cackled. ‘I see you still have my steely boldness and your mother’s rapid mouth. I missed your strength and mastery by my side all these years, K’Élisa. We would have made quite the ruling partnership.’

Élisa’s lilac eyes flashed. ‘Steely? Don’t you mean your callous, ruthless, and hardhearted spirit? I am nothing close to that, but you never noticed or cared how different we were. And don’t tell me you miss me. What you yearn for is the power and truth of the hawkstone. You’d have slashed my maw for it had I remained in Kós.’

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