Read Wrath of Axia (The Arcadian Jihad) for Free Online Page A

How could he ever forget where they’d first met?
    “What happened to Nightingale? Did she return to Orphex?”
    “No, she became a diplomat, and now she works for the Foreign Service. She is at present the accredited Axis Nova diplomatic representative for Planet Cadmus.”
    “She did well for herself. Tell me, why do you think they allowed the capital planet of the Nine Systems to keep the name Axis Nova? That was the enemy’s name. The proper name is Arcadia I.”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. Aren’t we all supposed to be allies now?”
    “The Bose brothers aren’t.”
    “No, they are not.”
    They reached the temple. It was undamaged, shimmering in the ghostly sunlight of the planet. But they both stared open-mouthed. The huge statue of the God Ahura stood outside. It meant that the temple was once again dedicated to the God of the Axians. The Axian surrender agreement had been quite firm. All stolen temples had to be returned to their owners. There were to be no exceptions. If the Axians wanted temples, that was fine. They could build their own. Seeing the statue was the clearest sign yet of the Axian supremacy.
    Evelyn gasped. “They’ve broken the agreement!”
    “They’ve done more than that. They seem to have torn up the agreement completely.”
    She was shaking her head. “It’s almost impossible. The city of Peria is a vital part of people’s religious beliefs throughout the universe. This temple is the very heart of the Nine Systems. This sacrilege.”
    They continued to stare at the awful symbol of the tyranny they’d fought against. A voice startled them.
    “You! What do you think you’re doing here?”
    A Security Bureau patrol had appeared. The same sergeant who’d accosted them at the checkpoint was at its head.
    “What business is it of yours?” Blas demanded angrily. “This is a religious site, and any citizen is entitled to come and visit the temple, without being questioned by the military.”
    “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he snarled. “You’d better have a good explanation of why you’re here, or I’ll be forced to arrest you on suspicion of being terrorists.”
    So much for the power of a pretty dress! Blas saw Evelyn’s expression change and he gripped her hand. He’d had enough of these petty, spiteful bullies. They were just cowards in uniform, and it was time to resolve this without recourse to her mental powers.
    “Sergeant, after the surrender these temples were supposed to be re-dedicated to their old Gods. Why wasn’t this one changed back to the way it was?”
    “So you’re criticizing our shrine, are you? That’s treason.” The sergeant’s sneer broadened.
    “I only asked you a simple question,” Blas persisted. “That’s not treason.”
    “I’ve had enough of your nonsense. I’m putting you both under arrest.”
    “What’s the charge?”
    He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll think of one. Take them away.”
    A trooper handcuffed them both, and the steel bracelets bit hard into Blas’ wrists. He looked at his partner.
    “Are you ok? Did they put them on too tight?”
    She smiled. “No, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
    The soldiers marched them to a guard post in the center of the city and locked them both into a single cell.
    “You’re out of luck, you two,” the sergeant grinned. “The Commander is due to visit soon, so he can decide what to do with you both. Maybe you’ll end up on a burlash plantation. He’s always looking for new workers.”
    “The Commander, you mean Admiral Rusal?”
    “Rusal? What are you talking about? Rusal doesn’t tell us what to do. He’s a navy man. I mean Pieter Bose. He commands the Security Bureau on Hesperia, and you’ll meet him soon enough.”
    They didn’t have to wait long. After an hour the outer door opened and a short, uniformed officer came to look at them through the bars of the cell.
    “My name is Pieter Bose, and I am in command here. The sergeant tells me you have