CHAPTER 15
I opened my eyes and then lay very still, listening hard to insure I was still alone. The only thing I heard was Bim shifting restlessly from foot to foot as he stood watch.
The sun was high enough in the sky that it made a mere puddle of light on the floor beneath the window of my room, so it was a bit after midday. That meant I hadn’t been gone long.
Good, there were a few more people I needed to visit.
First, Losif Strand. I wanted to know if he was still on Madrea and what he was up to.
I closed my eyes and tried to bring his image into focus. I didn’t want to appear in front of him, but I did want to “see” him. Nothing happened. No page ruffling, no click, no daydream, nothing.
Hmm, interesting. I’d locked onto Thor’s DNA while I was in spirit form, but not Strand’s. Eavesdropping must not count, I realized. I had to “be” in the room and close to the person to get a lock, not just listening. And while I’d been in the “room” with Strand back on Centaurius, apparently I’d never been close enough to get a lock on his DNA.
Next on my list was Chine. Since I figured he would notice if I started following him around all day in my ghost form, this was going to make it difficult to get close enough to Braxus to gather his DNA.
However, I could take a peek and see what Chine was up to.
I let his image float into my mind, hazy and insubstantial, leaving his surroundings vague. He was holding a tray, I thought. A tray with dishes on it.
The daydream snapped into clarity as he addressed a man with his back to the room. “I’ve brought your lunch, Your Highness.”
I recognized the space immediately. It was the library filled with real paper books, where I’d found Reynard poring over the text on GEPs.
“Put it there.” An obscenely deformed hand emerged from the sleeve of a hooded robe and gestured, giving me a glimpse of an open book in front of him. The thick brown robe prevented me from really seeing him, but unlike his bent form and misshapen hands, his voice was smooth and cultured.
Chine deposited the tray and then stepped back. “The new crate of books arrived from Strand a few moments ago. I told some of the men to bring it up after lunch.”
“Good, good. Has Strand finished loading his ship yet?”
“No, sire. It will take several days. He also wants to be here to see your plans set in motion.”
“As he should, since he was instrumental in bringing them to fruition.” Ignoring the tray of food, he turned a page. “Is everything in place?”
“Word has spread that she’ll dance tonight. The man has been instructed and is prepared.”
“Excellent. It won’t be long now, Chine. Soon I’ll be whole, able to rule Madrea in my brother’s stead.”
“A happy day that will be, sire.”
“Yes. Before you go, hand me that book on increasing crop yields. I believe it’s on the back of the left center shelf.”
“Yes, sire.” Chine turned and moved to the shelf, vanishing behind the stack of books.
This could be my chance, I realized. Maybe the only one I’d get. I just hoped Chine wasn’t so far away that my psychic tether wouldn’t reach to Braxus.
Quickly, I pushed the daydream farther, felt the pages ruffle and then the click. I was standing halfway between Braxus and the shelf that hid Chine, and knew I had to be fast.
Silently, I glided closer to Braxus, careful to stay behind him so he wouldn’t see me. Just as I came within range, felt the click that locked his DNA in place, he went still.
“How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me?” His voice was laced with annoyance.
“Sire?” Chine’s voice obviously came from behind the shelf, and Braxus stiffened.
Schite! Somehow the man knew I was back there. I had to get out. Now.
He was already turning when I slid back into my body. Had he seen me? I couldn’t be sure.
Lifting a shaky hand to my forehead, I wiped away the light sheen of sweat that had formed. It would be a disaster if they discovered I could listen in on them whenever I wanted.
But it was what I’d heard that had really shaken me. They were going to put their plans for me in motion tonight.
I chewed on my lip for a second, thinking about the ramifications. If I told Marcus and Reynard, they’d not only keep me from dancing, they’d probably try to lock me up somewhere. It wouldn’t work, of course, but they’d try.
So I wouldn’t tell them. I’d just be extra watchful. It was only one man after all, and truthfully, I was better equipped to handle any attack than they were.
That decision made, I sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then released it slowly to calm myself. There were still some things I needed to do, and panic wouldn’t help.
When my heartbeat was back to normal, I concentrated on making a daydream of Zeller. It was easier this time, like practice really did make perfect.
He was in a tent, facing a man I assumed was Lowden, leader of the Bashalde, since he was the right age and so richly dressed. The man was shorter than I’d expected, and very slender, although he had the dark coloring normal for the majority of the Bashalde.
“I don’t trust him, Zeller.” He paced the length of the tent and back. “Strand has his own agenda, and he’s not the kind of man to let anything get in his way, not even his allies.”
“Then we’ll watch him more closely.”
Lowden made a dismissive noise and stopped, hands on his hips as he looked at Zeller. “It doesn’t matter how much you watch a snake. They’ll always find a hole to crawl through.” His brow furrowed in a frown. “Tell me again what he plans for the woman.”
“He didn’t go into details, just said to assure you that he would take care of her.”
“I don’t like involving a woman in this. It’s wrong, and I don’t care who she is or what she can do. I will not tolerate her being hurt.” He turned away and scrubbed both hands over his face. “When Strand first came to us, I agreed to help because I wanted to open trade between Madrea and the Federation. What happened, Zeller? When did this idea begin to go so badly wrong?”
“When Braxus became involved. The man’s mind is as twisted as his body. He actually believes Strand has some way to make him whole again so he can depose Politaus and take his rightful place on the throne.”
“Invet help us all if that should come to pass.” Over his shoulder he shot Zeller a piercing look. “And what of you, my friend? Where do you stand in all this?”
Zeller arched a brow. “My loyalty has always been with you, Lowden. You know that.”
“Do I?” He dropped a hand to the hilt of his sword. “Be very careful, Zeller. Betray me and you’ll regret it for a very long time before you die.”
With those words, Lowden left the tent and Zeller watched him go, a feral smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Opening my eyes, I sat up and swung my feet off the bed. Suddenly my mind was whirling with so much information I could barely process it.
Lowden didn’t know about the Sumantti or the girls.
But Zeller did.
I’d really thought Lowden was the instigator here. Now, I was inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. Oh, he wasn’t innocent by a long shot. At the very least he was guilty of conspiring with Strand to have the ban lifted. But that was a Madrean law, not a Federation mandate. And I had to give him big points for not wanting to hurt me.
I needed to talk to Lowden as soon as possible, warn him about Zeller and Strand. Since it was apparent he already knew I was a Federation agent, I wouldn’t be giving anything away, and it might just cause Strand and Braxus a few problems.
Unfortunately, I’d have to go through Jancen to get to Lowden, and that would put the older man right in the line of fire.
I sighed and pressed my thumb and index finger against my eyes. Any action in that direction would have to wait until after tonight so I could deal with the imminent danger to my person.
Abruptly, I frowned. They knew I was a Gertz GEP, knew what I could do. Why were they only sending one man? An ordinary man stood no chance at all against me. I could break the strongest of them in half and not even breathe hard.
Even a normal GEP couldn’t hurt me. At least, not enough to put me out of action. Assuming one got in a lucky shot, I’d heal so fast it wouldn’t even slow me down.
So what were they planning that one man could accomplish?
I tried to put myself in their shoes, think it through from their perspective. They didn’t need to kill me, I realized. They only needed to stop me long enough to allow them free use of the Sumantti.
Because they were afraid I could control it.
After all, I was created by Simon Gertz, just like Kiera Smith, the woman who became Shushanna to the Limantti. If she could control the stone, it made sense that I could, too.
But the only way to keep me from controlling the crystal would be to keep me unconscious. With drugs, maybe? I had no idea how a knockout drug would affect me. Since I wasn’t going to oblige them by standing still and letting them give me one, it was a moot point. And just to be on the safe side, I’d take no food or drink tonight.
“What are you doing?” Lillith asked me. “You haven’t moved in an hour.”
“Thinking,” I told her, and then gave her a rundown of everything I’d found out.
“You should tell Marcus,” she advised me.
“Why? So both of us can worry about it?”
“No, as a witness when I have to tell Dr. Daniels why I’m returning with your dead body,” she snarled.
“Sheesh, Lillith, don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
She continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “You’re not invincible even if you are a Gertz GEP, and you’d better remember it. You’ve only considered one possibility, when my probability program indicates Strand’s choices number in the thousands, many of which could be fatal.”
“Like what?” I asked her indignantly.
“Do you honestly think that just because technology is banned on Madrea that Strand doesn’t have an arsenal on his ship? How hard would it be to dress one of his men in Madrean clothing and send him to the Terpsichore with a blaster? Can you dodge the beam from one of those?”
“Oh,” I murmured, embarrassed I hadn’t thought of that.
“Yes, oh. Now, don’t make me come down there. You will tell Marcus.”
“Fine!” I threw my hands up. “I’ll tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Marcus asked from the door. “Lillith said you wanted to talk to me.”
“Yes, apparently I do. Tattletale,” I added under my breath.
“I heard that,” the ship said.
“You were meant to,” I shot back.
“Are you two going to fight all day, or will someone tell me what’s going on?” Marcus asked.
Giving in less than gracefully, I repeated everything I’d found out and added my own thoughts on the matter. Marcus’s expression became grimmer and grimmer as I talked. When I was done, he turned on his heel and marched out of the house.
“So much for that,” I told Lillith.
I barely got the comment out before he was back. “Bim is sending someone to fetch the commander,” he told me. “We’re going to need his help.”
Well, it wasn’t like that came as a surprise. I’d expected it. Didn’t men always call for reinforcements when things went bad? It was like they wanted to share the fun so they’d have someone to chat with about their parts in bringing glory to mankind long after the battle had ended.
I bit off a snort of amusement and got back on topic. “While we’re waiting, I have to try and contact the Sumantti again, reassure her that we’re still here and trying to get her free,” I said with a great deal of reluctance. The last time, I’d passed out from the force of her anger. I wasn’t anxious to repeat the experience, but I really had no choice. If I didn’t reassure her occasionally, she might decide to do something drastic. Like blow up the solar system.
I pulled the Imadei from the neck of my top and cradled it on my palm while I buttressed my defenses, both physical and mental. When I was ready, I dropped my gaze to the stone and reached for the Sumantti.
What met me was a deep, brooding, pulsing anger, and I hesitated, a sense of foreboding washing over me. She’d changed since I’d first contacted her, pulled into herself more. No longer did the crystal seem childlike. It was an extremely powerful alien entity bent on destruction.
I’m here, I sent. Will you talk to me?
There was no response, not so much as a hint that she knew I was speaking.
I know you can hear me, I told her. Please don’t give up hope. We’re working hard to free you from those men and we won’t stop until you’re back where you belong.
A force unlike anything I’d ever felt before slammed into my mind like a battering ram, throwing me back into my own head so hard my teeth rattled. If not for the Imadei’s protection I doubt I would have survived.
My entire body trembled with terror when I looked up. “We’re in trouble, Marcus. She’s become more alien, and far more desperate. I don’t think she cares if she kills those children. She doesn’t care if she kills us all. As a matter of fact, I think she plans to do just that. She won’t talk to me, and she won’t listen to anything I tell her.”
His face went a shade whiter. “But you have the Imadei; you should be able to control her.”
I shook my head. “I’ll try. I’ll try as long as there’s breath in my body. But when the Mother Stone made the Imadei, I don’t think she had a clue what her daughter would become. At this point, I’m not sure even the Mother Stone could stop her. Give the Daughter Stone a few more days, and she’s going to be powerful enough break loose from the stasis box. We’re running out of time.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Pray for a miracle,” I told him. “That may be the only chance we have.”
Voices sounded from outside just as Peri zipped in through the open window, dodged Marcus and then hovered in the main room, chittering expectantly at the back door.
“Reynard must have arrived,” I said. “Let’s go open a bottle of wine before I have to repeat this again. I’m getting dry from all the talking.” We both followed the dragon bird just as the commander stepped into sight.
His gaze went straight to me and warmed me to my toes. “I received a message you needed to see me right away?”
I tried to ignore the tingles his look started in my stomach, and waved the bottle of wine I’d picked up in the direction of the table. “Yes. Why don’t we sit down?”
Marcus nodded to the commander and then snagged three glasses and took them to the table. After they were filled, I handed them around, taking my own and drinking deeply before I sat down. “Zin, I needed that.”
“Shall I start for you?” Marcus asked.
“Please do.” I leaned my head against the back of the chair to ease the dull, muzzy feeling left over from the Sumantti’s forcible eviction of my consciousness. Concerned, Peri landed on the arm of my chair and cooed at me in sympathy.
Reynard remained quiet except for a few direct questions, focused completely on what Marcus was recounting for him. Finally, the story was told and silence held sway for a few beats.
“Don’t even think about it,” I told them.
“Think about what?” Marcus asked, all wide-eyed and innocent.
“Trying to stop me from dancing tonight.” I shifted my head so I could see him better. “If I don’t show up, neither will the man they’re sending. We need to catch him, find out what his orders are.”
He looked at me with an intensity I hadn’t seen from him before. “Only under one condition,” Reynard said.
I rolled my head back in his direction. “What condition?”
“The audience will be sprinkled with men I trust, and Marcus and I will be on the stage with you. I believe there are enough shadows that no one will see us there.”
“Fine, as long as the men aren’t conspicuous. I don’t want to scare this guy off.”
“That won’t be a problem. The Terpsichore is a favorite among my men, so no one will think them out of place. I’ll go talk to them now and be back before the sun sets. Until then, do not leave her alone.” He aimed that last at Marcus.
“I won’t. And Bim will be with her, too.”
The commander pushed his chair back, stood, hesitated for a moment, and then leaned down to give me a quick kiss. I wasn’t having that, though. Putting my palms against his cheeks, I held him in place and deepened the kiss.
From across the table, Marcus cleared his throat. “I don’t think that is such a good idea—”
I released Reynard long enough to say one word. “Cammi.” Marcus’s mouth snapped shut and he looked in the other direction, face red.
Assured there would be no more protests from that quarter, I went back to what I was doing, my toes curling with pleasure. Finally, I let him go, satisfied for the moment. “Go, before I change my mind and keep you here,” I murmured.
He shot me a grin and left, paying no attention to Marcus’s glare.
“Stop that,” I told my guardian. “We both know I’m not a Madrean woman and don’t need protecting from male attention. As for Jancen, I’m pretty sure he already suspects I’m not August’s daughter. And after tomorrow, he’ll know the whole truth anyway, so he won’t be inclined to challenge you to a duel for violating the rules of guardianship or whatever it is you’re operating under.”
“What!” Lillith screeched in my ear. “I might as well land at the castle and set off fireworks!”
I considered her suggestion before shaking my head. “While that might give the Madreans pause, it wouldn’t stop Strand. We’ll save that maneuver for emergencies.”
“I wasn’t serious,” the ship said.
“It might come down to that, though. I’m not ruling anything out.”
“Why are you going to tell Jancen the truth?” Marcus asked.
“Because I need him on my side, and he can get me in to see Lowden. Lillith, have you heard from Dr. Daniels yet?”
“Yes, and he’s not happy. Strand hasn’t broken any Federation laws by being there, but with the political situation being what it is concerning Madrea, this could be just enough to cause an escalation in the hostilities between the two factions in the council. And even more troubling, he’s received reports that in the last six months large quantities of munitions have been diverted to all the planets who side with Strand on this issue.”
I sat up straight as Marcus went tense. “Holy Zin. The man is planning to start a war with the Federation, and he’s paying for it with Madrea’s sunstones. What’s Dr. Daniels planning to do?”
“He’s asked to address an emergency session of the council, but you know how politicians are. It’ll probably take several days to get them all to sit down and listen. In the meantime, he’s suspended the maneuvers near the Andromeda Galaxy and has sent the fleet to patrol areas near the planets involved. And he said to tell you your mission is even more important now than it was before.”
She switched to a recording of Dr. Daniels’s voice. “Do not fail, Agent Adams. The entire Federation is at stake.”
Oh, sure. Dump the fate of the free universe on the shoulders of one green agent who doesn’t know what the scritch she’s doing 90 percent of the time. I gave a mental snort of disgust. No pressure there.
Almost as if he knew what was going through my mind, Marcus reached over and patted my hand. “Don’t think about it. We have a plan in place. For now, all we can do is stick to it.”
He was right. I might be a Gertz GEP, but I was still only human. One step at a time was the only way to handle all the problems.
Suddenly Marcus got an odd look on his face. “What’s wrong?” I asked anxiously.
“I just realized something.”
“What?”
“I don’t think they’re going to attack you physically. It doesn’t make sense. They have something worse planned, and it starts tonight.”
My skin went cold. “What could be worse?”
“Someone important could die, and they’ll arrange to have the blame land squarely on you.”
“Well, schite.” I stood and paced the length of the room. “Any idea who the most likely candidate would be?”
“Unfortunately, no.” He rubbed his forehead. “It could be any of the higher-ups, most of whom you met when we dined with the king.”
“Well, if they aren’t going to attack me, then we don’t need Reynard’s men.”
“Yes, we do. Just because there’s no immediate danger to you doesn’t mean they won’t try something. Maybe we can stop them, or at least find out what it is.”
“I’m getting confused.” I turned and headed for my room. “I’m going to get my costume and go to the Terpsichore. If the danger isn’t to me, I want to eat before I change.”
“Bim and I will go with you.”
He waited while I carefully gathered the purple outfit and then soothed Peri’s ruffled feathers when she discovered I’d hidden the silver jewelry. “Ready,” I told him, returning to the main room.
We crossed the yards with Bim sticking even closer than normal, and I figured Reynard had talked to him.
The kitchen was gearing up for the evening, pots bubbling, the staff hurrying back and forth to the common room, and general chaos ruling as food and drinks were dished up and carried out.
Before Marcus would let me put my costume in the room, he checked the place top to bottom. Treya gave me an odd look as he motioned that it was safe to go in, but I ignored her.
When the outfit was safely stowed away, I returned to the kitchen and helped myself to the roast that was perfectly cooked, added some tubers and green vegetables from the communal pot, and took a seat at the table. I was just finishing up the meal when Reynard came in and leaned close to my ear.
“Everyone is in place,” he told me.
“Good.” I forked up the last bite of meat and stuck it in his mouth. “Did you get a chance to eat?”
He swallowed and shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Well, sit down. Leddy can bring you a plate and you can eat while I change.”
Treya went by, her chin hard as she gazed from me to Reynard. “Don’t be late. We have a full house tonight.”
Guess that meant I was on my own with the makeup. Good thing I didn’t have to attempt intricate procedures on my hair.
When Leddy slid a plate in front of the commander, I kissed his cheek and stood. “Take your time. Regardless of what Treya said, it will be a while before I’m changed and ready.”
While Peri played with the jewelry, I experimented with the cosmetics until I achieved the same mysterious look as last time. Then I stepped behind the screen and stripped down to my skin.
For a moment, I hesitated over my knife, uncomfortable with leaving it behind when someone was out to get me. But it would be clearly visible under the sheer skirt I was putting on, and it wasn’t like I was defenseless without it.
I hung it on the hook with my clothes, and then dressed in the new costume. Not only was it gorgeous and shimmering from the silver threads, it fit as if Cammi had sewn it onto my body.
Barefoot, I went to the table and pried the jewelry away from Peri, then fastened on the short half-veil. Just as I finished, Reynard opened the door a crack, saw I was decent, and entered followed by Marcus.
“You are so beautiful,” he told me, all serious and sexy.
“Thank you.” I smiled at the compliment, but for once in my life, the way I looked wasn’t a priority. “Is it time?”
“Yes.” Marcus moved around the room, covering the sunstone lamps. “We’ll go out first, the commander to your right, me to your left. Bim will be floor level, right in front of the stage. Just pretend we aren’t there.”
He reached the last lamp, the one by the door, and put his hand on the cover as we joined him, Peri radiating excitement as she landed on my shoulder. From the common room the murmur of voices faded as the musicians began to play. “Let’s get this over with.”
There was a shushing noise as the last cover slid down and plunged the room into darkness, then I felt more than saw Marcus and the commander go through the door. I slipped through behind them, closing it after me, and then paused in the dark to wait for my beat. When it came, I moved forward in time to the music, jewelry jingling in counterpoint.
On cue, Peri launched into the air, her iridescent feathers catching the light from the lamps in the common room as she spiraled and dove around the audience, giving me time to step into view.
Dancing was so ingrained in me that I could do it without thinking. So instead, I spent the time scanning the audience. Reynard’s men were easy for me to locate, mainly because they were the only ones not watching the stage.
I was also very much aware of Reynard and Marcus, standing in the dark at the ends of the stage. The tension in the air was so thick it would almost have been a relief if a squadron of armed men had burst through the room and attacked. But it was all a bit anticlimactic.
The dance ended with no untoward movements from anyone, and Peri and I faded back into the dark at the back of the stage to the sound of thunderous applause.
Marcus and Reynard were waiting and we all went silently back into the changing room. Marcus uncovered the first lamp and then moved to the next.
“You might as well change,” he said. “I told Treya you were only going to do one dance tonight.”
Peri fluttered to the table as I moved behind the screen. Abruptly, I halted, staring at the hook that held my clothes.
“Reynard? Marcus?”
Something in my voice must have given me away because they both rushed across the room, swords out. “What’s wrong?”
I pointed at the sheath draped over the hook. “My knife is gone.”