CHAPTER 17
I was chuckling as I popped back into my body. Who knew being a ghost could be so much fun? Even Peri was quivering with suppressed excitement, although in her case it was more because she’d picked up what was coming next from me. For once, she wasn’t asleep two seconds after she hit the bed.
Waiting impatiently, I listened to the sounds of the house settling around me, the creaks and groans, and the rustles as Marcus took to his bed. He shifted a few times, then went still.
It was thirty minutes later when soft snores issued from his room, and I decided it was safe to put my second plan into action.
Slipping out of bed, I retrieved the bundle I’d hidden earlier, and shook out a pair of dark trousers and an equally dark shirt. They were too big for me, but I’d fixed that by swiping a belt, too. Luckily, Marcus had small feet. His boots would be a pretty good fit if I added a couple pair of socks before I put them on.
By the time I stripped and redressed, Peri was on the window ledge, peering into the darkness with anticipation. She took flight, hovering just outside as I tiptoed to the opening and boosted myself through.
I’d barely hit the ground when a darker, bulky shadow separated from the corner of the house and stepped closer. I was reaching for my knife when I recognized the man’s outline.
Well, scritch. I’d expected Bim to retire for the night when Marcus and I were abed. Instead, there he was, staring at me with reproach in his eyes, that massive axe held crosswise over his chest.
My shoulders slumped in resignation, and I let out a deep sigh. I’d have to let him go with me, whether I wanted to or not.
“We have to be quiet,” I told him in a whisper. “And I’m going to be moving fast. Can you keep up with me?”
He moved the axe to a sling on his back and gave a curt nod.
If he couldn’t, he’d simply have to lag behind, even if it hurt his feelings. I had a lot of ground to cover tonight, and it was important I be back by dawn so no one missed me.
I set off through the backyards of the nearest homes to avoid the main street, keeping to the shadows as we got closer to the castle. Bim moved amazingly well for such a big man, and had no trouble staying with me up to that point.
Things were about to change, though.
The moon was clear, all the clouds gone and the fog had lifted when we stepped out of the woods on the far side of the gathering field. I paused for a moment to get my bearings.
“Which way, Lillith?” I subvocalized as I surveyed the land around me. It appeared to be mostly fields, with the occasional tree here and there showing up as a darker shape in the pale blue-white light of the moon.
“Straight ahead, and a bit to the right,” she replied.
I knew that somewhere above me, the ship was sliding away from the cover of her asteroid, making her way in the same direction.
“Here we go,” I told Bim, and took off at a very fast ground-eating lope. “Any idea how far, Lillith?”
“I suspect they’re about eighty kilometers away, near the base of the eastern mountains,” she said. “That’s where the largest of the Madrean mines is located.”
“Let me know when we’re close. I don’t want to run right into the middle of a pack of men carrying blasters.”
Together, Bim and I ran through the moon-shadowed night, our muffled steps the only sound except for the noise of alien-sounding insects. Peri winged ahead of us, circling occasionally as if to hurry us along.
Again, Bim surprised me. I couldn’t go into overdrive for a long period of time because my energy level had taken a beating earlier. But I didn’t slow my pace, either, going much faster than the average Natural. Even at a steady lope, I could cover approximately forty kilometers an hour.
And he kept up with me, not even breathing hard as far as I could tell. Obviously, the results of Lillith’s scan showing that the Madreans had evolved naturally to a GEP level were right, and I wondered what on the planet had caused the phenomenon. Something in the air? The water? The very ground they walked on? Or maybe a combination of all three.
I just hoped the planet survived long enough for the Federation scientists to figure it out.
We continued on until the ground began an upward slope, Peri alternately flying and riding on my shoulder, and I was wondering if Lillith had miscalculated the location of Strand’s ship. The moon had almost reached its zenith before she spoke.
“I have the ship. It’s about twenty minutes ahead of you and a bit to your left.”
“Is it an artificial intelligence?” I asked anxiously, slowing my pace a bit and noting Bim follow my lead. Stay, I sent to Peri when she started to take off.
“Yes, but it’s one of the earliest models, very rudimentary. Its higher functions are mostly limited to the mathematical equations needed for navigation.”
“And its weapons?” I asked.
“Standard and mostly up to date,” she said. “The detection program is turned off, or it would have picked me up and sounded an alarm by now. They must be sure I’ll stay over Bastion City.”
“Yeah, ’cause they think that’s where I am. Almost there,” I added aloud for Bim’s sake.
Suddenly, something big stomped, and then there was a snort from directly in front of us.
Bim grabbed my arm and towed me to the left while I stared over my shoulder at the hulking shapes of five or six big animals that all seemed to be looking back at me. Horses, I realized. I should have been on the lookout for them. How else would Strand travel here? He certainly couldn’t take a PTV when he went to the castle.
After a shudder of disgust, I pulled away from Bim and we continued on side by side until a glow of light appeared ahead of us, and I slowed yet again, barely jogging now. This radiance wasn’t the soft mellow shine given off by sunstones. It was the harsh beam of halogen lamps. It became brighter abruptly as we topped a rise, and both Bim and I instantly dropped to the ground. Peri let out an indignant squeak at the action, then hopped to the ground and glared at me.
On our stomachs, we edged forward until we could peer into the small valley below.
A medium-sized ship was nestled at one end near an opening in the side of the hill, from which issued voices and scraping sounds. As we watched, Losif Strand stepped from the ship’s hatch and met a man waiting at the bottom of the steps. We were close enough that I had no problem overhearing their conversation, and I ordered Peri to stay silent.
“What was so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?” Strand asked the man.
“Zeller has been captured,” the man blurted. Even from our perch above them I could see the sweat bead on his brow.
Strand stiffened. “By who?”
“Lowden,” the man said. “Chine said he must have discovered our duplicity.”
Strand relaxed marginally. “As long as it wasn’t the Federation agent, I don’t see the problem.”
“Braxus is worried. He thinks we should move the plan up in case Lowden talks to the king.”
“The plan depends on perfect timing. I’ll decide when to put it in action, not Chine. Besides, what can Lowden tell the king?” Strand gave a negligent wave with one hand. “That he’s signed an agreement with us to export sunstones? Politaus would toss him in a dungeon for breaking the ban. Even if Zeller spills his guts to Lowden, why would Politaus believe him? To him, I’m just the lowly black marketeer who sells him illegal books, a fact he doesn’t want the general population to know about.”
“Do not underestimate Lowden, Strand. He’s entirely capable of taking matters into his own hands without the king’s approval if he thinks you’ve cheated him, and the man was taught by a master strategist. If it comes to a fight, not even your blasters will stop his people, and they’ll follow him unquestioningly.”
“Then the sand will run with their blood,” Strand said. “The Bashalde can die as easily as any other men.”
A low growl came from beside me, and I jumped before realizing it was Bim. I’d forgotten he was Bashalde.
Quickly, I put a steadying hand on his arm and shook my head. Praise Zin, he settled down. I didn’t need him charging the ship. That was my job. The entire purpose of this little jaunt was to see if the Sumantti was on board, and if it was, to retrieve it, something I couldn’t do in my ghost form. Plus, while I’d been in the same room with Strand on numerous occasions, I’d never actually been close enough to the man to get a lock on his DNA.
That was about to change, of course, since I could go so fast no one would see me. And it needed to be now, while Strand was outside and occupied.
I poked Bim on the shoulder and leaned as close as I could get to him. “I’m going to be gone for a minute,” I told him. “Don’t move.” Stay with Bim, I told Peri.
By the time he turned his head to stare at me, I was in overdrive and at the ship. It was as if the whole world came to a standstill while I was the only thing moving through it.
I went by Strand near enough to touch him, and leaped over the steps into the ship, my feet never hitting a single rung. And I didn’t slow down, even then. Staying in overdrive, I searched the place top to bottom, nearly tearing the door off a locker because it wasn’t meant to be opened and closed that fast.
I looked in every place big enough to hold a stasis box until I could feel my speed begin to outpace my energy input. I’d never stayed in overdrive so long before, and it was time to get out. The box wasn’t there. All I found of interest was five chests full of sunstones and a large stash of weapons. I hesitated before deciding against taking a blaster. I couldn’t risk getting caught with a Federation weapon, no matter how tempted I was to help myself. I also didn’t want Strand to know I’d been inside his ship.
On the bright side, I’d now gotten a lock on Strand’s DNA. I could keep an eye on him and hope he led me to the Sumantti.
Jumping out of the ship, I dashed back up the hill. Strand had only moved a centimeter, and the man with him still had his mouth open on the same word.
I dropped to the ground before coming out of overdrive. Bim was still looking at me, this time in puzzlement. But I didn’t have time to worry about him. A wave of dizziness washed over me that had my eyes closing until it passed. When it did, I edged backward, motioning for Bim and Peri to follow.
As soon as we were far enough away, I stood, using Bim’s arm to steady myself. Somehow, I had to gather enough energy to run all the way back to Bastion City by morning.
“Is there anything to eat around here?” I asked Bim softly. “Maybe a fruit tree or some edible tubers I could dig up?”
Silently, he reached into a pouch hooked onto his belt and pulled out a wrapped package. When he handed it to me, I caught the familiar scent of spiced meat. Familiar because I’d smelled it cooking before, at the Bashalde gathering.
It was some kind of sausage, I discovered when I unwrapped it and took a bite. And it was apparently fortified with nutrients, since energy flowed through me from the first swallow.
I ate the whole thing and then handed the cloth wrapper back to Bim. “Thank you. It’s a good thing you came with me. I might not have made it back otherwise.”
He nodded and tucked the cloth back into his pouch as we walked. Soon, we’d have to start running again, but I wanted to be a little farther away from Strand before we did. I also needed to talk to Bim about what he’d heard, even if he didn’t talk back.
“I know what you heard back there upset you,” I told him. “But I’m going to ask you not to do anything yet.”
When he only looked at me, I continued. “Lowden knows about those men and what they’re up to. I told him earlier today. That’s why he captured Zeller. Well, that and Zeller tried to kill him.”
He reached over and touched the spot where the arrow had come out under my clavicle, brow arched in question.
“Yes, I stopped the arrow that was meant for Lowden.”
After a moment’s thought, he pointed at me, then upward, toward the stars. He was a smart man, even if he didn’t speak.
“Yes, I’m the Federation agent Strand mentioned. I’m here because he stole a very dangerous object. All of our lives may depend on my getting it back before he tries to use it. Now, let’s move it before everyone on Madrea knows what we’ve been up to.”
We took off at a full run, Peri flying in front of us. “Are you headed back to the asteroid?” I asked Lillith.
“Yes. I only stayed long enough to be sure they were loading sunstones onto Strand’s ship, and to get proof if they were.”
“And?”
“They are and I did. I just sent the vids to my archives. Nice of them to light the place up so well. Got some good ones of Strand, so he can’t say he didn’t know about it.”
“Good. You might want to alert Dr. Daniels. He can probably use them in the emergency council session he’s called.”
“Already done.”
“You might also want to mention that there were already five chests of sunstones in the ship’s hold this trip. With their price on the Federation market, that’s enough to fund an entire armada. And there’s not much telling how many loads he’s taken out before now.”
After that, I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Even Gertz GEPs occasionally need rest, and I was dead on my feet. I hadn’t slept much the night before, either. Not that I was complaining. Being with Reynard was worth a little sleep deprivation.
We reached Marcus’s house just as the last sliver of moon vanished below the horizon, and nothing had ever looked as good to me as that house did.
“Go get some sleep,” I told Bim. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
I’m not sure he believed me, because he waited until I scooted back through the window before he walked away. I didn’t check to see if he was truly gone, just stripped and collapsed onto the bed. I barely had the willpower to pull the blanket up.
I fell asleep to the sound of Peri’s snores coming from the pillow beside my head.
“Echo.” The bed vibrated as it was struck by a booted foot.
I pulled the blanket over my head. “Go away,” I mumbled.
The vibration came again. “It’s noon. I thought you were simply exhausted from the wound you received yesterday, but I see there was more to it than that.”
Lowering the blanket an inch, I opened one eye and peered out at Marcus. He was holding up the black trousers I’d left on the floor.
Well, schite. He’d caught me. “I can explain.”
“Uh-huh. While you’re at it, you can explain to the commander. He just arrived.”
Double schite. I started to sit up and then remembered I wasn’t wearing anything. “If you’ll give me some privacy, I’ll get dressed and be right out.”
He eyed me for a second like he was trying to decide whether to trust me or not, then nodded and left, pulling the door closed behind him. The low sound of voices came from the front of the house as I jumped up and dressed hurriedly.
When I was done, I did a mental check on Peri. She was outside, visiting the flowers, and showed no inclination to come protect me. I took that as a good sign. Marcus probably wasn’t going to kill me, just yell at me a bit.
Blowing a persistent lock of hair from my eyes, I gathered my courage, pasted a smile on my face, and opened the bedroom door.
Both Marcus and Reynard were holding cups and frowning at me, but I ignored them and strolled to the table as if I hadn’t a care in the world. There was a light lunch spread on the table, along with a pot of hot coffee.
“Gentlemen.” I nodded a greeting as I sat and poured a cup of coffee, inhaling deeply of the wonderful aroma before taking that first marvelous sip.
“Where did you go last night?” Marcus asked.
Okay, guess the social part of the day was over. “I went to search Strand’s ship,” I answered.
“Alone?” Marcus roared, almost dropping his cup. Reynard’s frown merely deepened.
“No.” I snagged some bread and speared a slice of meat to go with it. “Bim went with me.”
“Well, at least you’re not a complete idiot,” Marcus said. He put his cup down and rubbed his eyes. I decided I’d better not mention that Bim only went because he’d caught me sneaking out.
“I was perfectly safe,” I told the men. “Strand never knew I was there. And at least we know now that the Sumantti isn’t on his ship. Plus, Lillith got some vid of Strand and his men loading sunstones onto the ship.”
“Lillith knew about this little trip?”
“Yes, it was her idea, actually. She wanted to find out what kind of ship Strand had so she could be prepared, and I wanted to look for the Sumantti.”
“And what kind does he have?” Reynard asked the question this time.
I shrugged. “Not one worth worrying about. Lillith can take it easily if it comes to a fight.”
“Echo, I don’t think you understand how important you are.” Marcus’s tone was so serious that I stopped eating to stare at him.
“I’m not important. Getting that crystal back before she can destroy this solar system is what’s important.”
“And how do you think we’re going to do that if anything happens to you?” Reynard asked. “You are our only hope. If you’re incapacitated in any way, we’re doomed.”
“Well, when you put it like that…” I trailed off, and then sighed. “Fine. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. From now on, I swear I’ll tell you both before I do anything drastic. So, did you warn the king?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“Yes, for all the good it did.”
“He didn’t believe you?”
“He doesn’t take the threat seriously, says his guards are loyal and would allow no one, especially not a stranger, close enough to harm him. I’ve assigned extra men to stay with him, but I’m not sure it will help.”
I reached over and covered his hand with mine. “Maybe we should tell him the whole truth, Reynard. I know it’s a risk, but it might save his life.”
He ran his free hand over his face and shook his head.
“Well, at least think about it,” I commented. “By the way, did I mention Zeller has been captured?”
Suddenly both of them were staring at me again and I couldn’t stop the smug grin that crossed my face.
“What makes you think Zeller was captured?” Marcus asked ominously.
“Because I saw it. Lowden’s men captured him near the castle last night. The crazy man was screaming his head off. Something about spirits trying to kill him,” I added innocently.
They were both silent a second before Marcus shook his head. “I’m not going to ask,” he muttered.
“This ghosting thing I’ve got really comes in handy,” I told him, reaching for my cup of coffee. It was halfway to my lips when suddenly the Imadei twitched, and then gave off a frantic burst of heat. The cup crashed to the table as I grabbed the stone, wrapped my hand around it over the material of my top. Involuntarily, my eyes closed as I tried to figure out what was happening.
For a moment I was distracted as Peri launched into the room, screaming in fear as she hovered in front of me. Then I knew, and terror nearly stopped my heart.
“What’s wrong?!” Marcus and Reynard had both leaped to their feet, and I heard the sound of metal sliding from leather.
“It’s the Daughter Stone,” I gasped. “She’s trying to break free from the stasis box.”
“Can you locate the stone?” Marcus asked urgently.
“No.” Sweat coated my forehead as I focused all my attention on the Imadei. If the Daughter Stone broke free, I had to be prepared.
“How can I help?” Reynard asked, his voice low and worried.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. Then, as quickly as it had started, the Imadei settled, the heat gradually fading from the small crystal under my hand. Relief flowed through me as I opened my eyes, leaving me weak and shaky.
Peri landed watchfully on the table, still peering at me in concern. “It’s over.” I let my breath out in a sigh. “She didn’t get out this time.”
Violently, Marcus grabbed a cloth and swabbed at the coffee I’d spilt. “We have to find that crystal, damn it!”
“I’m open to suggestions,” I told him as Reynard sheathed his sword and sat down beside me. “Maybe this is even more reason to come clean with the king. Doesn’t he have a right to know what kind of danger his world is in?” I glanced at Reynard. “You said he was a fair man. I’m sure when he knows there’s a good reason for me to be here in spite of the ban, he’ll understand. After all, it’s not like I’m planning to set up a shop to sell advanced technology. As soon as I complete my mission I’ll be gone.”
Reynard and I looked at each other, and I knew we were thinking the same thing. I didn’t want to leave him. The idea of never seeing him again, never touching him or talking to him, was almost more than I could stand.
But we had no choice.
As hard as it would be to resist, I couldn’t use my psi ability to pop in for a visit. That would only prolong the agony for both of us when we knew nothing more was possible, that we had no future together.
Reynard dropped his gaze first. “As much as I’d like to tell Politaus the truth, we can’t. It’s not merely that you’ve violated the ban, although he wouldn’t approve, even under these dire circumstances. But how would I tell him that his brother is involved in this scheme, how would I convince him it’s the truth? Even honest men have their blind spots, and he’d rather cut off his own limb than believe Braxus would plot against him. Knowing Politaus the way I do, he’d probably put himself in danger simply to prove his brother’s loyalty.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Marcus agreed in disgust. “Telling the king would do more damage than good now.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” I asked the two men. “Just sit here and wait for Strand to act or for the Daughter Stone to succeed in getting away from them?”
“Unless you want to break into the castle and start searching room to room.” Marcus tossed the cloth onto a counter and hesitated, glancing from me to Reynard. “I’m going to talk to Lowden, see exactly what happened to Zeller and if he got any information out of him. I’ll stop at Cammi’s on the way and tell her you need another top. It will probably take me a couple of hours, at the least. Don’t worry about your act. I’ve already sent word to Treya that you won’t be dancing.”
“Where’s Bim?” I asked.
“I sent him to get some sleep. Commander, would you mind staying until I return?”
“It will be my pleasure.”
Neither of them said anything until Marcus went out and closed the door behind him, then Reynard took my hand and tugged me around the table to sit on his lap.
“He’s getting better about this guardian thing, but I’m surprised he left us alone,” I said, snuggling into his chest.
“I asked him to give us some time,” Reynard said.
“And he agreed? You’ll have to tell me what you threatened him with so I can use it.”
He rested his chin on top of my head, his arm holding me close, and I felt him smile. “I didn’t threaten him, only told him we needed to talk.”
“About what?”
“This.” He pulled out a small, deep blue velvet pouch and handed it to me.
I held it in my palm for a moment. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
Gingerly, I opened the pouch and upended it into my hand. And then gaped in shock. It was a gold ring, intricately made from what looked, to all appearances, to be two dragon birds, talons and tails entwined to form the band. In the center of their talons was set a sunstone, the size of the nail on my pinkie finger, which glowed softly in the bright light of day.
“It’s beautiful, Reynard,” I breathed. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“The jeweler told me the creatures are mythological beasts called dragons. They’re supposed to be good luck. Now I know they are much more.”
“Where did you get it?”
“I bought it for you at a Bashalde gathering five cycles ago when I was on my way to meet with Jancen and Lowden. The jeweler’s tent was next to theirs. I was almost past it when I stopped and went back. The ring was sitting there as if it were waiting for me, and I knew the instant I saw it that it was yours.”
“You didn’t know me five cycles ago,” I whispered, afraid if I took my gaze off the ring it would vanish.
“I knew you,” he murmured, his lips brushing my hair. “I knew someday I’d find you, and you’d be all I had ever dreamed of, and more.”
Tears filled my eyes. “Reynard, you bought this for the woman you planned to spend your life with. We both know that’s not going to be me.” My fist closed around the ring in spite of my good intentions. “You should keep it. Someday you’ll wish you had it back.”
He pried my hand open, took the ring, and slid it on my left ring finger. “I bought it for the woman who would own my heart, Echo. That’s you. It will be you until the day I die no matter how far apart we are. Promise me you’ll wear it. It will give me comfort knowing that my gift will always bring light to your life.”
The tears spilled over and ran down my cheeks. “I’ll wear it, I promise. Forever. And every time I look at it, I’ll see you again, and know that my heart, too, is yours alone.”
I slid off his lap, scrubbed the tears from my face, and then held out my hand for his. “Come on. We have some time before Marcus gets back. My bed isn’t as big as yours, but I plan on showing you exactly what I can accomplish with such a limited amount of space.”
He stood, a slight smile on his rugged face. “As I told Marcus, it will be my pleasure.” With a quick tug he pulled me into his arms. “And yours as well. I’ll see to it.”