by I. T. Lucas
Edna let out a breath. “I don’t think Annani’s romantic notions justify all that effort. Someone must be able to talk sense into her.”
Amanda snorted. “You are welcome to try. In my opinion, though, she is right. Annani has excellent instincts. If not for her vision and tenacity, our clan would not exist, and the entire world would be a much darker place.”
16
Edna
Edna could not argue with Amanda’s observations.
Sometimes the goddess’s decisions seemed motivated solely by mercy and compassion, like her prohibition on killing Doomers unless it was in the heat of the battle and unavoidable. Otherwise, Doomers were put into stasis and kept alive.
But Annani’s soft heart wasn’t the deciding factor behind her edict. The goddess was smart, and her foresight, although deductive and not paranormal, spanned millennia.
Annani’s so-called gut feelings were based on the wisdom she’d accumulated over her five thousand years of life. She’d seen empires rise and fall, cultures flourish and crumble, and entire populations disappear without a trace. Unlike her arch nemesis, Navuh, Annani realized that immortals killing other immortals, whatever the reason, would just hasten their kind's extinction.
Still, the goddess’s long view often failed to take into consideration practical issues. Dealing with financing and security was Kian and Sari’s job.
“Perhaps we can compromise,” Bridget said. “We will still host the party, and our people will get to celebrate with Kalugal’s, but instead of having it here in the village, we can have it in the keep.”
Amanda let out a breath. “I suggested that. Annani didn’t like it. She wants to hold the party in the village square and nowhere else.”
It seemed like the event was happening whether Edna liked it or not. Annani seemed adamant, and changing her mind would be impossible.
She looked at Kian. “How many men are we talking about?”
“Forty-seven plus Lokan.”
William pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ve already ordered the parts and paid for expedited shipping, but it will still take five days for the order to get here. That leaves me only four days to make forty-five cuffs. The only way I can make it is to mobilize my genius squad.”
“We also need to scan the men for trackers,” Bridget said. “Kalugal, Jacki, Hivak, and Rufsur left their base in a rush, so they didn’t have time to get implanted with anything, but the others have plenty of time.”
At the mere mention of Rufsur’s name, Edna felt a heatwave rush through her.
It wasn’t the first.
He had awakened in her something that had lain dormant for centuries, and ever since their brief encounter the day before, she’d been thinking about him every waking moment and dreaming about him at night.
Those dreams had been quite exhilarating, and if she weren’t sitting in the company of Kian and her fellow council members, Edna would have fanned herself.
True, it had been months, perhaps even years since she’d been intimate with a male, but she’d never been desperate for sex. Not since Robbie. He’d been the only one who had ever made her blood sing.
After his death, her sporadic encounters with human males had been barely tolerable, lackluster and anticlimactic. She’d engaged in them more out of duty to the clan than her own enjoyment.
The clan females were the key to its survival, and it was their duty to try to conceive. Besides, having a child would have alleviated her loneliness. If she had been blessed with a boy, Edna would have named him Robert, or Robbie to honor the memory of her lost love. But the Fates hadn’t responded to her pleas, or maybe she just hadn’t given them enough opportunities to work their magic.
Until her brief encounter with Rufsur, that part of her might not have been entirely dead, but it had been quite catatonic.
Brandon frowned. “How are they going to prevent trackers from getting rejected by their bodies?”
“They can attach them to the spinal cord. Eventually, even that won't keep them there, but it will take weeks if not months for their bodies to reject them.”
Brandon leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “It sounds like a complicated and intrusive surgery is needed to implant those trackers, and it’s not even a permanent solution. I doubt they would go to all that trouble.”
“They only need one tracker to figure out our location,” Bridget said. “We would have to bring the men to the warehouse that we’ve used for scanning the Doomers captured in our last operation. I’ll run them through the machines first, and after that’s done, we will load them on the bus and bring them here.”
“I’m not concerned with the regular former Doomers,” Onegus said. “We can handle them. And Turner can incapacitate Kalugal in a split second. As long as we keep our guard up, we have nothing to worry about.”
Edna shook her head. “I wish it were true. We are talking about a social gathering with people intermingling. How are you going to control them when they are surrounded by our people?”
“The cuffs, of course.” Onegus crossed his arms over his chest. “At the first sign of trouble, we will activate all of them at once. The cuffs are not lethal, but they will incapacitate the Doomers for long enough for us to collect them and lock them up.”
Edna let out a breath.
She hadn’t considered blanket retribution for the acts of one or two individuals. It wasn’t fair, but it was effective. Such technology didn’t exist during the Scottish massacres. If it had, they might have been prevented.
Still, even the death of one clan member was unacceptable, and it was possible for the Doomers to murder one or two before the cuffs were activated.
“I know that you will think me overcautious, but I suggest that all sharp knives be removed from the houses where Kalugal’s men will be staying. And anything else that can be used as a weapon.”
Kian snorted. “And I thought that Turner was paranoid. Why would they attack us? There is no history of animosity between our people, and we offered them hospitality. I’m not saying to just let them roam free, but the cuffs and the Guardians watching them should be enough.”
Edna nodded. “Perhaps. But strange things have happened. Kalugal might want to get back in his father’s good graces by murdering a prominent clan member.”
“And then what?” Kian arched a brow. “How are they going to escape retribution? Kalugal’s compulsion ability is the only real threat, but we have it covered with the cuff. Besides, Annani conducted an experiment in the sanctuary and was able to compel everyone there at once. We are going to test her ability to remove Kalugal’s compulsion. If she can do that, we have nothing to worry about.”
It occurred to Edna that the more concerns she’d voiced, the less worried Kian had become. Her extreme caution seemed to erode his. He'd started regarding her fears as paranoid and as a result his own as well.
“If Annani can override Kalugal’s compulsion and take control of his men, then you are right. We have nothing to worry about. Still, I would like to probe Kalugal if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t, but I’m sure he would. Kalugal is a guest, not an applicant for membership in the clan.”
17
Rufsur
The café wasn’t busy when Kalugal’s party got there. It was long past lunchtime, and only a few tables were occupied, mostly by males for some reason.
They didn’t look friendly.
The females, however, were a different story, smiling and waving at Rufsur and Hivak, but also at Kalugal and Jacki.
Evidently, as far as accepting the strangers in their midst, the clan was divided along gender lines.
Rufsur didn’t blame the men for their suspiciousness. Hell, in their shoes he would have felt the same, but it was not pleasant.
The thinly-veiled hostility reinforced Rufsur’s conviction that his boss wasn’t safe in the village. Kian might not have any dastardly plans for them, but his clansmen might.
With Kalugal in
capacitated by the damn cuff, and Hivak and Rufsur weaponless, they were basically sitting ducks. There wasn’t much the two of them could do to protect their boss or themselves.
Jacki was probably in no danger.
He cast a glance at the Guardians sitting a couple of tables over. Theo and Jay were friendly enough, but if their own clansmen attacked their charges, would they protect Kalugal and his party or step aside?
Rufsur wasn’t sure. If it were him, he would not raise a hand against his own men. He would try to reason with them, and if they attacked Jacki or any other female, he would defend the ladies, but he wouldn’t kill his own people to save strangers.
Since Wonder was on a break, they made use of the vending machines, which were surprisingly well-stocked. There was a large selection of pastries and sandwiches, and the automated coffee machine even made cappuccinos.
When he and Hivak returned with their purchases, Jacki sighed. “I hope Jin and Mey get here soon. I feel awkward. Everyone is looking at us.”
“At least they are smiling at you.” Rufsur unwrapped his pastry. “We get scowls.”
“Not from the ladies,” Kalugal said. “You and Hivak attract a lot of attention.”
“So do you.” Jacki grimaced. “They keep stealing glances at you. But I have a feeling that Amanda and Carol were too optimistic about the dating app. If the clan males are hostile toward your men, the females will be wary of dating them.”
“It makes sense.” Kalugal nodded. “They don’t want their baby producers to leave.”
“Ugh, Kalugal.” Jacki rolled her eyes. “That sounded awful.”
He shrugged. “Just stating the facts, my love. The truth is not always pretty.”
“We are not safe here,” Rufsur said. “We should leave as soon as possible.”
Kalugal nodded. “I agree, but not because of safety concerns, or even a few hostile looks. I need to get back to work.”
When Jacki smiled brightly and waved, Rufsur turned around to see Mey and Jin heading their way. “Let’s make room for the ladies,” he told Hivak. “We can go sit with Theo and Jay.”
Jacki lifted a hand. “Don’t be silly. Bring two more chairs and stay.”
“The table is too small.” Rufsur got up and offered Jin his hand. “How are you feeling today?”
She shrugged. “The pain meds make it tolerable.”
“Where is Arwel? Is he back at work?” He motioned for her to take the seat he’d just vacated.
Hivak did the same for Mey.
“He is at the council meeting.” Jin glanced at her watch. “They should be done soon, and then he and Yamanu will join us.”
“I didn’t know that he was on the council,” Kalugal said.
“All the head Guardians are.” Mey sat down and then pointed at a vacant table. “If you drag it over here, there will be enough room for everyone.”
Now that he knew that the council members would be passing by the café, Rufsur decided to follow Mey’s suggestion. There was a chance that Edna would join them, and if he was at Theo and Jay’s table, he would miss the opportunity to interact with her.
“We should make room for everyone.” He pointed at a couple of tables. “Hivak, grab those. I’ll get the other two.”
When they were done, the six small square tables created a large rectangle with room enough for ten or even twelve people.
“How many council members are there?” Kalugal asked.
“Twelve,” Mey said. “But I doubt everyone will stay to chat.”
Rufsur didn’t care about the others, but he hoped Edna would stay. It wasn’t as if he had any other way to meet her. Did she have an office in the building? Or did she work from home? Could he invite himself over?
He was getting carried away.
Their meeting yesterday had lasted only a few seconds, and Edna had rushed off without even shaking his hand. Obviously, she wasn’t interested in getting to know him.
No big surprise.
First of all, he was still a suspected former enemy, and secondly, he was a simple man while she was a learned judge. What could they possibly have in common?
More than you think, a small voice whispered in the back of his head.
Wonderful. Now he was talking to himself. It was just curiosity. Once he found out what had made Edna sad, he would get over his obsession with her.
“Here they are.” Jin waved at Arwel.
As the group came out of the office building, Rufsur spotted Edna. She was talking with an elegantly dressed man who looked like a politician running for office. The guy made her look even plainer.
On her other side was William.
“Why does an immortal need glasses?” Rufsur asked Jin. “Was William born with a defect?”
“They are antiglare. He needs them because he spends so much time in front of the computer screen.”
“Who’s the cocky dude on Edna’s other side?”
Jin arched a brow. “You know her?”
“Not exactly. She walked by me yesterday, and I introduced myself, but she ran off.”
Jin leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “She is the clan’s judge, and they call her the Alien Probe because she can get inside your soul and tell whether your intentions are good or bad, but she is really a nice person.”
“An Alien Probe? That doesn’t sound nice.”
“It’s a little uncomfortable when she does it, but she asks permission first.”
Across the table, Kalugal tilted his head. “Who is that Alien Probe?”
“It’s the lady in the brown suit,” Jin said. “The one on her right is Brandon, the media specialist, and you already know William.”
Kalugal nodded. “Who is the blond guy?”
“That’s Onegus, the chief Guardian.”
“And who is the muscleman? I assume that he is one of the head Guardians?”
“You assume correctly. That’s Bhathian.”
“Is the tall girl a head Guardian too?” Rufsur asked. “Her name is Kri, right?”
Jin nodded. “She is.”
“Very progressive. Do they have any other female Guardians on the force?”
“As far as I know, she’s the only one.”
Other than the chief, Rufsur knew all the other head Guardians; he also knew Amanda, Edna and William, and he added Brandon the media dude to the list.
He counted heads. “There are only eleven. Is Kian the twelfth member?”
“Kian is the regent. Bridget is the twelfth, but she probably stayed in the office building.”
The council was an interesting assortment of people. The chief and the head Guardians were not a big surprise, but the other six members seemed to have been chosen based on their expertise. Bridget was the medical expert, William was the computer guy, Brandon was the media specialist, and Amanda, who was on the council either as Annani’s daughter or a neuroscientist.
Last but not least was Edna, the legal expert and Alien Probe.
What a fascinating woman. Rufsur had never been more intrigued or intimidated by a female.
The only one who could possibly top that was the goddess herself.
18
Edna
As soon as Brandon opened the office building’s front door, Edna noticed Kalugal’s group sitting together with Jin and Mey at the café.
The place was the central hub of the village, and she would have to pass by it no matter in which direction she headed. Still, she could pretend to be absorbed in conversation with Brandon and keep walking as if they weren’t there.
Coward, said a snarky voice in the back of her head.
So what if Rufsur was there, looking handsome like the devil himself and smiling with that damn dimple in his cheek that was just like Robbie’s.
He wasn’t Robbie, and she wasn’t a seventeen-year-old girl. He shouldn’t make her nervous.
Heck, who was she kidding? He was making her hot and bothered, and that's what was making her nervous, not the man himself.
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He was just a soldier, probably uneducated and interested in just one thing. Although why he would even notice her was incomprehensible.
She made a conscious effort to look as unattractive as possible, so men would not notice her. In the beginning, it was so she would be taken seriously in a world that had no appreciation for smart women. Not in the clan, of course, that had never been the case among Annani’s descendants, but in the human world, which was still mostly patriarchal. But then she’d discovered that life was much less complicated when sex was taken out of the equation.
With no one pursuing her, she didn’t have to reject men and hurt their feelings. Whenever the need became pressing, or she felt like she was letting the clan down by not trying to conceive, she could choose a one-night partner on her own terms.
No expectations, no complications, and no hard feelings. She didn’t even have to thrall anyone’s memories away. As a lover, she was entirely forgettable.
Besides, not bothering with her looks was a huge time saver.
Edna’s closet consisted of work suits and stay-at-home leisure attire, she never blow-dried her hair or put makeup on, and her entire morning routine took ten minutes or less.
If anyone asked her opinion, that was true women’s lib.
“I see that Jacki is feeling better.” Kian glanced at Edna. “I’m going to walk over and chat with them. I suggest that you join me.”
“Why?”
“You wanted to get to know Kalugal and figure out his motives. Now is your chance.”