“We don’t need more training. We need to take those suckers down!” a voice shot back.
Jaden couldn’t locate the source. But the emotion rippling through the assembled humans was unmistakable. They wanted payback. He, Stovan, and their friends hadn’t been the only people to lose loved ones.
“I agree.” Jaden hesitated. Should I say this? If so, how do I say it to cause the least pain? “However, I think if we train a little more, we might fare better in our next encounter.”
Silence. Jaden was wondering if he’d have to say more when Markov stepped in.
“You’re right. It would behoove us to train as much as possible before our next battle.”
There were a few murmurs, but then heads began nodding in agreement. Jaden pounced on the positive energy. “If you train at Sven’s, his unique defense system will keep you safe. Here, you have no such protection.”
The nods and affirmations were more energetic now. Jaden’s tension eased.
Until Vicken shouted, “That doesn’t help us get Kayla back.”
Jaden raised both hands to quell the renewed murmurs. “Going to Sven’s is only the first step. With you there, you’ll be safe until we need to call on you for Kayla’s rescue.”
Vicken nodded, but Jaden sensed he had something else he wanted to say. When Jaden waited, Vicken angled his head sideways and lifted his chin. Jaden interpreted that to mean, “Later.”
“Any more questions?”
“How long will we stay at Sven’s?” Markov asked.
“Only until we find Kayla. Or the remaining Gaptors. Or a battle comes to our doorstep.”
Markov’s face was grim. “And you promise to call on us when you need us?”
“I do.”
Accepting this, Markov exchanged their complicated handshake and said his farewells. Then he and Jaden’s other friends headed for the cliff edge, their gliders already prepared for the pickup. When the remaining riders drifted away, indicating acceptance of his plan, Jaden hurried over to Sven and pulled the enormous man aside.
“Two things before you go: first, if Tarise ever shows her face again, do you have somewhere to confine her until all this is over?”
Sven gave Jaden a hard stare. “You really want to go down that path? It’s not good, no, not good!”
“I understand, but we can’t trust her. I won’t lose anyone else to this quest because she’s gone running off to tattle on us again.”
“But she’s your friend! Why would you want to put her in a cage?”
Jaden’s jaw clenched so tightly, squeezing the words out was difficult. “I think she only regrets what she did because of what happened to Bree. She doesn’t care about Kayla. And if Slurpy tells her he’ll do something to Kayla if Tarise helps him, don’t you think she’ll jump at the chance?”
Sven’s shock was enough for Jaden to know his bitterness was showing. Attempting to relax the muscles in his jaw, Jaden said, “Slurpy won’t hesitate to use that pain point he has on Tarise’s hand if she refuses to do his bidding. Therefore, wouldn’t it be better to keep her in a place where she can’t do anything even if she wanted to?”
Slowly, Sven shook his head. “I still disagree this is the path we should choose. However, I will consider what I can do to ensure secure . . . accommodations for Tarise if she ever returns.”
“Thank you.”
Sven muttered a few unintelligible words, making Jaden shift uncomfortably. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked Sven to create a prison, considering Sven knew first-hand what it was like to be a prisoner. Jaden sighed. It was too late for retractions.
“You said there were two things?” Sven grumbled.
Jaden couldn’t blame him for not wanting to hear the other part. If the first topic was so awful, Sven was probably dreading what Jaden might say next. Perhaps this option would cheer him up again.
“Do you think you can work on something that will duplicate the effect of the medallions in keeping the riders safe from Gaptor EMPs?”
Sven’s face changed from apprehensive to thoughtful. “A tall order, given we probably don’t have a lot of time, no? It took far longer than expected to create even a fraction of the effect of your relic stones.”
Jaden clapped a hand on his back. “But you did it. I have faith this is another obstacle you can conquer. Perhaps start with those amazing incapacitating cannons you have at the entrance to the valley leading to your home.”
Sven’s face was hilarious. His eyes opened so wide, Jaden thought his eyes would pop out. Then he began patting down his body as he searched for something to write with. Then, realizing he hadn’t said a word, his face split into a huge smile.
“You may be onto something there. If I can adjust the frequency and use—”
Jaden interrupted. “Before you go on telling me things I probably won’t understand, how about you get on your glider? The others are waiting.”
That was, except for Vicken, who had snuck up on them.
Sven turned, and, noticing the waiting crowd, he chuckled. “It seems they are.”
Sven was about to move away when Vicken put out a hand to stall him. “I might not be joining you.” Sven remained where he was, waiting for an explanation. “Jaden, with all due respect, I think I am more than qualified at doing what everyone else is still learning at Sven’s. Let me stay with you, and we can work on finding Kayla together.”
Jaden had been expecting this. “While that’s true, with your knowledge, couldn’t you speed up everyone else’s training?”
Vicken shook his head. “The smart suits this genius created take care of that. Sadie will go with the others so she can learn, but we’ve spoken and agreed that I should stay with you.”
Jaden’s brows knit together. “The problem is that if we’re attacked by a Gaptor’s EMP while you’re flying with me, you’ll be defenseless. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you and I had to tell Kayla.”
“He won’t be defenseless,” Sven boomed.
Jaden cringed from the sound. “Why?”
“Because he’ll have this.” Sven held up his medallion before pressing it into Vicken’s hands. “You keep this safe for me, yes? And while you do, you find for your daughter for me. She’s the only one who can keep this one in line, no?”
Vicken’s eyes glittered. “Are you sure?”
Sven nodded, and Vicken closed his fingers around the medallion. “In that case, thank you. I will take good care of it. You look after yourself and my wife.”
“I will keep your Sadie safe,” Sven promised, lumbering away. “Now, my workshop calls. I have things to design.”
He leaped off the edge of the cliff, and anything else he might have said was lost. A second later, a glider almost as large as Pallaton rose from below the cliff edge and curved away, Sven astride his broad back.
Sven circled an impatient arm in the air and roared. “Let’s go!”
Jaden watched them leave. “I’d hate to be his glider.”
Vicken chuckled “Bad enough having to lift the guy, but it must be a hundred times worse when you’ve had to catch him first!”
Jaden laughed. Surprised, he stopped. It was the first time he had really felt alive again since they had taken Kayla.
Vicken studied him. “It’s because you have a plan. I always feel better when I take action.”
Jaden acknowledged the truth of Vicken’s statement with a nod. “Let’s get on with it then.”
Chapter Seven
Jaden watched Taz stumble to her feet, the vivid green grass under her thick and lush from the recent rains. Even the air had been washed clean. Crisp, untainted by pollution, sweetened with pine. This field, set aside for Taz to begin her strength training, was spacious, secluded, and on the outer edges of Atu’s healing center.
Jaden didn’t like that the healing center was so close to where their last clash with the Gaptors had taken place. But Atu hadn’t had the luxury of being picky about location during a
battle. He had needed somewhere close enough to ferry the injured there with minimal delays before they received the care they needed.
On the plus side, the location was defensible. The healing center sat on the side of a mountain, high enough to offer a clear vantage of anyone approaching and with evergreens running right up to its edges. Not only did the trees provide shelter against an aerial attack, they also insulated the field from the icy winds that ran up the mountainside.
Jaden turned from his study of the area and concentrated on Taz’s efforts. Atu had waited days before declaring Taz’s condition stable enough for them to bring her here. Since then, she had spent her time resting. Now, she took a few tottering steps, then steadied herself. Han quivered next to him, making Jaden aware of the supreme effort it took for Han not to assist Taz.
“She’ll be okay. She needs to do this on her own,” Jaden soothed.
“Fine for you to say.”
There it is again. That undertone. Wanting to root out the cause this time, Jaden tried for nonchalance. “So you have feelings for her?”
Han didn’t take his eyes off Taz. “Of course I have feelings for her. We grew up together, trained together, and learned side by side. We’ve known each other all our lives.”
“You’re not answering the question.” When Han finally looked at him, Jaden raised his eyebrows. “Well?”
“It’s not like that. It can’t be,” Han mumbled.
“Why not?” Han said nothing, just refocused his attention on Taz. Time for the real question. “Does it have something to do with that glider calling her ‘The Tazanna?’”
Han sucked in air so loudly it was impossible not to hear. “Who said that?”
Han’s anger didn’t mean he hadn’t answered the question. On the contrary, Han had confirmed Jaden’s suspicions. “You’re just annoyed because you want to keep her secret.”
But Han loomed over him, all menace. Jaden took a step back. For the first time since he’d met Han, Jaden was a little scared. Han looked capable of anything—most notably, murder.
“Han, buddy, no need to get upset!”
Han backed off and shook out his wings. Then he glanced around, making sure no one else could hear. “Jaden, it’s important that I know who said that.”
“Why?”
Han pressed his lips together. After a moment, he said, “Why is not important. Who, is.”
Jaden mulled his response. Now that Han had confirmed his suspicions, the pieces snapped into place. “Okay, don’t bite my head off for saying this, but,” Jaden leaned close to Han and whispered, “Taz is royalty, right?”
The murderous glint returned to Han’s eyes. “What makes you think that?”
“Calm down. There was more than one clue. Your deference. The way Pallaton treats her. Taz herself—her imperious tones and how she thinks everyone will do her bidding.”
“She does not!”
Jaden grinned. “Yeah, had to throw that last one in there to check you were still listening.”
“Jaden, you need to tell me who called her that name.”
“Because you think they’re the traitor?”
Han looked taken aback. “You have got to stop doing that!”
“Tell me, if so many of them know she’s royalty, why is it a problem for one of them to call her ‘The Tazanna?’”
“Because only those who were in the court at the time they sent the Legion to your world would know that reference.”
“And you think because they were in the court, they’re one of Slurpy’s spies?”
“Yes.”
Jaden sighed. “Sorry, buddy, I don’t know who said that. I just remembered someone did.”
Han slumped. Then he straightened. “I know how we can find out.”
“How?”
Han’s only answer was a toothy grin and a cryptic, “We need to find Pallaton.”
With a quick farewell and words of encouragement to Taz, Jaden and Han went searching for Pallaton. They found him patrolling the area around Jaden’s home.
“Greetings, Gatekeeper, Ohanzee,” Pallaton rumbled when he saw them.
Jaden hadn’t thought of Han’s real name in so long that hearing it again was strange. But that wasn’t what bothered him. “Why do you insist on calling me ‘Gatekeeper?’”
Pallaton frowned. “I thought it fitting to refer to you by your proper name.”
“Whatever,” Jaden said, tossing a hand in the air. He didn’t want to get off track. He nudged Han’s neck to remind him.
“Greetings, Pallaton,” Han said before launching into what they wanted.
When he finished, Pallaton nodded. “I can make that happen. Where shall we meet?”
Han looked back at Jaden. “Do you have any suggestions?”
Jaden thought a moment, then realized he knew the perfect spot. He gave Pallaton directions.
“Excellent.” Pallaton beamed. “I couldn’t have chosen a better place. Shall we say an hour from now?”
Han blinked. “You can have them here that soon?”
“I believe I can.”
When Pallaton offered no further explanation, Han nodded. “An hour it is then.”
“Now what?” Jaden asked as Pallaton took off. Too focused on how Han would ferret out the mole, Jaden didn’t care how Pallaton would get the Legion here from Sven’s home in only an hour.
“We go to Kayla’s home.”
“We’re asking Vicken to help?” Jaden had stopped calling him Mr. Melmique a few days ago when Vicken had told him in no uncertain terms they were long past formalities. A shiver ran through him. No doubt a man with his background knew ways of getting answers from people (or gliders) who didn’t care to part with them.
“It would be beneficial to have his skills should we need them.”
Jaden frowned. Han was implying Vicken wasn’t the solution. So why were they going to the Melmiques? Then he grinned. “Han, you sly devil! I know how we’ll do this.”
Han’s chest vibrated under Jaden as he laughed. “It’s the best secret weapon we have.”
As they approached the Melmiques’ home, Jaden saw Vicken’s glider hovering near the rooftop landing site. Calling a quick hello to the glider, Jaden dismounted and headed indoors. He wasn’t even halfway down the stairs when Vicken appeared, weapon at his side.
“I see you’re prepared.” Jaden pointed at the gun.
Vicken lifted his shirt to show his DD sheathed there. “Always.”
Jaden grinned. “Ready for some action, then?”
The way the man’s eyes lit up was scary. No, it was more than that. It was his whole bearing. Like he went into combat mode—or something. Looking more closely, Jaden saw his weight had shifted onto the balls of his feet. His grip on his gun had tightened. And his eyes, while still, were somehow scanning the area. The man was just plain sinister.
“Are we going?”
Vicken’s question caught Jaden off-guard. He’d been so intent on studying Kayla’s father he’d forgotten Vicken was probably waiting for him to lead the way.
“Yes, our gliders are waiting upstairs. Before we go, is Iri here?”
Vicken sent a quizzical glance before nodding and leading the way to Iri’s room. “Just so you know, she hasn’t really spoken much since she lost Tinks.”
“I don’t blame her. I was there when it happened, and I’m still rattled by it.”
Vicken stopped and pointed at an open doorway. Jaden passed him and then paused outside the room a moment, just observing. Iri lay curled up on the bed, her back to the door, her head tucked under an arm. If Jaden hadn’t seen the slight rise and fall of her shoulders to indicate she was breathing, he might’ve rushed in to check whether she was still alive. She was so still.
Abruptly, Iri sat up. Jaden jumped. She smiled when she noticed, but sorrow lingered in her features.
“Hey, Iri, how are you doing?” Jaden walked into the room.
She moved over to make space as he took a seat on the
bed next to her. Tucking her legs up into the circle of her arms, she shrugged. “I’ve been better.” Iri studied him with that gaze that made Jaden feel like he was under a microscope. “What’s up?”
“You guessed I need something?”
Iri rolled her eyes. “Even without my senses, it wasn’t difficult to see you came here with a purpose.”
Uncomfortable at being such an open book for her, Jaden decided on a direct approach. “First, let me say how sorry I am for your loss.”
Jaden almost wimped out when Iri’s eyes filled with tears. He put a hand on her arm. Then, when the tears rolled down her cheeks, he pulled her into a hug. He held her there, rubbing her back, hoping the contact provided some comfort.
It was some time before Iri pulled back, a smile on her tear-streaked face. “What would Kayla say?”
Jaden smiled. “She would’ve asked why it took me so long to do that.”
Iri’s face sobered. “Yes, she would’ve, wouldn’t she? Still no word on her—or from her?”
“No, but that’s not why I’m here.”
Something in his scent or his coloring must’ve given him away. “You’re here because you need my help?”
“Yes. Do you feel up to it?”
Iri was already off the bed. “Anything is better than sitting here replaying what happened.”
Jaden rose slowly. That was undoubtedly true. “You’ll need something warm. We’re heading for the mountains.” Iri faltered, and Jaden rushed to reassure her. “Not that place. Somewhere else.”
Without a word, Iri grabbed her coat and then looked at him expectantly. “Spit it out!” Iri demanded when he said nothing.
Again, she had read his uncertainty. “Do you think you’ll be okay with flying with Han and I? Or . . . did you want your own glider?” Iri’s silence made him bumble on. “I wasn’t sure what you’d be up to handling, so if—”
Iri cut him off. “I’ll fly with you and Han. Give me a minute to change into my smart suit.”
Jaden nodded and left the room.
Seconds later, Iri opened her door. “Let’s go.”
She strode down the hallway, leaving Jaden watching her retreating figure. How he wished Kayla was here. She would know what to say and how best to comfort Iri. But she wasn’t, and that was the tragedy. Jaden’s tenuous hold on his self-control slithered through his fingers; his mind racing down all the paths Kayla’s fate could’ve taken. A hand on his arm brought his thoughts to a screeching halt and jerked him back to reality.
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