The UnFolding Collection Two

by S. K. Randolph

  Since seeing was impossible, he strained to pick up any sound, which might give him a clue to his whereabouts. The external hush, heavy as stone, told him nothing. All he could hear were his breathing and his heart striking his ribs. Lifting his head, he sniffed the air. The musty smell of dust and goat filled his nostrils. His sneeze hit an absorbent surface and muted into silence.

  He wondered if One Man had met with the same fate. He thought about Sparrow and the twins. Will I ever see them again? Who are the men who attacked me? He’d heard stories about the Sebborr—stories that made his hair stand on end. Maybe Nissasa’s men have me. I’d be a great bargaining tool . Panic started to push its way up from his stomach. Calm down, boy. What would Almiralyn do?

  The quiet tread of footsteps approached and stopped. Soft breathing told him whoever it was knelt beside him. A knife cut the rope between his wrists and ankles. Rough hands straightened his legs and released them from their bonds. More muffled steps…another pair of hands helped to hoist him to standing.

  No words were spoken as they led him, with the bag still over his head and his hands tied in front of him, along what seemed to be a trail. His bare feet felt the cutting bite of stone. Heat hit him, dragging sweat from his body and leaving his throat and tongue so dry he couldn’t swallow. Still no one spoke. Only soft breathing assured him he wasn’t alone.

  49

  ConDra’s Fire

  DerTah

  I n the depths of the Abyss of the Dead, Corvus clung to Desirol’s limp body. Only a few more feet and he could teleport them to safety without leaving an energy trail for the Mindeco to follow. Above them the enemy plummeted; around them the ghosts of the abyss pressed closer. Molasses-black darkness wavered and rolled. The screams of the dead shrilled higher.

  A single, unblinking eye locked onto his. Long, gangly arms reached out to snatch his burden away. Corvus frog-kicked backwards, broadening the distance between them, focused his intention, and teleported. The Mindeco’s howl followed for only a split second before he felt rough, wood beneath his feet. Staggering under Desirol’s weight, he dropped to one knee and lowered him onto a pile of straw.

  After assuring himself that the boy’s vitals were strong, he rubbed his tired shoulders, shook out his arms, and took a moment to regain his composure. His first concern—return Desirol to his father and Wolloh; his second—find and rescue WoNa. Leaning over Desirol, he gave him a gentle shake. “Des, we’re safe. Wake up.”

  A shudder ran through the boy’s body. He opened his eyes and jerked into a sitting position. His frightened gaze darted around the center. “Where’s the Mindeco?”

  “It’s still in the Abyss. You’re safe.”

  “Where are we?”

  “Wolloh’s Raptor Center.”

  A DerTahan hawk swiveled its head and blinked a feral eye. A squawked warning brought them both to their feet in one scrambled motion.

  Corvus relaxed and grinned. “Hello, Stebben. Good to see you.”

  Wolloh’s Major Domo returned the smile. “And you, Corvus.”

  Desirol looked wary. “Where’s my father? I want to see him. I want to see him right now.” Each word grew louder and more agitated.

  “Better keep your voice down, Master Desirol. There are soldiers around, and some of them aren’t too friendly.” Stebben put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take you to the Largeen Joram.” He glanced at Corvus. “You know about WoNa?”

  “I’m headed to Eissua now.”

  “Take care.”

  Corvus released a relieved breath as Stebben and Desirol flashed out of sight. One less thing to worry about . A shadow fell across the doorway. A man in a kcalo slipped into the center. Corvus narrowed his eyes, poised for battle if need be.

  “Easy, my friend.” The man threw back his hood. “I’d like to go with you.”

  “Narrtep. It’s good to see you.” Corvus offered his hand. The Dansmen grasped it firmly.

  A shout in the barn and the thunder of running feet warned of the arrival of soldiers. Corvus grabbed Narrtep’s arm and teleported.

  Brie waited impatiently in Wolloh’s personal study for her grandfather. The High DiMensioner had decided they should meet for the first time in private. Her encounter with the Largeen Joram via Elcaro’s Eye had left a bad taste in her mouth. The fact that Wolloh trusted him made this meeting only slightly less nerve-wracking. Trying to neutralize her mixed feelings, she pulled a book of poetry from Wolloh’s bookshelf and thumbed through it.

  The soft sound of the door opening loosed butterflies in her stomach. Swallowing her nervousness, she set the book on the shelf. The Star of Truth gave a faint tingle. The door clicked shut. Grasping the blue velvet pouch at her throat, she turned.

  Her grandfather stood motionless in the center of the room. He was taller than she had imagined with hair as red as hers and the dark eyes she remembered from the fountain. The expression on the strong-featured face made a tear slid down her cheek. She had not expected to see love, nor the almost overwhelming rush of it through her heart.

  “I am Lorsedi Telisnoe, your grandfather.” His voice was deep and controlled. The gentle words soothed her fears and overrode the terror of their first meeting at the fountain.

  More tears welled up and spilled one after the other down her cheeks. He caught one on the tip of his finger and touched it to his heart. “I have wanted to meet you for so long,” he said.

  The paralysis keeping her still released. “I am Brielle AsTar. I am so happy to meet you, sir.”

  And then they were both laughing. He pulled her down beside him on the love seat by the window. “I want to know all about you,” he said. “What your life has been like, your mother, your…” He laughed again, then sobered. “But things are moving very quickly, Brielle, and I think I should meet your friends before Wolloh joins us.”

  “May I ask a question first?”

  “Of course, my dear. What is it?”

  She felt a little breathless as she said, “What do I call you? I mean how do I introduce you?”

  He put an arm around her shoulder and smiled down at her. “Call me Grandfather. Will that do?”

  A wide smile spread slowly across her face. “It will do very well. Wait here, and I’ll bring my friends. I think you’ll like them, Grandfather.”

  Crossing the room, she twisted a sconce by the fireplace. The wall slid away. Esán entered the sitting room followed by Torgin, Ira, and Yaro.

  Lorsedi stood as she brought them forward. “It’s good to see you again, Esán.” He flashed him a quizzical smile. “As I recall, you prefer not to have your mind probed.”

  Esán grinned. “That is true, sir. I am happy to answer any questions you might have.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind.” He turned to Torgin. “I understand you are from Idronatti.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m Torgin Whalend.”

  “I also hear you are a fine musician and an excellent mathematician.”

  Torgin blushed. “I am good at math, but it is music I love.”

  Another charming smile lit Lorsedi’s face. “I look forward to hearing you play.” His gaze shifted to Yaro. “You must be Torgin’s heart brother.”

  “I am Yaro.” Gold-brown braids tumbled over his shoulder as he bowed and touched his heart.

  “I have had dealings with Pentharian in the past and found them most interesting. It is good to meet you, Yaro.” He, too, bowed his head and touched his heart before offering Ira his hand. “And you are Ira.” His tone was curious.

  Brie watched her friend straighten as he took her grandfather’s hand. A memory struggled to surface. What am I forgetting? She looked again at Ira and then at her grandfather. They had fallen into an easy discussion about RewFaar.

  “I’d love to visit it sometime,” Ira said.

  Lorsedi assumed the demeanor of the Largeen Joram. “After we have resolved the issues at hand, I imagine that can be arranged.”

  A tap on the door announced Stebben’s entrance
into the room. “I am sorry to interrupt, sir, but there’s someone across the hall who is very anxious to see you.”

  Lorsedi’s persona changed. “Of course. I’ll go immediately.” With a gracious smile that encompassed them all, he left the room.

  Stebben shut the door and smiled.

  Brie clapped her hands softly. “It’s Desi, isn’t it?”

  “Corvus brought him. He’s had a bit of a scare. I gather they visited the Abyss of the Dead on the way here.”

  “He’s alright?” Esán asked.

  “A bit shaken, but fine.”

  Brie smiled to herself. She had seen the sudden light in her grandfather’s eye as he hurried from the room.

  Skulking from taccus tree to taccus tree, Gerolyn and Nomed made their way to the raptor center. Teleporting would have been quicker, but Nomed was being watched. Omudi, the Dreela of Geran, and Thaer of the Plains of DoOlb were still in residence. Since their alliance with Gidtuss was known, caution demanded that they take extraordinary care not to be detected.

  They paused behind a screen of desert bushes to watch a group of soldiers exit the barn and scatter in various directions. Nomed squeezed her arm and jerked a thumb at two more who remained at the barn doors.

  “Do we dare teleport?” she whispered.

  “No. I suggest we wait a few minutes. If things don’t quiet down, we’ll shift and leave from here.”

  Although waiting for night would have been preferable, time and a crisis dictated that they leave immediately. She wished they’d been able to wait, especially with soldiers swarming the ranch. They were Lorsedi’s, but it was clear that traitors remained within their ranks.

  The soldiers reconvened by the door and finally moved as a group toward the house. As soon as they rounded the corner, Nomed took her arm. They dashed to an outbuilding opposite a single door in the back of the barn.

  He whispered, “Stay here. I’ll check things out.”

  Staying low, he ran to the door, opened it a crack, and sidled inside. When he reappeared, he held it wide. She dashed across the open space, glad she’d taken time to change to slacks and boots. Inside Nomed hurried her into the raptor center and closed the door.

  Leaving from the center had been Wolloh’s idea. He had both owls and ravens in his collection of birds. The less suspicion aroused the better. Glancing at Nomed, she focused on the enigma that was the man. How would he manage his initial meeting with the Guardian of Myrrh after a lifetime of cultivating a murderous hatred for the woman? He appeared both solemn and nervous—the latter quite contrary to his public façade.

  “What made the Guardian ban you from Myrrh?” she asked quietly. “I have known her a long time. She is a reasonable and fair woman.”

  His expression went blank, and she thought he would ignore the question. Then the scar at the corner of his mouth pulled downward. “The most honest answer—I was a bully. I hurt small children and animals. My only excuse—my father beat me. After a very difficult time at home, I went too far.”

  “Too far?”

  Deep green eyes searching his face brought a flush to his cheeks. Ignoring the impulse to rub it away, he answered. “I threw a kitten. It hit the wall. Its neck broke.” His face reflected the confusion of a child. “I wanted to take it back, but it was too late. Almiralyn caught me and forbade my return.”

  Gerolyn kept her response easy. “I’d say confronting her is past due.”

  He rubbed the scar with a forefinger. “You didn’t cringe or look shocked or horrified.”

  “You were a child, Seyes. If anything, I’m surprised that a woman of Almiralyn’s training and sensitivity missed the signs of abuse. Meet her with an open mind. You have much to gain from a friendship and an alliance with the Guardian of Myrrh. And so do we all.” She prepared to leave. “Shall we go?”

  He seemed to shrug away the past and smiled. “After you.”

  Glad to be on the way, she shifted. Blue-black feathers encased her. Powerful raven wings carried her high above Shu Chenaro. The DiMensioner’s great horned owl soared beside her. Soon they would be at the portal. With luck, they would make it into the vortex without incident.

  One man skirted the south side of the lake at Eissua Oasis, his senses stretched to the limit. As empty as the oasis appeared, life vibrated close at hand. He crouched behind a tent. Concentrating his attention, he sent out a sounding and waited for the sonar-like waves to bounce back, telling him what existed nearby. It was a technique he had perfected prior to leaving his cabin at Timreh Pass in the Dojanack Mountains, one he had not had an occasion to use until now.

  After systematic probes of areas, he rocked back on his heels. A pocket of humanity was sequestered deep underground and several Humans still occupied the oasis. Where is Allynae? He closed his eyes and tried another sounding. Nothing . His concern escalated. Where are you, my friend?

  Danger moving closer to his position sent him into flight in the form of a hawk. Soaring over the oasis, he trained his sight on the land below. To the north where Allynae had been scouting, sand slowly obscured the signs of a conflict. No footsteps led to or from the spot where he felt sure Allynae had been accosted.

  He landed at the top of a palm tree. Who has captured you? Sebborr? RewFaarans? Swooping down to a cluster of palm trees, he shape shifted and let the Seed of Carsilem take over. At the sound of a softly expelled breath, he swung around. His gaze darted over the oasis; his senses searched the surrounding area.

  A flash of desert orange caught his eye. “You can come out. I mean no harm.”

  A Dansgirl peeked around a tall palm. “You father of Esán.” She stepped from behind it. “WoNa tell me you come.”

  He kept his voice low, “My name is One Man. Esán is my son. I seek to find him.”

  “I Nichook. You call me Nichi.” She motioned him to the ground as she dropped to a crouch. “Bad men come. Follow Nichi.” Staying low she headed for the outcropping at the far end of the oasis. Midway, she ducked into a tent. When he entered, she pressed a finger to her lips and pulled the tent flap closed. After a short wait, she moved away from the entrance. “Bad men take WoNa. My people search. Not find. She told me two men come…Father of Esán and father of twins. Where twins’ father?”

  “I was hoping you might know.”

  She pursed her lips and fingered her beaded headband. “We wait till sun spirit sleeps. Then seek your friend. You rest. I wake you soon.”

  One Man shoved his impatience aside. In my heart I know Allynae lives. The girl seems honest and unafraid. Right now she’s my best hope for finding him . He sank onto a cot in the dark tent and allowed himself to take a much-needed nap.

  A noise outside startled him awake. Nichi was not in the tent. Alert and ready to fight or shift as necessary, he crept closer to the door and crouched in the shadows. A man’s hand pushed the tent flap aside. A kcalo-draped figure slipped into the tent and pushed his hood back from his face. Another man followed.

  One Man relaxed and straightened. “Good to see you, Corvus. Who’s your friend?”

  “This is Narrtep, WoNa’s guardian. Nichi informed us you were here. Any idea who has Allynae?”

  “None. Where’s Nichi?”

  Narrtep closed the tent flap. “I sent her to do some spying. She’ll be back soon.”

  “I suggest we exchange information while we wait.” One Man grabbed a cushion and sat down. The others followed suit. Soon they were deep in conversation. Corvus shared what he knew of Nesune and the events at Shu Chenaro.

  “So the children are at the ranch.” One Man nodded his relief. “That gives us some time to find Allynae and rescue WoNa. Any idea where she is?”

  Narrtep raised a hand and pointed at the tent flap. Nichi slipped inside and fell to her knees sobbing. She held out her hands. On her palms lay a small, red-orange snake. “I think it dead.”

  The men gathered around her. Narrtep ran a finger down the snake’s slender length. “WoNa’s.” Horror filled his eyes. “The
absence of both the snake and the Oracle Stone will send her into stasis, a deep trance. Whoever awakens her will have the power to control her.”

  Nichi’s sobs grew louder. Narrtep put his arms around her. “Shhhhh. You will bring the enemy to our door.”

  She hiccupped and placed the small, limp body in One Man’s outstretched hand. He sat back on his heels, held it to his heart, and closed his eyes. Ah, wee one, you live . Holding it level with his mouth, he blew one soft breath, then another, and touched the small head. The tiny eyes glittered. Its tongue licked the air. It hissed a series of sounds.

  One Man returned the serpent to Nichi. “The snake tells me WoNa slipped into stasis a short time ago.”

  Narrtep’s face paled. “My worst fear.”

  “That means Nissasa can gain control of her.” Corvus paced to the tent’s entrance. “We need to get moving.”

  One Man joined him. Staring up at the caravan of moons overhead, he contemplated WoNa’s vulnerable state. “I hope we rescue her before Nissasa discovers what her total blindness really means.”

  50

  ConDra’s Fire

  Myrrh

  I n the private cave adjacent to Yookotay’s council chamber, Almiralyn flicked a quilled pen over paper. Her reply to the RewFaaran traitors would be brief and to the point. She could not support their behavior, but she would do her best to get their message to Torgin Whalend.

  She had listened to Wilith’s story with a sinking heart. She cared not so much for the predicament of the Five Fathers of Idronatti…they were the epitome of politicians hungering for power…but she did care for the planet of Thera and its people. Besides, if Thera fell to Nissasa, Myrrh would reap the disastrous results.

  After rereading her reply, she folded it in half and slipped it into an envelope to be delivered to the Five Towers. Nissasa’s men had sent a mini-comp device for her answer. She had chosen not to use it. The last thing she needed was to provide them with her coordinates and a way of listening to her plans. Yookotay had given it to a young DeoNyte male. He and Yuin would dismantle it and make sure the component parts were removed from Meos and the Dojanack Caverns.