The Warrior Woman

by Evelyn Lederman

  “I brought salt to barter with. Starc will place some in Ervin Allaway’s stew and prove to him the seasoning is worth a number of the crystals we are tasked to bring back with us.” It was obvious the Troyk contingent was prepared for this visit.

  Candy almost asked what Jeryl Jarlyn did with all the crystals. However, there was still one outstanding question she wanted an answer to. “All right, Princess. What happened in this world you have been skating around telling me about? I cannot properly protect you without knowing what is going on.”

  Shirl grabbed the crystals that hung from gold chains around her neck. It was an old habit of Shirl’s whenever she was stressed. Her reaction only reinforced the fact that Candy needed to know what Shirl was keeping from her.

  Her friend singled out one crystal from the ones she held in her hand. Candy had seen the black crystal a million times. Back home she had a necklace made from the common stone. “Hematite, so?”

  Shirl shook her head, “It is not hematite. You see the orange flecks in it? I am not sure what it is, but it is an extremely powerful crystal.” Shirl took her eyes off the stone and looked directly at Candy. “This crystal allows me to harness the energy of the portal as a weapon. Anything standing in front of the energy blast I generate gets incinerated.” With those words, Shirl lowered her eyes.

  “Is that what happened here?” Candy asked. She was afraid to ask any more specific questions. The look of guilt all over Shirl’s face was heartbreaking.

  “I did not know what I was about to unleash,” her friend cried. “There are legends about the power a mated female crystal telepath can produce. I knew nothing about these stories, but Jeryl Jarlyn certainly did. He sent me on one dangerous mission after another, waiting for me to open a portal and test my true power. Cianan knew, but not about the magnitude of the blast I generated. Dozens from a rival clan were coming at us when I unleashed my power. Candy, I promise you, I did not know.” Tears ran down Shirl’s face.

  Candy took Shirl into her arms. “Of course you didn’t know,” she said as she comforted her friend. “I have known you my whole life. You would not hurt a fly unless it was necessary. Can you control the severity of future blasts?”

  “I will never open another portal to generate a blast again,” Shirl replied.

  “You are wearing the crystal, Shirl,” Candy said. “Of course you will generate another blast if you, your soul mate, or any of your friends are in mortal danger. The only question that remains is how powerful of a blast you will create. If you can learn to stun, rather than kill, that crystal you wear could come in very handy on a regular basis. This crystal weapon I carry is only good for three blasts. I assume we are talking about the same power source.”

  Shirl looked at her in wonder. “Alex said almost the same thing about a semi-automatic gun. I had not thought about the crystal generated weapon and my ability being similar.”

  Candy laughed. “Well, if Alex had already brought up a similar point, we must be right. Who else was there when you generated the blast? Does Jeryl Jarlyn know what you did?”

  “Starc, Cianan, and a number of the clan members witnessed the blast,” Shirl answered. “The villagers grew up hearing stories about the power of mated crystal telepaths. They view me as a legend come true that came to save their village.”

  “In a way you are, Shirl,” Candy commented back. “What about Cianan and Jarlyn?”

  “Cianan reported I opened a portal and a burst of light was emitted,” Shirl said. “My brother promised to keep my secret. I just don’t know if I can trust him. He was so bitter when we were re-united. Our mother left this world primarily because of Jarlyn’s obsession with me when I was a baby. Cianan blames me for our parents leaving him behind.”

  “You were a baby at the time,” Candy responded. “By lying to Jarlyn, your brother has tied his destiny to you. He has been good to me since my arrival in this dimension. Maybe that is just another way for him to deal with his earlier abandonment. You cannot expect him to forgive and forget overnight.”

  “I suppose,” Shirl said. She came over and hugged Candy. “Leave it to you to be the voice of reason. I really missed you.”

  They were still in each other’s arms as Starc entered with another man.

  It was a good thing Shirl was still holding her when the man entered the structure. He actually made Candy’s knees weak, not an everyday occurrence. She did not burn the way she did when she was in Tolfer’s presence, but this man was certainly gorgeous!

  “Ervin wanted to meet Candy,” Starc shared with them. “I thought Shirl and I could get a little crystal practice in while our men continue to barter. Allaway’s guard will protect us while we are gone.” Candy knew exactly what Starc was referring to after her short conversation with Shirl. They were going to experiment with the severity of the blasts Shirl would be able to produce. That was the primary reason she wore the crystal today. She had not planned to use it as a weapon.

  Shirl stepped out of her embrace, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes. “I told Candy what happened. You will be safe with Ervin while Starc and I disappear for a little while.” Candy did not have a chance to reply before Starc swept Shirl away.

  “Starc has told me you do not have a soul mate,” Ervin said. Candy was captivated by his dark green eyes. They were beautiful, but not perfect like Tolfer’s. It was strange that she would think about Tolfer at this moment.

  “No, I do not have a soul mate,” Candy replied. She noted Ervin had not used contractions in his speech, so she followed suit. “My parents were from the Troyk universe. I was born and lived my whole life on Earth. I believe it is called Ginkgo Terra.”

  “Did you have a man there?” Ervin asked as he walked closer to Candy. He placed his hands around her upper arms and merely held her. Although he grasped her, she felt very little pressure on her skin. This could very well be part of their customs, so Candy did not want to make an issue of his proximity or handling of her body.

  Candy had to look up when she addressed Ervin, with Tolfer she could look him straight in the eye. “I have no one. No family accept for Shirl and our friend Alexandra.”

  “I can offer you a family and a clan. You would never be alone. Shirl has her soul mate. I know nothing about Alexandra, but she too may have found someone to be with. Our world is short on women. We have little, but I would treat you well.”

  Candy was overwhelmed. This gorgeous man with dark auburn hair and lovely green eyes wanted her. Shirl had already warned her she and Alex had found their special mates. Candy truly had no one. What had she to lose? Once again Tolfer came back into her mind.

  “I barely know you, Ervin,” Candy told him. “I can make no promises to you today, other than I would not mind getting to know you better.” She really did not know what to say beyond that.

  Ervin released her arms, took her into his embrace, and kissed her. As kisses went, it was pretty damn good! She could feel her legs giving out as Ervin chuckled.

  “You are a passionate woman. I believe that we could have a good life. Stay and we will see if we truly belong together.”

  He kissed her again, this time with more passion. She placed both of her arms around his neck and allowed him to deepen the kiss. She had never been kissed in this manner before. What would Tolfer’s kisses be like? Candy clung to him as Ervin steered them to the small bed in the corner. The bed gave way as both Ervin and she came down upon it. His weight bore down on her as his hand started to pull down her leggings. She knew she needed to stop him before it was too late.

  Candy broke the kiss, “We need to stop.” Her words fell on deaf ears as Ervin continued to force himself on her. She was in a world where men dominated women. How did she let things go so far? She started to pound on his back. “No, Ervin!” Somehow in this world she got the impression that ‘no’ did not necessarily mean ‘no.’

  The weight on her was lifted, as Ervin got off her. Candy looked up as she adjusted her clothing to see Kelog Pitts
and Cianan holding back Ervin Allaway.

  “Are you all right, Candace?” Cianan asked. “Where are Starc and my sister? They should never have left you alone with this man. They think differently than we do.”

  Candy got up, embarrassed to have been found in such a compromising position. “Starc and Shirl went on an errand. I do not think they thought Ervin was going to get so amorous.” She could barely make eye contact with Cianan as she finished adjusting her clothing. This was not the impression she wanted to make.

  “Please forgive my behavior,” Ervin Allaway said. “I will join the rest of my men.” He left the room with Kelog following.

  Candy was now alone with Cianan. She needed to explain to him what had happened. It was imperative Cianan did not think she could not take care of herself or Shirl. “I did not want to hurt him physically. There was the alliance to consider. I was giving him a chance to stop before I inflicted harm.” Everything she said was true, but she had gotten herself into the unfortunate position to begin with.

  Cianan stared at her and a small grin crossed his face. “That was very honorable of you to consider the greater good of the Troyk universe. This was all my fault. I should have briefed you better about the customs of this world. A kiss is as good as a marriage proposal.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Candy replied. It had been quite a kiss, but that was all it was to her.

  “No, I am not,” Cianan said with an edge to his voice this time. “Where are Starc and Shirl?”

  “They are working on controlling a portal blast generated by Shirl,” Candy answered.

  Cianan lost the color in his face. “She told you what happened?”

  “Yes,” Candy replied, “as well as your role. You should have told her, Cianan. It was unlikely you knew the magnitude of what she was going to produce, but you knew she had the ability to generate energy from the portal as a weapon. The guilt surrounding what she did has almost consumed her. If it was not for Starc and her friends, she may have gone to a dark place she could not have been able to leave.”

  “Do you think I have not been haunted myself from what I did? She is my sister, after all. I gave her our mother’s clan bracelet.” How easy it would all be if inappropriate behavior could be forgiven with a bribe. Not one to think stereotypically, but how like a man such a reaction was.

  “Good Lord! You actually think you can bribe your way into her good graces?”

  “She said there was only one way I could prove myself, although she would not say how,” Cianan said. “I figure if I trained and befriended you, Shirl would forgive me. The first time we touched, I had hoped a soul mate channel would open.”

  “What does that mean, a soul mate channel?” Candy asked.

  “The first time soul mates touch, there is a violent reaction. Starc had described it as if his whole body had been electrocuted.”

  Cianan’s words brought Candy back to the first time she had skin on skin contact with Tolfer. Her reaction was exactly like Cianan had described the opening of the soul mate channel. It would make sense that he was her soul mate, based on how she had been lusting after him. Even after Ervin’s first touch, her mind went back to Tolfer.

  So much had happened to her since she had arrived in the Troyk universe. Information overload consumed her. It dawned on her Alex had told her about a similar reaction she had when Tarsea first touched her. How could Candy forget what she had been told and not realized what Tolfer’s touch meant when it happened?

  “Let’s find Starc and Shirl,” Candy said. “We should be heading back to the Troyk Universe. I assume you have the crystals we came for.” Cianan nodded. “Good, time to leave.” She wanted to get back and confront her soul mate!

  Chapter 7

  The Troyk Universe

  Confronting Tolfer about why he had disguised the opening of their soul mate channel as static electricity had to wait. The team had been called to be debriefed at The Palace. She did not know why she had fallen for Tolfer’s lame explanation. Candy had known it had been a life-altering event. He just had her so off-kilter she couldn’t think straight.

  Candy and Shirl were led to a conference room located on the third floor of The Palace where the municipal offices were located. She was not sure how the Troyk government and crystal telepath operations were related. There was so much about this world she did not have a clue about. If Jeryl Jarlyn was involved, Candy reasoned, they would have been brought to the fourth floor.

  Solfa Thefflar entered the conference room. Not bothering to greet them, she sat across from Candy and Shirl. This meeting was certainly not going to be a cakewalk. “What were you thinking, leaving Candy alone with Ervin Allaway?” Solfa asked Shirl. Candy could feel Shirl tensing next to her. If possible, Solfa’s glare became more intimidating than Solfa’s hostile tone. Candy was happy she was not on the receiving end of either. The woman was out for blood. Candy supposed she should be happy Solfa was concerned about her safety.

  “It is all right, Solfa,” Candy said. “I was never in any danger. Ervin is the leader of the clan and I knew the importance of our alliance. The last thing I wanted to do was demean him in the eyes of his people by besting him. It was my hope he would back off before I had to inflict injury.”

  “Well,” Solfa said, “at least one of you was thinking. When Jeryl found out, he was furious. The man still believes Candy could be his granddaughter. The whole idea of having the first female CT Guard was to protect you, Shirl. On the first mission out, you leave Candy alone. There was a small army available to protect you both. I just do not understand your reasoning, if you thought at all.”

  Solfa leaned back in her chair, her eyes still on Shirl. Candy was almost tempted to use their closed telepathic channel to help Shirl answer Solfa’s accusations. She imagined there was more to Solfa’s tirade then just the mission. Candy and Shirl had become part of Pattrice’s extended family. If anything happened to either woman, Solfa’s mother would fall apart.

  “I hadn’t expected him to react that way to Candy,” Shirl finally replied. “Ervin knew she was special to me. I thought he’d treat her with the respect he showed me. Besides, men always want to just be Candy’s pal.”

  Candy’s surprise by Shirl’s response was mirrored in Solfa’s face. “Take a look at your friend, Shirl,” Solfa raised her voice to a higher decibel. “She is a beautiful, desirable woman. The men of Ginkgo Terra must be idiots. Candy is worth her weight in crystals to the men who live in the Terra Nova universe. In the future, you will meet with Koel before every mission and walk through various tactical scenarios. I have put him on retainer to work with my organization. There is not going to be a repeat of what happened today.”

  “Yes, Solfa,” Shirl responded. Candy noticed Shirl would not make eye contact with either of them. She was not sure if it was because of what she said or her actions on Terra Nova. There had never been an awkwardness between them before. Candy did not know if she should talk to Shirl or let things blow over.

  “The rest of the team is being interviewed to determine if there was anyone in the village who seemed out of place. Jeryl wants to expand missions to different worlds to look for escaped dissidents. The assassination attempt has made him more paranoid about other plots both inside the Troyk universe and from outside. You both need to report back to Crystal Telepath Headquarters for further orders.”

  Solfa rose and left the room without another word.

  Both women just sat, letting Solfa’s words soak in. Shirl was the first to break the silence. “I am so sorry, Candy. If I thought for one minute you were in danger, I never would have left you alone with him. Starc and I would have found another opportunity to practice gauging the strength of the portals I produce.”

  “Like I told Solfa,” Candy replied, “I was never in any danger from Ervin.” She could not voice how Shirl’s words had hurt and belittled her. Candy had become popular once she started playing sports, just attracting men in a different way.

  Shirl was
always fighting off the type of attraction she got, while Candy enjoyed a camaraderie with men. She figured one day she would find the right guy and she would finally have the intimate relationship that generally developed between men and women. Never in a million years did she think Shirl thought less of her because of the type of relationships she had with men. Neither had she imagined it would take traveling to a parallel universe to find the man who was literally her soul mate.

  “We should be heading out,” Shirl said as she rose to leave. Her friend gave Candy a long guilt-ridden look. Shirl turned and started to walk to the room’s exit when she hesitated. “It didn’t come out right.”

  “What?” Candy inquired.

  “The crack I made about you and men. I didn’t mean to discount you or your feelings. You never seemed to want more from men than the chummy relationships you developed with them.” Shirl seemed to be struggling to come up with the right words. Candy did not feel obliged to change the topic of the conversation to relieve her friend from the burden of finishing. “You never wanted to become dependent on another human being, including me. Alex was your safety net when you needed help.”

  There was not a single untruth in what Shirl had said. Candy just did not want to discuss it with Shirl. She often wondered if Alex had not been there, would Candy and Shirl have become as close as they were now. She had not been lying to Jeryl Jarlyn about her relationship with Shirl. Candy had just left out Alex’s role in their family dynamics. Alex seemed the glue that held their friendship together. It still bothered her Shirl had not called her when Alex disappeared.

  “If we loiter any longer, Solfa is going to come back and investigate why we haven’t left,” Candy stated. “I do not want to get on that woman’s bad side. She scares the shit out of me.”

  Shirl started laughing. The tension between the women was relieved for now. “It is hard to believe our chameleon friend is cousins with Solfa. Those two are like night and day.” Alex did not even need to be present for their friendship to start bonding again. She just always seemed to be the common denominator between the two of them.