by Raine Thomas
He trailed behind Barto and Reider, glancing around as they moved further into the Tinkers’ habitat. The other males stopped their air flow and removed their masks once the door closed behind them, so Ty did the same.
Their progress into the heart of the dwelling was slow-going. Only narrow aisles allowed for movement from one side to the other. There were piles and piles of junk filling the space. Well, the Tinkers probably didn’t view it as junk, but as potential future trading material. In either case, Ty felt claustrophobic with the tall piles looming all around them.
To distract himself from envisioning a crippling avalanche of debris landing on his head, he did a mental catalogue of the items he could identify. He spotted everything from clothing and armor to all sorts of miscellaneous parts belonging to vessels of different styles. His gaze fell on some parts that stood out from the rest.
V’larian, he mused. He was sure of it.
Why would there be parts to V’larian ships out here in the Dark Lands? He tried to reason it out in combination with his recent questions about the intentions behind the V’larian ambassadors, but nothing clicked. The tail he had placed on the ambassadors after they assisted in rescuing Kyr on Earth hadn’t turned up any useful information. Others might say that the existence of the V’larian parts here in the Tinkers’ habitat could just be a coincidence.
But he didn’t believe in coincidences.
The sound of tools pounding and clanging reached him as they rounded another bend in the piles of stuff. It opened up to what looked like the Tinkers’ central living and work space. He drew a relieved breath as they stepped into the less cluttered area. He saw several different work stations separated by piles. Inside the stations were two females and one male. All of them stopped what they were doing as he, Barto, and Reider approached. They all stared at him.
One of the females emerged from behind her work station. She pushed the pair of goggles that she wore onto the top of her copper-colored head. Ty’s gaze brushed over her outfit, which was as much a collaboration of different styles as most everything else out here in the Dark Lands. Her knee-length, ivory ruffled skirt was paired with an equally lacy ivory top. Over both, she wore a figure-hugging brown leather vest that she had secured with three different belts criss-crossed over her slim waist. Her brown leather boots had three-inch heels and an assortment of scuffmarks. The jewelry she wore all looked homemade.
“Hi there,” she said, her soft blue-gray eyes focusing on Ty. “I’m Dynah. That over there is Pippa—” the younger looking female gave him a smile and a wave, “—and that there is Fitts.”
Ty nodded at the bearded male, but didn’t receive more than a measured stare in return. He noticed that the mysterious Aryn wasn’t among them. He opened his mouth to introduce himself as a matter of habit, but caught Barto’s warning look.
“I’m Wyk,” Ty said.
He wasn’t sure why Kyr’s Kyndred popped into his mind, but the name was as good as any other. Barto relaxed a fraction.
“Wyk here only recently escaped the mine. We ran inta him durin’ a run and got ta talkin’. He’s decided ta give Harvestin’ a shot.”
“Are you sure about that?” Pippa asked.
She sprang up from her chair and bounced over to Dynah’s side. Ty’s gaze was drawn to her midsection, which was bare. Her breasts were covered by a band of blue fabric, over which a pair of multi-colored suspenders held her bright pink pants up. A tool belt hung low on her hips, just beneath the waistband of her pants. Her shoulder-length red hair was darker in color than Dynah’s and her blue eyes were a shade lighter, telling him her innate abilities were strong.
“I mean,” Pippa continued, seemingly not noticing his stare, “Harvesting is usually a short-time job. Most people can’t cut it.”
“Now, just hold yer tongue, Pippa,” Barto said. “How’re ya ever gonna get all the goods ya need ta make more things if we don’t supply ‘em?”
Pippa’s mouth twisted in consideration. “I guess you’re right.”
“Damn right,” Barto said. “We’re gonna get Wyk here outfitted in some proper gear. He’ll work it off in trade.”
“I still say he looks too big to be a Harvester.”
Ty turned at the voice coming from behind him. Unless he was mistaken, this was Aryn. He looked about Ty’s age, but was several inches shorter and had a smaller build. He wore a simple outfit of pants, a shirt, and a vest in shades of brown. His brown hair was shaggy, held back from his face by a large pair of goggles on top of his head.
“You can’t reach the tight spaces to Harvest, being as big as you are,” he said, stopping in front of Ty. “Are you sure he isn’t a Marauder in disguise, Barto? This guy would give most any Outcast a run for his money.”
“Wyk here don’t have any interest in hurtin’ anyone,” Barto declared. “Besides, Marauders ain’t got no reason ta go wanderin’ around in disguise, do they? Why don’t ya busybodies take his measurements instead of tryin’ ta talk us ta death?”
“I’ll do it,” Dynah and Pippa both said at the same time. Pippa even raised her hand in her eagerness.
Aryn mumbled something under his breath that sounded like females and their hormones, but Ty couldn’t quite make it out. “Get back to work, all of you,” he said out loud.
Dynah and Pippa made faces, but did as Aryn said. Aryn waved Ty after him as he turned and started down an aisle. Ty hesitated to leave the open space. Seeing Barto jerk his thumb in Aryn’s direction, Ty sighed and headed into the cramped aisle.
“This is our only working body scanner,” Aryn explained when they reached their destination. He turned to Ty. “Sorry about all of the questions. It’s in a Tinker’s nature to be inquisitive.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ty said. “Just don’t expect much along the line of answers.”
“So noted. Well, let’s get started. You’ll have to remove your goggles for this.”
“Why?”
“I need to measure the circumference of your head and the distance between your eyes to create goggles that fit. You’re probably having a hell of a time seeing anything with your peripheral vision right now, aren’t you?”
Reluctantly, Ty nodded. When Aryn just stood there waiting, Ty closed his eyes and removed the goggles. He kept his eyes closed as Aryn completed his measurements, and then put the goggles back on. He knew Aryn suspected something, but the Tinker was smart enough not to say anything.
The rest of the measurements required Ty disrobing for reasons similar to the goggles. Aryn couldn’t get an accurate read with Ty wearing gear…and someone else’s, at that.
There was no hiding his forearms. The markings there were very faint and could be overlooked in the dim lighting in this part of the Tinkers’ habitat, but Ty had a feeling that Aryn’s sharp gaze missed nothing.
“All done, Wyk,” Aryn said, winking when he said the name. “Give us a bit to get your gear in order. Shouldn’t take too long.”
“Thanks.”
Ty walked back to the central area with Aryn. Barto and Reider were negotiating with Fitts to get some fresh air canisters. Leaving them to do their thing, Ty walked around the space, looking for other V’larian items. He noticed several mirrors among all of the offerings. He glanced into a few and saw that they were reflecting details from outside. The scouting system was ingenious, he thought.
“We’re frequently targeted by Marauders,” Dynah told him when he paused near her work station. “The people who visit us for goods are often targets, too. Aryn and Pippa devised the mirrors. They give us advance notice when there’s a threat.”
He nodded. Keeping her words in mind, he did another pass around the room, this time paying closer attention. It didn’t take him long to see signs of movement outside.
By the time Aryn announced his gear was ready, Ty was certain they were going to be ambushed on the way out. He hadn’t been able to determine an exact number, but it was significantly more than the three of them.
&
nbsp; “No sense in ya changin’ now,” Barto told him. “We’ll haul yer gear back with us. Ya can keep Orran’s on for now.”
“We’ll need it to be easily transported,” Ty said. “We’re going to have to have our hands free to deal with the Marauders waiting for us outside.”
“What?” Barto shouted. He moved over to a mirror.
“He’s right,” Reider said, catching sight of someone in the mirror closest to him. “Damn it.”
“I’ve got a pack you can use,” Dynah offered.
She hurried to collect Ty’s new gear and began stowing it in a pack with straps. Her movements were quick and efficient, which Ty imagined was helpful in her line of work. Soon, she secured the pack and handed it over to him.
“It’s a little weighty,” she told him with apology in her tone.
“I’ll manage. Thanks.”
She gave him a worried look. “Be careful.”
He appreciated her concern, especially considering she didn’t know him. Her gaze moved briefly to Barto and Reider. He couldn’t tell if she was incorporating them into her well-wishes or if she was trying to send him a subtle message. Although his eyes were masked by his dusty goggles, he tried to convey that he understood.
“Let’s take out these bloody bastards,” Barto sneered, cocking his weapon.
Ty followed him and Reider through the aisles until they once again reached the front entrance. A shield came up when they were within a couple of feet of the exit, preventing them from going anywhere but out the front door. It must be another safety precaution, he reasoned. If anyone tried to overtake them as the door opened, they wouldn’t be able to get past the shield.
Fortunately, no one laid in wait just outside the door. Unfortunately, their opponents descended before they could get to the rover.
The Marauders all wore dark colors. Not an inch of skin was visible. Even their goggles were darkly tinted. Ty saw weapons that ranged from gleaming blades to rapid-fire crossbows.
Barto yelled for Ty and Reider to take cover. Ty dove behind a chunk of the building that had fallen. An arrow whistled by his head as Reider and Barto joined him.
The moment he hit the ground and rolled over, he lifted his weapon and opened fire.
The projectiles in his weapon weren’t traditional bullets, but explosive pellets. They made the air shudder and burn as they impacted the enemy. Beside him, Reider and Barto also aimed and fired, taking out one Marauder after another. The noise was deafening.
Then Reider cursed. Ty glanced over and saw the young male fiddling with his weapon. It had jammed.
A Marauder ran around their cover. He lifted a curved blade to slice at Reider. Ty stood and tried to swing his own weapon around to shoot the attacker, but a second Marauder came at him from another direction. He bowled into Ty’s side, sending them sprawling over the chunk of building. Ty’s weapon flew from his grasp. Behind him, Ty heard Barto’s weapon fire repeatedly.
Years of training had Ty pivoting before he and his opponent hit the ground. He rolled back to his feet, working with the weight of the pack he wore instead of fighting it. He easily deflected the Marauder’s attempt to stab him with what looked like a sharp piece of bone. Using just his feet, he kicked the blade away from his opponent, broke his wrist, and rendered him unconscious in three hard blows.
He glanced up and noticed that the threat was over. Bodies surrounded the rover, which fortunately looked intact. Barto and Reider were watching him with unhinged jaws as they got to their feet. Ty saw that the Marauder who had attempted to attack Reider was now dead thanks to Barto.
“You were right, Barto,” came Aryn’s voice over the speaker system. “He’d make a terrible Marauder. But he’d sure as hell make a brilliant Peace Keeper.”
Chapter 29
It was hard for Kyr to maintain the pretense of her disguise long enough to walk back to the food preparation area with the Wrym, but she managed. Her head was whirling with everything she had just learned. She needed a few minutes to regroup.
She wasn’t sure what to do after she deposited her trays. Lyla started to approach her, likely to give her a new assignment. She almost sighed in relief when Sem strode into the room.
“Tina is needed elsewhere,” he said.
That was it. No discussion, just that announcement. He took her arm and led her from the room. She picked up the puzzled and resentful thoughts from the other Wrym, who assumed that she was being shown favoritism because she had caught the Advisor’s eye. She guessed their judgment was based on former experience. The thought made her lip curl.
Sem led her back to the small room that they had met in before. She determined from a quick scan of his thoughts that this place wouldn’t be used that day. It was also relatively private, being down an infrequently used hallway.
Gren was waiting for them. His copper gaze reflected concern. She knew he was wondering how she was holding up.
I’m not sure how I’m holding up, she admitted to both men as Sem closed the door behind him.
It’s a lot to take in, Gren acknowledged. He moved to sit beside her when she took a seat, giving her shoulder a consoling rub.
Did they do all of this just to take power? Sem wondered as he paced beside the table. Or did their plan develop as a result of what happened with you and Ty? Are they just taking advantage of the situation?
Kyr frowned. As much as she didn’t want to think that her own parents were capable of the atrocities that had occurred, she couldn’t deny what she had experienced in Vycor’s chambers.
I think that my mother, at least, knew this was coming, she admitted. The words depressed and angered her, an odd and uncomfortable blend of emotion.
Brunyr wasn’t in Vycor’s chambers, Gren thought, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t involved. Based on what you overheard, the plan is for both Guardians to assume power, so Brunyr has to be aware of what Vycor and Shaya have planned.
Kyr’s fingers tapped on the table as she thought things through. We have to do something. We can’t let the Vawn appoint the Guardians to power. You heard what Vycor said about him protecting their interests. I don’t know what he’s referring to, but if it’s something secret, it can’t be good.
Sem came to a stop. I can get us into contact with the members of the Vawn council. We could influence them before the meeting so they don’t—
Vycor would detect our influence, Gren interrupted.
Not mine, Kyr argued. The idea blossomed in her mind. That’s an excellent idea, Sem. I know I can influence the council members in a way that Vycor won’t be able to detect.
Kyr, you’re going to exhaust yourself, Gren cautioned. There are twenty-one council members. You can’t possibly influence so many.
I could, she contended, but I won’t have to. I only have to get to a majority of them.
She has to do this, Sem insisted when Gren was about to argue further. We’ll monitor her and make sure she doesn’t do more than she can handle.
Kyr touched Gren’s hand and met his gaze. We can’t leave to find Ty if we know we’re coming back to the Guardians in power. Between them and Vycor, they’ll have full control. We’ll be hard-pressed to stop them then.
Gren sighed. Fine. Let’s get this over with.
Kyr sent him a grateful thought as they got to their feet. Sem led the way, with Kyr following at a discreet distance. Gren was her shadow, somehow managing to disappear from her sight while still remaining nearby.
She called forth her power as they walked, focusing on her ability to influence others. She was going to do this quickly and carefully. There was no way she was going to let Vycor discover that the council members had been influenced.
He wasn’t going to be able to use his own influence on them, either. She’d block him. Let him and Shaya fumble around and try to figure out why the council wasn’t cooperating with their plans. By the time they had any glimmer of what had happened, she had every intention of being back at the palace with Ty by her side.
This is IonyVawn’s chamber, Sem conveyed as he continued walking around the corner. He’s a late sleeper. If you sneak in quietly, you should be able to influence him while he’s sleeping.
The hallway was more traveled than Kyr had expected. She’d look strange walking into Iony’s chambers without an obvious reason.
Spotting a passing Wrym carrying a stack of folded linens, she got an idea. Give me those linens, she silently commanded.
The male obeyed without hesitation, handing off the linens and continuing on his way. To anyone who might be observing, it looked like they had planned the exchange. She carried the linens to Iony’s door and listened with her mind to be sure he was actually sleeping.
He was.
After pretending to knock but not actually touching the door, she slipped inside. The chamber was dark. She used her new ability to see in the dark to make her way to Iony’s bedside.
A hint of remorse touched on her conscience as she thought about what she was about to do. Was she really any better than Vycor, forcing her influence on an unsuspecting person?
If you don’t do this, Vycor will, Gren assured her. You’re not doing this to harm them. You’re doing this to save them.
Nodding to herself, she placed the linens on the side of the bed. She considered touching Iony’s head, but decided against it. She didn’t want to risk him waking up. Instead, she gently touched the back of his hand where it rested above the covers.
And immediately detected that Vycor had already been there.
Oh, no, you don’t, she silently fumed.
It took more effort than if she’d just had to influence him, but she went through Iony’s mind and did what she had with Sem’s. She obliterated Vycor’s influence and imposed her own, implanting the idea that assigning the Guardians or Vycor as the ruler of Alametria was an abhorrent one. She finished up by establishing blocks that Vycor shouldn’t be able to get past. When she was satisfied she had done the job, she broke contact with him.