“As unpleasant as hearing other people’s thoughts can be, it does have its advantages. I make it a habit to scan those around me occasionally, just to be safe. Especially when I enter a room or other place where there’re lots of people.”
“How can you do that and still have time to think your own thoughts?” Kai asked.
“I don’t listen to everything everyone thinks. People who are thinking about something dark have a certain…feel…to their thoughts. That’s not really the right word, but I’ve never been able to describe it. Sometimes it’s very strong, sometimes faint, but it’s always unmistakable. Like the smell of decay. That’s what I scan for and when I find it, I focus on what that person is thinking. Sometimes it’s one spouse cheating on another, or a petty theft, things of that nature. And sometimes it’s more important, like Marcel.” She shrugged. “It’s intrusive and rude, I know that, but I still do it.”
“Why didn’t you spot Marcel when you first came in?”
“He was in the bathroom.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because the man who sat down at his table while he was gone was thinking about what rotten luck he had to pick Marcel’s table.”
“I don’t think it’s rude since you only scan for those who’re doing things they shouldn’t be doing in the first place,” Jay said. “I’m sorry though, that it’s so unpleasant for you.”
“I’ve developed a thick skin which has made me a bit cynical. That’s what my sisters tell me anyway.”
Declan frowned. Vari didn’t strike him as being the least bit cynical. Of course, he’d only known her a few hours. He could quite easily be wrong. But he didn’t think so.
“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask how long this shield will last.”
“That depends,” Jay said. “If we stopped feeding you power altogether it would last a couple of hours so long as you’re close to us. The further away you get, the more quickly it’ll fail. It’s easy enough for us to feed you power to maintain it so long as you’re here, on the Bihotza.”
“Are you sure it’s no trouble?” Vari asked. “I don’t want to drain your power, or weaken you.”
“Don’t worry, Vari,” Declan said. “Once the shield is in place, it takes little energy for us to maintain it.”
“All right, Declan. Thank you.”
***
After their meal the Dracon-Bats offered to show Vari around the ship. They started with the bridge, introducing her to Captain Finch and a few of their other officers. She looked around with interest rather than the polite, but forced, curiosity they’d expected, which was a surprise. Since she didn't ask them any questions, they didn't have an opening to ask her any.
She was most interested in the rec deck, particularly the training and sparring studios. “Do you have spar bots?”
“Yes, but for non-projectile weapons only,” Jay replied. “Do you like to spar?”
“Very much,” she said. “I rarely have anyone to spar with, but bots work quite well.”
“Did they have them on the liner?”
“No, they didn’t,” she said with a sigh. “The Leaper has very little to speak of in the way of practice or training facilities. Tends to make for very long days.”
Declan looked through the window of the largest training room and stopped. “Would you like to meet our training master?”
“You have a permanent training master?” she asked in surprise.
“The nature of our work requires that we spend many months at a time on the Bihotza without visiting port. We’ve found that having a training master onboard, and keeping our training facilities updated, gives our crew incentive to work on existing skills, and develop new ones. Would you like to meet him?”
“Yes, please,” Vari said, nodding enthusiastically which made the corner of his mouth kick up in an almost smile. “Is my Lobo blood showing?”
“Just a bit,” he replied, opening the door for her.
A tall, slender man with short white hair and pale blue eyes turned toward the door as they entered. He met them in the middle of the room and bowed his head politely. “Greetings, Commanders.”
“Greetings, Lanok,” Declan replied with a nod. “This is our guest, Vari. She’ll be using our training facilities until we reach Jasan.”
Lanok offered her the same bow of his head that he’d given the ship’s Commanders. “It’s my great honor to meet you, Izerain Varia Lobo. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of any assistance to you during your stay.”
From the moment Declan had said his name, Vari had known who the man was even though she’d never seen or met him before. When he revealed that he knew who she was, her surprise was too sudden to hide.
“I know you prefer to keep your status quiet,” Lanok said, his eyes flicking to the blue piping on her sleeves. “Don’t worry, your preference for privacy is understood and will not be violated.”
“You must know Trinity well,” she said carefully, naming the woman who’d begun training her when she was five years old.
“I like to think I do, but what parent truly knows their own child?” Vari’s surprise increased and Lanok smiled knowingly. “We agreed many years ago not to reveal our familial connection to our students. It’s best for both of us that way.
“Trinity knows that it has long been my dream to see someone achieve the Silver, and her pride in you is great. Please do not fault her for sharing. It will go no further than me without your leave.”
“My trust in Trinity is complete, Lanok,” Vari said. “That includes her judgement. Anyway, it’s not a secret. Just a preference.”
“Thank you, Izerain Varia.”
“Just Vari, please.”
“As you wish, Vari.” His head cocked to the side. “I wonder if you would agree to grace my students with a demonstration of your zentsu skills during your stay with us. Under the guise of a Blue Set, of course.”
“Tossing lines at targets?” she asked, making a show of wrinkling her nose with distaste.
Lanok shook his head with feigned regret. “I see that I shall have to tempt you with an offer to spar.”
“Now that might be fun.”
“For you perhaps,” he said, sighing dramatically. “I’ve no choice but to agree, though you must promise not to wound me too seriously. It would not inspire confidence in my students were I to bleed all over the floor.”
“I think we can agree to disable our dairi for the length of a demonstration.”
“Ah, that is a relief.”
Vari grinned, liking Lanok very much. “How many students of the Art do you have?”
“Four, but they’re all beginners. Two of the White, and two of the Gray.”
Vari nodded. “I understand now how critical those levels are, but I didn't like them at all. Each movement required such tightly controlled precision, and exactitude doesn’t come easy for a five year old.” She looked into his clear blue eyes. “You seek to inspire them.”
“Yes, I do,” Lanok admitted easily. “The only proficient they’ve ever seen in person is me, and I cannot spar with myself. In addition, my ability in zentsu is minimal at best. I fear one or more of them will soon give up, and they all have potential.”
“Increasing the numbers of those skilled in the Art is desired by all. I’m more than happy to aid such a worthy cause.”
“Excellent,” Lanok said with a wide smile. “Tomorrow? Mid-morning?”
“Of course,” Vari replied, then pressed her palms together and bowed solemnly. “Until then, Master Lanok of the Red Set.”
Much to the Dracon-Bat’s surprise…well, further surprise since the entire conversation surprised them…Lanok laughed out loud before returning her bow. He was still chuckling when they left the training room with Vari, but they had no idea why.
“That was an interesting conversation,” Jay said.
Kai snorted. “It was a mile over our heads is what it was.”
“You’re not fami
liar with the Secret Art?”
“We’ve never heard of it,” Declan said.
“Oh,” she replied, taken aback. “How long has Lanok been training master on the Bihotza?”
“Three years,” Kai replied.
Vari nodded, hiding her surprise. The Secret Art was not a common discipline, but they had a permanent training master who held the rank of Red Set in the Art, which very few attained, making him one of their most respected proficients. He was also well known for the scope of his knowledge and expertise in other methods of self-defense including a wide variety of martial arts, and a multitude of weapons.
She knew enough about the Dracon-Bats to know they literally lived their jobs, and she certainly didn’t expect them to be familiar with the personal details of every member of their crew. But the positions of ship’s physician and training master were both worthy of respect, as were the people who filled them. Were they so self-absorbed that they couldn’t be bothered to take an interest in their own people?
She sighed inwardly. Considering the number of years that had passed since their own family had seen them, she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. She was surprised, though. And disappointed.
Declan had no idea what Vari was thinking, but he had no trouble at all feeling her disappointment. It wasn’t hard to figure out the reason for it, and he was surprised by how much it bothered him. “Lanok has never mentioned the discipline to us, and we talk to him often.”
“Perhaps that’s because the Secret Art is a secret,” Kai said dryly.
“It’s not called the Secret Art because it’s a secret,” Vari said.
“No?” Kai arched a brow. “I’m growing very curious about this Secret Art. I think we should watch this demonstration tomorrow.”
“So do I,” Jay said. “Vari, what does Izerain mean?”
“It’s just a politeness,” she said, looking down at the floor as her face heated with the almost lie. “By the way, when will we reach Jasan?”
“About a week,” Declan replied.
“That’s almost three weeks faster than the Leaper,” she said, surprised. “I know passenger liners are slower than most ships, but not by that much. The Bihotza must be fast.”
“She is, although the Leaper is a much larger ship than the Bihotza which accounts for some of the difference,” Declan said.
Vari started to ask another question, but couldn’t prevent a sudden yawn. “I’m sorry. I know it’s still early but I think it’s time for me to turn in for the night.”
“Of course,” Declan said. “We’ll walk with you.”
***
After bidding Vari goodnight, Declan invited his brothers to his room across the corridor to discuss the startling observations they’d made over their late lunch. He placed an Air shield around his room to prevent anyone from overhearing them, and locked the door.
“She can tell us apart,” Jay said abruptly. “We can share power with her, and she eased me back from a blood rage with just a few words. And, immediately afterward I experienced the same physical reaction you spoke of, Declan. Right down to my dracon taking notice. In fact, if not for my dracon’s help, I’d have flooded her with pheromones. It didn’t ease up for a moment until she closed her door. Then it vanished like it had never been. Except for her scent.”
Declan was relieved that Jay was now feeling what he felt. “Did you recognize the scent, Jay?”
“It’s familiar, but I don’t know why.”
“Me neither. My reaction has grown stronger, though.”
“I haven’t experienced any of that yet, but I think it’s only a matter of time,” Kai said. “I want her though, in every other way I can think of. I want to be near her, I want to hear her voice, I want to know everything about her. I want to see her and touch her and feel her touch me.”
“I wish I knew what was happening to us,” Declan said with growing frustration. “I have to keep reminding myself--and my dracon--that she’s not our berezi.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Jay said thoughtfully.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning we’re being incredibly close minded by allowing one fact to negate all of the other evidence.”
“It’s a rather salient fact, Jay,” Declan said dryly.
“It is, and it isn’t,” Kai argued. “In truth, all we’re talking about is one specific reaction to one specific stimulus.”
“We only need discover why we’re not reacting to the stimulus,” Jay said.
“Or why there is no stimulus for us to react to,” Kai added. “I recall some time back a similar situation occurred with Arima Aisling Gryphon.”
“Yes, I remember as well,” Declan said. “There was an absence of pheromone production caused by a Controller, if I remember correctly.”
“Yes,” Jay nodded. “I don’t believe that’s the problem with Vari since, so far, two of us are having a physical reaction to her. But it does illustrate the point.”
“It does,” Declan agreed.
Suddenly Jay’s eyes widened, catching Declan’s and Kai’s attention. “Pher-X,” he said.
“Pardon?” Kai asked quizzically.
“It was the only pharmaceutical listed on Vari’s medical summary.”
Declan focused on the mental image of Vari’s medical summary he’d accidentally gotten earlier that day. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ve never heard of it but that’s no surprise since pharmaceuticals are ineffective on us.”
“Now that I think about it, the name itself troubles me…,” Jay trailed off, turning toward the vid terminal in the corner of Declan’s room. He entered pher-x into a search utility and got no results. He tried a few permutations of the name but still found nothing. “Am I remembering this correctly?” he asked Declan and Kai.
“Yes, that’s the way I remember it,” Kai said after glancing over Jay’s shoulder at the screen.
“We could just ask Dr. Jula,” Declan suggested.
Jay shook his head. “Somehow, I don’t think she’ll know.”
“Why not?” Declan asked.
“Because Vari is Clan Jasani,” Jay replied. “Medications won’t work on her as well as they would a human woman unless they’ve been modified. Or, unless they were developed specifically for female Clan Jasani.” He turned back to the vid terminal and logged onto an encrypted Clan Jasani data site. After entering his security code the answer to his inquiry was displayed on the screen for all of them to see.
“She’s deliberately suppressing her pheromones,” Kai gasped, stunned.
“She is,” Jay agreed, unable to quell the hurt that rose in him. “But why?”
“Let’s go ask her,” Declan growled, already turning toward the door.
“Declan, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jay said.
“Why not?” Declan demanded angrily. “I would have an explanation for this.”
“We’ve only known her for a few hours, Declan,” Kai said quietly. “She owes us nothing, least of all explanations for her personal choices.”
Declan stared at Kai in surprise but, after a few moments, he realized his brother was right. Like all women, Vari had the right of choice in who she did, or did not wish to spend her life with. She certainly had no obligation to explain herself to three men she’d known for less than half a day. He crossed to the viewport his private quarters boasted and looked out at the stars, trying to calm his emotions and quiet his mind.
“Do either of you have any suggestions?” he asked after several minutes.
“I would like to try to convince her to reconsider her decision,” Jay said.
“You don’t think she’s doing this because she’s already chosen another?”
“No, I don’t,” Jay replied. “Her emotions when she pulled me back from a blood rage were too strong.”
“I think she’s fighting herself,” Kai said.
“Why?” Declan asked, turning away from the view.
“Why wouldn’t she? We spend o
ur lives on this ship, traveling through the Thousand Worlds with never a thought for anything or anyone other than our work and ourselves. Even when we’re near Jasan we don’t visit. We’re ghosts to our own family. We know next to nothing about the people who spend their lives with us on the Bihotza which, until seeing Vari’s reaction to it, I never even gave a thought to and neither did either of you. Why would any woman want to live her life the way we do?”
“I agree with your reasons, Kai, as far as they go,” Jay said. “But there’s something more to this. Something bigger.”
“Why do you say that?” Declan asked.
“Vari had no way of knowing we would cross paths now, but she was prepared for the eventuality. I’d say she’s known for some period of time that she’s our berezi.”
“How could she possibly know when we did not?” Kai asked.
“It’s not unheard of for a female to identify her Rami,” Jay pointed out. “They don’t have the dramatic response male-sets have, but it does happen.”
“She would’ve needed to be in relatively close proximity to us in order for that to occur,” Declan said. “We haven’t seen her since she was three, nor have we stepped foot on Jasan in a decade.”
“A decade ago she would have just begun puberty,” Jay pointed out. “That makes it even more likely that she recognized what we were to her.”
“But we didn’t see her then,” Declan argued.
“Just because we didn’t see her, doesn’t mean she didn’t see us,” Kai said. “And we were rather distracted during that visit, if you’ll recall.”
Declan nodded, a flash of sorrow crossing his face at the memory. “We went directly from the skyport to Dracon’s Ranch and met with the Princes, who then speed traveled us back to the skyport. At what point could she possibly have seen us?”
“Oh no,” Jay gasped, his face paling. “Do you remember the conversation we had that day in Princess Lariah’s garden?”
“Zerua gainetik,” Declan breathed. “Yes, I’m afraid I do remember it. In our grief we agreed to all but keep our future Arima under lock and key if we ever found her.”
“There could have been a dozen children in the garden with us that day and we wouldn’t have noticed,” Jay said. “Don’t forget, Vari told us just a while ago that she spent time in Lariah’s garden.”
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