“Yes,” she replied, keeping her eyes on Iffon.
“I’ve never heard of a bird eating people food.”
“Since Iffon isn’t a bird, you still haven’t.”
“What is he?”
“At the moment he’s a hawk.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I,” she said, turning to meet his gaze steadily.
“You’re not going to tell us what he is?”
“If you want to know what Iffon is, Commander, ask Iffon.”
“Very well,” Zain said. “Iffon, will you tell us what you are, please?”
“No,” Iffon replied shortly.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust you, Zain Falcoran.” Iffon placed a definite emphasis on the word you that no one missed.
“That’s enough, Zain,” Zander said when he saw his youngest brother open his mouth again. Zain frowned, then gave his head a little shake.
“I apologize,” he said. “I’m not really sure what got into me.”
Iffon and Bean both turned their heads slowly to stare at Zain for a long moment, then they stared at each other. Zander watched as the two of them seemed to communicate privately, not looking away from each other until Rich appeared with their drinks. He took their orders and left them alone again.
“May I ask you a question?” Zach asked.
“Sure.”
“Why do people call you Bean?”
A sudden spike of tension hit her just behind the eyes, causing both Zach and Zander to frown worriedly. So, they can feel me, too. But not Zain.
“I apologize,” Zach said. “I didn’t intend to upset you.”
“I’m not upset. I’m just surprised by the question.”
“You needn’t answer if you’d rather not.”
She picked up her drink, shrugged, and took a sip. “When I was four years old there was an event of some sort on Dracon Ranch. I don’t remember what the occasion was, but I remember there were more people there than I’d ever seen before.
“A man saw me sitting on the grass, crying, and asked me what was wrong. I told him and when his brothers joined him one of them asked my name. I always got the hiccups when I cried, so when I said my name, I hiccupped in the middle of it and, between that and a lisp I had at the time, they thought I’d said my name was Bean instead of BreeAnna. I liked it, and afterward refused to answer to anyone who didn’t use that name.”
“I remember that,” Zain said slowly, surprising Bean. “A little boy had pushed you down, right?”
Bean nodded.
“He’d stolen your candy, too,” Zach added. She nodded again.
“We found him, spoke to his father, then him,” Zander put in. “That’s an amazing coincidence.”
“Not really,” Bean said. “It was a party, there were hundreds of people there, and that’s where I lived.”
Zander sensed her withdrawal. He wasn’t sure why, but he had a feeling their procrastination had something to do with it. “We asked you to dinner because we have an important matter to discuss with you.”
“The status updates?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Rich arrived with their dinners, an interruption she appreciated. She transferred some of Iffon’s dinner into his eating dish and set it on the napkin for him, then turned to her own meal.
“Since the updates are supposed to take place a minimum of once a week, I figured you decided not to bother yourself with them.”
“You thought we’d disobey direct orders?” Zander asked.
“You probably don’t want to kick this particular hornet’s nest right now,” Iffon said while digging enthusiastically into his food.
“Probably not,” she agreed while offering Zander a neutral shrug. When he realized that was all the response he was going to get, he started to press for a clearer answer. Then he remembered Kyrus telling them that she avoided stress and drama, and the reasons for her reluctance to join them for dinner. He decided to take another route.
“The orders were locked in our office safe, which we didn’t have the combination for. We sent a request for it the day after we took command, and just received the information this afternoon.”
“I see,” she said. “Did you want to give me the update now?”
“Yes, unless you object.”
“No objections here.”
Zander nodded, then began to rattle off a long list of technical information on the ship, the Doors, their coordinates and exit points. She was momentarily impressed with his ability to remember all the data he was reciting. Then she wondered if he was deliberately trying to prove that she knew nothing about piloting a ship through space. She had no trouble at all sensing that he was both earnest and sincere, so that wasn’t it, either.
“Excuse me,” she said, interrupting him. “I don’t mean to be rude, I promise. But I think you misunderstand what sort of updates I need.”
“What sort of updates?” Zander asked, confused.
“As I’m sure you probably know, I teach third grade at a small rural school on Sheara 3. I don’t understand what you’re saying. I mean, I understand the words. I just don’t know what any of it means.”
“You’re correct, Lady BreeAnna,” he said. “I don’t understand.”
She looked at her plate, stabbed a vegetable and put it in her mouth while she considered what to do. “Would you mind putting a privacy shield around the table?”
“Not at all,” he replied. He concentrated for a moment, then relaxed. “Privacy screen in place.”
“Thank you. I’m not military, I’m not an explorer or adventurer or engineer or pilot. I don’t know any more about ships and space than the average idiot, to be perfectly honest.
“I’m not here to tell you how to run this ship, or the crew, or anything else. Nor is that the reason for the updates.” She felt Zach and Zander both relax a little and realized they’d thought she’d be trying to run the ship.
“What is the reason for the updates?” Zach asked.
“You’re familiar with Chaos, I presume?”
“Yes, we are,” Zander said, frowning.
“For reasons that are as yet unclear, Chaos does not want me, or this ship, to reach Kinah,” she said, keeping her eyes on her plate. She knew two of them were intensely worried all of a sudden. She couldn’t tell what Zain was feeling.
“The purpose of the status updates is so that I can hear or see where we are, and where we’re going. That will help me, and Iffon, to determine if we’re heading into a trap. If we are, I’ll warn you, and you can avoid it. If for some reason you choose not to heed my warning, or in the event Chaos manages to influence you, I have the authority to make the change anyway.”
“Is that why you have full authority and ultimate control of the Askara?” Zain asked.
“It is,” she replied. “It’s been foreseen that if I know there’s danger in a particular course or plan, no matter what it might be, and my warning is ignored, the Askara will be lost with all hands and never be seen nor heard of again.
“The same is true for the crew and service personnel. If I know there’s something wrong with any person on this ship, I have the authority to remove that person even if you refuse to heed my advice. And by remove, I mean place in a hibernation tank.”
“I see,” Zander said, frowning. “I admit that I was confused about the orders to keep you updated.”
“I’m sure you were,” Bean agreed. “I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
“It’s not really your fault, and we do understand now,” Zach said. “I’m not sure how you’d be able to sense anything by hearing us give you a list of coordinates.”
“I wouldn’t, which is why I interrupted. If you can tell me how many jumps we have to make, approximately where we are, that should do it. A graphic that shows those things would be ideal. Anything unusual would also be helpful.”
“Unusual in what way?” Zach asked.
“
In any way,” she replied. “A sudden meteor storm. A debris field that requires us to divert from our intended path. If you can send me a list of any problems with the ship itself, that would also help.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” Zander said.
“A malfunction in the ship’s sensors, shields, scanners, that sort of thing.”
“That’s easy,” Zach said. “I’ll send a report to your hand terminal in the morning. I’ll set up a graphic of our projected route and current position as well.”
“Thank you.”
“What is it you need to do that would cause Chaos to be so focused on you?” Zander asked.
“I don’t know, exactly,” she said in a voice almost too low to hear. “I just know that whatever it is, I better not fail.” She set her fork down and reached for her tea.
“How will you know if Chaos does something to endanger the ship?” Zach asked.
Bean sighed. “I can’t tell you that.”
“I’m not convinced,” Zain said.
“Not convinced of what?”
“Not convinced that we should trust you.”
“Tell me, Commander Zain,” she said, meeting his eyes steadily again. “Did you or did you not receive direct orders from High Prince Garen regarding this matter?”
“We did, as you know.”
“Then there’s nothing further to discuss.”
The glitter in his eyes was back, only this time she recognized it as abject fury. A frisson of fear raced down her spine but she gave no sign of it as she continued to meet his gaze.
“I want…,” he began, only to be cut off sharply.
“Zain, that’s enough,” Zander said with a deep, warning growl.
Zain looked up at his brother in surprise, then frowned as he reached up to press his fingers into the corners of his eyes. “I apologize,” he said shakily. “I don’t know where that came from.”
Even though Zander’s anger, and Zach’s, were both directed at Zain, just feeling it sent another ripple of fear through her. If they were about to engage in a disagreement or argument of any sort, she definitely did not want to be present for it.
Even though she’d barely touched her dinner, she put her napkin on the table and checked Iffon’s dish. Relieved to see that he was finished eating she asked him silently if he was ready to go.
“Whenever you are,” Iffon replied, spreading his wings and hopping up to her shoulder. She reached for Iffon’s dishes and wrapped them in a napkin.
“Thank you for the update, Commanders,” she said, pushing her chair back and rising to her feet without looking at any of them. “Goodnight.”
They watched silently as she crossed the cafeteria and then walked up the corridor toward the elevator bay.
“That didn’t go as I’d hoped,” Zach said when he could no longer see her.
“No, it didn’t,” Zander said. “She barely even touched her dinner.” He picked up his drink, finished it, then set the glass and his napkin down on the table. He glanced at Zain, then frowned. He had the strongest feeling that there was something he wanted to discuss with his youngest brother, but he couldn’t remember what it was. After a moment he gave up and pushed his chair back.
“Let’s go,” he said, standing up to leave. Zach and Zain rose and followed him across the cafeteria without a word. The moment they stepped into the corridor Zander stilled. His head went back and he tested the air carefully.
“It’s fear,” Zach said. “Lady BreeAnna’s fear.”
Zain nearly gasped aloud. “Blood,” he whispered. “I smell blood.”
Zander nodded as he moved forward, following the scent toward the elevator bay where it was strongest. Something had frightened her and hurt her. But it didn’t happen here. As much as he wanted to growl with his growing fear and anger, he kept silent as he followed the scent to the stairwell door.
“Where the hell is Iffon?” Zach asked softly. “Why didn’t he raise an alarm?”
Zander glanced at his brother, then shook his head. He had no idea. He reached for the doorknob, turned it, and pulled it open, shocked when Bean, who’d been sitting with her back against the door, fell at their feet.
He knelt down and saw what appeared to be a short steel arrow, a flechette, in one shoulder, and another penetrating her forearm, right through the center of Iffon’s image. He reached down and pulled her out of the doorway, then knelt beside her to examine her injuries more carefully. He was surprised to see the flechette in her forearm move slightly.
“We need to pull it out,” he said.
“What?” Zach asked in surprise, pausing just before calling the infirmary.
“Don’t make that call,” Zander said, reaching down for the steel projectile embedded in her forearm. He grasped it firmly, then pulled it out with a fast, smooth motion.
“What are you doing?” Zain demanded, shocked.
“Look,” Zander said, his own eyes fixed on the wound the flechette had made.
“How is this possible?” Zain whispered as they watched the wound close until there was no sign it had ever been there except for the blood that covered her arm and stained her clothing.
“Thank you, Commander,” Iffon said. “Please remove the other one from her shoulder now.”
“This won’t hurt her?” Zander asked.
“No,” Iffon replied. “She’s unconscious precisely for that reason, but she’s fighting me. The sooner I can heal her, the sooner I can let her awaken.”
Zander reached over and grasped the other flechette firmly before pulling it out in one quick motion. They watched as, once again the wound healed completely within moments, leaving nothing but a hole in her shirt, and blood behind.
Zander was trying to decide whether to lift her from the floor or wait to see if she’d awaken when her eyes opened. She looked at him, then Zach, her eyes sliding past Zain before she attempted to push herself up from the floor. Zander helped her sit up, but stopped her from standing.
“Give yourself a minute,” he said. She looked up at him, then nodded.
After a moment she held her arm out and frowned down at it. Iffon emerged from her flesh and settled on the floor beside her. From the way she was looking at Iffon, Zander knew she was speaking with him. She looked as confused as he felt, which he found interesting.
After a few moments she sighed, then looked up at him. “What was it I got shot with?”
Zach held up one of the projectiles so she could see it. “It looks like a short arrow.”
“That’s what it is, basically,” Zach said. “It’s called a flechette. It’s not a commonly used weapon but, unfortunately, we don’t know enough about this crew to guess who would use it.”
“Kyrus Bearen might,” she said.
“Yes, we’ll be calling him in just a minute,” Zander said. “Once you’re on your feet. Do you remember what happened?”
“I opened the stairwell door, stepped through it, and felt pain in my shoulder, then my forearm. Whoever shot me was on the steps up above me. All I saw was a dark figure through the gaps in the steps, and not much of that. That’s all I remember.”
“I saw no more than she did,” Iffon said before Zander had to ask. “Whoever it was either knew that the projectile would pin me in place, or got lucky. I don’t know which.”
Zander nodded. “Call the Bearens, Zach.”
Zach rose and stepped away, tapping his vox. “I’d like to get up now,” Bean said.
“Slowly, please,” Zander said, placing a gentle hand on her elbow so he could help. Once she was on her feet she wobbled unsteadily, so he remained close, just in case. “Iffon?” he asked worriedly.
“She’s merely exhausted from the physical stress of the attack, and the healing which requires energy from her as well as myself.” He spread his wings and flew up to her shoulder. She checked to see that he was settled, then turned toward the elevators and pressed the call button.
“You should wait,” Zander said.
“For what?” she asked, too tired to turn around.
“For the Bearens to arrive.”
“They know where to find me, and I’ve told you all I know.” The doors slid open and she stepped inside. Before they could close again Zach slipped in with her.
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
Bean nodded, reached out and pressed a button. A few moments later the doors opened and they stepped into the corridor, Zach walking beside and slightly behind her, his eyes watchful for any hint of danger. When Bean stopped in front of her door, it took him a moment to realize she hadn’t opened it. He turned toward her, and spotted the square of paper that had been stuck under the edge of the lock panel.
“Don’t touch it,” he said softly, every sense he possessed alert, as were Iffon’s.
“I didn’t plan to.”
“Let’s step back a little,” he suggested, placing one hand lightly on her shoulder. She backed up until her back was to the wall. Only then did he tap the vox in his ear. Moments later Zain and Zander arrived using Air. When Zander took a moment to examine her from head to toe with his eyes to be sure she wasn’t injured, she wasn’t too surprised. When Zain did the same, she was stunned.
“Kyrus is on his way,” Zander said just as the sound of the elevator arriving reached them. Bean watched Kyrus’s familiar figure approaching at a near run.
“You all right, Ausreba?” he asked, his eyes already on the note stuck on the door panel.
“Yes, Kyrus, I’m fine.”
“Stay that way, please,” he said. After examining the door panel carefully, he removed a device from his pocket and ran it over the entire area, including the door itself and the floor. Only then did he lift the note out and, using Air, unfold it. “I don’t think you want to read this, Bean.”
“No, I really don’t,” she said tiredly. “Just give me the gist of it, please.”
“You’re a bad girl for not heeding the warning,” he said while Zander, Zach, and Zain approached to read the note that was facing away from Bean.
“Shame on me,” she said. “Kyrus, would you mind checking my room?”
“Not at all,” he said. He used Air to refold the note, covered it in a protective shell, then slid it into a pocket. Then he went to the door panel and entered an emergency override code to unlock her door. A moment later it slid open and he stepped inside with Zander just behind him.
Bean's Heart (Hearts of ICARUS Book 7) Page 23