A few moments later Zander came back out. “It doesn’t appear as though anyone’s been in there, but Kyrus is checking it thoroughly anyway.”
“That’s a relief. At least I can go to bed.”
“You can’t remain in that room,” Zain said. “It’s not safe. You’ll have to sleep elsewhere.” She considered pointing out that she was not subject to his orders, but decided to just ignore him instead.
Zain felt an odd mix of disappointment, fear and anger at her lack of response. He wanted to order her to stay out of her room, but since she wasn’t under their command, he couldn’t. He wondered why he cared, and was confused by the thought. When Kyrus exited Bean’s room, he completely forgot about the entire subject.
“There’s no fresh scent in there except yours and Iffon’s,” he said to Bean.
“Thanks, Kyrus. I appreciate you checking.” She crossed the corridor and reached for the door panel. “Is it all right to touch this now?”
“It is,” Kyrus said. “You going in there alone?”
“No, I have Iffon,” she replied, pressing the panel. “Goodnight everyone.” The door opened, she stepped through, and it slid closed, leaving four men standing in the corridor staring at it with varying expressions of worry, relief, confusion, and frustration. After a few moments Kyrus turned to face the Commanders.
“This is becoming alarming.”
“Agreed,” Zander said. “You said you were going to activate the motion sensor on the security cam in this corridor. Hopefully that will reveal the identity of whoever is doing this.”
Kyrus arched a slightly puzzled brow. “You didn’t notice, then.”
“Notice what?”
Kyrus gestured toward the wall where the security cam was hidden in a light sconce. Zander frowned and approached the brushed steel fixture, examining it closely without touching it. Then he saw what Kyrus meant.
“Someone has covered the lens with what appears to be tape.”
“Yes,” Kyrus said. “We’ll check the feed, but I suspect that whoever covered the lens used some sort of disguise or shield to prevent the cam from seeing them.”
“Agreed,” Zander said, his growing frustration evident. “This is getting ridiculous. There are only two hundred and fifty people on the Askara, we have the latest technology available for security cams and surveillance, and we can’t keep the most important person on this ship safe.”
“In compliance with your previous orders, Commander, a Lobo male-set is on the way here now to guard this door, and Lady BreeAnna,” Kyrus said.
“Which ones?” Zander asked.
“Bean’s cousins, Jawn, Jaxyl, and Jarl.”
“Perfect, thank you,” Zander said. “Were you able to find anything in the stairwell?”
“No, nothing,” Kyrus said. “Whoever is doing this is very careful. They’re even using some sort of scent neutralizer so we can’t catch a whiff of them.”
“Maybe we can use that,” Zach said.
“How?”
“Everyone has a scent,” Zach said. “We just need to find the person who doesn’t have one.”
“That might work, but I doubt it,” Kyrus said. “Scent neutralizers don’t last long. Half an hour, maybe a bit longer. It would take longer than that to assemble everyone on this ship and attempt to check them one by one for scent. They also wash off. A quick shower is all it takes.”
“Who on this ship uses flechettes, Kyrus?” Zander asked.
“Nobody that I know of. There are about a dozen people who have some skill with power bows, but none of them are female.”
They all turned at the sound of the elevator and watched Jawn, Jax, and Jarl Lobo leave the elevator bay and step into the corridor. They stalked up the corridor, heads tilted slightly downward, eyes fixed forward, their expressions angry, bodies deceptively loose and relaxed.
“Hello Jawn, Jax, Jarl,” Zander said. “I’m afraid we’re in need of guards for Lady BreeAnna.”
“Commanders,” Jawn nodded politely. “Kash filled us in on what’s happened so far.” His emerald green eyes shifted to Kyrus.
“Do you have any idea who’s responsible?”
“No, Jawn, I don’t,” Kyrus said. “We’ll keep looking, but so far whoever it is has been very careful.”
“I want her watched around the clock,” Zander said. “I doubt she’ll like it, but we cannot allow her to come to any further harm.”
“Further harm?” Jawn asked, his tension returning immediately. “We know she was threatened, but no one said she was hurt.”
“She was attacked and shot with two flechettes less than an hour ago,” Zander explained. “Neither projectile would have killed her. Her companion, Iffon, healed her.”
“That’s a surprise,” Jawn said.
“It is,” Zander agreed.
“I wonder if the wounds were intended to be minor, or if the assailant is just a lousy shot,” Zach said.
“That’s a good question,” Kyrus said. “Unfortunately, we have no way of determining that.”
Zander turned to Jawn. “Call us if there’s anything even the tiniest bit out of the ordinary.”
“Aye, Commander. Don’t worry. We won’t let anything or anyone through this door.”
Chapter 16
22 days to deadline…
Bean awoke the following morning with a headache so intense she had a difficult time focusing her eyes. She sat up carefully, wondering if she had anything with her that could help. After mentally reviewing her toiletries case, she decided that she didn’t.
She started to stand, then paused when she saw that Iffon was unmelding. She waited until he stood on the bed beside her in his blue and red bird form. “One day I hope you’ll tell me what sort of bird that is.”
“As I’ve told you before, Bean, it’s not a real bird. Not anymore.”
“What was it called when it was a real bird?”
“It had different names, but the one I like is Roc. It has a nice, solid sound to it.” He studied her carefully. “You have a headache.”
“Yes, a nasty one, too. I was thinking about going down to the infirmary for something to help with it.”
“No need, I’ll heal it.”
“About that,” she said, squinting slightly from the pounding in her head. “How come I didn’t know you could heal me, Iffon?”
“Because telling you I could heal you would’ve led to telling you when you were injured. When you were a child that happened a lot more than anyone ever knew, or needed to know. I saw no need to frighten you. When you got older, I decided to leave things as they were until and unless you asked. Which you’ve just done.”
“Why was I injured so much?”
“Chaos worked to separate and alienate you and your sisters for years. This you know. You also know that it’ll try to prevent the Askara from reaching Kinah. What you don’t know is that Chaos has been attempting to remove you from the plane of the living since you were seven years old. I’ve yet to figure out why.”
Bean suddenly felt dizzy and nauseated with shock. She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe deeply and slowly for a few minutes. Once she felt more in control of herself she opened her eyes. “Thank you, Iffon, for not telling me that before.”
If birds could widen their eyes, his would have been enormous. “I expected you to be angry with me for keeping such a secret from you for so long.”
“In theory I probably should be,” she said. “In reality, if I’d known that some invisible force was trying to kill me for most of my life I’d probably have crawled under my bed, and remained there to this day.”
“Thank you for understanding, Bean.”
“Thank you for keeping me alive.”
“So, about your headache.”
“You did a lot of healing last night, as I recall, Iffon. Maybe you should save your energy in case someone takes another shot at me.”
“I rested deeply last night, Bean. Not to worry.”
�
��Oh,” she said, surprised. She started to nod, then paused. “Wait. You rested deeply last night. After I was shot by some mysterious unknown person in the stairwell. Why do I have trouble believing that?”
“I would never lie to you,” Iffon said, his feathers ruffling in obvious affront.
“Lie, no. Leave out information, yes. Absolutely. Constantly.”
Rather than answer, he gave a little hop and dove into her arm. A few moments later her headache eased, then vanished.
“Thank you, Iffon.”
“You’re welcome. Are you hungry? Because I’m starving.”
“Considering how much energy you expended yesterday, and just now, I’m not surprised. I’m hungry myself, but only from my share of the healing energy. Give me five minutes and we’ll go down to the cafeteria.”
“Very well,” Iffon said, while unmelding again. When he was finished, she got up and went into the bathroom.
True to her word she came out a few minutes later dressed and ready to go. She held the shirt she’d worn the night before in one hand.
“This was my favorite top, too,” she said ruefully, examining the hole in the shoulder. After determining that it was beyond salvaging, she put it into the wastebasket and grabbed her vox.
“Ready, Iffon?”
“Yes, I am,” he said, flying toward her in the form of a large white parrot with a yellow crest on top of his head.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“It’s called a cockatoo,” Iffon said. “A bird that talks.”
“Well, that certainly suits you,” she said. “I’ve never seen one before.”
“It’s originally of Earth origin, but there are some on a number of other planets as well. I think there are some in the jungles of Jasan but I’m not certain.”
“Pretty bird,” she said, pressing the panel to open the door. She stepped out into the corridor then stopped in surprise.
“Good morning, Elkin.”
“Good morning Bean.”
She turned around. “Tom, Nik,” she said before facing Elkin again. “Why are you standing outside my door?”
“Guard duty.”
“On whose orders?”
“The Commanders’.”
“How long have you been out here?”
“Not long,” Elkin replied. “An hour, maybe. We relieved your cousins. They were here all night.”
Bean nodded, then started up the corridor, leaving the Katres to follow or not as they wished. “So, you said you’re hungry. Did you want more than one breakfast, or will one be enough?”
“I’ll start with one. If I still need more, we can order it to go.”
“We can stay until you’re finished eating, no matter how long that takes,” she said, opening the door to the stairs.
“Excuse me, Bean, but who are you talking to?” Elkin asked from right behind her.
She turned around and stared at them in surprise. “You don’t know about Iffon?”
“Who?”
“Where have you three been the last few weeks?”
“Working in the launch bay,” Tom said.
“Well then, Iffon, meet Elkin, Tom, and Nik Katre. Guys, this is Iffon. He talks, he changes form, and he melds with me so if you see a big image, much like a tattoo, suddenly appear, it’s Iffon.”
“He talks? Like a parrot?”
“Bean, are they serious?” Iffon asked, deliberately projecting to include them.
“So it seems,” she said, then entered the stairwell. The Katres followed.
“Are you planning to have a discussion with the Commanders regarding your new guards?”
“I am,” she replied as she climbed the stairs. “Do you object?”
“No,” he said slowly. “Although, we can’t forget that you were attacked, Bean. Whether your assailant deliberately avoided causing you mortal harm or not, you could have been killed.”
“It sounds to me like you’re objecting.”
“Maybe I am.”
“You’ve been my guardian my entire life, Iffon. I’ve never needed anyone else. Why now?”
“Because the closer we get to Kinah, the more desperate Chaos will become.”
Bean pulled the door open and stepped out of the stairwell, then waited for the Katres. Once they joined her she turned and made her way to the cafeteria, spotted a table for four and started toward it. She’d only taken a few steps when she realized the Katres weren’t with her. When she turned around she was surprised to find them standing near the entrance, watching her.
She walked back over to them. “You guys hungry?”
“No, Bean, we ate already. You go on. We’ll keep watch from here.”
“All right, thanks guys.” She turned around, searched for and found a small table and started toward it. She was half way there when Zander Falcoran called her name. She stopped, looked up, and saw them sitting at the same table they’d used the previous night.
“Hauk.”
“Misplaced the crumpet jam, have you?”
“No, I sent it out to be cleaned,” she replied archly, attempting to hide her true feelings. As much as she didn’t want to join the Falcorans for another meal, she couldn’t refuse in front of the entire cafeteria without causing trouble. She veered away from the small table and made her way to where they sat, her good mood evaporating a little more with every step she took.
“Good morning,” she said, standing beside the chair she’d used the night before since they hadn’t invited her to sit. She felt Zander’s and Zach’s emotions even more clearly, but luckily the physical reaction, small as it was, hadn’t increased.
“Good morning,” Zach said. “How’d you sleep last night?”
“Fine.”
“Would you like to join us for breakfast?” Zander asked. “We haven’t ordered yet.”
“Sure,” she said without much enthusiasm. “Thanks.” She pulled the chair out and sat down.
Hera came to the table with cups and a carafe of coffee. She eyed Bean strangely. “Coffee?”
“Please, Hera, and water for Iffon.”
“Back in a moment,” she said, then spun away with a look in her eye that made Bean feel like growling, something she’d never done or been tempted to do before. Which reminded her.
“Commander, I would appreciate it very much if you would call off the guards you've posted on me,” she said to Zander.
“Why don’t you want guards?” Zain asked gruffly.
“I have no responsibility to explain myself to you, Commander Zain,” she said without looking at him. “Call them off, please,” she said to Zander.
Zander saw Zain open his mouth and gestured sharply before he uttered a sound. “I ask that we discuss this in a more private venue.”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” she said, her gaze steady. “No guards.”
“May I ask why?” Zander asked, keeping his tone gentle when he noted her escalating tension.
“I don’t like attention, and I don’t like being watched.”
Zander felt her emotions too clearly to doubt that she meant exactly what she said. He also remembered Prince Garen saying the same thing about her.
“All right, Lady BreeAnna,” he said reluctantly, ignoring the surprised look he got from Zain. “I don’t like it, but I do understand your feelings.”
“Thank you,” she said, relieved.
Hera brought her coffee and water and took their orders. Bean set up Iffon’s place beside hers and put water in his dish. Then she poured her own coffee and added cream, all the while keeping her eyes from looking up at any of the Falcorans.
Zander cleared his throat, sounding a little nervous. “May I ask a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you have a private training room?”
She looked at him for a long moment, turning over an idea that had just popped into her head. She would have jumped right in, but she was hesitant about Zain. She decided to test the waters. “The three of you ar
e always asking me questions, then getting insulted and offended when I don’t answer them. I can’t help but find that more than a little contradictory.”
“Contradictory how?”
“You’ve given me the impression that you accepted this mission for the rank, and the pretty marks on your record. What difference does it make to you why I have a training room, what I use it for, why I don’t want guards, or any of the other questions you’ve asked me? Is it simple curiosity?”
Zander was intrigued by the challenge in Bean’s eyes. He had a feeling his answer meant more to her than it appeared on the surface. “When Prince Trey contacted us about this mission, he told us a ship needed new commanders, that time was a factor, and that we’d be traveling across the galaxy to pick up people and bring them back. He said it was dangerous and that we’d be filled in on the details when we arrived. That’s all he told us. We accepted the mission based on one factor.”
“Which was?”
“His belief in our ability to complete it successfully. And, by the way, we knew nothing of either the field promotions or increased security levels until after I’d vowed not to back out of it when we learned the details.”
“Are you saying those things don’t interest you?”
“Absolutely not. We’ve climbed the ranks relatively quickly, but we’ve done it through hard work and determination. Nothing else. It’s not greed, either. It’s a desire to rise to the top of our chosen field.”
“I never once imagined greed was a factor, Commander.” She sipped her coffee. “Have you seen my training room?”
“No, why?”
“Have you heard anything about it?”
“No, but we haven’t asked, either.”
“It’s not like a normal training room. It was set up so I could practice with a psychic ability that, until a few months ago, I haven’t used since I was six years old.”
Zander leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. Zach and Zain both looked curious. She sipped her coffee, waiting to see what Zander’s reaction would be.
“This psychic ability that you’re practicing is important, isn’t it?” Zander asked. She nodded. “And you’re having trouble with it.” She nodded again.
Bean's Heart (Hearts of ICARUS Book 7) Page 24