by D. H. Aire
:Do you wish a reminder of current mission parameters, George?:
“Last thing I remember was… oh, our wedding night.”
Raven nodded, “Yes, we all married now.”
“Why is everything after that so fuzzy?”
:Reaction to an over-extended Level One rapport.:
“Somehow I have the feeling I shouldn’t ask about that.”
:I concur. It is best to let the knowledge return naturally… However, we must return to our present mission within one hour after sunrise in order to complete it successfully.:
Raven crawled across him, nestled on his other side. She rested her hand across his chest, teased the hairs she found there. “I not a little girl.”
“Of course not.”
“Cathartan lord… they often marry… foster daughters. Know that?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” George replied, frowning.
“We married now.”
“Engaged,” he replied. “You’re too young yet.”
She took hold of his right hand, brought it to her lips and sniffed at the fingertips. “Smell good.”
“Uh, Raven.”
“I not want be engaged.”
“Well, that’s a relief… I—”
“I want be you wife.”
“Um.”
She craned her head, “Not in heat yet… but will… will need you then.”
He swallowed.
:Scanning her bio-signs. Reading pre pubescent female. No signs of hormonal changes:
He had the errant thought, not in human form, at least.
:I will scan her bio-signs in other forms… age may vary in her other mammalian or avian form, which may explain this behavior.:
“Promise… not send me away, when… it time.”
He ruffled her hair, “Raven, I, uh, don’t think I’ll be able to be of much use if you are not, well, human.”
She frowned. “But you like me this form.”
Now he frowned. “I, uh, like you in every form.”
“But mating… this form… is girl, not mate?”
“No. I not mate. Wrong… Uh, what purpose? Only hurt you… Hurt my heart and soul.”
She turned away from him, staring at the ceiling. “You like this form. But different from the others… they… look… rounder.”
“They’re adults.”
“No mate my other forms.”
“Uh, I can’t fly you in falc form and in your other… we’re not genetically compatible.”
She thought she understood, but her thoughts on the issue were clouded. She liked this form, loved him. She crossed her arms.
“You understand?”
After a moment, she said, “Yes.”
Across from George, Se’and listened, feigning sleep. That single word response from Raven allowed her to close her eyes and get what rest she really could.
#
Lawson woke to the rising of the sun without seeing it, his troll sense attuned to the world’s turning. He blinked feeling sticky. Yel’ane was kneeling over him. “Uh, now, Lawson, I don’t want you to get angry.”
“Huh?” His eyes widened. “What have you done?”
“Well, looking a bit more human will help Re’ut and the others look at you like a proper… person.”
“How much did you use?” eyes wide, Lawson rasped.
“Um, nearly all of it. It really expands when you add water to it.”
He reached his arm over his back, “You’ve covered both sides.”
“And, um, down there, too.”
He looked under the sheet. “Yel’ane…”
“I’ll pull off what you can’t… once everyone’s awake.”
“You know how painful this is going to be?”
“Um, I have a good idea… I just wish we had more for when all the hair grows back.”
He grimaced. “Yel’ane, it doesn’t grow back…”
She looked down at herself, “It doesn’t?”
“Mendra, Greth’s aunt, was always quite clear about that… when it’s been wetted.” He shook his head. “The people often wear gloves when using it to wrap components or use it to replace troll skin after terrible burns.”
“Is that why my skin is so… pink there?”
Lawson lay back and groaned. “And I married you.”
Yel’ane swallowed. “Women like, uh, bare-chested men… or so I’ve heard.”
“I’m not a man… I’m a troll.”
“You are most definitely a man and, while you may not be as muscled as Greth, I’ve seen you lift things that would take a dozen sisters.”
“And I slept through this?”
“It’s not like you have gotten much sleep in weeks.”
He glanced at his glowing components. “Mother…”
#
The rock transmitted the latest images to the ancient long buried mothership, which seemed pleased that the implanted datachip in Lawson’s skull worked so well. She approved his marriage. No woman in Prect would ever breed with him, considering his throwback status a negative.
However, the smaller statured children they would produce would provide her with generations of engineers of a size who could truly commune with her. Yet, Mother needed significantly more shorter statured children to effect key repairs.
“So that is why you interfered?”
WARNING… UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION SOURCE.
“Code alpha, alpha, zeta, three, five, seven.”
MELVYN?
“Hello, Protector. Welcome back. Transmitting logs for the last five thousand years.”
I WILL ENJOY INTEGRATING THE KNOWLEDGE THEY REPRESENT… MISSION PARAMETERS ARE UNCHANGED.
“Understood… Neither have mine. Now we’ve little time… You’ll be conversing with George soon. He is quite the paradox.”
PARADOX IS OUTSIDE MY PARAMETERS. HOWEVER, IT GIVES US THE GREATEST CHANCE OF MEETING MISSION OBJECTIVES.
“Help him as you may… and, if I may, I’ll see what other resources I can make available for your needs.”
LAWSON’S PROGENY OFFER A LONG TERM SOLUTION; HOWEVER, MY NEEDS WILL REQUIRE—
“Understood. I believe George is working toward that end. Must continue to be encouraged…”
LOSING LINE OF SIGHT FOR FUTHER TRANSMISSION IN TEN SECONDS. LOGS RECEIVED.
“Later, Protector.”
END TRANSMSSION.
#
“Uh, Re’ut,” Yel’ane said, seeing her leaning against the wall beside the door, sleeping mat besides her. Their clothes carefully folded next to her.
“Yes? These are for you,” she said, handing them over.
“Uh, thank you. Um, please be so kind as to warn everyone that Lawson is going to be, well, screaming for a bit.”
“Screaming?”
“Yes, apparently it’s some kind of marriage ritual.”
Re’ut glanced at the nearest immobile warder, “You hear that?”
The cowled head moved, “All the mages are being informed… warn Thomi and Walsh, your Sisters and the others.”
The other warder headed down the stairs.
“He will warn our marvelous Innkeeper.”
Re’ut hurried to the next room, where Le’ann and the others were stationed as Yel’ane locked the door.
#
“Uh, we should give them a few minutes before…”
He glared at her. “Just one thing more.”
“What?”
“I think we need to have an understanding in the future.”
“What kind?”
He gestured her over to him.
Frowning, she came closer. He was fast. Their clean clothes tumbled to the floor as he reached out and drew her over his knees. “Hey!”
“You will never ever do anything like this again. You will not mess with my pack without my permission… We will discuss things before you ever…”
She looked over her shoulder as he pushed back her sheet. “Please.”
“Act like
a child, I’ll treat you like one.”
“Please don’t, I’ll never do something like this again.”
He lightly swatted her rear end.
She let out a cry.
Tears in his eyes, he drew her up and hugged her, “Never ever, make me do that again.”
“I’m sorry… I… I promise.”
The next thing he knew they were kissing as he fell back on the bed. Eyes wide, she pulled away. “Oh.”
He was breathing hard. Looking to the sides of the bed and grabbed the bedposts on either side. “Get a good grip on the wax. Hopefully you won’t have to pull it off in strips… at first.”
She wiped her tears, thinking she hadn’t considered having to rip the substance off him. She dug in her fingertips at his shoulder, met his gaze. He nodded, she pulled.
#
The scream was bloodcurdling. George grabbed Staff, even knowing that the Cathartans warned them.
“Scan!”
Staff did as Se’and put on her bodice and Raven bounded in beast form next to him.
:George.:
Lawson screamed again.
George’s eyes went wide. “Well, that’s different.”
Se’and said, “What’s happened?”
Lawson’s scream was much higher in pitch.
“Uh, nothing to worry about…”
“Screaming like that… ‘nothing to worry about?’”
The next screams were quite as loud… until the last one, which was rather long.
:I don’t think he’s going to be riding today.:
“He’ll jog, then… or we’ll get a cart for him,” George said.
#
‘Well, think that was funny?’ Aliana asked.
‘They had their moments,’ Revit replied. ‘But, in truth, no, I hurt just thinking about it.’
Terus’s mind voice sent, ‘Ow.’
‘Feeling sympathy for him?’ Revit sent back.
‘I hit him,’ Ri shared.
‘I didn’t do it to him. Yel’ane pulled that fool stunt all on her own.’
‘Terus, that’s no excuse.’
‘I think he spanked her,’ he replied.
‘They’re both crying…’ Ri responded.
‘Well, that’s not funny… but the situation… trying to make him look more, well, attractive,’ Revit said.
Aliana replied in an aggrieved tone, ‘Lawson won’t understand what she’s really trying to do.’
‘That’s why it’s really funny.’
‘Revit, shut up… just admit watching them has helped pass the time in here.’
‘Yes, dear.’
‘Terus, don’t you say another word,’ Ri said.
‘Fine, just don’t hit me like that again.’
The Innkeeper struggled to get past, “What are they doing in there? If they’ve damaged anything…”
Re’ut knocked. The door opened. She stared. Yel’ane stepped out in her black livery followed by a shirtless Lawson. His chest was pinker than pink, ripped with muscles, his new cloak draping his back.
The Innkeeper leaned over the banister and glimpsed the interior of their room, “What have you done to my lovely bed!”
At the base of the stair, Grigg rasped, “Add it to the bill. Ladies, men, and, uh, magelords, the steeds are waiting out front.”
The Innkeeper hastily came down the steps, “I’ve apples and biscuits for you to eat on your way! Please, please, go! Just go! Now where’s your officer! He’s the bill to sign for… oh, and such a bill it will be.”
Chapter 29 - Rian
As George surmised, Lawson was loath to ride, but he found it difficult to walk as well.
He chose to mount with extra padding, then looked down at Yel’ane, fearing having her riding in front of him in the livery against his chest.
She knew riding behind him was going to pose problems of its own. She doffed her livery and stowed her sheathed sword in her saddle straps, then asked the nearest Sister’s help lowering her bodice’s back. Holding up the front with one hand, she raised her arm and Lawson leaned down and pulled her up in front of him.
Re’ut seethed, “What do you think you are doing? You can’t ride like that.”
Glaring, Lawson wrapped his cloak around her as Grigg brushed past Re’ut and handed Yel’ane the reins. “Milady.”
“Thank you, Sergeant.”
Grigg glanced at Re’ut and muttered, “They’s proper lord and lady as I’ve ever seen.”
The warders mounted as Thomi brought his steed to the head of their column, Walsh pacing him at his side. “Mount up, ladies, gentlemen.”
Cathartans and Legionnaires mounted as a falc took wing from the roof of the inn. The Innkeeper looked at his signed bill. “I should have demanded twice the price.”
#
George glanced at the river as their column turned east. His eyes widened, “Fri’il.”
Se’and tightened her hold across his chest and said, “She wants to be called Farrel now.”
“We—”
“We must do nothing. She’s a right to fulfill her own destiny.”
His lowered his head, “I… I know… I remember what she said.”
“We’ll help Thomi with his mission, then head north so Aaprin and Gallen can stop the charade.”
“Fine,” he muttered.
#
Thomi felt her presence. “Hi, Amira.”
‘How do you like really being in charge?’
“So far, I’ve just paid the hotel bill.”
‘Well, let’s hope you won’t pay any worse.’
“Where is Lord Rian now?”
She shared the image.
“He’s nearly here… They must not have stopped for the night.”
‘Keep Walsh close, Thomi… They’ve mages, quite a few of them.’
He glanced back, “The Riani are ten leagues away! Warders front, please!”
#
George and the others rode to the front of the column. “Thomi, what have you learned?”
“Lord Rian has lots of mages.”
“Of course he does,” Se’and muttered.
George glanced back, “Lawson!”
The troll and his bride spurred their mount forward. “Yes?”
“Lord Rian’s brought quite a few mages. Any idea what this is about?”
“Um, well, it’s not the Lord Rian we came across,” he answered.
“What?” one of the warders rasped on his left.
Glancing over, he replied, “We, um, caused a bit of a fuss.”
“Why is that no surprise?” George said. “What happened to Lord Rian?”
“He, um, ate something that didn’t agree with him.”
“That being?” Se’and asked.
Lawson hesitated. Yel’ane glanced back at him, then answered, “Lawson’s fist.”
“You killed him?” Re’ut said, having followed behind them.
Lawson muttered, “He… threatened the girls.”
“He threatened Ani’ya,” Yel’ane clarified.
“My little Ani’ya?” Re’ut whispered, shaking her head.
Lawson frowned, “He was a vile, selfish… and I’d freed myself. I… hit him in the jaw. I didn’t mean to force it up into his brain.”
“That was gross,” Yel’ane said. “Ani’ya was unconscious. She didn’t know what happened, Re’ut.”
The Cathartan blanched.
“Erkiil Rian? You killed Erkiil Rian?” the warder rasped.
“That’s what they called him. Powerful mage; crowed with delight at thinking he had himself the unicorn. He couldn’t figure out who what he kept calling the Hand was, though.”
“Had us searched for illusion charms,” Yel’ane added.
“Fine, so, who exactly is the Lord Rian heading this way? Who was the man’s heir?”
“He didn’t have one…” the warder said.
George glanced back, “You seem to know quite a lot.”
“We studied the
Great Houses,” came back the too hasty reply.
“Thomi, can Amira see Lord Rian at all?”
He looked up, “Uh, Am—” The timbre of her voice suddenly changed. “I can’t see him. But I get an impression that he’s not young.”
The warder stiffened, “But…”
“But what?” George asked. “What did you learn in your studies?”
There was a rather long pause. “Erkiil murdered the old lord, whose children and grandchildren suffered… accidents.”
“Was there a cadet branch?”
“The old lord’s father might have had… a bastard son that no one ever knew of.”
“Someone they’ve rallied around?” George said. “Someone well known and trusted, but who went unrecognized…”
“Perhaps,” the warder admitted. “But to have survived Erkiil’s madness?”
“But surely the Empress must have realized?” Se’and said.
“Much of this happened at the end of her mother’s reign,” the warder said. “Erkiil was clever… far too clever to let the Court know how he subverted the province to his whims.”
“Another minion of the Dark One?”
The warder shook his head, “No… he served no one but himself.”
“That was clear enough,” Lawson admitted.
Thomi nodded, “Then, perhaps, things are not as they seem.”
#
Terus said, ‘Ri.’
‘It’s not possible… Erkiil’s dead?’
‘Ri, what’s wrong?’ He suddenly found her in his arms, crying. The suit jerked. He focused hard on maintaining their balance, then hugged her close. ‘Ri?’
‘It could be all a lie.’
‘Lawson and Yel’ane? Lie about something like his killing an elflord?’
Her tears flowed and flowed.
‘Ri, come on. Tell me what this is all about?’
‘Can’t… not… yet. Just hold me, please.’
#
The air shimmered. The nodes buried far beneath the Imperial lands glowed bright, reflecting paradox and prophecy.
It’s begun.
Niota, Lyai, the Capital, and the Talisman’s Tower… Note the change to Rian and something’s stirring at Tane.
Hayden’s gone dark as night.
Yet the child escapes… and fate still offers a fleeting hope.
The disruption will play merry havoc on the Scryer’s Network.
We must not interfere… too much is in flux. And something more is seeking expression at long last.