Crimson Rain

by Jaye Roycraft

  Rayn and Sage both bowed in the traditional B’haratan greeting.

  The commander nodded. “Commander Duguerra Dhagaz, at your service. Forgive the pressure suit. Regulation for in-space boardings.”

  “Of course. Let us retire to more comfortable quarters.”

  The “comfortable quarters” was in fact a small cabin dubiously dubbed the Conference Chamber by Ambassador Salhjon. Rayn appraised their guest. The commander was tall and well past middle age, but his advanced years seemed to only add to his aura of power. He had blond hair, so light it looked bleached, and a thick mustache that drooped at its corners. The outer corners of his pale eyes curved downward in mimicry of the mustache, as if he bore some great burden that weighed him down. He unsnapped the connecting rings on his gloves and at his waist and had the pressure suit off in five minutes, revealing a form-fitting uniform tunic and trousers.

  “So, Ambassador D’anthara, tell me about this quest of yours.”

  Rayn was more interested in what Dhagaz had to say, so he kept his speech short. Besides, he had no doubt the commander already knew everything there was to know about him. “I seek the raider that goes by the name of the Phoenix, Alecto Kylariz. He abducted my bond-mate, Dina Marlijn, off the Palladia some months ago.”

  “Yes, my condolences. I’m familiar with the incident. One of my mission ships took down the Tisiphone soon afterward, but Klyariz, the cargo, and Miss Marlijn were not aboard. He obviously made use of his drop ship to make planetfall on Ror. My information has him on Eruthros now.”

  Rayn was sure the Glacian commander felt precious little pity for the bond-mate of a dens. His feelings, obvious to even the lightest of Rayn’s probes, revealed nothing more than an overwhelming desire for vengeance. Rescue of a captive and even justice were nowhere apparent. Rayn let it go. His only objective right now with Dhagaz was to strip as many details from him as possible. “Your information?”

  “I released his ship and its pilot, Rhoan Sandjan.”

  “Released? May I ask why, Commander?”

  Dhagaz spoke with a steel-eyed gaze that didn’t miss a detail of the room or its occupants. “We installed a tracking device on the Tisiphone. It’s docking on Eruthros as we speak. Kylariz won’t be far away. He and Sandjan are quite devoted to each other, as thieves go.”

  “Does Klyariz still have Dina with him?”

  “I have no reason to believe he doesn’t.”

  In other words, Commander, you don’t give a rat’s ass, do you? “You seem to know this raider well, Commander. Tell me about him.”

  “Kylariz is the most cunning and ruthless raider I’ve ever hunted—and by far the most dangerous. He’s a Roven. Do any of you know what that is?”

  Rayn looked at Sage, who merely lifted his brows.

  Dhagaz continued as if he were lecturing a room full of recruits—unsmiling, no-nonsense, and with an expression that dared anyone to forget a word of what he said. “It’s a very old word in our language. It means ‘to rob.’ Most who’ve heard the term believe it to be synonymous with ‘raider,’ but that’s not its meaning at all. It’s what the creature is. He’s an alien in human guise, with mental capabilities far beyond yours, young dens.”

  Rayn was stunned, as was everyone else if the sudden silence was any indication. Alien? It was a possibility that hadn’t crossed Rayn’s mind. “Are you certain, Commander? There’s no mention of such a creature in the computer files on Kylariz.”

  The commander stared at him. “You doubt me, young dens? I’ve been tracking the Roven for fifteen years, ever since he murdered my lieutenant in the Red Zone. I imagine you yourself have been called a dangerous ‘dark outworlder’ on more than one occasion, young dens, am I right?”

  Rayn lifted one side of his mouth, mostly in amusement at the commander’s ignorant term “young dens.” Rayn, in reality, was probably close to his age, if not older. “Once or twice.”

  “Well, you’re but a harmless child compared to the Roven. They’re immortal, for all intents—almost impossible to kill.”

  The insults were neatly wrapped around the tidbits of information, a ploy that Rayn was sure was intentional. He could feel Sage’s gaze and mind touching him. What are we going to do now? How do we fight an immortal?

  Indeed. But Rayn was sure Dhagaz had an answer. “I trust you have a plan, Commander.”

  The mustache lifted in what Rayn assumed was a smile. “To be sure. I’ve had a little directed-energy weapon developed that should do the trick.”

  “A rez gun? They’re nothing new.”

  Dhagaz shook his head. “No, my weapon is no non-lethal, low-frequency gun. Mine is a psychotronic electromagnetic weapon that interacts with the nervous system. It’ll kill a Glacian outright. It’ll even kill you, young dens, after subjecting you to the most acute pain you can possibly imagine. A Roven—well, let’s just say it’ll kill him with agonizing slowness.”

  “Is that your objective, Commander? To torture the Roven? Is that Synergy justice?”

  The chill factor of the commander’s pale eyes dropped even further. “Don’t play holier-than-thou with me, dens. You want no less. I can feel it. Am I right? If I exterminate the Roven, you’ll be the first to thank me on bended knee.”

  Rayn had had enough. He was about to take his leave when he heard Sage’s Voice in his mind. Patience, cousin. Don’t be hasty. Remember your goal.

  Sage, once again, was right. Rayn needed more information, and only Dhagaz could give it to him. “Tell me more about the Roven, Commander. Exactly what sort of a creature is he?”

  An hour later, after having milked every scrap of data from Dhagaz, Rayn, even with his determination to be patient, could take no more. “Thank you for your assistance, Commander. I’m sure we’ll be speaking again.” He stood and bowed, and Sage followed suit. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us.”

  “Dens.”

  Rayn turned.

  “I met with you out of courtesy. But I warn you—don’t interfere in my business. I have no compunction against removing two ‘dark outworlders’ from this quadrant.”

  “I’ll remind you, Commander, that I have full diplomatic status. Kill me, and you’ll answer for a crime.”

  Not a blond hair on the mustache twitched.

  Rayn was at the cabin hatch when the commander’s voice stopped him again. “Word I hear is that your woman is the Roven’s whore. I just thought you should know.”

  Rayn turned to take a step back toward the man, but felt Sage’s restraining hand on his arm. Cousin, he’s not worth it. Remember your goal. Rayn held the commander’s gaze a moment longer, then ducked thru the hatch held open by Sage. Rayn held his tongue until they were alone in their quarters. “Blood-hungry whoreson! Is it any wonder we hate the Syn?”

  “And what angers you more, cousin? That he insulted you and Dina, or that he threatened to torture Kylariz?”

  Rayn paced the small cabin. “I don’t need a keeper, cousin.”

  “Don’t you? Forget Dhagaz. We have the information we need.”

  Rayn stopped and put a hand on Sage’s shoulder. “No. I don’t want the Roven executed for killing some frontier officer fifteen years ago. I want him to pay for what he did to Dina.”

  “Rayn, dead is dead. I say forget Dhagaz and Kylariz both. We need to formulate our own plans. Concentrate on Dina. The settlements on Eruthros are old. Terminus is the port city, but it’s not the only place she’s likely to be.”

  Rayn reluctantly nodded. “You’re right. Dhagaz doesn’t matter. Once I’m planetside, if Dina’s there, I’ll know it. I’ll be able to feel her presence. Tracking device or no tracking device, I’ll be able to find her quicker than Dhagaz will. All I need is a transport.”

  Sage slapped him on the back. “That won’t be a problem. I still have lots of friends here.”
<
br />   “Good.”

  “Rayn. If Dhagaz should get in the way . . .”

  “He said he has no compunction against killing. Neither do I. Now tell me more about Terminus . . .”

  For the next several hours, Sage busied Rayn’s mind with geography, history, and social studies. But with the lessons over, Rayn’s thoughts returned to the commander’s final words. Roven’s whore.

  It was one of a series of paths Rayn had refused to take his thoughts down during the past few weeks. That Dina would be sold as a slave. That she’d be forced into bondage. That she’d be raped. He couldn’t stop his mind now from straying down those roads. She was strong mentally, but how much would that strength work against her with a creature like the Roven? If what Dhagaz said was true, she would not only be overpowered physically, but in every respect—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

  Whore. What Dhagaz had implied was worse even than bondage. It was a vein of possibility that flowed straight to his heart, for it implied that Dina would sell out. No. He refused to believe it. Dina would never compromise.

  Cousin?

  Rayn squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out not only the image of Dina as a whore, but Sage’s intrusion. Not now, Sage.

  Yes, now. Your thoughts are running wild. I know, because your distress just left hoofprints across my mind. Talk to me.

  It was useless to keep Sage out. What Dhagaz said about Dina . . .

  It’s more than the insult, isn’t it? You’re afraid it’s true.

  She’s a fighter. She was an IIB agent. Her training would never allow her to be put into such a position.

  You’d better consider it, Rayn. Her training also would have taught her survival. She would do whatever it takes to stay alive, just like you did whatever you had to to get here. If you can’t deal with the possibility, you’d better tell Captain Kharth to turn this boat around.

  Sage was right. Could he blame Dina for being as ruthless in her survival as he was? If he found her, she’d be changed. In one way or another. He had to accept that. He had to accept the worst possible scenario. The question was, could he?

  Even now, jealousy at the thought of Dina with another man ate at him with a hunger more intense even than his desire for revenge against Kylariz. He’d already sold his soul to the Run. If he found Dina, would there be anything left of the man he’d been on Exodus?

  He didn’t know.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Space Dreams

  KYL LOUNGED IN his cabin and brooded over Dina. Other than what was necessary for the maintenance of the ship and their flight, all his thoughts and energy were spent on her. She’d surprised him yet one more time. She had taken to the work he’d assigned with dedication and effort. She hadn’t complained and hadn’t balked at anything he’d asked of her. Yesterday she’d even bested him in a training exercise, displaying strength and skill. She was living up to his demands, and he’d kept his promise to her that she’d be nothing more than a crew mate. And every day since they’d left Ror had been torture.

  His mind and body yearned for her with a passion he hadn’t felt since his days with Axial. But he’d be damned if he’d take her back to his bed. A raider’s mistress. Every time his body ached for her, he heard her voice in his mind. She’d insulted both of them with the reference. In one sentence she had reduced their relationship to that of a rat and his tap. She had asked for something freely given. She had asked him for his soul, and he had given it. And what did she do? She ran from him.

  Well, he had her now, and he wouldn’t lose her again. Every day that he trained her bound her more tightly to him. Someday she would want him the way he wanted her, and until that day came, he thanked the Gods that his mental control was far superior to his physical cravings.

  THE SOFT CHIME rang in the cabin, and Dina squeezed her eyes shut against the lights that automatically came up, like a stage being spotlighted for a new theatrical scene. Dina’s sore muscles reminded her that this was only too real.

  As she turned in the narrow bed, her back protested, and she recalled yesterday’s exercise session with Kyl with a stew of mixed feelings. Exercise was of vital importance on any long space journey not made in hypersleep, and Kyl not only saw that she got her share of daily exertion, but kept her defense and attack skills sharp. It was the only physical contact she’d had with Kyl in the past month.

  The grip of his strong fingers on her arm and the feel of his warm skin against hers stirred feelings that were all too fresh in her memory, but there were no caresses, no sexual innuendo to his touch or to his voice. It was purely professional. Master and student. It had been that way ever since they’d left Ror.

  Yesterday’s session had been particularly hard, with Kyl demonstrating various methods of decentralizing an opponent. Dina had found herself directed to the padded floor time after time, none too gently. A small smile tugged at her mouth now as she thought about the times she had taken Kyl down. It had felt good, but today her body was paying the price. She lingered in bed and spent a few moments daydreaming, something she’d had very little time to do in the past month.

  She’d kept her resolve to study hard and do everything that Kyl asked of her without complaint. She had no idea if he was pleased with her performance or not. Though he gave her encouragement when she did well, it seemed only to spur him to drive her more. True to his word, he’d shown her the inner workings of the ship, had made her memorize chart after chart of stars, familiarized her with numerous cargo ships, raider ships, and even details of the ISD fleet. Dina was amazed at the extent of knowledge he had that she knew to be privileged information, and she’d asked him more than once how he came to know such things. He’d just smiled and said, “I’ve been around a long time, Hellfire.”

  They’d spent hours on both wordless communication, done with small gestures and hand movements, and voice communication, done with innocent sounding signal phrases. Dina had been tempted again and again to divulge the secret of her telepathic power to him, but remembered how his mind had repelled hers each time she had tried to touch it. Finally, she resolved to keep her secret. It was her power, her high card, something that was hers alone and not subject to Kyl’s orders. During her daily free time, limited though it was, Dina made sure she practiced her visualization and relaxation routines, and every day, without fail, she strengthened her psychic shield.

  Every night, however, in spite the physical and mental exercise, she was becoming more and more restless. Sleep came harder with the passing of each standard day on the ship’s clock, and when she did sleep, her dreams were increasingly disturbing. She was afraid she was falling prey to spacefever, but had hesitated in telling Kyl. She was afraid he would perceive it as a weakness, and her determination to give him no reason to fault her was still as strong as the day they’d left Ror.

  Grimacing as her back protested anew, she rolled out of bed and dressed for another day of instruction at the hand of the Phoenix.

  Three hours later, the ache in her back migrated to her head. Nothing Kyl was telling her today made sense.

  “I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Eruthros my whole life. How can you call this place home?”

  “I have no home, save for the Tisiphone, but, yes, Eruthros is home to me more than any other patch of dirt beneath my feet.”

  “But why? What’s there that’s so important?”

  “The same things I imagine are important to you. Friends. Partners. A sense of security. A place to rest.”

  “It’s a Synergy world. How can it be such a haven for smugglers? What happened to the government there? Surely there must be some presence there that discourages the criminal element.”

  “You assume all my friends are raiders. You’d be surprised how few actually are. Yes, technically, Eruthros is part of the Synergy. But it’s a long way from the sister stars. Most
of the shipping takes place in the corridor between Glacia and the Grid. That’s where I do most of my work, as does Repere and most of the others. So that’s where the Synergy concentrates its efforts. It’s expensive to send Syn ships all the way to Eruthros. So it’s safe. As safe, that is, as any place can be.”

  “There’s no law on the planet itself?”

  “Of course there is, but fortunately for me, most of it can be bought. Just about everything and anything can be bought on Eruthros. Any time a Syn ship does come to Eruthros, I have plenty of warning.”

  “How can you call them friends? Loyalty that’s bought and paid for isn’t friendship.”

  He gave an exaggerated sigh and leaned back in his seat, lacing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. His pale face looked gaunt, and the shadowed eyes seemed almost sunken. A trick of the light? she wondered. He wore a loose white T-shirt over gray trousers, and in the position he was in, the lean muscles and cords in his arms were strikingly apparent. The daily exercise had certainly toned his body.

  But his thoughts, as always, were hidden, and even when voiced, they were as much a puzzle as the day she had met him. They’d had this conversation on Ror, and she understood him no better this time.

  “Ah, Dina. You’re so young. Everything is so black and white to that Bureau-trained mind of yours.”

  She hated it when he said those kinds of things. “No, it’s not. I’m very open-minded. Too open-minded. Ask my old partner or any of my Bureau friends.”

  He sighed, and it was a sound as tired as he looked. “Oh, aye, a willow in the wind you are. Totally unwedded to any opinions.”

  A flush brought a burning heat to her already pounding head. “I have opinions, yes, but . . .”

  “Aye, you’re very open-minded.” He clapped his hands together slowly. “Congratulations. You fell in love with a dens. But you don’t seem to have learned anything from the experience.”