Chapter Ten
“Is every word you’ve spoken true?”
Echo swallowed hard. It was possible Varrik manipulated the memories, but the sheer volume of information she’d extracted made it unlikely. “Yes.”
“Has he ever arbitrarily taken a life?”
“Unless he had an assignment before Sekall’s murder, Varrik has never killed anyone, period. I viewed all his memories beginning with that night.”
“Then tell him to lower his shield. I would like to speak with him.”
Echo forced herself not to look at him. She’d first noticed the sporadic rippling when she mentioned Bemzire, but her mother had given no indication that she sensed another person in the room. “What do you mean?”
“I thought what I felt was a remnant of his presence, but your emotions spiked when you looked at him. This is no time for you to imitate E’Lanna.”
Varrik faded into view and bowed from the waist. “Your Majesty.”
Charlotte looked him up and down, her expression assessing and wary. “You are part of the world below. Why would you bow to me?”
“Because you’re Echo’s mother.”
“Don’t you dare speak of my daughter!” She closed the distance between them with two angry strides. “My questions have nothing to do with your recent crimes.”
“He didn’t—”
“Don’t!”
Echo backed off. The situation was far too volatile for her to indulge her temper. Varrik stood as he did so often, with his hands clasped behind his back. His hair surrounded his face and brushed his shoulders. She was thankful for the softening effect on his angular features. At least he didn’t look quite so mean.
“How imminent is this war, and how likely is it to spread beyond the maze?”
He stiffened at the insinuation. Would she only offer assistance if the fighting spread to the world above? Echo stayed silent. This was between the High Queen and Varrik.
“Elder South opposed my uncle’s appointment. The hostilities have escalated from there. It’s Elder South’s intention to reunite the tribes under one leader, himself. He has been waiting for just the right opportunity to launch his campaign.”
“And the soldiers will be ordered to fight regardless of their opinions?”
“Soldiers don’t have opinions. They are slaves.”
“What keeps the squadron leaders from rebelling?”
“Mental compulsions and fear.”
That caught Echo’s attention. Were the sweepers required to do more than erase memories? Varrik was capable of constructing mental compulsions, but she’d seen no such incident when she scanned his mind.
“How many men are we talking about?”
“There are ten men per squadron and one hundred squadrons per tribe.”
“Four thousand men?”
“Approximately.”
“Four hundred with the ability to teleport?” He nodded. “How many hunters?”
“Fifty-two.”
“Six sweepers and four elders.”
Varrik nodded again.
“How many women are currently incarcerated in the maze?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Give me an educated guess.” Charlotte’s tone was brittle, her eyes narrowed and bright. “One hundred, several hundred?”
“Including the pleasure givers, it might be two hundred. My guess would be closer to one.”
“Pleasure givers? You have prostitutes in the maze?”
Tension built with each terse exchange. Soon they’d be snarling at each other. Varrik was doing a better job of concealing his emotions than her mother. “Most of the pleasure givers are recruited off world,” Echo added.
“Well, I’m sure glad they aren’t kidnapping what few Ontarian females we have and forcing them to service the sexual needs of four thousand men.”
“All the pleasure givers are in the maze by choice,” Varrik told her. “They’re compensated for their—”
“It’s only the breeders you force?” She raised her hand and shook her head. “Don’t answer that. If we get started on the specifics of your delightful customs, I’m sure to lose interest in this negotiation.”
“Negotiation?” Though spoken quietly, conflicting emotions textured the word. “How can I negotiate when I have nothing to offer you? You clearly despise everything I am.”
“I’m very interested in the permanent disbanding of the Shadow Assassins. Your willingness to share these insights indicates an interest in the same. Am I wrong?”
“I’m interested in freeing the soldiers from the ruthless control of the elders. I’m interested in introducing the tribes to a different way of life, a life that doesn’t include coerced mating and captivity.”
“Then, however tenuous, we have a common ground.” She stared at him in strained silence for another moment. “Is it your intention to return to the maze immediately?”
“It is.”
Echo’s heart sank. He was leaving. He would return to the world below, and she might never see him again. She wasn’t sure why she should care, but her heart ached at the thought.
“If you postpone your return until this time tomorrow,” her mother said, “I’ll return with a list of services and/or supplies I’m willing to provide.”
“My uncle is the only one who can confirm my absence from the maze. It’s in his best interest right now for Elder South not to know I departed. If I’m to wait for you here, I need your word that you’ll keep my location a secret.”
“Agreed. And I have one condition for you. Under no circumstances are you ever to come near either of my daughters again.”
His gaze filled with regret, and Varrik whispered, “Agreed.”
Royal Obsession (Shadow Assassins 1) Page 25