“I’m merely seeking to clarify the terms.”
“The human is within her rights.” The Chief Monk of the White Lady’s order stood on the dais which had been empty. He leaned on his staff. “What she has requested is fair.” He straightened and pointed his gnarled staff at the horizon. “Best hurry, the moon has nearly set and the sun prepares to rise.” Now he gave Twilka a meaningful look. “At the first ray of dawn, the contest ends.”
“I’m ready.” As she prepared to take the final step across the red line to join Khevan, she concentrated fiercely, visualizing herself in her own dress. Between one step and the next, as her foot fell inside the rectangle, she felt herself swathed in the cotton again and didn’t bother to hide her satisfaction or the grin on her face.
Clearly puzzled, brow furrowed, Khevan didn’t ask any questions. Taking her hand, he drew her toward the far end of the ring, away from Harbin’s body. “Do you want a knife?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks.”
“Stand behind me—they’ll have to kill me to get at you. It will but delay the inevitable…”
Twilka rested her hand on his arm. “It’ll be fine; trust me.”
He took her in his arms, gazing at her face. “I regret bringing you to this moment, to this death, but I regret nothing else about us.”
She went on tiptoes to kiss him. “Don’t give up too soon.”
“The match is about to begin,” said the Lady. “Are you ready?”
Twilka stepped away from Khevan, to stand at his side, not behind him. “We are.”
The four Brothers filed into the rectangle, spreading out in a semi-circle, ringing Khevan and her. Knives out, faces set in stern lines, eyes glittering, the quartet assumed offensive stances, blades raised.
Laughing, Twilka cupped her hands in front of her, at chest height. “Appear!”
The white tariqna materialized, growing from kitten-size to taller than Twilka in the blink of an eye. Wings extended, blue eyes glowing balefully, hovering at Twilka’s side, the creature spun in midair to face the D’nvannae.
“What trickery is this? My sister can’t intervene to help you now—meddling by her is forbidden.” The Red Lady’s protest was immediate and shrill.
Tossing her head, ferocious and giddy, Twilka stared straight at the goddess and said, “She gave me this gift a long time ago, when you stole Khevan and imprisoned him, in fact. You agreed I could use whatever was within me. Well this is what I bring to the battle.”
The blindingly white tariqna extended its snakelike neck, opened its beak wide, and bugled a challenge.
“The conditions were agreed to; the match is fair.” The white monk swung his staff and struck the gong. “Begin.”
The four Brothers exchanged dubious glances.
The tariqna launched itself in a deadly attack, grabbing the nearest man in its razor sharp talons, throwing him aside in a bloody heap a moment later. The three remaining assassins separated, trying to surround the tariqna as it worried at the body of its first victim. Plunging his knife deep into the creature’s back, at the base of the left wing, the largest warrior yelled a curse. Shrieking its pain and displeasure, the tariqna snaked its neck to seize the enemy in its beak. As the Brother tried to stab the dripping knife into the nearest glowing blue eye, the tariqna flew straight upward, bringing its claws into play to snatch its assailant from the platform. With one violent move, the creature sliced its prey nearly in two and dropped him like a child’s doll. He hit the stone platform and lay unmoving, neck broken. The two remaining D’nvannae retreated, but not before one snatched their dead companion’s blade, shoving it into his belt.
Knives flashing, Khevan strode forward and sought to engage them in combat. Distracted by the hovering tariqna, the first man was easily vanquished, falling with a stab wound to the chest and a slashed neck. Twilka advanced, the tariqna flying protectively above her head, and stood beside Khevan again.
The fourth man cursed and lunged forward, blade in reverse hold, stabbing at Twilka’s heart. Khevan threw himself between them, his body shielding hers, and the attacker buried his knife to the hilt in Khevan’s side. Screaming, Twilka grabbed a knife from Khevan’s hand as he fell and stood protectively over him.
The Brother drew himself upright and stepped back, grabbing the extra knife from his belt and saluting her with the bloodstained blade. “What now? Will you have your creature kill me? Take the easy way out? No blood on your hands but the stain of cowardice on your heart. Or do you have the guts to fight for your life and Khevan’s?” Throwing his arms out in a grandiose gesture, he swiveled his head to the avidly watching goddess. “I’ll even let her land the first blow, before I kill her for you, my Lady.”
Twilka didn’t hesitate for a moment, jumping over Khevan, taking the Brother by surprise. More by pure luck than anything else, she knocked his knife hand aside with her left arm and went for his eyes with her clawed right hand. Astonished and off balance, he fell, Twilka on top of him. She pinned his arm with her own body weight, continuing to target his eyes, scratching and gouging at his face like a madwoman, screaming defiance. She knew she’d won only a fleeting victory and could feel him gathering his strength to throw her aside, even as he tried to ward off her attack. Operating from sheer instinct mixed with terror, she brought her left hand up and slashed the D’nvanne’s neck with Khevan’s knife. Eyes wide in astonishment, hand to his gushing artery, the Brother rolled away from her. Twilka staggered to her feet, dropping the knife and covering her mouth to avoid throwing up at the sight of the scarlet blood pooling on the stone.
She averted her gaze from the dying man’s staring eyes and turned to Khevan.
“Can you stand?” Twilka pulled at his arm.
“To finish this? Yes.”
Together, with him leaning so heavily on Twilka she nearly fell, they faced the Lady and the monk. “We’ve won your challenge,” he said as the first rays of the sun burst over the horizon and illuminated the scene.
The White Monk thumped his staff on the platform and pointed one hand at the Red Lady. “The victory is theirs. Release him from his oath, remove his tattoo, and banish him from your order, a free man. Relinquish any hold or hatred you bear the woman. This couple is your concern no longer.”
Twilka could hardly bear to look at the Red Lady, no longer a thing of beauty, but a misshapen alien figure, tentacles and forked tail lashing. The flames obscured the details, but Twilka was sure she’d have newly spawned nightmares forever if she could see what occupied the couch.
The goddess’s voice remained as beautiful as ever, however, even filled with rage. “Very well. I declare you both free of all connection with me forever more. Leave my presence and know it will mean instant death if ever you return.”
The white tariqna bugled and flew straight into the rays of the rising sun, vanishing in a blaze of rainbow-colored flares.
A pulse of red flame came at her so quickly Twilka couldn’t move to avoid it, but although heat washed over her body, she took no other harm.
CHAPTER TEN
She found herself standing locked in Khevan’s arms in the ruby-lined fire pit, in the now empty and dark merdamier chamber. The Renegade leaned against the wall, smiling at them, and the White Monk stood beside the pit, his demeanor calm as ever.
“We’re done? We’re safe?” she said. “No more tests?”
“Together, you have triumphed,” the Monk answered. “Let us depart this place.”
Khevan assisted her in climbing from the pit, then went to one knee beside her, retaining his grip on her hand. “I give you my oath now, for the rest of my life and beyond. There will only ever be you in my heart. I will gladly die to defend you and I want nothing more than to stand at your side.”
She moistened her dry and cracked lips. “If you just issued a marriage proposal, the answer is yes.”
He rose, catching her in his arms and swinging her in a circle as they kissed.
The Renegade cleared hi
s throat. “My congratulations and felicitations, but best we leave now, as the Monk suggested. The Red Lady gave her word, but she can be capricious. None of us want to give her any excuse to embark on a fresh vendetta.”
“Words of wisdom.” Khevan set Twilka carefully on her feet, taking her hand, and the four of them left the empty chamber. The monk led the way through the dark corridor, the tip of his staff glowing with a diffused white light.
“How did you know what to do when the last Brother challenged you?” Khevan asked Twilka, his voice low and meant only for her. “My heart stopped when you ran forward, I swear. I thought I was going to witness your death and instead you triumphed.”
She laughed even as she shivered. “Pure gut instinct. He was so busy strutting for the Red Lady that I saw my chance and caught him off guard. I was hoping either you or the tariqna would jump in and help me out…”
“But you didn’t need either of us.” He hugged her close.
“I-I can’t believe I killed someone with my own hands.” She glanced at her palms, unable to see clearly in the dimly lit hall, but there was no blood. “He is dead, isn’t he? And Harbin, and the others?”
Khevan shrugged. “Who can say? If you or I—or Nick—had died in the Red Lady’s challenges, yes, we’d have perished in real life as well. Those were the stakes we agreed to. She might not actually sacrifice her own people.”
“I really want creepy Harbin to be dead.” Swallowing hard, she asked, “Does that make me an awful person?”
“She will have been extremely displeased at their failure to defeat you,” the Renegade said quietly. “Harbin in particular had much to lose. I wouldn’t worry over it. Her men made their choices, as did Khevan.”
Twilka came to an abrupt halt, realizing the White Lady’s monk had paused at the massive front door of the building. Hand on the intricately carved knob, their elderly escort turned to give them a measuring stare. “Try to leave the experiences of the night behind you. Declare yourselves free of the Red Lady, even as she has cast you from her mind. You want no ties between you.”
“You give good advice, sir,” Khevan said, making a half bow. “Some memories are harder to erase than others.” He squeezed Twilka’s hand as the monk nodded and swung the door open.
Twilka took a deep breath and crossed the threshold, hand in hand with Khevan, emerging into the fresh, clear morning sunlight outside.
Nick and Mara rose from the bench where they’d been waiting, guarded by the monks of the White Lady’s order.
“Are we ever glad to see the two of you!” Nick gave them a searching glance as Mara and Twilka exchanged hugs. “You both look worn out, to say the least. We free and clear now?”
Khevan nodded. “It’s done, I’m no longer a D’nvannae.” He put a hand to his brow. “I don’t know what I am, having been in the Brotherhood since I was a boy of eight.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Twilka said, patting his arm. “We’re going to be married,” she informed the others.
“I can perform the ceremony today,” said the Monk. “In the Lady of Light’s garden. That much delay is permitted and it will be an auspicious beginning to your life together. Then you must be on your way. Never set foot on this planet again.” Arms outstretched, wielding his staff like a crook, he tried to shepherd them in the direction of his goddess’s temple.
“Will you stand with me?” Khevan asked Nick as the group began walking.
“Proud to do the duty,” he said. “Much easier to do than watching your six in the merdamier! And later, on my ship, we can discuss the future, as far as what’s next. I think you’ve got the skill set to fit right in with my private security firm. You’d make an excellent partner.”
“Nick tends to be a bit hot headed,” Mara said with a laugh. “You might be able to inject some badly needed caution into the planning.”
Khevan stopped in the middle of the square. “I want to thank all of you for coming to stand with me against the Red Lady, for risking yourselves on my behalf.”
Twilka stretched out her hand and Mara clasped it, Nick laying his on top of theirs. Khevan leaned forward to join the embrace.
“We’ve all been living on borrowed time since the Nebula Dream,” Nick said, “And we only survived that experience and this one because we have each other’s sixes. We’re a good team.”
“Literally forged in fire now,” Twilka agreed. “Nothing can break us apart or come between us. If the Red Lady of D’nvannae couldn’t do it, with all her wiles and tricks, nothing can.”
The Chief Monk said, “We’d best be proceeding with the wedding you requested me to perform. I don’t want you lingering on Temple Home too long, tempting fate. The victory you won last night is rare, not repeatable.”
They followed him toward the elaborate edifice of the White Lady’s complex, gleaming in the bright sunshine.
Nick dug a com out of his pants pocket. “I’m going to give Rafferty a heads up to be ready for departure on a moment’s notice.”
“Too bad he and Casey can’t be at the wedding,” Twilka said, her steps slowing a bit.
“No time,” the Renegade told her as she mounted the steps to enter the temple. “Casey can be baking you a wedding cake in his ship’s fancy galley to console himself for missing the ceremony itself.”
Mara linked arms with Twilka. “Where do you want us to take you for the honeymoon? Any ideas?”
“Anywhere—I’m not choosy, as long as Khevan is there…” She broke off, realizing her lover had stopped a few stairs below her. Leaving Mara, she went to join him, resting her hand on his arm. “What’s the matter?”
He shook his head and gave her a dazzling smile. “Nothing. I thought I heard drums for an instant.”
Twilka held her breath. “Did they—did she tempt you?”
Khevan glanced over his shoulder at the D’nvannae temple. “Not even for a moment.” He turned to Twilka. “I’m well and truly free of her.”
“You’ll never escape my clutches,” she said, going on tiptoe to kiss him.
“Our friends are waiting,” he murmured as he held her close. “And people are beginning to stare.”
“I don’t care—I want everyone to see how happy I am on my wedding day.” But, keeping her tight hold on his hand, she turned to climb the rest of the stairs. Nick and the others had apparently gone ahead inside, as the space by the beautifully carved doors was empty. The portal stood open.
As she reached the entrance and stepped across the threshold into the space beyond, Twilka was enveloped in a cloud of indescribably intoxicating perfume and a bright white light surrounded them. Dimly, she was aware of the door closing behind her.
“Well done,” said a voice in tones as musical as crystals chiming. “On occasion it serves my sister a good lesson to lose something or someone. Yours was a hard fought victory and all the sweeter for that.”
Her vision clearing as the incandescent light dimmed a bit, Twilka found herself facing a breathtakingly beautiful woman clad all in white robes, her long blonde hair floating around her, a diadem of iridescent stars for a crown. A large white tariqna crouched on either side, wings folded along their spines, bright blue eyes gleaming as they studied the humans.
Khevan bowed his head and went down on one knee. “You honor us, my Lady. I was sure I’d never see you again.”
She laughed and the sound was enchanting. “And I am pleased you’ve chosen to marry in my garden.”
“Thank you for the help,” Twilka said. “My tariqna and the senior monk…”
The Lady in White inclined her head gracefully. “Khevan was meant to be one of mine, long ago, before life took twists and turns. I was moved to assist by the memory of his mother’s gentle spirit.”
A little alarmed by the possessive sound of the first remark, Twilka opened her mouth to protest. White Lady or not, she wasn’t about to lose Khevan now.
The goddess raised one hand and seemed to be suppressing a smile. “Calm yourself, chil
d, I have no claim on him whatsoever. I rejoice that he’s found his way to you.” She stood aside, pointing to an arch on the far wall. “My monk waits to marry you, so I’ll delay you no longer. My blessings upon you both.”
Khevan rose and turned to Twilka. “I have no ring to give you. I was in such haste.”
Clearing her throat, the goddess said, “I’ve taken care of the lack.”
Twilka stared at her, then at her gracefully outstretched hand, where two plain golden rings nestled beside a third more intricately carved band.
Khevan plucked the latter from goddess’s palm and took Twilka’s left hand, sliding the cool band onto her ring finger. She stretched her arm and turned the ring this way and that, admiring the exquisite workmanship of the tiny platinum tariqna, curled nose to tail around her finger, sparkling blue stones set for eyes.
“Does this one…”
“Come to life?” The goddess laughed. “No. This is only a ring, forged from metal mined on my home world long ago. A token of my affection and my blessing. The two of you have been a most interesting episode in my long life.” She dropped the pair of golden bands into Khevan’s hand. “Your friends await your arrival to the ceremony my monk has offered to perform.”
Khevan took Twilka’s hand and she did her best to curtsey, pulling on very old memories of a childhood dance class, feeling some sign of respect was called for, but having no idea what a goddess might expect. She allowed her lover to draw her away toward the arch that led to the garden, but took one final glance back at the Lady in White, so different from her sister.
The goddess was gone, as if she’d never been there to greet them. Golden motes of dust floated in a shaft of early morning sunshine.
Nick met them at the arch. “Where have you two been? We were getting worried the Red Lady might have changed her mind.” His tone of voice suggested he was at least half serious.
“I needed a ring,” Khevan said. “The issue has been remedied. We’re ready.”
Nick gave him a quizzical look. “It’s the best man’s job to hold the rings. Hand them over.”
Star Survivor (The Sectors SF Romance Series Book 6) Page 14