An instant after he deactivated the scrambler signal, Echo’s parents had burst through a transport conduit. Head Master Tal stood at the foot of the bed, his long black hair neatly coiled down the middle of his back. He extended his arms, his pose similar to his life mate’s.
Echo gasped and sprang to a sitting position. Tal rounded the bed and drew her into his arms. Tension closed around Varrik’s heart as he watched the poignant reunion. He’d never known his mother, and his father had been a cold, brutal man. The only kindness he’d ever known had come from his brother and an outcast pleasure giver.
“Leyanti, are you unharmed?” Tal’s worried gaze took in her scanty attire before focusing again on her face.
She blinked repeatedly, her expression muddled. “Where is… How did you find us?”
“We’re not sure,” her mother said, pushing to her feet. “All of a sudden your signal blared across our telepathic link. I’ve never been so glad to sense your impatience in my life.” They exchanged smiles, then Charlotte pressed her hand against E’Lanna’s forehead. “I can’t rouse E’Lanna. Do you know what happened to her?”
Echo glanced around the room. Was she hoping to see him, or making sure he was gone? Varrik didn’t allow himself to dwell on the possibilities.
“One of the elders implanted a stasis compulsion in her mind. It’s not harmful, but she’ll stay like this until the elder releases her or until the elder is dead.”
“Did Varrik bring you here?” her father asked.
Echo scooted off the side of the bed and crossed her arms over her chest. Varrik held his breath. How would she react to the memory infusion? His future literally rested in her hands.
“Where is this place?” she asked.
Both her parents seemed surprised by the evasion. They looked at each other for a long, meaningful moment before Tal replied, “We’re in the mountains beyond Mystic Valley. What do you remember of… Did they strip your memory?”
Echo opened her mouth as if she would accept the explanation her father had just supplied. Then tears welled behind her lashes and she looked at her mother. “Can I talk with you alone?”
Tal framed her face with his hands, capturing her gaze with restrained command. “If you were mistreated by—”
“My love, let’s keep this to ourselves as much as possible until Echo and I have had a chance to talk.” The subtle authority in Charlotte’s tone left no room for argument. Varrik’s reluctant admiration grew. Under the right circumstances, he could picture Echo maturing along these lines.
With frustration forming each move he made, Tal gathered E’Lanna into his arms. “I’ll take her to the palace and await your return.”
“We’ll meet you there shortly.”
“I’ll send your guards to you.”
Charlotte accepted the compromise with a brisk nod. “Tell them to create a perimeter. No one enters the cottage unless I summon them.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He inclined his head, his tone tinged with humor as he stepped into the swirling vortex.
Realization jarred Varrik from his passivity. The High Queen of Ontariese stood half a room away. He could take her to the maze and—and what? The Joint Council would never negotiate for her release. They would gather all their forces and summon every ally in the sector, moving against the Shadow Assassins with a force that would shake the planet.
Kidnapping Charlotte had never been his intention.
“Mamma…” Echo covered her face with her hands and dissolved into tears.
The reaction was so out of character for the stubborn little hellion, Varrik moved toward her before he realized what he was doing. She couldn’t see him, had better not sense him, or he was doomed.
Charlotte wrapped her arms around Echo and stroked her hair, the gesture natural and telling. Despite Echo’s tempestuous personality, she had needed comfort before. “I’m here, leyanti. No one can hurt you now.”
“He didn’t hurt me. That’s what Father will never understand.” Echo raised her face and looked into her mother’s eyes. “Varrik was frightening and intense, but his intentions were…noble. He protected E’Lanna and…”
Remarkably, Charlotte didn’t speak the objections so clear in her expression. “Why did he release you?”
“When Elder North found out who we were, he moved E’Lanna out of the maze. Then, Elder South tortured Aila, hoping to learn Varrik’s true motivation. South also insinuated that he would take E’Lanna, so Varrik set us free.”
The confusion in Charlotte’s eyes made it clear she’d only unraveled part of Echo’s rambling dissertation. Rather than grill her daughter with questions, however, Charlotte only asked one. “Do you know how to find the maze?”
Varrik rubbed his eyes, reviewing the information he’d transmitted during the infusion. How much had he revealed?
“I know it’s underground, and I’m nearly certain the only way to access it is teleportation.”
“That would explain why we’ve never been able to find an entrance,” Charlotte mused. “There isn’t one.” She brushed Echo’s hair away from her face, then stepped back.
“You’re not going to believe this, but there are two mazes. One of them is directly beneath the Conservatory. That’s how Varrik got to us without setting off the perimeter alarms. He didn’t come through the shields. He went under them.”
“There are Shadow Assassins living under the Conservatory?”
“Not anymore. They abandoned the old maze.”
“And you don’t know where the new maze is located?” Echo shook her head, and they lapsed into silence. “What else can you tell me? Take your time. We don’t have to do this now if you’re not ready.”
“I’m ready.” She touched her lips and gazed past her mother, her expression thoughtful. “Just before Varrik left, he filled my mind with images and information. It could all be meant to mislead me. He knew I’d remember whatever he showed me.” She heaved a ragged sigh. “I feel like my brain is about to burst open.”
This was what he’d wanted, why he’d shared his memories with Echo. He needed to know how others would react to the world below. Once the elders were overthrown, the soldiers would need to establish lives beyond the maze. If they were treated like pariahs here, they would have to find a different world.
“What did he show you?”
“A Rodyte named Vade was the first Shadow Assassin.” She hesitated, her brow knitted, lips tight. “I’m not sure how it’s possible, but I think he was Vee’s brother.”
Charlotte nodded. “Vee founded the Conservatory, so most presume he was Ontarian. His father was Rodyte. Vade was his half-brother.”
“How do you know about Vade?” She sounded as surprised as Varrik felt. How much did the High Queen already know?
“Vee left a journal that detailed his entire life. Most of it focused on the development of the Mystics, but there were several entries regarding his past.”
“This is just a foundation on which Varrik’s life was built. If there is anything you already know, stop me.” After her mother nodded, Echo began. “Vade ruled the Shadow Assassins until he was killed during the Great Conflict. After his death, the four strongest generals divided the maze into four equal parts and formed the Council of Elders. One elder for each tribe. One tribe for each geographical region, north, south, east, and west.”
“How are issues resolved if the vote is split two and two?”
Varrik smiled. Only a diplomat would immediately foresee that complication.
“Vade’s son was the first Elder North, so Tribe North is prime. Elder North’s vote basically counts as two. All three of the other elders have to oppose him for an issue to pass without his consent.”
“I never imagined their society was so sophisticated.”
Which was exactly why Varrik was educating them.
“You have no idea,” Echo said. “Beneath the elders are two additional levels of authority, the hunters and the sweepers. The hunters are either
appointed or recruited, often from blood relatives of the elders. They must be able to teleport to be considered for the position, but most of the other skills are developed over time.”
Charlotte paused to absorb the information. “What is a sweeper?”
“There are currently six sweepers. They’re the ones who extract memories from anyone who enters the maze.”
“Manipulating memories is such a rare ability. I’m shocked there are so many.”
“Varrik is the alpha sweeper. He trains the others, helps them perfect their skills.” She crossed her arms again, rubbing her skin with brisk, anxious movements. “Vade was Varrik’s grandfather.”
“Then his father was the first Elder North?”
Echo nodded. “His uncle currently leads Tribe North.”
Even knowing about her extraordinary memory, Varrik was impressed by Echo’s insight. She hadn’t just remembered the information and retained the images; she comprehended the subtleties of a very complex society.
“And this uncle is the one who put E’Lanna in thrall?” Charlotte’s gaze took on a calculated fire.
Another nod was Echo’s only response.
“You said Varrik’s motivation was noble. Can you explain what you meant?” Her tone was a bit sharp, though she suppressed the intensity in her eyes.
Echo shifted her weight from foot to foot, then headed for the bedroom door. “It started right here in this cottage.” She waited until Charlotte joined her in the outer room. Varrik followed at a more leisurely pace. Charlotte was reputed to possess one of the most powerful gifts on Ontariese. How long could his invisibility shield continue to withstand her abilities?
Buried beneath ten cycles of dust and decay, hints of the cottage’s rustic charm managed to peek through. “Varrik’s older brother, Sekall, was a hunter. Everyone expected him to take over the leadership of Tribe North when he came of age, but he loved his life as a hunter. He was fascinated with the world above and—”
“The world above?”
“That’s how they refer to us. They inhabit the world below. This is the world above.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt. Go on. Sekall was content as a hunter because of his fascination with our world.”
“It’s the hunters’ responsibility to locate women suitable for…”
“I understand how the Shadow Assassins reproduce. You don’t need to go into detail.”
“Like the rest of their society, their breeding program is far more involved than you realize. They choose women who are strong and healthy, from families with a genetic disposition toward male offspring.”
Varrik cringed. Though accurate, she made it sound calculated and callous. He sighed. Seeing it through her eyes, it was calculated and callous.
“If you’re comfortable talking about this,” Charlotte coaxed, “I’ve always wondered how the process was facilitated.”
“The majority of the inhabitants are soldiers. When they’re ready to procreate, they apply to the council for permission to enter the lottery. After a physical examination, their accomplishments are reviewed, and they’re either given a seniority ranking, or their request is denied. The seniority ranking allows them to choose from the women brought to the maze by the hunters.”
“If the hunters bring back ten women, the first ten men on the seniority ranking get to take their pick.”
“Exactly.”
Charlotte shuddered. “It’s all so… impersonal.”
Without reacting to her mother’s discomfort, Echo hurried on. “Hunters and sweepers are allowed to lay claim to any woman brought to the maze.”
“Then you weren’t subjected to this lottery.”
“Varrik claimed us both from the very beginning.”
Varrik braced himself for Charlotte’s reaction. That hadn’t sounded good at all.
“E’Lanna said she was kept in an isolation chamber.” The High Queen’s tone was controlled, but destructive intensity returned to her gaze. “Was she lying to us?”
“When the hunters found her, she was with Zane. They wanted to make sure… We’re way off course, Mother. I was talking about Sekall.”
Not a chance she would let that one slip by. Varrik rubbed the bridge of his nose. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
“We’ve come this far. Tell me the rest. What did they want to make sure of?”
“They wanted to make sure she wasn’t already pregnant.”
“How in the eternal universe is any of this noble? You were kidnapped and imprisoned for the express purpose of giving this bastard a child? I want to rip him apart with my bare hands!” She turned away for a moment, struggling to regain her composure. Unfortunately, she faced Varrik as she battled her fury. Frustration swept through on the heels of his shame. These were her daughters. Why had he ever thought he could make her understand? “I’m sorry,” she said, turning back to Echo. “Go back to the older brother.”
“Sekall came across the woman who lived in this cabin. She heard voices and saw visions, so the people in her village drove her out.”
“This happened on Ontariese? Mystic abilities aren’t uncommon here. Why would people react that way?”
“She was born in an isolated settlement that shuns technology and is ruled by superstition. The images I saw seemed like historical vids rather than memories. Anyway, she was forced to leave, and she wandered restlessly for a few cycles. Then she heard about the Conservatory. When she wasn’t accepted for admittance, she found this cottage and resigned herself to a life of solitude.”
Charlotte looked around the cottage with new interest. “Do you know her name?”
“No. Is it important?”
“I’m not sure. Tell me the rest of the story.”
What an odd reaction. He studied Charlotte’s face as Echo concluded the tale. Did the Mystics know about Rittan? Was it possible…?
“Ignoring what was expected of him, Sekall courted the woman for almost a cycle before he took her to the maze. She was upset by his highhandedness, but not as traumatized as most women are upon arriving in the maze. It took another two cycles for her to conceive. By that time, she and Sekall were very much in love.
“No female is allowed to remain in the maze once they’ve ‘fulfilled their destiny’. Even female babies are returned to the world above. Sekall’s mate gave birth to a girl, and they were scheduled for removal. Desperate to remain with his beloved and watch his daughter grow up, he petitioned the elders, asking permission for his family to remain in the world below. He told the soldiers that the elders were using the Customs to control them. He tried to get enough support to force the elders to reconsider their position. The elders refused. The world below has always been inhabited by men, and they had no intention of changing the arrangement.
“That’s insane.”
“Not entirely.” His gaze shifted to Echo with the phrase. Was she actually defending the Customs? “The maze is a military outpost for highly trained mercenaries. Unless the women want to become soldiers, what place do they have in such a facility? The City of Tears has limited housing for families, but most of the soldiers there still live in barracks.”
“Are you sure he only transmitted images? You seem a bit too accepting of all this.”
Echo waved away her mother’s concern and Varrik wanted to hug her. Actually, he hadn’t stopped wanting to hug her. “A sweeper was assigned to extract all memory of the maze from the mind of Sekall’s mate. Before the sweeper could do his job, though, Sekall teleported her and the baby out of the maze. No one knew where he had found her, so he brought her back here. As soon as he returned to the maze, he was arrested and tried for treason.”
“It’s treason to want to be with your mate and be part of your child’s life?”
“It was more complicated than that. Sekall had openly defied the elders and encouraged others to do the same.”
“Why did he return to the maze? He could have stayed here with his mate and daughter.”
; “And leave his twelve-cycles-old brother at the mercy of the elders?” Echo shook her head. “Sekall was afraid they’d use Varrik to lure him back.”
“I’m guessing the trial didn’t go well.”
“He was executed and Varrik was forced to watch.”
“Oh, dear god,” Charlotte said from behind her hand.
“As Sekall’s life force ebbed, he sent Varrik an image. He showed him this cottage and pleaded with Varrik to keep them safe.” She relayed the information with calm detachment, but Varrik remembered each nuance, the raspy sound of his brother’s voice, the angry shouts of the soldiers, and the sickening stench of blood. “For eleven cycles, Varrik made sure they were safe and had everything they needed. He guarded the location of this cottage with all his considerable abilities. Then, one day he came to the cottage and they were gone, just vanished.” He pressed his back against the cottage wall. Ten cycles had passed, and he could still taste the fear, feel the thundering of his heart as he searched the surrounding forest. All to no avail. “The biggest regret of Varrik’s life is failing his brother.”
“I’m not so sure he failed.” Varrik pushed away from the wall and moved closer to Charlotte. “About ten cycles ago, a woman was found wandering in Mystic Valley. She was delirious with fever, as was her little girl. The woman swore she lived alone in these mountains. Everyone thought it was part of her delirium.”
“Did she survive the illness?” Echo spoke the question for him as blood rushed through his ears. “What happened to her?”
“The healers weren’t able to save the woman, but her daughter, Shaelee, is training to be a Mystic.”
* * * * *
“Why are you shouting at me?” Lilt dar Joon demanded.
North seethed within his Shadow form, his dislike of Lilt growing with each word the Ontarian uttered. “If I hadn’t spent so much time with you and that whore, I would have been there to—”
“Protect your whore?”
“Aila is the least of my concerns. She is one piece in a much larger puzzle.” North closed his hands into fists to keep from pummeling his companion. After learning the specifics of the current situation in the maze, North returned to Fortress Joon. “E’Lanna is gone. Echo is gone. And Varrik is gone!”
Royal Obsession Page 12