by S. E. Smith
Ajaska shook his head and grinned at Jazin. “Kidnap her back,” he replied loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “Right from under his royal blue nose.”
*.*.*
Ristèard stared at the elderly councilman in frustration. Manderlin had come to warn him that another plot was underway to kill him. He turned to stare out the viewport, his mind churning with fury. It had been dangerous for him to leave Elipdios at this volatile time, but his hands had been tied.
He was scheduled to meet with the rest of the council in less than two hours. Manderlin had come to warn him that several of the councilmen were pushing to have him and his elite security guard arrested for treason. Treason!
“Who is pushing it?” Ristèard demanded, not turning around.
A tired sigh escaped Manderlin. “Texla and Raomlin,” the elderly councilman replied. “But, I do not think they are the ones who started it. There is someone else influencing them. You said that the Kassisan traitor was killed almost a month ago, did you not? I fear he is not the only one.”
Ristèard turned at Manderlin’s softly spoken words. He could tell the man didn’t realize that he had spoken aloud. His eyes narrowed on the wrinkled face, noting the lines of fatigue and stress.
“What are you not telling me?” He demanded in a cold voice. “Why do you think the council is working with someone else?”
Ristèard took a step toward where Manderlin had sunk down in the chair at the table in the command room. He was determined to get to the bottom of the constant threats that had increased over the past six months. Turning, he looked over his shoulder with an irritated scowl when the door to the room suddenly opened. Harald stood in the entrance, staring at him with a resigned expression.
“What is it now?” Ristèard demanded in frustration.
He saw Harald grimace at the sharp tone in his voice. It took a moment to realize why Harald had interrupted him after he had instructed him not to let anyone in. There was a shimmer of sunlight colored hair barely visible over Harald’s right shoulder, testament to why his trusted guard had ignored his order.
“She demanded to see you,” Harald replied, stepping to the side with an apologetic glance.
Ristèard turned his scowl on Ricki. The dark look deepened when all she did was raise one delicate eyebrow at him and stepped past Harald with a polite murmur of thanks. What the hell was she doing out of his cabin? He would have the heads of the two men he had assigned to keep her there.
“What are you doing here?” He snapped. Almost immediately, he regretted his harsh tone. He shifted uneasily when she continued into the room, looking him in the eye while pressing her lips tightly together in disapproval at his tone. “It isn’t safe for you to be roaming the ship,” he muttered when she stopped a short distance from him.
His eyes swept over her, taking in every minute detail. Her hair was back into the familiar, upward twist that she always wore. His fingers actually twitched and he had to clench them into a fist to keep from reaching out and pulling it loose again. She had smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress and had her matching carry bag on one shoulder. His gaze swept over her willowy figure, pausing on the tablet in her hands. It looked suspiciously like his. His gaze returned to her face and he almost winced when she released a heavy sigh. How the release of a breath could say so much, he would never understand, but he could almost feel her exasperation with him in it.
“How do you do?” Ricki asked, turning away from him to focus on Manderlin. “I’m Ricki Bailey. I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important, but it was imperative that I speak with Grand Ruler Roald. I hope you'll forgive my intrusion.”
Ristèard folded his arms across his chest as he watched Ricki. She was shaking the bemused councilman’s hand and chatting with him, asking him what his position was and where he was from. She even asked him about his family! Irritation and frustration flashed through him when he saw the crusty old bastard smile at her in return. He was about to say something when she turned to look at him.
“I truly am sorry to have interrupted your meeting, but what I have to say couldn’t wait. I read the report that was sent to you and several things reminded me of some recent information I had read about back on Kassis,” Ricki explained, looking him in the eye with a very serious expression. “While I don’t have a clear picture yet, I believe it might be relevant to the situation at hand.”
“Situation?” Ristèard asked, frowning. He glanced uneasily at Manderlin. “Which report are you talking about and how did you get access to my login?”
He watched Ricki calmly reach up and adjust her glasses. A silent curse flashed through his mind when his fingers twitched again. What was it about this female that made him want to mess up her cool, touch-me-not, composure?
“You’re looking like a little boy denied a chance to put a frog down the front of a girl’s top,” she murmured, pressing her lips together when his eyes immediately zoomed in on the front of her dress. “I would not recommend it.”
“Recommend what?” Ristèard asked in a husky voice.
He reluctantly dragged his eyes away from the modest cut of her dress and back to her face. A slight, unfamiliar flush stained his cheeks when he saw the amusement fighting with a tint of worry.
She shook her head. “I came because I read a section in the report that triggered a memory of something else I had come across when researching the history of Kassis,” she explained. “Is this information I should share with you in private, or can the other gentlemen also be included? Personally, I think it might be better if Councilman Manderlin were to remain as it pertains to an area he might be more familiar with than you.”
Ristèard glanced over his shoulder where Andras was leaning back against the wall, silently watching everything that was happening, before he turned his attention back to Manderlin. The elderly councilman was staring at Ricki with an awed expression on his face. Curiosity fought with his natural instinct for privacy. A surprising sense of admiration filled him when he saw that she was patiently waiting for his answer. In the short period of time since he had first met her, he was discovering more and more about her personality and character that he not only admired, but trusted, something reserved for only a few select people close to him. She did not try to convince him, but instead waited for his decision.
He nodded, surprising himself. “Go ahead,” he replied with a jerk of his head.
“Thank you,” she said with a slight bow of her head. “Perhaps a short background will help you understand my methodology and why I believe there is a connection to the archived data from Kassis and the current situation on Elipdios. Back home on my world, one of my specialties was being able to read through, interpret, and organize large amounts of information so that I could determine the most efficient way to handle any issues before they could occur. I found having advanced knowledge of the countries we were traveling to tremendously helped me when dealing with the local governments. It often helped to prevent any unnecessary problems that could arise when dealing with the different cultures. It also gave me a better understanding of their laws and how to make sure that we did not violate any of them.”
Ristèard reached over and pulled out the chair next to Ricki, motioning for her to sit down and continue with her explanation. Once she was seated, he moved around the table and took the chair opposite her so he could study her face as she talked. He discretely touched a button on the controller attached to the belt around his waist. His eyes flickered to the tablet Ricki was holding. Some instinct told him to record what she was about to share for future reference. One thing he had learned long ago was to never take his gut feelings for granted. It had saved his life, and the lives of his men, on too many occasions.
“Continue,” Ristèard said, folding his arms across his chest and sitting back in his seat.
Chapter 9
Ricki drew in a deep, steadying breath before she glanced across the table at Ristèard. It had taken her almost an hour to sk
im through the information she had already read and piece the timelines together to see if it made any sense. Granted, she needed to do more research, primarily on the Elipdios side, but she felt confident that what she had read was related.
Breaking contact with Ristèard’s intense stare, she gazed down at the tablet in her hands. Setting it on the table in front of her, she glanced around the room trying to decide the best way to convey what she had learned so far. A short history lesson of Kassis was necessary to understand the interconnection to Elipdios.
“I’m not sure how much you know about Kassisan history so I’ll give you a short overview. Over a thousand years ago, there was an intense battle between the primitive people on Kassis and an alien race. The race was never identified, but from the documented sketches and descriptions, it would appear that it was a type of Mantodea family, almost like an overgrown Praying Mantas back on Earth. There was a description of a second species involved, but I need more time to understand how that could be. From the records I’ve reviewed, this caught my attention ‘The red dissolved until the ground glowed with the lighted crystals. All around her were the glittering stones. New life grew around her as the crystals absorbed into the ground, growing and spreading’. I think there is a correlation between the Blood of the species and the crystals on Kassis.”
“That is all well and good, but how is that supposed to help us?” Andras asked, straightening from where he was leaning against the wall. “Those species haven’t been seen in over a thousand years.”
“True,” Ricki responded, looking down at the tablet again with a frown. “But it is a clue as to where the crystals came from. What I found curious was that the crystals absorbed into the ground, growing and spreading. If that is the case, what happened to all the crystals on your world?”
Ristèard leaned forward and clasped his hands together. His face was tight with regret. He looked at Andras when he stepped forward.
“Other species valued the power held within the crystals. Unlike the Kassis crystals which grow quickly, ours did not. It wasn’t until several centuries ago that it was discovered how valuable the crystals were to the survival of our planet. Once the reason for the increase in radiation was understood, my grandfather put a ban on exporting it off the planet. Unfortunately, there were others who gained great wealth from selling it,” Ristéard explained.
Ricki nodded in understanding. “We have the same issues back on Earth,” she quietly replied. “Extensive development of certain lands and the stripping of natural resources has caused problems. Fortunately, there are people who are working to reverse some of the damage done.”
“Yes, but your planet is now…,” Manderlin started to say, pausing when Ristéard shook his head. “Yes, well, I’m afraid if something isn’t done soon, millions will perish.” He turned and looked at Ricki with an assessing gaze before returning his attention to Ristéard. “I know there are those on the council that oppose you and wish to overthrow you, Grand Ruler, but I have no such desire. I fought beside your grandfather when we were boys. He was a proud man and I respected him. The only reason I was voted onto the council was because the others thought I was too old to be a threat. I may be old,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “but, I am far from being dead.”
Ricki’s light, amused laughter filled the air, pulling an immediate response from him. She grinned at the elderly councilman, looking at him with a warmth that made Ristéard wish she were gazing at him instead.
“The reason I suggested that Councilman Manderlin remain is because I think there might be more hidden in the ancient city,” Ricki admitted in a soft voice, turning to stare at Ristéard. “I was reading over the report you had from the scientists studying the ancient city where the tablet was found. There was a set of symbols on the side of the tablet.”
Ristéard waved his hand in dismissal. “I know. Rue and his mate stated it was too damaged to interpret,” he interrupted.
“It is true that most of the symbol was eroded, but not all of it,” Ricki stated. “There was enough of it to recognize the symbols. I was able to match them to the tablet found by the Kassisan scientists.”
Ristéard frowned, studying Ricki’s determined face. “What do you mean ‘enough to recognize’?” He asked, staring at her intently.
Ricki’s eyes locked with his for what seemed like minutes, when in fact it was mere seconds. He saw the intelligence, the determination, and the trace of stubbornness that re-enforced his belief that he had made the right decision to kidnap her. The strange feelings that had plagued him ever since he saw her standing in the large tent back on Kassis swept through him. What was it about her that kept him off-balance?
He watched as she forced her eyes to break contact. She slid the tablet in front of her across the table. He glanced down at it. His gaze locked on the side-by-side images. One was a more intact tablet. He couldn’t read the ancient writing, but the writing was very similar. Running vertically along the side was another set of symbols. He glanced at the ones on the intact tablet before glancing at the tablet found in the Eastern desert. The first ten symbols were identical.
“What do they mean?” He murmured in fascination.
“I think they are coordinates,” Ricki replied. “I’ve used the key the scientist used to decipher the tablet. If you touch the bottom, it will show you what I believe the damaged message says. It is a series of numbers. I took the liberty of plugging the numbers into the map you have on your tablet and it pinpointed a location not far from the underground city that was marked on the map.”
Ristéard scowled at Ricki. “You know that was secured information you were reading, don’t you? I am the only one who had access to it,” he stated, sitting back and folding his arms. “Remind me to ask you when we are alone how you were able to not only log in to my tablet, but how you were able to access classified data as well.”
His fingers curled around the tablet in his hands when she gave him a serene, non-committal smile. Frowning, he gazed down at the tablet again. She was right. The coordinates pointed to a mountain ridge just twenty kilometers from the entrance to the ancient city. It looked as if his unwilling Empress was living up to the legend surrounding her.
*.*.*
A half hour later, Ristèard seemed convinced by her findings. She had continued to elaborate on the similarity between the tablet found by the Kassisans and the one found on Elipdios and the conclusion that she had drawn from information she had been able to piece together so far. She really would need more time to research the Elipdios’ archives. There had to be additional files that contained more about the history of the aliens that had come to the planet and why the two tablets contained the same coordinates.
Her mind switched gears to the man who had kidnapped her as they stepped out of the conference room and onto the main part of the bridge. She refused to be intimidated by him. He had a very strong, commanding personality. After reading the report and piecing together facts that she already knew about him, she could understand why that was necessary. Still, some instinct told her that it was important that she not let him walk all over her, not that she would in the first place. Her own personality was one of control. While she wasn't as aggressive and in-your-face as he was, she was still very tenacious when she set her mind to something. She would think of him as just another task that needed to be completed. While the looks he kept giving her were disturbing, they were nothing she couldn’t handle. Adjusting her glasses, she nodded to the other male who had remained a primarily silent observer as she passed him in the doorway leading out onto the bridge.
She couldn’t resist looking around the large room. For a moment, her gaze paused on the two men that had escorted her to Ristéard. She gave them both a reassuring smile when she noticed the nervous glances they kept casting at the large man standing next to her.
Both had insisted that she remain in his cabin, but she had persisted, telling them both that it was a matter of life or death. Ricki knew she could be
rather intimidating herself when she wanted something. Her mom and dad referred to it as ‘the look’. It might not be the greatest talent in the circus, but it had helped them hundreds of times.
A giggle escaped her when she thought of a few of those times. Her eyes danced with mischief when she caught Ristéard’s questioning glance. Shrugging her shoulders, she continued her assessment of the Warship.
“I’ve never been on the bridge of a spaceship before,” she remarked, looking around her. “When we were on Manota’s ship, we were restricted primarily to the lower sections, except when we were attacked. That was pretty scary.”
“You were attacked?” Ristéard asked in surprise. “By who? It is very unusual for anyone to attack a Warship, even one traveling alone. The Kassisan warships are known for their advanced weaponry.”
“Yes, well, that didn’t stop you from coming to Kassis and kidnapping me, now did it?” Ricki retorted. “The technology is mind-boggling. The Earth isn’t nearly as advanced.”
“Yes, that is what I have heard,” Ristéard replied in an uneasy voice. “I must admit, from what I have recently learned, I am surprised that you and the others of your kind were so receptive to the idea of aliens.”
Ricki studied the half dozen men and women working quietly at their assigned stations. There were two sitting at a console in the front. Behind them, Andras, the man from the conference room, had moved to sit in what looked like the captain’s chair. The other man, Harald, nodded to them both as he passed by and exited the bridge. There were others at different stations, monitoring screens and talking quietly.
Ricki chuckled as she nodded. “There were several things that helped, I think,” she absently responded. “One, Jo had returned with Manota. She trusted him and he brought her home. How can anyone be bad if they do that? The second thing I think that made the biggest difference is that most of the members of the circus are rather strange and unusual themselves. It wasn’t that difficult to accept an alien any more than it was to accept Katarina, Mattie, Marcus, Stan, my parents, or the countless others. I mean, look at Marvin and Martin! They have been with the circus for almost ten years and we never suspected they were aliens.”