Mondago liked her no nonsense approach, but he could not shake his ingrained belief that women were ornamental, their presence being solely for the purpose of serving and satisfying the RewFaaran male. He struggled to set his bias aside.
She leaned her forearms on the table and pressed elegant hands against the fake wood. “I understand that on RewFaar woman are regarded as…” She seemed to search for the right word.
“We respect our women, but they know their place.”
“I am not RewFaaran, Tinpaca. I was raised in KcernFensia and trained in the arts of negotiation at the Temple of Mahyinaeh. Lorsedi would not have sent me if he did not feel I could handle any situation.” She glanced at Stee’s impassive face and back. “I have delivered the message. Now, I must return. The situation in DerTah is more urgent than you know. Which Pentharian will you release to come with me?”
Tinpaca turned to Stee. “Send either Yuin or Jeet. I need you here.”
The emerald Pentharian gave a slight bow. “Jeet will do this best.” He ducked through the entrance.
Gerolyn pushed her chair back from the table. “It has been good meeting you, Tinpaca Mondago. I feel sure we will see each other again. If you’ll excuse me…” She walked briskly into the Myrrhinian sunlight and mounted onto Stee’s vulture back.
Mondago stared after them as they lifted into the air and flew over the forest. “I have to admit she’s good.” Giving himself a shake, he motioned a young soldier forward. “Send Grantese Tesilend to me. Tell him it’s urgent.”
Pivoting on his heels, he strode into the tent, extracted a cigar from a box on the table, and gave it an appreciative sniff. A thin, gold lighter ignited the tip. He inhaled and blew out a cloud of smoke. Life is changing. I wonder if the changes will reach RewFaar? Another exhale sent a series of smoke rings into the air, where they dissolved one by one. I wonder…
Almiralyn remained on guard while Sparrow worked. The painting of a forest had gradually taken shape. Hidden beneath a vine and amongst ferns the height of a short man, the children watched a ludoc cat change to a flying scale-covered beast. Hornets bigger than a big man’s fist swarmed above the small clearing. Hidden some distance away a singular eye watched.
Sparrow cast a frantic look her direction. “What kind of a creature is that?”
“It appears to be a ludoc cat. Ludocs, however, don’t have armor. As concerning is the single eye—”
“The Mindeco! Oh, Mira, what are we going to do?” Sparrow sank onto a chair and covered her face with her hands.
Almiralyn placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “At least we know what part of the Tinga Forest they’re in. Those hornets are called vespids, and they only reside in the southwestern sector. Come. You need to rest. I’ll contact DerTah via the fountain and get a message to Henri.”
Sparrow cleaned her brushes with shaking hands. “I feel as useless as Wilith was feeling. I want to go to DerTah. How can I help if I am stuck here?”
“You can learn the skills that will keep you safe when the time comes for you to act.”
A swift appraising look was Sparrow’s only response. With a sigh, she walked to the entryway and shoved the curtain aside. “You’re right, of course. When is my next lesson?”
Almiralyn joined her. “In the morning, we’ll begin to refine your telepathic skills and see what you can do with telekinesis. Right now, turn all your paintings to the wall. We don’t want Nissasa to acquire information he can use against us. After that, get some rest. I’ll see you at evening meal. Merrilea and Owae will join us. Yookotay is expecting us in a chron circle plus half. That gives me time to use the fountain.”
Sparrow followed her into the tunnel. “Shouldn’t I come to help?”
“I’ll be fine. Relevart has added his strength to the shields. I doubt that Nissasa can break through them, at least for a time.” She gave Sparrow a quick hug and took the tunnel to the central square in Meos. From there, she headed for Tennisca. As soon as she had rounded the corner out of view of the square, she teleported to the cavern entrance. The stairway of Retu Erath took her to the double purple doors.
Zugo greeted her with an excited exclamation when she entered Veersuni. “Almiralyn, look! It’s Nissasa. I saw him change.”
On the fountains surface, a flaming bearded buzzard flew away from the RewFaaran camp. The image faded and water fell from the alabaster woman’s palms.
Almiralyn looked at Zugo. “What did Elcaro show you before Nissasa?”
“It showed a man on a cliff somewhere, and before that a man in a long cloak leaving a deserted building with strange ghost-like faces peering through barred windows.” He handed her a journal. “I wrote everything down.”
“Keep watch while I catch up.” She carried the journal to a bench, sat down, and began to read. When she completed his account, she joined him at the fountain. “Good work, Zugo. Now, I need to find out a few more details. You can take a break, or you can stay. It’s up to you.”
“Will you tell me what you discover?”
Refraining from the urge to ruffle the fur on his head as though he were a small boy, she smiled. “Of course. Go on. I imagine you’re hungry.”
He grinned. “Could use a snack. I’ll be back as fast as I can.” At the door, he glanced back, his black face serious. “Be careful, Almiralyn.”
“I promise, Zugo.”
She moved to Elcaro’s Eye and stared into the rippling water. After checking the wards, she snapped her fingers. The water calmed to a mirror like gloss. A blurred image floated upward from the bottom of the fountain’s bowl. It reached the surface and steadied.
Almiralyn leaned closer. “Hello, Aunt Henri. I didn’t expect to reach you so soon.”
Large violet eyes blinked. Henri settled her spectacles higher on her nose. “Good to see you, niece. We have a lot to catch up on and very little time. You know Nissasa is headed for Trinuge?”
“I wondered which direction he was taking. Isn’t his mother at the Dreelas TheLise’s home?”
Henri nodded, removed her spectacles, frowned, and returned them to her nose.
Almiralyn kept her thoughts masked. The message in her aunt’s gestures sent a warning. The fact that she had refrained from telling her outright indicated the seriousness of the situation had escalated. Extreme care must be taken, or communicating via Elcaro’s Eye could become a liability.
Using a code they had developed before Henri departed for DerTah, she and her aunt discreetly exchanged information. Henri confirmed that Nissasa had already destroyed Dom’s crystal paperweight; that he had discovered Paisley but not Nemttachenn; and that he had tried to kill both Wolloh and Stebben. It concerned her that Corvus was the only one who could save the High DiMensioner. Nomed and Aunt Henri must find him—and soon. She felt a touch of surprise that Lorsedi had allowed Gerolyn to join him at the front.
After her aunt had finished, she told her what was occurring in Myrrh and about the picture of the children. The conversation would have sounded like small talk to an outside observer. She could only hope that no one was watching.
The water in the fountain gurgled and grew quiet. Masking her thoughts, she watched an image focus. Darkness darker than night flooded it. Two small sparks of light moved like eyes searching. Two sparks stared straight at her. She did not move—did not breathe—did not think.
Zugo burst into the room, saw her, and froze. The sparks moved his direction, then darted back. Storm clouds gathered on the water’s surface. A whirlpool sucked the sparks into its center. The surface cleared. Water once more trickled over alabaster fingers.
Almiralyn blinked and backed away from the fountain. When she was out of range, she pointed at the door to the sanctuary. Zugo made a silent escape into the Reading Room. She followed, closing the door behind her. Motioning him to her side, she guided him to a reading alcove near the fireplace.
He peered up at her. “What happened, my lady? You looked like you saw a ghost.”
“I
’m not sure what I saw or who.” She stroked the satiny tabletop. “I will go back in awhile, but I’m not sure you should. Something or someone is searching. Something extremely powerful. It vanished because another strong presence took over the fountain. Too many factions are coming into play.”
Zugo slumped in his chair, his face a study in frustration. Finally, he sat up and looked her in the eye. “I want to help. Tell me what I need to do to stay safe. You need someone watching the fountain.”
“Zugo, this is not a game. It could be dangerous.”
“I understand that. I’m willing to help. I have to, Almiralyn. My friends are in danger. If I can’t be with them, I need to work for them on this end.”
The young DeoNyte held her gaze. He was on the borderline between child and adult. Could she trust him to be responsible? Could she put him in danger? The steady gaze continued. The boy in the man retreated. The man held himself still, awaiting her decision.
12
Master’s Reach
DerTah
S tebben stared out the sitting room window, thoughts coming and going in no particular order. The morning sun highlighted the green of the taccus trees scattered haphazardly over the landscape and heightened the color of their large, scarlet flowers. Finnero asters sprinkled the area with purple anywhere they took root and prickly pyrus added splashes of yellow-gold here and there between the ranch house and the barn. A lithe desert fox sprinted to its den, breakfast clamped in its jaws. A variety of birds pecked at bugs and seeds, and lizards darted over the hot sand to find shelter in the shade.
How odd to think that life goes on when Wolloh is not here. The sun rises and sets. Flowers bloom with abundant abandon. His eyes tracked the flight of an orange, spotted cokotpa until it disappeared from sight. Sinking into Wolloh’s favorite chair, he felt the worn places that had conformed to his master’s crippled body, sighed, and stared at the embers of the morning’s fire. I miss you, Wolloh Espyro .
Everyone at Shu Chenaro mourned the death of the High DiMensioner. After a quiet funeral, his casket now rested beneath his favorite Cucay Tree in a quiet corner of the ranch. At the reading of the will, the attorney had produced a letter written in Wolloh’s hand requesting that everyone remain at the Shu Chenaro for one moon cycle following his death, at which time each would receive a bequeathed gift. Until then, he, Stebben, would take Wolloh’s place as master of the ranch.
The request caused a certain amount of consternation that gradually died down as the running of Shu Chenaro reclaimed the attention of one and all.
Stebben straightened at the sound of the door opening. Nomed rounded a second chair. Tired hazel eyes studied him. The shadow of a beard made him seem older, more worn. Disheveled clothing indicated his state of mind. Sadness robbed his half smile of warmth.
“How are you holding up, Stebben?” He sank into the chair, leaned back, and shut his eyes.
“I can’t remember when I’ve been this tired.” Stebben stifled a yawn. “I barely have the energy to sit here.”
Quiet settled over the room. Stebben glanced at the man next to him, yawned, ran a hand from wrist to shoulder, and massaged the muscles of his upper arm.
Nomed opened hazel eyes and winked against the light from the window. He rolled his head to the side and watched the hand at work. “Perhaps what I need is a few turnings at a balneum where I can be coddled in hot baths and massaged with sweet-smelling oils.”
Stebben smiled. “If you find one and The Unfolding provides the opportunity to go, be sure to take me along.”
“Most definitely, my friend.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Hmmmm. Suppose I should shave but—”
“Here you are.” Henri trundled into the room, spectacles in hand and worry written in wrinkles on her forehead. “Nissasa has left the front and is headed for Trinuge. Seyes, you must leave at once. TheLise will need you. Stebben, we must prepare to lower the wards. Lorsedi sent Gerolyn to Myrrh to meet with Tinpaca Mondago—” A distracted look smoothed her forehead. She tapped her spectacles on the arm of the chair. “I bet he was surprised that a RewFaaran sent a woman to do a man’s work.” A studied glance from one man to the other brought her brows up. “What are you sitting there for?”
With more dexterity than Stebben thought possible for a woman her age, she stepped over his extended legs and tapped him on the forehead, and then repeated the gesture with Nomed. His fatigue fled. Energy like a rush of cool water gushed through him.
Nomed laughed and came to his feet. “Henri, I don’t know what you did, but thank you, my dear. So, Nissasa is on the move. Do we know what prompted such erratic behavior? Generals don’t just leave their men in the midst of battle.”
Henri tottered to the window. “Gerolyn mentioned something about a visit from a Mocendi.” She faced them. “The League is closing in. We must find Corvus and the children before they do and before the Cycle of Dovi traps us on DerTah.”
Nomed rubbed his chin and frowned. “Dovi. I had almost forgotten that we are nearing it. If Relevart appears tell him where I’ve—” He laughed and shook his head. “Never mind. He’ll know, won’t he?”
Stebben joined Henri at the window. “Relevart? Where is he? Where—”
Henri gripped his wrist and murmured. “Beware, my friend. Even the walls have ears.”
A picture of Relevart fishing him from the Mocendi jump craft so long ago made Stebben pause. “Let us refer to our friend as Reader.”
For some time after the strange flying creature disappeared with killer hornets whizzing behind it, a disquieting buzz continued in the clearing. Giant hornets near the nest at the top of the hollow tree, swarmed and dispersed repeatedly until one by one they settled. Animals returned to foraging, and birds that had grown silent during the chaos began to squawk and twitter.
Ira scanned the sky. “Wonder when the rest’ll come back?”
Torgin followed his gaze. “I imagine that depends on how soon they become bored with the chase. Sure wish we knew what that creature was.”
Through squinted eyes, Brie peered up at the tree’s splintered top. “I didn’t read anything in Aunt Mira’s book on DerTah that even remotely resembles it. The ludoc cat—yes. Nothing with leather armor.” She dropped her gaze to the hollowed trunk. “Better decide how we’re going to rescue our things before the rest of the hornets return.”
Ira spoke up. “What if we just sneak over and grab our stuff and sneak back. They left us alone before. Why would they attack us now?”
Desirol sneered. “Maybe because a great big paw just turned their nest inside out. I’m not going anywhere near that tree.” He shot Esán a belligerent look. “So, leader , what’s the plan?”
Esán ignored the sarcasm. “Since you don’t want to go near the tree, Brie and I will put shields around Ira and Torgin. They can sneak over and collect everything.”
“You afraid to go over there yourself?” Desirol punched Esán in the arm.
Ira started forward. Esán stopped him with a look. “I’m not afraid, Des. I can see better and react faster from out here if there’s a problem.”
Desirol put his hands on his hips and thrust his chin forward. “Why don’t you just teleport, grab everything, and teleport back?”
“Because,” said Brie, “there’s a Mindeco out there searching for you , Des.” She looked at the tree. “We’re wasting time. I’ll go. Esán, warn me if they’re stirring.”
“You can’t carry everything.” Ira clasped her hand. “I’ll come, too.”
“Thanks. Stay close.”
A sheer curtain of light shooting up around them stood the hair on his body on end. He glanced at Brie. She nodded. With the stealth of predators on the prowl, they skulked from fern to big leafed plant to fern and stopped just short of the opening in the tree’s trunk.
Brie whispered, “It’s clear.”
“Esán just talked to you, right? Sure wish I could do that telepathy stuff.”
“Who knows, Ira? Maybe yo
u can. Stay here.” She tiptoed to the opening and listened. “Come on,” she called softly and ducked inside. Working fast, she piled backpacks at the entrance.
Ira shouldered his pack, grabbed two more, and slipped back into the cover of over-sized foliage. Brie followed, her pack already in place and her arms full of weather blankets, canteens, and, most important of all, Torgin’s flute.
When they reached the spot where they had left their friends, only Torgin and Esán waited.
Torgin smiled and took the flute. “Thanks. Des took off in a huff.”
Ira jammed his blanket into his pack. “Wish we’d left him in the Abyss of the Dead.”
Brie gave him a quick hug. “No you don’t. I hate that we have to wait around for him again, too. We’re close to the edge of the forest. Could be out of it by nightfall. I sure would love to sleep where I’m not in danger of being eaten.”
Esán turned toward the sound of quiet footfalls. “Des.”
The subject of their frustration stepped around a big tree and strode toward them. “Needed a moment alone. I think we should go.” He pointed at the gap in the forest canopy. Large dark specks formed a cloud above it. “The hornets are returning.” He grabbed his pack and weather blanket. “Thanks for getting my stuff.”
Ira exchanged a look of exasperation with Torgin, fell in beside him, and followed Esán and Brie in the direction of Atkis. Desirol trailed behind.
Killer hornets soon became a thing of the past. The tension that had kept Ira and his companions alert and energized began to wane. Torgin’s easy stride lagged. Brie leaned more heavily on Esán. Des labored to keep up.
Ira slogged along, feeling as though their trek had lasted an eternity. He began to wonder if the damp, steamy rainforest would ever end. Keeping an eye peeled for Ratee Trees and his ears alert to any sound that might mean danger, he ducked and dodged and scrambled along. The strain of staying vigilant made him grumpy. He kicked a lump of moss, grouched under his breath, and kicked it again. The tip of his finger started to itch, which annoyed him further. Weariness made him stumble. Sure could use a good night’s sleep.
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