Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  “Do you and Chandar have the same father?”

  “Yes. Father was confident that he could protect me from the ambitions of Pyre and the council, but Chandar’s birth changed everything. An organic female hadn’t been born for almost fifty years.”

  Haven’s expressive eyes narrowed and her head tilted to one side. “What about Pyre? Isn’t she organic?”

  “I honestly don’t know. Some say she’s organic, but her abilities still required augmentation. Others insist that all of Pyre’s gifts are the result of technology, which means she isn’t organic. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how she got her abilities. She was powerful enough to wrest control from the last Pyre Sterling and no one has even attempted to challenge her since.”

  “That’s right. Each Harbinger Guild Mistress also becomes Pyre Sterling. It’s as much a title as a name.” He nodded, acknowledging her statement, but said nothing more. “Back to your escape.”

  Danvier sighed. He was rambling, telling Haven more than she needed to know. He hadn’t even determined where her loyalties lay, so why was he sharing family secrets? Well, the events he’d shared so far weren’t really secret. Though versions differed greatly depending on who was telling the story. “Father didn’t want Chandar to be bartered away like a prized possession, so he tried to leave the academy with both of us.”

  “Pyre stopped him?”

  Their gazes locked as Danvier explained, “Pyre snatched Chandar out of his arms then stabbed him in the chest with an EMP dagger. The wound alone wouldn’t have killed him, but the pulse disabled his medi-bots. He bled to death before my uncles could get him to a medical center.”

  Silence descended and Haven began to fidget. He didn’t yet know her well enough to determine what she was thinking.

  “I’m sorry,” she said at last. “I knew Pyre couldn’t be trusted, but I didn’t realize she’s actually evil.”

  If there had been any hint of sarcasm in her response, he would have ended the conversation. But her expression was soft and somewhat sad. “Evil is too absolute. According to many, Pyre was the victim, not my father.”

  “How in creation do they figure that?” Now she sounded indignant enough to make him smile. She meandered along the center-facing seats, her fingertips trailing over the armrests.

  “According to some, Pyre was a loving mother, desperately trying to protect her children from their psychotic father. Ask anyone on the Harbinger council and they’ll swear they would have done the same.”

  “Even after what happened to Chandar?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. She might not be trying to anger him now, but her overly candid style accomplished the same. “Questions involving Chandar are off limits.”

  “All right. Sorry.” She looked at him then away. “Can we go clear back to the beginning?” She crossed to the other side of the shuttle and began her trek toward him. “Why did General Nox order you to bring me to Earth?”

  Unfolding his arms, he glanced at the control matrix before answering. “That’s a surprisingly complicated question.”

  “Give it your best shot.” She encouraged him with a hesitant smile.

  Now came the tricky part. He had to bring her up to speed without revealing anything she didn’t needed to know. He grasped the backs of the two forward-facing seats, needing something to do with his hands. “We were in the process of negotiating an alliance with Tandori Tribe when we learned of your peril.”

  That brought her up short halfway down the row. “Why would Vinton negotiate with the battle born? Tandori Tribe gains nothing by aligning with other fugitives.”

  Her first question was so surprising that he barely heard the second. Didn’t she know Vinton was dead? Tandori Tribe lacked the technology for instant interplanetary communication, but what about all the IG spies? It had been over a week since Vinton’s death. How could she not know?

  He stared straight ahead, frantically deciding what to say. If he didn’t tell her, the omission would complicate all of the other things she needed to know. But he was terrible at this sort of thing. His powers were so volatile that each moment of every day was a struggle to maintain control. He felt emotions, often felt the emotions of others, but allowing himself to respond to the raw intensity was dangerous to him and those around him. So how could he explain to Haven that her brother was dead without sounding like an emotionless drone?

  “What’s wrong?” She crept forward, dread clearly written in her eyes. “You’re suddenly all stone-faced and scowly again.”

  Scowly? Was that even a word? He relaxed his eyebrows and smoothed his brow. “Do you know a female named Milanni? She runs a pleasure club on Outpost LA.” He looked at Haven as he asked the question.

  Her reaction was subtle, but telling. She licked her lips and smoothed down her skirt, though there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight. “What about her?”

  “Do you know why she would have gone to see your brother Vinton?”

  “What is this about?” She exhaled slowly, clearly trying to calm herself. “Why are you always so cagey?”

  “I’m not being cagey.” He pushed off the seatbacks and moved a little closer to his reluctant companion. “You’re avoiding the question.”

  “Milanni was one of Javin’s spies.” She shrugged as if to minimize the revelation. “She wouldn’t have been my choice, but Javin seemed to trust her.”

  “Who sent her to Vinton?”

  “I did.” She retreated a step for each step he advanced until her back was against the bulkhead.

  “Why?” He trapped her with his arms like he’d done earlier. It was the only way he could keep himself from touching her.

  Suddenly, her spirit flared and she shoved at his chest. “Stop trying to intimidate me.”

  “Answer the question.”

  “I used Milanni to pass a message to him. It was no big deal.”

  His instincts, and the flash of guilt in her gaze, told him there was much more to the story. But he wasn’t sure how hard he could push before she’d shut down completely. “How long has Milanni worked for you?”

  “She worked for Javin,” she stressed. “I just took over…” Guilt transformed her expression as her words trailed away.

  Had emotion closed her throat or had she failed to come up with a believable lie? “You took over your mate’s endeavors when he died earlier this year.” She didn’t deny it, so he pushed a little harder, wanting the issue resolved once and for all. “How did it happen?”

  “It was a horrible accident,” she whispered, looking anywhere but at him. “Of course, no one would have seen it that way.” Her voice grew stronger and she dragged her gaze back to his face. “I’m a fugitive protected only by my mate’s reputation and Javin had many enemies. If anyone realized he was gone, it would have been disastrous, not just for me, but for the IG.”

  She was right, but she’d only postponed a disaster not avoided one. “How long ago did he pass beyond?”

  “A little over four months.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” It was such an inadequate phrase. Nothing he could say would bring back her mate. And now he was supposed to tell her that the operative she’d sent to Vinton had murdered him? Danvier might be surrounded by violence, but he didn’t like being cruel.

  He’d just about convinced himself to wait and let her relatives explain, when her eyes narrowed and she raised her gaze to his. “What does Javin’s death have to do with Milanni?”

  “Nothing. I’m just trying to put all the pieces together.”

  One of her silky eyebrows arched as she stared up at him. “Then why did you ask about Milanni?”

  So she was persistent as well as feisty. This was going to be the longest six hours of his life. He took a deep breath and braced for her reaction. “Vinton reacted badly to Milanni’s visit.”

  “He has grown sort of paranoid over the years.” She seemed to relax a bit, clearly unaware of where this was leading. “Did he run her off
his mountain with a shotgun or something? Wasn’t Berlynn there to calm him down? She’s even better at it than I am.”

  “Yes, your niece was there, but Vinton’s reaction was even more violent than you’ve supposed. He attacked Milanni and she retaliated.” He paused, hating to cause someone who was already grieving more heartache. “According to Berlynn, it was more accident than coldblooded murder, but the altercation resulted in Vinton’s death.”

  “W-what?” Haven’s voice cracked and her eyes widened then she turned her head, hiding behind the fall of her hair. “Vinton is…” She touched her hand to her throat, pressing back into the bulkhead, face still averted. “Does Ulrik know?” Her voice became a harsh, broken whisper and he felt like a cad. It was obvious she needed comfort, but he wasn’t sure she’d accept it from him.

  “Yes.”

  “Berlynn.” She finally looked up at him and Danvier was surprised to find her eyes dry. “That poor girl. Is someone taking care of her?” Haven’s gaze was so filled with emotions that he couldn’t begin to decipher them. Tears or no tears, her pain was devastating.

  Danvier tried to touch her, but she twisted away so violently he reluctantly let her go. “Berlynn has been with Ulrik and others from the tribe ever since it happened.”

  “Is Milanni in custody?” Anger surged past the other emotions, hardening her expression. It must be a Tandori trait. Ulrik had immediately focused on retribution and he hadn’t blinked since.

  “That’s why we need the tracking device. We’re reasonably certain Milanni is on the Relentless.”

  She pondered that for a moment as she stared past him. “What’s the connection? Why would a pleasure club owner from Outpost LA run to the Relentless?”

  “The commander’s name is Akim Farmon.”

  “Quinton’s inquisitor?” She shivered.

  “Apparently, Akim mentored Milanni before life took them in different directions. There was no one else in Earth’s star system that would risk angering the battle born by hiding her.”

  “And you’ve agreed to turn Milanni over to Tandori Tribe once she’s apprehended?”

  Haven was being more polite than her brother had been, but the inference was the same. Accident or not, Milanni had taken a Tandori life and she must pay the price for it. “Milanni’s fate is between General Nox and your brother.”

  “Then the battle born have been negotiating with Ulrik?”

  He softened his expression as she dared a glance into his eyes. “You sound surprised.”

  She shook her head. “Not surprised, just trying to understand the situation. Ulrik has to be handled carefully. He’s a bit of a hothead.”

  The understatement made Danvier smile. “From what I’ve heard, Garin has already figured that out.”

  “If Vinton’s death is what brought Ulrik to the table, I’m sure your people haven’t seen him at his best. Ulrik and Vinton shared a special bond. They were born less than a year apart and were inseparable until duty required that they live in different cities. Ulrik must be devastated.”

  She had to be devastated too. Yet focusing on others appeared to be her strategy for dealing with her sorrow. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this.” And he meant every word. He knew firsthand what it felt like to lose a sibling. His sister had been returned to him, but that didn’t lessen the pain he’d endured while thinking she was dead the majority of his life. “Losing a sibling is bad enough without having to hear the news from a stranger.”

  She ran her fingers through her hair as she headed back to the navigator’s seat. “The voice of experience?” Their gazes locked as he returned to his seat as well. “Is Chandar your only sibling?”

  Her reaction to all the bad news had been less volatile than he’d expected, so there was no reason for him to share more of his private life. Yet the pull was still there, the need to—the pull? Was this what couples meant when they said they felt the mating pull? He’d expected something much more, well, sexual. Before he could determine the accuracy of his conclusion, the words came tumbling out. “I was led to believe Chandar was dead until quite recently. The bond we shared was severed, so I had no reason to doubt what I’d been told.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  It was official. The phrase sounded just as useless coming from her as it had from him.

  Without bothering with a reply, he turned back to the controls and navigated through the readouts. They were making good time, but that didn’t change the fact that he was cooped up with a female who didn’t want to be here. He glanced at her and found her watching him, her gaze wide and luminous. Was she feeling this strange awareness, this need to connect?

  “Do you have a mate?”

  Her question echoed his thoughts so perfectly he couldn’t help but smile. “Harbingers seldom find their true mates. We’re genetic anomalies, so encountering someone who is genetically compatible with us is even more improbable than with other Rodytes.” Then why did her scent make his entire body ache?

  One of her brows arched as she whispered, “More institutional lies?”

  She had a point. Chandar’s attraction to Raylon had left Danvier wondering about many things he’d been taught as a child. How many Harbinger traditions were manipulative or simply untrue? His gaze bore into Haven’s as he processed the possibilities and the restlessness inside him grew.

  “Sorry.” She turned her head and stared at the main viewscreen. “I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

  He wasn’t angry. He was aroused and he desperately wanted to know if she’d been hoping for that reaction when she casually asked about his mate. Surely he was misreading the signs. She’d lost her mate a few months before. It was highly improbable that she was flirting with him.

  Someone needed to explain that to his aching body.

  Forcing the strange possibility aside, he digressed. There were several elements of her situation they’d yet to discuss. “Do you know why Pyre kidnapped you?”

  She shook her head hard enough to swish her hair against her cheeks. He watched the sway of those shiny strands and wanted to feel them between his fingers. Hair was a badge of honor to harbingers. If they failed to produce a prophetic vision at least once per year, they were required to cut their hair. So why was he fascinated by her semi-short locks? Most harbingers would find the style distasteful.

  “Pyre said she was protecting me from Quinton, but that was all she said.” By the time Haven spoke, he’d nearly forgotten the question.

  Quinton Kiere. Danvier’s lip lifted in a silent snarl. The crown stirate, planetary leader of Rodymia, was just as dangerous as Pyre and even more useless. Quinton and Pyre were the only two with the authority to award a harbinger, meaning they were equally guilty of placing Chandar with Akim. Plans were already underway to punish Akim, but Danvier would make damn sure Pyre and Quinton also paid for their role in the travesty.

  “Is it possible Quinton learned of Javin’s death?” Danvier asked, unwilling to reveal the dark turn his thoughts had taken.

  “Only if Pyre told him. She’s the one who has been sniffing around IG Headquarters.”

  “Pyre’s motivations are always convoluted. I wouldn’t put it past her.” He looked at Haven, unable to keep his gaze off her for long. “How many within the IG know about Javin?”

  He didn’t think she’d answer. She gained nothing by confiding in him. But their gazes locked then lingered, and he wondered again if she felt the strange attraction that was making it hard for him to concentrate.

  “Javin’s personal assistant has been helping me from the start. One of the councilmembers knows. I think Letos suspects, but he hasn’t come right out and confronted me. But then, that’s not really his style.”

  “Letos?” Danvier mused. “Why is that name familiar? Has he ever operated in Earth’s star system?”

  “Letos went undercover on the Relentless for a while, and he’s helped the battle born a time or two. If you’d met him, you’d know it. He’s anything
but subtle.”

  Danvier nodded. Raylon had mentioned being assisted by a technomage, but the interaction had occurred before Danvier arrived on Lunar Nine. “Will Letos keep your secret? I guess a better question is, what were you trying to accomplish by pretending that Javin is still alive?”

  She started to say something then looked away. “It doesn’t matter now. There’s no way Ulrik will allow me to return once he realizes I’m no longer protected by a mate.”

  “Wise decision.” The comment earned him a glare, but he didn’t regret it. Many females were capable of protecting themselves. Rodyte males just believed they shouldn’t have to be so self-reliant. “What will you do now?”

  She shrugged then shook her head. “I guess that depends on why General Nox sent for me.”

  “He didn’t actually send for you. He arranged for your rescue and thought you’d be safer on Earth. To my knowledge, he has no specific purpose for you once you arrive on Lunar Nine.”

  “What’s Lunar Nine?”

  Rather than try to explain, Danvier just smiled. “Put up with me for a few more hours and I’ll show you.”

  * * * * *

  Letos clenched his jaw in exasperation as the explanations for how Haven had been kidnapped grew wilder and wilder. “The simplest answer is most often correct.” He stressed the concept, hoping to steer the other councilmembers away from their conspiracy theories. Long, unproductive meetings like this were the reason Letos spent so much time in the field. His body’s nearly limitless ability to accept integrated technology had set him above other technomages and assured him a place on the IG council. However, he had little tolerance for the endless bickering. “This discussion is a waste of time. Haven Tandori is the least of our problems.”

  “I disagree.” Vardon Hamlin’s booming voice echoed off the walls of the gaudy council chamber. Every imaginable surface in IG Headquarters had been elaborately carved then gilded, creating a monstrosity of ivory and gold. Even knowing the overt show of wealth was meant to intimidate potential customers, Letos found it overblown and tasteless. The six-member council sat around an oblong table, Letos at one end, Vardon at the other. Everyone looked at Vardon, most seemed more interested in continuing the spirited debate than moving on to more important matters. “If Pyre found a way to break through our defenses, others could do the same. We need to know how she did it.”