Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  Rather than kiss her again, he smiled, affection glowing in his eyes. “I’ll never tire of hearing that.” They kissed and stroked each other, unwilling to separate. “Can we sleep like this?”

  “I’m game. Can you hold yourself up all night?”

  “Probably not,” he admitted. “As soon as I drifted off to sleep, I’d crush you.” With obvious reluctance, he pulled out and rolled to the bed beside her.

  They lay there sprawled and unconcerned with their nudity. Each was lost in their private thoughts. Though a mating bond remained active at all times, it had to be intentionally accessed unless there was an unusual surge of emotion. Without his emotions blazing through her mind, he suddenly felt far away.

  She rolled to her side and snuggled against him. “What are you thinking about?”

  “I don’t want to care. I really don’t. Harbinger Guild deserves to go down in flames, or better yet, fade into obscurity.” He paused and released a long, loud sigh. “But I can’t stop thinking about the children.”

  Her passion-saturated mind refused to focus. “Which children?”

  “The ones at Harbinger Academy. The charter is filled with misinformation and pointless rituals. There has never been a guild more in need of modernization.”

  Surprised by his interest, she propped herself up on her forearm so she could more easily see his face. “You’re considering their offer?”

  “I don’t know. Seeing them again was strange. It’s kicked up all sorts of memories and—much to my surprise—most of them are pleasant. They’ve just been overshadowed by how it all ended.”

  “That’s understandable.” She lay back down, resting her head on his shoulder. “Think it over for a while. It’s a huge decision. Harbinger Academy isn’t going anywhere.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Letos returned to the cabin the following morning. He looked exhausted, but seemed pleased. Rather than going through the motions of normalcy, he contacted Danvier telepathically then teleported, or bio-streamed, they still weren’t sure which, into the living room.

  Danvier and Haven had just finished breakfast. With a surge of overprotectiveness, Danvier rushed into the living room, leaving Haven to watch across the half wall.

  “It took a ridiculous amount of debate, thanks to Finance Guild,” Letos began without bothering to sit down, “but we now have a unanimous decision. All the guild masters have agreed to support the Triad once Quinton has been removed.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Danvier motioned toward the living room. “Would you like to sit down?”

  Letos shook his head. “I stopped by on my way to another appointment. Wanted to tell you in person.” He glanced at Haven then returned his gaze to Danvier. “Will she be representing Tandori Tribe on the Triad?”

  Danvier scowled. “Why do you ask?”

  Letos held up both hands with a laugh. “I’m no threat to your claim, harbinger. She seems level-headed and thoughtful, much more so than others of her bloodline.”

  “I didn’t realize you’d interacted with other members of Tandori Tribe.” Even as the words left his mouth, Danvier realized they sounded needlessly hostile.

  Luckily, the technomage just smiled. “It’s not necessary to interact with someone to be aware of their behavior. Just like General Nox, I like to keep myself informed.”

  “No decision has been made,” Danvier told him with more civility. “We have a lot to accomplish before anyone needs to worry about finalizing the Triad’s membership.”

  “Very true.” He bowed to Danvier. “You might want to avoid further negotiations until your mating bond solidifies. Mating fever tends to warp perception, especially in males.” Without giving Danvier an opportunity to reply, he said, “Until we meet again,” and disappeared.

  Haven strolled into the living room, not quite concealing her lazy smile. “You are being sort of cranky.”

  “I can’t help it. He looked at you and I wanted to tear his head off, or at least gouge his eyes out.”

  “As Letos said, that’s a symptom of mating fever and the only cure is more of what we did last night.” She reached him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Luckily for us, it’s a six-hour trip back to Lunar Nine and the Phantom basically flies itself.”

  He leaned down and nipped her bottom lip, loving her playfulness. “Then let’s get going.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  They tidied the cabin, piled the dirty linens in the bathtub, then packed up everything they’d brought with them. Half an hour later they were on the Phantom Five preparing to depart.

  “Have you thought any more about Harbinger Guild?” Haven asked once they were airborne.

  He hadn’t yet engaged the autopilot, so he answered without looking at her. “I think you need to decide what you want first.”

  “Why is that?”

  The truth was, he’d spent half the night meditating on the issue and the other half brooding. Pyre had been empowered by a corrupt system. Could he really stand back and watch as another power-hungry dictator took her place? Lisden and Phardin clearly wanted change, but they were old men, nearing the end of their lifecycle. They couldn’t be expected to take on something of this magnitude.

  “It seems to me that I can’t even consider this mission if my mate has responsibilities on Earth that won’t allow her to relocate.”

  “Mission?” She reached over and touched his arm. “Do you see this as a sacred mission?”

  He eased his hands out of the control matrix and met her gaze. “Answer my question first. Are you willing to move to Rodymia permanently? You won’t be a captive in Harbinger Academy. Once the Triad is installed, they will pardon Tandori Tribe. Still, you’ve spent most of your life on Earth. I know you think of it as home.”

  “I thought of it as home. Now home is wherever we can be together. Another spiritual anchor has already taken my place, and Ulrik is and has always been tribe leader. I would love to spend some time on Rodymia without continually looking over my shoulder.”

  “Are there others in Tandori Tribe that can keep Ulrik under control? He’s volatile, to say the least.”

  She sighed. “You haven’t seen Ulrik at his best, or even his usual. The territory leaders are more than capable of balancing out his quick temper. Ulrik genuinely loves Tandori Tribe and will strive to do what’s best for everyone. Now stop avoiding the issue. Are you interested in modernizing Harbinger Guild?”

  “I am. The more I think about it, the more interested I become. I can’t help wondering how much different the guild would have been if my father had been guild leader rather than my mother.”

  She reached over and squeezed his arm as affection flowed across their soul bond. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

  “Chandar will have to get the ball rolling, but I see no reason why she’d refuse. She won’t even need to leave Lunar Nine.”

  “What about Garin? Will the anchor still hold if you’re that far away?”

  He smiled, pleased by her selflessness. “I dissolved my anchor bond with Garin last night, so I could claim you. A harbinger can’t be anchored to more than one person and a mate is the ultimate anchor.”

  “I’m your anchor now?” She sounded thrilled, then something made her laugh. “Some might find that a little too similar to ball and chain.”

  He swiveled his chair to face her and took her face between his hands. “You’re my everything, Haven. My hope, my future, my light.”

  Tears gathered behind her lashes as he leaned down and kissed her. You’re my freedom, my security, the center of my universe.

  The ship jumped into hyperdrive and they broke apart with a startled gasp.

  It took Danvier a moment to catch his breath, then he laughed. “Looks like our six hours starts right now.”

  * * * * *

  After docking at Lunar Nine, Danvier and Haven stopped by his suite in the Pavilion to clean up before they let anyone know they’d returned. Haven st
opped just inside the door and looked around the luxurious living area.

  “This place is much nicer than the apartment they assigned me.” She looked over at him and grinned. “Must be nice to have friends in high places.”

  “If you like this room, you’ll love the bathroom. It’s even more impressive.”

  She ogled the rich tile, sunken tub, and gilt fixtures as he began to undress. Then her attention shifted to him. “I thought Rodyte males liked having their scent all over their females.”

  “Oh, we do, and my scent won’t wash away completely. We just don’t need to advertise how we spent the last six hours.”

  “As if anyone won’t figure it out.” She couldn’t fight back a guilty smile. “The mating fire is burning bright. We can barely keep our hands off each other.” Because the bond they were forming strengthened each time they made love, nature ensured that they joined as often as possible until the link solidified. This process could take several days or several weeks depending on how much time the couple spent feeding the fire.

  They showered separately, knowing they’d defeat the purpose if they showered together. Danvier went first, so he could make preparations while Haven had her turn beneath the decadent spray. Her apartment was equipped with a negative ion cleaning stall. It was effective, but nothing would replace good old-fashioned water as far as Haven was concerned. Another product of her Earth upbringing no doubt.

  She stepped out of the steamy bathroom and found Danvier combing his hair. The sight brought her up short and held her immobile for a moment. Tightly braided, the strands reached his waist. Loose, as it was now, the curtain of silver and gray flowed to his hips. Not only was the sight incredibly beautiful, she understood the significance of the length. If any year transpired without a harbinger having a verifiable vision or dream, they were required to cut their hair. It had clearly been decades since Danvier cut his hair.

  “Did that feel good?” He drew his hair over one shoulder as he turned around.

  “Not as good as what we did on the shuttle.” She motioned toward his hair, feeling silly but unable to stop the request. “Can I braid it for you?”

  He smiled. “Little girls love to play with hair.”

  She didn’t take offense. “Most little boys don’t have hair like yours.”

  Rather than debating the issue further, he turned back around and tossed the thick mass over his shoulder. “Garin said everyone is in the jungle and asked us to meet him there.”

  “Who is ‘everyone’?” Unable to resist the temptation, she let the silky strands flow through her fingers for several seconds before weaving them into his habitual braid.

  “Sorry. I didn’t think to ask.”

  He handed her a cloth-covered band and she wrapped it around the end. “Then what’s the jungle?”

  He glanced back at her. “Neither Ulrik nor Berlynn took you to the hydroponics farm?”

  She shook her head. “Is it here on Lunar Nine?”

  “It’s on the other side of the commercial district. Maybe fifteen minutes from here.”

  She ran the comb through her own hair then quickly slipped on her shoes. He was already fully dressed in his usual tunic and pants, so they headed out. The walk to the hydroponics farm took longer than fifteen minutes, but Haven didn’t mind. She had actually seen very little of the outpost during her visit so far. Danvier kept flying her off to other locations before she had a chance to explore.

  After someone on the inside authorized their visit, they stepped into the sultry room. Haven’s gaze was drawn upward, then outward. The room was enormous and filled with row after row of multi-level plant trays. “Wow.” She shook her head as she looked around. “This is really something.”

  “My uncle Kotto recruited his mate to run this place. Of course, she wasn’t his mate at the time.”

  She nodded. He’d mentioned the union before. “You mean Raina, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Kotto commands the Crusader?”

  Danvier nodded, but a movement to Haven’s right drew her attention away before he could reply.

  Chandar came sailing into view, her movements restrained yet graceful. Her dress was dark blue and gray just like Danvier’s outfit. Even the pattern of her embroidery was similar.

  “I had the strangest dream while you were gone,” she told her brother.

  Haven smiled. She imagined a lot of Chandar’s conversations began that way.

  “What did you see?” The emphasis he put on “see” made the verb sound mystical.

  “I’m not sure it was prophetic, that’s why I rushed over while the others finished up. Were you visited by Lisden and Phardin, and a third man I didn’t recognize?”

  “I was.” Now Danvier smiled. “But they really wanted to speak with you.”

  Chandar nodded thoughtfully. “That explains why the images were so hazy and I was unable to hear what they said.”

  It must be frustrating to see future events clearly unless they directly involved you.

  When Danvier didn’t elaborate without prompting, Chandar made a face. The nonverbal exchange made it easy to picture her as a precocious child desperate for her brother’s attention. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll scan your mind. You know I can penetrate your shields.”

  He laughed, clearly unconcerned by the threat. “No need for violence, sister dear. My old mentors had an interesting proposition that involved both of us.”

  “I have no desire to return to Rodymia. Raylon and Garin have been talking about finding an inhabitable world where the battle born can build their own nation. It’s a long way off, and there is much to do in the meantime, but I want to be part of that process.”

  “Understood,” Danvier assured her. “Nothing we’d need from you would require you to leave Lunar Nine.”

  After a tense pause, Chandar said, “I’m listening.”

  “One of the reasons the steering committee was in such a hurry to finalize an alliance was because Harbinger Guild has always been so self-serving and unpredictable.”

  “That’s not surprising. They find the strongest female harbinger then empower her with ultimate authority. That sort of system is begging for corruption.”

  Danvier smiled broadly. She’d just outlined the problem for him. “That’s what the other harbingers would like to change. They’re tired of having no say in how the guild is run. They want to establish a guiding council and rewrite the charter so it represents everyone.”

  “What does this have to do with me?”

  “Only Pyre Sterling can make changes to the charter.”

  Her eyes widened and she took a step back. “I will not become…” She shook her head, obviously horrified by the concept.

  “You would take on the title long enough to change the charter. It could all be prepared ahead of time so all you’d have to do is sign a few documents and record a verification statement. Then you’d resign and the guiding council would take over control of the guild.”

  Not surprisingly, Raylon came charging up one of the rows, his expression thunderous. “Why do I sense spikes in her emotions every time you come around?”

  “I’m fine.” Chandar turned around and smiled at her mate. “When you feel an emotional spike, you can always ask me what’s wrong rather than running to my rescue.”

  He swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Now where’s the fun in that?”

  She shook her head and turned back around, neatly contained within the circle of his arms. “You said the plan involved both of us. What is your role in the process?”

  Danvier glanced at Haven before answering his sister.

  Do you need a hug? Haven teased, hoping to break the tension.

  I need a lot more than that. He smiled and relaxed, then continued his explanation. “Despite her utter corruption, the former Pyre Sterling had a loyal following. Lisden and Phardin—”

  “Want you to head this new council?” Chandar jumped on ahead.

 
“Yes. That way it will feel like a natural evolution rather than a rebellion against the charter.”

  For a long moment, she stared into his eyes. “And you’re considering this? What about Garin and this rebellion.”

  “The battle born rebels have a new harbinger now, and I released my anchor bond with Garin so I could claim my mate.”

  Chandar’s gaze flew to Haven then back to him, her expression carefully guarded. “You two have been busy.” Finally, she relaxed enough to smile. “Congratulations. I wish you nothing but the best. And if your life path is leading you back to Rodymia, I’ll support you in any way I can.”

  Garin walked up a few minutes later, looking freshly pressed and immaculate despite the humid setting. Did the man ever get frazzled or have a bad hair day? She looked at his head. His hair was cut so short it was more of a dark shadow, so bad hair days were definitely out. The rest was doubtful as well. She’d never met a man so ruthlessly disciplined and well-organized.

  “Was there a problem or are you still adjusting to Chandar’s moods?” The tiniest hint of a smile pulled at one corner of the general’s mouth.

  “No problem,” Raylon muttered, his face half buried in Chandar’s hair.

  “Then get back to work.” Impatience snapped through Garin’s tone, but merriment made his gaze shimmer. “Raina needs six barrels of vi-jarek for the super grains and you’re the unlucky grunt who gets to find them.”

  “Yes, sir!” Raylon snapped his heels together and kissed his mate on the neck. “I’ll be counting the minutes until tonight.”

  Chandar’s only response was a fiery blush. Then to the others she said, “I should be going as well.” She looked at Danvier and added, “I’d like to hear more about the opportunity and your plans if you accept the position.”

  “Of course.”

  Garin didn’t speak again until Chandar had disappeared through the main door. “How did things go on Rodymia? Your message was seriously lacking in details.” Danvier started to speak, but Garin stopped him. “Let’s go somewhere else. I don’t know how Raina stands the humidity day after day.”

  Haven looked back with some disappointment as they followed Garin out of the jungle. She’d been looking forward to meeting Raina. She knew there were other females besides Chandar on Lunar Nine, but she’d yet to run across any of them.