Empress Unborn se-7

by Jean Lorrah

  Julia jumped down from her perch, Reading that the three young men would clear a path for her to the door, Reading Wicket draw a knife, pretending to join the attackers but actually elbowing and tripping people trying to close off their escape route.

  Galerio, Mosca, and Antonius also had knives drawn, but they faced swords, clubs.

  Knives flickered through the air!

  Mosca went down with a yelp as a knife lodged in his shoulder, then a horrifying gasp when a man ran his sword through him.

  Antonius tackled a woman in their way, knocked her against a man trying to skewer Julia with his sword, and fell, head crushed by another man’s club.

  Galerio plunged ahead, using his small Adept skill to stay the hands of those who would slash or strike.

  They could see Wicket now, bumbling about as if very drunk and very angry, actually clearing a space near the door.

  Still broadcasting her call for help, Julia followed in Galerio’s wake, Reading behind them.

  Capero held a spear!

  “Galerio!” Julia shouted, grasping his arm to pull him down as the weapon flew at them.

  He came around instead of down-and the spear dipped in its flight, Capero’s Adept power keeping it aimed at Julia! It was about to impale her.

  Galerio flung himself at the spear, trying to grasp it out of the air.

  Julia Read his utter exhaustion. The last of his small Adept power was not enough.

  The spear pierced his heart, and he fell across her, dead.

  Chapter Six

  Julia cowered on the floor, soaked in Galerio’s blood, too terrified and grief-stricken to do anything but Read.

  Antonius and Mosca were dead.

  Galerio was dead.

  Wicket was trying to reach her, pretending to be a patron wanting to kill her.

  Capero pulled Galerio’s body away and hauled Julia to her feet. “You’re not hurt-yet.” He had to hold her up, for shock had taken all the strength from her limbs. Her mind seemed to have gone numb.

  Capero turned to his patrons. “What shall we do with this one? Let’s make her an example-let Lenardo and Aradia know what we do to people who try to control us!”

  “Julia! Get down!”

  The powerful voice in her mind broke through her numbness; she squirmed free of Capero’s grip and dropped to the floor—

  As an arrow pierced the gambler’s heart!

  Heads turned.

  Some of Capero’s men started toward the door, where a shadowy figure fired three more arrows in rapid succession before people began to close on him. He dropped bow and quiver, kicked his closest assailant in the groin, slung a knife into the throat of a man poised to gut him with a spear, and moved through the gap he had thus created.

  Pyrrhus.

  The conflict between frightened people trying to get out of his way and angry people trying to get at him created a passage that he walked through, unscathed.

  When he reached Wicket, his friend took a position at Pyrrhus’ back, knife at the ready.

  They worked their way toward Julia amid a breathless hush.

  Octavia pulled a long, wicked blade from her sleeve. Julia fought her lethargy, remembering neither man could Read, but was drawing breath to warn them when the woman moved.

  Wicket met her descending arm with an upward blow so hard the whole room heard the crack of breaking bone. He caught the knife that fell from her limp fingers as she fainted from the pain. Now he had a knife in either hand, and no patron was foolish enough to challenge.

  Capero’s men, however, moved in-seven of them forming a phalanx against Julia’s two rescuers.

  As they moved to separate Julia from Pyrrhus and Wicket, weapons flew again. A bull-like man heaved a spear with both physical strength and Adept power, enough to pierce both men-except that they turned sideways and bent away, and it sailed harmlessly between them.

  When they swung back, they were side by side.

  Almost faster than Julia could Read, Wicket’s knives were buried to the hilt in two of their opponents, while Pyrrhus flung two knives as well, grasped a spear convulsively thrown his way by one of their death throes, and drove it through a third.

  Two on two now, Wicket and Pyrrhus glanced at one another, crouched, and let their assailants spring.

  Both were armed with knives, and both were dead by their own weapons in scant seconds.

  Pyrrhus did not look at the men he had killed, but he studied Wicket’s victims one by one. Every weapon had pierced a vital organ; all were dead. “Congratulations,” said Pyrrhus dryly. “You’ve finally learned to fight.”

  Julia Read Wicket’s start of conscience, but all he said was “Had a good teacher, didn’t I?”

  The two men stepped over the bodies, and while Wicket knelt to examine Julia, Pyrrhus asked the staring people left alive, “Anyone else care to challenge our right to take this child home?” He smiled in that bone-chilling way that Julia suddenly understood, and everyone backed up a step.

  Recognizing that they did not want to be caught here,“people started for the door-too late.

  Readers and Adepts were entering at both the front door and the back, city guards, healers, watchers.

  Only then did Julia realize that barely minutes had passed since she had sent out her call for help. The response had come as fast as humanly possible-but if Pyrrhus and Wicket had not been on the scene already, she would have been dead.

  As dead as Galerio.

  Aradia never found the right opening that evening to tell Master Clement about her strange dreams.

  Hours later, last night’s terror seemed foolish, nothing but a pregnant woman’s overreaction.

  She was just saying goodnight to the Master Reader when Julia’s call for help came. Master Clement allowed her to Read it through him, then broadcast it to all the Readers in Zendi with his own great mental power.

  At the same time, he grasped Aradia’s arm, holding her from dashing out into the night. “It’s too far!” he exclaimed, continuing to Read for her the scene unfolding in Capero’s gambling establishment.

  “No!” Aradia gasped, trying to kill Capero where he stood.

  Once, it would have taken no effort to stop the man’s heart at that distance.

  Tonight, she might as well have no Adept powers at all.

  She returned to Reading, clinging to Master Clement lest he leave her to her own weak ability. Terror rose as they Read Julia, helpless.

  Readers and Adepts left what they were doing to run to her aid, but they could not reach Julia, nor could the minor Adepts come within range to use their limited powers, before Capero or his patrons killed her.

  Then came the sudden eruption of Pyrrhus onto the scene, and a virtual massacre as Wicket turned out to be already there, and the two destroyed Capero and every one of his henchmen brave enough to challenge them.

  By the time the rescuers arrived, there was no need for rescue.

  The two efficient killers gently eased Julia out of the establishment, away from the corpses of her friends.

  “Let them bring her home,” Master Clement instructed the healer who wanted to examine Julia. “She’s not harmed physically. She needs to get away from that place.”

  He broke contact, focusing now on Aradia. “Come,” he said, leading her back into the parlor. “Ju^a is unharmed, just badly frightened. Let her fear teach her, Aradia.”

  “What?” said Aradia, letting him guide her to a couch where she sat down and put her feet up.

  “I had thought the girl had outgrown taking foolish risks. What was she doing there? Did you know?”

  “No! I didn’t know she was out of the house. What were my guards doing? And where was her sense, to go to such a place? She is in my care. Lenardo will never forgive me!”

  “Be calm,” said Master Clement. “We’ll find out what happened. But I don’t think Julia will be ready to talk about it until tomorrow. Thank the gods for Pyrrhus and Wicket!”

  ” That’s why P
yrrhus left us earlier!” said Aradia. “Do you think he knew what Julia was up to?”

  “I doubt it. I think he suspected Wicket was heading for trouble-and the only way he could find out where he went was to follow him.”

  Aradia nodded at the grim reminder of their other problem: Pyrrhus. She had never known anyone who would not succumb to Master Clement’s gentle strength before. If he could not persuade Pyrrhus to stay and learn to use what powers he had left, she didn’t understand why the Master Reader thought she could.

  Unless he had suspected…

  Aradia’s servant barely managed to get into the parlor before Pyrrhus and Wicket, who did not give him time to announce them. By this time Pyrrhus was carrying Julia. Oblivious to the bloodstains, he laid her down on a couch and turned to Aradia and Master Clement. “You Read-?”

  “Yes,” said Aradia. “Thank you-both of you.”

  She Read anxiously along with Master Clement. Julia was pale, sweating, trembling. She was conscious, staring up at the ceiling, but Aradia doubted she knew where she was. “I must put her into healing sleep for the night,” she said. ” That much I can do,” she added grimly, remembering her earlier helplessness.

  “Your powers will return,” said Pyrrhus, “after your child is born.”

  She realized only after guilt had stabbed her that for the first time he had spoken without bitterness.

  When Julia was safely sleeping, Aradia called servants to put her to bed. The minor Adepts on her staff would clean away the bloodstains without waking her, and in the morning Aradia would deal with this new problem.

  “She seemed so reliable!” she said to Master Clement. “I worried about Galerio’s influence, but I never dreamed Julia could get into this kind of trouble. Gambling! What was she doing-helping her friends cheat?”

  “Uh, Lady Aradia,” Wicket said hesitantly. “Capero had cheated Julia’s friends, and she was trying to help Galerio set it straight.”

  “What?!” demanded Pyrrhus. “You didn’t just follow Julia-you knew what she was doing? Wicket, were you part of their scheme?” His sharpness was back, as if the one slip into humanity had never happened.

  Wicket cringed slightly. “Well, they were green kids, and Capero was playing the old sucker game on

  ‘em,‘t’force ‘em to work for him. I was just tryin’ to help em out.” His bright brown eyes went to Aradia, begging for understanding, but all she understood at that moment was that he had almost gotten Julia killed-and that he was wearing a tunic she recognized as Lenardo’s. Thief as well as fool! “Had no idea it was a trap for Julia. How could I?” he pleaded.

  It took all Aradia’s self-control not to strike out at the man.

  Master Clement said, “I think you had better tell us the whole story-the truth, if you please. A Master Reader can Read through the nonsense you’re shielding with, but it’s late and were all tired. Let’s not make it a contest of wills.”

  Wicket’s shield of Adept power went up, and Master Clement glanced at Aradia, who nodded.

  Pyrrhus ordered coldly, “Do as he says, Wicket. I already know what a fool you are. Tell us your latest folly.”

  Wicket slumped onto one of the couches, all defenses down. Through Master Clement, Aradia Read that he told the unvarnished truth about catching the boys stealing at the horse market, and becoming involved in the plot to trick Capero. When he told how Julia had turned the horses, his shields went up again, but when they dropped as he skipped to this evening, neither she nor Master Clement said anything.

  “And only then did any of us know it wasn’t Galerio he wanted, but Julia,” Wicket finished up. He sat, head in his hands, a picture of abject misery in the blood-spattered yellow tunic. “I only meant to help those kids. And now three of ‘em are dead!”

  “Aradia,” said Master Clement, “much as I disapprove of Julia’s attempts to right a wrong with another wrong, what chance would you have given this plan’s success had you heard of it this morning?”

  “I would have put a stop to it!” Aradia said.

  “That is not what I asked. Given Julia’s skills, and Wicket’s, would you have expected them to succeed?”

  “This morning? Yes. This morning I had no idea such hatred toward or Readers and Adepts existed in Zendi. I would have expected even citizens patronizing establishments like Capero’s to defend Julia-or at least not attack her! I would never have thought Capero would try such a scheme. How can such resentment exist without our knowing about it?”

  “I do not think,” Master Clement said softly, “that it does exist.”

  “Then what happened? Why did all those people turn on Julia?”

  “Did you notice their feelings afterward?” the Master Reader pursued. “The prevailing emotion among Capero’s patrons was… bewilderment.” _

  “You mean someone used them?” Pyrrhus asked. “They were caused to feel anger and hatred? Clement, you’re talking about a breach of the Reader’s Code so vile-”

  “Unthinkable,” the old man agreed. “But then, we all know that even Readers are capable of doing the unthinkable.”

  “Were,” corrected Pyrrhus. “Or,” sudden feral hope, “Portia’s cohorts?”

  “All dead,” said Master Clement. “And Lenardo and I have restructured the Council of Masters so that there can never be an inner circle like Portia’s again. It is no longer possible to hide from the majority of Masters what the central few are doing-and the central few change yearly.”

  “Then who could have done such a thing? It would take several Master Readers to control as large a group of people as that. How could they not be Read?”

  “The same way whatever Adepts are causing whirlwinds and hailstorms are not being Read,” said Aradia. “They have to be Readers, too-or have Readers working with them. And our best Readers can find no trace of their existence!”

  “They are misusing their powers,” Master Clement said, frustration clear in his voice. “We know that weakens them! And even Lenardo cannot project thoughts or feelings at just one person; such thoughts would be Read by any Reader nearby.”

  “There would have to be a number of Readers working together, to control so many people at once,”

  added Aradia. “I cannot believe our Readers would not detect them.”

  Master Clement nodded grimly. “We are dealing with something that is theoretically impossible.”

  “No,” said Pyrrhus. “We are dealing with somebody crafty enough to make it look impossible-someone who wants to terrify you.”

  “Well, he’s certainly doing a good job!” observed Wicket.

  Pyrrhus gave an icy smile. ” I could do it” he said.

  “Eh?” Wicket asked.

  “‘I didn’t do it,” he added, “but I know how it was done.” This time the smile was smugly self-satisfied.

  “Well,” said Wicket, “are you waiting for applause, or are you going to tell us?”

  “Please tell us,” Aradia added.

  “It would take at least a Magister Reader, although we’re probably dealing with a Master,” said Pyrrhus.

  “A single person could do it, using one of the techniques taught at Gaeta. Implanting a command, with something to key a later action.”

  “Of course!” said Master Clement, relief clear in his voice. But he did not spoil Pyrrhus’ explanation.

  Seeing that neither Aradia nor Wicket understood, Pyrrhus continued, “Sometimes a person with mental illness is violent, toward others or himself. It may take months or years for Readers to cure him-and in the meantime the person would have to be locked up to protect himself or others, were it not for implanted commands. Usually it is simply ‘Whenever you hear a key word, stop what you are doing and become completely calm.’ And then some uncommon word is given as the key, and the person can return to his family between treatments. If he becomes violent or self-destructive, anyone can stop him by shouting the key word.”

  “Ingenious,” said Aradia. “By the way, a Lord Adept can also i
mplant commands in people’s minds; we are not necessarily dealing with a Reader. But either way, we could not Read anyone driving that roomful of people, because nobody was driving them at the time they became violent.”

  She nodded, working it out. “I see how it was done. Ahead of time, each one had the command implanted to go to Capero’s this evening, and try to kill Julia when she was revealed as a Reader. The ones who were confused and afraid,” she added, “were people who just happened to go to Capero’s tonight, not part of the plan-but they were outnumbered.”

  “It’s not quite that simple,” said Master Clement. “An implanted command that goes strongly against a person’s feelings and beliefs doesn’t work very well. Sometimes not at all. Sometimes it sends the person into shock because what he believes opposes the command he must obey.”

  “Ah, but the people at Capero’s tonight were gamblers, brothel owners, merchants who resent Readers keeping their measurements and accounts honest,” said Aradia.

  She smiled at Pyrrhus. “That’s twice in one evening you have served me well-first rescuing Julia, and now assuring us that we are not dealing with some supernatural force. I will reward you with gold, of course-in fact, I would like to reward you with a house, if you will stay in Zendi and work for me.”

  “Work for you?”

  “First, help me find this renegade Reader or Adept who is attacking our people. It may be someone with both powers, but if so he will have one strongly, one only weakly. “

  “Why is that?’ Pyrrhus asked.

  “The two powers are the same,” said Master Clement, “and yet they are in conflict. Usually a person becomes proficient in the talent which manifests earlier, and develops the other weakly or not at all. Using Adept powers depletes the body, which reduces Reading ability. That is why, at my age, I see no reason to attempt to waken my Adept powers.”

  Pyrrhus’ lip curled into a sneer as he asked, “You really think you have Adept powers?”

  “Oh, there is no doubt of the potential,” the Master Reader replied. “Except for the most minor talents, anyone who has one power has both. Aradia has just succeeded in awakening Adept powers in Decius, one of our young Magister candidates.”