Mystic Flame

by Cyndi Friberg

  “No.” He waited for the burning anger the memory always triggered. Regret flickered through his soul, but it lacked the emotional heat he was accustomed to feeling. “I endured three lunar cycles of degradation and pain aboard a Rodyte ship only to return to Ontariese and find my reputation shredded.”

  “But she didn’t know the truth. Her response was in keeping with the facts as she knew them.”

  “She knew me, or at least she should have. I would never abandon my team. I am not a coward!”

  “Why does that word upset you so badly?”

  He knew the answer, but he refused to speak about those long ago events. It was an aspect of his background he kept carefully hidden. “There is a valid reason. That’s all I care to say.”

  “Have you shared this ‘valid reason’ with Dro Tar?”

  He shook his head.

  “Then, as I said, you don’t trust her.” Apparently, he considered the conversation finished. He shifted his chair back toward the table and reactivated the journal.

  The possibility resonated through Evan for the next four hours. Would telling Dro Tar about his secret shame help her understand how deeply she’d hurt him? Trust was essential to any relationship. If he wanted to build a future with Dro Tar… Did he want a future with her? His spirit responded with a resounding yes! But she was eccentric and volatile, challenging and exciting. And he’d never stopped loving her.

  So the question became did Dro Tar want a future with him? That question was not so easily answered as he wasn’t the one to decide. She wanted to be his lover, had reentered their affair with equal enthusiasm, but they hadn’t spoken about the future.

  He pushed the possibilities aside and tried to focus on the present conflict. Distractions were dangerous. They needed to work out the details of their relationship once the danger had passed.

  Dro Tar emerged from the bedroom a short time later, rolling her suitcase behind her. “Ready?” she asked him with a smile.

  They said goodbye to Drakkin and Evan teleported them to a vacant lot several miles outside the city. Summoning the Storm was necessary for interdimensional travel, but it was nearly impossible to form a full-scale vortex within the confines of a building.

  Rather than return to Ontariese directly, Evan guided the transport conduit to the Day Moon. Dro Tar clung to him trustingly, her face pressed against his neck. Her embrace was welcome, but the distraction of her soft body was not. Controlling the Storm was always tricky and Evan also needed to shield his presence from Malos. Mystic sensitivity increased with proximity, so it was imperative that they avoid the Conservatory. At least for the next few days. Once Malos realized they were on to him, all bets were off.

  Evan smiled as he heard his own thought. When had he started assimilating Dro Tar’s speech patterns?

  “Will Director dar Aune see us without an appointment?” They walked out of the conduit and into a grassy field beyond the fortified boundary of the City of Tears. It had been many solar cycles since Evan had visited the massive military training facility. The majority of his training had been done at the Conservatory.

  “Only one way to find out.” Dro Tar passed him the handle to her suitcase and took the lead as they neared the attended gate. “Dro Tar Nex to see Director dar Aune.”

  Despite her authoritative tone, the guard didn’t appear impressed. “Do you have an appointment?”

  She made a bland gesture toward him and the suitcase he’d been pulling. “There were unexpected developments in our mission. Director dar Aune needs an immediate update. Please let him know we’re here.”

  The guard looked her over with obvious suspicion. “Why are you out of uniform?”

  “Trey is the director of Covert Operations. The operation wouldn’t be very covert if I were in uniform, now would it?” She motioned toward the control panel beside the guard. “I don’t have all night, just com the man.”

  “One moment.” The guard turned toward the controls and made several subtle hand motions. “I have a Dro Tar Nex to see the director.” He paused as whomever he was speaking with responded. “What should I do with her?” He chuckled and glanced at Dro Tar. “Her companion might not appreciate it if I tried.” After another pause the guard said, “Yes, sir.” He turned back to Dro Tar, smiling this time. “The Director should be free by the time you reach his office. His assistant said you know the way.”

  The force field blocking the gate disengaged. “Thank you.” Dro Tar offered a haphazard salute as she walked past the guard station.

  Evan followed, feeling conspicuous as he wheeled the suitcase behind him. “Where’s the director’s office?”

  “Up there.” She motioned to the highest tower off to their right.

  Most of the buildings seemed unusually lavish for military facilities. But then the Day Moon had begun as a leisure destination for the rich and powerful. Then the Great Conflict changed priorities of everyone on Ontariese. Over a century later, the contrast was still surprising.

  There were two primary tower clusters with a series of aerial trams connecting the two. Lush greenbelts and sculpted gardens surrounded the entire complex, which followed the rolling contours of the moon. Off to one side of the towers was the massive training center and the other an even larger maintenance hangar. A vast and varied airborne fleet was kept beyond the central complex. Even having seen it before, the City of Tears was impressive.

  They had nearly reached the main entrance to the tallest tower when a uniformed young man rushed up to Dro Tar. “The director asked that I escort you to him. The fewer people who see you the better.”

  Evan wasn’t sure the precaution was necessary, but he fell in step behind the other two. As long as Malos was waiting for Grat to check in they were relatively safe.

  The assistant escorted them to a private lift on the outside of the tower. After scanning open the small car with his hand, he motioned them inside. The exterior walls were transparent, giving them an unobstructed view of the City of Tears.

  “It’s strangely beautiful. Isn’t it?” Dro Tar’s tone was hushed with wonder.

  “Indeed.” Beyond the business center rose tiers of elegant villas, each level contained houses larger and more impressive than the last. And off in the distance Ontariese dominated the purple-hued sky.

  The door at his back slid open and the assistant said, “I can take that, if you like.”

  Evan followed the direction of the young man’s gesture and realized he meant the suitcase. Evan had been so captivated by the view he’d forgotten he held it. “Thank you.” He passed the handle to the assistant and followed Dro Tar out of the lift.

  The office was large and finely appointed with Trey’s workspace at one end and a round conference table at the other. The double doors directly across from the lift opened and Trey strode in, his gaze moving immediately to Dro Tar. Evan didn’t take offense. Dro Tar and Trey were longtime friends while this was the first time he’d met the director in person.

  Tall and lean, with shoulder-length hair blending red, gold and orange, Trey emanated authority with every move, every gesture. “Well done. We didn’t expect you back this quickly.” Trey glanced at Evan and asked, “Do you have the journal?”

  “It wasn’t meant for me.” He hurried to Dro Tar’s side, suddenly feeling protective though he wasn’t sure why. “We delivered it to the rightful owner.”

  “Meaning?” With obvious impatience, Trey moved behind his desk and sat. “My next appointment is already waiting, so be direct.”

  “It was a coded message for Drakkin. He has the journal and he’s taken over the search for Vee’s daughter,” Dro Tar explained.

  “Vee has a daughter?” Trey’s amber gaze focused on Evan and suspicion inundated his empathic receptors. He wasn’t intentionally scanning Trey so the emotion had to have been powerful. “How long have you known about this?”

  Evan was used to being met with mistrust by non-gifted Ontarians. He’d just hoped for better from Head Master
Tal’s brother. Feeling as if Trey struck the first blow, Evan increased the sensitivity of his receptors. As long as he didn’t penetrate Trey’s mind Evan wasn’t in violation of the Mystic Covenant. “I was Master Vee’s apprentice not his confidante.”

  Dro Tar moved slightly forward, drawing Trey’s attention. “Vee’s daughter is no longer our concern. We have reason to believe that Malos is a Rodyte spy and he is either following Gine Farlay or has the boy stashed somewhere.”

  “Who is Gine Farlay and what does Malos gain by harming him?”

  “Gine’s brother, Grat, was my business partner.”

  “That’s right. The programmer you introduced me to.”

  Dro Tar approached the desk as she continued the explanation. Evan stayed a step back, suspecting the briefing would be over faster if he stayed out of it. Trey obviously didn’t trust him and would likely question anything he said.

  “Malos threatened Gine so Grat came after us. He was supposed to ‘neutralize’ Evan and return with me and the journal.”

  Trey paused, eyes narrowed, expression thoughtful. “That makes Malos an accessory to attempted murder not a Rodyte spy.”

  “I’m trying to keep it simple, but it’s complicated.”

  “Have a seat.” Trey smiled at Dro Tar and glanced at Evan. “I’ll push back my next appointment.”

  Evan no longer sensed resentment coming from the director. In fact, excluding that initial spike, he’d sensed nothing but curiosity and concern coming from the other man. Perhaps he’d been too hasty in his assessment. After returning his empathic sensitivity to normal, he slipped into the chair beside Dro Tar.

  Trey communicated with his assistant for a moment then said, “They’re going to reschedule, so I’m yours for the next two hours.”

  “Won’t your life mate mind?” Dro Tar grinned.

  “Not if she can tumble your pet Mystic,” Trey returned without pause.

  Thankful for his gift, Evan quickly realized the exchange was harmless banter. He sensed no sexual undercurrent or barely suppressed longing. They were two friends ribbing each other. “Or we could just watch,” he suggested and the other two laughed.

  Trey rocked back slightly in his chair as he focused on Dro Tar. “All right, start at the beginning and give me a full report.”

  With remarkable clarity, she covered the essential elements of their time on Earth. “The only reason Malos would be interested in the journal is if he knew about the Rodytes using Vee’s daughter to manipulate him.”

  “It’s hard to imagine Vee being manipulated by anyone.” Trey rubbed his chin, seeming to search for other possibilities.

  “The journal entries make that aspect of the conflict relatively clear,” Evan assured him. “Proving Malos’ motivation for wanting the journal will be more complicated. There are any number of excuses he could provide.”

  “Well, our first step is making sure Gine Farlay is out of danger. How old is the boy?” Trey activated his desktop terminal with the swipe of his hand.

  “Twelve, I think. I’m not sure exactly.” Dro Tar scooted to the edge of her seat.

  “As long as he’s a minor his tracker chip should still be broadcasting.”

  Anyone born on Ontariese was chipped shortly after birth. The micro transmitter broadcast a traceable signal for the first eighteen solar cycles of each person’s life. The practice prevented lost children and had made kidnapping nearly nonexistent. Once the person became an adult, it was their choice whether to leave it active or have it removed. Certain occupations required an active chip, most notably any position with the military. Evan understood the justification, but he, like most Mystics, found the intrusion intolerable.

  Summoning a three-dimensional grid, Trey scrolled through sections of the city until he located the boy’s signal. “He’s in school.” Trey chuckled. “Imagine that.”

  “Then we need to intercept his shadow and take Gine somewhere out of Malos’ reach.”

  Trey nodded as he zoomed in on the area and used street corner cameras to look around. “You’ll only have the element of surprise once. I’ll assign you a team so you can coordinate a joint strike. If Malos finds out you’ve snatched the boy, you’ll never find Malos.”

  “Is Malos at the Conservatory?” Evan asked. “If he is, he can only be apprehended by other Mystics.”

  “I’m aware.” A faint echo of Trey’s resentment surfaced again. It was as if he knew he had a problem with Mystics and was trying to overcome his bitterness.

  Evan decreased the sensitivity of his receptors. It was rude to analyze others when curiosity was the primary reason for his empathic insight. “Can you contact Head Master Tal without raising suspicions?”

  “He’s my brother. I contact him frequently.”

  “If I contact him telepathically, we risk alerting Malos to my return.”

  Trey turned back to his console and activated coms. “Hey, are you busy?”

  “Always,” Tal responded.

  Apparently Trey had a direct line to his brother.

  “You know I never bother you unless it’s important. Could you zap yourself up here so we can—”

  A transport conduit opened in a swirl of colored light and Tal walked into the office, closing the vortex behind him with the wave of his hand. His dove-gray robes whipped about his tall body and his sleek black hair formed an intricately braided queue down the middle of his back.

  “You called. I came.” The corners of Tal’s mouth curved upward while his features remained distinct yet expressionless.

  “Our spy is back.” Trey indicated Dro Tar.

  “So I see.” Tal crossed to stand beside the desk, his stride so smooth he seemed to glide across the floor. “Were both of your objectives met, Ms. Nex? Did you recover the journal?”

  “I did and then I gave it to Drakkin.” She offered the explanation with an unapologetic smile.

  Trey quickly caught his brother up on all that had happened. “Is Malos still strutting around the Conservatory pretending nothing is wrong?”

  “What became of Grat?” Tal digressed. “That was unclear in your explanation.”

  Dro Tar tensed, gazing off into the distance, so Evan answered the question. “He used an old assassin’s trick to try and incapacitate me, but the maneuver backfired. He is dead.”

  “I don’t think he saw a way out.” The guilt in Dro Tar’s eyes made Evan want to sweep her into his arms and shield her from the world. “He couldn’t bring himself to kill Evan, but he knew Malos would kill him, and probably his brother, if he failed.”

  “But by taking his own life, he left his brother unprotected,” Tal pointed out.

  Trey shook his head, his gaze again on Dro Tar. “He knew she’d protect Gine. He turned himself into a martyr so she’d take up his cause.”

  “Well, it worked. I feel guilty as hell about this mess and I’m not going to let an innocent die because his brother was unlucky enough to know me.”

  She was thinking about Bron again. Evan could see the familiar ghosts in her eyes and he didn’t need his empathic gift to feel her aching torment. She thought she’d failed her friends back then and there was no way she’d fail Gine now. The perspective was warped and overly harsh, but he’d deal with her attitude once they’d protected the boy.

  “We’ll take care of Gine’s shadow and then stash the boy somewhere safe,” Evan told Tal. “Gine knows Dro Tar, so he’s more likely to cooperate with us. However, Malos must be apprehended before he finds out about Gine.”

  “I understand your concern and I agree that the two must take place simultaneously. However, I believe Malos is by far the bigger threat,” Tal said. “The attempt on your life gives me justification to question Malos, but without your testimony, I will be able to do little else.”

  “I can send a team to pick up Gine,” Trey told them. “I’ll see if Saebin’s available. Believe it or not, she’s good with kids.”

  Dro Tar nodded and even managed to smile. “If he’s
not safe with the overlord’s life mate, we’re all in trouble.”

  “Grat identified Milos as the person who sanctioned the hit on Evan, so I have an obligation to investigate,” Tal mused. “An in-depth interrogation should reveal the motivation for all of Malos’ actions.”

  “Just be careful,” Trey warned his brother. “This can’t come off like a personal vendetta between you and Malos.”

  Tal looked insulted by the suggestion. “I have no direct involvement in any of this.”

  “That’s not quite true. Malos is fanning the flames of a Mystic rebellion and everyone knows it.”

  “Which only makes him more suspicious.”

  Trey pushed to his feet and came out from behind his desk. “Think about it. You sent one of my long-time friends off to rescue Vee’s journal and she returns with a murder plot leading straight to your rival’s front door? Might seem a bit too convenient to an onlooker.”

  After a moment of resistance, Tal sighed. “You’re right. I will supervise the investigation and present evidence, but the interrogation and eventual punishment must be left to a tribunal.”

  Trey seemed satisfied with Tal’s approach so he turned back to Dro Tar. “I’ll take care of the boy. You have my word. No harm will come to him.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I also reactivated your profile, so you’ll have access to standard munitions and my datastream.”

  She nodded. “I’m hoping we have all the intel we need, but I appreciate the precaution.”

  “Exit the vortex in my office,” Tal told Evan. “I will shield your arrival.”

  Evan acknowledged the directive with a nod and Tal teleported back to the Conservatory.

  After a short pause to make sure Tal was in place, Evan opened a transport conduit of his own. He took Dro Tar by the hand and was leading her toward the vortex when Trey offered one last comment.

  “You both did incredibly well in Las Vegas. If you’ve finally worked out your differences, let me know. You’d make one hell of a covert team.”

  Dro Tar just stared at her former commander, clearly shocked by the offer.

  “We’ll give it some thought,” Evan promised then pulled her into the swirling vortex.