Belsas seemed distressed by the idea. “Don’t know if that will work. Can’t have a third officer teaching at the Grounds. It wouldn’t sit well with the other faculty.” Then her sullen face lightened to a grin. “But if someone was willing to accept a disability discharge and a position as a civilian instructor—”
“If it means I can teach others with my talent, I’ll gladly take it!” LaRenna settled back in the comforting knowledge her future with Krell was secured. Happy, love? she broadcast on their open link.
Krell’s reply twinkled with satisfaction. Infinitely.
“I believe the soul phase has changed you both,” said Chandrey, observant of their unspoken exchange. “I’ve known one other souled couple. They were close, but you two seem more so.”
Belsas confirmed Chandrey’s notion. “I see it, too. That closeness is the very thing that saved your life, isn’t it, daughter?”
“Yes.” LaRenna offered Krell a fluttering mental caress. “Krell breathed for me when I couldn’t, risked everything, life itself, to save me. I live now because of and for her.”
“Rightly so.” Chandrey paused to clear her throat. “Thank you, Krell, for your unshakable belief when things were at their worst, and thank you again, Sentry Commander Laiman.” Trazar blushed at the continued attention. “If it hadn’t been for your keen family instincts, she never would have survived until she was found. This truly is a day of celebration.”
“I can think of one here who isn’t celebrating yet.” Belsas nodded toward the cave entrance.
“Oh no!” Chandrey’s hands flew to her mouth. “I completely forgot. LaRenna, Malley is here.”
“Malley!” exclaimed LaRenna, ecstatic at the prospect of seeing her dear friend again.
“Wait a minute, Renna,” said Chandrey. “Malley was crushed to learn Krell was in your life. There is true caring in her heart. Go lightly.”
Krell kissed LaRenna’s forehead and stood. “She’s right, wren bird. I sensed it when I first met Malley. I’d best make myself busy elsewhere while you speak with Malley. Is that okay with you?”
LaRenna’s reply bubbled pure gratitude. “Thank you, darling. I think it would be best at that. Why don’t you bundle some blankets for my journey home?”
“I’ll be as close as the next room. Call if you need me.”
Chandrey watched Krell retreat from the chamber. “She’s considerate of you, LaRenna. That’s an admirable trait I think we all should take as an example. Bel?”
“Commander Laiman?” inquired Belsas. “Would you relieve Third Engineer Whellen?”
“Gladly, Grandmaster Belsas.” Trazar disappeared through the archway.
Chandrey ushered the others from the room, leaving LaRenna to wait. A minute later, Malley appeared at the chamber entrance. Her eyes lit when LaRenna came into view and she rushed to LaRenna’s side, laying her head in her lap. LaRenna rubbed at her shorn head, soaking in the pent-up emotions an overwhelmed Malley unconsciously projected. “Sweet Malley, you worried for me, too, didn’t you?”
Malley reached up to caress her face. “I never heard from you after you posted. Then they told me you were dead. My heart broke when I thought you were gone.”
“I only got your note the evening before I had to go undercover. There wasn’t time for a reply. You were in my thoughts and prayers, same as always.”
Malley rose and stumbled back. “You mean you were too busy with your new lover to reply.” She rejected LaRenna’s extended hand to pace the room. “I thought we had a future. Then, then you take up with the first guardian who comes along. Your Kimshee teacher at that! How could you?”
“You’re a dear friend, Malley, my best friend. I never knew you felt more.”
“Never knew?” Malley’s voice trembled. “How could I have made my intentions plainer? We were lovers!”
“We were one-time phase lovers, Malley,” reminded LaRenna. “And then we were both wine-laced. You never mentioned or pursued it again after that so I assumed you weren’t interested. You even saw others socially.”
Malley’s eyes tinged with jealousy. “Only because you did!”
LaRenna laid her hands to her face. “Malley, you’re my closest friend and I love you very, very much, just—”
“Not in that way. I’m always late when it comes to you, aren’t I?” Malley shook and sobbed. “Damn you! Damn you! You never could do anything in a small way!”
“Malley, I—”
“Are you oathed?” Malley stopped pacing to stare at her, repeating the question when LaRenna didn’t answer immediately. “ARE—YOU—OATHED?”
“Yes, we are.” LaRenna wished nothing more than to wipe the tears from her friend’s eyes. She didn’t regret her choice, only the pain it caused Malley. “I never meant to hurt you.”
A low, smooth voice interrupted the dialogue. “Moving reunion but frankly, I am too tired to concern myself with the ins and outs of a Taelach love triangle.” Talmshone stood in the entrance, holding a blaster in his trembling hands. “Salutations, young mistress LaRenna, it appears you are on the path to recovery. If you desire to stay that way, you and your companion will remain silent. And keep your phase fired eyes tuned elsewhere. I guarantee I can land a blast in the time it takes you to accomplish a phase. Do you comprehend?”
LaRenna drew back. “NO! You—you died in the floods. Trazar said he saw the launch sink. You’re dead!”
“Iralians are capable of holding their breath for many hours. As for your brother—” Talmshone snorted. “The Commander never knew what hit him. For that matter”—he sucked a morsel from between his teeth—“neither did the tender young officer material I dined on yesterday. Now, do you wish to sustain their fate or are you going to cooperate?”
Persuaded by the Iralian’s gruesome reference, they complied, Malley drawing close to LaRenna in instinctual guardian protectiveness. Talmshone appeared disheveled and in intense pain. He cradled his bandaged right hand to his side, keeping pressure on the swollen rip in his abdomen. His overshirt was caked with blood and mud and his leggings, a pair of Training Ground issue, strained with every flex of his double-muscled thighs. He looked over Malley’s braid markings, grinning subtly when he found what he sought.
“It appears I am in need of your services, guardian engineer. I require a pilot and you so conveniently happen to be one.”
“No!” Malley drew up in challenge, standing directly between the Iralian and LaRenna. “I wouldn’t run a herd beast out of here for you, much less an aerolaunch!”
“You will.” Talmshone took sidesteps until LaRenna was in his sights. “You will or I kill her.”
LaRenna clutched Malley’s legs. “Don’t do it. He’ll kill us both regardless.”
Talmshone stepped forward and dug the blaster into LaRenna’s ribcage until she gasped. “I am out of time and patience. Engineer, pick up your lady love and head to the launch before I burn a hole in her lovely white skin.”
“The others will hear you if you open fire.” Malley activated her bow.
“Gauge it down and remove it, Taelach, or you both perish before one person gets through the door.” He jabbed the blaster into LaRenna again, jarring fragile ribs even more. She winced and clutched Malley’s legs tighter as she broadcast the predicament to her life mate.
Krell doubled over in pain. “Iralian.”
“What?” Firman was nearest to her, flirting shamelessly with Tatra.
“IRALIAN!” She barreled toward the entrance. “You’re not taking her again!” The door shattered from the battering ram force and Krell tumbled out, rolling clear of Talmshone’s shots.
“Damn telepaths!” The Iralian backed from the room, dragging Malley and LaRenna along as a shield. In pure unadulterated frustration, he reached out and yanked a fistful of hair from LaRenna’s head. “Transmit that to your lover, Kimshee whore!” Malley tried to shield her from the attack, but Talmshone rewarded the effort by smacking Malley’s ear with his blaster butt.
Belsas and the others burst into the chamber. “Top Centurion Talmshone of the Siddeaunchlun tribe, the Commitment’s most notorious spy.” Belsas’s stare was cold.
“I thought this had the making of one of your escapades. The Commitment really stuck you this time, didn’t they?”
“Belsas Exzal, Taelach supreme, you grace me with your presence.” Talmshone bowed but never took his fury-red eyes off Belsas. He held up the handful he’d jerked from LaRenna’s scalp. “You see the level of violence your pestering child has reduced me to?” He shook the fist at Belsas. “I have asked her and her guardian friend to accompany me. We are taking the aerolaunch to the nearest planetary port. I am anxious to see my mates and young.”
“You’ll never get off Saria Four alive.” Belsas and Krell took small steps forward until Talmshone warded them off with a line of blasts that smoked the ground just short of their toes.
“One more pace and I will separate you both at the knee.”
They stood their ground. “Take me instead,” said Belsas. “I’ll pilot you out of here, grant you safe passage, and see you get home.”
“I am no fool.” Talmshone clutched his side as pain faded his green hide to gray-yellow. “If I allow the Taelach of All to accompany me, I will never reach Iralian space. The Kinship will have us shot down before they allow you to fall into the Commitment’s hands. No, your daughter is the logical choice.”
“I’ll have you shot down carrying her as well.” Belsas felt numb.
“The Taelach species possesses too much empathy for that to happen. The youngsters go with me.” Talmshone backed into the corridor, pulling his prisoners along.
“Renna.” Malley drew close to LaRenna’s head.
Malley? LaRenna established a mental link. I—
Remember, LaRenna. Malley blocked the channel. There was more to LaRenna than Malley remembered, a new substance, a new completion that came in addition to her love for Krell and, in that brief accepting moment, Malley knew it must be protected. No matter what happens to us, I love you and I always will. You need your energy to phase, so shut the link.
But—
Do as I ask. Now shut the link.
I love you, too, Malley Whellen. LaRenna closed the channel and braced for the upcoming battle.
Talmshone forced them toward the open doors of the launch, watching those who followed from a distance. Trazar lay in their path, bleeding from the back of the head.
LaRenna probed her brother’s condition, rejoicing when she found him conscious. She broke the channel when Malley stepped onto the aerolaunch’s extended docking ramp. LaRenna squeezed Malley’s hand then sent a crippling pain phase into Talmshone. He shook his head slowly, resisting the temptation to scratch away the aggravating sensation.
“Stop it, Taelach. You do nothing but make me angrier.” LaRenna increased the phase, blurring Talmshone’s vision. “STOP IT!” He rushed forward, prepared to crush LaRenna’s skull. Trazar grabbed his legs when he came within reach and jerked hard, sprawling him forward.
Malley hurled LaRenna into the seats on the launch’s far side then kicked back, knocking the blaster from Talmshone’s hand. The weapon spiraled off the ramp.
“Bitches, all of you!” He sprang to his feet. “I will kill every last one of you and consume your worthless hearts purely for the pleasure of it!” Malley lunged at him, shoving him toward the edge. He grasped her belt and lifted her over his head, tossing her into Trazar. The force threw them backward, slamming them against the cavern wall.
“Malley! Trazar! No!” LaRenna cried in horror as they fell. In that terrified moment, her phase dropped and Talmshone, leering dreadfully, reached for her.
“Even Kimshee apprentices are all pilot briefed, I do believe.” He pulled her into the crushing crook of his arm. “You cannot phase without oxygen, young one.” His lock tightened until her eyes rolled back. “I should have done this long ago. It is much tidier than Cance’s methods.”
“Don’t harm her!” bellowed Krell. “She’s never flown an aerolaunch.”
“Then I will drop her from the ramp unless a more qualified individual agrees to be of assistance.” Talmshone dragged her to the edge and let her flailing legs dangle into the void. “I am waiting.”
“Let her have footing and air,” said Krell. “And I’ll go with you.”
“Remove your bow and walk my direction, guardian.”
Talmshone loosened his grip slightly, allowing LaRenna to take a single breath. She dangled from his arm, a bare toe length above the ramp. “I will let her breathe when you are safely in the pilot’s position.”
Phase him. LaRenna’s inner voice was almost nonexistent. Pain phase him!
Not until you’re on solid ground. Krell slowly entered the launch. “I’ve done what you asked. Let her down.” Talmshone dropped LaRenna on the ramp for a moment, letting her take several deep breaths before he put her in a head lock again, this time with a grip loose enough for her take partial breaths. “Get used to it, girl. My arm and sparing breaths are your fate until we are safely in Iralian space.”
LaRenna pushed into his hold, sliding her head down until she could bite his arm. When she did, Talmshone dropped his grip, knocking her off the ramp. Her hands somehow found his ankle as she fell and she gripped it for dear life. Everything spun as she fought to for a hold. She hurt without solace, her stretched ribs searing, her foot an anchor dragging her down. A chorus of cries flew through her head. Had she made them or heard them? Her fingers slid across the Iralian’s slick scales, fruitless in their struggle to find a hold. Talmshone reached for her as she fell free, his fingers slipping through hers. Time seemed to slow as she fell. She could see everyone’s faces so clearly. Talmshone’s gray-yellow shaded a surprised pink. Krell lunged for her. Belsas and Firman ran headlong for her, their faces a mixture of disbelief and helplessness. Tatra clutched Chandrey’s arm, pulling her from the cliff edge. Their voices circled her as she tumbled.
“Girl, what are you doing?”
“My baby!”
“Hold on, LaRenna!”
“Renna!”
They jumbled together until she couldn’t tell one from the other. Only Krell’s strong voice cut the panic. It was telepathic, a booming broadcast of a single command. Put me where you’ll land. NOW! LARENNA! NOW!
“KKKKRRRREEEELLLLL!” Abruptly, the scream stopped.
“No!” Chandrey collapsed back into Tatra.
Belsas and Firman continued their forward sweep, plowing into Talmshone and throwing him into the launch doors. You killed her! Belsas forced a vengeful pain phase at him as he struggled to his feet. You murdered my child!
Talmshone shrugged off the phase. “Fight me fairly, Belsas, and quit hiding behind that excuse for a phase. Your daughter had a better command of it than you. Her phase could have stopped me. Yours is an insect—small, annoying, and crushable.”
Belsas stepped forward to push harder. “My phase may not be as intense as LaRenna’s but I am not alone in my efforts.” Talmshone fell back as Chandrey released her anger in the violent spasms that she centered on his spine.
“You took my only child!” She ignored his pleas for mercy and pushed all her energy at him.
“Taelach laws do not allow for death for a single murder.” Talmshone cowered in the back of the launch. “You cannot execute me for it! It is forbidden by the Kinship!”
Tatra steadied Chandrey as she lent her own mind to the punishment. “You didn’t kill just one. Over one million died on Langus. That gives Belsas the right to pass immediate judgment.”
Talmshone howled and stumbled back onto the ramp, scraping the scales from his face as he tried to wipe away the pain. “Mercy! In your Mother Maker’s name, have mercy!”
Firman caught the Iralian’s tunic front. “I sincerely wish I could push the death phase into you myself, but I’ll leave that honor to Krell.” He looked into the launch’s pilot seat. “Where’d she go?”
Belsas stepped into the
launch, never turning from the phase holding Talmshone frozen. Krell was indeed gone. “You threw her over the side as well!” Belsas’s anger now burned out of control. “I hereby find you guilty of mass murder, sabotage, and other crimes too numerous to mention. You are sentenced to immediate death by pain phase.”
Their combined phases strangled out his objections, collapsing him onto the ramp. Tatra and Chandrey slowly approached, their phases growing heavier as they drew near. Talmshone peered up at them, searching for some sign of sympathy. Finding none, he fumbled in his tunic pocket and pulled a small folding knife, which he drew across his neck, slicing two of the three main veins. The move caught his executioners by surprise, distracting them into dropping their phases.
“Taelach justice is swift.” Blood gurgled up and out Talmshone’s mouth. “But the Iralian can take that from you, too. I take my own life before I lose it to you.” The knife fell from his hand and he slumped forward.
Belsas flipped him over. “He’s gone. Iralians consider it an honor to commit suicide in the line of duty. It’ll make a martyr out of him.” She took Chandrey’s arm, leading her away from the scene. “Healer Wileyse, please tend to Commander Laiman while I call for a launch to take Engineer Whellen’s remains to the Training Grounds. Firman, would you please begin searching for any sign of Krell and LaRenna? Mother, please let them be alive. We have seen more than enough death as of late.”
“A search won’t be necessary.” Firman stood at the ramp edge. A smile spanned his face, one that was wider than his mustache could ever cover. “You’ll have to see for yourselves. Words can’t describe this.” The others joined him on the ramp and laughed joyfully at what they saw.
Krell was waist deep in the mud, LaRenna in her arms. They were locked in an exuberant, full-mouth kiss, aware they were being watched but not caring in the least.
Krell?
Yeah, wren bird?
Good catch.
Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine Page 25