Keeper of the Heart

by Johanna Lindsey

  “No—no, and the risk isn’t worth it to try for that extra day. Take me to Sunder, Martha.”

  “And if they don’t let you land?”

  “I’ll worry about that when I get there.”

  Chapter 23

  The office was utilitarian in its decor: a large desk, wooden chairs, a long row of filing cabinets, and battle pictures on the walls. It was as depressing as it had always been, but Donilla Vand was reluctant to change it. In fact, she hadn’t even straightened a picture since the office became hers five years ago.

  The previous occupant of the office entered now with a stack of papers for her perusal. He didn’t glance at her. He wouldn’t while she was in the middle of a conference. Actually, Ferrill rarely looked at her anymore even when she was alone.

  There was a time when she would have brought in the stack of papers and he would be sitting behind the desk. He’d pat his lap and wait patiently until she sat on it. And she’d have a few kisses and her breasts stimulated before she was sent back to the outer office to anticipate the end of the day, when they would go home together. He’d been her lover then, and her boss. He was still her lover, but it wasn’t the same. It would never be the same again.

  “She calls herself a Kan-is-Tran from Sha-Ka’an.”

  Donilla glanced toward her sister, who had spoken. It was easy to tell that Lanar was excited about this visitor, but then Lanar was a scientist, and the Antury and the few other alien ships that had come after them hadn’t nearly appeased her curiosity about other worlds.

  Donilla looked at her advisor now. “Zoreen?”

  Zoreen thumbed through the notebook in her lap until she found what she was looking for, then read aloud, “Sha-Ka’an—a barbarian planet in this Star System with the most powerful energy source known to man. What did you say her name was again, Lanar?”

  “Ly-San-Ter.”

  “Accurate as far as my notes go. That energy source is owned by a family called Ly-San-Ter.”

  Donilla tapped her nails on the desk, speculating. “The Armoruans could have that kind of information. We know at least three outside spaceships have visited them. There is no telling what they have learned, or what new weapons they have gained.”

  “Her ship isn’t like any of those three that landed on Armoru,” Lanar pointed out.

  “They could have sneaked one in on the other side of their planet that we wouldn’t have noticed.”

  “But we now have scanners capable of detecting anything that could be hidden inside the body, and she wouldn’t be allowed to bring anything off her ship, not even her clothes. So what are you objecting to, sister?”

  Donilla’s lips tightened. Being the older by three minutes Lanar had always been the more dominant of the two sisters. It had infuriated her that, as a scientist, she couldn’t assume any command after the takeover, and it was no secret that what she had wanted was Donilla’s new position.

  “It’s my job to be suspicious,” Donilla said. “It’s my job to make sure we don’t let in any more Armoruan saboteurs. That last one destroyed two arsenals and nearly got to the Global Shield before he was captured. It would be good strategy on their part to send a woman now.”

  “I disagree,” Lanar replied. “They wouldn’t trust a woman to get the job done.”

  “If she were a terrified slave being forced—”

  “I’d know it in a minute,” Lanar insisted.

  Donilla’s lips tightened even more, but in disgust this time. Yes, Lanar would know it. She was an expert when it came to terrified slaves—and getting them that way. It was one thing Donilla had never understood about her sister. She was brilliant in her field of medical research, respected by her colleagues, but she took pleasure in inflicting pain on the helpless. That she had suffered beatings from her last lover before the takeover was no excuse for her current obsession with whips and chains, for she had been cruel to slaves for as long as Donilla could remember. And unfortunately, there was no law to govern abuse of the poor creatures.

  “What is her reason for coming here?” Zoreen asked to divert the two sisters from a heated exchange.

  Lanar answered. “To put it simply, she left her planet to try and escape the man her father gave her to, but he has followed her in another ship that is only hours away.”

  “Gave her to?” Donilla said derisively. “Her planet really is barbaric, isn’t it?”

  “According to my notes,” Zoreen replied, “the men are of the warrior caste that uses swords as weapons.”

  All three women felt a measure of superiority. And the Antury had alluded that they were backward in relation to other worlds. Only in space travel, apparently.

  But Donilla finally said, “I still don’t like it. It’s a story designed to outrage our sensibilities and make us sympathetic to her plight. It’s the perfect story for another Armoruan plant.”

  “But if she’s genuine and we don’t help her, she’ll have no choice but to apply to the Armoruans,” Lanar pointed out. “They’ll be ecstatic to get their hands on her and her ship, especially since it doesn’t need a crew to fly it.”

  “No crew? How is that possible?”

  “She claims it’s run by a machine called computer.”

  “The Antury had those, but none that could run an entire ship,” Zoreen remarked.

  “And if her family is as rich as Zoreen says, the Armoruans can hold her for ransom,” Lanar added. “Imagine the things they could bargain for, Doni, things Zoreen and the others returned to tell us about, weapons that can destroy whole planets. Do we dare push such a prize into their laps? I say we do the bargaining, but with her, for the sanctuary she wants.”

  Donilla hesitated before finally nodding agreement, albeit reluctantly. “All right, have the Shield opened enough so she can enter and land. But I want two guards posted at the quarters you give her, and they’re to stay with her whenever she leaves them.”

  It was Lanar’s turn to hesitate. “Certainly—but she doesn’t want to land her ship,”

  “Then how does she expect to join us?” Donilla said sarcastically. “Fly?”

  “She has something called Transferring that allows her to just appear before us.”

  Donilla’s eyes flew to her advisor with alarm. “Zoreen?”

  “We were told of this Transferring briefly, but it seemed too complicated to understand, so we didn’t ask for further information on it.”

  “Are you telling me this woman could have just appeared anywhere on Sunder without our knowing it?” Donilla shouted. “She has the means to pass through the Global Shield?”

  “Apparently. But I told you the Armoruans would be thrilled to get their hands on her. Imagine what they could do with this Transferring.”

  “That doesn’t bear thinking about. So why does she even need our permission to come?”

  “Because she wants our help to keep the man who pursues her away from her when he arrives, he and his men.”

  “And how are we supposed to do that if they also have this Transferring thing?”

  “If they appear, we detain them. If they won’t cooperate, we use the Altering rod on them. They won’t be any trouble after that.”

  By the look of her, Lanar obviously relished the thought of doing just that. But Donilla hated even the mention of that damn Altering rod that had changed all their lives so drastically. She hadn’t been truly happy since it was invented.

  Chapter 24

  “Will you stop with the gripes, Martha? The Sunderians are just nervous, but who can blame them after what you told me about the Armoruans? You’d take the same precautions if you faced the constant threat of invasion.”

  “You managed to talk them into letting you keep your clothes on,” Martha grumbled. “You could have talked them into letting you keep one little computer-link unit.”

  “I wasn’t going to press my luck after that grueling interrogation they put me through,” Shanelle replied. “After all, they aren’t welcoming me with open arms.” />
  Martha’s tone switched to indignant. “They should be after you promised them a whole crateload of gaali stones, and for something a warrior would give you for free.”

  “Ah, but when the job requires protection from a warrior, what I promised may not even be enough.”

  “And that’s another thing. What makes you think they can keep Falon away from you?”

  “They said they could. I have to count on that.”

  “But I won’t be there to help you, and neither will Corth. They could have at least allowed you to bring Corth along.”

  “They don’t have the technology to analyze Corth or you. If they did, they could see for themselves that neither of you is programmed to do them harm—not that you would let them get near you, but you get the point. They’re just being cautious. And stop making such a fuss. You know all this better than I do.”

  “I don’t have to like it.”

  Shanelle had to grin at this new tone that was pure pout. “So you’ve filed your complaint for the record. Let’s just do as planned and stop worrying, all right?”

  “Stop worrying when I’ll only be able to hear you half the time you’re down there?”

  Shanelle sighed. “Without the computer link, we can’t do any better than what we planned. Even you said so. All you have to do is keep a fix on me until I’m shown to my quarters; then you remain fixed on that room. If you tried to follow me everywhere, you could end up losing me altogether, and then where would I be? This way I’ll know where to find you if I need to Transfer back to the ship.”

  “That’s if I can manage to keep you on my monitor until you get to your quarters.”

  “Stars, you just had to make sure I’d have something to worry about, too, didn’t you? Thanks a lot, Martha.”

  “Anytime,” Martha fairly purred. “Maybe now you’ll stop being so damn blasé about a dangerous situation. You’re going to walk in there blind, because we know next to nothing about these Sunderians.”

  “But I do know what will happen if I stay on the Rover, so I’m opting for the unknown.”

  “Stubborn—your mother would have a fit if she knew I was letting you—look out! The intruder is coming through again.”

  And Brock’s voice was there, arrogantly male, ordering, “You are forbidden to go down to that planet, Shanelle.”

  It wasn’t surprising he’d figured out what she was planning to do. He was, after all, a Mock II, and as capable at probables and deductions as Martha was. And he had been transmitting his voice every few hours for the past three days with a full gamut of orders, persuasions, threats, and warnings, none of which Shanelle listened to. But she now knew that Falon hadn’t come after her alone. He had his relatives with him—he also had her brother with him. That was playing dirty as far as she was concerned, and she had plugged up her ears and buried her head under a pillow each time Dalden had tried to talk her into giving up.

  From Falon she had heard nothing, but his very silence unnerved her, predicting that what Martha had said was true. The longer it took him to find her, the angrier he was likely to get. And she had been gone six days now. She planned to make it much longer with the help of the Sunderians.

  Right now, she ignored her father’s computer once again, and told him so. “Sorry, Brock, but I didn’t hear that. Martha, I’m ready.”

  “So long, doll.”

  “Wait!” Brock began, but Shanelle was gone. “You should not have abetted her in this foolishness, Martha.”

  “So what else is new?”

  “If you were aware—”

  “I’m always aware, brick-brain.”

  Brock released a sigh and tried a different tack. “Her lifemate is losing patience.”

  “He didn’t have any to lose. And shouldn’t you be doing something about that?”

  “He is not an easy subject to work on.”

  “Poor baby. Has he threatened to destroy you yet?”

  “Save your sarcasm for the humans, woman. I am not impressed.”

  “You turning barbarian on me again, sludge-bucket?” Martha growled.

  “You are impossible to talk to anymore.”

  “So who invited you?”

  “Martha!”

  It was the wounded tone he injected that got to her. “I’m sorry, Brock. I’m just worried about Miss Do-it-the-hard-way. I should have had her turned around by now, but she’s proving as stubborn as her mother ever was.”

  “Our objectives are the same, to see Shanelle back where she belongs. Do I send you Falon as soon as it is safe to Transfer, will you then send him down to Shanelle?”

  “No.”

  A brief silence. “Why not?”

  “Falon thought he was getting a warrior’s daughter, obedient, easy to handle. It hasn’t sunk in yet that Shani is more her mother’s daughter, with a mind of her own. The more trouble he has now in obtaining her, the sooner that fact will sink in, and the less misery they’ll both have later on. So help the big guy all you like, but don’t ask me to do the same. Besides, he wouldn’t trust any assistance coming from me.”

  “It is true he does not speak highly of you.”

  Martha chuckled. “I can just imagine.”

  Shanelle materialized into bright lights and a cacophony of amazed chatter over her sudden appearance. A great many people had apparently shown up for her expected arrival. They formed a circle around her, but not a close one. In fact, no one there seemed willing to approach her or speak. Military types stood at the forefront of the circle, men in uniform with some kind of ancient-looking handguns in their hands, not pointed at her, but ready just the same. Their nervousness was apparent— too apparent.

  Shanelle took them all in at a glance and had only one blaring thought. How could these timid people possibly protect her from a Sha-Ka’ani warrior? They were every one of them on the short side, the women averaging five feet, the men maybe five and a half. Stars, now what was she going to do?

  A woman finally came through the circle to approach her. She had a superior air about her of someone in authority, gray eyes without warmth, black hair drawn back severely. The smile she offered should have cracked, it was so brittle.

  “I am Lanar Vand. When we communicated, you should have warned us you were from a race of overlarge humans.”

  So much for “Welcome to Sunder.” The little woman was actually scolding her. Shanelle almost laughed, but her disappointment was too keen at the moment.

  “I don’t think this is going to work. The only reason I’m here is because I need help, but I’m not at all sure now that you people can supply it.”

  “Certainly we can. Your requirements were understood and agreed to. The man Falon Van’yer is to be kept from your sight and hearing. A simple matter.”

  “Simple? He’s a warrior, and a lot bigger than lam.”

  There was some chuckling in the room, as if they assumed she must be exaggerating. More likely they thought nothing could get bigger than she. But obviously, they weren’t taking her seriously.

  The spokeswoman said, “A large male will be interesting to observe, but his size won’t be a problem. It won’t be necessary to depend on brute force to detain him.”

  “It won’t?” Shanelle asked suspiciously. “Killing him isn’t in the bargain. In fact, it’s absolutely forbidden.”

  Lanar Vand took a step back, Shanelle’s words were uttered so fiercely. But then the lady frowned, realizing what she’d done, and those gray eyes that lacked warmth got downright frigid.

  Killing wasn’t an option, Lanar said stiffly. “And I have assured you that your problem will be seen to. So come along—”

  “Hold it,” Shanelle cut in just as stiffly. “I’m not going anywhere except back to my ship unless you tell me just how you intend to take care of my ‘problem.’ ”

  “So my word isn’t good enough for you?”

  “Is there any reason it should be?”

  Lanar’s pale skin suffused with color. She turned to one of the
soldiers, nearly shouting, “Officer, take the alien to General Vand. Let my sister try and convince her of our capabilities. I no longer have the patience.” She added in a mumble as she turned away, “And to think I volunteered for this.”

  Shanelle stood there for a good thirty seconds grappling with her own irritation while the officer waited and everyone else in the room continued to watch her avidly. What she wanted to do was tell Martha to forget it and Transfer her back to the Rover. But the thought of facing Falon now, after she’d run from him ... She had to see this through, and just hope these people had some strategy planned, or maybe some place they could hide her where Falon couldn’t get to. And she had to hope they all weren’t like Lanar Vand.

  Chapter 25

  “The general will see you now.”

  Shanelle followed the officer who had escorted her from the space center to this government building across town. They had got here in a ground vehicle that actually rolled on wheels and moved no faster than a hataar. There had been ample time for her to play the tourist, though there wasn’t anything of real interest to see. The many buildings they passed were mostly square in shape, all painted white, and all somewhat miniature in size—just like the people.

  Shanelle ducked beneath yet another too-short doorway to enter the general’s small office. She had been expecting a woman. She hadn’t been expecting an exact duplicate of Lanar Vand. The women were obviously twins. They were exactly alike except for their different uniforms, and this twin’s gray eyes weren’t as cold.

  The general was standing behind her desk to greet Shanelle. “I am Donilla Vand, Miss Ly-San-Ter, presently in command of Hydra town. Won’t you have a seat so we can discuss your problem and our solution for it?”

  Shanelle looked at the small wooden chairs in front of the desk that she was being offered and said, “Fine, if you’re sure I won’t break it.”

  Donilla smiled, then actually laughed. Some of the stiffness left Shanelle’s back. Carefully, she lowered herself into the nearest chair. It didn’t break.