by J. A. Comley
Watching the Grand Makhi and life-long friend leave, Larkel shook his head. Taking a deep breath, he ordered his thoughts. First, he would try and strengthen the Shield Connectors and address the many papers awaiting his approval, then he would focus on Starla.
***
Starla finished in a rush, trying to get the words out before her tears returned. Horato pulled his chair closer and patted Starla lightly on the shoulder.
“There now, miss Starla.”
“I'm sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Thank you for listening. I will get back to work now.”
“Now, what would be the point in listening if I didn't try and help?” Horato smiled gently, motioning her to stay seated. “Before I give my opinion on Larkel, I think you are right about that memory that you say has been tampered with. I think you need to have someone try to bring it back. I have never heard of that being possible, but if the High Lord thought it might be, then it is worth a try.”
Starla's hands clenched. “I agree, but I don't think I'll need someone to help. The magic is unravelling by itself. I can remember more bits and pieces already: the Baron circling me, clicking his tongue, and his saying something about the High Lord.” She paused shaking her head.
Horato was frowning. “Magic doesn't unravel, Starla. Certain spells may fade with time if the Makhi who cast them dies, but a memory erasure should be permanent. What it sounds like is that the magic didn't stick, which means another magic must have blocked it.”
Starla managed a mute nod, resisting the urge to touch the Star. Had this amulet blocked the spell meant to permanently remove her memory?
“I see. I guess I will ask the High Lord for help later.”
Horato's lips turned into a sad smile at her hesitancy. “As I said earlier, I have known Larkel since he was born, long before he ever became the powerful High Lord of today. I was close friends with his father, who was High Lord before him. I have watched him grow up, make mistakes, and become who he is today.” He smiled, as if remembering better times. “Now, in this war, we have all lost something, Larkel included. And what we have lost is private and not the business of others. But what I can tell you is that the Larkel I have known his whole life is not capable of manipulation or malice. I am not saying that he wouldn't like to know your secret. As High Lord, that information has the potential to help us win this war.” He waited, letting Starla put things into perspective. “But as a man, well, any kindness he has shown is genuinely given, without expecting anything in return. I would stake my life on it.”
Starla felt a smile tugging her lips as the seed of hope stirred in her heart again, flooding her veins with warmth.
“As to the matter of your family, I would consult the Royal Library. Or even the Makhi Library; they keep track of all travel between other planets and ours. Now, let's not leave our charges waiting any longer.”
“Thank you, Makhi Horato.”
She rose, adjusting her silver belt. Bowing, she returned to her duties, eagerly awaiting lunchtime.
Starla returned to the cart and leant against it. If Horato was right, and she had no reason to think a Makhi of his experience would be wrong, then some magic had prevented her memory from being permanently removed.
If it was the Star, then perhaps I can encourage it to unravel the other magic faster.
Feeling determination fill her blood, she tried to find the foggy memory. Pain flashed through her mind, and she watched the Baron rip the leather thong securing her bun away. She gritted her teeth as another spike of pain hit. This time, the Baron looked deranged, blood dripping from his lip. The memory blurred, and now he held a dagger to her throat.
Starla fled her mind and found herself gripping the cart for support. The memory was still incomplete, but she had enough of it now to know why her mind had kept showing her that alley in Arreau.
She shivered, hoping that whatever pieces were still missing would not prove his attack more efficient than that of those leering men.
She spotted a few refugees moving away from her position and scolded herself. What had she been thinking? This was not the time or the place. Picking up another basket of supplies, she prepared to finish her day here, then she could tackle the memory. With any luck, Larkel would be with her.
“That looks heavy.”
Starla nearly dropped the goods, only just keeping hold of the basket as the Baron stepped out from between two tents. Fear coursed through her blood.
She met his empty eyes and tried to think clearly.
“I came because I learned that you and the High Lord have fallen out. I am surprised you are still breathing.”
Starla felt her muscles tense. This man had attacked her then ordered her memory removed, no doubt so that he could try to lure her in this way, instead, if she'd been freed.
In Starla's mind, she saw blood dripping from his lip and felt fire erase her fear. She had fought back then. Now would be no different.
He watched her straighten and a small smirk tilted his lips.
“I also came because I have managed to get you what you want.”
His words brought her up short. “What?”
“An audience with the Queen. She is who you came here to see, right?”
Starla fought the urge to swallow. She knew she wasn’t safe with him, yet his offer was hard to refuse.
The Baron held out a hand. “Come with me. The Makhi watching you is rather lax, I'm sure we can leave undetected. Then you can see the Queen, and she can clear up all your problems.”
Starla shook her head. “No.”
The Baron's eyes narrowed slightly. “No? You think that anyone else here has the influence to grant your wish? If you are worried about my intentions, all I want is for you to help me stop Larkel from murdering anyone else. The fact that he entered your mind uninvited will be a good starting point.”
Starla met his eyes, her own hard. “I said no. Excuse me, Baron, I have work to do.”
He stepped forward, empty eyes filling with dark anger. “I am offering to be your ally.”
“You attacked me. You are no ally of mine. Leave me be, Baron Malion.”
The Baron grabbed her arm as she tried to sidestep him, and the basket fell to the ground. Starla struggled against his grip, but his fingers were immovable. She fought down a new wave of fear.
“Let go.”
“You remembered, and yet you still think you have a choice? You are nothing, no-one, you have no right to defy me.”
He began pulling her away then stopped as a small group of refugees barred his way.
“I do not think the lady wants to go with you, Baron Malion.”
Starla met Aferion's eyes as he spoke. Behind him were five Cosmaltians. Above their hands, sharpened bits of metal began to spin, the whine growing more menacing with every pass. She noted the earrings along their pointed ears and felt her heart rise. They were Brosneian Monks, elite Cosmaltian warriors.
He watched them for a moment as if debating their resolve, and Starla feared he would call their bluff. Surely refugees would not attack a member of the Galatian nobility, risking their lives and that of all their people?
The Baron released Starla's arm abruptly. “This would have gone better for you if you had just listened the first time.”
Starla watched him stalk away, her hands shaking, but pride glowed in her blood. She hadn't let fear cloud her mind. She had stayed strong.
“Thank you, Aferion, all of you.”
The monks bowed and left, ever silent. Aferion stepped closer to help her repack the supplies in the basket.
“I don't think he will be back, but I think it might be best if you stay within sight of your Makhi guard.”
She gave the young man a rueful smile. “I think you may be right.
***
“Starla!” Horato called, hours later.
“Yes?” she replied, feeling hollow inside, her earlier triumph fading as the hours had gone by. The High Lord had not arrived at lunchti
me as normal, nor had he come later. She wondered if he would be there tomorrow, or if he had decided to stay away altogether.
Numbly, she imagined what it would be like if she never saw him again. It hurt realising exactly how deeply attached to him she had become, how much she looked forward to watching his brow furrow as he listened intently to some stranger's plight, or how her heart quickened when she caught him watching her, how much she wanted to tell him that she didn't want to be apart.
“Are you listening?”
Starla winced, pulling herself out of the growing despair in her mind.
“I'm sorry, Makhi Horato,” Starla said, giving him her full attention.
“I was saying that I have a roster of guards coming in tomorrow. They will be volunteering here for at least a week, probably two.”
“You're saying I mustn't come?”
“There'll be a Captain ordering them about their duties. She has requested that no civilian volunteers be present.” Horato shrugged apologetically. “You are welcome to return after they leave. I will send word.”
Starla smiled. “Of course, my lord. It will be good for the camp to have more than enough volunteers for a change. I will be back when they're done.”
Watching the rotund Makhi waddle off, Starla sighed and headed for the beginning of the footpath, where her Makhi escort to the Inn would be waiting. She wondered if she could organise a trip to the library in the week's worth of free time she suddenly had ahead of her. She felt another pang at the thought of going about the city without Larkel.
Rounding the last tent, Starla froze, and her stomach did a somersault as the tall figure of the High Lord appeared before her, the wind playing in his dark hair.
“Hello, Starla,” Larkel said with a faint colour rising in his cheeks. “I was wondering if you would like to take a walk?”
6
Knowledge
Starla took a calming breath, fighting with the burning desire to throw herself into his arms.
Her reaction made her pause. She had been raised within a world of strict restrictions between men and women, yet every day here, in this camp, had proven to her how unnecessary they were. She noticed her silence begin to dim the hopefulness she saw in the indigo eyes that watched her, and gave him a slow smile.
“Yes, a walk sounds lovely, thank you.”
Seeming to fight for control, Larkel began to lead her through the streets, up towards the Tower Wall. When they passed through his Shield, Starla tensed automatically. This was the realm of Galatia's nobles. Would the Baron be here somewhere?
“I thought it would be better if we spoke somewhere private,” he said by way of explanation, having noticed her reaction.
Starla felt her heart begin to race. Talk. Somewhere private. Her blood seemed to be turning to fire.
Not trusting her voice, she simply nodded her agreement.
Was this the part about love they always seemed to leave out of the lectures? Then again, Elise had never said anything about feeling like this with Antonio.
The houses of the Imperial Circle were beyond opulent. The glass that seemed to define the Palace was carved into fantastic, mythical beasts and soaring columns.
The High Lord moved away from Starla to open a lock on a little gate in a fence that surrounded the beginnings of the small forest she had seen from the cliffs.
“You didn't come at lunch,” Starla said, surprising herself by speaking out loud.
Larkel swung the gate open and looked back at her, a strange expression on his face, but the hope in his eyes sparkled higher.
“I had important matters to deal with at the Order.”
“Of course,” Starla said, cheeks burning as she followed him into the shade of the trees.
“Those are called agleys,” Larkel said, noticing the direction of her gaze. “They make fantastic wine.” The large, black, diamond-shaped fruit hanging from the thin, golden vines wrapping around the black-blue bark of the trees looked ripe for harvest.
The path they were walking on ended in a small clearing lined with white-leaved trees, right on the edge of the little hill. Starla stopped and gazed around her. Off to her left was a quaint, glass spun, two-storey house nestled between the thick, deep-blue tree trunks. Directly ahead of her, the view was breathtaking.
Stretching away from her, to the left and right, were the city's buildings glittering like a cloth woven of jewels. Directly ahead lay a swath of deep green, a strange dome-shaped building, more trees, and a lake, reflecting the sunlight. Beyond the high, outer wall was a shimmering glow: the great ocean of Galatia, stretching far off to the horizon.
“Welcome to my home,” Larkel said softly from behind her.
“It is beautiful, Larkel,” Starla said, awed by the view around her and a little surprised by the relative modesty of his house, considering his status.
A strange look came over the High Lord's face as she said his name, and the compliments of his home seemed to give him a surge of satisfaction. She found another smile curling her lips.
“Please, come and sit,” he said, indicating towards a wrought-metal table and chairs that overlooked the view. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” she said, feeling nervous again now that he had sat down opposite her.
“I am sorry, Starla,” he said sincerely, without preamble, his eyes locked on hers. “Because I have been foolish and broken your trust, I'd like your permission to use a Verelios Beam.” He chuckled at the look of confusion on her face. “A well-kept secret is that the Verelios Beam works both ways, except that usually the Makhi using it will block their end of the connection. May I?”
“It really isn't necessary. I have been foolish, too. I came here willing to trust.”
That strange look came over his face again, seeming to brighten his eyes. “Please?” He raised his hand as he had done at the hearing.
Starla held up her right hand in front of his and waited. Once more, the silvery beam of light connected them. This time, his hand remained shrouded too.
“This has an added benefit for us because now you can feel my mind as well as I can feel yours.” He smiled as he felt her presence linking with his. “To prove it works: I am a Harknine Keeper.” Instantly, the light around his hand burned red, but more importantly for Starla, she had noticed the slight twinge in his mind, as if it knew the lie and had tried to dislodge it. She also caught a flash of a memory of him being presented with the circlet and robes of High Lord.
She looked up at the High Lord and felt the increased nervousness through the bond as they mirrored each other's emotions.
“I am truly sorry for lying,” he said solemnly. “The King did ask me to see that you were comfortably housed and well looked after. He did ask me to extend you an invitation to stay in the City. He also ordered that you be stopped if you tried to leave before we knew your secret. And yes, I am the one he asked to try and get you to share it.”
“He didn't want me in the refugee camp?” Starla asked, remembering the servant's words.
Larkel's eyes widened and then narrowed in disgust as he caught glimpses of her memory. “That woman who spoke to you, Lanteg. She is one of the Baron's followers.”
A spike of pain followed his words, but Starla ignored it, keeping focused on the man before her, and all she hoped with regards to him.
“That explains a lot.” Starla narrowed her own eyes, seeing a brief memory of Mrs Lanteg standing in a garden, the Baron leading the little meeting. “How did you find out it was her?”
Grimacing, he explained about asking his second to look into the case, and what he had discovered.
Starla nodded, ignoring more flashes of pain. “I am also sorry, Larkel. I could have asked differently or—” she shrugged.
“No, Starla. Lanteg, and even the Baron, were able to get to you because I hid the truth. This is my fault.”
Suddenly the pain burst over, and her vision of Larkel vanished, replaced by a pair of grey eyes
, promising pain and torment. She thought someone called her name, but in her mind, the Baron was promising her only death.
A presence pushed into the scene, silver light swelling with relief as it found her.
She opened her eyes to find Larkel bending over her where she had fallen from her chair. He met her eyes, his presence in her mind concerned.
“What was that?”
Starla pushed herself up and slowly told him about the Baron's visits, and her realisation that the magic was wearing off. She watched him become aware of her discussion with Horato and tried to stand.
Larkel pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I am so sorry. I should have protected you better.” His presence in her mind flickered between anger and relief.
Starla's mind had gone blank. The only thoughts were the feeling of his arms around her, the hard lines of his body against hers.
“You can file a complaint. We can have him—”
Starla realised he was still reliving her memory and felt her muscles stiffen. She pushed away, cheeks burning. Something clicked in his eyes, and his presence vanished from her mind.
“Sorry. I should … I had promised myself that I wouldn't enter your mind again without your permission,” he began, the tone of his voice making her sure his heart was racing to. “But Makhi Horato is right. Magic doesn't unravel.”
“So how—?”
“My best guess is that you did it yourself. I saw—”
Starla looked up, cheeks still warm, and he fell silent. “What do these mind links do? I don't understand them.”
“Sharing minds gives a much deeper insight into a person. Inside your memories, I learned more about you than I'd guess even many of the people back on Earth know. Have you not felt the same sense of understanding?”
