A Blue Star Rising

by Cecilia Randell

  “It is permissible if you are sure they will remain well-behaved, no matter what the class may be. However, even Emila still has trouble if I am sparring with someone she is not familiar with, and she knows the rules. Your cubs don’t.” He waved a hand. “Now go. You have a lot to take care of over the next few days.”

  Yes, they did. And first on the list was making sure she knew and had what she needed to make it through a day at the Academy—without someone shadowing her every move. As much as she loved having the guys around her, they couldn’t always be there. “Time for me to get my sea legs under me,” she murmured as Levi held the door for her.

  “She is not making any sense again,” Felix rumbled from directly behind her.

  “Mr. Zeynar does the same thing,” Duri said from in front of her. “You get used to it. I have found that if they want to be understood, they will say it again or explain.”

  She snorted. Duri talked as if she were some strange, foreign creature. But he said the same of his boss, so it couldn’t be that bad, right? “So, where are we going for lunch?”

  Chapter 10

  BLUE

  Her comm pinged. Dean Gravin had sent the files. She’d look at the attachments when she was back at the inn and had the larger tablet.

  “This is it.” Jason stopped in front of a large apartment building.

  Like the others in this area, it was a little run-down. Sitting at the corner of Corras and 29th South in the southern green district, the structure had a stone exterior that was chipped and crumbling in a few places, and the bottom levels could use a good cleaning. But the windows and doors looked to be in good repair, as did the balconies and exterior walks. Even better, Jason had assured them there was a significant green space attached to this apartment complex with spaces available to rent for the housing of mounts as well as people.

  Mo’ata checked his comm again, no doubt anxious to hear from Demil. Or “Boss” as Blue was supposed to refer to him. She had rolled her eyes when Mo’ata had informed her of that.

  “Are you sure there’s an opening? It didn’t come up on any of the searches we did.” Forrest looked the building over just as Blue had, though he looked more interested in the state of the landscaping. Unlike most of the apartments and buildings in Karran, this one had a neat row of shrubs, the leaves ranging in shades of pink and mauve.

  She took a closer look at the neighborhood the transport had dropped them in. Though it was in the south of the city, it reminded her of the central area the inn was situated in—a bit more open and a bit more greenery on display. She was sure there would be a park or common green area around here somewhere.

  Jason’s expression stiffened. After a moment he rolled his shoulders back and nodded. He sent Forrest a smile. “I’m sure. I checked with the monitor for the building. They don’t usually post vacancies, as any open rooms are offered to Ministry agents and students first.” He drew in a breath. “Actually, this is my building. I’ve had rooms here since I was at the Academy and continue to pay rent even when on assignment.” He shrugged and sent an apologetic look at Blue. “I would have offered to let you stay, but my place is small, barely enough room for even me.”

  “It is relatively close to the Ministry’s headquarters, the Academy, and the university,” Mo’ata supplied. “If the rooms fit our needs, it will be ideal.”

  Jason relaxed slightly. Blue wondered why he was so anxious to share this piece of his life with them. “You’ll like it, I promise,” he said. “As you can tell, this neighborhood is one of the older areas and hasn’t undergone many improvements, but the inside of the building is fully upgraded.”

  He climbed a short run of steps up to a shallow porch and pressed his hand to a screen sheltered in an alcove to the left. A stone panel receded and slid to the side, revealing a pair of glass doors. Ah, that makes more sense. Blue hadn’t spotted an obvious entrance, even at what was clearly the porch; most of the doors had appeared to lead directly to units.

  “Clever,” Felix said, nodding.

  “Hah. You just like it because it’s sneaky,” Blue teased.

  “Yes. It is good security to be sneaky.” He shot her a grin.

  “It is actually part of the original design of the building,” a new voice said from just inside the building. A slightly older woman stepped out, her silver hair smoothed back from her face and her loose trousers and jacket neatly pressed. “Many of the council homes employ similar techniques.”

  Blue looked the building over again. Just how old was this building? And they’d had fancy, camouflaged doors even then? It hit her once more just how old Karran society must be. It was such an interesting mix of technology and what she could only think of as “old world.”

  Well, one of my classes is Alliance History. It’s bound to include information on Karran and Tremmir in particular. Excitement filled her, and it was as if she was seeing the city again for the first time.

  The older woman turned to Jason. “Mr. Peterson.” Her voice was warm, if a bit reserved. “It is wonderful to have you with us again. And I hope a little more permanently this time?”

  Jason smiled one of his rare, warm smiles. Who was this lady?

  “Miss Trellot. It is a pleasure as always. And you know I don’t really have control of my assignments.” He gestured to Blue. “This is the girl I told you of.”

  Miss Trellot turned her attention to Blue and cocked her head. Something in her expression, a hint of mischief, reminded Blue of D’rama. “Not a girl Jason, not if half the tales I’ve heard are true.”

  Jason flushed at the admonishment. “Yes, well, you are correct as always.”

  “You are Blue Faust?” she asked, looking her over.

  Blue nodded.

  “You must call me Sana, dear,” she said. Blue nodded again as the woman’s gaze wandered to the rest of the group. “And who are these gentlemen?”

  At her words, Mo’ata, Forrest, Levi, and Felix all stood straighter, if that were possible. Duri, after a quick scan of the woman, went back to watching the traffic, both pedestrian and transports. Blue suppressed a smile and finally found her voice. “The big redhead is Mo’ata of the Dramil clan, and my First Priden,” she said, watching Sana closely.

  The older woman’s eyes widened, but there was no censure, only curiosity. “Is that so? We will have to speak at some point about your clans. I have often wondered at the inner workings. It is surprisingly hard to find good information. You’ll find I’m a bit of a collector of cultures.”

  Mo’ata inclined his head. “I will be sure to make that happen, Mistress Trellot.”

  So formal. Then again, this was the first time since they’d been with the clans that Blue had seen Mo’ata interact with a more mature woman who obviously held some authority, even if only over a building. His matriarchal upbringing was evident in his attitude—not cowed, but definitely deferential.

  Sana turned to Forrest next. The woman either knew much more than she let on, or she was very intuitive. Or both.

  “This is Forrest Decatur. He accompanied me from Earth and is also part of my prida. He has recently taken the role of Umsji, or caregiver.”

  Forrest stepped forward, took the woman’s hand, and bowed over it. Blue’s brows rose. Where had he learned that trick? She was definitely going to tease him for it later. Of course, she herself was being pretty formal as well.

  “A charmer. How lovely.” Her lips turned up in a delicate smile. “You must also call me Sana, young man.”

  Forrest flashed her a grin, but held his tongue

  Sana gave him an approving nod. Leaning toward Blue, she murmured, “This one still looks trainable. Good choice.”

  Blue choked on a laugh as Forrest’s eyes widened. This woman was something else.

  “Yes, I think so too,” Blue finally managed. She indicated Levi, who had hung back behind the others. “This is Levi Scorran of Padilra. He is a great friend.” And maybe something more. The thought drifted across her mind, and Blue blu
shed. She’d yet to officially discuss it with Levi, let alone the others.

  Levi bowed to a neat forty-five degrees, indicating his estimation of the woman. Sana matched him. “I do not speak for the Alliance, but I want to extend my thanks for your part in this recent business with the Prizzoli. I know it could not have been easy to face such a thing in your own home. And you have decided to leave it, which must be doubly hard.”

  Levi glanced up, his eyes golden against his skin. “I thank you for your words.” His gaze flicked to Blue and then down. “Though it was not as hard to return to Tremmir as you may think.”

  Blue’s heart pounded, and she licked her lips. Oh, she and Levi were going to talk, and soon. A new urgency gripped her, thrilling through her. She’d danced around the idea for so long, it seemed. And after that one day in the training yards, she’d become aware of Levi, not just as a friend or partner in their grand adventure, but as a man. And when she’d thought she may never see him again…

  She wanted him. For herself and for the prida. Yes, we will definitely be talking soon.

  Sana cleared her throat, and Felix snorted. Blue jumped. “Sorry,” she mumbled. She turned to the sneaky mercenary and curled her lip, causing Felix to grin. “This,” she said, “is Felix…” Blue trailed off, horrified to realize she actually had no idea what his last name was, or if he even had one. They’d spent a couple of months together. How was it possible she knew so little about the giant man? I am a horrible friend.

  Her mind scrambled. Mo’ata had first introduced the mercenary as “Felix of Cularna.” Was that actually his name, like Mo’ata’s was “of the Dramil clan”? Had anyone ever mentioned another name? Her cheeks heated further when she realized everyone was staring at her.

  “Um, Felix of Cularna,” she stammered out.

  A snort escaped Sana. The sound was startling coming from the dignified woman. “Oh,” she finally said, “I know this one.” She brought her left hand up, curled in a fist, and thumped her right shoulder once. “Hello, Felix Audal. You may not remember me—you were much younger at the time—but I had the privilege of attending a reception at your family’s estate. I believe your father had just received his third general’s diamond.”

  Holy shit. That was all Blue could think. She watched as Felix’s face went cold, colder even than Jason’s, more on the arctic side. Slowly, as though the movement was dragged from him, he raised a fist of his own and thumped his shoulder, just as Sana had done.

  She’d just learned more of Felix’s life from that one sentence than she had from all the time she’d spent in his company. And he did not appear pleased.

  Blue shifted her attention to the others. Jason’s eyes were wide, shock and something she might have labeled fear tightening his expression. Mo’ata remained calm, and Levi and Forrest wore the same puzzled embarrassment that Blue was sure she projected. Duri was in full blank-faced bodyguard mode. But then, he usually was.

  “Oh.” Sana’s own eyes slid shut for just a moment before they flicked open and she regained her air of calm. “I apologize if I breached a trust.”

  After a moment Felix gave her a stiff nod.

  Blue waved toward Duri at the rear of the group. “And that is Duri. He’s, um, on loan from a paranoid friend. He may stay with us for a little bit, but not permanently.”

  After a sharp look at Duri, who only nodded in acknowledgment of his introduction, Sana stepped back into the hall of the building and gestured. “Come, come, let me show you the suite. It… should fit your needs.”

  The cubs, silent and watchful until that point, bounded past the still stunned group, and followed after the woman. A squeaky growl and gasp reached Blue, pulling her from her shock, and she raced inside to rescue Sana from whatever antics the cubs had gotten into. Or their claws. She hoped it wasn’t their claws.

  She found them about twenty feet down the hall, the cubs having backed Sana to one side. They crouched, not letting her pass. Blue scanned the older woman and let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t appear to be harmed.

  An image of Felix came to her, along with a sense of worry. There were no words from the piquet this time, but Blue responded the best she could. I know, baby. I’ll try to fix it.

  Garfield tilted his little head at her, the fuzzy ruff at his neck bunching and shifting. Fix?

  Yes, I’ll fix it. Somehow.

  The cub straightened from his crouch and sat. He chirped up at Sana, cute sounds that soon had the woman crouching down to examine the animals better. Vivi looked from her brother to Sana, to Felix and then Forrest. She didn’t seem inclined to let the incident go as easily as Garfield had and stayed in her crouch. She did keep her claws sheathed, though.

  Help.

  Blue didn’t think it was a plea for assistance. Garfield chirped one last time at Sana, more emphatic than the rest, and then bounded to Felix and leapt, landing on the mercenary’s chest and hanging on. He reached up with one paw and patted the large man’s cheek.

  Felix’s eyes widened slightly. Garfield, though never hostile to him, tended to attach himself more to Mo’ata or Levi. Vivi was the one who usually hung on the mercenary. He drew in a breath and relaxed as he exhaled. Then a grin spread across his face and he patted the cub’s cheek in return.

  They continued down the hall, Vivi stalking after Sana and Garfield hanging on Felix’s chest, until they reached a lift.

  “This unit just became available a few days ago. Some students were sharing it until… Well, to be frank, one of them must have become involved in something he shouldn’t have, because he was rushed to the Healers’ Center. The others were brought in for questioning and then dismissed from the Academy.” She pinned all of them with a stern glare, including Jason. “I’ll have none of that in my building, do you hear me?”

  They nodded, though Blue didn’t know what she was talking about exactly. Felix and Mo’ata exchanged a look. Felix nodded, the movement barely perceptible, in response to Mo’ata’s raised brow.

  “Do you know who was handling the investigation, Miss Trellot?” Jason asked.

  “No. Not precisely. Usually something like that would have been left up to the Academy’s discipline committee, but I saw a few of the orange robes of the Ministry’s security teams.” Sana cocked her head. “You are not in the investigation?”

  “No.” His expression took on a thoughtful cast. “Not yet.”

  Blue was missing something. Did they think whatever had happened with the Academy students connected to what had happened to Zeynar and to the Order’s investigation? She frowned in frustration. It was as though her mind couldn’t help but try to solve the puzzle, and they refused to give her the pieces. She glanced at Forrest, who shrugged.

  “The apartment?” he asked, getting them all back on track.

  “Of course. It’s up on the fourth level.” Sana called the lift to them.

  The group remained silent, neither asking further questions about what had happened to the students, nor bringing up the mystery of Felix’s background. Tension—or more an anticipation for what could be next—built in Blue’s chest until she was sure she’d burst into a flurry of questions. She didn’t care so much about what Felix’s past was, but more about why he didn’t want them to know.

  And what was the “something he shouldn’t have”? The students had been rushed to the healers…?

  Was it some sort of drug? That would make the most sense. And of course, everyone else had come to that conclusion long before she did. So that meant whatever the Order was investigating was a drug? She’d looked up a couple of the terms Mo’ata had used when he was questioning Trevon and his men. Drugs would fit with those as well. And Trev had been poisoned.

  “Here it is.” Sana waved her comm in front of a plain white door, and Blue pulled herself from her thoughts.

  The door slid open to reveal a spacious room. There was a kitchen unit to the right—mental note: figure out how to cook on Karran—and beyond that a small grouping of furnit
ure around a large screen against the far wall. Windows flanked it, letting in a wash of sunlight and bringing out the warm tones in the light-colored walls. A wood table, large enough to seat four people (six if they squeezed) sat in the far-right corner.

  “The unit has five bedrooms and two bathing rooms. It has also been updated with the latest connections and fixtures, so you will have no issues there.” Sana gestured for them to enter. “Some of the furniture is provided, but you may bring your own in as desired.”

  Blue explored. There was a nook off the living space, just the right size to turn into an office—or an art space. With the way the windows were spaced, it got plenty of light.

  She remembered something Forrest had mentioned once. He had turned the attic in his old home into his bedroom because the windows let in the best light—from the north. “Which way does this unit face?”

  Sana gave her an approving nod. “North.”

  The questions and tensions from earlier lifted, and Blue bounded over to Forrest. She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the space she’d found. “This could be your work area, your studio, you know, once you’ve gotten into the university!” She scanned the area again. There was a three-foot-wide space between the window trim and the adjacent wall. “And that would be a great space to set up the penny-jar shelves.”

  She studied the space. It was a blank canvas from which they could create their own little world. She could imagine the paintings that would soon fill those blank walls. They’d take their time, finding just the right furniture. Or maybe Felix could make some? His little carvings were wonderful. Oh, they’d have to have a shelf just for those as well…

  Still holding Forrest’s hand, she went from room to room. Each was the same—warm white walls and floors of some smooth tile to match. There were bed frames already, though no mattresses—which was fine with Blue. Sleeping on a mattress in an inn or hotel was a lot different from using someone’s old one.