Triena placed her hand on Braklen’s shoulder. His energy vibrated nervously.
“Someone’s got to get him ready.” Rangit looked sternly at Triena. “Lifting your skirt ain’t going to help him.”
The hairs on the back of Triena’s neck prickled with anger. “How dare you . . .”
“Not going to help me either. I don’t want to be killed without the Queens being brought down. I want that more than anything.”
“That’s no way to talk to a lady,” said Braklen, finally finding his voice and a gap in the conversation.
Rangit laughed. “Priceless.”
So much fear bounced around in the room. She could feel it clearly now. Their anxiety flooded into the room and scared each other.
“Please, both of you, enough,” she said. “We are all scared.”
Don’t treat Braklen like a baby. He’s got to step up. He put the crown on in the Field, just like you did. You’ve both made a choice. Tell him to man up.
You’re being a little harsh. He’s not used to using the Energy. It’s taken me years to learn this.
Someone’s deep in love, thought the rabbit. It’s blinding you.
“Not scared, just concerned you two ain’t going to be worth it, that you are so caught up with each other that you ain’t going to be able to move against the Queens when it matters.” Rangit’s forehead wrinkled with worry.
I’m not blind. Braklen will learn enough. He’s already shown he’s open. Triena rubbed her temples. Her head began to ache with all this talk.
Better get started then, because I’m sure you are right, but I need to see it for myself to see that it’s not all talk.
“Enough.” Triena’s voice was sharp. “We have work to do. First, we teach Braklen. Second, we start planning how we’re going to get into the castle. But either way, we start working together because we have one common goal. Stop the Queens.”
~ ~ ~
Braklen wasn’t sure about returning to the Energy Field. It didn’t get any more complicated than that. Every time he’d entered the Energy, something bad happened. He didn’t like being out of control of his life. It’d be different if I was trained to use the Energy. But I’m not, and I’m not going to take such a risk again.
“You have to,” said Triena.
Braklen raised an eyebrow. He was built for combat. Physical combat, not moving around in the Energy. Only women did that.
He was chuffed he’d made it to the Energy Field, and thought that would be enough. He wasn’t left in pain like the readings, but the exhaustion frustrated him because he spent the time sleeping like a weakling. “Communicating in the Energy sounds difficult.”
“It isn’t, but first you need to learn to hold onto your essences so that if someone attacks you in the Energy you won’t break apart. Then, we’ll try communicating.”
“Sounds messy.”
“It nearly was.” Triena looked at him. “But, then I found you. I might not be able to do that again.”
“It won’t happen again.” His skin prickled.
“Good. Drink the tea and let’s get started.”
“Do you need to be here?” Braklen looked at Rangit. He hadn’t liked the way the one-eyed pirate spoke to Triena. Braklen really wanted to sucker-punch Rangit in the nose. Then, kick him in the balls, as low as that was. The scum deserved it. “I don’t know if you’re really helping us.”
“You going to fly the ship then?”
Braklen narrowed his eyes. The one thing he wasn’t good at always came up. “It’s night blindness, so I can’t fly since we’re here in space.”
“We’ll be fine without you. Go check on the engines,” said Triena, her voice gentle and sweet.
It scared Braklen that he might have to fight in the Energy. He wasn’t up for that. I might have killed a Queen, but that was fluke. I wasn’t trying.
“Fuck the Queens, you two are a waste of time,” said Rangit. “I could’ve been doing that instead of listening to this crap.”
“You can always keep an eye out in the Energy, especially while I’m busy here with Braklen,” said Triena.
“Do it yourself,” grumbled Rangit. “I’m a leader, not a lackey.” He left the room swearing under his breath.
“That’s better,” said Triena.
“Yes.” Braklen stood, grabbed Triena’s waist, and kissed her.
She pushed him back. “We have work to do.”
He tried to kiss her again.
“I’ll bring him back,” said Triena, “if you aren’t going to sit here and learn I’ll bring him back. We’ll use force.”
The glow in her eyes unsettled him. She meant what she said. She wasn’t the same woman he’d just been making love to. She’s preparing herself too. He sighed and sat down in defeat.
Before he could change his mind, he drank the tea. The now tepid water was easy to drink. This time the bitterness didn’t affect him so much. He put the cup down. “What do I do now?”
“What did you do last time?” Triena sat opposite him. He found it hard to keep her gaze. “You can do this.”
He took a deep breath.
“Good. I’ll meet you in the Energy Field then.”
Braklen took another breath and relaxed. The path formed in his mind. He extended his awareness along the trail into the darkness. Let’s get this over with. He was pretty sure that no matter what Triena said, or Rangit, or the rabbit, when it came down to it, he would be needed for physical fighting.
Just doing this to please her. She is worth pleasing. He traveled between the physical plane and the etheric, thinking of Triena. How she was soft to touch, her curves. Her scent of flowers that was always sweet and fecund. How she smiled at him, and her eyes held him in an embrace like no one else could.
He hovered in the blackness of the Energy Field. I made it. The path was clearer now and he wondered how he could’ve missed it in the past.
Braklen smelled sweet flowers and turned to see Triena’s etheric form coming towards him, naked. It made it hard for him to concentrate. Well I did it. I came here by my own skill.
Yes, you did. And you can even talk to me.
She stood in front of him. He found it hard to concentrate with her naked. He glanced down at her breasts. His eyes wandered down her curvaceous belly, and then between her legs.
Braklen drank in her essence. He went to reach out for her, expecting to meet her, join with her. Why not here? All thought of learning about the Energy was gone as he looked on her naked skin, glowing with life from the darkness that surrounded them.
Triena also reached for him, but instead of joy and love, a searing pain throbbed through him. Before he could process what had happened, he fell backwards. Tumbling downwards. What did you do to me?
There was nothing to grab. His arms moved aimlessly. Fear welled inside of him as he felt the familiar pull of his essence unraveling. It was how it’d felt when he’d taken Queen Arkina’s energy. A pain seared through his essence as his life thread dissipated.
I should’ve known that she’d try to kill me again. He used his awareness to work against the unwinding thread. Where he held onto the unspooling energy, it burned, but he forced himself to keep gripping the cord.
No. He pulled back in the opposite direction, increasing the tension. It was like he had a tug-of-war with himself, one he could end up losing. He strained against the weight in the Energy that seemed intent on destroying him.
Gradually the motion slowed. The tension gave way and he reeled in his thread of energy, looping it over his hand as if winding up a long length of rope. Exhaustion worked against him, but he wasn’t about to give up. When he finally had the last of the thread in his hand he instinctively pressed it to his chest. The energy reabsorbed within him. He immediately felt s
tronger.
Bravo.
Braklen looked up to see Triena moving towards him. She was dressed in a rich red robe that flowed out from her. Not that it mattered now, not after she’d tried to kill him again. He wasn’t going to be distracted this time. Bitch, I knew I couldn’t trust you.
Her face changed, hurt by his response. You idiot. This was a lesson.
What? I passed, didn’t I? His energy increased with vibration as she came close, his anger as hot as the color of her dress.
Triena paused. You really need me to tell you?
All I know is that you tried to kill me.
No. I didn’t. Remember you have to learn how to hold on to yourself here in the Energy Field. You did that.
I could’ve been lost forever.
I was with you, ready to intervene if you needed my help. But, you didn’t.
Thanks. You could’ve warned me.
I did before you entered the Field.
Yeah, so why did you come here naked?
You need to focus in here. Things aren’t always what they seem, or what you think they should be.
So, what, you were really wearing clothes? And why the fuck couldn’t you have just told me?
I showed you. You won’t forget now.
I sure as hell won’t.
And now that you can hold a conversation we should try and see if you can continue this when you’re back in your body. Her form began to fade.
How? He was confused. Where are you going? Her form was barely there. She didn’t try to kill me. And that was what he wanted to believe, but this entire process unnerved him. He didn’t even feel like he’d passed the test, or was successful. He felt more like he’d failed.
She was gone. Not wanting to stay any longer in the Field he turned looking for the path that brought him here. It took him a little while to find it. He hurried back. Relief shuddered through his body as he returned. This is better. More natural. He didn’t like being in the Field.
What took you so long?
Wasn’t like you told me how to get back, answered Braklen with his mind.
I didn’t need to since you’re here. She smiled. And talking to me.
“What?”
Triena sighed. “That didn’t last long.” Disappointment thickened her voice.
“You really didn’t try to kill me?”
“Do you think if someone attacked you in the Energy Field, you’d be able to defend yourself?”
“Yes, but you could’ve warned me.”
“Do you think if someone attacked me in the Energy Field, you’d be able to help me?”
Her words felt like a punch in the guts. He wouldn’t have thought that possible without the recent experience. “Oh.”
“That’s why I couldn’t tell you. You had to have about half a dozen lessons all at once. You had to connect to your intuition. You have to think differently in the Energy Field.”
He let out a deep breath. “Right.” The way the Energy worked was starting to make more sense.
She got up and moved towards him. “I mean it when I say I love you, and I want to go on this path together. We end up where we end up, as long as you are by my side.” She kissed him on his forehead.
He couldn’t resist anymore. He reached up and kissed her back. “I’m with you.” He wanted this too.
“Good.”
The ship suddenly lurched forward, knocking them both on the ground.
“Fuck the Queens,” said Triena. Braklen landed on top of her and she pushed at his chest. “Get off.”
He managed to slide his body from hers, but their legs were still entangled. The ship shuddered.
“What was that?” asked Braklen.
“They must have found us,” said Triena. “I’m not sure, but considering how close the Queens are to us in the Energy, it was only a matter of time. No more lessons.”
“At least I can thank the Queens for that.”
“Quick.” Triena got up and rushed out the room.
“Wait up,” said Braklen.
Of course, she didn’t listen. She ran along the corridor, and burst into the bridge, two steps ahead of him. “What the fuck has happened?”
Rangit sat with his back to them, hands flying over the console as he moved levers up and down, and pressed buttons. “Fuck the Queens.”
Triena moved to stand next to him. Lights flashed, and a warning buzzed in the room. “What is that noise?”
Rangit hit the console. Sparks flew up and he jumped back. “Us getting caught.” Smoke rose from the controls. “Unless we can manage to lose them.”
“Then lose them,” said Braklen.
“Like that’s not what I’m doing,” said Rangit.
“We can’t get caught, not now. We’re so close to Earth, so close to getting to them.”
“Is it the Queens or the Priests?” asked Braklen.
“Queens.” Rangit flicked another lever. “Not that it really matters. Both are just as dangerous to us now.”
“It will make a huge difference for us if it’s the Queens.” Braklen leaned over Rangit’s shoulder.
“Hey, I thought you said you can’t fly.” Rangit pushed Braklen out of his way.
“I can help. I know some tactical moves.”
“Fuck the Queens,” said Rangit. “You might well be useful to us after all.”
Chapter 10
Braklen reached over Rangit’s shoulder and looked at the screen. The Peacekeepers were closing in on them. “You should’ve called us earlier.”
“Com system doesn’t work,” answered Rangit matter-of-factly.
“Still you could’ve come and got me, or yelled for me, or something.” The light from the screen reflected green on Braklen’s face. “I would’ve been more help with more warning.”
“I’m sure you can help out, Braklen,” Triena stood back from the men. Her floral scent filled the room helping Braklen to remain calm.
Braklen sighed heavily. He stared at the green light that showed where the other ship was. The figures on the top left of the screen didn’t raise his hopes. The bottom line was that he could’ve used his experience with the Peacekeepers to their advantage if Rangit had come to him as soon as he had spotted the other ship. Now, the Peacekeepers were about to close in on them.
“You going full throttle?”
“Of course.” Rangit kept his hands on the edge of the console, ready to press a button, or lever. Smoke in the room dissipated.
Braklen still worried. His mind worked furiously trying to come up with a counter movement, rather than just going faster, which was the only thing Rangit had managed.
Better than nothing.
Not necessarily. Braklen rubbed his head. He hated the voices popping into his mind. He wasn’t always sure who spoke. That was the other problem. When he did answer, he wasn’t sure who heard and using the Energy to communicate tired him.
Stupid Energy. He preferred the real world and an actual weapon he could hold. He had the training. He had the strength, even after the beating. His body had healed enough.
“So, what do you suggest?” Rangit’s question interrupted.
There weren’t many options. Flat out was probably the best choice, but since that wasn’t working, he had to think of something else. Sharp turns were only going to help the Peacekeeper ship chasing them.
There weren’t any planets to hide behind. If they’d been traveling through an asteroid belt, at least that would be an option. It wasn’t. And there was nowhere to land, not so close to Earth since the planets and moons here were populated heavily with supporters of the Queens.
Braklen frowned at the control panel. “Can you do a reverse thrust?”
Rangit looked at Bra
klen. “Yeah, but do you think that will really work?”
“It’s all we’ve got.” Braklen turned to look at Triena. “Hold on to something. Better still, strap yourself in.” He pointed to the chair near the door. He hoped it had a seatbelt. This ship seemed to be falling apart.
It was worse than the ship he’d just been on as a crewmember. At least that one worked well. It would easily have outrun the Peacekeepers. All traders knew that was a basic function for any ship.
“How did the previous captain keep out of their way?” asked Braklen.
“He used the Energy.” Triena sank into a chair.
Braklen heard the click of the belt. “So, is that what you are doing?” He cringed. He hadn’t meant to sound sarcastic. Looking at the closing space between them and the Peacekeepers caused his stress levels to skyrocket.
“You just needed to ask.” Triena sounded a little hurt. “Though it’s a bit late now.”
She’ll get over it.
He looked down at the rabbit. Other people’s thoughts in his head weren’t natural, let alone an animal’s. “Can you help us at all in the Energy?”
“Maybe.”
“Then try it. Things aren’t looking good for us.” Braklen gripped the back of the captain’s chair, steadying himself while he looked at the flight specs over Rangit’s shoulder. “Can we go any faster?”
Rangit shook his head.
Braklen took a deep breath. “I hope this works, then.”
“It will,” answered Rangit.
Braklen heard the doubt in his voice. “Get ready to send us in reverse.” His eyes focused on the screen, waiting for the perfect moment. Timing was everything. They had to be close before he gave the signal. Too close. Close enough to be able to damage them by crashing into them.
Now. Now. Now!
Braklen ignored the voice in his head. It was from the rabbit, and he wasn’t about to listen to an animal. A little longer. Just a little longer. He wanted to be certain that the Peacekeeper’s ship overshot them so much that they’d have a chance to get away.
Flower Queen Page 10
