“I can only tell you what is written in the stars, Nira Larsen. Or should I say, in the runes.”
She sat up straight. “You know how to read runes?”
“I do not.” The old man tilted his head.
“Then how—?”
“So it is foretold. So it comes to pass.”
“You speak in riddles.” Zohar’s fatigue made him snappish. “What we really need is to find a way home. I repeat my earlier question: how do we get off this island?”
“Be patient. I have more to say.” The old man stroked his beard, his gaze fixed on the fire. “Remember, son of Thor, it is your duty and that of your brethren to protect the daughters of Odin. You must combine your powers to defeat the coming darkness.”
“How did you get here?” he persisted, annoyed by Askr’s avoidance of the issue. “Do you have a boat we can use?”
Nira put a placating hand on his arm. “I do not think he speaks of nightfall. Hear him out.”
“You are correct.” Askr smiled at Nira, but his eyes didn’t show any mirth in the dancng light from the fire. “A permanent night will overtake us should you fail.”
“Algie mentioned something about a Coming being nearly upon us. What did she mean?”
“You seek answers, Nira Larsen. If you wish to find them, you must drink from the Fountain of Wisdom.”
“Excuse me?”
“The Fountain flows from a well deep within the sacred forest. When you taste the water, you will be able to read the runes.” Askr gathered a handful of dirt and sprinkled it on the fire to douse the flames.
Without the fire to provide heat, moisture curled into the clearing on wispy tendrils. It thickened into a mist that swirled around, embracing branches, caressing rocks, and obscuring trails.
Zohar’s head turned when he heard a loud fluttering overhead. His pulse leapt. The pfrells couldn’t have found them here, not this far from shore. A blur of red flashed in the trees. Whew, not a pfrell then. His nerves had made him jumpy.
“It’s a cardinal.” Nira scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt off her clothes. “A type of bird,” she added for Zohar’s elucidation.
Zohar stood, his eyes scanning the trees. The bird flitted from branch to branch. Overhead, the sky bled with navy. Soon it would be too dark to go anywhere. They’d have to spend the night here.
Meaning to demand a response from Askr regarding the use of a boat, Zohar spun to address him.
Empty space met his astonished gaze.
The bearded man had vanished into the mist.
Chapter Fourteen
“Where did he go?” Nira stared at the spot where the old man had sat. A lizard scampered over a rock then performed a similar disappearing act into a tangle of roots.
Zohar scratched his head. “We just looked away for an instant.”
“Could he have vector shifted like a Trollek?”
Zohar’s brow folded. “I do not smell cors particles. Perhaps he just vanished into the forest. This mist makes it hard to see past the boulders.”
“I suppose.” Nira watched the cardinal soar overhead and alight on a branch. It twittered a song and then flew a few feet to another limb. There it cocked its head, as though trying to communicate. “You know, I think that bird wants us to follow it.”
“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Zohar quirked an eyebrow. “First the old man talks gibberish, and now this?”
“Call it a hunch, if you will. And I don’t believe Askr spoke nonsense. His words made a weird kind of sense.” The bird hopped to the next tree. “Let’s see where it goes.”
“We should head to the coast, try to pick up the old man’s trail. I’ll wager he has a vessel hidden somewhere.”
She propped her hands on her hips. “I beg to disagree. You hired me as your guide, remember? So let’s follow my instincts this time.”
The bird flitted through the branches. They followed up an incline to a higher elevation where the trees thinned and a stiff wind blew. Despite her poncho, Nira’s teeth chattered. The air had grown colder, and she was exhausted.
Her muscles quivering, she scrabbled for a handhold on the solid rockface. A curse escaped her lips when her fingers slipped, but she managed to get a grip and boost herself to the next level. A short roll over a protuberance brought her onto a flat plateau. She heaved in huge gulps of air, waiting until Zohar caught up. She could barely see in the dark. The rocky edges blended into each other.
The bird hopped onto a ledge, warbled, and then flew into a shadowy crevice between two boulders. Great, they’d reached a dead end. But maybe their climb didn’t have to be a total loss. That gap might lead to a cave where they could spend the night.
“Sorry, I guess I was wrong.” She scrubbed her face, so tired she wanted to find a patch of moss and curl up on the ground. “We’ll head for the coast in the morning. Meanwhile, let’s see if that space leads to shelter.”
As soon as she stepped between the two towers of rock, blackness enveloped her. Lacking a sense of orientation, she lost her balance and toppled over. She flailed her arms but reached empty air as she fell into a void. Pinpricks of light swirled in front of her, making her head reel and her stomach somersault.
Then her teeth clanged together as she landed on a soft surface. Zohar’s grunt indicated his arrival next to her.
She lay there, stunned. Her consciousness registered a canopy of stars in a night sky. Branches rustled in a warm breeze.
“Holy guacamole.” Her eyes rounded as she discerned the boathouse outline in the dark. “I think we’re back at Turkey Lake.”
Zohar, rubbing the back of his neck, leveraged himself to his feet. “You mean, this is where we first entered the Trollek village?”
“That’s right.” She scrambled upright, peering into the dark. A bird warbled a familiar song then went silent. She didn’t observe the cardinal anywhere. “The village is probably still here but we can’t see it. We’re not in that spatial displacement field like before when we came from Drift World.”
He sniffed the night air. “That means we fell through another spontaneous tear in the space-time fabric. I smell cors particles. Moreover, I felt that same heavy pressure as before when I entered the rift.” His eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
“We should get out of here. I don’t want to meet any more bad guys tonight. And you should be able to call your team, now that we’re back on home turf.”
Zohar whipped out his device and keyed it on.
“Where have you been, rageesh?” Paz demanded in a loud tone that Nira could hear. “I have been unable to raise your signal. We feared the worst.”
“Nira and I are safe, but we need a ride home. Take my coordinates, and send Dal to pick us up.”
“At once, sire.”
“Schedule a debriefing for the morning. Meanwhile, Nira and I are exhausted. We must rest.”
“Understood.” A pause. “Dal is on his way. Paz out.”
Too tired to speak, Nira comforted herself with listening to Zohar’s steady breaths as he wrapped his arms around her, and the cocoon of the night enveloped them.
****
Zohar awoke early, alert, and aroused under a light quilt. Nira slept on her side next to him. Layers of red hair fanned the pillow. Her long-lashed lids made half-crescents against her unblemished skin. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, the sensual outline of her breasts making his blood surge.
Resisting the urge to wake her and satisfy his lust, he climbed out of bed to head for a cold shower. He wanted to consult with his men before she joined them.
Lingering to gaze upon her bared neck, he shook his head to clear away the haze of desire. By the faith, he wanted to crawl under the covers and bury himself in her until the sun reached noon. But duty called and so did many unanswered questions.
Still, he couldn’t help himself from planting a kiss on her soft cheek. She stirred, shifting her position. The sheet slipped off one shoulder, and her sweet scent beckoned him.
Cursing his weakness, he turned away. He had much to discuss with his men. Voicing the main thing on his mind would not be possible, though, because he could never admit how Nira occupied his thoughts and seared his soul.
He headed into the sanitation facility. As leader of the troupe, he occupied the master suite with its king-sized bed, armoire, mirrored dresser, and night stands in a polished cherry wood that pleased his regal eye. More importantly, the room came with a private lavatory.
Fifteen minutes later, after he’d dressed in a clean pair of denims and a pullover shirt promoting a local ale, he sat around the dining table with four of his team mates. Paz, linked from the ship, completed his crew.
Originally, the Drift Lords had dozens of members from different worlds. During The Great Purge, a seventeen-year span in which their league was outlawed, their numbers had decreased until only nine remained. Two were lost during the last Trollek incursion, and now Rayne. That left one team of six, Zohar’s unit. The genetic variant that allowed them to sniff cors particles was a rare occurrence. With such great losses, the Drift Lords had become a dying breed just when they were needed the most.
Drinking the strong, dark brew called coffee, Zohar regarded his team. They sat at the opposite end of the house from where Nira slept.
“We shall begin with the investigation into Rayne’s death. Paz,” he said on an open speaker to his crewmember on the ship, “have you completed your analysis of Rayne’s body scan?”
“Aye, Captain. It confirms death from phase weapon fire, a Monix T-6 laser pistol, to be precise. As for estimated time of death, that requires a more extensive forensics assessment.”
“Never mind. We have more pressing matters at the moment. Borius, did your investigation planetside yield any results?”
The young man scraped a hand through his blond hair. “I tried to restore the image on the hotel security footage, but someone did a thorough job of erasing the data. My retrieval efforts came out too fuzzy to be of much use.”
Zohar tapped his finger on the table. “The wound was not self-inflicted, nor were there any signs of a struggle. Did Rayne let in someone he knew?”
He’d address the problem of the weapon later. It bothered him that this was the same gun his team carried. And if it wasn’t one of them, who else had access to Imperial armaments?
“The killer could have been waiting for him.” Borius waved a hand. “I interviewed the staff responsible for our floor, plus the registration people. The only item of interest was a call asking if our party had checked in yet.”
“Did you trace it?” Kaj, wearing a thoughtful expression, leaned casually back in his chair.
Zohar, when grabbing a quick bite earlier, had complimented their engineer on his provisions: not only food, but also more clothing, computers, and other necessities. Kaj had also made sure their security net covered the perimeter. There wouldn’t be any surprise vector shifts into the house.
He missed Borius’s reply. “Say again,” he ordered.
“I suspect the caller may have been Lord Magnor inquiring about our arrival.” The youngest team member fidgeted under his commander’s scrutiny.
“Has anyone heard from Magnor?”
At his team’s negative response, Zohar frowned. “Whether or not Rayne’s death and Lord Magnor’s disappearance are related remains to be seen.” He sipped his coffee. The bitter taste reflected his disappointment at their lack of progress.
“Rayne was killed by a laser pistol,” he went on, “but the Trolleks used disruptors at Grace’s house. Possibly Lord Magnor got hit by disruptor fire, also.”
“You think the Trolleks took Magnor?” Paz’s voice issued from Zohar’s comm unit, where it sat on the table.
“I did not detect any cors particles.”
“Then who?”
“Perhaps the assassin sent after me.” Zohar leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “If you recall, at our previous encounter, the Trolleks still relied on shell shedders.” Their term for old-fashioned projectile weapons. “Now they use Class One armaments that are supposedly restricted for military use. It is my theory someone is selling them these newer weapons, perhaps the same person who took out Lord Magnor.”
“We did not confirm Lord Magnor’s death,” Borius reminded them. “Those riffs who ambushed us were just as surprised to find him gone. There’s still a chance—”
“I know,” Zohar cut in. “My point is that the person who masterminded the ambush might be the same man who murdered Rayne.”
“Then the assassin could be the one supplying arms to our enemy?” Dal raised his eyebrows. As their demolition specialist, the lean man was best qualified to tackle the investigation into potential arms smuggling.
“Yes, that is a strong possibility.” Zohar drummed his fingers on the table.
“Rageesh, your devotion as leader of our team goes without question.” Paz’s lazy drawl became more pronounced. “But we know factions on Karrell would be happy if you never returned home. If you’re looking for a connection, any one of their supporters could have sent an assassin. This same man could have forged an alliance with the Trolleks.”
“I agree this smells of treachery. But surely you do not believe my political enemies have supplied the Trolleks with arms just to take me down?” He barked a harsh laugh. “I can hardly credit the beasts would open a rift for that reason alone. They have their own agenda.”
“Nonetheless, we cannot ignore the broader implications.” Dal jabbed his finger in the air. “Suppose we defeat the Trolleks and seal the rift. You must still face your opponents.”
“Let me worry about that.”
Zohar clenched his jaw. Had the assassin been sent to eliminate him in case the Trolleks couldn’t do the job? In which case, need he look any farther than his own team? While they’d all passed stringent background checks, that had been some time ago. Since then, any one of them might have become a target for corruption.
Despising himself for suspecting his friends, he decided to make subtle inquiries. It wouldn’t do to leave any stone unturned. But how to convince them meanwhile to focus on the greater threat posed by the Trolleks?
“I agree with critics who say our empire is archaic.” Head bent, he spoke in a low tone. “Our system of government hasn’t changed in years. Not only did my father nearly destroy our world, but he set back our progress by decades. That proves how too much power in one man’s hands can be dangerous.”
“Precisely why you must take your rightful place, rageesh.” Yaron’s melodious voice held a soothing note. “Faced with our rapid pace of change, the people need constancy. They need you as their ruler.”
He stiffened his spine. “I would never take the risk of ending up like my father.”
“You are too hard on yourself.” Dal pointed at him for emphasis. “You can resist the beasts’ power. A Trollek female would never weave her spell on you.”
No, but a feisty redhead can scorch me with a mere glance. While his mind might be strong, his loins responded whenever Nira walked into the room. He could not risk betraying his people the same way as his sire.
“This argument is old. Dal, use your resources to find the trail for illegal arms trade.”
“Aye, Captain.”
He tightened his mouth. “Regardless of who is out to stop us, we must focus on our primary mission. Nira and I found a portal at Drift World that vector shifted us to a Trollek village, screened from view in a local park.”
A memory threaded into his mind, causing a sense of unease. It had to do with their time in the clinic and Nira talking to a theme park guest. But the thought wouldn’t surface, so he pushed it aside. He did remember the vials of blood, however.
“The Trolleks are collecting solar calculators and mirrors for some obscure purpose. They are also taking samples of human blood. I do not know what they intend with these specimens, but I did obtain a copy of their computer data.”
He handed the crystal
to Kaj. “Take the shuttle and transport this to the ship. Paz can analyze it. Nira had a sample of her blood drawn yesterday when she accompanied Algie. Tell him to search for her file.”
He reached into his pouch, withdrew two more crystals, and gave them to his engineer. “I lifted these from a building in the village.” He described the place. “I’d like to know what sort of data they contain. Not a word to Nira. She does not know of my find.”
“Did I hear my name?” Nira, yawning, sauntered into the room. She’d tossed on a pair of drawstring pants and a tank top.
His body stirred at the sight of her tousled hair and sleepy eyes. “Yes, we have started our debriefing. Get some food if you wish. Kaj stocked the refrigeration unit.”
“Oh yeah? All I saw in there last night was a bucket of fried chicken, two six-packs of beer, and a bag of grapes. Don’t you guys know how to shop?”
“We stocked up at the local supermarket.” Kaj pocketed the crystals, keeping them hidden from view. “I didn’t notice anything super about it. The produce lacks vibrancy and has no smell. Meats are cut and wrapped into tiny, unrecognizable portions. Cider comes in plastic jars, not jugs. Do you not have any natural food marketplaces on your world?”
Nira rolled her eyes. “Put grocery shopping on the agenda for this morning. I don’t eat chicken for breakfast.”
Zohar grinned at her. “Try the cookies. Look on the counter by the heating unit. And bring some out here, will you?” He’d developed a taste for those chewy brown rounds with the chocolate chips.
She returned with a platter and a glass of water a few minutes later.
Kaj stood to give her a seat. He went to lean against a wall.
“What did I miss?” she asked, while Zohar’s gaze zoomed to her cleavage as she sat across from him.
Did she have to reveal her assets so blatantly to his men? He’d have to teach his woman to dress more modestly.
His woman. He couldn’t help feeling possessive of her—even if he knew he shouldn’t.
Warrior Prince Page 14
