“I’d rather get a look at your meat processor.” Cap answered waving a hand back at the men behind him. “My friends here are looking for a good investment. I told them about your idea. They just might be able to supply the financing you need to market it.”
“Ah!” Mr. Lutz looked them over with renewed interest. Saying, “Well I don’t have any meat out on the table to be contaminated so come on back.”
Moving into the slightly larger back room of the ship Mr. Lutz proceeded to demonstrate his machine to Katar and the others as Cap snuck around to the rear of the building and glanced out the set of small windows. Acting impressed at the strange gadget that supposedly gauged the quality and type of meat that was placed on its rotation best Katar and Tam asked as many questions as they could think of trying to give Cap enough time to study the rear of the cathedral.
“Well we certainly are interested in marketing this extraordinary machine Mr. Lutz.” Katar put out his hand to the overjoyed meat cutter. “Let me speak with my legal advisors and I’ll get back to you tomorrow with an offer.”
Leaving the store as the sky began to grow dark with an approaching storm they followed the walkway further down the block and headed into one of the older hostels. As their eyes adjusted to the din light Cap described what he saw. “The stairwell was deep and dark but there was definitely someone down at the bottom. I could see the figure of a man. He was just standing at the base of the stairs. All I could see was his head.”
Cap moved them further into the interior and through a doorway into the room beyond. They found Leanna eating some hard cheese at a long table. Rising as they entered she offered them a seat.
“I think this is the place.” Cap spoke quickly filled with anticipation and worry.
“It could be a vagrant hiding down there from the upcoming storm.” Katar cautioned.
“Well we’ve got to get in there and make sure either way.” Sean added sitting down across from him.
“Leanna has an idea.” Cap nodded in her direction.
She explained, “There is a funeral today at dusk. We have moved it to another location and will replace the mourners with our own people. That will give us the access we need to enter the chapel. Two of us enter with the funeral procession and find the interior stairwell.” Leanna pulled out a rough sketch of the interior of the building. “It should be here.” Pointing to the rear area behind the altar, they could see there were several small storage rooms. “The rest of us will enter through the stairwell. We will converge on them together cutting off any means of escape.”
Placing a second sketch on the table, Leanna added, “There are three perhaps four levels under the main structure. The old shelters were all built with one large main corridor running down the center of the structure. Unless they have moved the walls during some past renovation we should find the basement stairwell leading to the end of this hall. I suspect the interior steps will enter at one of the far corners.”
The storm began in earnest outside as the group continued their discussion throughout the afternoon plans were set in motion for the encroachment of the cathedral. When the mourners arrived Cap and Katar slipped from the shadows of the doorway and mixed in with the crowd entering the cathedral. Wasting no time they made their way cautiously toward the front of the church. Finding the door that emptied into the sacristy they searched until a locked door barred their way.
Pulling a vial from his jacket Katar squirted a small bit of solution into the lock and onto the bolts through the crack in the door. After several seconds her shoved against the door and it gave way, its frozen bolts shattering like glass. Activating the small comm. Unit on his belt Cap signaled Sean that they were through.
In the alley behind the structure Tan slipped through one of the meat shops rear windows and crouched in the shadows with his rifle. Turning the sights toward the stairwell he activated its heat signature and got a clear image of the man hidden inside. Jerking the gun upright Tan bolted back through the window speaking quickly to Sean and Leanna. “There’s an old man and a girl standing in front of the door. They appear to have been chained across the opening.”
“Are they alive?” Sean asked glancing out the window into the darkness.
“Yes, the girl is I’m not sure about the man and there’s no sign of soldiers.” Tan answered.
Sean activated his comm. Link and signaled Katar and Cap hoping it wasn’t too late to reach them due to signal loss. As the small light blinked Cap touched Katars elbow, pointed to the signal and whispered, “Something’s wrong.”
Katar answered back, “We can’t just stand here. Whatever it is, they can handle it. I say we go on.”
Descending the narrow winding steps they followed its length to the first level. Finding no signs of activity and thick dust covering the floors they moved on to the next level. Again they found a wide empty corridor covered with layers of grime. The stairwell ended on the final level. It was lit by a dim light hanging from the ceiling. Just to the right was a set of double doors. The hall was filthy yet there was no layer of dusk covering the hallway floor. Moving along the sides of the main hall, Katar headed for the double doors as Cap carted beyond to inspect the next set of doors across the hall. Finding the room empty Katar returned to where Cap had disappeared through the other set of doors.
Moving quietly he scanned the large carpeted area. It had chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and several pieces of furniture scattered about. Moving through the next set of doors he found Cap as he entered the medical room. Cap spun to face him saying, “They’re gone. Damn it Katar how could we have missed them!”
Katar and Cap sprinted back to the main corridor quickly headed for the stairwell thinking that Sean and the other may have caught them as they tried to escape. As they reached the rear exit the found a small device attached to the locking mechanism containing a vial of clear amber liquid.
Cap grabbed his comm. Device as Katar shouted through the door. “Sean! Can you hear me, don’t open the door!”
Sean’s voice answered back through the door. “We can’t, there are a couple of people out here chained to the door.”
“There is an explosive device attached to this side. Don’t touch anything until we get a chance to take a look at it on our side. I’m not sure what the triggers are.” Katar advised a Cap kneeled down and pulled out his hand torch to get a better look at it.
“Katar, we’ve got a real problem.” Cap grimaced, “I think this stuff is Trania.” We should jut back out of here and evacuate the building. If this thing goes off it could take the entire building with it.”
“What did you find?” Sean called through the door.
“They were here but we’ve missed them.” Katar said then took a deep breath getting his growing anger and frustration in check. He wanted to leave this mess for the others and get back outside to search for Lysette. He knew he couldn’t. “Get everyone out of the stairwell, Cap says the explosive is powerful, it could take the whole building.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t going to be so easy.” Sean called back to him.
“I’m telling you; just the warmth of my hand could set this off.” Cap explained quietly to Katar. “I’m not too comfortable with the way you two are shouting through the door either.”
“Will you be ok here if I go around to the outside and see what the problem is?” Katar asked not wanting to leave his fiend to dismantle the bomb alone.
“I guess that means we aren’t going to leave well enough alone?” Cap sighed and added, “I’ll be fine. Just don’t touch anything on that side until I give you the okay.”
It didn’t take long to find a suitable tool to break the chains that bound Kendra and Joah to the cellar door after confirming they were not linked to the device. Sean headed around to the front of the building to assist Cap as Katar questioned Kendra.
“They left Joah as a message, they thought he was dead.” She stammered as they reached the top of the steps. Katar and Tan carried t
he elder empathy to the shelter of the meat shop and handed him through the small window to Leanna.
“He’s in a very deep coma.” Kendra continued, “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“Where is Lysette?” Katar turned as soon as Joah left his arms and took Kendra by the shoulders trying to steady her.
“She’s alright, they haven’t hurt her. They took her and Andru to care for the babies. But I don’t know where they went.”
“How long ago did they leave?” Katar asked through clenched teeth.
“I’m so sorry your Highness! They left only minutes before the others arrived to rescue us.” Kendra’s voice shook with emotion as she tried to remain calm. “Commander Connor made me memorize a message for you and Lord Nolan.” She blurted out terrified at what she was about to tell him.
“What?” Katar’s eyes locked on hers.
“He’s knows about Lysette being Lord Nolan’s niece. He told me to give you this message word for word as he spoke it.”
“Tell me,” Katar’s voice was low and menacing.
“Lysette is a very beautiful prize. I shall enjoy very much when her work is completed. When I tire of her splendors, I will revel in her screams. She will know she has the two of you to thank for the depth of her pain and the length of her death.” Kendra burst into tears at the horror of her words and the look of hatred on Katar’s face. She sobbed, saying, “He is a vicious demon, I have no doubt he means what he says.”
Katar moved slowly away to return to Cap and Sean as Tan pulled Kendra to him and hugged her as she cried. Katar reached the two as they dismantled the explosive and gently set the Trania aside. Katar patted Cap on the back saying, “Sean and I will see to the Trania. There is someone out back that would like to see you.”
As Cap rose to his feet he studied Katars face confused then suddenly bolted up the stairs to find Kendra. He saw her by the meat shop window and called her name as he rushed to her side. When his raspy voice reached her Kendra spun to find herself swept up in his arms as Cap kissed her deeply. She clung to him desperate to feel his warmth. Allowing the pain and horror of the last week to wash over her she sobbed uncontrollable into his chest.
“Baby, I’m here, you’re safe now.” Cap whispered holding her close. “I’m going to get you out of here and back to Treborel as quickly as possible.”
“How . . . did you find me?” Kendra stammered, gazing up into his coal black eyes.
“Katar needed help finding Lysette.” Cap answered honestly, “I couldn’t let him fly by himself so I brought him down to meet with Lord Nolan.” His voice softened as he added, “When I found out that you were on the transport, nothing was going to keep me from finding you.”
“You came for me?” She looked up into his tired face amazed.
“I’m crazy about you, Kendra. I wasn’t about to let you disappear.” Caps raspy voice faded to a whisper.
She kissed him boldly, never wanting to stop, then suddenly released him gasping, “Oh Cap! I’ve made such a mess of things. I had no idea that Prince Katar had been told that his father died from a sraeb attack!”
“Kendra? What are you talking about?” Cap pulled back and stared at her completely lost by her sudden confession.
“Prince Mikel was murdered Cap, right in front of my eyes!” Kendra drew him away from the shelter of the buildings back toward the cathedral stairwell. Once inside out of the wind and rain she explained. “When I was a small child, my family discovered that my empathic talent was exceptional. They decided it was best for us to move from the northern colony to be near the institute, so I could start training early but not have to be away from them.” Kendra glanced around finding the corridor empty she settled on the floor pulling Cap with her continuing, “I was so young I didn’t understand what was happening. I would touch anyone with a cut or scrape and heal it without saying a word. They began to fear I would hurt myself by expending too much energy all the time. So against their better judgment they decided to travel through the mountains at the beginning of ‘frenzy’. They felt the risk to stay another winder without instruction would be dangerous for me.” Kendra stopped, hesitating then gathered up her courage and continued, “It was the year of the massacre. We were only a day’s ride from the institute when the sraeb reached us.” Images of death flashed though her mind as she recalled how the sraeb appeared out of the woods attacking the horses and cattle. Then having their fill of the animals they attacked the houses, tearing through the walls as if they were paper, killing everyone around her. “As I fled from the sraeb searching for my parents a man appeared from the brush and snatched me up carrying me deeper into the forest. I tried to scream but he held a blade to my throat and told me to keep quiet. I was only 9 years old, Cap. I was I was terrified that if he didn’t kill me a sraeb would find us and kill us both.” Kendra rubbed her temples bent on finishing what she had sworn to do. Caps arm came around her pulling her close as she continued.
“I don’t know how long her ran, it seemed like forever. Then as abruptly as he had appeared he stopped and threw me forward onto the grass and disappeared. Only after I caught my breath did I realize he had thrown me directly in front of the largest male sraeb I had ever seen.” Kendra looked into Caps eyes needing to know his reaction to what she was about to say, “As the beast charged me there was a flash of movement from the trees beside me. A man came running from the trees and threw himself on top of the massive male. He had only a knife.” Tears filled her eyes as she sought to continue, “I was frozen! I just sat in the grass and watched them battle; it was more than I could comprehend. This man had saved me. I never thought of running away. It never occurred to me that the man might die in his valiant attempt. I just sat there only a few meters away and watched.”
Cap held Kendra as sobs wracked her body. She stammered, “He killed the beast, not quickly but knew somehow knew where to strike. It took such a long time, in my memory at least. But when the battle was over the man turned to me covered in blood and he smiled. He actually smiled. His dark blue eyes sparkled at me. I remember thinking he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. As he moved toward me his gaze shifted beyond me. I turned to see the man who had thrown me to the sraeb standing behind me holding a crossbow. He smiled at me too, but his smile was frightening. Then he raised the crossbow and fired.” Kendra stopped and took a deep breath as the memory flowed through her. “I watched as the bolt flew past me and struck the man who had saved me. The bolt buried itself in his forehead. His eyes went blank, and then he fell back onto the grass. I was still frozen, only able to stare at his lifeless body as the men appeared from out of the woods. Suddenly the air was filled with cries as the man was surrounded by people. The first man to reach him cried out the Prince had been killed. I turned to point at the man who had killed him to find him gone. As the men and women around me ran into the woods after the murderer my mother appeared and carried me off through the woods not stopping until late that night when we reached the Institute. She explained to me that it was Prince Mikel that had died and that I must never speak of his death again.” Kendra looked into Caps eye and added, “They never found that man, Cap. Until now, the man I watched kill Katar’s father was Commander Connor.”
Cap stared back at Kendra astonished at what she had just told him. He said, “Kendra, Katar was with me the day he was told about his father’s death. Lord Wills came to us in the garden and told him that Mikel was forced to kill a sraeb with only a hunting knife to save a little girl, but had died shortly afterward. He never spoke of an assassination. No one ever spoke of that.” Cap considered her words carefully. He believed her. But why would the Queen had kept the assassination a secret? Why would she have kept it from Katar all these years? Scandal? What connection did Connor have to Mikel to warrant his actions?
Cap rose and pulled Kendra to her feet. “I believe you.” He said softly, “But now comes the hard part. You’ve got to tell Katar. The entire story just as you told me.”
Katar strode quickly toward them, with Sean following close behind saying, “Cap, we found how they got past us. There’s a doorway linking the cathedral to the drainage system. They got out the same way we entered the city.”
Cap stepped into the middle of the corridor blocking Katar’s way saying, “Katar, Kendra has something very important she has got to tell you.”
“She already gave me Connors message and I’ve relayed it to Sean.” Katar pushed his arm aside and continued on.
“No, Katar. This is about your father.” Caps words stopped him and he turned to face them.
Cap turned to Kendra and said softly, “You have to tell him now, this can’t wait.”
Kendra took a deep breath and blurted out, “I was there when he died. He wasn’t killed by a sraeb; he was murdered by Commander Connor.”
Katar looked at them both as if they were insane and said, “Cap, what the Hell? I don’t have time for this!”
“It’s a long story Katar but one you need to hear.” Cap stepped in front of Kendra protectively and added, “I believe what she’s told me and I think you will too. You need to hear this now.”
Katar could tell by the look on Caps face he wasn’t going to let it go. He sighed and said, “We are going to lose Connor and Lysette if we stand her talking. Whatever story you’ve got to tell me you can say on the way.” Katar reached past Cap and grabbed Kendra’s arm pulling her behind him as he headed for the door, followed closely by Cap and Sean.
Chapter Thirteen
The cramped space in the small transport was nearly unbearable. For the last four hours Lysette had been forced to sit kneeling on the floor holding Rey in her arms. Eleven people had crowded into the small cargo space of a small helijet. She was forced to sit in front of Commander Connor; he appeared to enjoy the idea of spreading his legs to allow her to sit on the floor between his feet.
Tempest Rise (Treborel) Page 22
