by 1
The one sitting behind the desk, the red one, sat up and spoke. “You are a blended female with at least nine races muddled together, you have power and you rode a rhesh here.”
The bronze one smiled. “Also, you are not in season and you like butter on your bread.”
Iris laughed. “Very nice. May I have your names?”
The one who had just spoken got to his feet, his midnight robes swirling around him. “I am Venin, traveler of the Citadel. This is Administrator Hyak.”
“I am prime hunter and morinial, Iris Markee. I hear that you have been looking for me.”
Venin smiled and held out a chair for her. “If you are the one we seek, we need your help off world.”
She slid into the chair and settled the knives she wore on her hips. The ones on her thighs were tightly bound, as were the ones tucked into the tops of her boots.
“How will you know if I am the one and what do you need me for?”
Venin sat back and gestured for the administrator to speak.
Hyak cleared his throat. “Venin is travelling to locate a lost temple and a psychic crystal. We need someone to go with him who is familiar with forests and the beasts within. He needs a bodyguard.”
Venin shrugged. “I am better in cities, there are too many hunting smells in a forest. They confuse me.”
She laughed. “They distract you.”
His grin said it all.
Hyak broke in, “Hunter Iris, may we see a demonstration of your talent?”
She raised her hands and extended her psychic knives. “What other kind of demonstration would you like?”
Hyak was out of his chair. He extended his arm. “I have heard that it cuts without breaking the skin.”
“Are you sure? It hurts from what I have been told.”
Hyak smiled. “I am sure that I will be able to deal with it.”
Shrugging, she stroked the edge of the blade along his skin once before rearing back and plunging it in.
The words that he used as he cursed were distinctively Wyoran as he jerked his arm back and slammed into the wall.
She winced. “Usually, I make a debilitating strike at a nerve cluster. Don’t worry, the feeling will return in a few minutes.”
Absently, she retracted the knives and resumed her seat.
Venin asked her, “Do you have complete control over them?”
“I do. Trust me, I was a quick study after the first time I spiked myself in the head. Now, I am far more precise where I lay my blades.”
Hyak was busy working the feeling back into his arm. “That must have been painful.”
“A little, but waking up on the back of my rhesh miles from where I started was far worse. My father found me six hours later, headed the wrong way. He started my hunter training that very day.”
The memory of that day made her smile. Her hunter education had become necessary even though it was not something her father had wished for her. He had wanted her to live, love and have little ones, but that had not been her destiny.
“You are an accomplished hunter then?” Venin was leaning forward intently.
“I am the best Keroan hunter you will find. I have been named this area’s prime hunter just this week. Now, tell me what you are seeking.” Iris sat back and waited.
Venin stood and began to pace.
“What do you know of the dead gods?”
His tone was that of a teacher and her lips quirked in amusement.
“Not much. I know that there were once elder races that chose to blend with more recent ones, but the only ones who know of them first hand are stars and planets.”
Venin and Hyak were both surprised.
Hyak mentioned, “You know more than many in the Alliance.”
She chuckled. “There isn’t much out here but reading and hunting. Keroa-Uli has been a good friend and we spend many nights playing board games and talking.”
“The planetary avatar?” Hyak seemed surprised.
“Well, technically the planet is the one who comes over to play. He likes the children’s games and delights in moving the pieces around the board. Uli watches and comes out when needed, I am pretty sure that Keroa uses him to cheat.”
Both men seemed surprised at that, but Venin continued. “The dead gods were once living, powerful beings that offered their talents to those near them. In exchange, many temples were built in their honour and objects were accumulated to assist them in their worldly work.
“On Thiiril, there was a dead god who controlled the weather using a large crystal. We have been given intelligence that the Raiders are seeking this crystal for themselves. The Citadel is determined to get to it first.”
“Why do you need me? This seems like the sort of thing would be better handled by others.” She cocked her head, genuinely curious.
Venin sighed and Hyak rubbed his face with his hand.
“What Venin isn’t telling you is that nine teams have walked on Thiiril and none has even gotten close to the temple. The area is a rain forest and full of deadly beasts. No scanners penetrate the gloom and since we are not sure of exactly what we are looking for, no Finder can locate it.”
Iris raised her eyebrows. “And you think I can find it?”
Venin chuckled. “No, but I think you can watch my back while I find it. The animals on that world are hostile to all invading forces. They mean business, but killing something that is simply engaging in its instincts is unacceptable to me unless there is no other option. Finding a hunter that could stun and not kill the deadliest of beasts led me here. Hyak didn’t even know you existed until I asked to meet with you.”
Iris quirked her lips. “I am a well-kept secret, but how did you learn I was here.”
“You have a proud community. When can you leave?”
She chuckled. “I have my provisions and clothing in my saddle bags. I am ready when you are.”
Administrator Hyak raised his hand. “Wait, there is one formality to attend to. Iris, will you agree to be an adjunct member of the Citadel? It means that when you go off world like this, you will draw a wage in our service.”
She grinned. “Where do I sign?”
He rolled out a contract and quickly crossed out several paragraphs.
“What were those for?”
“Training to use your talent. If you are using your talent and you trained yourself, you do not get charged room, board and instruction fees.”
She laughed and gave the contract a quick perusal. The writing was direct. As a self-trained talent, she was hiring herself out to the Citadel as a subcontractor. They would pay her a fee for every assignment depending on the level of difficulty but always enough to compensate her for her time away from home and duties.
The contract would last for three years, at which time, either party could opt out.
She signed the document and looked up with a smile.
She pressed her credit slip to the recorder and grinned when Hyak said, “Your funds are in your account. You are now an acting agent of the Citadel.”
“Excellent. Well, Venin, shall we go?”
He blinked. “You are ready to go, just like that?”
“I have already arranged for my mother to watch my house and weed my garden. What more do I need to do?”
He seemed surprised. “You knew you were leaving today.” It wasn’t a question.
“Of course. I dreamed of the stars, now take me to them and take care of my rhesh while you are at it.” She got to her feet and stood by the door. “I am waiting.”
He laughed, saluted Hyak and turned to her. “Far be it from me to keep a woman waiting.”
“I am not a woman, I am a hunter. Try to keep the distinction in your mind and what happens on the surface will be easier on you. You will be my charge and I can and will get you through the jungle alive.”
Hyak grinned. “It seems like you are in good hands, Venin. Enjoy your journey and give me a full report when you return.”
Venin blinke
d. “It seems I will. Thank you for your assistance in this, Iris Makee.”
She smiled. “Thank me when we have found the object and return intact. Until then, this is a hunt with an uncertain outcome.”
Venin joined her and together, they walked through the halls of the Citadel outpost, gathered her saddlebags and walked to the small shuttle pad at the back of the facility.
Her first look at a shuttle surprised her. While they looked relatively small overhead, in person, the vehicle was approximately a quarter of a kilometer long.
“It is far larger than I thought it would be.”
Venin grinned. “That is not the first time I have heard that. Please. Come on board and stow your bags. We have a window of opportunity to catch a jump ship and it is closing rapidly. The sooner we get sky bound, the better.”
She snorted and stowed her bags in the cupboard he showed her to. “Fine, but it is my first flight. Be gentle with me.”
He chuckled. “Not the first time I have heard that one either.”
She sighed and realized that this was going to be a very long flight.
Chapter Four
The feeling of disorientation was almost overwhelming. “Is it always so intense?”
Venin laughed. “You are providing me with endless opportunities for inappropriate comments, Iris.”
“Zip it and tell me that I will get used to it, traveler.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to focus.
“You will get used to it. We have left the atmosphere now, look out at the stars.”
She did as he said and focused on the constellation she recognised. The hunter. Her mother had always told her that those stars had guarded her birth and now, she was flying toward them. It was a peculiar change in location that was bringing her to the places that she had only dreamed of before this moment.
In her mind, she let space take the place of her forests, alien races and other ships were now the beasts and the stars were the trees and landmarks that she used to find her way. It was a surprisingly easy transition.
“What does morinial mean?” His tone was conversational, but his curiosity was definitely evident.
“Administrator Hyak didn’t explain it to you?”
“I doubt he knows what it means. It is a uniquely Keroan word.” Venin had his hands on the controls as they sailed toward the stars.
She smiled and noted a tiny speck on the displays. “Is that where we are going?”
“Yes, it’s a jump ship. It is going to get us closer to Thiiril. Now, what is morinial about?”
“A long time ago on Keroa, there was a crash landing of a strange species. They called themselves the Morin and the entire ship contained twelve males.”
“Did these men blend with your species?”
She snickered. “They seduced every woman they could find and their genes were firmly sown into the population within a month. They had a series of psychic talents that they used to charm their way into the bed of every eligible and several married women. Their touch induced a hypnotic state and the existing population was no match for their peculiar skills.”
“What happened to them?”
“The population rose up in revolt and the men surrounded them, forcing them to take shelter in a cave. Keroa-Malu locked them in the caverns and for all we know, they are still there.”
Venin had a surprised expression. “The planet locked them up?”
“He did. They were assumed to be dead after ten years, but no one has ever gone looking.”
“I am guessing that the men were pretty pissed, but I am surprised that the Avatar participated.”
Iris chuckled. “The Avatar was new to his position and two of the women chosen by the Morin were his sisters. He was not pleased by the stigma that fell on them for having children out of wedlock.”
He nodded. “That would explain it. If an alien landed on my world and seduced one of my sisters, I would not be very charitable to them.”
“From what Keroa-Uli has told me, there is every chance that they are in stasis within the cavern to this day. Keroa was not quite on board with having men screaming to death in his caverns.”
“So, morinial means?”
“Someone who has an active talent and the capability of mastering the Morin’s seductive touch. It is a polite word for freak on Keroa.”
“And you are fine with that?”
“It isn’t a big deal at home. I know what I am. Several others at home are out as morinial, so it is not like I am alone.”
Iris watched the image on the screen as they grew closer to the small dot.
“You are seriously fine being called a freak?” He seemed shocked.
“Of course. I wear it proudly. The genes have been in circulation for over sixteen hundred years. I also have several other races in my system, as do most of the Keroans. After the Morin event, the population basically would screw anything and weddings were a lot more casual. The crossbreeds were a shock to the colonists, but they managed to adapt within three generations.”
“That is quite the stride.”
She snickered. “If you are Azon, then you go into rut. You know that your ancestors have never been on the fussy side of species interactions.”
“Azon’s breed true for the most part. We don’t worry about diluting our lines. The new genes make us stronger, not weaker.” He seemed a little defensive.
“Same with the Keroa. We started as a mix of races and have morphed into a fairly homogenous species now.”
“I see. That does explain your rather striking hair. The colour appears to be common on your world.”
“It is. My mother has this white hair and you have seen the deep red that my father wears.”
“I have. He was rather keen on getting you in touch with us. It seemed to inspire him, but he mentioned something about you being out of touch for a day or two.”
Iris smiled and leaned back in her seat. “There was a missing teen that I had to locate. She had run off to join her fiancé only to find him in the arms of another woman. Well, arms are a euphemism. I am fairly sure that he was lodged somewhat lower.”
“Ouch. What did she do?”
“She ran into the forest and hid, but she was found by a predator just as I came along. Fortunately, I managed to find her just in time.”
“What did you do?”
“I knocked out the beltharo and led her back to the rhesh where we rode our way back to her family.”
He nodded with a slightly impressed expression. “Do you do that sort of thing often?”
“Often enough. Usually, I travel with the hunts to obtain meat and watch for predators. It’s sort of fun when you get used to it. They all have different habits and behaviours. Learning them quickly or dying is an excellent training tool.”
“It sounds stressful.”
She snickered again. “No more stressful than jumping into a strange man’s shuttle and zipping across the sector just because I was curious.”
“Curious?”
She shrugged. “Sure, why would an Azon like you need a lit’l ol’ Keroan like me?”
He gave her another grin. “Ah, now, why wouldn’t a guy like me want to be alone with a smart, elegant, intelligent and graceful creature with hunting instincts like yours? You are the best hunter in this sector and rumours of your skills have spilled far and wide.”
“They have?”
He laughed, “How else do you think a man like me could have found a woman like you on a world like that?”
She looked out at the stars and watched the constellations shift and change as she stared out at the darkness. He had come looking for her through that very same inky black and he had found her. “Which one of us is supposed to be the hunter?”
His laughter was deep and rich, spilling into the shuttle and running through her soul. “You are the hunter, Iris. And soon you will have to prove it.”
Chapter Five
The jump had been a little disorienting, but as soon as
Iris was able to look at the star charts again, her unease settled. It suddenly came to her that her entire peace of mind sprang from knowing where she was at any given time.
“Now that we are out of the jump, you are welcome to have a nap. We won’t reach Thiiril for seven hours.”
She unsnapped her harness and stood, stretching a little. “Thank you. I am not used to staying in one spot for so long.”
The bunk folded out of the wall and she rolled into it with a skill gained from sleeping in hammocks.
Iris felt darkness roll through her and when she slept, she dreamed.
She woke with a jolt, her heart pounding and her skin clammy. This was not going to be a fun trip.
She worked out the dispenser and grabbed a bottle of water for herself and for Venin. Walking slowly to the cockpit, she cleared her throat. “I have some water for you.”
“Thank you. Did you sleep?”
“I dreamed. Not the same thing at all.” She shuddered as she replayed the images of heavy jungle and vicious predators. As a side effect of her talent, foreseeing her environment was one of Iris’s favourites.
“Are you all right?”
“I am fine. Did you need to rest?”
“Sure. I will put it on autopilot and catch an hour’s sleep. Don’t touch the controls, but you are welcome to use the data-retrieval systems to learn more about Thiiril if you like.”
“I would. Set me up and then get going and nap. I will be fine.”
He quickly set up the data-retrieval system and she waved him off. “I am perfectly literate. Shoo.”
Venin left her and she began to research the history of Thiiril for a whole half hour before she switched the query to look up the Citadel in general and Venin in particular.
Venin Nulin vi Akerol was classified as a traveler by the Citadel. His function was to find lost objects in esoteric locations and bring them back to secure locations suitable to the object in question. His talent lay in finding the links between lost objects and their most likely locations.
He had a secondary talent, but it was not listed as relevant for his assignments and it sparked Iris’s curiosity.
