The Tigrens' Glory (Soul-Linked Saga) (Volume 9)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “Gosh, what a strange coincidence!” Summer said, her eyes wide with exaggerated surprise. Everyone laughed. It certainly wasn’t the first coincidence they’d come across connecting the Jasani with Earth. Then Summer held up one finger. “The spiral markings Glory spoke of, the Triskele, now that’s fascinating.”

  “In what way?” Garen asked.

  “It was only found on a very few ancient Celtic ruins,” Summer said. “It’s meaning, and where it came from, as well as why it was put on those ruins, is a complete mystery.”

  “What is it, exactly?” Garen asked.

  “It’s a circular symbol consisting of three curved arms. Glory’s description indicates three sets of three arms, for a total of nine. We all know how significant the numbers three and nine are to Jasani, so I needn’t go into that. It’s just one more connection between Earth and the Jasani, except that you aren’t familiar with it. If it’s seven thousand years old, how did it end up on Earth?”

  “Good question,” Lariah said, frowning thoughtfully.

  “What’s more interesting to me is the fact that they’re healers,” Garen said. “I’ve often wondered why it is that, with all of our abilities, there are no true healers among our people. Many of us have some talent with Water, but few have it as their primary strength, and even those are not a fraction as gifted as Jareth. It always seemed strange to me, as though something were missing.”

  “You were correct,” Saige said. “Something was missing. Clan Tigren.”

  “We cannot fail to reclaim them,” Val said. “The knowledge they possess is priceless all by itself.”

  “We will do everything in our power, of course,” Garen said. “But much depends on Glory.”

  “She’s a strong woman,” Lariah said. “I have every faith in her.”

  “She also has the purest heart I’ve seen in a while,” Saige added.

  “I don’t doubt either of you,” Trey said, “but I’d have more confidence in the situation if we knew Glory was their Arima.”

  “We don’t know that?” Aisling Gryphon asked in surprise.

  “Glory speaks with them only in a meditative or dream state,” Lariah said. “They can’t actually scent her.”

  “I get that the men need the physical proof of their fangs popping out to tell them they belong with a woman,” Aisling said, glancing at her Rami with a smirk, “but I very much doubt Glory needs it.”

  “Now, Aisling,” Olaf said. She rolled her eyes at him. It was no secret that Aisling had known the Gryphons were her Rami long before they’d accepted it themselves. Only after the damage caused by a Controller in her brain was healed did their mating fangs descend, proving to them that she was their Arima after all.

  “Um, excuse me, but can I say something?” Faith Falcoran asked.

  “Of course you may, Faith,” Garen said.

  “Well, you all know that I can see meta-space, but um, well, I have another talent,” Faith said, her face pink. “I think…no, I know that Glory is berezi.”

  “You do?” Lariah asked in surprise.

  “Yeah,” Faith said, relaxing a little as she reached up to pet Bubbles, who sat purring on her shoulder. “I had a really strong feeling that Darlene was berezi when I met her, but everyone told me she wasn’t, which bothered me. It turns out she was. When I met Glory yesterday, I knew right away she was berezi.”

  “You have the most amazing gifts,” Summer said to Faith with a smile.

  “You certainly do,” Lariah agreed. “But I’m going to ask you not to tell Glory this, Faith.”

  “All right,” Faith agreed easily. Lariah was sweet and friendly, but she was also the Princess of Jasan. Faith had no intention of arguing with her.

  “In fact, I believe it would be a mistake for any of us to discuss the subjects of Arimas, berezi, or soul-linking with Glory,” Lariah continued. “If she asks, then of course we must be candid with her. But I don’t think she will.”

  “Why not?” Summer asked. Faith smiled. Obviously Summer didn’t share her reticence for questioning royalty. “I remember the Katres demanding that no one tell me what an Arima was. It was very frustrating for me.”

  “This situation is much different than yours,” Lariah replied. “We now know for certain that the Tigren are at least seven thousand years old. That means they cannot convert a human woman to Clan Jasani. Conversion requires three injections from a male-set’s mating fangs, and theirs will shed after only two.”

  “I hadn’t even thought of that,” Summer said, reaching out to touch her men, seeking comfort from their presence. “But I don’t see how keeping Glory in the dark is going to help.”

  “It’s not about keeping her in the dark, Summer,” Lariah explained patiently. “It’s about the rest of us staying out of it. This is a delicate situation, and I have a very strong feeling that if we jump in and try to control it, even with the best of intentions, we’ll cause more damage than we can imagine. We need to let this play out between them as it’s meant to.”

  “You’re right, Lariah,” Summer said. “As usual I don’t know why, I just know. We need to keep our mouths shut and our hands behind our backs or we’ll lose not only the Tigren, but Glory as well.”

  “That meshes with something Nica said when she saw Glory,” Lariah said. “She told us that without Glory, the Tigren would be lost. And that if she didn’t save them, they wouldn’t be able to save her, and that would end the Klanaren.”

  “Klanaren?” Saige asked.

  “Ancient word for Clan Jasani,” Lariah said.

  Garen had already intended to take Lariah’s advice in this matter. Summer’s revelations reinforced his decision, and the reminder of Nica’s words sealed it. “We will do as Princess Lariah suggests,” he said, making it a formal command. “We will not hide the truth from Glory should she seek answers on her own. Otherwise we will say nothing on the subject in her presence.” All around the table heads bowed in acknowledgement, and acquiescence.

  “I have something else I’d like to discuss,” Aisling said. “If no one minds.”

  “Go on, Arima Gryphon,” Garen said. “We are always interested in what you have to say.”

  Aisling glanced nervously at Olaf, who gave her shoulder a light squeeze of encouragement. She smiled up at him, then faced Garen Dracon. “Have any of you read the copy of the Oraculum of the Arkandu that I sent to you after that consul meeting we had a few weeks ago?”

  “Yes, I have,” Lariah said. Summer and Saige indicated they’d read it as well, though Faith shook her head.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of it,” she said. “What is it?”

  “It’s a prophecy given by a race of people called the Arkandu just before the Xanti destroyed their entire civilization,” Lariah said.

  “I’ll send a copy of it to you when we get back to the Ala-Lahoi,” Aisling told Faith. Then she swept her gaze around the table, but none of the men admitted to having read it, which explained a lot. “Do you guys at least remember it from when I read it to you?”

  “I doubt we remember it word for word, Arima Gryphon,” Garen said. “I apologize for that, especially since it’s clear there is something about it that concerns you.”

  “I know that our mission when we get to Xantara is to strand the Xanti on their own world,” she said. “I like that idea, I really do. Especially since I’m the one who initially suggested it as a possibility. However, the last line of the oraculum indicates that the Xanti must be completely destroyed.”

  There was a long silence around the table. “Do you have the oraculum with you?” Garen asked.

  “No, I don’t,” Aisling said. “I didn’t bring my hand terminal with me. But Summer has an eidetic memory. I’m sure she can recite it for us.”

  “Do you want the whole thing or just the relevant passage?” Summer asked.

  “The relevant passage for now,” Garen said. “We’ll read the whole of it later.”

  “All right,” Summer said. “That
would be the last passage which is as follows:

  For when the shifters who emerge singly from eggs, and the shifters who emerge in threes covered with the blood of their mothers, discover that they are brothers, they will bind the Thousand Worlds with eternal bonds of blood.

  Thus shall they destroy you.

  Utterly.

  And none shall mourn your passing.

  Another long silence fell in the room as everyone considered Summer’s words. Garen was first to break the silence. “It doesn’t say that we must destroy them. It indicates that our bond with the Narrasti will cause the Xanti to be destroyed.

  “I’ll study the oraculum in its entirety this day,” he continued, “but I think that the important part for us is our peace with the Narrasti. Perhaps events will be put into motion that will end in the Xanti’s destruction that, had we refused to make peace, would not occur.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Aisling said. “I confess, I didn’t understand how making peace with the Narrasti would directly cause the destruction of the Xanti. But, the oraculum clearly says that the eternal bonds of blood will bring about the end of the Xanti.”

  “We have said that we will not seek to wipe out the Xanti, and we will stand by that,” Garen said. “Our own people have come so close to extinction that the idea of committing genocide leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. Not to mention that Riata made it clear that we must abide by the council of the Three, who’ve warned that such an action would have a serious backlash for us.”

  “We know that the Xanti have enslaved all of the races of their galaxy,” Val said. “Perhaps by freeing those people we will play a role in the annihilation of the Xanti by them.”

  “That makes sense,” Garen said. “If you’re correct, I see no way of preventing such an event, nor do I believe it is our responsibility to try. It’s our destiny to do what we believe to be best for ourselves, our people, and our world. The Xanti have wrought their own destiny and, like everyone else, they must abide by it.”

  To that, no one had anything to say.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Aisling released the last of the ten sai she’d just thrown at the target on the far side of the training room aboard the Ala-Lahoi, and smiled. All ten were in an ascending line, each a hairsbreadth from its neighbor, all edges precisely even.

  “I wish I knew how you did that,” Summer Katre said, shaking her head. “I couldn’t draw a line that straight if I used a stylus and a ruler.”

  “I wish I could swing that gigantic sword of yours around the way you do without cutting off my own arm, so I guess that makes us even,” Aisling said, before crossing the room to retrieve her sai.

  “Somehow I doubt you’d have much trouble with it,” Summer said. “Besides, I can’t take credit for my ability with the katana. I didn’t exactly work at learning how to use the thing. It was just kind of...there.”

  “I know what you mean,” Aisling said. “It’s like my ability to understand languages. I didn’t learn it, it was just there.”

  “We’re a bunch of freaks,” Summer said, smiling.

  “Yep, lucky us,” Aisling agreed, returning the smile as she walked back to where Summer, Glory, Lariah, and Faith stood watching. Saige sat nearby on a chair brought in for her use, wistfully eyeing the sparring mats.

  They’d been less than two full days in space. Already most of the ships had reached Onddo, and were now waiting for the remainder of the task force to join them. It would take another three days to reach the jump point that would take them into the LMC, the Xanti’s galaxy, maybe less. All of the Arimas, and their Rami, were scheduled to practice using their magic together aboard the Ugaztun for the next couple of days. This being their last free day, Aisling had invited all of the Arimas to the Ala-Lahoi for lunch and weapons training, and had thoughtfully included Glory.

  Glory hadn’t been altogether sure that the weapons training portion of the invitation was serious until she’d arrived. She’d never attended a gathering such as this before, and had been both nervous and excited about it. So much so that she’d nearly declined the invitation several times. She was very happy that she hadn’t (as Lariah put it) chickened out, whatever that meant.

  “Might I see those throwing weapons?” Glory asked Aisling.

  “Of course,” Aisling said, handing one to her. “These aren’t much different to throw than your knives, but they have the added benefit of being fantastic hand to hand weapons. They come in handy when you don’t have the room to swing that sword around.”

  Glory tested the weight and balance of the sai in her hand, her lips curving into a smile at the sensation of rightness that came over her. The pointed, dagger shaped rod with curved prongs projecting from the handle end was razor sharp, and looked both beautiful and lethal. She’d never seen anything resembling it before, but she liked it.

  “Here,” Aisling said, handing her the remaining nine she’d been using. “Go ahead and give ‘em a toss.”

  Glory looked into Aisling’s eyes to be sure the offer was sincere. She wasn’t nearly as surprised as she would have been a few days earlier when she saw that it was. “Thank you,” she said. “I’d like that.”

  Twenty minutes and several practice rounds later, Aisling was smiling at Glory in approval, and the rest of the women were exclaiming in awe. Glory’s accuracy wasn’t quite as precise as Aisling’s, but it was close. An astounding feat considering the sai was a new weapon to her. “I’ve got to have some of these,” Glory said with unbridled excitement. “Where can I get them?”

  “I believe the Ugaztun has a weapon fabricator on board,” Aisling said, turning to Lariah for confirmation.

  “Yes, we do,” she replied. “All you need is the specifications, and the fabricator will make them.”

  “Did those feel right to you?” Aisling asked Glory. “Do you think you’d like them heavier, bigger, lighter?”

  “No, these are perfect,” Glory said.

  “Excellent,” Aisling said. “I’ll give you the specs before you leave. When yours are finished, you can pop over here and we’ll practice with them.”

  “You are very generous, Aisling,” Glory said. “I would enjoy that very much.”

  “You’re welcome,” Aisling said. “It’ll be great fun for me to have someone else who uses sai. In fact, would you like to try sparring with them? See if you like using in that manner as well?”

  Glory’s bronze eyes lit up, then she frowned as she looked down at Aisling’s bulging tummy. “Are you sure it’s safe for you?”

  “Perfectly,” Aisling said. “I do this every day, and I’m always careful. I’d never do anything to risk harm to my babies.”

  Glory nodded and the two women went to a matted area at one side of the room. Glory had no trouble adjusting to the differences between knives and sai, and found she liked them for sparring even more than she did for throwing. When they were finished, Summer asked Glory to spar with her since they were the only two women who used swords. Aisling spent some time with Faith, teaching her to throw knives.

  Lariah and Saige watched Glory and Summer flow back and forth with their wooden practice swords as though they were doing a perfectly choreographed dance. A few minutes later Aisling and Faith joined them, all of them stunned by the beauty of the two women. Summer was brilliant with a sword, but it was easy to see that Glory was just as good. When they stepped back and bowed to each other, calling a draw to their match, the other women clapped and cheered for both of them. Glory flushed with pleasure.

  “Faith,” Lariah said. “Would you mind asking Bubbles to shift for us? I mean, if it’s safe. I’d love to see her.”

  “Bubbles would never hurt anyone that wasn’t attacking someone she cared about,” Faith said. “Let me ask her. Um, if you don’t mind, Aisling.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all,” Aisling said. “I’m dying to see her myself. She’s so darn cute it’s kind of hard to imagine her being anything else.”

  “Bubbles, wo
uld you like to shift for a minute so everyone can see you?” Faith asked the little strip of red fur on her shoulder. Bubbles raised herself up and gave Faith a few popping kisses on her cheek, then she leapt to the floor and shifted. Just like that, between one second and the next, the little strip of fur became an eight foot tall creature with six sets of claws, a mouth full of fangs, and the same wayward red fur and oval eyes.

  Lariah laughed and reached out fearlessly to pet the raktsasa. “You’re so cute, Bubbles,” she said. “Big or small, you’re still adorable.”

  Glory stared at Lariah, wondering if she’d lost her mind. When the other women closed in to pet the raktsasa, Glory took a deep breath and joined them. When Bubbles made her familiar bubble popping noises and began to purr, Glory burst into laughter, shocking everyone. It was the first laugh any of them had ever heard from her. When all eyes turned to her, she shrugged. “Like Lariah said, she’s adorable.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kyerion stood with his face tilted toward the sun, his eyes closed as he savored the sensation of warmth. He smiled to himself. Glory’s valley was wonderfully detailed and precise, and their recreation of it in her absence exact.

  “Brother, I would speak to you of Glory,” Kirk asked.

  Kyerion opened his eyes and turned to face his middle brother. “Of course.”

  “I believe her when she says she’s not Klanaren, yet at the same time, everything in me insists that she is meant to be ours. How can this be possible?”

  “I don’t know,” Kyerion replied. “I feel as you do, Kirk, and I’m equally confused. For now, I suggest we take what solace we can find in Glory herself, and not worry too much about the rest.”

  “What of her belief that we already have an Arima?” Cade asked as he walked toward them.

  “I know we waited a very long time for an Arima,” Kirk said. “That is one memory that never left me. Now, as we grow stronger, my memories become more detailed, but there is no memory of finding the one woman meant for us. Nor do I remember any female tigrenca with orange stripes and blue eyes who was important to us.”