"I'll do that. Maybe we can have a family dinner or something."
"I wish I could get a home-cooked meal, but asking a Queen to fix fish for dinner just sounds crass."
I laughed, which was what Dad was hoping for. "See ya," Dad turned toward the door. "Send mindspeech if you hear anything new."
"Will do."
Just after the door closed behind Dad and his guards, Bel Erland sent mindspeech. We're here, he said. Room 17895.
I'll be down in a sec, I told him and turned to mist.
Quin
Lissa's suite was next to mine at the hotel, and after receiving mindspeech from Bel Erland, discovered he was just down the hall.
Want to come over? Bel asked. Garwin Wyatt is here. He and his dad have a top floor suite.
As the founder of the Campiaan Alliance, I wasn't surprised that Teeg San Gerxon had a top floor suite.
If Ildevar Wyyld came, he'd have a massive, top-floor suite, too. Ildevar seldom attended functions such as this, preferring to remain in contact via live vid-feed during meetings and votes.
"Dena, I want to go down the hall to see Bel Erland," I called out.
"Not without me," she appeared in my doorway.
"Then let's go," I said.
"You're in a hurry. You'd think you hadn't seen Bel Erland for years," she teased.
"Sometimes it feels that way," I retorted. "Tell Ardis where we're going, so he and Justis won't have heart attacks."
"Ardis," Dena called over her shoulder. "Quin and I are going down the hall to see Bel Erland."
"All right. Tell her to send mindspeech to Justis regarding dinner plans."
"Will do."
"Come on," I headed toward the door. "Bel says Garwin Wyatt is there, too. I haven't seen him in two years."
Dena and I walked as fast as we could down the hall toward the Karathian suite and knocked on the door.
I was surprised to see Erland, Bel's grandfather, at the door instead of Bel Erland. "Travis and Trent just arrived, Quinnie Bee," Erland ushered us into the suite quickly. "That pirate ship they were following was blown up the second it entered Pyrik's atmosphere."
Chapter 3
Mer'bali
Garwin Wyatt
There's evidence that the ship was scanned, I informed Dad in mindspeech. The ASD is working on the source of the scan, but haven't come up with anything yet. Travis said someone aboard BlackWing X suggested that the pirate ship was scanned for the passenger who was removed days ago, and when he wasn't located on the ship, it was hit with laser rockets.
I'd like confirmation on all counts, Dad returned. Keep me advised.
I will.
Who? Dad thought to ask. Who made that suggestion? Is he or she a suspect in all this?
Not likely, I replied. This is Prince Amlis' blind assistant. I think he's some sort of clairvoyant.
I'd like to meet him, Dad said. Let Travis know, and clear it with the Prince.
All right. I'll let you know where and when.
Good. Thanks. Gotta go—the ambassadors are glaring at each other.
Randl
I knew bare seconds before the ship exploded, and cried out with the vision of it. Someone hadn't found what they sought aboard that pirate vessel, and all those aboard died because of it.
Trent, who'd been close by, heard my shout first, and then his brother's report of the destroyed ship seconds later.
He'd asked me what happened afterward. I didn't lie; I told him what I knew of the matter.
He was surprised that I not only knew he worked for the ASD, but that I was aware of their mission—tracking the pirate ship.
That's how I found myself on Pyrik, inside a richly-appointed suite belonging to the King of Karathia, where Morrett waited to greet me. Travis and Trent, as it turns out, could fold space. Several things were locking into place, like pieces of a puzzle, where those two were concerned.
Then, Quin entered the room and rushed forward to embrace me. I was so happy to see her, I trembled with joy.
"This is Garwin Wyatt San Gerxon," Quin pulled away to introduce me to another man. "He is Teeg San Gerxon's son and serves as a diplomat for the Campiaan Alliance."
"Happy to meet you," Garwin Wyatt held out a hand. After my vision of his hand cleared, I accepted it.
"Thank you," I dipped my head to him.
"My father wishes to meet you, to discuss your theory that the pirate ship was scanned," Garwin Wyatt told me. "And please, call me Wyatt. All my friends do."
"It isn't a theory," I said. "I know it's difficult to believe, but I sensed it."
"You should believe Randl," Quin came to my defense. "He knew his village and others like it on Vogeffa II would be attacked, long before it actually happened. He and his father were waiting for Lafe, Terrett and me when we rode into that small town to warn them about Cayetes' attacks."
"Vogeffa II?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes. That was our home, until Quin called for help to rescue us from Vardil Cayetes," I said. "We are grateful for her compassion as well as her connections. We were settled in New Fyris afterward, because their population needed a boost."
I didn't add that I was dissatisfied with my situation in New Fyris. Many who work are dissatisfied. They go to work anyway, to feed their families. I doubted I'd ever get a family, since Amlis normally demanded so much of my time.
Randl? Morrett's mindspeech reached me first.
"Morrett?" I turned toward the doorway while my mental sight adjusted.
Believe anything Randl tells you, Morrett declared in mindspeech. I blinked sightless eyes at him as he strode forward and pulled me into a tight hug.
"That's not an endorsement or anything," the Crown Prince of Karathia laughed.
"All here have mindspeech?" I knew the answer but asked anyway. I couldn't send, but I could hear it if it were directed at me.
Randl can't return your mindspeech, but he can certainly hear you, Morrett's mental chuckle made me smile. I'd missed him when he left New Fyris. I was learning that he enjoyed his work for the Karathian King.
I could never joke or tease with Amlis. I imagined it would be the equivalent of hurling a live cow at a threshing machine—its landing and the aftermath wouldn't be pretty. Rodrik—I doubted he'd have the wisdom to buy a sense of humor, because he'd certainly been born without one.
"Terrett says that the Prince and the others have been safely delivered to Pyrik, although the Prince is complaining that you're not at his side," Trent informed me. Someone on the ship had sent a mental message to him, advising him of that.
My shoulders slumped before I thought to stop the gesture.
"What's wrong?" Quin asked.
"May I speak with you in private? You and Morrett?" I asked.
"Send them into my suite," Bel Erland said. "We'll give you privacy."
"Thank you, Prince Bel," I bowed to him.
"Call me Bel, or Bel Erland. It's easier." I caught his smile before it disappeared.
"Of course, Bel," I agreed. Quin, Morrett and I followed the Prince as he led us toward his private suite.
Quin
"It's Amlis, isn't it?" I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out the moment Bel left us alone and closed the door.
"He's—unstable," Randl dropped his head and admitted reluctantly.
"It's hereditary," I said. "You never met his father. He was in charge of Old Fyris, and he almost destroyed everything."
"What can I do?" Randl begged, turning his face toward mine. "I want to find another job. He's become so paranoid, and I feel I'm to blame. He asks what this one or that thinks of him, and my answers only make things worse."
"Randl, no," I reached out to take his hand. "He shouldn't be asking those questions of you. No sane person would. His instability is goading him in this, and, as you work for him, you cannot refuse a direct command."
"I want to find another job, but Pap works for him, too. If I leave, Pap will suffer."
"If we can't find s
omething suitable, I'll hire you both at Avii Castle," I said, suddenly determined. Amlis and his family had cost me too much already. I wasn't about to allow him to ruin other's lives, too.
Morrett had stood back, listening to our conversation and nodding his head. Randl would be a godsend to the ASD, he offered. I know this. Look what he just told them, when it would have taken them hours or even days to discover the same thing.
"That's true," I turned back to Randl. "I know Kooper Griff. While we're here, I'll arrange a meeting."
"What about Pap?" Randl wouldn't budge unless he knew his father was taken care of.
"What does he do for Amlis?" I asked.
"He runs the castle," Randl sighed. "He likes his job."
"I think I can find something similar," I said. "If not at Avii Castle, then surely on Le-Ath Veronis somewhere." It concerned me that Randl was so troubled. Amlis was truly over the edge if a normally calm seer was this upset.
Will you not consider his healing? Morrett asked.
"Morrett," I sighed before covering my face with both hands for a moment. "He and his family tried to kill me," I said after dropping my hands. "Several times. It would be an unwilling gesture on my part, although I should be less selfish than this. For the people of New Fyris, if nothing else."
"How do I avoid answering the Prince's questions while we're here on Pyrik?" Randl asked. "He'll want to know about everyone who approaches him, and many who do not."
He can't ask you if you resign, Morrett patted Randl's shoulder. If Quin can't find you and your Pap a job, I'll ask King Rylend.
"I'll get Lissa to send mindspeech to Kooper," I said. "Just give me time to get this done. I'll ask her to have your Pap notified, too, in case things don't go so well with Amlis."
"Thank you. This means more than I can say," Randl breathed.
"Come on, we'll find some excuse not to send you back; I think we can improvise until Kooper is notified." I hugged Randl, who wrapped his arms about me in gratitude.
Travis
"Director, he knew it before it happened," I said. Kooper arrived minutes after Quin and Morrett left with Randl.
"Your mother says Randl's not happy in his job—that Amlis is turning paranoid." Kooper settled his long frame into a chair at the hotel bar. "It's never good news to hear one of your rulers is losing it, either. Bad things happen in their wake."
"I can verify the crazy," I offered. "Trent, too—and Winkler."
"I'll hire the young man," Kooper nodded at a waiter to take his order. "We need him and dozens more just like him."
"He may be one of a kind," I pointed out. "Word is that his mother was one of the mutants—their words, not mine—from Gungl, who fled the city once Cayetes got his hands on everything. She died shortly after Randl was born, I think."
"Did your homework, I see." Kooper nodded his approval.
"Trent and I went looking for his records the minute he boarded ship. It's almost unheard of for a blind man to be working in close proximity to royalty. He's refused the procedure that could help him see, too."
"Probably worries it'll interfere with his seer's ability."
"It could be," I agreed.
"Two bourbons," Kooper held out his wrist for the scanner.
"Right away, sir." The waiter walked away from us.
"How do we get him away from a paranoid Prince at a Conclave?" I asked.
"Inform the Prince in question that the ASD requires Randl's assistance. I'll have a contract drawn up, if necessary, to wave in the Prince's face."
"You know that won't go well."
"I'll provide temporary assistants, if it's necessary. It'll take a couple of mine ten minutes to read Amlis' schedule and record his voting preferences."
"Except he hasn't made up his mind on most of it, yet," I countered. "He's refusing to even look at the topics for discussion—Winkler told me that after he and Lukas had dinner with him. Rodrik knows more than the Prince, at this point."
"Who's next in line to the throne?"
"Rodrik. He's Amlis' cousin."
"Did he inherit the cray-cray, as your mother says?"
"Doesn't look like it. He does have the same sour mood, though, if what I've seen so far is accurate."
"Must be a ton of laughs in New Fyris, then. Thank you," Kooper accepted his glass of bourbon. The waiter lifted my glass from the tray and set it down in front of me.
"Thank you." I nodded at the waiter, who left to deliver other drinks.
"To Randl, who saved us time on figuring out what happened to the pirate ship," I held up my glass.
"Second that," Kooper lifted his glass, then drank. "Now, all we have to do is look for the source of the scan and the laser rockets."
"Piece of cake," I replied with a shrug.
Winkler
Lukas' suite was directly across the hall from Amlis'. I understood that accommodating hotel employees thought it a good idea and it would have been for most presidents and monarchs representing the same planet.
Amlis had thrown a tantrum after receiving the message that Randl's talents were required by the ASD in searching for criminals in the pirate ship bombing. He hadn't been given details, but everyone aboard BlackWing X knew a ship exploded.
Hell, the entire planet of Pyrik held its breath until they learned the ship wasn't carrying a royal, president or ambassador to the conference.
So far, the ship hadn't been officially identified, although Travis, Trent and most of the crew knew all there was to know about the pirate vessel.
I figured it was only a matter of time, too, before Kooper realized he ought to take Randl to visit the prisoner they'd taken. Quin couldn't read a thing about him. If it were me, I'd see what a talented clairvoyant could do.
Kooper, I sent, you ought to take Randl to visit your prisoner. He'd know what I meant.
Good idea, although we don't even have a uniform for him yet.
I'd do it, I pointed out. Doesn't make a damn bit of difference how he's dressed, if he can deliver information.
True enough. I'll send some of mine to collect our seer. Want to go with them?
I would, but I'm babysitting.
Amlis?
Yeah. He wanted to hit Lukas, when we went to tell him Randl wasn't coming back.
Let me know if he gets violent. We don't need that at Conclave.
Tell me about it.
I already did.
You really ought to study Old Earth idioms and colloquialisms, I pointed out.
I’ll do that on my next tea break. I'll keep you informed on the other.
Kooper was a sarcastic bastard. I liked that about him.
Randl
"How much do you know about our mission?" Travis asked. I was back aboard BlackWing X, with Trent, Jayna and a few other crew members.
"I understand there was someone who arranged to be transported to Pyrik," I said. "I think that's why the ship was destroyed. I hope that information doesn't get me in trouble."
"Not a chance, unless you say that to someone outside the ASD, or who doesn't need to know inside the ASD," Travis said. He and I sat in the Captain's cubby, located behind the bridge.
Trent, who sat beside me, swiveled his chair in my direction. "We want to take you to see the prisoner," he said. "Kooper suggested it, in case you can see what Quin can't. So far, we haven't gotten any useful information from him. It's almost as if he doesn't know himself—until an opportunity presents itself or he meets a contact who knows more than he does."
"That's frightening," I said.
"Welcome to the world of obsessed minds," Travis sighed. "We haven't seen many in the past fifteen years or so, but this one is certainly obsessed. Quin says so."
"Quin can see so many things I can't," I admitted. "Why would I have anything to add to her assessment?"
"Because your talent may work differently," Trent suggested. "We'll give it a try anyway. Don't worry if you don't see anything—it won't place your new job in jeopardy, and we'll s
till be right where we were before. This isn't a test—it's an experiment."
"That I can do," I said, turning my vision away from Trent to study Travis. "When are we going?"
"Now, if you're up for it. Kooper is still working on a uniform, and, as you're sort of special, the usual physical training will be waived. We may teach you how to handle weapons, but that's only for extreme emergencies. The rest is just studying and memorization of Alliance laws and ASD procedures. Shouldn't be difficult for you."
"I enjoy studying—well, reading, actually, although it takes longer for me to do it, with my condition. It doesn't matter what the reading material is. I have a good memory, too."
"Good. We'll be taking you to an ASD holding facility on Refizan." Travis rose and stretched. Trent and I stood, too. For them, this was routine. For me, it was all new.
I'll get used to it, I reminded myself. I'd gotten used to change from the moment I foresaw danger for my father when I was young.
I hoped my new colleagues wouldn't fall into the paranoia trap, like Amlis did. It would be much more difficult to tear myself away from their clutches if that happened.
ASD Holding Facility, Refizan
Travis
At times, it was easy to forget that Randl was blind. His mind vision worked so well, and he'd become so adept at covering the slight delay in his visions that he appeared sighted.
Until he pulled out his dark glasses when we landed in a shaded courtyard adjoining the holding facility.
He'd been advised to wear the glasses outside, no matter how much light there was. The darkness provided by the glasses didn't impede his visions at all.
"This way." Trent touched Randl's arm after waiting a few seconds. Randl nodded and followed in Trent's wake.
I walked behind Randl as we strode down wide halls to reach the prisoner's cell. Two guards walked toward us. I saw Randl's shoulders stiffen. I went on alert, but both guards nodded as they passed and moved on.
Perhaps they thought Randl another prisoner to be locked away. Trent and I weren't strangers, here—it was Kooper's location of choice to haul in pirates we'd captured, before questioning them and setting up necessary trials and more permanent accommodations.
MindSighted: BlackWing Pirates, Book 1 Page 4
