“Your enthusiasm and trust in them is what I’m basing my decision on. Not to mention the fact, you’re the only real ambassador I have for this assignment. You’re our lone expert. You’ve got all the experience with these aliens.”
“I’ll continue to do my best, sir.”
“Do I send a soldier with you? An assistant?”
Ehar had insisted only General Thomas should visit with Velia. She was as suspicious about motives as he was. It was funny to think of them, two different species, acting so similar.
“Some of the Risnarish are afraid of us. I can’t say how they’d take me bringing in anyone else besides you, especially an armed soldier. I’ll return by myself, since I’ve built up some trust with most of them.”
“Excellent. We have a few housekeeping matters to attend to, including a medical workup and that cup of coffee you’re desperate for. After that, I’ll send you on your way to arrange for an official Risnarish visit.”
Velia glowed with pride. General Thomas trusted her with the mission. Her! So much for Jape’s assertion that she didn’t comprehend these matters. She’d have to work to not be smug when she saw him again.
* * *
Four hours after meeting with General Thomas, Velia entered the portal chamber. During the time she’d spent having a medical exam, packing a couple of extra changes of clothes, and chugging coffee, the engineering team had conducted their hurried study of the collection pod. They loudly protested when she arrived to return it to Risnar.
“With any luck, you’ll get another chance soon,” she said to the lead engineer, the man she was to have begun working under had Jape not snatched her away.
“I hope so. Is it bad form to envy you for being abducted?” Tom Brently scratched his prematurely gray head, ruffling the already mussed hair. “I’d have given up body parts to fly this thing.”
Velia chuckled. “Once we straighten out our relationship with the Risnarish, you’ll likely have a ton of opportunities to fly. Keep your fingers crossed. Did you receive the data I compiled for you?”
He held up his tablet. “Every golden nugget. Thanks for delaying your trip long enough to report. No doubt I’ll have tons of questions lined up for you when you come home. Would you be able to access the rest of the Risnarish files on the portal operation?”
“It would depend on how quickly a representative will be ready to come here. I’ll see what I can do.”
Feeling on top of the world, Velia boarded the pod and grinned at General Thomas, who stood back to observe.
“Good luck, Velia. Come home as soon as possible,” he called. Though encouraging, he appeared strained. Worried about her, no doubt.
“With a new friend for us, I hope,” she answered.
She traded waves with the team of engineers and Hudson’s squad before shutting the hatch and taking off.
As she journeyed for the few minutes it took to reach Risnar, she smiled at Brently’s professed envy. She didn’t doubt he was jealous that someone not yet an official member of his team was the first to pilot the pod.
“I would have been green with envy too.”
However, he’d shown only enthusiasm, no malice. Velia had heard he was the kind of leader who encouraged a convivial, supportive atmosphere. She’d looked forward to working with him.
I should be anticipating that even more now that I’ve witnessed how he operates. Instead, her thoughts were filled with the excitement that she’d see Jape again soon, and she’d be able to report her good news to him.
Her heart jumped in her chest as the pod found its way to the Cas hive and she saw Jape and Arga waiting for her in the portal chamber. Salno stood behind the control podium, her hands poised over the buttons.
Ehar had kept her promise. Velia sighed with relief.
She didn’t know what to make of the strange tubes Jape and Arga pointed at the pod. Though they reminded her of flashlights, it made no sense in the well-lit chamber. Besides, they weren’t lit.
Dismissing the nonflashlight devices—though she was excited to see a new tool she could potentially dismantle and examine—Velia bounded out of the pod the instant the hatch opened. She beamed at the group waiting for her, especially Jape. “I’m back! Did you miss me?”
Instead of an enthusiastic welcome, Jape’s thunderous shout echoed in the chamber. “What the hell have you done?”
Velia stopped short. She stared at him. At Arga. They kept their flashlight tools trained on the pod. As if they held guns, and the enforcers were covering suspected bad guys. Or invaders.
Were the flashlights weapons? Did Jape and Arga believe she’d brought an assault force with her?
“Guys, it’s just me. Check the pod and see.”
“She’s correct,” Salno reported. “Sensors confirm she was the only occupant.”
The men didn’t move an inch. Jape snarled accusingly, “Salno says you went to the portal on Earth. To report to your superiors.”
“Salno said?” Velia glanced at the willowy Risnarish woman standing behind the chamber’s control podium. “Don’t you mean Ehar? Of course I went to Earth. I spoke to General Thomas. What did you think I was doing?”
Instead of making sense, Jape seethed. “All along, you’ve been plotting. Gathering information on us to share with your side.”
“I did exactly what Ehar and I discussed I would do!” Velia marched down the ramp, angry at the bizarre reception. What was Jape playing at anyway? “Put down whatever that damned thing is. You’re not under attack.”
Arga had holstered his. “Ehar? She knew you were going to Earth?” He darted a glance at Jape.
“She insisted on it. She was supposed to tell you not to worry, that we were trying to open up negotiations. Are you telling me you didn’t talk to her?”
Salno stepped out from behind the podium and put her hand to her chest. “When I came in to continue my studies, I saw that the pod had been used to go to the portal access coordinates on Earth. I informed Jape. He didn’t know.”
Her attitude was cool and calm, but with none of Ehar’s frigid distance. She was as conciliatory as she’d been the first time Velia had met her. And certainly not as accusatory as Jape.
His expression said he didn’t believe her for a red-hot minute. He thought she’d run off to report like some spy, as if they’d found no basis for trust the night before. Even after what they’d shared, he still regarded her as the enemy.
The venom in his eyes shouldn’t have injured Velia. But it did. God help her, it was a punch to the gut.
Determined to wound him in kind, she snapped, “Ehar sent me to Earth. Yes, I spoke to General Thomas. And guess what, Mr. Women-Don’t-Have-A-Clue? He listened to me. Exactly as I said he would. He’s invited one of your leaders to come talk to him about the Monsudan plot to invade Earth.”
“He would speak to us?” Arga’s voice was soft. Velia didn’t miss how he angled his body, putting himself between her and the still-glowering Jape.
“He’s willing to listen to what you have to say.” She addressed the head enforcer again. “All you have to do is get off your high horse and accept that my superior is willing to correct some of the wrongs you’ve suffered.”
“Your superior. Of course, it’s about your side. You are blind to any wrong your people have planned.” Jape hadn’t heard the first word she’d said, beyond whatever would prove his suspicions.
“And you are blind to anything but the vengeance you want, so you can stop suffering over the deaths of your men. So you can stop blaming yourself.” She could have screamed with frustration. “Earth is not your enemy!”
Arga shot Jape a sidelong look. “If they wish to meet, it is a step in the right direction.”
Salno added, “It may be as Anneliese said. Maybe they don’t realize the evil the Monsuda are capable of.”
“As I’v
e said, as well. Many times.” Velia was done playing nice with Jape. He’d had his chance to do what was best for both their worlds. His bald glare said he would not. “Since Stripes here has made his judgments against Earth, it’s clear he is not the person to meet with General Thomas. I’ll discuss this with your head elder.”
His tone was as ugly as hers. “You certainly will. And I’ll be there, because I want the truth from Elder Ehar herself. Arga, station a double watch on the hive and portal. They may hope we’ll relax our vigilance after she reported to them.”
“Maybe I should go with you to visit the head elder.”
Jape rounded on him, his ears flattened to his skull. “I said secure this place. That’s an order.”
Arga stepped close to him, his ears flattening as well. He appeared not to notice, or not to care, how Jape towered over him. “Don’t harm her in your devotion to getting at what you think is the truth. I will not stand for it. That’s a promise.”
“I don’t harm our esteemed women, no matter their species.” Jape dripped sarcasm. Velia couldn’t have said whether it was for Arga’s concern he’d take his ire out on Velia, or his poor attitude for “esteemed” females in general.
Jape jerked his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
When he reached for her, Velia stepped back, pointing at him in warning. “You can keep your hands to yourself, Stripes. Touch me, and I’ll tear them off you.”
She turned smartly and stormed out past Arga and Salno. Jape’s heavy tread followed close behind.
Don’t try it, asshole. You can armor until the end of the universe, but touch me, and you’re done. She meant it. Warrior or not, she’d hurt him if he put a finger on her.
If only the anger could drown out the pain shrieking in her gut.
Chapter Seventeen
Jape lost no time flying Velia to the temple. Feeling her sitting stiffly on his lap as he piloted the dartwing was torture.
The entire flight was only a merciful five minutes at the most. During that short space, he grew more confused and angrier than he’d been since the moment Salno had called him to report the collection pod had been taken to the portal on Earth. He’d known it was Velia who’d gone before he’d raced to his home to check, hoping against hope he’d find her there. He’d prayed to the All-Spirit that she hadn’t betrayed him after giving him the most wonderful night of his life.
She’d been missing. A call to Retav had verified she wasn’t with him in the medical dome.
How could she have done such a thing?
He wondered if perhaps she had been dispatched by Ehar after all. But if so, why had there been no report from the men manning the containment field that guarded the village? An Earthling leaving Cas, even with Ehar’s blessing, would have elicited a call to him. If his men were doing their job, they would have stopped her and checked with him.
She’d snuck out, somehow. Skulked like a traitor, keeping herself hidden in hopes of betraying him. It was the only explanation.
She was so tense, sitting bolt upright between his legs despite the wind buffeting her, blowing her hair to whip against his chest, throat, and chin. She’s unhappy with me. Angry.
What of it? She was treacherous, the same as most of her kind. Not to be trusted, especially with the claim that Ehar had sent her to Earth. A ridiculous idea. The head elder wanted the Earth portal destroyed.
Give her the benefit of the doubt until you’re sure.
He wanted to listen to his spirit’s pleas. Most of all, he wanted to believe Velia wouldn’t turn against him. That she was everything he’d begun to wish she might be.
With a sense of hope and dread, he presented himself and the silent Velia at the Elders dome, where he’d met for clandestine instructions twice in the last week.
The female council aide standing at the foyer’s greeting station eyed Velia with quiet but frank fascination. “From my spirit to yours, Jape Ihucas Bolep. Have you a matter to bring before an elder?”
He slapped his hand to his chest hard enough that he wished he hadn’t unarmored after climbing out of the dartwing. Get yourself under control. “I need to meet with the head elder immediately. This Earthling has been using the portal without my sanction. She says she did so under Elder Ehar’s direction.”
The aide gave no indication of what she thought of his growly tone. For all the attention she gave Jape, he may as well have not been there. Her gaze riveted on Velia. “I will relay your request, Head Enforcer.”
She strode unhurriedly past the door where Jape had met Ehar and the anti-Earth faction, gliding to the next doorway. She disappeared within.
Jape glanced at Velia. She stood straight and stiff, as Anneliese tended to do when taking orders. At attention, his dependable Earthling friend had explained. Though Velia didn’t acknowledge him, Jape was sure she was aware of his unwavering attention. As the seconds ticked by, she ignored him.
Out of guilt? Defiance? Anger?
What does she have to be angry about? I trusted her to be on her own today, showing my confidence in her, when I should have kept her under guard. She snuck to the hive. She carried tales to her people.
You don’t know that! Not for a second can you believe she’d be allied to the Monsuda.
No, even his most suspicious instincts didn’t believe that Velia would be a part of something so heinous. If she was guilty of any crime, it was her foolish allegiance to those who didn’t deserve it.
His initial anger over her clandestine trip had faded. It shouldn’t have. He was entitled to be furious. Yet he had the urge to touch her now, to squeeze her shoulder, to ask if they could talk. Anything to erase that closed-off expression, the set of her jaw.
His gut revolted against the feeling that he’d gone too far when he’d accused her of spying. His soul cried out in fear that he’d never see her smile again.
He didn’t get a chance to figure out their issues. The aide came out and waved them toward the door. “You may enter.”
Velia didn’t hang back as Jape half expected her to. In fact, she hurried to the doorway and swept in, almost forcing Jape to trot after her.
As if she had every confidence that Ehar would confirm her story. Jape’s uneasiness that he was in the wrong edged up a notch.
Ehar waited next to a computer podium as they entered. She was as composed as Jape had ever seen her...but her gaze on Velia was far from distant. She stared at her with an intensity that tempted Jape to step between them.
She did not greet them in the usual manner. She did not invite them to sit on the cushions in the corner of the room.
Velia didn’t bother with greetings either. She cut to the chase. “Great, I’m glad you’re here. Tell your pet thug that you sent me to Earth to arrange a meeting between General Thomas and a Risnarish representative.”
If a person’s expression could have affected the temperature, the room would have turned to ice as Ehar spoke. The pretty waterfall feature that trickled down a stone-facade wall would have frozen in place. “I requested no such thing. I’ve never met you before, Earthling.”
For about three seconds, Velia’s confident ire held. Then, realization took hold. Her mouth gaped in slow motion, her eyes widening at the same time. Her shock was palpable as she looked in disbelief at Ehar.
Velia wasn’t lying. But if she wasn’t, then that meant—
No. Not possible.
Ehar didn’t wait for either of them to recover. Clipping words like a blade through the long grasses, she addressed Jape. “This is true about her going to Earth, Head Enforcer? You let her out of your sight to do that?”
Shame slammed into his gut. The head elder found him at fault. She’d accused him of yet another failure. And Ehar was right. He’d counted on Velia to remain in his home. Though it seemed reasonable—after all, where would she go in Cas where he couldn’t find her? An
d it should have been impossible for her to leave the village undetected.
Most of all, I felt we had begun something, enough that she would not turn on me. I trusted her and wanted her to understand that I knew she would not betray me.
She had, though. She’d slipped through Jape’s grasp, and he was a trained warrior. She could have brought in troops to fight his men. To kill more of his men. Guilt made it impossible to meet Ehar’s eyes.
Velia’s irate voice rose several octaves higher than her usual husky tones. “Hold on a damned minute! You and that Farem guy came to Jape’s dome! You said—”
“I will not be shouted at. I am head elder of Cas.” The steel-knife pronouncement cut through Velia’s fiery anger.
“I don’t care if you’re the Queen of Sheba. You’re lying.”
Jape jerked and watched the two women. One blazing, the other frozen. One filled with warm hues, her eyes crackling fire to match. Velia made gray Ehar look leeched of color, a woman of stone.
Neither backing down.
Elders did not lie. Female elders, in particular, were too close to spiritual perfection to lower themselves in such a way. And Ehar was the pinnacle of transcendent excellence.
Yet Velia had come in so sure of herself. Positive that Ehar would verify her claims. Jape would have sworn before the All-Spirit that the Earthling told the truth, had Ehar not refuted her.
He was too confused to make heads or tails of the situation. He needed to think, before it blew up in his face. Before Velia got hurt.
Trying to catch Velia’s eyes, to warn her to silence, Jape said, “I will remove her from your presence, Head Elder. I can return her to—”
She flicked a hand at him with sharp command. “Yes, but not to your dome. First send her to the medics and have her tagged with a confiscated transmitter.”
Jape’s turmoil increased, sending acid into his throat. Choked, he asked, “You mean with a Monsudan tracker?”
“Of course. If you allow her to escape again, we can catch her before she runs back with our pod that would allow more of her kind to come here.”
Worlds Collide Page 16
