Laura Jo Phillips

by The Gryphons' Dream: Soul Linked#5

  “I do now,” Rudy said. “Just a sense of her being in pain, nothing more.”

  “Same here,” Rand said. “I can’t tell if its serious or not, or what her emotions are. Just pain.”

  “I am beginning to get a better sense of the pain,” Olaf said. “It’s bad, but she is not in extreme danger at this moment.”

  Olaf pushed through the door and transformed instantly, Rand and Rudy a split second behind him. They launched themselves into the air, racing toward the exit as fast as they could.

  “It appears that the closer we get to her, the stronger our connection to her becomes,” Olaf sent to his brothers as he led the way to the far end of the Hidden City.

  “What I don’t understand is why do we feel her at all?” Rand asked. “She is not our Arima. We are certain of that. Aren’t we?”

  “Yes, that much is certain,” Olaf replied. “In truth, that is the only thing I am certain of right now.”

  The three gryphons burst through the wide exit carved into the rock wall and into the cold afternoon sunlight. Olaf pressed himself to fly faster, wishing they had enough strength in Air magic to help them along, but they had only enough to create a thin shield. Even without it, it was only a few minutes before they reached the Council Complex and landed on the front lawn. They transformed smoothly from gryphon to human male the moment their feet touched the grass, not even pausing to catch their breath as they hurried toward the door. As soon as they stepped inside the building Olaf stopped and turned to face his brothers.

  “The pain is easing,” he said to them, keeping his voice low. “If we go storming in there, we will only frighten and upset her. We must calm ourselves first.”

  Rand and Rudy both reached out with their senses, searching for Aisling’s pain. When they found it, it was weak and faint, but they both relaxed when they learned for themselves that she was better now, as Olaf had said. They stood together a few more moments until they were composed.

  Satisfied, Olaf turned and led the way to the room Elder Vulpiran had showed them the day before. Olaf hesitated, then knocked twice on the door before opening it slowly.

  “Come on in,” Karma called as the door opened.

  Olaf stepped into the room, his eyes going at once to where Aisling sat on the sofa, her head back, eyes closed, face so pale he could see the veins beneath her skin. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her and he rushed forward, kneeling down beside the sofa as he reached out to place one hand lightly on her forehead. Her skin felt cool and dry which was a relief.

  “What?” Aisling asked, opening her eyes at his touch.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I think so,” she said. “I listened a bit longer than I should have, that’s all.”

  “The Xanti screeching is a bit hard on her brain,” Karma said, the concern on her face belying the offhand tone of her words.

  “I’m fine,” Aisling insisted. “I just have a headache and I’m a little bit tired.”

  Olaf looked up to where Rand and Rudy stood behind Aisling, meeting their gazes with his own. They needed more information.

  The door opened again and Elder Vulpiran entered the room, another man right behind him.

  “Hello Olaf, Rand, Rudy,” Elder Vulpiran said. “This is Doctor Hallitz. He has agreed to check Miss Aisling for us.”

  Olaf looked up at the doctor, then stood and moved back out of the way so that he could examine Aisling. Doctor Hallitz was one of Beria’s three human doctors, and, from what Olaf knew, the best of them.

  “Elder Vulpiran,” Olaf said politely, though he did not take his eyes from Aisling or the Doctor. “Can you tell us what happened?”

  Elder Vulpiran explained the problem that Aisling had with listening to the Xanti language, and what they had done to make it easier. “She was supposed to limit her session times,” Elder Vulpiran said. “I checked on her several times and she seemed to be doing fine, so it was working. I don’t know why she pushed it.”

  “She did not push it,” Karma said, an edge of anger in her voice. “Aisling is neither stupid nor careless. She was being very careful, and had, in fact, shortened her listening times as the afternoon wore on because it seemed to be getting more difficult for her.”

  “I apologize,” Elder Vulpiran said to Karma with a bow. “I did not mean to insult Miss Aisling.”

  Karma stared at the man for a moment, then sighed. “I know, I’m just worried about her.”

  “As are we all,” Elder Vulpiran replied. “Apparently the effect of the sounds is cumulative. Perhaps we should not continue with this.”

  “No, I’m finishing this,” Aisling said. Her voice was weak, but it was clear she meant what she said. “I’ll just need to further limit my time listening is all.”

  “Is there any chance that you have enough to decipher the language from what she did today?” Karma asked hopefully.

  Elder Vulpiran reached up and tapped his vox, stepping away from the group as he spoke softly for a few moments. When he returned he was frowning. “Unfortunately, we only have about two percent at this time,” he said.

  “Aside from a very bad headache, Miss Aisling is fine,” Doctor Hallix said when he finished with his examination of Aisling. “She needs to limit her time with the sounds. I also suggest she be checked carefully each day when she is finished, before leaving.”

  “I think she should not listen at all any more,” Olaf said. “She can translate the written data instead. You can use that to translate the recordings yourselves.”

  “That won’t work,” Aisling said. “The two languages are different.”

  “Different?” Elder Vulpiran asked in surprise. “Do you mean to say that they are not both Xanti?”

  “No, I think they’re both Xanti,” Aisling said. “Sort of.”

  “I don’t understand,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  “Neither do I,” Aisling said with a deep sigh. “I just know that the Xanti language for speaking, and the Xanti writing Prince Garen showed me yesterday are not the same. Since everything looks and sounds like Standard to me, I don’t even know how I know that, but I do.”

  “That makes no sense,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  “I don’t make this stuff up,” Aisling said tiredly. “I just tell you what I see and hear.”

  “I am beginning to get a better idea of just how alien the Xanti are to us,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Olaf said. “The written language will have to suffice because she is not listening to any more of those recordings.

  Aisling raised her head and stared straight at Olaf, her green eyes alive with golden sparks. “You do not dictate what I do, or do not do, Mr. Gryphon,” she said coolly. She turned to Elder Vulpiran, calmly dismissing Olaf. “I will be here tomorrow,” she said. “However, I think it might be best if Karma and I had a different place to stay while we are here.”

  “Why do you need a different place to stay?” Olaf asked, shocked by Aisling’s response. What happened to the meek and shy woman she had been up until now? Actually, now that he thought about it, he realized that she had been more talkative and outgoing at breakfast that morning than she’d been the day before.

  “I will not answer to anyone for my actions, or my decisions,” Aisling said. “If I must sleep under the stars, then that is what I will do.”

  “I apologize, Aisling,” Olaf said. “I am merely concerned for your health, and I spoke rashly. Of course you do not have to answer to us, and you are welcome to stay with us as long as you wish.”

  Under normal circumstances Aisling would have simply left and found another place to stay. But at the moment her head ached horribly, she was dizzy, and more tired than she’d ever been in her life. All she really wanted to do was go back to her guest room at the Gryphons’ home and sleep.

  “Thank you,” she said, letting her head fall back because she just couldn’t hold it up any longer.

  “Olaf, if you do not mind, I would lik
e to speak with you outside for a moment,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  Olaf nodded. “I will be right back,” he said to Aisling. “Just rest.”

  Aisling closed her eyes, unwilling to speak the words that rose to her lips. If she told Olaf that she didn’t want him to leave she was sure he would try ordering her around again. Besides, she didn’t even know why she didn’t want him to leave. Maybe listening to the Xanti had caused some sort of brain damage after all.

  Olaf stepped into the hall after Elder Vulpiran and closed the door. “How may I help you?” he asked politely.

  “I know that Miss Aisling needs to rest, so I will come straight to the point so that you can get her out of here,” Elder Vulpiran said. “Is she your Arima?”

  “No, she isn’t,” Olaf replied. “We do not understand what it is we feel for her, or why we were able to sense her pain.”

  Elder Vulpiran frowned. “You sensed her pain, all three of you?”

  “Yes, from within the Hidden City,” Olaf replied. “At first I was the only one, but as we moved closer to her, Rand and Rudy felt it as well. Yet there is no connection between us. And she is most definitely not our Arima.”

  “I wish I had some answers for you, Olaf,” Elder Vulpiran said. “I’m afraid that I do not. However, even though she is not your Arima, I ask that you guard Miss Aisling carefully. I do not need to tell you how important her work is, not just for us, but for all of the peoples of the Thousand Worlds.”

  “We will guard her,” Olaf said. “For that reason, and others. I would ask that you continue to keep a close eye on her while she is here.”

  “You have my promise,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  “I thank you,” Olaf said with a bow. “I would ask something else, if I may.”

  “Certainly,” Elder Vulpiran replied.

  “Will you ask Aisling and Karma for a blood sample to determine if they are berezi?”

  “It has already been decided that the council will ask certain women for blood samples, and tell them why. If they agree, their identities will be hidden to all but a select few. The results will be used only as a means to protect those women identified as possible berezi.”

  Olaf understood the reasoning for the hidden identities, and applauded it. But he could not help but feel that their situation was different.

  “Even though Aisling is not our Arima, we do have feelings for her,” Olaf said, choosing his words carefully. “I am not yet sure what those feelings are, or even what they mean. However, it is possible that we would choose to take a human woman as a mate.”

  “This is a unique problem,” Elder Vulpiran said, shaking his head sadly. “Before the destruction of our home world, all male-sets knew that there was only one woman meant for them, and it was not even possible for them to choose another. Then we came here, to Jasan, and out of necessity, found a way to mate with women who were not our destined Arimas. That was fine as there were no Arimas. Now, there is the possibility of both a destined mate, and a chosen mate. It is troubling to think of the problems this situation may cause.”

  “Troubling is a mild word for it,” Olaf said dryly.

  “I have no answers for you, as much as I wish otherwise,” Elder Vulpiran said regretfully. “However, should the occasion arise, I would strongly suggest that the female in question share her knowledge with any males in her life.”

  Olaf bowed once more, indicating his gratitude, though he said nothing more.

  “We will take Aisling home now and see to her rest,” Olaf said. “I expect that she will wish to be here again tomorrow morning, but if she changes her mind, we will inform you.”

  “I would also like to know if her condition worsens,” Elder Vulpiran said.

  “Of course,” Olaf replied.

  Chapter 8

  As soon as Aisling was in the ground-car, she laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. She had insisted on walking out to the car on her own two feet. The idea of accepting Olaf’s offer of carrying her was more than enough incentive to propel her off the sofa. After that it was pure stubbornness that got her out of the building, down the walk, across the lawn and into the car. Now she had to fight to stay awake, but at least she could conduct her fight with her eyes closed.

  “I assume you would prefer to do your shopping tomorrow instead of today,” Olaf said as Rudy drove out of the Council Complex parking lot.

  Aisling sighed inwardly. She really wanted a few things that she had been going without, but she was not up to shopping.

  “How about I do it for you?” Karma offered.

  Aisling opened her eyes and looked at Karma. “You sure you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not,” Karma said with a wave of her hand. “Just tell me what you want.”

  Aisling reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out her hand terminal. Squinting painfully at the screen she navigated the menus quickly until she pulled up her list. She locked the screen and handed the terminal to Karma. “If you can pick up some of the toiletries, I would be grateful,” she said.

  Karma accepted the hand terminal and scanned the list. There was nothing special on it, just the basics. “It should be easy enough to find all this,” she said. “Won’t take long either.”

  “Thanks, Karma,” Aisling said, reaching into her pocket again for her pay-card and handing that over as well.

  “Is there any particular type of shop you need to go to?” Rudy asked from the front seat.

  “”One that sells things like shampoo, soaps, and things for women,” Karma said as she glanced out the window at the rows of shops that lined the main street of the large village of Berria.

  “Right here,” Rudy said, pulling the ground-car to the curb in front of a shop with a yellow awning.

  “Be right back,” Karma said as she started to open the door.

  “Please wait for Rand,” Olaf said. “Just to be safe.”

  “I’ll go in with her,” Rudy offered, opening his door. Karma smiled and got out of the ground-car in time to see Rand land in the middle of the village street in his gryphon form. He shifted into his humanoid form and joined them as they entered the shop.

  Karma paused a moment to glance around the store, then opened Aisling’s list and headed for the Hair Care aisle, Rand and Rudy flanking her as they usually flanked Olaf. A few minutes later both men had their arms filled with products and Karma showed no sign of being done.

  “I will go and get us a cart to put these in,” Rudy said as Karma stopped before a large display of pastel colored boxes, bottles and jars. Rand nodded, then turned back to Karma.

  “What are these?” he asked.

  “Bathing products,” Karma said as she reached for a jar, opened the lid and took a sniff of the contents. Her nose wrinkled with distaste and she hastily returned the jar to its place on the shelf. “I thought I’d get something special for Aisling to pamper herself a bit with.”

  Rand liked that idea and studied the items more carefully. There were lotions, creams, oils, gels, soaps and serums and he had no idea what any of them were for. He shook his head as he watched Karma test another scent.

  “No,” she said as she put the bottle back on the shelf.

  “You are looking for a scent that she might like?” Rand asked.

  “Yes,” Karma said as she reached for another jar, read the label and put it back. “Once I find a scent, then I’ll select the products. But these are too sweet and flowery for Aisling.”

  “I think a more subtle scent would suit her,” Rand said. “Honey, perhaps.”

  Karma looked at him in surprise. “Interesting,” she said. “Actually, I think you’re right. But none of these come in honey.”

  Rand turned to see a clerk hovering around the end of the aisle and beckoned her over.

  “How may I help you?” she asked.

  “We would like bath products which are scented with honey,” he said.

  A few moments later Rand and Karma stood before another disp
lay, both of them opening jars and bottles to test the scents.

  “This honey is nice,” Rand said as he closed the top on a bottle. “But I think it needs something else.”

  “What needs something else?” Rudy asked, joining them. Rand put the items he was holding into the cart along with Rudy’s as he explained what they were doing.

  “Cinnamon,” Rudy said. “I think honey and cinnamon would be perfect.”

  “Yes, that’s it,” Rand agreed.

  “None of these come in honey and cinnamon,” Karma said. “I think we’ll have to settle for the honey.”

  “Excuse me,” a new clerk said, approaching them. “We offer custom scents, if you are unable to find what you want.”

  “Excellent,” Rand said. “We would like honey with a hint of cinnamon. Can you do that?”

  “Certainly,” the clerk replied. “Come with me.”

  It took a little while to get the exact blend that Rand and Rudy wanted, but the clerk was very patient with them. Eventually they were satisfied.

  “Which products do you want scented?” she asked after jotting down the exact mixture they’d approved of.

  “All of the bathing products,” Rand replied.

  Karma looked at him in surprise. “All of them?” she asked doubtfully. “I’m not sure I can afford that much.”

  “We will purchase it, of course,” Rand assured her. “This will be a gift from you and us.”

  Karma shrugged. She didn’t really care, she just wanted Aisling to have something nice. “All right.”

  “I’m afraid that will take some time,” the clerk said. “A couple of hours, I think. We can have it delivered though.”

  “That will be fine,” Rand replied. “Is it possible to put them in a basket, like those gift sets we saw near the front of the store?”

  “Of course,” the clerk said. “I will package it up very nicely for you. Now, if you’d come to the front of the store, I will scan your selections for you.”

  As they followed the clerk to the scanning counter, Karma leaned in close to Rand. “Why honey and cinnamon?” she asked. “I think it’s a perfect combination for Aisling, but I never would have thought of it on my own. I’m just wondering why you chose it.”