“When Grandfather lost his temper, a bolt of lightning would split trees—that’s why he was forced to live so far from everyone.” Nimri grimaced and wondered why she’d admitted the last. Larwin raised a questioning brow. “He used to lose his temper a lot.” Her face felt so hot, she didn’t know if she was blushing or not. This was good; he couldn’t tell how much she’d hated Rolf’s temper.
A tiny smile toyed with the corner of his lips. “This planet has outer space weaponry?”
“I don’t understand when you mix in the spirit words.”
“Never mind.” He rubbed his temple and sighed. “We get back to that. Did bolt make hole in ground?”
She nodded. “Sometimes it would fell a tree.” Knowing he hung on her every word, Nimri felt better. “Mostly, it vaporized whomever he was angry with.” Larwin didn’t seem appalled by her great-grandfather’s lack of control. In fact, she sensed he, like Bryta and her tribe, was impressed. Nimri swallowed and told him the story Bryta loved to share. “The most talked about time was when great-grandfather was enraged with the Lost tribe for kidnapping my mother, father, brother and me. Great-grandfather called all the powers of the heavens together. Day became night. Rain came down like water from the falls. The river rose and its waters covered the other side. Most of the Lost drowned.” So had her family. Thank the Ancients for her burned face, which should hide her true feelings. She’d despised her great-grandfather for his temper. Never wanted to be like him. Her dream had said, she’d made it impossible for herself to learn to handle the power; perhaps her negativity toward her great-grandfather and his methods caused most of the feelings.
“Hydropower.” Larwin’s right fist hit his left palm with a resounding crack. He looked pleased. “Primitive use, but hydro. Natural storm. Temporary dam. Do you people expect you control weather?”
Nimri nodded, appalled that she seemed to have passed his test by telling the story that made her uncomfortable every time she heard it. Yet relieved. Much as she hated the idea of learning to use her power, because it could kill, she knew her dream had been a forewarning and that all would be lost if she didn’t get past her aversion. “You mentioned how children can discipline their minds. Could you teach me?” She held her breath and hoped she hadn’t overstepped her bounds. Hoped he wouldn’t think less of her than he already must after her failure with the sun.
“Sure.” He laughed. “Do I do.” Larwin smoothly sat down and assumed an odd, cross-legged pose by resting each foot on the opposing thigh. When Nimri tried the position, pain worse than her sunburn radiated over her lower extremities. She gritted her teeth and tried to appear as unaffected as Larwin.
Larwin’s smile of approval made the agony worthwhile.
Next, he leaned forward, and gently positioned her hands over her knees, palms upward.
Nimri felt certain she could feel every segment of her backbone and some body parts she’d previously been unaware of. She swallowed and tried to ignore the fact that even her eyelashes hurt
“Relax,” he said.
How, she wondered?
“Breathe. Like this. Helps close eyes…Yes, that correct. Now, take deep breathe…yes, that correct. Now, slow let breathe out.” Her eyes opened. He demonstrated. She tried to copy him. “Yes, you good. Now try clear mind of think.”
“Great-grandfather always told me never to simply try to do something. He said to either do it or don’t try.” She closed her eyes and did her best to simply breath.
Time passed, each minute longer than the one before as Larwin showed her how to relax and control her breathing. Why hadn’t her great-grandfather ever taught her that mindless peace was the place to begin her training?
Eventually, Nimri realized she had been listening to a deep, soothing hum for several moments. The sound came from Larwin and while it seemed reminiscent of the chants Rolf had used to invoke myst, the sound differed, more constant, less melodious. Tentatively, Nimri tried to copy Larwin.
Her first attempt grated her ears. She pressed her burned lips together and listened to the tone. It was the same note they had used at the pyre for sending the myst beyond. This time, her note sounded correct. Nimri tried to hold it as Larwin did. But he hummed long after she’d gasped for air. Still, she felt much better and her burn had even cooled.
Why hadn’t Rolf instructed her about humming’s healing properties? Why hadn’t he told her a lot of things?
Nimri focused inward, trying to find her inner core of peace. Unbidden, she wondered why she could see Larwin’s shimmering form in her mind’s eye. Pausing, she realized that while her thoughts were within, she seemed outside herself.
How very strange.
Her inner eye saw Larwin give her a tender look, instead of the somewhat wary one she’d become accustomed to. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he leaned forward from his waist. Nimri suspected such a position would be physically impossible in real life.
As if to synchronize with her vision, the humming sounded closer and warmer. Nimri tired to imitate the slightly changed frequency. She imagined Larwin leaning so close that his breath brushed her cheek. She visualized him lovingly kissing her temple.
He stopped humming and his lips…
Nimri jerked as she opened her eyes. Larwin’s face was only a finger’s breadth away. She gasped. “What was that for?”
“Luck.” His tone sounded strangled.
“I was having luck more luck than I’ve ever had—you distracted me.”
“Well, excuse me.” Larwin’s mouth flattened and his jaw didn’t move as he said, “Since I’m a distraction, I’ll leave you in peace.” With the grace of a butterfly, he rose to his feet. He then stalked off like an enraged Lost.
Fresh tears made stinging trails down Nimri’s cheeks as she watched him leave.
How dare she speak to a Guardian like that!
Why did she always say the wrong thing?
When would she learn to be grateful when she got what she wished for?
Taking a ragged breath, Nimri tried regaining the harmony, but she only managed to hold in sobs, which felt as if they were tearing her apart cell by cell.
She lunged to her feet and stomped unsteadily toward the pool trail. If nothing else, she could take a soothing swim. Perhaps she’d drown, like Tansy and…No she didn’t want to think about that.
Nimri rounded a tree and caught sight of the pool below. She stopped and stared at the figure wading through its azure depths. Her breath caught in her throat. He dove into the water and stroked across the width of the pool. She’d never known a man who moved so well or seemed so desirable. Though she knew it was an invasion of Larwin’s privacy, she couldn’t leave the wondrous view.
High overhead, a bird screamed. Nimri looked up. A goshawk lazily circled over the waterfall, searching for a breeze to climb. As a child, Bryta had told her its piercing scream called the wind.
Larwin rolled over on his back and floated in the azure water.
Nimri shook herself back to reality. “I must learn to control my mind.” Since she couldn’t control her thoughts when Larwin lay naked on the sun-warmed water, she turned and went back up the path.
Chapter Eleven
The luxury of immersing himself in the deep, wide pool nearly overwhelmed Larwin. Heart hammering, he waded into its sensual silky depths. Bending down, he stroked the iridescent surface with his fingers, and held his breath at the wonder of being up to his waist in the most valuable commodity on Guerreterre. How wonderful it felt against his skin. How different from what he’d expected; cold by his feet, but sun-warmed at the top. Who would have thought that water would have layers of temperature?
He lay facedown on the water. Luxury beyond imagination.
When he ran out of air, he turned onto his back and allowed the water to hold him. Had the Planetary Emperor ever experienced such an indulgence? Larwin lived his dreams until he became cold. Reluctantly, he moved back to shore and stood up.
Abruptly, a tremendous force sw
ept him off his feet. He somersaulted backward into the pool in a great splash. A moment later, he scrambled upright and came face to face with Kazza’s merry eyes.
Larwin took the heel of his hand and splashed water into the huge cat’s face. Kazza returned the dousing in full measure. They splashed each other in a mad war of droplets, then the cat dove beneath the surface and disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.
Tired from the exercise, yet warmed by the activity and unwilling to leave the extravagant setting, Larwin waded to a smooth sun-baked boulder, which was big as the barrack’s dinning table. He lay on his back. Despite occasional gusts of sharp, cold spray from the thundering falls, the sun’s heat soon allowed the residual tautness in his muscles to relax. His spine seemed to melt against the solid warmth of the rock and become one with it.
Wind gusted, sending a sheet of frigid water over him. He licked a droplet from his lip. Who on Guerreterre had ever imagined this sort of opulence?
A soft, stealthy noise alerted him. Slowly turning his head, he peeked through his lashes. A nearby bush trembled. Larwin told himself it was only the wind. Then he saw glowing eyes.
His heart made a mad leap. One amber orb winked.
Kazza.
As he recognized the cat, it burst from the glossy leaves and leaped onto Larwin’s rock.
Larwin sat up so quickly he saw flashes of white light.
Kazza touched him with the tip of his twitching tail. The cat faced Larwin, one tufted ear drooping and an expression of sheer delight shining from every fang. Larwin imagined the cat took glee in stalking him. As droplets beaded on Kazza’s heavy wet coat, Larwin laughed and tickled the closest ear. Kazza’s purr reverberated over the thunder of the waterfall until the boulder trembled with happiness.
“You like this, do you?”
Kazza leaned against Larwin’s left hand.
“Thank Radzuk you aren’t a fighter. I’d need twice as many infantry divisions to take over this planet if you knew how to use your teeth and claws.” Larwin continued tickling Kazza behind his ear. “Conquering this planet will require infantry. There’s no way to use our traditional outer space approach from a wormhole.”
Kazza’s purr deepened. The cat leaned over to him and rubbed his muzzle against Larwin’s jaw.
To Larwin’s consternation it felt nice.
The cat sprawled onto its belly. Still stroking the sleek, damp fur, Larwin settled on his side, facing Kazza. Who would have thought touching an animal’s fur could be so relaxing?
“Despite the handicap of not being able to use our shadow fighters, this planet is going to be a snap to defeat. Primitive and magic-oriented as the inhabitants are, the inconvenience of the wormhole shouldn’t matter.”
As it had done so many times, a bird screamed as it circled overhead. And, as always, Larwin looked up.
“At least it won’t as long as the wormhole is stable.” Larwin frowned. “I have to verify that soon.”
Kazza nuzzled his ear. The whiskers tickled his neck and the purring seemed to vibrate down to his toes.
“Don’t worry fella, you’re a pet worthy of a planetary emperor, which I’ll be if I play my cards right. I’ll keep you as a status symbol."
The tail beat the rock like it was a drum.
“Nimri might be worth keeping, too,” Larwin said. “It’s harder to make plans about her. She’s got looks, personality and status here, but once this planet comes under Guerreterre’s cloak, she could turn into a liability.”
Unexpectedly, Kazza tore away, leaped off the rock and did a belly flop in the middle of the pool. At the same time as the big cat disappeared beneath the surface, a sheet of frigid water sloshed over Larwin. He shook his head; droplets arced away like solar flares.
Larwin wondered why he always spoke his mind so freely to the cat. Gooseflesh rose on his arms. Larwin rubbed them and realized he was cold. He got to his feet then made his way across the rock-strewn sand to the clothes he’d left hanging on a branch.
~0~
Nimri fell across her bed and buried her burning face against the cool cotton of her headrest. Instead of feeling the expected comfort, all her miseries and failures welled within her until her broiling skin felt stretched by the enormity of her inadequacy. Even the fabric turned hot with radiating power, yet she knew she had failed to absorb any, which she could change into myst-energy, as GEA-4 did.
She fisted her hands, and hit the headrest, wishing the goose down could absorb her frustration as easily as it did heat. She threw another punch—this to strike away the duty to her tribe. “How can I help them, when I can’t even help myself?” Another jab. “Why does fate keep playing such cruel jokes?” One more blow. “Why did I have to be born a Tramontain?” Thump. “Why do I always fail?”
She raised her fist for another strike, but stopped in mid-swing when she heard movement behind her.
Why did Kazza have to be so snoopy and stick his whiskers into everything? With the intention of physically throwing him out of her room, Nimri leaped to her feet, swiveled, and came face to face with GEA-4. “What are you doing here?”
“Colonel Atano ordered me to seek. I am seeking.” GEA-4 picked up Nimri’s favorite fairytale book. The golden dragon on the cover twinkled as it passed through a stream of sunlight.
As always, the petite woman was unemotional, which made Nimri feel even worse about her own lack of control. And just what was she looking for in a fairytale book? Or had GEA-4 vaguely said she was seeking because she didn’t want to tell her what Larwin wanted?
“Must everything you and Larwin say be so obscure?”
“Your inquiry is inadequate.”
Nimri cleared her throat and fought the urge to wipe away her tears. “Why are you here?”
“Larwin commanded me to evaluate this planet’s culture and the best way to conquer it. He wishes to formulate a method which is nondestructive to the assets.”
Nimri knew she’d just been told something important, and wished she understood. She licked her lips and tried to smile. “His way of assisting me is odd.”
GEA-4 ignored her and paged through the book. Nimri watched, fascinated to finally observe the conduct, which had upset Bryta. Since GEA-4 took care with the pages, Nimri saw no reason for the fuss. A page turned with the same speedy rate as the others had. “Do you do everything he tells you?”
“No, I do not.”
“You don’t?” She couldn’t stop her squeak of surprise. “Why not?”
“I only perform tasks defined by my basic programming.”
Another elusive answer. “And those are?” Nimri wiped away her tears and perched on the edge of her bed.
“Protect and preserve.” GEA-4 turned to a black and white drawing of a flying dragon. “There are five hundred and thirty-six articles covering conduct.”
“Five hundred and thirty-six?” Hand to chest, Nimri held her heart in place. Five hundred and thirty-six! She’d never be ready. Never be able to fulfill her duty. “Great-grandfather once told me that books contained power and knowledge, but the keys to unlock the wisdom were lost during the hardships of the first generations. Even without the keys, they are sacred.”
“That is illogical. The ones I’ve scanned have neither religious significance nor locks.”
Nimri tingled from head to toe, but had to be certain she’d understood what had just been said. “Can you decipher the marks?”
The cold silver eyes seemed to hold recrimination. “Yes, I can.”
“I should have realized. You’re a Guardian, of course you retain the old knowledge.” The implications were so staggering Nimri gripped her quilt for support. “Is that why you came—to teach me the old ways?”
“Your inquiry is not complete.” GEA-4 turned a page.
“GEA-4, can you teach me to scan the manuscripts?”
Everything in her future hinged on the answer. Nimri couldn’t even swallow as her fingers dug into the quilt and she waited for the answer.
/> A page turned. “Yes, I can.”
Breath whooshed out of Nimri. “How soon? Will it take long? I can’t believe I’ll be able to understand them.”
GEA-4 turned to the next page. Then the next. Nimri wondered whether she had misunderstood. She forced herself to breathe as Larwin had taught her. She told herself to be patient. GEA-4 flipped to the last page. A moment later, the book snapped shut.
Afraid to blink, Nimri watched GEA-4 return the book to the precise spot where she’d gotten it. Then, without a word of explanation or even a comforting smile, GEA-4 raised her slender white hands and came toward her.
Before Nimri understood her intent, GEA-4’s thumbs clamped over her ears and her index fingers connected with her temples providing an inescapable trap.
A deluge of thoughts and pictures flooded Nimri’s mind. Panic exploded within Nimri’s chest as she tried to understand the wild jumble. For a second, the pressure over her temples slacked. Nimri felt her vertebrae sag, but before she could fall back against the mattress, the force holding her head returned along with a confusing tumult of unexplainable words, symbols and pictures.
Gooseflesh rushed over Nimri as a high-pitched, disembodied tone resonated within her mind.
Suddenly, Nimri started putting words to symbols and her chill transformed into a kernel of hope. If pain were necessary to understand the sacred writing, she would gladly sever an arm. Nimri mentally embraced the discomfort and its tentacles uncoiled.
A wealth of understanding poured into her mind.
When the stream of knowledge ended, Nimri slipped off her bed, knelt on the floor and touched her forehead to GEA-4’s silvery footwear.
Inexplicable as always, the female Guardian moved away.
By the time Nimri sat up, GEA-4 held the semi-polished pink rock Nimri had found the day she’d met Flame. As their friendship had grown, the stone had become a symbol of friendship and trust. “Rose quartz.” For a moment Nimri wondered who had spoken and where the name had come from. Her jaw dropped, when she realized it was her own voice. Moreover, she now had scientific data for several things. “Please, keep the rock as a token of my appreciation.”
Star Bridge (Chaterre Trilogy Book 1) Page 15
