Of course, Val knew they could easily be centuries older. A Jordian who looked like he was twenty to Val's eyes might be double that age. And even if their brains and maturity developed in sync with humans, a twenty-year-old Jordian would appear much younger to a Terran. Which explained why Val and Julia didn't look a day over sixteen. Once a Dominion citizen looked like he was more than thirty years old, nearly two centuries would have passed, and he would be a ripe candidate for the rejuvenation vats, for all that such had risks which grew considerably with each procedure. Which was why Christine's words so captivated her audience. Her research was literally about unlocking the secrets to immortality.
It was all Val could do not to embrace the shadows all but invisible this brilliant morning, Julia's warning squeeze making it clear she needed him to stand tall and proud, Val carefully thinking of nothing but his performance, knowing that no Highlord could read his mind when he buried it in shadow, save when he met their gaze.
"But enough about my boring research. Today is a day of festivities and celebration! Let us pay tribute to my daughter and her companions so you may see the boons of strengthening our bloodlines with the very best that Earth has to offer!"
The murmurs intensified, and Val could all but feel waves of both contempt and curiosity washing over them in equal measure. He found he wasn't the only one who was sensitive to it, Yin all but wilting under the combined stares of the spectators, Dirk gently gripping her shoulder.
"Stand strong, soldier. Let's show them just how tough we are."
Yin straightened her spine, Chris flashing a grin as he turned back to Val. "Hard to believe, hey, buddy? We're really here. It's not just a game!"
Val grinned, happy that Chris, at least, was looking on the bright side. "Endless potential, my friend. Who knows how strong we can get? If we get powerful enough, there's no telling what we can accomplish."
Chris flashed a cold smile before reverting to his good-natured jock demeanor, quickly looking forward once more. Good, Val thought to himself, Chris gets it. And was no doubt smart enough to keep certain feelings buried deep, with so many well-to-do guests who could no doubt pluck free any surface thoughts, if they had reason to be suspicious of any of them. But the bemused disdain so many were radiating was obvious even to Val.
All of them were now facing the targets before them. A cluster of mannequins made out of an exotic high-grade polymer, outfitted in used pieces of Dominion trooper armor deliberately painted over with what Val understood were various rebel insignias, and behind that cluster of mannequins, a further fifty feet away, was a massive defunct battle-mech. It was hardly a mech unit at all. The limbs and mechware had long since been salvaged. Just the tank-like body and a melted autocannon remained.
Just gazing at it when first they had come to the field had caused Yin to sigh. Val could only imagine how deeply she felt the ache to be a mech pilot herself, now that the game had turned out to be anything but, and she was really here.
It had been two hours ago, during the sumptuous breakfast they had enjoyed within the most luxurious of dining rooms that Christine informed them all that they had best prepare to give the performance of their lifetimes.
A dozen invitations had been mysteriously sent, inviting neighbors to attend Christine's return celebration, weeks before she was ready. And far from hiding their talents and abilities, what was needed more than anything when being judged by one's peers was a massive show of strength. Christine had made that very clear.
Val was all too aware of her tightly controlled fury during that uncomfortable breakfast, and how determined she had been to rise to the challenge, the staff frantic to comply to Christine's demands, setting up banquet tables, preparing the house musicians and setting up targets suitable for a martial display, as well as assuring that perfectly transparent blast shielding was properly placed between the noble onlookers and Val and his companions. Not much good for blaster fire, he was given to understand. A powerful enough beam would quickly melt through. But it should serve as excellent protection against stray energies or shrapnel from a magical demonstration. Or so they all hoped.
"Only cast what you are comfortable with, love," a tense Christine had said, gazing into a nervous Julia's eyes only moments ago. "But if you could cast that magnificent spell you used to slay the head of Clan Christos, that would be marvelous, dear. Simply marvelous!"
Julia had gazed at her mother in astonished disbelief. "You actually know about that?"
Christine just flashed a warm smile. "Of course, love. What kind of mother would I be if I wasn't keeping tabs on your advancement? Now, best you prepare!"
And the following two hours had been intense practice, all of them training with every spell save the one Christine most wanted her daughter to cast.
Val took a deep breath, in the moment once more, as Dirk spoke. "Alright everyone, you know the plan. Yin, Val, and I will showcase our battle spells while Julia makes her decision. Either way, we're going to blow the hell out of these targets and earn some respect for our hostess. Any questions?"
Everyone shook their head, Chris with dwarven blaster in hand, knowing his role as well.
Christine turned her gaze their way. "You and your troops may commence, daughter."
And they did.
"Glacie Pilum!" Val roared, exhilarating in the rush of magic blasting forth in the form of a massive spear of ice composite that was both as durable as concrete and as sharp as obsidian, blasting right through the foremost armored mannequin, shattering the reflective polymer armor that was so very useful for countering laser fire but almost worthless against the kinetic force of a charging knight.
Boosted Ice Spear successfully cast! 25 mana spent!
Val was surprised at the animated applause his one boosted spell earned him. Still, it was good to see how his increased skills at magic, spell boosting, and what was now an automatic PRM reduction of 5 points to the cost of each of his spells was allowing him to use his magic more efficiently than ever. And the lightning and fire his friends shot forth earned polite approval as well.
But what really took the cake, what caused polite applause and chuckles to turn into something entirely different was when Val felt the sudden build-up of terrible arcane pressure, all but tasting the exquisite matrix of volatile energies Julia was slowly, carefully summoning into being as Val and the others strove to entertain the crowd. Val knew she could summon it into being faster, but given how deadly it was, with scores of bystanders nearby and the tension Julia felt, it was far better to be safe than sorry.
And at last she said the words that had both saved Val and nearly killed him, twice before. "Titan's Blast!"
The light seemed to dim. A number of high-pitched screams emanated from the audience as a massive ball of tungsten carbide shrieked through the air, exploding right before the retired battle-mech of steel and chrome, the spell's cone of destruction instantly shredding the reinforced armor with countless razor-sharp slivers of tungsten carbide blasting forth from the superheated plasma at the ball's core.
And for all that the pride and glory of the Dominion's ground forces had been instantly transformed into a twisted hunk of shredded metal and melted circuitry, sent hurtling back a good dozen yards and crashing to the fire-scorched ground even now, so perfect was Julia's control that the panicked onlookers suffered only ringing ears with the deafening roar of destruction, the fireball and shockwave just as controlled as the shrapnel had been.
Val could all but feel the endless pairs of eyes taking in the sudden scene of devastation. Christine's daughter had just taken out the Dominion's deadliest infantry unit with a single spell. Val grimaced, wondering if this was one card that perhaps they should have kept close to their vest.
"Awesome job, Julia, that was fantastic!" Yin crowed as Julia gazed into Val's eyes with fierce pride while her friends cheered and congratulated her, Val hugging her tight and kissing her brow, all of them ignoring Christine's unspoken request that they treat Julia's ac
complishment with utter sangfroid, so as to better intimidate their guests with their prowess.
But it didn't seem to matter. The gathered onlookers were gazing at Julia with looks ranging from awe to fear. The tense moment of deathly silence was broken as first one, then all of the onlookers broke into applause, commending and cheering Julia aloud. Christine beamed as she bowed her head to the audience, as if she were the conductor and Val's party the orchestra moving at her direction.
Shortly thereafter, Val and his friends found themselves rushed back to quarters, hot baths already drawn, servitors hastily scrubbing off and dressing a bemused Val who sensed only anxious panic from the harried pair of girls dressing him, both delighted to know he could sense at least the feelings of mundane servants he focused upon, weak as his psionic gifts might otherwise be, and simultaneously concerned that the thought of displeasing Christine elicited so much fear from her staff.
"My knight in shining armor, as handsome as ever," declared a smiling Julia as she entered what Val learned was his private dressing room, branching off from the luxurious bedroom they both shared. Val smiled at his reflection, still thrown off by how young he looked, dressed like a cross between an eighteenth-century English gentleman and a fifteenth-century aristocrat, feeling like he was dressing up for the Renaissance Faire as much as anything else.
Julia, wearing a sleek dress of shimmering green velvet that coordinated perfectly with her gold-green eyes, flashed a teasing smile as Val twisted around, locking his lips with her own. "You look exquisite. The most beautiful of all Christine's treasures. God knows this palace of a museum would be the envy of any European aristocrat."
Julia grinned. "I could say the same about you, Val, and I know exactly what you're thinking, but we have no time to break in that luxurious bed. Mother is expecting us below!"
Val flushed, then smiled. "I love you, you know. But you reading my mind is going to take some getting used to. I... I'm not proud of all the thoughts crowded in my head."
Julia smirked. "What, that you're as much in love with some big-breasted dwarven girl named Ava as you are with me? That you enjoy all too much the visceral thrill of making the kill, like a wolf tearing out the throat of its prey? Too late, lover, I know all your secrets." Her gaze was warm and sad all at once. "You saved my life, Val. More than once. I know how much I mean to you. How much you cherish me. I care for you just as much."
Her hand squeezed his own, she buried her head against his chest. "I know you love Ava too. I just need to know that you won't break my heart. You won't forsake me. That even if you care for her, it won’t affect how fiercely you care for me.” Her cheeks took on a rosy blush as she lowered her gaze. “I know it sounds a silly fantasy. We’ve only just connected, and so fast, but still, when I daydream I think about having you by my side, years from now, loving and cherishing the family we might have one day.”
Val flushed but didn't deny it. "It does sound crazy. We’ve only been, well, together for a handful of days. But honestly, Julia, I feel such a connection to you it leaves me speechless. And the thought of seeing you holding our baby in your arms?” He didn’t say another word, just squeezed her tightly to him.
Julia flashed an impish smile, hugging him back before she grabbed his hand and led him out their rooms and past harried-looking staff to the gala below.
4
"So this is your daughter, Christine? A hybrid Terran? You truly bred with a subjugate race?"
This from a rotund lord with bloodshot eyes, sipping from a clear glass of what smelled like absinthe to Val's trained nose, dressed in finery even more exquisite than Val's own, despite several recent stains. He turned his gaze to Val who carefully focused only at the man's thin-lipped sneer, sinking his mind into the shadows within the dining hall lit by chandeliers and diffuse light from the now overcast day outside.
"And this boy. Another Terran, no? Utterly unremarkable. My eyes slide right over him." Dismissing Val utterly, he turned back to Christine, now wearing a brilliant shimmering gown, teeth bright in a rictus of a smile.
"Dear Carlito, how kind of you to come! I do hope you enjoyed the demonstration outside."
The man snorted. "Hardly. I just caught the end as I arrived, and my ears are still ringing. I was informed only last night that the nominal heiress of the Highblood clan had shown up unannounced after a twenty-year exile." His face curled in a sneer now reserved for Christine alone. "Fascinating how you only have the courage to return when Tytus and the founders are dead, and all of Jordia is in disarray. It's almost as if you were hoping we'd all forget your past transgressions."
Christine trilled gay laughter, her eyes cold as ice. "Ah yes, there was an incident where an underling had attempted to sabotage our standing within the High Council with forged reports. Fortunately, we got to the bottom of it before misunderstandings could be allowed to escalate unchecked. The treacherous little worm was happy to spill his guts to the visiting inquisitor just before we put him in our pain vat." Her smile brightened. "Why, I do believe he's still in the Highblood vat, endlessly shrieking even now! We could bring him out and you could interrogate the flickering remnants of his tortured soul for yourself, if you like."
The audience had gone silent, staring raptly at the byplay.
Carlito snorted. "I think not. I have no desire for a headache this early in the morning, Christine, and that poor fool will shriek whatever you want him to in the hopes you'll finally put him out of his misery." He smirked, raising his cup. "At least you can still throw an entertaining gala, Christine. You were always good for that, if nothing else. Now if you would show me to the buffet table and turn on the cinema screen, I can make this visit worth my while."
"Why of course, dear Carlito. My nephew was just telling me about the movies he collected during my absence. I shall give my technicians the day off, and we shall devote all our resources to the pleasure of our guests!"
At mention of the cinema screen, half the spectators happily followed behind, Christine laughing gaily as she took Carlito's arm, leading him away.
And that was when Val sensed cold death seeping through the room.
Julia chuckled softly. "What a rude bastard. And here I thought Mother was going to challenge him to a duel. Instead, she laughs at his mockery and bribes him with the home theater. And half these lords and ladies are following right behind. This place is something else, isn't it Val? Val?"
She blinked, looking around. "Val?"
But Val had already left the room, slipping away from the one person who knew the taste of his mind so well, who could spot him in a heartbeat. He only hoped no one else could say the same.
Down corridors filled with bustling servants he crept, no one paying him the slightest mind, any more than they would a cool, sudden draft, frowning at shadows no doubt the result of faulty lighting systems that should have been repaired long ago.
Up staircases and past guest bedrooms creaking with the sounds of revelry and laughter, Shadowmind-enhanced senses picking up a sense of all the pieces on the board, half a dozen drunk lords copulating with willing servants—greed, lust, pleasure spiked with pain, and a heady fear that was almost exhilaration burning brightly upon so many minds. The psyches of the Highlords were utterly closed to Val, though base passions were impossible to hide.
All of that he dismissed, for that which he followed radiated none of those things. Save for the faintest brush against his Psi-Sense, the glimmer of shadow he sensed thick with deadly purpose, he sensed almost nothing at all.
Which terrified him.
There was only one tribe that could cloak itself like that.
A tribe of killers.
Just like Val.
The race intensified as Shadow seemed to flicker ever faster, pulling ahead, almost completely fading into the gloom of the dark grained hardwood hallway Val recognized as doubling back to the research compound.
And as he allowed himself to become one with the cold shadows all around, he smiled, his Psi-Sens
e somehow heightened by the immersion, feeling the intruder as an absence of light, sound, a blank where all the other pieces on the board, technicians radiating relief, anxiety, or boredom, slowly exited the lab, Philip leaving last of all, closing the thick door of shining alloy faced with wood paneling to fit the elegant hallway, save for the exotic card reader beeping in sharp approval as Philip ran his card through before turning about on shiny booted heels, self-consciously patting his tight hose and straightening his lace-lined jacket before walking for what Val assumed was the home cinema at a fast clip, muttering about Christine and her eccentricities, which the frightened staff nearby pretended not to hear.
Val was filled with a strange tension, wondering if Philip was the target and what he should do. For all that Philip had seemed a self-centered prick more than happy to run Val through before he had gotten a hold of his temper, he was still Julia's cousin.
To Val's unexpected relief, the shadow ignored Philip entirely, focused only on the doorway ahead. Moments of stillness and shadow as the hallway emptied completely, then the soft beep of card against pad and the laboratory door cracked open as first one, then a second shadow slipped inside.
Bright light still permeated the entirety of the lab, save for the dimming around strangely flickering lights Val's eyes wanted to slide away from, even as his Psi-Sense felt the intruder's presence, so like his own. He could all but feel the presence quickly sifting through endless crystal cubes left almost carelessly upon what Val assumed was Philip's station, larger and sleeker than the others with several exquisitely rendered oil paintings of himself, one with him saluting the painter with Psiblade raised.
Val supposed the cubes were the equivalent of DVDs or the like, no internet for storage here. Each crystal was methodically placed in a tiny receptacle that flashed with various colors, depending on the cube, yet none seemed to please the intruder, and Val suspected what he sought were the container of cubes a panicked Christine had thrust into Julia's hands as they were racing for their lives for the portal. And Val had no idea where they might be.
Oblivion's Peril Page 5
