Balmythra

by Linda Palmer

Chapter Eleven

  To the Rescue

  We got back to Saironalis around seven-thirty earth time that Saturday night. Once we found ourselves in the city proper again, Matt had a question or two about the planned visit to Pringle's. So he turned to me the moment Jor left us. "Is there anything I can do to keep from humiliating myself and landing upside down at Pringle's...assuming that's where we're headed?"

  "I think that would be the most logical place to start looking for Rocc, don't you? And I predict that you won't land on your head or even your backside this time."

  "You’re positive?"

  "Sure... Well, almost." I understood Matt's reluctance to enter the Xephyr Stream once again even as I sensed his hunger for his own world, earth. "Just brace yourself and think happy thoughts. You’ve been through this once already, after all, and will soon get your Stream legs."

  "Had you been to Nodyra before Jor pushed you into it?"

  I thought for a moment. It was now sometimes difficult to differentiate my true memories from the foreign ones. Since we’d landed in Saironalis, a constant torrent flooded my brain, some very disturbing. I struggled to sort through them as we walked back to the Saironalis square, reluctantly grateful for Jor’s constant presence in my mind, helping to suppress the thought invasion.

  "I remember my father taking me to see the Grand Canyon. That was amazing. We have nothing on Balmythra like that. I think we went to China once, too."

  "So you’re a world traveler, huh? Or really a ‘multi-world’ traveler."

  "Just like you."

  I could tell the idea startled Matt, but he grinned. It felt so nice talking nonsense with my best friend. Just being with him made me feel warm from head to toes. Matt was so normal, so sane, while everything about Balmythra seemed so insane.

  The clouds, leaden above us, released a pelting rain that matched my mood. Matt and I immediately ducked into a stone gazebo. From there, I watched Jor talk to Cadrow in the square, both of them seemingly oblivious to the downpour. While Matt curiously eyed a nearby crystal kiosk, I shifted from one foot to the next, impatient to get back to Rocc.

  "What are they talking about, anyway?" Matt asked.

  I belatedly remembered that Matt knew nothing of the mental exchange I'd had with Jor during the psifly back. Matt needed words. "Jor discovered something while we were at Vannarius. After Ceedrill's capture, the Sairons who live here put up strong mental barriers to keep the Dagonel from invading this city. Apparently they've deteriorated."

  "And that means...?"

  "The enemy could physically swarm Saironalis at any time."

  "Slitherin' snakeskins! Why aren't these people scared out of their wits? I mean, if I knew creeps like the Dagonel lurked at my front door, I’d be totally freaked."

  "Most of the citizens here are Sairons, and they have more disciplined minds than, say, Ionians, so their concerns and worries are not as obvious."

  "You mean like Mr. Spock?"

  I nodded. "Though that's a question I'd expect from Kenny, not you." Matt wasn't a big sci-fi fan.

  "They're like robots…unemotional."

  "And thank goodness. They'd all be panicking if they weren't. My people aren't like that, which is why I've felt so much fear and confusion since we got to Vannarius. It's exhausting, and I think that's what made me so sick." I turned away, embarrassed that I'd been so weak. I was the Guardian now—the girl in charge. I had to be strong.

  For a fleeting moment, I thought that maybe I shouldn’t go back for Rocc. I had responsibilities here. But no. I could never be the leader that Balmythra required if I were worried about my big brother. I needed him the way my people needed me and couldn't bear to think of him stranded on earth.

  Too bad I couldn't trust Jor. Somewhat wistfully, I glanced at him. I noted his flashing blue eyes and the tensed muscle in his jaw, signs that his talk with Cadrow wasn't going well. Ignoring the rain that plastered his dark hair to his head, Jor gestured heatedly. I remembered our childhood and the never-expressed affection I held for him, my brother’s best friend.

  Stop kidding yourself.

  My feelings hadn't been simple unexpressed affections; they were my first real crush. Emotions like that weren't easy for a child to handle, especially one who suspected the young boy in question could feel every beat of her pounding heart.

  A sudden burst of rational thought and powerful memories stopped my silly reminiscing. The 'young boy' in question had not only banished me from my home, but cut all my mental ties to it. Knowing that, I now put aside the residual emotions of my childish crush and mentally moved on once and for all.

  I found Matt staring hard at me. My face flushed, and I thanked my lucky stars he had no mind-reading abilities of his own. All I needed right now was for him to sense my confused feelings for Jor.

  "Rocc’s going to be all right," Matt said. "I’m sure of it."

  I breathed a silent sigh of relief. Matt had misinterpreted the emotions playing across my face, thank goodness.

  "That Cadrow." Jor's snarl caught me by surprise.

  I jumped nervously, thanks to my ragged emotions. Turning I saw that he wasn't alone. A tall young man who was probably about Jor's age stood to his right. Blond and fit, he wore black pants and boots, plus a loose, corded shirt in a shade of green that matched his eyes.

  "He won't accept the danger of the Dagonel, and he's not alone. That’s why this has become such a problem, isn't it, Lucianis?" The young man nodded and shifted his gaze from me to Matt to Jor again.

  Clearly he waited for an introduction, but Jor simply shook his head in clear exasperation.

  "That’s where your people are different, Alleana," he said. They’re willing to consider the possibility of treachery. Sairons, on the other hand, have denied the realities of the threat. We put up mental barriers and think that's all that needs to be done. We have to do more, and we have to do it now."

  My jaw dropped. Such an outburst from Jor was more than unexpected, it was unthinkable. He was a Sairon, after all. But one-quarter Ionian, I belatedly recalled, thanks to his mother, Dostinya. That quarter no doubt accounted for his intensity and quick temper.

  "I'm Lucianis Polaris," said Jor's friend, raising his hand in the usual Balmythran way. I did the same, telling him my name and Matt's.

  Jor had the grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry. Forgot my manners." He cleared his throat and turned to me. "We'd better go. It'll be easier to catch the Xephyr Stream back at the bagowan tree. The barriers here interfere with my ability to sense it." That said, Jor strode from the gazebo.

  I gave Lucianis an apologetic smile and a little wave, and then dashed after Jor. Matt was one step behind. We quickly caught up and began a muddy trudge to the tree. I loved the sensation of cooling raindrops trickling over my cheeks and down my neck.

  Matt didn't. "I'd think that with everything you guys can do, you’d keep it from raining."

  "Why would we want to do that?" Irritation laced Jor's tone. "Our plants need water to grow; we need water to survive."

  Matt tactfully changed the subject. "Is there a way to tell the Dagonel from everyone else?"

  "Not for someone like you. I think Alleana will sense the difference."

  I gave Jor a long hard look for his rudeness, but he said nothing more. Minutes later, we reached the bagowan tree. Jor pointed to a spot just a few feet from it, where the air shimmied and shimmered almost imperceptibly. I saw this entrance to the Stream easily once he pointed it out to me.

  Without so much as a backward glance, Jor reached out and parted the affected air like a curtain. Stepping through it, he vanished from sight.

  I caught Matt's eye. "You're next." With a gulp, but no hesitation, he mimicked Jor and disappeared into the Stream. I took a last look around and then did the same.

  I landed inside the shed just in time to see Matt pick himself up from the floor and dust off his jeans. Jor was already at the door, cautiously peering out, but I didn't need his report t
o know something was very wrong at Pringle's.

  The air felt oppressive, and not just because it was raining in Wexton, too. Thick, sickening, and difficult to breathe, it went way beyond natural high humidity. Something very bad consumed me, making my skin crawl and my eyes water.

  "I don't see anyone." Jor turned and gave me a once over, most likely to reassure himself that we'd made the trip all right. Then he stared out the door again. It was ten-thirty and quite dark, which didn't make our task any easier.

  I focused on Matt. "Was that trip better?"

  "Some. You okay?" He reached for me, but I slipped past him and went to Jor, whose antsy vibes were scaring me.

  "Was it like this before?" I referred to the feel of the shed.

  "Like what?" Matt joined us near the door. "Is something wrong?"

  Jor ignored Matt. "You're sensing the Dagonel, probably because you've regained some skills. And yes, they were here before. We didn't know why at the time, but it was probably because Rocc and I had found you."

  "So they're still here." Matt stepped closer to me. "What do we do?"

  I tried to stay calm, but the hair on the back of my neck rose as I turned to scan the shed. Something was here—something important, something to be feared. Dagonel? Jor thought so. But my gaze landed on an old shovel. Bending down, I instinctively ran my fingers across the back of it and touched something sticky. Was that…blood?

  I gagged the way I had at Vannarius. Matt hovered, clearly wanting to help. But Jor didn't move from his spot by the door. When I reached out to him with my mind, he actually blocked me.

  Matt caught my arm and glared at Jor. "Help her."

  "She needs to handle it, herself." Jor's cool gaze never left me. "That's the only way she'll ever get past her fear."

  Matt released me and started towards Jor.

  I threw myself between them. "No, Matt! He’s right. I can do this; I can. My brother's hurt, and we’ve got to get to him. But we’ve also got to be careful."

  Jor abruptly shushed us. "Someone’s coming."

  Matt instantly let go of me and shouldered past him to look out the door. "It's just Skye and Raine."

  The twins? Then why were alarms going off inside my head? I looked to Jor, who quickly stepped into the shadows. That told me my instincts were right. Grabbing Matt's yellow T-shirt, I gave it a firm yank. "Get away from the door now."

  "But—"

  A sharp zing! Silenced him. Matt staggered backward, eyes wide, clutching his left side. As he glanced down in disbelief, bright red blood seeped between his fingers, and dripped onto the dusty floor.