by C B Williams
“From what I’ve seen and what Wren’s told me, Eloch takes the time to learn exactly what he’s dealing with before he acts, not drawing attention to himself and his knack,” Mouse said, adding, “and remember, he’s not focused on politics as much as he’s focused on what the planets need. Maybe he feels Wren and the others can sort out whatever is going on, and they know he’s there if they need him.” Wren turned toward their shared room. “I’m going in here to make a vid call to Flick, and I don’t want to interrupt you. I think it’s time I contacted him.”
“And I’m finding my bride some knives,” Max said playfully while he turned on his info console.
Mouse paused at the doorway and turned to look at him. “Please don’t tease me, Max, about our cover.”
“Why, don’t you like being my bride?”
“Pretending to be your wife is the only way I can protect you. But marriage is important to me. Marriage is a covenant. So I don’t like being teased about it.” She shrugged and gave a little smile. “It’s just the way I feel,” she told him before she entered their shared room and closed the door behind her.
“Flick! You’re there!” Mouse cried. Just seeing his calm, familiarly steady gaze on the vid-screen lightened her heart. “You look good. How are things? Skip still working out?”
Flick smiled at her. “I sensed you wanted to speak with me. I’ve been waiting. Skip is perfect, Mouse. You trained him so completely he rarely has any issues. If there’s something he doesn’t understand, he contacts me or Ingot.”
He paused and scrutinized her. “The town is growing. Spur is receiving the appreciation she deserves...and I’ve been trying to keep myself from saying this, Mouse, because I know you’ll hate hearing it, but you look so pretty. Really pretty. Prettier than I’ve ever seen you look.”
She laughed to cover up her embarrassment. “You’re right. I hate you saying it, but thank you. I can’t very well parade around in my greys if nobody is to know I’m guarding Max. Max surprised me with a stylist who taught me how to coordinate my outfits and choose becoming colors. Gods and goddesses, why am I telling you this?”
“’Cause that’s the kind of friends we are. Guarding Max, how’s that going?”
She shrugged. “We made our first move. Poked at the hornet’s nest. Have a very angry insect buzzing around. Max is hoping he will make a mistake now. It’s far from over, but Max is out for revenge, and has done nothing but plot various scenarios and possible responses for weeks now. I don’t think it’s like Max will make any slipups. I know a little of his plans, but I also know there’s a lot he’s not telling me.”
She sat back and smoothed her hair. “But that’s not why I vid-called you. Max knows what he’s doing. I’m worried about Wren and Eloch. We can’t locate them, and they should be on Talamh. Can Spur help?”
She watched Flick while his gaze turned inward briefly. Then he smiled. “All Spur can tell me is they are on Talamh, they’re safe, and Eloch is not with them but able to reach them if necessary.”
Mouse let out a breath. “That’s a relief. Does Spur know where they are?”
Flick shook his head. “But if they’re safe, they’re bound to turn up sometime soon. I wouldn’t worry. And if anything changes, I’ll make sure you find out about it.”
“Thank you, Flick. I would appreciate that.”
“Not a problem.”
“I can’t help wondering why Eloch’s not with them.”
“I can’t help you there. Perhaps he’s introducing himself to Talamh as he did with Spur?”
“Yes, that must be it.” She smiled. “I don’t want to keep you longer than is needed, Flick. I should go. But I’m so glad we got to talk. I would have called sooner, but I got Space Sickness and wasn’t really in my right mind.”
He frowned. “What was it like out there?”
“Terrifying. So very black. And big. It went on forever. I covered up the porthole in my room, but I still knew that vast nothing was out there. Max, on the other hand, loved it. I don’t think he really understood my reaction, but he was kind about it.”
“Good. I’m sorry it shook you up so much.”
Mouse chuckled. “Yeah, me too! But there’s really nothing I can do about it. Listen, I’ll talk with you later. Thanks for talking to Spur and for listening to me.”
“Anytime, pretty girl.” He saluted.
She laughed and disconnected.
For a few moments, Max stared at where Mouse had been. It bothered him to learn she took exception to his teasing. He’d begun to enjoy introducing her as his bride. He liked the way it sounded.
True, it was a cover, but there was something there he wanted to explore. In the whole of his long life, he’d never really considered what marriage actually meant to him. Certainly it wasn’t something he would ever be interested in. Never that.
However, the notion intrigued him. Mouse called it a covenant. Made it sound sacred. Serious. It was definitely something to ponder over a nice brandy, he decided, when this was over. He glanced up and saw Manabu watching him. “What?”
“The girl getting under your skin?”
Max let out a puff of air and waved him off. “I need to get her a supply of knives. I know she’d want to pick her own, but her profession is supposed to be a secret.”
“If you need to replace her supply, then she used them, didn’t she? I’d say there’s no more secret.”
Max tapped his chin. “An excellent point, Manabu. The proverbial cat is out of the bag. Let me contact one of my people and set up a meeting. We can leave as soon as Mouse has finished her conversation with Flick.” He closed his console and reached for a vid call. “I do believe it’s time for Max Beckwith to return from the grave. It should prove easier this way to determine who’s for me and who’s not.”
“Will she be back to wearing her uniform?”
“Hmm?”
“Mouse. Will she be wearing her greys again?”
“Heavens, no. Grey is simply not her color.” Max returned his focus to his call, but he thought he heard Manabu say something about not getting under his skin my ass.
Chapter 15
Something awakened Max. His first thought was not again and a ripple of fear threaded through him. As Mouse taught him, he lay still and used his senses before making a move. He listened and all was still, save for Mouse’s quiet breathing beside him.
During the few days of this sleeping arrangement he’d grown accustomed to her rhythmic breathing beside him. He counted on it, in fact, to help him sleep. And now he counted on it to soothe him. If she was still sleeping, then surely nothing was amiss.
He wondered again what woke him.
It was the stillness, he decided.
It had a waiting quality.
He suddenly felt clammy and opened one eye.
The room was lit with a glow coming from the end of the bed.
I know you are aware, came a voice in his head. Please sit up now.
He gasped and sat bolt upright, turning to face the glow, wondering where he found the strength in his trembling arms to do so.
The woman who stood at the foot of his bed was ethereally beautiful. And there was only one being she could be.
“Talamh?” His voice didn’t even sound like his own. He moved to touch Mouse.
Do not try. She will not wake. I came to visit only you.
“Why me? Why not Eloch? He’s the one who talks with planet spirits.”
She laughed. A gentle purr. I have been in contact with Eloch, and we will be speaking together again very soon. But you and I need to speak as well. My Sister, Spur, speaks highly of you.
“Does She?” He felt ridiculously pleased.
Indeed. And She asks you to help Me, to help both of Us.
“To do what?”
We must merge Our peoples. Spur’s people have become too much of a burden for Me. I have contained them as best as I can, but they are continually pushing against Me. I will not go into hibernation a
s Spur did. I will not abandon my People to Spur’s.
“What will you do, then?”
My only solution is to destroy Spur’s people, as painful as it would be to Me. But without knowing My People, those who are not of Me do not know what pleases Me, what sustains Me so I may sustain them. And Spur’s people have no wish to learn from My People and My People have no wish to teach Spur’s People. Rather, they plan to rise up against Spur’s people. Drive them off of Me, help me destroy them.
When My Sister reopened our communication, I told Her My intention, and She hopes there might be another way. It was She who suggested our peoples merge. Share with one another, learn from one another as the Sisters do. My Champion is a wise and seasoned leader. He would work with a leader of Spur who was willing to create harmony and trade between us. One who would listen to what I need so all can be sustained. Spur believes you are such a leader.
Max put a hand to his head. He felt dizzy, disoriented, even a bit overwhelmed.
“Have I injured your mind?” Talamh asked.
Her voice was like a river. It flowed around him. And suddenly he could focus. He took a breath. “I am unused to having someone speak into my mind. As you continued, it became more and more disconcerting.” In fact, it scared him to death, but he wasn’t going to admit it to Her.
“My apologies. Is this better?” She asked.
“Yes. Much. I thank you.”
“And will you be the Leader for Spur’s people?”
“I-it’s not that simple, uh...Talamh.”
“I enjoy being called ‘Lady.’ Why is it not that simple?”
“I have enemies, Lady,” Max answered, “One in particular. I came here to vanquish him, and so I shall. But before I can do so, I need to discover his intentions in order to control and mend the damage he’s done to Spur’s economy and to this colony’s as well.”
“Is he the one called Currington?”
Max sucked in his breath. “How did you know his name?”
“From your mind. He is my enemy as well. He wishes to subjugate My People and Myself. He is unenlightened and motivated by greed. He wants only power.”
Max looked down. “I like power as well. I rather consider myself just as greedy.”
She laughed the gentle purr-laugh again. “I do not think you know yourself as deeply as you think you do. Now, what if I give you a different kind of power? Power that will aid you in understanding your foe’s intentions? I can gift you with the power to read minds. I can gift you with the power to protect yourself from harm.”
He felt himself tremble. “I-I do not think it wise for me to have that kind of power.”
“And why is that?”
“I want it too badly.”
“Spur trusts you. I trust you. And if you look within yourself more deeply, you will trust yourself as well.” She paused. “I understand that you would wish to consider my gift to you. I will come again tomorrow night. You may give me your answer at that time.”
She vanished. The glow remained an instant longer, then it, too, faded away.
It was several moments before he realized Talamh wouldn’t be returning tonight, and several more moments before he could move. With a shaking hand Max reached out for Mouse.
Instantly she was awake and leaping from the bed, a throwing knife in her hand. She scanned the room, moving as silently as smoke.
Nothing.
She turned to Max, gasped and rushed toward him. Even in the dimly lit room she saw he was as pale as death. “Max? Are you hurt?” She pocketed her weapon and reached for his hands. Ice cold. “Max? Let me ring for help.”
His grip tightened on hers. “No. Please. Don’t leave.”
She sat beside him on the edge of the bed.
“What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. His grip intensified.
“Max, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
He took a deep breath and looked at her, but she felt he was looking through her at some other time or place. “Give me a minute.”
His husky voice was shaking. In fact, she realized his whole body was shaking. What had happened? Intuitively, she pulled her hands from his grasp and gathered him into her arms, which wasn’t easy, since his shoulders were so broad and she was so small. She felt him slip his arms around her waist and bury his face in the crook of her neck while he held on to her like he was drowning. Still going on instinct, she began to rock him and smooth his back. “There, there,” she crooned over and over again. What could possibly have happened? A nightmare?
With time his shaking stopped, and he eventually loosened his grip around her waist. He seemed reluctant to pull away, but with a sigh he straightened and ran a hand over his thick hair. He grinned at her ruefully, “I’m finding myself a little embarrassed at having you witness my extreme state of vulnerability.”
She scooted back onto the bed and folded her hands in her lap. “What happened?”
“I had a visitor. No, don’t get upset. It was no one you could have possibly anticipated or prepared for.”
“Who, then?”
“Talamh.”
She gasped.
“Exactly. I do believe I would have voided my bladder had it been full.”
She snorted, glad his humor was returning with his color. “What did She want?”
“It appears we have a common enemy—our friend Currington, to be precise. She’s offered me some of her power to help me take over his empire.”
“As Eloch did on Spur?”
“Not precisely. I’m not Eloch, after all. And there is a Champion of Talamh, but She wants to keep Her people separate from Spur’s…or She did. Now Her plans are changing.”
“What’s changed them?”
“Spur,” he hesitated. “And me.”
“You?”
“She wants me to stay here on Talamh to help bring the two peoples together. Actually train Spur’s people—our people—to be with Her own. She used the word merge.”
“But you’d be abandoning Spur. And Flick.”
“Not at all. It was Spur’s suggestion. And I haven’t said I’d do it.” He hesitated again. “I’m frightened, Mouse. If I don’t agree, then She will destroy our people here. There would be war. But if I do agree…” He hesitated. “She promised me some of Her power, Mouse, and I like the notion. You know how much I love power. And this kind of power? I’m afraid it would change me.”
“But Flick—”
“I’m not Flick, Mouse.”
She nodded. He wasn’t anything like Flick. But he also wasn’t the power-hungry monster he believed he was. Power-hungry, yes. Monster, no. “If Spur recommended you, then don’t you think you can trust Her judgment?”
He raised a brow at her. “I’m also conveniently here on this planet.”
“Well, so am I. Yet Talamh didn’t approach me.”
“Because you don’t have the resources I have, the networks I have.”
“Exactly. And you know how to manage people, win them over.”
He put his hands up to his head. “She was in my mind, Mouse. She spoke directly into my mind. Do you know how disconcerting that was?”
“It would be terrifying.”
He dropped his hands and looked at her. “That’s exactly what it was.” He studied at her, his eyes boring into hers. “She told me she could make it so I can read minds. Can you imagine what that would be like? No one could hide their secrets from me. I’d know everything anyone was plotting. Do you know how delicious that sounds to me, to be able to read anyone’s thoughts? Anyone’s in the whole universe? Do you know how easily I could abuse such power? How I could manipulate what people thought to my benefit?”
“I-I see now what you mean.” Around him, no one could have a private thought, no one. All her thoughts would be exposed. “But does it have to be all or nothing?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if you picked up only thoughts meant to harm you or Talamh in so
me way? Only those thoughts? That way you could protect yourself, but allow your friends and those who don’t wish to hurt you their privacy.”
“Yes, yes,” he said after a while, “I can see. More as a defensive tool. I can see how that might work. Like with Ingot. The whole trummer business and its repercussions could have been avoided. Perhaps I could also be able to read thoughts of people wanting to get a message to me?”
“Could be helpful. I know Wren communicates with Eloch that way.”
He rubbed his face. “Shall we sleep? My brain feels savaged. Tomorrow you and I can look at different ways to accept that power but having it tailored to me so it isn’t abused. Talamh returns tomorrow night.”
“I’d love to see Her.” She watched his eyes widen. “I would. I loved seeing Spur. Now She has Flick, She doesn’t show Herself anymore.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will do my best to be as persuasive as possible so you may see Talamh.”
Chapter 16
“If I asked Talamh to allow me only to read the thoughts of people who intend to do me harm, then I would know nothing about plans for, say, resurrecting the colonization project.” Max said over breakfast.
“The Ring?” Mouse asked. “Someone is resurrecting it?”
“So I’ve heard. Currington for one.”
“But why? I thought once we reestablished our relationship with Spur, it would no longer be necessary.”
“Why else? Profit.”
“Must be why Wren and the others are having so much trouble. Someone wants their ship.”
“Beyond a doubt.”
Mouse smiled one of her rare, face transforming smiles. “Then I’m sure Spur said they were safe because they’re still on The Valiant!”
Max didn’t answer her. He was absorbed in her smile.
Her smile died. “Max? You okay? Do you know something I don’t know?”
“N-no. No, I do not,” he responded, recovering. “I was thinking about how to approach Talamh. I suppose my personal welfare would be at risk once those desiring to renew the Ring here on Talamh contacted those on Spur who wish to do the same, if they haven’t already. But I wouldn’t know every detail.”
