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“It’s a bunch of people rushing around trying to increase their wealth,” Jobek muttered as he locked down the ship. “Not my favorite aspect of civilization.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Tandor advised. “Merchants from all over the galaxy visit the various markets on Torret. The species alone will keep your mind occupied.”
Which was the other reason she was excited by the opportunity. Sitting here worrying about Neloff and wondering what the triad was doing would drive her completely insane.
Tandor loaded a series of images and sent them to the main display. “It’s probably best if you move to my seat once we’ve left the ship. The central computer recognizes English commands now, so simply tell it to advance or repeat previous image.”
“Thank you.”
The spy arrived a few minutes later. He was in his late twenties with shaggy brown hair. His lime-green uniform was dusted with what looked like flour. His skin had an unusual copper tone and his eyes were nearly orange. “I cannot be gone long. We need to hurry.”
Tandor paused in the aisle and motioned for Ansley to accompany him. Then he spoke to Eden. “Comms are active, but we will only use them if something goes wrong. The teleportation unit is on standby. You’ll know when we activate it because the control panel will suddenly come alive. Don’t let anyone onto the ship. Just stay here and wait. We’ll return as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll be here,” she assured him with a wan smile. Her worry wasn’t helpful to anyone, so she kept her concerns to herself. Ansley and her mates followed the spy off the ship, leaving Eden alone with her agitation.
Unable to sit still and patiently wait for the events to unfold, Eden moved to Tandor’s seat in the front of the ship and activated the images. There were stalls and booths, elaborate multi-level stores and simple carts, and each was filled with merchandise from all over the galaxy. Much of it was obvious: cloth and clothing, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish. She could only guess at the purpose of other items.
As Tandor predicted she soon lost interest in the goods and studied the vendors. Most were from Torret or one of the other planets in this star system so they looked similar to humans. The largest variations were in size and coloring. The customers, however, were a very different story. Some looked like highly evolved animals, wolves or apes, but others were not recognizable as anything she’d ever seen before. She wished Tandor was here to explain who they were and where they came from, which were warlike and which peaceful.
Frustrated by all her unanswered questions, Eden stood up to stretch out her back. Soon she was pacing the aisle and worrying about Neloff and the rescue party. It had been almost an hour. Had they reach the palace yet? Had they found him? She felt restless and anxious. Accompanying the others would have been foolish. Ansley was right. Eden was defenseless right now, powerless, but not useless. She had one important ability, her connection to the target.
She tuned out her surroundings, shutting down her senses one by one, just like her mentors taught her to do. Sound faded first, then touch as she sank deeper into the meditative state. The link Neloff had created between his mind and hers became more and more apparent as her concentration grew.
Neloff, help is on the way. You must hold on just a little while longer.She sent her thought along the link along with encouragement and fear. Maybe he would respond if he understood how much his silence upset her.
A large hand clamped over her mouth and a muscular arm wrapped around her waist. She screamed, but the sound was muffled by the palm pressed to her lips. She tugged and twisted, but her attempted struggles were no more successful than her scream. The stranger’s arm efficiently trapped hers against her sides and he simply ignored her kicking feet.
“Do not use names,” the stranger advised. “Even mind links can be monitored.”
She stilled in his embrace, shocked yet confused. How had he known she was attempting to contact Neloff unless he was the one monitoring the link?Who are you?
He responded telepathically, slipping the thought into her mind so skillfully that she barely felt it,I will be your controller, if my cousin has his way.
Kyrex?This was the controller Neloff had raced off to recruit, the one Tandor and Jobek considered extraordinary? How had he gotten on this ship?
No names!the stranger snapped.My warnings must be taken seriously or you will exacerbate the danger.
All right.Her heart beat so furiously she could hear the rush of blood in her ears.No more names.Had he just arrived or had he intentionally waited until the others left?
Slowly, he lowered his hand and loosened his grip on her waist. “The others are wasting their time. My cousin was moved a couple of hours ago.”
He was avoiding names as he spoke out loud too. Was he being paranoid or was the ship under surveillance?
“Wait a minute. If you’re so certainyour cousinwas moved, why are you still here?” Licking her lips and trying to calm down, she turned to face the intruder.
“I was searching in another location, but returned when I sensed your connection to my cousin’s mind. The connection he formed is stronger than familial links. The only thing stronger is a soul bond.” Kyrex was about Neloff’s height but had a more muscular build. His hair was long and black, without a hint of curl. He had bound it at the nape of his neck then left it to flow freely well past his shoulders.
“I thought the Pyronese were the only ones who could Flow. How the hell did you get in here?” Molecular teleportation made a soft buzzing sound and the process wasn’t instantaneous. Even with her eyes closed she would have noticed his arrival. He had to have Flowed into the room.
“My father is from Pyron.” He impatiently waved away the subject. “I’ll detail my entire childhood for you once we’ve rescued my cousin.”
“Do you know where he is?” she asked hopefully.
His dark brows arched over liquid silver eyes. “That’s your job. He won’t respond to me or his brother, but he will respond to you.”
Trepidation shivered down her spine. Why had that sounded like a threat? “I’ve tried. I’m still trying.”
His head snapped up and he looked around as if he’d heard something suspicious. “We can’t stay here. I will tell your companions that you are with me.” His expression went blank for just a moment, then he added, “They will keep the guards busy for as long as possible. We will continue the search in another location.”
