Crystal Fire (28 page)

"That's hardly the point and you know it," Brace muttered in exasperation. "There's no way of predicting the Sodalitas's reaction when we arrive. They hate males and might only see what they want in regard to Marissa. They could well kill us on the spot."

And how is that danger any different from what we've already been through?

"This danger is mine and mine alone. Marissa is my woman."

And my partner
.

"But you two hate each other!"

Rodac smirked, then returned to his flying of the skim craft. Brace eyed him a moment more, then expelled a deep breath. He hadn't the strength to argue further, especially over a subject he sensed he'd never win. Whatever his reasons, the Simian seemed determined to stay to the bitter end.

Sol set was tingeing the sky with its vibrant hues of crimson and gold before they began their descent. Brace's concern for Marissa had grown as the horas passed and she'd slid into deep insensibility. When he finally climbed out of the skim craft, she lay limply in his arms, unconscious.

His anxious gaze skimmed her. Marissa's rich chestnut tresses tumbled about her shoulders, framing her delicate little face, a face drawn and disconcertingly haggard. Her dark slash of brow and the fiery-red laser wound were the only real color in the pallid oval of skin and bone. And Marissa's breathing had become so shallow Brace could barely discern the rise and fall of her chest.

It sickened him to see her like thisand know that his own failings as a man were the cause. If he'd been stronger, braver, he could have prevailed against the Knowing Crystal long enough to have gotten Candra free. But his own fears of madness had mastered him at last.

He was a coward. He'd failed. Failed when Marissa needed him most.

Yet, unworthy as he was, Brace loved her still. And that love would see her through this if it were the last thing he did. With a resolute glance at Rodac, Brace settled Marissa more solidly in his arms and set out toward the huge, timber-enclosed fortress that lay ahead through the trees.

A small band of heavily armed women awaited them outside the gate, their countenances fiercely suspicious. Brace halted before them, his gaze seeking out that of the woman who was obviously their leader.

She was tall, only half a head shorter than he, her body slender but whipcord hard. Her long hair was a deep, vibrant shade of red, her eyes a strikingly rich green, her skin fair with a disconcerting sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose. A surprisingly beautiful womanand formidable enemyBrace thought. His eyes locked with hers.

"I need your help," he began without preamble. "Marissa is dying."

The woman's glance dipped to the limp bundle in Brace's arms. Concern momentarily softened her features, then she purposely hardened them. ''What did you do to her?"

The question was blunt and angry. Brace squared his shoulders.

"Her twin sister died. The severing of their life-link is now killing Marissa."

"And what do you expect us to do?" the Sodalitas demanded, her voice icy. "It's the ultimate fate of all twins. You should have taken more care to preserve Candra's life."

"Yes, perhaps I should have. But it's hardly the issue now." His gaze narrowed. "Are you saying there's nothing you can offer? That we should leave?"

She cocked a brow, her glance mocking. "And what good would that do? No, you'll not take Marissa anywhere. She'll die among those who love her."

The Sodalitas signaled to her followers. "You and your friend aren't leaving, either."

In the next instant Brace and Rodac were surrounded, the blasters pointed at them now aimed to kill. A low growl rumbled in the Simian's chest. Brace turned.

"Don't resist," he ordered tersely. "Marissa could be hurt, and, after all, her welfare is why we came."

The tall alien relaxed, shrugging his acquiescence. Brace swung back to the leader.

"We've no wish to leave until Marissa is well again. I'll aid you in any way I can, but her life is now in your hands. I ask only that you do your best for her."

"She is our sister!" the red-haired Sodalitas snapped. "We will do what we can. But I assure you, if she dies, so will you." She motioned them forward. "Now come. Marissa only grows weaker while we stand idly by."

Brace nodded and stepped out, following her through the fortress gates. Inside was a small city, with a commercial section bulging with shops followed by a tract of imposing governmental-type buildings, and then a large residential area. All structures were of wood, intricately constructed and highly polished. The outer support beams and roof edgings were carved in intricate bevels and curves, then painted in bright shades of blue, green, red, and yellow. The Sodalitas leader led them through the wide avenues filled with activity and the happy laughter of women of all ages. Women who paused to stare as Brace and Rodac passed.

"They rarely see males," the Sodalitas explained. "Except in rare cases, males are forbidden within these walls."

"Then you take no husbands nor lovers?" Brace asked.

The woman laughed derisively. "Not permanently, you can be sure! Why would we wish to seek out subjugation? No fools live here, I can assure you!"

"The only fools are those who fear to love," Brace muttered.

"Is that why you brought Marissa back here?" she demanded. "Because you love her?"

"Why else?" "Why else, needed?" The Sodalitas paused before a particularly large house. "If you've clouded her heart and mind with the mating urge, we'll find a way to free her. And with your death, Marissa will never fall victim again."

A challenging light flared in Brace's eyes. "And what if she still chooses me? What will you do then? Admit you've been wrong all along?"

She eyed him with the deepest loathing. "So like a male to think he's irresistible. Perhaps a few sols in our subterranean chamber will dampen some of your arrogance."

The Sodalitas motioned to one of her followers who immediately went inside and returned with a litter. Reluctantly, Brace surrendered Marissa to her sisters, then turned back to the red-haired leader.

The woman stepped aside and watched as Brace and Rodac were escorted through the house and down a winding passageway into the bowels of the earth. As they passed the main room, Brace caught a glimpse of gleaming wood walls decorated with intricately woven tapestries and a variety of weaponry and armor suits. The purported wealth of these warrior women really existed, Brace thought. As did their fabled animosity toward men, he added with a touch of black humor.

A heavy door slammed shut behind them the moment he and Rodac stepped inside their cell. Brace glanced around and sighed. Another dark, dank, ill-furnished prison. Of late, it seemed to be his most frequent form of lodging.

He took a seat on the stone bench placed against one wall and motioned for Rodac to do the same. "Make yourself comfortable. We could be in for a long wait."

Rodac snorted and ambled over to an opposite wall. He lowered himself to crouch on his haunches.

Do you think they'll feed us sometime in the next monate or two?

A wry grin twisted Brace's face. "Ever practical, aren't you? Well, I suppose there's no purpose served in becoming weak from hunger." His expression turned serious. "Food, though, is the least of our worries. We've been very lucky so far. Things won't go so easily from now on,
if
Marissa survives and we live to escape these female warriors."

Her sister is dead, her quest over. If she lives, we should leave her with her people
.

If she lives
. Even the contemplation of Marissa dying filled Brace with a heavy despair. He shook it off.

"That might be the wisest course," Brace admitted gravely. "But that decision must ultimately be Marissa's."

Long, leathery hands moved.
We'd never allow our own females such liberty We cherish them too much to let them risk their lives
.

"As I do Marissa. But you know her as well as I. If she sets her mind on going along . . ."
You need to tame her. Though I admire her courage, I grow weary of her biting tongue. It's not proper conduct for a female
.

"Perhaps not." Brace grinned. "But you've got to take the good with the bad in a woman. And there's so much good about her . . ."

He shot Rodac a considering look. "She wept for you when I told her you were dead."

Surprise flashed across the Simian's face.
Did she now? A most surprising female
.

"Yes, a most surprising, wonderful femaleand far too good for a coward like me."

As Brace sat there, the cold seeping slowly into his bones, the memories of the past sol churned up to once more mock him. The future loomed as a bleak panorama of painful decisions, haunting shameand impending madness.

Even if fate smiled and Marissa lived, there was no hope for them and their love. There was no doubt in Brace's mind, after all that had ensued, that insanity would be his eventual fate if he continued to battle the Knowing Crystal. The stone would not be manipulated nor turned from its predetermined course. He had felt the full maliciousness and extent of the Crystal's power in those last searing moments before he lost consciousness.

The horrible reality could no longer be denied. The Knowing Crystal had meant to kill both him and Candra.

The stone, long revered for its benevolent guidance of the Imperium, had either gone awryor, worse still, had never been what it had seemed. One way or another, its potential for further chaos and destruction grew with each passing sol. With the stone in the hands of the power-crazed, unprincipled Ferox, there was no way to anticipate what would happen next. The only certainty was that all would suffer.

With or without his two companions, Brace
had
to go after Ferox, retrieve the Knowing Crystal, and find some way to destroy it. Yet even the most fleeting contemplation of the horrendous task before him terrified Brace.

He had failed once when confronted with the Crystal. Failed miserably, turning and running like the most abject coward. Did he even possess the strength to face the stone again, much less overcome it?

It all seemed so hopeless. But what choice was there? He
had
to face his madness, fight past it, if that were indeed possible, and destroy a stone he was inextricably linked to by his inherent psychic powers. Yet what if the stone's annihilation destroyed him as well? Indeed, what would become of all Crystal Masters once the Knowing Crystal was gone?

Brace exhaled a long, weary breath. In the end, it didn't matter what became of him. Teran and Alia would also accept that fate if need be. What mattered was the welfare of the Imperium, not the petty lives of three people.

He lowered his head, his thoughts turning once again to Marissa. Gods, how was she? Would her sister warriors be able to save her? And would he ever hold her in his arms again, make love to her?

They had mated twice now. Was it possible she was already carrying his child? He fervently hoped so. Knowing he might leave behind at least some small part of himself would make his eventual fate a little easier to bear.

The thought filled Brace with bittersweet pain. Never had he thought he'd dream of such a thinga mate, a family. In those long cycles of his imprisonment he'd buried such needs away, never again to be resurrected. Yet now he dared hope . . .

A child . . . and one he'd probably never live to see. A child and its mother, alone in a cruel, uncertain world. But at least a world, Brace prayed with all the strength of his anguished heart, that would be free of the evil influence of Ferox and the Knowing Crystal.

They came for him at sol rise, rousing him from a deep, dreamless sleep. Brace staggered to his feet, instantly alert.

"Marissa? How is she? Has she wakened?"

The guards shoved him forward, their blasters pointing the way out of the room. Brace eyed them, then shot Rodac a wry grin. The Simian shrugged and promptly fell back asleep. Brace exited the cell with his female escorts, following them back to the main room. There, near a large stone hearth, sat the red-haired Sodalitas and an old, wizened woman. Brace halted before them. "How is Marissa? I demand to know."

The leader smiled grimly. "Do you now? I'd suggest you have a care or I'll have the guards take you down where you stand. You're not in
your
world now. Remember that."

Anger surged through Brace but he fought to master it. Finally he inhaled a steadying breath.

"I was rude. Forgive me. My deep concern for Marissa harshened my words."

"Concern or possessiveness?" She motioned to the empty chair placed before them. "Well, no matter. Sit. We must talk."

Brace lowered himself to the chair. "What do you want from me?"

"Your name, young male, would be welcome," the old woman beside the leader spoke up. "We'd like to know to whom we speak."

He ran a ragged hand through his hair. "Brace. I'm Brace Ardane of the planet Bellator."

"And I am Olim." The old woman gestured toward her companion. "This is Raina, leader of the Sodalitas."

Brace inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I'm honored, Elderwoman." He glanced at the younger woman. "And equally honored to meet you, Raina."

"Enough of the false pleasantries!" Raina snapped. "While we sit here, Marissa is dying. Let's get on with it!"

Olim eyed her. "As you wish, child." She turned to Brace. "Have you mated with Marissa?"

Startled brown eyes swung from one woman to the other. Then Brace's expression hardened. "That's a very personal questionand none of your business."

"None of our business!" Raina cried. "Why, you insolent sandwart, do you think we pry into such loathsome matters for the enjoyment of it? Why, I'd rather die than hear a single word"

"That's quite enough, Raina," Olim interjected firmly. "For once in your life, try to put aside your personal vendetta against males. And pray, with all your heart, that Brace and Marissa truly
were
lovers. It's the only hope we have of saving her."