Crystal Fire (29 page)

Brace leaned forward, instantly alert. "Then there
is
a way! Tell me what I can do!"

The weathered old face turned to him, and a soft smile touched Olim's lips. "Were you lovers, Brace Ardane?"

"Yes," Brace breathed. "Yes, we were lowers."

"If you forced yourself upon her," Raina muttered darkly, "I swear I'll cut out your"

His eyes swung to capture hers. "She came to me willingly, out of love, not fear. And what we share is that of equals, not of master and slave."

Icy green eyes glared back. "And I'll hear that from Marissa's lips before I believe it!" "Fine," Brace growled. "Then let's see about saving her life so she can tell you!"

Olim rose from her chair. "The truth will be revealed soon enough. If Brace speaks true, his love will be sufficient to save Marissa. If not" she shrugged "then you can execute him as a rapist. It matters not to me.

"But come, time grows short." She motioned them forward. "Let us go to Marissa."

As one, Brace and Raina stood, then followed the old woman from the main chamber and down a short hall to another room. Within it was a bed, and upon the bed lay Marissa. At sight of her, Brace made a move to go to her but Olim restrained him.

"Not yet," she said. "First you must understand the full implications of what you're about to do. You'll have only one chance as the act is all-consuming and life-threateningfor you as well as Marissa. Do you wish to risk that?"

Brace smiled grimly. He'd made his decision long ago when he'd decided to bring Marissa to the Sodalitas. He nodded. "I've already risked far more than my life for Marissa, Elder-woman. Tell me what I must do."

"The severing of the life-link between Marissa and Candra has left a massive psychic wound," Olim said. "In most cases there is no way to heal it and the injury eventually bleeds the life away. But in rare instances another link has been previously forged. If that can be strengthened, it might just be enough to heal the mortal wounding.''

Olim paused to stare deeply into Brace's eyes. "If your love was true, you may possibly have established such a link."

"And how do you know this?" Brace demanded. "How can you be so certain?"

For a moment the old woman's eyes misted with memories of sols long past, of happiness still remembered. Then she refocused her gaze upon Brace.

"I am also a Traveler. My twin died many cycles ago when we were still young women. The only thing that saved me was my love, forbidden though it was, for a male. And that, my young friend, is how I know."

Joy flooded Brace, spilling over to glow in his eyes. Gods, was it possible? Had the solution to Marissa's plight always lain in his love for her?

"Tell me what I must do," he repeated, this time with a note of urgency in his voice.

"Take her into your arms," Olim said softly. "Hold her to your heart. Then let the love flow, your minds merge until you are bound body and soul. Then and only then can the healing begin."

"And how will I know when the healing's complete?"

The old woman smiled. "You'll know, young warrior. Believe me, you'll know."

Brace stared at her for a long moment more, then turned, shutting out the rest of the world until all that mattered was the frail form of the woman dying upon the bed. The woman who had become his whole life. The woman he loved. Slowly, ever so gently, he lowered himself to sit beside Marissa and gathered her into his arms.

The laser wound on the side of Marissa's face had scabbed over, the edges neatly joined. The eventual scar would be thin, barely noticeable when fully healed. Brace breathed a silent prayer of thanks for that small blessing.

His head lowered, his lips moved to brush her forehead. He inhaled deeply of her flower-fresh scent. It stirred hauntingly sweet memories, heartfelt emotions, and suddenly tears stung Brace's eyes.

"Marissa, sweet femina," he choked. "Ah, Gods, come back to me!"

With all the strength that was in him Brace called to her, entwining Marissa's spirit with his, sustaining her faint flicker of life with the roaring conflagration of his own determination and love. Yet for a time it seemed that nothing could move her past the enormous loss of her sister.

Deep within his soul Brace saw the wound of the severed life-link, fire-red and gaping, consuming her bit by agonizing bit. He marveled that she'd survived as long as she had with such a mortal injury. It was Marissa's strength and inherent fighting spirit that had sustained her so far. But even she could not hold on much longer. He called forth all the strength he possessed, willing it to pass to her. All his strengthand love. And, slowly, they joined.

Memories of the sols and noctes with Marissa flooded Brace, consuming him until he saw and experienced nothing else. Memories of her endearing bouts of exasperation every time he teased her, of her tears when she'd learned that Rodac had supposedly died, of the look in her eyes, so hot yet startled, when her fingers had grazed his lips while feeding him that berry. And, most of all, memories of her passionate response when they'd mated, and of her sweetly satisfying surrender.

A surrender that he felt as well, then and in this moment of exquisitely ardent joining.

She stirred in his arms, moaning softly. Elation coursed through Brace. He struggled to maintain his mental hold, terrified he'd lose her if he pulled back too soon. She moved again, slipping her hands between them to push at his chest.

"B-Brace," Marissa whispered. "It . . . it's enough. Let go or you'll drain away all your life-strength. Let go."

From some place far away he heard her. Yet to relinquish this sweet, most wonderful of joinings was harder than Brace had imagined. It took everything he possessed to pull away.

For long secundae he sat there as the room spun dizzily before him. He closed his eyes in an effort to ease the disequilibrium. Still the nausea roiled in his gut until Brace feared he might vomit. He inhaled great gulps of air. Slowly the sickness passed.

Brace opened one eye a slit. The room was steady. He opened the other. Everything remained as it should. He heaved a sigh of relief and gazed down at Marissa.

She lay there upon his chest, pale but smiling. Then something passed across her face and tears flooded her eyes. Tears, then an expression of disbelief and loathing.

"Marissa?" Brace whispered, his hand moving to stroke the side of her face. "What's wrong, sweet femina?"

She jerked back, struggling to sit, then move away. Her gaze swept the room and found the leader of the Sodalitas. Her arms reached out in entreaty and Raina went to her, pulling Marissa into her arms.

"Hush, sweeting," Raina soothed. "It's but the shock of the healing experience. It will pass."

"No. It's not that at all," Marissa sobbed. "It . . . it's
him
! He saved me, but killed my sister! He killed my sister, yet I want him still! Ah, what am I to do?
What am I to do?
"

Raina shot Brace an enraged look. "So, you lied, did you? It doesn't surprise me, coming from a male."

She turned back to Marissa, stroking her head tenderly. "Hush, hush, sweeting. It'll be all right."

"N-no," Marissa choked, sobbing as if her heart would break. "It won't. C-Candra's gone and I'm alive! Ah, how can I live with the guilt, the shame?"

"And is your shame greater than mine?" Brace rasped. "
I'm
the one who failed you both. You've done nothing to feel guilty about, unless wanting to live is now a sin!"

"II'm not worthy," she replied, her voice muffled against Raina's breast. "Candra was the Traveler, the twin of value, not I. My life's a waste. A waste!"

"By the five moons, Marissa!" Brace roared, his patience finally at an end. "Don't
ever
say that again! Your life has never been a waste. The ability to enter objects is insignificant in the total scheme of things. But your skills, as a warrior and a woman, are vital to this questa quest of Imperium magnitude. Without you, we may all be doomed. So don't
ever
let me hear you denigrate yourself again!"

"And where have you heard all this before, sweeting?" Raina prodded wryly, smiling down at her friend. "He speaks true, Marissa."

"H-he p-promised to protect Candra, to see no harm came to her. He asked me to t-trust him! And I did . . . I d-did," Marissa hiccuped. "Ah, I hate him for that most of all!"

"One secundae you want him, the next you hate him," Raina muttered in exasperation. "Truly, you don't know what you really feel. You need time to clear that muddled little head of yours. You need rest."

Marissa went still and her weeping faded. After a time, she lifted her head to gaze at Raina. "You're right. II'm so tired," she whispered. "Please, let me sleep."

Brace made a move to help, but Raina shook her head. He restrained himself and watched as the red-haired Sodalitas assisted Marissa to lie back down, then covered her with a thick quilt. She sat beside her for a time, stroking Marissa's hair, a loving look on her face. And finally Marissa drifted off to sleep.

Raina rose, indicating they should leave. Brace shot Marissa one last look, then followed the two Sodalitas out of the room. Olim excused herself, but Raina signaled that Brace continue to accompany her.

The main chamber was empty. With a graceful sweep of her hand, Raina motioned to the chairs before the hearth. In their absence a fire had been laid and the hungry flames snapped and crackled as they devoured the pile of wood. For a long while both stared into the fire, silent and thoughtful.

"I thank you for your loyalty to Marissa," Raina began finally. "When she first came to live with us it took several cycles to get close to her, she was so afraid of rejection. And she battles still with her feelings of unworthiness." The Sodalitas sighed. "Her people left a festering wound when they cast her out to die on Mount Desolat. I fear it may never heal.''

"Marissa is the most wonderful woman I have ever known," Brace said. "Brave and resourceful, intelligent, gentle, and kind."

Raina chuckled. "Gentle and kind? After how she's just treated you, are you sure we're talking about the same woman?"

"It's her pain speaking. She's devastated over Candra's death."

Reluctant admiration flared in the Sodalitas. "Yes, that she is." Raina inhaled a considering breath. "I see I was wrong to treat you so harshly, to assume you were like all the other males I've ever known." She smiled. "And I can begin to understand why Marissa loves you."

Brace grimaced. "Can you now? I only hope Marissa remembers that some sol."

"Give her time."

"There's not much of that left. I must leave soon. We're all in too much danger with Ferox still in possession of the Knowing Crystal."

A delicate auburn brow lifted. "So, the criminal has the stone of power? Is that the quest you spoke of earlier?"

"Yes. He kidnapped Candra and coerced Marissa to bring me to him. Between my Crystal Master abilities and Candra's skill in traversing solid objects, he hoped to use us to manipulate the Knowing Crystal and make him a Crystal Master. But the stone must have known. It turned on me when I helped Candra enter it. I hadn't . . . the strength . . . to get her out in time."

"You're fortunate that even you survived." She paused, a frown wrinkling her smooth brow. "Your story explains more than you may realize. A man backed by a small, well-armed force came to us about a monate ago, demanding we give over Olim. At the time I thought it strange they found such value in an old woman. Now, it all falls into place."

Raina's glance lifted to meet Brace's. "The man was Ferox, wasn't it? And he wanted Olim's skills as a Traveler."

"It would seem so. What did you tell him," he asked, a smile tipping the corner of his mouth, "aside from 'be damned'?"

She grinned. "Oh, that neatly sums it up. He left very angry, after a protracted battle that didn't end in his favor."

Brace's expression darkened. "You must take every precaution to protect Olim. Ferox could return at any time."

"We will. The Sodalitas always protect their own." She smiled. "You took a big chance, you know, bringing Marissa to us. We could have killed you on the spot."

"There was never any other choice. Marissa's life was at stake."

"You could have left her to die. Your quest was vital."

"She's as vital to the quest as I. The Knowing Crystal will try to destroy me before I destroy it. Marissa's love is my strength and protection."

"Fine words," Raina drawled cynically. "And so much like a male besotted with the mating urge."

Brace grinned. "You speak from experience, do you?"

A haunted look passed across her beautiful face. "What I've experienced is of no import. It's in the past. And the present reality is more than enough to deal with."

He opened his mouth to say more, then clamped it shut. Whatever the red-haired leader's personal pain, she was right. It was not his prerogative to pry, and the present reality was indeed more than enough to deal with.

"Will you talk to Marissa?" Brace asked, turning the topic to a more neutral subject. "She loves and respects you."

A soft smile lifted Raina's mouth. "I've known her for nine cycles now, ever since that sol our women found Marissa and brought her to us. I was but seventeen cycles then, she eleven. For the longest time she was so sad, so heartbroken, but over the cycles we became the closest of friends. We grew up, became women and warriors together. I love Marissa as much as she loves me."

Her glance hardened. "Yes, I'll help you, for I truly believe, beneath her pain and anger, she still cares for you. But if you ever turn from her or hurt her . . ."

"That will never happen. While I have breath left in my body, that will never happen!"

"Perhaps not," Raina murmured thoughtfully as the enormity of the quest ahead of them swept through her. "But then again . . ."

Later that evening Raina came for Brace. He and Rodac, now residing above stairs in more comfortable surroundings, had just finished a tasty vegetable casserole and freshly baked bread and were working their way through a plate of cerasa fruit and uva berries. Both glanced up when the Sodalitas entered.