Crystal Fire (8 page)

Her reluctant admission teased a slow, grudging smile. Brace's anger faded.

"My brother," he finally sighed. "I was imprisoned because I dared stand up to the Bellatorian High Council and defy their sentencing of my brother."

"Your brother? What did he do?"

"While on a military assignment to the planet Agrica, Teran refused a lawful order to slaughter a helpless village. For his 'cowardice' he was condemned for life to the prison planet of Carcer."

"But no one survives more than six monates on Carcer," Marissa exclaimed, "and you've been in prison over two cycles now."

"Oh, I realize he's dead," Brace admitted, a bleak look in his eyes, "but whether alive or dead, his punishment has no further bearing on my sentence. Unless I recant my disobedience and publicly beg forgiveness before my uncle, King Falkan, my fate is no less final than his. If not for your timely rescue I'd have soon been dead from tortureor have lost my mind."

Understanding, and a wondering respect, flared in Marissa. "That's why I found you starved and half-beaten to deathbecause you stood up for your brother."

Silently Brace returned her gaze.

A soft smile touched her lips. "You're no coward, Brace Ardane. A stubborn fool and unrealistic dreamer, perhaps, but no coward."

A
dreamer once
, he thought,
but no more
.

"Careful, Marissa," Brace warned. "Your back-handed compliments threaten to overwhelm me."

Her mouth tightened in exasperation. "Don't misconstrue my meaning, Ardane. I meant no compliment. It was a simple statement of fact."

"Oh, I understand . . . I think."

Marissa frowned. This male was becoming one of the most disconcerting

She pulled her thoughts back to the safer topic at hand. "So, where is this treasure trove you spoke of? If the Bellatorians stole it from others, I've no qualms about liberating a little for ourselves."

"The Repository is located in a town called Olena, a short detour from Tutela. Think about it, Marissa. Not only will this gain us Rodac's cooperation in getting us through the mountains, but, by also dangling the temptation of acquiring some of Ferox's fabled wealth, I've assured his continued participation in the rescue of your sister.''

Renewed anger surged through her. "Nothing was said about his accompanying us on our quest!"

"No, but Rodac has invaluable skills, not to mention his brute strength. And we need all the help we can get."

Marissa's thoughts raced. Another participant would only complicate her eventual betrayal of Ardanea betrayal that was fast becoming difficult to contemplate. Curse him for revealing that act of courage and integrity, and all because of his love for his brother! She didn't want to know that. But then, why had she asked?

She shook her head. "No. I neither want nor need him on our quest. You are sufficient."

"And I thank you for yet another compliment," Brace muttered. "But either Rodac comes along or I don't."

"What?" Marissa cried. "You promised! You gave your word!"

"I gave my word to help you," he replied, struggling to maintain a calm tone. "But I never agreed to not seek extra assistance along the way. Whatever I do, have I not fulfilled that promise if my actions result in the rescue of your sister?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Marissa acknowledged. "But why must it be that stinking, treacherous, money-grubbing Simian? I'll tolerate his presence until Tutela, but no further. That's fair enough, I'd say."

"No, Marissa." Brace's dark eyes bore into hers. "That's
not
enough. This is a suicide mission. Make your choice and make it now."

Her anger grew. Curse him! In his own way Ardane was as treacherous as the Simian. But why should that surprise her? He was a male, after all.

Yet, in all fairness, she had no right to condemn him for the same intentions she'd had from the start. This quest had always involved deception and coercion. They were necessary evils if she were to lure him into Ferox's trapa trap that would most probably result in his death.

But the admission still changed nothing. Whatever it took, she must continue to use him. In the end, Candra's and her own continued survival were what mattered, not her foolish pride or sense of guilt.

Marissa gave a bitter laugh. "I don't see that you've left me much choice. If I want you, I have to take along a smelly alien. But tell me now. Have you any other surprises in store?"

Something flickered in his dark eyes, then Brace shook his head. "No, nothing that wasn't decided long ago."

"Good."

She reached for the bag and withdrew a parcel of dried cerasa fruit. Unwrapping it, Mar- issa tossed a few pieces to Brace, then scooped up a handful for herself. She tore off a bite of the tart, chewy fruit.

"Then it's settled, once and for all."

Brace's mouth drew into a hard, ruthless line. "Yes, once and for all."

He quashed the brief flare of remorse at his deception, an unpleasant feeling that was rising more and more often of late. Marissa only half knew what he was planning. Once he'd seen her stash replenished by looting the Repository in Olena, and Rodac committed to his anticipated quest to relieve Ferox of some of his ill-gotten goods, Brace intended to leave her.

The little Sodalitas would be furious, but there'd be nothing she could do. He'd be well on his way, transporting across space to some secret hiding place. Then Marissa would be more than grateful for the Simian's aid.

It was all he could do for her, all he
dared
do. Yet the thought of turning his back and walking away filled Brace with a strange regret. He had never willingly betrayed another. This fledgling self-concept as liar and deceiver, born of the past two cycles in prison, fit like a new pair of boots. Tight, uncomfortable, rubbing him raw in all the wrong places.

But there was
nothing
in this twisted, demented Imperium worth fighting for. Nothing save his own survival. He'd been forced to learn that harsh reality, and now it was all that matterednot some wide-eyed, alluring little spitfire blithely calling him to a hopeless quest. A hopeless, stupid, fatal quest.

Brace grabbed his meat stick and tore into it savagely, ignoring Marissa's look of revulsion. At that moment the Simian stirred. Both turned toward him, grateful, each in his own way, for the distraction.

Though Rodac was not in the best of moods thanks to his post-stunning headache, they traveled all nocte to avoid detection and reached Marissa's stash by early the next sol. In the rapidly dropping temperatures the extra supplies were a godsend, especially the two long, hooded phoca-fur coats Marissa had thought to pack.

An early snow blanketed the craggy summits, and the frigid wind whistling through made it seem even colder. The chill weather appeared to have little impact on the densely furred Simian, but even with the added protection of their coats the journey through the rest of the mountains was miserable for Marissa and Brace. Both heaved silent sighs of relief when they finally reached the relative warmth of the flatlands.

Each nocte of travel, Brace required less and less of Rodac's assistance. By the time they arrived in the vicinity of Olena, the only remaining signs of his brutal beating were fading yellow bruises and his slightly flattened, still broken nose. If not for the dreams of prison that haunted him each nocte of their journey, Brace would have felt almost back to normal. But those dreams . . .

They set up camp outside the small town in a thick stand of trees and made final plans for entering the Repository. As they talked, Brace busied himself scraping off his beard with a primitive shaving stone.

"There's really no need for all of us to enter the Repository," he said. "You'll stay outside and keep watch, Marissa."

At mention of her name, Marissa jerked her gaze up to Brace's eyes. As she'd watched his dark, dense beard fall away, revealing the clean, square lines of his jaw, she'd found herself pleasantly torn between the beard and the smooth-shaven face. Was there nothing about this male that wasn't fascinating? Marissa wondered, as she struggled to recall what the tall Bellatorian had just said.

Her brow wrinkled. "Keep watch, you say?" She shook her head emphatically. "No. Once we enter the Repository, speed is of the essence. Most guardbots I've come across are not only sneaky, but armed to the teeth. And three going through all that booty will be far quicker than two.

"Besides," Marissa muttered, shooting the Simian a scathing glance, "two pairs of eyes keeping watch on him is far wiser than one. Once he gets his hairy paws on all that loot, I wouldn't put it past him to turn on us."

"He won't turn on us, Marissa," Brace sighed, pausing in the scraping of his upper lip. "He gave his word, and the Simian code"

"of honor is second only to Bellator's," Marissa finished mockingly. "Yes, I know, Ardane, and that's exactly why I want to go along. Now, no more of it. My skills are quite sufficient to the task, and I
will
accompany you."

Brace shot Rodac a long-suffering look. The Simian merely rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, then resumed his braiding of a long coil of rope from the supply of sturdy funis vine he'd gradually acquired during their journey.

"Have it your way, then," Brace growled in disgust. He resumed his shaving. "You will anyway."

Marissa's chin lifted. "And why not, Ardane. It
is
i my quest. And that makes me the leader, does it not?"

The shaving stopped and dark eyes glared over at her.

"Well?" she prodded. "Doesn't it?"

"Of course,
Domina
," Brace drawled. "Most certainly, and I am but your humble servant."

She snorted in disgust. "And the Crystal Fires will freeze solid before that sol dawns!"

Brace eyed her for a moment more, then laughed. "Be honest, Marissa. You wouldn't like me docile and obedient, and you know it."

Surprise flitted across her face. Then she shook her head.

"You don't know what I like and don't like, Ardane, and that's the way it'll remain. I don't care if you approve of my decisions just as long as you cooperate."

"Yes, Domina."

"Ardane!" Marissa warned, noting the cynical quirk of his mouth.

Brace laughed and resumed his shaving.

He was taunting her again. But that wasn't half as unsettling as Marissa's reluctant admission that he could so easily get to her. Or that she almost enjoyed the tension it produced between them. Angrily she flung the realization aside.

Enjoyed talking and being with a male? It was impossible, insane! Yet a reality nonetheless.

Once again that strange apprehension shivered through Marissa. Her emotions were spiraling out of control, filling her with a hungry, aching need. Though she'd never lain with a male, Marissa recognized the feelings. A need for a malethis male.

It confused her. Marissa was too honest not to admit that. It confused and frightened her, yet beckoned to her all the same. For a fleeting moment, she wondered how Ardane felt about her. Then she quickly turned her thoughts to less upsetting things. Like the impending foray into Olena.

The trio crept into town at sol set. Aside from the Repository situated there, Olena was little more than a guild center for Bellatorian tradesmen and essentially went to bed when the shops and offices closed. The Repository lay in the center of the sleepy town, a squat, circular building of four stories.

They made their way to the alleyway behind the Repository. As Marissa watched with rising unease, Rodac uncoiled his rope.

She turned to Brace. "I hate heights, but, one way or another, this time I'm climbing up on my own. My stomach couldn't take another secundae pressed against that malodorous Simian."

"We're just as foul-smelling to them."

"Oh, really? Perhaps you meat eaters are, but there's no stench from fruits and vegetables."

"And what do you think, Rodac?" Brace turned to the Simian. "Do vegetarians smell better then meat eaters?"

The alien's gaze flitted from one to the other, as if he were considering the question. Then he rolled his beady eyes and turned away. With a quick twist of his wrist, Rodac circled the rope above his head. When it fed out to the proper length and speed, he hurled it upward.

The rope ensnared one of the roof's crenelated edges. With a practiced tug Rodac settled the loop snugly in place, then turned to Brace. Brace grasped the rope as high as he could and began a swift, hand-over-hand climb. Once he was safely on the roof, Rodac gestured toward Marissa.

With a small grimace, Marissa stepped up. Her journey to the rooftop was considerably slower and a lot more nerve-wracking, but she soon joined Brace. A few secundae later Rodac was there, silently hauling in the rope behind him. After stowing the coil beneath a water storage cylinder, the trio lowered themselves through the air duct to the level below.

A quick check confirmed there were no guardbots about. With a few skilled manipulations of a nearby control box, Brace deactivated all alarm and communication systems. Then he turned to Marissa.

"Well, Domina? We await your command."

She nodded. "Remember to take every level in a systematic fashion. Only when all rooms have been searched will we proceed to the next level. Take only items of high value that are easily carried. Understood?"

Brace and Rodac nodded.

"Good." Marissa waved them ahead of her. "Let's go."

The next hora was spent in a fruitless search of the fourth floor, a level apparently utilized for the storage of ancient texts and manuscripts. What a wealth of knowledge, Marissa mused as she sifted through piles of vellum and ornately gilded tomes, hidden away from an Imperium long starved of learning. And how ironic that Bellator, well-known for putting little store in things of the mind, was now possessor of most of the few remaining books left in the Imperium.

Some sol, Marissa vowed, she'd return and relieve this Repository of a lot more of its ill- gotten gains. The Sodalitas, at the very least, would appreciate some of these books

The deep bass hum of a guardbot's anti-grav plates brought Marissa up short. She swung around, her blaster waist-high, her trigger finger ready. A 'bot stood in the doorway, its green scan beam slowly surveying the room.