FireDance (7 page)
“How so?”
“I have been on the receiving end of a similar brand of seduction, and it had a similar effect.”
“Are you certain that you did not accuse him just because the handsome baron did not select you as a bed partner?” The legal representative had the expression that indicated that any and all women would enjoy Thakeri’s attentions.
“I am certain.”
Hahvi waited while the woman and the accused spoke quietly.
When the woman returned, Thakeri smirked.
“Are you not simply using your own experiences to colour your impression of Thakeri?”
Hahvi looked at the weary deciding council. “May I speak freely?”
Four of the councillors nodded.
“My experiences led me to voluntary incarceration, because I was afraid of injuring family or friends with my presence. I do, however, have proof of Thakeri’s attempted seduction.”
The legal rep blinked, “What?”
“I am wearing a living suit that assists me in my work, but as my species is new to the Citadel, it is implanted with sensors to detect all psychic fields.”
Hahvi lit the data projector and showed the group a scan of talent. “Do you see that energy wave pattern? That pattern is that of a male in the Citadel whose talent is psychic seduction. Do you see this next pattern and the time stamp? That pattern of energy was registered against this suit on my arrival.”
She played the arrival vid. “Here you see him approaching me, the energy in my suit is stable, and here is his touch on my hand and the registration of the psychic field. So, madam, yes, I do know what a psychic seduction feels like. No, I do not think that every man in my vicinity is trying to seduce me, and yes, I know the look on a woman’s face when she is dumbstruck under psychic pressure. I saw it in a mirror, nine years ago.”
The victims looked relieved and the councillors bent their heads together.
Finally, the head of the council stood. “Baron Thakeri, you are found guilty of psychic seduction and having an undeclared talent. Your nullification will stand and in light of your manipulation of these proceedings, you will be wiped, and tomorrow, you will begin your new life as one of the masses.”
The baron was crying, snivelling. His legal rep was looking at him with repulsion.
Hahvi got to her feet and swayed. Rackon was at her side, and they walked back to her quarters where a meal waited for her. She ate numbly, suffered through a shower and didn’t even feel Rackon curl around her.
Chapter Twelve
Hahvi wished she had something to read. Creating diversions to give the city a smooth and even path to fly over was boring as hell.
Six hours of diverting lava were almost at an end. As she watched, the city slowly elevated evenly, moving into position on the new plateau.
A now-cheerful Aliora piloted the flier that came down. “We are there, Hahvi. You did it!”
Hahvi dragged herself onto the flier and held on while they returned to the city. Drilling was commencing, connecting them to the water table. Power would be run through the mountain next to them, keeping them away from the possibility of magma eruption.
The crowds waiting for her cheered and yelled as the flier came in for a landing outside her quarters.
Hahvi was curious, “I thought you had to land in the designated area.”
“I will take the fine. You need some rest and a shower.” Aliora wrinkled her nose.
Hahvi walked through the crowd, shaking hands and smiling, but the door to her apartment loomed ever larger. Inside, she breathed deeply before heading upstairs.
The shower woke her enough to make sure she drank some water, but wrapped in a towel, she fell onto her bed without bothering to wish for Rackon.
When she woke, everything was silent, but a peculiar light was coming from the small balcony.
Hahvi made her Masuo form her suit. She walked to the edge of the balcony and peered out to see where the light was coming from.
Hundreds of folk with lights were holding vigil for her.
“They have been there for six hours. Aliora told them you needed to sleep, so they gathered and held onto the lights so that you would not wake in darkness.” Rackon’s voice was sleepy, and as she looked, he was lying on her bed, nothing on his body but the sheet.
She blushed hotly and returned her gaze to the crowds. She waved slightly and a cascade of laughter and yelling began. With Hahvi awake, there was no reason not to start the party.
Hahvi watched streamers fly as well as a few inhabitants. They climbed high into the sky, and as they descended, bursts of light marked the sky.
“They are enjoying themselves.” She smiled and sighed happily.
Hahvi returned to the bed and had a seat. Rackon took her hand and tugged her toward him.
She had a thousand questions that would distract him from the intent in his eyes, but she swallowed them all and pressed her lips to his.
They rolled together in the sheets, her Masuo disappearing as he touched her skin. The cuff on her leg didn’t get in the way as she stroked the hard planes of his skin and her fingers memorised the strange musculature of the Bormaic.
She held her breath when he slid into her, and stars shattered behind her eyes as the dream master took her to the heights of pleasure and joined her there.
Hahvi leaned against his chest and stroked the hand that he had wrapped around her abdomen. “How long will we have together?”
“What do you mean?”
“Before the Citadel comes to claim me and send me to my next world.” She chuckled. Being sent to the next world was a euphemism for death on Resicor.
“Ah, that. Well, I have been assigned as your pilot, escort and liaison. We will have as much time together as you wish.”
She turned and pressed her head to his shoulder. “Are you serious?”
“I am usually serious. Why, are you unhappy with it?”
She grinned. “No. Delighted.” Snickering, she shifted slowly against him, waking his interest. “It is so hard to train good help nowadays.”
He growled, nipped her shoulder and rolled her to her back. Together, they engaged in training and exploring his skills at liaising.
Hahvi stood in front of the council of Bormaic for the final time.
“Hahvi Karuda of the Citadel, thank you for your skills and efforts on our behalf. Not only did you save this city from disaster on the other plateau, but you also have managed to locate a far more desirable situation for us. We did not even know it was possible.”
“It was a fascinating experience.” She inclined her head.
He winked, “The funds have been transferred into your accounts, and we will remember your skills should we be able to create a second city in the future.”
She smiled. “Planning for expansive futures is the privilege of those who lived through the difficult times. I hope you enjoy your new location.”
The crowd cheered, and she raised a hand. “I would like to point out that I would not be here if it was not for Rackon and Aliora. They have put me where I needed to be, taken care of me and kept me healthy. That in itself deserves applause.”
Hahvi watched as her two keepers blushed under the appreciation of their people.
Snickering, she shook the hand of the councillors, waved riotously at the rest of the people and walked into the shuttle.
Sighing, she strapped in and waited for Rackon. He was hugging his family goodbye.
Aliora and Hahvi had had their goodbye that morning. Nothing had to be said on Hahvi’s part. Aliora knew what she was thinking.
Rackon sealed the shuttle and joined her at the helm. “Now, this is how you do a pre-flight check.”
He ran through the basics, double-checked that all the revellers were away from the shuttle and lifted off, using the heat coming off the lava field as propulsion. The Bormaic had adapted all of their power sources to use the heat when it could, and if Hahvi had her way, she would like to come back when the planet began to cool.
She waited for the blackness of space before she turned to Rackon and asked, “I get paid for this?”
He chuckled and snickered. “I am guessing that you did not have a chance to read the contract back on Morganti.”
“No. I was adapting to having skin in places that used to be suit.”
“The Citadel is a guild, education centre and training facility. You have a set rate based on the difficulty of your work and the commonness of your talent. You, my dear, are one of a kind.” He grinned and shifted their trajectory, heading for the jump point.
She sighed, put her arms behind her head and crossed her ankles. “You are not the first to have said it, but I did like it the most coming from you.”
He laughed again. “Your fire dance is making the rounds. Many species want you to show up simply for your celebrity status.”
“Who decides where I go?”
“The Citadel and the Sector Guard. We are being stationed at Morganti. They specialize in natural disasters. I think your talent qualifies you to deal with them.”
“What about getting my family off Resicor?”
“They are the best facility to deal with them. Relay has contacts in places that make the most exotically connected shudder.”
Hahvi watched the stars get closer. “I want to free the talents from Resicor. I want to get them away from the dome.”
Rackon sighed, “My mother always told me to make a list of all the things I want to accomplish in life. As I do them, strike one off and add something else to the bottom.”
“That’s a good idea.” She looked around. “Where do I find a charcoal and paper?”
“I will get it for you when we are in the Morganti Citadel. You will also be able to take courses there. Your education was covered in the contract.”
She snickered. “It did seem rather specific to the Resicor.”
“Why shouldn’t it be? You are the fourth Resicor to make it into the Alliance.”
“I know. There is nothing like inside information to make the days go faster.”
Hahvi sighed and watched the stars pass. Millions of stars, millions of planets and some of them were waiting for her and only her. She was content to rest now, but she hoped that it wouldn’t be too long before she could indulge in her fire dance.
In the meantime, she would dream of Amlie and the day that freedom would come for the physical talents of Resicor. It was going to be high on her list.
Author’s Note
Sorry. I peeled another one. I hate the necessity, but since she had been in the suit for eight years, there was no chance of her not being in a working restrictor suit.
There is a war coming to Resicor…or an invasion. I have not yet decided. If you have an idea on the matter, feel free to send a note.
Thanks for reading,
Viola Grace
http://www.devinedestinies.com
About the Author
Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.
Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.
