Laura Jo Phillips (14 page)

He moved away from the food dish and returned to the thin mattress to think.  Xi-Kung’s proposal was interesting and he wanted to examine it carefully before deciding whether or not to accept it.  Not that he really had much choice, he realized.  They had him in a locked room and they controlled his food and water.  If he turned down their offer, they could just refuse to feed him.  In his already half-starved state he would not last long.

That they had snatched him from the cargo ship bothered him.  He was not certain whether or not the Xanti had been lying about the Jasani guards coming so close to him, but even if he was telling the truth, why had they kept him drugged and unconscious for so many months?  Not to mention weak from lack of food and water.  And why was he, even now, locked in a cell?  Xi-Kung had told him it was because they were concerned that he would use his magic against them, but Slater wondered about that. 

Xi-Kung seemed to know so much about the ancient history of the Narrasti and the Jasani, as well as the current condition of both races.  He’d known that the Jasani were a race of males, that they had finally found their first Arima, and that Slater had tried to dispose of her, but failed.  He’d also known that the remainder of the great race of Narrasti were now little more than a race of primitives struggling to survive on Onddo.  But he had not known that Slater had very little magic to speak of.  Nor had he known that Slater was capable of transforming into a sugea.

Slater wondered why that bothered him so much.  He spent a few minutes wishing he was smarter so that he didn’t have to work so hard to understand things.  He shook his head and allowed his tail to twitch, just once.  He needed to focus.  He wished he had more food.  And water.

So, why did it bother him that the Xanti did not appear to know more about him than Xi-Kung had said?  He went back to the beginning of their conversation and replayed it in his mind.  After his fourth or fifth try, he finally understood.

Xi-Kung had known that Slater had spelled Frith, that Frith had failed to kill the Dracon’s woman, and that the Princes had managed to save her.  So if he knew all of that, why was it he did not know that Slater had shifted into a sugea and flown from the Dracons’ ranch to the spaceport?  He had done it in full daylight, and in full sight of anyone who chose to look up, but Xi-Kung had made no mention of it.

It took Slater a few more hours, and another feeding, for which he was very grateful, before he realized the answer.  Xi-Kung was testing him.  He was waiting to see if Slater would offer the information himself. 

Slater’s tail twitched a few times in irritation without him being aware of it.  After a few minutes, he calmed himself.  He realized that if their situations were reversed, he would do the same thing. 

Now that he had fed again, and consumed more water, Slater felt some of his strength return.  He could now wield some magic, though only a portion of the small amount he was capable of at full strength.  More importantly though, he sensed that he could transform himself.  He did not think he would be able to hold an alter form for very long, but he could do it.  He briefly considered taking the form of a sugea and breaking himself out of his cell.  In the end, just knowing that he could do it was enough.  Now that he knew he could leave if he wished, he settled down to think over Xi-Kung’s offer more carefully.

Sometime later Slater heard the soft rattling sound again, followed shortly by the appearance of Xi-Kung.  He rose from the mattress and took a few steps away from it before offering the Xanti a short bow.

“I have considered your plan and I wish to be a part of it,” Slater said before the Xanti had a chance to speak.  “However, there is something about me that you are unaware of, and which may alter our plans somewhat.”

Xi-Kung’s dark brows rose.  “I am sure there are many things I do not know about you,” Xi-Kung replied carefully.

Slater nodded solemnly.  “I can transform into a sugea,” he said abruptly.

Xi-Kung’s expression was one of surprise, but Slater carefully examined the Xanti’s scent.  It did not change in the slightest.  There was something very strange about that, and it bothered Slater a great deal, but not enough for him to change his mind. 

“A sugea,” Xi-Kung murmured softly as though he were trying to remember what that was when Slater was certain the Xanti knew.  “Is that not much like the Jasani dracon?”

Slater worked to keep his tail from twitching.  “Yes, only the sugea is much greater than a dracon.”  Slater had no idea which of the two beasts was the greater, but he was Narrasti, the sugea was Narrasti, so therefore the sugea was greater.

Xi-Kung did not comment.  Instead he said, “Do you think that we can somehow make use of the sugea in our plans?”

“Yes, I do,” Slater replied, knowing that he was about to throw his lot in with the mysterious Xanti and once he did, there would be no going back.

“I have not been to Onddo for a very long time,” Slater said.  “When I left, there was one in charge called Magoa.  He was the greatest of all the Narrasti then and I suppose he still is.  He made many laws, most of which were very good.  However, one of the laws was that anyone with the ability to transform was instantly sent to the exterminators.  He did not understand that such a gift was very old, and very powerful.  He thought it an undesirable mutation, and because he thought so, so did the rest of the people. 

“When I return to Onddo it is important to convince him immediately that he is wrong.  That the ability to transform is a powerful and valuable gift rather than a reason for extermination.”

“If you are unable to convince him of that, then none of our plans will work,” Xi-Kung said.

“Exactly,” Slater replied. 

“How do you plan to convince him?”

Slater smiled.  “I do not need to.  The sugea will do it.  By its very presence, all will be awed.  He would not dare to order the death of a mighty sugea.”

“And when you transform back to your real self?”

“Sugea had a humanoid form as well as their alter-form,” Slater explained.  “It is true that the humanoid form of my ancestors did not appear as I do now, but many things have changed over the centuries.  There is no reason for any to know that my current form is not the humanoid form of my sugea.”

Xi-Kung thought about that for a few moments.  “If you transform into something other than the sugea, they will know you are not what you say.”

Slater’s tail twitched a small amount before he was able to prevent it.  The Xanti had just proved he knew far more about his people than he pretended.  “That is true,” he conceded when he was certain he could speak without hissing.  “It will not be a problem though as I will not transform into anything other than the sugea while I am on Onddo.”

“Very well then, we shall proceed with our plan,” Xi-Kung said.  “However, rather than send you on your own to this Magoa, I think it might be best if I accompanied you.” 

Slater remained motionless, unwilling to reveal that he knew Xi-Kung had once again given himself away.  Why would he isolate and weaken Slater for fear of his magic, and then volunteer to step foot on a planet filled with Narrasti, most of whom had stronger magic than Slater himself?

“Perhaps I could ride upon the back of this sugea,” Xi-Kung suggested.  “If they decide to attack us rather than listen, I assume you have means in your sugea form to defend yourself?”

Slater nodded slowly, wondering what exactly it was that Xi-Kung really wanted.  He again wished he had taken the time to experiment with magic while he had been in the form of the sugea on Jasan.  His tail twitched irritably, a movement that the Xanti did not miss.

“I only wish I knew the full extent of my abilities in the form of the sugea,” Slater said aloud, both to explain his irritation, and in hopes that Xi-Kung would offer him a chance to experiment before they reached Onddo. 

Xi-Kung frowned as though he were deep in thought.  “So you have no knowledge of any means of self-defense while in that form?”

“I am able to breathe fire, and of course the size of the sugea is such that it would be easy to destroy any Narrasti who might attempt to attack,” Slater replied, unwilling for the Xanti to think him helpless in any form.

Xi-Kung smiled.  “In that case, I do not see any reason to take a detour which would cost us several more days.”

Slater nodded briefly, conceding the point.  Perhaps once they reached Onddo he would have the opportunity to experiment before they reached Magoa.

“I will need more food and water to build up my strength if I am going to be able to maintain the form of a sugea for any length of time,” he said.

“Of course,” Xi-Kung agreed.  “In fact, if I have your word that you will not cause mischief with your magic aboard my ship, I would prefer to move you to a more comfortable berth for the remainder of our journey to Onddo.

Slater blinked in confusion.  “Why would I cause mischief?” he asked.  “Because of you, I will realize my dreams faster than I had thought possible.  We are partners now, are we not?”

Xi-Kung smiled again.  “I am most pleased that our goals our equal in this,” he said. 

Slater returned the smile even though he had no idea what the Xanti’s goals were.  He promised himself that one day soon he would ask.  When he was no longer under the Xanti’s power.

Chapter
12

There were so many emotions warring with each other on Faron’s face as he stared after Saige that Lariah nearly smiled.  When he finally turned his gaze on her, shame had won.  “Please forgive me Lariah,” he said.  “I do not know what got in to me to speak to you in such an unforgivable manner.”

“Had you not apologized it would be unforgivable,” Garen said as entered the dining room from behind them.  “As it is, I am sure Lariah understands how difficult it must be for you right now.”

Lariah scowled at Garen.  “Lariah understands, but Lariah also has a tongue and can speak for herself.”

Garen smiled indulgently at her.  “I am sorry
sharali
.”

Lariah rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Faron and Dav.  “How are you feeling?” 

Faron sighed and took a seat at the table, Dav pulling out a chair next to him.  “Thanks to Riata, we will be fine,” he said.  “Dav's injuries are healed, and mine are almost healed.  We are mostly weary from the healing itself.  Ban is still sleeping.  If Riata is unable to heal him further, he will eventually heal himself, but it may take a few weeks.  We owe her much, particularly for healing our burns.  I do not believe I have ever experienced anything quite as painful as burns.”

Garen glanced at Lariah, noticing at once that her face was pale and her hands were trembling.  He shot a look at Faron, who blanched immediately.  Garen had told him of the torture Lariah had suffered, and how badly she had been burned during it.  He opened his mouth to apologize, but, on second thought, he closed it.  His mouth was not serving him well this morning. 

“I am sorry you heard that
sharali
,” Garen said as he knelt beside Lariah and pulled her gently into his arms. 

 “Don’t worry about it,” she said softly.  “I think I will go check on Saige while you guys talk.”

Garen released her and watched as she rose from her chair and walked away, the large bulge of their daughters changing her usual graceful movements into an adorable waddle.  Not that he would ever say such a thing aloud to her.

When she was gone and he heard the guestroom door open and close, he turned back to the Lobos. 

“Riata over-extended herself last night,” he said.  “She is still sleeping and when she awakes she will need to eat well.  Then she should be able to complete Ban's healing, and yours as well.”

“Isn't there another healer that can be brought in so that Riata need not deplete herself so dangerously?” Faron asked.

“None that can get here in time to be of much use,” Garen replied.  “Riata will be fine, but I do not know when she will be able to heal Saige.”

Faron shook his head.  “I know that her injuries are not severe and that Riata has done much for us already.  It was just difficult to see her with those bruises on her face.  They are much worse now than they were last night.”

“I understand,” Garen said.  “It is difficult to see one's Arima in pain.  By the way, congratulations to you both.  I could not be happier than to know you have found your Arima.”

Faron and Dav both smiled, their eyes lighting up as they thought of Saige.  Neither of them had missed her unconscious movement to shield Lariah from them, and they were proud of her for that.  Faron realized he needed to apologize to her, but thought it might be best to let her temper cool first.

“Tell me what you learned on the
Cosmic Glory
,” Garen requested in an effort to take their minds off of their Arima for the moment.

“Something is very wrong there,” Faron said, frowning.  “The Captain seemed a bumbling fool, yet it makes no sense that a bumbling fool would be assigned the Captaincy of a civilian liner of the
Cosmic Glory’s
class.  Also, not one but two women were missing when they docked at the skyport.  Yet we were not informed of that when we made inquiries about Saige.  Neither were the Bearens.”