Laura Jo Phillips (43 page)

Karma wasn’t so sure about that.  Princess Lariah was able to communicate with animals, but she didn’t think now was the time to bring that up.  Instead, she told the King what Nikura had said, leaving out the sphin’s tone.

“We have a legend that speaks of women who speak to the sphin,” the King said.  “It is said that she had other gifts, special gifts, that were unique to her alone.” 

“What gifts?” Karma asked curiously.

“They varied,” the King replied vaguely.  “Do you have other unusual abilities?”

Karma nearly laughed.  He refused to be forthcoming with her, but expected her to tell him her own secrets?  Not hardly.

“Good decision,”
Nikura said.

Karma frowned down at the sphin but decided not to engage in further conversation with him at the moment.  She’d had enough of the spotlight.  She glanced back up at the King, the expression on his face reminding her that he had asked her a question. 

“That may depend on what one considers unusual,” she hedged.  “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“No, I do not mind,” the King said with a reluctant smile.

“What exactly is a
Techu
?”

“Where did you hear that word?” the King asked.

“Nikura,” Karma replied.  “I asked him why I could hear him when no one else could, and he told me that if I were a
Techu
and had a...something...it would make sense, but as I didn’t, he didn’t know.”

The King studied Karma for so long that Karma began to get uneasy.  “A
Techu
is one who speaks for the dead,” the King said.  “We have not been graced with such for many generations.  Too long, in truth.  A
ti-ank
is the mark of a Techu.  Literally, it means
staff of life
.”

Karma’s heart skipped one beat, then another as her breath froze.  She had almost expected that he would say something like that, but hearing the words was far more frightening than thinking them.  Karma knew that the King was going to get suspicious if she didn’t say something soon, but she couldn’t force herself to breathe, let alone speak.

Suddenly the door burst open, startling Karma into breathing at last.  She stared as a tall, dark haired man with pale blue eyes marched into the room.  He wore a red pleated kilt low on his hips, leather sandals and an open leather vest.  The pleats of the kilt were split from the middle of his thighs to his knees, the bottom edges of each pleat trimmed in gold so that they swung with each step he took.  His sandals were dark leather with long ties that wrapped around his calves and thick soles.  The vest was dark like the sandals, and decorated with myriad symbols.  The man also wore wide bands of gold around his wrists, and a golden torc around his neck.

Karma had seen naked men before.  Not many, but enough that she knew what they looked like.  Aside from a normal curiosity about the opposite sex when she’d been a teenager, she’d never felt much one way or the other about men’s bodies.  Some were nicer to look at than others, but she’d never had a physical reaction to seeing one before. 

Until now.  As she watched the man enter the room, the long, hard muscles of his legs flowing beneath the smooth, golden brown skin, she felt something in her belly tighten.  Her mouth went dry as she gazed at the broad shoulders, the arms bulging with muscle, the flash of flat brown nipples displayed when the vest shifted as he walked.  She raised her eyes to his face and very nearly gasped aloud.  Never in her life had she thought of a male as
beautiful
before.  Until now.  There was simply no other word to describe this man.  In her eyes, beautiful was the only word that came close.

He had a strong, masculine face with a wide, sensuous mouth, sculpted cheekbones and a bold, straight nose.  Karma’s eyes lingered on his mouth for a long moment, but it was the eyes that really captured her attention.  His golden tan skin and thick black lashes intensified their pale blue color so that they nearly glowed, capturing Karma’s gaze as though hypnotizing her.  It wasn’t until the man lowered himself to one knee before the King and bowed his head that she realized she’d been staring.

She jerked her eyes from the man and focused hard on the King instead, mortified by her reaction.  Fortunately, the man was far too intent on his own business to have noticed Karma at all.

“Rise, my son,” the King said as he moved toward the young man.  The man rose to his feet in a graceful and practiced motion and stepped forward to clasp arms with the King, reminding Karma of the warrior greeting that the Clan Jasani used.

“Father, I returned as quickly as I could,” the man said.  “What news of my sister?”

“None as yet,” the King replied.  “Bredon leads two Hunter groups in pursuit.”

“The runner told me that the evil ones used out-world machines that travel at impossible speeds,” the man said with barely controlled anger.  “Bredon has no chance of catching them.”

“No, he does not,” the King admitted.  “However, Captain Singer brought shifter men who can fly like birds.  They also hunt.”

The man’s jaw clenched tightly as he seemed to struggle with himself.  After a moment he turned to face Captain Singer and bowed shortly.  “Your assistance is appreciated,” he said tightly. 

Captain Singer bowed her head.  “I have done nothing, Prince Zakiel,” she said.  “However, if any can find and return Princess Kapia, the Gryphons can, and will.”

Karma sensed that the Prince was not altogether pleased, and it wasn’t only because his sister had been kidnapped.  He didn’t seem to like either Captain Singer, or the idea that her help had been needed.

“I will take my Hunters and follow Bredon,” Prince Zakiel said, turning back to the King.

The King stared at his son for a long moment before replying.  “As you wish,” he said finally.  “Before you go, I would speak with you alone.”

Prince Zakiel hesitated so briefly that Karma nearly missed it.  Then he raised his left fist to his forehead and bowed.  “As my King commands,” he said.

“Captain Singer, if you would be so kind as to open the door, Talet will be pleased to show you to the dining hall,” the King said without taking his eyes off of his son.   

“Of course, Highness,” Captain Singer said.  She bowed briefly, then gestured silently to Karma before leading the way to the door.  The sphin stood up and stretched slowly, then glanced at Karma over one shoulder before following her out of the King’s Audience Chamber. 

Chapter
38

“Karma, are you sure you want to stay here?” Aisling asked again.  She’d already asked the same question so many times that even she was tired of hearing it.  Karma frowned, but Aisling held up her hand.  “Never mind,” she said.  “I take that one back.”

 “I know you’re worried,” Karma said, “but I also know this is the right thing for me.”

 “I might be easier if I understood
why
you are so determined to stay here.  All I know is that you spent two hours locked in a room with King Rothbar and that weird giant cat, and when you came out, you announced you’d decided to live here.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Ash,” Karma said.  “I do.  I trust you more than anyone.  But I promised not to speak of it, and I cannot break that promise.  I will tell you this much though; I’m needed here.  Really and truly needed.”

Aisling sighed.  If there was one person who needed to be needed more than Karma, she had never met her.  “If you are needed here, then of course you must stay,” Aisling said. 

Karma smiled, relieved that Aisling understood. 

“What if you change your mind though?  I’m not trying to talk you out of it, I promise,” she said quickly, “but it worries me that you can’t even send a message if you need something, or want to leave.”

“Captain Singer promised to stop by in six months specifically to check on me,” Karma reminded her.  “And King Rothbar promised that I would be under his protection.”

“Yes, because Olaf practically demanded it,” Aisling said.  “You’re under the personal protection of the Dracons, Karma, and that’s no small thing.  If we leave you here and something happens to you, I’m not sure what they’ll do to us.”

Karma laughed.  “Now you’re just being silly,” she said.  But Aisling didn’t smile.

“All right, listen,” Karma said.  “You remember that day we spoke to Saige, at Hope’s home on the ranch?  When Riata had messages for each of us?”

“Yes, what about it?”   

 “Riata’s message to me was that I had to leave my friends and make a life somewhere else, that my future was not on Jasan.  She said that it would be difficult for me, and she was right.  She also said that it was the path I was meant to follow, and she was right about that too.  This is what she was talking about, Ash.  This is where I am meant to be, and what I am meant to do.”

“All right, Karma,” Aisling said with a sigh.  “I understand, and I’m happy for you.  I’m also worried, but I can’t help that.  You’re my best friend, and I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Karma said, her eyes misting with unexpected tears.  “And I’ll miss you more than you can know.”

***

Olaf, Rand and Rudy left the roar room feeling no better than when they’d entered it.  The past week had been difficult for all of them.  First Aisling had been despondent about leaving Karma on Rathira.  She had even gone so far as to insist they return and collect Karma forcibly.  She had not taken their refusal well, to say the least.  She had neither spoken to them, nor allowed them into her bed for two days and nights. 

Only after she became engrossed in her efforts to decode the oraculum did her temper cool.  She’d forgiven them, but it hardly mattered.  She’d spent nearly every waking moment since working on the translation.  They had to bring food to her, and all but force her to eat it.

“We must do something,” Rudy said as they stepped into the elevator.  “This situation cannot continue.”

“And what would you suggest we do?” Olaf asked. dryly  “Force her to stop work on the oraculum?  I’m sure that will go over well.  Why don’t you try it, brother, and I shall stand back and watch.”

“Her preoccupation is far better than her anger,” Rand said as they left the elevator a few moments later and headed for their stateroom.  “I suggest we count our blessings.  She has accepted that Karma is no longer here, and she is no longer angry at us.”

“I know, you’re right,” Rudy admitted, “but I...,”

The sound of Aisling’s scream coming from the sitting room caused all three of the Gryphons to freeze for one heartbeat, then race to the end of the hall.  Olaf hit the door so hard that it cracked down one side as it burst open.  They rushed into the room, ready for battle, then froze once more at the sight that greeted them.

Aisling was standing in the middle of the room, her hand terminal in one hand, an e-pad in the other, jumping up and down with a grin on her face.  The grin turned to a frown as she stared at them in surprise.

“What?” she asked. 

Olaf opened his mouth, but she waved the terminal at him.  “Never mind,” she said excitedly, “I did it!  I broke the code!”  She ran towards him and leapt into his arms so quickly that he barely got his arms up to catch her.

“You broke the code?” he repeated, hardly daring to believe it.  She’d thought she’d broken it two other times, and had been bitterly disappointed when she’d discovered that she didn’t have it quite right.

“Yes, absolutely, no doubt about it this time,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. 

Olaf happily returned the kiss, then set her down so she could greet Rand and Rudy with equal enthusiasm.  By the time she was done, all three of them had forgotten their frustration.

“So what does it say?” Olaf asked.

“Well, I haven’t finished the entire thing just yet,” she admitted.  “But it won’t take more than a few minutes.”  Her smile faded.  “It’s not going to be good though.  I know that much already.”

“Is there anything we can do to help you finish it?” Olaf asked. 

“No, it’s a very complicated cipher,” she replied.  “But if you don’t mind waiting, I’ll finish it now.”

“No, not all,” Olaf said.  “Go ahead.”

Aisling gave them one more bright, sunny smile, then went back to the desk she’d been using and sat down. 

“I think I’ll go down to the cafeteria and get her some lunch,” Rand said quietly as she bent her head over her work.  “She didn’t eat this morning and she might be hungry when she finishes.”

“Good idea,” Rudy said.  “I’ll go with you.”

After they left, Olaf sat down in a chair positioned so he could watch Aisling, and waited.  He was a little amazed that after just one kiss and a few smiles, all of the frustration that had been building in him the past week had simply disappeared.  That, he decided, was the magic of Aisling.

He was also relieved for her sake that she had finally broken the code.  He had never seen anyone become so obsessed with a single task before, and he’d been worried for her health. 

Now that she’d broken it, he was worried about what it would say.  He was sure that this oraculum was going to be much like a prophecy, and prophecies had a tendency to come true, though not always in the most obvious or expected way.  A prophecy concerning the Xanti that the Xanti themselves thought so much of could not be good.