Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (26 page)

“It was incredible,” The second offered, “
Commander Connor appeared out of nowhere and fired from nearly a hundred and fifty feet. Hit it in the eye and down it went.”

Appearing in the doorway with Lysette in tow
, Connor shoved her through the entrance. Moving forward, Lysette produced her probe and placed it on the injured soldier’s chest.

“He’s in shock, can you help?” She asked Andru softly.

“No, I can’t do anymore; he’s lost too much blood.”

Surveying the area
, Lysette moved to the large cabinet full of medical supplies and returned with a large hypodermic filled with a clear liquid and injected it into the soldier's arm. “This is a synthetic blood substitute, it should help stabilize him. It won’t last long; he’ll have to have another injection in about 2 hours.”  Examining his leg, Lysette glanced up at Andru.

“Sraeb,
” Was his only comment.

Remembering his warning fr
om last night Lysette shivered, realizing that this could have easily happened in the dark to her or Andru. Thoughts of escape entered her mind, it seemed impossible.

“You will return to the infants.” Connor ordered taking hold of Andru
’s arm.

Andru jerked his arm away from the
Commander and said, “Just a minute.”  He quickly touched the injured soldier lightly on the forehead then spoke quickly to Lysette, “He’ll be free of pain and should sleep for about 12 hours.” Then feeling Connors icy gaze on his back, Andru turned and headed for the door.  After locking Andru in the nursery, Connor returned to the infirmary and dismissed the soldiers. He ordered them to attend to the burial of the dead man and removal of the sraeb.

Being alone for the first time with
Commander Connor was unnerving for Lysette. He stood silently watching as she washed the blood from the injured man and bound his wounds. Fully aware of how his eyes were tracing the outline of her jumpsuit, she wished the outfit didn’t fit her so well.

Connor leaned forward across the table and smiled at Lysette, saying, “The empath is very fond of you, Lysette.”

The nervousness suddenly left her, replaced with hatred giving her courage, she glared at him and said, “I’m very busy, get out!” Her disgust outweighed her caution.

“You seem to be under the impression you can order me about.” Connor’s smile lessened as he added, “Perhaps it is time you learned your place doctor.”

Walking around the table to where she stood, he moved so close she had to sidestep to keep his chest from rubbing against her shoulder. “My place is back at the Field hospital near Tor.” She snapped at him, “Helping the people you left fingerless, orphaned or homeless.”

“Does the idea of losing all your fingers frighten you Lysette?” He taunted her moving closer.

This time Lysette held her ground, saying, “I’m sure the King would be very upset if he found you were torturing his son’s only physician.” She said trying to appear confident.

“I’m sure he would, but I wouldn’t rely on his protection, Lysette. His days as King are over. He does only as I ask.”
Commander Connor reached across in front of her picking up the probe she had left on the table beside the injured man.  “As a matter of fact I owe you a debt of thanks. He was actually beginning to show some independent thinking by arguing with you over Arbus’ death. I told him to let the infant die. He allowed you to change his mind. So clearly he was not completely under my control, as I had thought.” Slowly he brought his arm back, offering Lysette the precious probe adding, “Your assertiveness allowed me to destroy his attempt to reacquire his freedom of thought. Now he is nothing more than a source of income. When the winter is over, I will no longer have need of him. He will have turned over all of his Latrian assets to me.”  

Lysette moved to the other side of the table and began cleaning the soldiers other arm. Following her
, Connor grabbed her around the waist and pulled her toward him saying, “I do have a need for you Lysette, if you would only stop resisting.”

Lysette struggled as she found herself trapped within his arms. Grabbing a handful of her
hair, he forced her face to meet his. His kiss filled her with loathing as she fought with all her might to get free. Finally, in desperation, Lysette bit his lower lip drawing blood. Throwing her backwards, Lysette slammed into the infirmary wall as Connor’s dark glare fixed on her. Suddenly there came a loud banging noise from a door that Lysette had assumed was a closet. Andru’s voice yelled from the other side. “You in there!  I need the doctor at once! One of the babies is ill!” Andru pounded on the door again saying, “Do you hear me! Right this minute!”

Facing Connor,
her eyes locked with his, Lysette could see the anger growing. Once again, Andru’s voice called urgently through the door. “Open this door at once, Rey needs the doctor!” Andru pounded again, not willing to stop until Lysette was with him. “If he dies while you’ve got her in there wrapping the soldier’s wounds, there’ll be Hell to pay!!”

Connor smiled as he moved toward Lysette. “You are full of such fire doctor.  It is a shame to waste it.” Stopping before her
, he ran his hand down the side of her arm as she glared at him. He said, “There is time to cool your fire. I can wait a while longer.”

With that
, he turned and opened the door Andru had continued to pound on.  Andru nearly fell as the door opened. He regained his composure and grabbed Lysette’s hand taking her back through the door, ignoring the Commander completely. Connor left the door ajar, locking the infirmary entrance behind him as he left. 

Lysette embraced Andru and held on tightly. “Thank you! How did you know I was in trouble?”  She asked, pulling back from him
, shaking from the experience.

“I can read your emotions pretty well. I felt the anger and fear, then something more. I guess Connor must have gotten
angry with you. What did you do? Slap his face after a nasty remark?”

“Not exactly,” Lysette took a deep breath to calm
herself adding, “I think I’ve got a real problem with him.” She went over to check the babies and said, “He likes my dominant personality.”

“We’ve got to
get out of here.” Andru whispered, understanding her meaning all too well.

“My experience with Connor has given me an idea
, if you are willing to take a few risks.” She knew they didn’t have much time before Connor had her in a situation where Andru couldn’t rescue her. She also knew that she wouldn’t yield, and probably die because of it.

“I’ve been working on a few ideas of my own.” Andru smiled at her
, and they began to plan their escape.

Katar
’s mind spun with all the pain he'd endured in the last week.  He now had to face the very real possibility that Lysette was lost from him forever. The Kings entourage had vanished. The only possible hint of his escape had been a small helijet that had given an unusual clearance code and vanished before they could investigate. Now Cap was continually throwing Kendra’s wild story in his face. It was the most impossible of all to comprehend.  Why would Connor have sought out and killed his father? He would have been a young man, barely twenty years old. Beyond that, why would Hanlin and the others, his own mother, lie to him about his father’s death? 

I
f it was true and Commander Connor murdered his father, Katar wanted to know who gave the order. Katar couldn’t think of anyone at that his father’s death would have benefitted. No! It was an absurd tale that he refused to believe. Cap fought fiercely for Kendra, insisting she was telling the truth.  Katar decided that somehow at such a young age, Kendra misunderstood or was confused about what happened. If she had been there, perhaps her little childhood mind warped the tale to remove the guilt of feeling responsible for the death of her Prince. More likely Connor had brainwashed her, planting this story to confuse and torture him. Trying to keep him occupied, so they could relax in their haven. 

As much as Katar tried to convince himself that it was only a story
, a wild fabrication, he could not remove the thought from his mind. Was it the fact that his father had deliberately given up his life for some child that gave Katar such an evil foreboding. Enough! He would confront Lord Wills and his mother, and find out if there was any credence to this falsehood. Cap had returned Kendra and Joah to the institute upon their arrival at Borel. Now was the time to confront them, in Caps absence, he could make his own decision, without his friends influence.

Having sent for Lord Wills
, Katar planned a direct confrontation. He would either deny the story or weep his confession. Lord Wills appeared in the doorway of the study pleased to see that Katar had returned home. Hanlin said, “Your Highness! I have been so concerned about your search for the missing Lady Lysette.” Hanlin began, as he crossed the length of the room to where Katar stood by the bar pouring drinks.

“Hanlin, I do not wish to discuss Lysette’s disappearance with you right now.”  Katar glanced up at his approach adding, “I have something I must ask of you that cannot wait for one more second.”

At the seriousness of his tone, Hanlin stopped before him deeply intrigued asking, “Whatever it is, I am sure I can help.” 

“I have come across some information that leads me to believe that several of my closest advisors have lied to me regarding a
most serious matter of state.” Katar handed Hanlin a drink, and led the elderly man over to the sofa at the far end of the room.

“Your highness, I’m shocked! I have always believed that the Queens confidants were impeccable!” Hanlin gasped
, seating himself on the sofa beside Katar.

“Even yourself?
” Katar spoke slowly, watching the surprise rise in Hanlin’s face.

“Katar, I have never lied to you.” Hanlin said wi
th all seriousness.

“Never
, Hanlin?” Katar paused to add, “Then tell me once more about my father’s death.”

The reaction that came over Hanlin
, was not what Katar had expected or wanted. He wanted Hanlin to relax, and retell the horror and courage of his father’s demise. Instead, Hanlin simply stared blankly at him, his mouth slack.

“How did my father die Lord Wills?” Katar growled at the stricken man, “What was the instrument of his death? Why was it that I was not allowed to see his lifeless body before he was laid deep into the ground?” Katar’s voice grew loud as
his suspicions heightened.

“Prince . . . 
Mikel . . .” Hanlin stammered.

“Was killed
by a sraeb as you had told me?” Katar grabbed the elder’s collar and pulled him close. “Tell me the truth old man or I’ll have your head!”

“I cannot! I swore an oath to the Queen!” Hanlin gasped.

Throwing his trusted advisor back onto the couch, Katar rose and headed for his mother’s suite. The fury that filled him was unmatched by anything he had ever felt before. Calming himself as he reached his mother’s offices, he walked past her assistants without acknowledgement, and into the conference room where Queen Sari was holding a meeting with several of her heads of state.

“Leave us!” Katar
commanded loudly, eyes locked on his mother’s surprised expression.

“Katar, what is wrong?” She rose
, concerned at his anger.

“Clear this room at once!” His voice rose
, and this time the men and women obeyed.

Waiting for the room to empty
, Katar regained some of his composure as Lord Wills appeared behind him.

”Your Majesty . . . “Hanlin tried to warn her, at the sound of his voice Katar turned and slammed the door in his face.

“Katar!” Sari gasped, “That is no way to treat Lord Wills.”

“Sit down mother, we have something very important to discuss.” Katar crossed to where she stood and placed his hand firmly on her shoulder
, urging her back into her seat.

“My darling, what is the matter? Is Cap
all right? Has something happened?  Have they found Lysette?” She turned to look up at him, searching for the source of his extreme anger.

“N
o, I have just had a very enlightening conversation with Lord Wills concerning my father’s death.” Katar stood looking down at her. “Why did you lie to me?” His anger vanished with the question, replaced by pain and betrayal.

“What has he told you?” Her face could not hide the shock and sadness his question caused to well up inside her.

“Only that he was sworn to secrecy. The girl that witnessed my father’s murder told me. A crossbow bolt killed him. “ Katar gnashed his teeth from the sheer hatred he felt for Connor.

“And he could not deny it.” Sari finished.

“Why did you keep it from me?”

“Oh my darling, I wish there was a simple explanation.” Sara began
, as she pulled him down to sit in the chair beside her. “First, I must know who the girl was?”

“Kendra, an Empath from the Northern Colony.”

“Then we must send her a protector until she can give formal testimony.”

“Connor can’t get to her now, she’s at the institute.” Katar explained.