The Chalice (25 page)

Dusk had been his favorite tim e. That m oment of pure silence as the sunsdisappeared into the sweeping haze of night. The endless seas would shine withgolden highlights, kissed by the last departing rays. The azure sky darkened todeepest purple, glistening with the radiance of countless tiny suns. He’d felt onewith the universe, uplifted by the naive acceptance of a perfect existence.

How young and foolish I’d been, he admitted to him self. Like so many, hethought life would remain the sam e. Safe. Uncom plicated. And then the Deg’Naraattacked.

“Lord.” Branos’ voice jerked him  from  his gloomy thoughts. “I…I…you’d better

have a look.”

He shook himself, returning to the present. “Report,” he dem anded, scowling

at the tech.

Branos stuttered, cringing beneath his fierce look. “S…Something. I don’t know

what. A malfunction or perhaps a ghost in the system .”

He strode to the center com mand station. “W hat is it?”

The young tech fiddled with the controls, zoom ing in on a smaller section ofthe viewing pane. “There,” he pointed to the screen. “I’ve noticed it before. Justthe barest flicker.”

At first Tegan saw nothing. He was ready to snap at the tech when a sm all dot

bleeped and then just as quickly vanished

He waited, expecting it to reappear, but nothing happened.

“Might be just a reflection or a shadow.”

“It could be,” Branos admitted, making further adjustments to the controls. “But it has a pattern to it. Some periods— nothing. But then it’ll happen in several successions.”

“How long since you first detected the anomaly?”

The tech’s lips pursed, concentrating. He itched a spot on the tip of his nose. “Not long. At first I thought it was an error in the system , then I started keepingtrack. It has a rhythm , a definite configuration, but nothing specific.” His youngface changed, grew anim ated. “But it’s out there whatever it is.”

The dot flickered one last tim e.

“If I’ve calculated right, it won’t show up again until just after two sleep

periods, then it’ll be after one sleep period.”

“Do you think it has anything to do with us?”

“I wish I knew. Could be anything. But I thought you should know.”

Tegan nodded. The ships were treading in dark and dangerous waters and even

a sm all thing such as the bleep was cause for alarm . It would be worth watching.

“I want that signal under constant surveillance. If something’s out there, I

don’t want to find out until it’s too late.”

He slapped the young tech’s shoulder. “I see my faith in you is well spent.

Good work.”

The young tech grinned, pleased by the unexpected praise. “I won’t fail you—

or the others,” he vowed.

No, Tegan silently adm itted, he wouldn’t fail. Failure was a commodity theycouldn’t afford. Though young, Branos was skilled beyond his youthful appearanceand loyal to the core.

Loyalty—now that was another m atter. Loyalty was the reason the surviving Chiagan-Se still existed. They’d drawn together, pooling what few resources theystill had. The strong nurtured the weak, infusing hope when all hope seemed lost. Strengths unrecognized before sprang up to bolster flagging spirits and tears weresaved for the departed. Working together, they created a new beginning risingfrom  the ashes of their m urdered dreams. Without their hopes for the future,what good were they?

Tegan felt his jaw clench. His blood ran cold. The ships were old, outdated evenbefore the dark times. Two hundred revolutions was more than enough time forthe Deg’Nara to advance both in weaponry and subterfuge. His hands fisted. The Deg’Nara were masters of deception! A fact he was all too fam iliar with. Too manyhad perished beneath the brutal hands of the oppressors.

Mordaq strode from  the central lift.

“Lord Tegan,” he said. “A word.”

The huge Warrior appeared uneasy, tense, shoulders bunched, eyes narrowed.

“ W hat is it?”

“I would speak with you in private—away from  the curious ears of the bridge.”

Tegan surveyed the crew. They were all busy with their respective duties andexcept for Branos, none showed interest in their conversation. Branos on theother hand stared at Mordaq, avid anticipation written across his face.

“W hatever you need to say can be said here.”

The Warrior’s head flipped, the long white braids whipping. He glared at theyoung tech. “I wish to speak in private,” he growled, baring his teeth in a snarl. “Ido not want what I have to say to be spread about before we’ve discussed the

matter.”

W hatever the matter, it was causing Mordaq some consternation! Of late, the Warrior had been jumpy, ill-tem pered. Snapping and im patient to those he camein contact with. Except for the Chalice Hanna! He was reacting the way Tegan felt.

“As you wish,” he said, cognizant of the Warrior’s mood. “I could use some

exercise and the training room  is seldom  used during this time.”

Mordaq nodded, looking relieved. “Perhaps a workout would aid us both.”

Aid us in what?

As expected, the training room  was devoid of occupants. The fresh scent of thecleansing cham ber teased his nostrils as they entered, attesting to the fact that ithad been recently used. But for now, the room  was em pty.

“You’ve been on edge m ore so than I.” Mordaq rubbed a compound of glossy ointment on his body, calculated to thwart any attempts at securing a solid handhold. The oil outlined the sculptured solidity of his bulging m uscles, confirm ation of the arduous hours spent in rigorous training. Rolling his m assive shoulders, he stepped onto the exercise mat, flexed his arms and then dropped into an aggressive wrestling stance. A grin of pure evil slashed his lips.

Tegan stretched and yawned, feigning unconcern. Though bigger, Mordaq wasat a distinct disadvantage. Too many years of service and loyalty precluded the Warrior from  using his full strength and skill. A disadvantage I’ve no problemexploiting.

He paced the edge of the mat, eyeing the Warrior with wary regard. “I thought

you wanted to talk.”

The bodyguard nodded, silver eyes glowing with anticipation. “I do, but first we

need to release some pent up hostility—both yours and mine.”

“Hostility?” He felt no hostility towards the W arrior. “I don’t understand.”

Mordaq sprang forward, lifting him  high and slamm ing him  to the m at with aresounding thud. He threw him self down, body checking any attem pts by Tegan to

move. Laughing, he stood up, hands on hips, sm irking with glee.

“Round one is m ine.”

Tegan winced, rolling to his side. If it was a fight he wanted, a fight was what

he’d get!

“You should pay m ore attention,” Mordaq com mented, eyebrows arched in

disapproval. “Hanna could have taken you.”

“Hanna isn’t here.” He stood up, scowling at the fierce Warrior. “You wanted to

talk.”

“I talk better when I’m  relaxed,” Mordaq explained. “And nothing relaxes me

more than a good bout on the mat.”

“I can see you’re enjoying the exercise,” Tegan grum bled. The bodyguard had

used far more force than he’d anticipated. “I was not expecting a battle.”

“Training is nothing more than preparation for battle. I’m  preparing you.”

“For what? Death by your hand?”

Mordaq’s eyes rounded, glittering like precious gems in his affronted features. “You better than I know I’d never lift a hand to harm  you. I’d lay down my life foryou.”

Tegan reacted. He lunged to the side, locked the Warrior between his kneesand flipped him  face down. He leapt onto the broad back and head-locked thethick neck, applying pressure until Mordaq gasped. He eased up, sitting back.

“Perhaps you’d better pay attention.” He chuckled, standing up. Round two

goes to me!

Mordaq whirled, landing a solid punch to his stomach.

The tide changed from  friendly rivalry to outright brawl. Rolling and punching,

jabbing and gouging, they fought with the ferocity of caged animals.

Tegan kicked out. The bodyguard slammed against the cham ber wall with aloud crunch. Blood trickled down his temple. Mordaq’s eyes narrowed, filled withfury.

“You go too far,” he ground out, the silver eyes flashing. He dove in, head butting Tegan’s nose. Blood spurted in a crimson arc, spewing across Mordaq’s face and splattering onto the wall.

Tegan’s vision blurred, clouded by the moisture gathering in his eyes. His teeth

jarred together. By the Gods that hurt!

His breath came in heavy pants. He could hear Mordaq gasping as well.

“Perhaps,” he coughed, cupping his nose against the pain. “We can name this

contest a draw.”

The Warrior chuckled, choking by the sound. “Draw it is.”

He slapped Tegan’s arm , rewarded by a groan from  his liege.

Tegan reached for a drying cloth, wiping his chest and shoulders then holding

the cloth against his nose, attempting to stem  the flow of blood.

“Should I call a med tech?” Mordaq pulled the cloth back, peering at the injury.

“Looks like its swelling, but the bleeding is less.”

“And be forced to explain why we’re tearing each other apart?” He dropped the

cloth, studying the bodyguard.

Ridiculous as it seemed, he felt better. Most of the tension of the past whiledisappeared under the hard fists of his long-time friend. From  Mordaq’s relaxedexpression, he felt the same.

“Praise the Gods we weren’t using Tars,” he m uttered, wiping his forehead.

“Lest I find myself m issing some important parts.”

“Your manhood’s safe with me,” Mordaq laughed. “I’ve no wish to deny you the

comfort of a bedmate after so long a time.”

The Warrior’s face grew solem n. The great chest expanded as he took a long

breath.

“Hanna and I want to join together,” he blurted, solemn face flushing purple.

“We wish your blessing.”

Stunned, he could only stare at the huge bodyguard. Not only had Mordaqsucceeded where none had, he’d taken it to the next level. The silence filled the

room , growing oppressive as he sought to absorb Mordaq’s com m ents. He and the human Chalice were seeking approval for their mating. A small spark of envy fluttered in his breast. I wish it was m e doing the asking!

“You don’t need m y blessing,” he said at last. “The decision is yours to make.”

Relief washed the bodyguard’s face. “I serve you, my friend. But more thanthat, you’re the closest thing to a fam ily I have. I need to know you approve.” Hiseyes twinkled. “We want you to officiate at the ceremony.”

“ Does Hanna agree with your request?”

Mordaq nodded, a wisp of a sm ile playing at his lips. “She’s eager to join and is

planning the festivities even as we speak.”

A joining! Finally—one true moment of unpolluted happiness for the batteredsurvivors! An attestation that their hopes and dreams for the future were com ingto fruition.

Emotion clogged his throat. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Mordaq was his

friend, his brother. He deserved this slice of happiness and so m uch more.

He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath to ease the constriction. “I am  notskilled in the ways of the Gods, but I would be honored to bless this union. I’vehad m any duties of late. None so joyous as this.”

In a rare showing of affection, the bodyguard’s great arms wrapped him  in an

em brace so enveloping, he could barely breathe. Mordaq’s strong heart beat against his cheek as the big breeder’s hug carried on. Once again, moisture wet his eyes. Crying over happiness! He marveled at the feeling, surprised he could still feel that way.

The bodyguard stepped back, his wide mouth curved in a smile. “You should

know, this pressing of the m ouths together is…exciting.”

Yes it is!

****

Leah’s favorite language tape spliced the quietude of the comm unal room . Every day at the sam e time, the women listened to her pronouncing the sam ewords over and over again. Bored with the repetition, Kara leaned on the table,drawing doodles in a wet spot. Anne watched, head resting on her fist.

“Do you miss him ?” Her fingers m ade a heart in the water.

“W ho?” Anne’s brows knit together.

“Your fiancé, dimwit.”

Realization and a hint of guilt suffused the woman’s face. She brushed a hand

through her golden hair. “Martin?”

“If that was his name—yeah.”

English’s finger drew an arrow through the heart. “Martin was a means to an