Warrior (15 page)

It was as he’d said, and then two dark-haired men wavered into sight not far from the line of people. They appeared out of nowhere, carrying a wooden pail in each hand. A small amount of water sloshed over the rims as they passed them to those in the crowd. On their heels, two more arrived and others within the crowd surged forward to take the water.

I smiled as the teleporters promptly disappeared. “They’re bringing water for the others.” My fingers curled so tightly into Silas’s palm, I was sure to leave a mark. “Tell me this isn’t a mirage?”

“It’s not. Food and shelter awaits.”

“Some of them could be my mother’s family and related to me.” I was eager to get there. “Where are Maslin and Guy? I don’t see them.”

Goldie answered, saying, “Maslin went straight to his grandparents’ tent. Guy teleported home, but he has the image and can return with ease. So can I.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Of course not. I’ll stay for as long as you need me.” She patted my arm, her gaze narrowed on Silas. “Although you can leave. I’m sure you’ve had your allotted five minutes. I know I’ve seen enough of you today.”

He sent her a sharp look. “Your niece and I are mated. I have accepted the bond, if you had not heard.”

“Huh, there is accepting the bond, and then there is desiring the bond. Perhaps you should leave since you don’t yet know the difference.” She eyed me. “If he doesn’t treat you right, I’ll hurt him.”

She would. And I loved her for it.

Silas stroked the hilt of his ever-present sword. “I will stay.”

“Figures.” Goldie slammed her hands on her hips.

“Um, can we have a minute, Goldie? I’ll meet you at the Sol camp.” Best to separate the two of them as quick as I could.

“I’ll scout around.”

“Thanks.” She flashed away and I faced Silas. “My headache has gone and I feel strong again. You don’t have to stay. You must have work you’ve set aside.” Of that, I was certain.

“There are several projects I’m overseeing.” He tightened his hold on my hand. “I can’t leave you right now. Don’t ask me again.”

I rubbed my cheek against his shoulder. “I should be down there.”

“I’ll ’port us to the area near the stalls. That’s where the most people are.”

I burrowed deeper into his mind as everything darkened. We reappeared a foot from a basket of gorgeous red-skinned apples. This was real. I was here. “Where do we start?”

“There’s a crowd coming. Maslin Sol brings them. Damn, it’s impossible to tell who the elders are when we don’t physically age.”

Yes, all looked young, and now a dozen people dressed in light colored tunics encircled us, the girl with the blond ponytails dashing in and around them all.

Sweat dampened my palms.

Silas eased in behind me, covering my back as those surrounding us murmured softly between them.

Maslin broke through the crowd, drawing two people along with him. “Hope, I told my grandparents of your skill.” He extended one hand toward a man with bright copper hair and brown eyes, and were it not for the slightly darker tone of his skin, I wouldn’t have been able to tell grandfather and grandson apart. “This is Menalew Sol.”

His grandfather smiled. “Welcome to the compound. I look forward to getting to know you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I dipped my head respectfully.

Maslin set his arm around the shoulders of the woman who stood at his other side. “My grandmother, Merie.”

The petite woman had a dash of freckles across her smooth skinned nose and long auburn hair coiled into a braid that dangled to her hips. “Maslin has spoken of you. Welcome.”

“Thank you. I’m truly glad to be here.”

More people arrived, including Goldie, who reappeared at my side.

Menalew cleared his throat. “Maslin told us of your plight and your skill of mind-merge. We have one of the elders searching for Elizara Sol. She is the youngest sister of Katerin, who left our clan thirty-six years ago. I knew your grandmother. We played together as children.”

I clutched at my chest, my heartbeat fluttering all over the place.

“
Relax,
” Silas snapped along our telepathic link. “
Our hearts beat in tandem. It’s incredibly uncomfortable when yours doesn’t keep good time.
”

“
You’re the one who aligned our hearts. Deal with it.
” I reached for Goldie and pulled her closer. “This is Goldie, my aunt, and behind me is Silas.”

Menalew welcomed Goldie.

Silas groaned. “
What kind of introduction is that? Behind me is Silas?
”

“
What would you have preferred?
” I itched to move. “
This is real, isn’t it?
”

“
Yes. You’re nervous. I’m not surprised.
”

“
Pinch me now so I know I’m not dreaming.
”

“
Gladly.
”

I jumped as his fingers nipped my waist.

Goldie nudged my arm, her gaze moving beyond the crowd. “Look, I think that’s Elizara Sol.”

I was up on my toes, searching as all hushed.

A woman clutching the folds of her white robes dashed forward. She had golden hair, silky and long, pinned with a jeweled clip, which sparkled in the last rays of the day. Chestnut-brown eyes, the edges rimmed with a lighter shade of milk chocolate met mine.

My chest tightened and Silas mumbled something, his words lost to me as I blinked back tears.

“Don’t cry.” Elizara’s voice wobbled as she stepped up to me. “I’m overjoyed. They said you are Hope, my sister’s grandchild.” She clasped my face between her shaky hands. “Katerin was outlawed from here, but I can come to her. Where is she?” She peered over my head.

Trembling, I gripped her hands. “I’m sorry. I’ve never met Katerin, and I don’t know where she is. My father raised me in Dralion. I live on the same station in the outback as Maslin.” She must not know where Katerin was either.

“Oh, I had hoped. The elder who came for me said you had mind-merge.” She closed her eyes and the lightest of touches brushed my mind then drew away. “I feel a link from you to the one behind you.” She scrutinized Silas. “You are connected strongly to him. Good. You cannot be without him.”

“How did you do that?” She’d tracked my merge to Silas, somehow, although she hadn’t intruded.

Her lips tipped upward at the corners, a small smile forming. “You have much to learn and I will gladly teach you. Within this desert clan, some have mind-merge, although that knowledge is kept close to home. We cannot have outsiders know of the greatest weakness of these few, because reliance is the way of the skill.”

“I want to know everything.”

“Then you will need to stay, but to begin, Katerin was exiled. Her mate, Nathwer, left with her thirty-six years ago. What of you?”

“My mother was abandoned in an orphanage on Earth when she was three days old. The nuns named her after her mother. Her name is Kate.”

“Your mother is well?”

“Yes, and she recently returned to live in Dralion with my father. I have a twin too, but my mother raised Faith in New Zealand.”

A murmur came from those assembled, their collective voices whispering, “Her mother mustn’t have mind-merge.”

“No.” I answered them. “Kate also never knew Katerin Sol. Her mother never returned for her.”

Heavy gasps. Lots of them. Our children were adored above all else, being raised within villages by their immediate and extended family. None was ever abandoned as I had just described.

“If we’d known of your mother’s whereabouts, one of us would have retrieved her from Earth and brought her here. I’m so sorry.” Large tears slipped from Elizara’s eyes.

“No, it’s okay. You didn’t know.” Her pain quickly became mine as our blood-bond cemented. She was family, without a doubt.

“How many in your compound hold this ability of mind-merge?” Silas wound his arm around my waist.

“Four, including me. Over the years, we’ve lost many from it. Our soul-bound one holds our life in their hands. Although those who have that skill and of telepathy are far more fortunate.”

“Why?” Anything that could shine good will on my skill was an answer I needed.

“If we hold telepathy, and our mate does too, then we can use that connection to weave the mind-merge along. Once this weaving is learned, it releases the strict three-day rule. Have you heard of that?”

“Of the three-day rule, yes. But not the weaving along the telepathic connection.” My chest swelled and my heartbeat nearly bounded from it. “So there is a way around the death sentence?” This was the best news.

“That’s correct. Of the four of us here with mind-merge, two have telepathy, as do our mates. Our lives are much easier.”

Silas cleared his throat. “Hope and I have a telepathic connection.”

Elizara clapped, beaming at us. “Wonderful. I will teach you how to weave the merge along the link, Hope. It takes a little practice to perfect for there is an intricacy to the method. The twin you spoke of, is she telepathic?”

I slid my hand into Silas’s. I had to take care not to expose who Silas and Loveria truly were. The Sols knew Maslin was a warrior, and warriors and protectors did not mix. Silas was here, but I had not said he was from Peacio. Davio, though, was a different matter. He was a prince and his name known, the chance of a connection being made far greater if I spoke of him.

Silas threaded his fingers through mine. “
We cannot speak Davio’s name. It is one passed down through the Loveria line. We must keep quiet. As yet we don’t know these people.
”

“
That’s what I just thought.
”

To Elizara, Silas said, “Faith and her mate are both telepathic, but neither have successfully forged a link with the other. I know it’s unusual, but it’s what’s happened.”

“Oh.” She pressed her hands to her mouth. “They must keep trying.”

“After hearing this news, I’m sure they will.” He squeezed my hand. “
A Wincrest and a Loveria mating is unheard of. Their blood wars too greatly, and even though they trust each other because of their mated bond, fundamentally their blood continues to fight. Davio believes this is what’s halting the formation of his telepathic link with Faith.
”

“
We fight.
”

“
Not like they do. I am a Carver. My mother and Davio’s are sisters. There is no direct Loveria blood flowing through my veins. It is only Loveria and Wincrest blood which battles in close contact.
”

Goldie rubbed my arm, her solid presence firm at my side. “Elizara,” she said, “why was Katerin exiled? That’s a harsh penalty.”

“Katerin used her skill of mind-merge in an offense which had to be punished.”

“An offense?” I asked. “How exactly?”

“I can speak of it, but only between you and your mate.” Elizara looked at all those assembled, and without another word they slowly dispersed, the girl skipping away after the others.

“May I stay?” Goldie asked.

“I apologize, but the answer Hope seeks truly must be kept between the mated ones.”

“This sounds worrisome.”

“A little, but it is private and that is understood, even by those in this compound.”

“Are you sure?” Goldie didn’t appear convinced.

“I’ll be fine.” I gave her a hug. “I’m sure I can deal with whatever Elizara tells me. Nothing could be worse than the three-day deal.”

She squeezed me in return, whispering in my ear, “The moment you call me telepathically, I’ll ’port back. In the meantime, I’ll go check in with Alexo and update him. That’s if he’s not watching you now. Are you sure you’re happy for me to go?”

“Yes. I’ll see you later.”

“Take care.” She shimmered and disappeared.

I scratched my head, my mind buzzing with all the possibilities of Katerin Sol’s banishment.

Silas breathed heavily. “I fear your news too, Elizara.”

“Even though the one with the skill merges only with their mated one, if we wish we can merge with another.” She edged closer, lowering her tone. “It is so uncommon we rarely speak of it, but Katerin did this, taking over another man’s mind, and in doing so, she directed his actions while holding that control. We considered what she did an offense of the greatest order, its punishment equally as harsh.”