Return of the Ascendant (The Ascendant Series) (19 page)

Chapter 29

“Oh, dear.”

Ty hurried forward as Kyr slumped in her chair. He was already by her side and touching the side of her face by the time Caelys issued the sympathetic words.

“That was a difficult one,” she murmured, lifting her teacup and taking a sip. “I am certain she will rouse herself shortly.”

Nodding, Ty made sure Kyr wasn’t going to fall from the chair and then stood quietly, waiting for her to wake up. He wasn’t about to take her from the room in such a condition so everyone could see her.

“Do you remember your foretelling,
Dem-Shyr
?” Caelys asked, meeting his gaze.

“Of course, Prima Divyner.”

His first and only meeting with her had been brief and to-the-point. “You will be the weakest Mynder in Alametrian history, TaeDane,” she had told him. “And as such, you will be the strongest Mynder in Alametrian history.”

He still had no idea what that meant. He couldn’t decide whether to be insulted or proud of himself. Since he didn’t consider either prediction to be true at the moment, he felt neither.

Kyr moaned, stirring beside him. He felt her confusion and the lingering headache from her audience with the Prima Divyner, and used his abilities to help settle her mind. She blinked slowly and looked around the room, orienting herself. Her face was waxen.

“Ty…”

He barely heard her. She clutched the arms of the chair, her knuckles white. Reaching down, he picked her up. Her head lolled onto his shoulder. It was clear she wouldn’t be in any condition to walk back to her chambers on her own anytime soon. He had little choice but to carry her, after all.

“Apologies, Prima Divyner,” he said. “Ma’jah Kyr will surely convey her gratitude once she recovers.”

Caelys set her teacup aside and folded her hands in her lap. “I am not one to stand on all of the formality,
Dem-Shyr
, but thank you.”

He nodded and turned to go.

“She’ll need you in the end.”

Glancing back, he met the Prima Divyner’s sharp gaze. “She will have me,” he said.

At Ty’s silent command, Gren opened the door so he could exit with Kyr. Neither Gren nor the other Mynders who had traveled with them commented on Kyr’s condition, though Ty sensed Gren’s concern. His friend had grown fond of Kyr during his time Mynding her, something Ty could understand.

A minute later, they nearly walked into Avana as they rounded a corner. She gasped and drew up short, then started to hurry forward when she registered Kyr’s condition.

“Ma’jah!” she cried.

Gren reached out to stop her before she could touch Kyr. Ty sent him a thought that all was well, and he backed off.

“You met with Madame Caelys, didn’t you?” Avana asked, using the Prima Divyner’s title reserved for other Lujas.

Her question was directed at Kyr, who nodded woozily. Ty felt emotion rising within her as she finally began processing what she’d been told by Caelys. He didn’t want her breaking down in the middle of the hall. Deciding that the situation called for it, he used his influence to calm her.

“Oh, Ma’jah,” Avana said, taking Kyr’s hand. “You know your destiny. You are the Ascendant. You will extend the peace we have on Alametria to other worlds. Whatever you learned today, it was only to put you on the right path to fulfill your destiny. Don’t doubt that, okay?”

This time, Kyr didn’t even nod. Ty said, “Ma’jah does understand, Avana. She’s just got a lot to consider right now. I know she’ll want to speak with you later.”

“Of course.” Sadness filled Avana’s gaze as she stepped back so Ty could pass. “If there’s anything I can do…”

“We will certainly let you know.”

Bowing, Avana watched as they walked away. Ty continued on to Kyr’s chambers, taking less-used corridors to avoid as much interaction as possible. Fortunately, they only saw a few Wrym wandering the halls as they performed their tasks, so he was soon settling Kyr on the same couch in her chambers that he had used the night before for sleep.

Allow me time alone with her,
he sent out to Gren
. I wish to try to help her with my influence
.

Gren nodded. The guards stepped outside. Ty didn’t even have to ask the Wrym to leave. They took one look at his stony expression and bowed on their way out the door.

He sat beside Kyr, pulling her against his side. They sat like that for a while. He eased his influence from her so that she could process things on her own. As her emotions spiraled through her, they spiraled through him. It was hard, knowing there wasn’t much he could do to help her.

“You are helping me,” she said in a soft voice. “Just by sitting here with me, you’re helping me.”

He kissed the top of her head in a gesture of comfort. “You’re getting really good at reading my thoughts. It was one thing when I was sending them to you. That in and of itself was unusual. But you just being able to pull them from my head, well…no one can do that.”

She lifted her eyes to his. “Why do you think I can read your mind?”

“Because you’re the Ascendant.”

She seemed to grow smaller, making him want to kick himself for reminding her of the pressures she faced. The statement hadn’t been any more or less than the truth, though.

“Everyone had me believing that being the Ascendant was this great thing,” she said, sounding dejected. “But I’m not going to help everyone. I’m going to bring about a time of darkness. I’m going to have to make sacrifices, or…or not make them, and let everyone else rot. I mean, what the hell kind of choices are those?”

Ty responded, “Pretty damn shitty ones.”

Her shoulders tensed beneath him. Then she started laughing. Bright, beautiful peals of laughter.

“Oh, Ty,” she gasped, wiping a tear from her eye. “That was the exactly right thing to say.”

“I aim to please, Ma’jah.”

Shaking her head, she ventured, “I suppose it’s too late for me to stow away on the next vessel bound for Anywhere But Here, huh?”

“You just missed it.”

She sighed and wove her fingers with his on top of his thigh. “What am I going to do?”

“You mean, what are
we
going to do?” he corrected.

Her head tilted against his bicep as she looked up at him again. “Ty, I would never ask you to help me with something like this. You heard what Caelys said. People are going to turn to me and then against me.” Tears filled her eyes and she looked away. “It sounds like it’s all going to be pretty awful. You don’t need to be a part of that.”

“Yes, I do,” he said, lifting her chin so she met his gaze. “Kyr, you don’t believe that I would ever let you endure all of that alone, do you?”

“No. Of course not. You feel obligated to—”

“This isn’t about
obligation
,” he argued. “Damn it, Kyr, don’t you have any idea what you mean to me? You’re everything to me.
Everything
.”

Her ragged, indrawn breath made him realize that she hadn’t known, not really. He sensed from the lightness of her heart that his words were welcome, though, and had done wonders to help ease her mind.

“Oh, Ty,” she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “I love you so much. If anything ever happened to you—”

The lightest click had Ty surging to his feet faster than Kyr could register. She was still staring beside her on the couch as Vycor walked into the room. Ty stood a foot away from Kyr, looking at Vycor with the appearance of mild curiosity, but inside, fear wanted to choke him. He realized he had been so focused on Kyr that he hadn’t left his mind open to Gren for any warnings.

Had Vycor heard Kyr’s declaration of love?

“I have come to check on your welfare, Ma’jah,” Vycor said, walking over to the couch and bowing. “I understand you had an audience with the Prima Divyner.”

Kyr’s color had once again drained as she also realized she might have been overheard. Fortunately, since she was still recovering from the shock of her foretelling, her wide eyes, dilated pupils, and shallow breathing could all easily be explained away.

“I did, Advisor,” she said, deliberately keeping her gaze on Vycor. “I must admit, I had hoped for happier news. It…wasn’t what I was expecting.”

“The future rarely is, is it?” Vycor replied, glancing briefly at Ty and then back at her. “I am sorry to hear that the Prima Divyner’s predictions upset you. I sense your inner turmoil. Unfortunately, I must further intrude on your day with another unpleasant task.”

Ty tried to pick up on Vycor’s thoughts. The other Mynder was older and quite powerful, though, and knew how to shield himself from Ty’s lower-level intrusions. Any further probing on Ty’s part would make Vycor even more curious, assuming he’d actually overheard anything.

“What task?” Kyr asked.

Ty felt her worry. She wanted to look at him, but knew better than to do so right then. He sent her comforting thoughts that he sensed weren’t working as well as they should since she could now intuit his own concern.

“Are you aware of the Shelvak prisoners we brought back from Earth?” Vycor asked.

“Yes,” Kyr responded, her posture straightening. “Sem told me about them.”

“Sem? Ah, yes. SemDane, the male who posed as your friend on Earth. I saw you dancing with him.”

“He
is
my friend,” she said with a frown.

“Of course,” Vycor said in a way that conveyed he was indulging her. “Well, as I was saying, the time has come to impose a sentence on the three attempted murderers.”

Ty’s jaw flexed. He knew where this was going. Kyr’s brows drew together as she picked up on his thoughts.

“Are you saying that I’m the one who has to issue the sentence?” she asked.

“Yes, Ma’jah. Now that you have returned from your lessons, the time has come for you to begin assuming some of your responsibilities as the Ascendant. You will start by judging the three enemies who tried to kill you.”

Chapter 30

What a splendid day this is turning out to be
, Kyr thought as she walked between Ty and Vycor on the way to the judgment chamber.

So many thoughts ran through her mind that she couldn’t really settle on just one. The Prima Divyner’s predictions, Ty’s heartfelt declaration, her huge blunder that might get them found out, and now this. She was expected to issue some kind of judgment on three Shelvaks, and she’d been back on her planet for barely one full day.

“As SemDane might have mentioned,” Vycor said in a low voice, “the Inquisitors attempted to interrogate the prisoners. Unfortunately, the Shelvaks do not talk, and no Mynder in history has ever been able to read their minds. Over the centuries, we have come to think they are rather mindless creatures…at least, the ones sent out to hunt. I imagine there is a core of more intelligent Shelvaks somewhere on their planet. They wouldn’t have the technology and wherewithal to do things like find you on a distant galaxy otherwise. But these three are clearly disposable.”

She didn’t think any living thing should be considered “disposable,” and it bothered her that he could talk so nonchalantly about it.

Alametrians who undergo the Ruvex Rite are supposed to have their negative emotions purged
, Ty reminded her.
That includes guilt, or at least many of the elements of it
.

In her mind, guilt wasn’t only negative. It was there to help deter people from doing bad things. Eliminating that emotion was just foolish.

We are supposed to be enlightened beyond needing guilt to serve as our conscience
.

She felt his doubt. It mirrored hers. As she glanced at Vycor and saw the small smile playing around his lips, she had a feeling that “enlightened” didn’t always mean “right.”

“Why has this judgment fallen on me, Advisor?” she asked. She was grateful for the Mynders surrounding them as they walked, as they had reached a more populated part of the palace and people were stopping to stare. “Isn’t there someone more, well, qualified for this? I don’t know anything about how these proceedings work. I haven’t had any training.”

He laughed. “Training? I fail to see why you would need training to formally issue a sentence of death.”

Her step faltered, but Ty kept her moving.
Remain calm, Kyr
.

You’re kidding, right? He did just say that I have to issue a death sentence to the prisoners, didn’t he?

No. He said that you have to pass judgment on them
.

She tried to reason out what he was trying to tell her, but they came to a stop outside of a nondescript wooden door. It was the first regular-sized, undecorated door she’d seen inside the palace. Although there wasn’t any sign reading, “Meet Your Death Here,” there was a somber energy about the area that might as well have been a billboard with flashing lights. Kyr rubbed her upper arms, deliberately brushing against Ty’s fingers on her arm.

I’m right here, Kyr
.

The door opened and they filed in. As Kyr looked around, she once again stumbled. Ty kept her upright and moving while she tried not to gawk at what she saw.

This was no judgment, she realized. This was a spectacle.

They were in an arena. A freaking arena! Or maybe it was a coliseum here. Who cared? All she knew was that there were rows upon rows of seats circling a floor, and every seat was full.

Her mouth went dry. Not only did she have to issue a death sentence, she had to do it with everyone watching. There were even some children in the audience, she noted with growing dismay. Were the Inquisitors going to kill the Shelvaks right there in the middle of the arena? Oh, God…they were! Her heart dropped into her stomach.

“You are expected at the podium, Ma’jah,” Vycor said, waving at a raised section of the floor to the right.

Ty led her over to it.
Deep breaths, Kyr. We’ll get through this together. You’re strong. I know you can do this
.

He kept up the steady stream of encouragement as he guided her up to the podium. She realized there wasn’t room for him to stand beside her, and felt bereft when his hand left her arm. At least she had him in her head, she reasoned. That offered her some relief.

Vycor walked over to stand to the right of the podium. When Kyr looked over at him, she chanced to see her parents sitting in the front row, just over his shoulder. They had their own special viewing box. A bitter taste filled her mouth as she glanced from her parents to Telad and Ravina sitting beside them. She supposed the V’larian ambassadors had been allowed to attend since they had helped capture the Shelvaks.

She didn’t want to know who else was there. She really didn’t. Turning her gaze to the center of the arena floor, she focused on her breathing and Ty’s calming thoughts.

“Bring them in,” Vycor ordered.

His voice was somehow amplified. She didn’t see any microphone, but guessed the room had a sound system she wasn’t aware of. Wait a minute—did that mean her podium was amplified, too?

Her thoughts were interrupted as a set of doors opened to her left and the three Shelvaks were led out by males dressed entirely in black. She gasped when she realized that the gown she wore mimicked their clothing. Had that been deliberate on her mother’s part? Had she known about this from the moment she entered her chambers that morning and instructed the Wrym accordingly?

A loud murmur swept through the crowd as the Shelvaks were herded in. The sudden jump of negative energy in the arena struck Kyr like a shot. It felt like dark lust.

What was that?
she thought.

I don’t know,
Ty returned
. Alametrians aren’t supposed to gain pleasure out of this. In fact, this is meant to be a reminder of why we purge negativity
.

That made absolutely no sense to her. Who the hell had come up with this stuff?

As the Shelvaks were brought closer, Kyr was able to make out more details about them. They were naked, she realized, their pale flesh exposed to the light. Dark red spots formed along their skin even as she watched. The light burned them, but they made no sound. It was horrifying.

They were restrained around their necks, wrists, and ankles by chains that rattled jarringly as they advanced. The Mynders guarding them—the Inquisitors—held de’llums, but stood a safe distance away. Before long, they came to a stop thirty yards from the podium.

Kyr kept her attention on the largest of the three Shelvaks, who appeared to be sheltering the smaller two. Although their thin, spindly anatomies were different from an Alametrian’s, she thought that they were all male. Maybe the larger one was older than the other two.

Regardless of why the larger one was shielding the smaller two, it told Kyr one thing: the Shelvaks weren’t unfeeling, disposable creatures.

“Thank you all for coming today,” Vycor said, waving his hands to encompass the crowd. “As you know, our very own Ma’jah Kyr, the Ascendant, has just returned to us. On her way here, she was savagely and brutally attacked by a force of Shelvaks.” The crowd gasped, though they surely already knew these details. “We were able to capture three of them.”

Turning to Kyr, he continued, “Ma’jah should not have survived, but she did. As the one predicted to rule worlds, it falls on her to issue the judgment on these three attempted murderers.”

She realized that he was waiting for her to speak when he didn’t continue. Moistening her lips, she looked back at the Shelvaks. They stared at her, not moving as their skin blistered and peeled.

Her gaze swept the crowd. All eyes were on her. She felt their eager anticipation.

How would any of them feel, she wondered, if it was them standing there, naked and suffering while others watched? How would they feel if it was one of their children? How would they feel if their lives depended on the decision of one untried young woman who was given authority simply because of the nature of her birth?

How would
she
feel?

Nodding to herself, she finally asked, “Which one of these Shelvaks is the one who tried to kill me, Advisor?” Her voice was also projected, much as she had assumed it would be.

Vycor blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“I asked which of these Shelvaks is the one who stabbed me.” Since he didn’t reply, she continued in a level tone, “The truth is, I’m having trouble believing that any of the Shelvaks caught in the luvesta blast survived. Look at these prisoners. Their skin is melting off in just a little bit of light. That blast must have obliterated the Shelvaks who tried to kill me.”

The more she talked, the stiffer Vycor’s posture became. “These Shelvaks were among the crew of the ship sent to kill you, Ma’jah,” he said.

“So you’re telling me to order the crew of a Shelvak ship to be killed, even though they never lifted a weapon against me?”

“Yes, Ma’jah.” It sounded like Vycor’s teeth were clenched.

“Well, I’m not willing to do that.”

A loud wave of noise surged from the crowd over her announcement. Vycor snapped his fingers and strode over to her. Before he reached her, Ty stepped in front of her, blocking him.

“What are you doing?” Vycor hissed at her around Ty’s shoulder. His voice was no longer amplified. It was no longer cool and collected, either.

Mimicking him, she also snapped her fingers before answering, “I’m being true to the Alametrian way. We are a peaceful people. Killing others, whatever the reason, isn’t peaceful.”

“You have no idea what you have just done,” he said. His dark eyes sparked with anger. “If you will not issue the order, then I will.”

Kyr rose to her full height as outrage burned like an inferno in her chest. How dare he?

No
, an inner voice that sounded strangely like Caelys told her.
Don’t respond to anger with anger
.

As that thought ran through her mind and she accepted it, a cool flush rushed over her, dampening her fury. Her skin tingled from her scalp to her toes. She leaned towards Vycor, who backed away a full step at whatever he saw on her face.

“You will do no such thing, Advisor.” Turning, she snapped her fingers. In her re-amplified voice, she added, “I will, however, attempt to find out why the Shelvaks want me dead.”

She ignored the resulting crowd noise. Ty helped her off the podium. She expected him to be freaking out over this. She was about to put herself directly in the path of the enemy, for crying out loud.

I trust you, Kyr
.

And he wouldn’t let anything happen to her, she knew. That gave her added confidence.

She stopped a few feet from the largest Shelvak. She hadn’t been lying to Vycor. It really looked like the Shelvaks’ skin was melting off. Although they weren’t making noise, she saw their agony in their large black eyes.

“Can you understand me?” she asked, addressing the tallest one and keeping her voice soft.

He didn’t answer. She took a deep breath and once again called on that new inner voice. The potent energy she had felt on the podium once again unfurled within her.

Can you hear me?
she sent towards him.
If you can, I’m willing to try and save you. I just need to know why you’re trying to kill me.

Still nothing. The people watching from the arena seats seemed to be holding their breath.

She turned her thoughts to Ty.
Do you think they know our language?

I don’t know
, he returned.
But if they’re an intelligent species, they should have made a point to learn as much as possible about their enemies, including how to communicate with them
.

Her lips pressed together as she considered that. Closing her eyes, she called forth more power.
I can sense that you’re hearing me,
she thought to the Shelvak
. I’m your last chance to save you and your companions. Everyone else here wants to see you die. If you can read my thoughts, you know I don’t want that
.

The Shelvaks continued gazing at her with pained, unblinking eyes. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment. Then a voice filled her mind.

I will speak with you. Only you, Ascendant.

She flinched in surprise. The voice had sounded so foreign. It had definitely come from the largest Shelvak, though.

Of course
, she responded.

The male must leave your mind
.

That made her pause. Everyone in the room—hell, as far as she knew, everyone on Alametria—thought of the Shelvaks as their enemies. There was obviously good reason for that. Their kind
had
tried to kill her, after all. How foolish was she for even considering this?

A prize fool
, one part of her insisted.

An open-minded one
, the other part argued.

Glancing at Ty, she nodded. She knew the moment he pulled himself away from her thoughts. Apparently, the Shelvak did, too.

Our armor. We require it
.

She gave him a dubious look.
Look, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here, but—

The light, it poisons us. You are killing us right now
.

A wave of projected pain hit her, making her gasp and stagger back into Ty. She realized the Shelvak had let her feel what he and his companions were feeling.

“I’m fine,” she hurried to say as everyone jumped forward. Looking at Vycor, who had moved closer to watch the proceedings, she said, “I want their armor returned to them immediately.”

His mouth opened in disbelief. “Ma’jah, you cannot ask us to provide these enemies with anything that will make them strong enough to follow through on their attempts to kill you.”

Please!
This time, there were three foreign voices in her mind.
Please, we will agree to any amount of restraint. Just give us our armor!

“I don’t believe that I made a request,” Kyr said, turning her gaze from Vycor back to the Shelvak. “I issued an order. Give them their armor. You may restrain them to the point you feel is safe, but they don’t have to be in this much pain while I question them.”