Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) (34 page)

She knew now how foolish it had been for her not to get the names of the Shelvaks she had helped. It seemed elitist of her not to bother. But she had been so focused on battling Vycor and trying to fulfill her role as the Ascendant that she hadn’t considered it for even a moment. For all she knew, those Shelvaks hadn’t bothered to return to their planet or were off on a mission somewhere.

The glow in her gaze remained steady while she awaited the decision of the Shelvaks serving as her escort. Eventually, they turned around and marched her in another direction. Her command had worked.

That helped calm her down. It also reassured Ty, who had nearly decided to overtake the two Shelvaks standing outside their vessel so he could rescue her.

She returned her attention to their surroundings so Ty could continue his mental map. Ultimately, she was led to an open-air cavern with a rather stunning view of an expansive canyon beyond the opening on the far side. Some kind of protective seal over the opening kept the wind and chill outside.

In front of the long opening sat a wide, crescent-shaped table. The ends of it curled around the center of the room, which was where Kyr was led. She counted twenty-five Shelvaks sitting at the table, one in the center in a large throne-like chair, and twelve on either side.

None of them wore armor, she was surprised to note. They just wore clothing like she would expect on Alametria…everything from formal robes to shirts and pants.

This was some kind of governing council, she decided. The conclusion surprised her. She had expected less organization among the Dark Ones. Everything she had been taught told her that the Shelvaks were a disorganized and barbaric species. It was said that because they didn’t speak with other races, they weren’t as evolved.

That was completely wrong, Kyr realized as her escorts carried a stool sculpted of polished stone into the center of the half-circle and left it for her. At least in some key ways.

As she sat on the stool, her gaze moved from one Shelvak to the next, noting subtle differences in their physical appearances and wardrobe. She was certain that she faced a mix of females and males.

The figure in the center of the half-circle was a male, she noted. A male who looked familiar enough that she felt compelled to open a dialogue with him.

Deciding that it would be rude to force her thoughts on them when they weren’t doing so to her, she spoke out loud. “Thank you for allowing me and my companions safe passage. I confess that I don’t know the best way to communicate with you without offending you.” Her gaze settled on the male in the center. “You, sir, know that I can communicate with you by using my mind if you allow it.”

The Shelvak nodded his head in acknowledgement. “I was not sure you would remember me, Ascendant of Alametria.”

She barely contained her surprise at the sound of his voice. It sounded rusty, as though it wasn’t used much.

So much for the belief that Shelvaks were incapable of speech, she thought.

She did remember him, of course. He was one of the Shelvaks she had rescued from the Judgment Chamber…and he was apparently the La’run.

Now she would find out whether her actions had been enough to save her and her people.

Chapter 43

“You may conserve your air,” the La’run stated. “The climate has been adjusted to suit your needs. May I have permission to scan your mind?”

Kyr considered the abrupt request as she removed her mask. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of letting anyone into her mind. At least he had asked, she tried to convince herself.

“I mean you no harm, Ascendant,” the La’run said. “This will merely allow all of us to quickly and easily understand your intentions. It will save time.”

That was good, she reasoned.

I’ll remain in your thoughts
, Ty told her.
I won’t allow more than a basic scan.

“All right,” she agreed.

She felt the La’run enter her mind. Less than three seconds later, he left it.

“You have grown much stronger since we last met,” he said, folding his hands in front of him on the table. “I see that your relationship with your protector has progressed, and that it has enhanced your abilities. He is, of course, welcome to join us. My people will grant him safe passage.”

Thank you, sir
, came Ty’s thought.
I’ll be there shortly
.

The La’run tilted his head. “Impressive. That was from some distance. Very few of your kind can do that.”

Kyr realized that Ty had managed to convey his gratitude directly to the La’run. She almost smiled with pride, but caught herself in time.

“Between your bond with your protector and the children you have created,” the La’run continued, “your abilities have heightened to an admirable and concerning level.”

She understood that he meant that others would envy and covet her abilities, and at the same time, fear them. Considering everything Vycor and Shaya had put her and Ty through, this came as no big news.

Then she focused on what else he had said.

“What do you mean, the children that my amanti and I have created?” she asked. “We haven’t had any children.”

“I refer to the two fetuses in your womb.”

The calm statement nearly knocked Kyr from the stool. She gripped the edges to keep herself upright. The news so shocked her that she didn’t even think to ask how the Shelvak could have possibly found out about her pregnancy within a three-second scan.

“I heard your children’s thoughts,” the La’run explained, either hearing her thought or reasoning out why she looked like he’d dropped a brick on her head. “They will be very powerful, like their parents. The cusp of their power now flows through you.”

She felt Ty’s equal shock and emotion over this news. She longed to see him with a fierceness that almost had her leaving the stool to go meet him. Fortunately, he jogged into the room before she gave into the urge. For the first time, she saw him winded. He must have run like lightning to get there so fast, and on an injured leg to boot.

He hurried over to her and took her hand. They shared a look that conveyed a thousand thoughts.

“I will address your other concerns now that your mate is here,” the La’run said. “You are curious why I was among those who hunted you on Earth. The explanation is simple. I had lost enough of my people in our attempt to stop you from fulfilling the prophecy we believed would bring death to our planet. My people are not natural warriors, and indeed, we have evolved beyond physical skirmishes. You have probably noted our lightweight builds, which are the result of centuries of less physical activity than other races. Our minds are so developed that speech is unnecessary, so the bulk of our activities center on those that stimulate the mind.

“Yet when our most intuitive Seers prophesized that you would bring death to our people, logic dictated that you must be killed if our people were to be spared. We trained to the best of our abilities and set out to end your life. After many failed attempts, losing a number of my people in the process, I felt it only right that I take action myself, much as you have done in coming here to save your people.”

Kyr understood that only too well. Her arms prickled with goose bumps over the comparison as she realized they were more alike than she had ever envisioned.

“You, Ascendant, not only spared my life, but the lives of my two eldest children. It was in that moment that I understood the Seers had issued a self-fulfilling prophecy. You see, by trying to kill you, we had brought death to our own planet.”

Silence filled the room after that heavy statement. Kyr swallowed hard as she considered what the La’run must have felt when he reached that conclusion. How would she feel if she led her people to their deaths for no good reason?

It would devastate her.

“You see now where I was when I returned to my home planet,” the La’run continued. “I will show you the same courtesy that you bestowed upon me by not harming you or your children.”

There was a much longer pause, during which time Kyr decided it was her turn to speak. “Thank you, sir. I confess to being surprised by all of this. Why do you allow misconceptions about your people to proliferate among the other planets?”

“It served our purposes. When others think you are unintelligent, they tend to speak more freely around you. It is also easier to get close enough to read thoughts. The truth is, we are more enlightened than even the V’larians, who hide behind their mental abilities and conniving ways.”

“Conniving?” Kyr prompted.

“It was the V’larians who led us to Earth,” the La’run clarified, confirming Ty’s hypothesis. “They lured us with a truce, claiming they also wished you dead. Everything was going according to plan until your protector arrived and thwarted us.”

Kyr exchanged a brief glance with Ty. Memories from those days before her transition back to Alametria came back to her in a rush. They felt like a lifetime ago.

“When he arrived,” said the La’run, “things began to unravel. The V’larians quickly turned on us, making us out to be the sole enemies while the V’larians looked like saviors. We attempted to explain this to your Inquisitors, but they did not believe us.”

Of course they hadn’t, Kyr mused. Vycor had told them not to believe a thing the Shelvaks said because he was in league with the V’larians. An enormous sense of injustice raged through her. She was happier than ever that she had trusted her instincts and let the Shelvaks go.

Ty had been right about everything, she realized. The V’larians had played both sides, and in so doing, they were about to get crushed in the middle.

“I’m sorry that you or any of your people suffered at the hands of mine, sir,” she said at last. “That is not how I intend to rule Alametria.”

“I can sense that. It pleases us.”

“So you know why we need your help.”

He nodded. “We are sympathetic to your situation, Ascendant, but as I’ve explained, our people are not fit for physical battles.”

Ty spoke at last. “This battle will involve the mind just much as physical engagement.”

“Sir,” Kyr added, “Shelvak numbers are legendary. Together, we’ll be more than enough to subdue the V’larian forces while my amanti and I deal with Vycor.”

The La’run didn’t comment for a long while. Kyr gained the impression that he was communicating with the other Shelvaks at the table. She tried not to fidget as she waited for him to respond.

At last, he said, “Perhaps the Seers were not so wrong, after all, if you wish to introduce my people to probable death, Ascendant. We see no reason to get involved.”

“Vycor won’t stop with Alametria,” Ty pointed out. “He’ll turn against the V’larians the moment he’s achieved what he wants, and then he’ll turn his focus on Shelvak. He seeks power and dominance above all else. If we act now, we’ll have the element of surprise on our side. Vycor won’t be prepared to face your forces in addition to ours.”

In the silence that followed, Kyr sensed the La’run hesitating. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but her senses felt accurate. She decided it was time to sweeten the pot.

“I don’t know if you picked this up in your scan,” she said, “but the canister Ty carries contains an energy source many times more powerful than tajeria.”

It didn’t take speech for Kyr to know that she had grabbed the attention of the entire Shelvak council. Some of them reached over and took the hands of their companions. She imagined if they had wanted to use their vocal chords, the room would be buzzing.

“If you help us,” she continued, “I’ll see to it that you receive enough of it to fuel your planet for years to come.”

The La’run didn’t speak for several more minutes. Kyr forced herself to breathe as she awaited his decision. Then the council stood as one and bowed.

“You have your army, Ascendant,” the La’run said. “Now we have to figure out how to keep the Seers’ prophecy from coming true.”

Chapter 44

Ty knew Kyr felt the weight of the La’run’s words squarely on her shoulders. She didn’t want to bring death to the Shelvaks, but she didn’t know how else to protect the Alametrians.

He pulled her into his arms and just held her for a moment, not caring about the silent eyes on them. He wanted to help ease her worry, and he thought he might know how. A plan had started forming as he listened to the La’run and more clearly understood how the Shelvaks communicated with each other.

As the Faire-Amanti, he had heightened abilities that could help protect the Shelvaks and teach them to protect themselves. He could share tips with them on fighting and strategy in less than a minute.

Ty
, Kyr thought, looking up at him with wide eyes.
That’s brilliant. Thank you
.

He smiled, relieved to ease some of her worry. This was how it should be. As her amanti, he shared this responsibility. He halved the weight of it, and would share all of her worries from now on.

Yes
, she agreed.
You’re my perfect match
.

And she was his heart. Soon, they would have a family, and twice as much love to share. It was more than he had ever dreamed to have, and there was no way he was going to let Vycor or Shaya take it from him now.

“How long will it take you to mobilize your forces?” he asked the La’run.

“Word has already been sent out, so it will not take long.”

“Good,” Ty said, keeping his mind open to the Shelvak leader. “I’d like to communicate with everyone before they board their vessels.”

Picking up Ty’s thoughts, the La’run nodded. “An intriguing idea. I approve. However, in order for you to accomplish such a massive broadcast of thought, we will have to heighten your mental abilities beyond where they are now.”

Ty considered this. It sounded like it would involve mind intrusion. After what Vycor had done to him, he wasn’t eager to attempt it again.

“Influencing another is against everything that we believe,” the La’run said. “However, if another being requests it for purposes such as this, I can make an exception. This would not come without risks, though. Human minds are intricate and fragile. But you two are stronger than most.”