Zealot (15 page)

His gaze narrowed and he looked as if he’d object. Then he shook his head, but began his explanation. “As you’re aware, my people have been recoding DNA for generations. One of the many unintentional side-effects of this sort of experimentation resulted in the harbinger abilities.”

“If the result was unintentional, what were the scientists trying to accomplish?”

“Higher intelligence and increased aptitude for magic, of course.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his booted feet at the ankle. “The goals have changed very little over the years.”

“Go on. I’ll try not to badger you with questions.”

He inclined his head, acknowledging her offer. “The first generation of harbingers went mad. They were so inundated with visions and prophetic dreams that they could no longer tell reality from the images in their minds.” She started to say something then stopped herself, which made him chuckle. “I don’t mind the questions, but they do slow me down.”

“I know. I’ll try to wait until you’ve finished.”

“We both know you’ll never make it.” There was no rancor in his statement, so she didn’t take offense. “Harbingers were no use to anyone if they all went insane, so the scientists made further adjustments. The second and third generations were more successful and they provided the research teams with enough information to refine the process even further. Eventually, they found a way to control the mutation every step of the way as opposed to leaving the results up to the fickle whims of nature.”

“Sort of like the transformation program Raina and Ashley are participating in?”

He nodded. “Very much like that.”

“Then Chandar’s and Danvier’s abilities were created in a lab?”

“No, Chandar and Danvier are both organic. They were born with their abilities. Their parents were both harbingers who intentionally conceived, hoping to produce harbinger babies. Organic harbingers tend to have greater clairvoyance and often have other abilities as well, but they also have volatile personalities and their gifts can be extremely hard to control.”

“Is that why Danvier seems so uptight? Is he continually fighting to remain in control of his power?”

Approval warmed his gaze as he looked at her. “Very good. Most read his struggle as arrogance and don’t bother to look deeper.”

“Does the government decide who is transformed and who is turned away? Or is it like everything else? Anyone with enough money can be transformed into a prophet?”

“A group of harbingers known as the Harbinger Guild makes those sorts of decisions. Or actually, the elders and guild master or mistress make the decisions and every harbinger is required to join the guild.”

“Then powerful people can buy their way into the guild?”

“Money and power kick in after the transformation.” His tone turned brusque and he looked away from her face. “Anyone born with harbinger coloring is immediately taken to Harbinger Academy. If they survive the three-step transformation, they become a harbinger. If their body rejects the process before the final step is complete, they’re returned to their family. If they’re still alive. Most aren’t.”

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach and her throat tensed. “And potential harbingers have no say in this?”

He shook his head, still staring into the distance. “Most are children, sometimes infants when the guild comes to claim them.”

“What about their families? Can the family refuse to give their child to the Harbinger Guild?”

“It’s the law. Healers, physicians, even midwives are required to report the birth of any child with harbinger coloring.”

He released a heavy sigh and she looked at his profile, struck again by the perfection of his features. Then an image of Danvier and Chandar flashed through her memory. All three were unusually good-looking and all three had silver rings in their eyes. “What exactly constitutes ‘harbinger coloring’?”

“Silver hair, pearlescent skin, and silver
phitons
in bright blue eyes.”

“Or any one of the three?”

He looked at her, a begrudging smile curving his lips. “My eyes aren’t blue.”

“But your
phitons
are definitely silver. How old were you when the Harbinger Guild came for you?”

“You have it backwards.” Bitterness crept into his voice and shuttered his gaze, but not before she saw the pain masked by his cold expression. “My father was determined to salvage some part of his investment. Receiving a battle born son is a risk each warrior accepts when he takes a war bride. But receiving two battle born sons was completely unacceptable. So he packed up my belongings and took me to Harbinger Academy. The guild elders told him I didn’t qualify for induction, but he wouldn’t listen.” His voice grew thick, choked, and unshed tears made his eyes shimmer.

It was obvious the story wasn’t over, but Indigo wasn’t sure she wanted to know more. She already hated his father with a burning passion. It was inconceivable to her that any parent could be so uncaring, so self-absorbed.

Her curious nature won out in the end. “What happened?”

“After an hour of arguing with various harbingers, he finally left. I remember the silence as we flew back home. I was too young to confront him, but I understood that my father didn’t want me.” Anger burned away the pain in his eyes and, miraculously, the tears remained unshed. “No one ever spoke of it after that, but Father was different, distant, even colder. It was almost as if I ceased to exist.” He took a deep breath and resentment hardened his tone. “So did Bandar. Garin was the only one Father acknowledged, the only one he—saw.”

She reached over and covered his hand with hers. “I’m sorry your father was such a bastard, but you’re better off without him.” He glanced at her and even managed an anemic smile, but bitterness still shadowed his gaze. “If the harbingers were no longer an option, what did your father do with you?”

“He enrolled me in the nearest RPDF school.”

“RPDF?”

“Sorry. Rodyte Planetary Defense Force, the military. That’s where Bandar was, so I was thrilled.”

Her heart ached so badly she had to do something to comfort him, and calm herself. She scooted closer then wrapped her arm around his, lightly stroking his exposed skin. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine how much that must have hurt.”

He shrugged off the incident with almost believable indifference. Damn these Rodytes were good at hiding their feelings. “It was nothing compared to what Danvier and Chandar went through.”

Translation, he was finished talking about himself. She didn’t want to upset him further, so she allowed the subject change. “Which part? I haven’t pieced together the entire story, but none of it seems good.”

“I meant their separation. Later that year, Evon Tarr, their father, tried to escape the academy with his two children. He made it out with Danvier, but little Chandar was torn from his arms by her traitorous mother.”

“Evon
Tarr
. Isn’t Tarr Kotto’s last name?” Again, it shouldn’t have surprised her that everyone was connected. It was obvious that all of these people knew each other well and cared deeply for one another.

“Evon was Kotto’s older brother.”

“Then Chandar and Danvier are his niece and nephew.” He nodded again, so she asked, “Who is or was their mother?” He’d already said she was a harbinger, but Indigo suspected there was even more.

“Her name is Pyre Sterling. She’s the current head of the Harbinger Guild.”

“But that makes no sense. If the head of Harbinger Guild is Chandar’s mother, then how in hades did Chandar end up with an animal like Akim?”

“Once a harbinger’s training is complete they’re ‘awarded’ to their master or mistress. They bond with that person and work exclusively for that person until the guild decides the harbinger, or the guild, will benefit more from a different relationship. Many harbingers serve one master their entire life. Only two people have the authority to award a harbinger, Pyre Sterling and Quinton Keire.”

“The guild’s leader and the Rodyte equivalent of a planetary king?” Indigo wanted to make sure she had everything right.

“Exactly.”

“Has Danvier always served Garin or did he have other masters?”

“Danvier escaped the academy, so his situation is unusual. He’s one of a very few harbingers who chose their own master.”

“And he chose your brother Garin.” Zilor only nodded, but familiar pride gleamed in his expressive eyes. “Why did Pyre and Quinton allow it to happen? Danvier might not be female, but he’s still organic. Isn’t that rare as well?”

“Kotto and his older brother provided for Danvier as well as they could, but Garin was in a much better position to protect him. Danvier spent a few months on one of Garin’s ships before deciding he would make a worthy master. By the time Quinton and Pyre learned where Danvier was, the bond was already formed.”

“Harbinger bonds can’t be broken?”

“The harbinger who formed the bond can release it. Whenever the bond has been severed by anyone else it has been harmful, even fatal for the harbinger. Besides, Garin was a popular general by then. Neither Quinton nor Pyre wanted to start a conflict with the military.”

Despite the seriousness of the topic, Indigo couldn’t help but smile. Zilor had such a bad case of hero worship for Garin, it was almost funny. “Then who awarded Chandar to Akim?”

“Quinton. Akim is one of his favorites. No one is exactly sure why. They’re both pretty useless if you ask me. But Pyre had to approve the placement.” Zilor shook his head and rubbed the tops of his thighs. His agitation grew as they neared more recent events.

“How did you find out she was being abused?”

“We didn’t even know she was alive. Danvier is almost four years older than Chandar and he’s always been protective. Harbinger siblings are born with a telepathic link to each other. But after their father died, Danvier strengthened his connection with Chandar until it was more like continual surveillance. Well, the connection just blinked off one day and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reestablish the link. We honestly thought she had passed beyond.”

That didn’t really answer the question, so she tried again, “How did you find out she was still alive?”

“A technomage named Letos was working undercover on Akim’s ship and saw her. His cover was blown soon after and they beat him badly then left him as a warning for the crew of the
Crusader
. That’s how Bandar found out and he told me and Danvier. The first rescue attempt failed, which made Akim desperate enough to wipe Chandar’s memory. That’s when she sent out her psychic cry for help. Luckily, we got her out the second time.”

“Does anyone actually know what happened to her or is everyone just presuming the worst because of Akim’s lack of character? If she hasn’t left Raylon’s cabin, I’m guessing she hasn’t been examined by a doctor.”

“When Chandar sent out her psychic alarm, Ashley wasn’t able to shield her mind. What she received from Chandar was a jumbled mix of images and impressions, but it was obvious that there had been repeated rapes and beatings, as well as sadistic acts that can only be described as torture.”

Indigo wasn’t trying to be argumentative. But if that were true, there would there be scars and— “Regeneration.” She answered her own mental question. “He tried to cover his tracks as well as erase any record of his crimes. What a coward.”

“There’s one more thing you need to know. Akim’s brother was on board for much of the past two years and he was the most depraved monster you can imagine. It’s likely he was responsible for the worst of her abuse.”

It was hard to imagine anyone cruel enough to find pleasure in rape, but it sounded like this bastard was even more malicious and more twisted. “Is he still alive?”

“No. Ironically, Ashley was the one who killed him.”

“Good for her,” she flared, and when the emotional spike didn’t subside, she added, “I just wish she’d have gotten Akim too.”

“As do we all,” he assured.

Now that she had a clearer picture of what she was dealing with a random question worked its way back to the surface. “You said Evon
was
Kotto’s older brother. How did Evon die?”

“Pyre stabbed him during his escape from the academy. He didn’t survive the injury. That’s why Kotto and Garin have worked so hard to keep Danvier away from Pyre.”

Anxious energy set her in motion again. Understanding Chandar’s life before her captivity should make it easier for Indigo to treat her. If nothing else, it would enable her to answer basic questions. “Chandar’s memory isn’t completely blank. She told me she lived at Harbinger Academy and worked as an instructor.”

“Have you read her soul strands yet?”

She shook her head. “I needed to establish a foundation of trust before I even attempted to penetrate her shields. I’d rather have her lower them willingly, but I’m not sure she can control anything right now.”

His head jerked slightly to one side as he pushed to his feet. Indigo didn’t understand his sudden reaction until Danvier walked into the courtyard. He carried a large cloth bag, the long handle across his chest like a messenger. Without explanation, he disentangled himself from the handle and handed her the bag.