Chapter 6 #2
“This glittery physically disables a dragon shifter?”
“Yes,” Ransom said, shifting firmly back into his chieftain status.
He planned their search with military precision, and Gweneth couldn’t help thinking how much the dragon man resembled Ry.
Why couldn’t her feline pay attention to him instead of grumpy and distrustful Ellard?
And this glittery thing. It sounded like a weakness, something an enemy could exploit, given the opportunity.
Every muscle in his body had tensed at her last question, and he’d changed the subject.
She should mention this to Lynx and Shiloh.
The thought brought a flash of disloyalty, even though she hadn’t known any of the dragons for long.
They’d made her feel welcome, and she liked them.
She’d need to consider this for longer, and she wouldn’t tell Ellard.
Immediately, her brain fastened back on her main problem.
Ellard.
She sighed and, for the first time, started to doubt herself.
Was she doing this for the right reasons?
Her background, her family life—perhaps she was overcompensating and trying to force feelings and emotions where they should never go.
Maybe she should give up and move on with her life.
She had options. Something to think about during the next few cycles.
Ellard entered the dining room at that point, and her feline stood to attention, aware of his presence before her. Something else to ponder. Did she trust the feline who had remained silent until she met Ellard? Perhaps she should rely on her intellect instead.
“Good cycle, Ellard,” she said with an incline of her head. “Niran’s nephew and his friend are still missing, and I volunteered to help with the search.”
Ellard sat beside Gryffnn. “Of course. We would be happy to help.”
“Thanks,” Ransom said. “I want you and Gweneth to fly over this sector here.” He tapped the chart he’d retrieved from another room and set it on the table. “It’s mostly jungle and mountains. I doubt you’ll find the youngsters there, but we should do a thorough search to set Niran’s mind at rest.”
“No problem,” Ellard said.
“How long will it take us?” Gweneth asked.
“Given good weather, you should be there and back by blacklight.” Ransom studied them both, worry creasing his brow.
“You might experience turbulence due to the debris shower. Since you strayed into it, we have tracked the progress of the field. It has moved and is now closer to that side of the planet. I’m not sure how difficult that will make your search. ”
“Ellard? What do you think?”
“I hate the idea of two Incorporeal people out there alone,” Ellard said. “We’ll fly as close as we can to our search area. If necessary, we’ll land and search on foot.”
Ransom gave a curt nod, but Gweneth sensed his approval.
Satisfaction and pride bloomed in her chest until she wondered if her frame could hold it inside without an explosion.
While Ellard appeared grumpy and remained uncommunicative at times, his heart kept her coming back.
She knew a little of the events that had occurred during the war with the House of Cawdor.
Males with damaged pride roared like wounded beests.
This, according to Amme, and after observing the species, she had to agree.
Yes, she’d keep persevering. And Sable…well, if she lost to the half-dragon woman, so be it.
At least she wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Niran blinked into prominence, dragging her thoughts from her romantic life.
“The ship is ready for you. It’s full of safety equipment and food supplies.
” The male wrung his hands and couldn’t seem to sit still.
“I pray we find them this cycle. My sister…” He trailed off, his voice hoarse and strained with worry.
Gweneth grasped his arm as he flitted past, tugging him to a stop. “Niran, we will find your people.”
“What are their names?” Ellard asked. “If we do find them, will they trust us?”
“Sheera and Leeam. You can tell them their parents and uncle intend to ban them from outings for the near future,” Niran said.
She squeezed his forearm, ignoring the cool tingles that sped across her skin. “We will find them. One of the search parties will locate them, and they’ll be home with their families before you know it.”
“Soon,” Ransom added. “We will find them before they fade from lack of essence.”
“Thank you.” Niran’s voice broke, and he cleared his throat. “I’ll go and report back. We’re conducting our own repeat searches in the town and the surrounds.”
Gweneth hesitated. “Would they consider stowing away on a vessel leaving the planet?”
“No,” Niran said. “Definitely not. Unless they were with a mated couple, that would mean eventual death.”
“No,” Ransom agreed. “We seldom have visitors. Until recent times, we haven’t welcomed them to Narenda. We haven’t had any deliveries since your arrival because of the debris storm moving closer. It made flying conditions dangerous. I’ve sent your search coordinates to the ship.”
“We’ll contact you and let you know how our search goes,” Ellard said. “You ready, Gweneth?”
Gweneth gave Niran a quick hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll find them.”
“The ship is parked on the training ground,” Niran said.
She and Ellard left the house together and walked down the gravel path leading to the open training ground.
Gweneth inhaled the fresh life force and caught a hint of something burnt in her quick breath. “Do you smell that?”
“Yes. I haven’t smelled anything like that—” He broke off to stare at the ship that waited for them.
Gweneth let out a piercing whistle. Small. Sleek. Streamlined for speed. “Nanu would love it. I can’t wait to tell him about this ship. Wait, let me take a depiction. Go and stand by the wing.”
Ellard grumbled but stood as she directed. “It’s fitted out with weapons.”
“Do you think they’re expecting trouble?”
Ellard frowned. “None of them give off that vibe. Let’s get going. I don’t like the look of the weather.”
Gweneth tested her senses, and it felt as if someone stroked her skin in the wrong direction.
Chill bumps pebbled on her arms and legs.
She scanned the horizon and understood what Ellard meant.
The point where the land met the sky carried a sluggish gray color.
Streaks of mustard yellow and some red dissected the gray, and as she scanned the region, she caught a flash of light.
“The debris storm is coming closer, but there is something else going on with the weather. I wonder how often they get the storms.”
“No idea. I’d hate to fly through another one. The first was bad enough.”
“Agreed,” Gweneth said. “The last one was scary.”
The ship reminded Gweneth of a high-tech Earth sports car but without the rubber wheels.
Marcus, Amme’s mate, had kept one in his shed.
Garage, she corrected herself. As they neared, two steel-gray panels rose.
Gweneth slid inside while Ellard trotted around to the other side and clambered into the ship.
This transport was made for short jaunts and not deep space travel.
Once seated, his knees were up around his chest. “How am I meant to fly and search folded up like one of Keira’s herb twists?”
No sooner had he muttered the words than the ship’s shape lengthened to accommodate his longer legs.
“Cool.” Gweneth scanned the instrument panel. Everything bore a label in the Universal language. She tapped a button for computer voice control.
“This ship is equipped with voice control. Please state your names so that you can operate the ship during the journey.” The voice sounded pleasant yet non-gender.
“Gweneth Swithin,” Gweneth said.
“Ellard Tetsu,” Ellard stated.
“Thank you, Gweneth. Thank you, Ellard. Would you like to follow the set search coordinates for this cycle’s flight?”
“Very cool,” Gweneth said. “I want one.”
Ellard grinned at her, and some of her earlier apathy lifted. “Yes, we will follow the given coordinates.” Their ship purred to life.
“I brought my camera—my depiction machine—with me. This is exciting, even with the circumstances.”
Ellard shared another smile with her, and her pulse rate did a type of bump and grind, leaving her momentarily breathless.
He scanned the instruments. “The ship is equipped with heat-seeking vision. Phrull, I forgot to ask about their appearance. Computer, do you have depictions of Sheera and Leeam?”
“Bringing up depictions,” the computer stated.
Two pale faces appeared on a screen. Both had a rosy glow in their cheeks despite their pale skin.
Their hair, however, didn’t resemble the normal pale white of most adults.
Nor did their clothes. Gweneth figured they wanted to express their individuality.
Sheera wore her hair long and in curly blue spirals that matched her clothing, a soft pale blue tunic and darker blue trews.
Leeam had colored his hair black and it fell down his back in a straight shiny curtain.
His clothes were black and contrasted with his pale skin.
“Attractive kids,” Gweneth said.
Ellard frowned at the screen. “They don’t seem old enough to think about mating.”
“Different species have different habits and expectations.”
“True. Computer, state the basics of the mating habits of the Incorporeal race,” Ellard instructed.
“Ellard! That is personal.”
“Information is power,” Ellard stated. “It might save our lives. Computer?”
“The Incorporeal people are an old race. Their powers have made them valuable to those who seek to benefit from a symbiotic relationship. Greed has led other races to snatch Incorporeals from their clans, and this has caused widespread loss of life.”
“Explain,” Ellard said.