Chapter Fifteen #2
“Davor and his people let the people of Daytra die in famine, in the baking heat of the planet. Only when they had begged and pleaded enough did the Abnobians return, with Redu as governor. She vowed to be fairer than the last governor. Rain fell at last, but in return the Daytrans were treated like slaves.”
“How did she meet this Kela?”
“No one quite knows. She was a slave in the baking hot kitchens. They met somehow, and Kela became her escheal, the chosen body servant of the god. It’s not always a sexual thing, sometimes it’s just someone to help organize their day.
But against her upbringing, Redu fell in love, and through Kela, Redu realized what the Abnobians were doing was wrong.
When rebellion came, Redu chose the rebels over her own people, then led the rebels and helped bring down the empire. ”
Camber stood and pointed at the embrace of the two people. “This was how they died, looking into each other’s eyes, while a bomb wave was headed for them. They died for the rebellion, and all because they fell in love.”
Brogan closed her pad to hide what she’d been working on and moved closer to Camber. “You sound like a romantic.”
“I’m not a romantic.”
Brogan moved ever closer and put both hands on Camber’s hips. “The way you described that story, it was like you were singing from your heart. Singing for something that you would yearn to feel yourself.”
“No.” Camber’s breath became shorter. “Love like that only happens one in a million, one in a billion. Redu needed Kela’s love to open up her heart.
If Redu hadn’t turned, Danu knows where the Abnobian Empire would have been.
I need to run and keep away from anything or anyone that would distract me from my mission. ”
Brogan’s eyes were drawn to the pulse point on Camber’s neck, and she shut her eyes. She could hear the boom boom of Camber’s heart in her body. Her wolf was telling her this was her mate.
She opened her eyes and pushed a stray lock of Camber’s hair behind her ear. “I need you.”
Camber was caught in this moment. Caught in Brogan’s now yellow, predator’s eyes. She pressed her lips against Brogan’s. Softly at first, and then more passionately.
Not a lot was known about GallowGlas wolf mating, but Camber assumed some type of pheromones brought two wolves together and kept them together.
She couldn’t be swept up in that. She pushed Brogan back by the shoulders. “This isn’t happening.”
Brogan looked dazed by their kiss. “What? This is real. You know it. My wolf longs for you.”
“You’re going home.”
Brogan looked hurt, hurt and angry. “If I don’t have a reason to stay, then this isn’t real, is it.”
Camber felt so guilty. She had hurt Brogan, she could see. Brogan marched to the entrance and opened the door. The view of their hotel room broke the illusion of where they were.
The doors shut again, and Camber held her head in her hands. It was no wonder that Map Keepers tended to stay alone, because for her at least, Camber couldn’t deal with feelings, romantic feelings.
Camber felt bad for clearly hurting Brogan. Why had her life become so complicated? She used to do well enough going from place to place, looking after her map, and that was enough, but Brogan had given her a taste of what she had missed out on.
Out of the corner of her eye, Camber spotted Brogan’s drawing pad. She lifted it up, thought about not looking for a millisecond, but she had to know.
Camber flipped open the pad, expecting to find a rough sketch of the stone circle. Instead, she found the stones very much in the background, with the main picture being a soft pencil drawing of herself.
Although it was only the beginnings of a portrait, Camber could almost feel every soft touch of the pencil.
“Vorka, I need to speak to you so much right now.”
Ninti was sitting in her office assessing some files on her computer system. Her intercom beeped.
“Yes? May I help you?”
“It’s Davor, Ninti. I have Vorka. Would you please join us in the interview room?”
Ninti’s stomach dropped. This was going to be one of the most difficult things she’d done, because Vorka was a friend and a resistance leader. She was a woman Ninti had secretly worked with for many years, a woman who put her life into saving people from the Abnobians.
It was Vorka that first trusted Ninti, after Kartog helped her to become one of rebels, and now Davor had her. Who knew what she would have to do.
Davor would expect her support to get information out of Vorka, and Vorka would expect no less. They’d had this conversation many times. No matter the cost, she was to never blow her cover.
You are one of our secret weapons, Ninti. Give them nothing to doubt you ever.
Of course she swore to, but swearing that promise under no threat was wildly different to doing it for real, with Vorka in the room.
Ninti left her office and walked to the interrogation room. She held her hand over the entrance pad, and the door opened.
She locked eyes with Vorka, who was looking slightly worse for wear since her planet Danus was attacked.
Ninti forced her eyes to look at Davor, but she could see Vorka giving her a hard stare out of the corner of her eye, no doubt a way to communicate to Ninti to stay strong. In her head, she heard Vorka’s voice say, “Stick to the course, Ninti. Stick to the course.”
“Ah, Ninti,” Vorka said, “you join us at last. The scientist that tinkers with the world’s DNA, who changes races and makes them nothing more than playthings for you so-called gods.”
“I do my duty, Vorka, and we are not so-called gods. We are gods.”
Just saying those words tortured Ninti.
“Now, now,” Davor said. “Let’s not start with bad feelings.”
Vorka shifted in her seat. “I think the bad feeling started when you attacked my planet.”
Davor put his hands behind his back. “I sent some younger officers to find the Map Keeper, and they may have been more impulsive than a seasoned officer like Ninti or myself, but let’s just talk.”
Vorka stood holding on to her cane, a thick, twisted branch that had been lacquered, and a ball shape for the handle. She held that position, and held it, then eventually gave way and settled and sat down.
“Ninti, please sit,” Davor said.
He waited for them both to settle, then sat himself. He turned around to his escheal, who was standing in the corner.
“Get us some drinks.” Then he turned back to Vorka. “Would you like water or something stronger?”
“Good, clean water will serve me well.”
“Very well, that’s what you shall have.” Davor signalled to his escheal, who poured the water in all of their glasses. Vorka didn’t make a move to it.
Davor lifted up his glass. “Just in case you are wondering, it’s not poisoned. Watch.” He took a large gulp of water. “Perfectly natural.”
Ninti followed his actions.
This seemed to mollify Vorka, and she sipped at the water. “I did not really think you poisoned my water. What would be the point, when you wish to interrogate me.”
“Interrogate is such a harsh word. I would say an open discussion,” Davor said.
“Davor, our guest has cuts and bruises. Has she been offered medical attention?”
Again, two mortal enemies, but Abnobia tried to maintain its civilized image.
“Of course, Ninti. She refused.”
“I don’t need any help,” Vorka said.
Davor held out his hands, as if to say We tried.
“So, Ninti,” Vorka said, “you are brought into this too.”
“Yes. As science officer, it is my job to check we have done everything correctly and to encourage you to have a positive discussion.”
“Interrogation. Call it like it is. Why else would I be held against my will,” Vorka said.
“Let’s not jump ahead, dear ladies,” Davor said, “we’ve just acquainted ourselves.”
In the room there was a silver table with a wooden inlay on top. Vorka was on one of the chairs.
The main wall to the left hand side was a clear view of space. The room looked like a normal conference room, to all intents and purposes, but Ninti knew it had a much darker side.
“We are just two ambassadors for our people, trying to make the best of a situation,” Davor said.
“What does the best of a situation entail?”
“You telling me where the Map Keeper is,” Davor said.
Very quickly, Vorka replied, “I have no idea.”
“Then I will need to kill all of your people,” Davor said coldly and calmly.
“You would kill all of my monks to find the Map Keeper?”
“Of course. Can you suggest any other way that I might extract information from you?”
Vorka didn’t answer, and so Davor said, “Do you know how many ways a brain can be made to give out its secrets? Many, and they are all very painful. Are you sure you don’t want the easy way out?”
Vorka leaned forwards. “I cannot tell you what I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Even for one of your beloved brethren?”
“I have nothing to tell you,” Vorka said.
Never taking his eyes off Vorka, he called out, “Escheal? Bring in the first one.”
Ninti felt she had to say or do something. “Vorka, it would be in your interest to give us some information.”
“She’s made her choice, Ninti,” Davor said.
Vorka stared at Ninti, and she heard her voice in her head. Stand down. Stay the course.
Ninti gulped hard and looked away from her.
The doors opened, and two Drazani pulled a struggling monk into the room. He was placed on his knees in front of Vorka.