Chapter Seventeen
There was a silence in the interrogation room. Ninti was preparing her medical instruments for the mind scan of Vorka, and she was dreading it. Vorka was strapped to a reclining chair with sticky probes on her.
There were two Drazani guards at the door, watching their every move.
“Guards, you may leave,” Ninti said.
They looked at her with surprise, but Ninti said more firmly, “Leave now.”
The guards would never disobey their gods, so they moved out the door.
When they left, Ninti said out loud, “What do you think, Vorka? I believe being alone with a scientist who can cause you terrible pain is much more conducive to information extraction than having guards watching over us.”
Vorka said, “Since I will be feeling the pain, it makes not much difference to me.”
“I think once we’ve started, you’ll regret saying that.”
Ninti brought over an instrument with a tiny chip, hardly visible to the naked eye. She popped it inside Vorka’s ear.
Mentally Ninti said, Vorka, can you hear me?
Yes, I can hear you, Ninti.
Ninti let out a breath. This was a technology Ninti had created while developing the brain scanning equipment. She built it to have conversations with friendly rebels or Kartog while in the company of Abnobians or anyone else they needed to keep their conversations from.
There are cameras and voice recorders all over this room. This was the only way I could talk to you in private.
I’m glad to be able to talk to you, my friend, Vorka said.
How can I do this to you and be called your friend?
Because it is your duty, Ninti.
I’ve set some of the brain probes to half power. It’s the best I can do.
Vorka shook her head. And you think Davor won’t notice?
It’s only you and me here, Vorka. Davor won’t find out, Ninti said.
He will. Your duty is to survive, Ninti.
My duty was to hold the rebellion together, bring up Camber, and to make sure she was safe.
You and Camber are the two jewels in our crown.
To have an Abnobian on the inside to give us tip-offs about what they are doing next, to help our rebellion, you’ve saved so many lives, Ninti.
That is worth my sanity, that is worth my life.
Nothing is worth your life, Vorka.
Being able to read each other’s minds and talk privately was such a great technology, but she had to hold herself back from taking Vorka’s hand as a friend at such a moment.
Ninti, sometimes one has to accept what fate has in store for you. If my madness or my death keeps the rebellion alive, Camber safe, keeps my monks safe, or any other people living under Abnobian oppression, then it’s worth it. I’ve accepted it, Ninti. You need to too.
I haven’t because I am your friend. I would do anything for you. Both you and Kartog saved me from the dark reality of the empire, Ninti said.
I know you would. Kartog saved you more than me. She opened your heart.
I just don’t know how I’ll get myself through it. Ninti’s heart was hurting already.
Ninti, you must pull yourself together. You must. Look at me, Vorka said.
Ninti, who had been pretending to sort her medical tools, looked around and looked in Vorka’s eyes.
All I ask is that if I am left alive afterwards but have lost my mind, I would ask you to end it, Vorka said.
First you want me to do this with no controls in place, and now if it sends you into madness, you want me to kill you?
No, not kill me. Kill the damaged brain that I had become. You would make me live out that existence? You know how much I treasure my mind, my attributes. I serve Danu and the First Ones’ teachings, and to do that I must go through this, Vorka said.
Ninti was so torn. In the end she knew she would respect Vorka’s wishes, but Ninti just wanted to delay committing to such a terrible act.
Ninti? Will you give me your word that you will do this? Will you end my existence if madness ensues in my brain? I beg of you, Ninti. There’s no greater gift you could give me, give a friend.
Ninti sighed. This was all too much for her. She wished she had Kartog here with her.
I know what you’re thinking, remember? Kartog isn’t here, but I know if she was here, she would say that we’ve all made sacrifices for the rebellion, to destroy the Abnobian stranglehold on this realm. She would encourage you to go through with my last request.
Ninti said, I promise.
What do you promise? Tell me exactly what you are promising, Vorka said seriously.
If this procedure leads your brain into madness, I will end it, Ninti said.
Thank you, Ninti. You have been such a great friend to me over the years. I just want you to remember that. The probes on my brain, put them back up to one hundred per cent, Vorka said.
Ninti complied with a heavy heart. I’m going to take the nano chip out of your ear. This is experimental tech, and I don’t want anyone to find after… Ninti didn’t want to say death.
I understand. Before you take it, I just want to say, I’m proud of you, Ninti.
Ninti couldn’t even smile at her old friend, because they would be on camera.
And you have been my mentor. I will take your teachings wherever I go. Goodbye and sit with Danu and the First Ones.
Goodbye. Look after Camber, Vorka said.
I will try as always.
She took her chip from Vorka’s ear, and their communication was gone. Ninti would have cried if she could, but that would ruin them all. Abnobians didn’t cry, and if they did as children, it was beaten out of them.
Vorka had small sticky bands on her head, with two probes on each band, on her forehead, on each side, and at the back. Ninti checked on the intensity again, making sure it was at one hundred percent.
She rubbed her face and tried to reclaim that emotionless Abnobian look.
Just when she was going to start the procedure, comms came through for her. “Ninti here.”
“My dear Ninti. Do you have Vorka set up?” Davor said.
“I do, Davor. I was about to start on her.”
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be with you. Wait until I get there.”
Ninti’s body went into panic. She had planned to put the intensity down while Vorka couldn’t complain. She couldn’t do that now.
In a few minutes Davor came walking through the door.
“As you see, she’s ready for the procedure.”
“I decided that I want to go in, Ninti.”
“You do?” Ninti said. She hoped her voice didn’t give away her panic.
She looked at Vorka, keeping her expression solemn. He could find out everything. That Ninti was secretly part of the rebellion, that Kartog was part of it too, that they were in a loving relationship, which was forbidden by the empire. Everything.
Vorka gave her a slow eye blink. She was sure that her mentor was telling her to calm down. Ninti didn’t know what would be done while Davor was in Vorka’s mind, but she would have to trust her.
“To go in, you just need this strap on your forehead.”
In her mind she was thinking: Dear Danu, dear First Ones, please help us.
Vorka had her eyes closed tightly.
“Is everything ready?” Davor said.
“Yes, I’ll switch it on now, Davor. It should only take a few seconds before you’re drawn into Vorka’s mindscape.”
“Thank you, my dear Ninti. You do always support my plans impeccably well. You’re the best Abnobian I’ve ever known.”
Ninti felt sick.
Ninti moved the controls and turned on the mind scanner, and immediately Vorka screamed.
Brogan and Camber rode the lift up to their penthouse suite with a feeling of nervous awkwardness. They were still holding hands, and they seemed to be getting a tighter hold the further the lift went.
As well as nervousness and excitement, Camber felt anxiety.
This was all new to her, being close with someone.
Yearning for someone. Everything was a first. She had her first real kiss while they were dancing, and it lit up the world for her.
Her lips tingled, her stomach flipped, and her sex started a heavy beat inside.
It was like everyone else in the world disappeared, and it was just them, floating. Just her and her wolf. Until someone bumped into them, and then they were back in the real world.
Camber wanted Brogan so much, and she was falling in love with her, but could she trust her feelings? This was so brand new to her.
Just live in the moment. It was all she had.
The lift doors opened, and they made their way into the penthouse.
They stood by the table, neither knowing what to say, but both having so much to say.
Eventually Brogan said, “So, how was your first night out?”
“It was absolutely wonderful,” Camber gushed. “I never expected it and I’ll probably never get to do it again. And having you with me makes it more special.”
Brogan beamed at her. “I loved it too.”
Camber took out her heavy earrings and put them on the table.
“Do you want me to make us some drinks?” Brogan said.
“Maybe some water. I think I’ve had enough drinks tonight.”
“I think I will,” Brogan said. “Irish wolves have a great tolerance for alcohol.”
“Oh, do they?” Camber was amused.
The smiles between them were making her anxiety lessen.
“Yeah, we’re kind of perfect,” Brogan joked. “Irish wolves are perfect. We can spin and yarn too.”
“What does that mean?” Camber asked.
“A story that might or might not be true. That as well as being excellent swimmers.”
“Tell me a yarn, then.”
Brogan went over and poured herself a drink, then got a water for Camber.
“A yarn…” Brogan said as she walked to Camber. She handed her the water and swirled the ice around in her glass before taking a swig.
“Once upon a time. There was a big wolf—”
“A big bad wolf?” Camber smiled.
“Oh, definitely bad. That wolf let herself be captured by this beautiful but aggravating woman.” Brogan took off her suit jacket.
Camber crossed her arms. “Let herself be captured?”
“Yeah, something like that. Anyway, it turned out that the woman was being chased by monsters, and the big wolf defended her and will keep her safe. We call these stories a yarn or fairy tale. The good thing is fairy tales all have a happy ending.”
“You think we will?” Camber stepped close and put her hand on Brogan’s chest.
“That’s for the Great Mother to decide,” Brogan said.