Ky laughed. “Don’t you know? Dendri is an excellent marksman, a disgustingly talented swordsman and a frightening thing to behold at hand-to-hand combat. He isn’t like most of these powerful majji who sit around on their asses going to fat,” he said.
“Majji can only reach the height of their ability if the take care of mind, body, and soul to the very best of their ability,” Dendri said quietly. “I could never have reached this level if I didn’t do all of that.”
“That means Delongo is also all of those things in order to have reached his level,” Yasra said anxiously.
“This is true,” Dendri said. He took both of her hands in his and turned her until her head tipped back and she was looking directly into his eyes. “This isn’t going to be easy. There is a great deal of danger and risk. I won’t pretend otherwise. But I wanted you to meet the men who will be supporting me so you have some idea of the force we can bring to bear against Delongo. It will be the three of us against one man.”
“And an entire army,” Yasra said, biting her lip as she looked into the intensity of his stunning green eyes. There was so much vitality and life in those eyes. It would be a devastating loss to the world if something should happen to him to remove him from it.
To remove him from her.
“We can fool an entire army easily. It’s Delongo we are challenged by.”
“If they have another powerful weather majji they can counteract whatever weather Ky uses to bear against them. Even the lowest level majji can clear a fog.”
“Not one of my fogs,” Ky said.
“That would raise suspicion.”
“True. But we plan to be in his headquarters by the time he recognizes there’s something amiss around him. They’re traveling in a mobile tent city. They stay in wagons and tents for the most part unless they are in a town they have taken over. We have to decide if it’s better to take him in a tent or in a building in the center of a town, then plan our strike accordingly.”
“Ky is right. We’ll have to decide a few things before we take action,” Dendri said. “But it makes no sense to talk over plans until we know if I am actually able to go or not.”
“And what will happen if Dendri doesn’t go?” she asked.
“Then we make a run at him without him,” Jal said.
“But…you should know…we aren’t the first to try. And Delongo doesn’t kill the assassins he captures right off. He likes to fuck up their heads for a good long while before he finally grows weary of the game. Then he’ll either make the person kill themselves or it’ll be death by combat or some other such thing,” Jal said bitterly.
“Oh my God! You’re mad to try it!” Yasra cried.
“Someone has to try,” Dendri said quietly. “The alternative is untenable.”
Yasra felt a little sick to her stomach as she looked from one man to the next. She felt the weight of their expectant gazes and it felt as though it was squeezing around her heart.
“At least the assassins know what they are getting into. They know what they are signing up for. It’s the innocent victims in the town he infiltrates that shouldn’t be forced to suffer at his hands,” Ky said.
“He twists their minds,” Jal said with a grim frown deepening the brackets around his mouth. “Once he had a loving couple—“
“She doesn’t need details,” Dendri cut him off sharply.
“Maybe she does,” Jal said harshly. “Maybe she needs a good dose of the reality of what it will mean to let that bastard continue to run wild on the face of this planet.” He turned hard eyes onto Yasra. “He raped the wife while the husband watched. Then turned her over to a line of men…but that wasn't the worst of it. The worst of it was that he had control of her mind, the pleasure centers of her brain, so he was able to make her enjoy every minute of it. All while the husband watched. Then he would occasionally release his hold on her mind and she would realize what had been happening to her…to her mind and body. Only to have him seize control again. It went on and on until he gave the husband a choice…kill her or kill himself. Kill her to stop her suffering or himself so he wouldn’t have to watch or live with the memory of what he had seen. It had to be one or the other. There was no third choice.”
“What…?” Yasra asked tremulously. She didn’t want to know, but she realized Jal was right. She needed to hear what would happen if she refused permission for Dendri to hunt Delongo.
“He killed his wife. The woman he loved more than life itself. To end her suffering. Then Delongo let him go after tormenting him with nightmares for weeks afterward. Let him go to live with what he had done. The only reason he didn’t take his own life immediately after being released was so he could tell someone what had happened. He gained an audience with the triumvirates, told his story, then, on the steps of the capitol, he sank a dagger into his heart.”
“And if you’re caught…he can do something similar to you?” Yasra asked Dendri.
“He can try. We’re very close in level. It will take all of my skill to fight him. And…I have to sleep eventually. Once I fall asleep he would be able to slip into my dreams, control my nightmares…take control of me in such a way as I may not even be aware of what he is doing to me. Once he gains control the only way I will break out into awareness is when he goes to sleep. But…he won’t capture me,” he said firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” she whispered to him.
“No. He can’t be,” Jal agreed. “It’s a risk. A dangerous game. We just have to play it better than he does.”
Yasra swallowed down the sudden wave of nausea that rushed over her. She was seized with fear…and yet she knew she couldn’t allow that man to continue hurting others when there was a chance she could help to stop it. Not her directly, but by giving her permission to Dendri for him to take the risk. His taking the risk would be just as good as her taking the risk herself. If he were to die…she would never be the same again. She might even die as well in the wake of it. Dendri had implied that their closeness, their meshing, how advanced it was, would mean the difference. The less they were connected, the less harm it would do to her if something should happen to him.
Then she realized he had not performed the slightest bit of majic with her since their initial meeting day. Even the mental exercises and connections had been all about her individual talents…not their combined talents. Was he holding himself apart from her to protect her?
“Thank you,” she said softly to the men in the room as she pulled her hands out of Dendri’s. “I need some time to think.”
“Just remember…” Jal said. “Time is a luxury others do not have. Every minute we delay is another opportunity for that sick bastard to spread his poison across this continent.”
“She understands that,” Dendri said sharply.
“I was just saying—“
“I know what you were saying. You’re pressuring her,” Dendri said with a scowl.
“It’s all right. I need to know this,” Yasra said. “It’s important I understand. Excuse me,” she said as she walked out of the room.
Dendri glared at Jal once she was gone. “Did you need to tell her that story?”
“Yes. She has to understand what’s at stake. And what’s in store for us if we go in there without you,” Jal said. “We can bring an Aspano hunter in with us, but he won’t be stronger than Delongo. You’re the only one who is. You’re the only solution.”
Dendri turned away from the rogue hunters, pressing a hand to the mantle above the cold fireplace. The room was chilly with the autumn cold creeping outside though he hardly noticed. The fire was ready to be lit, but they wouldn’t be in there much longer.
He wanted to go after Yasra. To reassure her or hold her or…whatever it was that she needed. But he recognized that what she needed most right then was to be alone with her heavy thoughts. He would seek her out in a little while.
“Thank you, gentlemen, for coming so quickly when I summoned you.
”
“You know we’ll be here for you whenever you need us whatever your need might be,” Ky said. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
“Enough of that,” Dendri said dismissively. “She doesn’t know about any of that and I’d rather keep it that way for now. For always maybe.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Ky said.
“I’m not ashamed. It’s just that she has enough to worry about as it is. Besides, all of that is long over with.”
“So you say,” Jal said.
He shot Jal a scathing look. “It’s over!”
“So you say,” Jal replied.
Dendri’s hands clenched into fists. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“No. Not in the least. But I know you Dendri. If you were asked in the right way you’d be back at it. But like this, it’s not all about you anymore. So maybe you wouldn’t. But I’d never say never.”
Dendri’s cheek twitched as he clenched his jaw. The thing of it was, Jal was right. All it would take was the right set of circumstances and, like this current situation, he’d be risking everything.
“Goddammit,” he hissed. “I shouldn’t even be asking this of her. It’s too much to ask of someone so green and raw.”
“She may surprise you,” Ky said. “If she can survive coming out of Illa and Orto Desro’s house and somehow be a halfway decent person, she has a serious set of survival skills at her fingertips.”
“You know them well?” Dendri asked, his attention diverted.
“I know of them. I met them once or twice, but like I said to Yasra, we moved in different circles. They’re vain, obnoxious people. All the things Yasra said and more. They’re friends with some of the most detestable majji I know. They’re not pure evil like Delongo, but close enough to it. They look on anyone less powerful than they are as peons. People not worthy of their attention or respect. Hell, they don’t even respect those who are as or more powerful than they are. They’re just jealous and spiteful toward them. There isn’t an ounce of worthy majji in any of that circle.”
“That’s pretty much the impression I got off of them in the very short time I met them…and from what I’ve gleaned from Yasra’s own mind. And you’re right. It’s a wonder she came out of it all right. I think the only thing that saved her was her inability to produce majic. Had she shown any promise at all they would have been influencing her every step of the way. But since she showed no aptitude they basically ignored her. That came with its own sort of pain of course, but it’s better than the alternative.”
“They’re going to get a lot of mileage out of being the parents of one of a Gestalt pair. They’ll be famous.”
“I don’t give a fuck what they do or what others do to stroke their egos. As long as they stay far away from me and Yasra.”
“That might be more difficult than it sounds,” Ky said. “They’re not going to simply let you keep Yasra under lock and key when she’s their only claim to fame.”
“They’ll be knocking down your door soon enough,” Jal warned.
“They can try. If Yasra doesn’t want to see them then she won’t see them. I can protect her from them and anyone else who thinks to use her or hurt her.”
“Perhaps,” Jal said. “It is fortunate for her that you are one of the most powerful majji around. If anyone can keep her insulated it is probably you.”
“Tell me,” Ky said, leaning in with a mischievous smile on his lips. “Is the sex as spectacular as they say it is?”
“That’s none of your damn business!” Dendri barked.
“Ah. So then you have slept with her,” Ky said smugly. “I suspected as much.”
“What difference is it to you?”
“Oh, no difference,” Ky said with a grin. “Just devouring curiosity. But if you won’t share I understand.”
Dendri frowned at him. “Like I said, it’s none of your business.”
“All right then,” Ky held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Your business is your business. Should we wait here for her to make up her mind?”
Dendri shook his head. “It may be a while. Go home. Await my message. She knows we’re on a time limit, so I don’t suspect she’ll take long. Still, I don’t want you two lurking about.”
“Far be it for us to get in the way of the happy couple,” Ky said with a chuckle. “Maybe you have better ways of talking her into things while you’re alone.”
“Whatever you do, do it right,” Jal said, his tone hard. “We need her permission. We need you.”
Dendri only nodded, then showed the two men out of the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Yasra was walking the path to the orchard slowly, her head reeling with information and implications. A braver person, she supposed, would throw caution to the wind and give Dendri full permission to get his head blown up by a psychotic maniac, but she was not a very brave person, she surmised.
It wasn't that she was scared for herself actually. She had realized a short while ago that she wasn’t afraid of dying. But she was afraid of walking around her life as half a person. More than that, she was afraid for Dendri. What if this maniac got a hold of him? Oh, the things he might do to him! She shuddered to think of it. He might be eager to stick his neck out, but she was not eager for him to. In fact, it made her a little angry that he wasn't having more of a care for his own well-being and safety. The man needed a keeper, someone who would keep him out of danger. Here he was acting like her keeper, bending over backward to keep her out of danger, posting guards and refusing to let her step foot off his property without an escort, and then he wants to go and do this? He was so contrary.
She honestly didn’t know what to make of him.
But one thing was perfectly clear to her. This man—this contrary man—was a man of deep moral feeling. He wasn’t doing this for fame or fortune or any of the things her parents would have done it for. He was doing it because it was the right thing to do. He was, she realized, a deeply moral being. Yes, he would be compensated by the triumvirate and yes, stopping Delongo would gain him a great deal of notoriety, but he already had money and the fact they were Gestalt brought more than enough notoriety.
No, none of that mattered to him. What mattered to him was that people were being hurt and he wanted to make it stop. But he was willing to forego all of it if she but said the word and denied him her permission to risk his neck.
She wasn’t selfish either. She wanted the hurting to stop too. In the end that was what mattered most. When she thought of that victimized man and his wife…when she thought that things like that would continue to happen if she didn’t let Dendri go…then there was no question that she would allow it.
She turned back toward the house, stepping quickly now that her mind had been made up about Delongo.
But the idea of him being hurt…the idea of losing him…it clutched at her like a clawed hand around her throat. It made her heart pound hard in her chest. How had this happened, she wondered. How had he gotten under her skin so quickly?
She had to be careful. She was risking everything if she grew too attached to him without first knowing the kind of man he was as far as women and relationships were concerned. A man could be decent and moral in other things…and a lousy partner in life. Olla’s words to her kept scratching at her head.
He has his passing fancies as any man does, but his attention turns away as quickly as it arrived.
Dendri’s attentions had arrived very quickly. So quickly her head was still spinning. Would they leave just as quickly?
He feels responsible for you at the moment…that will change as you grow stronger. Once you are no longer draining his resources and power like a parasite, he will wish to have his freedom returned to him.
Yasra frowned as Olla’s words continued to chase through her head. She should use them to put herself on her guard.
But then she remembered making love with him and her body went soft, her thoughts warmed by the memory of the feel
of him. Over her. Around her. Inside of her. They had barely begun to taste the pleasures they could give each other and she was sitting there already worrying about the end?
Foolish ridiculous girl, she scolded herself.
She stepped out of the orchard and into brighter sunshine now that the thick branches were no longer overhead. Suddenly someone stepped in her path. Expecting the Padoni guard again she smiled.
Instead there was a large man, larger even then Dendri was in sheer mass. His face was a mask of dark intent.
“Don’t scream,” he said, his deep voice lower class and guttural.
She drew in a breath to do just that and he lurched forward to slap a hand over her mouth. She screamed behind his hand as he wrapped a powerful arm around her and shoved her down to the ground.
“Tie her hands!” he barked.
That was when she realized there were more men there. Three including the one holding her. One of them took a length of rope and grabbed for her hands. Desperately she struggled.
DENDRI! she cried out with her mind. Then she grabbed for some grass and yanked it out by the roots. The Padoni guard had told her to do that if she ever needed help.
I’m coming! Dendri said into her mind. Just hang on sweetheart!
She was so relieved she relaxed, allowing them to tie her hands fast.
Look at them, Yasra. Let me see them.
Yasra obeyed, looking at each of the men in turn. The large man gagged her and hoisted her up then and threw her over his shoulder.
“Hey, what’s the matter with your nose?” One of them asked the other. The man touched his face and came away with a streak of blood from under his nose. He looked perplexed for a moment but then, suddenly, he dropped to the ground as though someone had snatched his skeleton free of his body.
“Dendri,” Yasra whispered behind her gag.
They must have understood her because the two men’s eyes went wide as they stared at the man twitching on the ground.
“I told you this was a bad idea!” the other said to the one holding her.