Traed stood up.
Gruntel stopped his dance with his fat foot poised in the air. “No, no, no, no, no, too soon!”
Traed closed his eyes, willing the slight nausea to pass. With his usual iron determination, he forced the queasiness down and headed for the pool. Pulling off his boots and black tracas, he jumped into the cold water, Gruntel clucking disapproval behind him.
He ducked below the surface. When he came up, Gruntel tossed him a vial of cleansing oil. Unconsciously, Traed’s arm shot up, his hand catching the tiny vial with perfect precision. Krue had always said he had excellent hands. It was what made him a master of the blade.
With his customary perfunctory movements, he lathered his dark hair, combing the knots out with his fingers. It was not an easy task. A few choice Aviaran epithets followed.
That done, he waded out of the water to don his garments. He searched the ground for the leather thong he used to tie his hair back.
Gruntel sighed loudly. “Gone. Lost on steps.”
Traed searched the cave for something else to use.
“Nothing work,” Gruntel offered. “Must wear loose.” The Wiggamabob grinned.
Traed exhaled, tossing the waist-length strands over his shoulders.
“Look different with hair that way.”
“Do I?” Traed answered distractedly. He donned his cloak.
“Most different. Like warrior but…not.”
“I see.” Traed was barely paying attention. He closed his eyes, trying to “see” Gian. Images of this room, the pool, flashed by, followed by a corridor leading to the center of the mountain…steps leading down, and lastly, a picture of the next Tunnel.
Gian had already exited this world.
“We must leave now.”
“Gruntel say too soon for warrior to travel.”
Traed crossed his arms over his chest. “Warrior says we leave now.”
Gruntel clucked, using his crooked staff to stand. “No want you to fall dead. Got to make sure get payment from you, Charl who is knight.”
Traed led the way to the corridor. “I am not a knight of the Charl,” he called over his shoulder.
“No?” Gruntel sniffed, his huge snout snuffling the air. “Smell like knight. Look like knight. Maybe taste like knight too?”
Traed narrowed his eyes as he threw him a look.
Gruntel grinned, showing his two pointed teeth.
Gian and Jenise stepped out of the Tunnel onto red sand and blowing red dust.
In the distance, a forest of giant red crystals surrounded the open space.
It had taken them almost a day to reach the Tunnel on the last world. As they walked through the center of the mountain, Gian had led her, carefully monitoring her steps, for the going was treacherous in places.
“Where are we?” She spoke quietly next to him.
Gian’s green/gold eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. Several giant egg-shaped boulders dotted the landscape in front of them, forming a semicircular pattern in the red sand.
Jenise was shocked to see someone emerge from the side of one of the boulders through a natural fissure. The being raced to another of the boulders, slipping into a crevice to disappear from view.
Gian exhaled slowly, his eyes scanning the land again. He did not appear happy. “This is a mining world, Jenise. We must be on our guard here; such places are usually lawless and attract a criminal element.”
“How many Tunnel points do you sense?”
“Just one other.”
“Where does it lead, do you think?”
“That we will find out inside one of those.” He pointed to the boulders. His arm came around her shoulders. “Stay near me; there could be danger.”
She nodded. The wind began to howl.
Gian lifted his face into the wind. “There is a storm coming.”
“How do you know?”
“Familiars have electrical sense; we can predict the coming of a storm. On this world it seems to be a common occurrence. Come, we need to seek shelter.” He hurried her through the sand to the nearest boulder. The grit crunched beneath her feet; tiny granules of quartz glinted as the increasing wind sculpted the dunes.
Gian placed himself in front of her as they entered the rock. She realized the protective gesture was simply part of his nature.
Jenise’s mouth gaped as she got her first look at the interior. Rose-colored crystal surrounded them, jutting out from the ceiling and walls, projecting towards the center of the space. The flooring was red sand packed down to form a smooth surface. Tiny crystals sparkled across the room.
They appeared to be in a tavern.
Clear crystal glass formed all of the furnishings. Candlelight bounced off the crystal walls and tables and chairs.
Jenise thought it was lovely. “It is beautiful,” she marveled.
Several patrons turned to stare at her.
The tavern was full of beings—a jumble of species from various planets. Some had obviously come to test their luck in the mines, seeking their fortunes. Some, like the tavern-keeper, had set up a business, charging a premium for lodging at this end of the world space. Others were there to prey on those they could.
Gian pulled her closer to him. “It is beautiful, taja. We are in the center of a giant geode—I have seen them before on other mining worlds. But do not be overcome by the beauty of it; you must be wary of everyone and everything here.”
“Are you sure? They seem friendly enough.” She glanced over at a Seckla, who was smiling at her and waving one of his tentacles for her to join him.
Gian frowned. “Yes, I am sure.” He sent the Seckla a firm flicker-warning to stay away. The Seckla wilted in his seat.
Gian led her rapidly through the throng towards the front, where the tavern-keeper was filling horns with keeran.
“Do you have lodging for the night?” he asked the woman. She was a Rykan. Her delicately pointed ears twitched with interest as she eyed the comely Familiar.
“For you, my kitty, kitty, I have whatever you need.”
Jenise peeked around Gian’s broad back with interest. “Kitty, kitty?” she mouthed, smothering a laugh.
Gian’s hand discreetly motioned her to silence. {We do not have any clarified stones and we definitely need shelter. Be silent!}
“And how do you propose to pay for this shelter?” Jenise asked rather loudly. She had no right to feel irritated, but she was.
Gian exhaled noisily. So much for subtlety. He looked over at the tavern-keeper and winked meaningfully.
“Are you thirsty, kitty?” The Rykan leaned forward over the bar, nearly falling out of her shirt.
Gian pretended interest. “Yes, I am.” The woman smiled at him, pouring him a huge horn of keeran. She ignored Jenise completely.
“Thank you very much,” Jenise intoned sarcastically.
{Jenise.} Gian picked up the horn and drank deeply.
Jenise made a face at his back. Gian smiled behind the rim of the brew, knowing exactly what she was doing, for the wall in front of him reflected her infuriated little visage a thousand times in the crystals.
“And what happened to your clothes, kitty?” the Rykan asked suggestively.
Gian flashed her a sultry look. “I lost them.”
The Rykan grinned at him. “I like you.”
“Good.”
“Is she with you?” The tavern-keeper nodded to Jenise, speaking of her as if she were not there.
“Yes, I am delivering her to a friend of mine on the next jump.”
“What?” Jenise kicked him in the shin.
“She does not seem happy with the idea.”
Gian shrugged his broad shoulders as if it were of no concern to him.
“There are no rooms left here—but I also own the tavern across the way. Tell them Jeeva has sent you. They will find a place for you.”
Gian smiled seductively at her.
The Rykan looked him over and licked her lips. “And when might I expect pay
ment?”
Jenise had heard enough! She started to move forward, but Gian’s arm across her chest forestalled her. “I am tired from my journey and need to rest first.”
“Of course.” She inclined her head. “I want you well-rested, kitty, kitty; the rooms here do not come cheap.”
Jenise broke free of Gian’s restraining arm. “I choose to pay for my room, if you do not mind, Familiar!” Whereupon she opened her cloak and withdrew a handful of rare clarified stones, slapping them on the glass counter. The tavern-keeper’s eyes bulged out.
{Are you mad? Put those away!}
Jenise ignored him. Lifting her chin, she demanded her lodging.
The Rykan scooped the stones off the tabletop. “A wealthy patron; how nice.” She signaled to a male Rykan, who came forward. “Take them across the way. Tell them I said to give her the red room.”
Gian was furious with Jenise. By her actions, she had exposed them to every thief in the vicinity. Word would spread fast that the pale woman was carrying a fortune in stones on her. He gnashed his teeth.
“Is there a place I might replenish my clothing?” he asked the Rykan man.
“Yes, there is a merchant across the way here. His goods are very expensive.”
Jenise waved her imperious little hand in the air. “It matters not.”
Gian began to simmer.
Outside, the wind was even stronger now than it had been before. The Rykan man sniffed the air. “Be a big storm coming soon.” He looked down at Jenise. “You stay here if you know what is good for you. Do not venture out. Storms here are fierce and dangerous. Sometimes they come fast, without warning; sometimes they build slowly like this one. Those are the ones you have to watch for.”
He led them into the next boulder.
The first thing Gian noticed was that this tavern seemed to attract an even worse element than the last. Several suspicious-looking beings huddled in poorly lit corners. An opaque red glass partition led to another area in the rear.
Gian realized that several geodes were connected to this one as the man led them up a glass staircase onto a crystal platform. He stopped before a solid red crystal door. Taking out a key, he unlocked the room.
Jenise gasped in delight.
The entire room was made of red crystal points much like the other tavern. In the center, clear crystal lattices formed a bed, which had been covered in sand-stuffed krilli cloth. A small bathing pool lay in the far corner.
“It is lovely!” She turned to Gian, beaming.
The smile died on her face at his stern expression.
For an instant she had forgotten the scene in the tavern. Her nostrils flared as she also remembered the shameless way he had tried to barter.
No, it was not right of her to fault him.
Gian could do as he wished. Their pact was at an end; he had more than kept his side. He had delivered her safely out of Ganakari and then some.
A sinking feeling assailed her. Whatever they had shared was now at an end. As a Familiar, he would be wanting to seek his pleasures. It had been wrong of her to interfere.
“You were right. I am sorry to have spoken out of turn.”
Her apology took him by surprise. “You understand then?”
“Yes. Of course.”
He relaxed. “Good.”
“Your obligation to me is finished. I—I thank you for—”
“My obligation?”
“Yes. We are now free of Ganakari. Our pact is over. I understand that you wish to—that is, if you wish to meet that woman…”
Gian’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying that it matters not to you one way or the other?”
She fidgeted with her cloak, unsure of how to respond. Of course it mattered to her. She just did not want him to know it.
“I see. For your information, taja, I did not know you had any stones. In any case, I had no intention of meeting her; I was simply trying to secure us some lodging.”
Jenise waved her hand. “It is your concern.”
His eyes narrowed to green/gold slits. A strange light glowed in them.
Jenise was oblivious to the storm brewing inside him. “I have plenty of stones; would you prefer your own room?”
He inhaled and exhaled, reigning in his temper. “I know you have plenty of stones; the entire tavern and probably three quarters of the population here know it!”
“What do you mean?”
“Whatever made you take those stones out, Jenise?”
“I thought—”
“No, you did not. You have made us a target for every cutthroat in the area.”
She hadn’t realized that. “Oh.” She worried her lip. “I have not had much experience with such things.”
“So I have seen.”
He was referring to more than the stones. Her eyes stung at his comment.
Gian realized at once how she had misinterpreted him. “Jenise, I did not mean—”
“I know what you meant.” She turned her back on him. He tried to put his hands on her shoulders but she pulled away from him. “I wish to bathe and rest, Gian.”
“Very well. I will go to the merchant that man mentioned and procure some clothing. Afterwards, I will be downstairs in the main room should you need me. Keep this door locked behind me at all times.”
He started to leave.
Jenise forestalled him. “You may need some stones to purchase the items you need.” She held out a hand brimming with clarified stones.
Gian hesitated, reluctant to take them.
“Unless you have a better way of obtaining merchandise?” She arched a honey brown eyebrow. “Perhaps this merchant is female as well.”
Her ploy worked. Gian gave her a disgusted look but he took the gems. “They will be returned to you when we reach Aviara.”
“You mean when you reach Aviara. We need to go our separate ways, Gian.” Jenise could not believe the pain it caused her to say those words to him.
Gian hesitated at the door. “I will talk to you later, taja.” He softly closed the door behind him.
She found him later sitting alone at a table in the tavern.
Apparently no one wanted to test his good fortune by approaching Gian, for his demeanor was quite dark. There was an aura of strength to him that was extemely intimidating.
Seeing him in this new light, from a distance, Jenise was struck by how mysterious Gian could be, how many sides there were to his nature. Throughout these many sides there was a steadfast quality about him, an inner core of strength and power.
She had seen him fearless, courageous, mischievous, playful, sexually loving, and concerned. But never like this… Dangerously brooding. Jenise shook off the unsettling intuition.
She noticed that he had purchased and donned a dark green cloak, a white shirt, and black boots. If possible, he was even more spellbinding dressed in the simple garb.
He looked up in surprise as she approached the crystal table. “Is something amiss? I understood you were to rest.”
Pulling out a crystal seat, she sat opposite him. “I changed my mind.” The truth was that thoughts of separating from him had plagued her. After bathing she had tried to rest but could not.
Jenise thought of what she had gained by leaving Ganakari—her freedom. With that freedom came the pain of knowing him. Leaving him.
Nothing came without a price, she reasoned sadly. She was not sorry. She had a brave heart; she was a Frensi!
Dipping a segment of paxi fruit into sweet sauce, Gian offered her the delicate morsel. She shook her head. She had no appetite.
He took a bite of the fruit, savoring the tangy juice. Like everything he did, the action evoked a certain sensuality.
He watched her through veiled lashes. Like a cat making plans. Reaching for his horn of keeran, he took a long swallow of the brew.
Placing the horn down on the table, he began dipping another segment of fruit as he spoke to her. “I am headed to Aviara, as you know,” he said in that soft, low voi
ce of his.
“Yes, I know.”
“If you will recall, I have told you there is but one entrance to my homeworld of M’yan and that is through Aviara.”
“Why is that?” she asked, suddenly curious. “Surely the Mystics of the Charl could open as many Tunnels as they chose to your world.”
“We have an agreement with them. We explore for them; in return, the entrance to M’yan is watched over by the High Guild and constantly guarded by the Charl knights.”
“Sounds pretty one-sided in your favor.”
Gian smiled ferally. “Perhaps, but the Guild does not mind. Our allegiance to each other goes back through time. Familiars and wizards are natural allies. You might say we go together like lightning and thunder.”
She knew which part was lightning—the Charl. That would make him…thunder. Before she could fully explore that compelling concept, she wondered why the Familiars would need such an agreement. She asked him.
“To protect us from unwanted and uninvited visitors. We are a private people.”
“You are not capable of defending yourselves?”
He arched a brow. “What do you think?”
“I think whoever negotiated such a treaty was brilliant.”
“Oh, do you?” He sipped his keeran in a measured way.
“It freed your people to pursue other interests without having to expend energy on defense.”
“The wizards think we are worth the effort.”
Jenise clicked her tongue. “Have them fooled, do you?”
A dimple indented his cheek. He shook his finger at her, sipping his drink again.
“Who negotiated such a treaty? We should send this person to Ganakari.”
The Familiar almost choked on his drink. “Why would you even think such a thing? I can assure you Ganakari is the last place he would wish to be.”
Jenise shrugged. “Perhaps he could help the Ganakari deal with Karpon?”
Gian looked at her obliquely. “I do not believe he will do that, Jenise. If anything, he will seek retribution on them. You see, it was the king of all Familiars who negotiated that treaty.”
That bit of news upset her.
A king would not have a tendency to be lenient in this case.
Jenise worried for the people of Ganakari. From what she had seen of Gian, they would never stand a chance against an entire attack force of Familiars.