The Lost Prophecy Page 10

  “That was tense,” said Trill. “I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. Do you think your brother will get over it? He looked pretty upset.”

  I shrugged, unsure of the answer. Perhaps it would have been more considerate to speak with him privately.

  Jarryd and Leika hadn't returned by lunchtime. I had no appetite, but Trill was hungry so I accompanied her into the main hall. We joined several members of Kaaluk's force while we ate. The conversation was lively, with Trill providing colorful commentary on our time as rock stars. I tuned out, still concerned about my brother and what I was going to say to him.

  A familiar poking got my attention. “That sounds great doesn’t it, Brynna?” asked Trill. “Do you want to go too?”

  I looked at her in puzzlement.

  “To the coast?” she clarified. “They've offered to take us on a hike through the forest and down to an inlet. They found some ancient ruins, and a place where we can go for a swim while they do their patrol.”

  I shook my head. “You go. I need to wait for Jarryd.”

  “Then I'll wait with you,” she said, swinging her arm around my shoulders.

  “Please go with your new friends. I could use some time to myself.”

  “If you're sure.”

  I nodded and forced a smile. Once Trill and the others had left, I found an old stump in a leafy copse and sat on the ground beside it. I watched an ant attempting to climb over a leaf when I heard a twig snap behind me. I looked up and saw Leika.

  She joined me on the ground and plucked a blade of grass, running her fingernail along its length. “I'm sorry everything unfolded the way it did, Brynna. Perhaps if Trill hadn't blurted it out.”

  “It's not her fault. She didn't know the situation. Perhaps Mother and I were wrong to hide the full extent of my gift and my heritage.”

  She hesitated and took a deep breath before speaking. “You might have guessed already that Jarryd and I have grown close. We’ve shared a lot. I know he loves you and I'm sure he'll forgive you. He was shocked by your revelation because he still sees you as his little sister. He doesn't realize that you are as capable and intrepid as any soldier, and have the battle scars to prove it. You need to speak with him, alone.”

  “I know. I’ll talk to him now, before time widens the gap between us.” When we stood, she pulled me into a tight hug.

  “We've been through a lot together. I love you like a sister.”

  My eyes were watery again. “I love you too.”

  We walked silently to the encampment. Leika held back as I walked toward Jarryd and Kaaluk. As I neared, Jarryd left Kaaluk and held out his hand to me. My throat tightened and my heart swelled at the gesture.

  “Let's talk, Bryn.”

  As I took my brother’s hand, I caught Kaaluk's glance. He gave a quick nod and I felt intense relief. Everything was going to be okay.

  Almost by instinct, we headed into the forest. It was where we were most comfortable. We found a log and sat with it against our backs, much as we had done as children.

  Not knowing where to start, I waited for him to say something. When I felt him watching me, I faced him. There was sadness in his eyes, but his mouth twisted into a reluctant smile. My heart burst open and I leaned into him. “I'm sorry, Jarryd. I should've told you.”

  He tilted his head against mine. “How could you? You were just a kid doing what our parents told you to do. I'd probably have done the same in your situation.”

  “I wanted to tell you everything after Steepchase, but with the rebellion and all that was going on, plus Father's death, the timing never seemed right. I shared the truth with Leika the evening before we went to the island. I should've revealed it all to you on the boat.”

  He shook his head. “There were more important things happening. We had to stay focused and search for Mother. This is the first chance we've had to speak privately since we left Hypor City.”

  “So you forgive me?”

  He lifted his head and turned towards me. “Of course I do. I admit, I was a bit jealous at first, but I realize it’s a useful weapon. Besides that, you're my little sister even if you can decimate people with your high notes. We’re all the family we’ve got.”

  “Until we find Mother.”

  He rubbed his hand behind his neck. The sadness in his expression tore me to the core.

  I reached into the neck of my tunic and pulled out the necklace. “I still have the falcon you gave me.”

  He smiled slightly. “What's that other disc?”

  “Trill discovered it in the second diary. I think it belonged to the old Genetrix that lived in the cave on our island. It’s called an oracle stone. The Genetrix was wearing one when I first saw her in Hypor City.”

  Jarryd nodded, but didn’t ask any questions. He stood and held out his hand to me. “Let’s return to camp. I want to reassure Leika that everything is okay.” He looked sheepish when I raised my eyebrows. “By the way, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  I suspected him of attempting to avoid discussing his relationship with Leika, but I wanted to respect his privacy so I let the subject drop. Also, I was curious about the surprise.

  He stopped short of the encampment and pushed aside some branches. “Just through here.”

  In a makeshift shelter of tree branches, Circe sat immobile. I rushed forward when she screeched her recognition. “I can’t believe it.” I pulled off my thin jacket and wound it around my left hand, then opened the enclosure.

  Circe inched toward me and jumped onto my outstretched arm. I felt the stone go warm on my chest as the bird’s black eyes locked with mine. Freedom.

  A vague image prompted the word into conscious thought. I continued staring at her, slowly understanding that my connection with my falcon had changed. The oracle stone continued to heat until I lifted my arm and set Circe free.

  “Call her back and put her in the cage. If there are drones in the area, she’ll be safer inside,” said Jarryd.

  “No. She needs to be free. I was wrong to keep her caged.”

  “You’ll lose her. She’ll go wild,” he warned.

  I shrugged. There was no point explaining to Jarryd what I’d experienced. He was a scientist. All I could offer was sensation and intuition. “She can take better care of herself than I can at the moment.”

  He took my words at face value. I hadn’t revealed my plan to go to Prima Feminary to rescue Mother.

  Kaaluk and Leika were talking outside the main hut. They looked up as we approached. I smiled at Leika and her worried expression fled. Jarryd took her hand. They walked off and left me with Kaaluk.

  “All feathers smoothed, I assume.” He crossed his arms over his chest, tilted his head to one side and raised one eyebrow. His green eyes stared into my mismatched ones. A laugh rumbled deep in his chest.

  “What’s so funny?” Not that I objected to his laugh, it was a wonderfully rich bass.

  “I liked your eyes before, but this new combination is intriguing.”

  Embarrassed and uncertain, I flipped my hair forward. He lifted his hand and brushed it back. Warm fingers skimmed my face from brow to cheek.

  “It wasn't a criticism, little one. Don't hide who you are. You have strength as well as beauty.” He moved closer. His breath fanned my face as he spoke. “When you told your story, I sensed that some of the incidents were tormenting your soul. While the scars might never fade, with experience comes wisdom. There are moments for all of us when we must step forward and choose, even though neither option pleases us. What you did was necessary.”

  “How did you know?” Could he read the regrets that scarred my spirit? Regrets that chased me in my dreams and nagged me during quiet moments. Regrets I couldn't erase.

  He shrugged. “You're a healer, but now you’re forced to become a warrior. Taking a life never leaves anyone unscathed. It's a responsibility we carry forever.”

  I nodded, heavy with sadness.

  He put his hands on my shoulders. “Don't be
disheartened. You are a woman who has much to give and a life of joy ahead of you. I believe you have this gift for a reason that has yet to unfold. And you won't be alone on your journey.” His hands stroked my arms to my wrists before dropping away.

  I followed an instinct. Stepping forward, I cupped his face in my hands. Rising onto my tiptoes, I placed my lips gently on his. “Thank you.” I returned his smile, then walked back to my sleeping unit.

  The PLU was empty. I fell onto my bed, emotionally drained. Too tired to think, I lay down for a nap when the door flew open.

  Back from her hike, Trill stood, hands on hips, her foot tapping like a woodpecker. “So what was that all about? First Jarryd and Leika making moony eyes in the woods. Now I see you kissing Kaaluk. Did someone add a love potion to the breakfast? If so, I didn’t get any.”

  I wasn’t sure if she was shocked or annoyed. “I can’t speak for Jarryd and Leika, but I was merely showing my gratitude for his understanding.”

  “Gratitude, shmatitude. That’s not what I saw in his eyes,” said Trill, wagging her head from side to side. “I think you’ve lit a fire that might get you burnt.”

  “Nonsense.” I wasn’t ready to discuss my feelings for Kaaluk. I rolled away from her. “I need to sleep, Trill. I don't have the energy to talk about this.” My eyes started to close.

  “Okay, I'll leave you alone—for now.” She turned in the doorway. “By the way, Jarryd's called a meeting for after supper. They want to continue with their mysterious planning. I heard Tarvek’s name mentioned.”

  13

  Tarvek’s Compound

  The dream seemed familiar. I recognized the stone cavern, but this time the full moon was absent. There were no shafts of ghostly light illuminating the interior. Instead, streaks of orange and yellow flashed around me. The experience was more like the one I'd had at the brothel. The blurry images were difficult to decipher at first, then one became clearer.

  Mother's face emerged from a shimmering mist. She lifted her arms. Her hands beckoned me. Her lips formed my name. Brynna, Brynna. Dark holes, where her eyes should have been, sent shivers over my skin. I tried to back away. Suddenly surrounded by flames that darted everywhere, her form approached and grew larger. I watched her lips and attempted to interpret her message. When I did, I was puzzled.

  Stay away. Stay away.

  The vision went black. Her image faded.

  “Mother,” I cried aloud and reached into nothingness.

  I awoke, panicked and hot. The PLU was empty, but the oracle stone was burning into my skin. I rolled to my hands and knees to let the stone swing away from my body. I hung my head and took several deep breaths.

  What had happened? Was Mother really trying to communicate with me or had I imagined it all? I’d attributed the first vision to the drugged food I’d ingested at the brothel, but this time there were no drugs involved. Could my desperate desire to see her again have conjured the image?

  The sensation of the hot stone was something I hadn’t imagined. Had it provoked the connection, allowing me to see what was happening at Prima Feminary? Whatever was transpiring, and despite Mother’s warning, I was more determined than ever to save her.

  Thankfully, I was alone and Trill hadn’t witnessed my distress. I needed time to cement my plans. Perhaps Kaaluk would help me find a way to Prima Feminary.

  In the main PLU, men came and went over the dinner hour. There was laughter as they enjoyed time away from duties. The last man to leave nodded when Kaaluk gave instructions for us not to be disturbed. Only our group of five remained.

  Side by side, Jarryd and Kaaluk conversed quietly. Conscious of Trill’s watchful eyes, I had chosen to sit opposite Kaaluk between Trill and Leika. There was a solemn uneasiness around the table. I wondered if my earlier revelations had altered the dynamics of the group.

  When we’d all finished eating, Kaaluk spoke.

  “We have been discussing Tarvek's compound.” He gestured to Jarryd who opened a sketched map of the area and flattened it on the table.

  “We used a drone to get an idea of what we are facing.” Jarryd placed stones to anchor the corners of the sketch. “There’s a sandy plain that starts at the foot of the escarpment.” He pointed to the treed area indicating our location, then to the expanse below. “Several miles across the dunes there’s an array of solar collectors. The compound lies beyond that.”

  The drawing showed the layout inside as well. Circles, squares, boundary lines, squiggles and other markings that I couldn’t decipher. “It looks impressive.”

  “If those long boxes are buildings, they must be massive,” exclaimed Trill. “What do you think they’re used for?”

  “Hangers, most likely,” replied Jarryd. “Tarvek would need large covered areas to construct spaceships. The circle with the antennas is likely to be the communication center or control hub.”

  “So Premier Delio really did make a deal with Tarvek to provide spaceships to avoid the solar threat. Father was never able to get proof of that,” I added.

  Jarryd nodded. “Yes, that was the only thing he wasn’t lying about.”

  “The other circles on the sketch are domes, like in Hypor City,” said Kaaluk.

  “That’s where he must have gotten the idea,” added Jarryd. “The domes would be the best shape to withstand any storms that might sweep down the surrounding dunes.”

  “What are those parallel lines running along the surface? They resemble one of Hypor’s connecting tubes, but there’s no water to worry about here. Why would they need a tube to connect the structures?” Leika’s question hung in the air.

  “We don’t know yet,” said Kaaluk.

  “The tube, or tunnel, whatever it is, connects the building with the antennas to one with a rooftop landing pad. That’s where our men saw Prince Delio and the woman—who we suspect is Calia—arrive by lander. The Genetrix entered the same way.” Jarryd tapped his finger on a narrower building diagonally across from the main buildings. “This unit is the guards’ residence. Our scouts have been monitoring their movements and shift changes.”

  Trill pointed to a series of crosses the scouts had drawn on the map. Accompanying arrows indicated the reach of the markings. “What are those things?”

  “Spaceships mainly, plus other equipment,” said Jarryd.

  Leika gasped. “But that area is huge. There could be thousands of spaceships.”

  At her awed words, Jarryd and I exchanged glances. He started to smile.

  I put words to the hope in his eyes. “So there might be a way for everyone to get off-planet before the worst of the CME’s strike.”

  When he nodded, Leika threw her arms around his neck. Trill clapped her hands and did a happy shake.

  “Celebrations are premature.” Kaaluk’s serious expression was sobering. “Our priority is to capture Prince Delio and Tarvek. Prince Delio is dangerous and will be desperate for Tarvek’s technology. We can’t let them escape and perhaps destroy the rest of the ships. Once we’ve got our enemies under control, Jarryd can check out the spacecraft.”

  I drew my fingers from the escarpment to the buildings. “How long will it take to get there?”

  “We calculated it’s a couple of hours walk to the solar collectors at the edge of the compound. There may be cameras and sensors as well. Perhaps even a force field of some kind.”

  “How will we get in?” Trill

  “We can’t determine that until we get closer.”

  “One disturbing report from our scouts is that the number of guards patrolling the perimeter is increasing every day. No one has arrived since the Genetrix left and no one has crossed the compound, so they must be coming from one of the towers. From underground perhaps.” Kaaluk spread his hands on the map, his index finger pointed to a particular location. “Our men are stationed at the edge of the escarpment overlooking the compound. We’ll go there tomorrow to get a firsthand view of what we’ll be facing.”

  “It will take us most of the day,�
� said Jarryd. “You’ll be safe here. We’ll leave a small contingent to guard the encampment.”

  Leika prodded my brother. “You’re suggesting that the women stay behind?”

  “Forget that!” Trill sprang to her feet. “You kidnapped me and brought me here. There's no way I'm staying behind while you go off on a secret mission.”

  “I agree,” said Leika, nodding at Trill. “We’re all at risk and everything we have is at stake. I'm not prepared to stay behind either.”

  Jarryd's face reddened. He seemed particularly upset with Leika's stand.

  Kaaluk fixed curious eyes on mine. “What about you, Brynna? Do you feel the same?”

  I was about to agree when Jarryd jumped to his feet.

  “Fighting isn’t women's business.” His concerned glance fixed on Leika.

  “I've had to fight as long as I can remember,” she replied. “I'm not some pampered female from Hypor City.”

  “Me neither,” said Trill. “Besides, I read auras and that might be helpful. You can't say that Brynna doesn't have special abilities too. She's even sung men to death.”

  I scanned the expectant faces around me. There was no right time to reveal my plan. I swallowed my uncertainty and took a deep breath.

  “I know the threat to the planet is critical. Defeating Prince Delio and confirming the viability of the spaceships is crucial to the survival of us all, but I have a personal mission I must complete.”

  Jarryd pushed his hand through his blond hair. Frustration narrowed his glance. “What are you talking about, Brynna? What could be more important than saving the planet?”

  “Mother?” The words dropped like cold ice into the heated silence. “I’m going to Prima Feminary to rescue her.

  Jarryd's face went stormy. “I forbid it. You can't go to Prima Feminary, not with the Genetrix and her assassins hunting you, and with drones scouting the land. You’ll be captured for sure.”

  “It would be a huge risk to go all that way alone,” said Leika.

  Jarryd glanced at her. “See? Even Leika agrees.”

  “Maybe Leika and I should go with Brynna,” said Trill, her face in a stubborn pout.