Laura Jo Phillips

The Bearens’ Hope

Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

by

Laura Jo Phillips

Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

Cover art/design Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

All rights reserved.

DEDICATION

As always...

For my husband, and my son and daughter, for being so patient while I spend hours, days, and weeks visiting other worlds and times, and for helping me in all the little ways, as well as the big ones. 

My dear husband, best friend, constant companion and partner in life, once again, and always, I never could have done this without your insight, knowledge, patience and love.

For Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma---Thank you all for the creativity you passed along to me, as well as the heart to do something with it.  There is a little bit of each of you in these books, just as there is a little bit of each of you in me

The Gryphons’ Dream

Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

by

Laura Jo Phillips

Available Summer 2012

A sneak peek

will be available to read online soon.

Look for it at:

www.laurajophillips.com

Chapter
1

Earth, Arlington, Virginia

Ellicia Daniels sat on the cold, hard ground, one cheek resting against the slick, polished granite wall.  Though she was dressed warmly in a heavy coat, scarf, hat and gloves, her body shivered continually.  She didn’t really notice her body’s discomfort, though, as her mind was far away from the dreary winter evening, remembering instead a bright spring afternoon in March, many months earlier.

“Ell, this is your new team member, Harlan Hontza,” the Director said in what most would consider to be a cordial tone. 

Ellicia had known the Director for most of her life, so she heard the warning note buried beneath the cordiality.  From anyone else, the warning, though subtle, would have had her digging in her heels immediately.  But the Director was different.  Ellicia respected him, and his decisions.

Ellicia glanced briefly at the newcomer, then looked back to the Director.  Outwardly, there was no change in her expression at all.  Inwardly, she was stunned. 

Harlan Hontza was rather strange looking with his amber eyes, large beaky nose, and short brown hair that stuck up in little tufts all over his head.  He was also tall and wiry, with long arms and legs.  He was not attractive in the usual sense of the word, but there was something about him that she found compelling.  What surprised her the most was the instant, sure and certain knowledge that this was the man she was destined to be with.  She had no idea how she knew that.  But she knew it. 

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to add any new people to the team just now,” Ellicia said carefully.  She didn’t want to hurt the new guy’s feelings, or step on the Director’s toes, but she had to say it.

“You know the rules, Ell,” the Director said.  “One psychic, one comm expert, one weapons expert.  That’s a team, and there are no exceptions.  Harlan is now your team’s weapons expert.”

“I’m sure he is very good at what he does,” Ellicia said.  “But so was Rolph.  And Lawry.  I think I should work alone.  Put this guy with Bobby and assign them to another psychic.”

“You think you’re good enough to do it all by yourself?” the Director asked archly.

“Of course not,” Ellicia replied calmly, not rising to the bait.  “But I do think that enough men have died because they worked with me.”

“Jack and Dwayne didn’t die because they worked with you, Ellicia.  They died because this we engage in covert operations against ruthless adversaries and your team has the most success, which makes you a prime target.  They knew that going in, and accepted the risks.  Just like you do.”

“I accept the risks for myself,” Ellicia corrected.  “Not for others.”

“I understand how you feel, Ellicia,” the Director said.  “But there are rules, and they are in place for good reasons.  Right now, the rules say you get two team members.”

“What if I don’t want to go by the rules?”

“Then we have a problem,” the Director replied.  “You are under contract Ellicia.  If you refuse to uphold your end of it, you could be sent to a Secure Facility.”

“You’d do that?” she asked in surprise.

“No,” the Director replied.  “I would not do that.  But the people to whom I answer would.  Neither of us has a choice in this.  You have a job to do, and so do I.”

Ellicia stood up and wandered over to the window, gazing out at the spring sky.  It was so much bluer now than it had been when she was a child.  The air was clearer, and there were more plants and trees.  One day soon the entire planet would be beautiful again, like in the old images she had seen from before the Bolkin Wars.  She wondered idly if she would live long enough to see it fully restored.   

“Mr. Hontza, are you sure you want to work with me?” she asked, not turning from the window to look at him.  “I assume you are aware of what happened to my other team members.”

“I’m aware,” Harlan replied.  “I am also aware that your team has the highest success rate in the history of the Directorate, and that you, personally, have the strongest talent in the Directorate.  Also that you are loyal, honest, and protective of your team members.”

“You make me sound like a Girl Scout,” Ellicia said.

“I think it makes you sound like a good person to partner with.”

“For reasons that have not been determined, it appears that I have a rather large target on my back,” Ellicia said, turning away from the window to face Harlan directly.  “About a year ago my sister was abducted and tortured by someone who thought she was me.  Since then, about a dozen attempts have been made to either kill or capture me.  Attempts that have caused the deaths of two of my former team members, and serious injury to a third which he will never fully recover from.  We have been unable to determine who is after me, or why.  If you partner with me, you are putting yourself directly in the line of fire.”

 “I understand the risks, and the dangers,” Harlan said when Ellicia finished speaking.  “And I’ve already made my decision.”

“Fine,” Ellicia said.  “But I don’t want you putting yourself in danger to protect me.”

 “Forget it, Ell,” the Director said.  “That’s the job, and Harlan knows it.  Psychics are valuable, and the really good ones, like you, are priceless.  Part of your team’s job is to keep you safe.”

“Why?” Ellicia demanded.  “Are their lives less important than mine?  Because they aren’t psychic, that makes them disposable?”

“In a sense, yes,” Harlan said before the Director had a chance to respond.  “We understand that, and we accept it.  Like the Director says, it’s part of the job.”

“Well I don’t understand it or accept it,” Ellicia retorted stubbornly.  She turned to the Director.  “There has to be a way that I can still do my job and not put other people at risk.”

The Director leaned back in his chair and sighed.  “Not right now there isn’t,” he said.  “You are needed to help shut down this rash of new crime lords that have sprung up in Loggia’s absence.  Once we’re able to put a few of them out of commission, we can discuss putting you behind a desk.”

“A desk?” Ellicia asked with a scowl.  “That’s the best you can do?”

“Ellicia, it’s either a desk or the field,” the Director replied, holding up a hand, palm out.  “I don’t want to discuss this further.  I have other matters to tend to this morning.  Harlan is your new weapons man and that is not negotiable.”

Ellicia opened her mouth but the Director had heard enough.  “Dismissed,” he barked.

She closed her mouth, shot a glare at Harlan and stormed out of the office.

Ellicia sighed inwardly at the memory of that day.  She opened her eyes to release the past, not as surprised as she should have been to see Harlan standing nearby, watching her.

“Hello, Harlan,” she said softly.

“Hello, Angel,” he replied.

“I didn’t expect to see you.”

“I couldn’t help it,” Harlan said with a sad smile.  “I’ve been watching you come here for the past month, ever since you got out of the healing tank.  It just wasn’t enough to watch any more.  I’ve missed you so much; I just had to talk to you.”

“Can you stay long?” Ellicia asked, knowing she sounded hopeful yet unable to hide it.

“No, Angel,” Harlan replied.  “I’m afraid I can only stay a few minutes.”

Ellicia nodded.  She had expected as much.

“Why are you sitting out here in the cold?”

Ellicia turned her head to gaze at the polished granite wall she had been leaning against and ran her fingers over the names carved into it.  “Just saying good-bye,” she said.  “So many lives lost.”

“Yes,” Harlan said.  “But not yours.  You need to take better care of yourself.”

Ellicia smiled.  “Always worrying about me,” she said as she struggled to her feet. 

“Well, you need worrying about,” Harlan replied.  “How’s the leg?” 

“Oh, it’s fine,” Ellicia said.  “Just a little stiff now and then.”

“That’s good.  It was a bad injury.”

“It looked worse than it was,” Ellicia objected.

Harlan chuckled.  “Little liar.”

Ellicia arched a brow at him but did not argue further.  He was right, after all.  It had been a bad injury.  She’d spent nearly three months in a healing tank, and even with that she was lucky they were able to save the leg at all. 

“You still staying with the Director?” Harlan asked as Ellicia bent awkwardly to brush the dust from her knees.

“Yes, but this is the last night,” she said.  “I’ve had Lariah’s place, the one we grew up in, remodeled.  It’s finished now, so I’m moving into it tomorrow after work.” 

“Work?” Harlan asked.  “When did you return to work?  You aren’t back in the field are you?”

“Yes, I started back yesterday, and no, not in the field,” Ellicia replied.  “You didn’t know?”

“No, Angel, I didn’t know,” he replied.

“Well, I’m working from behind a desk now, which, all things considered, works best for me anyway.”

“The babies?” Harlan asked.

“Yes, the babies,” Ellicia agreed.  She began walking, cutting across the wide expanse of carefully maintained lawn to the stone pathway, Harlan at her side.

“I’m sorry, Angel,” Harlan said suddenly.  “More than I can tell you.”

Ellicia stopped walking and turned to face him.  “There is no reason for you to apologize, Harlan,” she said.  “It wasn’t like you had a choice.”

Harlan gazed into her eyes for a long time.  “I need to go now,” he said. 

“Yes, I know,” Ellicia said.

“Do you mind if I visit again, now and then?”

“Of course not,” Ellicia replied. 

“I love you, Ellicia Daniels,” he said softly before turning and heading back the way they had come.

Ellicia watched after him for a long moment, waiting until he faded into the growing darkness.  Then she turned and headed for her ground-car.