Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) (33 page)

“Ma’jah, Ra’jah,” Peryl’s voice called over the intercom. “We’re being tailed by several Alametrian and V’larian vessels.”

Ty hurried to finish dressing before limping over to the intercom. “Does this ship have a cloaking mechanism or another way to evade detection?”

“Cloaking won’t do us any good. The V’larians have tracking devices on their ships. They can find us anywhere.”

“Can we disable the tracking device?”

“Not without space gear, and I don’t think the V’larians will wait for us to stop moving to disable it.”

Ty muttered a curse. Kyr tried to think of some kind of plan, but her mind was drawing a blank.

Peryl’s voice once again issued over the intercom, making Kyr jump. “Our only choice as I see it is to fly into Shelvak airspace. The V’larians and Alametrians wouldn’t dare follow us there.”

Ty met Kyr’s gaze.
We just have to hope we don’t get blown to bits by the Shelvaks in the process
, he thought.

I have to contact Shelvak before we get there and explain why we’re approaching. That’s the only way they won’t just shoot first and ask questions later
.

Ty nodded. “We’re coming up to the bridge,” he said into the intercom.

Kyr ran to keep up with his long, uneven strides as they left the med lab. She had no idea how long it took to get from Alametria to any of their nearest neighbors, but judging from what she was picking up from Ty and Peryl, they didn’t have much time. Her stomach roiled unpleasantly as the reality of what they were doing really sank in. How had she ever thought this was a good idea?

Ty took her hand as they reached the bridge. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure her or tell her to stop thinking the obvious.

She caught her breath when they reached the bridge. “Peryl, does this ship have a way to communicate with Shelvak from space?”

“Sure. All ships are equipped with communications consoles of some kind. This one has an RX-700, which was top of the line about—”

“I just need to know if it will allow me to contact Shelvak,” she interrupted, afraid he was about to launch into a technical breakdown of the machine.

“Sure it will. But the Shelvaks don’t speak, and they won’t trust a text message.”

She frowned. “Does it offer a video feed?”

“Yes. But since they don’t speak—”

“I understand,” she interrupted again. “But I have to try. Please tell us what to do.”

Shrugging, the pilot issued commands as he competently guided the vessel around some space debris. Soon, Kyr sat in a chair in front of the RX-700 with Ty sitting beside her.

“Best secure your safety harnesses,” Peryl warned them. “I’m going to have to attempt some evasive maneuvers. Our V’larian tails are closing in on us.”

Kyr shook off of a fresh bout of nerves over that news. It seemed that some reckless space travel was the least of her worries at that point. She and Ty simply followed the pilot’s instructions.

Once she was strapped in, Kyr entered the coordinates for Shelvak into the RX-700. Its screen flashed several different colors, then went dark.

She frowned. She couldn’t explain how, but she sensed a presence on the other end of the connection. Glancing at Ty, she received his nod. He sensed it, too.

“Attention, people of the planet Shelvak,” she said to the blank screen. “I’m KyrVawn, the Ascendant of Alametria. I request a temporary truce for a discussion with your planetary leaders. I travel alone with my amanti, TaeDane, and one pilot. My recent actions in sparing the lives of three of your people should add credence to my request. I seek safe passage for just me, my amanti, and our pilot.”

There was no response.

She felt Ty opening his senses even more, so she did the same. They both received the general impression of scrambling and haste, then nothing.

Kyr grasped Ty’s hand, unsure of what to do. She decided to continue making her plea, both verbally and with her mind, in hopes that someone was listening. The screen remained dark and silent, but she talked until her voice grew hoarse.

At long last, Peryl spoke. “We’re about to enter Shelvak airspace, Ma’jah.”

She and Ty turned to look through the vessel’s viewing shield. The closer they got to the enormous black planet, the more stars it blocked. It felt like the planet itself was extinguishing hope.

It took her a moment to notice the numerous Shelvak ships waiting for them. The ships blended almost seamlessly with the planet’s dark, cloudy atmosphere. Kyr’s heart fled into her throat. Were the Shelvaks going to blast them out of the sky? Were they there to protect them from their pursuers?

Uncertain if anyone other than Ty could hear her, she continued to send out a silent appeal for safe passage. Then the Shelvaks opened fire.

Ty instinctively tried to swivel to block her, though they both knew it was a futile gesture. Kyr waited for the rocking blow.

But it never came.

She peeked out from beneath Ty’s arm. Weapon fire shot past them, grazing the viewing shield. The Shelvaks were firing at their pursuers.

Although Kyr didn’t want her people harmed while under Vycor’s unholy influence, she was admittedly relieved to still be alive. When she caught Peryl’s eye, she saw that same relief. He lifted his hands from the console, causing her to lift a puzzled eyebrow.

“The Shelvaks are towing the ship to the planet’s surface,” he explained. “It’s out of my hands now.”

Kyr realized this was it. She would either manage to secure this truce and use it to help save her planet, or she had just led an innocent male and her amanti to their deaths.

Chapter 42

Fear took a backseat to Kyr’s curiosity for the length of time it took them to break through Shelvak’s atmosphere and land. She stared out the viewing shield, trying to see everything she could.

The planet was cloaked in darkness, but Kyr had expected that. The Shelvaks were so sensitive to light that she imagined there must be very little of it on their world. Still, she was able to make out the rough shapes of buildings looming in the distance and the subtle shimmer of moving water far below.

Peryl was scanning one of the many screens in front of him. After a moment, he unsecured his harness and said, “We’d better put on portable air ventilators and eye masks. I don’t like the readings I’m getting.”

Kyr wasn’t about to argue. The Shelvaks were able to breathe oxygenated air like humans did, but that didn’t necessarily mean humans could breathe theirs. Her hand drifted protectively down to her waist as she thought of their unborn child. There was so much at stake.

They had to succeed.

Ty reached over and covered her hand with his.
We will
.

Peryl dug out the equipment they needed and handed it to her and Ty. After all of their time in the Dark Lands, donning the safety equipment was practically second nature to them. Kyr and Ty were both ready and secured in their seats within a minute.

Finally, they entered a different kind of darkness. The vessel slowed, then settled with a loud clang and shudder.

Kyr sat still for a moment, trying to get her racing heart to settle down. Since it wouldn’t cooperate, she released her harness and got to her feet as Ty rose and lifted their satchels and the canister over his shoulders. It was a cumbersome process due to his air canister, but he managed.

“Please stay here, Peryl,” she instructed the pilot. Her voice sounded mechanical through the ventilator.

“Sorry, Ma’jah,” he responded as he rose from his chair and stood on her other side. “But I’m afraid I’m going to have to disregard that order.”

Immeasurably touched, Kyr reached out and brushed her fingers over his arm. The sound of the vessel’s door opening had her straightening and watching the ramp descend, offering a view of the darkness beyond.

Shelvaks started boarding in droves. They all wore black armor that covered them from head to toe, and moved so swiftly and soundlessly that it made the fine hairs on Kyr’s arms stand on end. She and Ty both opened their minds to the group, but they couldn’t pick up so much as one stray Shelvak thought. Kyr realized that she would only be able to communicate with them if they willingly “spoke” to her.

Great
, she thought.

They waited for the boarding party to search the vessel. None of them said a word as the Shelvaks began off-loading equipment and cargo. It wasn’t their ship, after all. As far as Kyr was concerned, if it helped pave the way with the Shelvaks, they could offload everything but the engine.

Tension built between Kyr’s shoulder blades as they waited. After a few more minutes, all but six of the Shelvaks disembarked. They moved to encircle Kyr, Ty, and Peryl.

Ty and Peryl moved closer to Kyr as the Shelvaks produced begothias, dark weapons similar to a Mynder’s de’llum. The poison from the weapons would kill an average Alametrian with even a shallow wound. Kyr knew Peryl was thinking of this as he faced the Shelvaks unarmed.

Kyr jolted when she felt Ty move. Reading his thoughts, she picked up that one of the Shelvaks had tried to grab the canister of the Gift.

“Sorry, but you can’t have this…yet,” Ty said, stressing the last word.

None of them dared to breathe as the Shelvaks exchanged looks. Kyr knew they were communicating with each other. It was incredibly frustrating not to know what they were saying. Eventually, the Shelvak standing directly in front of Kyr looked right at her.

You must come with us.

Nodding, Kyr started forward. Ty grabbed her arm.

What are you doing?
he asked.

She blinked in surprise, then processed the fact that he hadn’t heard what the Shelvak told her. Apparently, Shelvak thoughts were impervious to their connection. She would have to convey what they thought.

He said, “You must come with us,”
she explained.

The Shelvaks didn’t like their hesitation. They moved closer, bringing their begothias uncomfortably close.

“We’ll come willingly,” she said, lifting her hands in a sign of surrender.

You must come alone
, the Shelvak replied.
Your companions will be unharmed as long as the La’run commands it
.

Ty was already shaking his head, picking up the thoughts this time because Kyr was directing them to him. He stepped closer to the Shelvak communicating with her. “She isn’t going alone. I’m her amanti. Her partner. I’m going with her.”

She comes alone. The La’run commands it.

Kyr figured this La’run was a leader, and the person they had come all this way to see. Turning to Ty, she placed a calming hand on his upper arm.

Ty, I have to do this. I agree that you’re my partner and should be by my side, but the Shelvaks don’t understand our ways. Not yet. If we want to get out of here alive, we have to do this on their terms.

Kyr…

I know I’m asking a lot of you
, she pressed.
If our roles were reversed, I would feel the exact same way. But I’ve got to do this. I’m the Ascendant. The lives of our people are at risk. We’re running out of time, and this is our only option.

She felt him wrestling with this. He had spent his entire life thinking of the Shelvaks as their enemies, and now his amanti wanted to place herself and their unborn child right in their clutches.

I’ll be all right
, she thought.

Both of them sensed her doubt, but neither of them had a better solution.
Keep your thoughts open to me the entire time
, he told her.
Remember what you did back there in the hangar if you feel you’re in any danger
.

I will
, she assured him.

Giving him a quick hug, she turned and walked down the ramp with the group of Shelvaks. Four moved on with her and two stayed at the base of the ramp to ensure Ty and Peryl stayed where there were supposed to. Ty’s mind remained connected to hers, easing her fear.

The air was damp and cold, generating a fine mist on Kyr’s goggles. She did her best to wipe them clean and looked around as they walked, conveying everything to Ty. With four Shelvaks towering over her by nearly two feet on any side, it wasn’t all that easy to see anything. Her enhanced night vision came to her aid. She doubted she would have seen anything without it. As it was, all she could really determine was that the planet was rocky and mountainous. The landing dock seemed to be in a large cavern. They headed from there into a series of tunnels.

She felt Ty making a mental map as she sent him images, so she paid closer attention to every turn and landmark she could make out. She tried not to think about how deeply underground they were going. At least it wasn’t as cold, she mused.

She nearly plowed into the back of the lead Shelvak when he stopped unexpectedly. A gasp escaped through her mask as she brought herself up short and tried to figure out what had happened. She watched as the lead Shelvak approached a panel within the rock wall and held his gloved hand over it. A series of beeps and clicks resulted, followed by a low rumble as the rock in front of them lifted to reveal a room.

Kyr looked around the Shelvaks and caught a glimpse of the room beyond the doorway. She spotted what appeared to be an examination table and medical implements. The thought immediately flashed into her mind that they intended to experiment on her like Vycor and his Inquisitors had likely done to Shelvak prisoners in the past.

One of the Shelvaks behind her shoved her forward. She braced herself on the door’s rocky frame to keep from ending up inside the room. There was no doubt now that her instincts had been right.

When another Shelvak moved towards her, fear shot through her.

No!

The command was issued from her mind, but the same power that had flowed through her in the Alametrian hangar rushed through her now. Light shot from her gaze, making the Shelvaks shield their eyes and back away from her.

I agreed to see the La’run, so you’re going to take me to see the La’run
, she demanded.
If not the La’run, then take me to the Shelvaks I aided on my planet
.