Aurora Rising (18 page)

“Areathea,” the talent plotter nodded to the med-tech. “Guardian Straye.” He turned his attention to Rori. “It seems like you have added to your talent. How are you feeling today?”

“Fine, sir.”

He studied her and Rori felt his talent reaching out. After a moment, he turned back to Areathea. “Do you have the physical report completed for me?”

“All done,” Areathea said cheerfully. “She’s good. Recovery is still at a heightened rate even without continued assistance.”

Narrasa looked over the screen Areathea handed him. “Excellent. Definitely talent linked. Quite amazing in its extent. Well, Aurora, if you are finished eating, why don’t you come down to the lab with me?”

Looking down at the food in front of her, Rori was surprised at the amount she’d eaten, totally unaware as they’d talked. Still, she was ravenous and wanted to continue but figured she was okay to make it until after he was finished.

An hour later, the light in front of Rori faded, and she returned to awareness of the room around her. She immediately turned to the man at the control panel.

“Well, I’ll say that was interesting but hardly conclusive.” Narrasa looked at her then back to the console. “Your talent is still in flux. You don’t have the standard patterns of a true healer, but there are strong points. They are so intertwined with your empathy that they are more like shades of the talent, though they are strong.” He paused in thought as he went over something on the computer.

Rori waited until she couldn’t take it any longer. “Narrasa?”

“Oh, yes. I dare say you will never be a normal healer. But, I do think it would be wise to have you train with Areathea for a while, so you can learn to handle this aspect. I will caution you not to ever go as deep as you did with Keyen, though, I don’t think your body’s natural defense will allow that again. Frankly, I’m perplexed as to how you superseded it this time. Your psyche is strong. You should have shut down before the harm to you reached such a dangerous level.  Anyway, that is all for now. I will go over your results further and let you know if there is anything more you need to be aware of.” With that, he turned away, and Rori headed for the door, knowing she’d been dismissed.

When the door slid open, it revealed Keyen leaning against the wall. She felt her heart jump. He straightened as she came to him.

“What did he say?” he asked, reaching out to catch her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

“Basically, I’m still in flux.” She emphasized the word. “I’m to work with Areathea, so I can learn to handle this in case it reoccurs.

“Do you think it might?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know I was doing it before. All I could think of was you.”

“I guess that means I better be more careful.” His voice dropped low and picked up a husky tone as he edged close. His free hand came up to slide around her, drawing her to him.

Rori felt love and desire flow around her. “You’d better,” she whispered as she tilted her head up to meet his kiss. He brushed her mouth gently and was just settling in for more when voices approaching from around the corner reached them.

Keyen pulled back. Regret glowed in his eyes. “I guess we really should go get you more to eat. I know I’m starving, and Areathea said you would need to eat extra for a couple of days.”

Rori nodded, feeling breathless from the light kiss. She didn’t try for words. They headed down the hall just as their team came around the corner.

“Hi,” Cassie greeted cheerfully. “We were told you were here and decided to come and check on you.”

“Yeah, you know, we wanted to see how the man who came back from the dead was doing?” Ultin grinned.

“Wasn’t that bad,” Keyen answered.

“Close enough,” Tankin said. “You sure had us scared.”

Keyen shrugged his shoulder and tried to lightened the mood. “Well, all’s fine, just a little hungry.”

“You guys always seem that way.” Sansa turned her attention to Rori. “How are you?”

Rori was relieved that she only picked up concern from the group. “Narrasa says I’m still in flux. He also thinks I’m intriguing, but, I feel fine, except I’m starving, too.”

“I think we can do something about that. The dining hall it is.” Ultin led the way. During dinner they discussed the attack, Keyen’s injury, ending with Rori saving him. The evening ended with them dropping Rori off at her room early.

“It’s nice to know how far you’ll go for us.” Sansa smiled but there was seriousness in her eyes and the sentiment filled the air from the others. “Have a good night.” She leaned in to hug Rori, followed by Cassie and then the guys.

Keyen was the last to step to her. His hug was prolonged. “Sleep well.” He leaned back then dipped his head to kiss her briefly.

“Hey, why don’t I get one of those?” Tankin teased.

“Tank, I didn’t know you cared,” Keyen countered.

Rori broke from Keyen’s hold and stepped to the big man, coming up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you,” Rori whispered to him, knowing the man knew she referred to the fact that without his help, she couldn’t have saved Keyen. Tankin gave her a squeeze in acknowledgment.

“Hey,” Keyen objected, though there was no heat in the protest. “Are you trying to steal my woman?”

“Are you worried?” Tankin grinned wickedly.

“Not really. She’s mine.”

“I think we’ve all figured that out,” Sansa said drily. “Come on. You need to let her get some rest.” Sansa caught Keyen’s arm, dragging him away.

He looked back to Rori.

“Yours, huh?” she challenged.

“Mine,” he said firmly.

“Greetings, Aurora Straye,” the automated voice said as she stepped into the room. “You have a request from Director Hiymm to meet him first thing in the morning. There have also been two calls from your parents and seven from your grandfather.”

Rori winced but made her way to the video console as she requested an open link to her parents. It took two minutes to assure them that she was all right and handling her new life and another twelve to listen to them criticize her decision to come to Rae-Isis and join the Guardians. Finally, she was able to break the connection only to have the indicator activate for another incoming call. Her grandfather’s image filled the screen.

“There you are.” His voice boomed over the audio letting her know of his worry. He was never loud like that unless he was past the breaking point.

“I’m fine, grandpa.”

“I’m aware. Hiymm contacted me as soon as you regained consciousness. Do you need me there?”

Rori smiled at him. “No, I really am fine. I’m going to get some training on this, just in case it reoccurs.”

“Good. What did Areathea say?”

Rori spent the next few minutes giving him all the details. His next question caught her off guard. “So how are things between you and Keyen?”

Rori fought down the blush. “He’s a good team leader.”

“I know that, and you know that is not what I’m asking. I should have seen that. I don’t know how I missed it. So has that boy kissed you yet?” A twinkle appeared in her grandfather’s eyes.

“Grandfather!” Rori wasn’t sure what shocked her more, that her grandfather would ask such a thing or that he would actually guess. Though he knew and understood her better than her own parents, it was hard to believe she was that easy to read. She was used to dampening her emotions, and now it was like everyone could see them. Her grandfather, Areathea, the team, well the team wasn’t too surprising because they were together all the time, and Keyen hadn’t really tried to keep it from them.

“So he has kissed you.” Her grandfather chuckled, and a blush erupted on her face. “Always did like that boy.”

“I heard he singed you a couple times.” She tried to deflect the conversation.

Her grandfather laughed. “That he did. He has an immense amount of talent and came in to it so suddenly it was hard to handle, especially at his age. But he has a strong character and internal code. He is a fine match for you.”

“Don’t start that. It is way too soon,” Rori interrupted.

“Are you going to deny it?”

Rori blew out a breath, knowing she couldn’t. “No.”

“Good. That will make things easier for you if you just accept it.”

“I know. It’s just hard that everyone seems to already know. Keyen and I just figured it out ourselves.”

“If you’re being honest you with yourself, with your talent, you probably knew the minute you met him.” He waited expectantly.

“You’re right, but it’s just, I didn’t think others would detect it. Areathea even ran a compatibility profile on us.”

Jattin laughed. “Trust that woman to know. She is extremely bright and perceptive, and though she isn’t a true empath like you, she picks up the subtle currents in people.”

“Yeah, but she actually ran a compatibility profile.” Rori still wasn’t sure how she felt about it. It wasn’t that it was really an intrusion or that unusual. It was quite common with strong talents to be tested because a mismatch could be detrimental, causing discord amongst individuals. Even Guardian teams were carefully screened before members were added to prevent this. Her grandfather confided once that he and her grandmother were cautioned but had ignored it.

“So what was the outcome?”

“She says we were made for each other.”

He let out a low whistle. “She would know.”

“She said it was one of the reasons I was able to save Keyen; that I shouldn’t be in danger from a repeat with anyone else.” Rori decided to redirect the conversation even if it was back to her new side talent.

“I suspect she’s right, though you have such a strong natural caring.”

They chatted a minute longer then her grandfather said, “You should get some rest. Contact me if you need anything. I love you.”

“Love you,” she answered back, and he was gone, but the things he said lingered on, as did thoughts of what had happened. Exhausted, she made her way to bed, but as she stretched out under the blankets, her mind wouldn’t stop. Again it replayed what happened at the festival.

When she got to Keyen being hurt and the pain of losing him, she pushed past it but her thoughts went directly to Areathea’s conclusion that her and Keyen were made for each other and her grandfather’s concurrence. She knew she couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to, which she didn’t. It was just all so new.

She was in love. Her eyes closed, and she locked onto the feeling, letting the vision of Keyen form in her mind. It was surprisingly easy. Though she was surprised it was the image of the first time she saw him. Wreckage around him, his hand extended out.

Her breath caught at the recognition in herself of meeting her destiny. She shifted the image to him on the practice field then she fabricated how he’d look now. His room was just on the other side of the wall from hers. She wondered if his headboard was on the wall they shared. She could swear she felt him there.

“Rori?”

Her name came into her mind. Her breath caught. She knew she must’ve imagined it.

“Is that you?”

“Keyen,” she whispered his name aloud and in her mind.

Pleasure filled the air around her. “I heard you. This is different. Can you hear me?” His answer again reached her mind.

“Yes.” She thought back to him.

“Do you need me?” Concern tainted the air.

She felt foolish being caught thinking of him so strongly that he became aware of it. “No, I just couldn’t sleep and I was thinking of all that happened.”

“I’m okay.”

The simple words brought tears to her eyes. “I know.” Still a little jab of pain pricked her.

“I’ll be right there.” His words were rushed as they reached her.

She could feel him already moving. “No, we both need our sleep. Can we continue to try talking like this?”

“Sure.”

She could almost see him grin as he answered her, settling back onto the bed. “It would be really useful if we can develop it. I think we should work on it every night. So what do you want to talk about?”

“Something not serious.”

“Okay. Shall we talk about Ultin and Tank behind their backs?”

Rori smiled but they talked about their antics during dinner. She relaxed. It wasn’t long until their conversation ended and they drifted off to sleep simultaneously.

***

A week passed with frustration escalating. Except for Rori feeling Drasc at the site, there had been no proof to place or connect him to the attack. They couldn’t even bring him in. And though they made an official request for him to come, he’d ignored it.

Few calls came in requiring guardian attention, so they teamed up with Orn’s team to practice. A tense feeling of anticipation permeated the group. They all knew it was the quiet before the storm, but they all felt helpless to stop the oncoming maelstrom. Two things did seem to be going smoothly. The first was Rori’s training with Areathea, where, though she couldn’t seem to heal, she was able to give comfort and helped accelerate healing.

The other development was the link between her and Keyen. Keeping it to themselves, they worked on it every night after they split up and went to their own rooms. While Keyen had no success creating the link with her, once she’d established it, he could communicate easily. With the lights out it forged a deeper intimacy between them as they talked, sharing private pieces of themselves.

It was the fourth day of straight practice that Rori was able to reach out with her mind to Keyen while moving through the course. The surprise of his answer distracted her so much that if Keyen wouldn’t have been able to thrust up a pad in time, she would have taken a stunning hit. As it was, all she suffered was his laughter filling her mind.

“You’re going to have to pay more attention to your surroundings if you’re going to try to talk to me.”

“Talking to you doesn’t distract me. It’s your answering that does.” she grouched as she flattened herself against a pillar.

“Really, you find me distracting?” he answered back easily now they’d managed to connect the link.

“Quit trying to be cute,” she countered.

“But I am cute. The magazines say so all the time. I’m supposed to be a very good catch.”

“Why are we talking about this now?  Aren’t we supposed to be making our way through this course to the rescue on the other side?”

“I just wanted you to know how fortunate you are. Besides, Ultin’s the victim. It would do him good to leave him hanging for a minute.”

Rori laughed feeling some of the tension she didn’t realize she’d been holding, release.

“There, that’s good.” He came back in the way of acknowledgement. “Ready to go?”

“Ready.”

“Good. Set. Mark.”

Rori burst from her place, making a dash toward Ultin, trusting Keyen would intersect anything the computer sent at her. Six feet from Ultin she dropped into a slide, letting her momentum carry her right next to him. Coming up on her knees as she came to a stop, she disconnected the device.

“Took you long enough.” Ultin grinned, stretching his arms over his head. “What’s to eat?”

“You’re right,” Rori used the comm-link so everyone could hear. “We should have left him here.”

Ultin just laughed, dropping his arm over her shoulder as they went to join the others.

Three days later they were halfway through a training run with Orn’s team when the computer suddenly powered down and Hiymm walked out on the course to meet the teams.

“Sorry to disturb you, but I’m afraid I must end things for today. There is a special meeting for the upcoming conference, and I want the team leaders and their seconds to attend.” Hiymm looked at the two teams. “Orn, Mitt, Keyen, Tankin, if you could get changed into dress uniforms and meet me in the council hall immediately, I’d appreciate it.” With that he left.

“What do you make of that?” Ultin asked, watching him leave.

Keyen looked at Orn who shook his head. “I have no idea but we’d better hurry.”

Keyen took a step after the senior leader then stopped and turned back to Rori. “So much for us trying to have dinner alone tonight, I don’t know how long this will take.”

“Don’t worry about it. We can try for tomorrow night.”

Keyen hesitated then nodded. With a quick glance at the others, he dropped a kiss on her lips.

Bass let out a long whistle, and Keyen pulled back glaring at him.

“What?” Bass tried to look innocent but failed. “Someone has to watch over you two. And, don’t worry about Rori. We’ll take her with us. We’re going to the new place one of the med-techs told us about down on the wharf. I won’t even let her get anything too spicy.”

Rori wasn’t sure she really wanted to go, but, picking up the ease in Keyen, agreed. “Sure that sounds good.” Still she caught Keyen’s hand, leaning into him, dropping her voice low. “Hiymm’s concerned. Something is wrong.” She wished she knew more, but there were no answers for the question she saw in Keyen’s eyes, or felt hanging in the air from the others in the room.

Keyen nodded. “I’d better go. I’ll let you know later.” He brushed another kiss against her cheek and turned. Tankin fell into step with him as they followed Orn out.

A few minutes later, they met Hiymm and Tasc in the corridor outside the council hall and strode in together. All eyes rested on the Guardians. Only the first tier of the chamber was occupied, but in two days, every one of the hundred and seventy-two seats would be filled with the regional delegates and their aids.

Keyen followed Orn’s lead and took up the position right behind Hiymm with Tankin at his side. It wasn’t the first time Keyen had stood in front of the council leaders but, this time, he had no idea why he was there.

“Manning, what is this?” A gray-haired man in the center seat addressed Hiymm.

“They should be here,” Hiymm said directly.

“Guardians are not the security detail over the council,” a portly, bald man on the side said.

“No, but they will be the ones who have to handle the trouble once it arises since you won’t postpone the meetings,” Hiymm said forcefully.

Several of the fifteen men and woman in the room huffed and others shifted in their seats.

“We’ve already discussed this,” the portly man spoke again. “There is no indication the council conference is in danger.”

“I disagree.” Hiymm stepped forward. “There is every indication. Recent attacks that we’ve been experiencing raises concerns.”

“What do attacks on utility facilities or on a festival have to do with a council meeting?” A woman spoke up, and though she tried to show strength, a tremor vibrated in her voice.