Rebellion (18 page)

It was difficult to feel sympathy for the arrogant albino. “It’s not your fault she was kidnapped,” Dani said. “We had no way of knowing she was in any danger.”

“Even so. Please do not go anywhere without one on you.”

Ian slipped the small device into his pocket. “This is standard equipment from now on.”

“Yes, sir,” Armond said.

The ride to the Sordina’s small home took less than ten minutes. It was a pretty place sitting on an unpaved road a few hundred yards off a minor access route into town. Tall trees blocked the view of the road but once they stood on the front porch, which overlooked the treetops, it was beautiful. The water in the bay sparkled in the late morning sun and the northern cliffs were visible in the distance. An intricately carved wooden plaque hung next to the door.
Sordina Woodworkers. Please Come In.

Ian pulled the screen door open, and Dani stepped inside. The entire bottom floor was a woodworking shop. It smelled of fresh wood and acidic varnish.

The sound of footsteps descending from above told them they weren’t alone. Dani hoped it was Ty’s mother or father. An older man came down the stairs. He had gray hair, a kind face, and a bulbous nose. From the look of his robes, he was a priest of some kind. He carried a large burlap sack and halted the moment he saw them. “Good day, brethren. May the Mother Goddess smile upon you.”

“And you, Father,” Ian said stepping forward to shake the man’s hand. “Are you Mr. Sordina?”

“No, no. I’m Father Arlo, but please, just Arlo. I’m here to take care of the place for them.” He paused a moment to look at each of them. “I assume you’ve heard about the boy, Ty?”

“That’s why we’re here,” Dani said, stepping forward to introduce herself. Armond followed suit.

“Ah.” The priest set down the bag and shook his finger at them. “You’re the EPs. From the Cavacent clan, yes? You captured Ty.”

Dani told Ian,
“He doesn’t feel hostile. More like hopeful.”

“That’s correct,” Ian said, not offering anything further.

“I didn’t realize you were back on Mitah. But of course you would be with one of yours missing.”

“That’s right.” Again, Ian kept his response to a minimum.

The priest was agitated. He tapped his fingers together, then seemed to make up his mind about something. “Do you have a moment?”

“Do you know something about Ria?” Dani couldn’t stop herself.

Arlo frowned. “Yes and no.” He held a finger to his lips. He went to the front door and peeked out, looking left and right before securing the deadbolt. “Please, follow me.”

He led them to the back of the shop and out onto a porch. He kept his voice low. “How much do you know, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Dani looked to Ian who gave her the go-ahead. “We know that Ty killed a high-ranking security official. We know that Ty is a Curzan, not the Mitan he pretended to be. And we know he kidnapped Ria.”

“Yes, yes. All true. But as is so often the case, the truth is multifaceted.” He paused again. “I have no idea why he took your EP, but I can assure you, she’s safe.”

“He killed a man in cold blood,” Dani said.

Arlo’s fingers were interwoven, and he flexed them repeatedly. “Leon Jara was not a good being. That does not excuse Ty, but there are many who wish they’d done the deed.”

“That’s not enough to convince me she’s all right,” Ian said.

“I’m quite sure she’s fine.”

Armond who’d stood silently watching the proceedings, spoke up. “You know this to be fact.” It wasn’t a question.

“I do,” Arlo said, quietly, scanning the forest around them.

“How?” Dani asked. “How do you know?”

“Let’s just say, I’ve heard things.”

“Where is she?” Dani said. “We need to talk to her.”

“I don’t know where she is, just that she is well enough.”

“Look,” Ian said, stepping inches away from the priest, “we’re not going to play games with you. How do we find her?”

“I assure you these are not games. They are, in fact, a matter of life and death. Ty has started something that isn’t going to end well. Not without help from the outside.”

“Outside?” Ian asked.

“Outside of our government on Mitah. It is no secret that your father is very powerful and has connections in the GTO. I beg you to get a message to him. It is fairly clear that the Curzans on this planet, psi-abled Curzans”—he raised his eyebrows to emphasize the point—“face imminent mass genocide unless someone can stop Chancellor Mortog.”

“That is no small accusation, Father.”

For the next ten minutes, the priest told them of a series of murders that had occurred at an increasing pace. Finally, he got to the old man, Jafferies, who Darl had investigated.

“We heard about Jafferies,” Dani said. “He’d lived here a long time.”

“Over thirty years. In peace. He was dying a slow, painful death from a malady that is easily cured in Mitan med centers. But he wasn’t Mitan, you see. So he could not get treatment.”

“They don’t give Curzans access to meds?” Ian asked.

“Only if their owners provide the necessary paperwork. As a Mitan, he had no owner and DNA testing is standard procedure for everyone. He would have been found out.”

“Oh God, Ian. This is getting worse and worse.”
Dani wanted to take her psi-mate’s hand but kept still.

“Curzans are not the near animals you’ve been led to believe. Many of them, although not all, have psi, and they are every bit as intelligent as any Mitan. Education is denied them, as is basic freedom. It has been thus for so long, it is ingrained into the culture on this planet. Many are opening their eyes and seeing the truth, but Mortog wants nothing to do with equality.”

“My father isn’t as powerful as Arlo seems to think,”
Ian said to her.

“He’s friends with Supreme Commander, Torril Anantha. That’s more power than most people.”

“And the GTO’s resourses are already spread too thin. Mitah may throw a nice ball once a year, but it has little or no other significance.”

“We have to try to help.”

Ian nodded. “I’ll contact my father, but don’t get your hopes up. I don’t know how much we can do.”

“It’s a start. Thank you.”

“Arlo,” Dani said, “are you a Curzan?”

“No. I simply recognized the injustice from a young age. I’ve spent my life making a safe place for them to live and grow. I fear it is all falling apart.”

“You should be safe though, right?” Dani asked.

“I’m afraid not. If Sou or any of his people find out how much I’ve done for the Curzans, my life will be forfeit.”

Dani made up her mind. “I don’t know how, but we’re going to help you.”

“I felt it would be worth the risk to talk to you. I’m glad I was right.”

“Can you get a message to Ria?” Ian asked.

“Eventually. I never know when or where I will be contacted. The Starfall Underground is hiding them, along with those that live here in this house.”

“Tell them about us,” Dani said on impulse.

“Dani, don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

She gave the love of her life a scathing look.

“Okay, okay.” Ian raised his hands. “We’ll do everything we can.”

The priest smiled at the two. It was an honest, kind smile.

Ria delicately turned a page of the ancient handwritten journal she and Bella were working on. An uneasy truce had settled over the occupants of the lodge. Everyone but Trin was gathered around the table, poring over the mysterious texts. Ria shared Bella’s fascination with the journal and spent most of her time on it.

Olivia sat next to Ty, cross-referencing a notebook and one of the many texts.

Ria was bothered by Olivia’s proximity to Ty. The fact she was bothered by it also annoyed her. She frowned at the pair and twirled a strand of red hair around her finger.

Since she and Ty had bonded the day before, they’d kept their distance. It wasn’t a perfect pairing by any stretch. They should be talking, getting to know each other, but she didn’t know how to do that when there was so much distrust between them. One thing was clear. It was getting harder to stay apart. She knew from her experience with Dani and Ian that she and Ty couldn’t stay away forever. Soon the tension and desire would bring them together again whether they wanted it or not. She was torn between anger and anticipation.

The notebook Ty had created was full of possible keys to the language they labored over. Ria wasn’t sure she could have produced such a thing. He caught her looking at him, and she quickly pulled her hand away from her hair.

“That’s really impressive.” She said, nodding at the note pad.

He looked at her a moment and put his pen down before leaning back in his chair with arms crossed. “Did you think I couldn’t do something like this?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She didn’t appreciate his tone.

“I suppose you’ve heard that Curzans lack intelligence.”

“Yeah, I heard that.” She leaned forward on her elbows. What was his problem? “Intelligence and morals,” she said, getting really pissed now.

“You want to talk about lacking morals?” Ty slammed his hands on the table. He clipped a pen that flew into the air and landed with a clatter on the floor.

Olivia glared at Ria while she reached down and retrieved the pen. When she handed it to Ty, she brushed his fingers.

It was a provocative motion and the jealousy that flared sent Ria over the edge. “Okay, let’s talk morals. Why don’t we start with the morality of kidnapping?”

“Oy.” Merek leapt to his feet and took Ria’s upper arm, pulling her to a stand. “I think I hear Trin calling from the kitchen. I’m sure she could use some help.” He practically dragged her down the hall. “You two with your tempers.” He shook his head when they were out of sight.

“All I said was that key he’s working on was impressive.” Ria pulled her arm away but kept in step with him. The anger slid away. “I’m sorry, Merek. I shouldn’t have made that comment about morals. Curzans aren’t what they’re made out to be.”

“No, we’re not.” He stopped just inside the kitchen. “I’m glad you can see that for yourself.”

Trin turned to see what was going on.

“I’m not kidding about your temper,” Merek said. “Ty’s is bad enough. We can’t have both of you going off.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “This is like no bonding I’ve ever heard of. That’s the truth. Stay here. Help Trin. And, please, try not to set him off.”

She wanted to point out that it hadn’t been her fault. She’d complimented the man, for frack’s sake. But Merek wasn’t looking at her with anger or malice. It was more of a helpless frustration.

“Go on,” Trin said to her husband. “And take this with you. These should calm him down.” She plucked a plate of cookies off the counter and waited for Ria to take one before handing it to Merek.

After he was gone, Ria took a bite. “Hm, that’s really good.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“You’re a good mom.” Ria smiled at her, but Trin didn’t return the look.

“I’m not his biological mother.”

“But, I thought—”

“You thought what you were supposed to think.” She wiped her hands on the dishtowel she was holding and placed it on the counter. “You want to know why he hates Sandarian military so much?”

Ria wasn’t entirely sure she did, but if it helped her understand him, it was worth a shot. She took another bite and simply nodded.

“It was just over fifteen years ago now. Ty’s folks were secretly schooling the Curzan children in the woods.”

“Why secretly?”

“Because Curzans are forbidden to learn, to educate themselves.”

The cookie went dry in her mouth. She didn’t want to ask the question but had to. “What happened?”

“That man he killed at the ball, Leon Jara? He killed Ty’s parents in front of the class they were teaching. In front of him. It was almost an hour before the other Curzan parents showed up to collect their kids and found the carnage.”

Ria’s stomach churned. She thought back to the morning she and Ty bonded, and knew, without a doubt, the faces she’d seen were his parents.

“Jara recently returned from another stint in your beloved military,” Trin continued. “They say he picked up where he left off where Curzans were concerned.”

Ria chaffed at the term “beloved military,” but the extent to which these people had been repressed made her ill. Earth had plenty history of entire peoples slaughtered or enslaved. Her gut dropped as she imagined a young Ty hovering over the lifeless bodies of his parents. Anger boiled, and she knew she would have done the same thing.
Oh, Ty. We need to start over. Neither of us are what the other thought.
She had to try to help. Surely, Rucon could do something?

“I left the military when I discovered it was as corrupt as our emperor,” Ria said, needing to explain, however little. “They’re turning things around now. Weeding out those who don’t value basic rights and liberties. I know because I have friends still there. Friends who wanted to stick it out and make a difference. They didn’t bail, like me.”

Trin took Ria’s hand. “There’s no shame in not doing what you know is wrong, child. What is a shame is what’s going on with you and Ty right now. You two are never going to be able to stay apart for long. This relationship needs fixing. I know there’s a lot of anger in him, but there’s a lot of love to be had there, too.” She squeezed Ria’s hand and let it go. “Now come on, help me with dinner.”

Ria stayed in the kitchen another hour. She needed the time to process what Trin had said. She couldn’t deny the fluttering in her stomach at the mention of love. Ty was starting to make sense, which was kind of nice since nothing else about this situation did.

During dinner, Ty sat as far away as possible. It wasn’t working any longer, however, and they both knew it. Neither of them could hold still, and every time their eyes met by chance, a thrill bolted through her core. She was losing it. She needed the feel of his skin on hers. She tried to put a stop to the thoughts, but it was no use. She rose abruptly and made some excuse about not feeling well. Strictly speaking, it was true. She took her plate to the kitchen and set it in the sink. She sensed Ty a moment before he placed his hands on her hips and turned her around.