Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice (33 page)

Cace deleted all the dots except the one he
had placed and took a deep breath. “They also recognized that a
rare number of these locations were coupled with constant high heat
signatures.” Cace brought up the overlay showing temperature. The
area beneath the red dot glowed red, signifying heat, while all
around shone muted shades of blue, suggesting cold.

Cale stared at the hologram. “That’s over
Deanaim—the site of a known portal.”

“Yes!” Cace said with excitement. “And it’s
cooler than it was just a few days ago. Was Erynn successful in
closing that particular portal?”

Grame chuffed. “It doesn’t mean anything.
Temperature fluctuations can occur for many reasons, the most
common being seismic activity.” He glanced at the hologram. “As for
the corresponding high EMF, it’s a coincidence. It’s just,
well…it’s science.” Grame frowned, his head tipped. He turned from
Cace to glare at Cale. “You’re talking about the myth of Dhoran and
his portals between the surface and underworld? Really, General, a
man of your intelligence and rank can’t possibly believe in ancient
tales told to scare and entertain children.” He glanced at Cace
again. “You’re relying on information gathered from unproven
relics, based solely on this boy’s interpretation. Do you think
this is some prophecy of the end of the world? It’s a disruption of
our
real
work this evening. And for what? Certainly nothing
to go all doom and gloom over.”

Cace spun on Grame. “You’re wrong. It is the
end of the worlds. If we don’t stop the potential imbalance…” Cace
bit back the remainder of his retort and faced the monitor again,
uncertain how much he should share outside of Cale and Aven.

Cale squared his shoulders. “I happen to
trust Cace. If you’re unhappy here I can see to it that you receive
a transfer. Tiatac on the upper pole, perhaps?”

Grame’s jaw tightened, but he kept
silent.

Aven put his hand on Cace’s shoulder and
squeezed. “We believe you, Cace.”

Cace mentally shook off his uncertainty. Long
dark hair now shiny and thick flowed across his back and over his
shoulders. “I haven’t been able to accurately translate all the
symbols. Some of what I have deciphered seems…crazy. The plates
tell of an equilibrium between the realms of Arranon’s underworld
and the surface. Korin is mentioned as a vital part of this
stability as well.” Cace frowned and stripped off his coat, even
though the room was kept chilled. He turned in his chair to the
computer. His fingers flew across the keyscreen. A similar
three-dimensional view of Korin cleared before them. “There is a
coordinate that doesn’t match any on Arranon.” Cace placed the
overlays and stared up at the three-dimensional image floating
before him. An anomaly of high EMF and uncommon heat glowed from
the surface of Korin. “There’s a fifth portal on Korin?” He turned
to Cale. “I need answers to these questions and more. Much more. I
need access to information my personal computer can’t give me. I
need to talk to Erynn. She knows more than any of the rest of us do
about the portals. Erynn’s seen two of them.”

Aven nodded. “We can contact Jaer. He’s with
Erynn. I’ll take a transport with a team of Anbas.” He straightened
and fisted his hands. “We’ll go get them.”

Grame gazed from Cale to Aven and back.
“General Athru, you aren’t seriously considering this analysis to
be true? Even the boy says he’s not sure of the translations and
that some of this doesn’t make sense.”

Cale ignored Grame. “No, Aven. Travel in this
storm is too dangerous. I’ve never seen a blizzard of this
magnitude so early in the season.” He turned to Grame. Cale’s
intimidating tone left no room for debate. “Cace is to be given
free access to this unit—to any equipment and assistance he needs.
Have I made this request clear?”

Grame swallowed and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Cale faced Cace. “What do you need?”

“If I could use one of these computers, my
analysis of the plates and their symbols would go much faster.”

“You got it. Anything else?”

“Well, I could run the plates through the
scanner here and have them filed in the computer. That would give
me a basic start to compiling a reference record and building a
vocabulary.” Cace pulled the e-pad out of his pocket and set it on
the desk. “I have one started on this, but it’s not very
sophisticated.”

“I’ll go back and get the plates.” Aven
turned and hurried out of the Science Unit.

Grame stepped forward, addressing Cace. “Do
you need any help?”

“Not yet. But as the file grows, someone
entering correlations between the symbols and their meaning would
be good.”

“Let me know when you’re there.” Grame nodded
and walked around the circular desk to his seat on the far
side.

“Cace, I know you’re excited. Running on
adrenaline. But I don’t want you spending all your time here.” Cale
leaned over Cace’s shoulder. “I’ll contact your mother and tell her
you’ll be back in…sixty timnents. If you get sick, we’re lost.”

Cace tipped his head, his voice low. “The
plates don’t just focus on Arranon’s history, they refer directly
to Dhoran. A lot. I didn’t know how much I should say in front
of…well, the Science Unit techs.” He watched Cale for a reaction.
“And I feel great, Cale. When Erynn visited me in the Medical Unit
that first time I met her, something happened. She says she didn’t
do anything. But she did.”

Cale smiled and leaned in to Cace so he could
whisper. “Well, that should be our little secret. Yours, mine, and
Erynn’s.”

“I won’t tell Byan Nev.” Cace frowned, turned
from Cale’s scrutiny, and stared at the desk’s surface. “I
appreciate all he’s done for me, but…”

“But what, Cace?” Cale’s voice was quiet,
tense.

“I don’t know. There’s something different
about him lately. Something’s off.” Cace shook his head and sighed.
“I don’t know, Cale. It’s nothing I can pinpoint—just a
feeling.”

Cale nodded. “Follow your instincts, Cace.
And if you come up with anything more specific on the byan, I want
to hear about it.” He patted Cace’s shoulder. “Anything.” Cale
straightened. “Remember, sixty timnents—no more. You can return
tomorrow after you’ve slept. When you’re comfortable with more of
your translations, I want you to come to me with a full report.
Just between us for now, okay?”

Cace nodded and turned his attention to the
work before him. He had sixty timnents to convince Cale. Storm or
not, Erynn needed to get back to the base now.

Dhoran shivered and pulled the blankets
tighter around his neck. His time spent back underground was all
too short, reminding him of how much he disliked the cold of the
surface.

The COM next to his bed chimed.

He withdrew his arm from the warm covers and
depressed a switch. He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

Maire’s sleepy voice sounded muffled through
the COM. “Nev, I’m sorry to disturb you. Grame from the Science
Unit is here. He’s having one of his headaches again. I’ll handle
it, if you want.”

Dhoran sat up and rubbed his eyes. “This
better be good news,” he whispered and his voice cracked. The words
were nearly unintelligible, more growl than speech. This was
happening more often now. He found it necessary to concentrate on
speaking, being careful to articulate. Dhoran wasn’t upset by these
occurrences. His true self was taking over, growing dominant. The
body he inhabited was changing to conform. Soon, nothing but the
suppressed consciousness of Nev would remain. He pressed the
switch. “No. I’ll be right there, Maire. Give me five
timnents.”

Dhoran’s time on the surface was running out.
This encouraged him. He would only have to hold out until Erynn
returned. A few more days, and Jaer would no longer be an issue. He
would see to it that Erynn witnessed Jaer’s fall. Dhoran’s lips
turned in a sneering smile. Shan had been more helpful to his cause
than he had first anticipated. Dhoran could then take Erynn below.
She would either adjust to this or not. It didn’t matter to him.
She was a tool, nothing else. If she could be controlled, he would
allow her contact with their sons and daughters. If not, other
women would willingly raise his children in the manner he
dictated.

“We’ll be in exam one. Is there anything you
need?”

“No, Maire.” Dhoran chuckled, the laugh light
and cheerful. “Have I told you how much I appreciate you?”

Dhoran left his quarters and entered the
bright wide hall. He turned left at the end of the corridor next to
reception and pushed through the door to exam one.

An overhead light glared down on Grame. He
rested in a narrow bed, a moist towel over his eyes. “Sorry, Byan.
I tried to wait it out till morning. The pain just kept getting
worse.” He pulled the towel aside and squinted up at Dhoran.

“That’s all right, Grame. Byan Skye got the
unit running so efficiently while I was gone, it practically takes
care of itself. Leaves me very little to do anymore.”

Maire frowned, hands on hips. “That’s not
true. You do all the important things, like saving lives and easing
pain.”

Dhoran smiled, careful not to show the
elongated incisors forming in his upper jaw. “You can go back to
your quarters, Maire. I can handle this.”

When the door slid shut, Dhoran spun on
Grame, grasping his throat. “What was so important you would risk
coming to me in the middle of the night?” Menace edged his tone—a
husky, low, gravely rumble, much like a recording played at half
speed. Dhoran’s nostrils flared. The scent of Grame’s fear was
strong.

Grame sputtered and choked, speaking around
the strong fingers squeezing his neck. “My Lord, I know where Erynn
is.”

Dhoran released his hold and shoved, bouncing
Grame against the thin mattress.

The cot creaked and groaned with the
force.

“Where?”

Grame jumped off the bed and bowed. “My Lord,
she is with Jaer. When this storm moves through, they will
return.”

Dhoran stood to his full height, stretching
Nev’s clothing to the ripping point. “Jaer.” The name of his rival
rolled from his tongue, a foul taste to be spat out. Eyes narrowed,
he leaned over Grame and growled. “This doesn’t tell me where Erynn
is.” The lights in the room flickered.

Grame stayed in a low bow. “No, My Lord.
There is more. Cale believes he has found the location of the
portals.”

Dhoran pounced, pressing Grame against the
wall. “This is nothing new. Better men than Cale Athru have
searched the far reaches of Arranon and died for their efforts. The
only one to come close sacrificed himself to trap me in death.”
Dhoran bared his teeth and pressed his forehead against Grame’s. “I
think you see how well that turned out for him.”

Grame sucked in a breath, his eyes wide.
“Y-yes, My Lord. B-but…I saw the proof.”

Dhoran frowned, stepped back, and dropped
Grame. “Impossible.”

Grame scrambled to his feet, rubbing at his
neck. “I tried to belie the data.” He cleared his throat. “My Lord,
the boy, Cace, has translated some ancient tablets brought from
Deanaim. They clearly mark the whereabouts of the portals. There
was other information from the inscriptions, but the boy wouldn’t
talk freely in front of me.”

“The Olas Imian.”

I killed the man who made those tablets
and destroyed them myself. How
…?

Grame backed toward the door. “There is one
more thing, My Lord. I know what Erynn has been doing.”

Dhoran stared at the blank wall where Grame
once cowered. “Go on.”

“She’s been seeking the whereabouts of the
portals and closing them. They believe Erynn’s succeeded in closing
the portal at Deanaim.”

If those plates do tell of the locations
of the other portals…I recall the plates I destroyed also gave away
some of my most guarded secrets. Could they have been reproduced
without my knowledge
?

“I’ll need you to recover the plates, Grame.
Bring them to me.”

“I anticipated this, My Lord. They are safe
in my quarters. But, My Lord, they have already been scanned into
the computers. The boy, Cace, can translate the symbols from the
copies.”

Dhoran nodded. “Go get the plates. Bring them
to me. Access to the main computer is possible from this unit, from
my private office. You can spend the rest of your shift there,
altering the copy files.”

Grame shriveled at this new order. “Yes, My
Lord. But…I…The symbols mean nothing to me. The results would
be—”

“I will assist you.”

Grame appeared to sink in on his already
deflated posture. “Yes, My Lord. What about the boy?”

“I’ll take care of Cace. Now go,” Dhoran
commanded in a low threatening growl.

Grame was gone before Dhoran finished the
order.

Dhoran fisted his hands. The sleeves of the
jumpsuit split to the shoulders, revealing the smooth, shining
red-gold scales of his powerful arms. “I believe it’s time Byan Nev
made a house call to see how Cace is doing.”

With a final sparking pop, the lights in the
exam room went out.

OUT OF A STORM-DARKENED sky, the massive
stone lodge appeared nestled in a dense forest. Trees dusted with
an icy glaze swayed, bending in the strong wind. Snow swirled,
grasped at the gray rockwork, and stuck to outside walls. A deep
blanket of white clung precariously to the tall, sloping roof. Pale
smoke rose from chimneys dotting the pristine space.

Jaer pulled up to the stone steps below the
entry, and the speeder’s soft whine stopped. The two men following
on the smaller vehicles continued around the long building to the
right.

Erynn shivered. Her teeth chattered despite
the heavy jumpsuit, coat, and full helmet. Even Jaer’s warmth with
her arms wrapped around him couldn’t keep out the chill. The
thought of a warm fire, a hot shower, and a decent meal had her
ready to jump off the speeder and run to the lodge’s wooden
doors.