The Vartik shook his head. “Oh no,” he said. “You’ll have to give me a little more than that.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, suddenly queasy. Mayra pushed back her chair and stood, making her way over to the viewscreen. Lights were flashing by all around the ship and she watched as worlds came and went.
She felt him move up behind her. “Was the food not to your liking?” he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“It was wonderful,” she breathed, meaning it. His food was the best thing she’d ever eaten in her whole miserable life. “Thank you so much for providing it.”
“Of course,” he replied. “If it wasn’t the food that gave you pause, what was it? It seemed like you went into your own little world for a moment.”
Mayra nodded but wasn’t sure exactly what to say. Should she tell him about the vision? She knew he intended to use her powers as an oracle to his benefit. If she told him she’d already seen something, he might begin pushing her for more answers, answers she didn’t have. Never having had such flashes of insight before, Mayra didn’t know how to control them or whether there would be any more.
With a sigh, she decided she had to tell him. They were bound together now, whether either of them liked it or not. And although she didn’t entirely trust him, so far he’d been nothing but kind to her. Besides, the vision had seemed to pertain to her specifically and not just their journey together.
That old woman had seemed familiar, although she couldn’t place her. She hadn’t met many Territhians in her life, and certainly not an old woman. Alien female slaves didn’t live long lives on Vanfia. Had the old woman been calling to her, to Mayra specifically? Maybe the Vartik male would be willing to help her determine why.
“I had a vision,” she whispered, the words tumbling out. “I was floating above Territh, watching its moon in orbit. I think I’m supposed to go there.”
“Territh’s moon,” he mused from behind her. “You mean the lunar colonies?”
Mayra nodded. It sounded right. “I saw a city of domes.”
The Vartik turned her around to face him. “That’s the lunar colonies, all right. Do you know why you’re to go there?”
She shook her head in response. “I saw an old woman, a blue-crystal orb, and a book. That’s all I know.”
“Hmm,” he said, releasing her and moving toward the ship’s console. He extracted something from a container and brought it back to her. “Speaking of blue-crystal orbs,” he said, holding up her necklace before fitting it around her neck, “that one’s called the Eye of Tomorrow.”
Mayra clutched the charm in her hand.The Eye of Tomorrow. Could that be the orb in her vision? It seemed both like it was and like it wasn’t. She couldn’t be sure.
The Vartik had already returned to the console, and now he was tapping at it, entering something into the ship’s systems.
“What are you doing?” she asked, moving closer to him.
“I’m entering the coordinates for the lunar colonies of Territh,” he replied.
“You are? You’ll take me there?”
He nodded. “Of course. Whatever your vision was, it must have something to do with our mission.”
Mayra wasn’t sure he was correct, but she was glad he was willing to take the risk. “Thank you, sire,” she said softly.
He turned to her, putting a finger under her chin to tilt her face up and force her to meet his gaze. “The name is Nojan. Say it.”
His chestnut eyes bored into hers and she felt the weight of his will on her again. “Nojan,” she breathed, liking the feel of his name on her lips.
He must have enjoyed it too because he gave a groan and leaned in, claiming her lips in a fiery kiss.
