“You’re lucky you got most of the brains in the family.” Kara gave him a cheeky smile over her shoulder and walked into the conference room.
“There you are. Sit down and let’s finish this up. You’ll be going alone for this first mission.” The king motioned for Nojan and Kara to come into the room.
The rest of Nojan’s brothers were already seated around the table, including Marek. Jazmine stood behind him with a warm smile on her pretty face. The fact that they’d used the transport had them there on time, but it was worth being late to have walked the long way back home.
Why couldn’t the oracle be beautiful like Jaz? That would be an adventure worth seeking.
“I still think it’s a mistake to send Nojan on his own, Father. He’s not a fighter.” Marek shook his head and kept his eyes on the king.
“We don’t need a fighter,” the queen said. “We need someone who can traverse the solar system and deal diplomatically with Rantel. Your brother is by far the most educated of all of us. He’s studied everything, including the ways of the cat-people. He will do beautifully. Won’t you?”
“Of course, Mother.” Nojan set his bag down and dropped down in the chair beside his mother. “And all I need to do is retrieve the girl and bring her back here?”
“Yes. Exactly.” The king took his seat as well and pressed a few buttons on the table in front of him, causing a 3D image of Vanfia to rise before them. “The castle is at the far end of the planet, but it’s a small trip for you to make on foot. The marketplace is right after you port and exit. Tarry there a little and buy a few things so that they believe you to just be a traveling merchant, or even perhaps a vacationer.”
“Is there danger for a Territh-looking man on Vanfia, Father?” Zelup spoke up, grabbing everyone’s attention. He was the strictest and most proper of the royal family. With his eye set on the crown, he was willing to play any part given to him and take any role necessary to ensure that after Marek’s reign was over, his was next and would be the most successful.
“No. They’re looking for Jazmine, from what our spies tell us, but there are a lot of Territhian males that come to Vanfia looking for a pet of sorts.” The king smirked.
A chuckle resounded around the room, but it was Kara who responded.
“They have no clue what they’re getting their hands on. What might look like a docile pussy is in fact a vicious bitch with claws.”
Another round of laughter. Nojan couldn’t help but notice the way Jazmine’s cheeks colored as they spoke bluntly as a family.Beautiful.
“Right, so we need you to mill around the marketplace, son, and then make your way to the king’s courts. Take with you something of great worth and use it to get into the center of the court. The king likes fine linen more than anything else. Whatever you need, Calabaz can help you get it.”
Nojan glanced over to his brother, Calabaz, who seemed to be half asleep.
“Yep, I’ll help,” the large brute mumbled and yawned loudly. Another night of seeing how many women he could handle at one time, no doubt. The idiot was insatiable with his lust.
“Good. Get to the girl and tell her that you’re there to help her.” The king turned his dark eyes back on Nojan. “She will not be trusting, I don’t think.”
“She will.” Kara tapped the table. “She’s got a spark of hope deep inside of her all of a sudden. It started about a week ago. I’d say that she’s seen Nojan. Or her mentor has.”
“Mentor?” Jazmine asked.
“Oracles have mentors.” Kara turned to address her. “They are trained in the ways of the older seer, and when the time comes, their powers are unleashed, and they take the position of their elder.”
“Interesting.” Jaz glanced over at Marek. “How are their powers unleashed?”
“It can be different for everyone, right, Nojan?” Marek responded, turning his gaze on Nojan.
“Exactly. I’ve studied them quite a bit since finding out that Kara could locate Caleb but not penetrate the darkness of Danzmin. We need a strong unblemished oracle. This girl will be perfect.” Nojan smiled at Jaz. “They can be unlocked by the power of love, some sex, some hate. Others have been unlocked by receiving a blessing or sustaining a curse. It’s individual to each of them, as Marek mentioned. The girl will know how to unlock herself. We’ll just provide whatever emotion or experience needed to get her there.”
“Unless she needs sex and she’s as hideous as they say she is.” Calabaz laughed, but he was the only one.
“We’ll do whatever is necessary to awaken her and gain her help in our search for Jazmine’s brother.” The king stood. “Nojan, we have a large craft being prepared, unless you’d like to use the smaller cruiser your brother just used on his journey.”
“It’s got good luck in it, no doubt.” Marek smirked and stood up to pull Jaz to him.
“I’d like to take the smaller one please.” Nojan leaned back in his seat. “When do I leave?”
“After you get a haircut and make yourself more presentable.” His mother reached over and tugged at his hair. “You almost look like a female.”
He rolled his eyes as his brothers started to give him hell about his boyish good looks.
“All right, all right, settle down. I’m going to get the girl and bring her home. Wish me luck that I can stand to look at her.” Nojan winked and walked out of the room, not quite capable of shaking the haunted look on Kara’s face at his words.
What the hell had happened to the Territhian to make her so vile? Could he force himself to pretend as if she wasn’t?
Yes. Without a doubt in his mind. He would look to her heart to define her beauty instead.
