“’Tis a vow I will protect you always,” Dari murmured into his ear. “Know that with a certainty.”
Bazi nodded through his tears. “And I vow to protect you forevermore, milady. I would that I could learn to fight so I can look after you always.”
She smiled though he couldn’t see it. “One day you will be the fiercest warrior in all of Trek Mi Q’an.”
“The entire galaxy?”
“Aye.”
At last he looked up. The boy’s glowing gold gaze reminded her of High Lord Death’s. ‘Twas a fairly common color, yet one of her favoreds nonetheless. “When can I train? Would High Lord Gio allow me to learn from him?”
“Mayhap when you come of age. Until then…”
“Aye?”
“You’ve your letters to learn.”
One of his bare feet kicked the grass. “Do all warriors know their letters?”
“Aye.” Dari patted his leg. “But afore we recommence your lessons, let’s get you cleaned up and fed.”
* * * * *
“I had to confess some of the king’s depravity to Qenda that she might aid me in the hiding of Bazi.”
“Did she aid you?”
“Aye. Leastways, she did until ‘twas time for me to remove her to Galis.”
“I’m curious as to how you made it to Trader City in the first. That ‘twas when you recorded your first holo-call for Jana and Kara, was it not?”
“Aye.” Dari held onto Klykka’s hand tighter within the void. She could feel Kari growing weak. “’Twas nigh unto simple, really. I asked Gio if I could escort Qenda to Trader City that I might see her off to Galis. He gave me his aye, but insisted upon accompanying us.”
“And you recorded the holo-call whilst he was distracted, I presume?”
“Aye. I didn’t have but a few stolen moments so I made the most of them.”
“You did well, child.”
“I’m no longer a child.”
Klykka’s laugh was melodic. “When you have seen as many moon-risings as have I, everyone becomes a child to you. I—”
Kari fell to the ground, depleted. The void instantly vanished, leaving Dari with a strong if brief headache. ‘Twas enough to make her cry out.
“It will pass,” Kari assured her between pants. Her naked body fair dripped of sweat. “Steady yourself.”
Dari did just that even as her stomach lurched. “Thehyatziis broken, Kari. What shall we do?”
“No worries. My sister Klykka will take the information you gave her to the Chief High Mystik. If anyone outside Khan-Gor knows of that tree, it’ll be her.”
“Mayhap the High Priestess Ari would know.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Quite frankly, I place my faith in Klykka’s judgment.” She was so weak her very voice was hoarse, yet she managed to make it up to her knees. “In the meantime we need to get our long range transmitters back up and working so she can contact us with her findings.”
Dari suddenly became aware of her nakedness. “We must talk of this later. Bazi could wake up at anyNuba-second. I would not have the boy-child who has become so much my son see me like this.”
Kari nodded in as much as she could find the strength to. “Help me up. We both need to bathe and dress.”
