All warriors fell silent as they watched the two wenches clutch hands. The princess immediately cried out, as if in agony, but kept a firm grasp on Kari.
“Do not resist it,” Kari breathed out. ‘Twas sorely apparent that speaking whilst in this trance-like state exhausted her in the extreme. “Let the silver waters engulf you. There is safety here.”
The warriors exchanged a bewildered look.
All eyes turned back to theholo-screenas the princess gasped for breath. Gio’s hearts rate soared. “’Tis as if Dari is drowning, yet I see naught of these silver waters.”
“By the goddess,” the Emperor murmured, his glowing blue gaze fascinated, “the Galians have mastered a way to communicate with each other using naught but the power of their minds.”
That pronouncement sent chills of awe and foreboding down their spines. Every warrior watching this scene unfold recognized ‘twas the only explanation. Kari and Dari were communicating with someone.
But with whom?
* * * * *
Dari cried out at the stabbing pain piercing her entire body as she was transported into the void by the Gy’at Lis. Her head felt like agel-firestorm had hit it, causing her belly to lurch with nausea.
“Do not fight the void,” Kari again instructed her. The tone of her voice was soothing. “You are safe in here with me. Let the silver water in.”
The princess ceased gasping for breath and her hearts rate immediately slowed. One moment she had felt nigh close to drowning and the very next she was at peace. The mirror-like waters engulfed her, fueled her, and protected her as though ‘twas a living thing. Mayhap it was.
“Greetings, Princess Dari Q’ana Tal. Take my hand.”
Dari’s gaze slowly focused. A beautiful, naked woman with hair as black as night, skin the tanned color of her sire’s, and eyes a striking shade of purple stood before her. ‘Twas Klykka—the High Mystik of the Gy’at Li sector and Kari’s adoptive sister.
“Do not be afraid, child. You know me in truth so do not fear me in the void.”
Aye. She did know her. The High Mystik had granted her, her sister Jana, and her cousin Kara political asylum within her sector. So why did she hesitate?
“You have grown too accustomed to keeping your own counsel.” Klykka’s sharp gaze softened. “’Tis a pity, that.”
Dari inclined her head. “I mean no disrespect.”
“We know,” Kari said. Her long, curly hair so much the color of the fire-berry cascaded down her shoulders and covered one breast. “Take Klykka’s hand as you’ve taken mine. I cannot keep you here without my sister’s help. We must all three remain connected and Klykka is stronger than me.”
“’Twill be alright, child,” Klykka murmured, “Just take my hand.”
Trust did not come easily to Dari. For a certainty it never had. Yet she was exhausted in the extreme from keeping her guard up every bedamned Nuba-second of her life. Her years on Arak had done naught but made that tendency worse.
Hesitantly at first, but steadily thereafter, the princess extended one dark hand to the High Mystik. Klykka smiled. She firmly grasped the princess’ hand.
Kari’s body instantly relaxed. Dari’s eyes widened. Leastways, now she understood the physical and spiritual toll her reticence had cost the Mystik. “I will not hesitate again, Kari. ‘Tis a vow.”
“I’m okay. Now you are too.”
Dari’s thoughts raced. She didn’t know where to begin.
“At the beginning,” Kari bemusedly stated, “just like I told you out of the void.”
“You can read my mind?”
“In the void there are no secrets,” Klykka explained. “Leastways, ‘twill cost us less power do you speak rather than force me to draw it from your memories. Do you understand, child?”
“Aye.”
Klykka inclined her head. “Now tell me all, Dari. Spare me no detail of your life on Arak.”
“From the Nuba-second I arrived?”
