“Aye.” The High Mystik’s voice was at once commanding and reassuring. “And nary a Nuba-second later.”
* * * * *
The warriors looked at each other and then back to theholo-screen.
“What is happening?” Gio asked. “They aren’t moving. They aren’t speaking. They do naught but clasp the hand of the other.”
“And the hand of a third person none can see.” Kil slowly exhaled. “’Tis a puzzle for a certainty.”
The Emperor began to pace. “There is no puzzle,” Zor said sarcastically, “for they’ve allowed the silver waters to take them to the bedamned void!” He agitatedly threw a hand toward his brother, Kil. “Leastways, they sound like yournee’ka’stales of ‘groovy Earth’ and LCDs and peace signs!”
“LSD,” Kil corrected.
“I do not care, lackwit!” Zor’s pacing came to a halt. “The only thing I have a care for is that we know naught of who their imaginary friend is or what is being said in this bedamned groovy void!”
“’Tis another Galian female,” High Lord Death intoned. “Only another Galian Mystik would possess Kari’s knowledge.”
Zor grunted. “Tis true, your words.”
“The obvious choice is The Gy’at Li,” Death continued. “Leastways, ‘tis Klykka or Arista de Valor, but for a certainty ‘tis a High Mystik.”
“Send warriors to both strongholds,” the Emperor instructed. “Find out which one is holding the hands of two wenches not there.”
“I’ll do it myself,” Dak announced, walking quickly towards the warring room aboard ship. King Rem, the youngest of the Q’an Tal brothers, fell in line behind him. “Just keep watching theholo-screen!”
* * * * *
“Do you wish me to speak aloud?” Dari mentally asked the High Mystik. She was confused. “Speak with my voice or speak with my thoughts?”
“Your voice, child. It drains less energy from me.”
“No one but us can hear you, Dari,” Kari verbally encouraged her. Her voice was strained. “Speak freely. What is said outside the void is heard within it.”
“Aye,” Klykka confirmed. “Leastways, ‘tis less exhausting for the deuce of us. Do you understand?”
“I think so. ‘Tis too taxing for Kari to speak o’er much outside the void for she is the link, yet conversely it costs the deuce of you less energy if I do speak outside it?”
Klykka inclined her head. “Precisely, child. You are a fast learner.”
“I understand now,” Dari said aloud, though still somewhat mystified by the rules ofhyatzi. Her voice had a breathless quality to it. “You wish for me to tell you of the whole of my time spent on Arak.”
“Aye, child. Speak freely and do it quickly.”
“Tell her everything,” Kari murmured. “Everything you’ve told me.”
Princess Dari Q’ana Tal had grown so accustomed o’er the years to watching whilst never speaking that it took a long moment for her lips to work. First she had confided in Kari and now she was being asked to relive it all for The Gy’at Li. Delicately clearing her throat, she shook off the last remnants of hesitation and spoke freely. “I’d seen but fourteenYessat-Yearswhen I was removed from mymaniand sire. ‘Twas my uncle, the Emperor, who sent me away to live with Gio, my betrothed…”
“Continue, child,” Klykka encouraged. “Tell us the whole of it.”
“Leave nothing out,” Kari whispered. Again, her voice was strained. “She has to know everything you’ve already confided in me.”
* * * * *
Zor felt a pang of guilt as his young niece began her tale. He said nothing to defend or regret his decision. Leastways, ‘twas the Holy Law under which he’d made the decree.
All eyes were on theholo-screen. Nary a peep could be heard. Gio sat transfixed by his betrothed’s every word. In truth, the entire lot of warriors who’d been permitted to watch were nigh unto spellbound. High Lord Death, his brothers, himself…
The Emperor could but pray to the goddess that whatever Dari had to say would bring an end to the whole of this mystery. What was this evil she’d fled from? And why were his young niece and her companion hellbent on trekking to the far side of an empty Zyrus Galaxy? No warrior aboard thegaslight-cruisercould help his niece did they not understand where she was fleeing to much less what she was fleeing from.
