Although the staff members looked at Evalee with polite neutrality, I sensed theirdisdain because, despite her beauty, they saw her as a half-breed.In their eyes, she was an inferior alien.I bristled inwardly but kept the emotions from showing on my face.Evalee and I both knew what we were facing, but I was reluctant to expose her to their covert bigotry.
I would have come alone, only Evalee insisted as they would be more likely to reveal incriminating thoughts if she was there.
Not all of the thoughts I perceived were unkind.Some of the guests actually admired her and envied me because she was with me.A few were actually cordial as we strolled through the crowd of people talking animatedly in small groups.
A live band played music in the background while servants moved through the crowd with trays of various drinks and finger foods.With so many minds in one place, it was a challenge for me to glean the specific information we were seeking.However, it seemed there were many more mining corporation executives present than I might have expected.
Evalee strolled through the gathering on my arm, keeping me from running into people while I concentrated on scanning people’s minds.Eventually, we came face to face with Senator Dorn.He smiled and offered his hand, which I shook.
“Lanimer Dakov.It’s good to finally meet you so I can thank you personally for your generous donation to my campaign.”What was this alien lover thinking about?He obviously has no idea that we’re trying to remove the Trakellisans from Val’kara.Otherwise, why would he make such a large donation?It will go a long way to pay for the raid on Val’kara in three weeks.
I looked at him in stunned silence, struggling to keep my dismay off my face.Things were even worse than we thought.I forced myself to smile and say, “You’re very welcome, sir.I’m glad that I could help.”
I knew I had to keep a cool head because I still needed to find out who else was involved. They planned to start a war with the Trakellisans and blame them for the strife between our peoples.
Evalee and I knew all along that her people weren’t to blame. They didn’t refuse to compromise whenever a dispute arose. They never harassed humans who came to Val’kara. Humans caused strife between our people.
If they raided Val’kara, the Trakellisans wouldn’t have a chance. They had no army or weapons, just a small contingent of law enforcers to keep the peace.Senator Dorn planned to round up the Trakellisans, movethem to a remote encampment, and take over the city and the mines.They plan to use the Zevian military to do it after they convince Governor Peyton Harper that the Trakellisans are responsible for all of the mining disasters and are plotting to overthrow the government.
Of course, I knew that wasn’t true.The Trakellisans were baffled by the sudden hate-mongering by Xenos Free.But it was all orchestrated to stir things up and create the appearance of strife between humans and Trakellisans.
Thus far, I couldn’t determine whether Governor Harper was involved in the conspiracy or not.I related this information to Evalee as I sensed she was concerned that I was upset.Before I could make further conversation with Senator Dorn, another couple came along and edged Evalee and me away from him.
What should we do now?Evalee wandered silently.
We should probably leave soon and contact Nasir.
As I glanced back at Senator Dorn, one of his security agents came to him and whispered in his ear.I didn’t have to hear what was said when the senator looked straight at me.His staff had somehow learned that I was atelepath.
I grabbed Evalee’s hand and then started for the closest exit.“We have to leave now.They know what I am.”
I didn’t have to tell her what that meant.She already knew.I was glad that she had bought boots to match her dress because they were better for walking in a hurry than the strappy sandals she had considered.She could even run in them.
As soon as we got outside, we ran for the hovercraft lot, and I used my wrist communicator to start our hover flier and open the doors.At least two men were following us, and one of them shouted for us to stop. Of course, we didn’t.Beams of laser fire sizzled against a hovercraft near us when a shot glanced off my left shoulder, causing me to stumble, but Evalee steadied me so I didn’t fall.We made it to the hovercraft and took off before the men with guns caught up to us.
They fired after us, but their laser pistols could do little damage to our flyer as we sped away.
Chapter Nineteen
Lanimer
Although the injury was minor, my shoulder hurt like hell, but with any luck, we would be home in half an hour.Only that didn’t happen.Once we launched, I called Nasir and told him everything that I had learned from reading the senator’s mind.I also noted that when I read the governor’s mind, there was no indication that he was involved with the senator’s plan.
“Thank you, Lanimer.You’ve given us what we needed to know.We’ll take it from here, and I’ll get back to you with the result,” said Nasir.
Fifteen minutes into the flight, the proximity sensor beeped, warning us that a craft was approaching us from behind.We were going fast, but it was gaining on us.
“Identify,” I commanded the flier AI.An armed drone was following us.
“Goddess!” Evalee murmured. I knew she was as scared as I was, but she held it in,allowing me to concentrate on flying.
I forgot all about the burning pain in my shoulder as taking evasive action occupied all my attention.
I flew high and low, dodging and weaving through canyons and over plateaus.I could shake it for a few seconds, only to have it set off my sensor again.I pressed the throttle up to full power and still couldn’t lose it. I assumed the drone was getting closer, trying to lock in on us.Then we heard a loud crack, and the engine compartment exploded, fortunately away from us.The flier was going down, and I tried my best to keep it from crashing and flipping end over end.
We hit the ground and bounced a couple of times before skidding around sideways to a stop against a big rock.The back of our flier was on fire, and we had to get out fast, but I managed to grab our emergency bag before we got out of the flier.
The night air was cool as usual in the desert, and we left the gala without our coats.Though it was dark with no ground lights in sight, the two moons were shining brightly in the sky full of stars.
