Prophecy

She glared at him. 'It's up to the council to decide, not you.'

'They won't allow you to risk your life.'

'Then they'll stop me from saving Atlan. If you prevent me from doing this, you could be the ones to pay the price. If I have to, I'll buy passage on a commercial ship and find him that way.'

Tallyn smiled. 'Impossible. Commercial ships don't go into his territory, and he rarely ventures out of it. No, we'll provide you with a good ship when you need it.'

Rayne opened her mouth to scorn this suggestion, but Rawn took her arm and tugged her aside. 'Leave it, Ray. He's never going to agree, nor will the council, I'm sure. They're too proud to admit that they need anyone's help, least of all an outlaw's.'

'Whose side are you on?' she demanded.

'Yours. Look, I don't like this either, but it kind of makes sense. After all, if your guide's story is true, and I see no reason for him to lie, then this man is the only living person to have ever encountered one of these Envoys. Am I right?'

'Yeah, so?'

'He knows what we're up against, the Atlanteans don't.'

She met his tawny eyes. 'So you agree that we need his help?'

'Yeah. I don't like it, but I think your guide's right. But arguing with Tallyn is just a waste of time and air.'

'What do you suggest?'

'Quit arguing with him. We'll find a way. I have an idea.'

Rayne nodded and turned to Tallyn. 'Why don't you ask the council if they'll help me find the Shrike? You have to report to them anyway. Let's see what they say.'

'Fine,' he headed for the door.

Rawn went to use the net line screen, and while he was busy Rayne ate another meal, resolving to get some sleep afterwards, and a bath. Fatigue still plagued her. She had not slept since her brief, nightmarish doze on the scout ship. Rawn was still busy when she finished her meal, so she bathed and went to bed.

Rayne woke refreshed, and washed before she wandered through to the kitchen to make a cup of a hot beverage that took the place of coffee on Atlan. Pale morning light streamed in through the windows to dapple the grey carpet, and the silence told her that she was alone. The peace did not last long, however. Before she finished her coffee, Tallyn called to inform her of the council's decision, which denied her request, as Rawn had predicted. She accepted it without argument, and he broke the connection looking puzzled and annoyed. An hour later, Rawn returned, brimming with news. She made him a cup of Atlantean coffee, and he told her what he had achieved.

'It's Mergan's doing,' he said, naming his Atlantean sweetheart. 'Her father owns a yacht, and he works for military intelligence. She can borrow the yacht to take her friends on trips to Verdian or Termon. When I told her the story, she agreed to help, and she'll arrange for the yacht to be available tomorrow night. The biggest problem is finding this Shrike guy. The Atlanteans don't actually know where he is. They never do. But…' He raised a finger. '…Last night they received information that leads them to believe there's going to be a raid on a shipment of slaves in the Jarlan solar system, just outside his territory. It might be him.'

'And if it's not?'

He shrugged. 'Then we keep looking. It's our best shot.'

'I suppose so. That's great. You did good. So tomorrow night I can take the yacht?'

'Well, yeah. And a few of my friends.'

'No way! This isn't a pleasure cruise. We might encounter one of the most dangerous outlaws in the quadrant, and you want to bring your friends? And Mergan too, I suppose?'

'Well, it is her yacht.' He squirmed.

'No. Absolutely not.'

'If it's safe enough for you…'

'I know him!' She threw up her hands. 'Yes, it's dangerous for me too, but I have to do it. Well, I don't have to do it. I could just let the Envoy destroy Atlan, as long as I'm not on it. He knows me, or he might remember me. At least he might give me a chance to discuss it. Endrix thinks so. Damn! I just don't know anymore.'

'Well, you can't go alone, anyway. The yacht needs a crew. You can't fly it.'

'I don't have to. We could have it programmed, like the scout ship.'

'That's tricky, you know. What if it's not him?'

'We can have two – three programmes. One to go to the Jarlan system, one to return to Atlan, and one to take me to his base.'

Rawn looked dubious. 'That sounds dangerous. What base?'

'It doesn't matter. There's a map of his territory on the data net. We can choose a base from that. They're all marked. Once I'm there, his people will inform him of my request to see him.'

'Why don't you just send him a message from here, and ask him to meet you?'

'With the Atlanteans listening? He'd never even respond.'

Rawn frowned and rubbed his chin.

'That's got to be the dumbest plan I've ever heard,' a soft voice said behind them, and Rayne whipped around with a gasp, her heart skipping a beat. Rawn released his laser's hilt as Tallyn stepped into the lounge, his eyes chips of black ice, his lips twisted in a sardonic smile.

'You did that on purpose!' Rayne accused. 'You imitated his voice. You've spoken to him.'

'Of course, we're old enemies. I knew you two were up to something when you took the council's refusal so well. I should have you placed in protective custody.'

'If you want your world to die.'

He raised his hands. 'Okay, I've thought about what you said, and I suppose it does make sense. If your guide told you to do this, he must have a good reason. I dislike the prospect of asking that murderer for help, though, I have to say.'

'I'm sure you do.'

'I don't think he will help us, either. But if you're so determined to find him that you would contemplate sailing off into deep space in an interplanetary yacht, with no more idea of where you're going or how to get there than a map off the data net…'

He sighed, shaking his head. 'I'll just have to help you, so you don't get yourself killed. The Shrike might still do that, but at least it won't be because of your ignorance or my stupidity.'

Rayne glanced at Rawn, then cast Tallyn an uncertain smile. 'Thanks, but won't the council punish you if they find out?'

He shrugged. 'Probably, but who's going to tell them? Look, I don't like this any more than I did yesterday, but you do seem to have led a charmed life so far. Making an eight-hour journey in a flimsy yacht is just asking for trouble, though, and locking you up is guaranteed to defeat the prophecy.

'This little scheme may seem like an adventure to the two of you, because you know so little about space and its dangers, but you'd never have made it, trust me. Nor can you go into his territory in an Atlantean scout. We have a lot of enemies amongst the various outlaw factions. If I take you in Vengeance, you'll be safe, but you won't get anywhere near the Shrike, and his people will suspect a trap.'

He held up a hand again when she opened her mouth. 'Even if I dropped you at one of his bases, I doubt he'd agree to meet you, and his people might just decide to dispose of you anyway. For some reason, they're damned loyal to him.'

Tallyn wandered over to a chair and sank into it with a sigh. Rayne sat opposite him, her gaze intent. 'Then what?'

'The Shrike is notoriously elusive. Few people who've gone in search of him have found him. Most of them found sticky ends instead. I have a… an acquaintance, who might be able to help you. He's a smuggler, a petty crook who trades information with me in return for his freedom. He might be able to take you to one of the Shrike's bases without arousing too much suspicion. It will be expensive, though. Like most of the lesser outlaws, he has a morbid fear of the Shrike, who has a reputation for wiping out his competition.'

She glanced at Rawn as he settled beside her on the couch, and he raised his brows and cocked his head