lifted pleading eyes to him. “Sire, you are intimately tied to most of my visions, and we have never even met. Touch me at your peril.”
His eyes widened, and he stepped back from her, more frightened than when he had faced the Chessori. They stared at each other, Mike with fear in his eyes, and Krys with understanding and patience.
“I think this is part of our duty, Sire,” she breathed softly.
“I know. I don’t have to like it.” He looked to Ellie for help, but what could she do? He turned back to Krys. “I can’t move my feet.”
Krys nodded. With her gaze never leaving his, she stepped boldly to him and held out both hands in a fist. His eyes left hers to stare at those hands. Then, with pursed lips, he grasped them in both of his own.
The moment they touched, Krys’ eyes glazed over and her body stiffened. She held for long moments, then crumpled to the floor. Mike had felt nothing. He forgot his own fear and scooped her up into his arms. He looked around, then carried her to a couch and sat with her on his lap, her head resting in the crook of his arm. Ellie, truly frightened, knelt before them, her hand on Krys’ face.
“Is she okay?”
Mike felt for a pulse in her neck and found one easily. “She’s okay. Just give her a minute.”
When Krys came back to herself, her eyes opened to find her First Knight’s eyes staring into her own from inches away. His hand brushed at her face and she closed her eyes again, yielding to his comforting touch. “I saw…”
Mike placed two fingers over her mouth. “There’s time for that later. Rest, Krys.” She closed her eyes, and he continued to brush his hand across her face. So young, he thought, and so much depended on the rightness of her visions.
Ellie leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Would you like me to call Tarn?” she asked softly.
Krys nodded and tried, weakly, to rise. “The Guide should be here.” She looked into Mike’s eyes. “I’m sorry, First Knight.”
“Don’t be. Close your eyes and rest. It’s the least I can do for one of my Knights.”
He felt her body relax, and they stayed that way until Tarn arrived on the run. A Great Cat opened the door for him before he got there, and Tarn came into the room skidding to a halt, Krys his only concern. He knelt beside her and called softly to her. There was no response. He looked up at Mike. “What happened?”
“Actually, I think she fell asleep. She had a vision and collapsed, but she was awake for a minute or so. She’s okay, Tarn.”
“Are you sure?’
“Pretty sure. I’ve never seen her have a vision. This one seemed to take the stuffing out of her. Is that normal?”
“No, it’s not. Not at all. Have you called for a doctor?”
Ellie touched his arm, suddenly more concerned than she had been. “No, Tarn. I’ll do so immediately.”
Krys reached an arm out slowly to Tarn. “I’m okay. I’m awake, sort of.”
He took her hand and looked up at Mike. “Who are you?”
“Around here I seem to be known as the man of dirt.”
Tarn stared at him, blinking, then he bowed his head. “First Knight.”
“Relax, Tarn. Krys is our only focus at the moment.”
The doctor arrived and ran a portable sensor over her body. He pronounced her fine and left. Krys struggled to sit up, glancing with hooded eyes at Mike.
“I’m so embarrassed, First Knight,” she said shyly.
“Don’t be. I’m not. We’re all in this together, young lady.”
Mike and Tarn traded places, and she rested her head on Tarn’s shoulder.
Ellie clapped her hands together. “Well! This has been interesting,” she said to the room at large.
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
“It’s my fault for springing this on you. I’m just glad you’re okay. Are you okay?”
“I am. It’s the strongest, clearest vision I’ve ever had. I was actually able to look around.”
“Are you ready to talk about it, or would you like to wait? Can it wait?”
“It can, but I’m ready.” She looked to Mike. “The vision was of you, of course.”
“Of course?”
“All of my recent visions have come from contact with that person. I don’t know if that’s always necessary, it wasn’t for my earliest visions, but that’s how it’s been. You were walking out of the Imperial Senate chambers.” She looked to Ellie. “He was carrying you in his arms, Mother.”
“Was I…?”
“I don’t know. You were completely limp.”
Mike and Ellie exchanged frightened looks. Tarn shared their concern and spoke softly. “You said you could look around this time. What else did you see, Krys?”
“Before me, a cruiser hovered some twenty feet above the ground, filling the park in front of the Senate. Ramps were just extending to the ground. The remains of a number of stingers were smoking here and there, and many soldiers dressed in strange attire moved among them, some leading or carrying wounded. A number of Great Cats patrolled. I looked behind me, and the senate chamber was full, but all the senators were down. I believe they were under the influence of the scree. Several soldiers stood on the stage. One of them was pointing a blaster at a small group of Chessori, the only others in the room that were standing.”
Mike had risen to his feet as she spoke. “You say the senators were under the influence of the scree, but Ellie wasn’t moving?”
“I’m sorry, Sire,” she said, looking back and forth between him and Ellie, clearly frightened. “She was completely limp in your arms.”
Silence descended on the room. Tarn broke it, moving to kneel in front of her. “You said that’s what you saw. What did you feel, Krys?”
She considered his words, and surprise filled her face. She looked on him with love shining in her eyes. “You ask just the right question, my love. I didn’t know until you asked. I felt… accomplishment and… hope? Yes, hope.” She lifted her eyes to Ellie. “I sensed hope, Mother. I sensed hope.”
Mike had gone to Ellie’s side and pulled her into his arms. Two sets of frightened eyes stared at her. “But you don’t know, do you,” Ellie said softly.
“No, Mother, but the feelings I sensed were those of your First Knight.”
Ellie stared at her, then she turned to Mike and lifted a hand to caress his cheek. “Then I, too, feel hope,” but her actions belied her words. She put her arms around his waist and clung fiercely to him.
Mike looked over her head at Krys, not certain about how he should feel. He wanted to hate this young woman, but as he saw the agony in her eyes, he wanted to hold her in his arms, as well. Clearly, the vision had taken a great toll on her. He reached a hand out to her, and she stood up and took that hand. He pulled her to himself with one arm, Ellie pulled her in with another arm, and the three embraced.
Tarn stood to the side, forgotten. When Mike noticed, he disengaged and stepped over to Tarn. “Ellie told me you had been helpful to Krys with her visions, and I see she’s right. Thank you for your last question. I would not have wanted the vision to end without it.”
“Uh, we might not be done yet, Sire.”
“After what’s gone on here, I think we can dispense with titles. Don’t you think Mike might be a little more appropriate?”
“No, Sire. I’m just a lieutenant.”
“You’ve also been a key player in all of this, and I suspect you’ll continue to be. Ellie considers Krys part of her family, and that makes her part of my family, too. I get the impression that might include you some day, as well, eh, Lieutenant?”
Tarn’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped back from Mike. “That’s the second time I’ve heard the word ‘family’ used here. Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Sire?”
“I’ve only known you and Krys for a short time, but it’s pretty obvious you’re in love. Will that lead to marriage? Is that what you’re asking?”
“Did it for you, Sire?”
“It did. I thought you knew.”
