I needed to enter the compound from a different direction, to give Zaya’s hiding place as much secrecy as possible. She had vowed she would stay hidden, and I was trusting her. I trusted her in ways I had never thought possible.
A final grove of redwoods stood between me and the road that led down to the compound gates. There were four guards at the front. Would I kill them? Disable them? Could I just drift them some of my Will and make them leave their posts? But, then, they might be willing and able to come to Blatson’s aid in the fight that would surely take place afterwards.
Man, if only I wasn’t doing this alone… At least I would die for my Destin, with the taste of her lips on mine…
But, if I die, what will happen to her?
I can’t die. That is as simple as it is. I can’t die.
I also couldn’t fail at my mission… If I had more time, or if I wasn’t right here in front of Blatson’s compound, I might try to reach out to Truloy, first.
A footstep cracked a stick and I spun around, throwing myself behind another tree, into the bushes, my gloved hands catching me in the snow that was just shallow enough to be sludge, seeping between my fingers. I reached out telepathically, seeking out how many people were in the forest beside me, as I twisted to my knees in the bushes, knives at the ready.
“No need to kill us, Commander. But, keep those knives out. We aren’t the only ones near.”
I stood up in the bushes, snow and thistle-laden branches clinging to my coat. I grinned at Ilisa where she stood in between the trees. I sensed out. Five more Farians answered my creeping call telepathically.
I pushed through the bushes and grabbed her forearm. Thanks be to Axis, he had sent aid when he hadn’t heard from me. I wasn’t insulted at all for him being overly cautious. I was supposed to have reported in multiple times by now. And, he had sent one of my best friends. “It is so good to see you, Ilisa.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Cartari. We were hoping to catch you before you went into the compound.” Her mousy features studied me, eyebrows raising. She noted my many, many throwing knives and daggers lashed about my body. “Presumably to do something stupid?”
I rubbed my chin, still grinning. The other Farian Spec Ops soldiers all waved little salutes, but remained at the ready, in steady position to guard us.
“You must know I escaped prison with Blatson’s pledged bride-to-be, Lady Zaya.” She nodded, holding my gaze evenly. “Well, Ilisa, I know it seems far too unlikely to be true, but… She’s my Destin.” The listening soldiers exchanged glances. I held up my hands to them all. “I know, I know. It doesn’t make any sense. But, it’s true. I swear it.”
“Where is she now?”
“Hidden in a toolshed, about half-a-mile back along this crest. She can communicate with me telepathically. I don’t know if she can reach anyone else, yet, but the connection is amazing, Bravo. Truly. I’ve never felt anything like it.” Ilisa was frowning at me, clearly having trouble believing a Vailstoran would just become a telepath. “It does mean, that plans have changed… I can’t give her back to Blatson. I can’t. She’s my Destin, Ilisa.”
Ilisa’s eyes flicked down to my clenched fists. I consciously unflexed them, not meaning to show any threat to one of my best friends from Bristola who I was, admittedly, thrilled to see. It would make the battle against Blatson go so much more easily…
“What is your plan, then, Commander?”
“It is unlikely I could salvage the trade deal with Blatson. Even if I gave Zaya back to him, then somehow engineered her escape from him again… I just think the man will be too furious about the guard contingent we killed a few days ago and me taking his bride at all. Besides, from what I understand in the dossier, we will likely be better situated if Truloy is who we deal with, anyway.”
Ilisa tapped her lips, looking at me steadily. She nodded. “We have already been given the clear to depose Blatson. Even if we weren’t able to find you, if you were already killed or captured, or if we hadn’t caught you before you went ahead with your own plan.”
My eyes lit up. That was fantastic! Now, I didn’t feel like I was betraying any part of the Farian leadership! An intense weight was lifted from my chest. I hadn’t even realized how worried I was about making that unilateral decision, knowing it was mainly for my own gain, and not only for Farian’s. Now, the choice was taken from me.
“I have already spoken with General Truloy. She is on board to take over leadership of the planet. She does have a few specific demands, which King Kajo was reluctant to meet in the beginning, but have been agreed upon.”
“Like what?”
“The tallest order is that we give control of one of our frajili mines in the northern Bristola Oceans to one of her trusted leaders, a man named Skarde. He will come live on Farian, I don’t know for how long, but will be given some of those lands, not yet determined which, and take command of parts of Farian. This is a sign of goodwill and assured continuation of the trade of calasis for frajili.”
“I have heard of Skarde. He is a friend of Zaya’s. From what she says, he is a fearless leader, warrior, and strategist. He might be useful to Farian. They do, however, call him the Berserker.”
“Hmm…” Ilisa put her hands on her hips, as if she doubted any non-telepath or non-Curan could be useful to the Empire. “We are to go to a city called Astrida after taking care of Blatson, in order to finalize the deal.”
I clapped my hands
