She wanted to tell Ardin how beautiful it was, but words had escaped her.
“I thought you might like it,” he said, looking at her sideways.
She nodded. “It must have been astounding in its prime.”
“I wish I could have seen it, too,” Ardin whispered, and for the first time, she detected sadness in his voice.
“You’ve never seen it?”
He looked ahead at the stars. “This is my home, Layela. And it has been my home for almost as long as I can remember. There was another place, before this, with warm light and colourful flowers.” He paused and added in a hush, “Avienne can’t remember that home at all.”
Ardin ran his hand through his hair, which Layela now recognized as his signature nervous move. She spotted her opening and went for it, beating back her feelings of guilt.
“I know you don’t really want to do this, Ardin,” Layela said, catching and holding his gaze. “Kidnapping doesn’t seem to sit well with you.” She took a chance. “It seems more Avienne’s style.”
Ardin sighed and turned around, looking out at the red galaxy. He stood so still that his profile seemed etched into the ship.
“I know that this might not mean much to you, considering the current situation, but I’ve promised that I’ll do everything in my power to see that you’re not hurt. I don’t know why we were told to bring you to Lockor, but we won’t go any further than kidnapping.” He winced slightly as he used the word for the first time. Layela turned from him and looked at the galaxy as well. Ardin and Avienne would be harder to tear apart than she had hoped.
Unlike her and her own sister. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, and Ardin turned to face her. Layela managed a smile. “Not your usual job, kidnapping, is it?”
“Times have been too hard for us to say no to any job, especially one that pays so well, I’m afraid,” Ardin replied. “This ship does have the capacity for light and heat, I’ll have you know.”
She smiled bitterly again. “I guess I’m visiting at the wrong time, then?”
Ardin’s expression sobered. “Do you have any idea why someone would want to bring you to Lockor?”
Layela looked at him, letting the question hang, trapped in the air for a few moments. Everything seemed surreal. From the dead flowers to the large windows, the vaulted ceiling up above to the flickering, dancing shadows, the galaxy swirling nearby, a graveyard of countless civilizations.
“I have no idea,” she whispered, looking at the starry landscape before her, letting the vastness of the universe wash over her. She didn’t share the hope she still clung to with desperate fervour. That it was her sister who had sent for her. That Yoma was still alive and waiting for her, waiting to protect her, as she had always done. As she had promised to always do.
“Am I interrupting anything?” The soft voice made them both jerk. Josmere stood near, beautifully vibrant, her eyes glinting with the reflection of countless stars.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Layela said as she hugged her friend. The Berganda returned the gesture, practically smothering Layela with the blanket. Layela wondered if Josmere was so adamant about not touching her friend now that her strength had been restored, lest even the slightest skin contact reveal Layela’s frightening vision.
“We’d best go,” Ardin said, leading both of them out of the gardens. As the shutters closed and engulfed the starry sky, Layela watched the light fade from the garden and committed it to her memory.
Ardin quickly locked the room again, stark metal doors offering no hint of the beauty that lay within. Layela wondered how many more secrets this ship held.
Josmere walked on her own, not complaining or resisting. Layela knew full well that Ardin had forgotten he was dealing with experienced thieves and had allowed them to see enough to escape their room, and probably the ship.
CHAPTER 13
Layela counted her thief’s breaths, keeping track of passing time in this timeless space. It had been about ten minutes, and Ardin must have reached the bridge by now. Time to move.
She nodded to Josmere, who grinned and popped the panel on the wall. All they needed to do was leave their room; the code to access the rest of the ship was already theirs, thanks to Ardin. It ensured them the speed their escape would have otherwise lacked. Expert green hands glided over the wiring of door, and within seconds Layela heard the latch change positions. She grinned at Josmere and pushed the door open.
Her breath came quietly as she glanced down the empty corridor. Josmere passed her and they both headed towards the door they had crossed through with Ardin mere minutes ago, the large metal gate opening easily with the access code she had instinctively memorized.
Some habits die hard.
They crossed the threshold and Josmere closed the door, leaving them in a deep and hollow darkness. She heard Josmere take a deep breath and knew the Berganda was remembering the position of every fountain, garden patch and withered tree.
“Time for us to go,” Josmere said, grabbing hold of Layela’s arm and walking without hesitation. Rarely had she herself seen Josmere use this particular skill, but Yoma had complimented it often.
“Ten seconds! That’s all the time she needs to see a space, commit it to memory and navigate it in the dark! It’s amazing, Layl!”
You were right, Yoma, Layela thought seconds before tripping on a garden divider and almost falling, held
