“She believes in duty overpersonal safety. Would you like to see her?”
“Is she up for company?”
“I’ll check and see.”Michio grabbed a kaya and took a bite out of the succulent fruit ashe went upstairs to the bedroom. Toemeka was resting but she openedher eyes and stretched like a lazy cat when he walked in.
“Erling came to see you. Areyou up for company?” Michio asked.
“Sure. Hand me that hairbrush.My hair’s a mess.”
Michio handed her the brushbefore returning to the kitchen. “Go on up.”
“There’s something I want todiscuss with you first,” Erling said.
“What is it?”
“It’s about Zac. This lasttrip to Haklute upset him. You remember how hard it was for him toaccept the fact that he killed Hendora? He blames himself even thoughit really wasn’t his fault since he was under Seetva’s power.Going back to the country where it happened evidently stirred up oldmemories—opened old wounds. Could you talk to him? He looks up toyou.”
“I’ll be glad to sometime,but right now I need to take care of Toemeka.”
“You don’t have to goanyplace. Zac’s right outside, keeping guard.” He glanced at thedoor. “It’s weird having a bodyguard, but Koriann insists on it.”
“Rulers always have to beguarded. It’s part of having power.”
“So I’ve discovered.”
Michio walked outside to talkwith Zac.
***
Erling entered the masterbedroom. Toemeka sat in bed, looking much better than she had the daybefore.
Her face lit up upon seeing him.“Erling, it’s good to see you.”
“And you.” He crossed over toher and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then looked down at the babysleeping in her arms. Infants all looked pretty much the same as faras he was concerned. But little Baymond was special since he wasToemeka’s. It was almost as if one of Erling’s sisters had givenbirth and he was an uncle. He took a closer look. Baymond had darkhair, long eye lashes, a tiny nose and a small rosebud mouth. “He’sa cutie.” Erling felt his heart open, the love he had for Toemekaexpanding easily to embrace her son.
“Any more news of your family?”she asked.
“No, but I’ve beeninvestigating the new government on planet Alandra. In the country ofJelmur, the citizens are little more than slaves. Anyone connectedwith the old form of government or the Coalition has been put intoconcentration camps and some are publicly executed. Spies areeverywhere; mind scans, black magic, and psychic attacks are widelyused. Samrat Condor demands to be worshipped as the supreme god andthe one true religion. No other form of worship is allowed. Condor isagainst the Secret Teachings more than any other religion— he knowsan initiate is hard to manipulate.”
Toemeka chewed her lower lipanxiously.
“I also discovered Alandraisn’t completely taken over yet,” Erling continued. “Guerillaarmies have formed near mountainous areas, forests and jungles. Theystrike Condor’s troops, then go back into hiding. Jake is leadingthe Resistance group near Jelmur. He asked the Coalition to stationhim there after the war was lost on Alandra.”
“Have you come up with anyideas for rescuing your family?”
“Not yet. I’m working on arescue mission. Jake and others in the Resistance are willing to helpme.”
“Promise me you’ll keep meinformed of your plans.” She looked down at her infant son, thenback up at Erling. “I wish I could join you on a mission to savethem, but it’s not possible right now.”
Erling nodded. “I know. Thetiming’s wrong.”
“If Baymond were older I’dconsider it.”
“Mich would never approve ofyou going.”
“How does Koriann feel aboutyou leaving?”
Erling sighed. “She doesn’tlike it, but she understands.”
“If you succeed in rescuingthem, will they be willing to leave Alandra and come here?”
“I’m sure they will now thatAlandra been defeated.” He rose. “I’d better get going. I’vegot a rescue mission to plan.”
4
New Challenges
Michio and Zac walked along awoodland path at the base of the mountains. It was a beautiful day inearly spring with a fresh crispness about the air, although it wasn’tcold. Michio waited patiently for Zac to speak. He knew this wasn’teasy for him.
Zac looked uncomfortable as hegazed down at his slender hands. “Hendora is dead because of me. Ikilled her when she came to rescue me.”
“Seetva controlled you. Younever would’ve shot Hendora otherwise.”
“True, but Hendora is dead allthe same.”
“What happened?”
“It all started when I firstmet Seetva. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—in apurely sensual way. Her hair is long and silky; her brown eyessparkle like jewels; her features are those of a goddess and her bodyis smoking-hot. One look is enough to make a man wild with desire.”Zac flushed beet-red, making the freckles on his face stand out evenmore.
He cleared his throat. “I feltmyself coming under her power from the very first time we met. Icouldn’t get her out of my mind. That night, she came to me in mydreams. She was so alluring; she whispered to me in her silveryvoice, compelling me to come to her. I was drawn to her, yet at thesame time I was terrified of her. Onolyn appeared and I tried tofollow her, but she disappeared into the mist. You know howdisjointed dreams can be.”
Michio nodded. “Go on.”
“I woke up in a trance with anoverwhelming urge to go to Seetva. I took an aircar to her home andwalked right into a trap. I wish to God I’d been able to resisther. A battle raged within me and gradually my higher self withdrew.”Zac sat on a log, overcome with emotion and buried his face in hishands.
Michio put his hand on Zac’sshoulder. “What happened next? You need to get it all out.”
Zac started talking again in abarely audible whisper. “After that, it was a living hell. I was nolonger in control of my body. Seetva surrounded me with her evilpower and I was helpless against her spells. When Onolyn came torescue me, I saw her as an enemy, a demon coming to get me. I… Ihit her hard enough to knock her unconscious.” His cheeks turnedcrimson again with shame. “I put Onolyn in a cage on Seetva’sorders. Yet, at times I managed to break away from Seetva’s powerlong enough to bring food and water to her. It was a
