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UNCHAINED
By
C.J. Barry
(c) copyright C.J. Barry, November 2002
Cover art by Eliza Black, (c) November 2002
New Concepts Publishing
4729 Humphreys Rd.
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
PROLOGUE
It was a scream that woke her. In sleepy confusion, Cidra sat up in bed and blinked into the darkness of her bedroom. All lights were dead on the control panel by the door.
Another scream—her mother’s. Never in all her fifteen years had Cidra heard such a terrifying sound. The last remnants of sleep disappeared with the unmistakable crackle of laser gunfire from the far end of the house. Chains of panic squeezed at her throat. Heart pounding, she swung her feet to the floor and crossed the dark room to her closed door. Her hand was on the opener when another barrage of laser blasts and the shouts of strangers rang out, this time much closer.
She hit the alarm on the control panel to warn the rest of her family, initiating a drill her military father insisted they all learn in case of emergency.
As footsteps thundered through her beloved home amid crashing doors and shattering windows, she stared at the lifeless alarm. No power. No alarm.
The smell of smoke finally jerked her out of dazed horror. She dropped to her knees and with trembling hands pried open one of the floor panels that concealed a small opening. Intruders moved down the hall outside her door.
Without looking back, she dropped into the pitch black void of the secret tunnel that ran under her house. Once in the tunnel, she closed the tile door over her head and locked it down. It was then she remembered her light stick. In her bedroom. But the mistake was quickly forgotten with the vibrations of footsteps overhead.
Who were they? These people who were destroying her life?
Silent tears burned a trail down her face as she listened to the pillaging above. There would be nothing left of her room, her home. She knew that. But it could be worse. She only hoped her parents and brothers had already escaped ahead of her through their own hidden floor panels.
In absolute and unrelenting darkness, the tunnel lay empty and quiet but for her own ragged breathing. Stagnant air filled the low, narrow passageway. The dirt floor was cold and alien beneath her bare feet.
Placing a hand against each wall for guidance, she began a blind journey toward the safe house as her father had instructed, fingers groping for what she could not see. The tunnel seemed so much longer than she remembered in their practice runs, endless and terrifying. Something scurried by her foot. Her heartbeat became unbearably loud in her ears. With each small step forward, she fought back the paralyzing grip of utter darkness.
An abrupt incline signaled the end of the tunnel. With whole-hearted relief, Cidra felt around for the door latch and stumbled through the doorway into the deserted old house.
Avion’s giant moon cast a ghostly glow through silent rooms as Cidra searched for her parents and her younger brothers. Empty. She must be the first one. Exhausted, she slumped down a wall to the floor facing the tunnel’s door. They would be here any minute. She wrapped the filthy nightgown around her legs and waited for her family to arrive.
A gentle hand shook her awake. Cidra squinted at a familiar face bathed in brilliant daylight. Slowly, blue eyes and white hair came into focus.
“Syrus,” she said, her voice raw.
The old man gave her a weak smile. “Cidra.”
She stared at him, wondering why her father’s old friend was here with her, why she had slept against a wall, why her eyes burned. Reality invaded in a sickening rush.
She looked frantically around the room. “Where are they?”
The old man worked his mouth for a few seconds before he finally spoke. “They didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”
Tears rimmed Syrus’ eyes as he took her hand in his. “There’s serious trouble, love. You had better come with me.”
CHAPTER ONE
TEN YEARS LATER
Cidra leaned on her shovel and gazed out over the Lake of Ares.
Riotous colors skimmed across the water, compliments of the exotic birds for which her home planet of Avion was renowned. Late day sunlight kissed the top of each gentle wave, casting brilliance to the kaleidoscope flashes of wings and plumage. Sweeping branches of ancient Bani trees hung low over rocky shores where spindly-legged waders strutted and preened.
A sad, fleeting smile touched her lips.
It was a perfect day.
A good day to bury Syrus Almazan.
Cidra looked down at the open grave and fought back another wave of tears. He had been more than her friend. He had opened his home, guaranteed her safety, and become the family she desperately needed. The tears that stung her eyes burned no less for him than they had for her family, murdered long ago.
Cidra took a deep breath and immersed herself in the songs and whistles resonating through the lush forest until the painful flood of emotion passed.
The moment broken by a nearby groan, she glanced over at her dear friend Barrios, clearly exerting himself far more than he had in recent history. His flushed face dripped with perspiration under a ring of silver hair that circled his head like a crown. Barrios wore his superb culinary skills shamelessly, quite rotund and determined to stay that way sustained by four solid meals a day.
She pushed aside the stark reality that she was completely alone now but for him. Lucky for her, he also happened to be her best friend. As she smiled warmly at him, he grunted hard and looked as if he too, might expire on the spot.
Cidra straightened. That, she definitely couldn’t handle.
As she was about to return to the grim task at hand, the first tingle of forewarning welled up within her. Laying trust to it, she let it envelop her, turning her senses up to full volume. Slowly, she turned her head toward the single, well-concealed path from Syrus’ cottage.
Someone was coming. No one knew of this little clearing except a few, close friends. Very few. Very close.
Cidra gripped her shovel across her body with both hands. She was painfully aware they were trapped. They would not be able to see the uninvited party until he was upon them, and there was no time, no place to hide. Her blood pumped faster, her breathing quickened to match it. A hasty glance at Barrios told her he was totally unaware of her tension or of any potential danger.
She rolled her eyes to the stars.
“Barrios, someone’s coming,” she whispered as loudly as she dared.
The older man stopped mid-throw and looked up toward the footpath.
Cidra cursed silently for coming down here unarmed. Well, who expected trouble during a burial?
With a slight shudder, she realized this would be the first challenge to her Kin sha prowess. As only a Kin-sha master could, Syrus had taught her the ancient warrior skill of hand-to-hand combat, weapons use, and the quiet, dignified philosophy that was Kin-sha. His gift to her. Her own personal power.
The flash of excitement faded to dismay with the sheer power the intruder exhibited as he slashed down the narrow path, closing fast. Cidra frowned. Apparently, he wasn’t worried about making his presence known.
He was either a clumsy friend or a very confident enemy.
Every fiber of her being stood on high alert. The dense foliage parted and a large man crashed through. He was tall and lean, moving with the confidence of a dangerous predator. Her mind quickly registered broad shoulders, slim hips, and simmering, effortless power. Short, dark hair framed a handsome face and the piercing eyes of a hunter. He wore a white shirt and snug-fitting tan pants tucked into well-worn brown boots.
The laser pistol hanging off one hip and a short plasma blade strapped comfortably to the other thigh made it clear this was a man prepared for anything. Furthermore, he looked neither clumsy nor friendly—a bad sign in a potentially dangerous package.
She could defend herself, but she wasn’t sure about protecting Barrios, too. No less a Kin sha warrior than Syrus, Barrios believed with his heart far more than he practiced with his body. In no way could he be considered in peak form.
If this intruder wasn’t a friend, they were in trouble.
The man stopped long enough to survey the scene before him, frowned and walked toward Cidra, moving with long strides. She noticed him glance at the shovel in her hands and wisely come to a halt outside striking distance.
“I guess I’m too late to meet with Syrus.” The voice was deep and smooth.
At once, a pair of silver gray eyes locked onto hers with enough intensity to shake her to the bone. A prickly shiver started in her scalp and raced down her back. His eyes narrowed, looking deep into hers. The world around her slid away. The sensation was distinctly uncomfortable and unwelcome.
Cidra took a deep breath. “Who are you?”
“Grey Stone. A friend of Syrus’. He called me two days ago and asked me to come to Avion. I got here as soon as I could, but obviously not soon enough,” he muttered, dropping his gaze to the fresh grave.
Cidra looked him over suspiciously. So, he was a friend with very bad timing or a lying enemy disappointed he had been beaten to the punch.
“He died last night in his sleep.” She hoped the man would be satisfied with that and leave.
Unfortunately, the man didn’t budge and all it did was prompt the vision of Syrus lying peacefully in his bed with the morning light filtering through his window. She shook off the morbid image. It was not the way she wanted to remember her dear friend and mentor.
Besides, at this point she had a bigger problem and he was eyeing her like his next meal.
Barrios finally stepped forward and stretched out a hand to Grey. “I’m Barrios, caretaker of Syrus’ home and part-time grave digger,” he acknowledged ruefully. “I’ve heard Syrus mention you a few times. You’re an interstellar treasure hunter, right? Sounds adventurous.” Barrios flashed a broad grin.
Grey returned the customary handshake. “You could say that, but it’s not quite as exciting as you might think. Mostly a lot of tedious research and traveling around in circles.”
He turned his sights back on her with unsettling deliberation. “You must be Cidra. Just as Syrus described you. Without the shovel, of course. Is that a new Kin sha weapon these days? I’ve been away for a while.” A wry smile spread across his face. It was both devastating and distracting. Just what she needed.
Not amused, Cidra answered, “Actually, it is. I could give you a graphic demonstration, if you’d like.”
“Plenty of time for that later.” He threw out coolly, locking his steely gaze on her. “I’m supposed to take you with me.”
“What?” She took a quick step back and shot Barrios an accusing look. He gave a helpless shrug.
Narrowing her eyes at Grey, she demanded, “What are you talking about?”
“I made a promise to Syrus that I would take you on as part of my crew.” He watched her intently. “I take it he didn’t mention it.”
“No, he didn’t,” Cidra shot back. Panic and anger surged through her. It was a toss up as to who she was more furious at: Syrus for taking charge of her life and bringing this unnerving stranger all the way out here, or this overconfident man who so casually decreed her future. Her knuckles turned white on the shovel. Lucky for Syrus, he was already dead.
Fine. Enemy it is. Weapon ready.
“I suppose you have some proof besides your word.” She thrust her chin up. Even as she spoke, dread welled up within her. What had that sweet old man done?
Grey’s humor disappeared quite rapidly, replaced by a foreboding coolness. He took a single, intimidating step toward her.
“My word is as good as it gets.” He said it as if he lived by it.
She resisted the overwhelming urge to step back. Enemies she knew how to handle.
Barrios cleared his throat, breaking the escalating tension. “I think you can safely assume that Stone is speaking the truth, Cidra. Syrus spoke highly of him. Said he was a man of honor.”
Cidra glared at him. “I don’t care, Barrios. How dare Syrus do this without asking me first? I won’t be forced into something I know nothing about.”
Turning back to Grey, she added, “With someone I know nothing about.”
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then she watched in wary amazement as he crossed his arms over his chest and relaxed.
“I think Syrus was trying to do what he felt was best for you,” Grey said softly. “You clearly meant a great deal to him. Avion isn’t a safe place for a trained Kin sha.” Then he paused. “I have a feeling he realized he was going to die very soon. He probably didn’t want to worry you.”
Cidra glowered at him, unwilling to admit that he was right on all counts. Even as she struggled to come up with a reply, the word ‘freedom’ whispered in her ear. What started as a flicker rumbled into a flood—an elusive, unattainable dream until this moment.
She looked into his eyes. They didn’t waver, didn’t give. A hard man with hard eyes. Lucky her.
What could Syrus possibly have on such a man to ask this favor and have it granted so fast? Especially considering who she was. Unless. . .
Oh no. She almost gasped aloud. Syrus hadn’t told him.
If he had, Grey Stone would not be standing here waiting for her response. He’d be running. Fast. In the other direction. She should tell him and watch helplessly as all hope vanished with him. ‘Freedom’ whispered, louder this time and sweet. She would tell him later.
Her eyes narrowed. Stone, by the time we are done, I may be your next enemy.
Barrios shuffled uncomfortably next to her, looking around for an escape route.
“Perhaps we should finish laying Syrus to rest and continue this discussion after dinner. It’s getting late,” she said calmly.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cidra saw Barrios’ head shoot up in surprise. Probably more for the mention of dinner than anything else.
Grey gave her a quick, cool assessment with those hunter’s eyes that could drill into her very soul.
“Fine.” He moved closer, masculine scent and body heat swept her senses. Then without another word, he turned abruptly away.
Cidra realized she had been holding her breath during the brief exchange. Determined not to give him the satisfaction that he could shake her to the core with one look, she exhaled a slow, silent breath. Only then did she notice that her hands were empty and he was using her shovel to help Barrios. He didn’t ask, he didn’t offer, he simply took it from her.
Deliberate or not, the point was made. Grey Stone was in charge.
She grimaced. No doubt about it. He would not be pleased when he found out who she was.
CHAPTER TWO
The succulent aroma of delicately roasted game bird and fresh bounty from the gardens filled the cozy dining room. Grey sat across from Barrios and Cidra, enjoying one of the best meals of his life.
Grey conceded that excellent cuisine ranked high as a personal passion of his. With technology came pre-made, instant food but the taste reflected mass processing. Freshly prepared fare was becoming a lost art.
He discreetly eyed Cidra while she stared at her meal. She had been quiet since they returned from the gravesite. He got the impression that he was experiencing a brief reprieve. At least that’s what he hoped. He liked the fighter he’d met this afternoon much better. Grey tried hard not to smile. Feisty. Not for every man, but personally he liked feisty.
She had looked rather fierce standing there with that shovel. Syrus mentioned she was a fully trained Kin sha and she certainly had the body to prove it: lean and graceful, concealed power, hidden strength.
Grey gave her credit for not taking a swing at him earlier when he threw out his bombshell. He had witnessed an honest reaction. She’d held up well, no loss of control. Syrus had not disappointed him.
Grey studied her classic features, enhanced and caressed by soft candlelight. Auburn hair spilled over her shoulders en masse. A thin crease etched between her brows, her mind deep in concentration. Full lips lent a sensual pout to her distant expression. Something in those clear blue eyes spoke of an indomitable spirit and maturity beyond her years. Clear, calm, centered.
He shook his head and almost laughed aloud at how Syrus had described her with comments like ‘a hard worker’ and ‘learns quickly.’ The old man must have been going blind. Those weren’t exactly the phrases Grey would have used. In fact, he was conjuring up a few new ones right now.
Pulling his gaze away from her, he glanced around. The dining room had not changed since he had been a Kin sha student here fifteen years ago. The large oval table and chairs sat twelve generously. Wood paneled walls and coffered ceiling completed the cozy room.
His eyes finally settled on the vacant chair at the head of the table—Syrus’ chair. He felt the loss deeply. The man had been more than a teacher and had made Grey feel like more than a student. It seemed a lifetime ago. The turning point in his life. Everyone had them. Some you chose. Some chose you.
His gaze flickered back to Cidra as she shoved her food around her plate. He wondered if she had such a turning point in her life.
Cidra sighed softly. As usual, Barrios had outdone himself. Too bad she left her appetite down by the lake. Syrus was gone. The fabric of her life was starting to wear thin. This was grief, plain and simple. She had lived through it before. It would pass as it always did and she would move forward as Syrus had taught her, stronger but without Syrus.
She’d never thought about what she would do after he was gone. He had. By all rights, she should be grateful. Instead, she felt trapped. Grey Stone had obviously come a long way for her, just for her. Although he did unnerve and irritate her, she knew that Syrus would have never put her in any danger. If anything, he would have found the best way to keep her safe. She knew without a doubt that she could trust Grey Stone completely.
Stone had one particular point she could not deny. Since the Avion government had banned Kin-sha ten years ago, any use of it would be disastrous or worse. All those years of training would be wasted if she stayed.
She drew in a deep breath. Her choices were depressingly limited. There was nothing left here and nothing to lose. After acceptance gained a foothold, excitement followed. Her future. Could it be possible? Until now, she had no future but the endless isolation of the sanctuary.
The possibilities flooded over her. A treasure hunter. Sounded exotic and exciting despite what he had said. As she gazed up at him, she suspected working for the man would be anything but tedious.
More physically overwhelming than any man she’d ever met, he dominated space. He looked even bigger now than he had outside. More civilized perhaps, but no less intimidating.
Unruly curls of his dark hair glinted in the candlelight. Those penetrating eyes, she was sure, could see in the dark. So sharp and intense, they complimented the hard lines of his face. Even his mouth had a chiseled edge, perfectly shaped and more tempered than the rest of him. She found it strangely bewitching, tantalizing. Suddenly she looked down. How long had she been staring at him?
Beside her, Barrios ate ravenously, talking between bites. “With the main Kin sha facility dismantled, we’ve been secretly training a few students in private residences, but it’s pretty risky. So far, the locals have left us alone but no one can say how long that will last. I’m afraid if we don’t take the chance, the art will be lost forever.”
He shook his head. “Avion has changed a lot in the fifteen years since you left, Stone. I doubt it will ever recover from the Dakru incident. That cursed Ximenes Plague. We don’t get much news anymore. Is it still out there?”
Grey nodded. “It’s taken a few billion lives on hundreds of planets and shows no signs of slowing down. Last I heard, it was spreading through the Sankaran sector.”
He grinned at Barrios. “As far as I know, Avion is still the only supplier of an effective vaccine. You can be grateful for that.”
Barrios snorted. “You would think so. We thought it was such a blessing, being the first to develop a vaccine for the worst plague of the millennium. Avion, the pride of the galaxy. And the money.” He waved his hand in the air. “It made Avion rich, but I’d gladly give it all back. The cost was too great. That missing vaccine shipment to Dakru spelled the end for all of us. Those idiots in the Avion government blamed the whole mess on the Chief of Security and his Kin-sha unit. And you know that Avion will never forgive the Kin-sha for tarnishing their pristine image.”
Grey asked Barrios, “You must have known Avion’s Chief of Security then. Jarid Faulkner, right? He was in charge of vaccine deliveries. Any idea what really happened to that first Dakru shipment?”
Barrios stopped mid-bite. “The vaccine shipment vanished along with a full Kin-sha crew.”
Before Grey could respond, Barrios looked up and pointed his fork at him. “It left as planned, I can assure you. Jarid Faulkner was the finest Chief of Security Avion ever had. A master strategist. He had a contingency plan for everything. That vaccine shipment headed for Dakru with escort just as he ordered. On schedule.” He punctuated each word with a fork jab. “Something went very wrong.”
Grey glanced at Cidra and frowned. She listened in rapt attention, her jaw clenched tightly. Her fingers were white around her fork. Strange.
Building momentum, Barrios continued. “It disappeared without a trace. No transmissions, no distress signal, nothing. Jarid never found out what happened to it or the crew. The worst part is that it took Dakru too long to notify Avion that the shipment never arrived. By the time they did, the plague had claimed another half a million Dakruians. Another half million died before a second shipment could be dispatched.”
He stabbed a piece of meat viciously. “Then that Dakru Commander, Tausek, began condemning Jarid and his Kin-sha team. Some nonsense about the Kin-sha trying to destroy his precious d’Hont fighting force.” Barrios snorted. “I’ll tell you, the d’Hont are no more than cold-blooded killers. No morals, no honor. They made it sound as if Jarid murdered all those people with his own two hands. Tausek kills that many slaves in those blasted Thoriate mines every year. He had the entire sector riled, including our own people.”
Suddenly Barrios threw his fork down. “I still can’t believe the Avion government let those filthy d’Hont get their hands on Jarid.”
Grey stilled. “What do you mean, they let them?”
Propping his elbows up on the table, Barrios put his round face in his hands. “The d’Hont knew everything. How to infiltrate the planetary defenses, where to find Jarid. They even knew when Jarid would be home. They were in and out of here before anyone noticed.”
He leaned back, his chair groaning under the strain. “It was an inside job all the way. Personally, I think the Avion government handed Jarid over to pacify Tausek so he wouldn’t attack the entire planet.”
Grey shook his head. “And in typical Dakruian tradition, they killed the entire family, too. A shame.”
Barrios looked at Cidra and folded his arms in front of him. “Well, not quite.”
Grey’s eyebrows arched up. “What?”
Barrios reached over and took Cidra’s hand in his. “He doesn’t know, Cidra. You better tell him.”
Grey slowly turned to Cidra. For the first time since he had met her, he noted real fear in her eyes. An unpleasant sensation rumbled through his gut that his fantasy image of her was about to be permanently altered.
Cidra looked back across the table at him in defeat. She had hoped to leave her past behind her and start over in a place where no one knew who she was or from where she came. But there was no sense avoiding the inevitable. Eventually Stone would find out. He deserved to know the truth, even if it meant the end of all her hopes and dreams.
“I’m Cidra Faulkner. Jarid Faulkner’s daughter.”
He stared back at her, his face a strange mix of incredulity and disbelief. A sickening wave of disappointment rolled over her. She wondered how long it would take him to bolt.
“I heard everyone was killed,” Grey declared coolly.
“I escaped. I guess they never bothered to count the bodies.” She squeezed Barrios’ hand so hard, he flinched.
Barrios leaned forward. “Syrus rescued Cidra right afterward.”
He made a sweeping gesture with his hands. “He brought her here to the sanctuary where the remaining Kin-sha had gathered. He introduced her as his niece, Cidra Almazan. No one questioned it.” Shrugging, he said, “Probably because Jarid was a great man and none of the Kin sha believed what the Dakruians charged was true.” He glanced at Cidra. “Even if it were true, no one deserves to die like that. They couldn’t even ID the bodies.”
Grey eyed Cidra with wary respect. He couldn’t imagine how much strength it took to carry the condemnation of an entire planet on your shoulders, not to mention the fear of discovery day after day. He had guessed right—indomitable spirit. But from the hollow look in her eyes, that spirit was in desperate trouble.
He took a deep breath. Talk about trouble. He didn’t even want to think about what would happen if word of this got out. He was a treasure hunter, not a bodyguard. Leave it to Syrus to omit a few minor details. The old man had set him up and now she was his problem. He would keep his promise to Syrus, but he would do it his way.
He picked up his glass of wine, watching her over the rim. “I think it would be best if we continued to introduce you as Cidra Almazan.”
Cidra muttered, “Right. I wouldn’t want to give you any bad publicity.”
With a smirk, Grey replied, “Actually, I’m thinking more of your safety. I doubt even I could protect you from the entire planet of Dakru.”
Barrios chimed in. “He’s right, Cidra. If Tausek finds out you are alive, there will be no stopping him. His hatred for your father is complete. He rules Dakru now. Vengeance and power are a deadly combination.”
Cidra blinked at her old friend as the realization slowly sunk in. Lulled into a sense of safety within the sanctuary, she had nearly forgotten the fact that her mere presence could be dangerous to those around her.
She turned to Grey. “I won’t jeopardize your crew. Under the circumstances, you should not feel obligated to keep your promise to Syrus.”
Grey’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “I always keep my promises. There’s no problem as long as your real identity is kept secret. We leave in the morning. I have a business to run.” He downed the rest of the wine and set the glass back on the table hard, effectively closing the subject.
Cidra stared at Grey’s grim expression. She’d been right about one thing. He was not pleased when he found out who she was.
Without warning, Barrios abruptly jumped up from the table. “Good Lord, I almost forgot!” And with that, he lumbered out of the room.
Cidra and Grey looked after him, then at each other.
“He’s your friend,” Grey said.
Cidra smiled weakly. “I never said he was stable.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Barrios returned with a small wooden box in his hands. “Syrus gave this to me a few days ago. He told me if anything happened to him, you should have it.”
He shoved the dishes aside and placed the box in front of Cidra. She touched it lightly, running her fingers along the exquisite inlay on the lid. In the center was the ancient Kin sha crest, faded and delicate.
“I don’t ever remember seeing this before. Are you sure it belonged to Syrus?” She glanced up at Barrios, who was still smiling away.
He snapped out of his reverie to answer her. “Umm, it looks vaguely familiar, but I’m sure it was Syrus’. He handled it like a newborn babe.”
Cidra sat in silence, not entirely sure she wanted to know what the contents were. Syrus had been rather mysterious lately. Lord knows what he might have put in a box in his state. She breathed deeply, leaned forward, and pulled the latch.
So far, so good. At least nothing came flying out at her.
She lifted the lid wide and peered inside. Papers, some odd objects, a holographic recording cartridge. She sighed in relief and smiled. Nothing unusual.
Barrios gasped. Grey’s eyebrows shot up. They both leapt forward at the same time.
Cidra ducked out of the way as Barrios went for the papers and Grey grabbed a small vial, neither giving the precious box any regard.
“Am I missing something here?” she demanded in bewilderment.
Examining the label on the vial of black liquid, Grey snapped, “Where did this come from?”
“Government. Classified. Military. How did he get these?” Barrios tore through the documents.
“Thanks for clearing everything up. Never mind, I’ll find out for myself.” Cidra reached in for a letter marked “Cidra” in Syrus’ neat handwriting.
She opened the letter and drew both men’s full attention as she read it aloud.
My Dear Cidra,
I want you to know how much you meant to me during the past ten years. You brought sunshine into my dark times. It broke my heart to watch you suffer for your father’s guilt when I knew the allegations were not true. Please forgive me. I possessed neither the means nor the strength to pursue the truth.
You, on the other hand, now have both. I have contacted Grey Stone. He is a good man, much like your father, honest and trustworthy. He can provide the means.
You must provide the strength, Cidra—to discover the real fate of the Dakru shipment, clear your father’s name, and save the Kin sha. To free yourself. The time has come. The two of you are ready.
I collected all the evidence I could find. I know your father was innocent. I do not know who framed him and the Kin sha, but I can get you both started on your quest.
Cidra, I loved you like my own. Travel with care, my child.
My eternal love,
Syrus
Silence filled the room. Grey muttered something under his breath.
Cidra gripped the paper in her fingers. Your father was innocent. The words burned in her mind. Words she desperately wanted to hear. Words that healed her soul. In her heart, she had always believed her father was innocent. He was Kin sha. He was honorable. Innocent. And it was up to her to prove it.
She looked at Grey and smiled. “Well Stone, it looks like we’re partners.”
Grey’s gaze slid up from the note in her hands. Her breath caught as she looked into the dangerous eyes of a caged animal. His voice was steely and tight. “I don’t do partners.”
He tossed the vial back into the box. “So, how long did it take for you and Syrus to dream up this little plan?”
Cidra’s mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about?”
Grey snorted and shook his head. “You sure have the innocent act down. Just so you know, it won’t work on me.”
“Do you think I would have been hiding on this planet for all these years if I had known about this before?” Cidra snapped.
“Without a ship? Yes.” Grey leaned toward her. “It just so happens I have one hell of a ship. But you already knew that.”
She answered through clenched teeth, “I didn’t. Syrus did.” She leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and regarded him coolly. “He must have picked you for some good reason.”
Barrios stifled a snicker.
Grey narrowed his eyes at her, at the speed in which she had turned the entire conversation around. As if by divine intervention, his comm link beeped. He stared at Cidra’s defiant expression a few more seconds before rising and striding into the kitchen. He flipped on the communicator.
“What is it, Decker?” Grey snapped.
On the other end, Decker paused. “Captain, you said to contact you when I found, uh, our little problem.”
Grey clenched the comm unit. He did not need this tonight. “Who is it?”
“You’re not going to like it, sir. It’s Mora.” His voice was down to a whisper.
Mora, a spy? It couldn’t be. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I found her last message to Sandor Wex, the only encrypted message sent off the ship during the time period you specified. Mora told him to stay close because we were moving in on the Mask of Teran. What do you want me to do now?”
Grey fought back the pure, red rage of personal betrayal that he had come to know so well. He needed to think clearly. “Where was the message’s destination?”
“Hold on.” There was a pause. Then Decker swore and came back. “Vaasa, Captain. Home. From what I can tell, that’s where they’ve been meeting, too.”
Right under his nose. Grey hissed though his teeth. Anger rose in a torrid wave. She had already betrayed two of his lucrative finds to Sandor Wex. There would not be a third. “Notify the crew that we’re heading home to Vaasa for a few days.”
There was silence.
“That’s all?” Decker finally blurted. “Aren’t you going to do anything to her? You know how much we lost on those two finds they jumped. And you’ve done enough preliminary work on the Mask’s location to give Wex a good target area.”
Grey gave a short laugh. “Not a chance. The man can’t find his way through Thendara Market without getting lost. Besides, I haven’t told a soul where I really think that Mask is. Go ahead and notify the crew. And Decker, don’t restrict Mora’s transmissions. I want her and Wex on Vaasa at the same time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll be coming aboard tomorrow morning. Out.”
Grey pocketed the comm unit and leaned back against a cabinet, aware that every muscle in his body was on fire. Mora. His ship’s cook. The last person he would have suspected. They’d had a brief affair aboard his ship a year ago and had ended it on good terms. Or so he thought. Grey dragged a hand through his hair. He had trusted her. Like a fool.
Standing in the kitchen, he realized something else. He was about to lose his cook. He surveyed the neat kitchen and slowly smiled.
#
Moonlight spilled through the second floor window of the same bedroom Grey had occupied long ago as a Kin-sha student. With restless energy, he folded his hands behind his head and shifted position again on the narrow bed. In the half-light, the bright colors of Syrus’ wall paintings faded to subtle shades of gray.
It had not been a good day. He had buried his old friend, been betrayed by a former lover, and somehow been saddled with a strong-willed, potentially dangerous woman and a dead man’s mission. And the crush of old memories was undermining his normally logical approach to problem solving.
The moment in time came back in a painful flash: standing beaten and shaking at Syrus’ door the night he had run away from his father, Lassiter Stone. The only lesson that lying bastard ever taught Grey was that you couldn’t trust anyone, not even your own blood.
That night Syrus took in a bitter young man and did what he did best: bestow the gift of Kin-sha. His gentle ways, so different from Lassiter’s heavy, heartless hand, epitomized effortless patience, tolerance, and the real meaning of friendship. Kin sha emphasized the balance of mind and body, demanding absolute control over both. The standard training gave Grey the tools to defend himself, control his anger, and command his future. But Syrus had also taught him by example, living as a gentleman of honor and a man of his word. The lessons of life and living.
It was a debt Grey now had a chance to repay. Still he felt trapped, forced into a situation beyond his control or choice. As much as he cared for the old man, he couldn’t help but be furious with him. He was en route to the final location of the Lost Mask of Teran when Syrus summoned him. This little detour had blown his schedule all to hell. He wouldn’t have put his operation on hold for anyone else. And he wouldn’t take on a mission like this for another person except Syrus.
Fortunately, Syrus’ mission could wait. He had to deal with Mora and Wex and then he could go after the Mask. After that, he would honor Syrus’ final wish.
Satisfied with his new strategy, Grey tried to relax. The uneasy feeling persisted. Giving in to the compulsion, he rolled off the bed and pulled on a pair of shorts. A quick walk around the cottage would ease his mind. He picked up the laser pistol next to the bed and checked the setting. Living in the sanctuary held no guarantee of safety for any Kin sha. Cidra’s hostile greeting of him confirmed that.
Slapping the pistol in his palm, he turned to leave and suddenly stopped at the window. Moonlight filled the night sky, casting the woods in a ghostly glow. And in the middle of the courtyard stood Cidra looking up at the giant moon, her back to him.
He knew without a doubt she was the reason for his uneasiness. He set the pistol down and rested a shoulder against the window frame. Watching her white nightgown flare gently around her legs, his mind drifted to what she would do aboard his ship. Even with her extensive training, he had little use for an accomplished Kin sha in his operation. Long-dead artifacts rarely gave him much of a struggle. It was going to be a challenge to find a position for her.
But one thing was certain. She was not going to be his partner. Partners meant compromise. He was the captain of his own ship so he wouldn’t have to compromise.
A faint breeze wrapped the gown snugly around her, cutting a clear silhouette in the moonlight. Those long legs were something. His body raced ahead of his mind as an unexpected wave of awareness blazed through him.
He shook himself, remembering where his libido had gotten him in the past. He’d already made that mistake with Mora. He had ignored his own hard and fast rule: do not get involved with a crewmember. He grimaced at the hard and fast part. Not a good choice of words at the moment, but the rule remained. Business as usual, especially with this one. She was trouble all the way, no matter now innocent she claimed to be.
What worried him the most was that he almost believed her tonight when she told him she knew nothing about the box. Almost. He’d already played the fool one too many times today.
It all seemed perfectly clear until he saw her wipe a hand across her eyes, her shoulders shake. Grey backed away from the window and blew out a long breath. She was crying. She didn’t seem like the kind of woman who cried easily. In the vastness of the sanctuary, she looked small and alone.
Grey paced his room, feeling guilt and anger and wondering why he felt the need to do something. Then he turned and walked to the door.
#
Night was as quiet as the day was loud in the woods of Avion. Cidra stood alone in the moonlight on a planet she both loved and hated, trying to forget who she was.
The sanctuary swept out around her. A swirl of wind haunted the trees and cooled her sweat-dampened hair, sending a shiver through her. The dinner conversation must have been what triggered that wretched nightmare again. After all this time, she thought she had finally outgrown it. A tangled confusion of screams and fire, smoke and siege, dragging her down into its dark terror. They were the twisted memories etched in her mind of how she had escaped the hand of death long ago.
Cidra drew in a shuddering breath. Like every day for the past ten years, she wondered what happened to them that night, how they died, why she had been spared. She would never know. She wasn’t sure which was the crueler fate: dying with them or living without them. Tears streamed down her face in a silent purge of injustice and grief. Cidra hugged herself tight in a vain effort to control the trembling.
There were days when she missed them so much. Too many times she’d wished for a different life, to be someone else, anyone else. Now she had that chance to rectify the past, to build herself a new future. But regardless of Syrus’ order, she knew it would be her duty and her mission. Grey Stone had his own agenda.
Anger flashed through her. He thought she set him up. She still couldn’t believe it. Why would he think such a thing? Not that it mattered. It was perfectly obvious that he didn’t want this mission, and he was even less enthused to harbor her. The only reason he agreed to take her was because of Syrus.
A new flood of tears burned down her face. For once, she didn’t fight it, allowing the pain to crash over her in waves as if it would somehow redeem her. She cried for her parents and brothers, her life as she had once known it, for a mission that seemed impossible for her to achieve alone.
Abruptly, another sensation broke the desolation that engulfed her. Her danger sense triggered. Cidra spun around to find Grey standing there, bathed in moonlight like a divine apparition.
Not him. Not now. She lowered her head and struggled to pull herself together.
He stepped closer. “Cidra.”
Grey’s fingers slipped under her chin, gently lifting her face to his. His eyes were gray pools filled with warmth and strange understanding.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want his sympathy. The very thought sent a surge of energy and strength through her.
“I’m fine,” she said, opening her eyes to meet his. “I can take care of myself.”
His expression darkened in the moonlight. Warm fingers dropped from her chin. The air became distinctly cooler.
“I hope so,” he stated in a tight voice. “I don’t have time to play guardian.”
She nearly growled. “Who do you think has been watching over Syrus and Barrios all these years?”
A wry smile crossed his face. “I’m surprised you had time with all the plans you and Syrus were making.”
Cidra’s eyes narrowed. “I knew nothing about this mission before tonight. If I had, I wouldn’t have picked you to help me.”
He took a step toward her, charging large and broad into her personal space. She held her position at the clear intrusion.
His voice was low and menacing. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m the best you are going to get because no one, and I mean no one, would take this mission except me. But I don’t have to be happy about it.”
She clenched her fists at her sides. “And neither do I.”
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