Rash'Tor'Ri (Soulguard Book 4), page 10
"I still get that other feelin' when I get out away from those I marked. Or if I focus on the Kresh out there instead of the ones below us. I keep my attention on these and I can push the others back. The calm is welcome, I get so very little of it."
"I had noticed," she said as she squeezed my hand.
We left the stairwell and followed a waiting Kil'Sin'Deres down the hallway that led to the huge room that held the Great Gate to Cerres. There was a pretty good sized group of Kresh in the room and they stepped to the sides to leave us a clear path to the Gate. A few continued what they were doing but most turned and watched us walk across the distance to the platform.
"Eerie," Lyrica said.
I chuckled, "Feel like a science experiment?"
"Don't know their emotions as well as you, feel a little like the last shrimp on the buffet."
"They observe you because you are the one rumored to have killed a Clan. They wonder if you are a worthy mate to Rash'Tor'Ri. If the rumors are true, they approve." Kil'Sin'Deres said.
"I'm just a little offended, I think," she said.
"It is not meant to offend," he said. "We can read each other and see if our mates are worthy of us or if we are worthy of our mates. Rash'Tor'Ri has proven to be a warrior, unparalleled. But we cannot read you. There is much fascination with that."
"If it is battle prowess they respect," I said. "They can rest assured, she's done more in moments than I've done in years. But if there are doubts, you'll see. Time will tell."
I turned back to her, "Ready to see Cerres?"
She looked around at the staring Kresh, "Oh yes."
"It'll be just as bad there," I grinned.
She sighed and we stepped through another shimmering curtain into another world.
Chapter 19
The enormous crowd of people on the other side wasn't what I expected. A telepath should have gotten more of this from Kil'Sin'Deres throughout the journey. But I hadn't, it was a total surprise. The plaza was lined with Kresh'Ma'Nar and Kresh'Sor'An along the left side. The right side was lined with Shak'Tar, each and every one with Soulguard knots, and Soulguards from Earth.
Directly in front of us at the far end of the Plaza stood Gorvelis, Sam, Darrel, and the few Ferrara'Ti that had been marked by me or my Clan. In a group to their left stood six of the large Kresh and a seventh that was enormous.
"Oh, my," Lyrica muttered.
"Wow," I mumbled back.
As we approached the others, I looked at the new group. Most of them were uncertain about me and it could be seen in their auras. But I saw the bare touches of hope that this could actually work.
Except for the big one. He could hide his mind from all around him but he couldn't disguise that aura filled with the chaos of his deception. He wasn't uncertain and there was no presence of hope. He looked like a great predator poised to attack when the deer steps within range.
He caught my thoughts and things went straight to hell.
He slammed the others aside and charged toward me. The world slowed down as I dropped into focus but he was closing too fast. He was across the distance before I could even begin to react.
Then he slammed to a halt as a shield wall sprang to life feet in front of me. I felt the Source surging through her as Lyrica powered that shield enough to stop the behemoth. He started to back up so he could power forward and Lyrica wrapped the shield around him.
Everyone was just starting to realize something was wrong as the huge Kresh roared. I could feel the power she was using to hold him still and it was substantial. He was a strong bastard. Then I felt his mind reaching for me. I staggered as his mind slammed through my walls. I tried to hold my own but he was a juggernaut.
Then Lyrica's hand landed on my shoulder and power poured up both of our streams. The mental attack stopped with a final mental shriek.
I looked forward as I staggered to my feet, to see a shield ball about the size of a softball, hovering in the air at eye level. Lyrica slammed two tendrils of the shield into the Source and dropped it.
The ball dropped the four feet to the paving with a deep thud. I don't know how much Jas'Tor'Kalamet weighed. Pretty heavy, I imagined.
Lyrica stepped in front of me with flames rolling across her body and her eyes looking like pits to Hell. I know because I could see them through the eyes of those standing in front of her.
"Who's next?" she growled as fire filled her hands inside two launchers she had opened.
She was breathing hard and filled with a rage I hardly ever see in her. She was my Golden Valkyrie for that instant, and I had never seen anything so beautiful. I laid my hand on her shoulder.
"That's enough, baby," I said softly. "They're not gonna do anything."
Everyone was backing from her path. She looked at each and every one of those in front of her with that Hell gaze then released the excess power into the sky. Then she, calmly walked back to her place beside me and placed her hand in mine.
There was complete and utter silence from the crowd that had been loud before. Then from behind me came a rumble I recognized as the laughter of Kil'Sin'Deres.
"There is no doubt of your choice in mates, now, Rash'Tor'Ri!"
His laughter was contagious. I chuckled and the whole plaza erupted in the utterly disconcerting laughter of Kresh.
Gorvelis stepped forward with a grin on his face, "Quite unexpected."
The Shak'Tar from the other side of the plaza had joined in the laughter. The Soulguards were still a little behind the others, lacking the telepathy of their cohorts. But there were several nods and smiles of satisfaction. These were people who already knew of Lyrica Jayne and they had heard the doubts of those who had not. They all now felt a sort of vindication. I'd had no idea there had even been any doubt about my little angel.
"Come, Rash'Tor'Ri, and we will feast!" Gorvelis roared above the din of laughter. He nodded toward Lyrica, "I do not even have the words to thank you, Lyrica Jayne. You stopped Jas'Tor'Kalamet before he could finish his plans."
"No thanks are necessary, Touran," she answered. "He is mine. They have to come through me to get to him."
Gorvelis nodded and led us through the crowds of Kresh and Humans that were now filling the Plaza. I could still feel Lyrica's hand trembling from the adrenaline but she held her poise as we crossed the area in front of the multitude of cheering and laughing people. I glanced back to see several Kresh poking at the softball sized shield. One reached down to pick it up but it slipped from his fingers due to its weight. More laughter erupted from the group around him and he gripped it harder, where he could lift it.
He threw it to one of his companions who tried to catch it but dropped it, not expecting it to weigh so much. It landed with a thud to the laughter of the group.
"How long you reckon they'll be throwin' that around?"
"Probably for hours, Rash'Tor'Ri, if not days," Gorvelis answered. "I hate that we lose the numbers his Clans would have given us and I apologize for allowing an enemy into our midst."
"He was strong enough, you couldn't have known," I answered. "But the real problem is that our secret might be out. This guy found out and decided to do somethin' about it. We can't turn down powerful allies, but there's a point where we can't tell if they're true or not. At least, not unless one of us can see his aura."
"We will keep our forces on alert from this point forward," Gorvelis said, as we followed him into the Citadel, the name given to the facility by the locals.
As we entered several people approached. An older lady was staring at me and I knew her name was Delphin. She nodded and stopped in front of us.
"Rash'Tor'Ri," she greeted. "The feast will begin in several hours. Would you and your lady like to join the young ladies, who will show you to the rooms where you can refresh yourselves and retrieve your clothing for the dinner?"
I glanced at Gorvelis who nodded, "We will catch up after the dinner, Rash'Tor'Ri. Matron Delphin has spent a great deal of time trying to prepare for your arrival."
"Alrighty, then," I said. "Lead on, Matron."
There had been nothing like this on my last visit, but that had been quite a while back. Humans used to avoid the Citadel like the plague in the times before. It appeared that the place had changed dramatically. A group of young women closed and pulled Lyrica along toward the left side of the hall. She followed, glancing back at me.
"Just go with it, honey," I laughed.
"And you, Sir," Delphin said, "Follow me."
I followed Delphin down a hall and to an elevator, the first I had seen in the buildings of the Makers. Somehow, I hadn't really thought about elevators. I guess I hadn't spent any time to amount to anything exploring the buildings on Hub or Cerres. I had been in a hurry the last time I was here.
We entered the elevator and she pushed the button for the top floor. I could see the excitement in her aura as the elevator moved.
"Not used to this yet?"
"There are many marvels here that the Lords would have killed for a year ago."
"How is it that you work here, Matron? The last time I was here there were just military units, basically."
"The High Lord, Gorvelis came to the keep and offered jobs to those willing to work. Servants to work in the Citadel. He offered gold in payment and we jumped at the opportunity to work for pay doing what we had been doing for our masters."
"You were a slave?" I asked, a touch of rage trying to surface.
"I was a slave until the High Lord marked us all. We know to our core how you feel about slavery, and it was abolished rather quickly. It took some getting used to, our freedom. Then the High Lord came and offered us jobs."
"Interesting," I said. "I'm glad to hear the fact that slavery was abolished. I'm also glad you and yours came here. It seems to make the Citadel, less a fortress, and more a home for those living here."
There was pride rolling through her aura at my words. I would have to be careful with what I said on Cerres when people held me in such high esteem. All through history, people with power could easily say the wrong things and cause all sorts of trouble. I was uncomfortable with the way those with the mark felt about me. Perhaps I could, one day, find a way of removing the mark without the whole dying part. That would be a wonderful thing.
The elevator stopped and we exited into a very large room, furnished with what looked to be very comfortable furniture. I hadn't seen this area the first time I was here. Gorvelis had been staying on the bottom floor and I did, as well.
"The rooms up here were old and filled with dust when I started working here," she said. "One of the first things I decided to take care of when I was placed in charge of the other servants was to clean and prepare these for you when you are here, Rash'Tor'Ri."
"Wow," I said, looking across the room to see a wide opening with an enormous bath tub.
"I am happy that Rash'Tor'Ri is pleased. If you will give me your clothing, I will see to it they are cleaned. There is clothing fit for someone of your stature in the wardrobe."
"Will they fit?"
"They were tailored to fit you, as was the clothing to which your Lady is being introduced."
"Why was she taken elsewhere?"
"It is a vanity of my own, Rash'Tor'Ri," she said. "I wished you each to have the joy of seeing the final product of what I have prepared for you. We have been waiting for a long time to get the chance to have you in residence."
She held her hands out, "Your clothing, Sir."
"Now?"
"Rest assured, my Lord," she said with a grin, "I have seen it all before."
I peeled out of my uniform and placed it in her hands. She waited until I had completely disrobed before she turned and exited. I turned to the enormous tub and slid into the steaming hot water.
Chapter 20
The huge banquet hall we had previously used was packed. Much like before, there were Kresh, Shak'Tar, and Humans present. Last time the only Humans were Soulguards. This time there were quite a few regular Humans, things had changed since the people of Cerres were marked.
The clothes that Delphin had left in the wardrobe had been something else. The shirt was hand crafted from a green cloth that felt silky yet didn't retain heat like silk. The pants were of a durable stock similar to black denim, but much softer. There were buttons and laces but no zippers. The boots were leather and fit me better than any shoe I had ever worn. I felt like I was dressed like a pirate.
I was met by Gorvelis as I entered the banquet hall but I almost didn't even notice him. Lyrica entered wearing a dress that matched my shirt in color. My mouth dropped open. I always knew her to be beautiful, but I'd never seen her in a dress like this and she was beaming as her eyes met mine. There's no disguising what you feel from a Soullord, and I could see she felt the same as I.
"Sorry, Touran," I said as I noticed him, patiently waiting. "I'm a little distracted."
"Understandable," he returned. "She is beautiful."
"Thank you."
"And a fitting mate for Rash'Tor'Ri, by anyone's standards."
"I still can't believe what we saw out there," I grinned.
"It was a surprise for all of us except Miss Jayne," he said. "She moved so quickly, she had to have had suspicions."
"She was on guard the second we stepped through the gate. Her Soulstream is much larger than mine and her focus much stronger. She's faster and stronger than me. And the reason I'm still alive, many times over, including today."
My eyes were drawn toward her, brilliant green eyes glowing with life, her light brown hair curled and framing her beautiful face.
"Allow me to show you to your seats," Gorvelis said with a grin. "We'll talk later, when you are less distracted."
I laughed and followed Gorvelis toward my little angel. She fell in to step with us and slipped her arm in mine.
"I'm keeping this dress," she whispered.
"I think you should," I whispered. "You do make it look quite lovely."
"Well said," she returned.
Gorvelis led us to the table at the far end of the Hall. It had a pair of seats that faced toward the Hall where we could see everyone in the room. This was a lot more formal than the last trip had been. We seated ourselves in the pair of large chairs. I'd seen things like this in movies and such, but never expected to be the "Royalty" that I had seen depicted. I never wanted to be either.
"That is why it is easy to follow you, Rash'Tor'Ri," Gorvelis said from my right. I should have known better than to expect a telepath not to "hear" me.
"Still doesn't change it," I said.
"What?" Lyrica asked.
"Havin' a half spoken conversation here," I said. "Gorvelis was pickin' up some thoughts about this whole Royal treatment."
"It does feel a little odd," she returned. "And I swear they're still staring at me."
"If you'll notice," I said. "They all seem to be grinning at you too."
"That's a little disconcerting."
"It does take gettin' used to."
"I suppose it would."
"Oh, my…"
My eyes widened as the Citadel staff approached the table with several enormous platters of meats and vegetables. It took two of them to carry each platter. After ours were placed in the center of the table, all but one of the servants left the table to return to the kitchen. The young man that remained awaited orders with a carving knife in hand.
"Just start carving anywhere, Faarl," I said, seeing the familiar colors of appreciation roll through his aura.
"What would the Lady like to begin with?"
"That bird looks divine," she answered. "And just mix up the vegetables. I don't know what any of them are, so I'd like to try a little of each."
He nodded and carved a breast off of the turkey sized bird on the platter. He stacked her a plate that had me drooling.
"And, the Lord?"
"Just carve any of it, Faarl. I'm a carnivore today. I'd like to try every kind of meat you have there. We can talk vegetables some other time."
I looked around to see similar young men serving the people and Kresh seated at the other tables. Kil'Sin'Deres looked at me and grinned.
"It is a new thing to have humans happily serving food to us, Rash'Tor'Ri," he said. "You have changed things more than you could imagine."
"A good change, I hope."
"A good change, indeed."
***
"The scientists that came over last year started a college outside of the Citadel," Sam Keller said. "We all put our heads together and figured it would be the easiest way to spread the knowledge and skills out to all the various holds."
"We also put twenty of the Shak'Tar into the College," Gorvelis added. "None can learn faster than a telepath."
"I'd noticed there weren't any Shak'Tar without knotted Soulstreams. I'm guessin' that's the reason."
"We've been usin' 'em for instructors at the Academy too. You'd be amazed how fast someone can tie their stream when a telepath shows 'em how," Sam added. "There's a sacrifice in focus when we do it this quickly but we need an army, yesterday. And there's no doubt these people are willing. They act a lot like a certain kid I met in Knoxville."
"I have no idea what you're talkin' about."
"Yeah, sure."
"How many do we have so far?"
"A little over twenty thousand with knots," he said. "They're lined up at the doors."
"Is it hurtin' the holds to lose that many?"
Gorvelis smiled, "It speaks well of you to think of the holds, Rash'Tor'Ri. But it is doing them a great service to pull some of the men and women from the holds. They have less to feed. In truth we could take many more but we do not have the numbers to teach so many just yet."
"Then you're probably not gonna like my next suggestion," I said. "We need to send some of the Shak'Tar to Parlais. I sent a group of Mages to start teaching but we could use some of those rapid teachers there, too."
