The True Ruler, page 9
part #5 of Worlds Apart Series
People came forward to meet the daughter of the famous freedom fighter and the granddaughter of the Prime Ruler. He was not sure which facet of Cassie’s familial relationships excited the crowd more. Cassie was gracious and greeted the public. JoAnna threw him a concerned look.
“The Prime Ruler is expecting his granddaughter at The Palace,” Darden informed the crowd.
His anger had lessened a small amount now that new risks to her safety grabbed his attention. The crowd was becoming more aggressive in their desire to talk with the young woman they felt held their future in her hands, one way or another. It irritated him that both Shirl and Candy had left Cassie’s safety to him, JoAnna, and Koel.
“I will speak with my grandfather to set up opportunities for me to meet the general public,” Cassie said in a calming voice. “Since I did not grow up in this realm, he has been focusing on my education of the Troyk government and how it runs.”
Cassie started moving toward the restaurant’s exit, greeting people as she moved through the crowd. Darden was surprised that such a large horde was unusually calm and protective of her instead of pushing and shoving each other to shake her hand or touch her. For the first time, Darden wondered if Cassie had an ability to soothe a group, similar to his ability to calm her. He had been in many mobs in the past and they did not react as this group did.
They walked toward The Palace with each person walking beside her to say a few words, then to be replaced with someone else. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Candy on the outskirts of the crowd. Her eyes were glued on Cassie, but did not seem alarmed by the people approaching her friend. Darden maneuvered through the mass of humanity and walked beside Candy.
“Do you understand what is happening?” Darden asked.
“It’s odd, I admit,” Candy said. “I do not pick up any hostility within the crowd. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. I get a certain feeling when danger is present, but now it’s almost as if I’m entering some kind of Zen state.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Darden warned. “I do not like what is happening. Crowds do not behave in this fashion. I am afraid they will turn on her at the slightest provocation. Everyone just witnessed an altercation and an arrest. Something always results from those events until a mind control telepath intervenes.”
Candy did not immediately reply to his comment. She seemed to be considering his words. The young woman had spent most of her life in Gingko Terra, ignorant of the Troyk universe, telepathic beings, or her own abilities.
A small smile blossomed on her face. “Cassie is a mind control telepath,” Candy finally said. “Have you considered she is responsible for the crowd’s behavior?”
He had, but he was not sure if it was intentional on Cassie’s part or if she had the power to sustain it. When The Palace came into view, he breathed a sigh of relief. They would soon enter the building and head to a part of the structure the general public could not enter.
Candy and JoAnna both stationed themselves on either side of Cassie as they entered The Palace. The crowd did not seem alarmed or take offense to the young women. They backed off as the three of them passed through a guard station. Various versions of goodbyes were yelled to Cassie as she started to climb the stairs.
Darden never believed spending time with Jeryl Jarlyn would cause him any relief. Today it did. He quickly changed his mind when they entered the greeting room to find the Prime Ruler in the midst of a nosebleed. The old man was clutching a crystal in one hand and tissues in the other.
Alarmed, Cassie ran toward her grandfather, while JoAnna grabbed additional tissues. The blood continued to pour from Jeryl Jarlyn’s nose. If it were any other man, Darden would have been concerned about his gray coloring.
“Grandfather,” Cassie cried as she took ahold of his arm and led him to a sofa. “How long has this been going on? Has someone contacted a doctor?”
Darden looked around, but there was no one else in the room. Her grandfather had not called for help when this latest attack started. Koel and JoAnna had previously divulged information the Prime Ruler suffered frequent nosebleeds from abusing powerful crystals. JoAnna worked to pry the crystal from his fist while Cassie tried to staunch his nosebleed.
“Benko will be coming to take my place,” Jeryl Jarlyn ranted. “My boy intends to take control by force and you are the one he sent to start the process.”
The man was fighting Cassie’s aid, referring to her as the enemy. There was no evidence the Prime Ruler had attempted to attack JoAnna or Cassie telepathically. Darden looked at Koel for some type of direction. His cousin had been dealing with Jeryl Jarlyn’s deterioration since his mating with JoAnna. The general public had no idea the state their ruler was in.
“Grandfather,” Cassie once again called out to the old man having some kind of attack.
She was helpless to know what to do. Her father had used crystals from time to time to increase his telepathic gift once he entered the Troyk penal colony. But he never had any adverse side effects, like her grandfather was now experiencing. Tears of concern and frustration fell down her cheeks.
“Why isn’t anyone coming?” JoAnna asked. “Koel, see if you can find someone who can call a doctor. At his age, the Prime Ruler must have a physician he sees on a regular basis.”
It would have been so easy to reach out telepathically for help. However, Cassie did not want to communicate her grandfather’s condition through the communal pathways. Her father would ultimately decide when he was ready to overthrow Jeryl Jarlyn and rule.
“You are all out to get me,” Jeryl Jarlyn yelled. He was becoming more agitated with each exchange.
“Grandfather, it’s me, Cassie,” she cried. “We have finally found each other; please don’t leave me now.”
His nose stopped bleeding, but he was still out of his mind. Cassie blocked out all the terrible things he was saying, believing it was his illness that caused the outbursts. She was relieved when Koel finally returned with a small contingent of guards and men not in uniform.
“Arrest these people,” her grandfather ordered. “They tried to kill me!”
Fortunately, the new arrivals did not react to Jeryl Jarlyn’s words. They probably had witnessed the deterioration of their ruler and knew he experienced moments when he was out of his mind. Cassie rose and approached the small party.
“My grandfather had a severe nosebleed,” Cassie said. “He needs to be cleaned up and a doctor sent for.”
“The Prime Ruler has dismissed his doctors,” one of the men commented. He appeared as helpless as Cassie felt. “He should be his old self after he rests.”
She could feel her anger slowly simmering. “I do not care what his orders were in the past. My grandfather needs a doctor. If he has been getting regular nosebleeds, he may need a blood transfusion. Look at him!” Cassie screamed.
“I will see to it,” a man in the back said. He exited the room and Cassie felt her first sense of relief since finding her grandfather in his current state.
A thousand thoughts cluttered her brain. “What should we do next?” Cassie asked Darden through their closed channel. She needed his help. Although he was probably still mad at her, he needed to get over it and aid her now.
“Send for Solfa Theffar,” Darden ordered the befuddled guard awaiting instructions. “We do not want to alarm the general public by requesting her presence through any of the communal links.”
The guard gazed at Cassie, who nodded in agreement. In everything but name, she was the Prime Ruler until her grandfather recovered from his latest bout of madness. She wondered how much longer Jeryl Jarlyn would be able to hide his illness from the citizens of Aster Province.
Her friends rallied beside her, but Cassie never felt more alone in her life. If only her father were here. Perhaps now was the time to bring Benko Jarlyn back to the Troyk universe.
After thirty minutes, which felt like an eternity, Solfa entered the greeting room. She had visited with the doctor before she joined them. Solfa continually reported her whereabouts through the warrior channel and Cassie yet again pretended she could not receive the telepathic communication. Cassie vacillated as to when she would admit to everyone she could access that pathway.
“The doctor has given your grandfather a clean bill of health,” Solfa advised the group. “Jarlyn is working in his study. He used his mind control capabilities to convince the physician he was in remarkable health for a man his age. Your grandfather met with the guards and they are now also ignorant of what happened this afternoon.”
“How long has this been going on?” Cassie asked.
“I have no way of knowing,” Solfa shrugged. “If I witnessed one of his events, I have no memory of it. Only JoAnna and Koel will recall the nosebleeds and his madness. This can happen indefinitely until your grandfather finally passes.”
“It is a good thing we did not act prematurely and bring Benko over,” Koel said. “We need to continue our planning as if today did not happen. Nothing has changed as far as the general population is aware. Cassie needs to ingrain herself into her grandfather’s life and the government. Jeryl Jarlyn will eventually abdicate part of his control. Only then will Benko return.”
Cassie could see JoAnna struggled with her soul mate’s declaration. “We have the power to overtake the old man,” JoAnna said. “Between my power and Cassie’s growing abilities, Jeryl Jarlyn can be brought down.”
“It is too risky,” Koel said. “I will not risk you or Cassie. The guards are still loyal to Jeryl.”
The guard who earlier went to bring a doctor to see her grandfather reentered the room. “Your grandfather wishes to see Cassandra alone in his office. He will not allow anyone but his granddaughter to enter.”
Cassie immediately responded to the guard and followed him out of the room. “Stay here, I will return shortly,” Cassie ordered the people she left behind. “I mean everyone, Darden,” Cassie followed up through the soul mate channel to prevent Darden from having second thoughts.
The walls of the hall she walked down felt like they were closing in on her. She knew it was her imagination caused by her anxiety to meet with her grandfather. Would he be back in his right mind? Cassie stood before the closed door to her grandfather’s study. The last thing she wanted to do was enter, but she had no choice. What was she going to find on the other side of the door?
Chapter 10
The room was dimly lit and Cassie’s eyes had to adjust. She could barely make out the figure sitting behind the desk. Was her grandfather sane once more? Jeryl Jarlyn was wily enough to wipe the memory of his doctor and guards, meaning he had control of his abilities. Her grandfather could think enough to manipulate people around him to suit his will, but did that make him sane?
“Sit down, Cassandra,” her grandfather said in a commanding voice. The frailty she witnessed earlier was gone. Jeryl Jarlyn seemed to have control of his mind and subjects once again. It was as if the earlier attack had not occurred.
Cassie complied with her grandfather’s request without a word. She was not sure what to say to him. Would inquiring about his health set off her grandfather? There was too much for her and her friends to lose to antagonize the Prime Ruler.
“I understand you put yourself in danger this afternoon trying to disarm someone who tried to kill JoAnna,” her grandfather stated. “What telepathic powers did you use to protect yourself?”
Her grandfather was more concerned with her abilities, than the fact she had endangered her life. A strange reaction, especially considering how furious Darden was at her. Cassie had expected Jeryl Jarlyn’s reaction to be similar to her soul mate’s.
She took several seconds to consider her answer. He knew Cassie could not have intervened without using her abilities. However, she did not want to reveal too much. It was true, she did not know if she had the ability before she made love to Darden. Cassie figured like any talent, her telepathic abilities needed to be practiced in order to hone and develop them.
“I entered a link JoAnna created between herself and the man,” Cassie admitted. Her grandfather already knew JoAnna was a powerful mind control telepath.
Her grandfather rose and walked to a cabinet she had not noticed, as it was so dark in the room. He pulled open a drawer and took out an object. After closing the drawer her grandfather headed for the light switch and made it a little brighter in the room. He did it so gradually, Cassie’s eyes adjusted to the additional light without having to squint.
Jeryl Jarlyn took the seat next to her and handed her a number of crystals. She recognized several of them, but a few of them were unknown to her. Her father and JoAnna had mentioned there were crystals that enhanced a telepath’s ability, but she had not been interested enough to listen. It appeared she was now going to be educated.
“Do you recognize this stone?” Jeryl asked after he picked up a piece of herderite. She knew her father purchased the golden crystal every time he came across one.
“It’s herderite,” Cassie responded.
“Did your father teach you how to use it to increase your telepathic power?”
Her dad did everything he could to encourage her not to use her abilities. They were only to be used for self-protection. She had only used her telepathic powers before entering the Troyk penal colony twice in a non-training exercise: Once on a Gatherer when she was ten and again on poor Afton. At no point did he ever encourage her to enhance her abilities.
“No,” she answered simply. She figured she did not owe her grandfather an explanation.
“Well, this little gold crystal will amplify your power,” her grandfather said. “You take the essence of the crystal into your mind.”
Cassie had no idea what he was talking about. Her grandfather held a rock. Did rocks have essences? She didn’t know how to even begin.
“Your soul mate Darden and your friend, Shirl, can use their telepathic ability and their crystals to navigate inter-dimensional portals,” her grandfather said. “Have you never wondered how they did it?”
To be honest, Cassie never gave it much thought. She always figured it was like adding in your head, it just happened once you learned math. At no point had she considered the mechanics behind how they were able to pull power from a rock.
Her grandfather took the rest of the crystals from her and placed them on the desk. He handed her the herderite. “Place this in your palm and concentrate on the crystal. You want to get in a meditative state and then absorb the waves of power emanating from the herderite.”
She was not sure about the mumbo-jumbo her grandfather was spouting. Cassie would talk to JoAnna when they had time alone. There had to be a trick to pulling power from crystals since both JoAnna and her dad did it.
“What do the rest of the crystals do?” Cassie asked.
“One lesson at a time,” her grandfather responded. “Your friends were sent to their respective homes under guard. When I said I wanted time alone with you, I meant it. It is charming you have such loyal friends, but their first loyalty is to me.”
There was a knock on the door and Barash Kleyman entered after he was granted access. He bowed to her grandfather and stood at attention, ready to receive orders. Her grandfather rose from the chair and took his place behind his desk once again.
“Have a seat, young man,” her grandfather said to Barash. Her date from this afternoon sat in the chair The Prime Ruler had just vacated. “I understand you had some excitement at your lunch and some unwanted company. Did you sense anything out of the ordinary during the confrontation between JoAnna and my granddaughter with the man carrying the crystal weapon?”
“Nothing, sir,” Barash answered without any elaboration.
“It is my understanding you wished to escort my granddaughter home,” her grandfather continued.
“Yes, sir,” Barash answered. “I picked her up and feel it is my duty to return her home. After the confrontation, I never should have left her side. My deepest apologies for that oversight, my Prime.”
“She was well guarded and you took control of the man who would have done her injury,” her grandfather said. “There is nothing to apologize for. You may return my granddaughter to her temporary home. I am tired and will not be officiating at any events this evening. Cassandra may return to her friends.”
Barash stood and waited for Cassie to join him. She was relieved she would not have to spend any more time with her grandfather today. It was a good thing he felt he needed sleep. Cassie glanced at the crystals that lay on the desk, wondering what powers each possessed. Her grandfather had cut their lesson short.
Cassie skirted the desk and gave her grandfather an awkward hug and kissed his cheek. “Get some rest, Grandfather,” Cassie said. Although there was no longer evidence of his nosebleed, the circles under his eyes had deepened since she entered his study.
They left her grandfather’s office and headed down the hallway leading to The Palace’s common area exit. Just prior to reaching the end of the corridor, Barash stopped and backed her into a small alcove. Before she could object, Barash handed Cassie a beautiful carved wooden box. It looked hand painted.
“I would like you to have this,” he said.
Cassie was shocked at Barash being so forward. She opened the box and found a lovely rose colored crystal on a gold chain. The stone resembled one of the crystals she saw on her grandfather’s desk, one she could not identify. Barash took it from the box and placed it over her head. The chain was long enough that the necklace did not have to be clasped behind her neck to be worn.
“Thank you,” Cassie said, “it’s lovely.”
Not wanting to cause a scene in The Palace, Cassie did not attempt to remove the necklace. She would take it off before Darden could see it. There was no sense in making her soul mate any more jealous than he already was.
