Crystal Fire (16 page)

"Marissa, sit down," Brace said, his voice softening. "Please." Her mouth opened. For a moment he thought she'd resume her attack. Then Marissa sighed and sank back into her chair.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "Please, Alia, continue."

"I understand, Marissa," Alia said. "Truly I do."

Her gaze slowly scanned the assemblage before coming to rest upon Teran. Their eyes locked.

"And I would not send you on a false trail for all the lost learning of the Imperium," she began again. "Yet I feel very strongly that something vital to your quest awaits at Exsul. Trust me. You
must
go there first."

"Trust you?" Marissa's eyes echoed the rising anguish in her voice. "I'm used to taking charge, not sitting back and being passively directed by people I barely know and have no reason to trust. By the Crystal Fires, do you know how hard this is for me?"

"And do you think you're the only one who feels that way?" Brace demanded. "I don't like this any more than youthis dependence on others, the need to trust, to go blindly forward. And the hardest task of all, sometimes, is trusting you!"

She recoiled at that, as guilt and then a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her. The haunting realization, firmly shoved to the back of her mind of late, once more lifted its ugly head. He was right not to trust her. In the end, it would be his doom. Marissa sighed. "Then we all have our battles, don't we?"

He gave her a long, meaningful look. "Yes, I suppose we do. And sometimes I wonder if either of us will come out the victor."

Teran cleared his throat. All eyes riveted on him.

"Well, some of your battles are still to be fought along the way." He grinned at Rodac. "They may need a peacemaker."

The Simian smirked and motioned his reply.

"What do you mean, that'll cost us extra?" Marissa cried, her voice rising in irritation. "You'd just better stay out of this if you value that money-grubbing hide of yours!"

"Marissa," Brace warned.

Teran chuckled. "I almost wish I were a little pack rodent so I could ride along and eavesdrop on you two. It would be most entertaining."

"Maybe so," Marissa grumbled, "but our arguing hardly gets much accomplished."

"My point exactly," Brace said. He turned to Alia. "Is there more? If not, I'd like to get some rest. The morrow will come soon enough, and there's a quest to begin."

"No more, Brace," Alia replied, "save that I caution you to remember Ferox is a crafty foe, and his enmity toward Teran will easily extend to you. He'll show no mercy."

"The feeling is mutual," Brace muttered savagely. His gaze locked with Marissa's equally fierce one. "Isn't it, femina?"

«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

She found him later that nocte drenched with sweat. His fists twisted in the sheets as he writhed in the throes of another dream terror. The bed cover, bunched between his taut, outspread legs, barely covered Brace's nakedness. For a secundae, Marissa's gaze skimmed his big, hair-roughened body. Flat planes of muscle and rigid bands of sinew sculpted his chest. In the light of the room's perpetual torches, his abdomen gleamed in tight, rippling waves that ended in a groin . . .

Marissa sat down beside him and pulled the cloth up to cover his lower body. "Brace," she called, grasping him by the shoulder to shake him, "wake up!"

He twisted and turned, moaning piteously, flinging the bed cover aside. Marissa quickly flipped the sheet back over him. By all that was sacred, he was a big malein every way!

She shook him harder. "Brace, wake up! It's only a dream. Wake up!"

A guttural cry tore free from Brace's lips. He arched up from the bed, agonized, straining, but his eyes remained closed, his mind far away.

Panic curled within Marissa. He was caught in the throes of a dream terror that would not release him. She'd heard tales of people who never escapedwho fought the terror until the physical stress of the experience drove their hearts to explode. If she couldn't free Brace . . .

Fleetingly she considered going for Teran but realized his help might come too late. By the looks of him, Brace couldn't hold on much longer. How long had he been dreaming before she finally heard his cries? She
must
wake him!

Marissa gathered his sweat-slick body to her, cradling his damp head against her pounding heart. "Brace, Brace," she implored. "Come back. Come back to me. Fight it, whatever it is. Don't leave me.
Please!
"

He struggled, jerking hard in her embrace. Marissa clutched him all the tighter. She strained against him, willing all the strength she possessed to flow into him, to encompass his heart and mind with the essence of her being.

And, ever so slowly, his struggles eased. His moans ceased, his breathing evened. Dark, tormented eyes fluttered open.

"M-Marissa?"

She would not let him go. "Yes, Brace?"

"I-I heard you call me. I followed your voice out of the darkness." He choked back a sob.

"It's over now," she murmured as she began to rock him back and forth as a mother would her child. "You're safe."

He clung to her, fighting the tremors that wracked his body. "I-I'm sorry to be so weak. I've just never experienced anything so horrible before. Not even those two cycles in prison terrified me like these dreams have." He shot her a wild look. "Amam I finally going mad?" "No. No," Marissa soothed. "Why would you think that?"

"M-my father," he gasped. "He died of his madness. And . . . it runs in my family . . . on the male side. Ah, by the five moons, Marissa! Has it finally taken hold of me, to now reach even into my dreams?"

"Brace, don't distress yourself"

"There were times in prison when the pain and despair became so unbearable II almost thought I was losing my mind," Brace went on as if he hadn't heard her. "The madness beckoned to mea place of bright, sweet oblivion, of gentle voices and loving friends."

He inhaled a ragged breath. "I almost succumbed several times, only to find it had been unconsciousness calling me instead. But with each experience I felt I drew a little closer . . . that it was only a matter of time."

"Brace"

"I thought I'd finally escaped it when you freed me from prison," he continued, "but now these dreams! Gods, Marissa. What am I to do?"

"They'll ease," she murmured, stroking his head. "Just give it time. It's the stress of your imprisonment still haunting you, and the wearying efforts of the past sols. You'll be better soon enough. Once we set out on the quest in earnest . . ."

He sighed, a heartrending sound. "Perhaps so."

Brace glanced up at her. He managed a weak, lopsided grin. "These dreams do have their advantages. Two noctes in a row now, they've managed to get you into my bed."

She graced him with an arched brow. "You are the most incorrigible male I've ever met!"

He chuckled. "I'd rather call it enterprising." His expression sobered. "Will you stay with me, Marissa? Hold me?"

"I . . . I'm not so sure that would be wise."

"Please, Marissa. I want to be near you, nothing more. I promise."

The look in his dark eyes was imploring, filled with a gentle yearning that stirred something deep within Marissa. Longingfor his arms around her, for the comforting warmth of his big male bodyengulfed her, and she knew she could no more refuse him than she could herself. It was unwise, dangerous, but she suddenly didn't care. And it was just one nocte after all. Just one dark, terror-ridden nocte.

"Yes, Brace," she breathed, "I'll stay with you, but only until you're asleep. Now, close your eyes and rest. We've a long, difficult sol ahead of us."

"Thank you." He pulled her up against the hard length of him.

She held Brace for a long while, until he finally drifted off to sleep. His horrible revelation stirred Marissa's own doubts and fears anew. She had told him it was only the effects of his long imprisonment that still ate at his mind. Yet, after hearing of his father's fate, Marissa knew her words were little more than meaningless assurances, meant only to ease Brace's torment.

Frustration rose to entwine about her heart. For every step Marissa took to secure the success of her quest, yet another obstacle was thrown in her way. And the shimmering specter of a blood-borne insanity seemed the most awesome obstacle of allan enemy from within that threatened to destroy a man whose value gained greater and greater significance with each passing sol.

Her heart full of bittersweet emotions, Marissa rose from the bed, covered Brace against the nocte's chill, and returned to her room.

They made their farewells early the next sol in the lavender light of a false dawn. As Alia stood beside Marissa in the transport chamber, Teran embraced his brother.

''Take care," he said, his gray eyes moist with emotion. "And if you need me, send a message and I'll be there as soon as I can."

"You've work enough here," Brace replied huskily. "I'm only rescuing a stone. You have the task of setting right the entire Imperium."

With a deep sigh, Teran released him. "Neither of us can succeed without the other, and your mission is far more dangerous than mine. My thoughts will be with you, little brother."

Brace smiled. "As will mine with you." He turned to Marissa and extended his hand. "Come, femina. It's time we were on our way."

Marissa glanced at Alia. "Farewell," she whispered, "and thank you for everything."

Then, with Brace, she joined Rodac on the transport platform. With a whir, a transparent circular shield lowered to encompass them.

A few secundae later, they materialized in another transport room. Before them stood an entourage of richly garbed males. Marissa blinked in confusion, for once without a ready word.

Brace broke the silence with a low curse, then grasped Marissa's arm and led her off the platform. They halted before a tall, regally clad male who stood in front of the others.

"Marissa," Brace growled through clenched teeth, "this is King Falkan, my uncle."

Her startled gaze swung from Brace to the other man. There was a strong resemblance in the piercingly dark eyes, high cheekbones, and squarely chiseled chin. Yes, she thought, they were indeed familya family torn apart by inhumane laws and unthinking obedience.

She bowed low to the man who was ruler of Bellator and, by sheer military might, the Imperium.

"My lord." Marissa straightened to look him straight in the eye.

A faint smile hovered on the King's lips. He rendered her a slight bow.

"I am honored, femina."

"Why are you here?" Brace's words, clipped and cold, slashed through the gathering.

King Falkan tensed, his eyes narrowing. With an obvious effort, he forced himself to relax. "Teran notified me of your impending arrival. He explained the seriousness of your quest and asked that I offer whatever assistance you might need."

"I need nothing from you!" Brace snarled. "Nothing, save you leave me in peace!" Though he tried to hide it, pain fleetingly twisted King Falkan's face.

"Brace," Marissa hurried to interject, "have a care. There is much your King could do for us. We need fresh supplies, and a skim craft or two would greatly speed our journey."

Brace whirled on her, his expression raw, anguished. "And would you have me accept assistance from a man who condemned Teran to death and me to a life of endless torture? Would you ask me to now heap even further humiliation upon myself by begging for his help?"

She returned his searing gaze. "For the quest, for the rescue of my sister and the Knowing Crystal, yes, I'm asking you to accept whatever assistance is offered. Pride can never be the issue where others' welfare is concerned. You know that, Brace, no matter how painful it is to accept."

He shot her a seething glance, then turned to his uncle. "We leave within the hora. Two skim craft and fresh supplies would be appreciated."

The King's mouth tightened. He motioned to a man, who immediately hurried away. Falkan then gestured to another man, who handed him a sealed letter. He offered it to Brace.

"And what's this?" Brace demanded suspiciously.

"Instructions for the abbot of Exsul. It's past time the real truth be known." "What truth? By the five moons, you speak in riddles!"

"All will be revealed at Exsul," King Falkan replied softly. "I only hope it's not too late."

Brace took the letter and shoved it into his tunic pocket. "Fine. I won't trouble you further. Now, if you'd direct us to our skim crafts . . . ?"

"Brace. Wait," Falkan began, his words halting. "Teran and I have talked a lot in the past sols, and I begin to see the mistakes I've made. Can you, too, find it in your heart to understandand forgive?"

"Never, do you hear me?" Brace rasped. "I'll
never
forgive what you did to Teran and meyour own nephews! And Vates! You killed Vates! Don't even imagine, much less ask it!"

The look in the King's eyes hardened. "Young, proud fool! Do you think the decisions of responsibility are always so black and white? That family matter more than the people's welfare? You've a lot to learn."

"Perhaps so," Brace snapped, "but it won't be from you. Now, have we your leave to go?"

"Go, get out of here before I change my mind!" the High King choked. "And, ultimately, may your quest accomplish more than the rescue of the Crystal. I pray it also broadens your heart to compassion and forgiveness. That, in itself, is a worthy undertaking."

Brace eyed him for a brief moment more. "Sorry, Uncle. I've already got more quests than I can handle." Without another word, he turned and strode from the transport room, Marissa and Rodac close behind.

As the two skim crafts flew along, the rolling land surrounding the Bellatorian capital of Rector rose gradually to tree-studded foothills. Marissa and Brace took the lead, with Rodac bringing up the rear. By mid sol they were well into the higher elevations, climbing toward the first craggy summits of the huge, snow-capped mountain range.

It was a glorious sol, cool but sun-gilded, the sky an intense, cloud-strewn blue. For a change, they kept the force-field bubble down. Marissa threw back her head as they sped along, reveling in the sun on her face, the wind whipping through her tumbled, chestnut mane.