Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (30 page)

Stopping before her
, Connors eyes followed the outline of her jumpsuit before returning to look into her eyes. Pretending to be unaffected by his devouring gaze, she continued. “He is weak and frightened. He whines every time he hears someone approach the door, saying he will be killed at any moment.” Looking directly into his eyes, Lysette added, “I can’t stand the sight of him!”

“Perhaps you need a diversion.” Connor whispered
, reaching out to touch her long hair.

Forcing back her disgust
, Lysette calmed herself. Leaving her hair loose about her shoulders, had produced the effect that she had hoped. He was distracted and hopefully off guard; she prayed he would stay that way for just a while longer. She asked, “What kind of a diversion?”

“I have a bottle of wine in my quarters I was just about to imbibe.” He answered, his eyes moving back to hers. “I could be persuaded to share it with a suitable companion.”

She fought the urge to push away from him as he moved closer, brushing up against her. “Perhaps I am the one who should be persuaded.” She answered, her gaze never wavering. Leaning back slightly, she allowed him access to her throat; unable to resist, he brushed his lips against its soft hollow.

Fighting back the bile
, she made her move, “If I agree to spend an evening in your room, would you take me outside for a few moments? I would do anything for a breath of fresh air.” She spoke softly into his ear, hoping for the appropriate response.

Pulling back from her
, he frowned with suspicion as he studied her face.  “No.” His refusal was final; releasing her, he disappeared into the nursery.

Stunned by his sudden reaction
, Lysette stared after him. Andru appeared in the doorway with the same look of surprise. “What happened?”

“He turned me down.” She shook her head and followed him back into the nursery.

“I don’t think you’ve lost, just yet.” Andru winked at her with a smile. “He looked pretty upset when he stormed out. I think he’ll be back, give him some time.”

“How can you be so sure?” She frowned at him
, disappointed their plan hadn’t succeeded.

“Not all empathic healers have the same
strengths
. My most powerful gift is a sense of the people around me. I can tell if they are angry, frightened or in pain.  They don’t necessarily have to be related to me, or close in some other way.”  Again, he winked, and smiled wickedly.

“Andru . . .” Lysette began to berate him, her patience gone.

He laughed and added, “Sometimes you are really very naive. He wants you very badly, for more than one reason.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm not exactly sure; it's just that lust isn’t the only factor in his craving for you. There’s something else.” Andru frowned, realizing the danger. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all”

“Let’s not go through that again.” Fatigue washed over her
, suddenly she wasn’t up to another heated discussion. Then an idea struck her, remembering Joah’s effect on Elsbeth, she asked, “If you could sense his emotions, is it possible for you to influence them?”

“No, that is against all that I believe.” Andru answered sternly. “Empaths can only alter a person's state of mind
, or route of thoughts, if they are mentally or physically ill. To do otherwise would be unethical, and is strictly forbidden.”

 
“Even if it was the only way to save Arbus?” Lysette felt ashamed for even asking the question, regretting it the moment it left her lips.

“Yes, even then.” Andru frowned
, turning away from her disappointed.

“I’m sorry Andru, I shouldn’t have said that.” She reached out and took his hand
, sighing with fatigue. “Tell me more about this sense of others. Can you feel Connor’s presence when he gets near?

“I always feel his presence, even when he is outside the lodge.” Andru answered grimly.

“Why?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t realized it by now.” Andru pulled her over to the table and sat down across from her. “
Commander Connor is an Empath.”

“What? How can that be?” Lysette gasped.

“That is how he’s been controlling the King.”

“I thought he drugg
ed them or beat them, causing brain damage.”

“No, he does the one thing that is forbidden to the rest of us. He forces himself into their minds
, and breaks them apart.” Andru squeezed her hand, “Now you see why he’s so dangerous.”

“Of all the people in the world to have the gift of healing . . .”  Lysette shook her head sadly, “What I wouldn’t give to have just a touch of that
strength
to heal with. He has an abundance of it and wastes it on personal gain.”

“He hasn’t wasted his entire heritage.” Andru corrected her grimly, “He has passed it on to one of his sons.”

“His sons?” Lysette frowned confused, then realized where Andru’s gaze had fallen. He was looking behind her at the baby cribs.

“I know you think I’m rambling again, but it makes so much sense Lysette.  The King and Queen are both Bantorian. Who knows why Connor decided he wanted an heir, perhaps he wanted to create a permanent link to the Bantorian Empire. Sometime in the near future, if his plans failed
, he just might be able to gain control through his claim on his son.”

“I think your confinement has given you an overactive imagination.” Lysette smiled at him.

“It would explain why Connor wants only one royal heir to survive.” Andru added softly.

“Come on Lysette
, is it so farfetched? After all, his plans haven’t been working out as he planned. He didn’t realize how extensive the Treborelan Air Force was. Now he’s on the run, is a backup plan to rule Bantor really such a bad idea? Remember who we are dealing with.”

“That’s right, no one knew about the hidden base in the southern mountains. 
If it weren’t for the Treborelan Helijets, the conflict would still be going on. It could have even gone to Connor’s advantage.”

“Right, so now things are going badly. He cuts his losses, starts pulling in funds for his next venture into world domination. Five or ten years down the line he shows up claiming Rey as his son, tests will prove it to be true.
Prince Rey will be crowned, on William and Elsebeth's death, which will be sooner than anyone suspects, perhaps just before Connor surfaces. Therefore, Rey is King, but too young to rule, so Connor steps in as Regent. It’s crazy I know, but then so is Connor.”

“That’s insane.”

“Yes it is. But I think in Connor’s mind it’s entirely possible, and if he’s got enough power to install himself as Regent, there won’t be anything anyone else can do to remove him, short of another conflict.”

“Which I’m sure he will be ready for.” Lysette added, beginning to understand, “He’s mad.”

“In the worst possible sense.”

“He has an urge to conquer the world
, and the empathic
strength
to influence all those around him.” Lysette shook her head, realizing how blind she had been.

“He’s not the only one with Empathic strength.” Andru added staring at her.

“Meaning what? There’s someone else we need to worry about?” She asked, not sure, she could take anymore-evil revelations from Andru.

“Your grandparents were Treborelan, what makes you so sure you don’t have the
strength
?”

“Ok, that’s enough, just stop!” Lysette rose and headed to her cot.

Andru followed her explaining, “I’m not saying you are an Empath, but it’s possible that your children will be. Your
strength
is slightly stronger than normal.”

“My grandmother was not a healer.” Lysette answered
, lying down on the hard bed.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure. My mother died of a dreadful disease. If my father had inherited any empathic ability from my grandmother, he would have used it to heal her.”

“Where was your grandmother when she died?” Andru asked softly.

“We lived on a farm in Southern Lon Tesse. She lived in Lavose on the ranch that now belongs to my Uncle Sean.” Lysette answered sleepily, wishing he would go away. “She arrived the day after mother died, and stayed to help father take care of me.”

“Did your mother's illness come on suddenly?”

“Andru, I’m telling you if grandmother had been there, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Not everyone from Treborel is an Empath.”

“You live with your uncle Sean now?” Andru continued undaunted.

“Yes, my father died in an accident on the tram. After my grandmother died, he was the only relative I had left. He took me in and gave me a very good home.” Tired of being drilled, Lysette snapped at him.  “Stop!”

“While you lived with your grandmother
, where you ever sick?’

“Of course I was
, I had all the regular childhood diseases, and viruses. Will you go away and leave me alone, I’d like to go to sleep!” She was losing her patience. She rolled over, facing away from him.

“But they were short lived. You got over them quickly, faster than the other children.” Andru spoke as if he had been there
, watching her through the years.

“Some children are simply more resilient than others.” She turned back and frowned at him.

“How did she die?”

“I don’t know
I was very ill at the time?” Lysette snapped once more and turned over again. “Now if you’re though hashing over the most tragic moments in my life, I’d really like to get some sleep.”

“What was wrong with you?” His soothing voice pulled her back to him.

“Don’t work your wiles on me mister!” She cautioned, feeling his calming presence wash over her. “I had gone on a trip, I was 7 years old. My uncle had taken me to the ocean. I was not allowed to swim on the day we arrived because it was cloudy and cold, so I snuck out that night and swam in the surf.” Lysette yawned and stretched. “He was right, it was too cold. By the time he found me, I was hypothermic and half drowned. I don’t remember much after that.”

“Did you see your grandmother after that?”

“I thought I had. I thought she had come to my bedside to soothe me. I still remember seeing her face through a dark haze. She told me she loved me and that I would be alright.” Lysette’s throat tightened as the image came back to her. “When the fever broke Uncle Sean told me she wasn’t there. She was in Lavose with a terrible cold. It wasn’t until nearly a week later he told me she had died during my illness. He feared I would suffer a relapse, so he didn’t tell me until I was stronger.”

“The dark haze she came to you through, was it lit by a soft light behind her?”

“Yes,” Lysette stared at him in surprise.

“And her voice was whisper soft, yet perfectly clear?” He added quietly.

“Andru, how did you know that?”

“She was talking to your mind while she healed you.
For a brief moment when the life force is exchanged, the two souls meet. Only then is it possible to speak with one another as you described.” Andru took her hands and smiled softly, saying, “You’ve been given a great gift.”

Lysette bolted up from the cot
, pulling back from him saying, “What are you trying to say Andru?” She stared at him in disbelief, “That she gave her life for me?”

“To give your life force to save another
, is the greatest honor the Holy One can bestow on an Empathic Healer.” Andru answered, reaching for her. “I’m sorry if this upsets you Lysette, but your Uncle had no right to keep it from you.”

“No, you’re wrong; she was hundreds of kilometers away from me. She died at my uncle's ranch. Lysette was horrified at the idea of her grandmother sacrificing herself.

“She was an old woman, her life was nearly over and yours had just begun.  Now she’s a part of you, living on through you.” Andru tried to soothe her.

“No! She was a normal woman who died of pneumonia all alone in that huge house with no one to care for her. It’s not my fault she
was left alone. She didn’t want to come with us. She certainly didn’t sacrifice her life for me or anyone else. She simply failed to take proper care of herself.” Her voice rose, she realized she was more upset than she should have been.

“Lysette, I’m sorry, I never should have brought up the fact that your life force was strong. I had no idea that your grandmother died that way. I never would have tried to convince you of your Empathic Heritage.” Andru stepped back from her giving her space.

“You’re just trying to convince me to come with you to the Institute after we’re free. So you can have me to yourself!” Lysette accused, as the tears began to flow. “You know how fascinated I am by the
strength
and you’re taking advantage of my curiosity to trap me into a relationship.”

“No Lysette, please listen to me.” Andru kept his distance,
saying “It’s true I’d love to have you with me after this is over, but I’d never deceive you. I love you.”