For
Shiyne and Terrell the time was passing by much too quickly at the cultural
centre, amidst the museums and art galleries, enjoying the sculptures and
antiquities and they doubted they would get to see all the places that they
wanted to.
So,
they decided to forgo lunch or refreshments, this was a tough call for Shiyne
as she had an enormous appetite for such a small being.
But
her appetite for culture and knowledge was even more voracious.
By
forgoing lunch, they managed to view all the exhibits on their list without
having to rush and they were just walking towards the main thoroughfare where
they alighted the Hover Tram when they heard a voice
“Terrell
is that you?”
And
when they turned around a smiling human was facing them.
“It
is you” he exclaimed and stepped forward to embrace Terrell
“My
dear Zelen” he said, “it’s wonderful to see you again so soon”
The
man was Zelen who Terrell considered to be a fellow journeyman and when they
both found themselves on Alwi they became very good friends.
After
a moment or two Terrell proudly introduced Shiyne to his friend and then there
was more embracing before Zelen said
“Do
you have time to share a glass?”
“I
think we can make time” Terrell replied looking at Shiyne who nodded in
agreement, but she was a little uneasy as she was certain that Zelen had
something on his mind but she couldn’t quite grasp what it was.
This
was not mere intuition on her part because Shiyne was a Vann and all of the
Vann were telepaths, by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world
at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.
Those
at the zenith of their talents work as corporate negotiators or in the justice
systems of the Legion.
Shiyne
was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some
extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains,
lesser minds were easier for her to explore.
In
addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions
would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.
She
was struggling with Zelen because although he looked like a human he was in
fact from Kelissa and Kelissan’s were very closely related to humans but had
some significant physiological differences.
One
of those being that they had two brains, or perhaps more accurately their
brains had two halves, much like a human brain, but in the case of Kelissan’s
the two hemispheres were unconnected which was why she was unable to get the
full picture.
The
conversation stalled somewhat once they were seated in a crowded bar and it
might well have continued to stall had Shiyne not said out of the blue
“Something
is troubling you”
“Yes, I was just wondering how to phrase it
without causing offense” he said
“Speak
freely we are not easily offended” Terrell said
“Ok
then I will begin by saying that it is believed, and you need not confirm nor
deny, but it is believed that when the Tornado left Alwi it carried a passenger
of Royal blood” he began “bound for Delta 500 and once there the said Royal
passenger or for arguments sake let’s say, Princess, took her leave of the
Tornado and her crew and was promptly abducted by Ghambran agents”
“That
all sounds very feasible” Terrell said while Shiyne continued to scan Zelens
complex mind.
“Ok
then now allow me to speak in hypothetical terms, firstly let’s say that persons
unknown mounted a rescue of the Princess, with great success, and made their
escape on a freighter after tricking the kidnappers into following the wrong
ship into hyperspace”
“Well
that all sounds very exciting” said Terrell “so is there to be a happy ending?”
“That
is in… flux at the moment” Zelen said
“How
so?”
“Well
the Princess was by all accounts betrothed to Prefector Collis of Ghambra” he
said
“Was?”
retorted Terrell
“Yes,
it appears that the Prefector is a very impatient man and although he was very
taken with the young Princess, he was not prepared to wait indefinitely and has
wed another” he explained
“So,
there is to be a happy ending then” Terrell said brightly
“Possibly”
Zelen said ominously
“Why?”
Terrell asked with suspicion
“It
seems that even if the Prefector has moved on his agents have not, and although
they no longer seek the Princess, they are hell bent on revenge for the
humiliation they endured” he said
“That’s
not so good” Terrell said
“Not
at all my friend”
“It
would be prudent then to keep some distance between the fox and the hounds” Terrell
added
“Yes,
and if I were the fox I would want to put as much distance between me and them
as possible” Zelen said
“It
would be useful to know where the hounds are” Terrell said
“Alas
I am unable to enlighten you on that matter” he responded and then added
“Well
I’m afraid I must take my leave of you”
He
and Terrell stood up and embraced
“Take
care my friend”
“I
will, it’s a big Universe”
“Be
safe in it” Zelen added “And look after this beautiful you woman”
“I
will” he replied and then Zelen and Shiyne hugged
“Thank
you Zelen” she said
“So,
what do you think?” Terrell asked her once they were outside in the street
again
“I
think we need to get back to the Stroller”
When
they got back to the Stroller the others were already aboard Shiyne and Terrell
joined them inside and then they gave an almost word for word account of the
conversation that past between them.
“That’s
not good” Zerrad said
“Not
good at all” Malena agreed “let’s gets back to the Tornado and update the
others”
“Ok
back to the ship it is then” Shiyne said
When
the Stroller got back to the ship Shiyne reported to Merri and the Captain
immediately called a crew meeting in the mess room.
“So
good news and bad news” Merri said, “I had hoped we might be ok for a bit
longer but apparently not”
“Its
great news that they aren’t interested in Asti anymore at least” Lyris said
“But it would have been useful to know where the Ghambran’s are exactly”
“Zelen
didn’t know that” Terrell said
“He
didn’t exactly say that the Ghambran’s had lost interest in me” Asti pointed
out “He just said that the Prefector had found another wife”
“But
you have no value to them now” Lyris said
“They
could still take me back to Gouveia so my grandfather can offer me to someone
else in marriage” Asti said
“It
won’t come to that” Merri said
“It
sounds as if they aren’t going to give up looking for us though” Zerrad added
“What
do you think Bagg?” Merri asked
“I
have no problem in believing the Maxil Weltz and Vint Reganus would feel
sufficiently humiliated to want to hunt us all down” he replied, “However I
have two doubts, the first one is that Prefector Collis will give them
unlimited time to indulge their revenge, and second that they are close enough
to us to pose anywhere near an immediate threat”
“But
you don’t think we are safe?” Shiyne said already knowing his answer
“Not
entirely” he replied, “So I think it would be prudent to move on to pastures
new and maintain the distance between us until they are finally recalled to
Ghambra”
There
was silence for a few minutes before Malena broke it
“So
where do we go?”
But
there was only silence in response until clicks and whirls began to emanate
from Vanzyl which were clearly directed at Pulsat
“Ok
I speak” he said and more clicks and whirls followed
“I
telling, I telling” Pulsat retorted and to the assemble group he explained
“Vanzyl
say Eikon cluster”
Then
more clicks
“He
say, plenty planets, plenty people, plenty ships, plenty cargo”
“Eikon
cluster” Parse mused
“That’s
not a bad shout” Merri said
“Hiding
in plain sight” Bagg added
“Well
done Vanzyl”
“Yes,
well done” Merri said and Vanzyl uttered a soft whistle like a plaintive flute,
then he looked at his friend and whistled again
“Head
very big now” Pulsat said and snorted
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