Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) (9 page)

Zeesa, follow the call.

The hairs on her arms stood up, and Sadie stepped into an empty alley. She stared at a worn mud brick wall, uncaring of the smell of urine and feces that wafted from the far corner.

Did I just imagine hearing Bubby?

Sadie touched the right pocket of her jeans where the medallion rested against her hip. She’d become accustomed to the small circle of warmth. But now the coin-sized object seemed to grow hotter. Uncomfortable, but not burning.
Some kind of message?

What if she stopped fighting the compulsion? After all, what did she have to go home to? Unlike previous summers, Sadie was finished with college and didn’t have to return for classes. The Olympic training camp didn’t start for another two weeks. She’d planned to be over her jetlag and focused on her training before camp started, but she could take another few days off.

Follow.
Her grandmother’s voice drifted on the wind. Or was it in her mind?

Does it matter if she’s real or not?

That decided her. If Bubby was mixed up in this, then she’d go along.

For a few days
.

~ ~ ~

The four of them standing in the bow of the ship had fallen silent and stared ahead across the ocean toward Ontarem’s gray-shrouded land, each deep in his or her own thoughts. Finally, Daria pushed away from the shelter of Khan’s arms. “Our plans are made. Soon enough we will confront the Evil one.” She smiled at Jasmine and gestured toward the stern of the ship. “Until then, I’d like to speak with my brother, and I’m sure you and Khan have plenty you wish to say to each other.”

“Of course.” Jasmine’s smile didn’t quite banish the sudden sadness in her blue eyes.

Daria remembered what her sister-in-law had endured—the rapes and beatings—at the hands of Khan’s half-brother. She knew how much Amir’s brutality had haunted Khan…his need to know if Jasmine was truly as well as she appeared. She only hoped the two friends would be able to talk about such a painful subject.

Indaran gave Jasmine an assessing glance.

His wife made a little shooing motion.

Indaran extended a hand to Daria. “I know you’re not six any more to hold onto me as we walk. But can we just pretend for a few minutes?”

Daria laughed, even though a sharp pain spiked through her heart for all they’d missed. She placed her hand in his. “Let’s head to the stern.”

Daria and Indaran turned as one. Together, they sauntered toward the rear of the ship, nodding at the sailors going about their duty and the soldiers from Ocean’s Glory and fighters from Seagem working out together. Overhead, the full sails sped them all too swiftly back into danger, making every moment of freedom precious.

Daria gave Indaran some side-long glances, admiring his beloved profile, so like their father’s and their brother Cihkel’s. Familiar grief blocked her throat.
Go away
, she told her sadness.
Indaran is here. He lives. You haven’t lost your whole family as you believed.

She concentrated on enjoying the feel of her brother’s hand in hers, savoring these moments of peace. Daria could almost imagine being a little girl again, when her world was safe and her family complete, except now instead of her being waist-high to Indaran, her eye-level topped her big brother’s shoulder. “As Ontarem’s prisoner, was your mind as frozen as your body?”

“No. My mind was free, although Ontarem mangled my memories.” Indaran stared straight ahead.

His voice sounded dispassionate, but Daria sensed the bitterness inside him.

“He fed on them, sucking out all the emotion, the color. My entire past is in black and white and gray. I don’t have feelings about anything from my youth. Not, until the very moment when Jasmine freed me. I’ve been flooded with feelings ever since.”

Daria couldn’t even imagine what that must be like. Her memories of her family brought her so much comfort. To have them violated…. “Perhaps Withea or Arvintor can return them.”

Indaran grimaced and shook his head. “I wouldn’t ask the Deities to spare the energy. They’ll need all They have to battle Ontarem.” He squeezed her hand. “But even though He siphoned off my feelings, you and I didn’t lose our connection. I knew I loved you as soon as I saw you. I doubt the Evil One knows He can’t destroy love.”

They came to an open area of deck where the soldiers from Ocean’s Glory sparred with each other, and the men and a couple of women from Seagem—the former slaves—engaged in pas-sa-ra sword exercises. Their thrusts and blocks were slow and awkward. Two men finished the final cross, held their swords, then released, stepping back and bowing.

Daria and Indaran exchanged glances. Without a word, they advanced on the fighters.

When the two men realized who approached, they sprang erect, then bowed to Indaran, and again to Daria. Both stared at her, eyes wide and full of emotion. “Princess,” said one. “Forgive our reaction. My last memory of you…you scampered into the throne room, ignoring all the important people who’d come to see your father and mother and dashed to the king and climbed on his lap.”

Emotion swelled in Daria. The scene the man described happened many times.
They must be Indaran’s original expedition members.
She glanced at her brother, seeing the sadness on his face.

“King Iceros didn’t miss a beat,” the man smiled, obviously remembering. “He conducted the remainder of the session with you on his lap.” His face tightened, and he ducked his head. “My pardon, your highness.”

Daria touched his arm. “I’ve had longer to absorb the destruction of Seagem and the death of my family. But the grief still hits me. I know all too well the comfort a warm memory can bring, only to be followed by a wave of pain. I believe we all will mourn in such a way for a long time.”

“Aye, Princess.”

Daria stepped back and surveyed the fighters. She’d become acquainted with the soldiers from Ocean’s Glory during their time at sea and had spent many hours training them.

Her men stopped practicing, lowered their weapons, and cast wary looks at Indaran.

“For those who have not heard the news, I’d like to introduce my brother Indaran, now King of Seagem, whom we thought lost at sea years ago.” She lifted her chin. “If you recall, both nations mourned his passing.”

Many of the men nodded. One bowed, and the others followed his example.

Indaran lifted a hand in acknowledgment. “Years have passed since my sister and I have done the pas-sa-ra together. The last time, she was this high.” He held his hand to his waist. “And she used a wooden sword.”

A few people smiled.

“So go back to your practicing, while I see if she’s learned to fight since then.”

Daria elbowed him. “Better watch yourself, brother.”

In spite of being told to resume their practice, the fighters cleared an area for the two of them, then stood in a ring, obviously intending to observe.

Daria and Indaran unsheathed their swords, saluted, and began the pas-sa-ra. They fell into the familiar patterns as if they’d never been apart, as if they’d sword-danced together for years. Daria hadn’t done the pas-sa-ra since the fall of Seagem, although once she’d met Khan, she’d begun practicing the solitary nis-alt again.

Before long, Daria could feel the strain in her muscles. She needed extra concentration, knowing they fought with naked blades, instead of leather-wrapped or wooden ones.

As they proceeded through the workout, emotion welled up in her. From long practice, Daria fiercely contained her feelings, focusing on the bladework and studying Indaran’s technique. Although the pattern of the pas-sa-ra was the same in every workout, each person made the sword dance his or her own. Sparring with Setteff had been different than with Joshel or Cihkel.

Indaran didn’t move with the grace of his brothers; his strikes were more jerky, his blocks slower—nothing that those watching would see, for they didn’t have the training of Micfal’s elite fighters. But Daria could tell. As a girl she’d spent many hours watching her oldest brother spar with Micfal, Thaddis, and even their father. She’d been so young, yet hadn’t forgotten how he moved, maybe because his supposed death had seared the memories into her brain.

Daria suspected that Indaran’s style would become smooth again as soon as the effects of his long confinement wore off.
So I’d better take advantage while I can.
She went low on the delt-tay, flashing him a taunting grin when his legs gave out sooner than hers.

They moved into the final buth-hay, then finished in the overhand cross of swords. They held the position for several seconds.

For the first time, Indaran wasn’t bending to her little girl level nor was she stretching high to reach to his. They met as equals, even if he did have four inches on her height and broader shoulders, too. They looked into each other’s eyes, and through her othersense, Daria felt Indaran’s pain, his joy at sparring with her, and his grief. Emotion clogged her throat.

The two stepped back and bowed, sheathing their swords. They fell into a tight embrace as if they would never let go. Even the sound of the spectators clapping didn’t make them pull apart. Tears blurred Daria’s eyes, and when they finally released one another, she saw by the glitter in Indaran’s green eyes that he too struggled with his emotion.

She tried to smile, feeling the edges of her mouth quiver.

“I have no words.” Indaran paused for breath. “You’ve grown into a strong woman, a fighter, a leader. I can’t even describe how proud I am of you. How thankful I am that we’ve found our way to each other.” He waved an acknowledgment to the watchers before turning back to Daria. He lifted his chin in the direction of the stern of the ship. “Come, let’s finish our walk.” He wiped his sleeve across his sweaty forehead.

Daria pulled out her handkerchief, embroidered by her maid Issa and restored to its original state by Withea, and patted her face. Then she tucked the scrap of cloth back into her pocket.

They joined hands again, walking in silence. When they reached the stern, the two released their handclasp to lean over the rail. In silence, they watched the white wake of the ship churn in the turquoise water.

Indaran took a deep breath of the briny air. “Just like Ontarem didn’t steal my love for you, He failed to break my connection to my family. Being with you awakens my emotions and makes me miss them.”

“When we thought you’d died, Indaran…” Daria remembered how she’d screamed when she’d felt the severing of their heartline connection, and her voice quavered in spite of her attempt to control it. “Mother’s heart broke with grief.”

“I didn’t know about her death until Archpriestess Anza told me. The whole time Ontarem held me captive, I thought Mother was alive. Even though she’s been gone for a long time, I’m mourning the loss of my family all at once.” Indaran’s tone sounded heavy with grief. “Mother, Father, Cihkel, Joshel, and Setteff. I envy you having all those years with father and the boys.”

“We had a good life.”

He tugged on her braid. “You were always spoiled.”

Daria grinned. “Yep.” She leaned her shoulder against his. “When this is over and we’ve recaptured Seagem, we’ll sit together, and I’ll tell you tales.” Her brief burst of mirth died away. “It all started when Thaddis offered for me, Indaran. At a public banquet. My othersense warning was so strong I rejected him out of hand. In his anger, he drove a knife into the table and stormed out.”

“How did father react?”

“The king wasn’t pleased with either of us…until we heard Thaddis had kidnapped his pilot. That’s how he knew the way through the shoals. When that evil man invaded Seagem, killed our family, I thought it was my fault. I blamed myself…wanted to die.”

“No, no, no!” He grasped her arm. “It wasn’t your fault!”

She knew her smile wobbled. “So Khan has managed to convince me. Most of the time, I can believe him. But at weak moments…the guilt rises up and bites me.”

“I know about guilt.” Indaran paused. “Khan’s a good man. I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.”

The warmth of her love for Khan, her brother’s approval for the man she’d chosen, swirled through Daria’s heart, easing her guilt and regrets. “Khan came to me in othersense dreams. That’s a big reason why I turned down Thaddis. Khan’s so different from us. Exotic. Sometimes that’s challenging, but it’s all to the good…. More than good. Wonderful!”

“I have the same challenges with Jasmine. We’re blessed that Withea drew the two of them from Earth, although I regret all my lady wife suffered beforehand.” He let out a long breath. “If only we weren’t leading our mates into battle. They are untrained in fighting. I fear for them.”

“We’ll have to keep them safe.” Daria fumbled for the heavy gold chain she wore around her neck. As she pulled it up, the gold case of the collapsing telescope thumped against her breastbone. “Father’s telescope.”

“He had a replica made for me before I left Seagem. Ontarem’s priests must have taken it from me.”

With both hands, Daria lifted the necklace over her head. “This is for you,” she said, intending to drop the chain over Indaran’s head. “Father gave it to me right before he sent me away from Seagem. That’s when I knew all was lost.” Her voice faltered but she swallowed and continued. “He made me vow to stay alive. The telescope saved Micfal and me many times over.”