“Despite common belief,” Dendri said softly to her, “Aspanos do not read everything in a person’s mind instantaneously. I thought we had discussed this? I only delve into the minds of others when they give me reason to or if there is a matter of concern. If I removed the mystery of all people immediately upon meeting them, that would be quite boring. It would rob me of the pleasure of getting to know them.”
“But you have read me.”
“Not everything. Just enough to take care of your feelings. I do not wish to hurt you accidentally. I do not want to damage what is so tenuously built in so quick an amount of time. Other than that, I am quite looking forward to getting to know you. And if you have some terrible things about you that you do not wish me to know, simply refrain from thinking about them too loudly.”
“Don’t you want to know the terrible things about me? So that you may properly judge this partner that you find yourself saddled with so suddenly?”
“I do want to know the terrible things about you and will be happy to learn them. Because that will mean you have come to trust me enough to tell me of them. That will be a lovely moment.”
She blinked at him then looked away with a soft smile tugging at her lips.
“Now I am afraid I will be focusing my thoughts on all the awful things I have done and you will read them accidentally.”
“Then the first thing we shall do today is teach you how to erect mental barriers to keep out unwanted guests. Considering our overnight fame, if you wish to keep your private thoughts and life private, you will have to learn quickly and thoroughly.”
“Our fame?” she said, paling a little. “Is it really going to be that bad?”
“I can guarantee it. But do not worry about it. You will be safe here.”
“So this is why you want me here?” she asked in a small voice.
“That is a very small part of the reasons why I want you here.” He reached out and took her hand in his, slowly running his thumb over the range of her knuckles. “Here and needed as a cup needs a saucer. Together they are pretty and useful and meant to be together, but like most china it is fragile and must be handled with care lest it be chipped or broken. And it has many useful purposes. Many ways of giving pleasure to those who handle it.”
“P-pleasure?” she asked, her hand trembling within his a little.
“On a cold winter’s day, is there not great pleasure when the cup and saucer carry a cup of hot, delicious cocoa?”
Her eyes met his and he saw her breath quicken. It pleased him that she understood the depth of his metaphor. He had left it open to her imagination and she had immediately turned her thoughts to those of physical pleasure. By god she was a fiery one. She had a sensual nature, a fierce sex drive. It made him hard just to see the color that came to her cheeks as her thoughts ran wild. But he kept himself from reading those thoughts. He had promised her he would not do so without good reason and he wanted her to know she was free to think whatever she wanted at any given moment. He needed to teach her how to erect mental barriers as soon as possible. Not that anything she could erect at this level could keep him out, but at least she could keep herself from projecting outward to those who would seek to invade her privacy.
“Now, finish your breakfast. I have a meeting this morning, but afterward we can begin our lesson for the day. I am eager to see what else we can do together.”
He could see by the deepening blush on her cheeks, so was she.
Dendri walked up the steps to the Triumvirate House with long, easy strides. His messengers had gone back and forth with the triumvirate, and so he knew they were awaiting him. He entered the house and a servant led him into the meeting rooms. He sat down and waited. It didn’t take long for the two men and one woman, the leaders of their political body on their continent, to enter the room.
“Well Dendri, you’ve gone and mucked things up a bit,” Jutsin Felone said directly. He moved to a chair next to Dendri, sitting down and relaxing back as he crossed his long legs. Jutsin was a fit man, too handsome by half with his boot black hair and piercing green eyes, and confident in the fact. Though he wasn’t a fashion plate, a slave to all the latest trends, he dressed finely and with an air of arrogant surety. When he smiled, as he was doing then, it made him seem far more youthful than he actually was.
“I have to keep you on your toes somehow,” Dendri said with an answering smile.
“Well you certainly have our attention,” Ariana Colla said, her graceful, willowy figure and beautiful amber eyes setting off the fiery red of her hair. It was swept up at the moment, but two distinctive locks had been left free to bleed down her neck and onto her cleavage. Hers was the sort of elegance that made everyone envious. It attracted the attention of nons and majji alike. The papers were often filled with reports of what she was doing, with whom she was with and what she was wearing at the time. She lived in a fishbowl and Dendri did not envy her. It was exactly what he was afraid of happening to himself and Yasra. Perhaps she could lend some guidance to Yasra on how she managed to live such a life.
“My question to you is what do you plan to do with all of this power now at your fingertips?” Mason Hittite said directly. Dendri had always admired that about the man. He was always direct and to the point. It could actually be a little intimidating when also confronted with the man’s significant size. Broad in the shoulder and weighing in almost fifty pounds heavier than Dendri, he had not an ounce of fat on him, his big body fit and powerful. Add to it his shock white hair and piercing silver eyes and intimidating was definitely the word for it.
“What triumvir Hittite is trying to say is that we hope you have plans to use your newfound power to the benefit of your government,” Ariana said.
“At present my plans are to gain the trust of my Gestalt mate and to see her safely through these first weeks of acclimating to our new power. She is very green, you see, and in need of gentle care,” Dendri said.
“Yes, yes…but after,” Mason said impatiently.
“I cannot speak to after. I do not yet know what Yasra’s wishes would be regarding that. I do know that she wants to help nons find a stronger voice in our government.”
“Ah. A champion of the underdog,” Jutsin said with a grin. “Most commendable.”
“Dendri, I don’t need to remind you that this country hovers constantly on the brink of war with those less civilized than we are. Your abilities have always been a powerful ally when we sit with our enemies and speak of treaties. We would hate to lose you, what with the Kiltian summit mere weeks away.”
“Do not worry, Ariana. I will not abandon you. I know the Kiltians threaten our borders daily. This cease-fire is tenuous at best. Our boys on the front are counting on us. They want to go home to their families…preferably in one piece.”
“I’m glad you see that,” Ariana said. “But will your Gestalt partner feel the same? Will she work for us as well?”
“You must allow me time to acclimate her to the idea of having majic in the first place. For all of her life she has considered herself a non. Now she suddenly finds out that she is going to be one of the most powerful majic users in over a century? Yes, you must give me some time. But take heart, she is a good hearted person and I sense she will always want to do as much good for others as she possibly can.”
“When can we meet her?” Jutsin asked. “We would like to see this for ourselves.”
Dendri hesitated visibly.
“Come come now, Adiron, we’re not going to devour her,” Mason said brusquely.
“Perhaps. Perhaps not.” Dendri frowned. “I will have a soiree of sorts at the end of the month. I will invite you and a few select others from the upper echelons of our world. But only so long as you promise not to crowd her.”
“Well we shan’t scare her,” Jutsin said with a chuckle. “At least, not much. Is she really that delicate?”
“She’s just out of her depth,” Dendri said with another frown.
“But she grew up
in Illa and Orto’s house, did she not? She should be used to being around a high society of majic users.”
“She is.” Dendri sighed and rubbed at a spot of tension on his forehead. “It’s hard to explain. She’s sensitive.”
“Don’t mollycoddle her, Adiron. She’ll need to grow a thick skin if she thinks to swim with us sharks. You cannot protect her all of the time.”
“You mistake me. She is a strong woman at heart. I have a great deal of faith that she will find her own footing. I merely think she needs time to adjust to things.”
“More like you want to lock her away in your bedroom,” Jutsin said with a sly chuckle. “Tell me. Is it everything the stories say? Is sex between a Gestalt couple as mindblowing as all that?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Dendri said smoothly. Too smoothly.
“You’re a terrible liar, Adiron,” Jutsin said.
“I’m not lying. I haven’t had sex with her…not that it’s any of your business whether we do or not.”
“You are right about that,” Jutsin said as he leaned back and stretched out his arms. He yawned. “Very well, we’ll come to your soiree, Adiron. We’ll meet your little Gestalt partner. What house of majic is she from again?”
“Necromay.”
“Hmm. Interesting,” Jutsin said, rubbing a hand along his square jawline. “Come back in three days for the summit with the Kiltians. Do your patriotic duty for we Sarens and keep the Saren country out of a further tangle of violence and war. Then we’ll meet your little Necromay and see where it goes from there.”
“Very well. I am glad, I must say, to hear that you are allowing me to handle this as I see fit,” Dendri said.
“What did you think we were going to do? Lock you away?” Jutsin asked with amusement twitching at his lips.
“The thought did cross my mind. Some might see us as a threat.”
“We know you very well Adiron,” Mason said. “Perhaps if we did not is would be different, but you have always lent yourself to us with free regard for the need we have of you. You are not selfish as some other majic users of great power are. Only, do not let this power go to your head, Dendri. Keep yourself grounded.”
“He will,” Jutsin said with a hand gesture that waved off any concerns.
“Very well then. If there is nothing more you need of me…” Dendri moved to rise to his feet.
“There is one thing,” Ariana said quickly.
Dendri continued to stand and raised a brow at Ariana.
“Not only do we need your help with the Kiltians, but there is a small matter of the bounty on Fenri Delongo. We were hoping…”
“I am not a bounty hunter,” Dendri said with a frown. “I do not chase rogue majji. You know this.”
“We were hoping you might make an exception. He is an 18th level Aspano. You are the only Aspano more powerful than he is. As long as he holds greater power of the mind over those who come after him, he will never be caught. You are the only one who would be immune to his tricks.”
Dendri’s frown deepened. “I no longer have only myself to think about. I have not even yet had the chance to explain the Nature to Yasra. I don’t think she is even aware…”
“What does the Nature have to do with it?” Ariana asked.
“If something should happen to me, Yasra would be subject to the conditions of the Nature. We have connected. We are becoming one. I will not put her life at risk. Had you asked me yesterday my answer might have been different. Then it was only myself I would be risking. I will not risk Yasra’s life as well.”
“Perhaps you should ask her how she feels—,“ Ariana began.
“No,” Dendri cut her off firmly. “I am sorry. But the answer is no.”
“Delongo is an animal. Every moment he is out there someone else falls victim to his perverse idea of pleasure. He is leaving a swath of victims that cuts wide and deep. Shall I have the mothers of the daughters he has raped come and beg you? What of the victims whose minds he has turned to jelly? What will it take to convince you we need you?”
Dendri sighed and rubbed at an ache of tension creeping up the back of his neck. “That is not fair, Ariana. I am not responsible for his actions.”
“You are. When you are the only one who can stop him and you refuse to help, you are responsible,” Ariana said sharply.
“That is not fair,” Jutsin broke in. “You cannot blame Dendri for what a madman does.”
“I can,” Ariana said stubbornly. “We need you, Dendri. No one else can stop him.”
Dendri hesitated. He could not in good conscience allow Delongo to run amok in the world. Ariana was right. Every day he was out there that Dendri did not stop him would be just as good as him committing the crimes himself. Not when he could stop him.
But the risk to Yasra…
“I will discuss it with Yasra once we have talked about the nature and all of its ramifications. It would not be fair to risk myself without her understanding and permission. I would expect the same in return.”
“Very good. That is all we can ask,” Ariana said, looking very self-satisfied. She had gotten her point across; she was making him consider helping them. That is exactly what she wanted…outside of his flat out agreement to help.
Ariana had always admired Dendri. His ethics were very strong, even though he had the power to run roughshod in the world doing whatever he wished to do. Should he decide to run mad as Delongo was doing, there would be no one on their continent who could stop him. Oh, perhaps there was someone among the Kiltians or one of the other continents or countries, but it was very unlikely. Besides, as long as they themselves were not threatened, the Kiltians could probably care less about a majji running amok. In fact, the bloodthirsty Kiltians would likely enjoy seeing them struggle to get a man like Dendri under control. They would no doubt be enjoying what they suffered at Delongo’s hands if they but knew about it. And knowing the Kiltian’s and their spy network, it was very likely they knew.
“If that is all, I will take my leave,” Dendri said, moving around the table with the smooth grace he was admired for. There was something undeniably masculine about Dendri, she thought. He had a male presence that filled the room. It competed strongly with the vibrant masculine presences of her male triumvirate counterparts. These were men of great power. Not that hers was anything to sneeze at. But it was quite readily apparent to anyone who stood in that room that they were standing amongst the three most powerful men of their society.
“Thank you, Dendri,” she said, standing up and reaching out her hand, letting him take it in his. He brought it politely to his lips, bowing over it slightly.
“Call on me if there is anything further you need,” Dendri said as he met her eyes. She looked into the crisp green of his eyes and found herself smiling.
“We will look forward to a message from you shortly as regards Delongo. Please do not take too long to consider. Each day may mean one more victim at his mercy.”
“I promise you. I will try to manage things as quickly as possible.”
“That is all we can ask,” she repeated.
He let go of her hand and moved out of the room. Once he was gone, Ariana turned to look at the other men in the room.
“You are very conniving,” Jutsin accused her, but his easy grin softened the accusation.
“I merely stated facts. Delongo must be stopped.”
“You are right about that. But I do not like to push Adiron too hard,” Mason spoke up. “One day he may decide to push back, and then where will we be?”
“Dendri’s morals are sound. As is his dedication to this body of government,” Ariana said.
“Delongo will not be an easy target. He has a small army at his beck and call,” Mason pushed.
“A small army that grows bigger every day. He attracts the worst element to his side, allowing them free reign to do as they please to every town they come across. All we need do is cut off the head of the beast and the rest will die away. The only other choice
is to send troops to put them down and right now we have all we can do to keep the Kiltians at bay,” she said.
“Perhaps now with the cease-fire…” Jutsin said.
“We cannot count on the summit. We cannot afford to move any troops,” Mason said.
“We may have no choice. What if Delongo gets it in his head to incite a rebellion? What if he decides to come calling for our heads?” Ariana asked.
“We have the capitol guard,” Jutsin said.
“Are you willing to bet your head on the capitol guard?” Ariana asked. “No. We need Dendri. Only he can put a stop to this.” She sat back down, the smell of her perfume moving gently through the air.
“He is serious about not wanting to risk himself. I do not call him a coward, but I can sense how protective he is of his little Gestalt.”
“Would you do any less?” Ariana asked.
“No. I don’t suppose so. But I want to meet this girl. It would put my mind to ease to get a sense of who she is.”
“Don’t you trust Dendri’s opinion of her, Mason?”
“I trust myself and my own opinions. It may be that Adiron is too close to the issue to see it clearly,” Mason said. “There is bound to be a strong confusion of emotions and desires in this pairing. It might distract him when we need him at his clearest.”
“We will not be meeting her until after the summit. He will not allow it,” Jutsin observed.
“But we can do some research on her in the meantime. We can hire a discovery runner,” Ariana said, “let him do some digging around about her. Maybe he can give us a picture of her.”
“That is a good idea. I want to know if she’s as harmless as Adiron says she is,” Mason said.
“Messenger!” Ariana called out.
A young man, one of the messengers always at the ready for the triumvirate’s use, hurried into the room.
Ariana moved to the desk in the corner of the room and picked up her quill.
Chapter Eight
In a strategic move, after returning to the house, Dendri sent Bess out with a guard and coachman to retrieve Bicky from their bedsit. It allowed him time alone with Yasra without opportunity for her to use her friend as a barrier between them. It would not be for long, but hopefully it would be long enough for them to build some trust between them and help Yasra to become more comfortable.