Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3)

  Seeing that things within the clearing were under control, she turned her thoughts to the V’larians and felt when Ty did, too. The battle is over, she conveyed. Vycor and Shaya are defeated. Ra’jah TaeDane and I have assumed power and control of our planet. You’re facing far more skilled fighters in the Shelvaks and our people. There is no need for more bloodshed.

  They waited for a response. Vycor’s body contorted into unnatural poses. He vomited violently, making Kyr step back and look away. She knew he was in an inhumane amount of pain. She wasn’t sure what it said about her that part of her exulted in it.

  After a few minutes, Telad and Ravina approached. Judging by their clean white robes and lack of any signs of distress, they had also removed themselves from actual battle. Kyr’s back teeth set, especially because her face, arm, and thigh still radiated from injuries and she felt Ty’s pain from at least a couple of broken bones. She couldn’t respect any leader who allowed their people to die while they sat and watched.

  When a number of heads nodded around them, Kyr realized that she hadn’t guarded that particular thought.

  “Telad and Ravina,” she said, speaking clearly for everyone to hear. “We demand that you order all of your troops on our planet to cease their fighting. We further demand that you remove all of the abilities you have bestowed upon VycorDane.”

  Telad and Ravina exchanged a look. Eventually, Telad nodded.

  “We will agree to these demands,” he said, “so long as you give our people safe passage to return home.”

  Kyr knew the battle had to end, and concessions had to be made. It wasn’t as though they could keep all of the V’larians prisoner.

  Ty responded this time. “With the exception of you, Ambassadors, who must answer for your crimes against our planet, we agree to your request. Your followers may leave unharmed.”

  Kyr waited for the V’larians to consider their offer. If they thought she and Ty would allow them to leave without consequences, they were mistaken. On this, they would not bend.

  Again, Telad and Ravina nodded. Since they were pale to begin with and wore dark eyeshades, she couldn’t tell if they were concerned by how things had turned out. She supposed it didn’t matter.

  She and Ty stepped aside as the ambassadors moved forward and crouched by Vycor. He jerked his head from side to side when they tried to touch him.

  “No!” he screamed. “You can’t! No!”

  Telad issued a weary sigh. “This power was never yours,” he said, touching Vycor’s forehead. “And we were fools to give it to you.”

  Vycor’s screams faded to pathetic mewls as the V’larians removed the abilities they had given him. As their efforts took effect, Vycor’s thoughts and feelings filtered more and more powerfully to Kyr and Ty.

  Feeling the intense hatred and loathing he held for them made it even easier for Kyr and Ty to step forward once the V’larians were done. Without even having to communicate about it, they both reached down and touched Vycor, bringing forth the full magnitude of their power.

  Layer by layer, they stripped him of the abilities Shaya had given him. The process, as it had been for Ty when the Guardians relieved him of his abilities, was excruciating. Vycor had it a little easier, though, since he was already in so much pain from the begothia injury that this process hardly registered.

  Until they got to his bare essence and the latent Mynder talent with which he’d been born. When they stripped him of that, leaving him bereft of any abilities and his every nerve-ending raw and pulsing, he screeched and wailed in torment.

  Kyr swallowed a wave of nausea as she and Ty finished and stepped away from him. She wasn’t sure if the physical illness was a result of their efforts or the wretched agony pouring from Vycor. She deliberately tempered the connection she had with him, reminding herself of all he had done to bring about this moment.

  Around the clearing, people were shaking their heads and swaying as reason returned to them. Their thoughts flooded Kyr and Ty’s minds. Rather than overwhelm them, though, the thoughts felt natural and welcome. It comforted them to have this connection with their people.

  Catching Ty’s eye, she nodded.

  Good people, they sent out, conveying the thought so that it flowed from one person to the next, crossing borders and megais. The battle for Alametria is over, but our work to recover is only beginning. For those of you who have been under Vycor’s influence, we know how you’re feeling right now. We’ll do what we can in the near future to help prevent such a thing from ever happening again. Right now, though, we need your help. Many of our brethren lay injured and dying. Turn to them now and offer them aid. Allow the V’larians to depart unharmed and trust us to mete justice. Help us restore peace to our planet.

  The overwhelming sense of support that flowed back to them after the brief speech weakened Kyr’s knees. She’d never felt such a huge outpouring of emotion from so many people at once. Ty helped her calm it before she dissolved into a mess of joyful tears. The time for processing all of this would come soon enough.

  They watched as the crowd dispersed, renewed with a sense of purpose. She was relieved to see some of the fires getting extinguished and people leaning down to check on the welfare of the fallen. When she and Ty had finished with Vycor, they would join them.

  “What of the ambassadors, Ma’jah?” asked a male standing in front of a group of Mynders on either side of Telad and Ravina.

  Kyr picked up the Mynder’s name from his thoughts. “I’d like to shield all of you from possible influence, Celun. Then I’d like you to escort the ambassadors to the palace prison. They aren’t to be mistreated.”

  “Of course, Ma’jah.”

  She used her abilities to protect them as promised, then Celun and the other Mynders bowed and led the ambassadors away. Kyr concluded that the Mynders would follow her orders, even though some of them were repulsed by the V’larians over their actions. It was the most she could ask of anyone right then.

  A movement caught her eye from the cover of the nearby trees. She and Ty turned to greet the La’run as he stepped into the clearing. Thanks to the fires going out and weapons being sheathed, there wasn’t much light to concern him. His attention was intent on Vycor, whose writhing had slowed. It was clear to all of them that the poison was about to finish its work.

  “I have an antidote,” the La’run said in his unusual voice.

  Kyr blinked in surprise, not because of his words, but because he had opted to speak them out loud. It took her a moment to realize why he had done so.

  People paused in their work, turning to observe the exchange. Sure, it was only a small sampling of the people on their planet, but she knew that the news of how she and Ty responded would soon spread to everyone. This was their chance to set an example to their people of how they intended to proceed and how they wanted everyone to treat each other.

  Yet Kyr and Ty wanted nothing more than to see Vycor issue his last breath.

  The La’run was giving them a choice. Did they give in to the dark hate they held towards Vycor and allow him to die? Or did they abide by the rightful laws of their people—the laws that Vycor and Shaya had so blatantly disregarded—and show him compassion?

  I understand and respect your dilemma, the La’run thought, making Kyr look up at him. And I know which option you would choose. I don’t know that it would satisfy any of us. So I offer you a third option. I will give you the antidote to synthesize for your people. In exchange, you will give me your former Advisor.

  Kyr knew the La’run was making the choice easier for them. They would spare Vycor from death and send him away as a prisoner with the Shelvaks, and they would save an unknown number of Alametrians from possible death in the future by having an antidote to begothia poison.

  Making the choice, Kyr said, “Please give him the antidote.”

  Murmurs filled the clearing as her response was heard. Ty put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her tightly against his side as the La’run withdrew a s
mall syringe from his belt. Vycor’s thrashing renewed as several more Shelvaks stepped forward to grab his arms and hold him still. His screams were weak, though. He barely protested when the La’run injected him with the antidote.

  It didn’t take long for it to take effect. Gradually, the horrific burning eased. The visceral throbbing resulting from the removal of his powers remained, but Vycor still smiled when he looked at Ty and Kyr.

  You’re weak, he thought. You’ll never make good leaders.

  The Shelvaks lifted him to his feet. He was still too feeble to offer any protest. Kyr realized that he thought the Shelvaks were merely being helpful.

  When they started removing his armor, he realized he had been mistaken.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice an octave higher than usual. He flailed ineffectually as the number of Shelvaks surrounding him increased. “Don’t touch me!”

  “They’re merely offering you the same treatment you gave them,” Kyr explained, allowing her mind to return to the cavernous room she had seen on Shelvak with the experimentation table and equipment.

  “No,” he said, his voice no longer steady. “You can’t do this!”

  “The Shelvaks have earned this right, VycorDane,” Ty countered, his voice carrying to explain their position to anyone watching. “You have murdered innocent Shelvaks in your quest to rule this world and others. In exchange for the Shelvaks’ cooperation and their offer of an antidote to begothia poison for all of our people, we grant them our blessing to take you.”

  Vycor continued trying to resist as the Shelvaks finished removing his armor, making an embarrassing spectacle of himself. Kyr had to glance away when they finally held him upright and she glimpsed his naked flesh. What remained between his legs was unbearable to look upon.

  “He’s all yours,” Ty said, not having any trouble looking right at Vycor.

  Vycor’s protests escalated to maniacal screams as the Shelvaks led him past Kyr and Ty towards the trees. She was amazed by the trail of urine that followed Vycor into the darkness. She supposed he was lucky he still had a way to void his bladder.

  His cries ended abruptly once he was out of sight. The sudden absence of his thoughts and feelings had Kyr feeling instantly better.

  The La’run held up another vial, which Ty stepped forward to accept. Thank you for your help, Ty thought. We’ll get you more of the Gift as soon as we can harvest it.

  We’ll bring it personally, Kyr vowed. I’d like to discuss the details for a treaty between our planets.

  I would say you have already accomplished much towards that goal, Ascendant, the La’run said with a slight bow. Congratulations on ushering in a new age for Alametria.

  Chapter 50

  Once the La’run departed, Kyr and Ty walked hand in hand back across the clearing. They spotted J’ael and Owyn tending to the injured and issuing instructions. Kyr sent them both thoughts of thanks, which they returned without stopping what they were doing. Another wave of gratitude rushed through her to see their family alive.

  They continued on to the other edge of the forest where Sem currently stood guard over Shaya. The Guardian was tethered to a tree by her wrists. Her prior struggles were obvious in her mussed hair, smudged makeup, and dirty gown. Now, however, she was kneeling on the ground and weeping.

  Kyr met Sem’s glance as they neared. He grinned widely.

  That was beyond epic, he thought. It was practically orgasmic. Getting to experience all of that with Vycor through you two was totally worth having to deal with all of the sex.

  Ty rolled his eyes. You’re welcome, he responded.

  Trying to ignore her flush of embarrassment, Kyr lifted her chin towards Shaya. “What’s the scoop?”

  Shaya’s head lifted at the sound of Kyr’s voice. Her winter blue eyes blinked owlishly, releasing more tears down her pale cheeks. When she spotted Kyr, she scrambled to her feet.

  “Oh, thank Yen-Ki!” she exclaimed. She tried to reach forward, but the rope around her wrists prevented her. “Kyr, there has been some kind of terrible mistake. I don’t understand any of this.”

  She’s claiming that she was under Vycor’s influence, Sem silently told them, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at Shaya without expression. She did seem just as confused after Vycor’s abilities were removed as everyone else under his influence.

  Kyr stepped closer to Shaya, who smiled tremulously and said, “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed since you left for your lessons, Kyr. You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.”

  She was acting as though she didn’t remember anything about Kyr’s return. Her words conveyed a maternal tenderness that Kyr had always craved from her. Even after everything that had happened, Kyr found her heart yearning. Part of her really wanted to believe that the woman who raised her couldn’t be as evil as the woman Shaya had been over the past few months.

  Kyr clung to that part of herself, as it represented the ability to harbor hope even when she knew the truth.

  “You tried too hard,” she murmured as she met Shaya’s gaze. Her throat burned from something besides smoke, but she forced her tone to remain even. “You’ve never addressed me by my name in public.”

  Without her having to ask, Sem and Ty held Shaya in place so Kyr could touch her forehead. Kyr immediately sensed that Shaya’s mind was still not free of protections. Weary and disgusted by the Guardian’s continued lies, Kyr brushed aside delicacy and plowed through the barriers in her mind. She was inundated by memories…Shaya’s memories.

  Preening under the attention she received after Kyr’s birth.

  Refusing to allow Elly and J’ael to live at the palace because she considered them beneath her and she wasn’t willing to share the attention.

  Deliberately withholding some of Ty’s abilities when he became the Dem-Shyr, secretly hoping it made him slip up so Kyr was killed.

  Plotting with Vycor while Kyr was off-planet to take over as ruler.

  Seducing not only Vycor, but Telad, as well…preparing for all possibilities.

  Enjoying watching Kyr suffer during the Ruvex Rite and becoming furious with Ty for interrupting.

  Poisoning her own beverage while alone with Kyr in the Sanctuary to cast suspicion on Ty’s abilities and put herself back into the limelight that Kyr stole with her return.

  Smiling while Ty choked Kyr to death.

  Unable to stomach any more, Kyr withdrew from Shaya’s mind and stepped away from her. Wrenching pain gripped her chest as the venom behind her mother’s actions struck her heart anew. She knew more than enough now to determine that Shaya had been acting of her own free will when she did all of those terrible things.

  Ty reached out and pulled her against his side, sending her calming thoughts. You have two mothers who adore you, he reminded her. They will give you and our children twice the love you didn’t get from her.

  Kyr clung to his words, bringing Ullah and Elly’s faces to her mind when she feared she would lose her composure. Shaya would not have the satisfaction of seeing her break down.

  The barriers in Shaya’s mind that Kyr had gone through were Telad’s, she was sure of it. Shaya saw those barriers as a potential way to get herself out of the mess she was in. She still didn’t realize how powerful Kyr and Ty had become.

  Kyr felt Ty’s carefully banked fury when he touched Shaya’s forehead. The Guardian started to scowl at him, then seemed to remember she was supposed to be kind and befuddled. Her face contorted in shock as Ty drove into her mind and obliterated Telad’s presence. Kyr realized his anger had bolstered his abilities. He was outraged on her behalf, knowing how deeply Shaya had hurt her.

  Shaya sank to the ground when Ty released her. Her breath left her in a pant. When she looked up at Kyr, only loathing remained in her gaze. Kyr found that easier to bear than the false affection.

  “ShayaVawn,” she said in a calm, level voice, “you are hereby stripped of the title of Guardian. You are ordered to undergo judgme
nt, and will await that judgment in the palace prison until order is restored to the planet you nearly destroyed.”

  Each word had Shaya’s expression shifting into disbelief. “You can’t do that,” she sputtered.

  “I can and I did.”

  “The Ascendant has spoken,” Sem said, waving at some nearby Mynders. “Take Shaya here to the prison. Don’t worry about whether the cell has clean sheets.”

  The Mynders moved forward to fulfill the order. Shaya snarled at them, trying to kick them from beneath her voluminous skirts.

  “You can’t treat me this way, you ungrateful bitch!” she spat at Kyr. “You’ll regret this!”

  Kyr showed no reaction to the hateful words. Once again thinking of Ullah and Elly and the love they held for her, she looked her mother right in the eye and said, “No, I won’t. In fact, I don’t regret it at all.”

  * * *

  They connected with Gren as Shaya was led away.

  How is everything by you? Ty asked him.

  We’ll go with ‘delicate,’ Gren responded. The V’larians are trying to leave, but the Shelvaks and some of our people are resisting the idea.

  Ty knew they weren’t getting all of the details. Gren’s thoughts revealed that he felt they had enough to deal with on their end. Not for the first time, Ty realized how fortunate he and Kyr were to have Gren’s competent and reliable help.

  Is there anything we can do from here? Kyr asked.

  I think we’ve got it under control. I’ll let you know if that changes.

  Thanks, Gren, Ty said. We couldn’t have done this without you.

  I didn’t do it alone.

  No, you didn’t. And you’ll all be recognized for your efforts.

  They both felt Gren’s discomfiture over that. That’s really not necessary. Besides, there’s still plenty of work to be done. The moment the protections went down, Outcasts abandoned the Dark Lands in droves. It’s going to be quite the task to round up the ones who genuinely belong there and get them contained.