LC03 Shield''s Lady

  The huge wave crested, broke and then coalesced. She felt Gryph testing himself against the image of a mirror she presented. Shafts of light in varying hues danced through her mind. Sariana flinched when the first ones arrived. The memories of the bright, lethal bursts of light Targyn had wielded were still fresh.

  But after a moment it became clear that Gryph was in firm control of the energy he was using.

  The lights in her head flared brighter. A rainbow of a million hues vibrated within her mind and bounced off the mirror she was creating.

  In some manner, Sariana knew, Gryph was starting to take back the energy she was reflecting. It was stronger on the return trip, more concentrated.

  Time became meaningless to Sariana. She stood perfectly still, her body poised, her mind alert but unfocused. Gryph’s hand tightened on hers. Sariana’s eyes were still closed so she didn’t realize anything was happening to the ship until she felt the temperature in the cavern rise several degrees.

  Her lashes lifted and she stared at the alien ship. It was no longer as clear as it had been. Portions of it were losing clarity, turning opaque. The change seemed to be starting from deep within the ship and working outward. The glow from the inside was fading.

  “It’s all right,” Gryph whispered, his voice tight with the strain. “It’s working. I’ve got it now.”

  She stared at the ship, concentrating harder as she tried to somehow free up more of her own mind energy for him to use. She didn’t know what she was doing or how she was doing it, but she sensed the new strength within herself. She felt Gryph reach for that strength with the eagerness of a lover and then he was adding it to his own and projecting it toward the ship.

  The crystal became more opaque, huge sections of it turning the familiar color of valuable prima.

  Slowly, methodically, Gryph worked the prisma through Sariana. She sensed the deliberate way he was projecting into the ship, finding the oval disks first and neutralizing them. Then he worked the structural material of the ship itself.

  Suddenly it was all over. The ship in front of them was solid, gem quality prisma. The interior glow was gone. Sariana felt the weary rush of relief that seeped into her awareness and knew it was Gryph’s reaction, not her own. She turned to look at him and found him staring at her, his features taut with the effort the task had taken. But he was grinning his familiar, slightly predatory grin. He pulled Sariana into his arms and hugged her as if he had just returned from a long trip.

  “We did it! My sweet, unpredictable Sariana, we did it. Who would have guessed that you and I could work together like that? What legend spinner could have invented a tale this good? A whole ship full of weapons and we neutralized all of it, every last centimeter without the aid of a lock. By the Lightstorm, wait until they hear about this out on the frontier.”

  Sariana gave a shaky laugh, clinging tightly to him. “What makes you think they’ll believe us?”

  “They’ll believe it. After all, they’ll have the word of a Shield on it,” Gryph stated with his familiar arrogance.

  “Yes, of course. I almost forgot.”

  “Are you laughing at me, woman?”

  She shook her head, her eyes full of euphoric relief. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “The hell you wouldn’t.” Gryph laughed, holding her as if he would never let go. “There is little you wouldn’t dare, Shieldmate. But we can discuss the matter later. I think it’s time we found that cutter and got out of here.”

  “What about Rakken and that third bandit?”

  “My guess is that the last bandit is long gone by now. He probably got a good look at the mess in the corridor outside and decided there were easier ways to make a living. As for Rakken.” Gryph shrugged. “Who cares? The man is a nuisance. If he has any sense he’ll stay out of my way.”

  They found the Avylyns’ precious cutter near the entrance of the chamber that housed the alien ship. It had been left rather carelessly on a low worktable.

  “It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that could cause all this trouble, does it?” Sariana asked as she picked up the tool.

  The prisma cutter looked like nothing more than a thin, square box. One side of the square disappeared when a hidden spring was pushed. When that was done a smooth, rounded edge was exposed. The edge was not sharpened or serrated. A child could play with it and not cut himself. But when it was applied to prisma by a skilled craftsman using just the right pressure and angle, it cut through the crystal effortlessly. It was made of a metal that closely resembled the metal lining the surrounding corridors and chambers.

  “Lately I’ve learned that trouble can come from some very unexpected sources,” Gryph said as she handed the cutter to him. He also took Sariana’s hand and started quickly for the corridor.

  “What about your weapon kit?” Sariana thought to ask. “I’ll have to make another one. Targyn got rid of mine. No telling where it is.”

  “Can you make another one?” she asked in surprise. They were approaching the three bodies in the corridor.

  “Sure,” Gryph said as he paused beside Targyn’s body. “I’ll just take Targyn’s kit. He won’t be needing it any more and I’ve got better things to do than hunt down another snake cat. I’ll need a new piece of prisma, but that won’t be any problem, will it? There’s a whole roomful of it back in that chamber.”

  “That brings up a very interesting question,” Sariana said as the thought struck her. “Who owns the prisma?”

  “By law it belongs to the Shields. To tell you the truth, it’s been so long since any was found, I’m not sure what the procedure is for selling it to the jewelers and artisans who use it.”

  They made their way through the alien installation without any trouble. Gryph retrieved his boots on the way down one of the corridors. When they reached the entrance he examined the traps that had been set there for a few moments. He looked thoughtful but he said nothing.

  Lucky appeared from a pocket as soon as Sariana stepped into the open. The lizard scrambled up to her shoulder and surveyed the world with satisfaction. Obviously it had not enjoyed the recent ventures.

  As they started down the tumble of rocks and boulders that shielded the entrance to the cavern, Sariana remembered the river sled.

  “I’m afraid it’s going to be a long walk back to Little Chance, Gryph,” she said unhappily.

  “Ah, yes, your accident with the sled. Where did you leave it?”

  “It left me a couple of kilometers downstream. I must say, it wasn’t a very good river sled.”

  “Are you kidding?” Gryph asked. “It’s the best there is. Cost me a small fortune to rent it.”

  “Well, it bounced all over the water when it hit the first few rapids.”

  “You tried to steer it through the rapids?” he demanded, glaring at her.

  “What was I supposed to do? Get out and walk?”

  “Damn right. Just as soon as the water turned rough. You’ve had no experience taking a sled through rapids. Why didn’t you put the sled ashore and continue on foot?” Gryph blinked at his own words. “What am I saying? That’s not the question I should be asking. The one that needs asking is why didn’t you head straight back to Little Chance?”

  Sariana lifted the hem of her skirt so it wouldn’t get caught in some thorny brush. “You know why I didn’t go straight back to Little Chance, Gryph.”

  He was silent for a few seconds and then he stopped for a moment, wrapped his hand around her neck and tugged her close for a hard, possessive kiss. When he released her Sariana’s lips felt slightly bruised. She looked up into his glittering eyes.

  “I know why,” Gryph admitted so softly Sariana could hardly hear the words. “You and I we share something very special, don’t we?”

  “I’ve come to the conclusion that we do.” Sariana smiled tremulously.

  They found the
sled a short time later. Gryph hauled it out of the water and proceeded to survey the damage. He grumbled a lot about inexperienced river sled pilots and made several comments on the nature of luck and women and then he got the craft running.

  “You westerners are so clever,” Sariana said with amused admiration as they floated into the middle of the river.

  “I’m glad to see you’re finally able to acknowledge a little of the local talent,” Gryph muttered as he expertly set the sled skipping downstream.

  When the late afternoon shadows descended, Gryph chose a small, protected cove in which to set up camp. He had become quieter and quieter as the day wore on. Sariana knew he was anxious to get back to Little Chance to see if Delek had returned with the other Shields.

  The storage lockers of the small sled had survived the encounter with the rapids. The food supplies were intact, and as she set about fixing dinner over the fire Gryph had built, Sariana realized she was very hungry. She served the simple meal in silence.

  Gryph accepted his plate with moody concentration. Sariana watched as he methodically ate his food. There was no flicker of awareness in her head. Whatever he was thinking. Gryph was obviously determined to keep it to himself.

  A short time later, Sariana undressed down to her chemise and slid under the travel quilt Gryph had spread out on the deck. Gryph was already under it, his arms folded behind his head, his gaze fixed on the narrow patch of stars overhead. She reached out to touch him gently.

  “Gryph? Is something wrong?”

  “I’ve been thinking.”

  “Yes, I know,” Sariana said gently. “But I don’t know what you’re thinking. I’ve been trying to read your mind all evening. It looks like you’re right. The link doesn’t work unless one of us is trying to project. It’s very frustrating at times.”

  He continued to gaze resolutely at the stars. “I was thinking about us. You and me. Our marriage.”

  “Oh.”

  “You’ve been right all along.” There was a note of grudging respect in his voice. “I’ve been very arrogant. It probably wasn’t fair to marry you the way I did.”

  “An interesting admission for a Shield,” Sariana said dryly. “What brought you to that conclusion?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said honestly. “But I’ve been thinking about it this afternoon and I’ve decided there’s only one honorable thing for me to do.”

  Sariana held her breath. “What’s that?”

  He sat up without any warning. The quilt fell to his waist and faint starlight played on his broad shoulders. The same light also highlighted the proud planes of his face.

  “You have a right to choose, Sariana,” he declared. “If you really want to go home to Rendezvous and become an executive in your clan’s firm I have no right to stop you.”

  Sariana probed silently for an accompanying mental image that would tell her he meant what he was saying. But it was useless. Gryph was definitely not projecting. It occurred to her that as they had both become more proficient at communicating, they also seemed to have learned some skills that guarded their privacy.

  “I see,” said Sariana, “that’s certainly very noble and generous of you. I know how you westerners tend to assume that your ways are the only acceptable ways.”

  Gryph hesitated and then growled, “You easterners have the same problem, I believe.”

  “I suppose we do.” She smiled her most brilliant smile.

  Gryph glared at her. “Well?”

  “Well what?” she countered.

  He shot to his feet and paced to the bow of the sled. He was still wearing his trousers. “Are you going to take me up on my offer to let you go back to Rendezvous?”

  “Are you sure you mean it? I recall you once threatened to track me down and drag me back no matter how far I ran or where I hid. There’s not much point of my accepting your generous offer if you’re just going to chase after me.”

  Gryph sat down on a small storage locker, his palms spread wide on his thighs. He was tense and alert, a piece of prisma waiting to be detonated. “If I give you my word I won’t chase after you—”

  “Are you giving me your word?” Sariana asked with great interest.

  “We’ll get to that after you tell me what you want to do.”

  “Well, going home might be interesting. When I bring this cutter back to the Avylyns, it’s going to put the seal on my success in the west. And if I can use that success to convince the academy to accept me, I could complete my education and take my rightful place in my clan’s firm. It’s certainly an interesting proposition.”

  Gryph lost the slender thread of his patience. “Stop throwing words at me! Just tell me what you want.”

  “And if I tell you, will you give it to me?” she asked softly.

  “I’ll try.

  “Why?” she persisted.

  “Because I love you,” he roared. The words echoed between the canyon walls, filling the night. “Damn it, Sariana I love you more than anything else on this planet. I finally realized that. The bond I feel with you isn’t just based on physical passion. I know that now. I want you to be happy”

  Lucky, curled in a cloak pocket, stuck its head out and hissed inquiringly.

  Sariana smiled at Gryph as she got to her feet and walked over to him. “That’s all I need to make me stay.”

  His hands caressed her shoulders. “Sariana, do you mean that?”

  “I think I’ve been living in the west too long,” she said with loving amusement. “I’ve fallen in love and I’ve developed the most illogical, unreasonable, unbusinesslike desire to be loved by you in return. I was fairly certain you did love me, but I’m glad to hear the words. Even with the mental link between us some things still need to be said in the old-fashioned way.”

  Gryph’s relieved chuckle became a hoarse rumble of desire as Sariana rested her head against his bare shoulder. He slid his hands down Sariana’s chemise to her waist, griped her hard and lifted her high above him. He looked up at her, starlight in his eyes.

  “I’ve lived in the west all my life, Sariana, but I didn’t know what love was until I met you. My main concern was ensuring the future of my clan. Nothing was as important as that until I met you. I didn’t even realize I was in love until I started thinking about doing the right thing and allowing you to choose your future, regardless of what that choice did to my own. You teach a rough lesson, lady.”

  “You see?” Sariana murmured as he let her slide sensually down the length of his hard body. “You westerners don’t know everything, not even about love. You just think you do.”

  A long time later they lay together, saying nothing, just drifting in and out of each other’s satisfaction. The intimacy of their link faded slowly to be replaced by the old-fashioned intimacy of lovers enjoying the sweet aftermath of joining.

  Gryph reluctantly stirred to reach down and pull up the quilt.

  “About that prisma,” Sariana murmured sleepily, “I have an idea.”

  She never got the chance to finish. There was a faint movement on the shore and a soft hiss from Lucky. Sariana recoiled as Gryph rose to his feet, his hand reaching for an object in his trousers.

  Sariana knew the intruder had to be the third bandit. Old business, she suddenly realized, should never be left unfinished.

  Chapter

  20

  IT was over before Sariana could kick herself free of the quilt. She heard a choked yell from the attacker soon after Gryph’s hand sliced through the air in a short, lethal motion. Something connected with the other man’s throat.

  The bandit crumpled and fell over the low railing into the water. Silence descended. Gryph walked to the edge of the sled and glanced over the side.

  “He’ll drown,” Sariana said weakly.

  “Probably.” Gryph didn’t seem overly interested in the matter. He
reached over to unlock a storage locker and remove a small vapor lamp.

  Sariana felt a chill go through her. She peered over the edge of the craft. “I think we ought to pull him out of the water, Gryph. It isn’t right to just leave him there.”

  Gryph switched on the lamp and scanned the shoreline. He was obviously preoccupied. “He was trying to kill us in case you didn’t notice.”

  “I noticed!” irritated, Sariana started to climb over the edge of the railing. “What did you use on him?”

  “The belt buckle you gave me. It was the closest thing available.”

  “Is everything you touch a potential weapon?” she demanded, seriously incensed. Reaction, she told herself. She was suffering from reaction.

  “Not quite.” He spoke absently, his attention still on the shoreline.

  “Name one thing that isn’t a weapon for you!”

  “You.” He turned to glance at her, frowning as he realized she was almost over the side. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “I’m going to pull that bandit out of the water.” She landed knee-deep in the black water and began fumbling for something that felt like a body. Her hand connected with a boot. She started hauling it toward the shore. “And don’t tell me you can’t turn me into a weapon just like you do everything else. What about the way you used me to neutralize that prisma ship?”

  “Storm and light, Sariana, you really take things to extremes at times, don’t you?” Gryph set down the lamp and vaulted over the side. Impatiently he jerked the half-conscious bandit from her grasp. “Here, give him to me. I don’t know what the point of saving him is, but if it will make you happier—”

  “That’s one of the things I love about you, Gryph,” she said in dulcet tones. “My happiness always comes first with you.”

  He glanced at her sharply and then shook his head with a rueful grin. “Mouthy wench.”