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The King's Challenge #294 and #295

TKC 294 and 295

Damin clasps his fingers over my hand, shaking his head emphatically. I frown. Why am I not to use the orb? When Gennerin also shakes in negative, I am left wondering what they have understood and I cannot yet comprehend.

Enris, Damin mouths, using his hands to signify shortening of distance.

Enris is near? I form in silence.

He nods and points in a direction diagonal to us.

Enris will have sensed the presence of the orb, indeed. Thus we wait. Together, Enris and I will be better able to create a shield. I nod my understanding.

Siri swallows convulsively and so does Ross. Those two are about to collapse from tension, but there is little anyone can do to change it for them. Truth is, I feel weak all over as well.

Damin jerks his head and sidles to the left, beginning a bizarre weave as he shifts through the maze of pipes. He means for us to follow. We do, and I pray the inadvertent sounds we make do not reveal us.

In a small space entirely overlooked by banks of blinking lights on the one side and a host of thin tubes on the other, Damin halts, motioning us in. Finger to his lips, he points. Shadows move amid the pipes in the direction opposite to the one we employed to reach this point. In the next instant, Enris steps out, sporting a massive grin. Mirlin is behind him, watching every shadow.

Enris enfolds me into his arms. Into my ear, on the edge of hearing, he whispers, “I have seen our father. He is alive.”

I tighten my hold on him in response. Thank all the stars in the universe.

Enris then looks up … and sees Leffandir. His face stiffens into alabaster. He is about to say something, for his mouth opens. He will reveal us and I wave my hands, shaking my head, hoping to silence him. Damin steps in behind my brother and clamps a hand over his mouth, to my everlasting relief. Enris struggles at first, and then realises the danger. He nods his head under Damin’s hold and ceases moving. Damin releases him. Enris instantly reaches out to haul Leffandir in, glaring into her eyes. I do not know if it is hatred or fury or a combination, but Leffandir flinches hard. She does not fight the grip; she merely stares. I notice how her hands tremble. Well. Clearly love was once present between them for this kind of reaction after long ages apart; an intense attraction.

Releasing the Glonu Empress, Enris shifts to me, the question obvious in his gaze. I cannot tell him here and thus sign for him to remain patient. Eventually he inclines his head and puts his back to Leffandir. She rakes him from behind, a hungry gaze, and her fingers twitch as if she desires to run her hands over him. Intense attraction indeed; it remains even now.

I glance at Damin to find him watching me. He begins to sense our past was much like what lies between Enris and his Empress. Heat races over my skin, shortening my breath. Digging my nails into my palms, I force myself to look away.

Enris is on the move and we follow swiftly. He leads us to a small hidden door; a length of twisted metal keeps it open. He enters, and Mirlin motions at us to go in also, closing the door when we are beyond. A light comes on in a confines space.

“No one uses this,” Mirlin states. “It is soundproof also.”

Enris pulls Leffandir to him. “Why are you here?”

The King's Challenge #292 and #293

TKC 292 and 293

After Damin nearly comes to blows with Kay for allowing Siri to accompany him, we move with all stealth into the lower regions of the ship. Gennerin leads.

I have never seen Siri as angry. Ross, the young soldier, murmurs under his breath that she is able to blow the ship to vacuum with that kind of fury. Ross led Siri and Kay to us. I find his comment amusing and snort my laughter, which earns me a skew look from Damin.

Leffandir has promised to behave, no doubt because any attempt at escape will probably see her losing her head from a host of Ilfin aboard, and thus she walks freely. Damin remains close, but no longer seeks to hold her.

Many levels down, we enter a space where gigantic pipes and strange contraptions form a maze. We are in the bowels, although Gennerin reveals there are more levels below us, most of those as shielding from both the vacuum and destructive enemy fire. It feels like the bowels, however, a netherworld of industry and technology. A resonance permeates the metallic labyrinth. The multitudes of parts that are required to run a ship of this nature speak to each other in a low hum. It is more otherworldly to me than being on an unknown planet is.

Kay halts. “I hear …” He shakes his head and adds, “Never mind. It sounds crazy.”

“You hear the connections,” Damin says. “Technological.”

The westerner frowns. “How do you know? How do I know what I am hearing?”

“It is your talent,” I say. “Move; we cannot be caught here.”

We go on after Kay and Damin trade stares.

Ross, bringing in the rear, hisses warning and we melt into a conglomerate of ridged pipes, hunkering low to remain as unobtrusive as is possible.

“Triple the guard,” someone commands in a low tone. “Gennerin is rumoured to be on board.”

“He knows nothing,” another responds.

“Apparently Iniri Makar is with him. She knows. Triple the guard.”

“It will be done.”

The voices move into further depths away from us. Gennerin mouths Moravin in my direction, and my hands clench into fists.

About to follow those retreating voices, we freeze as one being. Another sound reaches us and this is behind us. Damin holds one hand aloft, chopping down. We are to wait. He swivels carefully on his heels in his crouched position, and lowers to crawl under the piping. The last I see of him is the soles of his boots as he slithers away. My heart pounds; I wish to scream at him to come back to me.

Long minutes pass, each moment filled with excruciating tension. Siri is no longer angry; her anxiety is written for all to see upon an ashen face. She grips Kay’s forearm fiercely, digging into his flesh through the uniform’s tough material. He does not react; he is as tense.

Without warning – he is that silent – Damin’s fair head appears beneath the pipes. Almost I hiss my terrible relief. Assuming a new crouch, he holds a hand up, five fingers splayed. Closing it into a fist, he again shows us five fingers. I assume it means ten guards, but whether these are the additional bodies called for or the guards already in place? I have no answer. Damin shrugs; he does not know either.

Ross is now as pale as Siri.

Leffandir taps my arm. When I look at her, she points at me hand. I desire to hit her, but she is right. Our only defence lies in the deployment of the orb.

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The King's Challenge #290 and #291

TKC 290 and 291

“Before we begin, I must confirm my presence aboard.”

Instantly I deny Gennerin. “I prefer that we keep them guessing.”

“Many saw me arrive, Iniri.” The commander stumbles slightly over my name, causing me to smile inwardly. I think it will be as difficult for me to call him Athol at first.

“It will circulate as rumours and that we can deal with. Unless you broadcast your presence, those we seek to find will regard them as such and not become overly concerned. They must know it is your duty to state your position and until you do …” I shrug; I have made my point.

“It is against protocol,” he frowns.

“And you are in the company of royalty about to save a king,” Damin murmurs. “You will be fine.”

“Save a king?” Leffandir blurts, speaking for the first time. “Linus Makar is aboard? Why does he require saving?”

“It is not your concern,” I snarl at her.

“Oh, it is,” she smiles coldly, “but I am merely intrigued. Linus is not my mission, but how Enris deals with his father in trouble may prove useful.”

Damin shoves her into a seat. “Hold your tongue.”

She sits, grinning to herself. I wish to pull her head from her shoulders. What did my brother see in this woman? Ignoring her, I gaze at Gennerin.

He inclines his head. “I am a ghost at this time.”

Laughing, I perch on one of two bar chairs set below a high counter. “I shall now determine Enris’ position.” Closing my eyes, I begin the quest. Long minutes pass before I open my eyes and frown at the three staring at me. “Nothing. That cannot be right.”

“Allow me,” Damin says and immediately stares upward as if seeking answers there. More long minutes go by before he lowers his head, saying, “He is in a place where there is some kind of shield …”

Gennerin gasps, but does not interrupt.

“… and he cannot sense me through it. I have the impression of …”

“… blue space,” Gennerin remarks in a grim voice. “I know where he is. That is the engine section. It is shielded against accidental projectiles from both inside this craft and from the vacuum beyond. When you enter there it is akin to entering blue space.” He slaps his palms together, causing all of us to flinch. “Diabolical and clever! Few enter, and there is a system beyond that requires the highest clearance there is on a ship of this nature. Moravin will have such clearance.”

“Are we able to reach it undetected?” Damin frowns.

“Not easy. Enris no doubt has it easier; Mirlin will help him through usually sealed doors. We need …”

“Kay,” Damin states.

“Why?” I say. “What can Kay do? And where is he?”

“On the shuttle we arrived in,” Gennerin murmurs. He too gazes at Damin. “What has the Westerner revealed to you about his talent?”

“Nothing. Kay remains unaware of his gift.” Damin stretches before sitting alongside Leffandir. He continues to function as her guard and gaoler. “I touched him once up on the mountain, had to wake him, he sleeps as a dead man when he sleeps … anyway, he is unaware. Kay Laremer, however, is able to control technology.”

“He remains unaware because there is no technology on Massin,” I murmur.

“Precisely.” Damin leans back.

Gennerin eyes him. “I hesitate to ask how you understood his talent has to do with technology, being also of backward Massin, but no matter.” He blinks when Damin offers him a grin. “Then we need Kay.”

“He is on his way. I spoke to Hal and told him to tell Kay to follow …”

“Bugger, Damin, you do realise that means Siri will come too,” I mutter.

He stares at me, and swears under his breath.

The King's Challenge #288 and #289

TKC 288 and 289

I need to find Enris and my father and, to that end, I say to Gennerin, “Where would they hide something no one is to find?”

“I have no idea,” he mutters. “Usually important guests are in the Officers’ Quarters, but I doubt they will keep you father there.”

As I suspected. “I need a quiet place to reach out to Enris.”

“I know where. What do we do with Leffandir?”

“She comes with us,” I state. “We need to end it in every way, including whatever happened between her and Enris.”

Commander Gennerin proceeds to bark orders. Soldiers enter the flyer to secure the pilot, the main host retreats to other duties, and the crews return to their work stations. Again I place my hand on the Commander’s arm and he leads us away. Damin, still holding the Glonu Empress in his grip, follows. She makes no sound and Damin remains expressionless. I am concerned; I feel Damin has something huge on his mind, but no opportunity has presented for him to act on it.

The corridors beyond the hangar are inundated with soldiers and various other crews, and we are forced to weave through. Many soldiers salute Gennerin, to his irritation. I hear him muttering about wearing a mask when he walks the corridors. I am slightly amused, for it proves to me that Gennerin is no stranger to fame either. He is a kindred spirit; he understands. I like him more and more. I hope my trust will not prove misplaced, for it will hurt. This man has the potential of not only becoming an advisor, but also a friend.

At an elevator, he punches in a code and the metal door whisks open. We enter into silence. The door closes.

“Thank the stars,” he breathes out. “What must a man do for some silence?”

Damin snorts. “Become a farmer.”

Gennerin chuckles. “I intend to when I retire.”

“When will that be?” Damin gives him a speculative look.

“If I survive this campaign, I am handing my command in. This is my final war,” Gennerin murmurs.

I believe him; he sounds exhausted. “I do hope you will not become a stranger in your retirement.”

He bows his head. “My Lady, you honour me.”

I snort much as Damin did. “Stop that. We are beyond the Lady nonsense. My name is Iniri.”

He grins at me. “And I am Athol.”

Yes, I like him more and more. Damin does as well, for he sends me a wink and a grin. Leffandir huffs.

The elevator opens onto a quiet corridor. “Officer territory,” Gennerin murmurs as he leads the way.

At a nondescript door, we halt. Again Gennerin does the honours, and we pass into a darkened space. It smells sterile and unused.

“Lights,” he says.

The cabin fills with muted glows. It is a small sitting area and beyond is another dark space. All is in white and silver, but for a framed image on the wall, the only colour. It is a likeness of Gennerin and a lovely woman, her hair fiery red. This is the Commander’s suite.

“My wife,” he tells us and is clearly proud of her, for love is evident in his tone.

“What glorious hair,” Damin murmurs.

Clearly that pleases our Ilfin war leader even more, for he grins ear to ear. “Indeed.” Clearing his throat, he gestures. “Please sit. It has been some while since I have been in here, smells a bit off. A moment.” He approaches a console to jab at buttons, and immediately fresher air circulates. “Better.”

We sit. The time to strategize is upon us.

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TKC Collage (Iniri 1)

The King's Challenge - May update

Hello!

Yes, you guessed it! We are a little behind again in our challenge episodes. Due to circumstances, including the on-going home renovation, time has not played fair, but we have kept track and will be posting the missing episodes, starting today (fingers crossed!).

Here is an added note: when the edit begins, it will definitely be finished off in past tense. As a writer, the change in tense will allow for more background and proper description and we need more of that in this tale in order to promote greater understanding. Can't wait to start that edit!

Until later :)
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