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Houston checked the address on the com screen on his wrist. The house was large with a marble and stone façade—a home suited for a minor Noble. Whoever Madama Ector had been, her house spoke of wealth and taste. After learning that she sent the women away before committing suicide, it was probably pointless for him to be staking out the place. He was here because, when one doesn’t have any leads, ones must start somewhere. He was almost at the point of giving up and telling the general to get him off this frigging planet. There wasn’t any coffee, and his disguise itched. He watched the housekeeper come and go as the long evening meandered into night. Houston fought the urge to go find a bed in a local hostel. Well-honed instincts were telling him this was the place he needed to be.
A slender figure walked past the Madama’s hostel before slipping behind the next house. Alert for any movement, he headed to the other side. Oh yes, the woman, and it was a woman, crossed the street and was approaching Madama’s house. She pushed open a back window and climbed in. Silent as a cat from years of training and missions, he followed.
As he drew closer he tried to decide what to say to her. She would be scared and wouldn’t trust strangers. Why would anyone in her position come back? She must know she isn’t safe here, or did she? He checked the voice activated translator, satisfied it was working.
Inside the house he could see the woman going through what appeared to be an office. Her back was to him as he moved into position. Before he could grab her, she whirled around, and in one smooth action reversed the tables. She was standing behind him and holding a weapon to his neck. What the fuck?
“I’m a friend,” was all he could think to croak. The metal of the weapon nudged further into the back of his neck. “I know about Madama Ector, the emperor, everything. I can help.”
She gave him a shove in the back, and he stumbled. “League spy! What are you doing here, and how do you know about Madama Ector?”
Houston had a bad feeling. His eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful woman holding a weapon in very steady hands. She stared at him. Something told him this was not the dumas he was looking for. “I believe I’m doing the same thing you are, trying to find a pregnant woman who used to live here. We need to locate her before she is killed.”
The woman slid the sleeve of her robe up revealing a multicolored pattern tattooed on her arm. Houston clicked a picture with the camera imbedded in his right eye. He blinked again and sent the image to the computer identification system.
In less than five seconds a tiny voice spoke into his transmitter ear bud. “Sister of the Order. The Order is a semi-religious group located in the Bananok Kingdom. It has its own independent city and is politically neutral. The Sisters and Brothers of the Order are highly trained in mental and physical abilities. They can be dangerous.”
He eyed the weapon aimed at his recently installed and very expensive artificial heart. She was dangerous. He doubted either this Sister or her Order were politically neutral. “You’re not the dumas.”
“No, and you are not Bengarian. What business is this of the League?” she demanded.
“The League does not support murder or the takeover of the Empire. We know she carries the heir, and I have been sent to get the woman and the heir off planet to safety.”
She huffed in disgust. “Are your leaders stupid enough to believe anyone in the Empire would support an emperor who was raised by the League?”
She asked a very astute question. Houston was silent for a minute. He didn’t think she was going to shoot him, not if he kept her talking. “What does the Order have to do with the Empire?”
“Everything on Bengar concerns the Order. What do you know about the woman?”
Houston was getting tired. His heart-lung capacitor was beating erratically. He backed to the wall and slid down into a sitting position. He glanced up at the beautiful woman. There was a puzzled look on her face. He held up his hand. After a few minutes the heart resumed its normal rhythm, and he could speak. “I know she is pregnant and is carrying the heir to the late emperor.”
She nodded. “Unfortunately, too many sources seem to know this. Madama Ector was dead because too many people did. I am here to find Madama’s records. There must be something, some clue to help identify this woman who carries the true emperor.”
Houston asked, “Wouldn’t the authorities already have taken everything when they searched?”
“Yes, if they found it.”
He could have launched himself at her and disarmed her. Instead, he studied the fine-boned face with those incredible eyes. She frowned.
“The housekeeper gave the authorities a list of the names the women used and their descriptions.” Houston didn’t know why he was telling her or how the general acquired the list.
“You, have it?” Excitement shone in her eyes. When he patted a pocket, she smiled. It was the kind of smile that could light up a room.
“Partners?”
“I believe we can work together. Where are you from?”
“Houston.”
She looked at him with confusion.
He reached out a hand. “I’m Colonel Benjamin Houston.”
She nodded again. “I am Tegani, senior Sister of the Order. May I see the list?”
~ * ~
The smell of the human, Colonel Houston, affected Tegani’s senses in ways she couldn’t understand. She was trained to suppress emotions and physical reactions, but something penetrated her guards. She bit the inside of her cheek hard; the pain helped her focus. There were twenty names on the list and brief descriptions. Not as detailed as the housekeeper provided the authorities, but sufficient. She read each name and description.
Finally, she pointed to one name. “This one, her name is Ninallia. She is a girl of fifteen. Purity would have been important to the empress. Another clue, and an important one, is the girl’s physical description. The dark hair and violet eyes are common in the Northern Plains people. The empress, whose coloring was similar, came from the northern part of the Empire.”
Houston stepped closer. His nearness sent a wave of energy flooding Tegani’s senses. She stepped back and handed him the note. “Ninallia is not an uncommon name.”
Tegani was not much of a telepath. Her gift was one of affecting physical objects. She was far from the Temple City and in need of help if she wanted to find this girl. There were Sisters and Brothers living in the Imperial City.
She focused her mind and sent a short message, Name: Ninallia. Age fifteen. It would be relayed until it reached My Lady. She panted from the effort that sending always caused those who pushed the limits of their gifts.
“Are you okay?” Concern furrowed Houston’s brow.
She smiled. As a human, never having seen anyone sending, this must seem very strange. She tried to imagine how it appeared to him. The frozen, vacant expression and rapid breathing might appear to be a seizure. “Yes, I’m sending the information we found.”
His reply was interrupted by a sudden noise at the front of the house. Someone else was there. She concentrated. The door closed, and the lock clicked. “Out the window before they find us.”
She headed toward the window, turning to see Houston sitting and staring at her in an odd way. Was he ill? She then realized he had never seen anyone manipulate matter before. “It’s called telekinesis on Earth. Let’s go!”
He struggled to his feet and moved toward the window. Tegani jumped and landed in the alley behind the house, stepping to the side in time to avoid being smashed by his heavier body. He landed nimbly with his weapon drawn. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The window slid closed and locked. He whistled as he turned to the left and headed down the alley.
When they were away from the house, he grabbed her arm. “There is a small café over there. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”
She was starving. Using her mental powers always left her drained, plus her legs were aching. “I need to eat too.”
After a few minutes they were seated at a table in a corner of the café. It was small, crowded with students and other late-night customers. The scene of roasting meat and ale filled the air
They were a normal enough couple. He was a tall muscular man from the seacoast having a late supper with an attractive woman. She caught a glimpse of herself in a window and turned away. The pain of her shorn braids was fresh, though she understood why the Order could not publicly acknowledge her mission. Her thoughts were interrupted when the waiter approached to take their orders.
“Do I smell fresh mountain goat?” she inquired, smiling at the waiter. It was her favorite meat in the Temple City. When the waiter nodded, she continued, “I’ll have a roast sandwich with strong jarri sauce, a mug of black ale, and maybe a sweet pie later.”
Houston looked at the waiter and smiled. “I’ll have the same, but you may go ahead and bring my pie.”
The waiter hurried off to place their order and bring back their drinks. He sat a pitcher of the dark, fragrant ale and two glasses on the table and said, “Your food will be out soon.”
“You did some trick with the locks and window. How do you do that?” Houston poured two glasses of the ale and slid one toward her after the waiter left.
“It’s my gift. It is my area of training in the Order.”
“How long does it take to learn?”
“If it is your gift, it takes most Sisters ten years of training to develop the skill. It takes a lifetime to master it. If it is not your gift, telekinesis is almost impossible to learn.”
Two platters with large slabs of meat and bread arrived, and they grew quiet while eating. The sauce was perfect, bringing a touch of heat to the dish. They were discussing another pitcher of ale when the waiter approached, bowed, then handed Tegani a small piece of paper. “From the lady by the door.”
She whirled and saw the back of a woman dressed in dark robes leaving. She recognized a fellow Sister of the Order instantly. The robes, intricately beaded braids, the way she walked—all spoke of Temple training.
Tegani unfolded the paper and read the message: Ninallia of Rishual, daughter of Vicori from the village of Shunni. Last known address is in the southern slums of the Imperial City. 215 Runnel House Row # 10. She slid the note across the table.
Houston smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Let’s meet here in the morning and go to the girl’s address.”
A good suggestion. Suffering from lack of sleep, Tegani agreed to rest and meet at the same eatery in the morning to scout the girl’s neighborhood.