Chapter 10

Hoshiko’s Daughter

SNOW WAS BEGINNING to get the hang of it now. Although it still felt totally weird to be conducting a conversation without speech, with each attempt she was finding it a little easier to form and transmit her mind-messages.

So, where is the knight who lives among you now? she asked Ko’Drall.

Her brain was buzzing with all the information the creatures had already fed into it. When they had discovered Snow shared their gift of telepathy, their attitude had become more welcoming. And once she had grasped that they meant her no harm and appeared to be somehow connected to her own order, Snow had bombarded them with questions: Who were they? What was this place? How did the Armouron fit in?

Ko’Drall and his comrades had waited patiently as she struggled to ask all this telepathically, then answered each question as best they could. Before long, Snow had grasped a basic understanding of her situation and of the creatures’ ancient relationship with the Armouron Knights.

There is no longer a Rider among us, I fear, Ko’Drall told her in answer to her latest question. His tone was grim. Some twenty cycles ago, a new force arrived on our planet. Many Wingless ones and their army of Void slaves. They attacked our colony, destroying much of it completely and killing many of our number.

Snow could sense the deep sadness in Ko’Drall and his fellow creatures. It wasn’t difficult to guess who the destructive ‘new force’ were. The Corporation. ‘Void slaves’ was a good description of the Chairman’s mindless, merciless White Knight troops.

Our Armouron comrade, the last Rider, fought more courageously than any to repel the invaders, continued Ko’Drall. He and his mind-mate Ja’Prith flew into battle over and over again, showing no fear. But the enemy’s numbers were too great. In the end, both Ja’Prith and the brave Hoshiko were captured.

Hoshiko! The sound of her father’s name sent Snow’s brain spinning. For a few moments, she was too bewildered and confused to form a response. Ko’Drall and the others watched her evident shock with puzzled alarm.

Hoshiko was my father’s name, she told them simply, when she regained her composure.

Your father! Ko’Drall’s surprise at the revelation was almost as great as hers. Yes! Of course! That is why you have the ability to hear and speak with us, no doubt! Of all the Riders in our long history, he explained, Hoshiko formed the strongest mental link with his mind-mate. You share his skill.

In the light of this astonishing discovery, Snow’s brain was throwing up a whole host of new questions.

What happened to him? she asked. After he and Ja’Prith were captured, I mean.

They were taken to the enemy stronghold from which you yourself escaped, replied Ko’Drall. He bowed his long head sadly as he continued. We have had no contact with them since.

So my father could still be alive! thought Snow. I could rescue him!

Snow had not intended this last thought to be shared. But the creatures had heard. The one who had initially treated her with most suspicion, who she now knew was called Ly’Throk, gazed gravely at her.

No. Do not cheat your heart so, child, he told her gently. Those who command the Void Ones rarely keep their prisoners alive. And we have tried many times, without success, to penetrate the enemy’s base. There is a barrier around it that neither we, nor our mind-messages, can penetrate.

My brother is right, Hoshiko’s daughter, agreed Ko’Drall. You saw for yourself how I was struck down by the stronghold’s invisible shield. He looked at her tenderly. And it is highly improbable that Ja’Prith and your father are still alive, after all this time.

Snow remembered the voice that had cried out in her mind, back at the Academy. The voice that had come from the canister with which she had been brought to this alien place.

But they might be, she replied with spirit. Her eyes burned with grim determination.

And if they are, she continued, I’m going to get them out.