Keeper of the Heart

Chapter 24

“Will you stop with the gripes, Martha? The Sunderians are just nervous, but who can blame them after what you told me about the Armoruans? You’d take the same precautions if you faced the constant threat of invasion.”

“You managed to talk them into letting you keep your clothes on,” Martha grumbled. “You could have talked them into letting you keep one little computer-link unit.”

“I wasn’t going to press my luck after that grueling interrogation they put me through,” Shanelle replied. “After all, they aren’t welcoming me with open arms.”

Martha’s tone switched to indignant. “They should be after you promised them a whole crateload of gaali stones, and for something a warrior would give you for free.”

“Ah, but when the job requires protection from a warrior, what I promised may not even be enough.”

“And that’s another thing. What makes you think they can keep Falon away from you?”

“They said they could. I have to count on that.”

“But I won’t be there to help you, and neither will Corth. They could have at least allowed you to bring Corth along.”

“They don’t have the technology to analyze Corth or you. If they did, they could see for themselves that neither of you is programmed to do them harm-not that you would let them get near you, but you get the point. They’re just being cautious. And stop making such a fuss. You know all this better than I do.”

“I don’t have to like it.”

Shanelle had to grin at this new tone that was pure pout. “So you’ve filed your complaint for the record. Let’s just do as planned and stop worrying, all right?”

“Stop worrying when I’ll only be able to hear you half the time you’re down there?”

Shanelle sighed. “Without the computer link, we can’t do any better than what we planned. Even you said so. All you have to do is keep a fix on me until I’m shown to my quarters; then you remain fixed on that room. If you tried to follow me everywhere, you could end up losing me altogether, and then where would I be? This way I’ll know where to find you if I need to Transfer back to the ship.”

“That’s if I can manage to keep you on my monitor until you get to your quarters.”

“Stars, you just had to make sure I’d have something to worry about, too, didn’t you? Thanks a lot, Martha.”

“Anytime,” Martha fairly purred. “Maybe now you’ll stop being so damn blasé about a dangerous situation. You’re going to walk in there blind, because we know next to nothing about these Sunderians.”

“But I do know what will happen if I stay on the Rover, so I’m opting for the unknown.”

“Stubborn-your mother would have a fit if she knew I was letting you-look out! The intruder is coming through again.”

And Brock’s voice was there, arrogantly male, ordering, “You are forbidden to go down to that planet, Shanelle.”

It wasn’t surprising he’d figured out what she was planning to do. He was, after all, a Mock II, and as capable at probables and deductions as Martha was. And he had been transmitting his voice every few hours for the past three days with a full gamut of orders, persuasions, threats, and warnings, none of which Shanelle listened to. But she now knew that Falon hadn’t come after her alone. He had his relatives with him-he also had her brother with him. That was playing dirty as far as she was concerned, and she had plugged up her ears and buried her head under a pillow each time Dalden had tried to talk her into giving up.

From Falon she had heard nothing, but his very silence unnerved her, predicting that what Martha had said was true. The longer it took him to find her, the angrier he was likely to get. And she had been gone six days now. She planned to make it much longer with the help of the Sunderians.

Right now, she ignored her father’s computer once again, and told him so. “Sorry, Brock, but I didn’t hear that. Martha, I’m ready.”

“So long, doll.”

“Wait!” Brock began, but Shanelle was gone. “You should not have abetted her in this foolishness, Martha.”

“So what else is new?”

“If you were aware-”

“I’m always aware, brick-brain.”

Brock released a sigh and tried a different tack. “Her lifemate is losing patience.”

“He didn’t have any to lose. And shouldn’t you be doing something about that?”

“He is not an easy subject to work on.”

“Poor baby. Has he threatened to destroy you yet?”

“Save your sarcasm for the humans, woman. I am not impressed.”

“You turning barbarian on me again, sludge-bucket?” Martha growled.

“You are impossible to talk to anymore.”

“So who invited you?”

“Martha!”

It was the wounded tone he injected that got to her. “I’m sorry, Brock. I’m just worried about Miss Do-it-the-hard-way. I should have had her turned around by now, but she’s proving as stubborn as her mother ever was.”

“Our objectives are the same, to see Shanelle back where she belongs. Do I send you Falon as soon as it is safe to Transfer, will you then send him down to Shanelle?”

“No.”

A brief silence. “Why not?”

“Falon thought he was getting a warrior’s daughter, obedient, easy to handle. It hasn’t sunk in yet that Shani is more her mother’s daughter, with a mind of her own. The more trouble he has now in obtaining her, the sooner that fact will sink in, and the less misery they’ll both have later on. So help the big guy all you like, but don’t ask me to do the same. Besides, he wouldn’t trust any assistance coming from me.”

“It is true he does not speak highly of you.”

Martha chuckled. “I can just imagine.”

Shanelle materialized into bright lights and a cacophony of amazed chatter over her sudden appearance. A great many people had apparently shown up for her expected arrival. They formed a circle around her, but not a close one. In fact, no one there seemed willing to approach her or speak. Military types stood at the forefront of the circle, men in uniform with some kind of ancient-looking handguns in their hands, not pointed at her, but ready just the same. Their nervousness was apparent- too apparent.

Shanelle took them all in at a glance and had only one blaring thought. How could these timid people possibly protect her from a Sha-Ka’ani warrior? They were every one of them on the short side, the women averaging five feet, the men maybe five and a half. Stars, now what was she going to do?

A woman finally came through the circle to approach her. She had a superior air about her of someone in authority, gray eyes without warmth, black hair drawn back severely. The smile she offered should have cracked, it was so brittle.

“I am Lanar Vand. When we communicated, you should have warned us you were from a race of overlarge humans.”

So much for “Welcome to Sunder.” The little woman was actually scolding her. Shanelle almost laughed, but her disappointment was too keen at the moment.

“I don’t think this is going to work. The only reason I’m here is because I need help, but I’m not at all sure now that you people can supply it.”

“Certainly we can. Your requirements were understood and agreed to. The man Falon Van’yer is to be kept from your sight and hearing. A simple matter.”

“Simple? He’s a warrior, and a lot bigger than lam.”

There was some chuckling in the room, as if they assumed she must be exaggerating. More likely they thought nothing could get bigger than she. But obviously, they weren’t taking her seriously.

The spokeswoman said, “A large male will be interesting to observe, but his size won’t be a problem. It won’t be necessary to depend on brute force to detain him.”

“It won’t?” Shanelle asked suspiciously. “Killing him isn’t in the bargain. In fact, it’s absolutely forbidden.”

Lanar Vand took a step back, Shanelle’s words were uttered so fiercely. But then the lady frowned, realizing what she’d done, and those gray eyes that lacked warmth got downright frigid.

Killing wasn’t an option, Lanar said stiffly. “And I have assured you that your problem will be seen to. So come along-”

“Hold it,” Shanelle cut in just as stiffly. “I’m not going anywhere except back to my ship unless you tell me just how you intend to take care of my ‘problem.’ ”

“So my word isn’t good enough for you?”

“Is there any reason it should be?”

Lanar’s pale skin suffused with color. She turned to one of the soldiers, nearly shouting, “Officer, take the alien to General Vand. Let my sister try and convince her of our capabilities. I no longer have the patience.” She added in a mumble as she turned away, “And to think I volunteered for this.”

Shanelle stood there for a good thirty seconds grappling with her own irritation while the officer waited and everyone else in the room continued to watch her avidly. What she wanted to do was tell Martha to forget it and Transfer her back to the Rover. But the thought of facing Falon now, after she’d run from him… She had to see this through, and just hope these people had some strategy planned, or maybe some place they could hide her where Falon couldn’t get to. And she had to hope they all weren’t like Lanar Vand.