Gryffnn lifted his head and dragged in a huge draft of air. “That’s not coming from the village.”
He raced in the direction of the smoke. The building where they’d placed Caley’s body. He should’ve guessed. At least, Storg would’ve left a guard there. Pushing himself, he sprinted toward the burning building. Despite being made of stone, much of the framework was combustible, and if someone had doused Caley with flammable liquid or foam, she and the building interior would burn.
“Phrull!” Gryffnn flew forward, airborne after tripping over something in the middle of the path.
“It’s the guard,” Kaya said. “Go. I’ll take care of him.”
Gryffnn picked himself up and raced toward the burning building. It was separate from the main buildings and used as a medical center. Their healer had died three rotations ago, and Mogens used the building to treat the Drake clan if any dragon required medical aid. Mostly, they were a healthy bunch, which was why Ransom hadn’t recruited a replacement.
Gryffnn skidded to a halt in front of the medic building, his breaths rasping through his nostrils. Frak it! Scarlet and orange flames licked along the roof of the medical building, which told him they were too late. He edged closer, but the intense heat forced him back.
The fire had done its work, burning Caley’s body and destroying any evidence that might point toward her murderer.
Shouts came from behind him and the thunder of racing feet. Storg and his men. They swung into their practiced fire-fighting routine. Gryffnn pitched in to help. Ry joined them, working at his side. Soon the smoking remains presented no threat to other buildings.
“This was deliberate,” Storg rumbled, frustration in his voice. “It proves someone poisoned Caley and wanted to hide the evidence.”
“Aideen won’t see it that way,” Gryffnn said. Phrull, could this situation become any worse?
Kaya aided a wobbly guard to their sides, her arm around his waist to keep him upright.
“I’m sorry,” he said, apology etched into his cheeks. Lifeforce trickled from a wound on the dragon’s head, and his face was paler than natural in a hot-blooded dragon. “Someone hit me from behind.”
“You didn’t see them?” Storg demanded.
“Not their normal face. Whoever it was screened their face with a mask,” the guard said. “I glimpsed a black face and cat whiskers before they hit me.”
“Huh, cat whiskers,” Ry said. “It looks as if I’m meant to be the fall guy.”
“Fall guy?” Gryffnn asked, figuring it was one of the strange words Ry and his crew had gathered during their travels.
“Aideen is trying to cast the blame on Ry,” Kaya explained.
“Did you get the tests done?” Gryffnn asked Storg.
“Yes, but all the samples we took burned along with Caley.” Storg scowled, his heavy brows edging closer together. “This has Aideen’s touch all over it.”
Gryffnn’s summation too. He scanned the area, noted a few of Aideen’s people, but they appeared curious and concerned rather than guilty. “Keep alert. Pass the word—if any of Aideen’s people attack them in words or physically, they’re to back away. Aideen is pushing for a reason to attack. Call me if you have any further problems.”
Storg nodded and set about dispersing orders to his team.
“I don’t like this,” Ry commented as he and Kaya accompanied Gryffnn back to the family quarters.
“Me neither,” Gryffnn said. “I’m prickling as if I have a target on my back.”
Gryffnn slept fitfully during the marks to whitelight. His mind churned, his thoughts darting hither and thither. He arrived at no conclusions, apart from one fact.
Aideen lay at the root of his troubles.
She was busy controlling his actions from behind the scenes, leaving him in the vulnerable position of having to react and put out dragon fires. He mightn’t know for certain, but he could make an intelligent guess as to the reasons. She wanted to take over the Drake clan and its resources, and with the number of her people available, she had a fair chance of success.
Their modern ships worried him. A notion occurred, and he nudged Kaya awake.
“What is it?” she murmured, sounding more asleep than awake. “Wanna sleep.”
“It’s time for me to tilt the odds in our favor,” he said, nudging her again. “Fancy a clandestine jaunt?”
Kaya yawned and rubbed her eyes. “It’s blacklight. If that’s your best flirtatious line, then it’s no wonder you’re still single.”
Gryffnn grinned and slid from the gel-bed. “You’re the only one I’d ever try that line with. I’ll wake Ry.”
Kaya sat up with a groan. “Why are you waking Ry?”
“We’re going to check out the Gwilym ships again.”
“Oh. Maybe you should ask Niran and his sons if they’d help. They must be pissed at their home burning to the ground.”
Not a bad idea. If Aideen succeeded in her coup, they’d have to choose whether to relocate or work with the Gwilym clan. “Meet me at the base of the stairs.”
Gryffnn slid from his chamber and set about rousting his guests.
Niran didn’t hesitate. “I want to help, even though I take your point about the danger. I hate that I had to send my people away for their safety.”
“Aideen is responsible for the secret mine in the mountains and the traps we’ve discovered,” Gryffnn said. “The evidence is pointing that way, but I need certainty before I can act. It’s what Ransom would do.”
Niran patted Gryffnn’s shoulder, his fingertips cool against Gryffnn’s higher body temperature. “Ransom will be proud of you when he sees how well you’ve looked after your clan.”
“Thank you.” The praise meant a lot when it seemed as if most cycles he was running after his tail.
“We’re helping,” one of Niran’s sons declared. “Our friend died in one of those traps. Painfully.”
Gryffnn nodded, understanding their need for revenge. “Just take care. I suspect things are about to get real ugly at whitelight.”
Ry and Kaya clomped down the stairs to join them.
“What’s the plan?” Kaya asked.
“We’ll remove the stolen stones to our warehouse. Also, I want to check out the technology on the ships, the weapon capacity. If possible, I want to disarm the weapons because if Aideen leaves and fires on us, we won’t be able to defend ourselves,” Gryffnn said.
“She’ll have guards on her ships,” Ry said.
“Yes.” Gryffnn quashed his conscience. “I figure she knocked out my guard and I can do the same to her security force.”
Kaya fluttered her lashes. “I like a man with a plan.”
Ry grinned. “It’s what I’d do. It seems only fair.”
“We’d better leave at intervals to avoid detection. Ah, here’s Storg. I asked him to join our excursion too,” Gryffnn said.
Ry and Niran set off first, then Niran’s sons with Storg.
Gryffnn used the wait time before he and Kaya left to further his plan to keep Kaya. “Do you want children?”
Kaya cocked her head, her dark blue brows rising half way to her hairline. “Children aren’t something I’ve ever considered. Although my race values offspring, their methods of ensuring the race continues and adding variety to the gene pool put me off the idea. Seeing Ry and Jannike and now Nanu find their mates…” She shook herself. “I don’t know. I must decide about Lys.”
“Are you still worried about breaking her?”
“Phrull, yes. I’m lucky that Camryn was willing to take Lys with her.”
“I miss Hallam. When Caley and I got together, I was young. The sex part was enjoyable—on my side at least.” His grimace held irony. “The first time I saw him, he was so tiny. He curled his little fingers around my thumb, and he laughed. I fell in love with him. The rotations have gone so quickly. Now he’s flying and learning to control his fire. It’s time for us to leave.” Gryffnn placed a hand at her hip, subtly herding her toward the exit.
They kept to the shadows, and although part of him expected to spot Aideen’s people, he sighted no one until they reached the rendezvous point at the spaceport.
“We’ve seen three different guards, but their paths seem regular,” Ry said.
“They don’t expect trouble.” Gryffnn pressed his lips together, irritated anew at the Dalcon dragon’s arrogance. “Let’s have some fun. We’ll take them out one at a time. Each team can have a turn. Disable rather than kill. I wish to question them later. We’ll stash our prisoners in our private quarters.”
“My sons and I can transport them one at a time for the short distance,” Niran volunteered.
Ry and Niran captured the first guard, taking the young dragon by surprise when Niran popped up in front of him. Ry stalked him from behind and slapped his hand over the dragon’s mouth to contain his unmanly eep before he hit him hard enough to knock him out.
A short time later, they had all three dragon guards bound and unconscious but still breathing.
“Aideen posted younger, more inexperienced guards,” Kaya commented.
“Her arrogance will be her downfall,” Ry said. “Gryffnn, Storg, can you sense the resonance from the stones on the ship?”
“No. It’s obvious these youngsters had no problem. Do you think it’s the ships’ design or something else?”
“We’ll have a better idea soon,” Ry answered. “They have the stones packed in boxes. Kaya and I opened a few and shut them again.”
Gryffnn nodded and glanced at each member of his small team. “Do we know which parts to remove to render the ships unusable?”
“Kaya and I will take care of that,” Ry said.
“What if we steal the entire ship? The one with the precious stones onboard?” Kaya asked. “It will be easier than physically shifting the boxes, and we’ll get a better idea of the ship’s capabilities.”
Gryffnn grinned at the audacious plan, admiring the devious mind that had produced it. Sexy and intelligent. “I like it. Let’s load the three dragon guards and take them plus the ship to the other side of the planet where Ellard has set up camp. Ry, Kaya, can you get the ship started?”
Kaya beamed. “We’ll give it a try.”
“Gryffnn, you and Storg had better approach carefully in case the resonance from the stones is too much for you.” Ry picked up a dragon and arranged him over his shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
Life on Narenda ran smoothly, or at least it had after Ransom had taken over the leadership role. They trained, they made their jewelry and sold it at huge profits, amassing an impressive dragon hoard of wealth. Gryffnn hauled one of the captured dragons over his shoulder and followed Ry. Recently adventure and purpose filled his cycles, leaving him more alive and fulfilled than he’d been in rotations. Their seclusion from other planets may have added mystique, but it had made their cycles monotonous. If he felt this way, other dragons would too. Something to consider and report back to Ransom.
The spaceport was a huge open area with bays or gates where visiting ships parked. Since they regulated visits to their planet, it wasn’t necessary to man the spaceport during the blacklight.
Ry’s and Gryffnn’s boots echoed in the cavernous space. Due to the clandestine nature of their task, they didn’t turn on illumination, but used their shifter traits to guide them through the darkness. A hand tucked into the waistband of his trews. Kaya. He recognized her scent. Satisfaction filled him as he smelled a layer of dragon on her now. Any dragon shifter would take note and the possessive side of his nature thrilled to this fact.
Gryffnn and the others followed Ry.
“It’s this one.” Ry bypassed the bays containing the first five ships and stopped at the sixth. “The ships are sealed, but Kaya has a knack with locks. We got inside easily last time.”
“I require a little light to do my magic,” Kaya murmured.
Niran approached, his charcoal gray robes rustling with each step. “Let me have the honor,” he murmured.
An instant later, a small lamp glowed in his hand, highlighting the mischievous expression on his usually placid face. Gryffnn realized then the Incorporeal people also needed a purpose, and he made a mental note to speak with Niran later about changing the way they did things, or at least discussing change with their people.
“Hold the lamp near the lock,” Kaya instructed. She pulled a small pouch of tools from a pocket and extracted several.
She bit her bottom lip and muttered to herself as she plied her tools. Despite the passing time and the danger of discovery, Gryffnn enjoyed seeing this part of her. Competent. Brave. Determined.
His warrior.
He heard a faint click, Kaya slid her hand into the innards of the control and secs later, the main door slid open.
“I’ll stay out here and keep watch,” Storg said. “Give me a shout when you’re ready to take off.”
“I can shut the door after us,” Kaya said. “You don’t need to keep watch. If anyone comes, they’ll wonder about the missing guards, but hopefully by that time, we’ll have absconded with their ship.”
“Oh,” Storg said, and the sound held bemusement.
Gryffnn hid his glee as he placed his captive on the floor of the main cabin. His head of the guard wasn’t used to females telling him what to do. A crusty bachelor, Storg spent his days ordering around his men.
“Everyone take a seat and buckle in,” Kaya ordered and winked at her captain. “Ry and I need to concentrate.”
On the bridge, Ry and Kaya scanned the instruments.
“Anything look familiar to you?” Ry asked in a low voice.
“No, but we have a secret weapon. I figure we can comm Nanu and show him the controls.”
“They should be almost ready to leave Viros, if they haven’t left already,” Ry said.
“Well, we need to do something. I thought it would be easy to steal their ship, but I’ve seen nothing with this tech.” Kaya commed Nanu and switched to visual.
“What?” a grumpy voice demanded.
Kaya’s eyes widened at the way his hair tendrils swayed around his head. Then, she took in his naked chest. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”
“Yes,” Nanu said. “My sexy dream about Jazen.”
“Sorry,” Kaya said. “We have a problem. We’re on a ship and want to steal it, but the controls aren’t familiar. Ry and I need you to talk us through takeoff—at least until we can familiarize ourselves with the controls.”
“Show me,” Nanu ordered.
Kaya pointed her comm at the various instrument panels.
“Why are you stealing a ship? No, wait. I’m sure you have a good reason,” Nanu murmured, his tone a little absent. “There don’t seem to be controls. Maybe it’s voice activated?”
“Coded to a certain pilot?” Ry asked.
“That wouldn’t make sense. I’m sure there is a safety control so the ship won’t fly for anyone. It might be as simple as whoever sits in the pilot seat controls the ship.”
“Which one is the pilot’s seat?” Kaya asked.
Ry shrugged. “Let’s both try and see what happens. Controls on.”
Kaya ran through the launch sequence they used on the Indy. Nanu always made sure his passengers strapped in for safety. Aideen didn’t care about her people. She used them. She hadn’t had a problem murdering her own sister.
“Commencing launch sequence,” Kaya said.
Lights sprang to life on the control consol.
“Whoa,” Nanu said. “I can’t wait to check out these ships. See you soon.”
“You are not the usual pilot,” a masculine voice boomed.
Startled, Kaya glanced around the bridge. Ry shrugged, so she went with instinct. “Trainee pilot, Kaya.”
“Another one.” The masculine voice sounded disapproving.
“I am ready to learn,” Kaya said. “What is your name?”
There was a pause. “No one has asked me that before. My name is Solon. It means wise one.”
Kaya and Ry exchanged another speaking glance.
“Solon, my orders are to take off under blacklight conditions and to fly over the mountain range.” She remembered Ransom and added, “At a high altitude before landing on the far side. What procedures should I undertake?”
“Flick the two buttons beneath the armrests on your chair.” Solon sounded bored.
Kaya fumbled for the buttons and discovered two raised nubs. She pushed both at the same time.
“Take off procedures initiated,” Solon said. “Should I follow my last flight path?”
“Yes, please,” Kaya agreed. She held her breath while the ship rumbled to life.
“Would you like me to give you verbal control for future flights?”
“Is this common?” Kaya asked. It was a little weird discussing procedure with the ship.
“Normally, I bond with one pilot. My previous pilots have died,” Solon said.
“How do you know this?” Kaya asked.
“I ask. Where is my previous pilot?”
“I am the trainee pilot. No one has informed me of a death. My boss ordered me to learn to fly this ship.” Kaya held her breath, hoping that the intelligent ship didn’t boot her out of the driver’s seat.
“Two pilots,” the ship said. “I could choose my favorite.”
Kaya gulped. “Can we take off please?”
“State your order,” Solon boomed.
“Ready for takeoff,” Kaya snapped out. She could do firm and assertive.
The ship’s thrusters powered up.
“I love this new technology,” Nanu said and envy sounded in his voice. “Is the ship as quiet as it seems?”
“Yes. We’re flying to meet Ellard,” Ry said. “I’m not sure whether we’ll unload and return the ship or stay with Ellard. We’re winging it at present. You’ll be able to check out the ships when you arrive. Aideen has several.”
“I can’t wait. Now that Kaya has control, you’ll be fine,” Nanu said. “See you soon.”
“Lift off,” Kaya said, continuing to go with whatever seemed logical.
“You are better than the other pilots,” Solon stated. “You give precise orders. Your body temperature is reading normal. You’re not sweating on my seats.”
“Ah, thank you,” Kaya said. It was the lack of information—or consequences—that had her calm. She didn’t know enough to fear the outcome of this flight.
The ship rose in a vertical fashion until it cleared the spaceport.
“Set course to destination,” Kaya ordered.
Ry leaned closer. “At least if the ship’s computer follows the last route, we’ll have conclusive proof of theft.”
Once the flight path leveled out, Ry unfastened his harness. “I’ll give Gryffnn an update.”
Kaya turned her attention to the vista outside the spacecraft. The moons offered little illumination, making the ship’s computer important for navigation. “Can you show me the view outside even though it is blacklight?”
“Panoramic scene coming up on screen,” Solon informed her.
The view that came up on the screen bore a greenish light, but it was enough to see the training fields, the jungle beyond and the jut of the distant mountain range.
“Where were you designed?”
“On the planet Dalcon,” Solon said.
“How many troops can you hold?”
“Each ship can carry one hundred medium-size beings,” Solon replied.
“Great job,” Gryffnn said as he dropped onto the copilot’s chair.
“Do you have an accurate count of Aideen’s people?” Kaya asked.
“Two hundred and ten,” Gryffnn answered promptly. “A big enough complement to worry me, since most of them are males. They’re young though. Have you noticed that? Aideen is one of the oldest amongst the group.”
“We’re getting closer to the mountain range. Any hint of resonance? I can take the ship up higher.”
“No, nothing,” Gryffnn said. “I should, right? Whenever I need to go to our reserve of stones, that affects me. I’m always glad to leave the warehouse.”
“Solon, what materials is the ship made of?” Kaya asked.
Gryffnn jumped when Solon boomed out an answer, one too technical for Kaya to understand. “The ship talks,” he whispered to her.
“It does. If Aideen has six ships of this caliber, why is she waiting to attack? Why would she plan for Caley to pick up your relationship or throw herself at you?”
“If Jacinta is right, and this is their entire population, perhaps she wanted to keep her people alive. She can trust her own people while if she took control of Narenda she’d have to destroy our infrastructure in the process and face losing some of her dragons. Perhaps she went for easy first.”
“If she thought you’d be a pushover, she’s wrong,” Kaya said. “You’re strong and decisive and firm with your orders. People from your clan approve of you as much as Ransom.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do.” Kaya glanced at the screen that showed their progress. “We’re directly over the mountains now. Any hint of resonating?”
“No.” Gryffnn stood. “I intend to explore the rest of the ship. Holler if you need anything.”
“Will do.” Kaya turned her attention back to the view. “Ah,” she muttered. “That’s the area they mined.” She glanced at the velocity gauge, blinking when she noted their speed. These ships were sleek and modern and fast too.
How had Aideen acquired not only one but six of the ships?
Perhaps she’d ask.
“Solon, how long has your owner had you?”
“Twenty mins,” Solon said.
“Huh?”
A thin rod thrust out from the instrument panel. The end glowed a deep red. Kaya screamed and struggled with her harness.
“Cease!” she shrieked.
The rod kept coming and Kaya tried to ward it off with her arm.
“Perfect,” Solon said as the hot rod made contact.
Ry and Gryffnn charged onto the bridge as she screamed again, the smell of burning flesh accompanying the searing pain on her arm. To her relief, the rod retreated, and she scrambled out of the pilot’s seat, her breathing coming in harsh pants.
“What the frag just happened?” Ry demanded.
“I have no idea!” Kaya studied the throbbing mark on her arm. It was a brand. “Property of Solon?” she demanded. “Really?”
Gryffnn growled, his red scales in evidence while Ry had his blaster out.
“At last,” Solon said, and the ship sounded gleeful. “I have a bonded pilot.”
“What does that mean?” Gryffnn snarled.
“Explain,” Kaya snapped, surveying the brand on her forearm. Maybe she could have it removed.
“We are intelligent ships. Each of us bond with our pilots.”
“You mean I grow and attach to you?” Kaya asked, horror slithering through her veins.
“No. It means only you can fly me now,” Solon said. “I will not perform for another pilot.”
“Why did you choose Kaya?” Ry asked. “You have flown with other pilots.”
“She asked me my name,” Solon said. “She flies with sensitivity and admits her lack of flying knowledge. Every other pilot has tried to dominate me. With Kaya, we were one.”
Cautiously, she fingered the brand. “Thanks, I think.”
Gryffnn calmed and grasped her arm. “Let me see,” he whispered. “It’s actually pretty. The brand could pass for decoration at first glance with the delicate scrolls, and it matches your skin.”
The indigo blue of the brand was a shade darker than her skin. Thankfully, the throbbing had subsided a fraction. “Will it stop hurting?”
“Soon,” Solon promised. “The brand is not intended to incapacitate you. You will now have voice control over my entrance door. You will not need to use your pointy instruments next time.”
“Um, okay,” Kaya said, biting her lip to stem her laugh.
Ry scowled, his brow crinkling as if in deep thought. “What happens if I purchase a ship of this type and the ship refuses to bond with me?”
“We’re meant to bond, but some of us didn’t. A programming fault they couldn’t fix,” Solon said cheerfully. “Instead of losing their investment, our makers sold us off cheap.”
“Ah,” Gryffnn said. “That solves that mystery.”
Kaya shook her head and grinned. Solon sounded giddy with excitement.
“I have told the other ships I have found my one,” Solon said.
“None of them are bonded either?” Ry asked, exchanging looks with Gryffnn and her.
“No,” Solon replied. “Arrival at destination in ten mins.”
“I didn’t suffer from the power of the mountain range,” Gryffnn said.
“We are constructed of a material impervious to most pollutants,” Solon declared.
“Do you know much about the woman who purchased you?” Gryffnn asked.
“She is a bitch,” Solon said.
Kaya chuckled. “You’re not wrong there.”
“Kaya, my pilot, should I start normal landing procedures?”
“Yes, please, Solon. Everyone strap in for landing.” Kaya eyed the pilot’s chair with caution. “Do you have more surprises for me?”
“No, Kaya, my pilot,” he crooned. “We shall fly beautiful missions together.”