CHAPTER 11
A lora glanced at the Kollo fruit she’d left on the counter. Before she could visit Earth, she had to put away the produce she’d picked up at the market so it wouldn’t spoil, but she couldn’t resist the melon’s sweet temptation. She grabbed a nearby knife and sliced into the rind. After putting down the blade, she picked up a single piece. One bite and then she’d visit Noeh.
A loud rap on the door echoed through the room.
Alora flinched. The melon tumbled from her hand into the bowl. With a forlorn glance at the fruit, she let loose a quick huff, placed the dish on the table, and headed toward the door.
“Coming!” Eager to visit Noeh, another delay wasn’t what she needed.
She peered through the small hole in the door. Carine stood on the porch. Bathed in the lantern’s glow, her features were drawn, lines forming around her eyes.
Alora’s irritation faded. An ache built in the back of her throat. Carine had taken Alora up on her offer to visit, and despite Alora’s need to hurry, she wouldn’t turn her new friend away. She opened the door.
A rush of cool air filtered into the room, along with Carine’s sweet scent.
“Carine, I’m so glad you’re here. Come in, come in.” Alora smiled at the young Arotaar female and gave her a welcoming hug.
She reminded Alora of her childhood friend, Etani. That’s why Zedron had selected Carine as his slave, to hurt Alora. Hatred for him burned inside, churning a hole in her gut.
Carine pulled away. “Thank you…for letting me come here. I really wanted to see you.”
Alora gripped her new friend’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so glad you did, but how did you get away from Zedron so quickly?”
“I’m to pick up some takeout from Janala’s Place, his favorite restaurant. I’ll claim they were busy. This gives us a few minutes together.”
“Here, I was just about to have some Kollo fruit. Please, join me.” Alora tugged Carine toward the couch.
The young female followed close behind, and they both settled onto the soft cushions. Carine focused on the melon, but didn’t move to take any. Alora snagged a piece then scooted the bowl closer to her friend. “Please, have some. It’s good.”
After a long moment, Carine reached for a small slice and bit into the soft flesh.
Alora patted her new friend on the knee. “I’m so glad you decided to come over. What brings you by?”
“Are we alone?” Carine’s attention wandered to the circular staircase, the one leading to Alora’s bedroom. Tightness formed around her eyes.
Alora leaned forward. “Yes. Why?”
“I…have something for you.” From between the folds in her shawl, she withdrew her hand. In her palm rested a small round disc in the deepest shade of blue.
Alora’s heart skipped a beat then fluttered at breakneck speed. “That’s a recording device from a visus bacin. How did you…,” she inhaled, “…that’s Zedron’s, isn’t it?”
Carine nodded.
“Why did you bring this to me?”
“There’s something you need to see.” She held out the device, urging Alora to take it.
Anticipation skittered over Alora’s nerves like lightning. She grasped the small sphere, stood, and grabbed Carine’s hand. “Come with me.”
Alora padded across the smooth wooden floor to her scrying bowl. Situated near one carved wall, the water’s surface glimmered from the room’s overhead lights. With a quick flick, she dropped Zedron’s device into the still pool. A concentric ring pulsed from the disturbance until the wave gently beat against the bowl’s lip.
She glanced at Carine. “What will I see?”
The Arotaar female smiled. “Something that makes you happy.”
“Wonderful. Let’s do this.”
She closed her eyes and inhaled, forcing her pounding heart to slow. Concentration was the key to unlocking the visions stored in the visus bacin. As per the rules of the game, she could only see her troops and the activities they performed. To get a glimpse of Zedron’s army—a rare treat.
She moved her hands over the water’s surface, slow at first, then faster and faster. An image appeared in the mist, slowly solidifying into Zedron’s character board here on Lemuria.
The lights blinked, swirling around the map. Names graced each pinpoint of light…Mauree…Ram…Theron…one character after another. She glanced at the date stamp embedded at the bottom of the image. Two weeks ago.
She tapped her finger against the pool’s edge. “I don’t understand. Why am I seeing the character board?”
“Don’t you see him?” Carine’s voice held a hint of excitement.
“Who?” Alora refused to look at Carine for fear she’d lose the image.
“Weren’t you sanctioned recently for, um, cheating?”
Alora ground her teeth. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
Carine exhaled, the sound full of impatience. “You opened up that cave, saving Demir, who ended up killing Ram, right?”
“Ram.” She’d seen his name. Her gaze flicked across the lights. Yes, there. Her breath caught in her throat. “Zedron, what did you do?”
She zeroed in on the light, bringing up Ram’s history. His picture, along with his full biography, filled the scrying bowl. She scanned the record—Gossum leader, killed by a throwing star. The rest was blank. His soul should’ve appeared on the character board, ready for another war on another planet.
A sense of giddiness lightened Alora’s mood. “Zedron, you dirty dog. I’ve got you now.” She swiped her hand over the water, and the vision faded. “How did you find out?”
A mischievous smile tugged at Carine’s mouth. “Zedron didn’t see me watching him from the top of the stairs. He hovered over his visus bacin. When Ram didn’t kill Noeh, Zedron threw him in a broken human body and returned him to Earth.”
Perhaps this was the leverage Alora needed against her nemesis. “Zedron prevented Ram from returning to the character board after he died. That’s against the rules.”
“Yes, but Ram died, again. So, at least the poor guy made it there and is where he belongs.”
Alora dipped her hand into the water and retrieved the small sphere. She held it up and peered at Carine. “May I keep this?”
“Of course. That’s why I brought it to you.” Conviction reflected in her gray eyes. “I’m taking a risk bringing this to you, but I despise Zedron as much as you do. Make him pay.”
Alora wrapped her fingers around the recording device, squeezing the disc in her grasp. “Oh, he shall. He shall indeed.”