Waking Dream [Tales of the Citadel 23] Read Free

did you find your way home that first time?”
    Oh, the elder contacted my ship, and I was able to see their location on the scanners. My talent and ability to move is based on spatial orientation. I am an excellent navigator.
    “That is fascinating. I knew there was something I liked about you aside from your body.”
    She blasted his thoughts with a cool wind of frustration. It always comes back to that for you, doesn’t it?
    “I appreciate you physically. There is nothing wrong with that. Among my people, we either link minds or trigger physiological reactions with our partner. I don’t have that option with you, so I am trying to make my courtship intentions clear. No surprises.”
    She laughed in his mind. I am in your mind, and you are worried about surprising me? How thoughtful.
    “I am striving to be a good partner. I will prove my mettle when I find you.”
    Get me into line of sight with the platform, and I will prove my own ability to take care of myself.
    “Two hours, Wiyra, and we will see how we work as a separated team.”
    She had to admit he sounded far more confident than she felt. What the hell was going on at the platform?
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    “Where is she, Kwinto?”
    Vecho Kwinto stared at the two intruders who had brought a dozen armed men to steal Wiyra. “I don’t know. She was here when you arrived, so I don’t know where she is now.”
    The younger of the two lifted him and hissed into his face. Fangs that dripped venom were inches from Vecho’s cheek. “Tell us where she is.”
    “You have searched the entire platform. There is nothing more that I can tell you. She was here, and when you arrived, she disappeared.” Vecho used his single ability to keep the older male from reading his thoughts. “She comes and goes as she pleases.”
    He was dropped on his old, bony butt. He stifled his groan. No one had told the invaders anything, but they were working through the mining platform, floor by floor. They would find the energy signature of the pod if they started to do wider sweeps, but he could only hope that Wiyra was alive wherever she was. He had no idea what was going to happen when they found her, because he knew that they were not going to stop until they located his granddaughter. He just hoped that she found them first.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Are we close enough?” He seemed nervous as he piloted them toward the silent platform.
    Burin had their shuttle masked from detection.
    From within his body, she reached out to her own and felt the call. We are close enough. I can get there. I hope everyone is all right.
    “You won’t know until you get over there.”
    They were drifting toward the platform on minimal power. Should I go now?
    “Wait until the shuttle is locked onto the platform. If they are waiting for you to return, I don’t want to be left behind while you come out of your trance.”
    Fine. I hope everything is all right. It looks awfully quiet over there.
    “You will find out soon enough.”
    They eased in, and when she felt the tug of her body, she whispered in his mind. See you soon.
     
    Her skin was cool and her pulse thudded hard as she settled back into her body. She opened her eyes, and the interior of her pod was blessedly familiar. With her left hand shifting slowly over her controls, she brought up the schematics of the platform and looked for life signs.
    Her own people glowed brightly, but there were fourteen intruders who shifted in a dull blue spectrum. Wiyra checked her location and grinned. She was in the slag pit. Barely any oxygen and tons of cold mining waste surrounded her and kept her from those who didn’t know where to look.
    There were intruder figures wandering around the platform, probably looking for her. If they had been looking for anyone else, they would have found them already.
    Grimacing, she knew that there was only one way to let her grandfather know that she was back. He wasn’t going to like it.
     
    * *