Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) (45 page)

Tiva shook her head. “No, I am just….”

Gently he turned her around and met her eyes. “I know, and it’s okay…every leader I’ve ever known has been conflicted and scared before a big fight. You’re doing the right thing, m’lady. Yes, people are going to die, that is the price of war. But you’ve shown the Loyalists that they can still win without slaughtering their own people. You’ve given them hope, showing them first hand other people who’ve been through the same struggle and managed to survive. And when all this is over, your people will be free from the Rebels rule and will return to the peaceful society you all dream about.”

“Until the next threat emerges…” she replied dejectedly.

“You can only deal with the hand you have before you. Sure, there might be other challenges later on, but there’s no sense worrying about it now.” He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go, m’lady, your people are waiting.”

T
iva and Adam exited the Finto house to see almost four thousand people standing near hovers and hopters waiting patiently. Neola, Wirto, and Harai approached and saluted. No one asked any questions, though Tiva was sure they knew about the ceremony earlier. Instead, everyone exchanged friendly greetings and approached the rest of the group. Everyone in view bowed their heads in respect as Tiva neared. Her heart began beating hard inside her chest. This was the moment they had all prayed for; the time to face the Rebels and take them down.

Adam opened the door to an empty hover and she jumped in taking the controls knowing he didn’t know the way. The others followed suit and readied their vehicles. Wirto motioned for the first fleet of hovers to move out, waited a few minutes, and then called the second wave to go. Some were staying behind to guard the base, but most were heading to Degort.

Once the majority was underway, Tiva steered her craft along, the hopters following closely behind. During the journey, many kept quiet. Whether worried or simply readying mentally, Tiva took the silence to heart and did her own self-preparation.

The suns began to set. The group was near the chosen destination. In the distance, the bridge to Degort Outer shimmered like a beacon calling her home. They had seen very little activity during the ride, a few people here and there standing alongside the road saluting the Loyalists in support. Most were in tattered clothing, looking starved for food. The homes they had passed suffered the same fate; broken, destroyed, and hopeless. Nevertheless, the spirit of the people still shone through the gloom of evil. Tiva pushed back her own guilt at seeing her people in such a state, and carried on to the edge of the main bridge.

So far, there was no sign of the Rebels. Something wasn’t right. Surely the enemy had secured every road to Degort, why would this area be the exception?

Grabbing her PCD, Tiva called out to the others to slow down. Adam glanced over and asked what was wrong.

“If I had taken over the palace and controlled the land, I would have guards here. This has been too easy.”

Adam frowned. “Maybe they know we’re coming and pulled back to strengthen their defenses.”

Harai and Razzil pulled their vehicles along side, Wirto and Wixx moved closer as well. “What’s wrong, Tiva?” Neola asked.

“Did our scouts not say every road was blocked?”

“That’s what they told us,” Wirto added.

“And what of the bridge?” Tiva inquired, sharply.

“They did not say.”

“Tiva, why don’t I go on ahead and search from the air?” Adam offered with a smile.

“No, that is too risky.”

“I won’t be hurt, m’lady.”

She shook her head, adamantly. “It is not fear of harm, Adam, but exposure. I do not intend to attack this evening. We will use the cover of night for covert searches.” Tiva turned to the others. “Wixx, Harai, have your men scan the area from here. If it is safe, we will cross over and rest outside the bridge to Degort Proper as discussed.”

Both acknowledged her orders and began instructing their teams what to do. Tiva sat back and sighed quietly. It was better to be thorough and avoid a trap. She watched carefully as several of Harai’s men used their scanners and the hopters move to the front line to do the same. Several long minutes passed, no one uttered a word until Gessin pulled his vehicle back and opened the hatch to speak.

“There are many people in the marketplace you spoke of, and surrounding it. No one is near either bridge as far as my sweeps can find.” He tapped on the side of the door. “We have a clear path to the first blockade several miles north.”

“Very well,” Tiva replied feebly. Adam gripped her hand gently. Though he was trying to comfort her, she needed to focus and withdrew. She stood up in the hover, glancing back at the group. They did not have enough people to win this fight—it was an impossible feat. When Tinbo and Rufal returned to Harai, Tiva’s gaze set on her, waiting to hear what—if anything—they found.

Harai frowned and glanced over. “Nothing, Tiva.”

“Nothing?”

“No equipment or energy readings.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it, m’lady?”

“I wish I could say yes, but something does not sit well with me.”

“Then send a small group over the bridge. They can scan on the other side and then we’ll bring the rest of the troops with us.”

With a simple nod, she agreed and Adam gave the orders. Wirto sent half of the first brigade to the bridge, a few hopters following behind. They crossed the bridge easily and from the view on the opposite side, she watched them fan out and search. Neola’s PCD beeped, she nodded once and smiled over.

“The area is secure.”

“Send the next group, everyone stay alert.”

Adam leaned in and whispered against her ear. “We’re glad you’re being cautious, m’lady.”

“I am not ready to risk anyone’s life senselessly. This may be our fight, but the burden is upon my shoulders to be victorious.”

“And I’m here to help you share that burden, Solaeshyl.”

Tiva met her husband’s eyes. Yes, they were of one heart now, whatever happened to her would befall him. “Thank you, my love.”

The second and third group crossed the bridge with no issue. The last streaks of suns light were low on the horizon. With the day already over, Tiva felt dissatisfied; she had accomplished so little.

As she steered her hover onto the bridge her entire body tensed, a strong mind was near them, focused solely on her. The hover stopped short and Tiva stared ahead, frozen in place. He was waiting for her, willing her to approach the palace. Adam touched her shoulder, calming her instantly, the sensation drifting off slowly. Offering him a comforting smile, she moved the hover over the bridge and met the others near a patch of dense trees.

Half of the Loyalists were scouting the immediate area and patrolling already, the rest made small fires and prepared food. Gessin and Wixx provided a barricade around the camp with the hopters. The groups would rotate watches throughout the night so others could rest. Though many would not sleep tonight, it did no good to waste their energy while waiting for sunsrise.

Tiva stood at the edge of camp, her gaze resting on the north. Though she couldn’t see much through the trees, she knew the Rebels were ready to fight. Feeling that presence on the bridge made her unreservedly curious. Questions pushed aside her fears. What man awaited her? Was it a child of Hentor? She had a thousand questions and no answers.

Tiva lowered her guard, reaching out her senses. It was easy to filter out those behind her; her mind was much stronger now. Her focus moved with the wind, the nature around her helping to keep her balanced and calm. The aura around the marketplace was puzzling and ominous, yet under the surface, she felt pain and confusion.

There were too many for her to sift through. Whomever she felt earlier carefully hid himself among the masses. Tiva felt the drain of opening her mind and leaned against a hovercraft. Harai approached slowly from behind.

“I brought you some juice and pastries,” she announced in a soft voice. “You haven’t eaten anything all day.”

Grateful for the interruption, she took the offerings and smiled at her friend. “Thank you, Harai.”

The girl hopped up on the vehicle and sat beside her, obviously waiting for her to eat. When half the juice and the snack were gone, Harai grinned and gave an approving nod. “I’d try the same technique to get you to sleep, but I know you’ll be all right.”

“Yes, I will. Adam and I are going to venture out soon. I need a better view than offered here.”

“No one really likes that idea, Tiva, but we can’t argue with her majesty can we?” She shrugged and slipped back to the ground.

“I am just being cautious, Harai.”

The Uucorian shook her head. “That’s not being cautious, Tiva. That’s you, trying to protect the rest of us with little thought of yourself. Haven’t you given enough already? Won’t you let us protect you?” She sighed and took Tiva’s hand. “I’ve seen this conversation…I know you want to say it is your duty to protect your people. Nevertheless, you must let us do the same for you. If you do not…There are too many people with such strong emotions, I can’t get a vision of your future and that frightens me.”

Tiva embraced her friend both taking and offering comfort. “My fate is not written, Harai. No matter what happens, I will always be grateful for your friendship.”

“Don’t say that,” she cried and squeezed back. “Don’t be so negative!”

“I will accept whatever the Eternal Spirits have set forth on my path, Harai.”She was not admitting defeat, nor would she stand by and allow herself to perish, but she knew the spirits had spared her life many times before and eventually her luck would vanish.

“That’s just a load of crap,” she grunted and broke from her arms. “If you weren’t so stubborn and selfless, you’d realize that it’s your strength…your spirit that has brought you this far, Tiva. If you truly wanted or were supposed to die, you would have never woken up in your escape pod on my planet. Your fate has always been of your own accord.”

“I was spared, Harai. The spirits have bestowed great gifts upon me. I am responsible for the people, but my life is in Shial’s hands.”

Harai shook her head. “I can’t sway you from your beliefs, and if you think they guide you then I suppose I’ll just have to watch you even closer.”

“That makes two of us,” Adam said suddenly from behind. “I’ve been around…for a while, and I’ve seen my share of omnipotent intervention, but there’s no way in Hell I’m giving you up without a fight, spirits or not.”

“With you all at my side, I know I shall remain safe,” Tiva replied halfheartedly. Standing, she walked to Adam and took shelter in his arms. Harai huffed from the side. Tiva glanced over and sighed against his shoulder. “Do not worry for me, Harai. Adam has vowed to protect me.”

“Well, at least one of you has some sense. Now, what are these special gifts from your gods?”

“You didn’t tell her yet?”

Stepping back, she shook her head and held out her hand. Concentrating her mind and body, Tiva produced a small ball of fire. Gathering the energy of the nature and people around her the ball grew to twice its size. Harai gasped. Tiva felt the surge ride through her body, the power growing no longer within her control. The fire’s breath increased, she shuddered.

“Tiva?” Adam called out.

Her fingers closed and the ball vanished from the air. Adam caught her before she hit the ground and Neola, Wixx and the others rushed over.

“By the spirits, what was that?” Wirto asked upon approach.

Tiva remained limp against Adam, alert, but lacking energy. She looked up at him and nodded slightly. He scooped her up in his arms and turned to the others.

“When we were on the
Tolox
an enemy discharged a powerful weapon that almost destroyed the entire vessel. Tiva and Aliri—a member of the crew—used crystals to help strengthen our shields and saved the ship. Tiva suffered a side effect.”

“Speak what you mean, off-worlder!” Neola demanded.

“Calm down, she’s just tired.” His eyes flashed yellow. “Tiva can conjure fire from her hand. It might not be something your people can normally do, but it’s not something that’s going to hurt her. Our doctor—healer person—said she’s perfectly fine.”

“And what does
your doctor
know of our people?”

“The same thing all her friends know, now. You’re empathic; some are telepathic and have visions. You heal fast and are stronger than some species out in space. Look, Neola—everyone, I know you have little reason to trust me, but I’ve seen Tiva survive things most people would never comprehend. Let me tend to her, she’ll be fine after some rest.”

Tiva only hid her face in his chest after the conversation. It was not exactly the way she wanted her newfound ability to be revealed, but Adam spoke the truth, she was unharmed, just drained.

Harai touched Tiva’s hand and thanked Adam before dragging the others away. He carried her to their space near the hover and set her down on a blanket. Adam vanished for a moment and returned with fruit and water. Sitting beside her and drawing her close, he pulled out a knife to cut her a piece. As she ate it, she felt his eyes on her.