Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 348
May 7, 2016
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May 4, 2016
The King's Challenge #290 and #291
TKC 290 and 291
“Before we begin, I must confirm my presence aboard.”
Instantly I deny Gennerin. “I prefer that we keep them guessing.”
“Many saw me arrive, Iniri.” The commander stumbles slightly over my name, causing me to smile inwardly. I think it will be as difficult for me to call him Athol at first.
“It will circulate as rumours and that we can deal with. Unless you broadcast your presence, those we seek to find will regard them as such and not become overly concerned. They must know it is your duty to state your position and until you do …” I shrug; I have made my point.
“It is against protocol,” he frowns.
“And you are in the company of royalty about to save a king,” Damin murmurs. “You will be fine.”
“Save a king?” Leffandir blurts, speaking for the first time. “Linus Makar is aboard? Why does he require saving?”
“It is not your concern,” I snarl at her.
“Oh, it is,” she smiles coldly, “but I am merely intrigued. Linus is not my mission, but how Enris deals with his father in trouble may prove useful.”
Damin shoves her into a seat. “Hold your tongue.”
She sits, grinning to herself. I wish to pull her head from her shoulders. What did my brother see in this woman? Ignoring her, I gaze at Gennerin.
He inclines his head. “I am a ghost at this time.”
Laughing, I perch on one of two bar chairs set below a high counter. “I shall now determine Enris’ position.” Closing my eyes, I begin the quest. Long minutes pass before I open my eyes and frown at the three staring at me. “Nothing. That cannot be right.”
“Allow me,” Damin says and immediately stares upward as if seeking answers there. More long minutes go by before he lowers his head, saying, “He is in a place where there is some kind of shield …”
Gennerin gasps, but does not interrupt.
“… and he cannot sense me through it. I have the impression of …”
“… blue space,” Gennerin remarks in a grim voice. “I know where he is. That is the engine section. It is shielded against accidental projectiles from both inside this craft and from the vacuum beyond. When you enter there it is akin to entering blue space.” He slaps his palms together, causing all of us to flinch. “Diabolical and clever! Few enter, and there is a system beyond that requires the highest clearance there is on a ship of this nature. Moravin will have such clearance.”
“Are we able to reach it undetected?” Damin frowns.
“Not easy. Enris no doubt has it easier; Mirlin will help him through usually sealed doors. We need …”
“Kay,” Damin states.
“Why?” I say. “What can Kay do? And where is he?”
“On the shuttle we arrived in,” Gennerin murmurs. He too gazes at Damin. “What has the Westerner revealed to you about his talent?”
“Nothing. Kay remains unaware of his gift.” Damin stretches before sitting alongside Leffandir. He continues to function as her guard and gaoler. “I touched him once up on the mountain, had to wake him, he sleeps as a dead man when he sleeps … anyway, he is unaware. Kay Laremer, however, is able to control technology.”
“He remains unaware because there is no technology on Massin,” I murmur.
“Precisely.” Damin leans back.
Gennerin eyes him. “I hesitate to ask how you understood his talent has to do with technology, being also of backward Massin, but no matter.” He blinks when Damin offers him a grin. “Then we need Kay.”
“He is on his way. I spoke to Hal and told him to tell Kay to follow …”
“Bugger, Damin, you do realise that means Siri will come too,” I mutter.
He stares at me, and swears under his breath.
“Before we begin, I must confirm my presence aboard.”
Instantly I deny Gennerin. “I prefer that we keep them guessing.”
“Many saw me arrive, Iniri.” The commander stumbles slightly over my name, causing me to smile inwardly. I think it will be as difficult for me to call him Athol at first.
“It will circulate as rumours and that we can deal with. Unless you broadcast your presence, those we seek to find will regard them as such and not become overly concerned. They must know it is your duty to state your position and until you do …” I shrug; I have made my point.
“It is against protocol,” he frowns.
“And you are in the company of royalty about to save a king,” Damin murmurs. “You will be fine.”
“Save a king?” Leffandir blurts, speaking for the first time. “Linus Makar is aboard? Why does he require saving?”
“It is not your concern,” I snarl at her.
“Oh, it is,” she smiles coldly, “but I am merely intrigued. Linus is not my mission, but how Enris deals with his father in trouble may prove useful.”
Damin shoves her into a seat. “Hold your tongue.”
She sits, grinning to herself. I wish to pull her head from her shoulders. What did my brother see in this woman? Ignoring her, I gaze at Gennerin.
He inclines his head. “I am a ghost at this time.”
Laughing, I perch on one of two bar chairs set below a high counter. “I shall now determine Enris’ position.” Closing my eyes, I begin the quest. Long minutes pass before I open my eyes and frown at the three staring at me. “Nothing. That cannot be right.”
“Allow me,” Damin says and immediately stares upward as if seeking answers there. More long minutes go by before he lowers his head, saying, “He is in a place where there is some kind of shield …”
Gennerin gasps, but does not interrupt.
“… and he cannot sense me through it. I have the impression of …”
“… blue space,” Gennerin remarks in a grim voice. “I know where he is. That is the engine section. It is shielded against accidental projectiles from both inside this craft and from the vacuum beyond. When you enter there it is akin to entering blue space.” He slaps his palms together, causing all of us to flinch. “Diabolical and clever! Few enter, and there is a system beyond that requires the highest clearance there is on a ship of this nature. Moravin will have such clearance.”
“Are we able to reach it undetected?” Damin frowns.
“Not easy. Enris no doubt has it easier; Mirlin will help him through usually sealed doors. We need …”
“Kay,” Damin states.
“Why?” I say. “What can Kay do? And where is he?”
“On the shuttle we arrived in,” Gennerin murmurs. He too gazes at Damin. “What has the Westerner revealed to you about his talent?”
“Nothing. Kay remains unaware of his gift.” Damin stretches before sitting alongside Leffandir. He continues to function as her guard and gaoler. “I touched him once up on the mountain, had to wake him, he sleeps as a dead man when he sleeps … anyway, he is unaware. Kay Laremer, however, is able to control technology.”
“He remains unaware because there is no technology on Massin,” I murmur.
“Precisely.” Damin leans back.
Gennerin eyes him. “I hesitate to ask how you understood his talent has to do with technology, being also of backward Massin, but no matter.” He blinks when Damin offers him a grin. “Then we need Kay.”
“He is on his way. I spoke to Hal and told him to tell Kay to follow …”
“Bugger, Damin, you do realise that means Siri will come too,” I mutter.
He stares at me, and swears under his breath.
The King's Challenge #288 and #289
TKC 288 and 289
I need to find Enris and my father and, to that end, I say to Gennerin, “Where would they hide something no one is to find?”
“I have no idea,” he mutters. “Usually important guests are in the Officers’ Quarters, but I doubt they will keep you father there.”
As I suspected. “I need a quiet place to reach out to Enris.”
“I know where. What do we do with Leffandir?”
“She comes with us,” I state. “We need to end it in every way, including whatever happened between her and Enris.”
Commander Gennerin proceeds to bark orders. Soldiers enter the flyer to secure the pilot, the main host retreats to other duties, and the crews return to their work stations. Again I place my hand on the Commander’s arm and he leads us away. Damin, still holding the Glonu Empress in his grip, follows. She makes no sound and Damin remains expressionless. I am concerned; I feel Damin has something huge on his mind, but no opportunity has presented for him to act on it.
The corridors beyond the hangar are inundated with soldiers and various other crews, and we are forced to weave through. Many soldiers salute Gennerin, to his irritation. I hear him muttering about wearing a mask when he walks the corridors. I am slightly amused, for it proves to me that Gennerin is no stranger to fame either. He is a kindred spirit; he understands. I like him more and more. I hope my trust will not prove misplaced, for it will hurt. This man has the potential of not only becoming an advisor, but also a friend.
At an elevator, he punches in a code and the metal door whisks open. We enter into silence. The door closes.
“Thank the stars,” he breathes out. “What must a man do for some silence?”
Damin snorts. “Become a farmer.”
Gennerin chuckles. “I intend to when I retire.”
“When will that be?” Damin gives him a speculative look.
“If I survive this campaign, I am handing my command in. This is my final war,” Gennerin murmurs.
I believe him; he sounds exhausted. “I do hope you will not become a stranger in your retirement.”
He bows his head. “My Lady, you honour me.”
I snort much as Damin did. “Stop that. We are beyond the Lady nonsense. My name is Iniri.”
He grins at me. “And I am Athol.”
Yes, I like him more and more. Damin does as well, for he sends me a wink and a grin. Leffandir huffs.
The elevator opens onto a quiet corridor. “Officer territory,” Gennerin murmurs as he leads the way.
At a nondescript door, we halt. Again Gennerin does the honours, and we pass into a darkened space. It smells sterile and unused.
“Lights,” he says.
The cabin fills with muted glows. It is a small sitting area and beyond is another dark space. All is in white and silver, but for a framed image on the wall, the only colour. It is a likeness of Gennerin and a lovely woman, her hair fiery red. This is the Commander’s suite.
“My wife,” he tells us and is clearly proud of her, for love is evident in his tone.
“What glorious hair,” Damin murmurs.
Clearly that pleases our Ilfin war leader even more, for he grins ear to ear. “Indeed.” Clearing his throat, he gestures. “Please sit. It has been some while since I have been in here, smells a bit off. A moment.” He approaches a console to jab at buttons, and immediately fresher air circulates. “Better.”
We sit. The time to strategize is upon us.
I need to find Enris and my father and, to that end, I say to Gennerin, “Where would they hide something no one is to find?”
“I have no idea,” he mutters. “Usually important guests are in the Officers’ Quarters, but I doubt they will keep you father there.”
As I suspected. “I need a quiet place to reach out to Enris.”
“I know where. What do we do with Leffandir?”
“She comes with us,” I state. “We need to end it in every way, including whatever happened between her and Enris.”
Commander Gennerin proceeds to bark orders. Soldiers enter the flyer to secure the pilot, the main host retreats to other duties, and the crews return to their work stations. Again I place my hand on the Commander’s arm and he leads us away. Damin, still holding the Glonu Empress in his grip, follows. She makes no sound and Damin remains expressionless. I am concerned; I feel Damin has something huge on his mind, but no opportunity has presented for him to act on it.
The corridors beyond the hangar are inundated with soldiers and various other crews, and we are forced to weave through. Many soldiers salute Gennerin, to his irritation. I hear him muttering about wearing a mask when he walks the corridors. I am slightly amused, for it proves to me that Gennerin is no stranger to fame either. He is a kindred spirit; he understands. I like him more and more. I hope my trust will not prove misplaced, for it will hurt. This man has the potential of not only becoming an advisor, but also a friend.
At an elevator, he punches in a code and the metal door whisks open. We enter into silence. The door closes.
“Thank the stars,” he breathes out. “What must a man do for some silence?”
Damin snorts. “Become a farmer.”
Gennerin chuckles. “I intend to when I retire.”
“When will that be?” Damin gives him a speculative look.
“If I survive this campaign, I am handing my command in. This is my final war,” Gennerin murmurs.
I believe him; he sounds exhausted. “I do hope you will not become a stranger in your retirement.”
He bows his head. “My Lady, you honour me.”
I snort much as Damin did. “Stop that. We are beyond the Lady nonsense. My name is Iniri.”
He grins at me. “And I am Athol.”
Yes, I like him more and more. Damin does as well, for he sends me a wink and a grin. Leffandir huffs.
The elevator opens onto a quiet corridor. “Officer territory,” Gennerin murmurs as he leads the way.
At a nondescript door, we halt. Again Gennerin does the honours, and we pass into a darkened space. It smells sterile and unused.
“Lights,” he says.
The cabin fills with muted glows. It is a small sitting area and beyond is another dark space. All is in white and silver, but for a framed image on the wall, the only colour. It is a likeness of Gennerin and a lovely woman, her hair fiery red. This is the Commander’s suite.
“My wife,” he tells us and is clearly proud of her, for love is evident in his tone.
“What glorious hair,” Damin murmurs.
Clearly that pleases our Ilfin war leader even more, for he grins ear to ear. “Indeed.” Clearing his throat, he gestures. “Please sit. It has been some while since I have been in here, smells a bit off. A moment.” He approaches a console to jab at buttons, and immediately fresher air circulates. “Better.”
We sit. The time to strategize is upon us.
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The King's Challenge - May update
Hello!
Yes, you guessed it! We are a little behind again in our challenge episodes. Due to circumstances, including the on-going home renovation, time has not played fair, but we have kept track and will be posting the missing episodes, starting today (fingers crossed!).
Here is an added note: when the edit begins, it will definitely be finished off in past tense. As a writer, the change in tense will allow for more background and proper description and we need more of that in this tale in order to promote greater understanding. Can't wait to start that edit!
Until later :)
Keep reading!
Yes, you guessed it! We are a little behind again in our challenge episodes. Due to circumstances, including the on-going home renovation, time has not played fair, but we have kept track and will be posting the missing episodes, starting today (fingers crossed!).
Here is an added note: when the edit begins, it will definitely be finished off in past tense. As a writer, the change in tense will allow for more background and proper description and we need more of that in this tale in order to promote greater understanding. Can't wait to start that edit!
Until later :)
Keep reading!
