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Grand Master’s Pawn,Chapter 1
“TheCouncil of Twelve will be destroyed.” The words blazed in his memory from twodecades ago. The clairvoyant, Frank Hunter, had prophesied their doom not longafter the Griffin had attained the rank of Grand Master. He recalled thefurious arguments in Council meetings, the Chair’s arrogant derision of his own‘naïve’ objections to eliminating the prophet, and the ensuing radicalprohibitions on psychics. As the outcome, Frank Hunter had died. Andhenceforth, talented people were denied access to proper training and excludedfrom the annual selection of pawns.
Heglared at the name on the list of top candidates, Violet Hunter. A spate ofquestions swept across his mind. How had she dared to apply for the selection?Was she foolish or merely ignorant of her heritage? He scrolled through therecords once more, seeking a clue to her personality. Her qualifications weresuperb without a hint of prohibited psychic talent.
Psicrackled and the screen blanked.
Herapplication was futile. What Grand Master would take the risk of employing theprophet’s daughter as a pawn? What a crazy choice, embracing the omen of theirdestruction.
Hisgrim laughter echoed around the room.
Howamusing. The very idea would stun the entire Council. He replayed the clip ofthe girl’s combat exam with one of the instructors. The tiger-stripedAman-ellan sheathed his claws and fought with a sensor-tipped knife.Anticipating each strike with agile leaps, the girl blocked his attacks withease.
Suspiciousas always, he pondered the possibilities. Had Violet Hunter inherited a psychicskill from her parents? Why then had she volunteered to be a candidate for theCouncil’s selection of pawns? She might not be aware of a minor skill. Hertalent might have not yet manifested. Or else, she had deliberately evaded theCouncil’s prohibitions. How delightfully dangerous. If he selected her as hispawn, he would force the truth from her.
Andyet, despite his caution, he felt a modicum of sympathy for the child who hadlost her father. She deserved a recompense. And perhaps a chance to revenge herfather’s murder.
* * *
Alertedby the rustle of dry leaves, Violet Hunter rotated to face the sound.
Threeyellow striped velociraptors bounded through the giant ferns, cruel eyesfocused on their prey.
Actingwith honed reflexes, she sidestepped to elude the claws of the foremostattacker. Swinging her sword with both hands, she sliced into the neck of thesecond reptile, and ducked under the toothy jaws of the third.
Ignoringthe small human, the two wounded carnivores tore into each other.
Violetswiveled to meet the bellowing onslaught of the first dinosaur. She thrust herblade into its throat and skipped out of reach of its teeth.
Itsthrashing body thudded to the ground, flattening fern fronds.
Jumpingaway from the snapping melee of dying and bloody dinosaurs, Violet hit the offswitch.
Shestrode out of the dimly lit game room into the annex, hung the sword on therack, dropped the helmet on a shelf, and sighed. Bored with the simulatedcombat sessions, she longed to explore alien planets. Real life would haveadvantages. She preferred to carry a multipurpose laser instead of wielding thearchaic sword. And, her hidden empathic sense would warn her of lurkingpredators. She had kept her talent secret during her years at the Space Academybecause of the Grand Masters’ ban.
Leapingup the stairs from the underground training facility, she paced across thecampus towards the Council Hall for the annual selection of pawns. The blackmarble facade of the windowless building reflected the overcast sky, and themassive iron gates at the entrance deterred casual visitors. A wintry gustfroze her bare face and she shivered at the ominous symbol. Despite herforbidden empathy, the Grand Masters were her best hope of escaping Terra for acareer in space. Anger flared as she remembered the rejection from Space Corps,“Does not meet the physical standards.” Translation, she was too small.
Shesensed Tessa’s nervous mind an instant before her friend stepped out of theshelter of a doorway. Tessa’s delicate beauty was heightened in the cold air.
Tessagushed, “Oh Vi, I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve been waiting for ages.” Sheglanced at the crowded plaza in front of Council Hall. “I couldn’t face goingin there alone.” Gazing at Violet from her lovely blue eyes, she said, “Iapplied only because my parents insisted. They say it’s an honor to serve theGrand Masters.”
Tornbetween amusement and annoyance at her friend’s timidity, Violet retorted,“Tessa Brown, you’re twenty-two. Your parents can’t force you to do anything.”
“Idon’t want to disappoint them,” Tessa whispered, clinging to Violet’s arm.
“Youwon’t. I predict you’ll marry a wealthy noble or a brilliant inventor,” Violetjoked. With Tessa’s beauty and sweet nature, marriage was surely in her future,while Violet was fated to remain single. What man would wed a woman who couldread his mind? Even when she tried not to pry, thoughts slipped unbiddenthrough her mental shield. But Tessa, like everyone else at the Academy, didnot know about her psychic talent.
Tessaprotested, “How can you be so cheerful? We don’t know what we’ll face insidethat awful black building.” She shook her blonde tresses, and said, in anobvious attempt to evade her worries, “It’s a pity your mother didn’t stayafter our graduation last week.”
Compressingher lips, Violet said, “My mother ported back to Cirrus-beta. She couldn’t bearto stay any longer. Ever since my father’s death, Silvia’s hated the sight ofthe Space Academy. It’s the first time she’s left home in twenty years.” Hermother’s grief had haunted her childhood. Violet had learned to insulate hermind from the sadness, but she seldom visited Silvia these days, and neverstayed long in her childhood home.
Unawareof Violet’s distress, Tessa asked, “Do you remember your father?”
“No.I was two years old when he died and Silvia never speaks of him. She stillmourns for him.”
“Howsad.” Tears glistened in Tessa’s soft eyes.
Violetshook her head, dismissing her friend’s sympathy, and gestured towards theflagstone plaza. “Come on. Let’s join the other candidates.”
Bracingfor the flood of tense emotions, Violet tightened her mental shield and tuggedher reluctant friend towards the milling crowd. The candidates filled theplaza, although the gates were not due to open for another thirty minutes.People stood in quiet groups, or shuffled restlessly around the plaza. Mostwere men and woman of Terran stock with a scattering of aliens. Violet noticedthe vivid green feathers of a Flia and the pricked ears of two furryAman-ellans.
Scanningthe other candidates, Violet wondered if she would be chosen. Despite the oddsagainst her, Mother Tingu had been confident she would succeed. After ten yearsof secret lessons to control her empathic talent in defiance of the GrandMasters’ prohibition, Violet trusted the White Mother’s judgment.
Afamiliar, hostile mind loomed through the crowd and Violet steeled herself toignore the bully. Big, blond Marius Krupp shoved past her and taunted, “Violet,the midget candidate. You’re no beauty with that silly mark on your face. WhatGrand Master would want you?” He snickered and swaggered away to join hiscronies in a noisy group of toughs.
Glaringat his retreating back, Violet shook off his disruptive influence.
“He’shorrid,” Tessa cried. “Your birthmark looks like a star.”
Violetsmiled. Trust Tessa to turn a defect into a badge of honor.
Shesensed her friend, Srinivasan, approach from behind. His voice was sincere.“Forget about your size, Violet. Marius is foolish to antagonize you. I’ve seenyou trounce larger men than him.” Srini’s slender physique was also deceptive,concealing his combat skills. He was a prime candidate for selection as a pawn,a mathematical genius and an expert in deciphering esoteric languages.
“Isuppose the Grand Masters won’t care about my height,” she said, smiling at herfriend. “Although, I’ve no idea how they select their pawns.”
Hisblack eyes gleamed and Srini nodded amiably. “Let me enlighten you. I’veanalyzed the Grand Masters’ selections for the past twenty years.Statistically, the candidates with the top academic qualifications are the mostlikely to be selected. So, our chances are excellent, Violet. Both of usachieved the top grades. Your xenobiology degree is especially suitable forexploring planets.”
“Flashy,I’m glad to hear your conclusions. Five out of a hundred seems poor odds.”Violet glanced at the massive gates. “I wish the gates would open. It’s alreadyseveral minutes past the due time.” She sensed the level of anxiety ratchet upas the candidates stared at the iron gates. Complaints sounded at the delay.
Impatientcandidates scuffled their feet on the flagstones and Violet wondered if theGrand Masters deliberately kept them waiting outside. Ordinary people must bowto their superiors. That attitude was on par with the ominous black marbleexterior of the Council Hall.
Tessatugged at Violet’s arm. Her voice quivered. “I don’t want to be chosen as apawn. Do you, Vi?”
Brushingaside her timid friend’s fears, Violet chuckled. “Why not? I’d love to travelthe galaxy. Besides, I want to learn more about the mysterious Grand Masters.”
“I’veheard they’re horrible. Truly evil, and not even human,” Tessa whimpered, herbrown eyes wide in alarm.
Grimimages crept into Violet’s mind and she shivered. “Who knows what they are? TheGrand Masters might be aliens or even machines, if machines can have psipower.” Thrusting her fears aside, she tried to pacify her friend. “Don’tworry, Tessa. I’m sure they won’t want a scared pawn.”
“I should love to be chosen,” Srini said, hisblack eyes shining with excitement. “It’s a great honor to serve the GrandMasters and I’ve always wanted to explore the galaxy.”
Violetsmiled at his enthusiasm. She was more cautious. “Yes, I’d love to be the firstperson to discover intelligent aliens on an uncharted planet. But, the pawn’smissions can be dangerous.”
“Travelis hazardous these days,” Srini said. A frown shadowed his face. “My brothermissed our graduation ceremony. He was stranded on a planet in OuterSagittarius when the portals broke.”
“Howawful,” Tessa cried with instant sympathy.
Shakingher head, Violet was quiet. Doubts crowded into her mind as the minutes passed.Would she be selected by one of the enigmatic Grand Masters? She was desperateto leave Terra, where the high population stressed her sensitive mind. Chewingon her lower lip, she steeled herself for the interview.
Agong rang and the iron gates swung open with the swish of well-oiled hinges.The crowd of graduates surged forward, their feet rustling on the flagstones.Violet cringed at the flare of their excitement and tightened her mentalshield. The candidates marched through the gates into a large hall adorned withcolored banners. They waited silently for instructions.
Aloudspeaker blared, “Candidates will enter the interview chamber in groups oftwenty.”
Twoblack-uniformed guards stood on either side of an inner door, which wasdecorated in images of the major civilized planets. The guards opened the doorand allowed the first group of twenty candidates to enter the room. They walkedthrough the door in silence.
Byeasing past more reluctant candidates, Violet maneuvered to the front of thecrowd. She had decided the best strategy was to wait for the third or fourthgroup. Then, she would avoid an early interview when the Grand Masters mightprefer to see more candidates and still hope to be examined before all thepawns were selected.
Hertwo friends stood beside her. Srini had a serious expression on his dusky face,while Tessa’s fearful eyes pleaded for moral support. Violet was more curiousthan frightened. Would they see the twelve mysterious Grand Masters at theinterview?
Aftera short interval, the second group of candidates was called inside. Violetsensed their taut excitement as they passed through the door. There was no signof the first group and they must have departed by another exit.
Herface blanched with terror, Tessa gripped Violet’s hand. “I’m scared,” shemoaned.
“Don’tworry. It won’t take long. The Grand Masters seem to decide quickly,” Violetsaid to encourage her fainthearted friend.
Thedoor opened for the third group of candidates. Violet stepped forward, eager tocomplete this step. Whether she succeeded in becoming a pawn or not, her lifewould move into the next stage after today.
Mariusboasted loudly, “The Grand Masters dominate the galaxy. They rule over manyplanets. I’m going to grab a piece of that power.” Shouldering roughly pasther, he strode through the door.
Obnoxiousbrute, she thought, let him be the first to take the stage. But, his wordsdisturbed her. Did the Grand Masters control entire planets? She walkedsteadily toward the door, staying with her two friends. Any Grand Master whochose Marius would not be to her taste. She hoped to find one with lessgrandiose ambitions.
Insidethe interview room, Violet stood in the middle of the twenty candidates. Tessaclutched her hand, nearly desperate with terror. Srini stood on her other sidewith a frown of concentration on his brown face.
Thecandidates clustered at the back of the room, staring at a low platform bearinga row of strange objects. Twelve black spheres stood on top of tall cylinders.Violet was disappointed. No Grand Masters were visible in the room. She couldsense no living entities except the twenty jittery candidates.
Aneerie humming sound filled the room, prompting gasps of alarm from hercompanions. Colored points of light flared on the spheres. Some spheres had asingle pair of lights like two human eyes, while other spheres bore three, fiveor more colored lights. Violet saw red, blue, green and yellow lights. Shesensed very faint presences, as if the Grand Masters were observing thecandidates via the pseudo eyes on the spheres.
Tessatrembled violently. Violet dropped her friend’s hand, ignoring her beseechingeyes. She did not wish to be contaminated by Tessa’s display of weakness. Theywould be judged separately.
Anartificial voice called, “Candidates will walk onto the stage, one at a time,and stand still for evaluation by the Grand Masters.”
Onebrave candidate stepped up, nearly stumbling in his haste. He stood silentlyfor a few minutes before he was dismissed to the left exit. Her tormenter,Marius, strode to the front. He was dismissed even faster than the firstcandidate.
Violetwalked forward, resolved to take her chance. She stood erect and stared at therow of lighted spheres. An uncanny vision wavered before her eyes, and shetensed, holding her breath in awe. The hazy image resolved into twelve entitieson thrones, human men and women and alien creatures. Their eyes glowed in thecolors she had seen on the spheres. One alien was a mass of writhing tentacles,while another resembled a green blob. One humanoid woman wore red robes,another woman had a green gown, and two men were clad in somber black robes.
Inthe midst of this amazing sight, her attention was caught by a dark man in bluerobes seated at one end of the twelve thrones. He had a grim face with fierceblack eyebrows over a hooked nose. His eyes were half lidded. While shewatched, his eyes opened and piercing blue beams flashed onto her face. Shestared boldly into his laser blue eyes. Yet, in the next moment, his gaze slidpast, and she doubted he had even noticed her.
Shestiffened in alarm and shielded belatedly, hoping to conceal her psychic power.The eerie vision of the twelve entities vanished as swiftly as it had arisen.Violet was disappointed. She wanted to inspect the Grand Masters more closely.Surely, she had perceived the mysterious Grand Masters in the transient image.Would one of those strange beings select her as a pawn?
Sheblinked, returning to the reality of the interview room with the lightedspheres on black cylinders.
The mechanical voice called, “You have beenchosen. Walk through the exit on your right.”
Violetgrinned and raised her fist in triumph. She had succeeded in the first step ofher risky venture. As a pawn, she could study her Grand Master and pursue herdream of exotic travel.
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