Read Online Ties of Power (Trade Pact Universe) by Julie E. Czerneda - Free Book Online

Premick, even when I send him from me in the hunt,” I searched for words to save his pride and to keep their support. “I am sworn to him as much as he is sworn to my service. It will always be so,” I added very quietly, knowing it was true.
    “Morgan is worthy,” Premick said with commendable dignity. “I shall remain at your service, Lady Witch. And at my village’s.” This with a sideways glance at the two village leaders. I was amused to feel Laem’sha send a flow of comfort to soothe Premick’s troubled thoughts.
    Withren smiled openly, I presumed grateful I’d salvaged the situation without costing anyone status. “The sun will come out by afternoon, Lady Witch. Will you honor our village by attending our feast-night?” I raised a brow at Laem’sha, not overly sure of the wise man’s opinion of Ram’ad Witches. But he smiled, and there seemed no trace of animosity left in his thoughts.
    “Yes, Lady Witch,” he echoed quickly. “You have chosen a fine time to visit us. The last hunt was a good one, and many of the fruits are at their best. It will be a night to remember.”
    Why not? I accepted their invitation at face value, suddenly weary of my hermitage between these walls. The three took their leave, to all appearances harmoniously.
    I gathered up my dishes and left them at the door, pulling open the cloth as I did so. Withren was right: the rain was little more than a drizzle, and the clouds were breaking open in the distance. I drew in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the rain-washed air.
    A whisper of a step from the empty room behind made me whirl around.
    Morgan took another soft step to come fully around the grass wall dividing the back storage area from the rest of the hut. He had changed back into his jungle-used garb. I hadn’t heard an aircar arriving or leaving—or his entry through the rear door. I might have blamed the rain and my guests, but I knew perfectly well how silently Morgan could move if he chose.
    Mentally, I slid into a cautious guard, unsure how I felt about him arriving so soon.
    “Thank you for the use of this place, Captain,” I said, my voice formal. Give me distance, I asked with my eyes.
    He understood, taking hold of a long, hook-ended stick that had puzzled me. “Your comfort in it is my duty, Lady Witch,” Morgan said easily, mimicking the village courtesies in Comspeak. He reached up with the stick, pushing it against what I now saw were a series of wooden strips covering a good third of the ceiling. As he worked the stick, the strips swiveled to admit the brightening afternoon sun, creating mote-filled beams of light. The interior of the hut took on an unexpected airiness. “Primitive, but well-adapted,” Morgan said, leaning the control stick against one wall. “It pays to give close attention to all they do.”
    As Morgan went about the hut, intuitively ignoring me, pausing to examine a stack of orange-red blankets (gifts from the village upon my arrival), I relaxed. Things were as before. Reassured, I felt some tautness in the small of my spine let go. But as my inner guard opened ever so slightly, I sensed Morgan’s own mind, thoughts rippling in clear, cool waves I had only to dip into to read.
    So he had heard my conversation with Premick and the elders—and having heard my commitment to him, he’d become complacent. Without a word, I attacked.
    This was no invasion, such as had devastated Barac. No, what I sent against Morgan’s arrogantly exposed mind was pain, wave after wave of pain in hammer blows no less dangerous because they were unseen.
    I watched him stagger to his knees, hands going to his head, his defenses struggling into place, then was jolted by the reflected force of my own power as Morgan belatedly added his inner strength to his shields. From then on, he moved only once, to stand up, legs spread apart as a brace. Our eyes met and held.
    I raised a hand to signal enough, breathing more deeply myself from effort.