Read Online Trapped On Talonque: (A Sectors SF romance) by Veronica Scott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Veronica Scott
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think the king would appreciate your attempt to influence me to help you, instead of him, do you?”
“Issuing threats on top of orders? Truly you are a very confident man, or a very foolish one.” She came to him, framing his face with her hands and leaning in until their eyes were only inches apart. “I’ll enjoy sacrificing your heart to Huitlani after you lose the game. Death in the well is too simple for you.” With that, she flounced out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Murrax and his two men tiptoed into the chamber a few moments later, escorted Nate back to his cell and left.
“What in the seven hells happened to you?” Thom’s voice was gruff.
“The high priestess wanted to know if we’re working for a goddess.” Nate laughed at the sheer absurdity of it all. “She didn’t like my answers.”
Nate walked through the swirling gray and lavender fog, calling Bithia’s name softly. He desperately needed to talk to her.
“I’m here.” The mist swirled away, and he saw her standing on the far bank of a small stream. Drifts of snow surrounded them both, and small chunks of ice floated by on the water. He could see her breath in the air when she spoke.
“We’re in your dreamspace this time, warrior.” Bithia’s expression reflected surprise and amusement as she drew the heavy coat she wore closer around her. “A strange but beautiful place you choose. And so cold. Not anywhere on Talonque I recognize.”
“We’re on Taychelle’s Planet, in the Sectors,” he said, staring at the distinctive red woods surrounding them and the snowflakes drifting in eddies through the air. “A polar environment year-round, actually. I guess my subconscious has had enough of the heat on Talonque.”
“I must thank you for your consideration, bringing me to a new environment and dreaming me a warm garment to wear as shield from the wind and the cold.” She took a few steps, smiling. “Even in the deepest of my own dreams, I remain tethered to the healing couch, so how did you manage this?”
“I have no idea.”
“Too bad.” Bithia sighed as she sat on the edge of a crumbling, rust-colored tree stump. She caught a few errant flakes on her hand and watched them melt. “I was going to ask you to teach me the trick.”
“But are you really here?” Nate didn’t know if he could trust his own senses that the two of them were actually conversing. Was it a true meeting of their minds on another plane, or was the meeting a dream, taking place solely in his own mind? Was it wish fulfillment not only of his desire to escape the boiling heat, but also to spend time with her?
Drawing a design in the snow with her toe, Bithia glanced at him. “I perceive this as reality, you and me in the dreamspace, talking. But if it was a dream of your shaping, I’d reassure you, yes? How can we know?”
“I know.” Nate strode into the stream, water splashing against his boots. He realized he wore his uniform, although even in a dream he couldn’t get his hands on a weapon.
“What are you doing?” Bithia asked with a tinge of concern in her voice. “The creek water must be cold, considering the ice chunks.”
“Testing a theory—”
Nate broke off as, at midstream, he ran into the ever-present barrier keeping them frustratingly apart. He stepped back a pace in the icy water and extended his hands straight out. The tiny green flickers of the healing machine’s force field outlined his fingers. “I don’t know whether to be happy we’re actually together, or disappointed I can’t reach you.” He allowed his arms to fall to his sides and retraced his steps across the small stream, taking care not to slip on the treacherous rocks, grabbing a low-hanging branch to pull himself onto the bank. Dusting his hands off, he said, “So we know. Not exclusively my dream. You are here, because the damn barrier exists. I’d dream myself shattering it into a million pieces.”
Bithia gazed at
“Issuing threats on top of orders? Truly you are a very confident man, or a very foolish one.” She came to him, framing his face with her hands and leaning in until their eyes were only inches apart. “I’ll enjoy sacrificing your heart to Huitlani after you lose the game. Death in the well is too simple for you.” With that, she flounced out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Murrax and his two men tiptoed into the chamber a few moments later, escorted Nate back to his cell and left.
“What in the seven hells happened to you?” Thom’s voice was gruff.
“The high priestess wanted to know if we’re working for a goddess.” Nate laughed at the sheer absurdity of it all. “She didn’t like my answers.”
Nate walked through the swirling gray and lavender fog, calling Bithia’s name softly. He desperately needed to talk to her.
“I’m here.” The mist swirled away, and he saw her standing on the far bank of a small stream. Drifts of snow surrounded them both, and small chunks of ice floated by on the water. He could see her breath in the air when she spoke.
“We’re in your dreamspace this time, warrior.” Bithia’s expression reflected surprise and amusement as she drew the heavy coat she wore closer around her. “A strange but beautiful place you choose. And so cold. Not anywhere on Talonque I recognize.”
“We’re on Taychelle’s Planet, in the Sectors,” he said, staring at the distinctive red woods surrounding them and the snowflakes drifting in eddies through the air. “A polar environment year-round, actually. I guess my subconscious has had enough of the heat on Talonque.”
“I must thank you for your consideration, bringing me to a new environment and dreaming me a warm garment to wear as shield from the wind and the cold.” She took a few steps, smiling. “Even in the deepest of my own dreams, I remain tethered to the healing couch, so how did you manage this?”
“I have no idea.”
“Too bad.” Bithia sighed as she sat on the edge of a crumbling, rust-colored tree stump. She caught a few errant flakes on her hand and watched them melt. “I was going to ask you to teach me the trick.”
“But are you really here?” Nate didn’t know if he could trust his own senses that the two of them were actually conversing. Was it a true meeting of their minds on another plane, or was the meeting a dream, taking place solely in his own mind? Was it wish fulfillment not only of his desire to escape the boiling heat, but also to spend time with her?
Drawing a design in the snow with her toe, Bithia glanced at him. “I perceive this as reality, you and me in the dreamspace, talking. But if it was a dream of your shaping, I’d reassure you, yes? How can we know?”
“I know.” Nate strode into the stream, water splashing against his boots. He realized he wore his uniform, although even in a dream he couldn’t get his hands on a weapon.
“What are you doing?” Bithia asked with a tinge of concern in her voice. “The creek water must be cold, considering the ice chunks.”
“Testing a theory—”
Nate broke off as, at midstream, he ran into the ever-present barrier keeping them frustratingly apart. He stepped back a pace in the icy water and extended his hands straight out. The tiny green flickers of the healing machine’s force field outlined his fingers. “I don’t know whether to be happy we’re actually together, or disappointed I can’t reach you.” He allowed his arms to fall to his sides and retraced his steps across the small stream, taking care not to slip on the treacherous rocks, grabbing a low-hanging branch to pull himself onto the bank. Dusting his hands off, he said, “So we know. Not exclusively my dream. You are here, because the damn barrier exists. I’d dream myself shattering it into a million pieces.”
Bithia gazed at
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