Chapter Two

“Faster, damn you!”

Corii Familee dug his heels deeper into the riding animal’s flanks and leaned hard against its sinewy neck. The riddabeast forced its two legs to produce more power to obey its rider’s commands, it’s breath coming sharp and ragged. Moisture formed around its mouth.

The rider yanked on the reigns, pulling one of the earrings sharply. The creature wheeled to the left to follow another trail, one that led between the high peaks of the Chinngard mountain range.

One mountain range of many. Chinngard was a world of mountains, it’s lakes and oceans merely water swirling around the bases of such ranges. The mountains reached to the sky as if praying to some god, as if trying to reach the thin clouds that occasionally dipped low enough to cover the peaks with a soft cowl.

A bird screeched.

The riddabeast leaned forward as it entered the pass, using its forward momentum and sleek body shape to gain more speed as it ran down a decline in the path. Corii slapped the reigns against the beast’s neck, trying to force more speed. He wondered if he wouldn’t first burst the poor creatures heart before reaching his destination.

The pass opened up, and Corii saw a path that wound up the side of a low, flat-topped mountain. On top of the mountain was a huge construct to challenge the best architects of the Prime Lord’s own planet. It was dark against the failing sun, it’s towers of melted rock tapering to points so that it resembled the mountains it was nestled between. The whole building had been blasted out of the rock into the shape that now stood before him, to be habitable and, most importantly, to house the bloodline of Familee, the ruling family of the system.

The riddabeast was now nearing the gates, which were slowly opening as the guards posted heard the Baron’s son call for entrance.

“Open the gate! The Baron’s son has returned!”

The gates began to deactivate, the thin beams of light criss-crossing the entrance to the palace at irregular angles dissipated one by one. The last beam had barely vanished as the riddabeast charged into the courtyard. Corii was already swinging one leg off the creature as it slowed, and he used the movement to propel himself from the saddle and up the steps, which lead to the antechamber before the audience hall.

Guards in the brown uniform of Familee snapped to attention as he passed, but he barely acknowledged them as he fled up the stairs to the right of the antechamber. They looked at one another nervously, letting him force his way past anyone foolish enough to be stood in the way.

A scream floated down from the upper chambers of the palace, which made Corii pause, his eyes wide with fear. He started to clear the steps three at a time.

He swung around the corner of the corridor at the top of the steps and began to run at full speed towards a collection of people standing around one of the doors. The hall around him turned into a blur as he raced down it, the paintings and hangings flying past. A maid yelled and jumped to one side, the bundle of towels she was carrying flew in all directions. She regained her balance, placed a hand over her heart as if that simple action would slow it’s beat, and glowered after Corii.

The group heard the footfalls and the yell, and turned to see who approached. There was six standing outside the chamber. The first Corii recognised as Colonel Stepha, his father’s military advisor. Stepha was a harsh man who tried to keep everything under order and by the book. His uniform was pressed immaculately, his grey hair cut as short as his thinning on top would allow without making him look bald.

The second was Arkin, his father’s bodyguard. Arkin took his duties to his Baron very seriously, making him surly and quiet. He was a huge grey-skinned lizard humanoid who towered over all others, and he wore a form of House uniform that barely stayed the right side of regulation.

Thirdly, there was Lady Seamara, his mother’s personal aide. She was pressing on in years, but she was hardy and respected, and always had a smile to improve most situations. Even now she had the faint traces of happiness on her face.

Fourth, there was Lord Verid, Baron Familee’s personal advisor. He was a tall, rough fellow who disdained wearing formal dress and preferred to throw a robe over his shoulders and enjoy the relaxed approach. The Baron bore this attitude only because Verid was a valued friend.

The last two, Simion and Yedda, spun around as Corii approached, and they both held out arms in unison to catch their charging brother. They wore formal clothes, even when relaxing around the palace, though Corii preferred less stifling dress when not doing his duties. They all stared at one another with the same eyes, face and expression.

The three sons of Baron Familee were triplets, born twenty-three years previously to the Baroness Julid Familee. The people of House Familee had taken their birth as an omen, one that would ensure the strength of the House for centuries to come.

“How is she?” Corii half-shouted in consternation, pushing against his brother’s grasping hands and trying force his way to the door.

Yedda yanked him back with a grunt.

“Quietly, Corii. The midwife is with her and the last thing she needs is you bursting in and interrupting.”

“Where were you, Corii? We thought you’d never make it.” Lord Verid grabbed hold of Corii’s shoulder and shook him, his face stern. His thin brows were knotted and his long moustache quivered.

“Riding. The birds are migrating early this year and I wanted to see them before they left the riddabeast pastures. One of Lady Seamara’s maids managed to call me on the comlink and told me mother was in labour. Where is father?” Corii turned to face his brothers with panic.

“In there with mother. He’s been here from the start, brother, don’t worry. The tradition has not been broken.” Yedda relaxed his grip on Corii and gave him a gentle shake. “Now go and get out of those riding clothes and into dress. Show a little respect.”

Corii nodded and took a few tentative steps back, looking at the door with a mixture of emotions as another scream from his mother ripped through the walls.

He entered his room and immediately began unbuttoning his jacket, roughly throwing it onto the floor for the servants to pick up later. He quickly washed grime from his upper body and opened his closet to remove the dark brown uniform that denoted his status in House Familee. The uniform smelled of cleansing oils and old cloth, and he quickly removed his leggings and slipped into the stiff trousers. The overcoat slipped over his head and he tightened the row of buttons down the front until it was set and comfortable. The boots slipped on over the trousers, and the short robe he flung over one shoulder and tied off on the shoulder strap. He checked himself in the full-length mirror, quickly combed his hair, and rejoined his brothers outside his parent’s chamber as another scream filled the hall.

He pulled down on the lower part of his overcoat and stretched his neck make the uniform fit better, under the close eye of Colonel Stepha, and waited.

There was no conversation between the seven, which made Yedda uncomfortable. He cast a glance at Corii, whose return gaze confirmed he felt the same way, and when Simion joined in their silent communique all three sighed and grabbed each other’s elbows in grips of comfort. Stepha saw this and looked over at Verid who smiled weakly.

Verid then noticed someone at the entrance of the staircase to the lower levels, standing around as if too timid to approach. The figure stepped out of the darkness and rubbed her chin nervously, looking over the group as if uncertain of what to do. Verid took a few steps away from the others and motioned her over.

The woman was the aide to the Mind that had been stationed on Chinngard to communicate with the other planets in the Ki-Ki Sector. She was small and somewhat largely proportioned, with thin eyes and pale skin. She was wringing her hands as she approached Verid.

“What is it?” Verid demanded. “This is a very awkward moment.”

The aide looked over at the groups, who were starting to become aware of her presence, and tried to keep a low voice. “My Lord, I know this is a bad time but I could think of no-one else to inform. Mind Filli has begun communication with the Mindmoon, but something is wrong. She is reacting in a strange manner to the enhancer. She screams and sweats, and bleeds...”

Verid had no love for the Minds. They were the only true form of communicating the vast distances between planets in short spaces of time, one of the things forced on them after they had applied for entry into the Ki-Ki Sector, and because of this they controlled all the messages that were sent between worlds. This put them in an advantageous position to collect private information. This, in the eyes of Baron Familee, made them untrustworthy and dangerous, even though they took vows of secrecy when transmitting the mental messages. Still, the Prime Lord had demanded that all systems in the sector had at least one Mind planetbound for communicating, and Baron Familee had no choice but to obey. That, however, did not mean he had to like it.

Even so, this strange reaction troubled him. It was incredibly bad timing, too, with Lady Julid Familee giving birth to the Baron’s first daughter.

“Return to your duty,” Verid instructed. “Take this comlink and call me if anything untoward happens. The Baron cannot attend to this now...”

“But, my Lord....”

“The Baron cannot attend to it now but I will inform him at a prudent time.”

“Yes, my Lord.” The woman took the small communication device and turned quickly to rejoin the Mind in the enhancer chamber. Verid watched her go.

He returned to the group, and to the questions of Stepha. “What did she want?”

“The Mind is having trouble getting in touch with her home, or some such thing. Hardly a thing to bother the Baron with.”

Stepha nodded. The chamber had become strangely quiet. All eyes fell on the door, waiting for something to happen.

They heard a grunt.

Then a whimper.

Then the wailing of a newborn child. The infant’s lungs burst forth a cacophony of sound as she took her first breath of air. The sound penetrated the hearts of those who had stood vigil, as if their patience and steadfastness had been rewarded with this noise. The child continued to wail for the next few minutes. Afterwards, the sound began to quieten.

The door slid open, and Baron Pede Familee of House Familee appeared at the door, letting it open only slightly so that a view to the interior was impossible, although the three brothers tried to peer around their father for a look. When the door was closed, they gazed at the Baron expectantly.

The Baron was tall and broad, with a small moustache and beard that was streaked with grey. His hair was ruffled and sweaty, and his eyes filled with moisture. His mouth was bent into a huge smile.

“My sons, you have a beautiful baby sister.”

The brothers threw their arms around one another and drew their father into the circle, shaking and gripping wrists in celebration but being careful to keep the noise low.

The Baron shook the hands of his friends and allowed the Lady Seamara to quickly kiss him on the cheek. He was tired and hungry, and formality was the last thing on his bursting mind.

Before his sons could ask, the Baron held up a hand. “No-one is to see her until the morning. The midwife will care for them both until then, and she needs her rest. She is fine and healthy; as is the wonderful girl she has produced. It makes me very proud.” The Baron looked around the group with a small smile, and noticed that Verid was whispering into a talker. “Verid, what is so important that you cannot share my joy with me?”

Verid quickly disconnected the call and turned to the Baron.

“My apologies, Sir, I was just telling the caller that it was a very inconvenient time to call. If you would all care to join me, this occasion should be celebrated in the dining hall, and I think the chef has a few flasks of wine he has been saving for this very moment...”

At any other time, the Baron would have seen straight through his friend’s quick dismissal of what was obviously an important call, but fatigue allowed Verid to cover the true nature of the conversation.

Stepha, however, was not so easily fooled. As the group began the walk to the turbolift that would take them to the private dining hall, he slowed his pace so that Verid would fall into step with him.

“What was that call, Verid? Is it something I should know about? Or the Baron?”

Verid looked at his friend, and then over at the Baron who was just entering the elevator. He stood face to face with Stepha and quickly said, “The Mind died a few minutes ago. She ruptured all over the enhancer, according to her aide, screaming and wailing. It’s supposed to be quite a mess.”

The shock on Stepha’s face was evident. He quickly realised his composure, that someone could be watching, and adjusted his uniform with a clearing of his throat. “How?”

“I don’t know, but I instructed the security chief to have a look. We’ll trouble the Baron with this when we have more facts.”

Stepha nodded, apparently satisfied, but Verid knew that the Colonel’s thoughts were in turmoil. He also knew that he was concerned with the timing of the birth of the child and the death of the psychic. This was the perfect reason for the Mindmoon, and that damned Lordmind Estoor, to crawl all over Chinngard. They had been looking for any reason to have a good look at the Baron and his family, even appealing to the Prime Lord to intervene. The Prime Lord, however, could see no reason as to why he should allow such an action. Baron Familee was well within his rights to refuse access to any more Minds. As long as it did not threaten the security of the Ki-Ki Sector, of course.

The celebrations in the dining hall were quiet and composed. The wine flowed easily between the triplets. They made jokes and became very boisterous later on, deciding what their younger sister was going to be later on in life. When Corii, after his fifth glass of the strong alcohol, suggested she could be an erotic dancer for guests, everyone agreed it was time to retire for the night.

As the servants entered to clean away the used glasses and empty flasks, the Baron motioned his sons to stand by him.

“I want you all ready by the eighth bell tomorrow, in your best dress. Then we’ll go and see your mother and your sister. Corii; you had better take a pill.” Corii nodded, realising he had drank a little more than he had bargained, or even realised, and decided to visit the medical bay for a booster straight away. He was lead there by his brothers, who made fun of his condition.

The Baron bade all his companions’ goodnight for the evening, but asked Verid to stay. As the door slid shut, he turned to his friend and looked at him with steely eyes.

“What is happening, Verid? First you take an apparently ‘inconvenient’ call and then act distracted for the rest of the night. If there is something I should know...”

Lord Verid took a deep breath and lowered himself into a seat. He rubbed his forehead as if trying to force what little alcohol he had had out of his mind.

“Sir, it appears the Mind stationed here has died.”

“Died? How?” The Baron sat down himself, incredulous.

“Mind Filli died in the enhancer whilst Lady Julid was birthing. From what I can gather, she died at exactly the same moment the baby entered the world. This, I think you will agree, does not bode well.”

Pede Familee stood and held a hand to his chin, stroking the fine hair and pacing slowly. “I refuse to believe there is a connection between my daughter and the death of the Mind. Have security check the enhancer.”

“I have already arranged that. The security chief will be calling me with a full report as soon as he has a report to give. Only the Minds know how the enhancer works. Exactly works, I mean.”

“You do realise what will happen if the Minds figure out that the baby was born at the same time, especially if there is no other explanation for the death of Filli? They’ll send every scavenging psychic they have to find the truth.”

Both men fell silent, afraid to say the one thing they knew was the most important. The Baron kept quiet because he did not want to believe it. The Lord Verid did not want to divulge his belief because he knew it would greatly upset his friend. After a few moments of silence, Verid decided to speak his mind. After all, it was what he was here for, it was the reason why he was part of the Baron’s court.

“What if the child is empowered?”

Baron Familee turned on his friend. Verid almost fell out of his seat as he stared into his eyes. They were burning, as if trying to burrow into the Lord’s soul and tear out his heart.

“They will not have her. I will not have my daughter part of that damned cult. If she is to have Mind powers, she will retain her hair and use them in my house. Do not think otherwise.”

At any other time, the Baron would have relaxed after venting his anger. Verid knew that this was an issue that would keep the fires of his Baron’s anger burning. He had not wished to upset or distract his friend from the joy he should be feeling, but he knew he had to inform him of anything that could threaten the security of Familee.

He suddenley realised he was alone. As he had looked away from the Baron in sadness, Pede had walked from the room.

Verid was left alone to ponder. Ponder on how to console his friend, and ponder over what to do should their fears be realised.