Page 18

18

The Unforeseen

RIV

D evansi’s pale moon shone over a rocky expanse, the silver tendrils touching down through the open apertures of the R?k House.

Something woke Riv. He jerked awake to find élisa pacing her bedchamber, her body hunched and her hands holding her head,

He strode to her, pulling her close. ‘Angel, what’s wrong?’

‘It’s the migraines. They’re back.’ Tears streamed down her face. ‘Something’s disturbing the Ka’SH?rd. My head hurts so bad, it’s the only explanation.’

He glanced outside the large open window at the pulsing aurora in the distance, lighting the night sky. A shiver trailed down his spine, his metanoids discerning a quickening.

‘I’ll take care of you,’ he promised.

Knifing out of bed, he prowled into the kitchen to fetch the painkillers she’d directed him to find.

Tracking back to her side, he helped her with what she needed.

He’d also brought ice water, which she sipped, satisfying her thirst.

Later, she lay her head on his lap, eyes closed. With a cool cloth on her forehead, he massaged her temples. He held her close until the searing pain subsided, and she slipped into a deep slumber.

Just before dawn, Riv sensed a presence ghost into the house.

It’s me, Father. I’m back.

Riv unwound his limbs from his woman’s sleeping form and headed for the living area.

Where he found his son waiting.

Killen stood at the centre of the expansive living area, his body glistening with sweat, larger, ropier, edgier, harder.

A muscle ticked in his jawline, and the robes he’d left with were now wrapped around his waist, baring his upper body.

Moisture dripped down his chest, and dust caked his hair.

Yet somehow, with the hawkstone shining brighter on his forehead and his blind eyes a wild tempest in his face, he glowed like an immortal god blessing the mortals with his divine presence.

He raked his blind eyes over Riv’s form. ‘I sense where I get my wicked chin and platinum locks from.’

‘Uncanny, right?’ Riv moved to hug his son. ‘Now you know why I was so spooked when I first laid eyes on you.’

Killen chuckled.

‘How is she?’ he murmured, jerking his chin towards élisa’s bedroom.

‘She’s improving.’

‘I discerned as much. I pushed hard to dampen the effects of the Ka’SH?rd on her from afar.’

Riv raised an eyebrow. ‘You sensed her pain on your walkabout?’

Killen nodded. ‘I’m tethered to her in my mind. I am always connected. Her torment this time was more agonizing than usual, which means the entity’s effect on her is getting worse. It’s spiraling more out of control. I’ve also perceived that the person responsible for its quickening is the soul you seek on Devansi.’

‘Ankis.’

Killen shrugged. ‘If that’s what he is called. He is agitating the nebula storm. This is what mother is reacting to.’

‘How do you know this?’

‘I traveled south, towards the nebula’s touchdown point. I sat on the edge of the slopes, looking down on a dead sea plateau where thousands have congregated. He’s managed to persuade the monks of Devansi to go along with his plan to petition the Ka’SH?rd for healing. I believe this mad invocation, noise, and cacophony is causing the entity to react.’

His chest was heaving, either from exertion or from emotion, Riv wasn’t sure.

The Rider studied his son.‘Looks like you ran here.’

‘I flew.’

Riv reared back in surprise. ‘You too are K?str?l?’

Killen gave him a wry shrug. ‘With your DNA and meta powers, I am the most feared incarnation of one. What sucks is the noids are not enough to counteract the Ka’SH?rd’s effect on my hawkstone, and their healing power is diminished each time they try. De nada , that issue will soon be null and void.’

Riv flinched. ‘I hadn’t thought my noids would be part of my DNA transfer.’

‘You had no reason to, Father.’ Killen moved into the kitchen. ‘See it like I do, as a blessing. I’ve honed my K?str?l flight skills and found ways to subsume my metanoids in preparation for what is to come.’

‘You still won’t say what you anticipate?’

Killen shrugged, deflecting the probe, declaring, ‘I’m starved.’

‘There’s some food your mother and I prepared earlier.’

‘How domestic of you both.’

The two men exchanged a grin as Killen rummaged in the cold rock storage.

Riv leaned back on the counter, hands crossed over his chest, following his son’s movements as he prepped a meal. ‘Need help?’ he murmured.

Killen shook his head. ‘I’m good.’ He handed his Father a brew, clinking bottles as soon as they were open.

‘If you’d told me a week ago I’d be drinking a beer with my son in his mother’s kitchen while she slept in the bed we just shared, I’d have called you delusional,’ Riv quipped.

Even though he jested, he was grateful for the chance to connect with and understand the enigma of his not-so-brand-new offspring.

Killen’s lips lifted. ‘I saw this day and was over the moon when it came. She’s been so lonely without you.’

Riv sucked his teeth. ‘Regrettable. Did you see all this using your hereafter sight?’

His son turned to face him head-on. ‘ Naam . Also, my ability to influence events. Don’t fret,’ he drawled when Riv shot him an incredulous look, ‘I don’t abuse the power often. Only when I wanted a sweet treat from my mother as a child.’

Riv grinned and saluted Killen with his bottle. ‘As one should.’

They sat at the table, ate, drank, and talked, catching up on the missed years until well past mid-morning.

A soft voice broke through their chuckles. ‘This is a scene I dreamed of for years.’

Both men looked up to see élisa saunter into the room, tying the ends of her robe together.

She reached her hands to embrace them one at a time. ‘My family, my men of courage, altogether in one room. What joy.’

Riv pulled her down to his lap and kissed the nape of her neck. ‘What joy indeed, love. Feeling better?’

‘I am. The agony has lifted.’ She pressed a small kiss on the side of his lips.

‘It’s touching that you’re at peace now and have reconciled,’ their son added with a sloppy grin.

‘We have.’ élisa’s voice was soft with emotion.

‘Can I expect a happy-ever-after conclusion?’

Killen added a wink to one of his not-so-blind eyes.

‘It’s our intention, but we can’t plan much more until our current situation is resolved.’

Killen leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over his chest. ‘What happens now?’

élisa turned to Riv. ‘We leave Devansi as soon as possible, maybe even today, and head for Kythnia.’

Killen cocked his head and then gave a slight shake. ‘I’m not sure this is how it’ll play out, Mother.’

élisa gave him a sharp glance. ‘Whatever do you mean?’

‘Like I said before, a reckoning is on its way.’ Killen’s jaw clenched in resolution. ‘And given what I sense is imminent, we may not need to leave this place to gain what we seek.’

élisa’s brow furrowed. ‘What is coming?’

‘Who, mother is the right question.’

‘Who then?’

Killen’s head cocked the other way as if trying to listen for something, and he lifted a finger to quieten her.

He was hearing on a different dimension because Riv couldn’t catch a thing.

Until his neural node fired up.

Brother.

He bucked in shock. He gave Killen a look of utter bewilderment. His son sat back and pulled on his chin, a half smile on his face.

Lifting élisa off his lap, Riv stood and half ran to the front doorway.

His woman followed, her robe swirling around her. ‘What in Devansi hell?’

Killen was at the rear, slower in pace, his face serene.

Riv stepped into the sun, turning his face to the open skies.

His woman and son joined him, their eyes following his upward when three figures shimmered into sight out of thin air and floated down towards them.

élisa snarled, stepping forward, shoulders hunched, face fierce and battle-ready.

Until Killen stuck out an extended arm to halt her advance.

Riv glanced at his woman as she tried to shake off her son. ‘They’re friends, élisa. You know them well.’

She calmed somewhat, but still, her body quivered as her eyes darted to and from him and the descending group.

Moments later, the trio touched down on the rock path leading to the house.

Riv lifted his hands in welcome as he strolled toward them.

‘Well, if it isn’t three of my worst nightmares.’

Xion retracted his helmet and stalked forward with a growl on his lips. ‘We travel half the galaxy and through a freakin’ wild nebula to rescue you, and that’s the salutation we receive? If karma doesn’t hit you, I fokkin ’ will.’

‘ Fokk off. I didn’t need a rescue,’ Riv grumbled. ‘I just needed you to take on one mission, so I’m freed up for another.’

Xion threw his hands up in mock frustration. ‘Instead of ‘ hope you’re having a nice day,’ I think I’ll start by saying, ‘Have the day you deserve.’ You know, let karma sort shit out.’

‘Shut up and get your nasty ass here.’ Riv walked into Xion’s arms for a power-driven embrace.

He did the same to Zane and Ki’Remi, who joined the group hug.

Xion leaned into Riv and whispered in a sotto voce. ‘Who the heck is that beautiful creature looking like she’s ready to eat us alive for just speaking with you?’

Riv jerked his chin with a twitch to his lips. ‘You can’t tell who she is?’

Zane narrowed his gaze as he stared at the woman standing by Killen.

He flinched so hard that Ki’Remi and Xion whirled around to him.

‘No freakin’ way,’ the sapphire-eyed Rider growled.

He extracted himself from the group and marched up the pathway.

He got to the front of the rock structure and, walking up to élisa, stared into her face. ‘It can’t be.’

Her eyes, too, widened in recognition. ‘Zane?’

‘ Nada! How can this be?’

By now, Riv had reached them. ‘’Tis true, brother, believe it,’ he rasped, wrapping an arm around élisa’s waist.

She nodded, giving the lean, handsome Rider a wide smile.

With a guttural sound, Zane folded the slight woman in his arms.

Xion and Ki’Remi caught up to the group, staring in shock at élisa, then back at Killen.

‘’Tis eons since you left us,’ Zane murmured, pulling élisa away so he could study her. ‘Is this where you’ve been all this time?’

She nodded. ‘Welcome to my home. Xion?’

The loc-haired Sableman stepped forward, mouth agape, head shaking. ‘Woman, what torture we endured wondering where you’d gone.’

She hugged him and then took a step back with a sad smile. ‘I’m so sorry you had to. I’ll let Riv tell you everything. In the meantime, meet our son. Killen.’

The three Riders lurched in a second wave of collective shock.

When he found his tongue, Zane pointed a finger at his brother and then at élisa. ‘You both have a child? Is the time warp on this godforsaken planet that gnarly?’

Riv’s lips turned up at the ends. ‘ Nada , you idiot. Killen was born soon after élisa departed from Eden II all that time ago.’

The Riders exchanged glances.

‘Just after you left us?’ Xion’s voice was steeped in sadness.

élisa sighed. ‘It’s a long story. Come inside, friends. We’ve much to fill each other in on.’

The sun set as the group immersed themselves in telling, retelling, and sharing their pasts and experiences.

Until all six individuals, torn apart by sorrow and reunited by circumstance, were on the same page.

During their catch-up session, they’d shared more of Killen’s brew.

Along with a batch of delicious fresh flatbread that élisa and Riv baked the day before, there was a selection of sliced meats, nuts, fruits, and pickles from the rock garden.

‘Kainan will never believe this shit,’ Xion commented.

‘He’ll lose his mind when he learns you are found, élisa.’ Zane still looked stunned. ‘Even back then, as our leader, he felt responsible that one of us was missing.’

She gave the Rider a soft smile. ‘I’m not lost anymore.’

‘Tis the best news since I learned of my daughter’s birth.’ Zane served her with a gentle smile. ‘Now all we need to do is pick up Ankis, and then we can all go home.’

élisa’s face fell. ‘About that. Killen and I cannot go back to Eden II with you. I haven’t mentioned to you, Zane, Xion, and Ki’Remi that my son and I must return to Katánē.’

Ki’Remi raised a brow. ‘Why? Isn’t that the place you ran from and want nothing to do with?’

‘ Naam .’ élisa was unable to keep the glum note from her voice. ‘But both Killen and I need a medic. My son lost his sight because the Ka’SH?rd pulled on his hawkstone, and I’m also blind in one eye for the same reason. I remember there was an old healer on a moon of our planet who specialized in lodestone removals.’

Zane tilted his head to consider her words. ‘You need a healer?’

‘We do.’

He exchanged glances with his fellow Riders.

They had a private conversation that went on for some time.

After a beat, Killen leaned in. ‘May I please speak?’

The meta warriors turned to the younger man.

Riv raised a hand in invitation. ‘You may, son.’

‘My mother and I will leave Devansi. But only after we unravel the mystery of the Ka’SH?rd and it untangles us from our blindness.’

élisa shot her son a stunned look. ‘Killen, are you saying we don’t need to go to Katánē to get the lodestones removed?’

‘ Naam . We won’t need them removed if the very thing causing the blindness is dealt with and our health restored.’

élisa bucked in shock. ‘When were you going to tell me?’

Her son returned a small smile. ‘I’m telling you now.’

She gave Riv an incredulous look, and he responded by pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her silver hair.

‘I’m so confused right now,’ she moaned, wrapping her hands tightly around her man.

‘It shall be revealed soon,’ Killen promised.

Then he and Zane’s gazes met, and an unseen power pulsed between them.

Zane’s eyes widened. ‘You’re more than you seem.’

Killen inclined his head. ‘So are you.’

The two men assessed each other, their energies clashing in contemplation.

‘When this is all said and done, I think a shared beer is required,’ Zane drawled.

‘I’ll shout you the first round,’ Killen rasped. ‘For now, I believe we’ve business with the Ka’SH?rd.’

Zane raised a brow. ‘ Naam, we do. But first, we need to calm its storms. I think you and I could manage that together.’

élisa started, lowering her voice. ‘Can someone please explain?’

Zane turned to Riv’s woman. ‘The Ka’SH?rd is part of an entity we Riders encountered before.’

He gave her a rundown of recent events on the opposite end of Pegasi with the Eden Shard.

‘We believe the Devansi Shard is in some sort of distress,’ Zane added. ‘It’s unbalancing the gravitational balance on this planet and most likely the source of your blindness. If we were to calm it somehow, perhaps it can provide the healing you two need.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s a powerful, unstable, celestial entity. What if it doesn’t play nice? It hasn’t so far.’

Riv touched her arm. ‘My love, we won’t know until we get to it.’

Zane nodded. ‘Whatever we decide, we need to make it quick.’

Riv’s eyes narrowed.‘Why?’

Xion jerked his chin at élisa. ‘Her people are on their way here. In an extensive fleet. So we need to get going with our harebrained plan and get the hell out of here before they arrive.’

As élisa cried out in panic, Riv slid his arms around her. ‘Hush now. We’ll get away before they get here.’

‘We won’t make it.’ Killen said the words matter of fact.

The group rounded on him.

He raised his hands to calm their worry. ‘We weren’t meant to make it out before their arrival.’

‘ Nada ,’ moaned élisa under her breath. ‘They’ll be too much for us all. They will kill us all.’

‘Mother, they will not,’ Killen said, rubbing her arm to comfort her. ‘I have seen the hereafter. While a battle lies ahead of us, and we’ll pay a cost, there is a chance we will prevail.’

His words hung in the air for a long moment, and then he and Riv exchanged a long look of understanding.

Riv encircled élisa’s waist and murmured into her ear. ‘Your son sees what we cannot, and we must trust him. Also, we Riders are stronger, faster, and more lethal than you remember. We’ll make a way.’

élisa didn’t look convinced and leaned away from her lover, her face closed.

Undaunted, Riv edged closer. ‘Talk to me, beautiful.’

She served him a long look and sighed. ‘May I speak with you? Outside?’

‘Of course, my love.’

He followed élisa to the external courtyard to the rear, where the low calls of the dzo sounded as they settled in for the night.

‘I’m not comfortable with this plan.’ Her hands were crossed over her chest, her face set in tension. ‘Going anywhere near the Ka’SH?rd might harm Killen even more. Staying here on Devansi to tangle with it is a major risk. Hanging around till my people arrive, that’s suicide.’

‘élisa, I understand -,’ Riv attempted.

She swerved around to face him, gritting her teeth. ‘Do you? You haven’t agonized as your son goes blind before your eyes and seen the suffering it brought him. You didn’t spend long, arduous days helping him learn how to adjust and compensate. It was so painful to witness his frustration. And now, for us to agree, with such casual ease, to this hare-brained plan is beyond me. It’ll also delay our exit from Devansi. We’ll lose the advantage of time.’

Riv sucked his lips, shaking his head. ‘Killen says we won’t make it, and Zane agrees. Mirage confirms the Katánian fleet has accelerated and will be here very soon. If we leave the planet, they’ll detect us anyway and give chase. We’ve sent word to Eden II. Let’s hope Kainan gets here before the fleet arrives. It’s our best chance.’

‘Is it?’ élisa whispered. ‘You have no idea how fierce my people are, how unrelenting they are in combat.’

Riv inclined his head, conceding. ‘That’s true, malaíka , I don’t. I’ve never faced them. Given Killen’s hereafter gift, maybe he knows best. It would be best to let him do what he thinks is necessary. Stop worrying; he’s a young man who can make up his mind.’

élisa hissed, her face contorting with emotion. ‘Don’t tell me how to parent him, Riv. You weren’t here for most of his life. You haven’t seen what he’s been through. He may be wise to all things divine, but he never had companionship, friends, formal training, or a social life. He’s eager for adventure with you, but that might be the thing that kills him. I know what he needs. And it’s not traipsing on an escapade that might end him.’

Riv held his hands up in surrender. ‘What if I can speak to Mirage and devise something to give Killen that dampens the impact of the entity on his hawkstone, and perhaps the same for you?’

She served him with incredulity. ‘You can do that?’

‘We’ve fashioned many workarounds over the years. I’ll see what I can do.’

She looked away from him with a soft exhale as her anxiety abated somewhat. ‘Please.’

‘What of everything else?’ he rasped. ‘Will you let Killen’s advice and Zane’s psi-abilities lead us? Will you trust that we Riders and, most of all, Killen believe the best course of action is to face the nebula first, then tackle your fleet?’

élisa appeared to give his words some thought. ‘I’ll step back and let your plan go ahead, but Riv, if anything happens to Killen -’

‘I know. I’m here, I’m his Father, and I’ll do my damnedest to be his protector now. Will you let me?’

The lovers shared a long look.

With a tired smile, élisa reached a hand to stroke his. ‘Sounds like I’ve got to start trusting you and him now. It’s hard to let go, but I need to.’

‘Wise words, my silver star.’

He touched his lips to hers, and then élisa gave him a tired smile, pivoting back into the house. ‘I’d better get back to hosting my guests.’

He exhaled, watching her hips sway, giving her space, sensing she needed time out.

This instant family dynamic was proving to be a challenge to navigate.

He knew what she’d been through was heart-wrenching, and her protectiveness of Killen was warranted. He had to step with care. To win her trust and help her learn that the burden wasn’t all on her shoulders.

He also had a gifted, deity-like son, and he needed to respect and guide him with wisdom if he let him.

Though he dreamed of their reunion for years, he hadn’t factored in what provocation and testing they’d encounter once they were together.

‘ Fokk me.’ He muttered the curse as he marched back into his woman’s home. ‘The path to eternal love is paved with fire that either warms your soul or burns you with flames of wonder and ash.’