imploring the gods for help.
I tried another tactic. “How do you feel about cats as pets?”
Jaylan’s mouth firmed. “No.”
Ha. Like that was going to work. “Kaylee has her Tabors. Zoey has the Gorum. Why can’t I have cats?”
“Gorum aren’t pets; they’re allies,” Jaylan pointed out logically.
“Tiko and Madal could be too.”
A badly scarred Pantos crouched on a toadstool behind Jaylan.
Before he could spring, I commanded mentally, “Sit.”
Yowling in outrage, the cat sat.
“Good kitty.”
Jaylan rubbed his face. “‘ Good kitty?’ He’s an alpha.”
Like I cared? “So? He’s not eating Madal.”
Another Pantos with only one tusk crept over the rocks.
“Stop!”
He froze and snarled in fury.
“How many can you control at one time?” Jaylan leveled his laser pistol at the cats.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. My critter control has always been a bit iffy.”
Jaylan’s left eye twitched spasmodically. “Iffy?”
“Relax. I’ve got a plan.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Do you have any pictures of the assassins Radan hired?”
One tap on his communications bracelet, and the image of eight fierce, heavily armed Coletti warriors formed in midair.
“Deadly lookin’ bunch.”
“They’re responsible for the massacre at the Tarian outpost.”
“Well, it’s about time those lowlife scum got a little justice.” Sitting on a nearby rock, I opened the heel of my boot and took out what was left of the explosive. “I love blowing stuff up, don’t you?”
Jaylan smiled evilly. “Very much.”
A mechanical whine broke the silence. A moment later, a silver, bullet-shaped shuttle zoomed by.
“Time for a little fun in the sun.” I mentally projected the pictures of the assassins into the Pantos’s minds. “Sic ’em.”
Obediently, the cats trotted off.
He shook his head in disbelief. “They’re actually obeying you.”
I was a bit surprised myself. “Where shall we plant the explosives?”
Jaylan touched his bracelet. An overview of the canyons popped into existence. He pointed at the crater surrounding the geyser. “An explosive here and here will blow the underground channels and turn the area into one massive geyser.”
“And if they manage to teleport out?”
“We bring the canyon walls down on them.”
“Good plan, but to make it work, we have to split up. I’ll take the geyser.”
A muscle in Jaylan’s jaw twitched. “No. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”
“Not on this world.”
“We’re both at risk. If there’s a problem, I’ll holler, and you can teleport to the rescue. ’Kay?”
His bracelet chimed a warning.
“Tick tock. We’re running out of time.”
Jaylan sighed heavily. “Your logic is irrefutable.”
I gave him an impish grin. “I am the Overlord’s granddaughter.”
“Very much so.” Jaylan bit into his arm and held it out. “Drink, or we don’t separate.”
I knew there would be a catch, but I was getting stronger. I took his arm and lapped at the blood. Huh? It tasted almost as good as chocolate. How weird was that?
Chapter Nine
A curtain of mist rose from small pools of boiling yellow mud. Grotesque gray thorn trees with rootlike branches dotted the banks. Withered husks of long-dead creatures littered the ground beneath the trees.
I ducked a lashing branch and shuddered. The carnivorous trees were wicked fast, and if a barb penetrated your flesh, it quickly drained you dry.
A baby Barat squeaked excitedly and scurried toward me. “Momma?”
My jaw dropped in astonished horror. Oh my God. Barats were intelligent, psychic beings? Or was I suddenly Doctor Doolittle?
“Momma,” he cried again.
“No! Not momma.” I backed away. The little guy was the size of a small tarantula. Could they be distant relatives of Kaylee’s Tabors?
The baby stopped, and his stinger drooped. “Not momma?”
Guilt twisted my stomach. Had Jaylan killed his mom?
I tried another tactic. “How do you feel about cats as pets?”
Jaylan’s mouth firmed. “No.”
Ha. Like that was going to work. “Kaylee has her Tabors. Zoey has the Gorum. Why can’t I have cats?”
“Gorum aren’t pets; they’re allies,” Jaylan pointed out logically.
“Tiko and Madal could be too.”
A badly scarred Pantos crouched on a toadstool behind Jaylan.
Before he could spring, I commanded mentally, “Sit.”
Yowling in outrage, the cat sat.
“Good kitty.”
Jaylan rubbed his face. “‘ Good kitty?’ He’s an alpha.”
Like I cared? “So? He’s not eating Madal.”
Another Pantos with only one tusk crept over the rocks.
“Stop!”
He froze and snarled in fury.
“How many can you control at one time?” Jaylan leveled his laser pistol at the cats.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. My critter control has always been a bit iffy.”
Jaylan’s left eye twitched spasmodically. “Iffy?”
“Relax. I’ve got a plan.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Do you have any pictures of the assassins Radan hired?”
One tap on his communications bracelet, and the image of eight fierce, heavily armed Coletti warriors formed in midair.
“Deadly lookin’ bunch.”
“They’re responsible for the massacre at the Tarian outpost.”
“Well, it’s about time those lowlife scum got a little justice.” Sitting on a nearby rock, I opened the heel of my boot and took out what was left of the explosive. “I love blowing stuff up, don’t you?”
Jaylan smiled evilly. “Very much.”
A mechanical whine broke the silence. A moment later, a silver, bullet-shaped shuttle zoomed by.
“Time for a little fun in the sun.” I mentally projected the pictures of the assassins into the Pantos’s minds. “Sic ’em.”
Obediently, the cats trotted off.
He shook his head in disbelief. “They’re actually obeying you.”
I was a bit surprised myself. “Where shall we plant the explosives?”
Jaylan touched his bracelet. An overview of the canyons popped into existence. He pointed at the crater surrounding the geyser. “An explosive here and here will blow the underground channels and turn the area into one massive geyser.”
“And if they manage to teleport out?”
“We bring the canyon walls down on them.”
“Good plan, but to make it work, we have to split up. I’ll take the geyser.”
A muscle in Jaylan’s jaw twitched. “No. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”
“Not on this world.”
“We’re both at risk. If there’s a problem, I’ll holler, and you can teleport to the rescue. ’Kay?”
His bracelet chimed a warning.
“Tick tock. We’re running out of time.”
Jaylan sighed heavily. “Your logic is irrefutable.”
I gave him an impish grin. “I am the Overlord’s granddaughter.”
“Very much so.” Jaylan bit into his arm and held it out. “Drink, or we don’t separate.”
I knew there would be a catch, but I was getting stronger. I took his arm and lapped at the blood. Huh? It tasted almost as good as chocolate. How weird was that?
Chapter Nine
A curtain of mist rose from small pools of boiling yellow mud. Grotesque gray thorn trees with rootlike branches dotted the banks. Withered husks of long-dead creatures littered the ground beneath the trees.
I ducked a lashing branch and shuddered. The carnivorous trees were wicked fast, and if a barb penetrated your flesh, it quickly drained you dry.
A baby Barat squeaked excitedly and scurried toward me. “Momma?”
My jaw dropped in astonished horror. Oh my God. Barats were intelligent, psychic beings? Or was I suddenly Doctor Doolittle?
“Momma,” he cried again.
“No! Not momma.” I backed away. The little guy was the size of a small tarantula. Could they be distant relatives of Kaylee’s Tabors?
The baby stopped, and his stinger drooped. “Not momma?”
Guilt twisted my stomach. Had Jaylan killed his mom?
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