Ronan swallowed his anger like rancid meat. “Do with me what you wish, but release Captain D’Accorso. I possess all the knowledge in her mind.”
“We shall see.” VelRauthi leaned against the desk, his eyes sharp behind their amusement. “You and the captain have been lovers?”
“Yes,” Cynara said. ‘That’s the only reason he has my knowledge. I did care for him, before…” She let the contempt in her voice complete the sentence.
“I see that you have lost your taste for alien lovers. A little too exotic… Lifemate?” He smiled at Ronan. “So that was your strategy to save her from the human-haters. Unfortunately, I feel the lady’s distaste for the prospect. Such a high honor wasted.”
Ronan shut out the Kinsman’s mockery. It didn’t matter if Cynara truly believed what she said, or if Tyr spoke for her. As long as she remained alive and safe.
Silence. Silence your thoughts.
“You seem distracted, VelKalevi,” Constano said with feigned concern. “It is sad to lose the regard of a loved one, but it will make it easier for you in the long term. You see, I won’t be able to let the captain go until I am quite certain that her information is of use to us. One of you will provide the initial intelligence, and the other will confirm it under deep-probe. Unfortunately, that confirmation may result in severe and permanent damage to the subjected mind.
“You’ll have to choose which of you is to remain sane.”
* * *
Chapter 27
« ^ »
Ronan took a step forward, and the guards snapped to attention. “Captain D’Accorso will give you what you demand,” he said. “I will not resist your deep-probe.”
“Very noble,” Constano said. “Have you any objections, Captain D’Accorso? Cooperate and keep your sanity, and your life if not your freedom. I give you my word. You’ll be rid of the man who led you to this, along with the unwelcome burden of his pathetic devotion.”
Cynara continued to stare straight ahead, an exquisite statue gracing VelRauthi’s quarters. “I need time to consider.”
“Of course.” He moved back around his desk and sat, steepling his fingers in an attitude of profound gravity. “You and Ronan may return to your cabin to… discuss your options.”
The guards closed in about Ronan and Cynara, and for a moment Ronan’s impulse to attack VelRauthi was so powerful that the Kinsman shot up from his seat and shouted in warning. A rifle butt struck Ronan in the belly. He doubled over, sucking in air, and came up to meet Cynara’s stony gaze.
“Enjoy your final moments together,” VelRauthi said, and laughed.
The Kinsman guards marched Ronan and Cynara back to the cell, where they were provided with rations and water. Cynara retreated to her side of the cabin.
“You must let him have what he wants,” Ronan said, sinking into a crouch. “VelRauthi will not spare me, whatever you decide.”
He might as well have been talking to the bulkhead. Cynara didn’t move.
Before the meeting with VelRauthi, Ronan had feared to touch Cynara’s mind lest he prematurely reveal his intentions. Now there was no choice. VelRauthi was convinced that Cynara would break with very little encouragement, and that she might even prove useful beyond the intelligence she contributed. But Ronan had no doubt that he would deep-probe Cynara in spite of his promise.
What she needed was a way to preserve her sanity when VelRauthi attempted- the probe. Ronan had a very limited window of opportunity in which to give her that ability.
Cynara had said or implied many times that all her strength came from her cousin. What had happened on the day Tyr died? Her memories made his act a noble sacrifice, essential to her position as captain of the Pegasus.
There must be something more.
“Cynara,” he said gently, “you must trust me.” Without waiting for a reply, he sat cross-legged on the deck and began the practice of the Eightfold Way. One by one he renewed his mental barriers, constructing a scaffolding of surface thoughts and fears to distract any Kinsman observers. The barricade would hold for only a short time, but its labyrinthine structure would conceal what he attempted to create behind it.