“No, call me back.” Abruptly, he terminated the link and addressed the women. “If Jallyn isn’t on Bimordus Two, it will take us longer to find her, and the Elevation Ceremony is scheduled for sixty days hence. It will be disastrous if Jallyn fails to appear. We must keep this situation under wraps until she’s found.”
“I agree,” Wren said in a quiet voice. He’d been listening off to the side but now walked over to join them. “If Jallyn’s abduction becomes public knowledge, it will frighten the Auranians. They’ll fear they are still in danger from those who would oppose them.”
Glotaj nodded solemnly. “They might be deterred from revealing their legacy for another millennium. Jallyn has to be found so she can make her scheduled appearance.”
Mara considered his words as she took a seat next to Sarina. The Auranians were people of ancient descent who’d been persecuted because of their ability to mentally manipulate the aura surrounding living matter. Forced to flee their home planet of Shimera, they’d scattered among the stars, hiding their heritage to avoid further repression.
Sarina’s ancestors had been Auranians who’d landed on Earth. Teir was thought to be of Auranian descent as well. Ever since their joining, Auranians had been coming forward to share their legacy. Jallyn’s birth symbolized the reemergence of their race. The Elevation Ceremony would serve to recognize their right to freedom of expression, and Mara prayed Jallyn would be found in time to be there.
“Do you think Jallyn was taken because someone wants to discourage the Auranians from returning to power?” she asked, puzzled. She didn’t think the Auranians would pose a threat to anyone. Those who had come forward were learning long-forgotten skills based on Sarina’s experience. They were healers, albeit on a more limited scale than Sarina.
“Who would be against us?” Sarina’s voice rose barely above a whisper. “My people just want to live in peace.” Her fingers plucked at her crimson robe, opening and closing the folds in a nervous, repetitive motion.
Mara gripped Sarina’s cold hand in her own to offer reassurance. “Why else would someone take Jallyn? Do you think Sarina is in danger, too?” she asked Glotaj. A weight settled in the pit of her stomach at the possibility.
Glotaj shook his head. “The abductors had the perfect opportunity to take her, but she was left untouched. No, it was Jallyn they wanted.” The supreme regent paced the room, his hands folded behind his back.
Wren swept a sympathetic glance toward Sarina and Mara, and she drew strength from his presence. A strong, confident male, Wren was a Polluxite who served as Teir’s navigator aboard the Valiant. Like his captain, he ignored military convention and opted to wear leather breeches and a white shirt half open at his muscular chest.
Her gaze scanned his liquid hazel eyes and then rose to his layered eyebrows. A white streak was sandwiched between two chestnut layers darker than his head of brown hair. Combined with the rugged angles of his face, the unusual brows gave him a striking appearance.
Beside her, Sarina gave a tremulous sigh. Mara shot her a sharp glance, wishing Hedy would hurry up and get there. She squeezed Sarina’s hand, willing her to be strong. Her own heart fluttered rapidly in her chest. Jallyn... the poor child.
“Does Teir know?” Mara asked.
Glotaj responded. “He’s on a special assignment and can’t be reached. They have orders to observe radio silence.”
A cry of anguish escaped Sarina’s lips. The empty cup slipped from her fingers, tumbling onto the carpeted floor. Mara caught her by the shoulders just as she slumped to the side. “By the faith, she’s passed out.”
Wren hurried over. With his big arms, he scooped the Great Healer into his protective embrace. “She’s had a terrible shock. I’ll put her in her chamber until Dr. Te’larr gets here,” he said, using Hedy’s formal name.
As he headed away, Mara swiped at her moist eyes with the back of her hand. Emptiness beckoned at her mental doorstep, partly from fear for the missing child and partly from sharing her friend’s anxiety. She felt powerless when events were unfolding so fast and wished there were more she could do to help.
“I think we should consider different angles,” Wren said when he’d returned, his expression somber. “Jallyn could have been taken for reasons other than the Auranian issue.”
His tense state was betrayed by a large set of muscular wings that suddenly sprouted from his back. With a grimace of annoyance, he forced them to fold and retreat.
“Why are you looking at me?” he asked his audience. “You should be thinking of other possible culprits.
“Like who?” Glotaj queried, spreading his hands.
“This could be another ploy by the Morgots. Their leader, K’darr, tried to capture Sarina before she became the Great Healer. He could hope to gain through the infant what he failed with her mother.”
Mara gazed at him askance. “You mean, he’ll attempt to use Jallyn’s power for his own purposes?”
Wren nodded, his expression pained. “The extent of Jallyn’s ability is unknown at this stage. She may not even possess the healing gift despite the sign of the circle on her palm.”
“Jallyn does have the gift,” Mara stated. “I’ve sensed it in her, and she might be capable one day of doing even more than healing. The light of the aura is strong in that child.”
“Revenge could be a motive for the Souks,” Glotaj added, his face pensive. “They have reason to resent Sarina’s interference in their affairs.”
“I doubt they’re involved,” Wren retorted. “After Lord Cam’brii’s secret mission to Souk last annum, the pashas who gained power have been friendlier to the Coalition.”
“Where is Rolf?” Mara asked, aware that Lord Cam’brii and his bride had become good friends to Sarina and Teir.
“He and Ilyssa are visiting his family on Nadira,” Glotaj answered. “They know nothing about this. The fewer people who hear about it, the better.”
“What about former Councillor Daimon? Could he be making a replay for dominance?”
Glotaj stroked his bearded jaw. “I don’t see how stealing Sarina’s baby would fit into his scheme of things. The Return to Origins faction is a secessionist group.” His shoulders slumped, betraying his state of distress.
Normally the Coalition leader’s demeanor was calm and poised, as it had been through all the crises that had afflicted them recently. It proved how much he cared for Sarina that he let his emotions show.
“I’ve got it,” Wren said, jabbing a finger in the air. “It’s a ransom demand.”
“That’s absurd.” Mara’s head throbbed, and she rubbed at a pulsating point on her temple. “Sarina and Teir don’t have a lot of credits. What would someone stand to gain? In my opinion, you’re both off track. There’s something else we’re missing.”
The chime from the comm unit sounded, breaking the resultant silence.
“Greetings. This is Glotaj speaking,” the statesman said over the speaker system.
“It’s Controller Brecch from Spaceport Operations, Your Excellency. I have the information you requested. Three ships have launched within the past two hauras. One belongs to Fromoth Trun and the Yanuran delegation. They are returning to Yanura. Another craft is owned by Gregorski, a pilot who’s applied for mining rights to the Doby asteroid belt. The third is Ambassador El’Rik’s ship. He’s returning to the Minx system.”