Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
“I agree, he is. He's come back to Zimmer from almost as far away as you
have. Part of a pod crew, a common assignment for a very junior Warrior without
special skills or interests. The nearest point to Empire that particular Patrol runs
is off Reema Gate Station. Do you know it?”
Be'ell shook her head, dropping her eyes again.
“He found a skill, only he came to it later than is usual for males who undergo
rasa. Do you understand?” Oimit chuckled. “You find us strange. Have you met
Clan before? Most freeborn don't ever, not close like this. To see us, the touch of
us, the scent. Our servants, of course, but they become used to it. They know the
limits they don't dare cross over. And they know the... risks, some even learn to
enjoy those risks. Most often, just a potential of danger to entertain and
stimulate.” Her hand continued to stroke Be'ell, much as the woman had done to
her children to calm them. “He is beautiful. The best that Zimmer produces, a
very old line doubled back so often that there is nothing in him that isn't perfectly
a'Genn. Pattern sensitivity runs strong in a'Genn, did you know that?”
“Oimit, this has gone far enough.”
But Be'ell had nodded.
His sister smiled and let her hand drop to the feather that lay across her lap.
“Of course you would.”
Tu'pin stood, trying to blink away the black that threatened again. “Senior
sister-wife Daca might have a point,” he said coldly.
Oimit laughed but not as she had. A ringing sound came from her that was
instantly answered from far above. “They won't kill him, you know,” she said,
speaking to Be'ell again, her voice hoarse with the aftermath of her laughter. “Not
like you must think. That blood is honored in a'Genn. How could it not be? If he
doesn't take the sharp edge of his honor blade first, he'll die screaming in a
warded room, burning with Zimmer pattern.”
Stone crashed around them; he hadn't even heard the mirsasitin strike. “Be'ell,
you're a long way from your home,” Oimit continued when the stone was
finished. “A long way to bring death. Sourrin is dead, the entire settlement,
unless you kill us. Who would know that we were ever here?” She shifted her
weight. “Sourrin freehold would die even on suspicion of harboring you. Unless
you kill us. Could you kill us?”
“How?”
All he had heard was disbelief but Oimit sighed. “Tu'pin, did you notice the
element of curiosity? Be'ell, what do you do besides being a Speaker? And a
breeder.” The last added to sound as the afterthought it must have been anything
but.
“A spy,” he said when the woman didn't answer.
“No, more than that: a revolutionary,” Oimit said. “Weapons training, of
course. You wouldn't come all this way just to impart your heresy; you would
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca