Conduit - M J Marlow (best short books to read txt) 📗

don’t know,” I answered him. “Why?” I saw his mind and I smiled. “You are bad, Everd. I think I like you.” “That’s a start,” he nodded. “Are you willing?” “It would serve them right,” I laughed as he carried me back up on the roof. I could feel them coming. The door opened and I went into my act. “No!” I hissed at Everd and started backing away. “I am not going anywhere with you. I’ll throw myself off this building before I let you take me away.” “Dulcie,” Dovid’s eyes widened in shock as he moved around to stop me. “Please do not distress yourself so. We only want what is best for you.” “What is best for me,” I sobbed and continued to move away, “is to be with my family; with the ones I love.” I did not have to feign my anger now. “But not one of you thought of how your little experiment would affect me; did you?” I saw them all moving in to circle me as Everd winked at me. “I won’t do it!” I ran for the edge and Ashad cut me off at the last second. I twisted and whirled and I was off. I could hear their cries of alarm as they dove after me and I let myself fall. Then, just as Chandri reached out to catch me, I let my defenses kick in and I twisted away from him and hovered over the ground, laughing. “You shouldn’t play such games, fledgling,” Ashad snapped as he followed me to the roof and caught Everd and I giggling. “What if she had hurt herself and lost consciousness?” Everd hung his head. “You would not be laughing then.” “But I’d be free of you,” I snapped at him. I saw his surprised look as he realized just how truly angry I was. “We will bring your family to you,” Ashad told me. “They may visit with you until your wings come in; and then,” he said with true regret for the grief he was causing me, “you will have to say goodbye to them.” I looked to argue and his expression warned me. “It is as it must be, fledgling.” I could tell he knew I didn’t believe him, but there was nothing more either of us would say. Two days later, we made our goodbyes to Wainwright and the others and they flew me to their hidden valley. As we approached a castle on an island in the center of an immense lake, I felt like I was going back in time. I noticed that the only way to the castle was by boat, and that there was none, or by air. Did they think they could keep me locked in the tower like Rapunzel? They left me in the tower chamber and I looked around at the strange bed suspended on chains in the center. They left me to explore to my heart’s content and I did so happily. There was no part of the castle or the valley that was closed to me. At least that is what they told me; but I had a feeling they were keeping something very important from me. Even my friend, Everd would not tell me what it was. Two weeks later, I watched from the tower as the twins got out of a jeep with a man I recognized as David Corman, Jeanne’s husband, and a few other men. Everd stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders. “Do you miss your home world, Everd,” I asked him and caught a look of profound sadness on his handsome young face. “What?” “I am an anamoly, my lady,” he told me plainly. “I was born in a Vyrashtu slave pen. My mother was abducted from her mates on a raid on their colony world before she dropped me.” “They killed her,” I caught theimages in his mind. “Your rescue did not arrive in time to save her.” Tears were streaming down my face. “I grieve with you, my friend.” “It was Ashad and the others who rescued me,” Everd said softly. “They were on a scouting mission when her mind screamed out to them in her terror. Our colony was the furthest out in our home system, the first to be struck by our enemies.” He set aside his pain and smiled down on me. “They took all of our females from us when they swept through our system, Dulcie,” he said as he put his arms around me. “That is why you are so precious to us.” “But you call yourselves ‘brothers’,” I said, puzzled. “We do not share bloodlines,” Everd answered, “but we are bonded by our purpose.” “And that makes us even stronger,” Bindri said as he flew into the chamber. He looked at me in distress. “The duplicates are waiting for you, Dulcie.” “We call them ‘twins’ on this planet, Bindri,” I said to them. “Let’s go see them.” I saw their worry. “I am not going to tell them about you or the Sylenni.” They flew me to the shore and I practically ran as I went to the campsite where Jonas and Jason were waiting. They hugged me as I laughed as they showered me with questions. I told them about being rescued by the FBI agent. I did not tell him about being forced to be a part of medical experiments. I claimed that they had brought me here to find out why the Abbott had been so insistent that I be here with the archaeologists. I looked over at Boussard and knew he was waiting to be betrayed. “It seems some of Professor Boussard’s graduate students,” I said to them, “were a little over-zealous about getting me here. They meant no harm…” “But they abducted you, Dulcie,” Jason snapped. “No one does that to our sister!” Jonas added. “It’s a good thing they’re in jail,” he continued as he flexed his muscles; “or I’d be beating them down!” “There’s no need to beat anyone, Jon,” I smiled at my overly fierce ‘brother’. “I’m fine. The Abbott merely wished to meet me. He said I might like to see where my ancestors came from and asked the Professor if he could not see about inviting me here.” I looked around the valley. “It’s really a very nice place. I think I’m going to stay here for a while.” “But we came all this way to rescue you, Dulcie,” Jason frowned. “We were all set to hurt people,” Jonas’ duplicate frown showed. He glared at the Professor. “Are you certain they’re not keeping you here against your will?” “I’m fine, Jon,” I laughed and hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re my brother!” I caught their hands in mine and led them away. “Come with me. The Abbott said he would like to meet you.” I looked over at David. “You and your friends can come, David.” “I’d like to meet this Abbott of yours,” David nodded. “We’ll stay here,” one of the other men suggested. I couldn’t argue; they would do what they wished whether I liked it or not. “This is really a great place, guys,” I said as I hooked arms with the twins. “It’s been here since 1353, and it has all sorts of cool things,” I described the cloisters, and the chapel, and the gardens, and saw them growing bored. “Or,” I smiled impishly, “Brother Dominic can show you his collection of medieval torture devices.” I saw them perk up and I nodded. “He’s got them set up in the dungeons.” “What kind of monastery has a dungeon?” Jonas asked, instantly intrigued. “The monks have always devoted themselves to history,” I told them as we entered. We went into the Abbott’s office and he looked up and smiled at me. “Abbott, I would like to introduce you to my ‘brothers’, Jason and Jonas, and our friend, David.” “I am honored to meet the family of our little princess,” the Abbott rose to his feet and looked down on the twins. They were instantly impressed. And then awed when the giant shook their hands as if they were men and not boys. “And an honored friend.” “Dulcie is really a princess?” David asked as he met the man’s eyes easily. He was not going to be fooled by any story, his expression told the Abbott. I could see they understood each other. “That wasn’t a fabrication?” “No, David,” the Abbott smiled and returned to his seat. He picked up a bell and rang it. A moment later, a young monk came into the Office. “Please bring our guests some refreshment, Nicolai.” The monk nodded and moved off. The Abbott looked directly at David as I went to sit on the window seat that overlooked the gardens. He looked puzzled. “You know of her father’s family; how she is granddaughter to a Spanish prince?” David nodded. “Dulcinea Santos, is also the last living descendant of the rulers of this valley through her maternal lineage. She is a direct link to the Prince Miguel de Navarre, and his wife, Princess Isabella, who brought their people here seeking sanctuary in 1330.” “Wow!” Jonas choked. “They used their riches to bring artisans and craftsmen and men of the orders along,” the Abbott continued the tale. It was all the truth, I noted. “They all worked hard and happily to build this monastery, the castle, and the village. And life was peaceful for them. In 1353, a daughter was born to the prince and princess. She was abducted by enemies who found their way into the valley and she was taken away.” He looked at me. “Before they could follow, the Magistrate went mad. He was telling the villagers that the baby was stolen as punishment for allowing evil to enter the valley.” He shook his head. “He believed that the monks were in league with the devil and the only way the villagers could be safe was if they purged their souls.” “What did he do?” Jonas’ asked, eyes wide with interest. “It is not something we are proud of,” the Abbott said to them. “We have preferred to leave that part of our history forgotten.” He looked at me and I nodded permission. “The Magistrate waited until all the villagers were asleep and then he chained their doors shut and set the buildings on fire. When the monks ran to help, they found him lit alight and dancing in the village square, laughing as he drank.” “Everyone died?” Jonas shuddered in horror. “No wonder you guys don’t talk about it.” He looked over at me. “So Dulcie is the descendant of that child that was stolen? Does that mean this valley is hers?” “Yes,” the Abbott nodded. “Everything here, except the monastery, is the property of her family to perpetuity. She is now, legally, the princess Dulcinea de la Valle Santos.” The door opened and their refreshments arrived. “I realize that you would like your ‘sister’ to return home with you, but there is still a bit more legal nonsense for her to deal with. As she is a minor, we will have the lawyers send the documents to your guardian, Judge Davenport.” “Geez, Dulcie,” Jason protested. “Did you tell him everything.” “Why not?” I asked as I watched a bird wheeling in flight overhead. I was filled with an urge to be up there with it that I had to fight. “The Abbott is a good man.” I suddenly realized that it was not a bird at all and I was on my feet. “I need to go speak to someone,” I told them. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I left the office at a calm pace, but the minute the door closed I was running out of the monastery. I approached the waterfall and found Everd waiting for me. He was bored; his mind shot into mine, and wished my company.