The True Ruler, page 8
part #5 of Worlds Apart Series
Cassie cast her eyes down to the coffee mug. Darden was giving her looks full of doubt and suspicion, and she could feel the same emotions through their private telepathic link. He had never looked at her quite like this before. She knew exactly what had sparked the distrust from her soul mate—the stupid warrior link.
When the warrior channel first opened, she was too blown away by what had occurred between her and Darden to acknowledge the pathway. Besides, the soul mate channel was the stronger of the two pathways opened to her. So, she didn’t need the secondary access.
Benko did not enter the warrior link until she was a teenager. Darden had wrongly assumed he and her father were the only two who had access to the channel because she never communicated through it. As soon as Tarsea and the others joined the link, all of a sudden they believed the legendary warrior channel had revealed itself. Cassie never bothered to correct the misconception. Now it had come back to bite her in the ass.
How Cassie wished she could enlighten Darden that he was very wrong. One thing she knew about soul mates—they were immune from the power the other wielded. At no point had she ever tried to use her mind control talents to get anything from her father or Darden. She was unsure how she was going to rectify this problem without giving too much away.
“Barash never said or did anything for me to be concerned about,” Cassie said. She was going to get involved in the conversation and hopefully refocus Darden’s thoughts. “We should not assume everyone who cannot access the warrior channel is an enemy. Legend only has the closest advisors to the True Ruler having the ability to enter, not every supporter. If the coup we plan is to be successful, it is the common Troyk citizens we communicate with through the communal channels that will help us win the day.”
Cassie was working herself into an agitated state. She seldom joined political discussions. She often wanted to tell her father and his advisors the focus should be on the people they needed support from, not the politicians they planned to overthrow. She knew they all regarded her as a spoiled brat and feared they would simply discount anything she said, so she remained silent.
Alex placed her hand on Cassie’s forearm. “Maybe we should focus on Barash’s arrival and how we will explain the small army accompanying them on their date. Besides, our biggest challenge is Cassie’s meeting with Jeryl Jarlyn. Let’s not lose focus on what’s most important.”
If they had been alone, Cassie would have hugged Alex. She did not know if her friend picked up her discomfort or just wanted to put in her two cents. Alex’s baby was a telepathic empath. Chartail had temporarily developed mind control abilities while pregnant; it was not a stretch to figure Alex’s unborn daughter was sharing her powers. Regardless, Cassie was happy for Alex’s support.
By this time, Tolfer had finished his second batch of breakfast food and Darden piled his plate with protein. Cassie figured she had a reprieve where the warrior channel was concerned. When Koel arrived, they would concentrate on the tactical aspects required for the day. Darden’s cousin was a talented tactician. He had planned Candy and Tolfer’s rescue from the Troyk penal colony. The rescue included coordinating the entry of people from four different parallel dimensions, including the Nightshade universe.
Once Darden’s attention was on his food, Cassie was able to continue eating her own breakfast. Although she was nervous about spending time with her grandfather, her stress had no affect on her appetite until Darden threw her questioning looks. When was he going to trust her? She needed to keep her composure and not lapse into her spoiled brat persona.
Cassie was relieved when JoAnna and Koel arrived. She and JoAnna went to her room and worked on her telepathic shield while the rest of the group moved to the common room to devise strategies to handle Barash. By some miracle, Cassie was able to put up her shield against JoAnna’s assault, as well as listen to the discussion taking place in another part of the house through the warrior channel.
“JoAnna, how did you deal with everyone not trusting you when you first arrived in the Troyk universe?” Cassie asked. Her new friend experienced some of the same issues Cassie was struggling with now. Perhaps she could learn from JoAnna how to combat the doubt.
“I just had to have faith in myself,” JoAnna answered, shrugging her shoulders. “Everyone was fighting a power I manipulated most of my life without realizing it. Koel knew what we were to each other, yet he did his best to stay away from me. Finally, he had no choice but to trust I would be able to control my additional telepathic abilities. The same is true with you and Darden. He has known you since you were a little girl. I don’t understand his behavior.”
“That makes two of us,” Cassie said. “It really hurts. My father and Darden believe I am going to turn into some kind of monster, yet you girls barely know me and have more confidence in my ability to control myself.”
“Maybe because we have all been through the same thing,” JoAnna said. “Of the five of us, only we share the same ability. I imagine even mind control telepathic abilities may vary from person to person. It’s best to take things one day at a time. Alex, Shirl, Candy, and I are here for you. You are not alone. The men are focusing on Benko and his revolution. We, on the other hand, are focused on you and your safety.”
Cassie reached over and hugged JoAnna. Her words and advice were exactly what Cassie needed at this point. Thank goodness she was not the first to enter the Troyk universe. She had a whole new respect for Alex, their trailblazer. Now, she just needed to get through her first date and then the training session with her grandfather.
Barash arrived exactly on time, shortly after Shirl and Starc. Cassie was not present to greet him since she was retouching her makeup. When she joined her date in the common room, poor Barash was surrounded by hostile men all dressed in black. She was not sure when the men changed tunics, but they certainly looked menacing.
“Oh, I see you have met our entourage,” Cassie said. “My grandfather considers my safety his number one priority.”
Barash would look foolish to argue the point. Jeryl Jarlyn had not set up the security force - that was all her friends and soul mate’s doing. If she was being honest, Cassie was relieved she had people around her who cared. There were still factions who wanted to bring down the mind control government without regard for the means or consequences. She now represented that government.
“We should head out,” Barash said.
Candy made a pre-emptive move and grabbed Barash’s arm. The Warrior Woman started conversing with him about a hand-to-hand training session the C.T. Guards participated in the day before. It gave Darden the opportunity to walk alongside Cassie.
For two people who had made love the night before, they were both tongue tied. Cassie had hurried out of their room this morning anxious about the day’s events and they had been surrounded by people all morning. She was not sure how Alex and Tarsea had found any privacy in the house, not to mention Candy and Tolfer.
“We need to present a united front to your grandfather,” Darden shared with her through their private channel. “He needs to understand we are a package deal. I have more of a right to you than he does.”
Cassie counted to ten in her mind. She did not want to show any negative response to Darden’s comment. Why he felt he was lord and master over her was beyond Cassie’s comprehension. They were soul mates; she was not a piece of chattel.
“My grandfather has not been part of my life,” Cassie said. She did not feel the need to keep this part of the conversation private. “He naturally wants to get to know me. And frankly, I would like to spend time with him as well.”
Her date turned from time to time, checking to make sure she was still behind him. Candy continued to monopolize his attention. JoAnna and Shirl were close behind with their men, ready to take Candy’s place if necessary. She was not altogether sure whether this was all for her benefit or Darden’s.
It did not take long to get to the restaurant where they would dine. The restaurant was located in the gathering place park near the Childers’s residence. The park was on the way to The Palace, so it seemed the logical place to share a meal. Barash may have intended for them to enjoy an intimate lunch, but her protectors made them a modest sized group.
They were led to a table set for eight. Lunch was well underway and they attracted a lot of attention. Shirl, Candy, and JoAnna were well-known in the area. They were women of legend living among Troyk citizens. It would only be a matter of time before Cassie would grab that same notoriety. Already, the communal pathways were active with gossip related to who she could be.
Barash quickly snagged the chair next to her, while Darden claimed the chair on her other side. JoAnna sat next to Barash, giving Candy a well needed break. Either of the two mind control telepathic women could convince Barash he was not interested in her. Cassie had never used her power in such a way, but did not rule it out for future use if things became sticky with Barash or any other man her grandfather set her up with. In this particular case, her grandfather would undo anything they attempted.
It was her understanding that a mind control telepath could make the decision for a person who was waffling over a choice. Anyone who was totally committed to an action or person could not be swayed. The victim of a mind control telepath would be unaware the decision was not their own. If new information or some kind of stimulus was introduced, the person would go through their decision-making process again. This time, however, they would make their own decision, assuming a mind control telepath did not interfere.
Although he never admitted it, Cassie was confident her father used his gift from time to time in making business deals. He no doubt justified its usage as a means to make a comfortable life for Cassie in the world they were trapped in. Benko was unusually successful and was able to afford homes in both Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona.
Cassie looked at the menu and was unsure of what to order. There were several selections that were unfamiliar to her. Darden had been around her enough on Earth to know what she liked and disliked.
“What should I order, Darden?” Cassie asked through their special link.
She knew orders were taken telepathically. As soon as Cassie knew what she would order, she would send it through the communal pathways. There were waitresses in the past Cassie felt had to be telepathic. They would take an order at a large table at an Earth restaurant, never writing anything down.
“Order the chicken and keen dish,” Darden responded. “It is one of Alex’s favorites. The spices used are all found on Earth and the keen will pick up those flavors.”
“I will be happy to order for you, Cassie,” Barash said aloud. “You have not been here long enough to have clear access to our many telepathic pathways.”
“Thank you, Barash,” she said. “I’ll have the chicken and keen dish.”
Cassie did not have the heart to correct Barash’s misconception. Besides, the more people underestimated her abilities, the better off she would be. As far as Barash knew, she had never used her telepathic powers until she arrived in the Troyk universe. He assumed Benko never taught her and was ignorant of the time she spent in the penal colony.
She was about to sip from the glass of water when Candy communicated a warning through the warrior channel. “We’ve got trouble coming. Darden, you need to get Cassie out of here. Koel, JoAnna, and I will deal with the agitator. Shirl and Starc, you should accompany Cassie and provide back-up.”
Chapter 9
Darden grabbed ahold of Cassie’s arm and almost lifted her from the chair. Candy launched herself to her feet and approached the man stalking toward them. The communal pathways were already abuzz concerning the angry man pushing his way through the restaurant. He bumped into various waiters, causing them to drop their trays of food.
Cassie was dragged outside the perimeter of the dining area, but her eyes still fought to witness the altercation. Barash automatically went to Candy’s side, rather than reacting to Darden evacuating his date from the scene. She tugged on Darden’s arm when they were out of danger huddled within the crowd that gathered around the exterior of the restaurant.
The intruder had some kind of weapon. Cassie could not tell what kind from her vantage point. Candy had the ability to know when the perpetrator would use the firearm or knife and JoAnna could get into his head. It was fascinating to watch the interplay, wondering which power would prevail, the physical or the mental.
She felt a slight pressure in her head. Her mind was not accustomed to all the telepathic communication occurring around her. It was clear, she needed to spend more time with Tolfer to learn how to better manage the various communal channels jockeying for her attention.
“You do not want to cause anyone any harm,” JoAnna communicated to the unidentified man. For some reason, Cassie was able to pick up the telepathic communication. She concentrated on the dialog, rather than why she was picking up the conversation. JoAnna was not using a communal pathway, she had entered the man’s mind. “Violence is never an answer. All you do is bring shame to your family and destroy any sympathy the citizens might have for your cause.”
Somehow, Cassie could feel the man struggling with JoAnna’s words. The pressure in her head continued to build. She could not make out individual thoughts, but Cassie could actually feel his confusion. He was fighting what the other mind control telepath was trying to do. The man’s emotions were flooding her mind.
Suddenly, she knew his brother was the man Jeryl Jarlyn had executed outside The Palace for trying to kill JoAnna. His anger and sorrow consumed him. He knew he had to do something, but fought with himself over what to do. The man’s brother’s death had made him reconsider his thoughts about the government and the position he held. She focused on preventing the man’s emotions from overwhelming her.
Cassie struggled to release herself from Darden’s grasp and moved forward in the crowd before her soul mate could stop her. Cassie knew she could help talk the man off the figurative ledge. Cassie was unsure whether this was a power she always had or a latent ability that emerged after the hormone spread through her brain last night. Cassie knew she could make a difference in whether anyone would die today.
“A martyr can only inspire a cause so far,” Cassie communicated to the distressed man. “It takes the living to make true change. I know you loved your brother and did not condone his actions. Do not make the same mistake he made.”
Cassie had piggybacked off the connection JoAnna had made with the man. She could still feel the other telepath’s presence. The man turned and glared at Cassie. His face was a mixture of surprise and confusion. Her heartbeat quickened and she swallowed hard. What had she done?
Her eyes traveled to Candy, who did not seem alarmed. That made her relax a little bit.
“I’m Cassandra Jarlyn,” Cassie said aloud. It was weird calling herself by that name. Her last name had been Clark for as long as she could remember. She needed witnesses from this point forward. “My father is Benko Jarlyn. I understand why you fight and know better than most the sacrifices freedom fighters have suffered. Harming JoAnna will not bring about the change your brother wanted.”
The communal pathways exploded with conversations once she identified herself and spoke of her father in the present tense. Fear now consumed her. Cassie did not know if it was her fear or the man’s. The Palace Guard and a contingent of C.T. Guards had arrived. They held back due to the proximity of the Prime Ruler’s granddaughter to the weapon the freedom fighter held.
“Please give yourself up willingly,” Cassie said. “Has there not been enough bloodshed? I will see you are sent to the Troyk penal colony where other freedom fighters were sent. No one is going to die because of what happened today.”
Cassie was basically sending her father another capable man to support his cause. She did not sense insanity in the man, but overwhelming grief. He acted on impulse, not a premeditated desire to kill. When he saw JoAnna enter the restaurant, something inside him snapped. The man was actually a Palace Guard and had been heading to work.
“Give me your weapon,” Cassie said as she moved forward, extending her hand.
Candy came up beside the man and gently placed her hand over the metallic crystal weapon. She moved with grace, no sudden moves that would alarm him. Whatever had alerted Candy was no longer present. Several guards passed her and arrested the man.
“Starc and I will accompany him to The Palace,” Shirl said. “We’ll make sure your promise is kept. If there are any problems, I’ll let you know.”
Barash came toward her and stopped. “I should go with them and testify to what I saw and heard. What you just did was very brave and stupid. Your grandfather will also be briefed about what happened.”
Cassie was not sure if that was a promise or a threat…perhaps both. Her grandfather was the least of her problems. Darden came up beside her, he was furious.
Darden had never felt such dread as when Cassie put herself in harm’s way. She had no business interfering with the capture of the man who had threatened JoAnna. Now that the danger was over, his feeling of helplessness was replaced by anger. He was furious Cassie had endangered her life. She had been reckless with no concern for her own safety.
He took several breaths before approaching his soul mate. For once in his life, he wanted to do her harm. He wanted to make sure she never was so careless with her life again. Darden fisted his hands as he approached Cassie.
She was paler than he had ever seen her. He was not sure if it was because she had faced a madman with a weapon or Cassie feared justifying her actions to him. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to yell at her in front of the crowd that continued to grow.
