The Lost Animas (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 5)

Chapter 15

ARCAN DROPPED TALLEN back on the 21st floor of the 256th skyrise on Valhai, but the Namuri didn't plan to stay there for very long. He only took the time to change his clothes, before making his way over to the 1st skyrise in the ortholift.

As he stepped out of the lift, he was quickly surrounded by fifteen guards. He looked around at them suspiciously, noting that several of them bore witness to a recent fight. They were sporting deep cuts, and several of them had black bruises on their faces. His frown deepened. He may be only a Namuri, but he could tell in an instant who had been responsible for those particular wounds. He had practiced with her too often not to recognise his sister's handiwork. His hand moved involuntarily towards his dagger, but he imposed his will, and stopped it. If these men had dared to go against his sister, working with them, then he would be insane to provoke them. He concentrated on breathing deeply.

"I would like to see the guard Petra," he said, bowing low. "I am her brother."

The guards looked around at each other. They were uncertain of their best move. At last their leader gave a curt nod. Tallen was ushered into a small anteroom and left there for nearly an hour. He thought that he might tear the place apart, he was so nervous. Instead, he concentrated on his clan's history, reciting some of the verses which had been instilled in him since he was little. It was, he found, quite calming. The task of remembering past glories and past heroes of the Namuri tribe, made him determined not to let them down. When he died he wanted some young member of the clan to remember him, too. Would this adventure he was having next to the meritocrat ever get into the annals of his clan's history, or was it doomed to be buried only in the memories of those who lived through it?

Tallen got to his feet and began to pace up and down. He was unaccustomed to having to wait; it didn't match his personality. His face tightened as time passed.

Finally, one of them came to tell him that he would take him to see his sister. To Tallen's great surprise he was led along to the staff area, and down a corridor to a small group of rooms.

"Where is my sister?" he demanded.

The young guard looked awkward. "She was found beaten, in the corridor."

"And you have no idea who attacked her?"

The guard lowered his voice. "It is very obvious who attacked her, I think." His eyes flickered over his fellow guards, some of whom were eyeing Tallen with distrust as he passed.

"I am surprised that they are still alive."

"I believe she was greatly outnumbered."

Tallen narrowed his eyes. "They may live to regret their actions." He made it sound like a promise, one that he would savour.

They had reached one of the end rooms, and the young guard knocked gently on the door. A weak and rather quavery voice bid them to pass.

When she saw who it was, Petra had a hard time to stay still on her bed and look feeble. But as soon as the guard had backed out of the room, and closed the door, she leapt out of the bed and ran to her brother.

"Ouch! I shouldn't try to hug people!"

Tallen examined his sister suspiciously. "What is going on, Namuri?" he asked. "Because if you expect me to believe you didn't deliberately incite a riot, you have got another think coming."

Petra grinned. "I did," she admitted. "I needed to know which of the guards were the ones most likely to attack Mandalon. I can't watch them all."

"And did you find out?"