Page 60 of Only Cold Depths
“But she was always one step ahead of us,” Rigel said, his voice a low, angry growl. He glared at the images of Esmina, and his fingers twitched, as though he wanted to strangle the holograms.
Aldrich nodded. “Eventually, we received reports Esmina had developed a new ability that let her see danger coming before it actually reached her.”
His words made the gears grind in my mind, and once again I could see how it all worked and just what kind of magic Esmina had. She was a seer like me—and so muchmore.
“Precognition,” I said, looking at Kyrion. “Esmina can see things before they happen. That’s why she retreated on Tropics 44. She knew you were coming to help me and that we would kill the bounty hunters.”
Kyrion frowned again. “Precogs are extremely rare, and the number of visions they have often overwhelms them and drives them mad. How has Esmina managed to control her power?”
“We don’t know,” Verona replied. “For the most part, Esmina steers clear of Sygnustern, as there are still warrants out for her arrest. This is the first confirmed sighting of her on-planet in more than three years.”
Asterin stared at the holograms. “So whatever Esmina is planning, it’s important enough to risk returning here and being captured by the Hammers.”
“Or someone is paying her enough credits to take the risk,” Siya muttered.
The two women shared a look. They were now standing shoulder to shoulder, but for once, they didn’t move away from each other.
“What about Pollux?” Kyrion asked. “How does he fit in?”
Leland flicked his fingers. More images appeared, showing a younger version of Pollux, grinning wide, clutching two war hammers, and standing with a group of people wielding similar weapons.
“Pollux was a Hammer,” Kyrion muttered.
“One of the best Hammers in all the Erzton Houses. I trained him myself.” Rigel’s lips curled back in disgust, and his fingers twitched again as he glared at his former pupil. “Pollux and his sister, Derissa, were in a transport crash, and they were trapped for more than a day before they were pulled from the wreckage. During that time, Pollux and his sister each formed their own truebond with two other survivors.”
“Let me guess,” Kyrion said. “Pollux killed the person he was bonded to and absorbed their power just like Esmina did to Micah.”
Rigel jerked his head in confirmation. “Pollux was friends with Esmina. We think she told him how to do it, and he fled with her.”
Siya drifted over to Rigel’s side in a silent show of support.
“Eventually, Esmina and Pollux started hiring themselves out as mercenaries,” Rigel continued. “And they’ve bloodyexcelledat it. Thanks to Serpens Corp, they have enough credits, weapons, men, and resources to go anywhere and do anything they want.”
“So why have they returned to Sygnustern?” Asterin asked. “Why now? They couldn’t have possibly known Vesper and I would be at the shipping yard. Not even a precog could see that far into the future . . . could they?”
Her words triggered a memory in my mind. “Asterin is right. Esminawassurprised to see me. She didn’t realize I was at the shipping yard, at least not until I dropped the magnet on the mercs’ transport . . .”
Kyrion finished my thought. “Which means Esmina and Pollux were there to steal from House Collier first and foremost. Why steal from your House? Surely there are other mineral exchanges that aren’t as well fortified and heavily guarded.”
Aldrich cleared his throat. “Thanks to Serpens Corp, Esmina has become quite wealthy and powerful. Our spies have heard rumors she wishes to return to Sygnustern and use Serpens Corp to establish her own House.”
Asterin frowned. “But Erzton law dictates there can only be a certain number of major Houses. How could Esmina establish her own House without usurping one of the established Houses? Without destroying . . .”
“Without destroyingourHouse?” Siya answered the question in a flat voice. “She can’t.”
A tense, heavy silence filled the library, and worry crackled through the air.
“So Esmina wants to destroy House Collier and replace it with her own House.” Kyrion glanced at Rigel. “Well, that certainly explains all the guards on the estate.”
Rigel grunted in response.
Asterin turned to Verona. “Mother, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Perhaps if you’d come home once in a while instead of gallivanting around the galaxy chasing ghosts, you would be more up to date on House Collier enemies,” Siya replied in a sarcastic voice.
Asterin’s eyes glittered with anger. She opened her mouth, but Verona shook her head. Asterin swallowed her harsh words, but she kept glaring at Siya.
Leland delicately cleared his throat. “My lord, perhaps we should cancel tonight’s event. The gossipcasts have already gotten wind that something happened at the shipping yard. I’ve been spinning the story as an industrial accident, but the reporters won’t stop digging until they uncover the truth. Stories about Serpens Corp mercenaries breaking into the House Collier mineral exchange will only embolden Esmina and her supporters among the other Houses.”
