Page 65 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
He wanted to share her optimism, but the combined challenges tempered his. The enhanced soldiers' growing awareness, their potential ability to penetrate his mental shields, the cameras in the tunnel, and the submarine they might not know how to operate. Those were all serious impediments that might thwart their escape.
26
KIAN
Kian stood with his coffee mug in hand, looking through his office windows down at the village square below, where his people were gathering at the outdoor café. Beyond, the playground still stood empty, the swings and the jungle gym awaiting their little enthusiasts.
It had been peaceful for a while now, and that worried him.
In his experience, a long period of quiet usually preceded a storm of spectacular proportions, and he wondered if Kalugal's ambitious island project would be the catalyst.
Building an army under Navuh's nose, on an island just a little over a hundred miles away from his, was daring to say the least, but Kian couldn't argue with the obvious advantages. With Lokan finally jumping ship, the clan had lost their eyes and ears in the Brotherhood's stronghold, and having a base so close opened up new surveillance possibilities.
Other than that, the paranormal project was still proceeding, albeit with mixed results, but Kian didn't anticipate any problems on that front. The female spy corps that Carol wastraining showed promise, but since it was just in its initial stages and not operational yet, he didn't expect any trouble from there either.
The unusually quiet period of time allowed him to catch up on piles of neglected work, and he even had made dinner reservations for him and Syssi at By Invitation Only for tonight. Hopefully, nothing would happen to interfere with their plans.
Taking another sip of coffee, Kian watched a group of Guardians emerge from the pavilion and head for the café. They had also been taking it easy lately, which was perfectly fine. They needed a break just like everyone else.
As his phone buzzed on the desk behind him, he turned from the window, and when he picked it up, he saw Kalugal's picture on the display.
"Good morning." Kian put his mug down and sat down behind his desk.
"It is." Kalugal's voice carried its usual mix of dry humor and a tinge of superiority. "But I suppose that depends on one's definition of good. Mine was excellent because Darius gave me a big hug before heading out with Jacki. What made your morning good, cousin?"
"The same." Kian thought about Allegra twirling in her new dress and then running up to him at full speed, knowing he would catch her, and then the triple hug with his wife and daughter. "There is nothing better than family."
"I agree," Kalugal said. "But back to our business, I wanted to tell you that I'll be flying out to the island in three weeks. Jade, Phinas, and Drova will be accompanying me. I wondered if you would like to join us."
Kian was curious, and if Syssi was game, he might take Kalugal up on his offer. Combining a family vacation with work was not a bad idea.
"Where will you be staying?"
"We have most of the buildings renovated by now, and furniture will be delivered by the time we get there. I wouldn't have suggested for you to come if I didn't have proper accommodations ready."
"If I come, it will be with Syssi, Allegra, and a cadre of Guardians. Do you have space for all of us?"
Kian would have liked to invite Turner and Bridget as well, and get their opinion on the island, but that could wait for a later visit.
Kalugal was quiet for a long moment. "If Syssi and Allegra come, I'll bring Jacki and Darius, and that means I will have to bring along a cadre of guards as well."
"We can share the security detail," Kian offered.
"True. Let me check with Jacki, and I'll get back to you on that."
"Same here. I don't know if Syssi can take a break from the university."
Kalugal chuckled. "Her boss is your sister. I'm sure something can be arranged."
"That's not necessarily true. If the lab has important tests scheduled for that time, Amanda might have a problem with letting Syssi go."
"We can fly out Friday night and return Sunday evening," Kalugal suggested. "The jet lag will be bad, though. It's not a problem for us, but the kids might have trouble adjusting."
Darius might struggle because he was still human, but Allegra had already transitioned thanks to Annani's blood, and her sleep needs had changed accordingly. Still, Kian wasn't going to share that information with his cousin. The goddess's blood only helped little dormant girls transition. It didn't work on boys. Darius would have to stay human until he was old enough to fight an immortal and be induced the traditional way.
"Kids are resilient," he said instead. "I wonder about your timing, though. The first human recruits aren't scheduled to arrive for another month. I thought you would want to be there for that."
"I don't. Jade and Phinas are bringing Drova, and she can handle the compulsion with ease. She's as strong a compeller as I am, if not stronger. The three of them will make sure that everything is properly prepared. What I want to do is verify that the living quarters and training facilities are ready for the recruits and get a general feel for the place." He snorted. "Didn't you always want an island like Navuh's? Maybe we can one day turn it into the clan's sanctuary."
