Page 2 of Neverwylde 6
Kelen frowned. “Are you serious? Their bond is greater than family? How the hell is that possible?”
She was answered with a snort from the security officer. “Well, that’s fuckin’ great,” Cooter drawled. “And here we are, holding Plat prisoner. He ain’t gonna be none too thrilled when he finds out.”
“Heads up!” Sandow directed everyone’s attention back to the screens. “Looks like they’ve had a change of plans.”
It was clearly evident that something was happening. The Seneecians had gathered into a little knot inside the temple and were in discussion about something. Kyber spoke up to give the others some idea of what they were watching.
“They are speaking over their communication devices. It is possible Dox’s little box may indeed be responsible for them being here.”
“If that’s the case, we’re going to need to get upstairs to the temple,” Kelen said. No sooner had she commented, the group of Seneecians disbanded and left the temple, reappearing seconds later on the first screen as they presumably made their way back to their ship.
“Agreed. And we must hurry before they decide to leave for good.” Taking her hand, Kyber led her out of the viewing room, back to the nonagon where the others were waiting in the center of the chamber with excited expectation.
They’d barely exited the corridor when Kleesod confronted him. “Is it true? Has a Seneecian squad landed on this world?”
Kyber waved for their attention. “I want Plat to be present when I say what I have to say, but we must move quickly.”
Mellori hurried into the apartment where Massapa and Gaveer were keeping guard over the former D’har. Moments later, the two Seneecians half-carried their reluctant prisoner into the main area. Kelen noticed how Kyber’s gaze was directed at the bound man as he addressed the rest of them.
“A military unit of armed Seneecians landed on the ice side of this world. On the assumption they were drawn here because of Dox’s signal, I asked Jules to see if that signal could be changed to alert them to the fact that we were on another part of the planet.” Kyber threw a silent question at the former navigator.
Jules nodded. “It was pretty simple. Thanks to Gaveer’s help, we were able to devise a short code that Dox could use.”
“Color me curious, but what kind of code?” Cooter questioned.
Jules grinned. “It said, ‘Green, not ice.’”
“And it appears to have worked,” Kyber continued. “The unit has left the ice temple. We can only assume they are searching for the temple above us. Which makes it imperative we leave now if we are to make the climb topside and present ourselves before they decide to abandon their search.”
Taking a step toward Plat, Kyber narrowed his eyes at the man. “Duruk alem Kil is leading the unit.”
The white-furred Seneecian didn’t try to hide his initial surprise, or the satisfied smile that slid across his face. “What an interesting turn of events, Kyber Nau. Guess we will see how justice will serve you and me when he hears the truth about how you usurped my authority.”
“Do not assume your version of the truth will be accepted once the men have given their testimonies,” Kyber almost growled.
Plat’s grin widened, but he didn’t reply.
“Let’s go, people!” Cooter called from the entrance to the corridor leading up to the temple. “It’s going to be a bitch of a climb, and we’re burning daylight!”
Kyber took Kelen’s hand again and together they followed the man into the tunnel, with the others not far behind.
