Hidden Talent: StarLords, Book 1 Read online

  “When will you teach me about healing?”

  “I suppose you won’t let me rest until I do, huh?”

  She grinned at him. “Something like that.”

  “All right.” He sat up against the headboard, taking her with him. “Just a quick lesson for now. Darak’s the man who can really show you a thing or two about healing, but I can at least explain the basics.”

  “What do I do?”

  He loved the eager light in her eyes and couldn’t resist kissing her gently. He pulled back before he could get too distracted.

  “No more of that,” he muttered. “Not if you seriously want to do this.”

  “I seriously want to do this,” she said faithfully, her eyes twinkling at him. “But I want to do you too. Just hold that thought until after you explain a little about healing, okay? I promise I’ll make it good for you.” The purr in her voice had him hardening again.

  “All right. Crash course.” He pulled her closer, stroking her breast with one hand, unable to resist touching her. “You have to send your thoughts outside yourself, seeking into the other person.”

  “How?”

  “Well, it’s not easy. First you ground and center, the way you’ve been learning, then ideally, you touch the target area with your fingertips, sending just a pulse of your energy at first to make contact and take stock of what you need to do.” He shifted her to her side and lowered his head to kiss her neck, moving slowly as he alternately talked and placed light kisses along her collarbone and down onto the slopes of her breasts.

  “Different kinds of injuries require different flavors of power. The easiest is the open flesh wound caused by a knife or projectile or the like. Pour in hot energy, it will sort of cauterize the bleeding, then begin knitting the torn places back together. The most complex are internal diseases. Only a real healing Talent can tackle a complex disease and hope to cure it, though a rough application of high level Talent can prolong the person’s life, perhaps long enough to get them to a real healer. Sometimes, very rarely, we can sort of pool our Talents and let them be directed by the higher level healers, but it’s rarely done because it can be dangerous to everyone involved.”

  He sucked her nipple into his mouth and the lesson was postponed for a few hours while they slaked their passions. Eventually Jeri got her first rudimentary lesson in healing and both of them got off…repeatedly.

  “I’m excited about seeing home again.” Trini’s deep violet eyes sparkled as she stroked one of the horse’s long necks in the hold the next day. Jeri carefully groomed a pregnant mare that would give birth shortly after arrival on their new homeworld, Trini’s native planet of Liata. Jeri was as eager as her equine friends to see the planet, intrigued by the idea that the people who lived there were all varying shades of blue, like her new friend, the effervescent Trini.

  “Do you have family there?” Jeri asked softly, thinking about the family that was lost to her with longing.

  Trini smiled broadly. “The Clan will turn out to meet our ship, I’m sure. I have a large extended family, headed by my great-grandmother. Both sets of grandparents are alive and my parents gave me five siblings. Plus there are loads of cousins. They usually throw a big sancha when I come back, and the whole crew is invited.”

  Jeri would learn in subsequent conversations that a sancha was a Liatan gathering of the Clan where the extended family would converge to tell stories, play games with the younglings and eat for about three days straight. In the long summer of the planet, such gatherings were almost always held outdoors and all but the oldest family members would sleep outside, under the stars if possible.

  Jeri told the herd about the people they would join on their new planet, and they seemed content. Eliciting information that would be important to the horses through some pointed questioning of Trini, she realized that the new world they were going to would be a wonderful place for them, and they seemed to agree.

  So it was with some excitement that Jeri stood on the bridge a few days later. She watched Liata wink into view in the distance as the supra-light drive was disengaged. At first, the shining blue-green planet was nothing except a tiny ball revolving around a bright binary star. It grew steadily larger as Seta navigated, using the forward momentum left from the supra-light drive and the application of steering thrusters and braking thrusters to get closer and closer. Within a few moments they were in communications range and the cacophony of transmissions that reached them didn’t make sense at first.

  “We’re picking up transmissions on and around Liata, Captain. Something big happened not too long ago by the sound of it.” Agnor’s face was grim as he tried to sort through the varying signals. This far out, the signals were delayed by as much as a few hours. He was trying to distinguish ambient signals from blaring emergency channels that crossed the Circe’s path, which was not the usual course of business when approaching a peaceful ag world at all.

  Jeri saw Micah’s face take on a stern hardness as he waited for more information. He turned to her with a decisive motion.

  “How can I help?” She was relieved to note that had apparently been the right thing to say as relief shone for a brief moment in his dark eyes.

  “Go to Trini. If there’s trouble on Liata, she’ll need our support. But first I have to find out exactly what’s going on and she shouldn’t be alone.”

  Jeri nodded, purpose lighting her eyes as she left the bridge. She felt his gaze on her back as she headed for the hold. Jeri knew Trini had wanted to be on the bridge for the down-jump to Liata, but as loadmaster, her place was with the cargo, making sure the horses came through the transition safely. Jeri realized it might’ve been a good thing that Trini hadn’t been on the bridge and didn’t know yet that there was some kind of trouble on her homeworld. Jeri would break the news, if Trini didn’t comm the bridge before she got to her, and would stay with her while she worried over the fate of her loved ones.

  As it turned out, the closer they came to Liata, the worse the picture got. Burnt out hulks of planetary defense ships greeted them in high orbit and a large amount of debris indicated that a horrific battle had taken place a short time ago. What was perhaps worse were the deep brown gouges in the green surface of the planet where space-based energy weapons had scorched the pristine land and crops of the Liatans, killing indiscriminately and marring the surface of the peaceful planet.

  Trini broke down and started to cry when she arrived at the bridge after Micah’s summons. Darak’s hard arms came around her, surprising Jeri, who supported her at the blue woman’s side, and the XO and Jeri shared a concerned look before Jeri stepped back allowing him to take Trini and comfort her in his strong embrace. Jeri watched them for a moment before turning to where Micah sat, alone and hurting at his command post. Silently, she moved to him, sliding up under his shoulder and placing an arm around his shoulders.

  “What can we do to help them?” She was glad he accepted her presence and the little comfort she could bring him.

  “As soon as we stabilize our orbit, I’m going down,” he said softly. “I’d rather Trini didn’t come, but there’s no way I can keep her from her family. She needs to see who’s left, if anyone.”

  Agnor appeared silently at Micah’s other side. “Dama Jeri can look after the herd for a bit, and I will keep vigilant on the Circe in case the raiders return.”

  Micah smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Am I that transparent, old friend, that you know my orders before I even give them?”

  Agnor shrugged. “Darak is better at offering comfort than I. He will help Trini while you assess damage and formulate plans. You might want to take young Kirt and Welan with you to act as runners. I doubt planetside comms are working normally with all the damage.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Ag.” Micah sighed as he rubbed the stubble on his jaw. He looked as if he had the weight of several worlds on his shoulders, and Jeri resisted the urge to squeeze closer. He knew she was there, supporting him.
It would be up to him to lean, if he needed to, on her.

  In short order, Jeri was ensconced in the hold with the herd, Agnor was running the bridge with Seta’s help and the rest of the crew was translocated to the surface to see what could be seen. At first updates came in regularly, letting those left on the ship know that the non-Council troops who had tried to invade were long gone, though the price of resistance had been high.

  Agnor began collecting evidence and clearing what orbital debris he could, to help make their path safer as well clear a path for those who would come later. He also used his special Talent to send word to the Council of the happenings on Liata. Though it drained him somewhat, his presence and special abilities paid off when word was received that several nearby Council ships would be there by the following planetary rotation to help defend and rebuild the ravaged planet.

  Jeri took a moment away from the herd to clean up and prepare meals for Agnor and Seta, which she brought to the bridge. Agnor was taking only short combat naps while Seta stood watch. He was also depleting his energy with long-range communications delivered using his Specitar Talent.

  “You must rest more, Agnor.” Jeri worried, noting the tight set of his compressed lips and the hollows under his eyes.

  “I’ll rest when we are safe with Council ships all around and aid delivered to those suffering people.” His words were tough, but his tone mild as he took the plate of food she offered him with a nod of thanks.

  She sat with Agnor and Seta on the bridge to partake of the meal together. As they ate, she talked to them, hoping to relieve some of their stress in a small way.

  “I’ve tried to communicate to the horses what’s happened.” She munched on a carrot as she spoke. “They are eager to begin working. They feel they can help.”

  Agnor looked surprised for a moment, then a smile dawned. “They can at that.” He shook his head with what looked like wonder. “As can you, by communicating with them. I assume you can communicate with other horses, not just the ones from Pantur, right?”

  Jeri tilted her head and nodded, not sure where this was going. “I have always been able to communicate with horses, whether my father’s herd on Mithrak or the herds of Pantur. Their minds are alike though the breeding is slightly different.”

  “One of the problems they’re encountering planetside is that the herds have scattered and those animals they have are traumatized and spook easily.” Jeri knew Seta had been monitoring the transmissions to analyze ways they could help as well as to catalog information for evidentiary purposes.

  “I can call the horses together. Most of them should answer, I think, if they’re like the horses I knew on Mithrak and Pantur. The herd we have on board could be helpful in calming the others.”

  “Agreed.” Agnor slapped his hand on the comm panel. “I’m going to tell the captain what we’ve cooked up. It’s time some of the planetside crew rotated up here for rest anyway.”

  Agnor worked with Micah over the comm for the next few minutes to set up the rest of the plan. Jeri would transport and do what she could to interface with the horses of Liata, hopefully solving one of the more pressing problems. Since horses were relied upon for transport and their load-carrying capability on the tech-limited agricultural world, getting the herds settled was of primary importance.

  When Jeri translocated about an hour later with part of the herd they had on board, Micah was there to meet her. He gathered her into his arms, hugging her close before even speaking. He kissed her, not with passion, but with an incredible caring that nearly swept her off her feet.

  “I thought of bringing you here as soon as I saw the fear in the horses’ eyes, but I didn’t want to expose you to this, sweetheart.” His gaze was anguished as he looked at her. “I would protect you from it if I could.”

  She kissed him, then smiled up at him. “I have seen much in my life, Micah. I want to help these people, this world, if I can.”

  He nodded once, grimly, and turned her in his arms, leading her toward the command area he’d set up on arrival. She had to meet the elders whom he’d been dealing with. He didn’t let go of her, keeping her hand firmly in his, even when he introduced her to the Liatans.

  Briskly, they arrived at the crux of the matter. The Liatan herds were scattered, and the few horses they had recaptured were terrified. As they spoke, the rest of the sale herd was transported down from the Circe and seemed content to mill around in the pasture. The Liatans seemed amazed that they didn’t wander off without some sort of hobble or fence.

  “Mage Denik,” Micah called out as he guided Jeri toward a distinguished-looking older man who seemed the only calm center of a rather large storm in the makeshift command center. “Allow me to introduce my lady.” He squeezed her hand and spared her a smile, even as he communicated the seriousness of the situation to all present. Talk ceased so everyone could hear what the Mage Master would say to their leader. “Jeri is a base-level Dominar from a non-Council world. There has been little time to initiate her in our ways, but she has some innate abilities that I believe will be useful to you and your people.”

  The old man looked at her with assessing eyes and she fought not to squirm. Micah’s strong hand squeezing hers gave her courage. She had never liked being the center of attention and had run from it all her life, but it was unavoidable in this moment. She knew this broad declaration of her Talent was just one way Micah used to try to make her aware of her place in his world.

  “It’s my honor to meet you, dama. As you can see, we are in disarray and can use all the helpful hands and Talents we can get. How is it that you may help us?”

  She stood shoulder to shoulder with Micah, his deliberate placing of her on equal footing much appreciated. She spoke softly, but it was obvious that everyone within the makeshift command center was listening carefully.

  “I may be able to gather your horses,” she said timidly, clearing her throat in order to try to put some more confidence in her tone. “Perhaps I can calm them as well.”

  The older Mage looked surprised, then pleased. His gaze rose briefly to Micah as if for confirmation and the Master’s short nod brought a sigh of relief from the older man.

  “As you may realize, our herds are an important part of our world. We need them for work and transport. What do you need in the way of assistance?”

  She thought quickly, throwing her mind into the problem of what to do with the horses once she called them.

  “At first, I will need space to work. Preferably a large paddock that can be secured. Once they gather, experienced hands would be of help to separate the stallions. If there’s a trainer or two to direct the hands, that would also be welcome as I can devote my attention to calming the worst of the lot.” She thought of the injuries some of the more excitable animals may have suffered as they escaped and ran from the devastation visited on the planet from space. “Healers familiar with treating equine injuries should be standing by.”

  Denik looked at her, a small nod indicating that he was impressed with her thoughts on the matter.

  “Jaril…” he spoke to one of his aides, “…take the dama to the South pasture. That should be big enough. Send runners before you to gather the hands and trainers.” He turned back to address Micah. “Will you accompany your lady, Master?”

  Micah didn’t answer immediately, instead turning to look at Jeri. “Shall I go with you this first time, my lady?”

  She squeezed his hand and smiled gratefully. “I would welcome your presence and support, Captain.”

  He smiled at her and it was as if they were the only two people on the planet for that short space of time. If they’d been alone she would have reached up to kiss him. She’d been lonely in his bed without him on the ship while he was working so hard here on the planet. But they were together now, and she realized dimly that she felt more alive in his presence—more complete, more powerful—than she did when he wasn’t near. He was quickly becoming as necessary to her as breathing, though she dare not
think of the future time when they would not be together.

  For now, there was no sign yet that he was tiring of her. She made herself put the thought from her mind and concentrate on the present. She would deal with that dark day when it came, just as she had dealt with the devastating things that had happened in her life since her power had come alive. For now, she would revel in his presence and enjoy each and every moment. For now, she would love him with all her heart and all her soul, even if he could never return the favor.

  A discrete cough behind them brought Jeri back to the task at hand and she blushed as they followed the aide, Jaril, outside. They walked through what was left of the village to a large green pasture with a sturdy fence and several gates. Men and women were already gathering, some following from the village, some coming from the farmhouses and half-ruined stables in the distance, in response to the runners Denik had sent ahead.

  Jeri looked carefully at the fence line. “This is good. But we’ll need those gates opened wide so the horses can get in.”

  Micah nodded to Jaril, and he sent off a runner to have some of the farmers man each of the far gates. He also had some of the villagers man the gates near the village. Soon the gates were wide open with people sitting on the top rung of the fence, waiting for further instructions.

  Chapter Seven

  Jeri strode out to the center of the large field with only Micah trailing her steps. He motioned everyone else to stay back and take positions on the fence. He feared that some of the horses might still be skittish and perhaps violent. He didn’t want anyone getting trampled or kicked, and he silently vowed to keep Jeri from harm with his own body if necessary.

  Jeri closed her eyes briefly, no doubt assessing the power she would need to send her call as he’d been instructing her to do with any expenditure of her Talent. He was pleased as a teacher that already her Talent was becoming more refined and controlled as compared to when he’d seen her do this on Pantur. She’d been totally untrained then, and he’d felt her power usage in a somewhat ragged way that was quite different from the strong, sure, potent surge of psi energy that went forth from her now. She was not only a quick study, but a Talent to be reckoned with. Just as he’d thought she’d be. And he couldn’t be happier. His Jeri was quite a woman, in so many ways.