Кристи Голдэн - Twilight

Was Selendis really going to sell Zamara out?

Ethan waved a hand airily. One of his extra scythe-arms emulated the gesture. "I will wait. I can kill you later as easily as now, if it comes to that."

Selendis inclined her head. "Thank you," she said. "Rosemary— Vartanil—let us return to Krythkal and see how he progresses."

"On one condition," Ethan continued.

Here it comes, Rosemary thought, and tensed.

"Your story sounds plausible and feels true. I believe you about the ritual. But what's to stop you from suddenly changing your mind and absconding with both of them once it's completed? No, I think I need verification along with my trust."

Selendis was still, even now, radiating calm. "What do you need to be satisfied?"

"I'd like to have one of my zerg watch this little ritual you describe. And when it's complete, you will give it the crystal that contains Zamara."

Rosemary bit back a retort quite literally, chomping down on her lower lip rather than snapping "Like hell" or another such comment. She couldn't give the game away—whatever the game was. She had to trust Selendis now.

"I cannot think that having a zerg present while a sacred protoss ritual is transpiring will help us achieve the desired result," Selendis said sharply.

Ethan shrugged. "It will not attack unless attacked first. And come now, Executor, you would do the same in my position. A witness, to prove what you say is true and take delivery of something you have agreed to provide. Surely that's not too much to ask."

Selendis nodded. "It is an understandable precaution on your part, yes. But your creature must do nothing to interfere, or Zamara and Jake will be forever lost to both of us."

"Agreed. He'll be a good boy. Or girl. I'm not sure exactly which. Oh.. .and if you double-cross me.. .well, Trouble, you'll be the first to die."

Ethan made no gesture, but suddenly one of the creatures waiting silently began to undulate toward them, slithering up the steps, its scythe-arms bobbing in front of it as it moved. Rosemary fought the impulse to shoot the hydralisk on the spot, instead feeling a rare wave of fear wash over her at its approach. It towered over her, slaver dripping from its jaws, then came to a halt in front of Selendis, utterly obedient to its master.

Confused, alarmed, and furious, Rosemary gave Ethan another glance. He met her gaze, and the face that was still recognizable as his twisted into a smirk of victory. She ground her teeth and forced herself to accompany Selendis and the zerg inside.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked as they hastened up the long, broad steps to the heart of the temple.

Selendis favored her with a brief glance. I am buying us time. The thought was for her only, and Rosemary closed her mouth and tried to "speak" only with her own thoughts in turn.

That bit about Jake and Zamara dying—that was a lie?

No. It is my understanding that the ritual cannot be stopped at this juncture without the loss of both parties. Krythkal must be permitted to complete his task.

What about our new best friend here?

Selendis glanced back at the zerg, which slithered along behind them, its silent pacifism almost more chilling than an outright attack. There was no alternative. Ethan was correct—I would have done the same thing. For the moment, there is no harm in it watching. And even now, no one is certain that the ritual will be successful.

Rosemary didn't need to be reminded of that. Oddly, though, despite the peril they were all in at this point, she felt relieved at being able to do something rather than simply sit around and wait.

It is difficult, to feel helpless, Selendis agreed. I would prefer that Ethan had not come... but yes. I understand how you feel.

Rosemary shot the executor a quick glance. For all their differences, for all her alienness, Selendis did share that same pleasure at being finally able to act.

A few moments later, Rosemary, Selendis, Vartanil, Mohandar, and Razturul were cloistered with Ataldis, the alysaar who was in charge while Krythkal was conducting the separation rite. They all stared at the hydralisk, who turned its hideous head to first one of them then the next, peering at them with yellow eyes through which Rosemary assumed Ethan saw. None of them seemed surprised, although they seemed frightened and unhappy; Rosemary assumed

Selendis had warned everyone that they were bringing a friend along.

Selendis was brutally blunt—another thing Rosemary liked about her. "We cannot hope to win an out-and-out battle against the zerg," she said the moment she had everyone's attention. Again, Rosemary knew she was directing her thoughts so that the eavesdropping hydralisk wouldn't understand. "We are outnumbered quite literally a hundred to one. Nor do we have superior technology on hand that might even the odds. It is distasteful to me to say this, as a warrior, but if we fight, we will die, and they will take Zamara."

Vartanil thought the protoss equivalent of swallowing hard and turning pale. Rosemary frowned slightly, but nodded. "So—we're not going to fight?"

Selendis turned fiercely glowing eyes upon the terran. "Some of us will. And we who choose to fight, will die. But others, and the knowledge of this sacred place, may be able to continue on."

A flicker of approval from Mohandar. "You have at least one vessel that can bear some of us to safety," he said. "Is this your plan?"

"Partially. Some protoss, and as many of the memory crystals as can be salvaged. But first, I must know. Are there other vessels we can utilize?" Selendis asked, turning to Ataldis.

The alysaar hesitated. "We do not leave the Alys'aril, we who tend to it," he said. "Others come to us. We do not go to them."

"So that's a no?" Rosemary asked.

"Not precisely. We do have vessels, from the time when Ehlna was first settled. I do not know if they are even functional anymore. There is no one here who has the knowledge of repairing the vessels."

"I think I could."

"You? You are not even protoss!"

"I helped Zamara repair the warp gate on Aiur," Rosemary shot back. "She was in my thoughts. I know a lot about the simple physical mechanics of things and more than a little now about how your technology works. At least give me a crack at it."

"You shall have a chance to examine it," Selendis said. When Ataldis bridled slightly, she added, "The hour is desperate, Ataldis. If Rosemary can help us, more lives and more knowledge can be saved. We must allow her to try."

Ataldis nodded, though he was still obviously unhappy. "Come then," he said. "I will take you to the vessels."

"I will accompany you," said Mohandar.

As Rosemary, Ataldis, and Mohandar started to leave, the hitherto silent zerg snarled and whipped out a scythe-arm, blocking their path. Rosemary looked up—and up, the thing was enormous— and stared into its baleful yellow eyes.

"You've got your eyewitness, Ethan," she growled. "I'm leaving this room. You tell it to kill me, they kill it and you don't get Zamara. You can either send it to follow me around or go watch the separation ritual like you wanted it to. Either way, I'm going."

The thing hesitated, the eyes narrowing. Rosemary stood stock still as the zerg extended a hooked appendage and, very gently, stroked her cheek before turning back to gaze at Selendis. The executor pivoted and moved purposefully toward the room where Krythkal was conducting the ritual. The zerg followed.

Rosemary shivered as she watched it, not with fear, not this time, but with hatred. She hoped she'd have a chance to kill Ethan Stewartherself.

At any other time, Rosemary would have been ecstatic to get her hands on such antique alien vessels. She'd have spent many pleasant hours tinkering with them and learning, trying this, adjusting that.