Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy Heidi Skarie (fox in socks read aloud .TXT) 📖

her essenceand went inside the building. He started down the hall as he expandedhis awareness. She’s been here. He could feel a residue of herfear, but she was no longer in the building.

Outside, Michio continued hissearch until he determined she was no longer at the compound, then hewalked over to a guard who stood near the entrance door. “CommanderRochambeau brought a woman here,” Michio said. “Where is shenow?”

The guard’s eyes widened and heglanced around uneasily. “Where did you come from?”

Michio touched the man’s mindso he wouldn’t be alarmed. “I’m one of Commander Rochambeau’smen. Where’s the woman?”

“She was brought to the Hall ofCondor, to be sacrificed today.”

Michio’s throat clenched. AmI too late?He focused within and centered himself, regaining control over hisemotions. She’sstill alive. If she were dead, I’d know it.

“Let me see your ID,” theguard said.

Michio touched the guard’s mindagain. “How long ago did they leave?”

“About an hour ago.”

“You won’t remember me orthis conversation.”

The guard blinked, lookingpuzzled. Michio left the complex, hurried back to the car, and jumpedin beside Benray. “We need to get to the Hall of Condor fast.Samrat Condor’s going to sacrifice Toemeka.”

“It’s not far from here.”Benray took off, rising into the air a few feet and speeding down theroad. “What’s your plan?”

“Don’t have one yet.”

“We could set off a few bombsin the building and in the confusion get her out of there.”

“A bomb would kill innocentpeople. Besides, Samrat priests will be watching her closely.”

“True. By the way, how did youget in and out of the compound without being seen?”

“I shifted my vibration so theguard wouldn’t sense my presence.”

Benray lifted his eyebrows. “Canyou do that to get in to the Hall of Condor?”

“No, it won’t work on Samratpriests. They’re too powerful.”

“Then we need different clothesto get in.” He made a quick turn, soared down a side street andscreeched to a stop in front of an apartment building badly damagedby bombing. “Come on. My friend, Pasang, will help us.” Benrayleapt out of the car and headed to the door.

“We haven’t time for this,”Michio called after him. He reluctantly got out and followed. When heentered the building, he saw Benray already pounding on a door. Anold man opened it and Michio followed Benray inside. The white-hairedman studied Michio for a moment, then raised his hand and bowed hishead, greeting Michio in the manner of Initiates of the SecretTeachings. “I’m Pasang.”

“I’m Michio,” he said,returning the greeting.

“What brings you, Benray?”Pasang asked. “I know you wouldn’t risk coming unless it wasimportant.”

“We need clothes so we’llblend in with the crowd at the Hall of Condor.”

“I heard that awful horncalling everyone to worship an hour ago. They make the people ofTismus attend the sacrificial ceremonies, to control them throughfear.” He took two hooded robes from the closet and handed one toeach of them. “Put these on over your clothing.”

Michio slipped the robe over hisflight suit, then said, “If all are required to attend, why aren’tyou there?”

“The sorcerers don’t knowanyone still lives in this bombed-out shell of a building. How willyou rescue her?”

“I don’t know.”

Pasang gazed into his eyes.“Trust in God.”

At the Hall of Condor, Michiopulled the hood of the robe over his head, then he and Benray walkedthrough the huge entrance doors. Inside the main hall, Michio was hitby the oppressiveness of the place and the smell of burning incenseand candles filled his nostrils. He stopped abruptly when he saw theblazing firepit on stage. Was this how they planned to sacrificeToemeka? He scanned the stage and was relieved to see she wasn’tthere.

Citizens of Tismus had filled thehall and Michio and Benray merged into the crowd, pushing their wayforward. People made room for them—none were eager to be there.Michio stopped when he and Benray had nearly reached the front row,concerned that he might be recognized. Samrat Condor and his priestsstood on stage, chanting some unholy incantation. Michio felt theirpower gathering. All were dressed in black robes embellished withsymbols of the dark powers.

Michio wondered if he’d dietonight, fighting to save Toemeka.

***

Toemeka stood backstage withCadmus, Seetva and Amaretta. Shrouded under the veil, she felt closedoff from the world. Had her life been leading to this destiny, eversince she was abducted from her village at eighteen to be sacrificedto Samrat Condor? Erling and a team of Coalition soldiers rescued herthat time, sparing her from a horrible death. This time there wasn’tany hope.

She wished she was safely at homewith Michio and Baymond. Yet if she had to do it all over again, sherealized she wouldn’t have done it differently. Erling’s wholefamily had been scheduled to be executed. She could be strong,knowing they were safe. Erling and Jake would’ve outsmarted Cadmus’men by now and Erling’s family would be aboard the ship on theirway to planet Borko.

Dark chanting arose from the mainhall and she felt negative powers being drawn there. She felt a stabof anxiety as Seetva’s words echoed in her mind. “Tonight youwill feel and smell your flesh burn as you scream in agony, wishingfor death, wondering why your god has failed you.” God would notfail her, but would she be strong enough to stay centered andinwardly at peace? Would her trust in God be strong enough? Maybe sheshould’ve taken the pill Cadmus offered. WasI vain to think I could withstand Samrat Condor and his sorcerers?How painful will it be when my hair catches fire and my face beginsto burn? How long will it take for me to die?

Her stomach churned and she feltas if she might vomit from the horror of it all. She realized SamratCondor was already gaining control over her though fear. Worse, whenshe died, would she be imprisoned in Avernus, the lower hellishregions of the Inner Worlds?

No,I’m stronger than that.She began to inwardly sing HU and let love fill her being. Sheimagined Master Bakka being as close as her heartbeat. He would bewith her inwardly every step of the way. When she died, he’d takeher into the high regions of the Inner Worlds where her family wouldmeet her. She surrendered to God.

The eerie moan of horns creptinto the room.

“That’s our signal to bringToemeka out,” Seetva said in a