Blindfold by Kevin J Anderson

Author:Kevin J Anderson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2010-06-28T14:26:03.744000+00:00

CHAPTER 26

I

In the darkness of his private stateroom Tharion sat shaking in Qrista's arms. His wife had turned all the lights down, and she hugged him tightly. As he squeezed his eyes shut, he could smell the cotton of her robe, the fresh scent of her skin, her hair.

“I couldn't read her,” he said again. “Nothing! That's never happened before. It terrified me.”

Qrista pressed his shoulder with her hard fingers, emphasizing that she was there to support him. Tharion let the words and the shock continue to pour out of him. “It was a loss of balance. My thoughts slipped away like water through my hands. I don't think Kalliana noticed anything — but I couldn't read her.”

Qrista's breathing grew more rapid, and he could feel her tension. Without trying, his mind caught a flicker of her emotions, enough to show that perhaps he might still have a spark of Truthsayer abilities after all. She was rigid with rage.

“Your suspicions were misplaced. Something must be happening to the drug itself,” she said. “And Kalliana raises the same questions I did. You know Ysan's abilities — he should never have failed his test. He was destined to be a Truthsayer, far more powerful than even a Mediator like me. You already knew Kalliana had made a mistake with Troy Boren's verdict.

“So the problem is more widespread than we thought.” She sighed heavily, turning her face away so that her words projected into the darkness. “It's affecting all of us. Tharion, it's your responsibility to do something about it! Find some answers — you're the Guild Master.”

Qrista had found exactly the right thing to give him back his sense of direction and distract him from his turmoil. He had to get to the root of the Veritas problem, to capture and sentence those people who were undermining the power of his beloved Guild. His need bordered on obsession ... which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He had waited far too long, ignoring clues and innuendos, reluctant to put the pieces together.

Qrista's lips were so close to his ear that he felt the hot steam of her breath. “Test the Veritas. We need to know if it was tampered with.”

Tharion lowered his lips, kissing her shoulder. “You're right.”

Qrista increased the room lights to a rosy glow. Her ice-blue eyes bored into his from above high cheekbones; her expression brooked no compromise. “And if you do find something wrong with the Veritas, you must bring Ysan back — and you must set Troy Boren free. He's innocent.”

Tharion closed his eyes. “Ysan must never find out. That would cause too much damage — he's been sent off to Toth, and I'm sure he'll be quite happy as a Magistrate. As for Troy Boren, I know he shouldn't be in prison ... but it will damage the Guild's credibility to set him free.”

“That's a poor excuse,” she said sharply. “Just say there is new evidence. Retract the verdict.”

Tharion pulled away from her. “We can't do that. Think of the Guild!”

She scowled at him.

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