Beneath the Fallen City, Jamie A. Waters [ebook reader .TXT] 📗

scavenging for a while now. I’ve never seen a doll like that before. I think, oh, say, fifteen thousand credits would be far more reasonable.”

Carl gave her a sharp look but didn’t contradict her. Instead, he turned to the Director. “Your thoughts?”

The Director nodded. “We have an agreement at fifteen thousand credits.”

Woohoo! Kayla did a mental victory dance.

“Interesting,” the voice mused.

Kayla’s exhilaration faded, and she swallowed hard. Master Tal’Vayr was staring directly at her. Carl and Cruncher seemed oblivious to the exchange and instead waited patiently for the Director to offer on the next item.

“Open bidding at five thousand credits for the dragon carving. But accept up to twenty thousand credits.”

What the hell is a dragon?

Master Tal’Vayr gave her a startled look. The Director cleared his throat and bid on the final item. “I’m prepared to offer five thousand credits for the carving.”

Carl rubbed his chin. “I’m surprised. The material seems rare. It seems to be worth closer to ten thousand credits.”

Kayla bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything. Master Tal’Vayr leaned forward in his chair, not taking his eyes off her. He almost seemed to be daring her to speak up. She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Would you mind waiting a minute before you come to an agreement?” Carl looked as though he was about to object, but she held up a finger and gave him a pleading look. “Don’t agree to anything yet. I’ll be right back.”

Once Kayla was out of their sight, she ran toward the crew quarters. She ignored Veridian’s privacy divider and barged into his personal quarters.

“V, get up.” She climbed on the bed and shoved him awake. “I need your help.”

Veridian sat up, rubbing his eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did Ramiro come after you again?”

She grabbed his pants off the floor and threw them at him. “No, I’m fine. Get dressed. I need your help. Hurry up.”

Confused, he pulled on his pants. She gestured for him to move faster. “I need you to tell these guys the carving we found is a dragon, and it’s extremely rare. Tell them you believe it’s worth twenty thousand credits. I don’t care what else you say, but insist on that number.”

Veridian pulled a shirt over his head. “Kayla, what are you talking about? What the hell is going on?”

“Just do it.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the crew’s quarters. “I’ll explain later.”

Veridian tumbled after her. When they entered the office, she pushed him forward unceremoniously. “This is Veridian. My previous camp considered him to be an expert at appraising artifacts. He told me some interesting things about that particular piece. I thought you should hear them before deciding on a final number.”

She stepped back, leaving everyone staring at Veridian. He scratched his head, looking bewildered, and turned to give her an annoyed look before smiling apologetically at the newcomers. It was obvious he’d just stumbled out of bed by the state of his disheveled hair and wrinkled clothing.

He cleared his throat. “Uh, right. The piece she’s talking about is a dragon carving, and it’s extremely rare. Based on my extensive experience appraising artifacts,” he glared at Kayla, “I’d have to say it’s worth at least twenty thousand credits.”

“Interesting,” Master Tal’Vayr commented and stood from his seat. Kayla blinked at him. It was the first time he’d spoken, and his voice flowed over her like a caress. He crossed the room toward them. “I’m curious though. You seem well versed in the appraisal amount. But do you know the lore behind the dragons?” He directed his question at Veridian without taking his eyes off Kayla.

Veridian hesitated, glancing nervously at Kayla. She ignored his “What the hell have you gotten me into?” look.

“Uh, sadly, my experience is limited to only how much it’s worth.”

“How unfortunate.” Master Tal’Vayr turned to Kayla. “It was quite industrious of you to bring your friend here to appraise the piece.”

She shrugged. Sticking her hands in her back pockets, she rocked back on her heels. “I’m just trying to be helpful. I figured V’s experience would help you agree on a reasonable amount.”

“And how much do you think the dragon carving is worth?”

She looked into his cool blue eyes, feeling disconcerted. “I’m just a scavenger. But Veridian seems to think it’s worth twenty thousand credits.”

He gave her a curt nod and picked up the small dragon carving from the desk. He studied it carefully before walking back toward Kayla.

“Trader Carl, we have an agreement at twenty thousand credits,” Master Tal’Vayr announced. Then he turned to her and held out the small dragon carving. “I want you to keep this artifact as a gift. I suspect it’s more suitable than you realize.”

At her confused look, Master Tal’Vayr explained, “A dragon is what some people believe to be a mythological beast. Some others believe they have withdrawn to other worlds. Either way, the sculpture is a reminder of the reverence and belief in something greater.”

Master Tal’Vayr reached for her hand, and she gasped at his touch. Electricity seemed to flow through her as she tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped her hand tightly. He placed the carving into her palm and covered it with his other hand.

Images and thoughts seemed to flow through Kayla at a rapid pace, making her dizzy. Master Tal’Vayr stared at her in shock and demanded, “How… Who are you?”

Kayla snatched her hand away, nearly dropping the artifact, and exhaled deeply. She took an uneasy step back trying to distance herself from him.

Master Tal’Vayr turned to Carl, who had watched the exchange. “This is the young woman who discovered the Aurelia Data Cube?”

“Yes,” Carl said, glancing at Kayla in confusion.

Master Tal’Vayr’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. “How old are you?”

“None of your business.” She’d be damned if she was going to answer his questions. She didn’t understand everything that was going on, but this whole situation was getting out of hand. “I’ll either answer questions about Ramiro or not, but my personal business is my own. It doesn’t concern you.”

Master Tal’Vayr stared at her in shock, clearly not used to having his orders questioned. He turned to Carl. “You obtained her DNA when she signed the contract?”

“Of course,” Carl replied with a frown.

“Put her information on the display.”

Carl entered the command to pull up her information on the monitor in his office. Master Tal’Vayr barely glanced at it, completely fixated on Kayla. “Run a cross-check through OmniLab records for the past twenty years. Use Clearance Code X59BN23.”

Carl entered in the information. The computer began scanning through its databanks.

Kayla had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t like the way this was going or the way this Master Tal’Vayr guy kept staring at her.

A minute later, the computer beeped, and a warning displayed on the screen. Carl looked up in confusion. “It’s blocked. Restricted Access.”

Master Tal’Vayr turned to the computer. He pressed his palm against it and announced, “Override System Access. Master Alec Tal’Vayr. L561N836.”

The computer beeped in acknowledgment and an image appeared on the screen. Kayla stared at the eerily familiar child with dark hair and large, green eyes. She looked at the name next to the image and shook her head in disbelief. She stepped back, whispering, “No. It’s not true.”

Master Tal’Vayr looked at her sharply. “You’ve been missing a long time, Kayla Rath’Varein.”

Carl looked shocked at the mention of the name. “Rath’Varein? That’s impossible.”

“Apparently not.”

Carl stared at the picture of the young girl and scrolled through the text. He looked up to meet Kayla’s panicked expression. “Veridian told me Leo found you after a ruin collapse. OmniLab thought everyone had been killed, including you.”

Veridian scratched his head. “Uh, Kayla? What’s going on?”

“Oh, hell no.” She shook her head, denying the implications of what they were trying to tell her. “You guys have been sucking on vent exhaust for too long if you think I’m an Omni. No freaking way. Forget it.”

Master Tal’Vayr took a step toward her. “DNA doesn’t lie, Kayla Rath’Varein.”

“I’ll tell you exactly where you can shove your DNA crap. And quit calling me that. My name is Kayla. Period. That’s it.”

“This woman belongs in the tower,” Master Tal’Vayr announced. “Her contract is null and void. She’ll be returning with me.”

His words were like cold water pouring over her, and anger flooded through her at the idea that this stranger—this Omni—was trying to control her. “The only thing you’re going to be getting from me is my boot up your ass if you think I’m going to take one step inside those freakish towers of yours. If you want to cancel my contract, great. Fantastic. Wipe your ass with it for all I care. But I don’t belong to OmniLab, and I damn well will not be going to that tower with you.”

“You are a member of the Inner Circle by right of birth. You have no business being outside the towers. It was a mistake to allow you to set foot here sixteen years ago.”

“To hell with this. I’m out of here.”

Finished with the conversation, Kayla turned to head toward the door, but Master Tal’Vayr made a grab for her. A rush of energy flowed through her the moment he touched her. Sights, smells, and sounds flooded her mind. She felt as though she were drowning in a river of someone else’s memories.

You belong with us, Kayla Rath’Varein. I can guide you through this, if you’ll