Just as Markus stepped inside, a retractable wall began its descent to close us in from the open balcony. Someone must have activated it. But before the metal barrier colored the same as the dark sandstone of the rest of the residence managed to close all the way, a cloud of sand rushed under it.

  The effect was immediate as I was blinded with sand. I bent over coughing and wiping at my eyes to try and clear them of the sudden assault. My mouth full of sand and grit. I felt someone grip my elbow to steady me as well as something being forced into my hand.

  “Here. Use this to wipe your face. It will help.” Markus said, now beside me.

  I took what felt like a wet cloth, and wiped at my eyes and around my nose and mouth. It helped, and I was able to slowly blink my eyes open. They were still irritated, but at least I could see. Markus was holding a similar cloth over his nose and mouth with his eyes squinted into tiny slits.

  “Thanks,” I told him with a shaky voice. “You just keep these around in your pockets?”

  “When I’m at the College, yes. I’m surprised they didn’t give you any when you were in training.”

  “Maybe they didn’t get to that part yet,” I replied thankful for the small banter to settle myself after whatever the heck had just happened.

  “It’s rare for the shield to fail,” a thick accented voice said. “The only reason they’d give out absorbers is for those who work the perimeter, or go out the desert.”

  I looked to the dark skinned man who had spoken and who appeared to have materialized from nowhere. He had not been in the room before the explosion. Jamiss was now standing beside Rainus with a piece of fabric the same tan color as mine extended toward the King. The Protector had his own cloth stretched across his face and nose with a dark cord looped behind his ears.

  I looked down to my rectangle piece of cloth and saw the loops on mine as well. I went ahead and secured it across my nose and mouth like he had since there was still a dark haze in the room. It at least made it easier to breath.

  I thought about what Jamiss said, but couldn’t help but notice that he and Markus had managed to have at least two ready to use in a moment’s noticed. Then I turned around to see my father’s Protector had a cloth around his face too. I raised an eyebrow, and Markus must have seen it and the question on my face.

  “Protectors are a paranoid lot. They always expect the worst to happen,” he said, then his face darkened. “And rightly so. Anyone else find the shield going down right when the storm was upon us a coincidence?”

  “They never did find Captain Hame or Disciple Wy-lin,” Jamiss replied cooly.

  “Yep,” was all Markus said, but it was enough.

  I watched and it was like Markus, Jamiss, and Tetki were speaking only words they could hear as silent looks passed between them. There were nods and Jamiss gave a signal with his left hand, but it was so fast I couldn’t quite glimpse what he’d done. But afterward, Markus gently, but firmly led me by the elbow toward the transporter. I looked behind me to see Jamiss do the same with Rainus, and Tetki fell in behind the King and his Protector.

  “Where are we going?” I asked as we stepped into the transporter alcove. “Could it be the storm just overloaded the shield?” But even as I said it, I didn’t really believe it either. With everything that had happened recently and knowing the people that were still after me, the shield coming down now was extremely suspicious.

  Markus didn’t respond. Instead, he brought his unity ring to toward his face, and then gave a voice command. “Comm Nathias.”

  A moment later, a man’s voice I recognized as Arch-Major Roth who was guarding the courtyard with his men came from the link. He sounded a little out of breath. “Markus? Everything alright up there?”

  “Yes, but we suspect foul play and are evacuating to secondary position.”

  “Affirmative. With the shield down, we’ve had to move into the foyer. It’s nasty out there,” came Roth’s reply.

  I opened my mouth to ask about where our secondary position might be, but I caught Rainus’s eye as he and Jamiss moved into the transporter with Markus and I. The King gave a short shake of his head, and I immediately closed my mouth. He was probably right. This wasn’t the time to distract our guards with a bunch of questions. I had decided that I trusted Markus enough to make him my head of security even though he’d been booted from the College. It was time to show that trust, and let him and the other Protectors do what they did best.

  Tetki stepped into the transporter with us, and immediately, Markus hit a pulsing button on the wall. A moment later, we were engulfed by the green light I had become familiar with when using the transportation machine, and another moment later, we were on a new floor. Or at least I assumed it was a new one.

  I peered around Jamiss who was standing in front of me. It looked exactly like the residence we had just left, except I knew it wasn’t when I saw that the Sovereign game board that should have been on the table near the walled off the balcony was not there. Neither was some of the objects laying around the residence showing it had been used and lived in. This was one of the other apartments in the chalet.

  I almost asked which one this was, but remembered at the last moment to stay quiet. Instead, I waited as Tetki stepped out of the transporter, and then immediately started a search of the residence, including entering each of the four bedrooms. Once he was done, the Protector gave a firm nod, and Markus released my elbow. I took that as permission to move forward more than anything, and stepped from the transporter right after Jamiss and Rainus.

  Once a few feet into the room, I stopped not sure what to do with myself. I noticed Rainus take a seat at the large redwood table at the back of the living area, so I followed and sat across from him, while our three guards gathered at the center of the room and talked in low tones. I couldn’t hear a thing, and I was starting to get frustrated. I didn’t like being out of the loop.

  The King seemed to sense my mood, and he gave me a comforting smile. “There’s a lot we do and are in charge of in the Empire as the rulers and lawmakers, but this is one area where I have learned that is best to leave in the capable hands of others. This is why we have the Protectorate after all.”

  I nodded. “I gather they think the shield was sabotaged on purpose?”

  “It seems a good conclusion to make. I know the shield system the College is using. I use the same on Darat and many other worlds. They don’t just explode, not for good reason, and very rarely have significant mechanical problems that cause an explosive burn out. These shields are built to hold up against harsh punishment, especially with severe storms just like the one assaulting the College now.”

  I nodded again. “So they moved us to another apartment just in case this is Captain Hame and Disciple Wy-lin taking advantage of the sandstorm. They know where we were staying, so we were moved to another apartment to hopefully confuse them.”

  “Perhaps.”

  I looked at the King with what I was sure was puzzlement. “Perhaps?”

  “Well, Hame was a Renowned Protector up until a week ago. He’d be expecting you to be moved to another location, and since the storm is assaulting the College and this very building, it would be careless for our Protection team to try and relocate us to another building in the mess going on outside.”

  “But they had to be moving about in the storm? How could they manage that if it’s as bad as you say?”

  “There are ways.” But Rainus didn’t seem to want to explain further.

  I sat feeling my frustration build only to realize that it wasn’t coming from me, but from behind. Markus was getting upset about something, and I was surprised to be getting anything at all from the man. He was normally impossible to read, and so was Rainus, I just realized. I had yet to get even an inkling of emotion from the King since I first met him. How did they do that? Was it the effects of a Dome-ni, or something else?

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Might I ask what your Dome-ni is?” I said the man across from me.

  For a moment, a startled expression crossed his face, but it quickly dissolved to be replaced with a thoughtful look. “That’s a rather personal question, don’t you think?”

  I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I didn't realize it was such a… I mean Dur-rele has been quite open about talking about Dome-ni in my lectures and who has what. I didn’t know it was rude to ask.”

  Rainus waved his hand dismissively. “It’s alright, I’m just not used to anyone being so forthright about such things. Most people would think twice before asking a King such a question.”

  I felt my face grow even hotter. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to offend—”

  Rainus chuckled softly. “No offense taken, I assure you. In fact, it's rather refreshing. To answer your question, my Dome-ni is Telepathy. I don’t normally like advertising it. People can be uncomfortable around those with the mind reading ability.”

  I couldn't help the way my eyes widened. Telepathy. The ability to read minds. The King could read minds. I felt a sudden wave of panic as I mentally reviewed every thought I'd had about him since we met.

  “Don't worry,” Rainus said with a slight smile. “I don't make a habit of delving into others' thoughts without permission. It would be... unethical.”

  “But you could,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

  “I could,” he agreed, his expression turning serious. “Just as you could use your Dome-ni in ways that would infringe upon others. We all make choices with the abilities we possess.”

  I nodded, still not entirely reassured. “So that's why I can’t sense anything from you? You’re blocking me?”

  “A necessary skill I developed early. In politics, showing one’s emotions can be an occupational hazard. By now, it’s become an automatic reflex. Please don’t take it personally.”

  I nodded at his apology. “Does Markus have Telepathy too? He’s seems just as good as you at blocking his emotions.”

  Rainus shook his head. “No, his is Verity––the ability to hear and seek out the truth, no matter how hard a person tries to hide it. I don’t mind sharing that with you because he could care less who knows about his Dome-ni, but it would be wise in the future to be more cautious about coming right out and asking.”

  “I’ll remember that,” I said, filing that away in the important-if-I-don’t-want-to-piss-people-off file.

  “And as for his ability to block his emotions, such a thing can be learned. It just takes time and the determination to make it happen for someone who doesn’t have a Dome-ni that is pre-dispositioned to for such things.”

  I hesitated for a moment as I thought of how to word the question that had formed in my mind as we spoke. “Is it wrong for me to sense other’s emotions, then? I mean… usually they are just out there, and I haven’t really had any training…”

  Rainus gave me a reassuring smile. “Everyone knows what your Dome-ni are, so if they don’t want to be read, then they should either block you or just not be around you, so in a way, they have been pre-warned. Other than that, I wouldn’t worry too much. People are far more upset about the possibility of their mind being read than their emotions.

  “And just so you know, it’s not normal for people to know everyone’s Dome-ni unless you are in a specialized field where it matters and can be considered an asset like the Vanguard or this College, but your situation is a little different because…. well…”

  “Because of what happened when I was a child?” I finished for him.

  “And the fact that you have two. That’s a rather rare occurrence, so naturally, your Dome-ni are going to get attention.”

  I nodded. “It would be good to get training in my Empathic Dome-i. I mean, I know I will get it in Perception. My father has already said that, but he doesn’t seem to care about the other one.”

  Rainus pressed his lips for a moment. “Well, I can’t speak for your father, but I have known him a long time, and he doesn’t put much stock in a Dome-ni that he doesn't consider useful. I suspect he thinks your Empathy is secondary to your Perception, and not as important to train.”

  “I see,” I said, and even I could hear the dejection in my tone. Would I even get to train in my Empathic side?

  “I can’t do anything about setting you up with a Master Teacher in the Empathic Dome-ni. That’s not my place.” Rainus said, catching onto my mood. “But I can talk to my personal Caretaker. I don’t know if you know this, but being Empathic is a requirement to becoming a Caretaker. I think Thaddeus would be willing to give you at least some basic instruction, if you would like? He’s up on the Quortous now, so maybe he can speak to you on our way to the White Palace?”

  Excitement raced through me at the suggestion. “I would like that very much. Thank you.”

  Rainus looked like he was going to say something else, but Markus came over to the table. His expression was dark and dangerous. “I’ve been out voted. We are going to split up. Adar you are coming with me with two of Nathias’s men, and pavi will stay here with with Jamiss, Tetki and the rest.”

  Something inside me cringed. I did not like that idea at all. “Why split up? And where are you and I going?”

  “Jamiss and Tetki seems to think that they won’t expect us to split up, and if we keep the majority of the guards here, we can make it look like we aren’t up to something, while you and I slip out and go over to the administration building. Once there, we should have all the security we need.”

  “How are we going to get through the storm?”

  “There’s a lower level to the chalet that has a tunnel leading under the dunes outside and directly to the administration building. Apparently, it was put there exactly for this sort of situation after that situation with King Randoff.”

  I wanted to ask about that situation, but knew this was not the time or place, so filed it away to ask about later. Instead, I asked, “But won’t they know about the tunnel?”

  “That was my argument, though it’s not common knowledge that it exists. I didn’t even know about it until just a few minutes ago, but Tetki knows because many of his special assignments while in the Program was to use his Elemental ability to help build the tunnel. Apparently, it’s a new addition. Only been there about five years, so the likelihood of Hame knowing about it is very slim and Wy-lin was never on the building detail. Yavit, I was here a the College at that time, and I never heard a word of it. They’d done a good job of keeping it quiet.”

  “But you don’t think we should use it?” I said as I read the frustration in his voice.

  Markus shook his head. “I think we should all use it, or all stay here. I do not think that splitting our forces is a good idea. We do not know if Hame managed to convince others to help him, or whether he knows about the tunnel or not. He might not know himself, but someone could have told him.”

  “Dexter interrogated Jordem and Pezeri quite thoroughly,” Rainus spoke up. “He does not think there were any more than what we know about.”

  “Well, I don’t feel as confident about that as you do, pavi,” Markus shook his head. “Maybe if he’d let me interrogated them like we wanted, I could have gotten the truth from them, but I’m not inclined to a believe anything Jordem or Pezeri said without someone ferreting out the truth of their statements with the Verity Dome-ni.”

  There was a moment pause between father and son as if they were seemed to be deciding if this was yet another topic on which to argue about. But before they could start, I spoke up.

  “You say there is plenty of security at the administration building?”

  “Yes, Jamiss just commed the head of security for the building. A team is will be meeting us on the other end.”

  “How long is the trek through the tunnel and is there another way to enter it other than the entrance here and at the administration building?”

  “Tetki says it’s a one and a quarter mile from one end to the other and no other entrances besides the two.”

  “Then why don’t we all just go? Seems like a straight enough solution to me.”

  “Except that it’s a one and a quarter mile walk,” Jamiss replied as he and Tetki came over to the table to join in our conversation. They both stopped just on the other side of Markus. “If they find the chalet empty, then they will undoubtedly do a thorough search of the building and may very well find the lower level and tunnel entrance. And that is if they don’t already know it’s there and go right for it. If we split up, then we can at least delay them while you get to the administrative building and reinforcements can arrive.”

  I was impressed. This was the most I had heard Jamiss speak since I had been introduced to him in my second day of recovery. He mostly said nothing at all or kept his statements to a word or two, or very short phrases. I also gathered from the slight deference in Markus’s and Tetki’s postures that Jamiss was in charge and that his opinion held the most weight. Most likely from seniority. He’d been a Protector much longer than the other two, and in Markus’s case, who wasn’t a Protector at all. I was starting to see at least a reason for Markus’s frustration other than they weren’t going along with his plan.

  “If we bolster the rear guard, there isn’t any reason why the front guard can’t get Adar and pavi to the administration building before they catch up, especially if we stop standing around here talking and go now,” Markus growled.

  Jamiss’s response to that was to simply give Markus a glower that could curl paint off the wall, and then turned back to Rainus and I. “The decision has been made. Majesty, I think it best if you stay in the back room until this is done. Highness, we shall meet you when this is all over.”

  And that was that. Jamiss whirled around on his heels motioning to Tetki who took a position near the transporter, while Jamiss took a position near the door of the back bedroom that was as far away from the transporter and the closed out balcony as possible. Rainus stood up, gave me a slight bow, and regally glided to the door Jamiss stood guard over.

  “Better get going, Markus,” Rainus replied as he made his way across the room, his powerful voice booming against the walls as he went. “See you shortly, Adar. You are in good hands, when my son isn’t being stubborn, of course.”

  I stood up, gave Rainus one last look as he disappeared through the door way to the bedroom, and then I made my way to the transporter with Markus following behind. I stepped around Tetki and into the alcove waiting for Markus.

  “Good luck,” I said to Tetki, who gave me a slight nod as Markus stepped around him.

  Once in the transporter, Markus raised his unity ring to his mouth. “Voice Comm Nathias.”

  A moment later, the Arch-Major responded. “Yes?”

  “We are coming down. Be ready,” and a moment later, the green light of the transporter enveloped Markus and I, whisking us away to the ground floor.