Wicked Wanderer
Chapter Ten

by Sharon Green

Copyright 2003 by ABCD Webmasters, and Sharon Green


 

It took quite a few minutes before Tor and his people were able to find out the location of the detention cells. The woman Roblin flatly refused to accept that she'd been replaced, and it became necessary for Tor to have her taken into custody by members of his escort to get her out of the room. A stroke of inspiration told Tor to show his credentials to the two guardsmen who had been guarding the doors, and the paperwork immediately turned the two men into his guardsmen. At that point they became more than willing to show the way to the detention cells, ignoring the way the other "prisoners" screamed and cried.

The detention cells were located at the very top of the mansion, a much more humane location than somewhere underground would have been. More than half of the cells were already occupied, and once the former governor and her people were given cells of their own Tor went looking for Falk's brother.

Looking through the transparent doors let Tor search the easy way, and about half way down the hall he found the man he wanted. It was a shock to see what looked like Falk sitting in an easy chair ignoring some lecture on a very large screen, but Tor had been half expecting the sight. Talla, though, hadn't been expecting the same.

"That's not possible!" Talla hissed from where she stood to Tor's left. "How could Falk have gotten here ahead of us and been arrested?"

"That's not Falk, it's his brother," Tor said, smiling to himself over how much alike the two men looked. "I never knew the real meaning of 'identical twins' until just this minute. Let's get him out of there, and then he ought to be able to help with telling us which of these others also need to be freed."

They found the transparent door's release bar to the right of the cell on the wall, but when the door opened the man in the chair didn't even bother to look up.

"To answer your usual question at once, no, I'm not ready to be what you call reasonable," Falk's brother said in a bored, dismissive tone. "You can tell that woman she's still wasting her time and mine."

"I believe I'm addressing Halin Croft," Tor said, which did manage to gain Croft's attention. "I'm delighted to tell you that - that woman - is no longer in charge, so you're free to go. I'm Torand Rego, the new governor."

"Torand Rego!" Croft exclaimed with a wide smile as he got to his feet. "So Leron's efforts have finally succeeded just as I'd hoped they would. You must tell me all about it."

"I'll be delighted to tell you the story, Mr. Croft, but first I'll need your help," Tor answered with his own smile. "You're not the only one being detained here, and I need to know who else ought to be released."

"Everyone in these cells is a political prisoner, just as I was," Croft said after shaking hands with Tor. "Those who have committed actual crimes are interred elsewhere, but I believe that those offenses also need to be looked into. There's a big difference between committing cold-blooded murder and being politically incorrect on purpose, but both of those things are against the law."

"I know you're right, and it will be the first thing I look into," Tor agreed, then he gestured to Talla. "This is Talla Fain, my lieutenant governor, and she's also acquainted with your brother."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady," Croft said as he also shook Talla's hand. "And please call me Halin, both of you. Now we'd better get to releasing everyone else."

Releasing the people in the other detention cells didn't take all that long, but accepting fervent thanks and having to soothe those who actually cried at being released took a while. When the last of the political prisoners was being helped to the lift that would take them to the ground floor, Tor looked around for Halin Croft. He found the man standing in front of the detention cell the former governor had been put in, and when Tor joined Croft there he saw the woman behind the transparent door screaming wildly with fists clenched and raised.

"It's fortunate that nothing of the noise she's making can get through the door to disturb us," Croft commented when Tor stopped beside him. "She doesn't seem to understand just how antisocial such behavior is, or more likely she doesn't want to understand. For some reason those who make rules for others to live by don't feel constrained to live by the same rules. Taunting my former captor isn't very nice, I know, but it's a human failing that certainly is satisfying."

"She's lucky that all you want to do is stare at her," Tor commented back, also studying the rabidly angry woman. "Another man in your place would choose to hurt her rather than just look, but she doesn't seem to understand that either. Doing something without being willing to accept the consequences of your actions is doing more than simply being irresponsible… Mr. Croft - Halin - I need to speak to you about Chayara."

"About my daughter?" Croft said with surprise, finally turning to look at Tor. "Ah, yes, I take it Leron told you about our plans for the two of you, and you'd now like to meet the young lady. She ought to be at home, unless she's out investigating something that's caught her interest."

"Halin, I've already met your daughter," Tor said, trying not to make the words sound like a confession. "When you were arrested she made her way to Moradan and found your brother. It's completely thanks to her that we succeeded in taking over the government at Utopia, and she returned here on my ship."

"Then you already know what an excellent match you two will make," Croft said with a wide smile, joining Tor in moving away from the detention cell and toward the lift. "That stupid woman thought I'd agree to destroying our family by marrying my children to ciphers, which shows how poor her judgment was. As soon as you're settled into your new position as governor we'll hold the wedding, and - "

"There's a problem," Tor blurted, forcing himself to interrupt the plans that were being so happily made. "I - made a bad mistake with Chayara when she and I first met, and my efforts since then to straighten things out have only made the situation worse. She's currently refusing to see or speak to me, and I was hoping you would be willing to intercede with her. I need to have one last conversation with her, and if that doesn't get her to change her mind then I'll - just get out of her life."

"The situation is that serious?" Croft said, staring sadly at Tor as they stopped in front of the lift doors. "I'm really sorry to hear that, and of course I'll speak to her on your behalf. If you're willing to share the details of the problem, I might even be able to make some suggestions on the best way to repair whatever damage has been done."

"I … caused something to happen between us, but Chayara refuses to believe that what happened was my doing," Tor responded after a long moment, struggling to tell the story without going into details. "She insists that logic says she's the one responsible, and most of our troubles have stemmed from that belief. If I can't get her to change her mind she'll probably never be willing to marry me."

"And you're not one to take an unwilling bride," Croft said with weariness in his voice just as the lift doors opened. "Yes, Leron told me you would most likely have that attitude, and when it comes to assessing people his judgment can't be faulted. Let's go and find Chayara and see if we can't get this mess straightened out."

Tor joined Croft in getting into the lift, but leaving immediately just wasn't possible. The entire mansion was in an uproar, and Tor had to call a general meeting of all staff members to let them know about the change in leadership. He gave everyone the chance to resign if they disliked the new order of things, and more than half of the staff immediately took him up on the offer.

"That idea was brilliant," one of the staff members choosing to stay murmured to Tor after the meeting. "Now you won't have the bother of firing most of them. Unfortunately, though, about half of the deadwood has chosen to stay, so you still have quite a bit of culling ahead of you. My advice would be to look into what everyone is supposed to be doing, and then find out just how well they do that job. If you would be so kind as to start with me, I'll then be able to get back to work - assuming you want me to."

The man made no effort to avoid Tor's gaze at that point, giving Tor the chance to say that only his own people would be working in the government. But that wasn't the way Tor wanted to arrange things, so he smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I would like you to stay - assuming you're doing what you're supposed to be doing," Tor said, making the other chuckle. "Lieutenant Governor Fain will take a look at your efforts, and if they check out then you'll be able to help her with the rest. I have some personal business to take care of, and then I'll be back to do my part in returning sanity to this world. What's your name?"

"I'm Feston Roode," the man responded with something of a bow. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Excellency, and I'm certain we'll do very well working together."

"I certainly hope so, Mr. Roode," Tor answered. "Let me introduce you to the lieutenant governor, and then I'll be able to get on with that personal business I mentioned."

Tor took Roode over to Talla, and once Talla had been told what had to be done Tor rejoined Halin Croft. The two left the mansion together, but Tor paused just outside to call his ship.

"Lanni, I'm coming aboard with Chayara's father," Tor told his second in command. "If the girl still refuses to come out of her cabin, we'll have to be ready to break the door down."

"Tor, Chayara left the ship only a few minutes after you did," Lanni said before Tor could end the call. "Everyone was so busy being alert against some kind of attack that I didn't learn she was gone until we were told you'd relieved the former governor and we could all stand down. One of our people on watch saw her go, but we don't know where she's gone to."

"Most likely she's gone home," Croft said quickly. Tor stood like a dummy having no idea what to say or do, and the older man's hand came to Tor's shoulder in support. "Following her will be much easier than breaking down a cabin door, especially once we appropriate one of the governor's official vehicles."

"Yes, that's what we need, a ground vehicle," Tor agreed as he came out of the fog. "Let's find someone who can tell us where those vehicles are."

After ending the call to Lanni, Tor joined Croft in going back inside the mansion. It took only a short while to find a servant who was able to lead them to where the official vehicles were, and not long after that they were in the vehicle and heading for Croft's house. Croft did the driving while Tor sat and fretted, an arrangement the older man had insisted on. Which was just as well, Tor admitted to himself. He was much too distracted to pay any kind of decent attention to driving…

"We're here, my boy," Croft said suddenly as the vehicle stopped. Tor looked around to see that they'd pulled into the driveway of a very large house, a driveway that curved around in a semi-circle. Croft had stopped at the top of the arc, right in front of the wide steps leading up to the house, so Tor joined Croft in getting out of the vehicle. Just as they reached the top of the steps the front door of the house opened and a number of people came flying out.

"Halin, you're free!" a handsome older woman laughed as she threw herself into Croft's arms. "And just in time, too! Instead of me talking the boys out of trying to free you, I was on the verge of being talked into joining their effort."

"No she wasn't, Father," one of the twin young men behind the woman said after everyone had laughed. "Mother kept insisting that everything would work out fine without our efforts, and it looks like she was right as usual."

At that point everyone was crowding around Croft to welcome him home, so Tor stepped aside - just in time to see Chayara appear in the open doorway. Tor felt such vast relief that he nearly sat down on the wide porch, but he knew he couldn't let himself be weak right now. So instead of collapsing he strode over to the girl and took her in his arms.

"Chayara, please listen to me," he murmured to the wide blue eyes that looked up at him with dismayed surprise. "I have something to tell you, and that should make all the difference in our disagreement. If you'll just give me a chance to - "

"Oops, sorry," the girl he held said with an uncomfortable laugh, making no effort to avoid his gaze. "I'm not Chayara, I'm Eilinna, Chay's sister. Chay is off right now doing something important, but we're hoping she'll be back really soon and then you can … speak to her all you like."

"I'm sorry, Torand, but that is Eilinna," Croft said from behind him as Tor struggled to decide if the girl was telling the truth. "Apparently Chayara hasn't yet made it home."

Tor released the girl hastily, ignoring his vast reluctance to do so. Eilinna was definitely Chayara's identical twin, and holding her had felt like the best thing the universe had to offer. All except for one small, unimportant difference…

"Let's go inside," Croft said gently after patting Tor's shoulder in sympathy. "The former governor considered coffee bad for people, so I haven't had a cup since they locked me up. Once we're settled with some of that terrible drink in front of us, I'll call around to see if Chayara has gotten in touch with any of her friends."

Tor nodded while Croft hugged his other daughter, then followed the whole group inside. It had been hours since Chayara left the Hawk, so why hadn't she gotten home yet? And what would he do if she didn't come home, or get in touch with any of her friends? How would he find one girl on this very large world if she didn't want to be found…?

* * *

Chayara had no trouble leaving the vicinity of the governor's mansion and finding a public callbox. One quick call had a Paid Vehicle on its way to her immediately, one that reached her in less than five minutes. The pav hadn't been far away, of course, and the driver took her to the closest branch of her bank where she withdrew the funds she needed to pay for the pav - and a few other things as well.

After she'd paid off the pav, Chayara walked the couple of blocks necessary to find a pav stand. The stand was near a public transportation outlet, and the pavs were often used by those coming out of the outlet. Chayara took the first pav in line, directed it to the middle of the city, then paid the driver before getting out. Only a block away was the store she wanted, but walking the block was a better idea than letting the pav drop her off there. When her father found out that she was back on her home world, he would certainly send people out looking for her…

And Chayara didn't want to be found, not by anyone. She hated the idea of never seeing her family again, but staying away would be best for everyone involved. She'd become someone no one would want to know or acknowledge as a relative or friend, and experiencing that would be much too painful. Better to just disappear and let people keep their older, untainted memories.

The day wasn't very warm and seemed to be threatening rain, two things Chayara was no longer used to after so long a time aboard various ships. By the time she reached the store she wanted she was ready to buy a coat or jacket first, but that would have been foolish. She bought two complete outfits in all colors but gray, added the necessary jacket, then chose a bag to pack her purchases in. She also picked up the toiletries she needed, and once she'd paid for everything she used a public rest room to change into one of the outfits. After stuffing everything including her backpack into the bag, she then left the rest room and located another pav stand.

The pav driver wasn't at all surprised to be taking Chayara to a hotel near the spaceport. When someone's shuttle was scheduled to leave either very late or very early in the day, people often took rooms near the port to make sure there would be no delay when the time came to go to the port. After paying off the pav Chayara put on the cap she'd bought to hide her hair color, went into the hotel, and got herself a low-cost room.

The room was larger than the cabin she'd had aboard the Hawk, but closing the door still made Chayara feel as if she were also closing the door on the rest of her life.

"Life, what life?" she asked herself in a mutter as she put down her bag and walked to the only chair to drop into it. "I have no life left, only something I'm terrible at but still something I'm meant to do. At least Rego's plan showed me that much."

Rego's plan. The phrase echoed in Chayara's head, bringing back the various kinds of pain and embarrassment she'd endured for no reason. Rego hadn't been trying to train her for the life of a slut, he'd been trying his best to discourage her. Just as if the choice were hers rather than something she'd been born to be. That belt had hurt when he'd spanked her with it, but the paddle had hurt even more. And after he'd used her the way a slut was usually used he'd said -

"He said something about sharing, as if I wasn't bright enough to know how much better that was," Chayara whispered, tears trickling down her cheeks. "Why can't he understand that I would share everything with him alone if I could, but my nature won't let me do that? Why did he have to make me wish for something I'll never have?"

The quiet tears turned to sobbing then, ruining Chayara's intention to think about what she might do with the rest of her life. Actively pursuing the life of a slut was now out of the question, but she didn't know what else there was to do for someone like her.

The crying just went on and on, and when it finally worked itself to a stop Chayara felt exhausted. She hadn't had anything to eat since leaving the ship, but it had been quite some time since she'd had anything like an appetite. Instead of ordering anything from room service, she simply went to bed.

When she woke up it was the next morning, and as soon as her eyes were open she knew that she had to order some food. She placed her order before getting into the shower, and by the time she'd dried and dressed there was a knock on the door. A small table filled with breakfast dishes was rolled inside when she opened the door, and after paying the man who had brought the food she was able to sit down and eat.

While Chayara eased the pain in her middle by eating, her mind came up with a half dozen different plans - and rejected them all. When she finally sat back with a second cup of coffee she seemed to be left with only a single plan: buy a small house somewhere and never leave it. She had more than enough money to do just about anything she pleased, most of it in accounts that her family knew nothing about.

With the political situation being what it had been, she'd needed to be prepared to disappear at a moment's notice. That woman who had been governor could have decided to marry her off even without her father's consent, and she knew that her sister and brothers had similar arrangements. If it had become necessary they all would have disappeared, and with none of them knowing about the arrangements the others had made, capturing one of them would not have caused the rest to be taken as well.

"But I can't decide if the house should be here on Evron or on another world," Chayara murmured to the coffee in her cup. "If I were on another world I'd never have to worry about being found by any of the family, but I'd also never know if something happened where they needed me. How can I - "

Chayara's soft words broke off when a knock came at her door, probably produced by the man who had brought her food. He'd said something about coming back later for the table and empty dishes, and that was perfectly all right. She meant to keep her cup and the rest of the coffee, but the rest could -

By now Chayara had gone to the door and opened it, but all she could do was stand and stare. It wasn't the serving man who had knocked, it was -

"I really need to talk to you," Rego said, staring down at her with disturbed gray eyes. "May I come in?"

"How could you possibly have found me?" Chayara was finally able to ask as he walked past her without waiting for her agreement. "I left nothing of a trail that could be followed."

"You certainly didn't," Rego agreed, stopping in the middle of the room to turn back to her. "But I'd like to save explanations for later. Right now we need to talk about this business of you being a slut."

"I'd really rather not," Chayara said after closing the door, avoiding his gaze as she went back to her coffee. "And since I'll be checking out of here soon I'd also appreciate your leaving now."

"Not until I say what I came to," Rego insisted, his tone flat and final. "You've been doing a lot of talking about how much of a slut you are, but I'm willing to bet you don't really know what a slut is."

"Of course I know what a slut is," Chayara returned with badly hidden impatience, still not looking at him. "A slut is a girl who throws herself at men, and if it's in your nature to be a slut there's nothing you can do to change it."

"But that's just the point," Rego said at once, and his tone had, for some reason, grown more gentle. "I recently found out that it's not in any girl's nature to be a slut. It's a mode of behavior with a couple of reasons causing the condition, so let's find out if those reasons apply to you. Were you so insecure that you were willing to do anything to attract the attention of men, up to and including letting them use your body?"

"No, of course not," Chayara answered with a small sound of ridicule, glancing at Rego where he'd taken a seat on the end of her bed. "I had more important things to worry about than attracting the attention of men. But that doesn't - "

"Then maybe you were operating from the other cause," Rego said, interrupting her counterargument. "If a girl is sexually abused at a very young age by an older male relative, she'll often be told how special she is. She doesn't enjoy the sexual abuse but endures it in order to continue being 'special,' but then the abuse comes to an end when she gets too 'old.' It often takes a few years, but then she starts to run after men in order to regain the special feeling, or to get even with her abuser by giving others what only he had for so long. Does that reason apply to you?"

"No, you know it doesn't," Chayara said, her coffee forgotten as she stared at the disturbance in Rego's expression. "I was a virgin when you took me to your bed… But what you said doesn't make any sense. If that kind of behavior is caused by something other than a girl's nature, why would a mother warn a daughter against 'acting like a slut?' If a daughter didn't have those reasons moving her, there would be no danger of - "

"I think you just got part of the truth," Rego said with a smile that had no amusement in it. "If the daughter wasn't popular, she could end up trading her dignity for a taste of that popularity she wants so badly. And you have to remember that most people still don't understand why some girls act like that. They see the actions without knowing what caused those actions, then jump to the conclusion that the girl involved wants to act like that. I didn't understand myself until Jerman showed me a study that dug for the truth and found it."

Chayara felt very disturbed over what Rego had said, so much so that it took a good minute before she remembered the flaw in his argument.

"What you say may be true, but that doesn't explain why I acted the way I did," she stated, almost too confused to think. "You can't deny that what I did wasn't what a normal woman would do, so - "

"Chayara, you were drugged," Rego interrupted again, now speaking slowly and emphasizing each word. "I could see that the girl I meant to take to bed wasn't likely to make an effort even to be adequate not to speak of good, so I took care of the matter in advance. I fed you the Green Glow and called it medication, and you never knew the difference. It had been too long since the last time I'd had a woman for me to want a struggle instead of enjoyment. The Green Glow guaranteed my enjoyment."

A headshake should have helped Chayara's thinking to clear, but for some reason it didn't. Now that Rego had mentioned it, she finally remembered the awful "medication" he'd given her. She'd never had anything like it before, and if it had really been a medication against the spread of disease she should have at least read about it. The logical basis for her refusal to believe Rego was suddenly beginning to crumble…

"It should be clear by now that you aren't really a slut," Rego said after a moment while Chayara's head continued to spin. "The girl in those Dreams you experienced… Chances are good she was trying to recapture what she'd had with 'daddy' by going after older men. You do understand and believe what I've been saying, I hope."

"Yes, I understand what you're trying to say," Chayara told him with a sigh, a final point having forced itself to her attention. "You drugged me that first time and that's why I behaved the way I did, but the drug doesn't account for the way I behaved afterward. I kept trying to get back into your bed, and that isn't normal behavior for anyone. If you think I'll believe that the drug hung on for that long, I have to tell you I'm not that gullible."

"Stubborn is what you are, but that's perfectly all right," Rego said, a touch of annoyance easily seen in his gray eyes. "You do need to have all your objections answered, and this is the time for it. Falk - your uncle - was delighted that your luck made you stow away aboard my ship, but there was a reason for his delight that he didn't mention until later. Falk loved the idea that your luck approved of me just as much as he did, otherwise the luck would never have gotten you onto my ship. It seems that Falk and your father agreed some time ago that I was the perfect match for you. They want us to marry, Chayara, and so does your luck. That's why you kept trying to get back into my bed. You knew that the place is supposed to be yours."

Chayara knew that sitting with your mouth open isn't very attractive, but for a very long moment there was nothing else she could do. Shock had a habit of freezing you in place, and once the shock began to fade she found herself able to speak nothing but incoherent sounds.

"Yes, I know, that's a lot to absorb all at once, but I'm sure you can do it," Rego said as he leaned forward to take her hand. "I think you may be trying to deny that your luck wants us to be married, but the answer to an earlier question of yours should settle the matter. You asked how I found you when you left nothing of a trail, didn't you?"

A nod was all Chayara could manage, so she nodded. Rego's hand tightened just a little around her hand and he smiled.

"The way I found you was pure luck," he said, and now those eyes were filled with amusement. "Your father was the one who suggested the idea, and even though I privately considered him crazy I still went along with it. He got out a map of the city and the surrounding area, I sat down near the map, then I put a hand over the map and closed my eyes. It took no more than seconds before my hand started to move, and when my finger touched the map I opened my eyes to see that I was touching a place near the public port. I called my new offices then and had them start an official inquiry with all the hotels in the area about someone of your description having registered yesterday. There was only one other person fitting your description found, but she had checked out early so I came directly here. And now you have a very important decision to make."

"Decision?" Chayara said, still more than a little confused and lost. "What are you talking about?"

"You have to decide if you really do want to marry me," Rego answered, less amusement and more worry in the gaze that clung to her face. "When Falk said he and your father wanted me to be your husband, I felt more elation than when I was told I'd be governor here. But you and I have been through some unpleasant experiences, so if you would prefer to have someone else as your husband then I'll just step aside. Everything you went through thinking you were a slut was my fault, and if you can't forgive me for causing you such … turmoil, then I can't really blame you."

He'd let her hand go by then, and Chayara suddenly discovered that her thinking had completely cleared. Ideas flowed as quickly as they always did, so it wasn't very long before she knew exactly what to say and do.

"You're wrong about everything being all your fault," Chayara said as she rose from the chair to walk to Rego and sit down on his lap. "If I hadn't thought I knew it all I wouldn't have gone flying off on a flight of fantasy that I took for reality. I am tempted to doubt that story about how you found me, but it's much too outrageous to be anything but the truth. It looks like everything including my luck wants me to marry you, so who am I to refuse?"

"Do you mean that?" Rego asked, his arms around her in the same way hers were around his neck. "If you have any doubts - "

"I have no doubts," she stated, this time interrupting him. "As long as you don't give me any more Dreams to experience, we shouldn't have much trouble getting along at all."

His grin matched her smile, and then they were kissing the way she would have dreamed about if she'd let herself hope that this man would ever be hers. The kiss was lovely and long, bringing to mind something else Chayara wanted to share with Rego, and as soon as his lips left hers he look her arms from around his neck. That made Chayara think he felt the same and was about to make love to her, but instead he suddenly turned her so that she was face down across his lap.

"What are you doing?" Chayara demanded, struggling to free herself in a way she hadn't done on the ship. "I thought we were all through with this kind of thing."

"We'll be all through with it once you've been punished for running off without a word to anyone," Rego answered as he pulled down her pants and undies. "The worry almost ate me alive, and if you ever try the same again you'll regret it for a good deal longer than you will this time."

Chayara squawked at the first smack of his hand, but before long she was howling rather than squawking. The spanking he gave her was harder than any of the others had been, but the time wasn't quite as long as she'd been afraid it would be. Her bottom flared with pain before the spanking was over, his hand coming down again and again, but a single idea was all she was able to think about.

Would he make love to her afterward? What would Nikki do to make certain he did…?


THE END