Chapter 74: Premonition

ORBIT OF PAKAR SIX

“ ... Been like that all of this time?” Lylor gasped in disbelief as he stared at her from the bench beside her.

They had not left the cargo bay of the ship, Aryera, Taig, Marda, Caylt and Yasha and the few others crowding around Reva as they realized just who she truly was. To say Reva Mahanlo was a legend among the Kirek Pack, among any of the original Lycavorian Packs, would have been a colossal understatement of epic proportions. Lylor Kirek had not released her for nearly fifteen minutes as he wept into her abdomen and Reva held his head and allowed the tears to come once again. Accepting that she was indeed alive and then actually seeing her in her true form brought more tears. Yasha and Caylt had not seen their father ever act in such a way, his eyes tear filled and still happy. Though they never really knew Lylor Kirek, they had heard he was a man of little emotion, a statement that was not correct from what they could see.

Reuniting with her blood was becoming a mentally taxing event but until she held her daughter in her arms once more, it would not be complete for Reva. Now adding dear friends that she had not seen for equally as long made Reva move to the small bench along the wall, everyone crowding around her and trying to not let the fact that they were surrounded by eleven dragons bother them. Lylor and Kesas sat on either side of her, Reva holding both their hands tightly. Chiron had returned to the computer station that had been made for him between Mari and Brendi and the three of them were going through all of the data that had been collected. A single Portal Jump had put them back in orbit of Pakar Six, where they were holding station now, though no one on the surface was yet aware they had returned.

Reva nodded her head to Lylor’s question as she once more wiped the tears away from her eyes. “Martin’s wife and mate, her name is Anja, she is a blessed healer and with the help of others she returned me to my true body only a few days ago.” She answered. “I’m still getting used to what was once muscle memory to me. In some ways, it is frustrating, but it is also so very enlightening. It is like being reborn. You knew what I agreed to Lylor.”

Lylor nodded his head. “Yes, but I never saw you like that and Kelia would not tell me what the process was. It was too painful for her to recall and I did not wish to push her given what we were going through.”

Reva nodded her head. “You did the right thing. I was not nearly as beautiful as I am now.” She answered her dark eyes going wider as she realized what she had just said. Kesas, Lylor and the others began to laugh softly at her humor and Reva realized just then that the laconic sense of dry humor that Martin, Androcles and all of their family had was beginning to rapidly rub off on her and she welcomed it with open arms as she smiled brilliantly at her own joke.

“That is why we did not smell you at first.” Kesas spoke now as his laughter died. “The cryo process alters a natural scent and as long as your body was affected by the chemicals involved, they would...”

Reva nodded once more. “Yes. My true scent won’t fully return for at least another two days, but I grow stronger every hour. Anja is truly a magical healer.”

“And she is one of his wives and mates?” Lylor asked.

“She is the one that developed the process to remove me from cryo so quickly and not suffer any side effects.” Reva answered. “She is doing the same for Kelia and whoever else we may find. She is a tiny thing but her medical knowledge and skill surpasses even that of the Onab.”

Kesas shook his head. “We should have realized that he would have detected that we were not telling him everything.” He said in disgust. “He is the Mard Revik. He is the last direct descendant of Daniho and Ashten. A perfect combination of them both as Chiron told us. He would have the memories of both Daniho and Ashten within him.”

“It was Androcles that sensed you were holding something back.” Reva told them with another smile. “He is the first and most powerful of the three Tarivuos, but all of them are so much alike, so much more. The dragon blood within them, it allows them to see and sense things that others cannot. It ... it can be very unnerving at times, but it is a gift. This is what Androcles told his father.”

“And he made this decision based on just that?” Lylor asked.

Reva nodded her head. “There is much you need to discover about Martin, his story is so very unique, but even he has not fully been able to comprehend the memories left to him by those who have come before him. Nor has Androcles. They are the two most powerful wolves that I have felt since my sons lived, and they are frighteningly similar in what they do. They are even larger and stronger than my mate and husband in wolf form and all of you remember him. And their auras will make you shudder.”

Lylor looked at her oddly as Kesas looked at Reva with wide eyes. “Temokah was ... he was awe inspiring.” Kesas spoke softly.

“Yes, he was.” Reva spoke lovingly as she thought back on her mate for the first time in more years that she could remember. Perhaps now would be the time to bring his memory back to the forefront and allow her family to see him for who he was. Yes, perhaps it was time.

Lylor shook his head slowly. “But I felt nothing like what you speak of from him mother.” He told her respectfully. “Powerful yes, but he was no more than a normal young Alpha. All of them. They are family yes, but...”

Reva nodded her head with a smile. “All of them have learned to shield their wolf auras Lylor. Shield it to the point that this is what anyone would feel unless they wished it.” Reva told them. “A gift taught to them by their father and their mothers from the moment they came into this world. Do not let what you do not feel trick you.” She told them. “Many of them are only half Lycavorian, but it is Martin’s blood within their veins. My blood. Mahanlo blood. Any of them is more than a match for any of you and your people, but do not take that as an insult.” Reva turned her head and looked at Aryera and the others. “All of them have trained in the ways of combat from the time that they could walk. So many different ways of fighting that it would boggle your minds. It is the Spartan way of life that they all now follow and embrace with their hearts so tightly. Where we once considered wolves of their age simply children, among those who followed Daniho and Ashten this changed long ago. It has reached its apex now with our people. This Spartan mentality is embedded deeply within the fabric of their society and the societies of many who are not even Lycavorian. They embrace it; they live it; they breath it every day. Especially Androcles and his brothers, sometimes more so than their own father. It is who they are.” Reva reached out and placed her hand flat on Lylor’s cheek as she smiled at him lovingly.

“Androcles ... he would not have permanently injured you Lylor Kirek, you are his Tenna Kelia’s handsome love, and his honored Tenne, but you would not have been able to defeat him and it would have been a very painful message for you to receive. I stopped him, but all of you must realize and take this into account in the future. You are family to them. All of you. The moment they came to know that you all lived, you became family. You became their focus.”

“As it once was with us on Cerath, family is more precious to them than their own lives and they will protect you, most viciously if they have to. They are younger than you, but they have fought in wars that would make all of you shudder. Martin and Androcles most of all. In battles that were equally as horrific as ours were against the Iais’Kai, and they all bear the scars of these battles, physical and mental. I have witnessed many of them from afar and if you do not believe anything, believe what I tell you. They are not children, and our people must not treat them as such. They will have no remorse for what has taken place. What our blood has had to endure. Especially Martin and Androcles. They are the two most rooted in this Spartan way of life that they follow. Deion and his brothers follow next and then Martin’s daughters. Do not let their beauty fool you, they are just as lethal as their brothers.”

Lylor looked at her. “It felt ... it felt like I had been hit by a falling tree.” He said. “And my chest burned.”

Reva nodded her head. “And he was holding his anger in check.” She told him. “He is like his father. Like all of our people now who left with Daniho and Ashten as I said. They have embraced their full emotions Lylor, the feral nature of our people. They embraced it and learned how to control it. Channel it. I watched through the millennia as they became powerful because of it. Even more so when the Pralor bloodline of Sumar joined ours and gave us the one thing that we had not yet discovered. Purpose. They follow a code now, much like we once did. The Spartan code that I speak of. It is a powerful code; a rigid code of honor and respect and justice. They call themselves Spartans. I have watched through the millennia as they became feared by all who knew them and were their enemy; and they are loved by all who are their allies and friends.”

Lylor shook his head just as Kesas had. “We were fools.” He gasped.

Reva shook her head. “No. You were doing what both of you swore to my sons. You were protecting the Onab, and there can be no fault applied here.” Reva said softly. “I cannot believe some of them survived. How many Lylor?”

“Five hundred initially.” Lylor answered her without hesitation. “They will have grown since we departed. Most that came with us were young couples. Engineers and Scientists. They will have had children. I do not know now because Nyser and Yelma trapped me in cryo and...” He lowered his head almost as if he was shamed.

“I knew the Arhtai Pack would not have killed them.” Kesas continued right after Lylor. “They needed them. And since the Onab technology the Arhtai Pack kept continued to work, I knew they were still alive. Ranol Nenay’s oldest daughter and the few she taught could not have maintained all of the Onab technology, so I knew that Ch’eldo and the others had to be alive. I hoped beyond hope anyway.”

“Ch’eldo?” Reva spoke softly.

“A few ... a few dozen were executed by the Arhtai Pack during the Dremsa rie Saan, but Nyser Arhtai quickly halted this.” Kesas said.

Reva looked at him. “Nyser Arhtai knew of the devotion to Daniho, and our bloodline that the Onab held.” She spoke. “He knew that they would not bow to them.”

Kesas nodded his head. “Yes.” He said. “We did not know where they had taken them. We could never find them after the Dremsa rie Saan. And we had no idea that Revia was alive.”

Reva turned back to Lylor. “Is all this ... all this hate and death ... is it because of their children during the war?” Reva asked. “We all lost so much...”

Kesas nodded his head. “That was part of it in the beginning yes. I think it came down to envy in the end. Yelma and Nyser Arhtai envied what the Mahanlo bloodline had.”

Reva met Kesas’ eyes. “They will regret that until death comes for them.” She snarled.

Lylor looked at Reva quickly and with great emotion in his eyes. “Revia is our youngest mother.” He told her with pride in his voice. “A perfect image of her mother. We named her after you. She was the favorite of her siblings. She was mated to an Arhtai Pack Alpha. Nyser’s youngest brother Ivore!” He hissed in anger. “He swore to me he would honor us and ... he lied to me and...”

Reva put her hand on his shoulder and shook her head. “Hold no anger for him Lylor. Be proud of him.” She said quickly. “Androcles told me through the Etheric realm what he has done. What he and Revia have done. He saw them both. It is because of him that Ch’eldo and the others survive and their bloodline continues. If what Androcles also tells me is true, Ivore Arhtai loves your daughter Revia blindly. They have at least fourteen children and Revia is carrying another in her womb even as we speak. Ivore teaches them the history of our bloodline and our people on Cerath. In many ways, he is just like you.”

“The young Prince told you all of this?” Kesas gasped aloud.

Reva nodded her head. “This Etheric realm that exists among our people, it is so much larger than we ever believed. When Sumar’s bloodline joined ours, became part of our pure bloodline, this is when we truly began to understand and use the Etheric realm as it was meant to be used. Martin, Androcles, their wives and mates, their children, their skills cannot truly be measured and they use these abilities in many ways. Our people, some of them can advance these abilities higher than others, but it allows all of us to use this skill and therefore imprint on our children even more than we were able to in our time.”

“No ... no daughter of Kelia and I would have ever willingly given herself to any Arhtai Pack member after the Dremsa rie Saan!” Lylor spat. He looked at Reva and a small smile then creased his face as he realized something. “He kept his honor and his word to me.” Lylor said. “Ivore Arhtai kept his honor and his word to me and to Kelia! The day he took Revia as his wife and mate he swore to us to always honor her and our family.”

Reva nodded her head. “Well ... if what Androcles saw and felt is correct ... this Ivore Arhtai has done just that.” Reva took a deep breath. “Our operational plans will change now. Androcles will be already planning a way to rescue them while Martin and the others find and rescue Kelia and any with her.”

“How soon before Martin comes?” Lylor asked.

Reva met his eyes. “Six hours, no more. His plan is to attack the Arhtai Pack at first light tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Kesas gasped. “Is that even possible?”

Reva chuckled softly. “He called it Shock and Awe.” She told them. “And yes, with Martin Mahanlo-Leonidas anything is possible. His mind is an absolute twisted realm of brutal military thinking and nothing he does is ever normal. I have watched him ever since he came out of cryo himself and he has driven his enemies to the brink of insanity and beyond with his actions. No one has ever been able to predict what he will do. And that is why they always fail against him.”

“He was ... he was in cryo?” Kesas asked her. “But why?”

Reva nodded her head. “It is a very long story and one you will no doubt discover within a few weeks. It is a very interesting story to say the least. And very painful for Martin. It is why he lost his father forever, and his mother for nearly three thousand years.”

“Carians!” Lylor spoke.

Reva nodded his head. “This is where his drive and love of family comes from.” She told them. “And this is what he has passed to his children. He will not tolerate threats to his blood. Any kind of threat. And he will severely punish any who does his blood harm.”

“The Arhtai Pack?” Lylor asked softly.

Reva rose to her feet and stepped away from them, all of them watching her as she crossed the small four-meter distance to where Caydren and Cinol sat on the deck beside Jeth and Anthar. Their eyes went wide when she fearlessly ran her hand over Caydren’s snout and his head leaned close to her chest against her breasts in obvious reverence. Caydren motioned his twin closer to him with his head and soon Reva was stroking Cinol’s snout as well. Reva turned back to Kesas and Lylor and the others.

“He will not punish the entire Arhtai Pack ... that is not his way” Reva said softly. “After tomorrow, however, any who took part in or supported the vile acts of the Dremsa rie Saan will be marked for death. If they do not die by the end of tomorrow, and many will not, then the Mahanlo-Leonidas bloodline will hunt them down for eternity until all of them reside within the walls of jorbhe. That is what Martin has sworn to me, and Martin Mahanlo-Leonidas has never broken a promise.”

“Ranol and the Nenay Pack will arrive just after him if you are correct.” Kesas spoke after a very long pause as her words sank in to everyone there in the cargo bay. “They will have additional intelligence with them. Ranol has already sworn to me that they will help us in any way they are able.”

“You trust them Kesas?” Reva asked after she kissed Caydren and Cinol’s snouts softly and began walking back towards them.

“Three of Lylor and Kelia’s children have been members of the Nenay pack since the Dremsa rie Saan.” Kesas told her. “They have taken wives and husbands from the Nenay Pack and have many children and grandchildren among them. Ranol and his Pack have protected them ferociously all of this time.”

Lylor smiled slightly and Reva saw his eyes become moist. “I have spoken with them.” He told her. “Our children. When I finally got them to stop crying, they told me all of it.”

“Will they be coming to Pakar Six?” Reva asked.

Lylor nodded his head. “Yes.”

“Ranol is bringing his entire family.” Kesas said. “He plans to...”

Reva looked at him. “What?”

“He plans to beg Martin for forgiveness.” Kesas said.

“Carians ... forgiveness for what?” Reva asked.

“For allowing this to happen.” Kesas spoke. “He swore to Daniho and Ashten that he would always honor them by looking after their sister and their royal family.”

“And he feels as if he failed them.” Reva said softly, nodding her head. She shook her head quickly right after though as she returned to the bench between them. “It will not matter to Martin. Once he discovers that the Nenay Pack has shielded our blood, protected them, and have made them family ... whatever perceived sins that Ranol Nenay thinks that he carries will be no more. Of that I can assure you.”

“What ... what is Martin really like Lady Reva?” Kesas asked.

Reva shook her head. “No ... now Lylor Kirek ... you need to go to Androcles and make amends for your actions. Words carry much weight within our family once more and you owe him an apology for putting Sadi and Ne’Veha at risk, even a little, with your silly plan to take his ship from him. Sadi is his Anome and she carries his children in her womb. He has loved her with all that he is since he was eight months old. Ne’Veha is his SirsanGai, his beloved Elven heart.”

“Lady Reva we...” Aryera began to speak.

Lylor shook his head. “No, sister.” He said firmly. “Mother Reva is correct. This is my task. It was my decision and I will make amends for being so foolish.” He rose to his feet confidently and looked at Reva who stared back at him with pride and love in her dark eyes.

“He is with the others helping to store their equipment. This ship is still very new to them in some ways and they are storing equipment in its proper place. They are on the deck above us in the large warehouse like room twenty meters down the corridor from the elevator.” Reva told him. “Hold nothing back Lylor. With Androcles or his father.”

“I won’t any longer.” Lylor spoke. “Not anymore.”

Reva canted her head. “Go then!” She told him. “I wish to speak with Taig and Marda and Kesas’ young children.” She said. She chuckled lightly. “Though I dare say young is not a word I should use.”

Lylor Kirek found the large warehouse-like room one deck above them easily enough, all he had to do was follow the noise. There was music playing in the background of the room, a type of music that he had never heard before, but one that apparently, all of those before him had. All of the young men were shirtless now as they were muscling large crates around the room, pushing them against the walls tightly, or lowering them into large cache containers in the floor. Cache containers that Lylor took note could hold quite a bit of supplies and whatever else they needed it to hold. Lylor’s eyes settled on where Androcles stood beside the slightly taller young man who reeked of Kirek Pack blood, and the much shorter red-haired female who was Androcles’ sister. She was only half Lycavorian, that Lylor could tell easily, but as Reva had told them, the wolf blood within her was powerful and pure. As Lylor moved closer, his eyes settled on Androcles’ back and he winced slightly when he saw the long, jagged scar that extended almost entirely down the right side of his back. He also saw the three large spots where it appeared as if he had been shot with a large caliber weapon. Three times in the chest area. His upper body was dotted with additional scars, but once more Reva had been correct. These were not people who hid behind desks and titles. Lylor could also tell right away that the taller Kirek Alpha had claimed the red-haired female who was Androcles’ sister. He could sense the powerful connection of love and commitment between the two of them. The total devotion to each other and to ... another woman. This knowledge did not surprise Lylor as much as he thought it would. The scent of Androcles’ sister was firmly embedded in the blood of the taller Kirek Alpha as she stood leaning up against his side casually. This second woman’s scent was embedded in both of their scents and Lylor’s eyes grew a little wider when he realized that this Kirek Pack Alpha and Androcles’ sister were anomes. Lylor had never heard of such a thing before and the truth of it was right before him so he could not deny it. A non-pureblood Anome union. He never heard of such a thing let alone seen one, but now before him was exactly that. It was almost too much to realize.

“You don’t have to be afraid Tenne.” The female voice echoed softly from behind him and Lylor whirled around quickly. Nara’s azure blue eyes gazed upon her uncle with love and respect.

“Tenne?” Lylor stammered the words but quickly realized why she spoke as she had.

Nara smiled at him. “I am your mandra.” She said. “Andro’s sister. Well ... one of his sisters.” She said with a smile. “We are all your family Tenne.” Nara moved closer to him and took his arm in her hands. Lylor looked at her as she smiled at him and the azure blue color of her eyes reflected the light of the cargo room. Lylor was slightly taken aback as he realized by her scent just how old she was. This female Alpha pureblood could not have been more than eighteen years old, yet her scent already indicated that she was mated to not only a powerful Alpha male but another female as well. She was also one of the most powerful Alpha females that Lylor had ever felt outside of his Kelia. He could easily smell the Mahanlo-Leonidas blood within her and the power it brought to her, but there was also something very different about her. Something confident and powerful.

“Come.” Nara spoke drawing him towards where Androcles was standing.

Eliani was typing on her P1 quickly, her fingers moving like they were in a musical concerto. Her hair was still in the long braid that they used when flying but she had removed the upper portion of her body armor and was now just wearing a t-shirt over her ample chest. Her face was concentrating as she stood between her brother and Jomann and she finally looked up at them. They had been muscling the equipment crates all around trying to find the right set up and Eliani was pretty sure they had it now.

“If we keep it like it is, we can squeeze in four hundred fervon.” She told Andro.

“That’s all?” Andro asked.

Eliani shrugged her shoulders. “Sadi and Ne’Veha didn’t design her to be a transport Andro.” Eliani said. “We try to take anymore and we risk not even getting off the surface.”

Andro nodded his head. “I know. Anse!”

“We can strip three KADENs Andro.” Jomann offered up the suggestion. “Right down to their rivets. We’ve done it before. They are small enough to get into the clearing you described and we can get everyone in one load. The PREMONITION and three KADENs.”

“Eli?” Andro asked her.

Eliani nodded her head as she typed on her P1. “It will be tight, very tight, but once we get back to SPARTA’S WRATH we can spread everyone out so that they are more comfortable. Mother will not release Tenna Kelia or any others from the ship until she is sure everyone is checked anyway.”

“Everyone goes in one trip.” Andro spoke. “Father and his team will have the bulk of the Durcunusaan force that we are bringing backing him up. We leave no one behind. No one.”

“Avoi.” Eliani whispered.

“Fervon?” Nara’s voice interrupted them and Androcles turned slowly. He had smelled his uncle well before he had entered the storeroom, but no one would do or say anything to him unless Andro first did. Except Nara of course. Eliani grinned at her younger sister knowing that Nara had always felt she held something over all her other siblings because her eye coloring matched that of Androcles’ and their mother Aricia.

Andro turned slowly and looked at his uncle and then his sister. Nara grinned at the look in his eye and leaned up beside him, kissing her brother’s cheek before patting her hand on his chest. Eliani chuckled softly when Andro leaned over quickly and nuzzled Nara’s cheek with a brother’s affection. All of them knew Andro could never stay mad at his siblings for very long. He loved all of them too much.

Andro turned to Lylor then as Nara held his arm and looked at Eliani. “Tenne.” He said calmly.

Lylor looked around the large room. “You are ... you are trying to decide how many you can carry?” He finally said.

Androcles nodded his head. “Yes. If we had had this information before, then this would not need to be done. Now we must improvise. I don’t like to improvise.”

Lylor looked at him. “Pen brol sorgur mandri.” Lylor finally stated firmly and without any doubt. How could there be any doubt within him when all he could smell was Mahanlo-Leonidas blood all around him in some shape or form. (I am sorry nephew)

Andro stepped closer to him. “If there is not trust Uncle...” Andro spoke softly.

Lylor nodded his head. “Then there can be nothing.” He echoed the words. “My actions were ill-advised and piegn.”

Andro nodded his head. “Yes, they were.” He said. “And you would not have succeeded. You should have seen that right away tenne.”

Lylor bristled only slightly at the dress down from the much younger wolf, because Lylor Kirek knew that Androcles was correct. He knew that Androcles could have continued berating his tactics, but Androcles waved his hand dismissively, ending that portion of the discussion with honor and care.

“Given what information you and Lord Pengot have carried within you all of these years, I may have reacted the same in your shoes. It is behind us.” Andro said. “Now we have to figure out the best way to get our blood and the Onab off this world. We first thought we had only one target, and now we have two. We have to adjust. Adapt.” Andro motioned to Eliani and Jomann now. “My sister Eliani and Captain Jomann ... my Durcunusaan First and my sister’s husband and mate.”

Lylor was slightly taken aback when Eliani leaned up on her tip toes just as Nara had done and kissed his weathered cheek. “Una coi ea alinnyng Tenne.” Eliani told him. (It is a blessing Uncle)

Lylor looked at Eliani and the smiling twinkle in her dark green eyes. He turned his gaze to Jomann now as Eliani once more leaned up against his side and his arm pulled her close to him. Eliani and Brendi had tossed aside all matters of decorum when it came to Jomann. If they were with their husband and mate, they were touching him in some manner. Their interactions on SPARTA’S WRATH had become almost as legendary as Andro, Sadi and the others.

“How...” Lylor looked at Jomann. “How is it that a Kirek Pack Alpha is among you? I was under the impression all of the Kirek Pack came with me and Kelia.”

Jomann nodded his head. “Lady Reva believes it was something that Lord Daniho and Lord Ashten did without telling anyone.” Jomann answered. “Even Chiron was unable to discover the how of it. Or when.”

“It is becoming more and more apparent that they did this quite a bit. Daniho and Ashten were masters of subterfuge and guile.” Lylor spoke and all of them heard the tone of respect and awe in his voice.

“So it would seem.” Androcles agreed. “As was our staanio Sumar.”

Lylor looked at him. “The one of ... the one who carried Pralor blood within him?”

Androcles nodded his head. “There is so much that we need to share with one another Tenne Lylor. And we will. But right now, now we must focus on recovering Tenna Kelia and whoever else bears our blood.”

Lylor looked at him and nodded his head. “Agreed.” He spoke confidently. “What can I do?”

Androcles looked at him. “You can give whatever information that you have on the cryo pods that hold our chroray to Eliani here.” Androcles told him. “It is the same type of cryo chamber as you were in correct?”

Lylor nodded his head. “Yes, why?”

Androcles smiled at him. “Because in approximately one hour, we are going to return to Pakar Six Uncle and we are going to remove the Arhtai’s Pack influence over the Kirek Pack. No more blood scanners or spies. Now they will face us directly and answer for what they have done.”