Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice by Robynn Sheahan

“Is this a bad time? I
could come back later.”
    “You can stay now and come back
later.” Nev stood up and moved around the cluttered desk. “Cace has
been beyond excited all morning, waiting for you to visit him.” He
put his hand on her back and directed her down the wide hall,
gesturing to the right. “His room is here.”
    Erynn paused outside, not entering. She
glanced up at Nev and winced. “I…Last night…I was…” She inhaled
deeply, staring back the way they had come. “I don’t usually. I
mean…” Nev stood there, watching her with an amused expression.
Jaer would have stopped her rambling by now, telling her it wasn’t
necessary. She frowned and bit her lower lip.
    He reached out and brushed a strand of curls
from her eyes. “What are you trying to say, Erynn? I saw you at a
vulnerable moment. Does that upset you? Thank you for trusting
me.”
    A voice echoed from the cubicle, “ Byan Nev, is Captain Yager here?”
    From down the corridor, the same pretty woman
called, “Nev, there’s a case that needs your attention.” The woman
glanced at Erynn. “Sorry.” Her large green eyes darted between Nev
and Erynn.
    Nev nodded at the woman. “Thanks, Maire. I’ll
be right there.” He glanced at Erynn and shrugged. “Duty calls. Go.
Visit Cace.” He spun and hurried away.
     
     
    The room smelled of disinfectant and had an
underlying scent of illness. Cace sat supported among large pillows
in a bed with the head raised. She could tell he was tall for his
fourteen years, but too thin, all sharp angles and pale skin.
    The DVSL on the wall across from the foot of
the bed was the only light and showed the hangar bay. Interceptors
gleamed in the sunlight pouring in through the open bay doors. His
large brown eyes widened along with his smile when Erynn entered
the small dim room.
    “It’s really you,” he whispered, his young
voice quiet, weakened by illness.
    From a chair in a shadowy corner, a woman
stood up and stepped forward. She was taller than Erynn. Her dark
hair hung long and straight, clasped at the back of her neck.
    She took Erynn’s hand between her fine-boned
cool fingers and glanced back at her son. “Thank you for coming.
Cace has talked of nothing else since Byan Nev told him you would
visit.”
    “I’m glad to visit with Cace. I hear we share
a love of Interceptors.”
    The woman released Erynn’s hand. “You two
have a lot to talk about. I’ll leave you to it.” She smiled, wiping
at a tear with trembling fingers, and hurried from the room.
    Cace sighed, staring out the door. “They’re
having trouble making me better this time. It worries Mom.”
    Erynn sat on the bed facing Cace. “Nev is a
great byan. He’ll sort it out.” She opened the tunnel of her
awareness. A fierce will, strong and confident streamed from Cace.
So much energy, it made Erynn dizzy.
    The room filled with the sweet, spicy scent
of the Anim Blath.
    Erynn closed her eyes. A vision of the future
flashed in her mind. She recognized Cace, a handsome and powerful
man with a family of his own. He would become a great leader of his
world one day as the people of Arranon and Korin reach out to the
stars and welcome civilizations from other planets.
    “ The child must live ,” the Anim Blath
sang in many high voices.
    Bright points of blue, green, and purple
danced under her lids and replaced the scene of Cace’s future. The
colors paled, changing to a white-hot flame that burned through
her. Erynn shuddered.
    “Captain Yager, are you all right?” Cace
reached out, touched her arm, and gasped.
    In a brief flare, a blinding explosion, Erynn
experienced Cace’s pain, his constant struggle to endure, and his
pure determination to beat the evil disease tormenting his body.
His respirations quickened and his pulse raced as the fire within
her blazed and burned into him. Like shadows chased by brilliant
sunshine, darkness fled Cace’s body, leaving only light, purity,
and a sense of newness to his