Chapter 3 Part 3

Tyson made his way back to his quarters as he contemplated this new data. He stood on the brink of serious consequences. When he arrived, he found Nikki bound to a chair. The guard explained that at first she had refused to eat, but as soon as he had left the room, she had made quick work of the food. Tyson gazed at the druid. She possessed a crown of reddish gold hair that, at present, hung damply across her left shoulder and down her chest and stomach and tumbled across her right thigh. Her features were girlish, as were those of most elvish women. She was petite and very pretty by human standards.

How she had come into possession of Sam's body was somewhat of a mystery to Tyson, but she obviously knew him well enough to recognize him and hate him. "So you’re the druid who single handedly whipped over three quarters of the raiding party sent to collect you," Tyson started with genuine respect. He could see how the unprepared could underestimate her.

"And you must be the bastard who attacks young boys with trickery and steals their minds," Nikki replied with a voice dripping with venom.

"Oh very good," Tyson applauded. "But for your information, my parents were married long before my birth." To his satisfaction, the woman regarded him silently with eyes full of hatred. Tyson was not deterred. "You present somewhat of a mystery," Tyson explained. "You obviously know me so you have probably dwelt if not for a long time with one or more of my former associates. Since you are a druid, the obvious choice would be Avery."

The change of expression on the woman's face confirmed his deduction. "Avery then," Tyson decided. "Avery always was fond of druids. At least this time he picked one with some looks." Nikki took on a look of disgust.

Tyson did not miss the grimace. "Jealousy?" he asked. "Can it be that you two are more than acquaintances?" The monk bellowed a hearty laugh. "So he finally found a woman who would have him. I suppose you and he have been living together ever since he was lost. Well that explains how you became involved."

"Our affair is none of your business," Nikki growled. "You had no right to do that boy harm. He did nothing against you. If you have a grudge against Avery or Armegon or Ultrecht, then you should take it up with them, or are you too afraid?"

"Too smart," Tyson objected. "Even when you’re angry you betray your feelings for the ranger," he chuckled. "You speak of him first and with a detectable softness. It’s very amusing." He reached out and cupped her chin turning her head so that he might see her profile.

"Avery was never one to know beauty, but it seems that in this case he chose well. For you are a very lovely wench," Tyson observed. "Tell me would you trade your loyalty for your life? Would you bed with another if it would see you and the boy living another day?"

Nikki answered him by spitting. Tyson did not fool her, she knew he would not kill Sam.
Tyson rewarded her action with the back of his hand. The blow broke no bones, but there was a great deal of pain and undoubtedly would be a black eye the next day. He grasped the front of her tunic. "Listen to me you arrogant hussy," he hissed. "I have the power to destroy each and every one of those who you protect and so foolishly give your loyalty to. Should I wish to take you to bed, there is little you could do to stop me. I think, however, that I might find a better bed for you to dwell in."

Nikki struggled in her chair. Tears stung her reddened cheek. "Pray to whatever gods you serve that I do not get loose," she warned him. "These people already will pay a toll when Avery finds out what has happened."

Tyson glanced nervously around. "Oh, no," he said fearfully, but with a smirk. "I’m terribly afraid. Is he really that dangerous?"

"Mock me if you will, but you will not be the one laughing when they return. Ultrecht knows it was you who murdered his friend and Armegon has sentenced you to death for your actions against Sam. But if you kill me, none of that will matter because Avery will hunt you down and relieve you of your head."

"No doubt he’ll waltz down the halls of the Citadel in Aspberg and call me out?" Tyson asked.

"What means 'waltz'?" Nikki asked confused.

"Never mind," Tyson replied. "I think not. Avery’s a fine tracker but I now move in circles of great power and Avery’s hardly a menace there. Besides I have no intention of killing you."

"We shall see," Nikki said slyly.

"Yes we shall," Tyson smirked. "Now let us talk a bit. How long ago did they leave?"

"Oh, I do not remember," Nikki said innocently. "You know druids. We measure time by the month, not the day."

"Of course," Tyson relinquished that avenue of thought. "Let us try again. Where did they go?"

"Really, do you expect me to tell you where they are?"

"In a manner of speaking," Tyson grinned. "All I really have to do is pick it out of your mind." He knotted his eyebrows. "Tycho? No further than that. The Twin Cities. Okay they went to the Twin Cities."

It was actually a bluff. Tyson knew that the others had gone west and had done so rapidly. That meant the ice boats. His gambit was to convince Nikki that he could read her mind so that she might slip and tell him something useful.

"Did they stop there?" he continued. "They did not. They went west." The effect was satisfactory. Though she guarded the response well, her eyes twitched at that last remark. Tyson smiled inwardly. She at least knew that they were going west.

Tyson continued the interrogation. "Where did they go?"

"Fishing?" It was Nikki's turn to grin. She did not know if Tyson was really reading her mind, but if he was the best defense she could muster was by thinking of things apart from the subject.

"I don't think so," Tyson replied. "Avery might, but Armegon and Ultrecht aren't anglers." She was making a fight of it, he thought. Tyson decided to alter his attack. "Okay then, why did they go west?"

"To get away from me?" Nikki suggested. "I have been nagging them recently."

"Again, I think not." Tyson rebutted. "They were searching for something or some one." The woman's jaw muscles tightened slightly. "Some one? Good now we’re making progress."

Nikki considered biting her tongue. She absolutely had to shake Tyson up. He was getting too many answers, and she was not feeling very well so she was not in a fighting mood. An idea came to her.

"Who were they seeking, and why?" Tyson thought to himself. "Most assuredly it was to help Sam," he said finally. "But now we have Sam here. They don’t know that so effectively their mission’s been submarined."

Nikki did not understand the last comment; she was not really paying attention. She was concentrating within.

"Still I’d like to know why they were seeking this person," Tyson muttered. He casually watched Nikki. She bowed her head slightly and whispered something.

Sensing success, Tyson leaned closer. "What was that again?"

Nikki suddenly lifted her head and her mouth opened. Bile and vomit erupted from her tiny throat and soaked Tyson's face. The man jumped backward fretting in disgust as he sprinted to the water basin and proceeded to scrub himself feverishly. Nikki allowed herself a grin. Morning sickness did have its use after all.