a lot of people in the corridors of the monastery, Masters and apprentices alike. Wherever they went, they attracted looks, for different reasons. Eridan smiled crookedly to himself. He was rather infamous for his “outrageous” behavior as an initiate, while his Master was easily the most respected mind adept in the Order: admired and feared in equal measure. Eridan knew his age-mates envied him. His Master was the youngest Master in the Order’s history, the youngest Master to have a seat on the Chapter. Although most members of the Order didn’t know that Castien was a Class 7 telepath, everyone knew he was one of the most powerful. Castien was incredibly powerful, intelligent, and influential. Every initiate wanted to study under Master Idhron.
But he was just his, Eridan’s.
Flushing, Eridan reinforced his mental shields, hoping to hide his possessive thoughts from his Master. He had long given up trying to get rid of them.
They finally reached the nearest t-chamber and got into it. Castien put his hand on the control panel and said, “Hangar bay 14.”
The transportation room started moving, jumping through the teleport channels.
Eridan tried again. “Master, I—”
“Not now.”
Pursing his lips, Eridan hung his head.
At last, they arrived and stepped out of the t-chamber into the hangar bay. He followed his Master to his aircraft and climbed into the seat next to him. Castien entered his access codes and the hatch overhead opened, revealing the darkening sky.
Castien lifted the aircraft into the clearing in the forest.
Eridan breathed deeply in the clean, moist air, the mountains looming over them menacingly. He quickly did some calculations and estimated that the travel from this hangar bay to Hronthar would take at least half an hour. The magnetic field around Hronthar might be incredibly useful to mask its location, but it was also a pain in the ass, forcing them to use aircraft to travel there.
Eridan winced a little. The long ride was going to be terribly uncomfortable if his Master continued ignoring him.
“Was it really necessary?” Castien said, setting course for the town.
Eridan breathed out. At least he was talking to him. “Well, you know me, Master,” he said in a light tone. “I can’t help myself when people say stupid shit.”
Castien continued to look straight ahead, even though it wasn’t actually necessary now that the autopilot was on. His expression was a little tight. “Tethru is right. I am too lenient with you.”
“That prick deserved it. Didn’t you teach me that an insult should never go unpunished or they’ll start thinking I’m weak?”
“Brute force isn’t the answer, Eridan. All you managed to prove was that your emotions still rule you.”
“Can we not do this?” Eridan said with a sigh. “You have been gone for thirty-nine days.” He added softly, “I missed you, Master.”
Castien’s jaw tightened. He still wouldn’t look at Eridan.
Eridan folded his hands in his lap and looked down at them. He didn’t exactly regret saying it—he wasn’t ashamed of his emotions—but his Master’s strange reaction to his words always confused him. Castien didn’t tolerate displays of affection and never was one to engage in them. Although he had expressed his disapproval numerous times, he hadn’t actually forbidden Eridan from expressing his affection. He could have, but he hadn’t. It was rather baffling, this strange middle ground.
“How was your trip?” Eridan said when the silence stretched.
A barely noticeable frown appeared on his Master’s face. “Eventful,” he replied. “The reports have been confirmed.”
Eridan looked at him in surprise. “You mean Tai’Lehr really wants to come clean to the Council?”
Castien gave a clipped nod. “It is troubling.”
That was an understatement. If the Tai’Lehrians came forward as the renegades that had once fled their grand clans after refusing to conform to the Bonding Law, and the Council of Twelve Grand Clans forgave them their transgressions, it would most likely draw unwanted scrutiny to the Order. As far as the rest of the Calluvians were concerned, the Bonding Law was introduced to protect them. But the renegades knew the truth: that the Bonding Law was introduced to give the High Hronthar ultimate power over the planet, since its members were the only telepaths on the planet not bound by it. If the Council discovered that the Order was not actually an apolitical organization of mind healers…
Eridan frowned. “What are you planning to do?”
“There will be a meeting of the Chapter in the morning,” Castien replied. “The Chapter will decide how to handle the issue, not me.”
Eridan snorted. “Please, Master. Let’s not pretend the Chapter doesn’t