Chapter 5

Tasa drew in a breath, her stomach churning. "What is psi warfare?"

Orin's jaw dropped. "Have you ever used your abilities to defend yourself? Have you ever…how can I say it…forced them upon someone else?"

Tasa's eyes went wide. "No, we never do that. It is forbidden to take away a person's free will."

"You may have to, if you want to escape," Orin said grimly.

"Then you must find another way. I won't do it," Tasa said.

"Tasa, you must reconsider," Falda said softly. "This would be for our freedom, not to harm others."

"It might be the most effective way," Orin protested, and she could feel his anguish. He believed this would work. He wanted this to work. "And we need something effective."

Tasa wasn't sure what to say. It went against her beliefs. But if it was the only way to be free…

"I cannot stay long, so we need to get back on track," Orin said. He was rather handsome, she realized, with black hair in a braid and green eyes that felt as if they were looking into her very soul. She heard him continue, but those eyes captivated her. "Tasa? Are you with us?"

Falda nudged her ribs. "Are you imagining life far from here?"

Tasa felt her face flush. She hoped no one noticed. "I—uh, I was deep in thought. I'm sorry. What did you say?" She hoped she hadn't offended him.

Why she cared, she had no idea.

He was her enemy. But somehow...they had become allies.

"I said," Orin said patiently, "that we need to resolve this issue with you not wanting to use psi warfare."

"Oh." She turned away, her gut twisting with anxiety. "I can't do harm to another being, Orin. It's against our code."

"I can feel how nervous you are. If I were to use empathy to soothe you, would that be doing harm?" Orin asked softly. "That's technically using psi abilities on another being, you know. Do you Aridians feel that's wrong, too?"

She swallowed hard. She'd never thought of it that way.

"Maybe you should consider what he's saying," Falda said. "He makes sense, Tasa. Good sense. And if it could help us escape..."

"My mother made me swear an oath to never use psi for evil." Tasa's voice quivered. "It was sealed in blood, and I face severe punishment if I break it."

"I'm sorry about that," Orin said. Tasa could feel his regret. "But it may be necessary."

Something occurred to Tasa. "How did you get here? Did you use psi warfare? Or magic?"

Orin met her gaze without flinching. "I used magic to turn myself invisible. Unfortunately, I cannot make others invisible. Otherwise, this would be so much easier."

"It definitely would be," Falda said.

"But it's still magic," Tasa protested.

"Sometimes we have to do things we normally wouldn't think to do. I personally wouldn't take over this ship in any other circumstance, but that's part of my plan because it would be most effective."

"But do you think taking over a ship is morally wrong?"

"Taking control of another commander's ship is very wrong," Orin replied. "So yes, the two are almost the same in my opinion."

"I see your point," Tasa said. "Orin, I will try to learn this psi warfare. And then what happens?" She turned to Orin, her anxiety rising. Nothing scared her more than not knowing what lay ahead.

"My plan is simply to make all the guards sick, or nervous, or fearful. We'll decide that later. We'll incapacitate the guards, and then try to sneak out of here. After that, we'll take over the ship and go home."

"You believe we can do this?" Tasa whispered.

"I believe that, and more, Tasa. Now, I'm going to work on getting more time here to teach you psi warfare. It may take some time for you to learn?—"

"How long?" Tasa asked, her heart in her throat.

"Maybe a week if you pick it up fast."

"A week is not that long, Tasa. Not compared to forever," Falda said, touching Tasa's shoulder. Tasa felt Falda's excitement and trust in Orin and wondered why she couldn't feel the same.

"All right," she said at last.

Orin smiled, and this time, it touched his eyes. "Keep your head down and don't cause any trouble. I'll be back soon."

"All right. See you soon," Tasa said.

"See you, Orin," Falda said.

Orin disappeared before her very eyes. She thought she was seeing things, but no, it had been magic.

And a possible taint to her soul.

She shuddered.

Falda squealed with excitement. "I can't even believe it! He's going to get us out of here! I know it!"

Tasa moved carefully to the bench and sat down shakily. "If you say so."

"Tasa, you look unhappy." Falda sat next to her, and then took her hands in her own. "What's bothering you?"

Falda's excitement surged through her, and Tasa knew that she should be excited, too. But she didn't feel good at all. "I believe this is wrong. He...I don't even know him! He's making promises of escape, but I don't even know if he's trustworthy. And he's forcing me to abandon my oath!"

"Oh, Tasa," Falda said softly. "I know this is confusing, but this might be our only chance to be free. And your oath...well, come on, isn't it sort of antiquated? Your mother is from an era where that was common. But now...you need those tools to fight with."

Tasa could see the validity of what Falda was saying. It was true, but it still gnawed at her. "We do not break our oaths, Falda."

Falda snorted. "And yet your own family has not even tried to rescue you. How is holding on to your oath working for you?"

Her family loathed and barely tolerated her. There would be no rescue. She'd spend the rest of her days mending clothing and getting beaten. And maybe even be forced into breeding.

She swore. "You're right, as usual."

"Of course I am. I think we're meant to do this together," Falda said.

"You have psi powers, too?" Tasa asked, teasing.

"No, but I get feelings from time to time. Whatever it is, it's all right," Falda murmured, taking Tasa into her arms and rocking her back and forth.

"I want to be free," Tasa murmured.

"We'll find a way to make this happen, I promise," Falda murmured back.