In the dark annals of the War of Phantasy, a queen's unexpected encounter with a male native unfolds a tapestry of treachery and fate. Their tale of love, loss, and the quest for knowledge offers a gripping glimpse into the intertwining destinies of realms. Bounty hunters Jee and Dane learn more about their assignment from Dr. Viva Post.

Treachery and Fate

"During the War of Phantasy, a female Phane served as a healer to Queen Ioca from the planet Faunus, in the Realm of the Dark Star." She folded her hands. "My neural net shows that according to legend, Queen Ioca landed on an unexplored world due to a ship malfunction, and while her crew repaired the damage, she scouted the area."

Dane perked up. "An explorer!"

"Yes. This is ironic, but a male native happened upon her while she was behind a waterfall near a cave. The queen was startled, and screamed. Her men pursued him, injuring him severely. Ioca insisted they search for his people, found no evidence of life, and theorized he had been the victim of a crash landing. They took him with them when they left, and were halfway back to her world before he woke from his coma."

Dane rubbed his jaw. "You think he was from Ust?"

"The people here told us part of the story, which syncs with history in the Realm of the Dark Star."

"Interesting." Dane wrapped his arms around the chairback. "So he wakes up on a ship bound for a planet halfway across the galaxy. Must be thinking, 'What treachery is this?" One big shock there."

"True." Dr. Post wheeled her chair a little closer. "The people feared the Saint of Silver's return, and her ship might have seemed like that. The people tell stories about the Saint requiring his servants to 'suffer pain' in order to 'serve his knowledge.'"

Jee shuddered. "Sounds like experimentation."

"Yes, dear. It does. And as you put it, treachery. The story goes that he became the queen's lover, and later, during her terminal illness, he became friends with her Phane healer. When the queen died, she left instructions that her lover was to be returned to his homeworld with anything he requested. The story says he took the woman who had tended the queen. Romantic, isn't it? Now, I ask you, why can't we see Kaiwulf?"

"Duh." Jee answered. "He's in another dimension."

"Yes, but why?"

It was quiet a moment. Jee frowned. "The people in this one kicked him out?"

"Where does a seven year-old go when his mother's people throw him out?"

"Of course." Dane hit his forehead. "His father's people. You already told us. The original gen was able to phase shift, but his wife wasn't. It's her blood that makes it possible for the village people to live in this dimension, right? Therefore, Kaiwulf is with the other people."

"That's right." Dr. Post smiled at Dane. "His father's people. When I heard his father was unknown, I did some checking. Of the three men likely to have fathered him, none laid claim."

"Why would they?" Jee rested her elbows on her knees. "He was an outcast."

"In a culture where great significance is placed on rote memorization of ancestry, Kaiwulf's father's name would be a vital piece of information. Its lack pointed to a father from outside the clan. Hence, one of the natives of this world."

"Dr. Post?" Dane gestured to the image of Kaiwulf. "Where did the wolves get the ability to phase shift?"

"It's not inconceivable that many of the early experiments were carried out on animals. There are records of such things at St. Aldentia. You have to remember the early Terrans may have had exalted means of space travel, but they were not as refined morally as we are today."

"Right." Jee rolled her eyes. "I'll let the 'morally refined' comment pass, okay? But I've listened to all this, and I still don't have a clue how we can help you. If he's in another dimension, how are we supposed to find him?"

She folded her hands. "My dear, as you pointed out, you're bounty hunters. And now that you know where he is," she looked from Jee to Dane, "all you have to do is figure out how to go to the other dimension and bring him back."