Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Of course I don’t know!” I exclaimed. “You never told me anything except that I was your property and there was nothing I could do about it.”
He nodded—a short, sharp jerk of his chin.
“That was my fault—I underestimated your intelligence and ability to understand.”
“That’s probably a problem you have a lot since you think everyone else in the universe is inferior to you,” I pointed out. “I mean, just because I can’t blast things with my mind doesn’t make me stupid.”
Then I bit my lip—which made me yelp because it was cut from Shadrack’s slap. I probably shouldn’t be snapping at someone who could kill me as easily as I might swat a fly without even lifting a finger.
Sir saw the look on my face and interpreted it correctly.
“No, speak your mind, little one,” he said in a low voice. “Your propensity to be direct is one reason I value you. And I told you, you need never fear me.”
“All right.” I lifted my chin. “I’ll take you at your word, then. I wanted to get away from you because I miss my family. “And I don’t think you can blame me for that.”
“I don’t.” he said simply. “But I’m afraid I cannot let you go. You see, I took you as my pet because I needed to prove a point in the Court of Splendara the Third and Thirtieth who rules my world, and by extension, my galaxy which is much larger than your own.”
“You took me to prove a point?” I put a hand on my hip, frowning skeptically. “How would having me as a pet help you do that?”
“I thought by taking a pet from the most primitive world in this universe, I could prove to my Sovereign that the species of your galaxy are worthy of living their own lives and should be left alone,” Sir said simply. “If even the least of the Twelve Peoples, as they call themselves, can be shown to be intelligent, thinking beings, maybe I can convince her to order others not to exploit you.”
“Wait a minute…” I put a hand on his arm. “Are you telling me that your galaxy is about to invade mine?”
“Essentially.” Sir nodded. “The Pet Finder who took you—he is only one of many who will soon be descending on your galaxy—on your world, little one. And he will be followed by hoards of Mind-Controllers. Whole worlds will be enslaved and made to work for the enrichment of those who are greedy enough and powerful enough to take them and squeeze them for every natural resource they have!”
I stared at him, not wanting to believe what he was saying was true. I’m not sure I would have believed if I hadn’t heard the words he’d exchanged with Shadrack.
“Is it the, uh, the Overlord of the Southern Continent who wants to do all this?” I asked. “That, uh, what was his name…?”
“Gra’multh.” Sir spat the name with bitterness. “He has ruined nearly every fertile and inhabited world in my own galaxy with his greed—I don’t intend to let him ruin yours as well—if I can help it.”
“So you’re hoping that I can change your Sovereign’s mind?” I asked incredulously. “Sir, I’m nothing special! I’m just a librarian slash dog walker--you should have kidnapped a Rhodes Scholar or a scientist or someone like that!”
“It is because you are ‘nothing special’ that I have hope you can convince Her Majesty to hold back Gra’multh’s greed,” he told me. “As I said, if even the most primitive planet can produce a female like you—one with such intelligence and wit—maybe I can prove to her that all the Twelve Peoples should be left alone.”
I looked at him, not sure what to say. How could I go home now, when the fate of my entire galaxy was resting on my shoulders?
“I…I want to help,” I said at last. “I do, Sir. But my mom—”
“I understand the thought of your mother grieving for you is hard to bear,” he murmured. “What if I sent a whisper to her ear, assuring her that you were all right? I don’t believe that Earth is out of my mental range yet.”
“I don’t know,” I said uncertainly. “That might just make her think she’s going crazy.”
“I’ll time it to reach her during her sleep cycle,” Sir promised me. “It will reach her as a dream that comforts her.”
“Well…” I hesitated. “I guess that might work. At least it should help.”
“Then you’ll come with me to the Court of Splendara the Third and Thirtieth?” Sir raised one eyebrow at me questioningly.
“You’re giving me a choice?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I am. I must if I am to trust you again.”
“All right,” I said at last. “I’ll go with you on two conditions.”
“Name them,” Sir said simply.
“First, you send my mom a dream like you said, letting her know I’m okay,” I said, counting them off on my fingers. “And second, after we go to your Sovereign’s court and convince her that everyone in my galaxy shouldn’t be turned into mind-controlled slaves, you’ll take me back to Earth.”