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her, so she took the streaker up. Shots were fired from the ground, missing them by inches but heating the air around them.
    “That is not friendly.”
    Zeering spoke in her ear, “I will provide a distraction.”
    Under them, the ground shook, blurring the temple slightly as it rocked under the onslaught of the planet.
    Sebena landed the streaker on the flat roof of the temple. Issul immediately let her go and stood to help her from their conveyance.
    “I can feel the seat of power calling to me.”
    She smiled and was going to speak, but a shadow moved and she lifted one of her stunners, blasting the priest before he could bring his own weapon to aim.
    Seeing a Reeban up close, she blinked at the feathers crowning the head and the beaklike nose that sat proudly in the centre of his face. “Okay. Now I know what we are dealing with. Let’s get you where you need to be.”
    She drew her other stunner and took point. They knew no one was behind them. There was no other place for the priests to hide on the sunny roof. Armed and on alert, she started down the stairs with Issul at her heels.
    The priests blocked her at regular intervals. She almost laughed when one said, “Halt in the name of Zeering.”
    He ended up on the floor, but she propped him up nicely. He deserved respect for standing up to for what he believed in.
    The journey from the roof of the temple down to the throne room took them half an hour. Issul walked behind her and let her do the work the entire way. She didn’t mind. There was a certain satisfaction in knocking men on their asses at a distance.
    The throne room wasn’t guarded. The pulsing power of the navy blue quartz was unmistakable. She knew that power and as Issul walked past her, he was humming with the same rhythm.
    Priests suddenly coursed from all doorways and watched the avatar take the steps to the throne.
    Sebena knelt and brought her stun rifle around, aiming at anyone who even hinted at raising a weapon.
    She guarded the avatar as he took his throne and the moment that he sat, a ripple spread through the walls and floor, a bright wave that passed over the entire world.
    The Avatar of Zeering was home.

    Chapter Six
    When the priests started to kneel, Sebena lowered her weapon and looked at Issul. He was the embodiment of power—his hair moving slightly as energy shifted through him and throughout the room. His eyes were completely navy blue, a sure sign that Zeering was firmly in control.
    A Reeban with a gold headpiece came forward. To Sebena’s surprise, he bowed low to Issul.
    “Avatar, we have prayed for your safe return.”
    “I am aware that this was not always the case, priest. My Avatar has been lost to me for a century and it was one of yours who caused the most painful separation.”
    The priest flinched. “My dear Zeering. It is good to hear your voice. We have despaired of hearing you speak in our lifetimes.”
    Zeering inclined his head. “My Avatar and I need to renew our bond. Please escort this woman to guest quarters and treat her as you would my wife. She is to retain her weapons.”
    “But my lord, weapons are not allowed in the temple.”
    “She is to retain her weapons.”
    The priest bowed low. “Yes, my lord. She will retain her weapons. We will bring her to the guest quarters in the village.”
    “She will remain here in the temple and sleep under my roof. Give her the Avatar’s chamber. She will rest in my bed. Go.”
    The priest stood, his navy blue feathers ruffled. He looked at Sebena and bowed stiffly. “Lady. Please accompany this acolyte to your rooms. We will bring in a female to attend you.”
    Her lips twitched in amusement. “Thank you, Priest. I welcome the rest.”
    She got to her feet and released her hair from her ponytail, looking at the cotton-candy pink locks that Zeering had crafted for her. The priests looked at her hair and a grudging respect came to their eyes.
    She looked to Issul and he gestured with his chin for her to