THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

the Warrior House sought to solve issues with fighting first–as we’re so often accused...”  He paused until Mathias swallowed a grin and added, “Rather than negotiate a problem to death like the Governing House. It’s your House that preaches against vengeance.”
    “Living here has caused me to reevaluate many things, but I digress. We’re agreed that the mouthy one with the skin ink mark is a TecKnati, right?”
    Callan nodded. “He’s the best candidate of the three. What about the girl with bi-colored eyes, excessive earrings that only the most powerful MystiKs are allowed to wear and...did you sense anything from her?”
    “Yes. She has a gift or gifts, but she clearly wasn’t going to admit that to us. Not unusual for a Hy’bridt MystiK, the only explanation for those eyes. Except the colors she wore were all over the place...but so were the clothes on the TeK one.”  Mathias paused. “And what was a Hy’bridt doing with him ?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve never seen TeKs dressed that way. Based on what little we know, I’d say she’s as MystiK as that Tony is TecKnati.” 
    “We’ll have to talk to the Hy’bridt some more and see if we can figure out what she’s doing here. Makes no sense.”
    Callan swallowed a growl of irritation. Why would Mathias believe anything that Hy’bridt said? “I don’t trust any MystiK that hangs out with a TecKnati. I told you when I first got here that I think a MystiK traitor has to be working with the TecKnatis to help them trap us. Who’s to say that person isn’t a Hy’bridt?” 
    Mathias slowed next to the hut where several girls and a couple of young boys prepared food. He gave them a word of encouragement and snagged a bowl of buri berries, then continued on toward his chambers, not missing a beat in the conversation. “Hy’bridts are supposed to be as loyal as they are powerful.”
    “Maybe,” Callan allowed, taking a handful of berries to refresh his dry throat. “But loyal to whom? And what about the other girl?”  The taller one with midnight-black hair and skin the color of brewed tea. His mind fought to sum her up in one word, but narrowed it down to two–deadly and attractive–much like some of the plants in this Sphere. She was a prime example of whatever group she belonged to, with her keen blue eyes, slashed cheekbones and a body that filled out her strange clothes nicely.
    But anyone who associated with a TeK, even an exotic female, fell clearly within Callan’s definition of enemy. Especially after watching her single-handedly annihilate a croggle.
    “That one with the black hair throws me,” Mathias admitted. “I didn’t understand her name. Xena?”
    “I don’t think that’s her real name. I heard both the TeK and the Hy’bridt call her Rayen and she doesn’t strike me as a TeK. Rayen has the skills of a Warrior. You know TeKs would rather push a button than dirty their hands fighting.”
    “Except for their Scouts.” Mathias sounded resigned.
    “They are the exception.”
    “But that Rayen has no TeK markings, nor does she have marks such as those of your Warrior House.”
    “I know,” Callan admitted, trying to put the pieces together. “Plus she has that device attached to her leg.”
    “Do you think she meant to destroy the croggle?”
    Callan hated all things related to the TecKnati, but to falsely accuse anyone would be dishonorable. Without honor, a man was nothing. “Much as it still angers me that she destroyed our food, she did so with only one of our spears and the croggle had neutralized two of our hunters with its tail right before she attacked. That supports her claim that she thought children were in danger.”
    “How did she destroy the beast?”  
    “That was strange. Her power burned the croggle from the inside out. Blue flame, very hot. No TeK has ever been known to have our gifts, and few of our own have that level of power.”
    Mathias munched quietly on a mouthful of berries for a moment. “If she’s not TeK and not MystiK, what then? Could she be a different type of G’ortian?”
    Callan stared off, considering that possibility. “I don’t know. What I do know is that she’s the most dangerous of the three.”
    “But in spite of the power she displayed in battle, she didn’t try to harm any of you on the way to the village?”
    “No.”  Callan could see why Mathias hesitated to pass judgment on the two girls, but the mouthy male was a TeK.
    And no TeK