“All was peaceful when I left for town to give you and the elders the report last night. And then I was at Joe’s. Why didn’t someone get me?”
“Joe’s was closed, and you were nowhere to be found.”
Triaten didn’t answer. His jaw tightened, but he bit his tongue. He was screwed on that account.
“Who was that woman outside? And don’t tell me you’re abolishing your duties for some human tryst. You being involved with a human is not acceptable.” Coming from Horace, it was a scolding, not a question.
“No worries on that front. Just using her for sex, father. You taught me that well.”
“You’re walking a fine line, Triaten, and you’ve already cashed in all your good will with the Aiden and Skye debacle.”
Horace moved past him to the study door. Hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Triaten. “You right this today, Triaten. You get Shafar and DeLisio back at the table. I don’t need to remind you what’s at stake.”
Triaten shook his head. Just tens of thousands of lives, he filled in silently.
{ Chapter 5 }
He felt Shiv behind him before she spoke. Her scent, clean jasmine soap, had filled the room, even before her footsteps thudded in on the library floor.
“What in the world are you staring at?”
Triaten blinked. He hadn’t really been staring at anything, eyes just glazed over in thought. He looked over his shoulder at Shiv.
She kicked the floor with her bare toe. “I mean, clearly, it’s an unfinished floor. But why are you staring at it? You’ve been standing there for a while.”
Triaten’s eyebrow rose. “I have?”
“Am I looking at you like you’re a crazy person?” She stepped around in front of him. “Because I’m starting to wonder. I walked by here ten minutes ago, and you were in that same spot, staring at the floor. I walk by again, and you haven’t moved a muscle.”
“Hmm,” Triaten didn’t pay her crazy comment any mind. “I was just thinking.”
“About the flooring?”
He looked down at the gut of the floor. “Oh yes, the floor.” He scuffed the rough planks with his shoe. “I haven’t figured out what I want to do with it yet. Wood inlays, tile, not sure. Something dramatic, but I don’t know what.”
“What was down here before?”
“Wood planks.”
“Didn’t like them?”
Triaten shrugged. “They got stained.”
Shiv nodded as a shy smile crossed her face. “I didn’t tell you last night how I knew my ex — the asshole — did I?”
Triaten had no idea where this conversation was going, but he was game. “No — I think you said he was an artist, maybe?”
Shiv nodded. “He was, which is actually how I met him. I was looking for something creative to do, since work is so — blah — it pays the bills quite well, but blah. So I took a tile mosaics class. He was a guest master teacher — didn’t really teach, actually, just stopped by as a favor to the teacher. Let’s just say he took a liking to me, and I loved the art form so much, that I ended up apprenticing with him for months, before, well...”
“I can imagine. And this has to do with what?”
“Well, he learned from Italian masters. And I learned from him. He may have ruined my life, but I did get a skill out of the deal.”
Triaten’s eyes swept along the wide floor. “So you’re thinking a large-scale tile mosaic?”
Shiv shrugged. “It would be quite beautiful in here, with all the dark wood bookcases. Very old-world European. Maybe a large scale pattern or a labyrinth? The asshole usually did Greek hunting scenes for the rich clients, but they were never my speed. Or maybe a goddess motif? I took over on a couple of those, and they turned out kind of impressive. I think I could do something quite elegant with the space.”
Triaten couldn’t stop a smirk from forming when she mentioned “goddess.” The Panthenites worked so hard to remove themselves from god-status, that it would be humorous to put in a goddess theme here at the ranch. An homage to the past. And just enough to rankle the elders a bit.
“Oh, well it was just an idea. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You don’t know anything of my skill. Sorry to interrupt.” Shiv turned to leave the room, cheeks red. She had clearly misread his smirk, not that she could have known what made it appear.
“Shiv, no wait. I think it’s an intriguing thought. I like the goddess idea. What do you think it could look like?”
Shiv turned around, half out the doorway. “Really? I can sketch something out for you. Got a napkin?”
“Why don’t we splurge and I’ll get you a piece of paper.”
Twenty minutes later, Shiv had a rough drawing of what the mosaic could be. She had it on the floor of the library, and both she and Triaten stared down at it, trying to imagine it full-scale.
It was two goddesses. One arched back, white gown flowing, and she gazed at a dark cloud in sky. A scarlet gown wrapped the other, and she was bent over, hand in the ground and fingers full of dirt. Both had an arm outstretched to the other, fingers not quite touching. It was as though each goddess was trying to pull the other into her journey. Triaten was impressed at the speed Shiv whipped it out, and in the simple beauty of the outline.
His feet circled the paper, considering the angles, and then he glanced at Shiv. “How did you come up with this?”
Shiv shrugged. “Not sure, it just popped in my head when you said a goddess might do.”
Triaten nodded, decision made. “I’m in. If you have the time, of course. And I’d happily pay you.”
Shiv waved a dismissive hand. “Please, you are not to pay me a dime. You’ve already been sheltering and feeding me for days, so this is the least I can do. Besides, with my work done, I need something to fill my time while I’m waiting for Skye to come back.”
Triaten wasn’t going to argue money with her. “Fine. But the second you want to charge me, give me a bill — or drop it in the study.” He picked up the sketch from the floor. “Alright, where do we get the tile from? I imagine it doesn’t come from the hardware store?”
“There’s a supplier in Venice that the asshole-ex used quite exclusively. I can go dig out the number, and then it’s just a matter measuring and ordering the smalti tiles.” She took the sketch from his hand.
“Just give me the number and a list of what you need, and I’ll have it over-nighted.”
“What?” She looked up from the sketch. “No, it takes days, if not weeks.”
Triaten offered her a reassuring smile. “Everything can by over-nighted, love.”
Her eyes widened. “Hmmm — that’s cocky. I wasn’t expecting that out of you.”
Triaten shrugged. He didn’t bother to defend what was true for him.
“You sound pretty sure about getting them over-night.”
“I am.”
Shiv shook her head, still not believing. “Who the hell are you?”
Triaten laughed. “Doesn’t matter, love. My job is pretty much just to get people what they need in life. And I’m pretty good at it.”
“That’s a job?”
“It is for me.”
She considered his words for a moment. “Okay, fine, but don’t look so smug — I can’t imagine that’s much of a life. Even if you have the Secretary of State tromping through here.”
“It is, and isn’t, I guess.” An idea popped into Triaten’s head. “Hey...I’m not sure this will work, but did you have any plans today?”
Suspicion crossed Shiv’s face. “No. But I reserve the right to make up some fake plans.”
“Understood.” Triaten said with a nod. “Since you already saw the Secretary walking out this morning, you’ve probably figured out there’s something important going on here?”
“Yes, but I was told not to ask questions, if you remember.”
Triaten was pleased with her ability for discreetness, even if she was mocking. “Well, I’m still not looking for questions, but I could u
se your help.”
“What can I do?”
“I have to get two impossibly narcissistic men together — alone. And make them like each other.”
Shiv did a double-take, her eyes narrowing at Triaten. “Hmmm. Okay, no questions, save one. Why?”
“The men are at a stalemate, and aren’t even at the table with each other right now. We’re talking precious land — essentially, billions that they’re fighting over.”
Triaten didn’t continue. He planned to give her the least amount of information possible.
Her hands went to her hips, and the sketch crinkled in her hand. “Okay then, I get a follow-up question. Why are you involved?”
Triaten sighed. Women. They rarely failed to demand that the “why” be answered. And then it was always followed up with another “why.” “I’m involved for the human aspect. If this doesn’t go down peacefully, we’re talking ongoing warfare in the territory they’re fighting over. Rogue factions, innocent clans in the middle. People just trying to live and feed their families getting terrorized and killed. The strong are taken and the weak disposed of without a second thought.”
“Really?” Her voice was soft in shock. “You can stop that?”
“If I can get these two together, alone, talking without their crap minions in the room — then yes, I think I can stop it. I’m pretty sure they both want a peaceful accord to the territory ownership and rights — it’s just that neither will own a weak position, or what’s perceived as a weak position, in front of their men.”
“Well,” Shiv’s hand dropped from her hips, “no wonder you can get anything over-nighted. Do you do this thing often? Work on world peace? Should I be a little bit intimidated by you?”
Triaten chuckled. “I doubt intimidation would help me with you.”
“Yea...” her words were drawn out in tease, “probably not.”
Triaten brought them back to his plan. “So can I use you?”
“Sure. I’m all for helping. What do you need me to do?”
“Excellent. I need to get the two of them alone together, away from the main ranch and their posses. And they’re both — let’s just say both of them are lusty fellows, even a bit on the lecherous side. And since you’re the best-looking thing on this mountain, if I strut you by, and then dangle, maybe an ATV trail ride with you in front of them, I think they’ll take the bait. It’ll just be the four of us.”
“Seems simple enough,” Shiv said. “I suppose you’re going to request the charming side of me, though?”
“Might help. Although I imagine you won’t have to participate much, other than some well-timed smiles and laughs. My best guess is that it will be an embarrassing display by those two, trying to step on the other in effort to entice you to bed. You game?”
Shiv grinned. “I’ll hold onto my fake excuse for another day. Happy to bring out the girls for a good cause.” Her arm swept with a flamboyant hand in front of her chest. “They usually are all the charm I need. Just let me go dig out a low-cut shirt from the car.”
The shirt Shiv found, really, the whole outfit, screamed seduction. An emerald green top, displaying an almost obscene amount of creamy bosom, led down to tight jeans, accentuating the smooth curve of her backside. Triaten honestly didn’t mind the view either, and knew it would work as intended.
Shiv was right about the girls being all the charm needed. She and Triaten played out the scene twice. A casual walk-by, an enticing smile from Shiv, and the mention of a trail ride by her to Triaten. Triaten then offered, as an afterthought, an invite to each the Arab and the Frenchman. Of course, no mention was made that other was invited.
The Arab was portly, and the Frenchman had thin bones. Both were clearly out of shape — a rarity for either that they lifted more than a fork. So neither one was a natural on an ATV, which suited Triaten just fine. Get them in an awkward position, and then as far away from the ranch as possible. Something was bound to happen.
Once they were on the trail, one piece of the plan became suddenly clear, that Triaten hadn’t considered. And that was Shiv speeding along as fast as she could. She led the foursome, and even though she’d never been on the trail before, she was a natural at pushing her machine to the limit up the steep mountain. She set a pace that both DeLisio and Shafar were having a hard time keeping up with. Triaten rounded up the back, just to make sure neither fell too far behind.
At least when their eyes were focused on the dirt in front of them, they weren't ogling Shiv’s backside. Triaten recognized Shiv's attributes — he had a hell of a good time exploring them last night — but he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the two. Shiv was out of their league.
Sure, each owned plenty of gorgeous women around the world, but that was just it. They owned them. Triaten was pretty confident Shiv was not the type to be impressed with money and power, and aside from those two things, neither the Frenchman nor Arab had much to offer a woman. That much was obvious from the time they'd been at the ranch.
The group switch-backed up the mountainside on the trail for an hour, before Triaten asked Shiv to stop via their helmet headsets. They were at one of the dramatic vistas that the trail led to, and with it, came a “v” in the path.
After parking the four-wheelers in a row, the group set off to the edge of the cliff to take in the sight, but Triaten stayed by his ATV, leaning against the seat, arms casually crossed against his chest. He ignored the banter — or rather, what the two men thought was playful banter with Shiv — and instead, concentrated on reading the two men. It didn't take him long to delve into their minds, and to find out that the Frenchman still harbored anger about whatever happened last night — some insult about his taste in clothing — but was not nearly as set in his position about the land, as he had been when he first arrived.
The Arab had always been open to negotiations, as long as the price suited his sensibilities. But he still had no regard in his mind for the well-being of the people in the area. Actually, neither did. Triaten rubbed his cheek, disgusted at the two. Why were the ruthless always in power? No matter how many times he saw it, it was still the hardest thing for Triaten to understand about humankind.
Plucking out thoughts from their minds, it was clear it came down to trust. At this point, both Shafar and DeLisio were close to making progress, but were at a stalemate. The stalemate boiled down to trust, as it always did. Neither trusted the other.
After a few minutes, Shiv took a deliberate step away from the two, striding over to the four-wheelers. The exasperated look she shot Triaten on her way, told him all he needed to know about her patience with the situation. But she kept her lips tightly closed as she followed his lead and leaned against her ATV.
Triaten gave DeLisio and Shafar a few more moments to take in the sight. He knew they were both still trying to catch their breath. When they finally ambled back to Triaten and Shiv, Triaten grabbed his sunglasses from his face and hung them around his neck while pointing up the trail. “It’s decision time. The left route is pretty technical, lots of boulders and slick rock. The right is more the dirt path we've been on. Which way do you all want to go?”
Eyes on Triaten and hiding a smirk, Shiv piped up right away. “Definitely the hard route. That was way too easy getting up here.” She turned to Shafar and DeLisio, innocence on her face. "What do you two think?”
Both men were still heaving, even after the ten minute stop. Neither spoke, each waiting for the other to crack first.
Triaten stepped in. “Okay, how about this: the trails meet again about a half-hour up the mountain. Shiv, why don't I take you up the left trail, there's really only room for two ATVs at a time, anyway. And Shafar, DeLisio, you two take the right trail. We'll meet you up there and then pull out the wine I brought.” Triaten stopped and bent over the back of his ATV, digging in the gear box. “Or better yet — I'll give you two the bottles, and you can crack into them if we're slow and you get bored. Sound good?”
“It will do.” The Fre
nchman wheezed out a reply.
“Agreed.” Shafar added.
Both looked beyond relieved, having had the decision made for them, without losing face.
Triaten picked up his helmet and turned to Shiv. “I'll take the lead, and you follow me exactly. Turn for turn, brake for brake, acceleration for acceleration. You got it?”
Shiv nodded.
Triaten slid his sunglasses back into place before putting his helmet back on. He nodded at Shafar and DeLisio while he waited for Shiv to get her helmet on and onto her ATV. “We'll see you two up the mountain. It will be quite obvious where the two trails meet up — there's a wide, flat clearing.”
Triaten took off, Shiv close behind him. Ten minutes into the woods, the sounds of the other ATVs had already faded into the trees. The trail was actually quite easy, even easier than the part they had already covered. It pulled down alongside the river, paralleling the water for some time, before opening up next to a wide pool. At the far end of the pool, a fifty-foot waterfall draped rushing water over a wall of random boulders that cut out through the falls.
Triaten pulled to a stop at the edge of the pool and cut his engine. Shiv followed suit. Her helmet had barely left her head before she burst.
"Holy numb-nuts! You had said they were dicks. But incredible — that was disgusting. I guess I usually avoid those types of assholes. Eeesh. Is it wrong for me to be as repulsed as I am right now?"
Triaten laughed as peeled off his chest-protector. As much as he preferred not to, he had to wear it for show — an ATV rolling over on him wouldn’t do him any damage, but it would crush any of the other three’s lungs in an instant. And a dead member of the party would do no good for negotiations.
"Sorry, love. I tried to warn you, but there really is no appropriate warning for men like that. I appreciate you hanging in there with a smile on your face, though."
Triple Infinity (A Flame Moon Novel Page 6