Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2

by Suttle, Connie

  "Berel, we have to write the interview," I sighed and opened my eyes. "No matter how upset I am, that's more important."

  "Want to stay here or go to the Library?" Berel asked.

  "I suppose the Library. Kaldill said Queen Lissa was sending somebody to help. He's probably already here."

  "Are you hungry?" Berel asked. "It's midday. We can eat and write." His stomach growled, telling me how hungry he was.

  "Yes. We'll eat and work." I held his hand as we slid off the bed.

  "Would you prefer to walk?" Daragar asked.

  I looked up at him—at the earnestness in his beautiful, blue face. "Yes. Perhaps I can stop shaking if my legs have a purpose."

  "Very well. Send mindspeech if you need me." He disappeared.

  "Someday, I want to do that," Berel breathed.

  "Yes. Someday." We walked out of Berel's suite together.

  * * *

  "This is Willow." Kaldill introduced the tall man sent by Queen Lissa. His hair was a pale, flaxen color and he had bright-green eyes.

  He was also old. Perhaps not as old as Kaldill, but old nonetheless. Still, he looked young, as most immortals do. He studied me before smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling nicely as he did so.

  "Your wings are magnificent," he said. "I have never seen such in all my life."

  "Thank you," I said, the words automatic.

  "I brought these," Willow pointed to two covered cages. "From Morningsun. Come."

  Long legs carried Willow to the cages; he gripped both covers and pulled them away, revealing birds and an animal I'd never seen before. Did he know, somehow, that animals were precious to me? That any would come to my hand if I asked?

  "These are fruitbirds," Willow pointed to the brightly-feathered birds hopping from perch to perch inside the cage, their tiny feet clicking happily as they settled on one post then another. Their feathers were yellow, blue and green and I thought them beautiful. Kneeling beside the cage, I had their attention immediately.

  "May I open the door?" I asked.

  "You may—they come to me willingly," Father Willow said. "If I offer seed." He pulled a pouch from a pocket and held it up.

  "Oh, come," I opened the cage door. All six birds flew out, circled my head and then perched on the tops of my wings, chirping happily.

  That's where Berel ended up feeding them—his hand held out as they sat on my feathers having their meal. Willow and Kaldill watched in fascination—Willow said that fruitbirds were difficult to tame. These he'd raised as hatchlings after animals killed their parents.

  "Birds and other animals always trust me," I said, trying not to move too quickly; I had no desire to dislodge my feathered guests. "I never told anyone in Fyris about this, because I was worried they'd order me to lure the animals they hunted so they could kill them."

  "What a horrific thought," Willow sounded outraged.

  "I think so, too," I agreed.

  "What about Pink Paws—he looks lonely," Willow smiled again.

  "Will he eat birds?"

  "No. He likes mice."

  "Ah."

  I studied the cat-like creature in the second cage—he watched me patiently, as if waiting his turn.

  "Open the cage, please," I said.

  Willow opened the door and Pink Paws slipped out. First, he wound his way sinuously around Willow's legs before hopping on the table and coming to my hand. Like a cat, he could purr, although he looked more like one of the weasel family to me.

  "Animals develop differently to suit their environments," Willow said as Pink Paws walked beneath my outstretched hand before turning and going the opposite way, each time begging for a scratch. I obliged.

  "Willow has been on too many worlds to count," Kaldill explained while fruitbirds chirped happily from my wings and Pink Paws purred affectionately. "He likely knows more about the plants and animals on those worlds than most scientists. If anyone from Kondar or Yokaru wish to know anything about Morningsun, Willow can supply that information."

  "Will the same crops thrive there?" Berel asked. "After all, Kondar is quite fond of the vegetables available here."

  "I've looked into that—I saw nothing that would not be suitable as far as food crops go," Willow replied. "There are a few other plants and such that might not work, but only because they would overpower what already grows on Morningsun."

  "What are those?" Berel asked.

  "Goldleaf Ivy," Willow said. "First and foremost. Kondar's soil is more acidic, keeping its vines small and containable. Morningsun's soil will allow it to grow rampant and cause problems for farmers."

  "I think we can live without goldleaf ivy," Berel laughed. "The farmers here hate the stuff."

  "There are only a few other things of the same nature—you call them weeds," Willow said. "Morningsun will be better off without those things."

  "What about the animals?" I asked.

  "I saw nothing that wouldn't thrive on Morningsun, including the tiny leafmunk," Willow said. "All serve a purpose, and if taking those things will make the people of Kondar and Yokaru more comfortable in their new surroundings, then there is no need to leave them behind."

  "First we have to convince the people, and that means Berel and I have to write the best interview we can," I pulled my hands away from Pink Paws. He grumbled about it, so Willow lifted him and returned him to the cage.

  The birds, too, weren't pleased to be removed from my wings, but Willow eventually convinced them. With the cages sitting at one end of the table so the creatures could watch me as much as they liked, our midday meal was brought and Berel and I began the task of writing our interview.

  Again.

  Chapter 16

  Kondar

  High President's Palace

  Quin

  "These are the topics Willow would like to cover," Berel handed a tab-vid to his father. "These," he handed a second tab-vid over, "are the ones Quin and I want to talk about."

  "I'll look them over with my vid-experts this afternoon," Edden nodded to Berel and me. "Quin, do you have something suitable—and comfortable enough—to wear for this?"

  "I do. Queen Lissa sent some things."

  "She has a blue silk tunic and trousers, Father. She looks wonderful in them."

  "My team wants the interview to take place where you had lunch that day—in the garden," Edden said. "The image taken by the journalist who sneaked in that day has been shown everywhere, including the newsvids, alongside images of Quin at the border war."

  "I'd prefer not to discuss that," I shuddered.

  "I know." For the first time, Edden pulled me against him and kissed the top of my head. "I've already warned them that this troubles you—Berel says so."

  "How soon do you think a vote can be taken?" I asked.

  "That is a more serious subject," Edden pulled away and shook his head. "It must be debated in Council before the Presidents present it to the people. I hope this interview eases the way through these arguments. My scientists say there's not much time and deaths among the very young and the elderly are already rising rapidly."

  "So we have the scientific vote already?" Berel grinned.

  "Nearly all of them are on the side of evacuation. Much of what we'll face is fear of the unknown," Edden agreed.

  "I hope Willow can convince them, then," I sighed. "I have no idea whether I can."

  * * *

  Avii Castle

  "What did you expect would happen?" Dena took a seat next to Justis. He sat on his terrace, head in hands, the midday meal Dena brought untouched.

  "I suppose I wasn't expecting that," Justis let his hands drop before leaning back with a sigh. "I suppose I just wanted her to say that she'd had something to do with Jurris' change of heart. I've never seen him so—so," Justis fumbled for words.

  "You mean you've never seen Jurris so reasonable?" Dena asked.

  "Yes. That's as good as anything I can come up with."

  "Look, I overheard Kaldill and Willow talki
ng. They said something about DNA—I know that much, although I still don't know exactly what that means. They talked about evil being passed from parent to child. I can see that it happened in Yevil and Halthea's cases. Treven was terrible." Dena shivered. "At least that's what my mother and father say."

  "Did they say that Quin may have had something to do with—well, you know?"

  "I heard Kaldill say that if she did, she likely didn't know it—that her intent was to heal him. You have to understand though, that she can only heal what's wrong with the body. Remember that Omina's prejudices remained intact after Quin healed her."

  "I recall. Now. Why didn't you say that before I ruined my relationship with Quin? Everything in her bedroom is gone—it's moved into Kaldill's suite. He isn't speaking to me either, as you know."

  "You didn't ask me," Dena snorted. "You just flew right off that terrace without spreading your wings, first. Now, Quin's hurt. You're upset. Over what? That Jurris is suddenly making better decisions?"

  "You make me sound like an idiot. Yes," Justis held up a hand. "I've already thought it myself. I don't know how to fix this, though."

  "I don't either." Dena stood and stretched. "I have to dust Library shelves this afternoon. See that you stay out of trouble." Dena spread her wings and flew toward the Library terrace.

  "Easier said than accomplished," Justis muttered as he watched her go.

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis

  Queen Lissa's Private Journal

  "Look at this," Kooper tossed a comp-vid on my desk.

  "I already know," I said, looking at him rather than the tablet now lying in front of me. "Trik and Nissa sent mindspeech."

  "How the hell did Cayetes manage to kill three Belancour wizards so easily?"

  "You know there are still warlocks and witches for hire. Rylend has a list longer than your lion snake, filled with names of Karathian rogues."

  "He's targeting the entire family, isn't he?"

  "I think so," I said. "I just hope he doesn't target Trik, although Trik can take care of himself. I just hate the fact that someone has the idea to come after him."

  "The records of your adoption are public, Lissa," Kooper reminded me. "He's married to your daughter. You may ask him to stay on Grey Planet until this blows over. I have as many people as I can spare on Cayetes' trail, but I wish the fucker would just go ahead and die, already. Maybe that will eliminate this spate of revenge killings."

  "I'm concerned about what he might do to stay alive," I said, tapping my temple.

  "You don't think," Kooper immediately looked worried.

  "Yeah. He has enough money and that is a powerful tool to convince someone to perform illegal surgery."

  "How long do you think it would take for the new body to sicken?"

  "No idea—it may depend on whether the mind is already affected. If not, then we could be looking at another full lifetime of Vardil Cayetes' criminal behavior."

  "I'll see if I can pull more agents off other projects," Kooper rumbled, raking long fingers through his hair in frustration. "Who the hell would do this kind of shit?"

  "Ask Reah—she dealt with the last known incidents," I said.

  "I'll do that," Kooper said and turned to leave. "Any word on the Siriaan vote?" He swung back for a moment.

  "They haven't even started the debates. You know how politics go—nobody's in a hurry until it's too late, and then it's all finger-pointing and blame."

  "You'd know better than I would," Kooper agreed. "Keep me posted. Something about all this bothers me, but I can't say what it is."

  "Me, too," I muttered. "Me, too."

  * * *

  Kondar

  High President's Palace

  Quin

  Queen Lissa knew precisely the right person to send. Willow, with the aid of a special comp-vid, had three-dimensional images presented to the vid-journalists, who recorded everything shown and said by Morningsun's representative.

  Berel and I were seeing Morningsun for the first time—the shape of its continents, which ones were reserved for Kondar and Yokaru, and Willow provided information on the already-inhabited continent of Cloudsong II.

  Willow provided a short, concise lesson in geography, politics, zoology and botany. Soil quality was discussed, as well as climatology and geology. The continents were much larger than those currently occupied by Kondar and Yokaru, with samples of how to split the Kondari area into Five Sectors.

  Willow had done so much with very little time. I worried that Berel and I hadn't done a tenth that well. Our interview was scheduled next, and my hands betrayed how unsteady I felt.

  * * *

  Vogeffa I

  "Lord Cayetes, I have good news," his assistant beamed.

  "What good news? I feel like excrement," Vardil complained.

  "We've started a list of surgeons and wizards, we only have to choose one and convince him," the assistant announced first. "Second, three of the Belancour wizards are dead and third—the weapon is ready to fire."

  "Why didn't you tell me the last item first?" Vardil growled. "Has it been loaded onto the ship? Are we ready to go?"

  "The moment you give the word," the assistant smiled.

  "The word is given."

  * * *

  Kondar

  The High President's Palace

  Quin

  "The people of Fyris watched their children die—if they weren't stillborn," I said. "Crops withered or were stunted at first. At the last, nothing grew that could be consumed." Berel tapped his tab-vid, matching appropriate images with what I said.

  "You already know the fish pulled from the seas are contaminated. It will only grow worse. Your scientists have already warned you that there is no cure for this poison—it will only continue to spread."

  "What about the gods?" One journalist interrupted my speech.

  "What if this is their way of providing help?" I answered. "To take all of you to a safe place? Is there a set of rules that your gods must abide by—a single, specific way spelled out to save the people?"

  "Well, no, I suppose not," the journalist—a young man—replied.

  "This is the best solution to the problem so far. If there is a cure found someday, I'm sure you'll be welcome to return to Siriaa—nobody else wants to come near it."

  "What would you do—if you could?" another journalist—the only woman—asked.

  "I wanted to heal Siriaa, but that is not my ability," I said. "Therefore, I want to save its people by any means possible. Now. Before the poison worsens and more people die."

  "Do you feel confident that we'll be safe on this other world—Morningsun?" the third journalist asked. He was older and carefully considered his questions before he spoke.

  "Yes. Willow has lived there for more than one hundred sun-turns. You see he is healthy enough. The people on the third large continent—Cloudsong II—are still recovering from the effects of the poisoning of their world two generations back, as Willow explained," I said. "They understand what it is to be displaced and will be most sympathetic, I believe, to the plights of Kondar and Yokaru."

  "Where are the people of Fyris, now?" the woman asked.

  "They are on another world called Harifa Edus," I said. "Their health and well-being improved immediately, now that they have enough food and access to medical care." I didn't want to explain about the attempted coup—that would dismay many. Kaldill's last word on the subject was that Amlis was now firmly in control—with a bit of help from Torevik Rath and a few others.

  "What would you say to the Council if you could?" the young man asked.

  "That there is little time. Differences must be set aside in order to protect the people of Kondar."

  "All Sectors of it? Remember that someone from Sector Two nearly killed you," the woman said.

  "All Sectors. I have no blame to levy and no grudge is held," I shrugged.

  "Who were those blue men?" the older man asked. "The ones who helped you after you were i
njured in the border war?"

  "I understand they are called the Larentii Wise Ones. There are no other races like theirs—they are unique. I am fortunate they chose to help me."

  "I'd never have believed that such powerful beings actually existed, without such overwhelming proof," the older journalist said.

  "The Larentii have visited the Avii for generations," I shrugged. "Master Gurnil, the Librarian for the Avii, has seen Larentii many times."

  "They've been coming here all along?" the young man asked.

  "You'd have to ask Master Gurnil—or a Larentii, to get the best answer," I replied. "They only come to study Siriaa—and until recently, when they helped me—have never interfered in any way with it. That is not their purpose. Mainly, they are curious, and with the power they have to visit worlds, it is understandable that they would do so."

  My interview went on for two more hours, until I was nearly hoarse and barely able to speak. Edden and Melis, at Berel's urging, ended it, saying the journalists had more than enough material.

  At the end, though, I was asked to speak directly to the people of Kondar.

  I did.

  Perhaps it was because I was so weary by that time, but I wept as I begged them to save their lives and the lives of their children. I pleaded with them to set aside their fears of the unknown—because what awaited them when the poison consumed Siriaa would be so much worse. Their lives would end in pain and suffering, and I begged them not to let that happen.

  I knew about that pain—had healed many from it including Yissy, the youngest survivor from Fyris.

  Berel dropped to the grass beside me at the last, while the recorders were still going, and pulled me against him. Clutching at his shirt and burying my head against his shoulder, I sobbed.

  * * *

  "Berel is with her—I've sent food and drink for both," Melis informed Edden. "I couldn't have predicted what happened at the last, but if anyone in Kondar remains unmoved by that plea, then they have hearts of stone."

  "You know someone will find fault or say it's a lie," Edden sighed as he sat behind his desk and leaned back. The chair creaked as the cushion curved about his body, providing comfort. "I don't want Quin exposed to their vitriol. I want to send her and Berel back to Avii Castle while the debates are ongoing," he continued.