He'd destroyed Siriaa, their home planet, for the gods' sake.
"It's their choice," Justis stroked a hand down my feathers, which had risen and ruffled with the anger and frustration I felt. "The others are happy to be here and appreciate the freedom to fly unhindered as far as they want."
"I can't help but believe they are placing themselves in unnecessary danger," I said, setting my napkin on the table and looking into Justis' dark eyes.
"I know," Justis continued to stroke my wing. "I have seen you fly into danger many times, my love, and every time you do that, my heart stops and my feathers rise. Do not deny these that same freedom, I beg you."
He was right. "I only want to keep them safe," I mumbled and dropped my eyes to my hands, which trembled in my lap. "I know you want the same," I admitted. "I hope they come to no harm."
"As do I."
Chapter 3
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
"Three spheres are missing." Queen Lissa's voice was flat. She reined in her anger at this setback—I could see it in the stiffness of her shoulders and the stern line of her mouth.
Three spheres I'd placed had been stolen. "By whom?" I felt close to tears. Three worlds were back where they were before I'd placed the spheres to save them. "Do they know?" My voice trembled.
Justis' hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me against his chest. This was the worst of news. "They know," Lissa's shoulders drooped. "I told them this morning. It seems the Lord Mayor of a nearby city on Gilvos was blackmailed to reveal what the sphere was to a treasure hunter. He gave information on the other two worlds we visited in that three-world trip. We're attempting to track the treasure hunter now, and the Lord Mayor is in custody, but that gets us nowhere. We don't have the true identity on the treasure hunter and he's off everybody's radar."
"You think he's been hired by Cayetes, don't you?" Justis' chest rumbled against my wings as he spoke.
"Or someone just as bad—there are plenty of criminals on non-Alliance worlds who deal in ill-gotten treasure and antiquities. They have a full list of buyers, many of them not considered criminals and possible living on Alliance worlds, who are wealthy enough to place these things in private collections that the public has no knowledge of."
Zaria, who stood nearby with her arms folded tightly against her chest, was flanked by Bleek, Bekzi and Edden. Her face was pale and grim; she didn't like this turn of events. She'd suspected that treasure hunters were searching for the spheres; to learn that three had already been stolen was more than upsetting to her.
"Do we have enough to replace those three?" Edden asked. As always, the diplomat among us searched for a viable solution for the problem we faced.
"We do, unless those bastards steal more, or more worlds are found that are poisoned. If that happens, any surplus we have will disappear and worlds will die anyway," Lissa replied.
"We have to modify the shields around what has already been placed," Zaria grumbled. "And we have to do that now, instead of hunting the filth stealing from us."
"We have others to hunt, too—don't forget that," Bleek offered.
He was right—we'd never found the wealthy captives that Cayetes had kidnapped. Who knew where they were? The ASD was still looking; they'd merely had few results in their search.
The banking accounts and holdings for all those people were still intact for now, but with Cayetes healthy and back in business, that could be temporary.
"Kooper is tracking all their business concerns," Lissa said as she practically read my mind. "So far, it's business as usual and not even a ping from all that."
"He can afford to wait," Edden said. "We don't know those kidnap victims are alive. Cayetes can wait years—until we lose interest and he has time to plot and take that wealth in a single move."
"Frightening," Lissa breathed.
"What if somebody beats him to it?" Zaria asked.
"What?" Lissa's head turned swiftly in Zaria's direction.
"Cayetes wants the black-winged woman. He also wants to destroy her pirate ships. He doesn't let go of a grudge—we've all seen evidence of that. I think we should wipe out as many accounts as we can, funnel that money back to the families discreetly under different names and business concerns, and then let the ASD put up their new most-wanted list, with a black-winged woman at the top of it."
"You think it'll deflect his attention from the spheres—if he's the one hunting them?" Lissa's eyebrows lifted and the dim light of hope grew stronger in her eyes.
"He never forgets things like that," Zaria shrugged. "He'll come after the BlackWing pirates; you can count on it."
"He'll redouble his efforts to find Quin," Justis voiced his concern as he pulled me tighter against him.
"The Orb is no more," Zaria reminded him gently. "She wouldn't be susceptible to it even if it still existed. It cannot appear and fling her wherever it wants any longer. She will be protected, Lord King."
"I say we do it," Lissa said. "I'll have to meet with Kooper, Ildevar and a few others, but that's the best option I've heard in a while."
"You cannot take everything," Edden spoke a sharp reminder. "Remember, if those victims are alive, we have to hold something back to ensure their lives continue."
"Then let's start with half," Lissa grinned at him. "I think that should be sufficient, don't you?"
* * *
Zaria
Lissa wanted me to look at the family members who could be trusted to keep the secret of the transferred funds, but to present their case to the media that the funds had been removed suddenly, indicating theft. They would also say they'd been interviewed by the ASD afterward, to collect evidence in the supposed thefts.
Shortly after, the ASD would make their announcements known—that the BlackWing pirates were their prime suspects.
I handed her a list of names—most often second or third in line who only wanted their family members returned safely. We were throwing the dice, and they accepted the possibility that their loved ones could already be dead.
This was a way to track Cayetes and leave half the family funds in their complete control. The ones I chose were grateful for that; they'd worried the accounts would be emptied, leaving their families in poverty.
After all, half of enormous wealth was still enormous wealth—in most people's eyes.
"You're pensive this morning," Edden placed a cup of coffee in my hands as I sat on the Library terrace at Avii Castle.
"Just thinking," I looked up at him and offered a smile. Already, the power of SouthStar was making its presence known—small age lines in his face had disappeared, leaving only youthfulness behind.
"Mind if I sit with you?"
"Of course not," I patted the seat of the covered porch swing beside me. I'd placed several of them on the Library terrace—Gurnil was using them to read and eat lunch, now, since the weather at SouthStar was so fine.
"It's almost like the wake of a large boat, flowing in the wrong direction," Edden sighed as he looked out at the split river flowing around Avii Castle. "Have you had breakfast?"
"Well, I was soaking up sunlight," I said. "Although eggs would be nice."
"Good, because I ordered for both of us. It should arrive soon."
"You are an amazing man," I lifted my cup to him. He smiled. He had a nice smile. I learned that morning that he also had a nice kiss.
Very nice.
"If you two will stop necking," Bleek set a tray on the table in front of us and pulled in another swing with only two of his four hands. "We can have breakfast," he added. "I commandeered the tray from a Yellow Wing," he waved away Edden's comments before he could make any.
"Bleek has ah—news," Edden said, smoothing my hair back. A light breeze had swept the terrace, lifting my hair as it passed.
"What news?" I turned to Bleek.
"That my photograph has been included with the others of the BlackWing pirates."
"You really want to infuriate Cayetes, don't you?" I
blinked at him.
"Yes," Bleek settled on his seat and lifted his plate from the tray to eat. "He owes me—for the lies he told and what he did to Barc."
I didn't disagree—Bleek was right. Vardil Cayetes didn't care that Barc would die if pulled from the glass coffin. He held the boy hostage to keep Bleek under his command. If Quin hadn't healed Barc, the boy would have been destroyed.
"Besides—my image alone, and the fact that I defected to the enemy will ensure that Cayetes comes out swinging. I want to make that first punch against him."
"That's a long line you're standing in," Edden pointed out and dipped into his food. "It'll take strategic jostling to get the first spot."
"Six lobes," Bleek tapped his head.
I laughed.
* * *
Paricos II
Ilya
I found no information on Lew Velker. I even tried variations on the name and nothing came up. Whomever he was, his real existence was successfully covered up. I entered new search parameters on the comp-vid; at least it was protected against use by others, as well as detection by others.
The device was ASD issue, with a DNA passcode and undetectable. I preferred it that way. Search for ousted archaeologists, any institution, I entered the command. I wanted as much information as I could get before reporting for my first day at work the following morning.
Gubb had gotten his fee; I knew that much. He'd smiled at me when I showed up at his bar earlier for dinner, and didn't charge me for what I ate and drank.
"Generous of him," I muttered while the comp-vid worked on my latest request.
Velker hadn't told me where Tamp kept his compound; he'd merely asked me to meet him at Gubb's bar the following morning. Transportation would be arranged for us from there. I figured the compound was large enough to house more than it actually held; I'd asked Gubb about Tamp.
"A recluse," he'd said immediately. "Changes disguises often. Has an extensive collection of artifacts himself, besides what he sells—if the rumors are true. Don't cross him," Gubb added. "Nobody knows exactly where his compound is. He does business with others at predetermined locations."
I gave no indication to Gubb that crossing Tamp was certainly on my agenda. We'd see who came out on top. Meanwhile, it was my duty to size up his compound, determine what he held to keep it safe (both in manpower and weapons), find whether he'd had contact with Cayetes and follow any leads I uncovered.
If Cayetes were on Paricos II, it made sense that the bosses would know of it by now. He threatened their very existence, if they knew anything about what happened to Vic'Law.
For now, I hadn't heard rumblings of a turf war, but that could change, once I got inside Tamp's quarters.
Time to let my current landlord know I was moving out.
* * *
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
"These three," Zaria tapped the names of three planets on a comp-vid. "They won't know we've been there until we're gone, and we certainly won't tell any of them where their sphere is buried."
The worlds she'd chosen weren't the three I was previously scheduled to visit. Those—the information that they were next on the list could have been told, sold or stolen.
We understood that.
"We'll hit those three separately on later dates, so nobody will suspect," Zaria said, reading my concerns easily. "BlackWing VII, in disguise, of course, will house us while we're away from SouthStar."
"Who will come with us?" I asked. I couldn't expect Queen Lissa; I'd already used up a great deal of her time, and she had her own planet to rule. Besides, she was in charge of strengthening the wards around the remaining spheres I'd placed—in an attempt to keep future thieves away.
"Kooper is sending one of his agents," a smile lurked about Zaria's lips. "Jana asked for this assignment."
Jana had barely finished her ASD training. We would be her first official assignment. I felt joy and apprehension at the same time. I worried that she'd be in as much danger as Dena could be, merely by association.
She understands the danger—perhaps better than most, Zaria's voice entered my mind. And she deserves this—Cayetes killed her family, remember?
Now I understood why Zaria sent those words in mindspeech. The ASD had a rule against any agent being directly involved in an investigation, if the agent's family were involved in the crime—either as victims or perpetrators. Likely, that information had been kept from ASD files and Kooper had turned his head when Jana asked for this assignment.
I understand that, I returned. It was what I would do in Jana's place. "When is she coming?" I asked aloud.
"We leave tomorrow morning for BlackWing VII. She'll meet us aboard ship. Salidar is also coming—to keep up with your training and to take command of the ship, since Caylon is currently unavailable."
* * *
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"Are you going to tell Zaria that we have Ilya working this assignment from another angle?" Erland set his empty bourbon glass on my desk, after producing a coaster he'd Pulled from the kitchen.
"Not unless she asks a direct question," I said, making a face at Erland. "What's the latest word?"
"Ry says that Ilya's latest report indicates he was forced to accept employment with one of the local bosses, as a bodyguard. It may be fortuitous—the bosses will know better than anyone whether someone else has joined their ranks uninvited."
"Then I hope this bears fruit soon," I said. "He won't like it if he's forced to do something that's less than ethical."
Neither Erland nor I said the word murder, but it was at the forefront of both our thoughts. Granted, Paricos II was a lawless world, but innocents could be sprinkled easily among the criminals. Cooking or cleaning wasn't a crime, even if it were done for the worst of the worst.
"He's been instructed to use his best judgment, and to get away if he's threatened or required to do something that goes against his conscience," Erland said. "Let's hope he understands to take good advice when it's given, this time."
"Yeah." I leaned back in my chair and forced tension from my shoulders. Erland's eyes narrowed as he studied me from across my desk. "You know something I don't," he accused.
"Erland, now isn't the time," I said. "It isn't anything I can discuss—with anybody."
"Outside the original Three." His guess was shrewd. Not many could hide something from my Karathian warlock mate.
I mimed locking my lips and tossing an invisible key over my shoulder.
"Very well," Erland sighed. "I'll keep you updated, as requested."
"Thank you," I said, grateful for his patience. I had a feeling that after a while, everybody would know what I did, and the fates of more than one would be settled for all time.
* * *
Paricos II
Ilya
The chopper was fast; even so, it took nearly an hour to reach Tamp's compound. I blinked at the ingenuity of it; a massive, high rock, surrounded by a rough sea, bore Master Tamp's quarters. Built into the rock itself, the compound began halfway up the monolith, above the point where crashing waves couldn't reach it.
The side facing the land gave no indication that the rock was inhabited—one had to fly to the other side to see lights shining from the recessed windows carved into it.
I felt it, too, once the chopper passed the perimeter—Tamp had warding spells up to fool more mundane visitors. He already had wizards or warlocks in his employ.
It made sense, if Tamp were the wealthy, reclusive collector and bargainer that Gubb described.
The chopper lowered to a wide, flat heli-port, jutting out near the monolith's top. The pad was still hidden from the landward side, but large enough to hold a small fleet of choppers or hovercraft.
"Come," Velker motioned for me to follow him, once we'd disembarked from the chopper. Winds keened and blew fiercely about the rock, strong enough to rock even the heaviest of hovercraft parked about us as I wound my way throu
gh them, following Velker toward the cave-like doorway. Heavy mist, flung by the wind, nearly blinded me several times before we reached that destination.
Once the auto-doors closed behind us, the absence of wind, water and sound felt like salvation to my battered ears and body.
The inhabitants were used to getting wet; Velker and I walked over a heat-grate, with warm air blowing away the chill and moisture before we'd finished crossing it.
"Tamp is waiting." We'd crossed another threshold, to find a woman waiting there for us.
"Master Tamp wishes to see us?" I heard surprise in Velker's voice, although he attempted to hide it.
"He does." She was tall, dark-haired, beautiful and as hard as a diamond. Her eyes settled on me and lingered for longer than I deemed necessary.
I wanted to tell her that she could keep her interest to herself. I'd had the best; she could never compete with that, or even the memory of it.
"Thank you, Arna," Velker's voice turned silkier, as if he could draw her attention to himself by changing his voice. She'd dismissed him already, in favor of what she considered more dangerous prey. Perhaps I should feel flattered.
What a useless emotion.
"You may be surprised when you first see Master Tamp," Arna informed me as Velker and I followed her to a waiting trans-vator. I didn't fail to hear Velker's low snort. "He understands that others find him—unusual," Arna's lips thinned in anger as she glared at Velker.
"In other words, don't make a big deal out of it," Velker hissed as Arna instructed the trans-vator to take us to level twenty-seven.
* * *
Karathia
King Rylend Morphis
"Tamp is a pod'l-morph?" Attempting to keep my eyes in my head rather than allowing them to bug out at this news wasn't as easy as someone might think.
"They're rarer than female vampires," Dad huffed. "Can mimic anything—animal, vegetable or mineral, as your mother is so fond of saying."
"He sent the images, or I may have been skeptical," Wellend blew out a breath. We sat at the breakfast table; Wellend let us know he had news, so I'd invited him to join us.
"It's my understanding that only his mother may know the real image he was born with—and we thought chasing Vardil when he was switching bodies was difficult," Wellend scraped butter across a croissant before taking a bite.
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