At times, I missed him as Warrik, but Warrik had served the crown long and well. This was a former King of Karathia, even if his rule lasted less than a month.
He bequeathed the throne to me, I reminded myself. I held the rule of Karathia by his initial permission. Bel Erland was my heir and next in line, with Zaria's permission. It made me uncomfortable upon occasion; how could it not? Still, he'd taken his vows to protect the throne and the King. That should be enough.
I think he and Warlend knew, however, that things just weren't the same. Everybody tiptoed about the subject of their dual existence for years uncounted. As for Wylend, word had it that he seethed with the knowledge of what he considered their duplicity.
They'd protected his behind for years, and this was their thanks for that loyalty and effort on his behalf. I wanted to sigh at the injustice of it.
"No wonder Tamp has been able to survive so long to do what he does," Dad observed, drawing me away from my thoughts. "Who knows how many times he's changed locations to stay in business? Did Ilya say whether he'd seen any of Tamp's treasures?"
"Nothing yet; he's been forced to follow his immediate supervisor around, listening to what this treasure-hunting servant of Tamp's wants in the way of protection. Apparently, this one considers himself Tamp's finest and expects Ilya to bow to his every whim."
"Anything else to note as yet? Nothing on whether Cayetes has infiltrated Paricos II?" I asked.
"No, but he's barely been in Tamp's employ for a day. I'm hoping for more news later, as he settles into the job." Wellend cut into his eggs and ham, carefully—and correctly—placing a bit of each on his fork and bringing it to his mouth.
How many times had I watched him eat with Grampa Wylend, with the same impeccable manners? This was my great uncle, after all. Yes, he and Warlend had explained how they'd gotten around coupling with Wylend. It made me wonder how Wylend felt about that, too.
It concerned me, actually.
Wylend couldn't be accused of always employing the best of judgment in matters of the heart. He'd lost Reah that way—by overreacting.
A part of me was glad. Reah was having some difficulty coming to terms with things as they were—with Warlend. She certainly shouldn't have to worry about Wylend, too, and his reaction to the entire mess.
"Things can't help but be complicated, can they?" Wellend's guess was shrewd as he studied me.
"Please, continue your meal," I waved a hand. "Things will get sorted or they won't."
"I'm hoping for sorted." Wellend frowned and went back to his food.
* * *
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
"Everybody ready?" Trajan had arrived to take us to BlackWing VII.
"I think we're ready," Zaria answered. We were—packed bags lay all around us, ready for transport. Only a few knew our destination, and none of those would reveal that information to anyone who shouldn't have it.
It was my hope that the spheres we were prepared to bury on affected worlds would be safe from predation this time. I studied my shoes as my feathers rustled, revealing my anxiety.
Justis and I had taken flight only that morning, to say a private good-bye away from the castle. Nowhere else was that possible—Avendor was safe for the Avii King to fly as he willed.
"We can only do our best," Zaria tipped up my chin. I blinked into bright-blue eyes; she offered comfort with her touch and I was grateful. In seconds, I was wrapped in her arms while warmth and healing surrounded me.
Stop worrying, she breathed into my mind.
I can't help it, I replied.
I know.
We were still embraced when Trajan moved us.
* * *
BlackWing VII
Zaria
James and Nathan were piloting the ship, still, and enjoyed their work. Sal had taken charge of the ship already, and was in contact with Director Griff concerning our position and course.
Lafe, Quin and Terrett had gone to sort out their berths, which lay next to one another. Yanzi was across the hall. Kaldill hadn't joined us for this short trip, although he would come if Quin sent mindspeech.
Instead, Daragar was the one to shield the ship for us. I could have done it, but he was more than willing.
"Tea," Edden handed a cup to me as I sat in the empty dining hall, watching stars shoot past us as we traveled toward our first destination.
"Sit with me," I invited.
"That's why I'm here," he grinned. "Bleek is on his comp-vid, speaking with Master Morwin on Avendor. He's quite particular about keeping up with Barc's studies."
"Already? We haven't been underway for twenty minutes," I sipped the tea Edden brought. It was hot and welcome; already I felt cold as the black emptiness surrounding the stars passed us by.
"I, ah, believe Barc wasn't pleased that his father was leaving without him," Edden coughed.
"Oh. Now I get it," I said. "Everybody Barc likes to hang out with is on this ship."
"Hang out?"
"It's an old Earth term. It means associate with, or be with."
"I see. Want to hang out with me?" he grinned again.
"Of course."
* * *
Paricos II
Ilya
If I hadn't seen Tamp changing in front of me without the use of any wizard's or warlock's power, I'd have doubted his words.
He was, in all ways, a pod'l-morph. Striding this way and that as he'd spoken, he'd shifted to many forms while I watched, struggling to keep my thoughts behind a mask of indifference. The most disconcerting of his changes involved a large, talking succulent.
Yes, I'd heard of pod'l-morphs. Children's stories were written about the rare beings. I never thought to see one. It made sense that he was running a criminal operation—he could disguise himself as anything and escape the notice of authorities.
I wondered what Zaria and Quin would make of him. Would they see through his shifting to the real creature beneath?
I wished for one or both of them during my brief interview with Tamp. As for Velker, I already wanted to strangle him. He'd constructed complex scenarios, each of which involved an attack upon his person while he was involved in his treasure-hunting. I was supposed to outline my reaction to his attackers, so he would know what to expect.
I wanted to laugh in his face. Every attempt to kill him or take him into custody would be different. Location, terrain, whether it was local authorities, ASD, CSD, or even another treasure hunter, would change the scenario.
I didn't bother to tell him that. It came as a surprise that he'd survived as long as he had, in my estimation.
Fool's luck, I reminded myself.
"We have teams hired on several worlds. They're scouting for the treasure now. If they find something, they're instructed to hold back and wait until I arrive. It requires delicate maneuvers to extract it."
My concern that other treasure hunters could be our main opponents rose significantly. He'd babbled on about everything except what I wanted to hear—that Cayetes had somehow appeared on Paricos II, or figured into the equation in some way.
"So we have buyers already for the treasure?" I ventured during a lull in Velker's one-sided conversation.
"Of course," Velker lied. "Tamp wouldn't bother if there were no money in it. That's all for today—I'm waiting for word from two of my teams. Be ready to go quickly if that word comes, even if it's received in the middle of your sleep period."
"I understand." I turned to go; I'd been assigned quarters on the lowest level of the compound, where the booming of waves could be heard, even through thick rock. At least I had a window to look out at the sea.
I wondered, too, why Velker lied. It was easy to read his body language in this. Likely it didn't matter—he was being paid well enough, I think, to hunt whatever Tamp wanted.
"If you need additional clothing, weapons or armor, send the message through the comp-vid mounted on the wall in your quarters. You'll find a ranos pistol and rifle waiting
there already."
"That should be sufficient," I said. "Thank you, Master Velker."
It irritated me greatly to call him that, but he was puffed up and pleased with the title when I left him and strode toward the trans-vator.
* * *
BlackWing VII
Quin
"We have this." Sal set a comp-vid on the table. He'd called a quick meeting after hearing from Director Griff. Zaria, Bleek, Edden, Berel, Terrett and Lafe sat at the table with me, waiting to hear what Sal had to say.
There was no mistaking the images on the comp-vid. Bleek's photograph, next to mine in my former disguise, were very prominent. "These were found on the assassins' sites," Sal informed us. "They're offering a substantial reward for both of you—Bleek dead, Quin alive."
"Good." Bleek folded all four arms across his chest with a satisfied grunt.
"I really don't like that you're a target," Zaria informed him quietly. He turned toward her, then. I could tell he was touched that she cared.
"I can cross my arms over my chest, too," she told him, her voice tart.
"Yes, but two arms just don't have the same effect," he grinned.
"Oh, sure, pull out the four-arm card," she snipped. "Followed by the six-lobe card."
"It works," he chuckled.
"You're insufferable," she swatted one of his arms.
"No—if I had two cocks, I'd be insufferable. As it is, I'm merely confident."
I watched Sal attempt to suppress a laugh. A snicker escaped anyway. Lafe turned his head to hide the grin; Edden, Terrett and Berel didn't bother to hold back their laughter.
"We'll be in orbit around Benvali tomorrow morning," Sal said when the laughter died down. "We'll wait until darkness falls on the proper side of the planet before sending our team down to plant a sphere. Queen Lissa will come to help Daragar lay better wards around it."
"I hope they work," I breathed a sigh. I couldn't help thinking about three worlds that had already been stripped of their salvation. The feeling of helplessness that came with those thoughts overwhelmed me for a moment.
"It'll all come right," Lafe reached out to massage my neck. "We'll make sure of it."
"I hope you're right," I mumbled before laying my head on my arms at the table. Lafe's massage felt good on muscles tightened by worry and stress.
Chapter 4
Benvali
Zaria
"The biggest concentration of the poison is in this area," Quin spoke softly. A large city wasn't far away, which made our operation that much more dangerous—I had tight shields up as a result, so the local inhabitants couldn't see us or what we were about to do.
Without Looking, I knew the nearby city had been hit hardest with sickness and death related to the poison. I feel it too, Lissa's mental voice informed me; she'd arrived the moment Daragar transported us to the surface of Benvali.
"We must plant this one deep," Daragar said. "Perhaps that, in itself, will discourage any from looking for it."
"And protect it from those looking to build upon this surface in the future," Edden observed. Already, he was seeing the city's growth in years to come, provided the poison was stopped and the planet allowed to continue on a normal path.
"I'll set the wards far enough below the surface to allow for that," Lissa acknowledged.
"Quin," I said, "I'll link with you, so you can tell me how far down to open the hole."
"All right."
Extending my hand and my power, I began to create a narrow hole between Quin and me. At more than six hundred fifty feet, she asked me to stop. "There," she breathed. I pulled away from her then, to watch what she did next.
Pulling a sphere from her jacket pocket, she whispered to it in the language spoken by the Avii.
"Come," she instructed, before dropping the sphere into the hole. I made sure it made its way to the bottom before sealing the ground around it, as if a hole had never been made.
Light formed about Lissa, then, as she set the wards. The area sang with her power as she lay them; far enough below the surface that treasure hunters wouldn't feel it.
That was our mistake before, she informed me in mindspeech. Setting the wards nearer to the surface so that anyone getting close could feel them. How could they not know something was there? Combine that with a Lord Mayor who has a strong case of OCD and you have disaster waiting to happen.
He knew about the other two worlds done during the same trip, I guessed. What did they blackmail him with?
Embezzlement, Lissa replied. He'd lose his job. Turns out, he lost all that anyway, and will spend time in prison for his shenanigans.
Too bad for him—and for us, I replied. He sentenced those worlds to death a second time, too, unless we get the spheres back.
Those worlds' leaders haven't made the announcement to the general population, yet. I imagine there'll be rioting when the truth is discovered.
Amazing, isn't it, how one man can kill so many?
Are you talking about Cayetes or the Lord Mayor?
Both.
Yeah. I think we've both seen their kind before.
Yeah.
"Wards are done, let's hope this isn't a useless gesture," Lissa announced aloud.
"I second that," I said. Daragar transported us back to the ship so we could plan our next stealth mission.
* * *
Paricos II
Ilya
My life as Velker's bodyguard looked to be a boring one between treasure hunts. I had too much time to think—on past mistakes and such. That's why I went looking among those who provided security for Tamp, hoping at least one of them knew how to fight with blades.
"You know how to fight with a knife?" The chief of security studied me in speculation.
"Yes. And with swords, poles and anything else you have at hand. I can also make the blades in question, should the need arise."
"Falchani-type blades?"
"Yes, but those take time to make properly."
"Tamp has a market for those things," Chief Darkins said. "Properly made, as you say. He has no patience—and no market—for poorly-made fakes."
"You'll need a forge, and I haven't seen one on the premises," I pointed out.
"That would be nothing," Darkins waved a hand. "Make a list of what you'd require, and I'll present it to Tamp. I doubt he'll turn the opportunity down, but he'll examine the blades you make carefully afterward. If they're not up to his standards," Darkins warned.
I wanted to laugh in his face. I'd spent nearly twelve hundred years, a century at a time here and there on Falchan, making blades for the Warlord's army. Some I'd made had been passed down through the generations. I knew what I was doing.
"I'll need apprentices or those willing to help—a love for the making is a necessity, because of the time involved."
"I'll leave you in charge of hiring them," Darkins said. "Mind, Tamp will either approve or disapprove. Make your choices wisely."
* * *
Tamp's approval came swiftly and forced any complaints Velker might have to stay behind his teeth. I'd been given permission to hire as many as six apprentices, too, at an adequate compensation.
I wanted none from Paricos II—I'd seen the riff-raff that wasn't already employed by this boss or that. I was forced to send mindspeech to King Rylend, asking for suitable recruits.
After all, six spies were better than one; I could be called away to who knew where by Velker at a moment's notice, leaving the compound behind and a potential gap in information.
Apprentices could be left behind to keep their eyes and ears open for news of Cayetes.
Let me think on this. I'll let you know tomorrow, Rylend's reply came shortly after I sent my request.
At least two Falchani, I returned. The rest are your choice, as long as they know what they're getting into.
Noted, Ry agreed.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"We need either Quin or Zaria there, and
Quin is needed to place spheres," I said. Ry and Erland stood in my private study, informing me of the latest from Ilya.
"Ilya will likely balk when we send Zaria," Ry pointed out.
"Ilya is under orders from his king," I shot back. "Tell him to suck it up and behave professionally."
"Who is going to help Quin, then?" Erland asked.
"I had an unusual offer," I said. "About ten minutes before you got here."
"From?" Erland lifted a well-shaped, dark eyebrow. He's gorgeous, even when he's skeptical.
"From Kay." I said it. I still didn't believe it. The most unbelievable part was that Ashe agreed to let her go. She held sufficient power to help Quin, and if she didn't, Ashe would lend her something to make it so.
"You think Ashe is taking a personal interest in all this?"
"Hell, several people are taking a personal interest in all this," I huffed. I'd included myself in that statement, I just didn't say it aloud.
"So, Zaria and who else?" Ry asked.
"He said two Falchani. I'd ask Caylon, but he's a new father so that's out of the question. How about Turtle and Flyer?"
"Those two sound good. We have Zaria, Turtle and Flyer. Who else?"
"Send the Blevakian." Charles, also known as Wisdom, arrived in my office and settled on the edge of my desk with a grin. It was now official—all three of the original Mighty had taken a personal interest in this.
"Why?" I asked. I couldn't help myself.
"We'll see if Tamp has a close relationship with Cayetes, first off. If he's interested in Cayetes, or willing to do anything Cayetes asks, then Bleek will be handed over right away, don't you think? If that's not true and Tamp makes his own decisions, then Bleek should be safe enough."
"Bleek doesn't have power," I began my argument.
"No, but Zaria does, as do Turtle and Flyer. Bleek is also adept at using blades—with all four hands. I doubt he'll be in danger long, especially if Zaria has a way to locate him, should he be abducted."
"You've thought this through, haven't you?" I made a face at Charles.
"Bleek likes to meet the enemy head on. This is a good way to do that."
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