WhiteWing

by Connie Suttle

  "We'll use the fish, first," Flyer said. "I understand you don't eat meat?"

  "True," I agreed. "But there's plenty here to suit me."

  "I suggest you eat at least three meals in the mess, so the others don't get upset." Darkins walked into the cave, followed by a warlock. As expected, the five had sent one of their number to check things out.

  "Loor Blackmantle," the warlock offered a hand to Turtle, first. I stopped breathing for a moment.

  Chapter 5

  Paricos II

  Ilya

  He has four brothers, Zaria hissed into my mind. I've already sent mindspeech to Nefrigar. He's checking their lineage now.

  As old as I was, I imagined that nothing could surprise me.

  This surprised me, and not in a good way. I'd thought the Blackmantle name dead. Where had these five come from? Why were they working for Tamp?

  What were they doing for Tamp?

  How long will it take Nefrigar to send an answer? I returned.

  He's going backward in time to search for an answer, she informed me. I could hear the concern in her mental voice—it was tinged with a healthy dose of fear.

  How old are they? I sent, struggling to keep my own worry at bay.

  Old enough.

  Fuck.

  Smile and grip his hand, Zaria reminded me as Loor came to me after greeting Flyer. I did, allowing a congenial mask to slide into place.

  "I never expected a Blevakian," Loor went to Bleek after exchanging pleasantries with me.

  "My mother said the same thing," Bleek took the offered hand. Loor laughed.

  Last of all, he went to Zaria. Yes, he'd bypassed her by greeting Turtle, first. I imagined he wanted to size her up, and this was his way of doing it.

  "I hear you're Third-level," Loor held out his hand.

  "It says that on my assessment," she agreed and took his hand. I could feel the wash of power as he made his own assessment, grunting his satisfaction afterward. I praised whatever power the Larentii held to make that happen. He had no idea whose hand he held or what she could do to him, should she choose to do it.

  I preferred it that way. However, if he intended harm in any way toward her, I'd blast him myself for even thinking it.

  Does he recognize Bleek as someone with a price on his head? I thought to ask.

  No. Not yet, anyway. I worry that they'll look into our backgrounds, though, and come up with Bleek's reward as a result.

  Will you keep us informed?

  As much as I can.

  Gods, I'd missed her. She stood there, looking small against Loor's taller bulk, making trivial conversation with him while answering my mental questions. From lengths away, I could read his interest in her.

  Who wouldn't be interested? She was beautiful, Larentii or witch. It only drove home the idea that she was much too good for the likes of me.

  If Loor gets any ideas, I intend to smash his face in, Bleek broke into my thoughts.

  As will I, brother, I replied.

  * * *

  Phrinnis Tampirus

  "I distrust them." Those words were spoken by my seer, Mayyab.

  "Yet you tell me yourself that all their readings are not threatening," I reminded him.

  "They want something; I just know it." He drew his falaca-wool cloak tighter about his shoulders as he turned his back toward me. His gaze settled on the view through my wide window; the sea was choppy today instead of angry, as it usually was. Mayyab felt the cold of the sea inside the Rock, most of the time.

  "Everybody wants something," I said. "I want something. I want Falchani-type blades to sell on the black market. They draw a very high price. It will be nothing for my warlocks to make them appear ancient, which draws an even higher price. You like getting paid, I assume?"

  "Everyone wants that. It's why we take jobs. This one is better than any other," he was quick to add.

  "I know why you work for me," I said. "And your skills at mollification are lacking."

  "A lack of manners often goes hand in hand with my talent," he said.

  "A sound excuse," I agreed. "Your last fear should be allayed—Loor reports that the woman's talents are mid-Third-level, just as reported."

  "Loor could be thinking with his genitals," Mayyab retorted.

  "I very much doubt that," I said. "If she were stronger, he'd view her as a threat. Loor and his brothers are more than satisfied on that quarter. A Third-level cannot harm the shields and spells my warlocks have placed. We are safe, here."

  "Very well. Just remember that I voiced my concerns."

  "Noted. Leave me now; I'd like my bath. Inform Arna on the way out."

  "Hmmph. You should watch Arna, too. She has her eye on your Bladesmith."

  "I care not if she dallies."

  "Yes, but he is unwilling. I can see that much, at least."

  "Then I'll have a word with her regarding the rules of the Rock."

  "She'll attempt to confront the witch," Mayyab said as he strode toward the door. "I know not whether the witch can withstand her."

  "I'll see to it," I waved Mayyab through the door. I wanted to become a jungle plant and stand on the balcony to soak in the mist.

  * * *

  Ilya

  Velker found me as a work crew was placing the furnace the following day. The furnace took up a great deal of space, but unless we wanted to build and rebuild stack furnaces to smelt iron ore, then the furnace was a necessity.

  It also made it easier to control the carbon burn, so carbon dioxide wasn't produced during the smelting process.

  "Master Velker," I acknowledged Velker's arrival while lifting two sets of tongs to place near the anvil.

  "It'll be cold here until you get the fires going," he remarked, as if I didn't already know that. One side of the cave was completely open and faced the sea. Mist clung to the outer walls and the balcony space outside the cave. That would disappear in the heat the furnace produced.

  At the back of the cave, there was a trans-vator and stairs leading to the upper levels; Velker had ridden the trans-vator down after breakfast to keep from walking the distance.

  "Is there something you need?" I lifted an eyebrow instead of responding to his inane comment.

  "We'll be going out tomorrow, so you'll have to put this on hold. I've been given permission to take your entire team with me as added security."

  Zaria, I sent, please come and meet Velker. She was with Bleek, who was talking with a second crew about delivery of the iron ore. I wanted her to verify what I suspected from Velker's tone and body language—he was going into a dangerous area to collect something.

  I wondered what it was, too. Zaria would know just by looking at the fool.

  * * *

  Zaria

  I was happy to leave; some of the work crew wanted to stay and talk. Bleek had already planted himself between me and two of the men who kept moving toward me, half a step at a time.

  "I'll be back," I excused myself.

  "We ah, have to go, too," one of the men said the moment I turned to leave. Just what I needed—amorous admirers.

  Bleek could see them off; Velker was there with Ilya and I needed to see him. Once inside the stairwell, I folded space to the bottom and walked out. The man standing beside Ilya gaped as I walked toward him.

  His hair was bleached, as if he'd spent hours digging in the dirt with the sun high overhead. His face confirmed that notion; it was weathered and made him appear older than he was.

  He bore an obsession, which made my heartbeat irregular. I could see Tamp's orders easily enough—Tamp hadn't placed the obsession or directed that it be placed. I learned two terrible truths, gazing at this treasure hunter who was supposed to be dead.

  First, the obsession prevented me from knowing whether he'd had anything to do with the stolen spheres. Second, what Tamp ordered him to hunt was just as bad as hunting those spheres.

  Tamp was looking for Marid of Belancour's spelled containment spheres—the ones holding
poison that Marid stole from Siriaa.

  I immediately sent an image of Velker to Queen Lissa; if this man blackmailed the Lord Mayor from Gilvos, then I hoped the Lord Mayor could identify him. I also told her what else I'd learned—that Tamp was searching for the poison itself.

  Velker had no idea what Tamp wanted with the stuff; he'd merely been instructed to search for the containment spheres.

  He'd described them in detail, too.

  As if he'd actually seen them before.

  All of us had gone about our business, tending to other things and forgetting that Marid had taken more than enough of the poison away from Siriaa to sell to one criminal faction or another.

  It made sense that Vardil Cayetes wasn't his only buyer. Not only had Marid hidden whatever was left, but it was possible that other criminals had buried or hidden what they'd purchased from Marid, just to keep the leaking poison from affecting them.

  We're fucked, Lissa's reply came swiftly.

  I hear that, I agreed.

  I'll start Looking, but I'm worried that there may be Sirenali involvement with this, too, Lissa added.

  I need to speak with Terrett, I said. I just had a terrible thought, but it needs to be verified.

  You're worried that there are dead Sirenali buried or hidden with those spelled orbs, aren't you? Lissa was on the same wavelength.

  Yes. It appeared that their talent extended beyond death, if my suspicions were correct.

  Being employed by an experienced treasure hunter may be fortuitous, then. He has criminal contacts and could be our best bet in actually tracking that filth, Lissa said.

  Yeah. I can't say I'm thrilled about continuing my employment here, but it just took a more ominous and necessary turn.

  On another note, why is Velker not on anybody's radar?

  He's supposed to be dead. He worked for a famous university, used less than legal means to obtain something for them, and they found out. Rather than reporting him, they opted to keep their record clean and sent him on an expedition, from which he didn't return. In other words, they faked his death and sent him on his way, probably threatening to send him to prison if he didn't cooperate.

  We'll work on that after we get the rest of this handled, Lissa replied. For now, we need him where he is.

  Understood.

  Velker was asking me to dinner by the time I finished my conversation with Lissa. "She already has a dinner date," Bleek's hands gripped my shoulders from behind. I imagined he was frowning deeply at Velker, too.

  Velker took a step backward.

  Smart move. Anybody with any sense would back away from Bleek. Quin had aptly named him the Blevakian Mountain. Velker held no power and had no weapons training. Bleek would have him tied in a decorative knot in no time.

  "Where are we going tomorrow?" Ilya asked to lessen the tension between Bleek and Velker.

  "Can't say—need to know," Velker waved a hand. "Remind your employee," Velker jerked his head at Bleek, "that he is under my command, just as you are."

  He doesn't know where we're going, either; Tamp hasn't told him, I explained to Ilya and Bleek. He's been told it's somewhat dangerous, that's all. I can give him hemorrhoids, if you'd like.

  Bleek ducked his head as if he were acquiescing to Velker's words. Ilya and I knew he was suppressing laughter, instead.

  * * *

  Ilya

  "The furnace will be brought in while we're gone," I said as I placed my blades in their scabbards. Turtle and Flyer had done the same, although we wouldn't wear them until they were needed. My crew, Zaria included, stood about me inside the cave while we waited for word from Velker.

  We'd head upstairs to the heli-port then. I had no idea how long we'd be gone; Velker hadn't said, so we'd all packed a small bag of clothing to last us on our journey by ship.

  It made me wonder where Tamp kept his ships, or whether he merely paid another boss for passage. At least two bosses on Paricos II had a fleet of star cruisers; Zarbec, who'd wanted to hire me, was one of them. He'd boasted that his were the best, however.

  I distrusted his opinion.

  All my crew except Bleek could fold space; I figured Zaria would take Bleek with her if it became necessary. As for Velker and the ship's crew—I didn't give a damn about any of them.

  Frankly, all we had to do was alert the BlackWing ships and the closest one could take our vessel. That sounded infinitely better than being in close quarters with Velker for who knew how long.

  "We're ready to board," Velker's voice came through the communicator I wore on a wrist. "Have Zaria bring you and your crew."

  "We'll be right there," I said as civilly as I could. He was tossing Zaria's name about as if he were a familiar friend. He had no idea what I wanted to do to him because of it.

  "Ready?" Zaria asked. When I nodded, she transported us to the heli-port.

  * * *

  Zaria

  We're going to Kelburr, I informed Ilya and the others after reading the destination in Velker's face. He'd gotten instructions from Tamp less than half an hour earlier. For now, we were headed to the small spaceport orbiting Paricos II, where ships belonging to this boss or that were docked.

  Who owns the ship we're taking? Ilya asked.

  Zarbec, according to Velker, I replied.

  I was afraid of that, he sent a mental sigh with his words. Zarbec is a conniving asshole, Ilya added. I interviewed with him and refused to accept his offer of employment.

  He and Gubb have a special arrangement—I saw that in Gubb when he waited on us the other day, I sent.

  No surprise. I'd like to kill Gubb with my bare hands. He expected me to take Zarbec's offer. Now I know why.

  We were in our seats after stowing bags in the hold. Velker had many crates and boxes to bring with him and supervised the placing of those things in the hold. I imagined he had everything from the latest in treasure-bots to technology designed to map caves, rivers and any other thing that could present a navigational problem.

  Which university did Velker work for? Ilya asked. It surprised me that he was so willing to have conversations with me.

  Hoph-Rill-Poldar, I replied. It was the pre-eminent university that trained archaeologists in the Reth Alliance. I'm sure they've gone to great lengths to bury Velker's murderous involvement in obtaining those ancient shields they're so proud of.

  He killed someone?

  Several someones.

  I knew he was an asshole.

  He still is an asshole, I pointed out. At least he's more honest in his criminal activities.

  Easier to admit it, when you're surrounded by other criminals, Ilya observed.

  True. And safer, too.

  Has Nefrigar gotten back with you yet? he asked.

  Not yet. This may take some time. Family trees often have deep and twisted roots.

  I understand.

  I watched as Velker finally took his seat at the front of the hover-chopper and buckled in. I could have transported all of us, bags and equipment included, to the space station, but that could be seen as taxing a Third-level's ability.

  I wondered why Loor or one of his brothers hadn't offered. Nevertheless, we had a long ride ahead of us, merely to reach the space station in question. I wanted coffee, too, but that would be frowned upon.

  I was having trouble sleeping. Ilya's suite wasn't far from mine.

  Neither was Bleek's.

  Too many times I'd considered folding space just to get away from Paricos II for a little while. The entire planet bothered me in a way I couldn't define. After all, ghosts walked other worlds. Paricos II's ghosts were in a league of their own.

  My love, you look tired, Bleek offered. I sat between him and Ilya; Ilya had settled into the third seat in my row before Turtle or Flyer could take it.

  I was just wishing for coffee, I answered Bleek's mindspeech. Paricos II blows.

  Blows?

  Vomit-inducing, I explained.

  I agree with that assessment. Velker a
lso blows.

  I wanted to laugh. I didn't. It wouldn't do to reveal our talent of mindspeech to anyone on Paricos II. Things could become dangerous in a hurry, and, as Lissa said, this could be our best chance at finding Marid's stash of the poison, in addition to any other containment spheres held by someone else.

  Kalenegar and Nefrigar had already warned me about bending time to search for Marid before he died; not only did he have Terrett with him in the past, which could prevent that very search, but the timeline was more than fragile. I understood that. Upset any part of it and things could turn out much worse.

  Liron could be alive instead of dead.

  I wanted no part of bringing him back.

  For now, we would do our search the old-fashioned way.

  With an obnoxious, murderous treasure hunter.

  * * *

  V'ili

  Vardil had a new assistant. This one wasn't in love with him, although she was most anxious to please Vardil in every way.

  I'd seen to that for him.

  I'd waited two days before bringing him the news that the ASD and CSD were currently hunting the same people we hunted. When I'd shown him the rewards offered for the black-winged woman and Bleek, he was angry and silent.

  In fact, not only were both security details offering rewards for those two, it also offered rewards for information on the entire BlackWing fleet of pirates.

  "We need another mole inside the ASD," Vardil hissed after several moments. "I want their information as it comes in."

  "I will see to it, Master Cayetes," I nodded to him. "It may take some time; I will return only when the task is completed. The mute clones will conceal you while I'm away."

  "Good. When are the next customers due?"

  "I can put them off until my return, if you'd like."

  "I'd prefer that."

  "It will be done."

  * * *

  Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis

  Lissa

  "You think he'll try to obsess someone else, so any information we get will be sent straight to Cayetes, don't you?" Kooper leaned back on the sofa inside my private study. "He did it last time; it makes sense," Kooper nodded.

  "I don't want to interfere; we know Kay can remove an obsession by changing the victim's aura lines. What we need to do is identify who bears the obsession and watch them until we have Vardil's contact information. We'll send him whatever we deem safe while attempting to track him that way," I said.