WhiteWing

by Connie Suttle

  * * *

  Ilya

  Deen and Jin joined us for dinner with the warlocks. I imagined that once Velker was out of the way, the warlocks were more than happy to approach the two assistants. Velker had hired both after Tamp employed him; that came out during dinner conversation.

  "Tamp asked us to place Velker's body in stasis, so we did," Nyarr shrugged when Deen ventured to ask the warlock about his former supervisor. "He has it in his personal vault—until he decides what to do with it."

  "I hope you didn't care for him," Loor grinned. "He treated everybody else like dirt."

  "He cared more about dirt," Jin pointed out. "Especially if it had artifacts or something valuable in it."

  "Are we bad-mouthing the dead?" Zaria asked. "Because if you are, I want in."

  Nyarr laughed. Loor and the others struggled to hide huge grins. Deen chuckled and slapped Jin on the back.

  "Not to change the subject," Deen said, "but Master Tamp says he has another target for a treasure hunt. If everything goes as planned, we'll leave in two days."

  "Turtle and I can stay and start working the metal," Flyer offered. "That way, it won't just sit there," he added.

  "We'll have Hal on board by tomorrow, so that should be fine," I said. "We'll take him with us and leave you two here."

  "Actual Falchani, working a forge? Tamp may come to watch for himself," Kear, one of Nyarr's younger brothers, said.

  "He'll be welcome to watch, but we'll only be hammering out the metal and beginning the folding process, to make steel blades," Turtle said.

  "He'll be interested," Nyarr said. "We'll probably bring him down for a while. He is fascinated by your tattoos."

  "It's the highest art form on Falchan," Turtle grinned. "And they all have to be earned in battle."

  "Are there any research materials on the subject?" Loor asked. "Tamp would be overjoyed if there were."

  "There is only an archive of the artists who served Falchan's warlords through the ages," Flyer said. "And very little about their techniques or the art itself."

  "Too bad; he'd be captivated for days with that sort of research."

  What Flyer didn't say was there were tales, passed down in an oral tradition, regarding many of those artists. I'm sure he wanted to keep the Falchani storytellers safe by keeping that information away from Tamp.

  The Larentii have it in their Archives, Zaria informed me.

  I wasn't surprised. It would surprise me if the Larentii didn't have it in their Archives. Tamp would go nuts if he were to see those Archives, I sent back. Hell, I wanted to see them. Not many who weren't Larentii had.

  I'm sure he would, she agreed.

  * * *

  Zaria

  I was ready to transport us to Gubb's bar the following morning when Chief Darkins arrived. Hal was waiting there for us already; Ilya received mindspeech from Ry, saying that his father had transported the vampire to Paricos II.

  "Ready?" I asked Darkins. He grinned and nodded. We were walking into Gubb's moments later.

  "Tamp sends his greetings and this," Darkins tossed a small bag of local currency to Gubb, who was hovering about Hal like a buzzard waiting for his meal to die.

  I'm sure Hal could have shooed the pest away, but like any ancient (and patient) vampire, he chose to ignore it instead.

  "This is Hal," Ilya introduced the vampire, who rose when we approached his table. He'd ordered ale, but had barely touched it.

  "Want to eat here, or go back to the compound?" Darkins asked after greeting Hal.

  "Whatever is most convenient," Hal replied.

  "We'll eat here," Darkins jerked his head at Gubb. "It's nice to have a meal out, now and then."

  "Of course." Gubb scurried away to yell at his cook and barmaid.

  * * *

  Ilya

  "You don't have long to settle in," I informed Hal when Zaria transported us back to the Rock after lunch. "We're heading out tomorrow on a treasure hunt."

  "You won't know what your target is until you're halfway there; Tamp likes to keep those things to himself," Darkins said. "Pleasure to meet you, Hal." Darkins walked toward the trans-vator and got on. I nodded to him as the doors closed and the 'vator moved upward.

  "I understand Zaria reads people. I find nothing wrong with that one," Hal said. "Lady, what say you?"

  "He's as honorable as anyone, in or out of a criminal boss' compound," she said.

  "Good. I left my poison kit behind, but Rylend says he can transport it if needed. I merely want to consider anyone who could harm us in some way, or jeopardize our mission."

  "We're good for now, but I'll keep you posted," Zaria said.

  "I'd suggest watching out for Arna," I said. "She'll be interested in you, no doubt."

  She would be—any woman would appreciate Hal's dark-blond hair and good looks. Arna had even let her eyes wander toward Turtle and Flyer, for the obvious reasons.

  Neither Falchani would give her the pleasure of a raised eyebrow. I looked forward to Hal's reaction when she introduced herself the first time.

  She wasn't used to being ignored by any male, including a few who didn't prefer women.

  She already wanted to do away with Zaria, who outclassed her by light-years. I wondered what she wanted to do to me and the others who'd effectively spurned her advances, subtle or otherwise.

  Stop worrying about it, Zaria sent. We have bigger fish to fry.

  Fish to fry?

  Honey, it's a metaphor. A colloquialism from old Earth.

  I was stunned that she'd called me an endearment. Fish to fry, eh? I responded, as if that endearment didn't squeeze my heart. Sounds about right, I agreed.

  * * *

  Zaria

  Tamp arrived with Darkins and Arna the following morning to see us off. Deen and Jin were already in our cave with their bags; this time, I was allowed to transport everyone straight to the Hellion.

  "I am entrusting this to you—and to Zaria," Tamp handed the concealment device to Deen. It was the same one Velker used; I'd gotten it back to Tamp safely and in one piece with Velker's body.

  I knew where the thing came from now, after seeing it in Tamp. That would have to be dealt with later; he was sending us after three containment spheres sold to the same ruling house on another world.

  An Alliance world.

  I could only imagine what plans that ruling house had for the poison; I had no idea whether they knew how dangerous it was if they merely wanted to get rid of a rival on their own world.

  It no longer mattered; I and my team were determined to relieve them of their hideous treasure. I imagined more Sirenali bones waited with it.

  Who had known that secret?

  V'ili.

  He'd known to tell someone—Vardil most likely. With all the Sirenali clones available who only lived a short while, it was easy enough to obtain the bones necessary to bury with your treasures.

  At a price, I'm sure.

  Vardil Cayetes was a criminal's criminal, who created a market and sold to anyone who had sufficient funds, his competitors included.

  So many things required my attention, but finding containment spheres had to be first on that list. My list had a delicate balance to it; each item in its own turn, lest the entire thing turn to dust and cause millions to suffer and die.

  At times, the burden of being Vhanaraszh sucked.

  "Is everyone ready?" Deen took charge of our party at Tamp's nod.

  "Ready," Ilya responded.

  "Zaria?" Deen turned to me.

  I folded our group away.

  * * *

  Phrinnis Tampirus

  Arna was plotting. I'd seen too many humanoids during my long life to suspect anything different. She'd refused to speak and glared at Zaria the entire time we spent in the cave. Zaria had wisely ignored the insult.

  I imagined Arna's plot surrounded Zaria. I waited and watched carefully as Arna laid her plans. No doubt she wanted to kill Zaria; she despised anyone whom she sa
w as a competitor for a desired male.

  Her decisions in the matter would determine whether I had her eliminated or not. I was tired of the jealousy and the games. No sex was worth that.

  It was time to speak with one of my spies and my chief assassin. They would ensure Arna's death was painless, should it become necessary.

  The problem, of course, was Mayyab. He and Arna had collaborated in the past to eliminate someone they hadn't liked.

  I didn't interfere, as long as the one they targeted was unimportant and easily replaced.

  This time, the one she targeted was important—in ways I couldn't define as yet. Arna's actions regarding Zaria and her team would determine her future.

  Or the lack of it.

  * * *

  Star Cruiser Hellion

  Ilya

  We're heading for Q'eefur, Zaria informed me. Deen doesn't know yet; Tamp will let him know in two days.

  Q'eefur. A Campiian Alliance world. A four-day trip each way, she'd said. At least Captain Meric and his navigator knew where our destination was.

  Tamp trusted those two more than he trusted his treasure hunters.

  Deen and Jin have no idea what we're collecting, Zaria said. They think the spheres are valuable artifacts that they've never heard of before.

  I don't know whether to be happy or upset about that, I said. Not good for them if they end up touching a containment sphere that hasn't been properly shielded.

  That's why it's a good idea for me to go in ahead of the rest of you, to check the residents for poison sickness. If it's there, I'll place a containment spell of my own around those spheres. We don't need to carry leakage back with us.

  Agreed. Do you think Velker provided Quin's spheres to Cayetes? I asked what had concerned me for several days.

  It's possible, since he was obsessed and I couldn't read him past that. At least he's dead, so that avenue of stolen spheres is no longer available to Cayetes. My concern is the treasure hunters working on those other worlds. I hope the wards and precautions Lissa took are working to keep the other spheres safe.

  As do I. Is Quin still laying spheres?

  I believe so, although not in the past few days, I think. That should change soon; worlds are in need of her talents.

  I have a question, I said.

  What's that?

  Will you bunk with the rest of us?

  She and I sat at a small table in the ship's mess, drinking tea while we silently conversed.

  Is that what you want? she asked.

  I ducked my head and raked fingers through my hair.

  I want you all to myself, but that won't happen, so I'll settle for having you close, I reluctantly admitted.

  Then I'll bunk with the rest of you, she agreed.

  Thank the gods, I blew out an audible breath, startling her.

  "Ready to go unpack?" I asked aloud, standing and stretching.

  "I suppose," she agreed. Standing, she swept out an arm and said, "Lay on, MacDuff."

  I blinked at her for a moment before holding up a hand. "Don't—it's not important," I said, making her laugh.

  "It's actually about a swordfight," Zaria bumped me with a shoulder as we walked out of the mess toward our berth.

  "Then I may be interested," I said. "Someday."

  She laughed again.

  * * *

  Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis

  Lissa

  "We have two worlds waiting for spheres," I said. I'd invited Quin and her mates to lunch in the arboretum. Kay and Trace arrived with them. We all sat around a large table, discussing our next assignment.

  "I have a team ready to go with us," I said. "Zaria is tracking more of those containment spheres—I received mindspeech from Erland this morning."

  "When?" Quin asked, her fork poised halfway to her mouth.

  "Is tomorrow too soon?" I asked.

  "No. Will we take BlackWing VII?"

  "Not this time," I said. "I'll be your transportation. We tried to lure Cayetes in that way before—with everything that happened as a result, I only see traveling aboard ship as another disaster waiting to occur."

  "We can go early—before dawn," Lafe suggested.

  "A good time," I agreed. "Are you up for that?" I asked Quin.

  "I will be." She smiled and went back to her vegetable lasagna.

  "We'll come back here and you can eat and rest afterward," I said. "We'll do the second one two days after that."

  "Easy enough," she agreed. Justis, who sat next to her, reached out to massage Quin's neck. Ever since three spheres had been stolen, the idea of placing more of those precious things filled her with anxiety.

  We'd taken better precautions after those thefts, but I'd seen too many times how things could go awry, even in the best of circumstances.

  The thought of Quin walking into a potential trap that led through the palace on Carek Prime now worried me even more.

  Yes, it had been a sound option—on the surface. Justis had already made her feel bad enough about this—I didn't need to add my worry into the mix, too.

  I couldn't help thinking about Zaria, though, and those with her. I worried that the acquisition of the containment spheres was crawling along at a snail's pace. I'm sure she was frustrated as much as I was about it, too.

  Ashe says to stop worrying—things will turn out or they won't, Kay sent mindspeech.

  Yeah. It's just that things are becoming more complicated, I replied.

  He says he understands.

  I'm glad somebody does, I grumped mentally. Kay smiled and went back to her meal.

  * * *

  Star Cruiser Hellion

  Zaria

  "What's this?" Bleek sat on the edge of my bunk where I sat, back against the wall, using a comp-vid to play solitaire.

  "It's an old Earth game. Not easy to win," I said.

  "Why play it then? Sounds frustrating." He scooted closer to watch me lay a red card on black. "I don't recognize these symbols."

  "Old Earth numbers, mostly," I said. "See—this card is called a jack," I explained. "There are face cards and number cards. You have to place them in descending order. Once you no longer have a place for the remaining cards, the game is over. The goal is to play all cards."

  "You're crippling yourself by pulling three cards at once," Bleek peeled me away from the wall and settled me in his arms while I continued my game.

  "That's the rule. If you play the top card, you can then play the second one down and so on."

  "Sounds frustrating."

  "I find it relaxing," I confessed. "The cards either play or they don't. They don't change colors or loyalties on you—it's always straightforward."

  "This is an analogy?" He breathed on my neck before placing a kiss there.

  "Sort of."

  "Can you explain it?"

  "Not yet," I said, giving up on the current game and tapping the comp-vid to reshuffle the virtual deck.

  "You know something, don't you?"

  "Whatever makes you say that?" I turned in his arms and smiled at him. He took advantage and kissed me.

  * * *

  Paricos II

  Phrinnis Tampirus

  Arna took a shuttle, one guard and a pilot with her to Fendala before lunch. Mayyab brought the information to me not long after, while I sat in sunlight on my terrace.

  I was surprised—Mayyab seldom reported on Arna's comings and goings. "Shopping?" I asked, my question noncommittal.

  "What else?" Mayyab lied.

  "Very well," I shrugged, as if her actions no longer concerned me. "Leave me now, I wish to enjoy the sunlight while we have it."

  The moment Mayyab was gone, I tapped my communicator.

  "Master Tamp?" my chief spy answered.

  "Are you having Arna followed?"

  "Of course, Master Tamp."

  "I want a report of all her appointments in Fendala," I said.

  * * *

  Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis

 
Lissa

  "I haven't seen you here in ages," Merrill sat beside me atop the largest dome of my palace.

  "I know. I haven't been this worried in ages," I admitted.

  "About?"

  "About Quin. This plan that we hatched to use her as bait. It will have to be canceled or revised."

  "You said it was the best idea put forward," Merrill began.

  "And that's exactly what it was a few days ago."

  "Not now?"

  "It's more complicated, now."

  "How is it more complicated?"

  "A few days ago, it was the best idea we could come up with," I said.

  "What changed?"

  "A few days ago, Quin wasn't pregnant," I confessed.

  Chapter 9

  Star Cruiser Hellion

  Ilya

  Valegar arrived, provided energy sex for Zaria, Bleek and me, then left after resting for a short time.

  I admit, resting after the best sex of my life was an excellent idea. I'd forgotten how good sex was for relieving tension. I promised myself not to forget again.

  Deen, Jin and the others had no idea; we'd been heavily shielded the entire time. Hal had politely excused himself and spent the time drinking tea in the ship's galley.

  Bleek slept, Zaria still cuddled in his arms. Next time, I wanted that position and he could lie on his bunk.

  "Are we there yet?" Zaria mumbled sleepily.

  "Love, we've barely been gone a day," Bleek whispered against her hair. I muffled a laugh.

  * * *

  Zaria

  I played a lot of solitaire during the four long days it took to get to Q'eefur. Valegar would tell me that they were the same length as any other day, but for me, they lasted so much longer than that.

  I wanted to fold in, get the items and fold out again. I wanted to do the same thing a thousand more times, or as many as it took to collect all the poison Marid stole from Siriaa.

  I'd never gone stir-crazy quite like that before. That's why I decided to go on a field trip the third day.

  I need to visit Le-Ath Veronis, I informed Ilya and Bleek. I'll leave a decent facsimile of myself here, and appear to be taking a nap.

  If you were going anywhere else, I'd be tempted to say no, Ilya said. Unless I went with you. Yes, I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't stop my worry.

  I know. I patted his cheek and stood on tip-toe to kiss him. I'll be back before you know it.