"I heard you dropped out of sight for a while," Tamp mused. "I see the reason, now. Fell in with pirates and then came here, to Paricos II."
"Nailed it," Ilya shrugged.
"What level?" Nyarr asked.
"Fifth." Ilya's answer was barely a grunt.
"Well, fuck me," Loor laughed. "All this time, too."
* * *
Ilya
"We'll have more new recruits outside the gates tonight at midnight," Zaria interrupted my meeting with Nyarr and his brothers. We'd gathered to discuss what sorts of defenses we could set up using our power.
"How many?" I asked.
"Oh, around two hundred, I think."
"How? The perimeter alarms will go off," Nyarr said.
"No," Zaria shook her head. "I'm bringing them in."
"That many?" Loor asked. "At once?"
"Maybe," Zaria smiled. "We'll see who shows up."
* * *
Zaria
"I can't believe she asked us to help you," Lexsi was almost bouncing with joy.
"I can't believe how happy I am that you said yes," I countered. Opal and Kell stood nearby with Kory, who was smiling as Lexsi and I had our moment.
"What do you think they're going to do?" Lexsi asked. The bounce hadn't gone away.
"Well, according to Hal, Arna, who is public enemy number two at this stage of the game, wants me dead. Weir thinks Tamp and the rest of us will be an easy afterthought when he gets rid of Cayetes. Arna may have other ideas."
"You mean she may attack on her own?"
Lexsi is a smart woman.
"Oh, it won't be all alone—she couldn't find her way out of a potato sack without directions," I said. "But I figure it won't be long before she has Weir's warlocks following her around like starved dogs. That's when we need to worry."
"How long do you think that will take?" Opal asked.
"A day or two. What we need to do is make sure our water supply is guarded. We'll be drinking poisoned sea water if they manage to tamper with our inflow and desalination pumps."
"That doesn't sound good," Kell said.
"It won't be. We have humanoids showing up tonight—by my invitation. We don't need them dying right after I promised their freedom."
"What will you do with them?" Kory asked.
"Some will want to stay and fight. They don't like the thought of Weir taking over Paricos II because this is their home. Others will want to leave. Lissa has already offered to sort those out. We'll send those to Le-Ath Veronis, first, and she'll decide where to send them from there."
"What should we do about the water system, then?" Opal asked.
"We ought to work on that first," I said.
* * *
Ilya
"They'll have to get close enough to place a spell," I said when Zaria and a few others came to me with their warlock/water system questions. "Too bad we don't have sharks we can command. They won't expect to be attacked from below; I'd bet money on it."
Zaria turned to Opal and twisted her mouth in thought. "Dinosaur Boy?" she asked Opal.
"You think he'd cooperate?"
"With a few of his best friends, and if I set an invisible barrier around the area so they couldn't escape," Zaria suggested.
"I wonder what warlocks taste like?" Opal asked.
"Chicken?" Zaria grinned.
"Yeah."
"If we're lucky, Arna will come with them," Zaria said.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded. Both laughed.
* * *
Phrinnis Tampirus
Nyarr and his brothers surrounded me when people began to appear in the wide entry of the compound.
Zaria and several others were nearby, waiting.
"How did she accomplish this?" I said softly.
"A Third-level doesn't have this kind of power," Nyarr echoed my thoughts. Somehow, our witch had magically pulled nearly two hundred away from Weir, including the pilot, navigator and some of the crew from the Hellion.
Those I could trust, but the others? I had no idea who any of them were.
Please, trust me, Zaria's voice filtered into my mind. I blinked—even my own warlocks couldn't send mindspeech to me, as I didn't have the talent for it.
"What is she?" I rephrased my question in a whisper of fear and awe.
All in good time, my dearest pod'l-morph, she replied.
* * *
Ilya
I and several others, including Lexsi and Opal, watched as Zaria sorted out more than eighty to transport to Queen Lissa. They were frightened servants for the most part, who only wanted to get away from the coming war.
"I'll take them," Radomir stepped forward to offer his services. "Do not fear," he told the frightened people. "You will be transported to a safe place."
Tamp watched as Radomir and his charges disappeared. I will give him credit—he barely blinked.
I had a feeling that Zaria would have explaining to do afterward, however. Drake and Drew, Dragon's sons, took charge of our new trainees; they'd evaluate them and determine where they fit in our small but growing army.
Outside that crowd stood Meric, Bray and the crew invited from the Hellion. Zaria strode toward them as Drake and Drew herded their charges toward the compound's barracks.
I decided to join her—to hear what she had to say to them. On the way, Deen and Jin pulled into my wake. They were familiar enough with the Hellion's crew and might make them feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.
"Captain Meric," Zaria smiled at him. "Navigator Bray," she nodded at Bray. "I'm glad you came. We'll have a new ship for you in less than three days."
"What ship would that be, lady?" Meric asked. He hid his surprise well, I'll give him that, as he studied his surroundings.
"The newest ship in the BlackWing fleet," she said. "BlackWing VIII."
Eyes widening at her words, Meric drew in a breath. The BlackWing ships had a reputation among all fleets, now. They were fast. Sleek. With the best of cutting edge technology. Meric was already in love with a ship he'd never seen, I think.
"What's this?" Tamp walked up, followed and shielded by his warlocks. "You're bringing a BlackWing ship here?"
"Honey," Zaria brushed his cheek with gentle fingers, "All eight of them are coming. You'll need a fleet of ships, don't you think?"
"May I have a word with you? In private?" Tamp's left eyebrow lifted as he gazed at Zaria. I couldn't tell whether he wanted to yell or kiss her at that point. Zaria, on the other hand, would know exactly what he intended.
"If that's what you want," Zaria dipped her chin in a slight nod.
"Good. Follow me." He stalked toward the wide hall that led to his new quarters.
* * *
Zaria
"Please, sit," Tamp gestured toward one of two chairs beside a fireplace in Revis' old study. At least it was clean and cleared of debris, now. The last time I'd seen it, Tamp was sorting through loose papers and stray comp-vids.
The Blackmantle brothers, Nyarr, Loor, Kear, Grear and Moor, stood by the closed door, guarding Tamp while he weighed his words before speaking.
Tamp poured a drink for himself, offered the same to me, which I waved off, then settled in the chair opposite mine.
I watched him drink while he considered things. Mostly, he considered me; who and what I was and why I was where I was.
"I knew Mayyab was a charlatan—most of the time," Tamp began. "Yes, he had talent, but he often withheld what he knew, or twisted it to suit his purposes."
I knew all those things, so I didn't speak.
"He said I should watch you," Tamp said. "He didn't trust you at all."
"I know," I shrugged.
"Tell me why I should trust you," Tamp said. "I've seen you do things I can no longer explain. You've taken over this compound in all but name. Why should I continue to believe anything about you?"
I studied him for a moment while crafting my reply. "Mayyab had moments when he couldn't help b
ut speak what he knew—as if it took hold of him and forced the words past his teeth. Is that not so?" I asked.
"That is so. It's one of the reasons I kept him with me."
"Did he not tell you, in one of those moments, that your salvation would come when you least expected it, and in the strangest way possible?"
"Did he tell you that?" Tamp's fingers gripped the arms of his chair, and I saw that he wanted to grow roots from those fingers.
Roots that would then grind the chair to dust and floating bits of fluff.
Yes, pod'l-morphs were more than dangerous if they were angry or attacked in some way.
He imagined that I was something bent on his destruction. That was the farthest thing from the truth.
I knew why he searched for the containment spheres.
Pod'l-morphs are immortal, unless they are killed.
He was the last.
He'd been searching for a way to die.
"I want you to see something," I said, and rose from my chair.
"I'd prefer that you keep your distance," Tamp growled.
"Oh, if you want to stand ten feet away from me—as if that would save you—then by all means," I waved a hand.
Nyarr took a step forward, to protect Tamp.
From me.
I wanted to laugh.
"Stand down, cousin," I turned to him. "Tampirus and I will be back in a few."
I'll give Nyarr credit—he was quick.
He merely didn't have the power to hold me back.
Tamp and I landed in a small valley that could only be reached if one could fly. Trees and vegetation grew and flourished everywhere, between steep, sharp cliffs.
"Where are we?" Tamp demanded to know.
"We are on a planet called Siriaa—fifty years in the past," I told him. "On a continent known as Fyris to its inhabitants. You are standing in a place only a few of them knew about."
"I fail to see the point. If you wish to harm me, get it over with." His voice was sullen. Angry. I didn't point out that Weir's attack against him had given him new purpose and a reason to live. He wanted vengeance. I wanted him to have it.
"I will never harm you, unless you harm me first," I said.
"How can I trust that?" He snapped at me.
"You don't trust this," I swept a hand down my body. "Mayyab said your salvation would come in the strangest way possible. Phrinnis Tampirus, perhaps you will trust this." I drew myself up to my full Larentii height, my hair turning to blonde, my sky-blue skin soaking in the sunlight of a bright morning in Fyris.
It felt good. Wonderful, even, to drink in the light and allow it to feed me.
After a while, I turned to see that Tamp had fallen to his knees, his mouth open and an expression of wonder on his face.
"Get up, honey," I said to him. "We're going to visit your relatives."
Chapter 13
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
I allowed my wings to draggle behind me. With the molting in progress, they looked half-naked and forlorn.
Morning sickness had come to call, too, and Justis had Ordin hovering about me every morning.
"Are your wings sore?" Ordin asked as I dutifully ate the thin crackers he'd given me to stave off the vomiting.
"Not much," I said. "After the sickness goes away in the mornings, I feel fine." I didn't add that I wondered when those who'd need my healing would arrive, but it was never a good idea to question one of the Mighty, I think. The spheres, too, needed placing. Perhaps Lissa would come when the time was right for that.
"You're molting faster than normal, but then I really don't know what normal for you is," he smiled at me. "You grew your wings faster than normal, too, as I recall. At this rate, we'll be seeing the new pinfeathers very soon."
"Good. I feel naked without my feathers," I grumbled.
"Most of us do," he chuckled. "I hate molting. I have to walk when it's at its worst."
"Poor you," I couldn't help smiling.
"At least you're here to soothe sore wings when I molt again," he said. "That is the greatest blessing of all, I think. I hear that the young ones are fighting over your feathers—they all want to add a white one to their collection."
"I still have one of Justis' black ones," I sighed.
"I have red ones from Camryn and Elabeth," Ordin nodded and turned away. His words reminded me of our recent loss and I bowed my head as tears threatened.
"My love?" Justis walked into Ordin's study; he'd come to check on me, to see if I wanted breakfast with him.
"Justis," I stood and wrapped my arms about his waist.
"How is she?" Justis asked Ordin over my head.
"You could ask me," I leaned away and wrinkled my nose at him.
"I've heard healers make the worst patients," he grinned at me. He was attempting to cheer me up.
It was working.
"I think I can eat breakfast this morning," I said.
"Then come with me; Ordin will join us and we will discuss our future."
"Our future?"
"Yes. Some wish to return to Le-Ath Veronis when this crisis is over. Others wish to stay here. We must study this and make a decision eventually."
"Oh. All right." I didn't say it, but I wanted the baby to be born in the safety Avendor offered. If Dena had only stayed here with her child, my thoughts made my chest tighten with fresh grief.
"It's fine," Justis lifted my hand and kissed it. "I said eventually. Not right now."
* * *
Siriaa
Zaria
"How?" Tamp gazed up at the mighty tree we stood beside.
"A rogue god," I said. "I realize that doesn't make sense to you, but that's who did this."
"They're stuck like this?" Tamp touched the bark of the tree. The small valley held hundreds of similar trees; all pod'l-morphs in stasis.
"For now," I said.
"Why? Why would anyone do this?"
"It has to do with a terrible plot, and the poison you were collecting," I said. "The poison was created and grew inside the core of this world. As you would expect, some of it leached out to infect the planet itself. Halfway across the sea surrounding Fyris, the Avii Castle stood. The Queen who lived there was charged with periodically saving the planet from the leaching poison."
"But why did they need pod'l-morphs?" Tamp asked. "It makes no sense."
"Except that it does," I said. "The spheres used to call the poison and collect it inside them have to be buried deep. On Fyris, there were no power wielders or devices that could accomplish that."
"So a pod'l-morph tree was needed to dig deep." Tamp's forehead now rested against the tree, as if he could communicate with it that way.
"Yes. This was the one spot Liron's Orb could appear. It was here that he forced a pod'l-morph out of its stasis and instructed it to dig deep. The winged Queen then walked into the cleft in the tree and it carried her to the bottom, so the sphere could be planted."
"Liron's Orb?"
"Nothing to be concerned about now," I said. "I killed him."
"Where is this planet now? I know the winged ones live elsewhere."
"Blown to bits, by Vardil Cayetes," I said. "He was angry with Marid of Belancour, who sold him some of the poison he stole from here. His containment spheres leaked, giving Cayetes the poison disease. Instead of taking his revenge against Marid only, Cayetes destroyed an entire world and effectively spread the poison across the universes."
"This is why you came to me, isn't it? You felt the war coming." Tamp pulled away from the tree to gaze evenly at me.
"Yes. There is a delicate balance to it, too. One wrong step and it could disintegrate, leaving us right where we were in the beginning."
"Is Cayetes still sick?"
"No, sadly enough. The black-winged woman, who is actually a white-winged woman, has a great talent for healing. Inadvertently, she healed him after too many transfers to count. He is now healthy and searching for her, to keep that precious healt
h."
"Where is she? Aboard one of those BlackWing ships?"
"Not now. She is safe elsewhere. Cayetes doesn't want to move until he has her, but that is not going to happen. Therefore, we will urge Weir to fire the first shot—or so it will seem."
"What are you planning to do, Zaria?" Tamp asked.
"That will be revealed later," I said. "Before we go back, I have somewhere else to take you."
"Nothing will compare to this," Tamp touched the tree again in reverence.
"Don't say that just yet," I said and folded him away.
* * *
Paricos II
Weir's Compound
Arna
"I'm telling you she took them," I wanted to scream at Weir, but held my temper. He had no idea how much strength that took. I couldn't believe he wouldn't take the bait and send someone to kill the bitch witch on suspicion alone.
"Less than two hundred? Out of thousands?" Weir dismissed the disappearances with a wave of his hand. "Deserters, nothing more. What if they did go to Tamp? What is he going to do with only that many? We live in a fortress, here, which is heavily armed. I have the entire military force on Paricos II under my command. Never forget that. Those deserters—my reports list them as servants, mostly, who only want to run away."
"What about the crew of the Hellion, then?" I said.
"The ship is still there; it merely waits for another crew. If they'd taken the ship itself, I may have gone after it. As it is, only the crew deserted. They were always sympathetic to Tamp and his treasure hunts. I imagine they'll die with the rest of them when we attack later. Tamp has no ships; that's why he hired mine. You're reading far too much into these isolated incidents, my dear."
"Ugggh," I voiced my wordless frustration at Weir and stalked out of his study.
* * *
Larentii Archives
Zaria
I will never forget the wonder on Tamp's face when I set him down in the Larentii Archives. Everything he ever wanted to know or was curious about was there. Lost books and other treasures lay on shelves and tables, an enticement to one who'd only recently decided there was nothing left to live for.
"Zaria," Nefrigar appeared in front of us and leaned in to kiss my cheek. "How are you, my daughter?"
"Who?" Tamp was only able to speak the single word.
"I am Nefrigar, Chief Archivist for the Larentii," Nefrigar smiled at him. "I have never welcomed a pod'l-morph into the Archives before; you are the first."
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