"May I stay?" Tamp breathed as he turned to look about him.
"Not now—perhaps if all goes well, Zaria will bring you again. You will be welcome to browse and read as much as you like, then."
"We have work to do," I reminded Tamp. "I merely brought you with me on these two journeys to show you I might still be trusted."
"When you became Larentii, I knew that," Tamp sighed. "I had never seen one of the blue giants before. Now I have seen two."
"We only have to convince my long-lost relatives, now," I said.
"Relatives?"
"The Blackmantle brothers," Nefrigar said. "They and Zaria are related from long ago."
"But," Tamp began.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you someday," I said. "When we have time, as Nefrigar says. For now, we have to put our army together and be ready when Weir and Cayetes go after each other."
"I can't help but feel excited," he said. "I have a purpose again."
"Then let's go."
* * *
Avii Castle, Avendor
Bel Erland
"Your wings would be red," Gurnil informed me as he ate dinner with Berel, Lafe, Terrett and me in the Library. "You're royalty. I imagine Lafe's would be black or brown, depending upon his artistry and warrior's skills."
"Justis already said mine would be blue," Berel grinned. "I'd love to have wings."
"Wings might make things a little strange on Karathia," I said. "Although the red would be nice."
"I'm probably better off without, although flight intrigues me," Lafe said.
"A winged Sirenali?" Terrett spoke aloud. "That sounds like a dream coming true."
"What color?" I asked Terrett.
"Black. I am formidable when I turn," he smiled.
* * *
Paricos II
Revis' Rock
Zaria
"What's our plan?" Tamp asked the moment I set him down inside his study.
"You weren't gone for more than a few seconds," Nyarr accused.
"Because Larentii can bend time," I said.
"Don't," Tamp held up a hand. "We have work to do."
"The first thing, I think, is for me to go to Weir's compound and take one of those devices," I said. "Hal couldn't find either because they had one turned on. That means I have to go in, read Weir or Arna to see where they're hidden, exchange one for the dummy we have and get out."
"I don't understand why you're not able to just locate one," Tamp pointed out. "With your ability."
He meant as a Larentii.
"The Larentii can't find anything hidden by Sirenali, either," I pointed out. "It's the way they were made," I said before stopping.
"Holy honking cow horns," I said. "I think I know how those things work. I'll be back." I heard shouting as I disappeared, but that could wait.
* * *
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"I've gone over this scene so many times," Zaria explained as she presented a three-dimensional image of the last minutes of Zarbec's compound before it was destroyed.
"We've gone over our images here, too," Kooper agreed. "We still haven't seen or heard anything, other than the trans-vator door popping open when one of those men bumped it."
"I think that whoever made these devices has finally solved the mystery of the Sirenali," Zaria said.
My breath stopped when she said that.
"Have you looked at the images from inside the trans-vator?" Zaria asked.
"Yes. We see nothing," I replied.
"Exactly. Because for that brief period of time, V'ili was included in the device's perimeter. They let him get off first, so he's the first one you see when he exits the trans-vator on the cellblock. Is that right?"
Kooper was silent for a moment. "We never went back to the images from the 'vator before Captain Lenk and his men boarded—we saw V'ili get on from the outside, so we only loaded images after the door was bumped."
"Can you bring up those images?" Zaria asked.
"Absolutely." Kooper tapped his comp-vid and retrieved the information, before telling his comp-vid to project them.
We watched from above as V'ili boarded the trans-vator. We saw the door bump and V'ili's disappearance, which appeared to happen simultaneously.
"And I thought it would only conceal those Captain Lenk brought with him," Kooper breathed.
"Now, watch my images again," Zaria said. We went back to her projection. It was difficult to see because in her memory, it happened far across the room from where she stood. It was easy, after that; the occasional visitor would disappear and then reappear as the device and those it cloaked made their way toward the center of Zarbec's massive ballroom.
"Fuck," Kooper sighed.
"How do you think this works?" I turned to Zaria. "Are you sure it's the same thing as what a Sirenali can do?"
"I think it is," she said. "We didn't create the Sirenali. They were a dark race, as you recall. I don't think Kifirin created them, either. I think his creator did this and never explained the logistics to anybody. Therefore, the Sirenali have been able to conceal who knows what, place obsessions that nobody except the one who placed them could remove, and were the only race able to get past the Larentii's shields around their homeworld."
"An abomination," Kooper said.
"Some of them," Zaria turned bright-blue eyes in his direction. "Not all. They were created by Acrimus as his ace in the hole—that and the poison hidden on Siriaa. He is still attempting to destroy everything—from the grave, so to speak."
"How does that device work?" I asked.
"It's actually simple and not anything anyone would suspect," Zaria said. "Everything vibrates at a certain frequency—you know that. I believe the device causes those it cloaks to vibrate with the same frequency as their surroundings, making it appear as if nothing is amiss. Fundamentally, it makes the users appear to be what they're passing—floors, walls, air or whatever. Then, take the new technology that renders things nearly two-dimensional and you can fit thirteen men on a trans-vator that should only hold eight or nine. Combine that with sound-dampening technology, and those things can get you past any security device on the market."
"Effectively rendering them invisible in sight and sound," I tossed up a hand. "Is that how the Sirenali work, too?"
"The devices ramp up the same effect the Sirenali produce—to a level of ten or so. The Sirenali can't hide something from sight with what they have, like the devices can. And they certainly can't dampen sound. What they have is in their bones, I think," Zaria said. "We've recently learned that a Sirenali's bones continues to hide people and objects from those powerful enough to find them otherwise. A secret long kept by the Sirenali, because it kept them alive."
"Jeez Louise," I muttered.
"All this time, we've been examining the flesh and brains of dead Sirenali, hoping to find their secret," Kooper said. "Bones. Huh."
"We still need one of those devices to study it," I said.
"I'm working on that. I believe that Weir and his new lapbitch, Arna, have blackmailed the maker to give them more. I'm working on a way to sense one of those things, but I haven't come up with anything, yet. I've also sent what I have to Nefrigar and Valegar. They're working on this, too."
"I hope you haven't forgotten that Cayetes may have access to a ranos cannon or some such," Kooper pointed out. "If he fires at Paricos II, you may be left floating on a small piece of rock—provided you can shield Tamp's compound well enough."
"I know. Arna wants to have me killed, so that's another problem I have to deal with," Zaria said. "I think it's only a matter of time before Weir lets her have her way and sends someone over, or attempts to blast Tamp's new quarters to destroy all of us. When we don't fall, he'll know something's up. I really need him to engage with Cayetes, first, and forget about us."
"Use some of those vampires," I said. "They all know how to place compulsion."
"What if there's a delicate bala
nce that can't be interrupted?" she asked. "Nobody expects Arna to give up on her campaign to destroy me. I need enough time to get some very important things done, and that will require a great deal of stealth, not to mention permission from the Mighty."
"That may be easier than you think," I began.
"You don't know what it is, yet," she said.
* * *
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
I saw it in Justis' face the moment the council meeting was over. I'd begged off, because I felt ill from morning sickness.
I should have known better. The Avii can't help but gossip, if there is any information to be had.
A few Yellow Wings knew I was pregnant—how could they not after cleaning up vomit and witnessing my regular visits with Master Ordin? That information was now spread all through Avii Castle, and the usual suspicions and doubts had cropped up.
I had white wings. Justis' child with me would never be recognized as royal without red wings.
Where would a white-winged child fit in? He or she would have no place with any of the others. He would always be different.
My child was doomed if he were born with my white as his wing color. The thought of my past troubling my child's future made me feel ill again.
Justis knew almost immediately.
"It's not their fault," I held up a hand before doubling over and losing what I'd managed to eat for breakfast.
Justis shouted for a guard to fetch Ordin and strode toward me.
* * *
"Prejudices can't be overcome in a single generation, or so it has been in my experience," Trajan informed me. He and Trace had brought a friend to see me.
Kevis, the healer, smiled at me as I told them how the Avii reacted to news of my pregnancy.
"They have been mostly isolated throughout the centuries—there are no other races like theirs," Kevis said, placing hands on my abdomen. "That doesn't excuse the prejudice, it merely explains parts of it."
"Justis will suffer, just as our child will suffer, if it has white wings," I said.
"I say this," Kevis pulled his hands away. "You won't know what color wings the child will have until he begins to grow them, unless one of the powerful reads it in you beforehand."
"If white wings were forecast, I'd leave Avii Castle—for the sake of the child," I muttered. "I won't have their ridicule placed upon an innocent."
"I hope that will not be the case," Kevis said. "And it is still too early to determine the sex of the child. We will wait this out, eh? Stop troubling yourself over it. Ashe says you may stay at the big house if things become unbearable here."
"Justis won't like it," I hung my head.
"I know. You have to protect yourself, young one," he said. "Surely Justis will see the reason in that."
"If it gets worse, I'll speak to him about it."
"Good. In the meantime, I suggest plenty of rest, good food and reading."
"If Dena were here, she'd make sure of it," I picked at the coverlet on my bed.
"Ah. Another loss to trouble you. Call for me if you wish to talk about all this," Kevis said. "It's my specialty."
"All right."
"Send mindspeech if you want me to come for you; you really are welcome at the big house," Trajan grinned before my three visitors disappeared.
* * *
Paricos II
Revis' Rock
Zaria
Tamp found me pacing in my suite. It wasn't half the size of his, but I didn't care about that—except for the fact that I had to make frequent turns as I paced.
"You think these devices employ the same properties as a Sirenali's bones?" he asked after watching me for a minute or two.
"Except the effect is multiplied. Combine that with the new technology that makes people almost two-dimensional, and you have a way past anything."
"Two-dimensional?"
"It works like a miniature black hole," I said. "Pulling you in upon yourself. It's strange, yes, but effective in this case."
"Is this what's worrying you?"
"Yes and no."
"So it isn't all that's worrying you, then."
"Yes."
"What must be done?" he asked.
"I think—to prevent a greater catastrophe, you understand, I'll have to let Arna kill me."
I hadn't realized until that moment how effectively Tamp could curse. He said some things about Arna that almost made me blush, they were so graphic and filled with anger.
"She'll only think she's gotten rid of me. I'll look different afterward, that's all, and she'll happily go back to Weir and fuck his brains out," I explained when Tamp paused for breath. His head jerked toward me and narrowed eyes studied me as I stood my ground.
"I dislike this. What will happen if we do not do it?"
"The unthinkable may happen, and things will be much, much worse."
"I still dislike this. Very much. I say we discuss this with the others and take a vote."
"Honey," I shook my head at him.
"Do not call me honey, now. I am angry with you."
"Are you telling me to never call you honey?"
"No. When you call me that, my insides melt. I am angry. Allow me my snit."
"Well, what about when I'm angry with you?"
"You may call me honey as much as you like, then."
"This sounds so one-sided," I pointed out. "Either way, you come out ahead."
"I do, don't I?" A devilish smile appeared. "I must have some advantage, you know. Otherwise, I will be intimidated by what you are."
"Oh, please. I can't see you being intimidated by anything."
I'd never been kissed by a pod'l-morph before.
It was nice.
* * *
Ilya
"I don't like this." All of Bleek's arms were crossed tightly over his chest.
"It'll be completely fake from the beginning," Zaria pleaded. Tamp had pulled her into a meeting with our original group, to tell us what Zaria had already told him.
That she wanted to allow Arna to appear to kill her. I didn't want to give the bitch the satisfaction of even thinking she could kill Zaria.
Tamp didn't like it at all, and frowned deeply whenever Zaria attempted to convince all of us. Bleek was just as angry as Tamp; Hal, Turtle and Flyer just shook their heads at the suggestion.
"I think we should kill Arna instead," Bleek argued.
"If we do, we draw Weir's attention to us, taking his aim away from Cayetes," Zaria pointed out. "For now, Arna has to stay alive."
"I refuse to give Weir or Arna any satisfaction in this," Tamp said. "They have killed enough already, and have gone unpunished for their misdeeds. I wish to see both dead."
"I'd say take out Weir and all his army, but that eliminates the feud between him and Cayetes, leaving us no better off in our hunt for Cayetes. We need him to come here, so we can see that bastard with our own eyes," Zaria countered. "I want to make damn sure he's dead, and V'ili with him. We have to stand apart and appear uninvolved in this, or Cayetes may target us, too."
"I must admit, I hadn't considered that," Tamp sighed.
"There are too many possibilities in this, and all of them rest on the width of a hair," Zaria shook her head. "Please—stand with me in this. For the greater good."
"When and how do you think she'll arrive?" I asked.
"I'd say in the next day and a half. She has access to those devices, you know. She and the warlocks she has wrapped around her fingers will walk right in here."
"Zaria, we don't have a method of detection for those devices," Tamp warned.
"Yeah. Tell me something I don't know," she said.
* * *
Avii Castle, Avendor
Quin
"Quinnie Bee, I know you can find just about anything." Queen Lissa had come to see me, and asked me to provide spheres for needy planets. I'd argued that I needed to go myself, to determine where the spheres should be planted and how deep.
"
Here," she said, creating a three-dimensional image of the first world in need of a saving sphere. "Find the place where we should put it, honey."
I blinked at the image—it seemed so real, floating in Gurnil's Library. It even rotated slowly as I watched it; Lissa was providing the image in real time, I realized. "Here," I pointed to one of the larger continents.
Lissa enlarged that continent and allowed the rest of the image to dissipate. "Find me a closer target," she breathed.
Using the gift I'd had as long as I could remember, I pointed out a country on that continent. Again, that portion was enlarged while the rest disappeared.
"Here," I pointed again. The area was at the center of a dying forest. It was easy enough to tell why it was dying—the poison was killing it.
"There is an underground river here," Ashe appeared as if called as we studied a close image of the area I'd chosen. "That means you should plant the sphere deep here," he pointed to another area roughly half a mile from the underground water. "This way, it won't get washed away if the river erodes the underground caverns."
"How deep?" Lissa asked me.
"Five hundred feet, or thereabouts, I think," I said. "My senses say the worst of it is at that level."
"I agree," Ashe nodded.
"Can you do the same thing for seven more? All are in dire need," Lissa said.
"Yes. This wearies me much less than the actual doing."
"Let us take care of it, then," Lissa smiled. "I and my Larentii will accomplish that part of it, at least."
"Thank you," I said. "I have been so worried about leaving Avendor, lately." My hand brushed my belly unconsciously. There was no outward indication, yet, but soon, I hoped, there would be.
"I know. That's why I came to you," Lissa said. She understood my reluctance, as any mother would.
"Will you let me know when these spheres have been placed?" I asked.
"I will. I'll send images, so you can see for yourself."
"That sounds wonderful," I breathed. "Let's work on the next seven, then I will choose spheres for each and place my call inside them."
Chapter 14
Le-Ath Veronis
Perdil
Rigo and I watched the vid-screens as our target worked with the others in the evening crew. Quin had given information to Lissa on this one, saying that his purpose was to provide information to Cayetes.
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