"Teeg, I no longer have family. They're dead now." Teeg lifted his eyes to stare at Arvil San Gerxon. "I've gone looking through the people I know. The ones who work for me. The ones who seem loyal. Tested all of them, at one time or another. Teeg, I want you to marry Reah here. This afternoon. I've had the papers pulled already. I'm naming you and Reah as my heirs. Don't cross me in this. I don't think either of you are greedy, as my brother was. I'm depending on you to help me in my business and treat me fairly and keep me alive. Be straight with me and I'll be straight with you. Deal?"
I must have been gasping like a fish. Teeg just looked grim. Well, he'd received two shocking pieces of news, one right after the other. He wouldn't want to marry me—not after what he'd seen on Arvil's comp-vid.
"When and where?" Were the only words that came from Teeg's mouth. I stared at him. He couldn't be serious.
"Right now if you're ready—I have the authority to marry anyone on Campiaa."
"Do it," Teeg said. "Before I change my mind."
Arvil pulled papers out of a desk drawer and slid them across to us. "You're married. Just sign at the bottom." I looked over the standard marriage contract. I'd never seen one before, never having married anyone before.
"Reah, just sign," Teeg's voice was clipped. I accepted the pen from Arvil and signed my name.
"Now, for the adoption papers," Arvil slid another stack of papers toward each of us. Teeg and I scanned all of them. They stipulated that if we caused or attempted to cause Arvil's death in any way, the adoption would be voided. It also voided the adoption if we did anything untoward, such as stealing from Arvil. That one I was pretty sure I could keep. The other one—not so much.
"Sign it, Reah," Teeg elbowed me after a while. I signed. What else could I do? I cursed Lendill Schaff and Norian Keef while I wrote my name and initialed many lines on many pages.
"Now, we'll have your things moved to the family wing," Arvil said when we'd handed the papers back to him. "Starting tomorrow, you'll both get your feet wet on running my businesses. Reah, you'll be in charge of all the restaurants in all my casinos. I think some of them are skimming off the top. Find that out for me, baby girl. Teeg," he turned to my new husband, "I want you to go through all the accounts for the casinos. Let me know if you find anything. You've never handed me any accounts from the construction side that weren't perfect and accounted for every penny you spent." Teeg nodded at Arvil. "You're my family, now. Reah, I hope you'll still cook for us occasionally. Hire somebody else for us, in the meantime."
"Of course, Lord Arvil." I ducked my head.
"You don't have to call me Lord Arvil, although I like it—I just adopted you, baby. You're only nineteen—I know that. On Campiaa, you won't truly come into adulthood until you're twenty-two. You're my little chick, Reah."
"I want to take Reah out for dinner," Teeg stood and pulled me up with him.
"The uh, new staff should be able to finish dinner—we got it started already," I said, pointing off in what I thought was the kitchen's direction.
"Don't worry about it—go have fun. We'll get going on this tomorrow," Arvil waved a hand. Delvin had stood by, his face expressionless as he absorbed the news. I wanted to fling him through the huge window behind Arvil's desk. Teeg hauled me out of the room instead.
* * *
"Reah, breathe, sweetheart." I was hyperventilating. I'd made it to the beach across the road, but then I was gasping for breath, hugging myself and going to my knees in the loose sand. Teeg was kneeling beside me, trying to get my breathing evened out. "Just breathe slow, baby, slooow." I realized I was crying when I did take shaky but more normal breaths after a while.
"Reah, I don't care anything about what that comp-vid said. I see what's in front of me. I'm not going to hold any of that stuff against you." I blinked at him—he'd said stuff. I sobbed.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"You said stuff. Some old friends used to say that."
"You don't like that word?"
"I do, it was just," I flung out an arm, unable to say what I felt.
"Then I'll say it again—stuff. How's that?" I nodded mutely. "Come on, let's get drunk," he hauled me up.
We didn't get drunk but we did get tipsy. And then Teeg bought a ring. A really nice one. "I'd put Tiralian crystal on that finger, sweetheart, but they can't get any of it here." Teeg offered me a crooked grin. He had a beautiful mouth. He kissed me with that mouth after we got the ring sized and he slipped it on my finger. I hoped Aurelius and Tory were understanding. I didn't think I could give Teeg up. Not for any reason. We went to find something to eat after that, getting food to go and taking it to Teeg's apartment.
"Last night here at my apartment," he muttered softly as we ate our dinner on Teeg's kitchen island. We'd gotten a decent pasta dish at one of the casinos Arvil didn't own. I wanted to check out the competition as much as I could. Edan used to do it for Desh's. I was never given enough money to check on the competition or I would have.
A hovertruck came for us and all our things the following day. I had some clothing left but half of what I'd bought with Teeg had been destroyed in the firebombing. I had mindspeech to send to Vice-Director Lendill Schaff, too. I wondered what he was going to say or do when I told him Arvil San Gerxon had adopted me. I wondered if Arvil could get his legal counsel to void the papers from his prison cell when the ASD came calling. What would I do, too—if Arvil asked me to kill someone for him? Someone like Neele, who I had no desire to harm?
"What are we going to do?" I whispered as I grabbed Teeg's hand before we walked out his door.
"No idea," he leaned down to kiss me.
* * *
I fired three cooks, six assistants and eleven members of the waitstaff before the day was over. Either for theft, food safety issues or failure to report tips. I knew when they were lying. Too bad for them. They were escorted by Arvil's security to the shuttle station. A list of people waited to be interviewed—I sat in on the interviews. I knew when those people were lying or padding their resumes. Several of the head cook applicants made meals for the guards and me.
The guards loved it—they never got to eat like that. Arvil's kitchens and customers didn't suffer; we had replacements hired before the day was out. I also set up a rotating schedule with each of the security supervisors in every one of Arvil's casinos. Each member of the security team would get a voucher for a nice meal for two in one of Arvil's casino restaurants every eight-day. They could bring a date or a spouse on a day off and have an expensive dinner.
It never hurt to have security on your side—especially if you wanted their cooperation later. The guards loved it—they had to pay before and the nicer restaurants tended to be out of their price range. The best the casinos had wasn't inexpensive in any sense of the word. In return, security would be less likely to turn their heads if they saw any of my staff taking liberties.
I sent mindspeech to Lendill while I was cleaning up before going to bed. Teeg was in Arvil's office, going over the books for several casinos. I was going to wait until I'd gone through everything on the restaurants before sitting down with Arvil.
Vice-Director? I sent.
Reah? I haven't heard from you for several days.
A lot has happened since I talked to you last.
Tell me.
Arvil's family—what there was of it—got killed during the firebombing.
Good news—what else?
Arvil adopted heirs.
Not good news. Who do we need to add to our lists of most-wanted people? Some of the reptanoids?
No.
Then who? Did you get names?
Yes.
Tell me.
Arvil San Gerxon adopted me and another person. That brought silence. Either Lendill was stunned or he was already putting my image on the comp-vid most wanted site. I waited. And waited some more. Finally, a response came.
I'm sorry, Reah, but the Director and I just laughed so hard we nearly cracked a rib. A
rvil adopted you? I think he had to stop and laugh some more.
Yes. I am officially Reah Nilvas San Gerxon. The other person is Teeg San Gerxon. And you can't kill him. Arvil married us yesterday. Teeg is my husband. I don't think he's bad—in fact, the reason Arvil adopted him is because he's the one honest person, possibly, on all of Campiaa. He was a building contractor for Arvil before he was adopted.
A contractor?
That's what I said. And we're married. I sure hope Tory and Aurelius don't have a fit. I'm not giving this guy up.
Reah, you have been busy.
This wasn't my idea, Lendill Schaff. It was yours. What was I supposed to do—tell Arvil no, so he could shoot me in the head like I've seen him do with other people? Or watch while one of his wizards burns Teeg to death? You kept me here, Vice-Director.
I know. Do what you can to keep from breaking the law, but this is more than we ever expected. You are now in an even better position to hand him over to us. His contacts as well. Keep your eyes and ears open, Reah, and report back to me with whatever you learn.
Vice-Director, you are forcing me to live a bigger lie than I ever thought possible. Perhaps it will pay off for you, but it makes me feel cheap and dirty, even if Arvil is an evil that should be stopped.
Reah, lives will be saved in the long term, Lendill attempted to reassure me.
And how many deaths will I witness, before I can walk away? Or will my death be one of those? Honestly, I don't think you or the Director care about that, as long as you get what you want. I cut off the communication.
I was going over accounts on my newly acquired comp-vid when Teeg slouched into the bedroom. "Long day?" I asked.
"Bad day," Teeg pulled his shirt over his head. "Where does the laundry go?"
"I think the others just dropped it on the floor and expected the staff to pick it up. I have a pile going in the closet—I'll try to get a hamper or two tomorrow."
"What did you do today?" Teeg unbuckled his belt. Teeg has muscles—lots of muscles—that ripple when he moves. I can't seem to stop staring when he takes his clothes off like he does. His navel is the center point in a hard, powerful body. I'd thought Bel and Delvin were well-put together. Tory and Aurelius might compete with this, but nobody else could.
"I, uh, fired people. For, uh, theft and stuff."
"You said stuff." He pointed a finger at me.
"I like that word. It's not in any dictionary I've ever seen, but I like it anyway. And I hired some people." The pants dropped. "And, uh, did my best to get security on my side, so they'd report future, uh, infractions," the underwear dropped to the floor.
"Reah, I love the look on your face right now."
"Uh, right." I turned back to my comp-vid, trying to make sense of something that now resembled gibberish.
"You think Arvil has cameras in this room?" That was something I hadn't considered before. What if he did?
"I don't know," I answered truthfully.
"If he does, we'll give him something to think about." Teeg climbed into bed. His comment had me worried, but his loving soon had it flying out of my head in favor of other things.
* * *
Head cook Kiasz grinned at me. I'd gotten rid of his troublemakers and hired better staff. Arvil's assistant, who'd hired the others, was the one Haral had fried in my kitchen. Now Kiasz was getting what he wanted from the kitchen help and waitstaff. "Wilffin actually didn't complain about his last visit, and normally he does," Kiasz said. "But I have to get you to show me how to make those oxberry tarts for the next time—that's what he liked best. He said he hadn't gotten anything that good since he was on Tulgalan."
I schooled my face. "All right—we'll work on that. Are you expecting any oxberry shipments soon?"
"I have some frozen in the keeper inside my office," Kiasz whispered. "They're nearly as good as fresh if you cook with them."
"Then we'll work on that soon," I said. "Let me know when you have some time and we'll invite important guests for drinks and dessert."
"I like that idea." Kiasz traded his wide grin for a chuckle.
* * *
"Little cook," Farzi nodded to me when I walked into the kitchen at Arvil's palace later. I was frazzled—keeping up with all of Arvil's casino restaurants was a tiring enterprise.
"Farzi—I am pleased to see you," I said.
"We have been out, searching for good place to replant," he said. "Many places have one thing but not another. Most have sufficient, but too many people. You understand?" He blinked golden-brown eyes at me.
"I do. Would you like something to eat?" It was late and the kitchen staff had already left. Nobody working in the kitchen lived in the palace now—Arvil had decided against it. Only the housekeeping staff stayed in the basement. The wizards had the first floor, since they were our defense if someone got past the guards surrounding the walls.
Farzi was hungry, as were Nenzi and the others. They'd come in shortly before I did. I made a dish with fowl, mushrooms and sauce inside a flaky pastry. Farzi loved potatoes, so I made some for him in the zapper. Potatoes cook well there and it takes no time at all. All the reptanoids loved chocolate so a quick cake with a swirl of caramel and chocolate sauce running over it came for dessert.
"We not get food so good. Ever." Nenzi liked his dinner.
"Nenzi, I never had such a wonderful driver before." I sat next to him and gave him a hug. He looked at me in surprise for a moment before giving me a wide smile.
"Is there dessert left?" Arvil walked in. He got a plate.
"My restaurants are doing better and my head cooks don't grumble so much," Arvil said. "My new assistant that Teeg hired is also very good. He keeps me advised on this." Well, I expected Arvil to have eyes and ears everywhere. He probably watched everything on a vid screen somewhere. "My friend, did you have any luck on finding new fields?" He turned to Farzi.
"Not yet, friend Arvil. We go out again next eight-day." Farzi was tired—I could see that for myself.
"We ought to hurry—three plantings have been ruined."
"I know this. I do what I can." Farzi rose, causing the other reptanoids to rise with him. "We retire." Farzi nodded respectfully to Arvil.
I put the dishes into the dishwasher after Arvil left the kitchen right behind Farzi. I think he wanted a private meeting with him, but I wasn't about to stick my nose into that.
Chapter 9
"We just have to get them away from the palace, separately or together, so Haral and one of the others can get rid of them. I'd prefer not to kill them, but we have to get them out of the way, somehow." Delvin held up a hand as he spoke to the other wizards. "Arvil should have designated one of us as the heir—if not more than one of us. We've done everything for him, including saving his worthless ass during the firebombing. Yet he gives everything away to those two."
"It was your idea to bring the girl along, if I recall." Milus snorted at Delvin's logic.
"Only to protect us from Wilffin's warlocks. We're dead if they figure out we want San Gerxon's stake in all this. They'll work with San Gerxon, because they have for years. As far as the girl and that carpenter go, we don't know how Wilffin will react to that. We'll have to get rid of those two, and then get San Gerxon to go with us, instead. We can take over quickly after that."
"You think San Gerxon will do this? I mean, we wanted the girl because we were afraid Jazal would find a way to kill his brother and we'd be forced out by Wilffin's warlocks. She was our insurance—you said she could protect us against their attacks." Haral spoke, now.
"She can. She has some kind of natural shield. It doesn't protect against physical attacks—just spells and magical castings," Delvin explained.
"I've only heard of a few races that had something like that," Carthin, the red-haired wizard, pointed out.
"She must have gotten some blood somewhere, from one of those races, then." Delvin didn't want to get into an argument over this. He'd made a false promise to Reah—he knew that. It caused a b
it of a twinge, but he'd betrayed a better friend in Bel. Reah and Bel had both saved his life, but that didn't matter now—Delvin was looking to his own future and he wanted it to be as a casino owner on Campiaa, with a firm stake in the drakus seed trade and other moneymaking ventures.
Delvin wanted everything that Arvil San Gerxon had. San Gerxon had initially convinced the High Commander to grow Drakus seed in the desert, and Delvin, Bel and the other Ranger wizards hadn't known at first that Arvil was involved. When San Gerxon appeared on Mandil after the spawn were eliminated, he was looking for additional wizards anywhere he could find them. Delvin, forced by the High Commander to help guard San Gerxon, had leapt at the offer Arvil made. He'd known enough on Mandil—there was a wide universe out there, just waiting for him and his talent to conquer. Now it looked as if a small snip of a girl and a carpenter stood in his way.
"Wilffin isn't scheduled to be back for two eight-days at least. Plenty of time," another wizard spoke up. "Haral can fold our targets anywhere—all we have to do is make them unconscious, somehow."
"What about poison?" Haral liked poisoning people—he'd done it too many times to mention. With him, rape came first, death by poison next. It was a convenient way to get rid of any incriminating evidence. He'd transport his victim to a deserted planet and dump the body. Nobody ever knew.
"Fine—you get poison. Make sure it's a good one," Carthin grumbled.
"Oh, it will be," Haral grinned. Delvin watched those two—they'd be his biggest competition if he tried to take everything for himself.
* * *
"I know all of you used to be casino owners on Campiaa." Norian sat opposite Erland Morphis, Adam Chessman and Merrill Leopard.
"We no longer have any interests on Campiaa—you know that. We razed those buildings to the ground when we moved everything here—to Le-Ath Veronis." Erland sounded bored.
"I have information for you," Norian smiled.
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