This jab gets Znuul’s goat, which I guess is Karen’s intention. His jaws clench. “I am not bored with her. She is not a toy. I am preoccupied with our quarry. Perhaps I have not taken her needs fully into account. I can fix that.”
Karen’s smile is ear to ear. “Just funny you became so preoccupied upon my arrival.”
“Circumstance can be unpredictable.”
There is a pause and in that time I can tell the matter is settled. Znuul would make sure Kitten didn’t bother Karen and Karen would be happy not to be involved.
“So Kitten and I will go buy a house for us to stage in,” Znuul proclaims. “She likes house shopping.”
The fact he’s just up and buying a house isn’t lost on me - in Houston, no less. “Buying a house?” I exclaim. “Are you just made of money?”
“Your Silithes got 'The Lion' to cough up all sorts of bank codes, remember? I’ve cleaned out over 800 million dollars from Maldgorath’s accounts meant for payment on religious terrorism. I’ve been buying up property and other goodies worldwide.”
His gaze turns back to Karen, “Speaking of money, when this is done, you and I will need to settle up on father’s hidden accounts he gave to me. I know in my heart he’d want you to have half. You know this also.”
Karen meets his gaze and without a hint of emotion and lets him know her feelings. “I could give less of a damn about the money. It won’t bring him back.”
They nodded at each other and then turn to me in a totally strange, synchronized way. Znuul speaks for them.
“Nothing’s bringing back your son either. Best we stay focused on our target.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Chapter 79
Znuul left us with Kitten in tow. He said it would be about four days until a place was secured. Day to arrive. Day to look. Day to advise of intent. Day to close.
I don’t see it happening that fast, personally.
Three days find themselves in familiar routine – me training in swordplay/combat with Vets and Sil in the morning. Sil continuing to train afterwards, only in magics with Karen. Pffif lounging and poking fun. Arix scoffs at us all…
This afternoon finds me on the sofa after a particularly vigorous workout with the sword. Vets is scrounging for food in the kitchen and Hjuul is basking in the sun on the back porch. I don’t bother to turn the TV on. I know what it has to say – things are bad and getting worse.
It says that a lot nowadays.
There’s a sound of a loud explosion outside. Normally, that would have me jumping but I know it’s just Karen showing Sil how some evocation works. Karen was kind enough to offer to let me join in the training fun too. I declined because basically I suck at evocation –“bang magic.” I’ve beaten my head enough against that wall.
Healing tends to be my bag. That and “darker” magic, the stuff Arix was teaching me, but I don’t mess with that anymore.
The rear door opens, Karen and Sil enter, with Hjuul following in behind them. Sil and Karen are looking particularly pleased. “Did you hear that?” Sil asks, straightening herself in pride. “My first real fireball!”
“A right conflagration it was,” says Karen patting her on the back and making her way to the sofa opposite me. “Worthy of a battle mage.”
Somewhere Arix is harrumphing at that, I can know.
Sil saunters over to my sofa and basically collapses into it landing with her head in my lap and eyes looking up at me. “Feed me daddy, Karen’s been making me use so much energy.”
“Oh please…” is Karen’s response. Her half smile indicating that there’s no real exasperation.
Until recently it used to be “feed me” was an euphemism for intercourse. Now it just means what it means. And I don’t mind at all. I concentrate and mutter the words to my most basic healing spell and release it with a wave of my hand over her head. That elicits her closing her eyes and making happy wriggles and “mmm” sounds.
“You are such a silly tart” is Karen’s response to Sil’s little show. She is.
The fun is broken up by a buzzing sound from one of Karen’s pockets. She pulls out one of the disposable phones we use and answers it. She gives a few affirmations and gets up to continue the conversation outside, excusing herself with her eyes.
I’m guessing we have a base of operations – and a day early too. Znuul works fast.
Karen blows back inside and announces, “We have an address, sale happens tomorrow” then she makes a bee-line to Znuul’s office.
Sil looks at me seriously from my lap and sits up. “I’ll get the others packing.”
That’s a good idea and I tell her so – after all we’re facing down 14 hours of drive time.
Chapter 80
We set Hunter up with a huge amount of food water, open toilets and made sure the kitty door was open. Working in shifts we made the drive in good time without killing ourselves. Karen had last shift driving and pulls us into what appears to be a mansion in Houston’s Woodland area to my tired eyes.
We pull around to the four car garage and are greeted by a very professionally dressed Kitten running out to our car. They must have just closed on the house - our timing is good.
We pile out of the car to her excited chirps and Kitten crushes Karen in a huge hug – I guess she’s way past the conflict of their original meeting. “You won’t be-leeeeve the master bathroom!” Kitten exclaims taking Karen by the hand, basically trying to drag her into the house.
Karen doesn’t fight the enthusiasm, but does shoot me a look.
Sheyliene de-tinys herself and yells out that she wants to see too. First I cringe, because that might be hard to explain to neighbors, but all was clear. Her ADD-like enthusiasm returning makes me smile. My fairy’s been way, way off since her realization that maybe the worlds of the multiverse aren’t as black and white as she thought.
I step into the garage and summon Vets, who prefers to travel in the white versus with us in the car and that’s kind of a blessing, as she is a large one. Sil is there to hand me a change of clothing for her. Arix casts a transformation on her and she turns from bi-pedal feline beast-warrior to human warrior. Unlike some of my summonlings, Vets and Hjuul has no inherent magic abilities. I remind Arix he’s going to need to craft a new ring for Vets, so she can handle her own transformations.
“My work is never done,” is Arix’s sad sack reply.
Timing on the transformation is good as Sil’s eyes and nod indicate that someone is coming as she hoists her duffle over her shoulder and gives a little wave to whoever it is.
It’s verified when she passes us by and says. “neighbor incoming.” very quietly.
Vets is getting out of her plate armor when we are greeted by a fine example of sugary sweet Houston housewife. “Well hi y’all!” she manages to get out before the site of Vets stripping down from full ornate plate mail armor stops her dead in her tracks.
“Cosplay,” I say quickly. That gets a confused look from Znuul’s new neighbor. “Costume role-play” I clarify. “Didn’t want her accidentally banging up the new house you know? Armor can be kind of awkward.”
“Uh, okaaay,” says Mrs. Nosey-Neighbor turning to Arix as he appears to be the elder one. Then she must have remembered her pageant training as the saccharin smile returns. “Well, welcome to the neighborhood! I’m Daisy Hart-Jamieson and live right across the way. That’s so cute y’all Cuz-play or whatever that is.” Then she puts her hands on her hips taking a fake kind of authoritative attitude as she looks at Arix. “Now y’all won’t be sword fighting in the front yard now will you?”
Before I can say a word, Znuul’s deep euro-tinged voice interjects “I assure you not.” His large frame strides by me with purpose. “I am Zeb, your new neighbor,” he says extending his hand to her.
“My, aren’t you a big one,” she says shaking his hand.
“Don’t mind these hooligans,” Znuul says looking back briefly at me “They’ve just come to visit and see the new house.
It’s so nice to know we have kind neighbors.”
Daisy’s sugarfied face breaks into concern at Vets changing out in the garage.
Znuul noting this distraction, puts his arm around her and begins to direct her back home down the driveway. His voice trails away saying something to the effect of, “I’m sorry we had to meet this way...”
“That one pretends to be happy,” says Vets now pulling her camo pants on.
I just nod back to her. Arix takes his leave, entering the house.
Vets and I follow Arix and are greeted by a massive kitchen attached to a larger great room. I make note of the ten foot ceilings and chuckle to myself. That’s got to be high on Znuul’s list of basic home requirements.
“Where will we set up the scrying apparatus,” asks Arix.
Not having an answer to that I just shrug. Driving forever takes it out of you – even if you’re not doing all the driving. There’s no furniture, so nowhere to sit – not that I’m in a hurry to sit. But still, lounging would be good. Not being able to do that I prop up on the large peninsula at the kitchen instead.
The door to the garage swings back open after a few moments followed by my needs-a-tall-ceiling, brother in revenge. “That one is going to be trouble," he shares with us.
I look up at him and nod. He pats my back gently as he strides into the great room area. “Basic furnishings are arriving in a few hours, we shopped for them yesterday.” He turns to Arix, “where’s the leprechaun? We’ll want to set up shop.”
As if on cue, the double French doors to the backyard open and Pffif steps in. “We be settin’ up in the little workshop in the back. Nobody be a accidentally walkin’ in on it. Ana it’s got a good enough lock on the door.”
Znuul looks down at Pffif. “You want the key?”
“Bah! Mr. Pffiferil dona be needin’ no key,” he says with a smile and a wink adding “come on finger wiggler, we’s be unpackin’ follow me.”
“How far I have fallen,” bemoans Arix, “Lackey to a Clurichaun.” He follows Pffiferil with a shrug and a roll of the eyes.
I hear Shey’s and Kitten’s chattering and a barefoot Kitten crushes into Znuul in the living room. “They love it!” she proclaims.
Not far after I am assaulted by a running crushing hug from Sheyliene. “They’re going to let us use the tub! You can almost swim laps in it and it bubbles.” She tries to pull me away from my perch at the peninsula to dance about the way she likes to. I’m not budging.
But still, it’s good to see Sheyliene out of her “what if I’m a monster?” funk.
Karen gives a funny look to Znuul and Kitten walks over to the other side of the peninsula from me and an affectionate Shey. “Sounds like you two have a hot tub date,” she says to me.
That actually sounds good after almost a whole day cooped up in a car.
“Tubbing later, shopping now. We need supplies,” says Znuul snapping us back to the moment. He approaches Karen and I at our kitchen perches, Kitten fully in tow having attached herself to his hip. “By the time you get back, we’ll have furniture… I hope. Kitten, get the list.”
She scampers off and my look must have given away how I feel about shopping. Znuul snickers and puts a hand on Karen’s back, rubbing her shoulders gently - she doesn’t seem to mind the rub, but the errand is another thing. “Please say this doesn’t mean Wally World?”
“The bullseye place then” is Znuul’s response to Karen’s lament, which results in her groaning and putting her head down on her arms.
“I like shopping!” is Shey’s perky response. Karen just shakes her head.
Sil makes her way from the stairs across the great room and stops to examine us. Her attention is broken by Arix and Pffif bringing cases in from the garage. “Ye can help wench,” says Pffiferil wheeling a piece of luggage about as large as he is. Sil notes Shey attached to me and shoots a smile our way, then she makes her way to the garage without a word.
I stand up from my crouch on the Peninsula resolute that a trip to the store is in my future. “Shopping it is” I announce. Kitten bounces back into the kitchen and presents me with a rather large list.
Karen moans.
I figure we’ll leave Karen behind, for her sake. I look down at Shey. “Good thing you like to shop.”
Chapter 81
It was a good shop. Food, beverages, linens, office supplies, pots/pans and other life necessities were acquired. All paid in cash thanks to the huge wad of bills Znuul laid on me.
Good thing we bought a beast of a vehicle. Seats down, we still crammed it full.
We get back in time to see the furniture company guys finishing up. I pull us around to the garage and pull into one of the open doors.
Unpacking the suburban is a group effort, with all joining in. The only grumbling comes from Pffif - “No beer?”
Znuul cuts Kitten loose on the organization and putting away of things; for whatever reason Shey takes it upon herself to be the helper. It was the itty-bitty put-away brigade. The rest of us go to the now furniture populated great room and sit down. A large TV faces us, blank because cable won’t be hooked up for another two days. Still, nice to be planted.
And I'm sick of what the TV has to say anyways.
The doors to the backyard open and we are joined by Arix and Pffif. Arix announces “He is not in Houston,” and we collectively nod a thank you for the report. Pffif pulls out the flask and asks what’s for dinner.
“Pizza – delivery,” is Znuul’s response.
“Pizza without the beer is a sad thing” says Pffif.
“Aww,” responds Znuul. “Now is the time for us to stay ready”
Karen, Sil and I all nod in agreement. Pffiferil just huffs. It was Arix’s response that surprised everyone.
“Actually tonight’s a good night for revelry. Our prey is far away and we are truly far from ready to engage him.”
Pffiferil jumps up on an ottoman. “Ye hear my good friend the sorcerer? He be right! Come ‘ere wizard and get yer swig off this flask.”
Arix grumbles, steps forward and takes the flask from Pffiferil, followed by a large swig. “I will never get used to that taste.” Then he hands it to Znuul – tag you’re it.
Znuul regards the standing Pffiferil and takes a huge pull from the flask after making sure to wipe it off. Then he seals it back up and brushes his finger along its gem and shaking it to magically refill it. Then he pitches it to Karen, who looks at it questioningly.
“Kitten! Beer and vodka run,” Znuul bellows, his voice echoing through this extremely large house. She comes, gets money turns to leave with Shey in tow. Shey reminds Kitten she’s going to need to wear more than her house uniform. In that time, the flask had made its way to me.
I pitch it back to Pffif.
“No sir,” comes Karen’s voice. “Everybody except Kitten and Shey took a swig off that vile flask, and by God you are going to too. They at least have an excuse - they're driving.”
“Haaa! Ha ha!” proclaims Pffif, pitching the flask back to me. “Drink Master Arthur! Drink!”
So, I do - It’s really not as vile as they make it out to be. But it is damn strong.
Another round of pass the flask almost continues, until the doorbell interrupts us.
We all look at each other quizzically and Znuul stands. “Why don’t you get that Arthur?”
I figure it’s got to be nosey Daisy. I stroll over to the front door and open it. It’s not nosey Daisy – it’s Greg Inosanto, otherwise known as the sword of balance, the scale-tipper, demon-bane, and number of other names. He’s dressed for business, Katana at his back and all sorts of other throwing weapons visible under his long leather overcoat.
“Step aside Arthur,” he says with a serious look that turns to meet Znuul. “The Protectorate sends it regards Ahtsag Znuul” says Greg calmly. He reaches back for his Katana.
Then he is gone.
Chapter 82
Panic sets in as the realization that my brother in revenge
’s head is about ready to roll. Karen had barely gets out a “No Gregory!” before he did that thing he does. I spin around to see Greg, sword drawn with the edge at Znuul’s throat.
But strange enough, Znuul doesn’t seem to be concerned, if anything he's a little peeved. He brushes the sword away from his neck. “Was that really necessary? I am pretty sure my dear Karen here almost peed herself.”
“What?” is Karen’s response, beating mine to the punch.
“He’s invited, an ace in the hole for us so to speak. He knows I’ve nothing to do with any of the current events,” says Znuul with a huge grin on his face. To emphasize, they knuckle bump. Greg spins the sword in a flourish and re-sheathes it.
“Had you going didn’t I?” says Greg.
Pffif begins howling in laughter and rolling around in his seat – he loves a good joke.
“You are a horse’s arse!” Karen exclaims, again beating me to the punch. There’s a small crack sound, followed by Greg’s whelp and the smell of ozone.
“Hey!” Greg protests and positions himself behind Znuul.
Znuul is laughing, “Come on, Karen you know how he is. Me too. And you have to admit we did pull a good one.”
Karen finally relents and holds out her arms for a hug and is met warmly by Greg.
“Ye got to be catching up,” proclaims Pffif who tosses the flask to Greg. He regards it for all of a half second and pulls the cap, followed by a long swig and a bitter face.
We all catch up on personal events, the scare passed and I now realize that we do indeed have an ace in the hole. My brother in revenge did real good. Putting Greg in front of Maldgorath is a sure fire way to ensure that bastard dies.
It’s then I realize just how close Znuul and I are on the matter. It really doesn’t matter how that bastard dies – or who does the deed – just as long as he bites the dust. Stack the deck – heck yes!
Pizza is ordered in large quantities. Shey and Kitten return with more party supplies than we could need. Good times, that is until the French doors to the rear yard open.
The Wielder: Sworn Vengeance (The Wielder Series) Page 31