"Where am I?" I asked, shoving my thoughts aside.
"You're on the balcony outside my suite of rooms," Edward answered from above. I discovered that my head was in his lap and we sat on a swing of sorts that had a canopy stretched overhead. It looked to be late afternoon.
"How did I get here?" I asked, sighing with pleasure as Edward's fingers continued to stroke my face.
"Your Larentii brought both of us," Edward replied. "Are you hungry? Comfortable? Tell me what you want, sweetheart."
"Avocados and tomatoes," I sighed. "But I'm too comfortable to get up."
"Reah, I wish I could keep this moment forever," Edward said. "I'm happy."
"This is the perfect view," I said. "And you get to wake up and see it every morning."
"And you could wake and see it every morning, too. If you want. Come on; let's find avocados and tomatoes."
"It's a pregnant thing," I salted the sliced avocado and tomato on my plate. "This is so good," I sighed, taking my first bite.
"Do I get a bite?" Edward grinned. I fed him some of each. "I like this stuff, too, I just don't eat it together all that often."
"Are we ready to make ice cream?" I asked.
"We sure are. And the ice-cream makers are programmed to add the right amount of everything, so only you and the comp will know the recipes. And word has it that the patent might be rushed through the screening process," he grinned at me. I might be able to watch that grin for a long time.
"Edward," I said, setting my plate of food aside.
"What, sweetheart?"
"Will you kiss me?"
He didn't reply, he just did. And very nicely, I might add. And I got a ride on Edward's back after I finished eating; he carried me through his house that way until we reached the media room.
"These are old vids from when I was young," he loaded them into the vid system. I saw a much younger Edward, along with others. He did have freckles splashed across his face and was completely adorable.
"These are two of my friends, Salidar and Ashe," Edward pointed out a boy with dark hair and eyes, laughing with a taller boy, who had light-brown hair and blue eyes. "Salidar is a werewolf," Edward added. "Ashe, well, he's something different, too. That's Ashe's mother, Adele," he went on. I stared at the woman. She had dark-blonde hair, brown eyes and she was laughing at something Edward's friend Salidar had said. "That's Sali's dad, Marcus, and his mother, Denise." I nodded as he introduced each one to me.
"You loved them, didn't you?" I hugged his arm as he sat beside me.
"I did. They were the first real friends I ever had. Some of them are dead, now."
"I'm sorry, honey," I said, leaning my cheek against his shoulder.
"I've been told that people are reborn, but it's never the same," he said.
"I talked to Zellar's ghost," I agreed. "For real. That isn't the crazy talking. He said he's being punished. Do you know who Zellar is?"
"No," Edward shook his head. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, though. I wanted him to kiss me again. He did without being asked.
"Ask Ry or Teeg or Lendill about Zellar," I said. "They can give you as much information as you want." I wondered if Zellar's corporeal head still rested inside the treasury on Karathia.
* * *
"This suite connects to mine through that door," Edward indicated the door between our rooms later, as I stood inside my new bedroom. "It'll stay closed unless you want it open."
"All right," I nodded.
"Ah, just in time," Kevis folded in. "We have time for a short talk before bed," he announced as if he belonged there.
"Do you need a room as well?" Edward lifted an eyebrow at the doctor.
"Probably. And I had an argument with several others, who all wanted to barge in, too."
"There's plenty of room, but I don't want them to upset Reah," Edward said.
"Will they upset you?" Kevis looked at me.
"I don’t know," I sighed. "Farzi and Nenzi won't, but they're in the middle of a harvest."
"Reah, they have six brothers. I'd feel sorry for them if they couldn't be gone for a while," Kevis pointed out. "And Astralan is about to wear a hole in the floor, pacing."
"Fine. If Edward doesn't mind," I grumbled. Kevis grinned. All of them, including Tory, showed up in ticks.
"I'm going to bed," I told all of them.
"But I get a little time," Kevis said.
"Fine," I snapped again. He followed me as I wandered into a closet that had somehow been stocked with clothing. Had Edward done that for me? How was he so good? How? Kevis watched as I dressed for bed, brushed my teeth and washed my face.
"Now, you never did answer my question about the ASD," he reminded me as I settled into the huge bed. Plump pillows at my back, I wriggled in the comfort of it. "How did you feel about working for the ASD?"
"I didn't like it most of the time," I answered honestly. "I learned a lot, but felt I was used. By Norian, Lendill, everybody."
"You had special talents, Reah. Were they utilizing what they had?"
"Yes. It bordered on abuse at times. I was nineteen when I was shoved into Arvil San Gerxon's camp. I was barely out of RAA training, and since Norian and Lendill wanted all the information on him that they could get, I was placed in some terrible situations. I watched one of my kitchen helpers get shot in the head right in front of me, and then Arvil's mistress died the same way, because Arvil was angry after they'd slept together. I watched other people die, too. None of them in a nice way."
"Did Arvil ever mistreat you?"
"Not in a physical sense. When his brother and cousins died, he made Teeg and me his heirs. After Arvil was killed in an ASD raid, Teeg took over, told me he was taking my half of Arvil's fortune because I'd violated the contract Arvil had us sign and disappeared with Farzi, Nenzi and their brothers. He betrayed me, then. I thought I loved him up to that point."
"And he hasn't offered you anything since then? Since creating the Campiaan Alliance?"
"No." I hugged myself. These were bad memories for me. "And when I was injured in the explosion years later, when Lendill sent me after Zellar, Teeg grabbed me, tied me to a bed, blindfolded me and had Jes treat me when he should have sent me home so Karzac could take care of me."
"How do you feel about my father?" Kevis asked.
"I love your father. He's like the father I would have wanted. Tough when he needs to be. Protective when that's needed. He was good to me from the start. I hope you get along with him," I added.
"I do," Kevis smiled slightly. "I never doubted his love, or my mother's."
"You were lucky," I said, leaning back and closing my eyes.
"Why do you think your mother married Addah Desh?"
"I don't know," I opened my eyes to stare at Kevis. "I can't imagine that he had a romantic bone in his body, so I can't answer that. I've gotten very little information on my mother. Even Fes didn't know much about her, and there weren't any photographs left after she died. Marzi probably destroyed them."
"It's too bad you didn't run into Addah's ghost, then, instead of Zellar's."
"Addah didn't destroy worlds. He just destroyed his children," I said. "Perhaps his father or mother mistreated him—he never talked about them."
"You think he might have treated others the way he was treated?"
"Maybe. But that's really not an excuse. If you know something is wrong that way, it's up to you to change it."
"You never hit your daughters, did you?"
"Are you kidding? And put them through that? No," I shook my head violently.
"I don't want to upset you, Reah, so let's back away from that for now," Kevis said gently. "Do you need someone to spend the night with you? I imagine any one of your mates would be willing."
"I don't want sex right now," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed.
"Reah, they know that. Torevik should have remembered before pushing it as he did. And his admission later was most unfortunate. I think he doesn't believe as hi
s father does, but he loves his father. That bit of prejudice his father holds has influenced Tory. He's working to overcome it."
"Maybe that'll come in handy with his next mate," I muttered sarcastically.
"Reah, the question still stands. Do you want company for the night? Just to provide a warm shoulder?"
"I wouldn't mind a warm shoulder, or even a warm back," I said.
"Then I'll ask and see who volunteers," Kevis stood and stretched.
"Not Tory," I said, lowering my head.
"I understood that," Kevis said. "Someone will be in shortly."
* * *
"Deah-mul," Lendill slipped into bed beside me. I'd already turned out the light; it took more than the short time Kevis had estimated when he left. "My father has threatened to remove my libido for months if I do anything except keep you warm," Lendill murmured against my ear. "Go to sleep, breah-mul. I will try to do the same."
* * *
Zendeval Rjjn and Perdil the Liffelithi dwarf had made their way steadily southward, searching for warmer temperatures. Cold weather had set in where they'd been dropped on Nrath weeks earlier. Zen had done all the hunting; Perdil had no skills or experience in that area. Thankfully, Zen held both.
Most nights they were able to start a fire to cook what Zendeval had trapped or caught in a stream, but on rainy nights, they'd eaten something raw if they didn't have cooked meat left from the previous day. Zen had no weapons to go after larger game, so smaller creatures such as rabbits, squirrels and fish were their main diet. That meant little left over for the next day, rainy or not. The sun was now high over their heads, the weather most certainly warmer and Perdil was sniffing the air.
"Zen, I smell bread baking," Perdil turned wide eyes on Zendeval. Zen, lost in his own thoughts, blinked at Perdil in surprise.
"Dwarf, I believe your mind is tricking you," Zen sighed. He'd dreamed about bread, too. Among other things. Mostly, though, he dreamed of Reah. He woke with clenched hands and shortened breaths, most mornings, dreaming he still held her small body close against his. He knew now just how thin she was. How weak from the illness. But he'd been controlled. If Perdil had been the one to shoot that foul and cursed thing into his neck, the dwarf would be dead already. Instead, his cousin Nedrizif had done it himself. Zen sighed, and then drew in a breath. Perdil's arm was grasped in Zen's fist quickly. "Dwarf, perhaps your mind isn't playing tricks after all."
* * *
"I don't want to go forward with this unless we're sure we have the right woman," Andelis of Roorthi complained.
"You've seen her, the image is exact," Tevan of Shillverr pointed out. The image was indeed displayed on a very large vid-screen inside Cynthin of Xordthe's private office. Cynthin, smiling and examining her freshly manicured nails, had drawn these two in. If it could be proved that this insane woman, whose face was plastered on vid-screens across both Alliances, was Teeg San Gerxon's wife, it would only be a matter of time before Teeg San Gerxon's power was undermined and someone else could step in and take over the Campiaan Alliance.
Teeg presided over the Council of Campiaan Alliance Worlds, but Cynthin had designs on that seat. Oh, she'd promise Tevan and Andelis a sharing of power, but it would be hers when push came to shove. All they had to do was contact the media, which was still running vids depicting all the crazy and outrageous things Teeg San Gerxon's wife believed about herself.
"I think we should contact San Gerxon first, and give him the opportunity to step aside quietly, without this being made public," Andelis suggested.
"And miss all the fun and the publicity we'll get out of this?" Cynthin snorted delicately. She fully intended to make as much of this as she could; her position within the Campiaan Alliance was relatively weak. Xordthe wasn't at the forefront of industrialization, had nothing that stood out as an export and had been under the influence of unsavory characters before the Campiaan Alliance offered membership.
Cynthin had stepped on a few heads and even more toes to get to the presidency, which she'd held for three years of a five-year term. Things might not go so well for her during the next election, so she was looking to move herself into an even better position. During her tenure in office, the economy hadn't improved and relations with most of their planetary neighbors had deteriorated. The President of Shillverr and the Crown Prince of Roorthi were her only friends, because she'd taken both of them as lovers.
"Then where do you intend to take this? Which media outlet?"
"Oh, I'm going to the network that produces that Temporary Insanity show. I know they're fighting a legal battle with the Reth Alliance over patient rights violations, but we'll just take the information given and make our own complaints. They'll run it, simply to get back at the ASD."
"You're sure this will work? San Gerxon has a lot of firepower at his back." Tevan shivered. Teeg San Gerxon had four very powerful Karathian warlocks working as security, as well as others rumored to be employed as his personal protection. Tevan hadn't been there personally when the initial votes had been cast to form the Campiaan Alliance, but word had it that the founder had something incredible at his disposal if needed. One of the other members who'd been at the signing described it as a tall, golden creature with wings who'd fought off the Strands and their allies. Tevan's source said that if the creature hadn't been there, the Campiaan Alliance would have died in infancy.
"Can he use that firepower against us?" Cynthin smiled slyly. "If the media is watching his every move, how can he?"
"But none of us were there when the Alliance was born. There are plenty of others who might make a case for replacing San Gerxon," Andelis argued. "I've only held this position since Father handed the responsibility to me. Tevan has held his presidency for two years and you for three," he nodded to Cynthin.
"Don't worry your handsome head about it," Cynthin crooned. "We'll use the media. This will work, have no doubt. I'm placing the call this afternoon, and I'll forward the images we have to them if they bite. Never fear, this will be all over both Alliances in two days."
Chapter 9
"How is everything going?" Edward walked into our temporary ice-cream plant. I smiled at him. He smiled back.
"Everything is great and the new freezers you got are amazing," I said. "The ice cream is kept at the perfect temperature."
"I have transport coming tomorrow morning to take it to my distributor," Edward said. "The ad campaign is scheduled to start tomorrow, too. I hope people will ask for it before it even gets to the stores."
"You amaze me," I said. He did. I'd never seen follow-through like this before. Everything Edward promised, he delivered. And then some. I'd seen the vid-ads. They were great.
"Then I'm ahead of the game," he leaned down to kiss me. I had three assistants working with me, mostly to monitor the equipment, load the containers of ice cream into the freezers and clean the equipment when we were done for the day. Edward and Kevis refused to allow me to work more than four clicks per day. Edward had hired my assistants, and they were very good and quite dedicated. "And our new facility is coming along. Want to come see?" He took my hand and led me out the door.
The new building was going to be four times the size of the temporary one, with more equipment and more employees when it was finished. "I can't wait for this to be ready," I said, looking at storage areas and stainless prep tables covered in heavy, plastic sheeting.
"You're going to be wealthy, Reah. Are you prepared for that?" Edward put an arm around my shoulders as we looked over the half-finished building.
"I've never been that," I sighed. "I don't know what to say."
"Say we'll have our date soon. I'm looking forward to it."
"We'll do it soon," I leaned back to gaze at him.
"Good." I got another kiss.
* * *
"Mr. Marolla, I hope we're close to finishing this project," Lendill stood inside the investigative journalist's office. "I've had word from an insider that the network that ran that piece of shit in
the beginning has allied with three from the Campiaan Alliance who seem bent on replacing Teeg San Gerxon. Now, I don't know if you're familiar with the Campiaan Alliance, but my sources are convinced that it will die and go back to what it was, a collection of lawless worlds, if Teeg doesn’t keep a firm hand on it. I'm not willing to go back to fighting criminals from those worlds. We need to release this two days after those three and the network have had plenty of time to spew their lies. Then we'll present our information and see what happens," Lendill said.
Hild Marolla, respected investigative journalist, smiled at Lendill Schaff. "Vice-Director, we're editing the last interview now. The information provided by Dr. Kevis Halivar has been most helpful in building this story. I can certainly release this piece two days after the others have managed to hang themselves. I must admit, I've never seen anything like this. Please express my gratitude to Dr. Halivar and Deonus Wyyld for their cooperation."
"There's something else for you to add," Teeg San Gerxon appeared, Astralan and Stellan at his side. Teeg held a comp-vid containing information and images in his hand. "It's all there," he said. "And what you see may shock you even more than you have been already, but it's the truth. I think it's time that a few eyes were opened."
"What did you bring?" Lendill asked. Teeg turned the comp-vid so Lendill could see. A single image graced the screen. "Ah," Lendill sighed.
* * *
"Nedrizif was Bandelif's son," Yidrizin pointed to the hand-copied records. Zendeval stared at the huge book that bore names of Greater Demons going back hundreds of thousands of years. Yidrizin, acting Prime Minister for Nrath (what was left of it, anyway), showed Zen and Perdil through the royal archives.
"I don't remember this place," Zen looked around him in awe. The treasury was there, the crown and crown jewels were also there inside the archives.
"You wouldn't, you were only a child when you were hauled away by those foul creatures," Yidrizin grumbled. "They convinced your father, the King, that greater things awaited him if he'd just follow them off-world. A foolish mistake, as it turned out. No disrespect meant, of course."
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