Revik acknowledged his words with a short gesture.
He didn’t confirm or deny the implied question.
“Further,” Dulgar said, letting out a series of clicks. “We find Shadow and his people are… uncompromising, shall we say… when it comes to particular territories that interest them.”
“You mean Hong Kong?” Revik said.
Dulgar smiled, inclining his head without answering the question directly.
Reaching down, he plucked up his glass, taking a drink of the glowing blue liquid before lowering it back to the polished black stone.
“Hong Kong is, of course, of particular interest to us, since we share those waters,” he said, wiping his lip with one finger. Leaning back on the white leather, he tilted his hand in a shrug, eyes shrewd. “More pressingly, they are attempting to control trade in this part of the world, brother. They wish to limit our access to certain types of resources, and to impose their moralistic rules on us, as if we were under imperialist control.”
I bit my lip, fighting not to roll my eyes.
I didn’t look over, but felt Revik nod.
“You mean trafficking humans?” he said neutrally. “…Or did you mean seers, my brother?”
“Both, my Illustrious brother,” Dulgar said, smiling unapologetically. “And I thank you for being direct. We are businesspeople, you see, first and foremost. And while it may be distasteful for one such as you, who must adhere in spirit and word to the old ways, at least whenever such a thing is possible… certain appetites will always require sating. We find it far more practical to aid in that end, to ensure a nonviolent and fair exchange for those services, than to fight the proclivities of either species.”
Letting his words hang, Dulgar frowned, holding up a finger for emphasis.
“Further,” he said, vehement. “This is not a time to be timid in establishing our mutual territories, brother Syrimne. If I may be so bold as to say it, this is a time for expansion. This is felt by you, surely, that the shape of things to come will largely be determined in the next few years?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
“Those of the Legion of Fire have no wish to fall under the control of an ideological zealot. That would be true at any time, but the dangers of allowing a theocracy to consolidate global power now––or even simply power over Asia––are exponentially greater. We desire autonomy, first and foremost. In the face of one who seems to wish to control all of us, and to use religious zealotry and the manipulation of weak minds to do so, I would think your people and mine could be natural allies in this?”
Revik didn’t answer at first. Clicking softly, he lifted his drink from the table, taking several long swallows of the blue liquid. He gave the other male a faintly amused look as he lowered his glass back to the stone.
“You think us natural allies, brother?” he said, quirking an eyebrow. “When you have just professed a preference to remain free of the taint of religious ideology? My wife and I are religious figures, brother… willingly or not… at least in the old world traditions of our race. You know such things still mean much out here. Perhaps more so now, with the uncertainty of our future, and the problems both species face.”
Revik paused, letting humor return to his words.
“…You must be religious yourself, brother, to trust us so much,” he joked. “What makes you so sure we would not use this power against the Legion of Fire?”
Dulgar smiled indulgently, in a way that almost made me laugh.
Clearly this guy didn’t see us as much of a threat.
Smiling back, Revik made another diplomatic gesture with one hand.
“Whatever you think of our motives or willingness to treat you fairly,” he added. “My wife and I will inevitably be perceived in far more of an ideological manner than this ‘Shadow’ person you seem to fear so much. What makes you think we––or our followers––would not attempt to restrict you in similar ways, given enough control over these waters?”
That thread of indulgence still in his eyes, Dulgar gestured politely, giving me a lingering glance before he focused back on Revik.
“You will pardon me for saying it, Illustrious Sword,” he said smoothly. “But you and your wife appear, currently at least, to have little interest and few means of competing with my family directly in this new world, at least in the areas that concern us. Moreover…” he added, his voice still polite. “You appear to have no interest in fighting over the same scraps with which the rest of us are primarily concerned. Therefore, I see no conflict between your interests and mine, brother Syrimne. Or between your people and the Legion of Fire.”
His smile widened.
“…And while I may not be religious, myself, I have seen that most will forego religion when it competes directly with their more, ah, basic needs as men.”
Revik clicked softly, but conceded his words with another graceful gesture.
“True,” he said diplomatically.
“So you see why I might have an interest in remaining… friendly?”
Revik’s smile grew a touch harder.
“Not really, to be truthful.” He flipped a hand sideways. “I would think us beneath your notice altogether, brother, if what you say is true. Is it simply strength in numbers you seek? The enemy of my enemy…?” He trailed, not bothering to complete the quote.
Dulgar smiled. That time, it touched his eyes.
“Brother Syrimne… again, at the risk of being tactless… I would think my reasoning would be patently obvious.”
At Revik’s silence, Dulgar smiled wider.
“You are telekinetic, brother Syrimne. A manipulator.” Glancing at me, Dulgar gestured gracefully in my direction. “As is your lovely wife. You are unique, precious beings. That is a powerful means of deterrent for us. If we could claim you as our allies…”
His smile widened. He made another of those flowing gestures.
“…Well, surely you see the advantage for us, to such an arrangement?”
Revik let out a low grunt, picking up his glass.
“We will not blow up ships at your whim, brother Dulgar,” he said, pausing to take a sip of the drink. “We will not scout these waters for you, either, acting as living weapons. You must know that we have our own interests in Asia.”
Dulgar remained undaunted.
“But you would allow us to publicize such an alliance, surely?” he said, lifting an eyebrow. “Assuming we were able to come to terms regarding matters that do concern you? Of course I refer to the supply of infiltrators for which you have voiced an interest. Presumably, you need these seers, yes? To better fight this war you are waging with Shadow?”
Revik hesitated, glancing at me.
I knew that was partly for show, too, but I still returned his look.
I felt pain on him again, mixed with a darker tension on the surface of his light. His jaw firmed briefly before he looked back at Dulgar.
“Of course,” he said.
He made his voice casual, but I heard him thread in a barely perceptible anxiety, to make us sound more desperate, I assumed.
“…We would also be willing to make the alliance public,” Revik clarified. “I simply did not wish you to misunderstand what that might mean, my brother, in terms of practical application.”
“Of course.” Dulgar smiled indulgently. “Clarity is always preferred, brother Syrimne. As is transparency in all things.”
I felt another flicker in Revik’s light, that time too faint to be for Dulgar’s benefit.
It struck me, in those few seconds.
Revik thought Dulgar was lying.
I glanced at him, feeling him watching me, if only with his light.
He knows, Revik sent, soft.
Seeing the look in his eyes, it hit me, suddenly, what he was saying. As it did, I realized something else.
Dulgar had no intention of letting us leave Macau at all.
5
A HIGH PLACE
MY EYES WERE eyes
jerked up, distracted by the sudden appearance of four female seers, all of them wearing filmy, nearly-transparent clothing.
Three of them were staring openly at Revik.
I saw one look at his chest in particular, focusing on the scar at his neck with a not altogether neutral expression on her face.
Revik told me some seers found his scars fascinating, since most seers didn’t scar like he had done under Menlim. Some also found them sexy, presumably for the same reason.
I frowned, with zero artifice that time, unable to stop myself.
Clearly I wasn’t the only one who thought my husband looked hot in a suit.
“Ah… sisters!” Dulgar opened his hands, smiling broadly. He looked at Revik, aiming that smile forcefully at him. “I hope you do not mind, my brother. Earlier, I had called them here to fetch your lovely wife, in the hopes we might make her more comfortable. Are you still wishing to force her to stay up here with us, listening to us bicker like old men over details of our rather dull business arrangements?”
Revik looked at me, his eyes holding a faint glow.
Again, I doubted if anyone but me could see it, but I stared at him anyway.
It took a bare second for me to read the expression there.
Before I could complete the thought, he reached for my hair, as if to pull me closer to him––maybe for a goodbye kiss, or to ask me discreetly if I wanted to go with these strange seers to another part of the hotel––only he swore before he got there, catching his sleeve on the stones of my necklace.
I reached up, as if to rescue it, right as his fingers hooked the chain.
Revik gave a quick, sharp jerk, and the necklace chain broke.
Green stones and shimmering links fell to the floor below the table with a low clatter.
“Gods… sorry, wife,” Revik murmured, caressing the back of my neck with his fingers. “Clumsy.” Kissing my cheek, he started to reach down, but I touched his arm.
“Let me,” I murmured. “It’s right by my feet.”
Still smiling at him, I bent at the waist, lowering my face and eyes below the table. I picked up the necklace at once, sending a brief impulse to the organic while holding it under the upper part of the table. At that angle, I could only hope none of the seers standing across from me could see my hand, or the necklace itself.
With my other hand, I continued to feel around on the floor, as if looking for the fallen chain. From above, I heard Dulgar cluck his tongue, as if in dismay at the loss of my necklace, although I could feel his eyes on my ass where I was bent over.
Luckily it was dark enough under the table, and the table was low enough, that I had a few seconds. Once the organic reconfigured in my hand, I quickly lifted my other wrist and slid the twin blades around the bracelet I’d been given by security.
I felt for when the loop of organic fell into the notch, then squeezed sharply, using the cutters to sever the link in a single cut.
I winced a little as the organic died.
“Ah, got it!” I said brightly, sending an impulse to convert the cutting implement back into the shape of a necklace.
Sitting up, I kept the remnants of the telekinetic-restraint bracelet around my wrist, placing that hand on the leather seat to hide the cut. I pretended to look at the necklace itself for a moment, holding it to my eyes with my other hand.
Clicking softly, I glanced at Revik, smiling at him.
“I think it’s broken, husband,” I said apologetically.
He clicked, too, the sound exuding regret.
I held it out to him. “Would you mind putting it in your pocket? I think only the clasp is broken. I can fix it later, on the ship.”
“My people could do it for you now, of course…” Dulgar offered, giving me a thin smile when I glanced in his direction.
I laughed, still pressing the organic into Revik’s hand.
“That is surely not necessary, brother,” I said, smiling. “I was thinking I would take you up on that offer of a swim, anyway. Knowing me, I would only lose it in the pool, and then you’d have to fish it out of your filter.”
Dulgar chuckled indulgently, his eyes sliding down my body.
“Of course,” he murmured. “Whatever pleases you, Esteemed Bridge.”
Revik smiled when I glanced at him. He took the necklace easily from my fingers, making an apologetic gesture with one hand.
“Sorry, love,” he murmured, kissing my cheek. “I’ll fix it. Promise.”
Impulsively, I kissed him back, for real that time.
I didn’t plan to do it, but when I opened my light, Revik did the same, deepening the kiss as he clutched at my hair with his fingers. When I didn’t end it, pain pulsed off his hands and mouth, just before he parted my lips, kissing me with his tongue, caressing my face with the fingers of his other hand.
He ended it seconds later, drawing away from my mouth as he released my face. Reluctance left his light as he did, along with a denser pulse of frustration.
Somehow, I doubted that was all act, either.
For a long moment, I only looked at him, watching the heat still coursing through his light.
Both of us turned when Dulgar spoke.
“Ah,” he said smiling. “Young love.”
I found those gold eyes staring at me.
Something about the look there made me flinch, then instinctively hide my wrist deeper in the leather cushion. I felt strangely exposed, and realized I had been––for those few seconds, at least. When I opened my light to Revik, they’d felt it, too.
Dulgar’s eyes held an open heat now.
Along with something else. Something I realized was––
Envy.
For the first time, it occurred to me Revik might be in more danger here than I was. Or maybe a different, more fatal kind of danger. I wondered suddenly, if I should be leaving him alone with this man, even for a short time.
As I thought it, Dulgar spoke.
“Love of whatever kind is always so touching, is it not?” he said, still watching me. “One always feels like a voyeur, to witness it. Even when it is so generously displayed.” Dulgar gave Revik and I another indulgent smile, one that never touched those gold irises. “That is true, I’m afraid, even for one as old and jaded as me. For we are all romantics at heart… whether we will admit to it, or not.”
Startled by a second pulse of real-feeling envy, I glanced at Revik, even as Revik stuffed the green-stone necklace into the pocket of his suit coat.
I think you’re right, I told him suddenly. I don’t want to leave you.
Then don’t, Revik replied, equally soft.
From looking at his eyes, I could tell he meant it.
“Are you ready to say goodbye to her, brother?” Dulgar gestured a more subtle motion to the four female seers, who now looked expectantly at me. “It will only be for a short while. We should let our sisters pamper her, and perhaps give her an excuse to go for that swim.”
I glanced at Revik, feeling him watching me.
Making another decision, I faced Dulgar directly.
“Would it be possible for both of us to see the seers first, brother?” I asked politely. “My husband and I are most anxious to examine your current inventory. Perhaps your sisters would be kind enough to wait while you took us there, first? Or I could go alone, perhaps, before I have my swim?” Shrugging with one hand, I smiled. “I could do this one thing for my husband, at least, so I don’t feel entirely useless… and save you both some time in the process?”
Dulgar smiled.
That harder look vanished from his eyes as he turned his head, making eye-contact with the largest of the five male seers who stood like sentries around our booth.
Once he had the male seer’s attention, Dulgar clicked his fingers in a rapid series that sounded almost like morse code, ending on a set of graceful motions with his hands and fingers. The latter struck me as subtly complicated, and didn’t match any seer sign langauge I knew, either from the Rebels, the comm
on variety, or any of the variants I learned in Beijing.
When Dulgar looked back at me, he was still smiling.
“A most helpful suggestion, Esteemed Bridge,” he purred. “I am always happy to facilitate a more efficient business transaction.” He raised his glass in a toast. “Further, I believe it is always better to conduct business when the commodity is transparently available for examination. Is it not, my lovely sister?”
He glanced at Revik before leaning closer to me.
“You can certainly see our recent crop of infiltrators… assuming your husband does not object to our using you as a proxy in this?” At Revik’s casual negative, Dulgar smiled wider, looking at me. “Excellent. You can inspect them personally, Esteemed Sister, and communicate your findings to your husband, when we reunite you in a few hours.”
Letting his smile turn oily, Dulgar tilted his head.
“I very much hope you will be pleased. We did try our best to meet all of your husband’s specifications in terms of skill sets and temperament. I assume you are aware of those requirements of his?”
I glanced at Revik, who lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Of course,” I said, smiling.
“Ah. Excellent. Then we can… save time, as you so rightly suggested, by more efficiently using our resources together. It will further give us all more time to get to know one another tonight, yes? To explore all of the ways in which we might find mutual benefit?”
I leaned back, letting a warmer smile reach my lips.
“Thank you so much, my brother,” I murmured. “I am certain your inventory will be most impressive. And I very much look forward to our dinner this evening.”
Dulgar raised an eyebrow in return, smiling in that slimy way he had.
He turned his gold eyes back to Revik.
“You will stay the night with us?” he inquired politely. “I insist, my brother. Dinner, though I hope impressive on its own, will never give you an adequate view of the scope of our operations here. We have facilities that will charm even a seer of your stature, Illustrious Sword. I feel confident we can provide you and your wife comforts unlike any you have ever enjoyed… a much needed indulgence given your long time of strife over the past months.”
Prophet: Bridge & Sword Page 5