Black Point Clan (Wine of the Gods Book 36)

by Pam Uphoff

  He could hear Captain Wrlo's teeth grind. "That was not 'just Ifbo.' The whole group followed you toward the patio, and stopped in the doorway with their backs to us and pretended to accidentally block us. That was a deliberate set up."

  "Yes. And we need to track down the source. So, sorry, guys. You can stick a guard in my room or out on the patio if you prefer. But we're just going to carry on like before. With less alcohol around as an excuse for accidents." He walked out to find a clean, sober, and subdued group watching the vid screen.

  "How's Bo?"

  Ewmo looked at Ajha, baffled. "Where did you learn to fight like that? Bo's fine, a stun spell got through to him, finally."

  "We were both on the fencing team in school. You remember that, I expect." Ajha broke off as the screen changed for the hourly news update.

  The only newsie braving the rain instead of covering the convention had gotten a few good shots of the early fight, and then cannily looped around and managed to get a shot of Xiat taking Ajha down.

  Ajha sighed. It looks exactly like a drunken brawl between idiot Oners with no better sense than to try and kill each other with swords.

  Teeth ground behind him. Captain Wrlo was probably having visions of losing his charge the first day he was trying to protect him. "Where did you learn that sword-grabbing spin and kick?"

  They were showing it again, in slow motion, as he and Bo had both been fired up. "Xen Wolfson does a lot of unarmed-against-weapons training. That was loosely based on something useful in a knife fight. Except you're supposed to grab the hand, so you don't lose fingers." Ajha flexed his hand. "Fortunately, Ask Me brought along some legal swords. Blunt edges."

  "They still had points!"

  "Well, yes. But it wasn't like Bo was trying to kill me. And I wasn't trying to kill him, either," Ajha added hastily. "Look, let's just see if there's anything to eat, and watch the vote count. What time is it, anyway? Two? Who made it traditional to stay up until the vote was recorded, surely we could have a rep for that as well?"

  He was jeered at.

  Maij worked up a quick breakfast buffet, and kept pots of tea and coffee coming.

  ***

  Xiat stayed quietly in the back of the girl pack. Or as quietly as she was allowed, as the very large screen once again showed her straddling Ajha, handcuffs evident, just enough mud and water to plaster her shirt to her chest and emphasize her freezing cold nipples.

  "The Third Alternate Philosopher's drunken fight with his old school chum, and romp in the mud with housemate Princess Xiat . . . " She plugged her ears. Romp in the mud. Housemate! I am going to have an interesting time, my first day back at the office.

  Ajha sent Mushy and Whipper to retrieve Bo from the clinic and bring him "home." The ecclesiastical guards pulled in from searching the house inch by inch and one always seemed to be hovering, disapprovingly, over Ajha.

  She suspected the disapproval involved not admitting that they were protecting him from Bo. But there could be some real disapproval in there. She’d have to ask if they knew his background, realized that he could probably beat any of them.

  And what about Orc? He'd been conscious when she'd gotten back, and given her a dirty look. But he had deliberately blocked her. And Ask Me had brought dueling swords to a party that had sprung up "spontaneously."

  She'd pulled muscles somewhere along the line. And raised a fine crop of bruises. She looked over at Ajha, relaxed, grinning, waving a cup and yawning. Cheerful despite his swollen red nose and the scrape on his forehead.

  "By rights he shouldn't be able to move."

  She looked around and backed off to talk with the investigator. He had Mushy and Whipper waiting down in their bedroom. Formerly Ajha's bedroom. It looked about like she'd expect from occupation by three sporadically drunken Withiones.

  Whipper squirmed. "Ajha said we should tell you about the party at Ewmo's. About how we went down with Ifbo, and then we didn't notice him for a while, and then he was in the shower with some maids and made a spectacle out of himself."

  Mushy nodded. "I don't think he was there. I mean, we were all in and out of both bedrooms. He wasn't there, nor was he in the game room, unless he was hiding under the furniture. There were more guys than girls, we all knew where they were. We'd have noticed if he was around."

  "Early on, do you remember where he was?"

  "Yeah, he beat Yukky at air hockey. He always was fast. I hadn't realized that Ajha was as fast. Faster. Anyway, this girl was collecting, you know? We all laughed as she dragged him off, then again when he staggered out grinning. Naked. He challenged me to naked air hockey, so we played a game, then I went off with a girl. The next time I saw him, he was still naked." Mushy frowned. "That was after a couple hours, actually. I was recuperating, watching a match in Joburg. He was behind the couch and went into the bathroom. Then Echo started laughing in there, said there were soapy slippery girls available, so we all went in and got in the shower, well, not all of us, maybe three or four guys with the two girls? Well, everyone was laughing about the guys all being used up. Bo came out after awhile and toweled off and the third girl came in and he went for her, right there. Then, well, the party started breaking up. Everyone found the rest of their clothes. Or all their clothes, for the guys in the shower. And Bo. His were all in a pile . . . I think where he left them all night long."

  Xiat looked over at the investigator.

  "And that's why there was no clothing residue. A couple of spots that were probably some sort of lightweight cloth shoes. He wore them back to the house, tossed them in the case and walked in starkers, and no one thought anything of it. Straight into the shower. Those little spots of damaged cloth are where he brushed against them, or someone he brushed against touched."

  The investigator nodded, and looked back at the younger men. "Did Ajha have you watching anyone else?"

  Whipper nodded. "Well, not watching. He got us to question the maids here, about where Arja and Imgo were, that night. And then sent us barhopping. That's how we found out where the Director had been all night."

  Xiat sighed. "Ajha started out my main suspect. I should turn in my handcuffs and find something I'm good at."

  Mushy and Whipper managed to keep their faces straight. One smirk, or one comment about handcuffs . . .

  "So, where were Imgo and Arja the night of the ninth?"

  "They had dinner here, ten to almost eleven. Arja was almost late, on account of making a comm call. The maids were up and about all night long. Imgo hit the bathroom once, they didn't see Arja at all."

  The investigator nodded. "Thank you. Go ahead and party. Or investigate for the Philosopher. He seems to have a nose for a hot trail." He waited until the two were out of hearing. "Either that or he's Playing us."

  "I suspect there's a bit of that. After all, he has to be wondering about his father's part in it all. I don't . . . well if the Ax were behind it, with Arja telling him when Ajha was vulnerable to being framed . . . that's pretty nasty. But what about Arlw? Plant Arja in Kiaj's household with a convenient marriage, then murder a rival of each of them, with the Ax's son seriously lacking in an alibi."

  "Neat. How the hell do we prove it? Parties all week long, they are bound to have been in the same house at the same time, somewhere. I'll get Arlw's schedule. See if you can worm out Bo's from this houseful of snakes."

  Back in the Great Room, the vid was back to showing the endless procession of Representatives shuffling along. Being called up. Giving their tallies verbally. Shuffling off for the next man along. Xiat timed them.

  "They're averaging two a minute. They may actually finish this up by ten in the morning, if they can keep up the pace." Poppy was sitting on the arm of Ewmo's chair.

  Xiat shifted to where she could see him better. "How many parties does this one make, Ewmo?"

  Ewmo snorted. "This one barely counts. Insufficient women and booze."

  "There are plenty of women here."

  "Yeah, standing around talking. Even
the maids are stiff-arming us."

  "What was the wildest party—not counting your own?"

  "Oh, Chachi's, definitely. Do you remember Achi? Two years ahead of us, captain of the football team?"

  "Oh him. I suppose he had all the sporting types over."

  "Yeah, it was great to see the team again. I'm surprised you didn't come. It was great, eh, Poppy?" He nudged her. "The girls wouldn't try their old routine, though. We suggested they do it naked."

  Poppy rolled her eyes. "I left early." She looked down at Ewmo and shuddered. "I can't even try to Play anymore. Yuck." She got up unsteadily and walked away.

  "Eh, she always was all promise and no putout. Almost as bad as you, although you were pretty fun, once you got liquored up. Remember that graduation party?"

  "Thankfully, no."

  He thought that was funny. "Man, we all had bets about who the Daddy would be, finally gave up and used the money for a party."

  Yukky, Orc and Ask Me were laughing too. Xiat resolved to kill them all at some future date.

  She glanced Poppy's direction, the woman was heading upstairs. "So . . . lacking Poppy and me, who'd you get to do the cheers?"

  "Oooo! Achi Chachi had some younger ones in reserve. You should have been there."

  She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well right now all we wish is that we'd cheered on the fencing team. Not that they ever asked. Ifbo was the Captain, wasn't he? And Ajha was on the team. Did any of you other guys ever try out?"

  Ewmo laughed. "That's what Bo said, 'Why didn't you ever cheer for me?' Huh. We all should have worked harder at it, all the Players can fence, even if they don't duel much, anymore. They go down to the club and spar. Huh. Something else I've been learning. I've finally gotten good enough to move to a club with some big Players. I'll get myself noticed yet."

  Mushy nodded. "Yeah, getting noticed is the pits, and not getting noticed is worse. And that little worm. Yeah, you, Bo. I'm going to have to start taking lessons from you. Join a club. What do you recommend?"

  "Start at a little one, out in some Halfer enclave. I go to Darab Salle in the northern suburbs twice a week or so. Once you're good enough to beat a few of the show-offs, move to a more posh club, where you'll find the Players. You don't want to start there, get beaten regularly and look like an idiot." He scowled over at Ajha. "I've gotten rusty, since school. And he's certainly learned some dirty tricks." He put a hand to his nose. The hospital had fixed it; no swelling or redness remained.

  All he has left is the memory of getting beaten up. Is Ajha insane, keeping him here?

  Mushy flopped on the floor nearby and yawned. "I heard there was a party on Songbird, three houses involved, dancing in the street."

  Bo nodded. "Freezing in the rain, then getting into hot tubs. No real action, though."

  "Shouldn't you guys be about old enough to start going to nice dinner parties? Making yourselves Players instead of buffoons?" Xiat glanced up the stairs. No sign of Poppy.

  "That's for you women. We'll be brawling for another twenty before we can even think about marrying." Orc shrugged. "That's the way it is."

  That got universal nods.

  Xiat eased out of the group and headed upstairs.

  Poppy was sitting on the bed staring out at the dismal gray. "Can't tell if the Sun's up or not. And who cares?" She had a lacy handkerchief in her hands, nervously wringing it.

  Xiat reached and took it away. "Poppy, you've got a marvelous son, something I can't ever have. Shouldn't ever torture myself with wanting. You've got a job, and the freedom to do whatever you want."

  "Except play the Game. I thought I wanted Uzga, but he was just a . . . trap. So were the first two, but at least I didn't love them. And they weren't important enough to have attracted some One damned Princess. Uzga always consulted her. I wasn't able to do anything I wanted to do. Just sit and look pretty, show up for parties someone else arranged for him. Endi . . . He was so nice. He sympathized, but he made me laugh, too. But it was all a fake. When I got so mad at Uzga, and scooped up Endi, right there in public . . . I got carried away and went too far. And he took advantage of it because he was systematically emasculating the War Party. They've only just finally gotten any sort of strength back. 'Help us Poppy. You betrayed us once, now do this for us.' "

  "Do what? Poppy?"

  Poppy reached over and picked up a glass perhaps a quarter full of wine and drank it.

  "Give this to Ajha."

  Xiat hit the panic button on her comm as the woman keeled over.

  Chapter Eleven

  20 Shawwal 1407yp

  Black Point Enclave, West Coast of North America

  The Ecclesiastical Guards all had medical training, and all carried all sorts of interesting things around with them. But it was Ajha's anti-toxin, anti-shock, and cell metabolism spells that kept Poppy alive long enough for the poison to be identified and the antidote applied.

  Jay had sat in a small miserable huddle in the hospital's emergency room for hours, and had now moved to being a small miserable huddle in the corner of the hospital room where they'd eventually transferred Poppy.

  Xiat sat down beside him. "The doctor said she'd be all right now. You just started boarding here at the first of the year, right?"

  "Two months ago. I should have stayed with her in Caracas. She said I needed to know the Clan Enclave. That I'd need their support to get into a good college, and get a good job. She said the school down there couldn't teach me magic, but this one isn't either."

  Xiat reached out and hugged him. "It'll blossom soon enough."

  "Unless Endi Dewulfe sabotaged it. He isn't of the One, maybe he couldn't make a real One gene, just something close enough to pass a standard quick test." His legs were drawn up against his chest, scrawny arms looped around them. He laid his head down on his knees.

  Ajha came over and sat on his other side. "I've met him. He isn't cruel. And the One accepted the genetic changes I've had. I think you'll be fine. Right now, we need to figure out who gave her that poison."

  "She was supposed to kill you, wasn't she?"

  "Yes. Did she have many visitors, in Caracas?"

  His eyes darted to Xiat. "No, Xiat came, sometimes, and she had friends from work, and we knew all the neighbors."

  "Do you ever remember any men visiting her?"

  He shook his head. "She dated a couple of guys, but they both stopped calling. Partly because of me, but I think they were just Halfers, and they knew they'd never have kids if they married her."

  "You've been around the last couple of days, ever see her talking to anyone? That's a stupid question, isn't it?" Ajha sat back huffily. "We've all been talking our heads off for . . . what day is this? Have they finished the tally? Who won?"

  "Ozji. Arlw looked bilious as he gave his oath in the name of everyone who voted for him."

  "Good. The more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea of some guy who lived in Paris being the Patriarch of the Clan." Ajha leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Jay, your mother is right about the importance of Clan to a Oner. Remember your neighborhood in Caracas? You know the people, even if you don't talk to them, you know the houses and the road, favorite trees, places to play, places to hide and dream. Your mother wanted you to feel the same way about the Clan and the enclave. That was one reason she sent you here. As your magic comes in, it'll be in fits and starts, and you'll start seeing the world around you a bit differently. Here, everyone will understand that, and they know how to cope with it. You won't be able to damage them. Not accidentally, not on purpose if you lose your temper. Your friends back in Caracas, any of them that were Multitude or weak Halfers wouldn't be able to protect themselves. That's the other reason you are here. It's the reason there's a government stipend for Oner children. Not to encourage them to have more children, but rather to ensure they can afford to do what is needed as the children come into power."

  "Doesn't seem to work that way," Jay grumbled.

  Ajha nodded. "Yeah, damn
near everything has unintended consequences. Sometimes you just have to put up with them."

  Over on the bed, Poppy whimpered a bit. The investigator, who'd been sitting on her far side, stepped up. "Lady Jowp? Who gave you that poison, to give to Ajha?"

  She wiped at tears. "Uzga. Payment for my disloyalty, for the insult to him. A little white pill to make everything right. Tell Pajamas I love him. It was nothing to do with him, not really."

  "I'm here, Mum." Jay had crept up to her other side. She turned her head and more tears flowed. "You're going to be all right now." His voice suddenly changed to scolding. "And next time, just tell the police and let them deal with it. You don't have to go all tragic and silly and try to kill yourself, like, like in one of those silly plays."

  "Yeah. Less painful all around." Ajha slouched over. "Mind you, I suspect Uzga's been working on making you feel guilty and softening you up for this for awhile."

  "He called me, a month ago. I was lonely, thinking about home, I'd just heard about the Patriarch's death. Before I came, he gave me a pill. 'Keep it,' he said. 'Maybe you can do me a favor, make up for what you did.' He said it was hallucinogenic, that it would dent someone's reputation a bit. I didn't believe him. He called and said to give it to you. So I crushed it, and put probably less than half of it in the glass." Her eyes wandered to Jay. "Pajamas, over the years I've said some bad things about your father. But it was all my fault it happened . . . and he was just trying to save his world from a war. And he managed it without killing anyone. He saved the President. These people, Uzga and whoever he was acting for, they don't care about people dying. Even our own soldiers dying. It's all about winning points. Money, titles, positions of power, people you can order around. Order to kill and die." She heaved out a deep breath. "I knew that. I can't believe I was so stupid."

  "It's all right, Mom. Just, just don't do it again. Please?" His voice wavered on the last.

  They were still crying all over each other when Xiat followed the other two men out. Five Ecclesiastical guards and three uniformed policemen were waiting in the hallway.