"Those deaths were dealt by Cardino guards," Drood acknowledged. "The information was passed to me, which, as you know, resulted in your arrests."
"We're well aware," Kaldill responded, his words dry. "Nevertheless, those were our servants, not his. I understand there was no questioning—only shooting."
"That is my understanding as well," Drood agreed. "Shall I bring in the Cardino son responsible for the raid?"
"I'd like to see him," I volunteered.
"Why?"
"To make note of whether he wishes you dead," I shrugged.
"Your wish, my command," Drood said and stood abruptly. "Come, we will sort this first, and then you will give me an answer."
* * *
Wyyld II
Lissa
"This is what's left of the ranos cannon that blasted Siriaa to atoms," Kooper led me into the locked area of a weapons warehouse. "We've checked it for the poison creatures—and didn't find anything."
"When you send your troops after something, they get serious," I said, walking toward the burned, twisted pile of metal in the center of a concrete floor.
"Hit with laser rockets," Kooper shrugged. "Didn't see us coming, I guess." He smiled then, making me realize he'd shielded the attack ship himself. I didn't care; nobody needed to worry that a ship carrying a working ranos cannon might be close enough to destroy their planet.
"We've gone over it with our best equipment, and there are no markings, fingerprints or anything else to identify the manufacturer." Kooper was angry about that, I could tell. "Metal is up to Alliance standards, so it could be had almost anywhere. The computer brain was atomized, so there's nothing to examine."
I knew what he wasn't saying—we'd both gone Looking for the source, and hadn't found anything. Sirenali involvement was becoming a terrible curse. I blamed plenty of dead gods for resurrecting that race and setting it free to roam. According to Caylon, too, there were cloned Sirenali on Vic'Law, which presented another set of problems.
"I don't really like supporting one criminal against another," Kooper huffed, bringing us back to a heated debate we'd already had before arriving on Wyyld II.
"It's the only solution we have," I pointed out. "Juffa is the path to all the others, and if some of them are allied with Cayetes, we need to know who and we need to know now."
"I understand that," Kooper grumped. "I just don't like that Bel has been shoved into that—he has no experience in this sort of thing."
He'd hit the sore spot with me and he knew it—Bel Erland. While Erland wasn't saying it, he was now worried that Bel was in such close proximity to the criminal who ran everything on Vic'Law.
He and I imagined that Bel would stay hidden unless they needed a warlock's talents for something. I silently cursed the Orb in all this—I felt it was in control and none of us had a clue about its intentions concerning Vic'Law.
"Caylon cursed the entire time he explained this fiasco to me," Kooper attempted to direct me away from the subject of Bel Erland. "Quin practically handed Juffa their whole reason for being on the planet to begin with."
"I know. I worry about that, too. Now tell me—why are we here again?"
"Because Cayetes is still out there, and we stole from him."
"Stole what?" At first I didn't understand. Then it hit me. We'd taken bodies away from him—bodies he intended for himself when I transferred farmers from Vogeffa II.
"He doesn't like that," Kooper said. "It's all right for him to kill or steal from everybody else, but do it to him and you're an enemy until he can make you dead."
"You think he may be building another one of these?" I jerked my head toward the remains of a ranos cannon.
"We found nothing on Vogeffa I that could manufacture that," Kooper stared at the twisted metal before shaking his head. "That means Cayetes had it built elsewhere. We have to find where it came from before he aims it at Le-Ath Veronis or New Vogeffa."
"He has no way to trace this back to me," I began.
"Where did the Avii survivors end up?" Kooper demanded. "Who's Acting Regent and watching over Harifa Edus because New Fyris is there? It's only a matter of time before he determines the truth. While you can shield Le-Ath Veronis if he fires on it, I worry greatly about Harifa Edus."
"We need to find that bastard," I hissed. For the first time in a very long time, my fangs descended and Kooper stared at my red eyes in alarm.
* * *
Vic'Law
Terrett
I keep telling myself that I can only do as much as I am able. My heart squeezes, however, when I consider where we are and Quin's involvement. Juffa sees us as a private army. If he had our willing cooperation, he had no idea what kind of army he would actually have.
Likely—that would be more power than he ever dreamed of holding. In this, too, I couldn't decipher what Quin was thinking, or whether she was merely a puppet to the Orb's whims at this point.
I worried about her. I worried about the others, too. In the past, I never cared what happened to the criminals who owned me. I was a silent tool for them to use as they saw fit. Juffa might be better than most I'd seen, but he was still a criminal. His willingness to kill anyone who stood in his way attested to that.
We'd still not seen others of his family. Quin appeared to be unconcerned about that. Again, I worried about the Orb's involvement. It tainted everything and I wanted it to loosen its hold on Quin.
I think we all wanted that. I could tell Kaldill wasn't happy; I felt the same. What terrified me most was this, however; that we'd be forced to disconnect the bond between Quin and us, and let her go. It was obvious to almost everyone that she'd chosen a path of destruction with the criminal element of Vic'Law.
If I could find Cayetes for her, I'd do it. He wouldn't live long, either, if I had anything to say in the matter.
"Brother," Lafe sat beside me. I'd taken a bench outside our house on the Juffa estate. I nodded to acknowledge Lafe's presence. "Know anything about what Quin's up to?" he asked softly.
I worry that she may be committing suicide, I replied.
"While we're stuck in the middle of a maelstrom," he agreed. "What do you think we ought to do about it?"
I think we should sharpen our blades, I said.
Chapter 8
Bel Erland
"Come after me harder than that—you'll only make your opponent mad with that kind of thrust," Salidar snapped.
He'd agreed to teach me knife fighting. I thought I was getting good at it.
I was wrong.
Gran always said Sal had ninja skills, whatever that meant and whatever a ninja was. I was beginning to realize that you never saw a ninja coming; Sal was so fast, he was mostly a blur.
At least I held a knife in each hand, now. He wielded one. Even armed with two blades, I couldn't get close to him. "What would you do," he began, as if he were making casual conversation while I flashed my knives at him as fast as I could. "What could you do," he amended with a grin, "if I really were an enemy you faced right now?"
"I'd slow him down with power," I snapped, breathing hard with my efforts to touch him with dull practice knives. "Then stab the daylights out of him."
"Why haven't you tried that?"
"Because that would be cheating."
"You think your enemy is going to hold back from cheating?" Sal managed to lift an eyebrow as I swung at him again. He stepped neatly away from my intended slash and banged me on the back of my neck. He'd just shown me that he could take my head with little effort and a seven-inch blade.
I stared at him, heaving loud breaths from the effort of fighting with him. I thought I was in better shape than that. After two eight-days of working out with Sal, I knew my stamina needed improvement.
"I still won't cheat—with you," I said. "Anybody else better watch out."
"Good." Sal walked toward the wall, cleaned his practice blade and hung it on its pegs. I followed him, forcing my rubbery legs to work and lethargic arms to clean dull metal be
fore hanging both blades beside his.
"Want water?" I asked.
"Sure."
I Pulled in two sealed bottles and offered him one. He grinned and accepted.
* * *
Quin
I hadn't used my wings to fly in days. Justis rode the wind beside me as we glided over the Juffa estate. I could see Juffa as he walked out a door far below us—a servant had likely informed him that his winged allies were flying above his grounds.
From my vantage point, he was small. I knew him anyway. Had he thought our wings just for show? He knew better, now. He shaded his eyes from the sun bearing down as he watched us wheel and head in another direction.
Justis was taking me through the beginning exercises his troops did—of following their commander. I stayed on Justis' left, my right wing only a few hand-widths away from his. I glided when he did, so he could check on the distance between us.
He appeared satisfied—using my wings to fight had improved my control in the air. That's when we saw Drood Juffa waving at us, then motioning us down. Justis didn't like it, but we complied.
"I thought your wings were ornamental," Drood said as a servant poured tea for us inside his study. "This is quite the surprise."
"Our race grows wings in our ninth year," Justis explained. After all, that information was now on any Alliance comp-vid.
"Fascinating. From where I stood, I could hear nothing."
"Birds make little noise," Justis shrugged.
"The drones employed by the families make a familiar whine," Drood began. "I have sensors set up to detect their approach—by sound and movement."
"We can't hide ourselves," Justis said.
"Ah, but perhaps I can."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"One of my manufacturing concerns is working on developing a fine shield. You make the noise a bird makes, which can't be detected on the ground. My shield will conceal you well enough that anyone will think it a nightbird after prey if they hear anything at all. I've managed to steal the plans for these shields from the ASD." Drood sounded proud of himself.
I understood that he'd committed murder to get them, too. That could change my plans for him in the long term, but I shoved that thought aside for the moment.
"You want us to spy for you?" Justis asked, his voice cold and hard.
"Perhaps—if I deem it necessary," Drood shrugged.
"Our agreement states that we won't murder anyone for you, unless we deem it necessary," Justis reminded him.
"Yes, of course. I may wish to know what is going on in other places, that's all. The general population have no weapons—only the constabulary. My peers and those in the Second Tier are armed quite well. I need to know if any are building a larger arsenal than is necessary."
"The ball is two days away," I said.
"I know. That's why I want to give you a map so you can go out tonight."
* * *
I didn't need a map, but handing Drood Juffa proof of a larger-than-necessary arsenal on other estates was more than dangerous.
The map was delivered to us two hours later, with names printed on corresponding estates. "Which ones, love?" Justis asked while peering over my shoulder.
"We only have to go to this one," I stabbed a finger on the Cardino estate.
"They're the ones who killed our three agents without asking questions," Pellen said.
"Which family does Master Barstle belong to?" I asked.
"He is Kynn Cardino's youngest brother," Pellen replied.
"I need to see him—and his brother," I muttered, staring at the map. Barstle could be allied with the Xilvas, and together they could be leading the charge against Juffa. The Cardino estate was just as large as the Juffa estate, but it was surrounded on all sides by what looked to be a forest.
"Do you think Kynn isn't aware of his younger brother's addiction to drakus seed?" Kaldill asked.
"I can't say that he's the one addicted, but something is making my brain itch whenever I consider his connection to it," I replied.
"This spells coup to me—perhaps the Second Tier and all the younger ones in First Tier are weary of bowing to their elders or the higher-placed," Caylon said.
"I agree," Lafe nodded to Caylon.
"My concern," Sal said, "is that someone, somewhere, is luring the coup-minded in with drakus seed. We know how addictive that shit is. They may not. Either way, they'll kill to get it if their supply is cut off. If they don't die from it, first."
Something niggled my brain, making it itch again at the mention of the drug and its addictive qualities, but I couldn't muddle through that mystery, yet. Perhaps it would reveal itself soon, as I was beginning to tire of the mounting questions on Vic'Law, to which we had very few answers.
"We shield. I not trust shield of Juffa," Yanzi stated flatly.
"That may get us in trouble," Sal said. "Juffa may think his version infallible, when it may be next to worthless, should our shield be employed."
"I have these," Justis held up his hand to display the ring and cuff he wore.
"We may have to rely on that, but what about Quin?" Kaldill asked. "You may not be able to shield her every moment."
"Then we'll protect Quin and allow Justis' spelled stones to work for him. If he's shot at and the stones fire to counter the attack, that will tell us how effective Juffa's shield experiments have been," Caylon agreed.
"Do you have black leathers?" Sal asked, his dark gaze settling on me.
"No, Sursee."
"You won't wear them in the dojo; you're not qualified yet. You'll wear them now to hide yourself," Caylon joined in. "With Kaldill's help, I think we can come up with something before your flight to the Cardino estate."
"Thank you," I dipped my head to acknowledge the gift.
* * *
The black shirt and jacket I wore had a large cutout in the back to accommodate my wings and wouldn't restrict movement. Like many of my shirts, they fastened below my wings. Justis took care of those snaps and zippers for me—he was dressed similarly in black leathers, also supplied by Caylon and Kaldill.
The leather pants and boots fit perfectly; the boots were light enough so they wouldn't be a burden in the air, but sturdy enough if I had to run in them. I could tell Justis liked his boots very much—for the same reasons.
Where our outfits differed was this—his had a wide strap and buckle holding his scabbard against a leg—he would carry his blade with him in case he were forced to fight on the ground.
He also had a pistol tucked into an inside jacket pocket—in case the sword wasn't enough.
I had no weapons, as I hadn't trained with them yet. I only had my knowledge of hand fighting. I hoped I wouldn't need it.
Justis' steps were light and soundless as he walked out of our house. I followed him, hoping I'd be just as soundless and even less of a burden to him. He ran across the stones of the courtyard before snapping his wings out and taking flight. I copied his movements, hoping not to make a mistake.
* * *
Terrett
"She harmed, I kill," Yanzi settled onto a seat beside me—I'd chosen a chair near the fireplace inside the small library; it was next to Kaldill's suite and had seen little use before our arrival. I'd chosen it as my place to wait for Quin and Justis' return. Yanzi had found me there—for the same reason.
I will kill beside you, brother, I agreed.
"I was hoping to find someone here to share this with," Kaldill arrived, holding up a bottle of wine.
"Not Elf vintage?" Yanzi frowned.
"Not this time—I think you'd like to be awake if we're called upon to help," Kaldill replied.
"That why I ask," Yanzi leaned back in his chair with a sigh. Kaldill poured three glasses of wine and handed one to Yanzi and me before sipping from his. The wine was Refizani—I recognized it easily. Often, during my unwilling stay with Marid of Belancour, I'd drowned myself in wine. After all, it didn't matter whether I was asleep or awake—my Sirenal
i talent for hiding my questionable associates from anyone with power worked no matter what.
Lifting my glass to Kaldill to compliment his choice, I sipped more wine and considered the danger Quin might be in, shield or not.
Before long, the others wandered in. Kaldill used his talents to Pull in more wine. We sat around the fireplace, sipping wine and buried in our worries. Daragar arrived last and waved off a glass of wine—he'd never tasted it. Larentii didn't eat or drink to my knowledge, although that knowledge was quite limited.
Lafe had settled on the floor not far from my chair, cross-legged with black hair braided down his back. He'd told me once that if someone offered to unbraid a Falchani's hair, they were asking for sex. My hair was short so I couldn't braid it. That didn't keep me from wanting to sleep with Quin—in the traditional, lover's way.
I'd seen her before her wings, hair and eyes were changed. She was beautiful either way, although the black wings and hair lent a mysterious air to her graceful movements. Her training with Salidar and Caylon had only improved upon what she had naturally.
Fuck, I sighed mentally.
"I hear that," Yanzi agreed.
Jayna and Mell were ushered into the library moments later, both held by Juffa's guards while Juffa stalked in behind them. "I want to change the terms of our agreement," Drood hissed. "If they find a cache of weapons, I wish to send a message to Cardino by killing any guards there. If you want these two to live," he said, nodding toward the two women, "then I sincerely hope you have a way to get messages to your winged companions."
* * *
Quin
All my life, my talent for finding things has been both blessing and curse. The arsenal Drood wanted us to find was in a building on the Cardino estate, surrounded by dense forest.
The structure was also heavily guarded. Every door and window into the building (there were two of each) was also locked and alarmed.
Two armed guards stood at each entrance, too, as if they were waiting for us to arrive.
Justis thought the same. Do you think someone warned them? He sent mindspeech.
I don't know, I replied. I won't, either, until I see it in one of them.
I say we leave now, Justis huffed. We don't need to risk our lives just to get visual evidence.
BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Page 11