"He is the crown prince of the Avii, who now reside on Le-Ath Veronis."
"The Avii who were supposed to be destroyed with Siriaa?" Vardil lifted an eyebrow.
"The same, my Lord."
"He would have reason for a vendetta when he comes of age, would he not?"
"I believe that to be true, my Lord."
"Kill him at your earliest convenience," Vardil waved a hand. "His parents, too, if he has any."
"I will see it done, Lord Cayetes."
"One more thing," Vardil tapped fingertips together, as if he were in deep thought.
"I am at your command," Magul dipped his head.
"See to it that our army is prepared to go—when the infighting is over on Vic'Law, I will have Bleek lead our troops in to destroy any who survive."
"As you command, Lord."
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
Six children. Six orphans, I reminded myself. Bel Erland sent them to me—he didn't want their blood on his or the others' hands.
I waited for Amara and Edan's arrival—they'd take them and find a good home for the lot of them.
Bel had only taken those under the age of fifteen—those older had been old enough to know what they were doing. These six were from Drood Juffa's youngest wives. They'd seen enough of the violence going on before Bel pulled them away to realize their parents were dead.
For now, several comesuli were caring for them while we waited. Amara would ensure that they were loved and cared for—she and Edan were more than adept at matching children with prospective parents.
I worried at what appeared to be happening on Vic'Law. My suspicions were raised that it was happening now—shortly after Cayetes' disappearance from Vogeffa I.
In addition, I'd learned recently from some of Kooper's agents that Vogeffa II no longer held living humanoids—those from Gungl were either dead or conscripted into Cayetes' service.
If he intended to take Vic'Law eventually, he'd need a small army to accomplish it. If he had another ranos cannon at his disposal, it would only strengthen his position. Kooper and I still had no evidence as to where the cannon used to destroy Siriaa was manufactured; we continued to search with no results as yet.
"Lissa?" Amara's voice was low and soothing.
"Thank you for coming," I breathed as she held her arms open. I accepted her embrace gratefully. Besides my sister and Ashe, Amara was the only other I considered family.
My father—well, I hadn't spoken to him in years.
That didn't bother me at all. Bree and I—we'd written him out of our story. Ry saw him now and then, but their relationship was far from comfortable.
"You're thinking about Brenten, aren't you?" Amara stepped back and let me go.
"Yes," I hunched my shoulders.
"He has his own agenda and always will," she said. "Don't let him upset you any more than he already has."
"Good advice," I agreed, although the thought of him had already disturbed me more than I cared to admit. "Will you find a good home for these?" I nodded toward the children, all of whom were frightened.
"We will," she promised. "I'll make sure you know where they are."
"Thank you."
* * *
Vic'Law
Quin
"Bel?" I found him in the library, which he'd warmed with a wood fire in the fireplace and power he'd provided himself.
"Quinnie?" He shut the book he'd been holding—at least this library was stuffed with books—unlike the other places I'd seen so far during my stay on Vic'Law.
"Thank you for those lives," I dropped my gaze. I'd known earlier that he'd rescued six children from the Juffa estate—before the coup claimed their lives. I'd seen it in his gaze, but chose not to bring it up in front of any of the others.
"Come sit with me," he patted the seat beside him. "It's warm in here."
"Thank you." I settled beside him; he draped an arm around me. Then, leaning in, he placed a kiss on my temple. "Gran already took care of them—they'll have a new home with somebody who loves them."
"Thank you." I drew my knees up and snuggled against him.
"Quin, I only have so much control with you," he warned. "I think almost everybody here is going crazy because they want you."
"I don't know what to do," I whispered. "Really. And how can I choose the first?" I blew out a breath and moved to stand.
"No, don't go," he pulled me back.
"I may have a solution," Daragar appeared. "But you must be in the proper mood, first."
"By proper mood, I think he means wanting sex badly enough to jump somebody," Bel grinned.
"How should I get in that mood?"
"Like this." Bel leaned in to kiss me. It was a kiss meant to make toes curl. Justis had come close to it at times, but he'd always held back.
Bel Erland wasn't holding back.
So beautiful, Terrett's voice sounded in my head.
I love you, from Justis. More than anything.
Whose fingers removed my blouse?
Heat suffused my body.
I have waited for you so long, Kaldill breathed against my ear.
Ai yevu—my only, Lafe sighed.
My love—from Yanzi.
My heart, Berel crooned.
Where was I? I felt as if I were floating. Another kiss scorched my body. Hands on my breasts—whose hands were they? Fingers caressed. Thumbed my nipples. I moaned.
My love, there will be no pain—this or anytime, Daragar sighed. Your first time—as is fitting, will be energy sex with all your mates.
The world exploded around me, my body writhed in ecstasy and I lost consciousness shortly after.
* * *
I woke tangled in black feathers.
They weren't mine—they belonged to Justis. I was in his bed. "Someday," he nuzzled my cheek before kissing me, "we will mate in the air."
"Will it be that good?" I asked, innocently.
"I don't know if anything will be that good," he smiled before kissing me again. "Kaldill told me about the pleasure of energy sex, but the reality was far better than the description."
"You knew? It was planned?" I attempted to move away from him.
"Shhh," he soothed, pulling me back. "Daragar said he was waiting for the right time. That happened an hour ago. You have been asleep since the climax."
"I was the only one to lose consciousness?"
"No, we all did for a while—we merely woke before you. Daragar asked Queen Lissa's Larentii mates to guard us while we were asleep."
"How did we end up in your bed?" I asked.
"You are very persistent," Justis tapped my nose. "Connegar and Reemagar sorted us into our beds, so we'd be comfortable. Waking on the hard floor in the library wasn't an option any of us would appreciate when we woke."
"True," I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the warm comfort of Justis' wings. "Is that where everyone ended up—in the library?" I opened my eyes again and studied Justis' face.
"Yes. Daragar pulled all of us in. Somehow, we were floating—all of us coming in contact with you eventually. Before the climax."
"I thought I was dreaming," I said.
"No, love. It was no dream."
* * *
Terrett
Yanzi and I sat in the library—I think each of us wanted to savor the experience we'd had with Quin, courtesy of the Larentii. Yes, I'd had sex before—when I was ordered at times, or in stolen moments at others, but those were far in my past.
This—with Quin and a Larentii's help—nothing may ever come close to that again. "Churg dead, son kill," Yanzi sighed.
The war has begun? I asked.
"Fast," Yanzi agreed. "Nardes Churg, Barstle Cardino, allies."
The only Cardino who survived Juffa's attack? I asked.
"Yes."
Fighting for the control of Vic'Law and Juffa holdings, I snorted. I'd been part of several crime family holdings in the past—like a gold
coin or piece of jewelry. Something valuable enough to keep alive, but little else. I'd been won and lost, just as Drood Juffa's things were now a point of contention among those who remained.
"He not threaten, he still be alive," Yanzi pointed out.
How long before the war comes here? I asked.
"Hmmph," Yanzi replied. "War already here. We just far enough away that we not see it, yet."
* * *
Quin
"They'll let the people starve while they shoot at each other," Lafe said, motioning for me to sit beside him for afternoon tea.
"Are things happening here already?" I asked while Lafe dumped honey in my tea and stirred before pushing the mug into my hand.
At least the house was warmer now—although I believed the Larentii had a hand in that. Daragar had gone to find a sunny place to feed; a winter storm had pushed gray clouds over Mundia, and snow was coming. He needed sunlight and rest after what he'd accomplished earlier.
It was also a terrible time for people to be hungry, and I knew well enough that most in the city were afraid to go to their jobs when the factories and other businesses were in danger of attack.
"Where are the warehouses—where food is stored?" I asked.
"Between here and Puntia, and they'll be under heavy guard—wars are often won and lost according to who holds the supplies."
"You think we need permission to go there?" Bel Erland grinned at me as he sat nearby. Again, we were in the library—the fire was still going and it was more than comfortable, now.
Terrett and Yanzi sat across from us, watching and listening as Lafe and I discussed the current state of affairs on Vic'Law.
"Juffa hold space station—until now," Yanzi broke in. "Fighting over that, now. Shipments lost or delayed, too."
"So they have outside help. Probably Cayetes," Caylon settled gracefully on the rug near the fireplace. Sal followed him in—I admired the way they could drop so carefully to the floor without spilling a drop of their tea.
I'll teach you, Caylon hid a smile.
Thank you, Sursee, I gave a slight nod.
"Where can we find information on the interrupted shipments?" Justis asked. "Is it possible to hijack those before they fall into Cayetes' hands?"
"I can hijack—but I have to know where they are," Bel Erland said.
"I can find anything," I shrugged. "Although Vardil Cayetes is hiding pretty well."
"Don't worry about that—we'll draw him to us," Kaldill said. "If we take what is his, he will be searching for us, never fear."
"Kaldill, do you suppose he's looking for what we took away from him on Vogeffa II?" I asked, my voice small and filled with worry. Kaldill's words had brought that back to me of a sudden, which concerned me greatly.
"It's possible," Sal answered my question. "I'll put Queen Lissa on alert."
"We know what Bleek is capable of," Lafe observed. "Tell everyone to be wary of that monster."
"You think Cayetes would send Bleek?" I turned toward Lafe.
"Bleek was commander of Cayetes' Storm. He always arrived with his troops to rape Gungl. I have no doubt that Bleek is in charge of this mission, if Cayetes wants those people back."
"He'll want them back—even if it's to kill them all," Caylon growled. "He is more than possessive, and intended to kill an entire planet filled with people to get to one man—Marid of Belancour. It's my guess he isn't taking responsibility for what the poison is doing to other worlds across the universe—by blasting Siriaa to bits and sending those terrible creatures everywhere."
Many criminal minds are warped, Terrett said, causing everyone to nod in agreement.
"We have to decide our first order of business," Sal pointed out. "Prioritize our goals and attempt to recreate the enemy's thoughts and plans."
"I believe the people of Vic'Law should come first—they'll starve or freeze in this winter if we don't do something," I said. "Juffa had all the power companies. Someone will want those and fast. It's sad that very little is solar powered on this world."
"There's very little money in what can be had for free," Kaldill said. "The families won't care that the population freezes to death while they fight over the power stations."
"To say nothing of those who may be killed in the crossfire as the families pick each other off," Berel offered dryly.
I suddenly felt as if we were on an island, besieged on all sides by an enemy whose only care was for himself.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"Honey?" I stood in alarm the moment Bel Erland appeared in my private study.
"Everything's fine, Gran," he held up a hand as he grinned at me. I opened my arms; he came to give me a hug.
"What do you need, then?" I smiled as he pulled away.
"I need a pirate ship," he said and laughed.
* * *
Vic'Law
Quin
"I have this," Yanzi appeared as dinner was served that evening, Terrett right behind him.
"These are manifests," Caylon scrolled through the comp-vid Yanzi handed him.
Ships bound for here that are being diverted, Terrett informed us. Where they're from, what they carry and when they ought to arrive. For the next two months.
I could see that he and Yanzi had employed a bit of subterfuge to get what they had—I wasn't sure I wanted to know how much danger they'd been in to get it.
"Where did this come from?" Sal asked, peering over Caylon's shoulder.
"Juffa records at Juffa estate," Yanzi grinned. "Terrett hide us. I steal."
"You wily sidewinder," Sal breathed as he studied the information.
"Not sidewinder, but accept compliment," Yanzi chuckled.
"They have warlocks, don't they?" Kaldill asked.
"Many. Each family there," Yanzi agreed. "Having standoff. Barstle make claim for dead family. Others not like."
"How powerful?" Bel Erland arrived in the middle of our conversation.
"Hmmph. Best third level," Yanzi huffed.
"At least they're not pooling their abilities," Kaldill said. "They could be dangerous if they did that."
"They worry about getting paid. Not others," Yanzi said.
"Usually the way it is with outlaw warlocks," Bel Erland nodded. "What's for dinner? I'm starved."
You're fifth level, aren't you? I sent to Bel, who grinned as he helped himself to a pile of fried chicken.
Yeah. Wizards are backward—they work their way from fifth to first. Warlocks work from first to fifth. Don't get that argument started between a wizard and warlock in a bar. The bar usually ends up paying the price.
Did you do something like that?
Dad and Grampa made me fix it afterward, so yeah, I guess I did.
I snickered. Bel grinned.
There's something else, he said, employing power to place a roll and a pat of butter on my plate.
What's that? I asked.
You'll see it after dinner.
* * *
"What the holy hell?" Sal walked around the command console on the bridge of a new starship.
"Here's the outside image," Bel said, holding out his hands and forming a picture with power.
The ship was built large enough to hold us, yet small enough to speed past most anything else that flew through star systems. It was black, like the night about us, except for the name and insignia on its sleek skin.
BlackWing was painted boldly in white on the sides, with a strange image of a skull and crossed bones shining beneath the name.
"A pirate ship?" Sal made a face at Bel.
"What better way to take Cayetes' shipments and piss him off at the same time? We'll be the criminal element he doesn't know about. He'll come after us. Isn't that the objective? Gran thought it was a good idea. Kooper knows already, so we can slip away from the ASD when we need to."
"Pirates?" I frowned at Bel.
"Quinnie, if there's a way to draw Vardil Cayetes away from whatever hole he's hi
ding in, this may be it. He'll be infuriated that we take what he intends for himself. We can keep the people of Vic'Law supplied with food and necessities behind everybody's back, too. If we equip some of the larger cities with solar power and hide it from the warring families, we may be able to keep the population alive while everybody else is trying to take over."
"I think it's a magnificent idea," Berel breathed as he studied the console. "Who's flying it?"
"High five," Bel Erland held up a hand. Berel slapped Bel's palm with his and grinned. A friendship was forming between them and I was glad. Both had diplomatic skills that would make most rulers envious.
"We need a captain who isn't connected to the rest of us," Kaldill suggested. "Someone trustworthy and above reproach, in case all of us are needed elsewhere."
"We will think on that," Caylon agreed. "Surely someone can be found quickly, before we steal our first cargo ship."
* * *
Avendor
"Bear, what do you have planned for the next six months or so?"
Bear Wright, a grizzly bear shapeshifter, blinked at Ashe Evans. When the Mighty Hand asked, it was usually a good idea to pay attention.
"Whatever you want me to do." Bear, whose feet were resting on a thick tree stump he'd pulled from the ground by himself, dropped his boots to the porch outside his front door and stood to stretch.
"You think you'd mind captaining a starship with Amos and Flossie Thompson? I think I heard them complain about not going anywhere recently."
"That sounds like a fine idea," Bear grinned. "When do we leave?"
* * *
Vic'Law
Quin
During the night, after I'd gone to bed (Terrett slept beside me, while Yanzi's snake was coiled at the foot of the bed), the explosion that destroyed Juffa's natural-gas plant in Mundia woke all of us.
Dressed only in pajamas and barefoot, I raced after Terrett and Yanzi, who ran toward the library.
Without natural gas, there would be no heat in Mundia. "We need to turn it off before the entire city burns," Caylon snapped the moment we arrived in the library.
He, Lafe and Sal already had blades strapped to their backs. I wasn't willing to let them leave me behind—I understood that people had been hurt in the blast. I blamed it on the Cardino/Churg alliance; I imagined their goal was to freeze or destroy anyone in Mundia who might still be loyal to Juffa. The others were already gathered in the library—those who were able had folded space to get there.
BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Page 13