"I think I've dimmed it a few times since then," he said, leaning in to kiss me. "For that, I apologize."
"Do you apologize for drugging my wine?" I opened my eyes and frowned at him.
"I will never apologize for making you mine. You may complain all you want about that. An apology will not be forthcoming."
"I told Berel you were full of shit."
I expected him to be offended. Instead, he flopped onto his back and laughed.
Propping myself on an elbow, I watched as he guffawed. He needs to laugh, I reminded myself.
Afterward, he made his apology known by loving me senseless.
* * *
"Don't worry," Justis wrapped arms about my shoulders. He held me close as we watched the news-vid concerning the private ship carrying Wimla, Vorina, Liron and Farisa.
"But," I sputtered. The ship, according to the vid, had been taken by pirates.
"Wait for it," Justis breathed against my ear. We stood naked in his suite, my back to his front, as we watched a clip from the ship's camera before it was cut off, showing the attack ship's logo.
It bore the name BlackWing II.
Chapter 14
Quin
"They've been taken to Avendor," Justis chuckled. "Queen Lissa tells me that none get past the shield around SouthStar. Cayetes can break himself against that barrier, if what I hear is correct. Farisa can attempt to run away whenever she wants. The shield will stop her escape."
"This was done to inflame the war we've started with Cayetes, wasn't it?" I asked. Justis took my hand and led me toward the bathroom—he intended to get a shower before Yellow Wings arrived with our breakfast.
"Exactly," Justis tapped my nose. "Liron's testicles, how I love you."
* * *
Lissa
"If I had my choice, Barc would stay with me," I informed Bleek. "Your child will never be held accountable for your sins; I will decree it. I hope you come to realize that, someday. I will say this," I said. "Harm or betray Quin and I will hunt you down and destroy you."
"I made a promise to her already," Bleek sounded as if I'd offended him. "She gave my child back to me. Please don't ask me to be separated from him so soon."
"Then I will ask Kaldill and Daragar to protect him while he's on Vic'Law," I said. "He will be welcome on Le-Ath Veronis anytime. I've already approved his citizenship."
I watched as Bleek went still. "He's a member of the Alliance?"
"He is, now. You, on the other hand, have many sins to atone for. Show me you're worthy of my approval, and I'll consider citizenship for you as well."
"They're here," Grant announced, interrupting my conversation with Bleek.
"I want Cayetes dead," Bleek said as I led him toward my study door. "I will prove myself, I swear it."
"Start by apologizing to LaFranza," I said. "You nearly killed him. If Quin hadn't been there, he'd have died."
"He's a master swordsman," Bleek sighed. "It was like destroying a work of art when I cut him."
"Then tell him that, too," I snapped.
* * *
Quin
Justis didn't want to let me go.
I felt empty after leaving him behind at Avii Castle. As the hovercar flew us away, I saw tour boats on the waters below, where people crowded the rails and watched as Ardis led his troops in battle formation training.
I wondered if Justis watched them from his window, too.
* * *
Bleek
There was no threat coming from LaFranza or any of my new companions as we gathered in Queen Lissa's arboretum. "I'm giving you mindspeech," Lissa gave me a pointed look.
Don't piss me off or I'll remove it, her voice sounded in my mind. I jumped; I hadn't been that startled in sun-turns.
Two trunks were to go with us—one filled with clothing for Barc, the second for me. I was stunned by the Queen's generosity.
It's because Quin believes in you. Don't break that trust.
I promise, I replied, testing my new ability.
She nodded to let me know she'd heard.
I'd been transported by Deris and Daris before. This trip, the journey was much smoother. Yanzi, whose speech seemed broken, had transported us. I may have stared at him in wonder when we landed inside a mansion outside the manufacturing city of Mundia on Vic'Law.
He's a shapeshifting lion snake, Quin informed me. Tread carefully, he is quite powerful.
And poisonous, no doubt, I responded.
She smiled. It made me glad—she hadn't smiled once since she'd arrived at the Queen's palace that morning.
* * *
Quin
A meeting was in order shortly after our arrival at the mansion; Daragar had been busy providing solar power for the power station and to larger buildings. He and Kaldill had arranged to replace natural-gas pipes with energy lines and outmoded stoves with heating panels, or perhaps they merely transformed what was already there.
Either way, houses were now heated with light from Vic'Law's sun, and cooking was done by employing the same type of technology.
"We've received no further communication from Cardino or Churg," Caylon said. "Deliveries to Mundia were already interrupted when you left; nothing has changed since then, so we've been building an army from the population. Their first duties include distributing food to the city."
"We've collected bounties offered by the ASD for turning over the crews of Cayetes' ships—the ones he sent to interrupt the shipments we took," Sal grinned. "The coffers of Mundia are growing nicely, so they can order what they need from legitimate channels. One of us can transport supplies with no trouble."
"Nice," Bel Erland grinned. "Have they elected their leadership, yet?"
"Shim is in charge; his companions are falling into place around him," Caylon nodded. His eyes, dark and enigmatic, turned to me. "Quin, I want you and Jayna to train with those I've chosen as officers in the army; I want more women in the ranks and I think you'll be able to bring them in."
It's because you keep getting up when you've been knocked down, Terrett informed me. You don't give up. Caylon admires that greatly.
"All right," I nodded to Caylon. He almost smiled.
* * *
Bleek
I wasn't sure of my welcome when I knocked on LaFranza's door; his suite was far from the one Barc and I shared.
Dark eyes examined me when he opened the door. For a moment, I couldn't form the words.
"I will fight beside you from now on," I whispered. Those words were difficult enough, but the next ones I almost didn't get out. Not because I didn't want to say them, but because I did.
"I will owe a debt to you until you tell me it is repaid," I said, bowing my head.
"Stand with me to guard Quin, and that will be payment enough," he said.
"I always heard the Falchani were honorable. Now I know it to be true," I sighed. "Thank you."
* * *
Puntia
Vardil was vicious when he was angry.
Barstle felt fortunate to be alive. Four of his servants weren't—their bodies, like that of Nardes, were charred piles of ash on the floor where Deris had killed them.
He didn't understand Vardil's cursing at first; eventually he learned that a new criminal element had joined the ranks—one who'd chosen to attack ships bound for Vic'Law, snatching them away from Vardil's grasp. Barstle realized the depth of Cayetes' betrayal then.
Vardil intended to starve or kill any on Vic'Law for which he had no use. That, in essence, meant all crime families and anyone else who stood in his way. He intended to intercept any ship bringing supplies to Vic'Law in order to achieve his warped goals.
Too, in the midst of Vardil's fit of anger and subsequent murder of four servants, Barstle learned that an assassination Vardil ordered had gone awry. His assassin had been killed and now the intended victim had been taken by the same pirates who were preying on the ships he'd sent his own to take.
The name BlackWing was mentioned
with regularity while Vardil cursed.
"I want the ones behind those ships," Vardil hissed at Dorgus, his valet and personal assistant. "Find out who they are. They will regret the day they crossed my path."
* * *
Quin
The following morning, Jayna and I went with Caylon, Sal, Lafe, Bleek and Terrett to a former hovercar factory, where the Mundian army was now quartered.
Those Caylon had chosen as officers he would train, with Jayna and me participating. Sal was training the rest, but he now had help from Lafe, Bleek and Terrett.
Mell agreed to watch Barc during training time, with help from Kaldill, Berel and Bel Erland.
Bleek was slowly beginning to relax. I think he enjoyed teaching new troops eventually; Sal was impressed with his knowledge of hand and blade fighting.
Jayna and I were two of only three women in the group Caylon trained. Afterward, Caylon had another four who wanted to try for an officer's position.
Jayna and I were allowed to leave at lunchtime to return to the mansion; Caylon stayed to eat what was served to the army and then drilled the troops during the afternoon.
Yanzi came to take us home; all the others stayed with Caylon.
"How was it?" Berel smiled and opened his arms when we appeared in the kitchen.
"I'm covered in sweat," I warned him.
"Don't care," he pulled me close and kissed my forehead.
"It's humbling," Jayna admitted. "That those people are willing to fight for their families, against such strong enemies."
"She's right," I pulled away. "They don't know what they'll face, and they're training anyway."
"Come on, I'll get you into the shower," Berel pulled me away from the kitchen. I could hear Jayna laughing behind me as we trotted down the hall.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"Is the shield up around Harifa Edus?" I asked. Connegar and Reemagar, my Larentii mates, agreed to do this for me.
"It is," Connegar smiled.
"If more of Cayetes' ships arrive, we will know," Reemagar agreed.
"He won't let this go—just as he won't let Liron's assassination go," I sighed. "The sadistic swine."
"He is much like his brother, as you recall," Connegar said.
"I haven't heard that he's a pedophile, but that's not much to recommend him over his brother Hordace."
"I marvel that he is so difficult to find," Reemagar pointed out. "If Quin cannot find him with her talent, then I suspect a cause we haven't discovered as yet."
"Kooper found his compound on Zephili, but there's little evidence left behind. Certainly nothing that would tell us where he went. He's likely holed up somewhere, waiting for Vic'Law to destroy its population, then he'll attempt to waltz in and take everything that's left with little effort. Bleek told the truth when he said he didn't know which way Cayetes would go," I added.
"I wonder if Cayetes will make the trains run on time," Gavin appeared with a nod. Occasionally, he'd tell a joke. I bent over laughing.
* * *
Vic'Law
Quin
I discovered that Berel and I could teach Jayna and Barc at the same time. Jayna sat with an arm around the boy while they pored over a book, both reading slowly through it. Barc had been so ill the last two years of his life before being placed in a sealed coffin, that he'd had little time for lessons.
He and Jayna were nearly at the same stage of reading ability as a result.
That's where Bleek found us, after he and the others returned to the mansion. "Pap, Quin and Berel are teaching me and Jayna," he crowed, running into his father's embrace.
Bleek's eyes settled on me in grateful surprise.
"You should wash up, my lamb," I rose from my seat and ruffled Barc's hair. "Dinner is nearly ready."
"We'll wash up together," Bleek lifted the boy and carried him out of the library.
* * *
Puntia
"Here is the list of those imprisoned on Le-Ath Veronis," Dorgus handed a comp-vid to Vardil. "You look most handsome, my Lord."
"I do," Vardil agreed as he studied himself in the mirror. "We're keeping the original twins alive to provide blood; this is the first of their clones. I like this very much," he said, turning from side to side to admire the new body. "No more buying different sizes of clothing—from now on, a single wardrobe will do."
"This color is perfect for you, too," Dorgus gushed.
"I've always liked red, but I never wore it in my original state as it washed out my skin color. This is perfect," he straightened the collar on the red leather jacket.
"I will make sure you have more red in your wardrobe," Dorgus said.
"Why is Bleek not on this list?" Vardil glanced at the comp-vid. "He wasn't listed among the dead—that list came yesterday."
"I cannot say, my Lord. Perhaps it was an oversight."
"Perhaps he escaped—he is quite talented, you know. Attempt to contact him."
"I will do so, my Lord. Immediately."
"Something else is missing, too," Vardil studied the list more closely.
"What is that?"
"The Sirenali. None of them are listed. It's fortunate that Bleek's crew was taken by the ASD instead of those filthy BlackWing pirates. At least we know what happened to them—or most of them."
"Why wouldn't they list the four Sirenali aboard the ship?" Dorgus took the comp-vid back and thumbed his way down the list of names.
"Perhaps they don't see them as anything except animals, since they can't speak. Two of them were dying, anyway."
"I heard from Whip just this morning," Vardil continued. "He's on Cloudsong—his escape pod would only travel so far. I've sent someone to pick him up. I'll hear his version of events when as he arrives."
"I will make sure that happens, my Lord," Dorgus bowed his head. "Will there be anything else?"
"I feel like a swim. Bring my suit and make sure the water in the pool is warm enough. It's freezing outside."
"When we take Der'Vek for you, my Lord, you will find it warmer and the view of the sea much more to your liking."
"Then it can't happen soon enough, can it? Send that fool Barstle Cardino to me. I'll ask him questions while I swim."
"I'll see to it right away."
* * *
"I don't know who Caylon Black is, or how he's managed to keep Mundia alive," Barstle mumbled.
"Have you had contact with him again, after he made short work of you and your intended attackers?"
"No." Barstle hung his head, refusing to meet Vardil's eyes. "We've shut off the natural gas going to Mundia—they should have frozen to death by now. I can't get drones into the city, either. They're stopped on the outskirts; how I don't understand. The vid goes blank, as if it's been shut off in midair."
"I'll have my witch and warlock devise something, then," Vardil growled. "We will penetrate the perimeter of Mundia, rest assured."
"Thank you, Lord Cayetes. Those miscreants must be taught a lesson. Mundia will be ours," Barstle breathed.
"Mundia will be mine," Vardil corrected, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Barstle. "Tell me, how goes the recalibration on the ranos cannon?"
"It looks quite promising, my Lord. A few more days at most, I think."
"Good. I have targets to destroy. Go. Make sure everything is done correctly. I have vengeance to exact."
* * *
Quin
"I hear that the common quarter is nearly empty in Der'Vek," Sal said at dinner. "Parts of the city are still burning from the battles between crime families. Refugees are crowding into the fields twenty clicks south, hoping to stay warm and keep from starving. The winter is bad enough there, but it's worse here. At least they knew to travel in a southerly direction."
"We need to keep those who aren't part of the army busy," Bel Erland suggested. "Perhaps we can put them to making emergency food packets?"
"Like trail rations?" Caylon asked.
"Yes. Gr
an calls them em-are-ees for some reason, which I've never figured out."
Sal snickered.
"You know, don't you?" Bel turned toward Sal.
"It's an old Earth term," Sal grinned. "An abbreviation for meal ready to eat."
"The letters don't match up," Bel Erland snorted. "I know that much, at least."
"Because old Earth doesn't speak Alliance common," Sal said.
"Wait—I feel something pinging my radar," Bel Erland stood.
"What?" Caylon asked, immediately on guard.
"A warlock or witch is trying to get past the sensory shield I have around Mundia," Bel explained.
"Hmmph. They won't get past what Kaldill and Daragar have put up," Sal snorted.
"That's not what worries me. We've killed all the drones they've sent. Now, somebody is asking a witch and warlock to try to get through by scrying. When they discover they can't get in, they'll realize we have someone with power living in Mundia."
"I say let them come if they want to," Caylon muttered, lifting a roll from a nearby basket. "I'd appreciate a good fight."
"That may convince them to band together against us, rather than fighting each other," Lafe said.
"Good point," Caylon nodded at Lafe.
"They won't know how much power is here," Kaldill said. "Only that someone is blocking them out."
What are they talking about? Bleek sent mindspeech to me. Who is Daragar?
You have godlings, a Sirenali and a warlock at the table, I replied. If Daragar were here, you'd have a Larentii, too.
Bleek, attempting to hide sudden concern, lifted his wineglass and drained it after my explanation.
You have no need to worry, I sent. Unless you have evil planned, they will protect Barc—and you—because I ask it.
Bryan Riley had listened quietly to the conversation, no doubt making mental notes to record later for his article. He moved so quietly through the mansion that he didn't interfere or bother anyone with his presence.
"How do you plan to get the food to the refugees?" He asked, speaking for the first time.
"I can do it," Bel shrugged. "It's a simple relocation spell."
"I help," Yanzi offered.
"We'll need the supplies," Berel said. "Where and how much? I can contact my father—he'll put a list of sellers together. We may need more than one—we'll be feeding many."
BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Page 20