Deals and Dangers

by Kay L. Ling

  “Thank you.”

  Tyla heard a voice in the background. Marrid looked away for a moment and then turned back to Tyla. “Someone else wants to talk to you.”

  Marrid’s face dissolved into swirling black specks and a new image formed— Zeetha, and she looked worried. “Someone is coming to see you. I don’t know who, but I know you won’t be pleased.”

  Tyla tried to make sense of that. “You had a premonition?”

  “More like a vision. I saw you, but not the person you were talking to, and I felt your emotions. You were upset and frightened.”

  “No one can get through our wards. Where was I when you saw me?”

  “Good question. It was dark. I couldn’t see your surroundings. You might have been in a dimly lit room or outside at night.”

  “How long before the person comes? Do you know?”

  “Not long from now—a couple of days. It’s fortunate you received the ball so I could tell you in time.”

  “Is it?” Marrid asked in the background. “You’ve given Tyla nothing to go on, and now she’ll worry for the next two days.”

  Zeetha looked hurt.

  “At least I’ll be on guard,” Tyla said, thinking it would have been better if Zeetha had kept this to herself. Of course she would worry. Elias and Gliaphon were off delivering gems, and Higgart and Othir had left for Aberell this morning. Olissa was the only one left to help in an emergency.

  Particles swirled within the ball and Marrid’s face reappeared.

  “Thank you for contacting me. Stay in touch. Try not to worry about the visitor. I’m sure you’ll be all right.” Her image broke apart, and even after the particles had become fernlike dendrites again, Tyla continued to stare at the ball.

  Arenia came in. “You got your dendrite ball! I was in the kitchen, and everyone was talking about it.” She dropped into a chair. “Aren’t you excited? You don’t look very happy.”

  Tyla had never been good at hiding her emotions. She wasn’t sure what to say. She and Arenia rarely kept secrets from each other, but the vision had been so vague it seemed pointless to frighten her. “I talked to Marrid. She wants to come for a visit. I said it would be all right.”

  “Some of the staff may not like that, but they’ll have to respect your wishes.”

  Tyla supposed Arenia was referring to Olissa.

  “I wish I’d been here when you used the ball,” Arenia said with a wistful sigh.

  “I could see Marrid’s face and hear her voice as clearly as if she were right here. Zeetha was there. I talked to her, too.”

  “So, when is Marrid coming? How long will she stay? Will Zeetha come with her?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t decided any of that.”

  “I hope she doesn’t show up unexpectedly like last time. She probably wouldn’t be able to get past our wards.”

  Tyla nodded distractedly. So far, the wards had withstood Focal Gem attacks. Surely an intruder couldn’t get in. She couldn’t imagine any scenario in which she’d be face-to-face with an unwanted visitor, and yet that was what Zeetha had foreseen.

  “Is something wrong?” Arenia asked.

  “Not really,” Tyla said with a half-hearted smile.

  Arenia gave her a suspicious look. It was hard to fool Arenia.

  Chapter 20

  No matter how busy Tyla kept herself, Zeetha’s troubling vision was never far from her mind. That night, she had a troubling dream. A shadowy figure in a black hooded cloak appeared within Elantoth’s walls, immobilized everyone, and freed Rimwick. It took a long time to fall back to sleep after that. The next time she woke, Lant and Eemie were out in the sitting room, laughing and playing hide-and-find with Rilla, the intelligent vine Ertz had given Tyla. Eemie hid small household items, and Rilla found them and brought them back, or Rilla hid an item, and Eemie had to find it. The game kept Eemie amused for hours, and Tyla suspected Lant enjoyed it almost as much.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked Lant when they sat down to breakfast.

  “You were sleeping peacefully after tossing and turning most of the night. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

  “I’m sorry if I kept you awake.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I can take a nap with Eemie.”

  Tyla touched her pendant. “I have an incoming message from Aberell. It’s Ertz. Normally, he sends messages through the officers. I hope nothing’s wrong.” She kissed Eemie, gave Lant a quick hug, and went down to the Pedestal Room, trying not to think the worst.

  “Good morning,” Arus said when she entered. “Sorry to disturb you so early.”

  She went to the pedestal for Aberell Fortress and placed her hand on the gem.

  Ertz. This is a surprise.

  I have troubling news. The O.D. has become more dangerous than ever. The Emanicus has given Outcast gem masters Dark gems, and residents are preparing for war. I’ve alerted Pentar, and he’ll contact the other fortresses.

  How did you find out?

  Kaff and Eneff came to see me. They must get out of the O.D. immediately.

  Where will they go?

  That’s partially up to you.

  Me?

  With the government dissolved, and The Emanicus in control, Kaff’s tracking spell is no longer an issue. I’d like to send him back to Elantoth. He’s changed a great deal. And I’d like to send Eneff, too. They have insights about the Outcast population that may prove useful.

  Tyla was stunned. When she didn’t object immediately, Ertz seemed to think she was agreeing with his plan.

  We must keep this secret. I will bring them myself.

  You’d come? Her heart lifted at the thought. She’d put up with Kaff and his Outcast friend if it meant she would see Ertz. Aren’t you afraid to travel? The pythanium might see your carriage and stop you, wondering who was traveling in such a splendid conveyance.

  We’ll come by cart. If need be, I’ll make Kaff and Eneff invisible and pose as an elderly farmer.

  It sounds like you’ve thought it through.

  I have. We’ll leave tonight. Expect us in three or four days.

  Ertz broke the connection, and Tyla hurried off to tell Arenia the good news. Halfway up the stairs, something occurred to her, and she laughed with relief. Kaff was the unwelcome visitor Zeetha had foreseen. That had to be it! Tyla and Kaff had never liked each other. Kaff was an arrogant fool with a knack for getting into trouble, and she had enough to worry about now without looking after him. Of course she’d be upset when he arrived. As for being afraid, that probably had to do with Eneff. It was dangerous to have an Outcast gem master on the property. Hadn’t she just dreamed about someone freeing Rimwick?

  Arenia and Olissa were in the library. When Tyla told them Ertz was coming, and he was bringing Kaff and Eneff to live here, Olissa snapped her book shut and slammed it on the table.

  “I realize you’re in charge here, but I’m head of security. You should have run this past me before agreeing to anything. I’m less worried about Kaff than Eneff. Have you forgotten we have Rimwick here?”

  “No, and I’m sure Ertz hasn’t forgotten, either,” Tyla said stiffly. Even though she had questioned Ertz’s judgment herself, Olissa’s attitude annoyed her. “They’ll be here in a few days. We’ll make the best of it.” She walked away. Arenia followed her.

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Arenia said, “I don’t blame Olissa for being upset. You should have consulted her.”

  “I have faith in Ertz,” Tyla said stubbornly. “If he thinks it’s safe to have them here, who is Olissa to object?”

  “She’s head of security, and she’ll have to deal with anything that goes wrong once Ertz leaves.”

  “Nothing will go wrong.” Tyla had been feeling better after figuring out Zeetha’s vision. Now she felt ill at ease again.

  Hoping to avoid everyone for the rest of the day, Tyla went to the office and buried herself in gemology books, but her mind kept drifting to Kaff and Eneff. They would
have to sleep in the barn with the breghlin. It was no worse than living in the O.D., and she didn’t think they’d object.

  Ertz had said they’d arrive in three or four days. Zeetha’s timing was off by a day or two, but after all, it had only been a guestimate.

  That evening, when Tyla sat down to dinner with Lant and Eemie in the dining room, Olissa gave them a polite nod and resumed her conversation with Arenia.

  Tyla had warned Lant that Olissa wasn’t happy about Kaff and Eneff coming and to avoid the subject at all costs, so Lant sat next to Parcune, and they fell into a quiet conversation. There were rarely arguments at dinner when Eemie was here, and Tyla hoped tonight wouldn’t be an exception.

  Brenda Ann brought in a thick bean and vegetable soup, one of Eemie’s favorites, and Maggie Ann carried in a tray of bread. Conversations hit a lull while the group ate until Parcune introduced a safe topic—Elias’s gem delivery trip.

  “I’m glad Gliaphon is escorting Elias. He’s a steady fellow who won’t fall apart if they run into trouble. The slave camp would have broken some gnomes, but it made Gliaphon stronger.”

  Tyla remembered the day Gliaphon had disappeared, carried off by breghlin to S’s alamaria mine. It seemed a lifetime ago, but it hadn’t been that long. Elias, Jules, and Lana had rescued him and freed the remaining slaves.

  “How long will they be gone?” Arenia asked.

  “Probably no more than a week,” Tyla said. “Elias will deliver gems and instruct the clans briefly, then return for more gems and set out again.”

  The servers gathered up the dirty dishes and came back a few minutes later with fialazza.

  By the time Tyla had finished her second goblet, she was feeling mellow. Olissa seemed relaxed, too. She was making funny faces at Eemie, trying to make her laugh.

  Just then, there was an audible crackle of energy and everyone at the table froze.

  “The perimeter ward,” Olissa said. “Someone’s out there.”

  The perimeter ward encompassed more than thirty acres, and whoever had triggered it might not be driving, they might have come on foot. Tyla drew infused foresight, hoping to learn the outsider’s whereabouts. “They’re on the road at the head of the driveway.”

  “That’s a good sign,” Olissa said. “If they were trying to sneak onto the property, they’d come across a field.”

  Tyla stood. “I’ll see who’s there.”

  “You?” Olissa asked.

  “Well, you certainly can’t go. What if it’s someone you know? You’re supposed to be a rat.”

  “Right,” Olissa said in a defeated tone. “Send one of the guards.”

  “They’d have to ask my permission to let the person in, so I may as well go myself.”

  “Take someone with you,” Lant said.

  “I’ll go,” Arenia said.

  Clouds obscured the moon and stars, and it was raining lightly. Tyla activated a lightgem as they started up the driveway in nervous silence. Zeetha’s timing hadn’t been off after all, and according to Zeetha, the visitor would be someone Tyla wouldn’t want to see.

  “They’re definitely not trying to hide,” Arenia said, breaking the silence. “They haven’t extinguished the lightgem lanterns on their cart.”

  “Cart?” Tyla strained to see. “I think it’s a carriage.”

  As they neared the road, Tyla could see it was definitely a carriage. A tall form emerged, holding a lightgem, and Tyla was both relieved and annoyed when she saw who it was.

  “I can’t get through your ward,” Kitana said. “I’ve been waiting for ages. Let me in.”

  “Let you in!” The annoying woodspirit was indeed someone Tyla didn’t want to see, but there was no reason to be afraid of her. “You wasted your time coming here. Go away!”

  “I’m interviewing Amulet gnomes.” Kitana drew something from her pocket that looked like a map and waved it at Tyla. “I stopped to see a couple clans, but I’m more interested in interviewing you.” She gave Tyla a poisonous smile. “It must have been frightening to learn Finnack was targeted. Do you worry it could happen to you?”

  Tyla was so angry she could hardly breathe. “You’re disgusting! You enjoy others’ suffering, don’t you? You can sit out here forever for all I care. I’m not letting you in.” She started to leave, but Kitana said, “Wait,” in a soft but deadly tone, and Tyla stopped.

  “On the way here, I ran into someone I didn’t expect to see. What would Elias be doing so far from home? From what I heard, The Emanicus warned him to mind his own business and stay out of gnome affairs. I’m sure they’d be very interested to learn he’s visiting faraway clans.”

  Tyla seethed silently. Despite being recluses, The Emanicus had always kept up on news, and that probably hadn’t changed. If Kitana printed a story about Elias, they would hear about it. “Are you threatening me?”

  “Call it whatever you like.”

  Tyla weighed the dangers. If she let Kitana in, the woodspirit might discover they were holding an Emanicus gem master in the dungeon, and she might discover Olissa was no longer a rat. There was no guarantee Kitana wouldn’t write about Elias if Tyla let her in, but she almost certainly would if Tyla turned her away. The article would endanger Elias, and if any harm came to him, Tyla would feel responsible.

  “You’re not going to let her in, are you?” Arenia whispered.

  “I have to,” Tyla said miserably. “I can’t risk Elias’s safety.”

  Chapter 21

  Tyla deactivated the ward. “All right. You can come in,” she said bitterly. “You had better not write about Elias.”

  Kitana smiled triumphantly and got into her carriage.

  “I don’t like this,” Arenia said as they walked back to the fortress.

  “Neither do I.”

  As soon as they entered the dining room, Olissa asked, “Who was it?”

  Tyla braced herself. “It was Kitana, demanding an interview.”

  “You didn’t let her in,” Olissa said, scowling.

  “I had to. While she was out interviewing gnome clans, she saw Elias. She implied that if I turned her away, she’d write an article about him, saying he was ignoring Emanicus orders not to get involved.”

  “I still wouldn’t have let her in,” Olissa said. “How did she know what The Emanicus told Elias? She must be in touch with them.”

  Tyla hadn’t thought about that, but it was a good point. Everyone here knew about the pythanium’s warning, but how would Kitana know?

  “Well, it’s done now,” grumbled Olissa. “But if you think you can trust her not to write about Elias, you’re kidding yourself.”

  “I’ll get rid of her as soon as I can,” Tyla promised.

  “I hope so. If she learns I’ve been restored, it will be front page news. I’m going down to the Pedestal Room. Let me know when she leaves.”

  “I’ll take Eemie back to our suite,” Lant said. “Where is Kitana now?”

  “The guards will take her to the library. I don’t want her in the office. For one thing, she’d see my dendrite ball and wonder where I got it.”

  “Good luck with the interview. Guard your thoughts,” Lant said.

  “I’ll go with you if you want,” Arenia said.

  “All right. If I start to say something stupid, stop me.”

  When they reached the library, Kitana was sitting on the couch. Four breghlin officers stood close by. It was pointless, of course. Kitana’s gem powers made her virtually invincible. What could guards do, especially ones without gem powers?

  “What is this?” Kitana asked, gesturing toward the officers.

  They stood taller and puffed out their chests. In lieu of uniforms, the Anns had made them red sashes, which they wore over their tunics with pride.

  “My new officers,” Tyla said.

  Kitana dissolved into laughter. “Just when I think you can’t sink any lower, you prove me wrong. Gnomes without gem powers are useless enough, but breghlin? It’s absurd.”

 
; To their credit, the breghlin didn’t say a word, but one officer cracked his knuckles meaningfully.

  “You may not be aware of this,” Tyla said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “but no one wants to travel these days. How am I supposed to get gnome officers with gem powers?”

  Kitana picked up her notebook and pencil. “I’m aware of the danger. That’s why I’m here. Please sit down.” She looked down at her notebook, scanning a list of questions. “How would you compare life under Emanicus rule to life under Sheamathan?” When she looked up and found Tyla and Arenia still standing, she frowned in annoyance.

  Tyla stole a glance at her sister who looked like she wanted to go for Kitana’s throat.

  “Either of you may answer,” Kitana said tartly.

  “It’s about the same,” Arenia said. “They’re doing everything S did, from creating pythanium to punishing anyone who opposes them.”

  Kitana looked at Tyla. “Surely you have something to say on the subject.”

  Tyla didn’t want to be interviewed, but maybe she could learn something in the process. Oracle gems indicated S was still a beetle, but if Kitana was in contact with The Emanicus, she might know for sure. “Maybe they’re not ruling. Maybe Sheamathan is.” She watched for Kitana’s reaction.

  Kitana looked flustered but quickly regained her composure. “Sheamathan is ruling? What a strange notion. As a beetle or a woodspirit?”

  “You tell me,” Tyla said, holding the woodspirit’s eyes. “She’s the only one who knows how to create a pythanium. Either Emanicus gnomes created it with her instructing them or she did it herself. Which is it?”

  “How should I know?”

  “You have inside information. You must be in contact with them.”

  Kitana ignored that assertion. “You don’t give The Emanicus much credit. They’ve studied gems and spells for years, preparing for this day. They may be inferior to the Eight, but they can function without Sheamathan’s help.”

  “If you’re all so superior, why not stand up to them and end this revolution?” Arenia asked. “The Emanicus banned your government Councils, so it’s not as if none of this affects you woodspirits.”