"Yes," Erryl whined.
"How did you learn of the Order of the Night Flower?" Rigo demanded.
"A man came to Naril. Told Naril of an ancient group of vampires who no longer existed. Called themselves Rith Naeri. We were to become their replacement. Sworden was the last of us Naril chose, and since he had little experience in killing, he was placed as Larvalis' advisor."
"Naril?" Rigo lifted an eyebrow.
"The eldest of us. We've known one another for two centuries. Not above a bit of larceny now and then, but not enough to get caught."
"Until now. Where is Naril? Where does he stay?"
Erryl rattled off an address in one of the elite subdivisions of the capital city.
"Who else is in the group?"
"I only know of Sworden and Alek. The other two Naril won't reveal."
"I've passed the address to Tamp and Alrenardo," Zaria said softly.
"Very good. Lissa, I ask you to send this one to keep Sworden company," Rigo sighed.
"Oh, that won't be a problem," I said. "I have more questions for him anyway."
Dungeon
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Zaria
Sworden watched me warily from his seat on the bunk in his cell. Hal, Gerrett and Lissa stood with me. Behind us, Merrill, Tony and several palace guards stood, keeping watch.
Sworden wanted to rush the bars and hiss at us, but he'd been placed under compulsion by Merrill, so his ass stayed where it was.
In a nearby cell, Erryl was making himself comfortable, which meant he was fuming over Rigo's instructions not to be a nuisance and only answer questions politely and truthfully. It really sucked to be him right now.
"What's the payoff?" I asked Sworden.
"What?" He pretended not to understand.
"What did you get out of this? Was there a payoff—or the promise of a payoff?"
"Speak truth," Gerrett's voice vibrated.
"I was promised wealth, fresh blood and a new home," Sworden rumbled.
"A new home where?" Lissa demanded.
"Le-Ath Veronis. We were also promised a way to survive in daylight, too, but I didn't believe that part."
"Did they say how that would be accomplished?" Lissa was now very interested in what Sworden had to say.
"A device," Sworden shrugged.
"Did they ever show you the device, or explain how it worked?"
"Said it attached to the back of the neck—I've never heard of such."
"It does exist, but it doesn't stop the vampire's desire to sleep during daylight, so you could be in full sun—but sound asleep," Lissa snorted. "Anybody could kill you while you were like that."
"Where were you promised a home on Le-Ath Veronis?" My arms crossed over my chest. I could see the answer in his eyes quite plainly. This was for Lissa's benefit.
"We were told we'd have the run of the palace."
"Well, you currently occupy a small section of the dungeon in that palace," Lissa hissed. "Try my patience and you'll die here."
I knew why she was so angry; Rigo had been locked up for the very supposition of a crime, and without proper investigation. Plus, she was exhausted. She hadn't been kidding about the rotten day she'd had.
Mom, I'm taking you back to Corez, I told her as gently as I could. You need some sleep. So does Rigo, and he won't go to bed until you get there.
She blinked at me before wiping a tear away. I'd never called her Mom before, and it served to put a better end to the past few hours. "All right," she nodded. "But if you so much as breathe wrong, I'll be back," she pointed a claw-tipped finger at Sworden. "I rule here. You don't."
I took the opportunity to fold space with her and the others, so she'd have the last (and best) word.
Corez
Zaria
"I left a doppelganger in your bed," I told Lissa after dropping her in Rigo's suite. "Just fold there when you wake up and it'll disappear. If anybody disturbs it, you'll know that, too."
"Thank you." Rigo, who stood by a massive window near his bed, turned to me and dipped his head. He and Lissa needed each other tonight; I recognized it easily.
"We'll go, now," I turned toward Hal and Gerrett. "I'll keep you posted if we hear anything from Tamp and Alrenardo. I really, really want to speak to Naril. I get the feeling that D'slay may have had something to do with this. I can't think of any other way that someone would release information about the Rith Naeri, unless there was a rogue god, a Sirenali or someone else quite powerful involved."
"You've already checked all the members, haven't you?" Rigo lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes. I hope you don't mind."
"No. I'm glad you did that, so we can eliminate all of us as suspects in this."
"We'll go, then. Let us know if you need anything." I folded Gerrett and Halimel to Kwark, so Lissa and Rigo could have time alone.
Royal Palace, Galk
Vik
"They take their job quite seriously," Reah breathed a sigh as her suite doors shut behind her. She'd described the two guards who stood outside, armed to the teeth and unwilling to let anybody through who didn't have the Queen's permission.
"Were they here for the real Queen?" I asked as Reah pulled the platinum coronet from her hair and placed it on a table.
"No. Zaria sent them. She says Ocenosek and Cudworth are brothers and will guard us with their lives, so that's why they're at the door, now. Wyatt, Denevik and Bel Erland are with us during the day; these two will stand guard at night. The suite is protected—Zaria placed shields. If the palace implodes, this part will still be standing."
"I really wish we could find the ones responsible for the obsession; things are wonky around here," I growled
"No joke. Did you hear that fool, Addul Gurr, in court today? Asking for special favors as if he expected it automatically? Bel Erland Looked; only recently has he been attending court, but he got money for a stupid road on his property that nobody will use."
"It's a safe bet the money will end up elsewhere," I said. Everything the man said was a lie; Reah knew it, too, she just didn't say it.
"Addul Teran needed the funds more, and he got them. I wonder if whoever placed obsession knows somebody else is in charge, now."
"Probably, if they're bothering to check. I know Mom and Rigo have already had a run-in with that problem. Zaria says to watch everybody and stay on our toes."
"She's worried this is connected to that rogue Sirenali, isn't she?"
"Definitely. He's out to cause trouble, you can count on that. If he can disrupt hub worlds, then he can easily start wars. Frankly, I think this is only a subplot in his machinations."
"That's terrifying. What makes you say that?"
"Actually, Meerius and I both say that."
"Meerius?"
"A world spirit. We've bonded."
"Worlds have spirits?"
"I know it sounds weird, but they do."
"Kifirin has a world spirit?"
"Yeah. Zaria has bonded with him. She said to tell you if you wanted to know."
"Why—and how—did they bond with you?"
"They've placed themselves inside coins and have bonded with our bodies."
"Show me."
"Are you sure you want me to take my shirt off?"
"Yes, I want to see it."
"All right." I began unbuttoning my shirt and held it open. "He's here, on my chest. He says you can touch if you want."
"Meerius said that?"
"Yeah."
Reah approached cautiously, until she reached my side. Slowly she reached out to touch the coin adhered to my skin. An indrawn breath informed me they'd connected in some way.
"He said greetings, Life Giver," Reah breathed. "How does he know?"
"They are now communicating with one another," I shrugged my shirt on again. "That wasn't always the case, but they got tired of being destroyed again and again, in the recurring God Wars."
Your mate healed many worlds, Meerius rem
inded me.
"He says he knows you've healed many worlds," I grinned at Reah.
She also has brought vitality back to Kifirin, with her daughters.
"He ah, says you brought vitality back to Kifirin with your—our—daughters."
Kifirin is quite pleased with her.
"He says Kifirin is quite pleased with you." I hadn't seen Reah blush in a long time. She was blushing now.
"He knows this because he's talked with Kifirin?"
Yes. We are speaking, now.
"He says they're talking now."
"Incredible," Reah sighed. "I never knew. I thought that Kifirin—you know, the god, Kifirin, was in charge of the planet."
He and Hanlekidus are in charge of the surface and the beings upon it, in a way. The Kifirin I am speaking with is the soul of the world that is Kifirin.
"He says the Kifirin he's speaking with is the soul of the planet. Kifirin and Hank are in charge of the people on the surface."
"Interesting."
"Look, I think we're both tired," I told her. "I can answer questions later. We have an early day tomorrow, so unless there's something important, I'll go to my suite, now."
"All right. Good-night, Torevik."
"Good-night, Reah."
Reah
Tory was right; someone had taken notice of my actions the previous day. That's why a media conference the following morning went sideways.
"Why was Addul Gurr given funds two moon-turns ago for a road on his property, when no road was needed?" a journalist demanded. This wasn't the first time I'd been shoved into an unforgiving and career-destroying spotlight.
"I have previous records of Addul Gurr's attendance at court in the last five years," the journalist went on. "He has only attended once, for the biennial ball."
"You've neglected your research," Bel Erland stepped forward and intervened smoothly. "Any Addul is entitled to a request for funds, as long as those funds do not exceed the tax amount for any five-month period, once every five years, according to the law. There is no limitation placed on the use of those funds, perhaps by an oversight of the Council itself. Addul Gurr has not requested any funds for more than ten years. Therefore, the initial request was granted. The request put forward yesterday, by the same token and according to the law, was denied."
I watched as more than six journalists deflated. Someone, somewhere, hadn't checked the minutiae of the law before placing obsession and laying a trap within it.
Zaria is seeing this through my eyes, Tory informed me.
What does she see? I asked.
These journalists were tipped off in a similar way to those on Corez. There's definitely some collusion and conspiracy going on. I doubt you'd find anybody who could have spouted that bit of legislation off the top of their head, either, he added. Zaria says it was buried in the language of a non-related law. If Bel Erland hadn't gone Looking, we'd be in trouble right now.
Just as Rigo was in trouble two days ago. "Do you have other questions?" I asked the crowd of journalists.
"I'd like a copy of the law in question," someone raised his hands.
"You'll find it on your comp-vid, dated twelve years ago, fifteenth day of Leafling Month. Decision eleven," Bel Erland quoted. "It's buried in the language of that unrelated piece of legislation, on page six."
"What was the legislation about, that included this law?" A woman journalist asked.
"About water rights between Addularchies and Rezoarchies," Bel said.
"I'd like to prevent such things as unrelated passages being added to legislation in the future," I announced. "So that none of us are caught unaware again." Where did they get this information? I sent to Tory.
Zaria says she's got the same people on it as in Rigo's case. That means Dave, Sabrina and Perri are hacking into journalists' systems.
Good. I hope we hear something from them soon. These people wanted a scandal today. This one backfired. What will the next one be?
One more carefully researched, no doubt, Tory's mindspeech sounded grim.
"If there's nothing more, I have a meeting to attend," I announced.
When nobody said anything, I turned to go back inside the palace, my group falling in behind me. I may have flounced the official robe of gold I wore as I turned; I'd likely see it on the evening news reports if I did.
"That was a near-fiasco," Denevik breathed as we walked into the central dome area of the palace, marble tiles echoing beneath our feet.
"Bel Erland, you are a gift to me," I told my son. "Thank you for your wisdom in a crisis."
"Thank Dad and Grandpa for court etiquette—they taught me most of what I know. Being cool in a tight spot comes from you."
He gets his smile from you, too, Tory bumped my shoulder with his.
I bit back a laugh, something I hadn't expected to happen.
"I'm pleased to see you in such good humor, after a near-character assassination," Rezo Nilus, highest ranking member of the council, walked toward us. "Trust Addul Gurr to cause trouble after being away so long."
"I don't wish to take sides in this, Nilus," I held up a hand. "However, I will have words with anyone who provided misinformation to the media."
"Do you have suspects in mind?" Nilus, his hands studiously behind his back, fell in step with us. Tall, thin and dark-haired, he resembled an old crow with sharp eyes and carefully-placed strides.
"None at the moment, but it will be looked into, I assure you."
One of Nilus' eyebrows lifted, but he didn't respond. "What is your stance on today's meeting?" he asked instead.
"I'm waiting to hear from all involved," I said.
"That isn't what I heard."
"Then I'm sorry you heard otherwise."
"I'm not. I'm waiting to hear from the others, too. Trade between the Addularchies and Rezoarchies has always been without tariffs and taxes. Placing those now could certainly result in ah—hardships for some."
"I agree. I still want to hear what brought this on, before turning it down flat."
Nilus laughed, this time. The sound was rich, smooth, and boomed throughout the rotunda as we entered the meeting chamber. I hope we can get something to drink before this fiasco proceeds, I sent to Tory. I feel dry, suddenly.
Chapter 8
Kwark
Zaria
"Reah just had her first run-in," I told my bunch at breakfast. "Honey, I sure as hell hope nothing goes wrong at this birthday party of yours."
"I'll just slap four knots on everybody's head. That should do it," Bleek grinned at me.
"The other bad news is that Kay can't get to the gist of the obsessions placed on the hub world leaders. They're all obssession-free at this point, but we don't know any more about it than we did before," I reported.
"Have you heard anything from Tamp or Alrenardo?" Halimel asked quietly while buttering a breakfast roll.
"They went to the address we had; looks like Naril hasn't been there for a day or two. They did find a missing man—dead of course. Seems Naril never learned the proper way to take blood, and the victim bled out after three major arteries were punctured and not healed afterward."
"Idiot," Halimel muttered. "Do they have the victim's identity, yet?"
"They're working on it, but there's nothing showing up in any of Hraede's databases."
"Not from there, then," Hal bit forcefully into his roll and chewed.
"Yeah. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this," I soothed. "Unfortunately, unless we want to bend time and come back exhausted again, we have a full day planned here."
"I'm not willing to ask that of you," Hal turned dark eyes in my direction.
"Nissa is setting a tracking spell, which will only work if Naril doesn't bathe or change shoes," I told Hal. "If it doesn't work, we may have to ask Erland to set a scrying spell or get Kaldill Schaff to look for him. Wherever he is, he's hiding behind a Sirenali or a Sirenali's bone dust by now. If he weren't, I'd have had him, first thing."
&nbs
p; "I've never considered asking the King of the Elves for help," Hal confessed.
"Last resort—it's a very intense process," I explained. "I read about it in the Archives. And, with Sirenali involvement, who knows if all that effort will be for nothing?"
"I suppose it's too much to ask to have things be easy for once," Ilya said.
"Yeah. I guess that's true."
"Look at us, so morose and all. It's my birthday," Bleek grinned. "Well, somebody else's birthday, but I'm celebrating on his behalf."
"I hear the cake is enormous," Edden stifled a grin.
"He can eat a lot of cake," Gerrett pointed out. He'd know—he'd baked enough of them, and Bleek was always happy to eat anything Gerrett made.
"Six lobes," Bleek grinned. "Have to keep those operating at full capacity."
"Would you like to unsaddle your high horse for a minute and talk to us peasants?" I teased him.
"I thought we were talking about my birthday."
"Honey, your real birthday is two months away and no, I'm not telling you anything," I held up a hand before he could ask.
"Just don't forget," he offered a cheeky grin.
"Nobody who's ever met you will forget you. What with six lobes and all."
"Yep, it's the first thing they notice." He made a show of placing all four hands behind his head.
Halimel turned his head to hide a smile.
We may have to shove Bleek in a cold shower; he's just too hot to handle today, I sent to Hal. He barked a laugh.
Murazal
Zanfield Staggs
"The reception to welcome the Ambassador from Nagulez is this evening," Rajeon read the schedule for me. "This afternoon, we're meeting with a group from the Shipping Federation after three Murazalian ships were attacked by pirates last year."
"Only three, and they're complaining? That's a low number," Travis observed. "Were there deaths involved?"
"One, and that was afterward—the ship's chief engineer had a massive coronary and died from all the chaos of being boarded and their cargo stolen."
"Anybody know what the cargo was?" Trent asked.
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