"In an Alliance set for destruction? Hmmph. You're more stupid than I thought. Soon enough, brother, this planet will appear to be heaven to those living in the Alliances. The Prophet plans to destroy them all, and P'loxett is determined to help him do it."
"Surely there will be something set aside for him and his servants."
"Not the way I see it. Keep dreaming brother," he slapped me on the back. "The timer is set and soon enough, all will be destroyed."
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"You asked for me?" Corent River had come to meet me in my arboretum, at the topmost level of the palace. Around us were many kinds of trees and plants, while fountains and a small waterfall provided a soothing background. Corent, a member of a race of Green Fae, studied the growing things about us with a satisfied smile.
"Sit here with me; we have to talk," I patted the cushioned bench beside me.
"Is there something wrong?" Corent's hair was turning from blue to purple, a sign he was worried.
"I know you're close to the plants and trees—they grow in your light," I told him as he settled on the bench at my side.
"It is who I am," he confirmed.
"I'm sure you're aware that the Prophet has infected some people with his disease by contaminating their food," I went on.
"Yes; Breanne has told me this."
"Not long ago, there were ships pirated between Murazal and other worlds. One shipment contained seedling trees—mostly fruit trees. Another contained large barrels of organic cow dung to be used as fertilizer. What wasn't known until Zaria investigated was that each of those barrels contained at least one body infected by Prophet's disease. The third was a shipment of sand for glassmaking, but there was also uranium within those crates."
Corent's brow furrowed as he processed this information. "We've determined that the pirates were sent by the Prophet," I went on. "Now, I've been racking my brain for two days on how all that could be connected. The solution I've reached needs confirmation—from someone who can nurture and manipulate trees and plants, convincing them to grow and bear fruit."
"I'm not sure what you're asking," he said after several moments of intense thought passed.
"What would you do—and how would you do it, if suddenly, Le-Ath Veronis were poisoned by nuclear waste? Let's say every other livable planet is exactly the same. A few people have the talent or genetic makeup to survive. How do you feed them, when the plants and animals normally wouldn't survive in those circumstances?"
Corent became so still it was eerie.
"Is it possible," I said as he remained frozen, "to manipulate the plants and trees to survive under those conditions?"
"How many people do you think are already infected with Prophet's disease?" Corent's voice was barely a whisper, his eyes wide and terrified as he stared at me.
"No idea," I said, finding it difficult to breathe. "He's found a way to grow fruit infected by his filth, hasn't he?"
"It would be a logical solution." Corent turned away from me then. "I must think on this." He rose and folded space.
"You and me both, honey," I spoke to empty air.
Larentii Homeworld
Zaria
"Are you ready?" Graegar asked. He'd sent mindspeech, telling me to meet him in the Archives.
"Where are we going?"
"To visit Eli, first, and then we will make our way to another location. I ask that you trust me."
"I trust you," I told him. "You've never given me reason not to."
"Perhaps that will remain true." He took my hand and folded space.
Eli
When I opened my eyes, I felt as if a great weight had been lifted off me. Morning sun shone upon me and it felt better than it ever had before. So good did it feel, in fact, that I wanted to lie naked in it.
"I've never felt like this before," I whispered to the sky.
"This is how you should always have felt." The one who tended me was back. Turning my head in his direction, I found her standing beside him. Tears sprang to my eyes; she looked lovelier now than she had when I first saw her.
"Love placed a time limit on many things in the past," the male spoke to the woman. "I am Graegar," he informed me, before becoming what he truly was—a tall Larentii with blue skin and blond hair.
"I am Zaria," she said. "How are you doing, Eli?"
"Zaria," Graegar nudged her. "Make the change—for Eli."
"What?" I lunged to my feet and gripped the bars of my cage as Zaria became—a vision.
She stood tall before me, with blue skin, pale hair and white wings. Gold sparkled on her skin and wings; I had no idea how that could be.
"We call her Corinnelar when she is like this," Graegar informed me. I didn't respond; all I could do was gape at her beauty.
"Eli, you are no longer bound by D'slay's obsessions—or anyone else's," Corinnelar said. "You have come into your own, now. I can see it in you."
"What else do you see in him?" Graegar said softly.
"Many, many things," she sighed before hunching her shoulders. "We have work to do. So much work," she lowered her eyes to the tall grass at her feet. Wind whispered through it; the sound and movement mesmerized me.
"It is up to you," Garegar said. "You must decide now, before we leave this place."
With her eyes downcast still, I watched as a tear, like a crystal drop catching sunlight, fell to the ground.
"Eli?" She raised her head to look at me, unshed tears making her eyes brighter.
"Corinnelar?" I dropped to my knees before her.
"If you could choose, would you go forward from here, or go back to your birth and start again?"
"Go back to my birth, with the same events in front of me? Please no," I begged.
"No hon. With parents who love you. Who can show you wondrous things and teach you about them. Would you choose that, or go on as you are, with the memories of what your life has been?"
"I could have parents and love? Say it isn't a lie. Please."
Tears now fell upon my own cheeks, just as they trailed down hers. "How can you do this? It is impossible." I now wondered if this were a special kind of torture—one designed to make me suffer the most for all my crimes.
Close your eyes, her voice whispered in my mind. I had no real choice in the matter—I would do anything for her. Light flashed against eyelids closed tight, and that was the last thing…
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"I believe I know why those three Murazalian ships were pirated," I announced to the crowd in my library. Everyone who'd substituted on a hub world was here, except for those still missing.
Randl had also come, with a few others from Sirena.
"Tell us," Reah said. Both she and Lexsi had come with Wardevik. Zaria and her group stood next to Reah's, and I could see that Zaria already knew what I was about to say. I suspected she knew more than that, too, but I wasn't going to call her out on it.
I began my explanation to a crowd that became quieter by the moment, until they were barely breathing at the end. "That would explain a lot," Winkler stood and shook himself, much like his wolf would do when he wanted to rid himself of whatever clung to him.
"I discussed this with Corent before bringing it to all of you," I added. "He said it was the logical thing to do."
"We believe the Prophet has commanded the services of scattered groups of fae, so your theory holds up," Graegar appeared at the back of crowd.
"How did you discover that?" I asked him.
"Information from various sources has come to us," he replied.
"Should we begin a search for anyone who has recently planted groves of fruit trees on Alliance worlds?" Edden asked.
"There are no records kept of plantings like that," Zaria said. "But sales of fruit trees are tracked. Of course, if the trees in question are coming from the Prophet, and he is randomly planting them here and there amid established groves, we're still screwed."
/>
"I believe this is why the Prophet always buried his infected victims near stands of trees and thick vegetation," Randl rose to speak. "At first, he used regular trees, to determine if it were possible. Then, he began to develop fruit trees, after his initial successes."
"So the fae have been helping him, after he obsessed them to obey," I nodded.
"The Green Fae were always the ones most adept at growing and acclimatizing plants and trees to thrive in adverse conditions," Corent spoke up. "Regular fae have little talent for such, unless they have been taught. Their basic skills would be sufficient, should they learn patience and the process."
Corent spoke the truth; I'd seen the evidence myself after his people had turned a hostile valley amid high mountains into an oasis.
Toff—who was still missing with Nissa and Trik, had grown up among the Green Fae, but he'd never learned their methods because he lacked their talents. He was comesuli and not fae, after all.
"Who could teach the fae, then?" I responded.
"I have a theory about that," Zaria answered my question. "But before I tell you, I have to ask a question."
"What question is that?"
"Who among us is willing, at the risk of their own lives, to go to war—to buy some time for the Alliances?"
"Time? What are you talking about?" Rigo asked her.
"Time to quell coming rebellions. Time to find a solution to avoid total destruction."
"How much time can we buy? How much time do we need?" I asked.
"At least fifty years," she replied, her voice flat.
I closed my eyes as fear washed over me. Zaria had been to the future. Fifty years into the future, according to her own words.
What. Had. She. Seen?
Chapter 19
Larentii Archives
Lissa
"We will only select a few of you," Graegar announced. Probably because everyone gathered in my library had volunteered for this assignment. What we hadn't realized at the time was Zaria wasn't in charge of it. The Wise Ones were.
There was a rumble of confusion after Graegar spoke—everybody wanted in on this, and they didn't even know what it was, yet.
"The reason we can only accept a few is there is limited space to maneuver where we're going," Tenigar, eldest of the Wise Ones, stepped forward to explain. "We need not only the strongest among you, but also the swiftest. I hope you will understand and accept our choices. Lives hang in the balance, and we do not wish to risk more than is necessary."
"Having said that," Meligar told us, "we ask that the following people join us in this mission. Lissa," he said my name first. "Reah," he announced. "Zaria. Randl. Cudworth and Ocenosek."
"Huh?" I breathed. They wanted the guards that Zaria found for Reah? I didn't even realize that they'd come for this meeting.
Except for Zaria, nobody knew them. How did she know them?
Who were they?
Reah went to both and hugged each of them while speaking quietly. This involved her first High Demon mate and her grandfather. I suppose it was fitting that two strange High Demons might be the best fit to help us in this, since the Wise Ones didn't choose Wardevik or ask for any others from that race.
"If those chosen will meet us in the adjoining room, Valegar and Nefrigar will see the rest of you safely home," Tenigar said.
"Here we go," Zaria was suddenly at my side and putting an arm around me.
"What will we be doing? I know you know something," I frowned at her.
"Well, there are some rogue gods out there, giving strength and advice to the Prophet," she sighed.
No wonder the Wise Ones chose whom they did. "Why aren't any of the Three coming?" I thought to ask.
"They have to hold everything together if we fail."
"They weren't kidding when they said what they did about risking our lives?"
"They would never lie or waver on that issue." Dropping her arm, she walked toward the smaller meeting room in the Archives, where the Wise Ones waited to tell us about our mission.
Reah
"Some of you will act as guards and protectors," Tenigar explained. "Others will employ power to engage those who will oppose us."
"Guards and protectors for what?" Lissa asked.
"For whom is a better question," Tenigar smiled gently at her. "We will take you to the place where they are recuperating, and the rest will be explained to all of you at the same time."
Lissa and I exchanged glances; Zaria didn't appear surprised at all. I suppose as a Larentii, they may have told her something already.
Or, she might know in other ways, although I couldn't say for sure.
"Is everyone ready?" Hiragar asked.
Moments later, we found ourselves in a strange hospital corridor. Rooms led off that corridor, but one person poked his head out a door before rushing toward Lissa.
Gavin Montegue was here, waiting for our arrival. Lissa shrieked his name as they collided in a mutual embrace.
"Reah?" A familiar voice called out from behind. I whirled to find Tory bearing down on me. I leapt into his arms and kissed him.
Then kissed him again.
Zaria
All the ones taken were here.
Except for one.
Valegar's and my child.
I forced myself to understand, while watching happy reunions all around me.
"Lissa?" I knew that voice. A head poked out of a room nearby, before Gavin came galloping toward Lissa. She squealed with joy as they united in a tight embrace. In seconds, she was surrounded by other mates and her missing children, all of whom wanted to hug her at once.
"Reah?" Tory's voice came from behind.
Reah raced toward him as he stepped out of another room. She hit him like a hurricane, and, like the steady High Demon he was, he didn't even rock back on his feet as Reah clung to him like a barnacle.
"Zaria?" Morrett touched my arm as I watched Reah kiss Tory several times.
"Honey?" I realized there were tears in my eyes as I turned to him. He and Rajeon stood there, patiently waiting for me to notice their arrival.
I love you so, Morrett sent as we embraced.
And I love you, I told him. So much.
Lissa
Gavin's fingers were twined with mine on one side; Drake held my other hand and Drew had me perched on his lap as we listened to Tenigar explain things.
"Morrett, Denevik, Rylend, Trikleer and Drew carry world spirit coins. Each of those world spirits have been affected by a poison created by the Prophet and his servants. We," he indicated the other Wise Ones about him, "were forced to manipulate things somewhat, so that the Prophet's plans would stray slightly from their original course.
"As of now, he believes the ones carrying Falchan, Murazal, Corez, Galk and Kwark are still on track to go to him voluntarily. Where we are, the world spirits I named, and those who carry them, are blocked from receiving the Prophet's summons. Once they leave this facility, they will have no choice but to answer that call.
"The Prophet also believes that his newest slaves will arrive in stages, so that he may place them under his command. This is another thing we have manipulated, so that all may arrive at once."
"Can't you reverse all this?" Reah asked, turning toward Zaria.
"Zaria could, as could we, if given sufficient time. I ask you this, however. How often have you received an opportunity to attack the Prophet and his minions—at his invitation?"
"You mean we're going to tag along with those who carry the affected spirits?" Tory asked. "To attack the moment we arrive?"
"Some of you, yes. Others, no. I do not wish to endanger Gavril, Toff or Nissa. Therefore, those three will stay here until the mission is over. Should we not return," he lowered his eyes for a moment and drew a heavy breath, "then someone we've designated will arrive to collect them."
"Why not take me, then?" Gavril demanded.
"Because you are the Founder of the Reth Alliance. We will not risk that, even though Tybus
could replace you. Wyatt is your true heir, and he is not prepared to take the reins as yet. He has other things to accomplish before you give him your seat of power, one day. It is not your capability we question in this. It is your responsibilities that we consider in our decision."
Gavril still fumed, but he didn't argue. Anyone who chose to disagree with the Wise Ones was already on a losing side, in my opinion.
"Now," Tenigar went on. "We have searched extensively into the images planted in each world spirit involved, to learn specifics. What we've found is the same image each time—they will be called to a laboratory of sorts. I assume this is where the Prophet intends to place his new recruits under his obsession and remove all free will they have. The name of the planet, city or anyplace otherwise is not given, to ensure that nothing is left to chance in this.
"Each world spirit is called to find his way to that specific room, or will be, once they leave the safety of this facility. The rest of us will go with them, either as guards or warriors in this battle. We know not whether the Prophet himself will be waiting with his rogue gods in attendance, but we have little doubt that they will arrive quickly once we are revealed."
"They'll protect the Prophet until the very last," Randl said.
"As we expect them to do. However, should the Prophet escape, it is our duty to destroy those rogue gods, is it not? The Prophet is your quarry, Reviendus. I believe he will be much easier to kill if we eliminate his father's protectors."
"I intend to attack him first," Randl's voice was quiet and filled with menace at the same time.
"As we desire for you to do. This will bring his protectors, if they are not already there. Leave them to the rest of us; do what you must—learn what you must."
"What about those of us who've never been in a battle before?" Trik asked.
"Very good question. Graegar, Reah and Rajeon will be with you," he smiled at Trik. "They are quite adept at overcoming incomprehensible adversaries. Now, Lissa, when we are ready, I wish you to place all of us inside your mist, and once we arrive, only reveal those whom the Prophet has called to him. When they are approached, either by the Prophet or his minions, it will be up to the rest of us to take them down."
Blood Alliance Page 26
