by Dianna Love
Storm only grunted, clearly not happy about her being at risk, but it was obvious that Evalle would not tolerate being left out. Daegan felt more and more certain that he’d chosen well with this circle of warriors as advisors.
He asked Tristan, “Have you informed them of your new assignment?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I share nothing that you say without your permission.”
Damn good answer. Daegan said, “This may help bring us answers sooner. You may share our strategy now.”
Tristan explained about the plan to send Ixxter to Atlanta soon, and that Tristan would tail him. Ixxter would be a prime candidate to draw attention as a Belador and as an Alterant, especially one who wanted out of the gryphon pack.
Evalle leaned forward. “Is he bait for them to take or bait to draw them out or what?”
“We’re thinking they’ll go the easier route and try to recruit him first, before they try to grab him. It’s easier to control someone who holds a grudge against his own people. If they do flip him to their side, I can discover who is behind this and determine whether Ixxter is going to be loyal or not.”
Tzader asked, “Do I detect a large amount of doubt?”
“Yes.”
Evalle said, “Ixxter’s a hothead, but he’s been stuck here a long time. I wouldn’t judge him based on the past few months.”
“Why not?” Tristan sat forward. “He’s not the only person who has been stuck here for months, but he’s the troublemaker, and the most belligerent of the gryphon pack. He’ll have a chance to show his true colors. He’s either with us or against us.”
“Point taken.”
“Speaking of the gryphons,” Daegan said, butting in. “You’ve both done your best by them and I understand Evalle took the lead position when she killed one of the others.”
“Not just one of the others,” Storm said, pride rolling through his words. “She killed the baddest one in the pack at that time.”
He placed his hand over hers on the table.
She smiled at her mate and explained to Daegan, “It was situational. Not by choice. When the Alterants were forced to evolve into gryphons in Tŵr Medb, they had to be mortally wounded to complete the process. That’s when we were informed we could regenerate up to three times.”
“I recall parts of that time.”
“Well, I’m done. I used up my third regeneration here on Treoir when I won the battle against a gryphon trying to kill Brina. Tristan, on the other hand, is still good for two, which means that if he does have to regenerate, he’ll only get stronger each time.”
Daegan hid his amusement. The woman was determined that Tristan receive his due, and now Daegan understood where she was going with that line of thought. “I’m glad to know that, Evalle, because as part of Tristan’s responsibility as Rí Dtús he will rule the gryphons unless you’re unwilling to cede your position.”
Tristan stared, obviously unable to speak.
That allowed Evalle enough time to say, “It’s his. I’m all for him leading the pack.”
“Good. We have a lot of work to do.” Daegan directed his next comments to Storm and Evalle. “Storm, I’d like you to visit the cemetery and see if you can stir up any scent or power signature.”
“I’ll do that,” Storm answered.
“Excellent. Evalle, you continue investigating and back up Tristan when he requests it.”
Evalle grinned. “No problem.”
Storm growled softly.
Daegan said, “Tristan will let you know when he needs backup tracking Ixxter in case nothing happens in the first day. None of you will be useful if you run yourselves into the ground, so be wise about resting even for short periods and sharing the load. If this eventually leads to war, it will not be a sprint but a marathon.”
“Got it,” Tristan acknowledged, still glowering at Evalle.
She tried to mollify Tristan with, “It only makes sense for you to lead the gryphon pack with me gone so much.”
Storm’s lips twitched. He found Tristan’s reaction amusing? Must be history there of some sort.
Daegan had to get everyone moving so he could take care of his own problem. “Quinn, you will take the lead on locating that tomb. You know all the players. Are ghouls your only resource for now?”
“No, I have my own network of intelligence gatherers as well.”
Evalle offered, “We have Isak Nyght’s resources, too.”
Daegan frowned. “Who is he?”
Quinn shot Evalle a warning look that had no effect on her answering Daegan. “Isak is one of the few humans who know we exist. He’s a black ops soldier with a team trained to fight nonhumans and an intelligence network that rivals the human national security groups. His people know how to find our kind sometimes.”
Quinn argued, “He also specifically targets nonhumans who he believes don’t belong in his world.”
“He doesn’t hate Beladors. He’s helped us before and he’ll help again, especially when it comes to using his demon blasters,” she argued.
Daegan ended the discussion. “Find out what this human with the demon blaster requires for payment and use him.”
“Will do.”
Evalle added, “We also have a female witness from the fight tonight.”
“A human?”
Quinn answered, “No, but we’re not sure what she is yet. She carries an energy she says is a demon magnet. Her appearance at the scene made no sense. Our people were there, the killers were there, then our witness showed up out of the blue and killed the demon. She doesn’t fit anywhere in all of this yet, and claims she just happened upon the conflict. We were called here before we could finish the interrogation, but Storm has her contained.”
“Can you use that mind lock on her?” Daegan noted the hesitation on Quinn’s part.
Quinn said, “I don’t unless the situation is dire, but Storm is our walking lie detector.”
Daegan turned to Storm with new respect. “That’s a handy gift to have.”
Storm answered with a subtle lift of one eyebrow.
Daegan told Quinn, “I’ll leave it up to you to decide how to extract information.” Moving on, Daegan said, “When we find out who has the tomb, we’re going after it. And as soon as we know who is using Beladors as puppets, we’re going to cut those strings.”
Tzader spoke up. “What am I doing?”
Quinn interjected, “Unfortunately, the position of Maistir is open again, Z. I’m thinking he’ll need you to take over. I’m sorry for not giving you more time with Brina.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tzader asked.
Pushing his gaze from Tzader, around the table to each of his friends, then to Daegan, Quinn said, “While I was buying time for our people to pull you out of Táur Medb, I was given an unexpected order. When Queen Maeve and Cathbad showed up in the Tribunal meeting, Maeve demanded Kizira’s body. The Tribunal agreed and gave me a deadline.”
Evalle snapped, “By what right? Kizira hated them.”
“I know, but they called Dlí Fola, known as Blood Law, which allows the leaders in war to claim bodies of their family members. It held up. The Tribunal expects me to appear with Kizira’s body intact to hand over to the queen. I was given five days, which will run out by four in the morning tomorrow.”
“Unbelievable,” Evalle muttered. “When were you going to tell us?”
“I’d actually planned to tie up our problems in Atlanta, tell all of you to declare me an enemy of the Beladors, then vanish with her body before the Tribunal.”
“Oh, Quinn ... I’d hurt you if you did that.” She gave him a sad smile.
“That’s not happening,” Daegan declared, drawing everyone’s gaze his way. “Which means Tzader will have plenty of time with Brina, because he’s not leaving the island while she’s pregnant.”
Tzader didn’t even try to hide his shock. “Don
’t get me wrong, because I’m here for her no matter what and I hate giving up any time I can share with Brina, but you need someone with my experience helping with this mess.”
“I do,” Daegan agreed. “But I will be the one leaving the island before you do. Even with all the work our people are doing to shore up our defenses, the Medb have gotten onto this island before.”
“That shouldn’t happen again since Kizira was the only Medb who had the coordinates and she’s dead,” Evalle said.
“But her body is not secure.”
“Oh, yeah. There’s another reason we have to find that body.”
Daegan told Quinn, “You have not been relieved of your duties as Maistir. No one has the authority to make that change but me. Understood?”
“If that’s what you wish,” Quinn said in a guarded tone.
“It is. Evalle, Storm and Quinn, prepare to return to Atlanta.”
Once Daegan had teleported them back, he turned to Tzader. “I need to know Brina is guarded at all times. Other than me, there is no better person to watch over Treoir and Brina, than you.”
Tzader stood and pulled her chair back. “I hear you, and seeing it from your point of view, I agree.”
Brina muttered, “It would be nice if everyone stopped fawnin’ over me. I’m not a bairn.” She ruined her protest by yawning.
“Time to rest, muirnin,” Tzader said, kissing her head and excusing them.
With everyone gone except Tristan and Daegan, Tristan sat back with his hands clasped on the table.
Daegan sighed. “What is botherin’ you?”
“I haven’t known you long, but I’ve known you long enough to realize you’re worried about something and it’s nothing we discussed at this table today. Not entirely. If I’m going to be your right-hand man, which by the way I’m not sure I’m the best choice for, but ... seems I’m it for now. I can’t be much help to you if you don’t trust me.”
“First of all, you are not it for now. You are it, period. Second, I do trust you. It’s just that ...”
“What, Daegan?” Tristan leaned forward, putting his hands flat on the table. “You said any conversation at this table is protected. What are you trying to fix by yourself?”
Gaining trust only happens when it is given in return. Daegan leaned in. “I’m hunting the body of my sister who originally lived here. She wears a ring that carries the protection of a god. The ring is visible only to another Treoir and can be removed only by someone with Treoir blood. Once I have it on, it will protect my descendants as long as they are on this island. It will also shield me to some degree if I end up having to enter another realm that is hostile to me. Not guaranteed to keep me alive, but I would be stronger. I must be able to protect my family, my people and myself.”
“You’re sure Brina doesn’t have it?”
“Yes. It would have shielded her from the Noirre majik attack, but I did ask if she had any of her mother’s jewelry, just to be sure. She showed me a necklace, that’s all.”
“If no one can see the ring or steal it, that means we have to find your sister’s body.” Tristan glanced up. “That’s why you’re flying so much.”
“Exactly. If I have to enter the Tribunal realm, Queen Maeve will know I’m at my weakest there. There is much I don’t know about this new era, the politics and the players. If she gives those deities reason to kill me and they choose to, I will not be able to stop them.”
“Damn. That’s screwed up.”
“I would die today if that would protect Brina and her family for the future, but my death will only put them at more risk. Now you know why I’m preparing for war.”
“Queen Maeve and Macha know you’re most vulnerable right now.”
“That is it. In their shoes, I would gather my army and attack. It won’t be as straightforward as marching on a city, as it was in my day, but this will be war just the same.”
Tristan sat up and fisted his hands. “Send Ixxter wherever he wants to go in Atlanta, then I’ll teleport a few minutes after him so I can follow. He won’t trust us not to spy on him right off the bat, but once he gets comfortable, he’ll be cocky. I’ll come back as soon as I figure out where he stands. Do you want any of the gryphons to help you hunt? Other than Evalle, I have two I’d trust with my life. One of them is my sister.”
Daegan had a made a good choice in Tristan. “I would take you up on it, but they can’t find what I’m after. I’m the only one who can recognize the power that rises from her body. It’s subtle, but I can sense it.”
“Good luck.”
They’d all need more than luck if Kizira’s body was not found before the Tribunal meeting.
Chapter 15
Lorwerth took stock of the camp he’d established as a headquarters for his mission. They were close enough to Atlanta for his men to make runs, but far enough away, in North Georgia, that security was simple.
After instructing a unit of his men to execute a security sweep of the perimeter, he stepped over to a wooded area near the camp. Any of his men still in the camp would think he was taking care of personal needs.
A blurry image wavered into view, though never entirely into focus. This was the person he’d raze the entire continent for, if asked. Cloaked in a gray robe with a hood so deep no face could be seen, Lorwerth’s benefactor had revealed nothing about himself.
No age. No family. No preternatural political ties.
He had only indicated to address him as my lord.
That was fine by Lorwerth, who quickly got to the point. “I’ve had three teams in the city. They’ve each killed a Medb witch or warlock, my lord.”
“What Beladors have they encountered?”
“None until early this morning. They battled with a Maistir called Quinn, an Alterant known as Evalle, a Belador warrior called Devon, a warrior called Casper who did not show his powers, and a witch of unknown origin, but not Medb. Oddly they had a human with them, military type.”
“Did your men capture the Alterant?”
“No. The Beladors killed two of our team members. There was another female they couldn’t identify, and she killed our demons. They seemed attracted to her.”
“A shame they did not bring the Alterant, but they’ll have another opportunity.”
Lorwerth waited during the pause. He’d come to understand that his benefactor wanted only information he requested, no unnecessary talking.
“What of the dragon king, Lorwerth?”
“No sign of him, my lord.”
“Then we must move to the next step at nightfall. Are your men ready?”
“Yes.” That one word should convey the faith Lorwerth had in his men and his ability to lead them.
“Very well. Protect the tomb I brought you.”
“With my life, my lord.”
Chapter 16
Reese tried to envision anyone with worse luck than hers.
Nobody came to mind.
She’d been sitting here for what felt like two or three hours, watching a two-foot-tall gargoyle named Feenix fly around the room. He chased a colorful plastic whirligig that flew whenever he tossed it in the air.
Someone had placed a spell on it.
This entire floor was his playroom and Storm had made it very clear that if anything happened to Feenix, no one could save Reese from him or Evalle.
That was right before he stuck her in this corner on a chair and warded an enclosure. She’d figured out Yáahl was correct about this being Saturday. By now it was probably noonish. If she had her powers, she’d give breaking that ward a try, but she didn’t.
The whirligig lost speed as it usually did after two minutes and fell down inside her corner.
Feenix came flying down and landed six feet away. He stared at his toy then at her, looking perplexed.
She smiled at him and he smiled back.
This had potential. “I’m Reese.”
“I know. Thorm told me. Yo
u Reethe.”
That lisp was too cute, but he had ignored her until now. She had to stay serious to figure out how to escape. “I would love to play with you.”
Feenix started clapping and chortling as he walked in a circle. “Play, play, play!”
Now we’re making progress. Reese said, “I’m stuck over here. I can’t play unless I get out of this corner.”
Feenix stopped clapping and frowned at her.
She was losing his attention and asked, “Do you know how to get me out of here?” Granted it was a long shot, but she couldn’t risk sitting here if he had a way to break the ward.
In the preternatural world, anything was possible.
Feenix waddled over to a bright yellow beanbag, one of three different-colored ones in the room. He picked up a stuffed alligator, hugged it to him and sat down, still frowning.
Oh, no. What if she’d upset Feenix? He was clearly Evalle’s pet from the way those two had hugged before Evalle left.
Reese had to fix this fast. Evalle had been her only ally and the one person who had kept Storm at bay. “Tell you what. Never mind about getting me out of here. Tell me what games you like to play.”
The little gargoyle let out a fat sigh and jumped up, waddling back over to her. He sat down and pointed at his toes. “One, two, three, four ... ”
That went on for the next fifteen minutes. She finally realized the majority of his vocabulary came down to a handful of words and numbers up to twelve. He was very proud of eleven and twelve.
When he stopped, his eyes focused on the whirligig. Well, hell. Just because she was miserable didn’t mean he had to be. She tossed it to him, but the thing didn’t fly.
It landed in front of him. His eyes lit up. He grabbed it and threw it in the air. Before he abandoned his alligator to take off after it, he turned and said, “Thank you, Reethe.”
What a sweet gargoyle.
She hadn’t gotten to hear her baby talk or watch him play. Her eyes burned at the loss and she shook it off. She stood up, pushing her hands against the invisible wall. Not budging.
