WhiteWing

by Connie Suttle

  Velker's hands gripped the nest while a jubilant smile lit his features. Too bad he hadn't counted on the more mundane and ancient mechanical measures Juut had employed as a backup.

  When the hidden, small caliber pistol fired, it hit Velker right in the forehead. His eyes widened in surprise before they glazed over in a swift, almost painless death.

  I stepped out of the way to allow his body to crumple onto the floor. A trail of blood leaked off his forehead and into an open eye, making me gag. Turning away, I considered my options while working to settle my stomach.

  I could either Change What Was, or take Velker's body and get the rest of our crew the hell out of there before Juut's security came running.

  Chapter 7

  Star Cruiser Hellion

  Ilya

  Velker's body and the containment sphere nest of Sirenali bones were locked inside Velker's berth after Zaria transported all of us to the ship. Already the crew had the ship underway—Deen, one of Velker's assistants, had barked orders to the captain.

  Yes, Juut's alarm had sounded because Velker hadn't considered anything other than high-tech measures to guard what the criminal had in his vault. Velker paid for that mistake with his life. Zaria, wisely, hadn't employed what she had to bring the bastard back.

  I have a vampire mister to send, King Rylend's mental voice broke into my thoughts.

  Hold onto him for a couple of days until we see how Tamp reacts to his treasure hunter's death, I responded. If I give the all-clear, then send him.

  How did the treasure hunter die? Rylend asked.

  By his own stupidity. He imagined that Juut of Kelburr only employed electronic protection for his treasures. A simple, ancient method of hooking up a pistol to a tripwire did him in.

  You're right—that was stupid, Rylend agreed. Any feedback yet from Tamp, or has he been notified?

  Velker's assistants are asking Zaria questions now. I believe Bleek is ready to breathe fire, they've been at it so long. That tells me they want their story straight before they give Tamp the news.

  Understandable, since the bosses of Paricos II aren't known for their tolerance of stupidity or failure.

  There wasn't any failure; Zaria brought the Sirenali bones and the containment sphere back with Velker's body. It was Velker's stupidity that got him killed and sounded the alarm. Juut knows his compound was breached and something taken by now. I'm hoping he doesn't have a clue who was involved. I doubt he's a reasonable person if somebody steals from him.

  Few would be, if they'd been robbed, Rylend said, his sending dry. Let me know whether to send the mister or not.

  Who is it? I thought to ask.

  Halimel, member of the Rith Naeri and former King of Hraede, Rylend replied.

  * * *

  Zaria

  "We have a meeting scheduled with Tamp the minute we get back," I flopped onto an extra bunk in Ilya and the others' cabin. I was exhausted. Velker's assistants, either of whom would have known to look for what Velker hadn't, were terrified of Tamp.

  Yes, they'd finally sent the message that they'd gotten the treasure, but that Velker had been killed while obtaining it. As a result, Tamp insisted on meeting with all of us when we arrived on Paricos II.

  "Head hurt?" Bleek laid a large, warm hand over my eyes.

  "Yeah."

  "Those two should have thanked you for getting all of us off the planet," Bleek grumbled softly. "If they grow any sense, maybe someday they'll remember that."

  "Here." Ilya handed something to Bleek. It turned out to be a warm, wet cloth. Bleek removed his hand and set the cloth over my eyes instead. It felt like heaven.

  "You want to stay here with us?" Bleek asked softly.

  "Yes, please."

  * * *

  Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis

  Lissa

  "This is a delicate situation, so please hear me out before you make objections," Quin said. Her wings were ruffled, as if what she was about to tell us upset her. I understood that. Her mates had all come to the meeting, including Justis, who was already frowning.

  Bel Erland had come from Karathia with Erland, leaving Rylend guarded by Wellend and Warlend. Zaria trusted them; therefore, I was compelled to trust them, too. After all, they'd done the same thing for ages, employing different names and faces. I pretended that their circumstances hadn't changed in my eyes, but the truth was that things would never be the same—for any of us.

  "What do you have, Quinnie Bee?" I asked, moving away from those thoughts and attempting to make Quin more comfortable.

  "It's not just Captain Lenk that I want to talk about," Quin began.

  "Who else, then?" Kooper asked.

  "His King, Devarr of Carek Prime," she replied.

  * * *

  Quin

  For a moment, everyone in Queen Lissa's library forgot to breathe. Carek Prime had a spotless reputation, although it was a non-Alliance world. Its newsfeeds were trusted and respected; in fact, many Alliance worlds used their feeds to report on events outside the Alliances.

  Before the meeting, I'd done my research on Carek Prime with Berel at my side, pointing out this fact or that bit of information. Most texts referred to that world as an isolated entity, with little desire to interact with any other world.

  It was self-sustaining, well-governed and had a standing army. Few outsiders had ever been allowed to visit, so tourism wasn't a strong point.

  "What the hell does Carek Prime want you for?" Kooper exploded. Justis was demanding an answer, too, and their anger made me feel faint for a moment.

  "Calm down, she's doing the best she can," Lissa scolded both. "I don't think she rested much after the healing she did, and that's not a good thing. Somebody get her a chair, for Pete's sake."

  For a brief moment, I wondered who Pete might be, as strange a name as that was. "It has to do with this," I said after taking the seat Lissa's Falchani brought to me. "Carek Prime has been poisoned. Devarr emptied his treasury to pay for one of the spheres Vardil stole."

  "So we know for a fact that Cayetes has them?" Lissa asked as calmly as she could.

  "That's what I saw in Captain Lenk," I said. "He knows what the King was forced to pay to save his people and Carek Prime, as he was one of Devarr's guards who went with the King to meet Cayetes."

  "That's it?" Kooper asked. "Did he know where the location was? Is Cayetes still there?"

  "They met at a neutral site," I said. "He has no idea where Cayetes is hiding."

  "Then what do you expect us to do about this?" Kooper asked, tossing out a hand in frustration.

  "I'm not done," I told him. Exhaustion and fear were making me shake. I felt as if I were on trial in the Queen's library, and Captain Lenk's survival, along with that of everyone on Carek Prime, lay in my hands.

  "What else do you have?" Lissa asked.

  "Vardil made one last offer to Devarr before he left. He showed Devarr an image of a black-winged woman, and told the King that he'd refund the money if he found the black-winged woman for him."

  "Fuck me," Kooper breathed. "That's why they were here."

  "And now eleven of the twelve are dead," I pointed out. "The situation is delicate, Director Griff. Carek Prime is a non-Alliance world. The ASD holds no sway over it, and Devarr will deny Captain Lenk's very existence if we tell him we have him as a prisoner. We must approach this cautiously. I am willing to act as bait to get us to Cayetes; I only need someone to restore my disguise."

  * * *

  Star Cruiser Hellion

  Zaria

  I slept for the better part of the two days it took to travel back to Paricos II. I wasn't looking forward to meeting an angry pod'l-morph for the first time. I also wasn't looking forward to sleeping—or attempting to sleep—while surrounded by uneasy spirits.

  I should have worried more about Arna and Mayyab, Tamp's assistant and seer.

  They met us first on our way upward through the Rock; Arna couldn't help but sneer at me and gaze hopefull
y on Ilya. She didn't want another female who could compete for the best males the Rock had to offer.

  She ignored most of the Rock's female employees; they weren't pretty enough to compete with her.

  She had no idea I could see right through her; she had Elemaiyan blood and a few of their talents. I made a promise to myself, then. She would play a part in all this—I knew that. At the end, however, I would make her pay if she attempted to harm any of my party.

  Mayyab, on the other hand, could be dangerous. He'd misinformed Tamp in the past if he didn't like this employee or that, telling Tamp they were dangerous. Velker was just an asshole. Mayyab was a dangerous asshole.

  Mayyab's eyebrows lifted at the sight of the wrapped bundle that Deen, Velker's chief assistant held. Tamp was taking delivery of the treasure personally. Velker's body had already been transported to the top of the Rock by one of Tamp's warlocks. I figured we'd get to see all five of them, once we arrived in Tamp's penthouse.

  I'd read in Velker early on that the gadgets Velker held were on loan from Tamp; I couldn't see Tamp letting that sort of technology run amok through the Rock—that would be foolish. That's why Velker's body had been locked inside his berth. I'd made sure it remained undisturbed by placing a shield myself; it wouldn't do to be accused of theft.

  Turtle and Flyer wore the stoic, Falchani non-expression as we rode up the trans-vator to the penthouse. Bleek stood behind me, so I had no idea whether he was smiling or frowning.

  Ilya barely suppressed anger as Arna leaned in his direction, forcing contact between the two. Mayyab was disturbed because he couldn't accurately read any of us. He itched to tell Tamp about it, too.

  What are you? Mayyab's voice sounded in my head. Arna chose that moment to lean against Ilya, creating a clear path between the seer and me.

  * * *

  Ilya

  There are tales of Q'elindis in the past in King Rylend's library. Tales of a few who could bend the will of another to theirs, merely by leveling the full, unfiltered gaze of the Q'elindi upon them.

  I didn't look into Zaria's eyes; it was enough to see their effect upon Mayyab, seer for the outlaw pod'l-morph, Tamp. He huddled against the wall of the trans-vator as if wishing to escape her gaze at first, but before it was over, he was already relaxing and nodding at her.

  I doubt she'd have done it if it hadn't been necessary; that led me to believe that the seer intended to harm us in some way, or discredit us with Tamp.

  Will he trouble us after this? I sent while attempting to extricate myself from almost full-body contact with Arna.

  He'll be fine, Zaria replied. I understood that we needed to talk about us; I'd merely put it off until after the ordeal with Tamp was concluded.

  The trans-vator doors opened into Tamp's private quarters instead of one level down, where I'd met him before. Evidence of his treasure-gathering was scattered throughout the luxurious space, as if designed and decorated by the best anyone could hire.

  "Welcome to Master Tamp's suite," Arna stepped out first and regally swept out a hand.

  * * *

  Zaria

  Tamp stood beside a wide, metal table made of bands and swirls of gold, silver and copper. For a moment, it reminded me of the edges of Quin's wings. Behind Tamp stood all five of his warlocks, just as I'd expected. Tamp held one of the gadgets Velker had carried with him; I recognized it as the device he'd used to get us past all of Juut's security measures.

  As for Tamp, images blurred through my mind of all the forms he could take, until I looked past them at the creature he was. Tamp looked up, then, and his eyes met mine. He set the device he held carefully on the table before drawing in a breath.

  * * *

  Ilya

  Today, Tamp chose to appear human and didn't morph into a multitude of shapes while inviting us in. Arna was puzzled; I could see it in the frown that played about her lips.

  I imagined Tamp enjoyed watching the reactions of strangers when he revealed himself to them.

  You're lucky, Zaria informed me. There are some here at the Rock who've never seen him. They only have stories from a handful of others, and are told only that he's a master of disguise.

  That's what Gubb told me, I acknowledged.

  He's the last, she added. He's spent his entire life searching for others like him. He's never found any.

  This isn't the time to feel sorry for a criminal, Turtle broke into our conversation.

  I wasn't saying that, Zaria countered.

  "Come, bring me what you have," Tamp motioned for Deen to come forward with his bundle. "Set it here on this table, so I may look."

  Deen stepped forward and laid the wrapped bundle he carried near the center of the wide table. Tamp motioned for him to step back, then, before touching the cloth wrapping.

  The leather nest filled with bones was revealed, with the containment sphere at the center. "Does anyone here know what sort of bones these are?" Tamp asked aloud. "You, Zaria, do you know?"

  I held my breath.

  * * *

  Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis

  Quin

  "I refuse to lie to my King," Lenk stated flatly.

  "I'm not asking you to lie," Lissa said. "I'm merely asking you to act as an envoy, so Ildevar Wyyld and I can approach him with our offer."

  Neither Lissa, Justis nor Kooper had liked my proposal of returning to Carek Prime with Devarr. Therefore, they were offering a different tactic.

  "Wyyld has offered a place in the Reth Alliance before," Lenk snorted.

  "We're not offering that. We're offering a sizable reward, permission to keep the sphere that will save Carek Prime and the chance to get rid of Vardil Cayetes, before he kills other worlds by stripping them of the spheres we've already laid."

  "He stole that sphere from another poisoned world?" Lenk's eyes widened.

  "He did," Lissa confirmed. "What you may not know is that Vardil Cayetes is responsible for the poison spreading through the universes in the first place."

  Lenk, who'd been holding the cup of tea a comesuli had brought to him during this meeting, set it carefully on its saucer as he processed that information.

  "How?" he asked.

  "The poison was contained on a single world, which was dying, as you can imagine," I said. As I'd seen it firsthand, I felt more than qualified to provide the answer to Lenk's question.

  "A rogue wizard, who often worked with Cayetes, took some of the poison away and sold it. Cayetes was one of the first buyers. The wizard's containment spheres weren't well-made and leaked. Cayetes was stricken with the illness. He sought revenge against the wizard. The wizard returned to the poisoned world to escape the ASD, who was hunting him by that time. Cayetes, in a terrible act of revenge against the wizard, destroyed the entire planet with a ranos cannon, effectively sending poisoned debris flying into space. It has taken a toll on every world the debris has landed upon."

  "You say Cayetes was ill, though. Surely he should be dead by now."

  "He should be," Lissa huffed. "Have you ever heard of a transference spell?"

  Lenk paled.

  "How many lives?" he whispered.

  "Too many to count," Lissa replied. "Eventually, he found a way out of that and no longer needs fresh bodies to keep himself alive. He is strong and well, now, and back to trouble all of us by stealing what will heal the dying worlds he created."

  "Devarr never deals with this sort—and wouldn't have if there'd been any choice," Lenk's gaze dropped to his hands.

  "We understand that. We're offering to let him keep the sphere that will save Carek Prime," Lissa reiterated. "We have a limited number of those spheres, Captain. We can replace that one, but few others. Cayetes steals too many, well, you understand what will happen."

  "I can only present my opinion to the King in this matter," Lenk sighed. "I cannot make the decision for him."

  "There's something else you don't understand, too," Kooper said. "It isn't only the spheres. Quin, here, has to plac
e them. She calls the poison to the spheres. Those two things, working together, save poisoned worlds. Now do you see what Quin is willing to entrust to you and your king?"

  Lenk raised his head to gaze at Kooper. They were both soldiers, burdened with the safety of worlds and leaders. "If she dies, the universes die?"

  "Yes."

  "I feel small," Lenk whispered. "Your people are right to call us isolationists. I had no idea."

  "Please, let me talk with your king," I begged. "Perhaps together, we can cure what is killing so many."

  "I will ask, Lady, as you saved my life and that of many others."

  * * *

  Paricos II

  Zaria

  Tamp wasn't his real name, and he knew the bones were a Sirenali's. He was testing us. I was about to surprise him.

  "Those bones hold power," I said. "To defeat others who hold power from finding what they are meant to conceal."

  "You feel this?" Tamp lifted an eyebrow at me.

  "Yes."

  "Surprising—and gratifying."

  The five warlocks who stood at his back had no knowledge of a Sirenali's power. I found that unusual for anyone carrying the Blackmantle name. I wondered if Nefrigar had learned anything of their lineage, yet. I was determined to ask him later, provided there wasn't an emergency and I didn't have to haul my group away from Tamp's stronghold.

  "Mayyab, what do you think of these now?" Tamp swept a hand out.

  "I still hold reservations, as always, Master Tamp." It was the appropriate answer to the question.

  "Of course you do. Do you see any difficulties with inviting the witch to have dinner with me?"

  "She's only a Third-level," Mayyab snorted, as if a Third-level couldn't send his ass halfway across Paricos II's ocean and drop him in it.

  He'd been instructed (by me) not to harm us in any way. I never told him he couldn't speak his mind regarding most matters.

  "Yet she had the presence of mind to remove Velker's body, the crew and the prize he sought for me, before being discovered by Juut," Tamp frowned at Mayyab.

  "Luck," Mayyab insisted. If I hadn't instructed him not to harm us, he'd be even more insufferable.

  "What say you, Nyarr?" Tamp turned to the oldest of the Blackmantle brothers.