Where are you going on Le-Ath Veronis? Bleek demanded.
I turned to him; he was frowning at me.
To the library, I admitted.
He lifted an eyebrow and the frown disappeared. Fine, he said. Don't be gone long.
What, and miss all the action here on this boring trip?
There's that, he admitted, rubbing his neck with one hand. Have fun. Write when you can.
I laughed and folded space at the same time.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Avii Castle
Zaria
I never said I was going to Queen Lissa's library. The one I needed belonged to the Avii. That meant traveling back in time before the castle was moved to Avendor.
Gurnil was away, having a meal with Ordin and a few others. That left me free time to wander through the library while shielding myself. It wouldn't do if someone were to walk in and find a female Larentii wandering the stacks.
I'd only seen what I searched for in Quin, when reading her in the past. This time, I wanted to see it for myself.
Quin, Gurnil and the other Avii thought the painting a romanticized version of a saving performed by Elabeth. I stood before it for a very long time, soaking in every detail. I imagined the artist had taken many liberties to make his Queen appear beautiful in the forest setting.
As for the vision of her disappearing into the bark of a tree—perhaps some truth could be derived from this bit of whimsy after all.
* * *
Vardil Cayetes' Private Quarters
V'ili
"Any word from Skyf?" Vardil asked. "We have five more requests for cleaned bones."
"I hear that the mutes aren't dying fast enough, so the sick are being tossed to the carrion worms. You'll have bones soon. As for Skyf, he's attached himself to a work crew assigned to repair the ASD facility. He's hoping to find where the attackers and their device originated."
"I hope he gets the information soon; I want that technology," Vardil muttered.
"It would be more than useful," I agreed. "My obsessions, combined with such would be formidable."
"My thoughts as well," Vardil agreed. "I'll contact the buyers and tell them we'll have bones ready soon. They can transfer half the credits now and the other half on delivery."
"Sound business decision," I said. "I'll let you know when they're ready."
* * *
Star Cruiser Hellion
Ilya
"What did you find?" I asked when Zaria reappeared after a brief visit to the palatial home located outside Q'eefur's capital.
"Several of the residents are sick," she said, flopping onto her bunk with a sigh and dropping her face into her hands. "So far, the poison hasn't spread beyond the perimeter of the Pre-Empsis' palace, but it won't be long before that happens."
"Did you find the spheres?" Hal asked.
"Yes. They're shielded now, but the poison has soaked into the Sirenali's bones around it. I've shielded those, too, but I worry about carrying that back to Tamp. If Nyarr or his brothers examine the spheres, they'll know somebody very strong placed those shields."
"Will they trace it back to you?" Bleek asked.
"I doubt it—they don't think I can keep a coffee cup from spilling. I'm worried Tamp will be curious enough to send someone back to look into the matter. That could be disastrous and carry the poison back to Paricos II, which I certainly don't want to happen."
"What do you think we should do, then?" Hal asked.
"I think we should inform Lissa, and ask her to carry this news to Teeg San Gerxon," Zaria said. "If a convenient explosion or some such could be arranged, after removing the entire estate and sending it elsewhere," she shrugged.
"What about the infected people?" Their bodies would serve as a conduit for the poison, too, when they died. "How are their physicians explaining the illness away?" I queried.
"They're not—they're pretending there's a cure. That's a violation of the laws in both Alliances—physicians are required to report those cases."
"And things get progressively worse," Hal muttered.
"Here's my problem," Zaria said. "I've shielded those things, because we're not carrying them away without that safeguard. If Tamp finds out later that Q'eefur is infected, he'll think one of two things—either those things were shielded after our arrival, or that there are other spheres on Q'eefur. I'm voting for the former, since the shields will have his warlocks stumped."
"He won't imagine that the poison could have arrived by other means?" Hal offered.
"Q'eefur is blocked against fallout by its sun and surrounding planets. You won't find a drop of poison on any of those. Hence, the shields and the one who placed them will be called into question first thing." Zaria's frown worried me.
"Let's hope that doesn't happen," Hal said. "Shall we proceed as planned and leave this worry for later?"
"Fine. I'll just make sure that everybody here is shielded inside the bubble that Tamp's device will create. We don't want to carry away dust on our shoes or clothes that's infected with that shit."
"I fully agree," Hal said.
* * *
Pre-Empsis' Palace, Q'eefur
Zaria
Deen had his map and the coordinates of the Pre-Empsis' vault. I had to transport us inside the palace; there were no conveniently open doors to slip through this time. What I hadn't told the others was that the Pre-Empsis had three wives and all three had small children.
He'd given them a terrible legacy—and a disease, because he wanted his older brother, the Empsis and first in line for the throne, to die before their father did.
Fool.
Get in, get out, Ilya sent.
Yeah.
* * *
Paricos II
Phrinnis Tampirus
"She's fucking Weir?" I wanted to make sure I'd heard the message clearly. Arna never had dealings with Weir. He made everyone around him nervous and uneasy.
"That's affirmative," Reykx replied. "I was sure she was on her way to meet Zarbec, as she usually does, but this time it's Weir."
"She wants something from him," I mused.
"What can he offer? He deals in smuggled goods."
"Yes, but he smuggles out as well as in," I pointed out.
"You think she wants to leave?"
"If she wanted that, I would open the door for her myself," I mocked. "I imagine she wants to smuggle something else—or someone else."
"Perhaps Mayyab," Reykx began.
"Mayyab has his nose to her posterior already. What would he tell me, were I to ask?"
"Not the truth," Reykx admitted.
"And that is why I trust your judgment," I said. "Do you have vids to share?"
"Yes. I will transmit immediately."
"Thank you, that will be all."
* * *
Pre-Empsis' Palace, Q'eefur
Zaria
At least there were no archaic weapons waiting when Deen lifted the pile of bones and three spheres into a bag and shut it softly. His fingers shook as he clutched the bag to his chest and released a breath.
"Zaria," his whisper was barely audible, "please take us away from here."
Somehow, this place spooked him, just as it did me. We'd passed three children on our way to the vault's steps. All looked thin and sickly to me. Deen saw two servants who were the same.
Deen just figured out what those spheres contain, I sent to Ilya and the others before folding all of us away.
* * *
Star Cruiser Hellion
Ilya
"The bag is locked inside an empty berth, and Deen and Jin are locked in Deen's berth while Deen is having his fit," Hal reappeared after misting through the ship to learn what Deen and Jin were discussing.
"What are they saying?" I asked. Zaria, who sat on her bunk playing a game called solitaire, looked up at my question. Bleek, who was sharpening his blades merely for something to do, also lifted his head.
"Deen wants to
unload these spheres and get the hell off Paricos II. His first stop is a physician's office somewhere, to be tested for the poison sickness. Jin says it won't be that easy to leave Master Tamp. He thinks Tamp will kill them rather than let them go, since they know what those spheres contain. They're also wondering what in the name of all gods Tamp wants with that stuff, anyway."
I'd been wondering the same thing, actually. Zaria would have said something, I figured, if Tamp intended to do evil with it right away. For now, he seemed happy enough just to collect it.
"My concern," Bleek pointed his whetstone at Hal, "is that Tamp will hire another treasure hunter like Velker—or worse if those two leave. If Velker hadn't conveniently died when he did, I may have killed him myself."
"I certainly wanted to kill him," I admitted.
"I can fix this," Zaria set her comp-vid on her bunk and rose to stretch.
"What are you going to do?" Bleek asked.
"Hal and I are going to see Deen and Jin, to convince them to stay where they are."
"With compulsion?" It was a big reason we'd brought Hal in—along with the misting trick.
"If necessary," Zaria brushed dark hair over her shoulder and walked toward the door. Hal fell in behind her.
"Think we need in on that conversation?" Bleek went back to sharpening his blade, the stone snicking across the steel edge in a more than familiar sound.
"No. Nor do I want to be."
"I hear that."
* * *
Zaria
"Deen, it's Zaria," I tapped the com outside his berth.
"Zaria?"
"Yes."
"Come in. I want to talk to you," Deen said as he opened the door from the inside for me. Hal and I strode in.
"Sit down," he indicated the empty berth across from him. Jin had gone to the galley, I read that in Deen's face. "I suppose you're wondering what's going on," Deen sighed and turned his head away for a moment. "Jin and I—we signed up to hunt treasure. We didn't sign up for this."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Those containment spheres—they contain the poison disease," he muttered. "I'd bet my life—or what may be left of it—on that."
"You're right," I said.
His head swiveled back quickly and he blinked at me in surprise. "You know?" His voice went up an octave.
"Yes. What you picked up today has been shielded carefully. It won't harm you. You didn't carry any poison away with you. I can't say the same thing for the Pre-Empsis and his family, however. The poison is spreading throughout his palace."
"How do you know that?" Deen had gone pale and his voice lowered to a whisper.
"I know a few things," I said. "I'm hoping you'll trust me on this. We can continue to hunt those spheres, and I will guarantee your safety from the poison every time."
"Nobody can do that," he huffed and turned away again.
"Deen, look at me," I said.
It took a few moments, but eventually he turned back to me.
He immediately dropped to his knees and his mouth formed an O of surprise and wonder.
He'd never seen a Larentii before.
* * *
Ilya
"They can't reveal anything about any of us, and readily agreed to the compulsion," Hal said, accepting the bottle of Karathian ale I handed to him. "Once they saw there was a Larentii on the team, they were on board in a hurry."
"Did Zaria explain that the poison will be removed eventually, and destroyed if possible?"
"She did tell them that. They were happy to hear it."
"Good. That makes this a little better, since we don't have to hide things from those two. We only have to worry about the ship's crew, now."
"If they hear or see anything they shouldn't, it's an easy fix," Hal said and tipped the bottle up to drink.
"And that's why we asked for a vampire," I said, holding my own bottle up in a salute.
"Vampires, the answer to so many household troubles," Hal grinned.
"And housewives' dreams, if the tales are true," I laughed.
* * *
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
Gavril and Tybus had both come. "You're sure of this?" My son, Gavril, who'd adopted the name Teeg San Gerxon, asked.
"Zaria says so."
"This will bear some thought," Tybus mused. "Q'eefur must be protected, but how can you go about that without panicking the entire royal family?"
"Isolate the sick ones immediately," Gavril suggested. "There's no need for others to be infected. I say hire a warlock to take out the entire infected palace and grounds and ship them to an asteroid or someplace else where they can't do more damage."
"That's just it, honey," I looked at him and shook my head. "Asteroids can fall to ground. Thieves can plunder them. We need one of Quin's spheres. For now, the smallest one will do, I think. Those who are sick—they need treatment to ease their way. They'll have to be isolated, too. I want you to charge those physicians involved with everything you can and make sure they never treat anyone again. Fucking idiots."
"How soon?" Gavril asked.
"Look, I think we can bring Quin in a few days. You may need to speak with Q'eefur's King yourself—and tell him what you know."
"What about the missing spheres?"
"Tell him they are in safe hands and quarantined, now. We don't need to produce them to point a finger at the Pre-Empsis; half his family and servants are sick already. That's evidence enough that he planned to kill his brother."
"I'll make the call," Tybus offered. Tybus was a master of diplomacy; he and Gavril were identical in many ways. I knew the difference—scent and age will always be clear to me. Both ruled the Campiaan Alliance as one; I was one of the few who knew it.
"Let me know how it turns out," I said as they rose to leave. "Just make sure Zaria's name is never connected to this in any way."
"I think I have a good plan for that," Tybus took my hand and kissed it. "Do not fear, lady, all will be well."
* * *
"Lissa, my love," Perdil came to sit with me in the arboretum. I found myself spending an inordinate amount of time there, lately.
"What, honey?" I asked absently as I gazed through the massive windows at the city of Lissia below my palace.
"I want to talk to you about V'ili, Cayetes, and how criminals think," he said.
I turned toward him and frowned. He wasn't the handsomest man, but his love for me consumed him. He never yelled at me for putting my life in danger; he called me his formidable Queen and laughed whenever I said something funny.
"All right, what do you have?" I blinked at him.
"V'ili escaped, right?"
"He did."
"Then he likely knows something of what precipitated the attack at the detention facility, and has determined something of what may have been involved."
"I understand that," I began.
"No, hear me out," he said, his voice gruff. "What I'm saying is this; what V'ili knows or suspects, Cayetes also knows or suspects. Imagine that Cayetes has any number of spies and willing assassins at his disposal. He will see the potential in this immediately. It's my guess that he already has a spy or spies here, looking into the matter to determine who slipped past the guards and the electronic security. If any word is spoken of Carek Prime, I'm sure you know what could happen next."
"That Carek Prime was competing for Quin, and had sufficient technology to pull it off if we hadn't been aiming for V'ili at the same time."
"Yes. Exactly. He sent Carek Prime after Quin himself; I fear for that world, my love, if Cayetes learns any of this."
"What do you think we should do?" I asked.
"Look for the spy. Have him followed. Intercept his communications. Find out if he's heard anything he shouldn't, then feed him false information, perhaps. Keep him as far away from Carek Prime as possible."
"Good idea. I'll put Rigo and his crew on this right away."
"May I work wi
th them?"
"If Rigo says yes."
"I know how to be discreet, even if I won't blend in very well," he grinned at his own joke—the top of his head would reach the middle of Rigo's chest. That didn't mean he was weak—Perdil could hold his own in any weight-lifting contest.
"You have my confidence and permission, if Rigo agrees."
"You are perfect," he said and leaned in to kiss me.
"Even when I have tiara hair?"
"Especially then. I'll keep you apprised of the situation."
"Thank you."
* * *
Star Cruiser Hellion
Zaria
The news feeds were filled with information regarding the Pre-Empsis of Q'eefur, his purchase of three containment spheres of poison and the fact that half his family was sick with the disease.
Deen, Jin and the rest of us watched onboard the Hellion as a news conference was held on Q'eefur.
"We learned of this earlier," a representative for the Campiian Security Detail said in an interview. "We suspected, of course, and slipped in to check for sure. We found leaking spheres and took measures to seal them up. We left them where they were while continuing our investigation. Yesterday, as you know, the Pre-Empsis was arrested, along with the physicians treating his family. The physicians failed to report the illness to the proper authorities, and we only learned of this when information was provided by an anonymous source."
"Where are the poison spheres, now?" a journalist asked.
"I cannot divulge that information, for obvious reasons," the CSD rep answered.
"Is Q'eefur in danger?" another asked.
"We are taking steps to contain the Pre-Empsis' palace and surrounding property. It is my belief that we may be able to prevent the spreading of the poison by catching it so early."
"What about the affected family members and staff?"
"All quarantined, as proscribed by law," the representative explained. "We will provide further updates as information becomes available."
"One last question," someone shouted. "What will happen to the Pre-Empsis? He may have doomed the entire planet."
"He will be held accountable, according to the laws of the Campiaan Alliance. The King has already disinherited him."
"Wow," Deen breathed when Ilya shut off the broadcast. "I think we've been saved from a lot of uncomfortable questioning."
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