* * *
"Are you saying that Reah and some guy are heirs to Arvil San Gerxon?" Ry and Tory were staring at Ry's father, Erland Morphis.
"That's right. Now, if Arvil somehow ends up dead and it doesn't void the adoption agreement, Reah will own half of Campiaa. This might be an opportunity to turn Campiaa into what it should have been—a legal gambling planet in that sector of the universes. We could expand if we wanted, with built-in clients. Norian says that the Founder and the Grand Alliance Council will consider bringing Campiaa in as an Alliance world if San Gerxon is gone and we can turn it around to make it legal."
"Holy crap," Ry mumbled. "Is Reah all right? She's in a dangerous position if San Gerxon learns she's ASD."
"Norian didn't say, one way or another, but she has to be worried." Erland sat on the edge of Lissa's desk.
"Why don't they let us go in?" Ry asked. "We could pose as new hires for Reah. Help her out with this."
"Wylend already suggested that," Erland said. Erland also knew why Wylend had suggested it—there were multiple reasons but Reah was at the center of it. "Lendill said he'd think about it—Norian is letting him have point on this one."
"There's something else." Rylend wasn't sure how to deliver this news.
"What's that?"
"Reah got a husband out of the deal—Arvil San Gerxon married her off to the other designated heir."
Tory was standing in a blink and breathing smoke. "If he's forcing her to," Tory was ready to turn, he was so angry.
"That's not what I hear. She told Lendill that she wasn't giving him up," Erland said.
"Bro, you can't be jealous, remember?" Ry was standing and attempting to calm his brother.
"I want to make sure she isn't being coerced." Tory was still breathing smoke. "Does Aurelius know?"
"Lendill told him. Aurelius' first reaction, after he almost choked Lendill to death, that is, was just about the same as yours—worried that she might have been forced into this. I get the idea that she really cares about this one—says his name is Teeg San Gerxon. San Gerxon being his adopted name." Erland watched Tory closely in case he needed to send mindspeech to Gardevik, Tory's father. While Tory was old enough, he was newly mated and might need Gardevik's help in calming the Thifilathi.
"I'm all right," Tory held up a hand. "But I would like to speak with Lendill. Quickly."
"I'm here." Lendill walked in, rubbing his neck as if it pained him. Ry was forced to hold back a snicker. Erland lifted an eyebrow at his son. "If I send both of you—and I want to—Reah will have to hire you to make you appear legitimate. I'm not sure how her new husband will take that, or San Gerxon, for that matter. We'll place you in the hiring pool on Campiaa and let Reah know you're there. She'll have to find a way to put you to work so you can help out with this. This is a delicate situation and we don't need to ruin it—the possibilities are too good. And if we can find San Gerxon's allies and cronies in the drakus seed business, so much the better. Pack everything you need—you go tomorrow." Lendill was smiling—so was Erland.
* * *
"My King, Lendill is sending Ry and Tory. Will that ease your mind?" Erland had been afraid that Ry might be sent and Tory held back, since he had a relationship with Reah. Lendill had cautioned Tory at length about showing any affection toward Reah—San Gerxon might be offended and attempt to kill Tory.
"That eases my mind somewhat. I do not like the fact that Haral, that perverted criminal of a warlock, is there with her. You know he likes small women and young girls. Reah is practically both."
"I think Haral's life will be on the line if he lays a hand on her—Tory's Thifilathi will tear him to pieces." Erland nodded to Wylend, who sat morosely behind the desk inside his private study. If Arvil San Gerxon could have seen the inside of the King of Karathia's study, he would have been eaten up with jealousy.
"I would like very much to go myself, but the risks are too great," Wylend sighed.
"Trust us to handle this for you, my King. Karathia is not an easy world to rule. You have your hands full."
"And yet I would still prefer to do this for Reah. Trapping that fool Haral would be a pleasure, too. We've tracked him for many years, my friend." Wylend nodded to Erland, who smiled. "This is the first time that we've known for sure where he is, and we are held back by the ASD, because of other concerns."
"I know you've sent Griffin to check on her a time or two."
"He was happy to do so—said he'd already considered it before I asked."
"Then he's seen something, too."
"Yes. It frightens me at times to know my son is the Oracle."
* * *
Reah, we'll be sending Ry and Tory tomorrow—you need to find an excuse to hire both of them; Lendill sent as I was pouring out a glass of wine. The day had been an exhausting one; it was very late, I had an appointment with Arvil the following morning to go over the accounts for all his restaurants and I hadn't taken time for dinner. Now things would be even more complicated with Tory coming. Yes, I loved him and missed him, but there was Teeg. What would happen?
Did you tell Tory about Teeg?
Yes—he knows to be circumspect. Don't say anything to Ry or Tory that you don't want overheard. Send it to them in mindspeech only. They know not to push it, Reah. That was fine for him to say—what if I wanted to throw myself at Tory and weep? The stress from walking the tightrope between Arvil and the ASD was beginning to wear on me. I was tired of constantly feeling afraid. It interrupted my slumber and permeated my dreams, even with Teeg there to smooth things over and send me back to sleep. Now I was expected to produce a valid reason to hire Ry and Tory. And then stay away from Tory, as if he were a stranger or something.
I blew out a breath, realizing as I did so that my hair was now long enough to stir a little if I blew a sigh upward. Resolving to pay more attention to my appearance in the mirror before going to bed, I asked Lendill what kind of work I ought to find for Ry and Tory.
Security or bodyguarding would be best but do what you can, he replied, cutting off our communication.
* * *
Haral handed a credit chip to the cocktail waitress. "Just make sure you tell her that one of our best customers has a complaint. Bring her to the office at the back of the casino around fourteen bells."
The cocktail waitress nodded. She'd taken others to Haral before, in exchange for a fat, non-identifying credit chip. Those were difficult to come by and untraceable. She had nearly enough money to leave Campiaa and set herself up elsewhere. She was still pretty but on Campiaa, cocktail waitresses were younger.
She'd turned her head when some of the girls she'd taken to Haral came up missing afterward. At least he was neat in his work—she'd never found signs of blood or other evidence of any crime. Besides, people came up missing on Campiaa all the time. The constabulary tended not to hunt for them unless they were paid very well to do so. Even then, if Arvil San Gerxon was involved, nothing was ever done. He owned the constabulary, after all. If the waitress had known then that Haral's target was one of Arvil's new heirs, she never would have agreed, no matter the cost.
* * *
Teeg didn't come to bed until very late, and I was scheduled to get up in only a click or two. He pulled me against him and was asleep almost immediately. I left him in bed when I woke, bathing and dressing in our adjoining bath as quietly as I could. Tiptoeing out later, I scrounged something for breakfast in the kitchen, although the staff offered to make whatever I wanted. I got fruit and tea before going to my meeting with Arvil. That was the one thing I could say about Arvil—he was an early riser.
"Here are the accounts, Lord Arvil. I've fired everyone who had anything to do with the false billings and bad inventories." I pushed the comp-vid to Arvil, who slid his finger in a practiced manner down the screen, checking through everything I'd flagged.
"Did you recover any credits on this one?" One of the head cooks I'd fired had found a way to transfer a percentage of all income into his pers
onal account.
"I had security help with that one—we went to the bank and took back what he'd funneled into his account—that record will be on the recovery file." I started to rise to show Arvil how to pull it up—he waved me back down—he'd already found it.
"Very good, Reah," Arvil nodded happily. He'd found the other accounts I'd recovered for him. Some think that stealing from a thief isn't stealing. Well, stealing is stealing. You might justify it now and then, but it's still theft. "What did you do with them afterward?"
"Made sure they were sent away and put their fingerprints and eye scans into the database of known criminals who can't return," I said. If Arvil expected me to murder them while they stood in front of me, he needed to find another heir.
"Good," he said and kept flipping through the accounts. I felt wrung out when I left his office about a click later. Arvil seemed satisfied with everything we were doing, including inviting some of his best guests to a reception to serve really good desserts, wine and cheese.
Kiasz and I had ordered cheeses the day before—the best that could be gotten. With the black market on Campiaa, that turned out to be quite a lot. We intended to serve salmon in small crusts too—normally it was served as a main dish, but we were making small ones for the limited number of guests we had, in addition to smaller versions of other, nicer dishes meant to lure them to the restaurants.
Arvil promised to get some of his big name entertainers to attend so the guests would be satisfied all the way around. We'd planned it for two nights later, so there was plenty to do. I hunched my shoulders as I walked out the side door to Arvil's palace, heading toward the side gate and the nearest employee entrance into The San Gerxon Casino.
* * *
"Reah, I think I'm in love." Kiasz had tasted the small salmon pastries. They had the lightest, flakiest crust surrounding the salmon with just a bit of butter, onion, herbs and creamy sauce.
"You wouldn't know love if it jumped up and bit you on the ass." Kiasz's assistant cook (and his lover, I'd learned) came by and swatted the ass in question. That made me laugh. Yindu, Kiasz's assistant, was short, brown-haired and loved Kiasz. I couldn't fault him—he was loyal to Kiasz. We'd had a talk about it, Kiasz and I. I told him that the relationship couldn't interfere with the running of the kitchen. He'd agreed. Yindu wasn't suffering any over his superior being his lover. "Where did you learn to make this pastry? I might be in love, too." Yindu tried one of the salmon-filled pastries.
"Pastry was the first thing I learned how to make," I said. "Followed by vegetables, pasta, sauces, desserts and main courses."
"Where did you learn?" Kiasz was interested. Arvil already had that information—the false records held a bit of truth—they said I'd worked in the kitchens at Desh's on Tulgalan. It never said my last name used to be Desh, though. "I worked in the kitchens at Desh's number two," I said. "On Tulgalan."
"I know where Desh's is," Yindu gave me a grin and sauntered off.
I was ready to visit the second casino kitchen on my list that day when a cocktail waitress caught up with me. "We have someone who is demanding to see you. I think he is very upset with the food order he received. He is waiting in the back office—he wants to speak with someone right away."
"Come with me," I said, motioning for the waitress to come along. Part of her statement was true; I just couldn't sort out which part. She hadn't given me a name, either, so I hoped she'd be able to make introductions since she'd been the one to carry the message. The girl seemed worried that I'd ordered her to come along, but she came with me anyway.
* * *
Haral had moved the desk aside—he wanted plenty of room in case the girl struggled while he was taking what he wanted. The poison was nearby, too—he'd force her to drink it afterward. Haral was strong physically and he usually chose his targets so they wouldn't be able to fight him. He sat on the side of the desk—it wouldn't be long now. That's why he was so surprised when his throat was slashed nearly to the bone. There wasn't anyone else in the room—he saw nothing. He might have shouted if his throat hadn't been severed—the wounds that appeared on his body after that made him want to shriek before he died.
* * *
"He's just inside here," The waitress led me inside the office and then began to scream. I stopped short and stared in horror at the sight of the blood splattered everywhere. Haral's body—what was left of it, was on the floor. His head was nearly severed from the body, his sightless eyes staring up at me as if he were silently begging for help. I pulled out my communicator to contact security.
"We need some help in the back office," I said curtly and waited for them to come running. The chief of security and three others showed up quickly. The chief cursed under his breath when he saw the body. "Get Arvil," he ordered. One of his staff had Arvil on a communicator immediately. Arvil and Teeg both showed up only a few minutes later. I'd backed up against the cleanest wall inside the office, pulling the waitress with me. She was still whimpering and sliding down the wall, huddling there and rocking her body in shock.
"Reah, what happened?" Teeg asked the question—Arvil looked as if he were about to explode. This was his most powerful wizard, after all.
"This one," I pointed downward at the waitress, "came and got me after I finished with Kiasz and his staff this afternoon. Told me there was an upset customer inside this office. Said he was angry about the food he'd gotten at the restaurant. I asked her to come with me, since she didn't give the customer's name."
Arvil and Teeg were both staring at the waitress now. "What do you know about this?" Teeg had the woman up, gripping her arm in his hand.
"He paid me—told me to get her here," the waitress sobbed.
"Why? Did he say?" Teeg's voice was hard as he pressed the waitress against the wall.
"No. He just said to bring her. And when we got here, he was like this," she wept. She was pretty—with long dark hair, brown eyes and plenty of cosmetics. I imagined that she thought she wasn't pretty enough so she wore too much makeup.
"Have you done this before? Brought girls to him?" I stared at Teeg—I'd never seen this side of him before. He was relentless. As surprised as I was at Teeg's behavior, I was more surprised at the waitress' answer.
"Yes," she quavered. "Many times. He paid me."
"What did he do with them? The girls you brought?"
"I never saw them again." The woman sobbed. Arvil still looked like a thundercloud, but he was staring at the waitress, now.
"So anybody who learned what he did to those women could have been out for revenge. Pull the vids," Arvil ordered. "Now. Teeg, hire bodyguards for Reah. Delvin?" Delvin and Milus had arrived and were surveying the murder scene.
"Master Arvil?"
"Did you know anything about Haral? What he was doing?" All of us turned toward Delvin.
"No, Master Arvil. I never guessed." I knew right then, even if Arvil and the others didn't. Delvin was lying.
* * *
"It looks like a warlock's work. Or a powerful wizard's." Arvil ran the vid over and over again. It went blurry at the same point every time. When it cleared—Haral was lying on the floor and there was blood everywhere. "Look into the disappearances for the last full turn—see if any of the missing women had a wealthy family. Someone who might have been able to afford this," Arvil ordered.
I watched Arvil as he fretted. Something had slipped past him and he didn't like it. It had been right under his nose, too. Not only had women been disappearing, but his pet wizard had been responsible. The waitress had been handed to the constabulary—at Arvil's insistence. She'd be charged on Campiaa. Perhaps sentenced to lengthy jail time—if Arvil didn't order her death. It wouldn't surprise me if he chose to do so.
Haral had been waiting to do the same with me as he'd done with countless other women—abduction and poisoning. The chief of security had found the vial of poison, handing it to Arvil after it was analyzed. Arvil pocketed it. Delvin had remained silent while all this was happening. Mil
us hadn't said a word. Teeg ordered a security team and a special housekeeping detail to get rid of the body and clean up the mess.
"I'm going to contact Wilffin—I think I need his warlocks," Arvil muttered after a while. "Reah, Teeg, have you had anything to eat? Come with me."
I didn't want to eat and picked at my food. Arvil and Teeg managed to eat. Delvin and Milus also ate a meal in Kiasz's restaurant, but I hadn't failed to notice the brief look of dismay on Delvin's face when Arvil mention Wilffin's name.
* * *
"Reah, sweetheart, I'll hire security for you tomorrow. Until then, I don't want you going anywhere without me, all right?" Teeg pulled me against him the moment we shut the door of our bedroom.
"Teeg, I'm just shaken up," I said. Teeg wasn't satisfied with that. "Come on, let's use that spa tub in our bath," he coaxed. I wanted to tell Teeg that Delvin had been lying to Arvil earlier while I leaned against his wide chest in our tub. How could I tell him that? How could I explain that I knew when people were lying? There wasn't any good explanation for it. It was just something that was.
I worried, too, over Teeg's interrogation of the waitress—it looked as if he'd done that sort of thing before. He'd known what questions to ask. It made me want to ask him about his background. Why he'd come to Campiaa—what he'd done before. I didn't. That might open up questions about my life—questions not covered by the information on Arvil's comp-vid. I didn't want to lie to Teeg. I loved him. That's what I ended up saying instead.
"Teeg, I love you." I turned in his arms so I could look up at his face. His lips curled into a heart-twisting smile as he leaned down to kiss me.
* * *
I had to use the vid-communicator to talk to Kiasz the following day—he was beginning to make preparations for the wine, cheese and dessert gathering. I was fretting—I wanted to be there to make the oxberry tarts. Instead, I was held captive inside the palace—neither Teeg nor Arvil wanted me to go out unless someone was with me. Teeg said absolutely not unless he was with me. He'd gone off to interview potential guards. Hoping he'd come back soon so I could make tarts, I sent mindspeech to Lendill instead.
Demon Revealed (High Demon Series #2) Page 14
