He was very close to being correct anyway, without the Orb's presence. She'd announced that Deris would be paying a visit, and everyone had to work to make the ruin of a castle presentable for her brother.
She'd gone so far as to call him the King of Karathia.
I wanted to laugh in her face.
Deris knew nothing of what being a King entailed, other than ordering servants to do his bidding and see to his every whim.
His ignorance was much like Daris', who expected to be named Deris' Regent when they took the throne away from Rylend Morphis, Bel's father.
I wasn't sure I'd ever felt such revulsion in my heart before, but that sentiment was growing. Bel, his father and grandfather were dear to me and treated me as family. Whatever it took to keep them safe, I would do.
"Hand me the powder, girl," Dorgus snapped. Vardil's privates were chafing; therefore, Dorgus would see to that and anything else Vardil needed.
It wasn't difficult to feel contempt for both.
The moment I could, I intended get the key away from Yark, who had hidden it away from the others.
He couldn't hide it from me, though. I knew it was kept in a hollowed-out leg of his bedframe. The key to his suite, however, stayed with him at all times. That, ultimately, would be a more difficult task.
* * *
Karathia—Past
Zaria
The obstacle I attempted to deal with as I put soup together for dinner was that of the plans for N'il Mo'erti that Hegatt kept with him. He even slept with the drawings—I'd seen that in Brill's eyes.
Foolish, foolish Hegatt, who had no idea he was watched carefully by a Q'elindi on the other end.
Cabbage, I'm sorry. A red rose dropped onto the table beside the stove, where I worked. This rose wasn't a long-stemmed beauty from a hothouse. This one was lovely, scent and all, on a short stem with small leaves and a slender twig studded with thorns.
Ilya had employed a spell to round off all the thorns. There would be no pricking of my fingers when I lifted this one to sniff.
Thank you, I replied, tucking the flower into the breast pocket of my cook's jacket. When he didn't respond, I went back to chopping celery for the soup. As I worked, I wondered who'd designed and built the first N'il Mo'erti, and how they'd communicated with those things in order to get them to do as they asked.
Certainly something to consider, I thought as I added those plans to my growing list of things to do.
"Smell good," Bekzi carried steaks into the kitchen. He'd gotten them straight from the butcher, who'd brought them to the back gate of the palace. "Good steak, too. We do fine dinner tonight."
"Wellend likes his medium rare," I said. "Warlend a little less done than that."
"We fix with good sauce," Bekzi nodded. "They like."
I couldn't help thinking that in an earlier existence, it would have been Ilya making steaks or the best Italian I'd ever eaten. Now, it was Bekzi who was a master cook. "Honey, how about a kiss?" I said as Bekzi set the crate of wrapped meat on a nearby table.
"You get kiss." He grinned and walked toward me. You get snake in your bed tonight, he added mentally as his mouth covered mine.
I broke the kiss when I laughed at his sending.
* * *
"Honey, remind me to get hot and sweaty with you again as soon as possible," I leaned in to give Bekzi a kiss.
"You sleep now," he pulled away to nuzzle my chin. "We have sex again soon," he promised, dropping his head to my collarbone and planting a kiss there. "Breakfast come early. We cook, remember?"
"Yeah. If we survive this, I want a vacation," I grumbled.
"I take. You like," he pulled me close and settled my head on his shoulder.
"Sounds good." I closed my eyes and shifted into a more comfortable position. It did sound good. I just had a shitload of things to do before that could happen.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Lissa
"Of course he can stay here. Master Morwin will be happy to have a pupil again," I said. Bleek and Barc sat inside my private study, Barc kicking his heels, Bleek looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Bleek wanted to go with Caylon and several others to hunt for Quin, but the conditions in some of the areas they intended to visit weren't ideal for a young boy. I'd already sent mindspeech to Morwin; he was on his way. If anyone could calm Barc down, it would be Morwin and the tasks he'd set for the boy.
"I hear you have a pupil in your study," Morwin walked in, smiling.
Barc's eyes grew round at his first sight of an Amterean Dwarf. Morwin's bushy, red eyebrows looked especially bristly today, as if he'd been doing research that delighted him.
One of Morwin's eyebrows lifted as he studied Barc; two of the boy's hands were clasped while the other two fiddled with the pockets in his pants.
"Sir Blevakian," Morwin nodded to Bleek. "Young sir Blevakian," he nodded to Barc. "How much do you know about your home world?" Morwin began.
"I know lots," Barc claimed.
"Ah. Then you know there are giant white cats on the snow-topped peaks of the Kivik Mountain range that are so invisible they can move without leaving tracks?"
"They don't leave tracks? How?" Barc was immediately interested.
"Ah. Well, if you choose to study with me, young one, we will explore all of the Kivik Mountain range, and every other wonder of your home planet." Morwin's eyes gleamed as he considered the information Barc would soak up immediately.
"Pap, I want to stay with Master Morwin," Barc gave his blessing to the arrangement.
"Then you have my permission, and I'll be back as often as possible," Bleek agreed.
Be careful out there, I cautioned Bleek in mindspeech. With those machines, I have no idea what could happen next.
"I will," Bleek acknowledged my sending. "Son, give me a hug. The Queen and Master Morwin will take good care of you while I'm gone."
* * *
BlackWing VII
Berel
Father and I volunteered to go with Kaldill, Caylon, Sal, Bleek, Lafe, Terrett and Yanzi. Those who remained on BlackWing VII had a new objective, now—tracking ships with unscheduled stops. The frightening thing was that once the ASD had begun looking into unscheduled stops for shipments already delivered, they numbered in the thousands across the Alliance.
We desperately needed Quin's help—and Zaria's—to determine whether the crews of those ships had been obsessed. Most ship captains either claimed there was no stop or had a ready excuse.
My concern was that we couldn't believe any of them. That, in turn, increased the heavy load on those investigating. All were concerned about the next mass murder and where it could occur.
That's when Reah, Bel Erland's mother, volunteered to act as Guli in the questioning. She knew the truth from a lie because of her High Demon heritage. I hadn't known there was such a talent until now.
Kooper wanted to question governors and rulers, but was forced to wait (by Alliance Law) until there was sufficient reason to question them.
I'd suggested going to the journalists, feeding them enough information that they carried messages to the population on their world, saying if the politician or ruler of their planet had nothing to hide, they'd welcome the questioning in order to prove their innocence and calm the population.
That plan was implemented quickly. Nobody wanted another massacre, due to hidden poison in their drinking water.
We had a ship of our own, but I believed it to be merely a place for us to sleep and eat, as so many aboard smaller, sleeker BlackWing IX held the ability to fold space.
All of us could mindspeak, and I was more than grateful. Kaldill had carried a glass sphere with two of Quin's black feathers with him when he came on-board. Yanzi said the feathers should be helpful in locating Quin, unless there was too much interference from an unnamed source.
It didn't take much to make the leap; Liron's name was on my mind. He'd created the Orb, which seemed to rule Quin's life. Too
many times, it had flung her from one place to another, so the others and I blamed it for Quin's endangerment.
Had we anything from the Orb itself, I believe Kaldill would have hunted it, too, with less than altruistic intentions.
Had I Kaldill's power, I would have considered the same thing.
"We'll get her back," Father spoke softly at my side. "Both of them."
My father, after my mother's death following my birth, had never considered another companion.
Until he'd seen Zaria.
I wanted him to be happy, and Zaria would be the best of all companions for him. In my mind, I could see Father attending state functions with Zaria at his side. The two of them together would be a formidable pair where politics and politicians were concerned.
I realized that family gatherings would be a joy, with Zaria and Quin with us. And, with their other mates, all of whom Father and I liked, it could be even better. I wanted those dinners. Those outings and gatherings.
More than anything.
Those things would help the ache in our hearts—the one caused by the loss of Siriaa. As ill and crippled as it had become before its destruction, we still loved and missed it. It would always be home to us, and one to which we could never return.
We only had our memories, tear-washed and dimming as they were.
* * *
"Where we go first?" Yanzi turned to Kaldill, who'd set the glass-enclosed feathers aloft and allowed them to float near his seat on the small ship's bridge.
"Goor-Phin. She was there—I can feel it. We must orient ourselves and search from there."
"Very well," Caylon nodded. "Prepare yourselves, I'll fold space with the ship immediately."
* * *
I never knew of the capabilities Kaldill showed us, once we arrived at the Jordeh Plantation. While the rest of us followed him at a distance, he held Quin's feathers in his left hand while holding the right hand aloft. With fingers widespread, light glowed from his right hand as power was employed.
All about him, images of walls rose. Ghostly furniture appeared atop fine rugs and flagstone floors. When apparitions peopled the spectral spaces, I gasped softly.
None we recognized occupied the kitchen, so Kaldill moved on. Through room after pale and wavering room we wandered, while Kaldill carefully examined every person.
We found Daris Arden occupying what was surely the master's suite. She paced and mouthed words we couldn't hear. Kaldill, with a nod, moved on to the next suite, and the ones after that, until we reached the back of the house.
There, we found Vardil Cayetes and another. I only knew it was Vardil because Kaldill named him. His countenance was much different from the last description I'd read of him.
"In disguise," Caylon whispered softly beside me.
"His valet and assistant, Dorgus," Kaldill spoke softly as he named the second person. All of us stopped still when another walked into the room.
No, the image wasn't one we recognized.
Kaldill stopped breathing for a moment.
Then he cursed—in Elvish.
I didn't know the language, but I understood his tone.
The one who'd walked in—she had irregular features at best, and moved with an awkward gait.
"It changed her," Caylon whispered.
"No," I responded, turning back to the young woman. She looked nothing like my Quin.
"Do not let appearances affect your feelings; this is temporary, to throw us off," Kaldill spoke in Alliance common once more. "This is the one we seek. Memorize her face—you must know it well if you see it again."
* * *
Karathia—Past
Zaria
"What's that?" Ilya settled on the side of my bed.
"Just some papers I borrowed," I said. "I was hoping I could get information off them, but no such luck." I refolded the pages and dropped them on the nightstand.
"Want company?"
"Of course I do."
"I was hoping you'd say that." He began removing his boots.
"How are the horses?"
"They're fine. Horel is a pain in the ass."
"He's just bitter because he's not the elite warrior he thought he was."
"He's bitter because he's a horse's ass." Ilya grunted as one boot came off in a slow whoosh.
"Honey, don't insult horses like that," I complained. "Call him what comes out of a horse's ass. You know—the stuff flies like so much?"
"Are you saying he's a pile of horseshit?"
"Pretty much."
"It's a good thing I have your bedroom shielded. He's probably attempting to listen in."
"That poor, misguided pile of horseshit," I shook my head as Ilya dropped the second boot on the floor and reached for the buttons on his pants.
"He's not poor. I believe Hegatt has him well-supplied in the money department. You should see his tack and the-um, jewelry he wears."
"I didn't see any jewelry," I began.
"It's not where most can see," Ilya lifted an eyebrow as he stood to drop his trousers.
"Does he have a cock ring?" I gasped.
"It's not a cock ring as cock rings go. It's more like a large piercing. He probably did it to show everybody how high his tolerance for pain is—and to impress the ladies, of course."
"I see," I said, although I wanted to gag. Horel wasn't anybody I'd ever want to bed; I didn't care if his large piercing item was covered in gold and jewels. I figured the only women who'd jump in bed with him were after their own gain or glory.
"Jewelry can only get you so far," Ilya's back muscles rippled as he lifted his shirt over his head.
"Oh, yeah," I whispered, running my hands over those same muscles. "Tell all your Falchani instructors that I really, really like these," I said.
"What, no compliments for me?" He shifted so he was facing me.
"Where do you want me to start?"
"Oh, top to bottom, bottom to top," he grinned.
"Love this," I touched his mouth.
"That's good enough." He grasped my wrist in his hand, kissed my palm and then lowered me to the bed. "Plenty good enough," he mumbled against my mouth.
* * *
Cloudsong
Quin
I ducked back into a doorway; Yark suspected he was being followed. That wasn't good for me—especially if he determined who was following him. I had no desire to come to Daris' attention; the witch could kill me if she wanted and the Orb allowed it.
I dropped down and made myself as small as possible as Yark's footsteps doubled back. He intended to find the one following behind. Gripping my knees to stop my hands from trembling, I waited for the sturdy, unsympathetic Yark to find my hiding place.
"Oy. Yark. You're needed in her majesty's meeting room," someone called out.
Closing my eyes in silent gratitude, I listened for Yark's footsteps to recede.
Rising on unsteady legs, I peered around the corner to make sure the hallway was clear before venturing out again.
Most of the ancient, crumbling structure was dark at night; if Cloudsong hadn't been a planet pulled back from the brink of death at some point in its existence, I imagined it would be overrun with mice, rats and other animals seeking shelter.
As it was, I'd seen nothing of the sort, including insects. While that was a blessing for Janis, who'd imagined fighting off an army of ants and roaches, there was nothing to invade her food supply.
She kept it tightly sealed in its containers anyway.
What if I wasn't able to save any of them?
What was the Orb's intentions where she and the other servants conscripted by Daris were concerned? Did it intend to let them die—or perhaps bring their deaths?
I understood now that it intended all worlds to die. Deris had servants already on Karathia. Why would anyone bother to transport these when the time came to move there?
I had too many questions and no obvious answers. Yark still held the key I needed. At least on Goor-Phin, the Sirenali had l
iving jungles to run to. Here, there was no safe place to run, once I freed them.
My hope, therefore, lay in those I'd been forced to leave behind. I knew they were searching for me. They wouldn't give up, either, until they found me—alive or dead. I prayed that Kaldill or one of the others would see through the disguise forced upon me by the Orb, else I could die alongside Daris and those who followed or aligned themselves with her and Deris.
A dark chamber beckoned as I slipped from doorway to doorway, hoping not to be seen as I made my way toward the kitchen. It had lights, after all; Daris was forced to fill dark, cracked wall globes with spelled illumination.
Except for bedchambers and suites, nothing else was lit at night. A wise criminal would have left everything else dark so nobody would notice their presence.
In Daris' case, she was too lazy. I knew she was used to being served by others all her life; therefore, she expected someone to do her bidding at all times.
Except when she wielded her power to kill or injure. Deris and she both enjoyed that.
Making my way into the empty chamber as carefully as I could, I moved toward the center. In the dimmest of starlight shining through an empty roof, I barely made out what looked to be evidence of fires or blasts scattered throughout.
What had happened here?
It looked to be a place where a battle was fought. Where many had died.
Was that their remains covering the floor in darker patches? All about me, I felt a hush, as if the sky were listening. Help me, I pleaded silently, forgetting for a moment that my mindspeech no longer worked.
* * *
BlackWing VII
Terrett
Long before the Alliances had developed technology of any kind, the Elf King lived. I doubted I would ever be privy to the Elf King's power, had he and I not been mated to the same woman.
A three-dimensional map hovered above Kaldill's head as he released Quin's feathers.
Instead of floating to the floor, as anyone would expect, they floated upward. I blinked. One went immediately to where we'd seen Quin last—Jaledis. The smaller, more fragile feather hesitated as it searched Kaldill's image, as the areas about it grew in size. I felt as if we were seeing through a focusing glass, as the images became larger and clearer to the eye.
SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 Page 21
