"I will come as well," Aryn walked over. He'd heard the exchange between Rigo and Erland. He had no qualms about getting involved with this.
"We'll let you place compulsion," Erland grinned and folded them to the dungeon.
* * *
"What are you doing?" Satris of Twylec stood quickly. Three had appeared inside his cell as if by magic.
"Just wanted to offer a pat on the back for convincing your cousin, Queen Tamaritha, that your sorry skin is worth saving," Erland smiled. "Rigo." Erland turned to the ancient vampire.
"This won't hurt—but it may sting a little," Rigo tapped Satris' neck with the small needle he held.
"What in the name of the light was that?" Satris barely felt the prick but he rubbed the side of his neck anyway.
"Your death," Rigo's voice was even and practical. "And from now on, you'll believe you never saw us and that a spider bit you on the journey homeward."
Satris blinked in confusion as all three men disappeared as quickly as they'd appeared in the beginning.
* * *
"So, not only do I have to go to the Conclave, we have to let Satris go because he's related to the Queen of Twylec?" My head hurt. Gavin, Tony, Drake and Drew had come to give me unwelcome news.
"That pretty much sums it up," Tony agreed. "But that's only one of them. You still have the other two, plus Geratt." I was aware of that—the trials were scheduled for the following day.
"When are we shipping him off?" I asked.
"Today. He should be at the spaceport now."
"I trust he's been cautioned not to cause additional trouble until he gets to Twylec?"
"Oh, no worries," Tony replied. I looked at Gavin, who merely shrugged.
"We have interviews this afternoon, for assassins," Tony reminded me. That was something I didn't particularly want to be reminded of. I'd been an idealistic fool—thinking there would never be a reason to execute anyone on Le-Ath Veronis. Trevor had come to take heads from the ones who'd sided with the rogues inside my Council chambers, but he only did it as a favor to me. He preferred what he was doing now—working as Sheriff of Casino City.
Jeral came in and sat with Flavio, Kifirin, Aurelius, Garde, Aryn and me as we brought in the applicants for the two assassin/executioner positions. Of those we interviewed, one was from Beliphar, Jeral's homeworld, and I liked him very much. My goal was to find two like Gavin and Trevor. Trevor was tired of taking heads. I could understand that. Gavin wouldn't even consider it—he was done with that part of his life.
Aryn was a King Vampire. I wondered if he even knew it. His compulsions were nearly as effective as anything Merrill could do and he employed that talent during the interviews. We had two assassins before the afternoon was over, too. Garde and Aurelius asked most of the questions, with Flavio and Aryn chiming in from time to time. We wanted to make sure the vampires didn't want to kill merely for the sake of killing—that they would be swift and merciful when the heads were taken.
Kifirin gave final approval on both, and they were in accord with my choices. Learand from Beliphar and Dawes from Tulgalan were selected. They were assigned rooms at the palace—suites above the dungeons, actually—and a salary was established for both, plus other benefits and privileges. "Learand was a very good choice," Jeral told me later over a cup of tea in the kitchen.
"I think so, too, Uncle," I said, giving him a smile. It hadn't been long since Davan died, and it was difficult working with Grant and Heathe—all three of us moped around my study at times.
"I think that is the first time you've called me that," he smiled back at me.
"I'm only saying it because I mean it," I told him.
"I never thought to have a niece, or any family member," he replied. "And the opportunity to have tea with my niece is even more gratifying."
"I was hoping I'd find you together," Conner appeared beside us. I hadn't seen Conner for a while. I saw Russell, Will, Martin and Lynx often, but not Conner, even though Connegar was her son. She was tastefully dressed, as always, and her long blonde hair was pulled back and clipped. Conner always looked as if she belonged on the pages of a magazine, she was so careful about her appearance. Russell, Will and Martin doted on her. Lynx was very protective and Graegar, well, he and Barrigar loved her more than anything.
"Lady," Jeral dipped his head to the Guardian. Conner gave me a hug.
"I have a message for Jeral, Grant, Heathe and you," she informed me. Conner escorted souls to the other side at times, and she was asked to deliver messages by those souls, now and then. I never thought to be on the receiving end of one, however.
"Grant and Heathe are in my study," I said. Conner's appearance meant Davan had left a message for us. I wanted to cry.
"We'll go to your study, then," Conner agreed. We walked—I wasn't in a hurry to hear this—it was tears waiting to come. Jeral placed an arm about my shoulders as we walked. I looked up at my uncle—he resembled his mother, Narissa, and my nieces, with darker hair and gold-flecked eyes. I didn't see much of Griffin in his face, but then Wylend Arden hadn't been his father.
"Grant, Heathe, this is Conner," I introduced her when we walked into my study. My two remaining assistants were going through stacks of mail. Today was the day for that, this week. Conner was good—I'll give her that. She got us seated and comfortable before explaining to Grant and Heathe what she was and what she could do. They were shocked, I think, and shocking vampires is pretty tough to do, most of the time.
The message presented was a three-dimensional image, almost, much like a video or a live presentation, as Conner played the memory back to us when she'd taken Davan to the gate.
He was there, looking happy. I didn't expect that—he was happy. "I want you to take a message to my friends," he said. I wanted to weep at the sound of his voice. Jeral grasped my hand in his. "I want you to tell them what I see," Davan said. "I see a beautiful meadow in bright sunlight, with flowers everywhere. People are here, waiting for me. I know them. All of them, somehow, even though we haven't met. I feel happy and I can't explain it. Tell my brother Jeral that I don't regret what he did for me. Tell Heathe and Grant that I never thought to find such good friends. Tell them I love them. Tell Lissa that she shines like the sun, even in my memory of her. Nothing is forever, except the soul and love. Tell Lissa that for me." He turned away, then, fading into something we couldn't see.
I sobbed in Jeral's arms; he was brushing away tears, too.
"Lissa, I hate to interrupt," Thurlow appeared inside my study. Well, there wasn't any other way he could have just shown up as he did—the study door was closed and locked. He'd folded in. Conner didn't even blink.
"What is it, Thurlow?" My voice wasn't steady.
"The Ra'Ak have brought an army of spawn and are attacking your shield on Vionn. They intend to kill the Green Fae and the others inside the curtain."
There's nothing like fear and desperation to toss you right out of a grief session. Jeral was up and ready, too, the moment he heard the word spawn. Either he or Conner sent out the message; I had an army of my own at my back when I set out for Vionn. Toff was there. Maybe they'd planned this—knew I'd come to protect that baby, if nothing else. Thurlow was coming with us, I noticed, and Kifirin folded in, bringing Aryn and Rigo. I sure hoped it was night there, otherwise Rigo might fry and I sure didn't want that to happen. "Let's go," I said, and folded all of us away.
Spawn had just broken through the shield when I arrived with my hastily formed military might. Eight Ra'Ak were there, driving spawn through the hole in my shield. They'd been the ones to destroy the barrier, and had used considerable power to do it. A ninth Ra'Ak, still in humanoid form, stood nearby, watching. Saa Thalarr and Spawn Hunters went to work, challenging Ra'Ak and taking out what looked to be twenty thousand spawn pouring through a hole in my shield. All of them were heading toward the Green Fae's first valley as quickly as they could get there.
Dragon had come, as had Crane. Dragon went to his avatar immediat
ely, preparing to wage war. Crane's giant Wyroc screamed a battle cry and engaged the first Ra'Ak he found. Drake and Drew, my twins, were also in Dragon form and fighting Ra'Ak. Radomir arrived and hit the ground as a giant Black Tiger, taking on one of two remaining Ra'Ak. My focus was on the one still in humanoid shape. I decided to have a parlay with him. First, he wouldn't expect it, and second, I figured all my mates, Kifirin included, were going to be mighty pissed if I told them before I did it.
"Perhaps I should have just gone to kill the Pelipu, rather than letting one of your cousins have him for dinner," I said amiably, misting right in front of the humanoid Ra'Ak.
He hid his surprise well; I'll give him that. "But you failed to do so," he said. "I hear he was quite tasty—just the right amount of fat, as you might imagine. You are a bit thin but still quite tender, I'd wager." He grinned. I was about to be dinner, too, if this creep had anything to say about it.
"I'll fight the whole way down," I warned him. Yeah, I was watching to make sure he didn't turn scaly and coppery. Ra'Ak can eat somebody for lunch pretty quick.
"We haven't had a Saa Thalarr as a meal in a very long time," he went on. He was watching my every move, just as I was watching his.
"And you still won't get one," I said. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
"But I intend to have you as a meal," he went on, trying to mesmerize me with his eyes and voice, somehow. Too bad he didn't know that wouldn't work. I heard sounds of fighting and shouting behind me, but I ignored it for the moment.
"And you still won't get a Saa Thalarr, even if you manage to make a meal out of me," I said. "I'm not one of them."
"Then what are you?" He was stepping up the mesmerizing—it vibrated about him, much like the feeling you get while standing next to giant speakers. Still, whatever he was doing wasn't working, although he expected it to. I smelled the confusion around him because of it.
"Justice," I answered his question. "Have you heard of me?"
"No. Should I?"
"Let me guess—you were one of those flunkies hiding in the void, weren't you?" I asked.
"Not a flunky—they answered to me," he replied. He wasn't that remarkable, in looks, anyway. Brown hair, brown eyes, medium looks, medium height, medium build. That whole boom-box compulsion thing, though, that was something. It sounded as though he were used to being obeyed.
"You gonna have a tantrum if you don't get your way?" I queried.
"I will take this world apart, if things go badly for my servants." He jerked his head toward the battle going on behind me.
"Well, that's too bad," I said. I wasn't about to waste any more time talking him; not if he planned to use his Ra'Ak power to blast the planet. I disappeared in front of him, which didn't cause much of a stir, actually. He should have paid more attention to his history and pondered why a whole bunch of Ra'Ak had died on Kifirin not long ago. His head exploded, just as anybody else's might, when I misted inside it and blew myself outward.
Dragon and Crane had taken down their targets, Radomir had gotten his and Drake and Drew, in Dragon form, were chasing after the last Ra'Ak, after dispatching two others. This one was snapping and snarling at them as they chased him across a wide field. I'd never seen my twins' Dragons before; they were impressive—Drew's was silver, Drake's black.
Want me to take care of that? I sent.
And spoil all our fun? Drake sent back.
Don't have too much fun; I don't want to watch Karzac put you in a healing sleep because you were dumb enough to get scale poison or something, I grumped.
Message received, Drew replied and went on the offensive. The Ra'Ak was beheaded by massive jaws in less than a blink and everybody ducked for the inevitable dusting of Ra'Ak chunks. Now, it was down to the spawn; what remained of them, anyway. They were still running toward the valley where the Green Fae lived as fast as they could get there. Spawn hunters were chasing after them; wolves, vampires—all were taking out spawn as quickly as they could catch them. Even one escaped spawn could destroy life on Vionn with a simple bite, and Toff was out there. Well, there was a solution to this and I was about to exercise my options.
Sorry, I sent to the Green Fae, but the Ra'Ak know you're here, now, and they likely know you have my child. That means you can't stay. I misted toward them swiftly, had all three thousand of them, including their half-Fae children and the Vionn who'd chosen to live alongside them, gathered and transported to Le-Ath Veronis in only a few seconds.
* * *
"I know these aren't your mountains and valleys," I said to Tiearan as he, the Green Fae and humanoid and half-humanoid alike blinked in shock at their new surroundings. "But it's the best I can do on short notice."
I'd set them down in an area just east of the last comesuli settlements and farms. The land there consisted of gently rolling hills, a river and a few streams and ponds. Plenty of ground, if you wanted to farm or raise animals. The Green Fae didn't consume meat, but their humanoid neighbors did. They liked their milk, cheese and eggs, too, so they had cows, chickens and goats. I'd brought their animals with them; I just couldn't uproot trees or plants. They'd have to start over with those, but the comesuli could provide seeds, cuttings and the like.
"We were prepared; one of ours saw this," Tiearan admitted, refusing to look at me. "We have seeds and such with us." Well, weren't we efficient? I looked up and saw Green Fae, their half-Fae children and the humanoids, all with pouches, bags and bundles. Crates, barrels and other things littered the ground.
"Doesn't sound like you're all that upset over it," I muttered.
"We have moved many times. Our seer predicts that the only reason we will leave this world is if we wish to. That is a blessing to us."
"Uh-huh." I was busy searching through the gathered people, trying to get a glimpse of Redbird and little Toff.
"She does not like being summoned, but she is bringing him," Tiearan murmured. "The child will still not come to you."
"Well, thanks for rubbing it in," I grumped.
"I did not mean it to harm or upset," Tiearan sighed. I wanted to ask him what he did mean, but held off. Redbird showed up, coming to stand next to her father. She didn't meet my eyes, but Toff was in her arms. At least he looked healthy and well fed.
"We are again in your debt," Tiearan didn't sound happy. "And I find myself in need of asking you another favor."
"And what would that be?" I asked. "If it's to kidnap and mindmeld more comesuli children, I'll have your asses off this planet so fast your head will spin."
"We have already passed new laws to add to the old ones, so this will not happen again." Well, it was too bad they hadn't thought about that before they turned to kidnapping in the first place.
"I understand your thoughts on this, and it is unfortunate," Tiearan observed.
"You know, I think I'll send some of the older Larentii to you, and you can all sit down and talk logic while leaving the emotional side out of everything," I grumped. "What do you want, Tiearan?"
"Indis-Banuu," he reverently whispered the word.
"That stuff?" Surnath had given permission for me to take as much as I wanted. The crystal covered farmland everywhere and they were happy to get rid of it. "I'll be right back," I said, and folded to Surnath. I was back in less than ten minutes with a thousand pounds of crystal, which I dumped right in front of Tiearan. "That enough?" I asked. "I can get more if you want. Also, just as a warning, it stays daylight here twenty-four out of the twenty-eight hours every day. I'll have someone come to put up homes and anything else you need. If you're done taunting me with my own child," I said, "I'll go now." I folded away, afraid that I'd become more angry and upset if I stayed.
* * *
"Your daughter has made a grievous mistake." The Green Fae seer came to stand next to Tiearan.
"You have already informed me, seer," Tiearan replied gruffly.
"It bears restating, as you cannot seem to control her," the seer replied.
Chapter 11
"What happened?" I asked, immediately concerned. Jeral was getting attention from Shane and Franklin, and that meant he was wounded. I'd folded back to the palace kitchen to get something to drink. Everybody else seemed to be there, too.
"Do not fear, child, it was a scratch and these two are taking good care of it," Jeral said, lifting my fingers with an uninjured hand and kissing them. I'd reached out to touch his shoulder—I wasn't ready to lose my other uncle. Jeral was reassuring me—he could see the worry in my eyes.
"Frank, you doin' all right?" I asked, shaking off my fear and doing my best to focus on Jeral's healing. Franklin and Shane were patching up a gash on Jeral's arm.
"I'm good. I hear that Oklahoma accent in your voice, little girl," Franklin replied. He looked so much like Merrill, with his black hair ruffled a bit and his piercing blue eyes focused on Jeral's wound. It made my heart hurt to look at him.
"The accent can't be helped sometimes," I muttered.
"I have never been to Earth," Jeral smiled. "It is a nice accent."
"I'll take you, sometime, and we'll get a chicken-fried steak," I said.
"I'll come," Winkler was ready to go right then. "Can we go back to that place you took me, all those years ago?"
"If you want to," I shrugged.
"I want to." Winkler came over to give me a hug. Yeah, I like my wolf.
"Thanks," I said. "Roff and I went by Don's grave. We saw what you, Weldon and Bill did."
"Lissa, I don't want to ever feel like that again," he hugged me tighter.
"Huh. I don't want to see your wolf inside a box, no matter how fancy it is," I grumped right back.
"I hear we need to put up some housing for Green Fae," Adam, Merrill and Pheligar folded in.
"Yeah." My voice was loaded with sarcasm.
"I'll come with you," Winkler offered. Therefore, it was only fair that my entire entourage went, including Rigo. I had to go Looking to determine that Thurlow had accomplished this somehow—Rigo could now walk in daylight if he wanted. I made a mental note to have a little talk with Thurlow—just not now. He came along, too.
08 Blood War-Blood Destiny Page 18
