MindRogue

by Connie Suttle

  "He'll be his own person," Zaria agreed. "His uncle, on the other hand," she snorted.

  "I feel the same way. You know Perri was molested by him, and then he stole her earnings."

  "I know. We can help, but she has to want our help."

  "I understand that, too." I moved closer so I could put my arm around Zaria's waist to give her a hug. Like me, she couldn't stand to know that an innocent suffered. I knew, too, that if Perri came to either of us, help would be more than willingly given.

  Sometimes we have to wait for the hurt ones to come to us, Zaria sent.

  And that makes it harder for us—to practice that kind of patience, I replied.

  I love you, my daughter, Zaria put an arm around me to hug tighter.

  Thank you. I love you, too.

  Karathia

  Bel Erland

  "This would be easier if Zaria were here," Dad sighed as we surveyed the clutter of Alken Wilker's home. We'd come the following day with several guards, to see whether there was any evidence that would indicate where Alken had gone.

  We already knew that Randl suspected he'd fallen in with criminals. It was a good supposition—where better to hide a criminal that among others who were as bad or worse?

  If they hid behind Sirenali, his hiding would be even more effective. Like Dad, I worried that the Prophet would lure him in. If that were the case, how had they contacted one another?

  Nobody heard from the Prophet. Generally, he took whatever or whomever he wanted.

  "I figure Stone Wicke has been working with someone else for a long while—if he were with the Prophet, I believe we'd have gotten wind of his presence before now," Dad surmised.

  He was thinking the same as I—which ones on the wanted list could be taken by the Prophet, and which ones had gone elsewhere. Karathia's most-wanted list was no secret to anybody—the Prophet could find it easily enough as it was public information.

  Wilker, though—he hadn't been placed on that list until after he disappeared. That raised a question, the answer to which could be more than frightening.

  "Do you think he'll attempt to contact Perri, now?" Dad asked.

  "Not if he's with the Prophet."

  "Good point."

  "I'll take the latest images we have to Quin. Maybe she can tell me something about him we don't know—after she's finished telling me off for not guessing Alken was guilty of crimes against his niece and nephew."

  "We still don't know where their parents are," Dad said. "We've never been able to track them."

  My head jerked up, then. "Do you suppose?" I stared at Dad.

  "My alarm bells just went off, too. Take the comp-vid recordings we have from Zanfield's crew and get them to Quin right away."

  Avii Castle

  Quin

  "That's what I see in him—that he was going to join his brother—at an arranged meeting place. He already had it planned when Zanfield's people arrived to take Pauley."

  "Where was the meeting to be?" Bel Erland asked. "Can you see that?"

  "A bar on Brakkus," Zaria arrived and spoke. "I just came from there," she added. "It was a meeting place only—wherever Alken's brother took him, the location was kept from Alken. I believe that they're with a criminal faction somewhere that has nothing to do with the Prophet, though. At least for now. I doubt the Prophet has much in the way of warlocks or witches at the moment, but I think he's beginning to see their usefulness."

  "Gillen Wilker is a stronger Fourth-level than Alken," Bel Erland mused. "His wife, Qatti, is Third-level. They probably abandoned their children to Alken, so they could make serious money somewhere. The deal may have been to bring Alken in later, after the children were grown and living on their own."

  "But it's likely that Gillen never counted on Alken molesting the children—and then blackmailing Perri with Pauley's continued well-being unless she paid him and kept her mouth shut," I said, feeling angry again. Every time I saw Pauley struggling to read even the simplest words, it made me furious.

  "It boils down to their being among the worst parents I've met," Bel Erland grumbled. "With Alken being among the worst uncles I've ever met."

  "Their status as relatives no longer concerns me," Zaria said. "Their status as criminals, on the other hand, does."

  "Do you want me to visit Randl, to let him know our latest suppositions?" Bel Erland asked Zaria.

  "Yes. Tell him to send mindspeech if he wants—this needs to be sorted out before the Prophet decides to add to his stable of warlocks and witches."

  "I want to know who hired Stone Wicke," Bel said. "Dad and I both do. Whoever it is, they really want to destroy the competition for parts and hulls of older ships. Dad and Uncle Teeg are working with Kooper and Jett to determine whether there are spells laid at other scrapyards."

  "Ilya and I have already removed the spells at Ex'ero's other businesses," Zaria told him. "Those would have been nasty if they'd detonated. Warlock Wicke has some explaining to do when we catch up with him."

  "Is that what you came to tell me?" I asked.

  "And tell Bel Erland and his father," Zaria smiled. "Whoever laid those spells won't even realize they're gone."

  "What about Ex'ero?"

  "A few crimes uncovered so far," Zaria said. "Kooper and Jett are still trying to get information on his involvement with Jewl. Both may be laying charges, since Ex'ero operates in both Alliances. They may be convinced to look the other way on some of those infractions, if he allows the ASD and CSD to put in their own surveillance in his businesses, which will be most discreet."

  "To catch the ones coming in to look for parts and such," Bel Erland nodded his approval.

  "Yes. And they may find it more difficult than usual for a power-wielder to cause those cameras to go offline temporarily, as they usually do."

  "Nice. Can you teach me that trick?"

  "Sorry—it's Larentii need-to-know only."

  "Damn."

  "Ask your grandfather Erland—he may be able to come up with something similar," Zaria laughed.

  "Oh, good. I'll ask Grampa, then."

  "I think that whatever faction the Wilkers work for, they knew of and understood Quin's ability to see things about them," Zaria said. "That's why information was held back from Alken, and we don't have good images of Gillen and Qatti to work with."

  "Pauley barely recalls his parents," I said. "Perri hates them for abandoning her and her brother. Her memories are faded, too."

  "Bel, when you see Randl, will you do something for me?" Zaria turned to him.

  "Of course."

  "Ask him to take Nari, Tiri and Perri to Pyrik, where the Prophet's stronghold was. They may be able to read things from the site that will be helpful in tracking him and his minions."

  "I'll let him know."

  "Are you leaving?" I asked him.

  "Yes. May I have a kiss?"

  "Yes."

  BlackWing XIII

  Randl

  "That's actually a good idea." Bel Erland relayed Zaria's message to me, in addition to what the consensus was on Alken Wilker. "We've heard from Kooper—Ex'ero has given permission for the ASD and CSD to place cameras in his businesses, and they're working on some of the other scrapyards, too. A few BlackWing ships have been dispatched in those directions to investigate thefts and items unaccounted for."

  "I think I'd like to come with you when you take those three to Pyrik," Bel said.

  "I'll probably have other volunteers, too. Mak and Jak won't let me go without them."

  "Take Vik with you."

  Like me, he wanted a High Demon presence, to nullify any malicious power left behind to trip someone up. "I was planning to," I said.

  Bel Erland, like his father, King Rylend, didn't like the shaky ground we all stood upon where the Prophet was concerned. After Campiaa, every ruler in both Alliances walked carefully. One misstep and too many to count could die or be taken by an unseen hand.

  "What do you suppose he wants?" Bel asked. "Besides
taking over both Alliances?"

  "There's something to want other than that?" I was puzzled by the question.

  "It's just—what's left after that? You control everything—then what?"

  "No idea. What if there isn't anything after that?"

  "Just a thought," Bel waved a hand, dismissing the idea. A worry began in my mind at that moment, however.

  What if we were wrong?

  What if the Prophet ultimately wanted total control—and something else? I really needed more information on him to make a determination.

  I knew where he was from. That he'd spelled a coin that once belonged to my mother. How did those pieces fit together?

  "I'll arrange to take those who want to go to Pyrik tomorrow at nine bells. Are you available then?" I asked Bel.

  "I'll be here," he agreed.

  When he folded away, I rose from my desk and walked out of my office. I wanted to ask Perri questions, and worked on how to tactfully do that while I strode to the trans-vator.

  Vik and Zanfield ended up coming to the galley with Perri. Dori arrived a few seconds later.

  "Tomorrow," I said, "We're going to Pyrik to visit the Prophet's former stronghold—what's left of it, anyway. We'll see if there's anything you can scent about the place. Nari and Tiri will use their talents, too, for the same reason."

  "I've never been to Pyrik," Perri said.

  "Not much to see, really," Dori said. "They have a few nice vacation spots."

  "The place we're going has radiation poisoning readily available," Vik said. "Keep shields up when we go."

  "I've developed a shielding technique that won't affect my scenting ability," Perri confirmed.

  "Mostly what I want to know from you is whether the Prophet had any warlocks, witches or other power wielders with him while he was there," I said. "Nari and Tiri will be looking for artifacts to help with their work."

  "Does this place have a name?"

  "Lee'Qee," I shrugged. "I have another question for you. If it makes you uncomfortable, tell me."

  "What is it?" Perri stiffened slightly—she was afraid I'd ask her about her uncle.

  "What do you recall of your parents? Did anyone ever say where they went?"

  "I don't think anybody knew," she said, grateful that it wasn't as personal a question as she'd feared. "All I knew about it was our—uncle, coming to get us one morning because our parents left during the night. As far as I know, they left no note or anything else for us, including money to take care of us."

  She didn't add that her uncle berated her often, saying that she and Pauley were a burden to him and she should shut up and put up—with him.

  Filth, Vik spat in mindspeech.

  You mean her uncle?

  And her parents. Who knows which are worse? Surely they knew about his proclivities.

  Without seeing them, I can't say for certain.

  I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt. They abandoned their kids and didn't care enough to check on them.

  You know—I think you're right.

  Damn straight. I know what I'm talking about. Those people had a choice. I didn't.

  I know.

  Vik was referring to his own past, when he'd been helpless and controlled by others. He'd done things as a result, and turned his own family against him because of that. Zaria and Quin had given him a new life, with a new name, but there were ghosts in his past that still haunted his memories.

  Quin, Zaria and I—we could see that history in him, and he was aware that we knew. He understood that we didn't hold those things against him, either. If he hadn't been worth saving, Zaria would have left him dead in the past. Vik was still coming to grips with that—that he was found to be worthy.

  He would never have abandoned his children if he'd been himself all those years ago. Gillen and Qatti Wilker had chosen to abandon their own, and another family member had abused them afterward. A curl of smoke escaped Vik's nostrils. His demon was angry.

  Perri failed to notice; she hunched in her chair, making herself smaller as memories of her family washed through her mind. None of those memories were good. No wonder she lashed out at times—the pain had to be overwhelming upon occasion.

  "I don't remember much about them," Perri considered my first question, now. "I remember my father yelling at Pauley, because he couldn't do some things for himself. He was so little. My mother hated farming. That's what they did—they grew vegetables to sell to the markets on Karathia. It wasn't a high-paying occupation, and they leased the land from someone else. I remember them saying the rent was too high."

  "This may be difficult for you to hear, but they may have found employment with a criminal faction," I said. "We believe that your uncle has now joined them—we have some evidence that Alken met with your father at a bar on Brakkus. Nobody knows where they went from there, and that's troubling."

  "They don't care about us—Pauley or me. You can't use us as bait," Perri sounded resentful.

  "Perri, that would never occur to any of us. I feel bad enough, asking you to dredge up memories so we can try to track them in a normal fashion. We don't hold children hostage. It's illegal and repugnant in the extreme."

  "Quin would consider murdering anyone who threatened Pauley," Vik said gently. "As would Queen Lissa of Le-Ath Veronis."

  Perri lifted her eyes to Vik, who sounded sure of himself. He should; Queen Lissa was his mother and nobody mistreated children around her.

  "Can you say for sure that he's safe where he is? That they can't just show up and take him away if they want?"

  Here was something that troubled her. Alken had sold Pauley once. What would keep him from trying the same thing again?

  "I would hate to be anyone who thought to take Pauley away," Zanfield spoke for the first time. "Zaria is formidable. I wouldn't dream of making her angry, and someone taking Pauley would definitely do that."

  "How do you know that?" Perri demanded. Tears threatened; the roughness of them were in her voice.

  "Because she gave him one of these," he pulled his medallion from beneath his uniform. "I doubt anyone will touch Pauley from now on without permission." We watched as Zanfield placed the medallion under his shirt and patted it into position.

  "I thought these were secret identification tags," Perri grumbled, pulling her own out and staring at it.

  "The one Sabrina wears protected her from a kidnapper," I said. "Blew him against a wall and knocked him unconscious when he tried to touch her."

  "You're joking."

  "No. Ask her yourself."

  "You mean these are like Grey House protection jewels?" Perri's eyes widened as she studied the gold medallion.

  "I think it's much more than that, but Zaria won't say exactly what, other than don't take it off," Zanfield said. "So, don't take it off—all right?"

  "I won't." She placed the medallion under her shirt, much like Zanfield did. I could see her relax somewhat as she did so. She'd been terrified for Pauley, that much was certain.

  Somehow, too, Zanfield had been having conversations with Zaria. That intrigued me. It was obvious that she held a high opinion of him, just as I did. There was something else, too, about him.

  Zan, are your agents protected well enough? I asked in mindspeech. The two you sent to Karathia? I'm worried Alken may try to destroy the witnesses to his indiscretions.

  Zaria said they would be protected. She gave them a medallion, too. I think we can send them out again, if we need to. They're trained bodyguards, you know.

  Zaria gave you mindspeech. That's outstanding, I sent.

  I'm grateful. With all the money I have, this is something that I couldn't buy. It came as a gift, instead.

  I'm grateful, too. We'll keep your agents in mind if we need boots on the ground.

  They liked rescuing Pauley. Frankly, they're bored most of the time, so this was a nice adventure for them. They liked Pauley, too. They don't get to spend time with young ones very often.

  You think th
ey'd consent to live at Avii Castle between assignments?

  I think they'd be impressed—and happy.

  Good. I'll ask Quin and let you know. If she says yes, be prepared to help me transport them to their new home.

  Ready anytime, Commander.

  Go ahead and tell them to pack their gear, I sent after several seconds passed. Quin says yes.

  A'pelur

  Gillen Wilker

  "You sold Pauley?" Qatti hissed at Alken.

  We wondered where his money came from. Now we knew.

  "That fool, Zanfield Staggs, paid me a million for him. You know Perri works for the Karathian Crown. She'll find him soon enough, I think. Could become an incident, but she'll get him back."

  "He paid a million? For Pauley?" Qatti's interest had turned to the money and not the child.

  "Without blinking. I didn't see him personally; his agents brought the money to me and took the boy with them. They said Staggs wanted to study the boy—why he was born without power."

  "The names of those agents?" I asked casually. Anybody who had access to Staggs' money interested me a great deal.

  "In this comp-vid," Alken handed it to me. "Only first names and a bank account set up for a single purpose, in case you have your sights set on his other money. I already checked."

  "We get our hands on even a fraction of that money, and we can stop working for anybody else," I snapped. "Why didn't you tell us this when I picked you up on Brakkus?"

  "Because the Karathian Crown was about to pull him in for questioning, right?" Qatti always arrived at the answer before anybody asked it.

  "I don't know that—they didn't contact me," Alken replied stiffly.

  "I'll bet your house has been turned upside down and too many spells to count have been set on it, looking for you," Qatti said.

  "That's beside the point," I growled. "They won't find him here—we're hidden well enough behind the boss's spells. I don't know where he got them or who he paid; we know Stone didn't lay them, but they work. Nobody can find us, guaranteed." Stone, the boss' favorite warlock, was talented, but not that talented.