"And I'm supposed to call you father? I don't have a father."
"I could give you gifts for this alone," he ignored what I was saying to him.
"No, thank you," I said as firmly as I could.
"I will choose if you will not."
"Don't bother."
"It is already done." Kifirin disappeared in front of me.
"Come on," I said to Farzi and Nenzi. They gripped their bags tightly, worry on both faces as I skipped us to Tulgalan.
* * *
"Reah, no. We not knowing how to wake you or change you back," Farzi was fretting as I dropped the basket of food next to the tent I'd erected for us. I was going to heal the core, asking the two reptanoids to care for me afterward until I gained my strength back. Then, we'd find the other worlds Nidris was likely tapping indiscriminately as he fled from the ASD. My ultimate goal, however, was to find Nidris myself. Hand him his death in retribution for my child.
"Farzi, here is a communicator—it has Lendill's and Tory's numbers programmed. If there is a problem or if you decide you don't want to stay, then call them. Just know that I won't be going with you. I mean to finish this, one way or the other. I want to kill Nidris before this is over."
"But he almost kill you before," Nenzi was nearly hopping in frustration.
"I didn't know he was out there before," I said. "Now I do. I'll be watching for him." I spread out the sleeping bag I'd purchased after putting up the tent—it was big enough for all of us. Barely.
"When you do this?" Farzi wanted to argue with me but wisely decided to back off for the moment.
"We'll do it tonight—when the stars are out. If you can't wake me, then pull me into the tent and let me sleep. I'll wake tomorrow."
* * *
"I know she's gone, Dee." Dormas brought the communication from Lendill. "You taught me to manipulate people. I practically sent her after the bastard myself—I certainly pointed her in that direction." Teeg sighed. "What if this kills her, Dee? I told her—when she was vulnerable—that Nidris could destroy everything. She was thinking about going after him the moment those words left my mouth."
"Child, why did you do it, then?" Dormas had been Dee to Gavril almost as long as Dormas had called him Teeg—a nickname Dormas had given one of his human sons long ago, before he became vampire. Gavril had reminded him so much of his own child that it wasn't difficult to see him as one of his vampire children as well. Dormas had few turns to his credit over his long life and of all of them, Gavril was the most dear, though he'd come to Dormas already vampire.
Born that way, Kifirin had said. If the god hadn't said it himself, Dormas would never have believed. Then, when Gavril had offered his blood to Dormas, telling him it would enable him to walk in daylight and eat normal food, Dormas had been skeptical. Teeg's words had proven true, however, and now Dormas—nicknamed Dee by the son of his heart, walked in daylight and ate whatever he pleased.
"Dee, I can't answer that. Every time I think about her healing a core with only Farzi and Nenzi with her, my heart seizes up. And finding Nidris may be like searching for a toothpick in a hayfield. She has an impossible task, Dee. Anything could happen to her."
"Yet you sent her in that direction."
"She's the only one who can do this."
"As you are the one for this task—with my help, of course. Come, child. Let us check our security, one last time."
* * *
"Bring something of hers to me." It was an order, and Kaldill seldom issued orders to his youngest son. Lendill almost jerked back as his father made the demand via comp-vid.
"Father, you're not thinking of leaving Gaelar n'Seith, are you?" Lendill was nearly trembling.
"Child it will only be for a moment. I have not and will not perform the Alim'deru with any of your brothers—I am not ready for that!" Kaldill huffed at the thought of it.
"Good," Lendill breathed a relieved sigh. Lendill refused to believe that any of them would take care of the Elvish lands as well as his father did. "What do you want me to bring?"
"It matters not—clothing or jewelry that she wears often."
"I will find something. Who will come to get me?"
"I will send your brother, Faldill."
"Good. As long as it isn't Naldill. Or Reldill."
"Those are your remaining brothers. Do you have something to say to me about them?" Kaldill lifted a pointed eyebrow.
"No, father." Lendill hung his head, feeling as if he were too young again and at the mercy of his older brothers' incessant teasing and bullying because he had no power. Faldill had been the easiest to deal with, although he still teased at times, as did the others. At least he was less cruel about it.
"Be ready in half a click." Kaldill ended the communication.
* * *
"What is this?" Kaldill accepted the ring from Lendill.
"The ring Aurelius gave her. Reah wears it whenever she isn't on assignment. No agent is allowed jewelry such as this when they're working. It could give the enemy information they should not know."
"Then why isn't it with her now? You told me she was no longer ASD property." Kaldill pushed long, wheat-colored hair behind his left ear, revealing the pointed tip. Lendill had been born with the rounded ears of his humanoid mother. Another thing to be teased about, as it turned out. He and Reah had that in common—High Demons also had pointed ears. Tory's were only slightly pointed, but pointed nonetheless. He generally wore his hair over them so humanoids wouldn't guess his heritage, although many races had pointed ears. Reah had ears just as rounded as Lendill's.
"I don't know, father. If I see her again, I'll be sure to ask."
"Leave this with me. The working will take a while," Kaldill had his mind on it already, shutting everything else out, including his sons. Lendill looked down at Faldill. Lendill's height was the only advantage he'd ever have over his brothers, although Naldill had threatened once to use his ability to make Lendill shorter. Lendill figured that the only reason he wasn't shorter than his brothers was that Kaldill would have noticed.
Lendill had left Gaelar n'Seith behind when he went off to school—his mother had asked it of Kaldill and Kaldill had relented. Lendill had met Norian during his studies and the two had been friends ever since. Lendill had only gone back to visit—never to stay. And when his mother died after a long life, the visits had become less and less frequent.
Faldill shrugged at his younger brother. Kaldill could be at a working for days. Someone would have to remind him to eat. "I'll take you home," Faldill muttered and folded Lendill away.
* * *
Farzi, Nenzi and I set up the tent as comfortably as we could. The sleeping bag was ready and we'd bought enough food to get us through several days if it were needed. All of it was suitable for camping trips and such—packaged against insects and ready to eat when opened. It wasn't fine food but it would do. Taking my seat on the ground after removing my clothing, Farzi and Nenzi stood back so I could turn to my full Thifilatha. Once that was accomplished, I focused on a star twinkling overhead and reached out for its energy.
* * *
"Destination?" The standard question was asked of all released prisoners. Edan Desh stared at the Alliance employee tapping the information into a comp-vid. None of his family had come to meet him. He hadn't expected them. All of them were selfish and wrapped up in their own lives.
"Targis," Edan almost snapped at the man. "Desh's restaurant on White Heron street."
"You're not free yet—I can have you locked away for another moon-turn." The employee didn't bother to look at Edan who stood before him, flanked by two guards.
"I know. My apologies." Edan nodded respectfully to the man. He'd noticed that in the past few eight-days, everyone had been on edge for some inexplicable reason. The prisoners, many of them, had been isolated—they'd wanted to fight the others.
"All right, everything seems to be in order. Escort him to the gate," the employee jerked his head at the two guards. Edan De
sh was accompanied down a narrow hall painted prison gray and smelling faintly of antiseptic soap. He was then escorted through a door held shut with an electronic lock, followed by three more hallways until they walked away from the prison. The heavy gate in the wall rolled back while Edan's meager belongings plus a small credit chip were handed to him. He was thankful to get that—he had no transport otherwise; a hoverbus stop just outside the walls brought visitors twice each week.
Edan hadn't received visitors the entire time he'd been incarcerated. Turning to look behind him after walking through the gate, he watched as the heavy steel and titanium door closed behind him. Few there would remark on his absence. Edan pulled up memories of Marzi Desh. He realized after five years of imprisonment that he hadn't missed his mother. Hadn't missed her whining and ordering him about.
She'd been more than willing for him to take complete blame for Raedah's rape and death. Now, Edan felt differently. Was he seeing Marzi as she truly was? Edan shook his head to get the images out of his head. Memories were there, but they were hazy. He walked down the concrete path toward the bus stop, the only passenger waiting for the next transport to come along.
* * *
Tulgalan's core was difficult to repair since it had been tapped from two locations. It bled energy as a body might bleed from multiple stab wounds. Nidris had wounded the planet in a similar manner—I could feel it while connected to it in this way. Energy poured through me, replenishing what had been lost. With two tapping sites, the energy was draining out twice as fast. Plugging up the largest leak first, I turned my attention to the smaller one, forcing the energy back inside that I'd just placed there. The power was threatening to bleed out again. "There," I sighed, once that feat was accomplished.
Blinking my eyes open, I found Farzi and Nenzi staring up at me in complete mystification. I hadn't fainted and merely felt tired, not completely exhausted as I had the times before. How could this be? I forced the turn back to myself and Nenzi ran to get clothing for me—the night had gone cool and moist around us.
"What happened?" Nenzi and Farzi both wanted to know.
"It's done—the core is healed," I said, slipping into trousers and a shirt that Nenzi held out for me. Socks and boots came next, even as I tried to discover what had been different. "Kifirin," I finally sighed.
"Kifirin? He do this?" Farzi blinked at me quizzically.
"He must have," I muttered. "This would have caused me to faint, otherwise."
"What he do?" Nenzi asked as I walked toward our tent. I was thirsty and hungry, but that was all.
"I don't know, sweet man," I hugged Nenzi to me. Never one to pass up an opportunity, he hugged me back—hard. He and Farzi had been worried to death over this. Now, they were both showing signs of intense relief. "Come on, let's eat," I said, flopping down next to the food basket and digging through it for the least offensive of available meals.
* * *
Edan was stepping off the bus when it felt as if a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulders. Others behind him were feeling the same, he saw. Sighs came from several and some even laughed or giggled for no reason. Something has happened, Eden thought. Something momentous, but none of them were ever likely to find what it might be. Edan pulled the strap of his small bag up and squared his shoulders, walking toward Desh's number one and a meeting with his father.
* * *
"You'll start at the bottom," Addah snapped. "With appropriate pay. And I've already filed the writ of detachment—your mother won't be coming here again. You've both embarrassed the family, but she's the worst. Do you know what your daughter has done? Do you?"
"The last I heard, she was wanted for drakus seed crimes." Edan shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he watched his father's face go pink.
"Faugh. That was just a cover-up. She was transferred to the ASD, you idiot. Reah was working undercover for them at the time. And that isn't what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"She's intended to the King of Karathia," Addah's face almost went purple. "He brought her here and I blew up. Now, the Star Gazer is running ads showing Wylend Arden thanking that fool Worden for cooking a fine meal for him and his intended."
"That's not like you, Addah, to hurt the business in that way," Edan said quietly.
"I know." Addah looked at Edan as if he were seeing him for the first time. From where had that insight come? Addah had never seen it before.
"Did Reah look well? How did the Karathian King treat her?"
"Like royalty," Addah muttered angrily. "Why would you care anyway? You beat her. Broke her bones. I was forced to look at those reports by that ill-mannered Vice-Director of the ASD."
"Things have changed somewhat, father."
Addah snorted his derision. "You change? Not likely."
"I can't explain this in any way you'll understand, Father. When would you like for me to start work? I warn you, I'll be rusty at first. I'm glad you're starting me at the bottom so I can relearn all of it. Perhaps I'll be better, this time. And if you hear anything at all from Reah, I'd appreciate it if you'd pass that information along."
"Don't go after her—that Vice-Director will be watching you like a lion watches a gazelle unless I miss my guess. One step out of line and you'll be living inside prison walls again."
"Trust me; I have no wish to harm her."
* * *
"Reah, when you make cookies again?" Nenzi lay back on the sleeping bag, staring up at the roof of our small tent. Thankfully, it was waterproof. The three of us watched as raindrops pattered on the synthetic cloth, dripping down the sides and into the trench I'd dug as a precaution. I'd had training through the ASD on how to live in the wild if it became necessary. Farzi and Nenzi, as lion snakes, could do it by instinct.
"Nenzi, if I can find a kitchen sometime soon, I'll cook. All right?" I turned my head to look at him. We ended up rubbing noses. Nenzi loves that. Farzi, too, so I turned to him and did the same.
"Where we go after this?" Farzi asked, smiling at me.
"I don't know, honey snake," I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling again. "We have to follow Nidris, but who knows where he's going or how much damage he's done already? We may have to guess, Farzi."
"Reah sleep here," Farzi pulled my head onto his shoulder. I tucked in against him, content to do as he asked.
* * *
Nidris had contacts. Good contacts. He'd worked for several of them, under Zellar. He was prepared to offer his services again, if they had any need for him. The strongest criminal faction hadn't been thrilled with the idea of the Campiaan Alliance—in fact, they'd hired three warlocks already, all trained by Zellar, in an attempt to kill Teeg San Gerxon and the Alliance at the same time. Somehow, the Starr brothers, working with Teeg San Gerxon had managed to thwart the assassination attempts.
Nidris' former employers were infuriated by the failed efforts. It provided the perfect opportunity for Nidris, who was willing to work for them again—at the right price. They'd hire him; he knew they would. Perhaps Nidris could do what the others couldn't, bringing that portion of the universe back to lawlessness and rule by the powerful. It would guarantee his safety, working with the ones who sought to take over.
* * *
"Aren't you suspicious that they're playing along?" Dee looked up at Gavril.
"Of course—but we need to keep them where we can watch them. Contact Wylend—ask if he'll lend us a few of his warlocks," Gavril sighed. "Lersen Strand and his cousins will destroy the Alliance before it ever becomes official if they have their way."
"It will require your death to be successful," Dee pointed out.
"They're welcome to try."
"You can't ignore that possibility, Teeg. You're powerful in your own right, but they have plenty of support."
"Paid support."
"But support, nonetheless. Don't disregard that threat. I beg you."
"I'm not disregarding it, Papa Dee."
Dormas sighed as he cl
osed the application on his comp-vid—he'd been going over the attendees for the meeting. "Too bad we don't have Reah; I think she could force all of them into submission with food alone. I miss those meals." Teeg had sneaked food to Dee on many occasions—food that Reah had prepared. Dee had gotten quite addicted to it.
"Dee, I think she might have loved you if I'd thought it safe to make introductions. Now, we may never get that chance."
"You have yet to introduce me to your parents." Dee didn't meet Teeg's eyes.
"I know; I don't want to upset any of you over this. I think of you as a father, too, but I don't want to upset Dad. He didn't have a hand in any of this and doesn't deserve anything less than my love and respect."
"I don't want to replace him."
"Dee, there's room for both of you. You did for me what Dad couldn't at the time. There's no need for you to be anything except my second father."
"Some have two fathers, others have no father at all," Dormas sighed, thinking of Reah.
"There's nothing we can do about that."
"Child, what will you do if she doesn't come back?"
"I don't know, Dee. I just don't know."
* * *
The rain had stopped by morning, so the three of us scrounged for our breakfast before packing everything up. I knew where we had to go—it had come to me in a dream. Another gift from Kifirin, if you could call what he'd done a gift. "Where we go, Reah?" Nenzi asked. I stood on tiptoe and kissed him, making him smile.
"To Reliff. Have you ever been there?" I smiled back at him.
"No. Not remember that one," Nenzi shook his head.
"Then let's go. And after we're done with that one, we'll make a trip to Cloudsong."
"No, Reah, that one long dead," Farzi was trying to steer me away from it. Cloudsong was one of the first worlds drained by Zellar. Nothing lived or grew on it, now. I'd do that one during the day—I still remembered the daystar's reaction to the healing on Tulgalan, before Nidris had interrupted. He had much to pay for, my daughter's life not the least of that.
* * *
"Edan, what makes you think I want to hear from you?" Ilvan hadn't been difficult to locate—he worked for the government on Tulgalan, inspecting restaurants and eateries in Targis and three other cities. He'd known going in what was expected, since he'd worked in a restaurant before.
High Demon 3 - Demon's King Page 20
