High Demon 3 - Demon's King

by Connie Suttle

  "Ilvan, I just wanted to apologize. For past mistakes. I know you left the business and the family because of what I did. I just want to take responsibility. For everything. I think Addah would welcome you back if you wanted to return—he grumbles about the pastry Aldah prepares."

  The mention of Aldah's name made Ilvan mutter. Aldah, Addah's third son, was Fes' full brother and thick with Fes on everything. Fes covered for Aldah's lack of skill much of the time. Farla's two sons stood to inherit much of what Addah had built. "Reah could put both Fes and Aldah in the dirt," Ilvan said angrily. Addah had never noticed Ilvan. It had always been Fes and Edan. Until Edan was convicted and sent to prison. Now, Fes and Aldah were the ones Addah spoke with. Ilvan never said it, but he was grateful that Marzi had only birthed Edan.

  "I know."

  "Is that why you called? To see if I knew where Reah is? I don't. I think she probably wouldn't want to see any one of us. I saw the advertisement for the Star Gazer. I heard from someone I know there that Reah is intended to the King of Karathia."

  "That isn't why I called. I wouldn't mind seeing Reah, just to say I'm sorry, but she likely won't accept my apology any more than you will."

  "Edan, if you're trying to wriggle into Wylend Arden's good graces, don't. I don't believe he's held his throne by being weak as a warlock."

  "Also not the reason I called. Ilvan, I don't need anything from you or Father or the King of Karathia. What I truly want is forgiveness. From you and from Reah. I'm a different man, Ilvan. I hope you come to believe that, someday."

  "I'll tell you what—if Reah ever forgives you, then I will, Edan. And you likely know that will never happen." Ilvan ended communication with his brother.

  * * *

  "This Reliff?" Farzi asked after I'd landed us in a park outside the capital city of Beedaris.

  "This is Reliff," I nodded, pulling two credit chip bracelets from my bag and handing them to Farzi and Nenzi. "Just in case," I said. Both nodded their understanding. I wasn't familiar with Reliff and wasn't willing to pull out my comp-vid to do research. My comp-vid was ASD issue and likely had a beacon chip embedded. I wasn't going to turn it on, just in case. "Come on, let's see if we can find a room for the night." We walked through the park, eventually finding the nearest hoverbus port.

  * * *

  "I can disrupt the meeting," Nidris smiled at Lersen Strand. His cousins, Darsen, Ansen and Morsen were there, nodding at Nidris.

  "And what if we want more than disruption?" Morsen smiled.

  "Whatever you want," Nidris replied. He'd never tapped the core on Campiaa. It could provide all the power he'd need to take down the fledgling Campiaan Alliance.

  "We want Campiaa for ourselves," Lersen interrupted Nidris' thoughts. "The Casinos—all of it. Give us Campiaa and the rest will follow. I think we can promise you anything you want, after that."

  Nidris agreed. What did it matter that Campiaa would die within a decade or two? Other worlds waited, and Nidris had no desire to work for the Strands more than a handful of years. He wanted to hunt the female High Demon. Still desired to have her under his command. Unlimited power awaited if she were his.

  * * *

  "Corolan, Garek, I want you to search for Reah. Bring her back to me," Wylend read through political requests for audience day. He'd finish with those before traveling to Campiaa. It would assist Gavril in building the Campiaan Alliance if Karathia was a strong ally. Wylend had made up his mind. The Reth Alliance might frown upon some of Wylend's methods for tracking and dealing with prisoners. Gavril's Alliance made allowances for those things.

  "Who will protect you while you are upon Campiaa?" Corolan didn't mind searching for Reah, he merely wanted to keep Wylend safe at the same time.

  "Erland, Rylend and Wyatt are coming with me," Wylend signed the request for a hearing after reading it. "Plus my personal guards."

  "All right," Corolan sighed. With the Starr warlocks employed by Gavril, that should be sufficient spellpower to guard both Wylend and the founder of the Campiaan Alliance. "Are you sure Wyatt is a good choice? Having you both in the same place?"

  "He needs the experience," Wylend muttered. "His head has been elsewhere, lately. Ry is more than dependable. Perhaps some of his focus will attach itself to my heir."

  "As you say," Corolan nodded. "We'll work on this from our end before striking out blind."

  "I expect nothing less," Wylend agreed.

  * * *

  "It may interest you to know that Tulgalan's core is now healed." Lendill stood in the doorway to Norian's office.

  "And how do you know this?" Norian grumbled. "Does Torevik know? Reah hasn't been gone that long, she still might be there."

  "My father told me," Lendill replied. "And I informed Tory first. He has already gone looking for her. I don't believe he'll find anything. I sent someone out myself. All they found was an abandoned camping site."

  "How did you find it so quickly?" Norian was very curious. He had agents scattering to find Reah. It was the least he could do—he was worried she might harm herself or do something dangerous and come to harm in that way. He was worn down with the responsibility of the baby's death. None of Lissa's other mates were speaking to him. He'd been too afraid to approach Ildevar with the news.

  "We knew the two tapping locations—I sent someone there. Reah went to the first one. It makes sense—I didn't think she'd want to return to the place where her child died, do you?"

  "It does make sense," Norian scrubbed his jaw. Since Lissa had given him blood, making him immortal, he no longer needed to shave. The habit of a beard was still with him, however. "Does your father know where Reah might go next?"

  "Not at the moment," Lendill hedged. Norian lifted an eyebrow at his friend's words.

  Chapter 13

  "Why you order this, Reah?" Farzi watched as I cut into my roast fowl.

  "Because this is something I can walk away from if it's cooked badly," I sipped my glass of wine. The fowl was a little dry but edible. Farzi and Nenzi both ordered steak. They preferred it rare, but tonight it came to the table slightly overcooked. We'd chosen the hotel restaurant for our meal; it was convenient. Our bags were stowed in an upstairs room, our packed tent and basket of camping rations there as well. I hoped the staff wasn't curious—there weren't any camping spots or tourist attractions nearby that would warrant the equipment and supplies.

  "When you do this?" Nenzi asked, frowning as he cut into his steak. The cut wasn't as tender as it might have been.

  "Tomorrow, sweet man. We'll leave right after."

  "I do not like Cloudsong decision," Farzi reminded me.

  "I know, honey snake. If it looks too hard, I won't try, all right?"

  "That will do," Farzi nodded. "I like this name you call me."

  "You do?" I smiled at him.

  "Me, too," Nenzi was enthusiastic.

  "Good. Let's finish this up and go to bed—I'm really tired," I yawned.

  "We see that Reah sleeps," Nenzi nodded.

  * * *

  "My son, wake now," Kaldill stood over Lendill's bed. In any other situation, Lendill would have a ranos pistol drawn and threatening anyone standing over his bed. His father had taken away that fear. Lendill knew that only his father might accomplish that.

  "Father, what is it?" Lendill sat up quickly.

  "I have located her—it was quite easy, actually. I merely had to search for the nearest tapped core. She is on Reliff. You must come with me now."

  "But," Lendill thought to protest. He should have saved his breath.

  * * *

  The lights were on and Farzi, Nenzi and I were blinking at Lendill and another man who stood behind him. Shocked that Farzi and Nenzi weren't lion snake and threatening, I stared at Lendill.

  "How did you get in here," I snapped at him. I'd been sound asleep when something had wakened me and the reptanoids.

  "My, uh, father," Lendill coughed in embarrassment.

  "This is your father?" I star
ed at the man with Lendill. Lendill didn't look anything like him. He had long, golden hair, pointed ears, piercing green eyes and a feeling of power about him. He also appeared young—as young as Lendill. I didn't know how that could be.

  "Kaldill Schaff," the man held out a hand. Not wanting to be rude, I took it. "King of the Elves," Kaldill Schaff added. "The ring, son. Quickly." Lendill handed a ring to the one who'd just identified himself as King of the Elves. Elves weren't real. Those were tales from children's books. I stared openmouthed at Lendill's father while he placed the ring on one of my fingers. I thought to take my hand away, but Kaldill Schaff was stronger than he looked. He muttered words that I failed to understand, then Lendill muttered more in the same language.

  "Now, young woman, say yes," Kaldill nodded to me.

  "What?"

  "Wrong word. Say yes." Kaldill was staring at me.

  "Yes?" I didn't know what he wanted.

  "Good. Very good." Kaldill relaxed visibly, sighing and releasing my hand. "You are now married to my youngest child. Therefore, I can offer a gift. The Elven race is obligated to protect you in the next few days. Would that you had come before the child was lost. I could have offered the same gift, then."

  "You couldn't have done anything about that," I grumbled, wanting to cry. "And I'm not married to Lendill."

  "Yes. According to Elvish law and tradition, you are most certainly married to him. And if you'd married him before, I would have come for you and refused to allow you to leave our lands until the child was born. Without the marriage bond, I am not allowed to interfere."

  "Fuck," Lendill almost shouted.

  "What are you saying?" I was crying now and Farzi and Nenzi were upset on my behalf. Somehow, they knew not to threaten Kaldill Schaff.

  "Reah, daughter, do not weep," Kaldill sat on the side of my bed. "All things turn in a circle, did you know? What we lose, we gain. What we hate, we love. It is the way of the universes." He reached out and cupped the back of my neck, bringing my head forward to touch against his. "So much is yours, pretty one. So much more will be yours. I cannot mitigate the harm. That is not mine to give. My child loves you. I beg that you remember it." Kaldill Schaff disappeared, breaking whatever spell he'd placed on all of us.

  "You can't be an Elf," I wiped tears away, deliberately not looking at Lendill.

  "I'm half," he said. "And I didn't always look like this. A Larentii changed my facial features nearly thirty years ago after I was attacked. An enemy had surgery done to make his face like mine. This was the way to distinguish me from him. I kept the disguise because it was more handsome."

  "Your father was very handsome," I sniffled.

  "I didn't resemble my father. I resembled my humanoid mother. She was my father's third mate. I have three brothers—all fully Elven. They tease—sometimes cruelly—because I was born an immortal without power among the Elvish race."

  "We're not married," I repeated.

  "Reah, my father says we are. In his eyes, that's binding. He will protect us both if necessary."

  "He couldn't save my daughter. Nobody could." I refuted Kaldill's words.

  "Reah, I've learned not to question my father's words. I've learned to eat my own too many times." Lendill took the spot on my bed previously occupied by his father. Nenzi scooted over to give him room.

  "You need to leave." I turned my face away from him.

  "Reah, I know the core needs healing here. Father told me. I'll stay and help Farzi and Nenzi guard you. I can smooth your way, Deah-mul. Those words are Elvish in origin, did you know?"

  "I don't want your help." I hugged myself, feeling chilled.

  "Cheah-mul, I do not—I cannot—live without you. Your tenure with the ASD is done. You may say anything you want to me and still I will love you with everything I am. You are not obligated to love me in return. I am broken, Reah. You hold my heart and soul within yours. I cannot live without you. It is the way of my race. It broke my father's heart when my mother—his third wife, died. He still mourns her, and that was more than two hundred years ago. He loves my brothers' mothers, but he misses mine."

  "Lendill, don't do this. I just lost my daughter. There's nothing to take away that pain and emptiness."

  "I know," Lendill whispered, gathering me against him. Farzi and Nenzi, now lion snakes, slipped off the bed and crawled across the carpet toward our camping gear.

  Lendill didn't ask for anything. Soft words were spoken that I didn't understand and I fell asleep with his arms around me.

  * * *

  "Reah not faint now," Farzi explained to Lendill as I sat on the small patch of grass. Lendill didn't say anything, he settled for watching me with concern instead. Nidris hadn't tapped the core that long ago—it was an easy fix.

  "That's it?" Lendill sounded skeptical when it was over and the core sealed up again. I didn't know how to explain what Kifirin had done to stop me from being ill. I wasn't sure myself. Shrugging, I slipped into my clothing with Farzi's and Nenzi's help. "Now what?" Lendill asked.

  "I was going to Cloudsong," I said. "To see if I could do anything about that."

  "Reah, no," Lendill shook his head in disbelief. "That sounds like a fool's errand."

  "Most likely it is," I agreed. "But I want to try. Unless you have information on Nidris' whereabouts. I want to kill him."

  "So do I," Lendill's hands clenched. That surprised me. Where was the Vice-Director of the ASD, who wanted to capture and question? "But we don't know where he is right now," Lendill added. "Why don't you allow me to buy a meal for all of us?" Lendill motioned for Farzi and Nenzi to join us. Much taller than both reptanoids, Lendill put an arm around both their shoulders and smiled at them.

  * * *

  "This isn't bad," Lendill smiled over his dinner.

  "No, not bad," Nenzi grinned at him. We'd found a small diner on the outskirts of the capital city and slid into a booth. The cook worked in full view of the diner's patrons. Lissa would have said he was slinging hash. I never determined just what the phrase meant.

  "It's decent." I took a bite from my sandwich. The meat wasn't dry and the lettuce and tomato fresh enough.

  "Coming from you, that's a four-star review," Lendill smiled at me.

  "I'm still trying to determine why your appearance was changed so dramatically," I said to him.

  "I used to look like my mother's family, with light-brown hair and such. Lissa initially made me look like Flavio's twin. Reemagar modified that to what I am, now. I decided to keep it."

  "Yes, you do look a bit like Flavio," I examined his features. Lendill sat next to me, Farzi and Nenzi sat opposite us. "But Flavio's sire is not the King of the Elves. I thought elves were myth."

  "No, just hidden. For a very long time," Lendill went back to eating. Perhaps he didn't want to talk about it. I was wrong—as soon as he swallowed, he said, "Ask my father all the questions you like next time. Some he may not answer, but most he will. You're part of the family, now."

  "Lendill," I muttered.

  "Reah, please don't. Don't deny me or us. I'm sorry we've treated you as we have, but others were treated in a similar manner during the same period of time. We've been ruthless over the years—I admit it—just to keep the Alliance going. You've seen it yourself—the drakus seed and the crime families and assassinations—we use our best agents mercilessly. Reah, your discharge papers recognize your service. You have the awards to show for it—you know those aren't handed out until the agent leaves, just like the military. And you got the bonus that all agents receive for exemplary service. When you're ready to see all that, let me know. In the meantime, they're in my office."

  "At least you're not making me go to Norian to get them," I snapped.

  "Reah, someday we'll talk about the Director. Not now. He cannot harm you again. Not as he did. I know that once was more harm than anyone could expect from their service. Let's leave it for now, all right?"

  "I didn't bring it up." I wasn't hungry anymore.

&n
bsp; "Deah-mul, eat. You need your strength. You repaired the core this afternoon. Surely you must be tired and hungry. At the very least. Let us be gentle with you now. To make up for the past."

  "Does the phrase too late and too little mean anything to you?" I drank from my glass of milk.

  "Reah," Lendill sighed. "I can't take away the pain. It's still fresh. That wound too new. All I can do is love you as much as I can. Come back to the hotel room with me. Let me take care of you for a bit."

  I relented. As it turns out, it was a very good thing. Hotel security and the local constabulary were waiting outside my room, wanting to question me about the camping equipment inside.

  "Official business," Lendill flipped out his ID. I wanted to laugh at the facial expressions, but didn't.

  "But why?" The hotel security chief should have left things alone.

  "Tracking a rogue warlock," Lendill snapped. "We came prepared for any emergency. Unfortunately, our quarry has escaped. We will leave immediately."

  We did leave—packing up while security watched. Farzi and Nenzi hauled our equipment out while Lendill and I took charge of the bags. I overheard one of the locals cursing as we walked angrily toward the lift. "I told you we should have asked questions downstairs," he hissed. "Now I'll never be considered for a position with the ASD. That was the fucking Assistant Director!"

  "You're right," Lendill nodded to them as the elevator doors closed on us.

  * * *

  "We can hop a ship or you can get us out of here," Lendill pulled me against him outside the hotel.

  "I'll do it, where do you want to go?"

  "I'd like to go home. To Wyyld."

  "You live on Wyyld?"

  "I have rooms at the palace. Ildevar saw to it when he gave a wing to Norian long ago. Norian is on Le-Ath Veronis, so there's little chance of meeting up with him. Besides, my father's lands aren't far from Ildevar's palace grounds. They're hidden, though. Most people navigate around them without realizing they're doing it."