"If I had known such a greeting awaited me, I would come more often. The Fae kissed her forehead as she ushered him inside. The son of Willodarus God of the Woodlands, Hathura was slender to the point of appearing fragile, yet flaring through the shoulders, translucently pale skinned with white hair and silver eyes. He carried his golden fans tucked into his belt. The points of his ears peeked through his hair, which was held in place by a dark green headband.
"What brings you? Pandeena fetched a bottle of wine and glasses. She and Hathura had slept together a few times over the centuries, but as with the majority of the minor divines, nothing more than friendship had ever come of it.
Hathura settled onto the sofa and stretched his legs out. My brother Teakamon said you needed someone who has been to Creeya before."
"I need to talk to the Grandmaster on a matter of some urgency."
The Fae nodded, rolling his wine around on his tongue. Nice wine. Are you hunting or enlisting?"
"Neither. Pandeena explained the situation with Brock and Claw.
Hathura listened closely, interrupting from time to time to ask a clarifying question. It is shame about Claw. He is well regarded among your people. But everyone gets old ... except us."
"Can you take me?"
"Of course. Hathura took another swallow of his wine. My sister, StealsThunder, is second of thirteen in Lord Channadar's band of chosen. I visit her often at court."
"Can we go now?"
Hathura finished his wine, nodded and rose, reaching for Pandeena. Give me your hand. Once I have taken you, you should be able to get back there on your own if need be."
Pandeena felt the betraying tingle throughout her body that presaged a Jump and then they vanished from her apartments.
They appeared in the Great Central Hall of the palace of the grandmaster. Pandeena sucked in a sharp breath at the glory of it. The huge chamber was beautiful, with its forest of green-veined marble columns, three-story high groin vaults and ribbed arches that merged one into the other to form curving conchoidal points, and broad skylights in a tremendous central dome. Broad galleries looked down upon the chamber, sweeping along the sides, reached by wide staircases.
Sofas, chairs, and tables formed small alcoves throughout the room. In the middle stood a half rail around a descending stairway that led to a cloverleaf of shops and cafes beneath the chamber. People were spread throughout in small chatting groups.
"All those myn you see moving through the crowds in the black uniform with the golden threads and the book and the blade embroidered...."
"They're Guildsmyn?"
"Yes."
Pandeena turned completely around with her head back to take in the ceiling. It's beautiful."
Hathura nodded, and then pointed a small band of Fae. There's my sister."
Pandeena saw the little white-haired Fae in her elegant mauve breeches and tunic wearing a sword at her shoulder and a pair of golden fans in her sash. She's tiny."
"Don't let her size fool you. She eats vampires for breakfast."
Pandeena laughed.
"No, seriously. She roasts them with garlic and onions and eats them."
"I'm impressed."
Hathura led the way to a sofa where a black-haired Fae with streaks of fiery orange in his hair held court to a rapt audience of both Fae and humans. As he spoke a Fae with pale yellow hair wrought illusions with her pair of flashing fans and dancing steps.
"I've never seen it done that way before. Doesn't the storyteller do his own illusions?"
Hathura nodded at the storyteller. Look at his arm. That's Lord Channadar. The dancer is his wife, Dragonfly."
Pandeena noticed that one sleeve hung empty. He's maimed."
"Yes. Dynarien saved his life with the staff of Dawnhand, but the arm refused to heal properly. A month later, the Guild surgeons were forced to remove the arm when infection set in."
Channadar spotted Hathura and smiled at him, an impish turn at the corners of his lips. Hathura, welcome back."
Hathura crossed the room and joined the rest of the Fae and their audience.
Channadar regarded everyone. I fear we must continue our story later. We must greet our kinsman."
A dark-haired human with doves resting on her arms, rose suddenly and the birds flew in all directions. She knelt before Pandeena and kissed her hand. Holy One."
Pandeena licked her lips and wondered how the woman had detected her. Please stand up."
The woman stood and pushed her sleeve up, revealing the crescent moon and stars. I'm Chucomei Who Calls the Birds, the Mage of Wings, and I serve your mother."
"A Talian paladin?"
"Yes."
"Tala is my grandmother, not my mother. Pandeena smiled and extended her hand. I'm Pandeena Moonbow."
"Second Mother of the Lycan. Chucomei's hand went to her mouth.
A tall golden skinned and golden-eyed Fae came to stand beside Chucomei with a smile. Welcome to Creeya."
His hand rested on one fan as he regarded Pandeena.
She extended her hand to him. You must be Tiderider, First of Thirteen."
His eyes slewed toward Hathura with a tiny bow. You've taught her well, kinsman."
StealsThunder took that moment to throw her arms around her brother and he swung her off the ground into a hug that brought a delighted laugh from her.
"What brings us such intriguing company? Channadar gestured at Pandeena with a closed fan, although the question was directed at Hathura.
"A matter of urgency, Lord Channadar. Pandeena needs to speak with the Grand Master."
Channadar lifted an eyebrow and then gestured with his fan at the white-blonde Fae who had been dancing his story for him. Isn't that Aramyn over there?"
"I'll fetch him. She sped off.
Channadar's lips formed an impish smile. My Dragonfly. My wife."
Pandeena dipped her shoulders to him politely. She's beautiful."
"Yes, she is."
Dragonfly returned with an innocuous looking mon in a Guild uniform. This is Aramyn; he should be able to help you."
"What brings you here? Aramyn was a clean-shaven, dark-haired mon with regular features and nothing to set him apart as anything special except for his chestnut eyes. If it had not been for the uniform, Pandeena would have taken him for a servantor a farmer.
"I need to speak with the Grand Master. I'm looking for a certain Guildsmon."
"Why? The cool detachment in his voice belied the seriousness of the simple question.
Pandeena guessed that he was wondering if she had come seeking vengeance against the monit was not unheard according to Hathura. I'm looking Brock Redhand. His brother is dying."
"Tell him all of it, Hathura urged when Aramyn looked uncertain.
"Somewhere private?"
Aramyn nodded and led Pandeena with Hathura in tow down a hallway and off into a side corridor that had dozens of branching rooms.
There they sat while Pandeena poured out the story about Claw and the Serpent.
"I think that Claw is being poisoned somehow, but I've Read him and can find nothing. Pandeena leaned across the table.
"You know that you'll not only be involving Brock, but the Guild itself? Aramyn sat with his arms folded casually in front of him.
"I was afraid that I might be."
"That makes you nervous?"
Pandeena's lips pressed together tightly. A bit. We try hard not to introduce ethics to Clan lands that are not Clan. But unusual circumstances...."
Aramyn looked thoughtful. I nearly caught him once."
"The Serpent?"
The Guildsmon nodded.
"I didn't know you operated in Waejontor."
"We don't normally. It was right after those battle-clans found his estate and laboratories. The crime was so terrible ... genocide on a massive scale. Before they fled ahead of the clan, they used a device we call a Serpent's Tooth to inject every lycan on the estate with a massive dose of Devil's Silver. They were all dying
by the time the Clan arrived. In addition to that, he murdered a Guildsmon named Dyllys, a lycan agent, who had uncovered the estate's location. He rited her."
"Oh gods.... Pandeena's face turned ashen.
"Precisely. Come back tomorrow, and I'll have that appointment set up for you. Just talk to Queiggy at the front desk to the Guild wing."
"Thank you."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
FATE OF THE WOMEN
The bright sun burned through the chill autumn air laying over the communal garden. The camp's women were out in force, gathering in the remainders of their crops. Once the last of it was in, what was not going to be eaten soon would be cooked and preservatives added before filling the jars to keep it for the winter months.
The fifteen pregnant women, of which Kandaishee was the most swollen, kept to the most isolated sections of the garden with Preece standing lookout so that they could vanish into the nearest house should the priest or someone else who was not supposed to know about their condition appear heading in their direction. People would want to know who the father was and they could not tell them.
Malthus child shifted restlessly in Kandaishee's belly. She paused with her hand on another tomato, released it, and pressed her fingers to her stomach. Kandaishee was trying very hard not to hate the child she carried.
Her five-year-old son, Gilzean, squatted in front of her. He's kicking, Mama."
Kandaishee's throat tightened and she fought to keep the bitterness out of her voice so that she did not upset Gilzean. Yes, your little brother is kicking."
Malthus had been in Wolffgard Village for seven months, and he had been here less than a week before he raped all five of the sa'necari women who had taken refugee here, binding their minds so that they could not reveal what he was and what he had done. Four of them had become pregnant by him, just as Clodagh was. His potency was unnatural for a sa'necari his age, and Kandaishee suspected that was because of something his bio-alchemist mother, Sidera Tyrins, had discovered and given him. Sa'necari were usually infertile by thirty. Malthus would be thirty-seven in two months.
Kandaishee returned to gathering tomatoes into her basket. The bright sun beamed down on her face. Malthus had made her a slut to the wolves by placing coercions and compulsions in her brain, just as he had the others.
"Kandaishee!"
She looked up at the sound of her name and her heart quailed. She sucked in too much air and felt dizzy. Malthus."
The rest of the women in the garden glanced away from her, ignoring the scene. Kandaishee knew why they did it: he had taken the minds of every female in the camp. If they felt anything for her, it was pityand relief that he had singled her out and not them this time.
He leered at her. Come to your house with me. I want to talk to you."
"Gilzean, stay outside and play until I come for you."
"Yes, Mama."
He skipped off, heading for the other children farther in the garden. As always, Kandaishee saw so much of his dead father in him that it brought tears to her eyes. Sa'necari had murdered her beloved Domhnall simply because they objected to a lycan having married a sa'necari womana hideous double standard in Kandaishee's opinion. Her wrists itched under the spellcord with their silver seals. She rubbed around the cords carefully, not wanting to set off the seals that would kill her for tampering with them. The cords cut her off from her powers, but it had always seemed like a small price to pay for the safety of her lycan child until Malthus got here and she found herself unable to protect either her child or herself.
Not that she could have any way. Malthus was too powerful for her; even had she had access to her powers.
She gave her basket to one of the women working close to her and followed him into her longhouse. It had a dirt floor with a firepit in the center, and a room at either end, partitioned off by curtained half walls with a doorway and window facing into the interior. A small crude table sat to the right side near her bedroom.
"Sit down, Malthus indicated a chair.
Kandaishee tried to contain her trembling as she obeyed.
Malthus untied the sash on her lycan style robe and ran his hands over her bare stomach. I wanted to feel my son moving in your belly before I send you away."
"Send me away? Kandaishee's voice caught.
"I'm sending you to my manor at Carrion Crevasse. My mother will take care of you."
"What about Gilzean?"
"He'll be fine. You'll take him with you."
"I don't want him hurt. Please. Fear had her by the throat.
Malthus laughed and put his hands on her temples, lunging into her mind. It hurt and Kandaishee whimpered as he tightened his compulsions. Suddenly she realized what he was doing and a sob broke from her lips. Domhnall! Domhnall, no."
The memories of her dead husband faded through the desperately clutching fingers of her mind and vanished.
Malthus gave the arcane needles another thrust into her awareness and knowledge, stitching his spells through her and knotting them tightly.
Kandaishee's body relaxed. She hurt, yet an unexpected warmth and joy spread through her. I'm so happy about our son. Your mother must be a lovely person."
"She is. She'll see that you're comfortable, and after the child is born, she'll teach you to be a proper concubine."
"What about the others?"
"I will send them to join you soon."
* * * *
Malthus nodded to Preece as he passed him on his way back to the manor. Preece acknowledged the nod with a self-satisfied smile. They were getting closer to discovering Patton's secrets, and all the clues seemed to imply a connection to the lawgiver, although they had not yet caught them together. If there was a link, then the Lycamornots would kill both myn on the same night.
Satisfaction warmed Malthus core. He had the gang primed to attack, and he had finished up the last of the compulsions and coercions in Kandaishee. Malthus intended to do the rest of them over the next few nightsat least the ones that needed doing. Rewiring a mind like Kandaishee's took time and care so as not to damage her psyche in the wrong ways. Lycans also took time because he did not want any of their people noticing too sudden a change in their personalities. Beth's mind had frayed away to nothing because Malthus had needed to work too quickly on it: there had been almost nothing of Beth left by the time that Egidius had rited her.
As he passed through the village, lycans nodded, waved, and greeted him in a variety of ways, many of them stopping to chat for a bit. Malthus basked in it. Returning wounded with his goods intact had raised his reputation to that of a local hero. He presented all of the fools with a pleasant exterior, and behind it, he gloated that they had no idea he was responsible for the raiders murdering their people in remote locations throughout Red Wolf.
Striding briskly into the manor, he encountered Kissie polishing tables in the Great Hall. She paused and turned to him. Master Claw's been asking for you."
"Where is he?"
"The Blue Room."
Malthus headed upstairs, wondering what the old bastard wanted now. He found Claw at the table drinking more of the spelled rum. The chieftain looked haggard, as if he had aged twenty years in five months. In a sense, he has . The pain must have become constant except when Claw was too drunk or drugged to feel it.
The chessboard sat to the side.
"You wanted me?"
"You promised me a game and you didn't show up, Claw grumbled.
Malthus sat down and poured himself a drink from the same bottle as Claw. I forgot. I'm sorry. I got word I was needed at the Sanctuary."
Claw frowned at him. They have plenty of help there."
"They have boys, Malthus said smoothly, pulling at his mustaches. They haven't a lot of experience, while I have."
"I'll grant you that. Claw rubbed his chest. We'll have to play after dinner. I need a nap."
"I can't play then, ask Belgair."
"I don't want Belgair. He's too easy to beat."
"Claw
, I promised that I would leave tonight to hunt. The children need meat again. I'll be gone a few days."
"You're gone more than you're here."
Malthus shook his head regretfully. That isn't true and you know it. But I have responsibilities. Beth wanted me to take care of them."
"So you're going to take care of them?"
"I gave my word and I never break it. I promised to kill you and your family ... and I am.
* * * *
Malthus showed up with two horses and a pack animal at Kandaishee's home after the sun went down. She was the farthest into her pregnancy of the women carrying his children. He knocked on her door, called for her to come out, and told her that it was time to leave. Kandaishee emerged with a small bundle of her belongings and that of her son, Gilzean. She mounted the boy in the saddle in front of her and they rode north.
They traveled along a hunter's trace as dawn rose and reached the place of scattered stones around noon. He had set an easy pace out of consideration for Kandaishee's condition. Gilzean spent the journey watching the imps leaping through the trees around them. Malthus, while glad to see that Gahni had returned, still wanted an accounting of why the imp warlord and his people had been absent the last time he came to the caves. They were supposed to be on constant guard, ready to kill anyone who ventured into this area to spy.
Kandaishee's eyes filled with tears of distress when she saw the bleeding table with a lycan body draping it. It stirred memories of someone else, but she could not reach them. To the right hand side of the table three yards off, stood poles with shackles at the top where victims could be hung by their feet, their throats slashed and their heads tied back to allow their blood to drain into basins.
Malthus cursed. Egidius appeared to be offering more sacrifices for his cousin's soul. At this rate, Egidius was going to exhaust their larder before they had time to take another set of hamlets and villages.
Egidius emerged from the cave with six humans in the Queen's livery, four other sa'necari, and a lamiae in her huge serpent form. Malthus noted that Egidius was sober and considered that an improvement.
As soon as Malthus dismounted, he went to Kandaishee, lifted her son down, and then helped her to the ground. The myn surrounded her in a tightening circle. She knelt, her arms around her son, looking frightened.
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