I was ready to agree with him when mindspeech came from Kaldill. Drood had waited until we were away to change the rules and ensure that we complied with his wishes.
Drood is holding Mell and Jayna at gunpoint, Kaldill reported. He says if you and Justis fail to kill the guards and bring back evidence, they will die. Daragar says that we can save both, but it will reveal us to Juffa and our cover will no longer be effective. What do you wish to do, my love?
Drood Juffa had just crossed a line with me. Any plans I had for the future of Vic'Law would certainly not include him. He'd been so close—I shut down that train of thought.
We will comply, I told Kaldill.
Quin, Justis joined the conversation. He was far from pleased with my decision.
Stay back, Justis. I trust the shield Kaldill provided. Let me draw all the guards out of the building. I believe the Orb will appear if I'm threatened. While they fire at me, sneak inside, get the evidence and then fly for the Juffa estate. It is my hope the Orb will intervene. Either way, I will be behind you quickly.
Will your shield hold? Justis demanded of Kaldill.
A ranos pistol couldn't crack it, he snapped, sounding offended.
Very well. I could tell Justis still didn't like my hastily formed plan. Truly, it was all I had, while he had no alternative to offer.
Then go, Justis growled. Draw their attention away. I'll do my part. Just—don't risk your life for me, all right?
If your life isn't worth the risk, then I don't know whose is, I replied.
He and I had circled over the building that housed the weapons while we'd employed mindspeech—with Kaldill and each other. Our wings had been all but silent while we flew and glided above the target. Taking a deep breath, I folded my wings and dived for the ground below, only opening them to slow my descent before I touched down.
A small clearing, yards away from the main door, was my destination—I dropped soundlessly upon half-frozen ground. Since Justis and I had taken flight, the chill in the air made me more appreciative of the leathers Caylon and Kaldill provided.
Gripping leather in my hand and drawing my collar up, I strode toward the door, making as much noise as possible. The crunch of fallen leaves helped, but still the guards were slow. Regardless, the two outside the door leveled their weapons at me eventually, while one of them sent a message via headset to the others inside the large building.
"Put your hands up and stay where you are," the other guard demanded, pointing his weapon at me.
"No," I said, taking another, shaky step toward the guards. Yes, I was trembling from head to heel, but I had to get all of them out of the building. When the first shot was fired, ricocheting off my protective shield with a heart-stopping whine, the Orb appeared. It blasted such a blinding light that guards poured out of the building to see what was attacking them.
I knew the moment they were all outside, firing at me as if their bullets and laser pistols might make a difference. They couldn't see me—the Orb made sure they were all firing blindly.
The lucky shots didn't get through the shield, but that didn't mean it was peaceful and calm behind it.
In fact, it was anything but. I admit to cowering whenever a bullet cracked close to my head. The noise of weapons firing was so loud, too, that they failed to hear my whimpering. I could feel the anger, fear and malevolence radiating off all of them—they wanted me dead. They'd been instructed to make any attacker or spy dead. Their lives and their drakus seed addiction saw to that.
I'm out, I have what we came for, Justis informed me.
I was glad, and if he'd gotten away cleanly, I would have been more than happy. That didn't happen.
One of the guards happened to look upward. A sliver of moon was blocked momentarily. He took aim and fired at the shadow.
The Orb, still shining brightly, stayed with me.
Justis, on the other hand, was now being fired upon. I watched as one of his spelled stones bloomed in the sky. Then another.
When the fifth one bloomed, I screamed.
He only had six.
You know what to do, the Orb informed me with a haughty voice.
I didn't want to.
Justis' sixth stone bloomed. He was vulnerable and the shield Drood supplied was worthless.
Lowering my gaze to the men who wanted to bring Justis down, I sent out my call. Not to creatures of the night, or any other thing visible to the naked eye.
I called to what was already inside them.
The drakus seed.
It rose at my command, and forty-seven of Barstle Cardino's handpicked guards dropped dead.
I wanted to weep.
My eyes were dry as I hugged myself; the leather I'd dressed in creaking around me in the sudden silence as I surveyed the damage I'd done. Forty-seven bodies lay on cold ground; they'd dropped where they stood. In the distance, I could hear the noise of hovercars and running feet. The Cardino estate had finally wakened.
Quin? I heard Justis' mental voice as the Orb disappeared.
I'm coming, I breathed into his mind. Taking a shaky, running leap, I left the ground and flew toward Justis.
I could find him, after all.
* * *
Terrett
They were on their way back, although a message from Justis sounded garbled. He said Quin flew beside him, but she hadn't spoken during the trip back. There was something else—they'd left dead behind them, and Justis hadn't known how that was accomplished.
He sounded shaken, so I waited silently for them to appear and explain things.
Drood Juffa and two of his guards were also inside the library; the guards held Mell and Jayna at gunpoint until Quin and Justis returned.
I knew Quin would be angry that Juffa had done that—she and Justis had undertaken this assignment in good faith.
Juffa showed all of us how undeserving he was.
He stood, though, when Justis stalked through the door, Quin almost stepping on his heels, she was so close behind.
The small comp-vid Justis carried was shoved into Drood's hands. I could tell Justis was half a finger's width away from strangling Drood. All his protection jewels were now dark—he'd been very close to death.
"Your shield is worthless," Justis growled before turning, lifting Quin in his arms and walking out of the library.
* * *
Bel Erland
Kaldill practically shoved Drood Juffa out our door, once Jayna and Mell were released. We wouldn't make that mistake again—all of ours would be protected from now on, if I had to see to it myself.
It was a foot race after that to get to Justis' suite, where he'd taken Quin.
I'd never seen anyone so terrified before—she'd looked like a ghost as she followed Justis into the library.
Kaldill had instructed the rest of us to hold back, in case our movement placed Jayna and Mell in even more danger.
I think if Drood had returned that night, he'd have been killed—vindictively and from several directions.
Inside Justis' suite, we found him sitting on the bed, his arms and wings wrapped around Quin as she shuddered in his embrace.
What happened? Caylon asked.
Forty-seven dead, if I counted correctly, Justis replied.
How?
Quin did it, I think, with help from the Orb.
Did you see it?
I recorded it—it's on that infernal thing I handed to Juffa.
May the gods be merciful, Lafe sighed.
* * *
Quin
If it hadn't been for Justis and Daragar, I might not have made it through the night. By the morning, after Juffa had watched Justis' recording several times, he'd sent an army against the Cardino family.
All of them were dead except Barstle, who'd somehow escaped.
I was done with Drood Juffa. He'd failed a test and wasn't worth worrying about any longer. If the others wanted to kill him and feed his body to voracious ants, I wouldn't lift a finger to help him.
I knew I'd rather feel guilt and shame, however, than to suffer through Justis' loss a second time. I'd spent the night in his bed while he held me, and Daragar sat in a corner, humming me back to sleep whenever I woke.
* * *
Terrett
No lessons were held the following morning, and Quin and Justis didn't arrive in the kitchen to eat until almost lunchtime. I think all of us who waited there breathed a relieved sigh—she looked rumpled but walked steadily beside Justis.
Kaldill had already gotten a message from somewhere. He was informed that another ring and cuff would be supplied for Justis, in exchange for the ones that were now emptied of their spells.
Oatmeal? I sent to Quin as Justis seated her at the table.
Fruit? She asked. With oatmeal?
"She wants fruit and oatmeal," Sal informed Jeslin, who set to work making food for her and Justis.
* * *
Quin
Mell and Jayna had been served breakfast inside their suite; Pellen had arranged for more of his agents to be brought in to guard their door. Both women had been outside when grabbed the night before—they were disposing of the garbage in the recycler when captured by Drood's guards.
I didn't have enough profanity in my vocabulary to accurately describe Drood or his guards. Jayna and Mell had fought back, but when weapons were pulled, they'd been forced to stop. Jayna had cracked ribs and Mell had a black eye and facial bruises as a result.
I intended to heal those things after I finished eating. I didn't have to see those things personally—I'd already seen them in Bel Erland's gaze.
* * *
"I'm so glad you're safe," Jayna whispered when I sat on the edge of her bed. It hurt for her to draw breath after the damage to her ribs.
"I'm here to fix that," I said, laying a hand on her left side. "Don't worry, it won't hurt at all."
Jayna was speechless afterward—she'd seen me glow with healing power as the pain in her ribs disappeared. I then turned to Mell, who sat in a corner chair, also speechless with wonder. When I finished healing her face, most of the bruises and all the pain were gone.
"Quin is talented," Bel Erland smiled and explained as I walked wearily for the door.
"I can see that," Mell dropped her gaze.
"Juffa is at the front door," Sal poked his head inside the room. "He wants to speak with you."
"Really?" My question was flat and filled with sarcasm. I followed Sal; Bel Erland, Justis, Caylon and Kaldill followed me. I kept my steps firm and long as I walked the length of the house to get to the front door where Drood Juffa waited.
"I want to know how," he began the moment I stopped before him.
"Fuck you," I snapped and slammed the door in his face.
* * *
"My shields are up," Kaldill announced.
"As are mine," Daragar appeared beside me.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Want me to open it?" Sal asked.
"Sure."
He opened the door with a flourish. I stood facing Drood and two of his guards. One aimed a pistol at me. Daragar held out a hand and released his particles before pulling himself to his full height and showing Drood that he was Larentii.
"The same thing will happen to you if you point your weapon at Quin," Daragar lifted an eyebrow as Drood Juffa gaped and his second guard took a step backward.
"You're a myth," Drood whispered.
"Larentii are not a myth; they seldom have reason to associate with criminals," Daragar said, his voice as close to a growl as I'd ever heard.
"I suppose you think elves are a myth, too," Kaldill crossed arms over his chest and glared at Drood.
"They are," Drood began as flowers bloomed at his feet, the stems and roots climbing through the stones on our doorstep. Roses formed in reds, yellows and pinks before a razor-sharp branch filled with thorns circled Drood's throat and tightened itself against his skin.
I watched with satisfaction as a trickle of blood stained the white collar of his shirt.
"I know you believe in warlocks," Bel Erland announced before turning the wood of the door to stone, then brick and then chocolate.
"Fuck me," Drood choked on his words.
"We do not serve you," Caylon said. "We will never serve you. When you threatened ours last night, you made sure that we would never cooperate on your behalf again. You, sir, are on your own."
I was happy to be transported elsewhere; Drood's life would be worthless, come time for the ball.
* * *
Zephili
"We found two, Lord Cayetes. Brothers. Older. That will not matter, once the drug is administered," Dorgus informed Vardil. "The search took longer than I thought, but these brothers are both from Lyristolys. The drug is guaranteed to work on them."
"Do you have images—of these two in their younger years?" Vardil demanded. The time had arrived for a transference and his temper was short as a result. Dorgus and Deris waited in his bedroom with a new body; the hapless man from Mar'Dun was drugged enough to cooperate.
"Here, my Lord—both quite handsome. Twins, as you can see."
"Good—very good," Vardil examined the images. "How long after the drug before they will be ready?"
"You must understand that the drug is only half of it," Dorgus explained. "We must take blood from each—not so much at a time so they'll be weakened, but enough eventually so that you will be assured of new, identical bodies for many years to come."
"How long?"
"A month, perhaps. Two at most."
"Get on with it, then," Vardil snapped, waving Dorgus away. "I must go to Deris and Daris. This body chafes and dies about me."
Chapter 9
Quin
"How does it feel to be an outlaw on an outlaw planet?" Bel teased as we sorted through our belongings. We now occupied a previously empty mansion outside the industrial city of Mundia.
The mansion was owned by the Juffa family. In my mind, Drood owed us—while he still lived, anyway. After his death, it wouldn't matter anyway. Sal had already advised Kooper Griff of our move—and the reasons for it.
He also let him know that Drood Juffa was behind the pirating of the plans for personal shields employed by the ASD. Drood's objective had been twofold—experiment for ways to get through the shields, then make replicas of them when needed.
We knew he'd not perfected the shield yet—Justis' life was saved by spelled stones. Justis now wore a new cuff and ring—someone was watching over him and I was grateful.
Someone else—perhaps Daragar—had gathered the rest of the ASD agents living in Der'Vek and brought them with us. Those who didn't know much were advised by Pellen, Jeslin and Mell after their arrival.
"The ball is tonight—what do you think will happen?" Bel Erland Pulled in a sweater and helped me into it, his hands warm and gentle as he adjusted the shawl collar. The house was slow to warm—winter had hit Mundia harder than it had Der'Vek, and the heat was off when we arrived at the empty mansion.
"Juffa will die. He has no idea how much opposition he has. The weapons were stored in that building on the Cardino estate, but most of the Second Tier had contributed to that arsenal, including the Xilvas."
"Juffa's family?"
"We can't save them," I mumbled, clamping my wings against my back.
"If he had any sense at all, he'd send his children away from the estate," Sal walked in, a cup of hot tea in his hands.
"We've already seen that he doesn't always have the best judgment," Lafe followed Sal into the dining hall, which doubled as a clearinghouse for all our belongings. Like Sal, Lafe's hands were wrapped around a cup of hot tea as he surveyed the piles of clothing and other items cluttering the floor. I knew which items belonged to who
m—by employing my ability to find things.
"My love, are you cold?" Lafe asked.
My breath stopped and I didn't speak for a moment. He'd seen me pull the sweater more tightly around myself. I'd gone still because he'd declared his love.
"I am. A little," I admitted, forcing my lips to form words. "Bel Erland brought the sweater, but this place will take forever to warm up."
"The kitchen is warmer," Lafe held out a hand. I took it; I thought I hid the trembling well enough; I could tell by the grip of Lafe's fingers that he'd noticed anyway. "Come with me—you'll sit in the kitchen for a while. Your fingers are blue," he said with a slight grin.
Jayna, who worked beside Jeslin and Mell in the kitchen, made a cup of tea for me while I sat in the shelter of Lafe's arms.
You feel good here, Lafe informed me as I sipped tea and warmed my hands with the cup at the same time. With a sigh, I closed my eyes, relaxed and leaned back against Lafe's chest. Even better, I could hear the grin in his mental voice.
Bel Erland arrived to sit across from us and accepted a cup of tea from Mell. I smiled at him when my eyes opened to acknowledge his presence; he gave me a wink and a smile in return.
"Lafe?" I said.
"What, love?"
"Will you teach me how to braid my hair?"
"Of course I will."
* * *
Zephili
"Here is the update from Vic'Law," Magul handed a comp-vid to Vardil. "Everything went as planned, even with the destruction of the weapons cache held by the Cardino family. I worried after Juffa sent his troops to kill the Cardinos that we'd have a difficult time taking over during the ball. It turned out easier than we thought."
"All dead?" Vardil slid his finger down the screen to read the report.
"Every Juffa on the estate is now dead," Magul confirmed. "By your command."
"They think we're backing them," Vardil huffed before smiling. "Juffa was the largest obstacle in our path to Vic'Law. Soon, we will have all of it."
"I have something else," Magul said.
"What is that?"
"The only one I could find with the name Liron is a child—barely five turns in age."
"Kill him," Vardil shrugged.
BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Page 12
