* * *
"So, back again to cause trouble?" I was throwing more rocks into the river, wondering how long it would take—and how many rocks—to impede the river's progress toward the ocean. Kifirin had appeared at my side, sitting down next to me on the river's grassy bank. It was late fall on Refizan; the grass was nearly dead, its brown length pliable and beaten down from recent rains.
"My claiming marks are quite lovely," Kifirin observed, first thing. "Did you see how straight and evenly spaced they are? I had no wish to mar your beauty." He touched the nape of my neck with gentle fingers.
"That'll go over so well with Gavin, when I explain it to him like that," I muttered sarcastically.
"Avilepha, that will not be a problem. Not with me."
"Yeah? You may not be jealous, but Gavin is. In the worst possible way."
"I will take care of that," Kifirin informed me.
"You're not going to hurt him, are you?" I was just about to leave him sitting there alone; my anger was rising.
"Love, sit down," Kifirin had his hands on my hips and was not only sitting me down but also pulling me against his side at the same time. "Your lover is in no danger. Not from me. Anyone who cares for you will also receive my care."
"You really don't care that Gavin exists and that I'm engaged to him? That is so bizarre," I huffed.
"I will see to it that he tolerates me and will not be jealous," Kifirin nuzzled the top of my head, the ever-present curl of smoke emanating from his nostrils. "The Saa Thalarr also cannot experience jealousy. It is removed from them when they are turned."
"I heard Dragon say something about that—about what he was before," I said.
"My brothers who watch over the lighter worlds select good candidates and they are remade," Kifirin informed me. "There are seven Saa Thalarr and six healers."
"That doesn't sound like a lot."
"More will come. The Ra'Ak are becoming restless, and the rules set down will be ignored by those most disobedient children. Had their black cousins not allowed their copper relatives to exterminate their race, they might have been held in check. Treachery and deceit have become second nature to the copper ones, however," Kifirin sighed.
"I killed one, earlier," I said.
"I know this," Kifirin smiled at me. "I might have come, had you needed me. You did not."
I mulled his words over a little. He'd said he might have come. What did that mean? I shook my head a little.
* * *
Tony stared around him. He doubted that many humans had stepped inside Wlodek's mansion and if they had, they might not have walked out again. Yet here he was—an invited guest, along with Deryn and Paul. Merrill, who was there, had greeted Paul politely, saying very little to Tony at the same time. Tony's fingers itched while he examined the books in the bookcases lining the walls of Wlodek's study.
"We appreciate your assistance with Julius and Quentin," Wlodek remarked. Tony couldn't believe he was seeing Wlodek in the flesh. He looked to be of Greek origin, although his name said otherwise. His face could have graced any one of a number of ancient coins. The suit he wore cost in the thousands and had never seen a rack in its life. An authentic Monet, one of the artist's many paintings of water lilies, covered the wall opposite the bookcases. Another painting that also looked to be expensive—a portrait of Napoleon—hung in the short space between bookcases.
"It's a David," Wlodek caught Tony looking. "It was a gift." Wlodek didn't elaborate past that. "Now," Wlodek turned to business. "While we are still incensed over your treatment of Lissa, we are offering an olive branch of sorts. We wish to combine our efforts to search out Xenides. We will also include your terrorist, Rahim Alif, in our search. We do this in good faith, since you have provided us with valuable information thus far. It is imperative that we bring this traitorous vampire down. He desires to kill all of us; not just the humans, as previously thought."
"Then I have a favor to ask," Tony smiled slowly.
* * *
"Merrill," Daniel Carey met him on the corner, away from the small hotel where he and Admiral Hafer were staying. Anthony Hancock had asked Wlodek if there was any way that Admiral Hafer could be removed from the equation, with the use of compulsion.
"Hello, Daniel. It is quite a pleasure to see you again," Merrill held out his hand and Daniel took it. "What must we do with our decorated officer?"
"Not only does he want Lissa for his own purposes, he wants to bring several people down, including Anthony Hancock and the President," Daniel explained. "We can't afford the chaos this will cause; we have enough trouble as it is." Merrill nodded in understanding. The economy everywhere was in crisis. Something like this could cause worldwide panic.
"I believe I can help with that," Merrill smiled. "Lead the way, friend," he nodded toward the hotel. Daniel pulled out his key and headed for the door.
* * *
"It must be the Karathian Warlocks; they are powerful enough and willing enough—if the price is right," the Ra'Ak was back and pacing before his Prince.
"And there we thought all along it would be the High Demons who'd step in and hinder our progress," the Prince grumbled. He thought about going to serpent form and killing his subordinate, simply because he was angered.
"I always heard that the one who made us committed an error, placing Karathia on the boundary between the Light and Dark Universes—half light and half dark, as it were," the Ra'Ak continued his pacing. "Now, the local government is pressuring my priests to leave the planet. And things were going so well, too."
"We can overpower these sorcerers, when the time comes," the Prince replied. "Take two more with you. There can't be more than a handful of the sorcerers on the planet, there won't have been enough money to pay them, otherwise. Five of you should be sufficient."
"Thank you, my Prince." The Ra'Ak bowed gratefully and made his way quickly out of the Prince's study.
* * *
"My child may not have died in vain," Gabron said. Grief still bound him but he was grasping hope where he found it. "The authorities have pulled legislation together formally condemning Solar Red and are drafting a bill to outlaw their presence. Of course, this may not happen soon enough, little Queen." Gabron had me in the crook of his arm on the sofa. I'd barely managed to get away from Kifirin earlier; he wanted to neck a little more. Gabron would settle for necking period.