I blinked at Kevis. They wanted to discuss me, I knew. "All right," I stood and nodded. Aurelius put an arm around my shoulders.
"I'll send mindspeech," Kevis said. Aurelius folded Lok and me away.
* * *
"She seems to like you very much," Kevis looked Fes in the eye.
"She does. Mother and I love her. More than she knows or suspects. Reah kept the business from going under after Father died. He kept his best recipes away from all of us. In spite of all that, Reah managed to recreate all of them, and even improved some of them. When Mother sent her a note after Father died, telling her what would likely happen with the business, we got a reply from Reah immediately, and that reply included every recipe that Desh's needed to stay open. Mother and I have discussed this over the years. We knew Marzi was an evil; we just never did anything about it. She intimidated everyone, including Mother and me. Unfortunately, we didn't know about the abuse Reah suffered when Father sent her off to Edan when she was eight. I'd like to believe we'd have turned Edan in over that if we'd known."
"Do you think your father knew or suspected?"
"I don't know. He may have, but back then, Edan was the golden boy. Desh's number two raked in all the top awards. Of course, we now know that Reah was responsible for those awards, and she wasn't even an adult. Was Edan jealous? Very likely. He hated me because I was first son and Father kept me here at Desh's number one. He, as number two son, was sent to Desh's number two. Edan never got over that, I think. Yes, I know he isn't the same person, now. He and Ilvan both tried to explain that to me. And I should have punched Ilvan in the face as soon as I found out what he was doing."
"I want to have a talk with Edan soon," Kevis said. "To see what he remembers from those days. Recently, I was transported to a time during Reah's youth, where I witnessed a beating he gave her when she was ten. She almost died in that attack. Edan bribed the hospital officials so they'd record the beating as an accident."
"Someone you know can manipulate time." Fes shook his head in wonder. "I wish I had that talent. So many things might be different, now."
"But that's why we don't have that talent ourselves," Kevis pointed out gently. "Any changes in the timeline can result in disaster. We have to leave things alone most of the time, as horrible as that might sound."
"Are you going to be able to help her?" Fes asked. "Sometimes I wish I could bring her to the house and let mother look after her, but she won't come."
"I'm trying to sort this out. She doesn't know it yet, but Ceerah Kade's hearing is tomorrow and the magistrates on Refizan have politely requested her presence. Jalan Wolk has worked out a plea, since this was her first offense. The charges against Ceerah are much more serious."
"I learned so many things about Reah from that program," Fes sighed. "She never talks about those things. Ever."
"The ASD usually prevents their agents from discussing anything they've done. The information is generally too sensitive. Ceerah and that stupid program ruined Reah's cover. Why they thought not to hide her face is beyond belief. Ildevar Wyyld gave permission to release the information on Reah, to clear her name and her record. Those awards are generally kept by the ASD and never shown to the public."
"Did she really take down the drakus seed trade?"
"In ways you can't begin to imagine. Reah is very special, even among High Demons. None of the others can do what she does."
"She's not full High Demon, though. Is she? I'd like to say it's her Desh family genetics, too, but that probably isn't true. Go ahead; dash my hopes that my children might be special if I have any."
"I can't say whose children might be special and whose won't," Kevis smiled. "But in my opinion, aren't all children special? At least to loving parents?"
"Mother seems to think that about me. I try not to disappoint her."
"And there's your answer, right there," Kevis laughed.
* * *
"Get estimates," I told the head cook, who nodded and smiled at everything I said. Aurelius was also smiling and sending mindspeech, telling me the poor man was star struck. Lok, who was also grinning, told me he'd Looked. The man had watched the Hild Marolla special at least six times. I breathed a troubled sigh and went back to explaining what we needed done to Dee's. Head cook Jorden told me he'd get on it right away. We went over the books while I was there, too. Jorden seemed an honest man; Fes had done well when he'd hired him for me.
When I walked onto the floor of the restaurant, there were stares. And then whispers. I thought to duck back inside the kitchen, but Aurelius and Lok had firm grips on my hand and shoulder, so we went through the place. Jorden spoke to some of the lunch crowd, who seemed to be enjoying their food.
"Excuse me," a mother who was there with three children and an older woman, held a hand toward me when I was about to walk past.
"Can I help you with something?" I stopped at her table.
"You're that woman, aren't you? The one from that program." I wanted to sigh or skip away. Other diners were watching, so I could do neither. All I could do was extricate myself as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I am that woman," I nodded and smiled as pleasantly as I could.
"I saw that conference, too, where they asked you questions."
"Yes, that is certainly me," I agreed amiably. "I own this restaurant, and have for many years. I'll understand if you don't wish to bring your little ones here any longer, although I can assure you that your children would be very safe here. I seldom come. I'm only here today to see what upgrades are needed."
"But you're a hero," the woman sighed. "I stopped watching that stupid reality program after I saw what they did to you. I couldn't help thinking that some of those other people might have suffered at their hands as well. I find that attitude demeaning and revolting."
"As do I. I've never been able to watch those programs. We make fools enough of ourselves as it is. There isn't any real need to publicize it."
"I totally agree," she smiled. She was a pretty woman, with pale-blonde hair and hazel eyes. Her children—three girls, must have ranged in age from six to eleven or so. They were all staring at me while I spoke to their mother.
"Auri," I turned to Aurelius, "will you get some ice cream for our guests, here?" I winked at him when I looked him in the eye.
"Right away." Aurelius walked through the kitchen door and disappeared, coming back with two kitchen helpers, a load of bowls and an armload of gishi fruit ice-cream containers. He'd had to fold to Avendor to get it, but he'd accomplished it swiftly.