Fes did cook for {didandeme. Sliced the cut of beef thin, barely sautéed it and then covered it with a wonderful sauce, serving it up with pasta and a green salad. "Fes, this is so good," I sighed, pushing a nearly empty plate away. He knew I was pregnant with Teeg's child—I'd told him right away when I'd called to tell him I was in Targis, Tulgalan's capital city.
The house in Targis was empty—Erland and the others had made sure Ilvan and Radolf didn't make off with any of the furniture or collectibles. Fes had shown up there as soon as I'd contacted him, a covered plate of food in hand. He'd sat with me, too, while I told him about the baby and some of the other things. I didn't want to talk about the mass rape or most of the other stuff, but he did know I'd been held in a cage until we'd gotten to the sale site. He'd shaken his head and held me while I cried on his shoulder.
"Let's do some shellfish," I said. "With a bit of sauce, risotto and vegetables," I suggested. "And we can do steak—what you did for my lunch would be perfect," I smiled at Fes. I was happiest when I was cooking or planning meals.
"How about a pork dish, too?" Fes had a gleam in his eye.
"Yes. Definitely. Let's do a pork roast, and stuff it." We set to work right away, because the pork roast had to cook for several clicks. It was done perfectly and right on time for the guests to arrive.
"We'll be going in together, with the food," Fes said. "They want it served family style." Fes and I walked in behind the servers, carrying trays of food to set on the table. I should have known—Lissa, Gavin, Lendill and Norian had come.
"Nefrigar told us," Lendill pulled me down beside him. "We need a report, breah-mul. I know this may be hard, but we need it anyway. And if you want, Norian and I can send someone to talk with you."
"Q'and Ribalo? No thank you," I snapped. He was currently on tap for ASD agents and I didn't like it. Or him.
"Reah, we need the report. Ildevar is asking for it," Norian said.
"Then I'll do it, but only because Ildevar wants it," I said.
"Come home with me," Lendill begged softly when the meal was nearly over. Fes and I had sat down and eaten with Lendill and the others. Fes silently raised his glass to me halfway through—the food was excellent.
"I'm not ready for that," I said. "I'll get the report filed. When are you planning to do something with your prisoners?"
"In two days. Ildevar and four members of the Grand Alliance Council want to be there. As does Teeg. We want this finalized," Norian made the reply.
"Leave Zendeval and Perdil," I said. "I want to talk to them first."
"Then we'll do that. For you," Lendill agreed. "Come at two bells. That will give you some time before Ildevar comes in at three."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Fes was worried.
"No, Uncle. It's bad enough that I have to see them again," I said. "These people are terrible."
"You will not repeat anything about any of them," Gavin laid compulsion. Fes wouldn't have said anything anyway, but he nodded his understanding.
"Reah, do you {;Reut he want to spend the night with mother and me?" Fes asked after our guests left.
"No. Tell Farla thank you, but I need some time alone," I patted Fes' arm. "Do you want me to skip you home so you don't have to drive or take the bus?"
"That would be nice," Fes smiled. He didn't get skipped much, but he seemed to enjoy going from one place to another almost instantly. I skipped him home, gave him a peck on the cheek and waited for him to go inside the massive Desh complex before skipping to my own rather large and mostly empty home nearby.
"Reah, at least let me put my hands on our child." Teeg was waiting in the kitchen, somewhat impatiently. I didn't understand why he didn't join the others at dinner, but soon learned why that was. "We've been clobbered with frantic calls and angry messages," he said, rubbing his forehead. I knew he had a headache and sent a message to Nefrigar. My Larentii showed up immediately and removed Teeg's headache. At least he felt better afterward.
"Now, about the baby," Teeg said as soon as Nefrigar left us alone. Someone had told him—likely it was Lendill.
"Teeg, I didn't know I was pregnant until after I was bitten. Teeki and Neeki told me, when it was too late. Do you think I'd have let anyone put his hands on me if I'd known? Do you?" I had a headache, now. There was no way to tell what Zendeval's bite might have done to the baby, if Teeki and Neeki hadn't shielded it. Somehow, I had the idea that the baby might have been lost due to the ensuing illness. I intentionally didn't mention the fever and sickness I'd endured to Teeg.
"Reah, that's not why I'm here, and I would never blame you for that," Teeg grumbled. "So many things have happened while you were gone. Ry fought off a coup to keep his throne and Lendill was named Kaldill's heir. After removing Naldill's power, of course, since he was offended by Kaldill's choice. I hear Naldill and Reldill are missing from Gaelar N'Seith, now. That can't be good for Lendill. And that doesn't even touch what happened in both Alliances while we worked to restore power after the blackout."
"My troubles are insignificant to you?"
"Reah, we didn't know where you were."
"Did you send mindspeech?"
"No. We shouldn't have to."
"Get out, Teeg," I said as pleasantly as I could. "We'll talk about the baby some other time. I'm assured by Nefrigar that he's fine. Go home. Deal with all those things that are more important. Go on." I made shooing motions with my hands. Teeg, unsure what to do at that moment, folded away. I stared at the space he'd occupied for several minutes before I broke down and wept, dropping to the floor.
Was I expecting sympathy? I should have known better. All my mates likely knew where I was and none were there for me. Were they likely to be soiled by me after I'd been bitten by a monster? I had no idea what ran through their minds. I only knew that Nefrigar was the only one who'd offered support of any kind. He'd come if I asked, but I shouldn't have to ask. I shouldn’t.
Chapter 14
Two days later, I skipped to Le-Ath Veronis. Lissa was waiting for me inside her private study, Gavin and Flavio with her. I nodded and said hello to both of them. We walked down steep steps to the dungeons later, ~nmissing f arriving at the part set aside for high-profile prisoners. Only certain members of the Palace Guard visited that section; it was off-limits to everyone else. I'm sure a large amount of compulsion surrounded it as well.