The swing rocked gently as I sat on the deck outside my suite, staring across the groves of gishi fruit trees. The harvest was in and we were processing the last of the ice cream. It would take two months before another harvest of fruit would be ready. Orders were already placed for the ice cream we estimated would come from that harvest.
Adam, Merrill and the other new owners of NorthStar Groves had already agreed to provide us with their blemished fruit. Kevis came out to sit beside me, holding a cup of coffee. He didn't say anything, he merely sighed and sipped. My comp-vid vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to read the message. Shocked could only describe a little of what I felt, when I read the message and then saw who'd sent it.
"Would you like to come with me?" I looked at Kevis.
"I'll come, too." Edward appeared from nowhere.
"Good," I said, and skipped both of them away.
"Where are we?" Kevis craned his neck, looking around. A palace stood before us and tall, shapely buildings lined the street leading to it. The street was built of carefully placed stones, so closely matched and fitted that not even a blade of grass grew between them. The buildings and the palace were fashioned of gray stone that glittered in the early afternoon sunlight.
"This is Nrath," I said. "The Greater Demons' world." I walked purposely toward the palace. Edward and Kevis, exchanging troubled looks over my head, followed closely, unsure what to expect.
"Lady," guards bowed low as they opened the heavy, carved doors to the palace. "The master waits inside," they added, straightening up.
Zendeval Rjjn had his back turned to me when I walked in, his head bowed as if in thought. "Reah, I beg you not to be cruel," he whispered as I came to a stop ten feet away.
"How far into the past did Kifirin take you?" I asked.
"Twenty-five thousand years," he sighed. "I was fortunate that a few Greater Demons survived at that time. We have struggled to build with what we had, and it has taken that long to fashion the roughest comp-vid you could imagine. The Alliance satellites functioned very well, however, and boosted the weak signal we were able to produce. I wanted to warn you," he turned. He was weeping.
"I thank you for that," I said. "I knew they were out there, but I didn't know how badly they wanted me dead." I held up my own comp-vid, displaying his message.
"I tried to kill them when they came here. The moment those evil ones said your name, I ordered my guards to attack. We couldn't move swiftly enough and they escaped with minor injuries. I did what I could to protect you, Reah, as little as that turned out to be."
"At least your mind is your own, now." I turned away from Zendeval and glared at Perdil. "I wasn't aware that Liffelithi dwarves lived so long."
"We are nearly immortal, but the ways of our race usually ensure that our lives are cut short—in some disagreement or other," he nodded to me. "I've learned a few things, Lady Demon, and Zen has pounded respect into my head, I think."
"Reah, please sit with me. Share tea or something. I wish to speak with you," Zendeval begged.
"Fine," I huffed a sigh.
"Reah, this is the one who attacked you," Kevis hissed.
"I know. We'll hear what he has to say."
Yidrizin, Zendeval's Prime Minister, sat with us at a beautiful table inside a small sitting room. Perdil had been sent away, grumbling.
"Reah, we don't go through moonrush any longer. There's a wine we make that prevents it," Zendeval began as soon as tea had been brought by a servant. The servant bowed respectfully and disappeared from the room.
"Too bad you didn't know about that sooner," I said.
"Yes. You were harmed. If I'd been in my right mind, it wouldn't have happened. Not like that. Every day for the past twenty-five thousand years has been torture for me, because I loved you every tick of every day, and there was nothing I could do about it." His face was filled with pain and worry. He was dressed well for all that, his hair neatly trimmed and combed back, his hands fine and the nails cared for.
"And what would you do, now that I'm here?" I asked.
"Get on my knees and beg you to be my Queen," he brushed another tear away. "I know what your answer will be, but I will hate myself more if I do not try." And right there, in front of his Prime Minister, Kevis and Edward, he knelt down, bowed his head to the floor and asked me to marry him.
"You know I have many mates already," I said. Zendeval was still huddled on the floor.
"I do not care. I am begging, Reah. I will never make you ill again. Or harm you. I will guard your life with mine. Always. That is as it should be. As it should have been before," he lifted his head, his dark eyes pleading—begging me not to reject him.
"Edward?" I turned to Edward, who sighed.
"Reah, he means it," Edward said. I nodded. I knew the truth in Zendeval's words as well.
"After this child is born, the King of Karathia expects me to marry him in a formal ceremony," I said. "And I will offer that privilege to any of my mates who have not yet taken that step. If you desire to be there and take the vows, I will not prevent it," I said, standing up. "Someone will come for you, if you do not change your mind. Here," I handed my comp-vid over. "Use this, if you wish to communicate with me between now and then. I have another comp-vid at home."
Zendeval's smile was blinding as he stood. "Reah," his hand shook as he reached out to touch my face. I worried my lip nervously as I gazed at him. "Do not be frightened of me, my love. Ever."
"Leave Perdil behind," I said, skipping Edward and Kevis away with me.
"She will never forgive me," Perdil moaned.
"But she will marry me," Zen slapped the dwarf on the back. "Who knows what will come after that?"
"What are those creatures?" Cynthin stared at several Copper Ra'Ak wandering through the clearing.
"You don't need to know," Naldill snapped.
"But they're on Xordthan soil. I demand to know what they are. Where is Reldill?"
"He's gone off to find sustenance for them," Naldill jerked his head at the Copper Ra'Ak. "It's nothing to worry about. We'll clear away from here as soon as the core is drained sufficiently again."
"What did you just say?" Cynthin had stalked away from Naldill, but now she was back. They'd carried her to this piece of worthless wilderness and somehow they'd managed to shield their growing army from Xordthe's authorities. "All I agreed to," Cynthin hissed, poking Naldill in the chest, "was helping you take down that bitch. You've tapped the core to do it? You piece of excrement, I'll kill you."
"You won't," Naldill slapped her hand away. "Not after you see what my brother is bringing." Cynthin stared as Reldill appeared, at least fifty poorly dressed humanoids with him. Cynthin began to scream as the Ra'Ak fed.
"They have violated the last of the Elvish Code," Kaldill sighed. "Every elf is obligated to hunt them, now."
"They've broken trust with every living thing?" Lendill rubbed his temple, attempting to prevent the headache.
"All living things," Kaldill agreed. "They kill innocents. Plant, animal and world. We are obligated to destroy them."
"And I intend to see that it happens," Lendill said. "Father," he nodded respectfully to Kaldill Schaff and folded away.
"The time is tomorrow. They plan their attack for the day after." Thurlow tapped a spot on the Xordthan map. "They're hoping that Reah will come, once they lower the shield and let everyone know the core has been tapped again."
"We will place a barrier around them that they cannot cross," Pheligar said.
"Good enough," Kiarra nodded. She represented the Saa Thalarr; Pheligar represented the Larentii who would come—Renegar, Lenigar, Teligar and Jerigar. Nefrigar was only coming to observe, saying his presence as a warrior was not required.
"I and my father will come, as will Faldill, my brother, and one hundred elf warriors," Lendill appeared. "We will take custody of my brothers."
"Maldak and I will be there with our forces," Youon agreed. "I wish to take as many of the rogues as possible. Please allow us this concession. We will only ask for help if it is necessary," he bowed to Kiarra.
"Fine with me," Kiarra shrugged. Youon smiled at her.
"Lady, you shine," he smiled. "It reminds me of my youth."
"We ask that you keep her here," Aurelius said. "Edward, she's in no shape to go. We've gathered everybody else, I think. Rylend is coming and bringing warlocks. The Saa Thalarr are coming, with several Larentii. The Black and Copper Ra'Ak are coming, and they want first crack at their rogues. Lendill will come with elves his father chose. I don't know who else those foul elves are bringing, but we're preparing for the worst."
"Don't ever forget that Ra'Ak can travel the timeline, just as the Saa Thalarr and Larentii can," Edward pointed out. "And I will keep our pregnant High Demon with me. I'll keep her happy, one way or another."
Lissa's Journal
"Cara Mia, you cannot go. You are pregnant," Gavin pointed out.
"Tell me something I don't know," I muttered. I'd wakened that morning feeling queasy and Connegar and Reemagar had both shown up before I could make it to the bathroom. They cleaned up the resulting mess, too.
"But you and Winkler and Drake and Drew are going," I grumped, rubbing my belly. Drake and Drew were with me more often than not, and while they normally were the most easy-going of my mates, fatherhood had turned them into almost-tyrants.
"As are several others," Gavin agreed. "All the vampires who can stand in daylight are going. Our son holds most of the talents you had before you became a Nameless One. He will act in your stead."