The mention of Aldah's name made Ilvan mutter. Aldah, Addah's third son, was Fes' full brother and thick with Fes on everything. Fes covered for Aldah's lack of skill much of the time. Farla's two sons stood to inherit much of what Addah had built. "Reah could put both Fes and Aldah in the dirt," Ilvan said angrily. Addah had never noticed Ilvan. It had always been Fes and Edan. Until Edan was convicted and sent to prison. Now, Fes and Aldah were the ones Addah spoke with. Ilvan never said it, but he was grateful that Marzi had only birthed Edan.
"I know."
"Is that why you called? To see if I knew where Reah is? I don't. I think she probably wouldn't want to see any one of us. I saw the advertisement for the Star Gazer. I heard from someone I know there that Reah is intended to the King of Karathia."
"That isn't why I called. I wouldn't mind seeing Reah, just to say I'm sorry, but she likely won't accept my apology any more than you will."
"Edan, if you're trying to wriggle into Wylend Arden's good graces, don't. I don't believe he's held his throne by being weak as a warlock."
"Also not the reason I called. Ilvan, I don't need anything from you or Father or the King of Karathia. What I truly want is forgiveness. From you and from Reah. I'm a different man, Ilvan. I hope you come to believe that, someday."
"I'll tell you what—if Reah ever forgives you, then I will, Edan. And you likely know that will never happen." Ilvan ended communication with his brother.
* * *
"This Reliff?" Farzi asked after I'd landed us in a park outside the capital city of Beedaris.
"This is Reliff," I nodded, pulling two credit chip bracelets from my bag and handing them to Farzi and Nenzi. "Just in case," I said. Both nodded their understanding. I wasn't familiar with Reliff and wasn't willing to pull out my comp-vid to do research. My comp-vid was ASD issue and likely had a beacon chip embedded. I wasn't going to turn it on, just in case. "Come on, let's see if we can find a room for the night." We walked through the park, eventually finding the nearest hoverbus port.
* * *
"I can disrupt the meeting," Nidris smiled at Lersen Strand. His cousins, Darsen, Ansen and Morsen were there, nodding at Nidris.
"And what if we want more than disruption?" Morsen smiled.
"Whatever you want," Nidris replied. He'd never tapped the core on Campiaa. It could provide all the power he'd need to take down the fledgling Campiaan Alliance.
"We want Campiaa for ourselves," Lersen interrupted Nidris' thoughts. "The Casinos—all of it. Give us Campiaa and the rest will follow. I think we can promise you anything you want, after that."
Nidris agreed. What did it matter that Campiaa would die within a decade or two? Other worlds waited, and Nidris had no desire to work for the Strands more than a handful of years. He wanted to hunt the female High Demon. Still desired to have her under his command. Unlimited power awaited if she were his.
* * *
"Corolan, Garek, I want you to search for Reah. Bring her back to me," Wylend read through political requests for audience day. He'd finish with those before traveling to Campiaa. It would assist Gavril in building the Campiaan Alliance if Karathia was a strong ally. Wylend had made up his mind. The Reth Alliance might frown upon some of Wylend's methods for tracking and dealing with prisoners. Gavril's Alliance made allowances for those things.
"Who will protect you while you are upon Campiaa?" Corolan didn't mind searching for Reah, he merely wanted to keep Wylend safe at the same time.
"Erland, Rylend and Wyatt are coming with me," Wylend signed the request for a hearing after reading it. "Plus my personal guards."
"All right," Corolan sighed. With the Starr warlocks employed by Gavril, that should be sufficient spellpower to guard both Wylend and the founder of the Campiaan Alliance. "Are you sure Wyatt is a good choice? Having you both in the same place?"
"He needs the experience," Wylend muttered. "His head has been elsewhere, lately. Ry is more than dependable. Perhaps some of his focus will attach itself to my heir."
"As you say," Corolan nodded. "We'll work on this from our end before striking out blind."
"I expect nothing less," Wylend agreed.
* * *
"It may interest you to know that Tulgalan's core is now healed." Lendill stood in the doorway to Norian's office.
"And how do you know this?" Norian grumbled. "Does Torevik know? Reah hasn't been gone that long, she still might be there."
"My father told me," Lendill replied. "And I informed Tory first. He has already gone looking for her. I don't believe he'll find anything. I sent someone out myself. All they found was an abandoned camping site."
"How did you find it so quickly?" Norian was very curious. He had agents scattering to find Reah. It was the least he could do—he was worried she might harm herself or do something dangerous and come to harm in that way. He was worn down with the responsibility of the baby's death. None of Lissa's other mates were speaking to him. He'd been too afraid to approach Ildevar with the news.
"We knew the two tapping locations—I sent someone there. Reah went to the first one. It makes sense—I didn't think she'd want to return to the place where her child died, do you?"
"It does make sense," Norian scrubbed his jaw. Since Lissa had given him blood, making him immortal, he no longer needed to shave. The habit of a beard was still with him, however. "Does your father know where Reah might go next?"
"Not at the moment," Lendill hedged. Norian lifted an eyebrow at his friend's words.Chapter 13
"Why you order this, Reah?" Farzi watched as I cut into my roast fowl.
"Because this is something I can walk away from if it's cooked badly," I sipped my glass of wine. The fowl was a little dry but edible. Farzi and Nenzi both ordered steak. They preferred it rare, but tonight it came to the table slightly overcooked. We'd chosen the hotel restaurant for our meal; it was convenient. Our bags were stowed in an upstairs room, our packed tent and basket of camping rations there as well. I hoped the staff wasn't curious—there weren't any camping spots or tourist attractions nearby that would warrant the equipment and supplies.
"When you do this?" Nenzi asked, frowning as he cut into his steak. The cut wasn't as tender as it might have been.
"Tomorrow, sweet man. We'll leave right after."
"I do not like Cloudsong decision," Farzi reminded me.
"I know, honey snake. If it looks too hard, I won't try, all right?"
"That will do," Farzi nodded. "I like this name you call me."
"You do?" I smiled at him.
"Me, too," Nenzi was enthusiastic.
"Good. Let's finish this up and go to bed—I'm really tired," I yawned.
"We see that Reah sleeps," Nenzi nodded.
* * *
"My son, wake now," Kaldill stood over Lendill's bed. In any other situation, Lendill would have a ranos pistol drawn and threatening anyone standing over his bed. His father had taken away that fear. Lendill knew that only his father might accomplish that.
"Father, what is it?" Lendill sat up quickly.
"I have located her—it was quite easy, actually. I merely had to search for the nearest tapped core. She is on Reliff. You must come with me now."
"But," Lendill thought to protest. He should have saved his breath.
* * *
The lights were on and Farzi, Nenzi and I were blinking at Lendill and another man who stood behind him. Shocked that Farzi and Nenzi weren't lion snake and threatening, I stared at Lendill.
"How did you get in here," I snapped at him. I'd been sound asleep when something had wakened me and the reptanoids.
"My, uh, father," Lendill coughed in embarrassment.
"This is your father?" I stared at the man with Lendill. Lendill didn't look anything like him. He had long, golden hair, pointed ears, piercing green eyes and a feeling of power about him. He also appeared young—as young as Lendill. I didn't know how that could be.
"Kaldill Schaff," the man held out a hand. Not wanting to be rude, I took it. "King of the Elves," Kaldill Schaff added. "The ring, son. Quickly." Lendill handed a ring to the one who'd just identified himself as King of the Elves. Elves weren't real. Those were tales from children's books. I stared openmouthed at Lendill's father while he placed the ring on one of my fingers. I thought to take my hand away, but Kaldill Schaff was stronger than he looked. He muttered words that I failed to understand, then Lendill muttered more in the same language.
"Now, young woman, say yes," Kaldill nodded to me.
"What?"
"Wrong word. Say yes." Kaldill was staring at me.
"Yes?" I didn't know what he wanted.
"Good. Very good." Kaldill relaxed visibly, sighing and releasing my hand. "You are now married to my youngest child. Therefore, I can offer a gift. The Elven race is obligated to protect you in the next few days. Would that you had come before the child was lost. I could have offered the same gift, then."
"You couldn't have done anything about that," I grumbled, wanting to cry. "And I'm not married to Lendill."
"Yes. According to Elvish law and tradition, you are most certainly married to him. And if you'd married him before, I would have come for you and refused to allow you to leave our lands until the child was born. Without the marriage bond, I am not allowed to interfere."
"Fuck," Lendill almost shouted.
"What are you saying?" I was crying now and Farzi and Nenzi were upset on my behalf. Somehow, they knew not to threaten Kaldill Schaff.
"Reah, daughter, do not weep," Kaldill sat on the side of my bed. "All things turn in a circle, did you know? What we lose, we gain. What we hate, we love. It is the way of the universes." He reached out and cupped the back of my neck, bringing my head forward to touch against his. "So much is yours, pretty one. So much more will be yours. I cannot mitigate the harm. That is not mine to give. My child loves you. I beg that you remember it." Kaldill Schaff disappeared, breaking whatever spell he'd placed on all of us.