"Relax, he'll not get away with anything. Father has already cut him out of the will. Didn't I tell you?"

"You said that, but what if Addah changes his mind?"

"He won't. You worry over nothing. Use Edan as much as you like. He's the lowest-paid cook we have at the moment. Revel in that, brother. Desh's number one is on top and will not lose that spot. Ever. We will make sure of this. Go back to work—we are booked up tonight. Make that chocolate crème cake you are so fond of."

"All right, but do not forget that I warned you," Aldah walked away in a huff.

"Paranoid," Fes sniffed and went back to his accounts.

* * *

Spring brought rains to the High Demons' world, named after Kifirin the god. Veshtul was awash in small rivers, the water flowing down cobblestone streets paved with multicolored stones. Gardevik Rath walked through those streets accompanied by Denevik Lith. They'd destroyed half the palace, now they sought an architect who might help rebuild that part of it. Garde had thought of approaching Adam Chessman, but the Saa Thalarr were quite busy with Ra'Ak spawn cropping up in too many places.

The Ra'Ak were hiding for some reason, reluctant to do more than send their young turns out in an attempt to make others such as themselves. Garde shook his head. Denevik worried about his granddaughter. He'd gone looking for her, too, on several occasions. Had even been on his way to Wyyld when he'd heard she was there, only to learn she'd skipped away at an ill-placed comment from Ildevar Wyyld.

"I forgot about the rains," Denevik lifted the collar of his jacket. Jusef had offered to come. Denevik had told his dwarf companion that there wasn't any need for both of them to get soaked. Garde seemed determined to punish himself in whatever way possible. Denevik felt numb on the best of days. Still, the cold spring rain wasn't helping his mood any.

"Every year, the rains come," Garde grumbled. "This architect better be worth his weight in Tiralian Crystal."

* * *

"She was on Reliff for a short time. Healed the core there—we found the residual power," Corolan gave the news to Wylend. Wylend stood, half-dressed, inside the suite Gavril had given him in San Gerxon palace. "Lendill Schaff pulled her to Wyyld, but she was only there for a brief time—less than a click—when she became upset and skipped away. Now, we hear through channels that Cloudsong's core has also been repaired. I have no idea what kind of energy she had to pull to accomplish that." Corolan was shaking his head. Garek still had trouble believing what he'd seen when they'd landed on Cloudsong. Somehow, a rain had come and he and Corolan both felt the rumbling of growth across the dead world.

"Do you think she'll go to Thiskil?" Wylend sat wearily on a chair in his sitting room.

"No idea. That fool Gergi Jarveston is from Thiskil. Do you think she knows that?"

"That I cannot say." Wylend raked a hand through his thick, light-brown hair. "Place a surge detection on it, just in case."

"I'll do it," Garek offered. "Wylend, my dear, stop worrying. We'll get her back."

"Thank you," Wylend nodded gratefully.

* * *

"If they hit us, it'll come tomorrow," Dee sighed. The meeting hall was ready. Astralan and Stellan had placed wards around the meeting hall inside The San Gerxon, the largest casino on Campiaa.

"I know," Gavril agreed. "I've sent Farzi and Nenzi out as lion snakes—they'll keep an eye on the Strands' suite. If anything goes on that raises suspicions, I'll know."

"They're coming in tonight?"

"Yes. They're scheduled to arrive at the space station before eight bells. Hirzi and Bekzi will drive them in after they reach the shuttle port. I've got the rest of the reptanoids scattered around, ready to spy on the Strands at a moment's notice." Gavril shook his head.

"Child, I hope we live to celebrate tomorrow evening."

"So do I, Dee. So do I."

* * *

"Who's there?" Jes had been sitting on his bunk when the noise came—a shuffling, as if someone were walking toward his cell. He stood. The light was dim outside his cell and he had difficulty seeing past the illumination inside his cage.

"Why, Jes?" He knew my voice and it made him shiver.

"Reah, I swear I didn't plan it that way. I swear it. He was only supposed to take you out of there. You have to believe me. He never said he was going to tap the core."

"You were going to let him take me. Why?" I stepped closer to Jes' cell, enabling him to see me.

"Reah, get me out of here. I promise I'll take care of you. You look exhausted."

"Like you took care of my mother?"

"Reah, they offered me money. A lot of money. I was hoping to get my family off Thiskil. Only it was already too late. I didn't even hear the name, pretty girl. Didn't want to know the one I'd killed. I figured they were going to kill the baby, too. They just didn't." Jes hung his head.

"Do you know what I just did, Jes?" I stopped an arm's length outside his cell. He couldn't reach me, even if he tried.

"What, Reah?" He still wasn't meeting my eyes.

"I healed the core on Cloudsong. Now, I might consider doing the same for Thiskil. It won't bring your family back, but it will allow all the Thiskilhin expatriates to return, once it rejuvenates."

"You'd do that?" Now he was looking at me.

"In exchange for information." I said.

"What information?" Jes demanded.

"Nidris. Where did you find him? Where might he go? Is he running as far as he can to get away, or is he planning some other devilry?"

"You want to kill him."

"He killed my daughter. Almost killed me. What do you think?"

"Good. I want him dead, too."

"Then tell me what you know."

"All right." Jes began to talk.

* * *

"My son, I believe you should be on Campiaa tomorrow," Kaldill said. "And just so you know, I've known about your mindspeech since you gained it. I have not used it out of respect for your privacy." Lendill examined his father's face in the comp-vid. He wasn't surprised that his father knew. He was used to such things by now. "If you cannot find someone to take you, I will send Faldill."

"I think I can find someone to take me, father."

"Good. If things go badly, send mindspeech. Promise me this."

"Of course, father. I promise." Lendill was tired, out of sorts and ready for bed. He'd had Reah with him; had nearly convinced her to stay. Then things were said, sending Reah flying away from him. Now, he'd have to search for her again.

"Child, this is important. Do not forget."

"I will remember, father."

"Good. I love you, even though I do not say it often," Kaldill sighed. "Sleep well, my youngest." Kaldill ended the communication.

Chapter 14

Campiaa had changed somewhat since I'd seen it last. Of course, Teeg hadn't allowed me to go out very often. People were everywhere. I made sure I didn't go into any business or casino where I might be recognized. Instead, I'd chosen one near the end of the half-moon shaped bay. Arvil hadn't owned that one. I wondered if Teeg were demanding the dues levied by Arvil in the past. I'd had to dig through everything in Aurelius' home to find the credit chip necklace that could be used on Campiaa.

"Three nights, please," I said to the hotel desk clerk. No need to make them think I only wanted the night before the summit. That might raise suspicions. I'd learned my lessons during my stint in the ASD. I wasn't helpless. Wounded in spirit and in my heart, perhaps, but certainly not helpless.

Jes and I had a long talk. Eventually I'd sat down outside his cell and let him ramble. I'd learned a lot. Losing his family had harmed him. Jes was wounded, too, only his had bordered on insanity. He wasn't willing to let anything else go that he cared for. And, in some warped way, he cared for me. He was genuinely upset that I'd been harmed and my daughter killed.

Somehow, he hadn't reconciled my mother's death with my existence. He'd talked of the baby as if it weren't me. Jes was deranged in some way, and the condition had worsened since he'd met me. I couldn't help him now, and he'd have sentence passed eventually by the ASD. No longer my concern. I planned to heal Thiskil, if I survived the following day. Jes might not live over his crimes, but Thiskil stood a chance.

"Is there anything else we can get for you, Miss Largill?" The desk clerk asked, handing over a key chip.

"No, thank you," I said, lifting my bag. I'd used one of the many IDs Lendill had given me over the years. They were just as official as anything else I might use. My hair I'd also darkened with temporary dye—it was dark-brown, now. It matched the holographic photo of me on the ID.

"Then have a pleasant evening," The clerk smiled. I nodded and walked away.

* * *

Why wasn't I one of those lucky women who had a Larentii as a mate? They could provide a healing sleep better than anyone, or willingly trilled for their mates, achieving nearly the same result. Yet there I was, with two vampires—Gavril had been born vampire and Aurelius had been made so by an unnamed sire. One High Demon and a half-Elf. Not to mention the King of Karathia—a powerful warlock. Lissa had two Larentii. I hadn't deserved one, I suppose. Or a Falchani. I'd been so enthralled with that race when I was young. Lissa had two of those as well.

I shrugged into my leather jacket shortly after daybreak. I'd not slept much and felt worse for it. The meeting was about to start, and I figured if Nidris were going to make his presence known, it would be shortly before it started. At that moment, Campiaa's core was still intact—I would feel it if it had been tapped—the wrongness would make itself known. I was waiting for Nidris to tap it. That would confirm what Jes and I had determined—that Nidris would hire himself out to Teeg's enemies—the Strands. Nidris' loyalty lay with Nidris. If the Strands gained Campiaa, it would die within a decade. Nidris would get away soon, before the Strands would ever learn of his perfidy. I wanted Nidris. And the Strands, too, if they stood in the way of a peaceful transition to the Campiaan Alliance.