SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 (6 page)

"You don't want that duty?"

"I think she'd kill me," I stated flatly. "One of the others—she would take instruction better from them, I think."

"You don't think you'll get along, is that what you're saying?" the Prince asked.

"No, I think we can work together just fine. I know to rein in my—lack of humility, let's say—and things will likely work out. I wish I'd done it from the start, but I thought I'd be forced to work double duty to cover for someone whose only ability was her beauty."

"You should hear Corolan," the Prince snorted. "I thought he was going to write poetry after she stopped that paperweight in midair and dressed me down in front of my father."

I couldn't help the smile; I didn't want to offend the Prince, but I found the incident amusing. I wished I'd seen it for myself. If I'd known those things about Zaria before our introduction, I'd have known better than to think Bel Erland hired her for her looks.

She wouldn't mince words if she disagreed with him concerning his safety; of that much I was certain.

"So," he slapped a knee before standing to stretch. "I'll find Caylon and see what he says about training for Zaria."

"You should probably approach Zaria about it, too," I pointed out as he walked away.

"Good idea." He waved a hand and kept walking.

* * *

Quin

"I received this from Liron," Justis handed his comp-vid to me. The image was of Justis' smiling nephew, standing beside a huge, white wolf and a beautiful, pale-haired woman.

"He's growing so fast," I sighed.

"At least his mother isn't harping in my ear; word has it she actually likes it on Avendor."

"I feel bad that Liron had to be taken away from his uncle," I slipped my arm through Justis' as we studied the image together.

"He'll come back—when we determine it's safe enough," Justis said. "I'm still worried about that infernal coffin, though. I had no idea it could prove so dangerous."

"Queen Lissa has it, now. Let her worry about it," I brushed dark hair away from his forehead.

He smiled, grabbed my hand and kissed it. "Never forget that this is where you belong, too," he said. "At Avii Castle, as my Queen."

"I won't forget," I bumped my forehead against his. "I just have some things to do, first."

"Then be safe, beloved," he whispered and kissed me.

* * *

When Kaldill transported us aboard BlackWing VII, we found the crew waiting for us. Some I'd never met; one I had and I was so happy to see him I flung my arms around his neck.

Somehow, Edden Charkisul, Berel's father, had coaxed Queen Lissa into allowing him to ride along with us, in case a spokesman or ambassador was needed. The pilot and copilot I'd never seen before, but the cook and his assistant vouched for them.

The cook, as it turned out, was one of Yanzi's brothers—Bekzi. His assistant was another surprise—a mute Sirenali named Gerrett. I understood immediately that Gerrett was Terrett's younger brother, but I didn't want to release that information too soon, in case it upset them.

Our pilot and copilot, James and Nathan, were a couple. Yes, the names were strange ones, but I'd heard stranger in my short lifetime. James, Nathan, Bekzi and Gerrett knew one another and had worked together before on Avendor. James and Nathan received their pilot training from Nenzi, one of Yanzi's brothers, whom some said was the best pilot they'd ever seen.

Zaria, who followed Bel and me toward our suites, hesitated for a moment upon seeing the four crew members. They smiled politely at her; her shoulders sagged and she followed me when I moved away.

It made me think that she'd heard of them before, but as I couldn't read her, I couldn't say it for certain.

"May I have a private word with you?" Edden had followed us, with Berel and Terrett right behind.

"Of course. Will my suite be acceptable?" I asked.

"I think it will," he said. "We've had word that all banking accounts belonging to one of the wealthy captives aboard the missing ship have been emptied of funds. His family, understandably, is more than upset that they've been—in their words—raped in this way, with no word on the status of their missing patriarch."

"I thought the ASD would freeze accounts," Zaria said.

"They did. Somehow, that action was reversed in this case and the accounts emptied."

"Where were these accounts? On one world or several?" Ilya asked.

"On one world—Tulgalan," Edden said as he strode ahead of us toward my suite.

"Then I know what the thief looks like," Zaria muttered. "That's why he was there when I saw him. I'm sure he made an attempt at petty theft, just so he could get a feel for the employees and the targeted bank."

"A Sirenali that can speak," Bel Erland shook his head. "A very dangerous thing."

"Not all Sirenali are thieves and murderers," I pointed out. Bel nodded reluctantly.

"Many were corrupted by rogue gods," Zaria agreed with me. "Now, many are mute slaves. Both those things are wrong and a terrible injustice to the race itself."

Terrett stopped in his tracks and kissed me, then took Zaria's hand and kissed it, nodding his thanks.

You shine brightly together
, Zaria sent to Terrett and me.

Will you help us capture these that threaten us?
Terrett asked.

That's why I'm here
, Zaria replied.
Come on, let's hear what Ambassador Edden has to say
.

* * *

"It's likely that employees at the bank were obsessed," Caylon agreed. Our meeting had spilled into the dining area, after it became too large for my suite. We now had an image on a comp-vid of the Sirenali Zaria had seen on Tulgalan. With information on the bank involved, it appeared that some of us needed to go to Tulgalan to interview employees.

We needed Kooper Griff's help to achieve that. Kaldill offered to transport those necessary for the questioning to Tulgalan, where we'd meet with Director Griff at the bank.

But that would wait for the morning—or at least after we'd slept. Zaria and Ilya had taken up their position at the entrance to the dining hall, as if there weren't a heavy shield placed by Kaldill about the ship already.

We were headed for the shipping lanes shared by the Reth and Campiaan Alliances where the missing ships had been taken. For now, it was the only lead we had as to the location of Cayetes' ships; every one of them had at least one Sirenali slave aboard, who kept the ship hidden from the powerful.

"Here's my thought," Zaria spoke up. "We can't find those ships by scrying or employing other, powerful methods, but they show up on mundane scans, like any other. Someone should probably track those things on the ship's systems, searching for the one or ones that show up there but not when they scry or
Look
for them."

"You mean they'll show up on the screen, but be a blank spot when we
Look
?" Salidar asked.

"Their blip will resonate when they pass through the lanes, like a werewolf who can scent those fuckers when they walk across your lawn," Zaria shrugged. "They can't hide their scent unless someone with power erases it for them. They probably don't bother in most cases."

"That makes sense," Caylon nodded. "It's reasonable to assume that they wouldn't have a wizard or warlock aboard every ship to hide them from other ships that look exactly the same. That would be too expensive."

"Why are they emptying bank accounts?" Berel asked. "I thought Cayetes had more money than he knew what to do with."

"They have to buy a planet full of warlocks and witches, or at least buy enough to fight for them and claim the throne," Zaria stated bluntly. "You have no idea how much that's going to take. Plus, if they buy what they can and obsess the rest," she shrugged.

"Warlocks can't be obsessed," Ilya began.

"Yes, they can," Zaria disagreed. "Frankly, that's something I never want to see again."

I'd remained silent through most of the meeting, but it was time for me to speak. "Unless you are a god or a Larentii, or belong to one of a few special races, you can be obsessed," I said. "Zaria is correct. A witch or warlock is susceptible."

"May the gods be merciful," Edden breathed. "I never knew we were in such trouble."

"Not all of them are ready to obsess anyone they see," I said. "The few who are will be most dangerous, however."

"I'll speak with Griff," Caylon said. "It's late and past time for sleep. We'll deal with Tulgalan and obsessions tomorrow, while the ship finds its way to the proper shipping lanes."

* * *

Kaldill waited for me by the door; I could tell by his smile that it was time.

Time for us to be together in bed. I admit, I felt nervous.

There is nothing to fear, dearest
, he reassured me and took my hand.

That night, I learned what it was like to make love with an elf. I'm sure it was enhanced, too, because Kaldill was King of the Elves. There is a rush that infuses your blood; a heady, all-consuming desire to have more of the elf who is loving you.

It went on through the night; I'm sure I'd have been exhausted, except Daragar arrived and bent time so I might sleep.

Caylon took no pity on me during my lessons after I woke; I hadn't expected him to. The one I did pity, however, was Zaria.

Somehow, Caylon, Ilya and Sal had arrived at the decision to train her in hand-to-hand fighting, which she plainly didn't want. Sal did the training; Caylon glanced their way from time to time and Ilya made himself scarce after Zaria glared in his direction.

I wanted to laugh—the whole thing had been his idea and she knew it without anyone telling her.

He needed to become used to that—that she could see those things in him whenever she wanted.

I heard a loud thump; Caylon and I both turned to look.

Zaria lay on her back, gasping for breath. She'd been forbidden to use any power during her training and had to rely on her physical ability only. Sal had shown her how to drop someone by sweeping their feet and applying a swift punch to the face or shoulder.

He'd caught her on the chin when she'd flailed in an unsuccessful attempt to keep her balance. He hadn't intended to hit her; her flailing had thrown his fist into her face. In some ways, she was just as responsible for the contact as Sal was.

"That'll leave a bruise," Caylon muttered before attending to our lesson.

* * *

"I'll live with it," Zaria waved off my offer to heal the darkening bruise after training. She stalked past Ilya, who stood guard outside the door. I saw him wince as she passed; he'd seen the mess Sal made of her face.

* * *

Kooper Griff met us outside the bank in Targis, Tulgalan's capital city, as promised. Lendill Schaff, his co-Director and Kaldill's son, was with him.

"Who's watching Gaelar N'Seith?" I asked Kaldill.

"He's only here for this interview," Kaldill shrugged. "He'll go back afterward."

We walked into the bank behind Kooper and Lendill—Kaldill, Bel, Ilya, Zaria and I. I imagined that Zaria and I would glean more information by looking at employees than Kooper or Lendill would ever receive during questioning.

After all, those funds should have been safeguarded. Somehow, an employee had released them and they'd been siphoned away. Kooper explained that the funds had bounced from one banking institution to another after they were siphoned from this one, before disappearing altogether.

There was no word on where or how that had happened. It could involve more obsession at another bank, but that information could wait. We had employees to see here.

The bank president smiled nervously when Kooper identified himself. He turned, then, to lead us toward a meeting room, where employees would be summoned and questioned.

No need
, I sent to Kooper.
He's the one
.

* * *

"He's fogged, just like the others I've seen," Zaria confirmed my discovery. "He probably doesn't even remember that he did it."

The bank president sat alone in the meeting room. He was terrified—as anyone in his situation would be.

That's how I'd known—by what Zaria called the fog on his brain. A blank spot of sorts enveloped his mind, indicating he'd been obsessed. Nobody would question him if he accessed certain files. His password overrode all others, including security.

"We have to arrest him," Kooper grimly shook his head.

"You'll never get the needed information," Zaria responded. "I suggest you place him somewhere so he can receive therapy. I think he's going to need it. This is something he'd never do, had he been in control of his faculties."

"I get that," Kooper agreed. "But I still have to arrest him."

"Somewhere, another employee at a different bank is likely in the same situation," I said. "Funds have disappeared and he has no recollection that he—or she—facilitated it."

"It'll take a while to attempt to track it," Lendill observed. "I can do that much from Gaelar N'Seith."

"Then you get on that; I'll see what I can do from another standpoint," Kooper said. "Thank you for your help," he nodded to Zaria and me. "It would have taken us many hours to get this the usual way."

"We're still no farther along than we were," Zaria admitted as we walked out of the building. "All we have is a terrified man with a family he can no longer support."

"I think temporary support can be arranged," Kaldill said. "We still have funds from Cayetes' shipments that we seized."

"Will you do that for us?" I asked.

"Dearest, I would do anything for you," Kaldill smiled at me.

* * *

BlackWing VII

Ilya

Zaria released the spell she'd held about herself while we'd been away from the ship; I watched her sigh as the purpling bruise reappeared on her chin. She should have let Quin heal it; it had to be painful.

"It's a reminder," she brushed past me.

"Of what?" I asked.

"Of how people see me as useless unless I can punch somebody in the face." She didn't turn around to look at me; she merely kept walking. I wanted to curse. At her and myself.