"Not against Raedah. We hated her. She took Father's affection."
"I think I'm done, here," Kevis sighed. "The one I need to speak with is dead. Too bad one of his own sons killed Addah Desh."
* * *
Ceerah stared at the empty field before her. The guards had removed her cuffs and shoved her away. Now, they watched as she walked into tall grass.
"This is like a park," she turned and sneered at her guards. "Someone will come for me. They promised."
"Nobody gets on or off this world without permission," one of the guards said softly. Ceerah snorted at him.
"You don't know of whom I speak," she said, laughing. "He's the son of the Elf King. He has power. Just wait, he'll get me away from here."
"Young woman, I am Gavin Montegue. Teeg San Gerxon is my son. His mother is the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis, and holds more power than that fool Reldill Schaff will ever realize. When I say that none gets on or off this world without permission, I mean it. Now, if I were you, I would run. Maldak is coming. You might live past the next few moments if you hide."
"How do you know of Reldill?"
"Reah is married to the Elf King's Prince-Heir, who is Reldill's brother. Of course, Naldill is calling Reldill's tune, although he no longer holds power. His father, the Elf King, removed it for a reason. What did they promise you, to distract Reah and the Director and Vice-Director? Do you think they are stupid, or without resources? Too bad, you might be able to warn them. If you had mindspeech."
"Is this my meal?" A dark-haired man appeared at Ceerah's side. She almost shrieked at his sudden appearance, and backed away immediately.
"Go ahead and run, you won't get far," Maldak smiled. "I will not hesitate to take you. You brought harm to the Lifegiver." Ceerah turned and ran. Maldak folded after her, appearing before her as the Copper Ra'Ak. Ceerah screamed before she was bitten in half and swallowed in two bites.
"Quick and effective," Tony sighed. Gavin nodded in agreement.
Chapter 14
"They're gathering allies. The rogue Copper Ra'Ak have already gotten on board," Pheligar held a three-dimensional image of Xordthe above the table. Most of the Saa Thalarr were there, listening. A careful plan was being laid out for them, in order to trap as many rats as possible in a single move.
Did Cynthin think her world wasn't being tapped a second time? She'd accepted the advances from Reldill and Naldill, after being ousted as president. "Others are being approached by the allied elf brothers and rogue Ra'Ak. We will see what their answer is." Pheligar was content to wait. The Wise Ones said only a short time would be needed. Pheligar smiled. As a Larentii, he'd always stood on the sidelines, never having gone into battle before. But now—the Head of the Larentii Council had listened to the Wise Ones and given permission. Pheligar and several others were looking forward to this.
* * *
"They have offered a way off the planet," Perdil hissed in Zendeval's ear. Zendeval lifted an eyebrow. He'd been King of Nrath for twenty-five thousand years. Yidrizin still worked as his Prime Minister; Perdil acted as advisor. Sometimes Zen listened to the dwarf. Sometimes.
"And how do they propose to do this, and what do they expect from us in return?" Zendeval asked, looking the two over that had come to him. They didn't seem like much; light hair, pointed ears, green eyes. One held power; the other did not.
Yidrizin had taught Zen many things through the millennia. One of those things was how to recognize power. Like the High Demons, power held no sway against the Greater Demons. Once, Kings, rulers and despots had approached the Greater Demons, specifically for that talent. None could harm them with power if their Greater Demon guard stood by their side.
"We ask your help in bringing down a High Demon," the one without power announced. "And we will see that you are transported anywhere you choose to go afterward."
"High Demon?" Zen displayed mild interest. "I need more information than that. They are very powerful, these High Demons."
"But this is only a female. Weaker than the males, most likely," Naldill smiled.
"The name of this High Demon female?" Zen's eyebrow lifted.
"Reah," Naldill smiled.
"Kill them," Zendeval pointed at the elves and growled.
* * *
"As soon as we're finished killing Reah and our brother, we're coming back for that filth," Naldill attempted to wrap the slice on his arm. He wasn't having much luck with it, one-handed. Reldill had escaped with only a few bruises when he'd grabbed his brother and folded away. He'd known how far back to stand from the Greater Demons, in order to retain his power. It had taken everything he had anyway, to escape Nrath with his brother.
"At least that bitch Ceerah distracted our brother for a few days, so we could make preparations. She was going to plead guilty. It wasn't easy, either, placing glamour on that fool she had for legal counsel. Too bad she doesn't know we can't get to Evensun. She'll just have to rot there," Naldill muttered.
"Father should never have treated us this way," Reldill snapped. "You should have been named heir. It was your right. That is how it should have been."
"We'll be stronger after this, brother. These Ra'Ak were just waiting for someone to lead them from the shadows. We'll take over. See how Father likes it when he's facing a hungry Ra'Ak."
"You think they'll get past the barrier surrounding Gaelar N'Seith?"
"What's to keep them out? Father won't bother, and Lendill is a half-blood. He doesn't have the strength," Naldill huffed. "We'll get through and then we'll watch the others flee before us."
"Is that what we want?"
"Reldill, you have strength but you lack vision," Naldill slapped his brother on the back. "Stay with me. We'll get my power back and I'll rule as was intended. Meanwhile, Xordthe waits. We'll begin our reign there."
* * *
"Just lie back, Dad's going to check on the baby. This is nearly six months, you know."
"He's fine, stop bothering him. And me." Yes, I was grumpy. The baby was growing, but he wasn't moving around as much as I'd like. I was worried, but too afraid to say anything about it. Kevis had my jeans pulled off my belly, my shirt up to my armpits and Karzac was wiping his hands after washing them in my bathroom sink.
"Reah, it won't take long and we won't hurt either of you," Karzac soothed. My right hand shook as I covered my eyes with it. Teeg walked into the room; I could tell by the footsteps. Karzac put his hands on my belly. They were cool against my skin.