BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 (22 page)

"I'll stay at Queen Lissa's palace," I snapped. "Don't," I held up a hand as he reached for me. "There's no need to transport me. I'll fly there myself."

Chapter 13

Lissa

"I think something happened. Something she's not telling us," I said. Erland, my warlock mate and Bel's grandfather, had come at my request. He watched me pace inside my suite.

"Where is she now?" He asked softly.

"In the suite across from Bleek's. She flew here, by herself, all the way from Avii Castle on the light half of the planet."

"That's rather rash—to go that far without a guard," Erland muttered.

"No kidding," I snapped. "If anybody gets wind of the fact that Bel Erland is interested, she'll become a target. Not just with the media, but anybody else who'd like to kidnap her and send a ransom note."

"I think the same goes for Justis, don't you think?" Erland pointed out. His calm made me frown—how could he act so rationally in a crisis like this?

"If Justis wants a child, he can find a surrogate, as we did to get Rylend," I added. "I know the Larentii would help in mixing their DNA, all they'll need is someone willing to carry the baby for them."

"I have no idea how the Avii Council will see that. Bel said they're grumbling about her legitimacy again and questioning her whereabouts for the past five years."

"You know," I shook a finger at Erland, "I'd like to have a conversation with whoever is behind that crap. You know somebody there is whispering poison in the others' ears."

"That happens everywhere," Erland observed. "Stopping that is like halting a planet in its orbit. It can't really be done, for a multitude of reasons."

"Will you stop behaving rationally for a minute and be outraged?" I snapped.

"Will it make you feel better?"

"Absolutely."

"Then I'll be outraged. Can we be outraged while we're naked on the bed?"

"Seriously?"

"We can blow off steam."

"Well, since you put it that way."

"I know exactly how I want to put it."

* * *

Quin

Barc almost ran across the hall and into my arms. I wanted to weep as I held him. Even the worst people could have children. Four arms tightened around me as I kissed the top of his head.

"How are you feeling today?" I smiled at him as he let me go. Bleek, confused, watched us from the doorway of his prison suite.

"I feel good," he laughed. "I don't remember feeling good before."

"You'll feel good from now on," I said. "If I have anything to say about it."

"I like your wings," he grinned.

"I like them, too."

"Can you fly?"

"I can fly."

"Can I fly with you?"

"I think your pap would have to say yes, first," I tapped his nose. I heard Bleek release an indrawn breath. He'd been terrified for Barc.

"He's your son," I led Barc across the hall and stood far enough away so Bleek couldn't reach me, although the shield held him back at the threshold. I hadn't forgotten that he'd broken my wing.

Barc looked at his father and then back at me, curiosity in his gaze. "My lamb," I said, ruffling my fingers through his hair, "your pap doesn't know that he can trust me, yet. He is a wise man. You should learn from him. Not everyone is worthy of your trust."

"She hasn't learned to trust me yet, either," Bleek sighed and raked the fingers of one hand through his hair.

"Will you have dinner with us? I'm starved and it's almost time," Barc pleaded. My breath caught as I looked up and into Bleek's eyes. He could break my wing again. He could hold me until Lissa let him and his child go.

He could kill me
.

"No harm will come to you by my hand from now on, I swear it on my wife's grave," Bleek held both right arms over his heart.

I hugged myself, squashed my fear and nodded my acceptance.

* * *

"It's gishi fruit—from Avendor," I explained. I knew that; I'd just never been to Avendor. I understood it was beautiful, there.

"I like it," Barc declared.

Bleek ate in silence while Barc talked away. At times, he wanted to rush away from the small table where we ate so he could show me something. His father told him to stay and finish his meal, and then he could show me his things.

Lissa had been generous, providing toys, games and more books for the boy. "Do you read?" I asked Bleek.

"When I have time." His eyes were on his plate; he didn't look up at my question.

"I'll have some sent to you," I said. "It's too bad you can't read the Avii language; there are history books in the Master Scholar's library concerning Siriaa."

"The planet Cayetes destroyed." Bleek's voice was flat. "I had nothing to do with that."

"I know."

"You don't make others pay for the mistakes of one enemy," Bleek's two left fists curled tightly.

"I agree," I said. "Marid of Belancour betrayed the people of Siriaa, just as he betrayed Vardil Cayetes."

"The way I see it, Marid and Vardil have betrayed everybody. I heard the poison is spreading."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. I think they betrayed everybody, too."

Bleek's gaze turned to Barc, who pushed green peas around on his plate. I wanted to smile at his aversion to green things and weep at Bleek's worry for his son's life—after all, if the poison destroyed all worlds, Barc would be destroyed with them.

"I intend to kill Vardil Cayetes," I said.

"I'd like to help," Bleek nodded.

* * *

Bleek

I watched her walk away, my child waving at her as she left our suite. I hadn't had a civilized conversation with anyone for eight years; I always treated my companions as if I expected them to shoot me in the back at any moment.

This girl had given Barc back to me, and then informed me that she wanted to kill Cayetes.

I wanted to kill him, too, for lying to me. He, his warlock and his witch had fooled me all along—by making me believe that someday Barc would be released from his coffin and made well.

They'd made sure it would never open.

Without the help of the Vampire Queen who could turn to mist, Barc would still be locked inside that box.

Without the help of Quin, who had healing talent that surpassed the fantasies written in books, he'd have died shortly after.

Many years had passed since I'd considered redirecting my rage.

I was doing so now. Cayetes and his Karathian twins should tremble. If Quin asked, I would kill them for her.

And for myself
.

* * *

Lissa

"What do you mean, she had dinner with that wing-breaker?" Justis was already exercising his authority as the Avii King. He'd arrived in a snit after finding Quin gone from Avii Castle.

At least he'd allowed it to distract him from his brother's death and the memorial service the following day.

Yanzi had transported him from the glass castle, and now sat silently in a corner of my study, watching Justis just as I did.

"Don't worry, I had eyes on them the entire time," I attempted to calm Justis down. "I think it worked, too. Bleek is coming around. He wants Cayetes dead just as much as we do, now."

"Tell her that I will not allow her to break away from the Avii," Justis hissed. "She is Avii. End. Of. Statement."

"Then perhaps you need to convince your Council," I offered dryly. "Somebody's spreading poison, I know that much. Besides, Quin is her own person. Neither of us own her."

Justis' red feathers lifted and rustled at my statement, but he didn't reply.

Smart of him.

"Who's guarding Liron?" I asked.

"Daragar and Terrett," he mumbled, shaking himself and flattening his feathers.

"Cayetes doesn't give up, once he finds a target," I pointed out. "He'll be back, rest assured."

"Then tell me how to protect the boy," Justis huffed. "I'm doing the best I can."

"You know, I think I have an idea," I said, waving a finger at the Avii King.

* * *

Quin

"Come with me," I said to Bleek.

"I can't pass the threshold."

"You can this time," I held out a hand. Barc was already holding my other hand while I stood in the hall outside Bleek's suite. He was ready to go to breakfast with me. I wanted Bleek to come, too.

I could tell Bleek didn't trust my words. "I asked the Queen. She says you're welcome at the table this morning."

Bleek wanted to close his eyes as he extended his hand—he expected to be shocked the moment his fingers passed the door's edge. He'd already tried walking out the first day of his captivity. He'd received a mind-numbing shock as a result.

I gripped his hand when it passed through the door.

Nothing had happened.

Bleek's dark eyes widened in disbelief.

"I won't lie to you," I said. "I promise on my white wings."

"You don't have," he began.

"This is just a disguise," I said. "Ask Berel when you see him—he has images on a comp-vid."

Bleek stepped out of his prison. Barc giggled and grasped his father's hand. I led them to the dining hall.

I can find things, after all.

* * *

I ate breakfast, sitting between Barc and Terrett. Bleek, who sat across the table, was deep in a conversation between a former Dragon Warlord and a former Falchani General. They were discussing blade fighting.

If my eyes and ears weren't fooling me, I'd think Bleek was actually enjoying himself. I doubted he'd had the opportunity to talk sword skills with anyone since going to work for Cayetes.

By the end of the meal, both Falchani had arranged for a sparring session with Bleek using wooden practice blades.

"Don't kill anyone," I said when Bleek, a smile on his face, rose from the table.

"Yes, commander," he held one right hand over his chest while saluting me with the other.

"Now that's convenient," Lissa smiled. "Barc, do you want to go to the library or the arboretum?"

"Both," Barc grinned.

"Good choice," she held out her hand.

* * *

Avii Castle

Justis

Lissa warned me not to tell Wimla or Vorina of our plans.

I was finding it difficult not to do so. It would protect Liron; to me, that's what mattered most.

I'd already asked Ardis to investigate the rumors about Quin.

He never left my suite; he already knew.

Dena told him.

Farisa, Brown Wing Guild Master for the Artisans, had been pouring out her dissatisfaction with Quin since Jurris' death. Until that moment, Wimla, a glassmaker and Brown Wing artisan, had provided the heir to the throne.

Now, Farisa worried that the prestige that Wimla and Liron brought to the Artisan's Guild would evaporate.

Therefore, Quin had become a target. Farisa wanted to discredit Quin in any way she could, in order to push Wimla back into her elevated position as mate to the King.

I was King and I despised politics.

Therefore, I was adding to the plan Lissa had developed to protect Liron. Since Farisa was so obviously suspicious of where Quin had been for five years, I decided that she would accompany Wimla and Vorina when they left Le-Ath Veronis with Liron.

Yes, that would satisfy me and get the mouthy bitch out of the way at the same time. Her second-in-command, Gerig, would serve in her place until Cayetes was dead and it was safe to bring Liron home.

She'd be able to communicate with those she'd left behind, as would Wimla and Vorina. Where they were going, Cayetes could never go. Lissa had assured me of that much. We only had to employ a bit of subterfuge, first.

Then, all I had to do was convince Quin.

That, in my mind, might be harder than moving a mountain with my bare hands.

* * *

Puntia

Vic'Law

"How many of them are there?" Barstle whispered.

"At least twenty, so far, but I think—I think more may be coming," Barstle's valet whispered back.

"How? How is he making them?"

"I don't know. He has your entire wing locked and guarded day and night. Who knows what he has in there, now? It's uncanny—they all look exactly the same."

"If the others learn he's here," Barstle shuddered.

"Is there some way we can escape?" his valet pleaded.

"I have no idea. If you think of anything, tell me immediately."

* * *

Quin

I was at the back of the crowd at Jurris' memorial—by choice. Terrett, Berel, Kaldill, Lafe, Yanzi and Bel Erland stood with me.

Queen Lissa, as an ally and royal guest, stood near the front with Bel's father, the King of Karathia, showing their support for Justis.