Demon's Dream (High Demon Series #6) (23 page)

"Sit here, baby," Teeg settled me onto a seat at the center of a long table. The crowd inside the ballroom was growing.

Do not fear, my love, I have shields in place
, Nefrigar sent to me. He was standing in shadow at the end of the table. I think he had himself shielded and was visible only to those he chose. And when I looked, I found four more Larentii standing in the corners of the room. They were protecting me, at Nefrigar's direction. I was also being recorded as Teeg sat next to me.

"Was that true, what I was shown?" Hild Marolla started the questioning. "Can you really heal planetary cores?"

"I've done it several times," I nodded at his question. "I've been back to Thiskil recently and there are a few weeds and plants growing, but it's still mostly dead. I wish there was something else I could do to hurry the process, but it's going to take time. The others, like Xordthe, had been tapped recently when I healed them, and Xordthe had only been tapped from one place. That made it easier to repair."

"Some planets were tapped in multiple places?" A scientist from a respected journal had come to ask questions.

"Yes. Tulgalan was one of those. The energy I poured into it was leaking out the other site, so it was more difficult to repair."

"This energy, where does it come from?" The scientist asked.

"From a renewable source that constantly puts out energy," I said. "It's stellar energy. I act as a conduit and siphon it to the damaged core before sealing it up. Isn't that where all the energy came from in the beginning? That power should be natural, and I've been assured it's the best way to heal the cores." Nefrigar had smiled when he'd told me that.

"On the original vid," someone else said, "shown on Temporary Insanity, the doctor asked about a suicide attempt. Would you care to explain that?"

"No," I said.

"But you did try it, according to the vid, by a volcano, is that correct?"

"I contemplated it. I didn't try it. Trying it implies that I went through with it, or attempted to do so. I was talked away from the edge." I squinted to see the one speaking. "Step forward, please," I said. The man walked toward the front. "Your name?" I asked. "And affiliation?"

"Seve Dibolus, from network ninety-one," he hung his head.

"And what do you intend to do with this information?" I asked. He was from the network that produced Temporary Insanity. The others in the room recognized that fact immediately and there was some grumbling.

"We just want to get to the truth of the matter," he said.

"Lie," I said. "Try again."

"We wanted to publish a retraction on the program," he said.

"Another lie. Why not tell the truth for a change?" I said.

"We want as much information as we can get to form our defense against the allegations that we broke the laws," he whined.

"Truth," I sighed. "Come here. Sit beside me," I patted the empty chair to my left. Teeg still sat on my right. "Now, what else do we have? I warn you that I was heaving this morning due to the pregnancy, so I don't think I can go on much longer today. Ask your questions now."

"How badly has this whole incident hurt you?" Hild Marolla asked. His question made me sigh.

"This is beyond awful," I said. "I have no hope of going out in public anonymously. Or taking my child out in public. While others might find that attractive, to me it is upsetting."

"Tell them the story about the rats." Kevis walked in and sat next to Teeg.

"Are you crazy?" I looked at him. The crowd found that funny.

"Come on. Tell them."

"I was chasing Thaddis Grund through the sewers on Ooklar," I said. "Are you familiar with him?" Most of the people in the crowd nodded. Thaddis was a crime kingpin from that portion of the Reth Alliance. He'd eluded the ASD for decades, until Lendill sent me after him. That's what I said. "The Vice-Director of the ASD sent me to Ooklar after Thaddis blew up a bank in the capital city. He had escape routes throughout the city, and all of those escape routes ran through the archaic sewer system. It has since been upgraded," I said.

"I thought I'd trapped him until he used a remote to open a hidden portal into the sewers. While the heavy steel cover would have foiled any humanoid, I turned Thifilatha and jerked it off to follow him. Once I turn, my clothing is destroyed. So rather than turn back and chase him naked as a humanoid, I remained Thifilatha."

Chuckles came at the thought of chasing a ruthless criminal through the sewers while nude. "Rodents and insects are frightened when they see or scent any High Demon in Thifilatha. The rats in the sewers, and there were many of those," I put heavy emphasis on the word many, "were running before me in an attempt to escape. Thaddis, still running ahead of me, was overtaken by thousands of rats, and in their attempt to flee what they considered a larger predator, they knocked Thaddis down and ran over his back, squeaking at the top of their little rat lungs. Thaddis was an easy capture, after that. I believe he might be the only criminal actually brought down by rodents."

The crowd was really laughing now. I smiled at them. Even Seve, sitting next to me, was snickering.

"What are you doing now?" someone else asked. "I see the doctor, there. Is he treating you?"

"As much as I can," Kevis commented dryly. "She lets me know when we're done for the day." That also brought laughter from the crowd.

"So, Doctor, in your professional opinion, is Ms. Nilvas dangerous?"

"If she were, I'd be a goner," he said. "I've pried into private matters so much and gotten her angry enough at me that I'd have been toast if she were dangerous. She still hasn't forgiven me for the nurse betrayal. Reah calls Ceerah nurse nasty, but that's the extent of her violence. Does that sound dangerous to you?"

"I called Ceerah Kade worse when I learned she was involved in the drakus seed trade," someone in the back stood. "My son died of drakus seed."

"Then I am sorry for your loss," I said. "I burned those fields on Birimera, when Arvil San Gerxon was growing that filth," I added.

"And yet you're married to his heir," the man nodded in Teeg's direction.

"A long story. Teeg was never involved in any of that. In fact, Teeg was Arvil's construction contractor. When Arvil's brother and cousins died, courtesy of the RAA, by the way, Arvil went looking for a replacement heir. Teeg was the only trustworthy person he could find. He ran the casinos here on Campiaa, and honestly, I might add, while Arvil was bent on destroying the Reth Alliance with drakus seed. Arvil was staying on Birimera while the fields grew. That's where we took him down. Teeg, as you know, decided that the Campiaan Alliance was a good idea and ran with it. You see that the Reth Alliance has allied with it, after all. They recognize the value of it and actually went over their constitution and rules before reaching out a hand."

"You were a building contractor?" someone asked Teeg.

Teeg almost blushed. Almost. "I have architecture and engineering degrees," he said. "I'm used to building things. The Campiaan Alliance was no exception."

"Do you still do construction?" Hild Marolla smiled.

"I know when they aren't installing my wife's new kitchen cabinets properly," he grinned.

"Did you buy new cabinets for me?" I blinked at Teeg in surprise.

"I did." His smile was directed at me, now.

"What do the countertops look like?"

"A honey-brown granite, with flecks of gold," he said.

"I love that color," I sighed. The crowd laughed.

Teeg shooed everybody away shortly after that, sending them to another room where they were served drinks and a complimentary meal. Hild Marolla was brought to San Gerxon Palace, though.

"I just wanted to meet you in person," he held out a hand. I took it.

"These are the new cabinets?" He glanced around the kitchen.

"I'm seeing them for the first time, too," I said. "Want to try them out?" Teeg offered Hild a seat at the wide, kitchen island, Astralan and his brothers sat down, too, and I made crepes for all of them.

"I don't lie about food, either," I said, when Hild Marolla said the crepes were the best he'd ever tasted. He sipped gourmet coffee with his meal and seemed satisfied. "And I do have a Master Cook's license on Tulgalan," I added.

"So, you really are related to the Desh family," he said.

"You did a piece on that, years ago," I told him. "You were looking for me after you did the exposé of Breszca Loffus. I'm her granddaughter, but I barely know her. She's married to my grandfather, now."

"Why couldn't I get into your records?" The journalist asked.

"The ASD had them locked up," I replied. "Want more coffee?"

* * *

Vid from my unplanned press conference spread like wildfire across both Alliances. People were calling for Cynthin's resignation, as well as that of the other two who'd backed her accusations and then demanded that Teeg step down. I didn't know how all of it would end, but for the moment, at least they weren't dragging my name through the muck.

Then the ice cream started selling. People stood in lines outside ice cream shops, waiting to pay thirty-five Alliance credits for a single scoop on a cone. Reporters went out to interview customers about the gishi fruit ice cream, all while money poured in. The recipe was protected by patent quickly and EastStar Groves wallowed in a tsunami of fame for creating the best and most expensive ice cream. I'd told Edward to leave my name out of it and keep the ice cream under the EastStar Groves label. It worked out very well and we got the new plant open quickly.

* * *

"Beg her to come look at the groves," Glinda said. "They're not thriving and the fruit is smaller than it should be." She sat in Jayd's private study, watching her High Demon husband closely.

"Are they watering properly? Is someone checking to make sure the sprinklers are all working? What the hell are those people we hired doing?" Jayd rose to pace. "And now that gishi fruit ice cream is selling everywhere and making a ton of money, we can't get our hands on the recipe."

"Because Reah patented it through the Campiaan Alliance," Tory skipped in looking dejected. Glinda had sent mindspeech to him earlier. He'd finally shown up to see what his aunt wanted.

"This is Reah's. I shouldn't be surprised," Jayd muttered.

"Edward Pendley, who owns EastStar Groves, has already asked her to marry him," Tory grumbled.

"You could ask her," Jayd pointed out.

"You think I haven't thought of that? If I ask now, she'll react with suspicion and rightfully so. She has no reason to trust anything I say."

"Will she come look at the groves, at least? I'll pay," Jayd offered.

"I'll ask," Tory sighed, "but she'll likely throw it in my face." Tory skipped away.

* * *

"Torevik." I acknowledged his presence while monitoring ice-cream makers inside the new building. The facility was everything I wanted it to be. Our ice cream was selling before it was made and Edward was negotiating with the owner of SouthStar for blemished fruit. He was offering top credit for their less than perfect gishi fruit. Edward's employees inspected the fruit before it was purchased; he had a knack for choosing the right people for those things.

"Reah, the groves on Kifirin aren't doing very well. Jayd has offered to pay if you'll come to the Southern Continent and take a look."

"What's wrong with them?" Edward, who was there and watching me work, asked.

"We don't know. The Crown was never involved with the groves. They depended on Reah to do everything."

"And now they pay the price," Edward said. "Reah, let's go take a look," he sighed.

"Edward, you're not obligated," I pointed out.

"I know. But the trees are being mistreated. I feel it. Let's go look." Less than a click later, we were walking through the Kifirini groves that I knew so well with Jayd, Glinda, Lissa and Garde. I wanted to snarl at Garde but held it back. Astralan, alerted by Teeg no doubt, showed up as well.

"These sprinkler lines are broken, see?" I pointed out where the soil was saturated with water, keeping the roots too wet surrounding the break. "And these past that point aren't getting water at all. Aren't they walking the groves?" I asked. "What are they doing?"

"No idea," Jayd raked a hand through his hair. Glinda seemed very upset.

"Let's find out," there was a light in Lissa's eyes. We folded to my old cottage, which had been enlarged, I discovered. What we found inside it had Gardevik raging. I thought he would tear the house apart. The new grove manager was running a gambling establishment. I saw many of the disabled inside, playing for coveted items.

"I think you're under arrest," Lissa informed the manager pleasantly.

* * *

"Now what do we do?" Garde held his head in his hands later as we all sat inside Jayd's study.

"I have a suggestion," I said. "But Lissa might not like it."

"What will I not like?" She looked at me curiously.

"Bring Corent," I said. "At least two days a week. He's a gentle soul, but if you mistreat the trees, I think you might be surprised at the temper that will cause. And he can heal the ones that have been over or under watered."