Rift in the Sky (53 page)

Moved or was pushed. The music had increased in tempo, causing a mass shuffle toward the stage among the spectators. To express disapproval? From what Aryl could see, those who made it close to the stage either threw items to impede the footing of those on it or slapped them.

Then she noticed how those on the stage came perilously near its edge to provide flesh to be slapped, and how each slap left behind a patch of gold or silver.

Not disapproval. As for what it was?

Aryl shook her head. Watching pox eat their flop-eared prey made more sense.

“Here.” KaeCee pressed something small and round into her hand. “Why should Brocheuse get them all?” With a wave at a nearby gyrating Human, whose bare skin sparkled with patches. Among other things. Flecks of metal pinched his skin along lines that suggested the seams of clothing. That had to hurt. Maybe those watching gave him the patches out of pity, Aryl thought dubiously.

“Go ahead,” her companion urged. “Have some fun. Be daring.”

The suggestion from one who belonged here was all Aryl needed. “I will,” she said happily.

And leaped on the stage in pursuit of the Aala.

A
S CHASES WENT, it was over too quickly. The Aala spotted her approach, eyes dilating, but when he tried to flee, his limbs tangled with those of his neighbors, knocking several down. On rising again, they began, most unfairly, to strike him with fists and feet.

The spectators appeared to enjoy this even more than the movement to music, raising their own fists and shouting. Some started to hit each other. Drink containers and chairs began to fly through the smoke.

All of which didn't stop Aryl. She ran lightly along the stage, not touching anyone else, ball in hand. Once in reach, she grabbed the Aala from beneath a heaving pile of naked bodies, smiled happily at him, then slapped the ball against his receding forehead, leaving a gold patch. “Thanks for showing me the way here,” she said.

“That's all you wanted?” the creature asked incredulously. “Directions to this place?”

“We're from offworld,” Aryl explained. Before she could say another word, the Aala was pulled back into another skirmish.

She shrugged and jumped down, stepping over a body that crashed to the floor by her feet. Everyone was busy hitting one another. Or trying to. They weren't, Aryl decided, very good at it.

Humans.

Where was KaeCee?

“Hold it,
Femmine
.”

The unexpectedly stern voice belonged to a Human male who wasn't fighting. Unlike KaeCee and the others here, he wasn't dressed in bright colors. Instead, he wore a simple black shirt and pants tucked into knee-high boots. Paired belts crossed his chest, with loops for various small objects. Another server, Aryl guessed. “I don't want anything,” she told him, and moved away, looking for KaeCee's bright red jacket.

The server blocked her way. “You can't come in here and cause a disturbance.”

Why, when it was so easy to do? Aryl thought with some self-pity, but gave more attention to the Human. Not a server. “I was told to enjoy myself,” she explained.

“BY THE WORM-RIDDEN THIRD ARMPIT OF URGA LARGE, DON'T MAKE ME COME OUT THERE!”

Gurdo's bellow produced an instant of silence, then everyone erupted into movement and noise again. A table smashed nearby.

“A few drinks don't give you license to break the law, Femmine. You'll have to come with me.”

Why did Humans believe simply saying a thing would make it happen?

They exchanged measuring looks. What he thought of her, Aryl didn't care. She judged him strongly built for a Human, but no more so than the performers on stage. If the objects he bore were weapons, she had her short knife and the force blade.

Which wasn't, she realized belatedly, blending in. She gestured apology and tried a smile. “I'm sorry if I—”

“There you are.” KaeCee shoved his way past two females preoccupied with holding their shoes high above their heads, despite the risk to their bare feet. He had a bruise forming over one eye and his blue hair was matted with some green substance. “Let's get out of here.”

“Not so fast,
Gennine
,” said the Human in black. “There's the matter of a fine and—”

“Nonsense!” KaeCee stiffened, the good humor gone from his face. “What's your name? I'll have your badge!”

“Constable Gene Maynard.” The other looked unimpressed. Aryl wouldn't have been either. “And you would be KaeCee Britain of Norval Antiquities and Otherworld Imports, looter of graveyards. Down to visit your suppliers, KaeCee, or for other diversions?” This with an odd look at Aryl.

At the faint
touch
from her Chosen, Aryl sent quickly,
It wasn't my fault. They started hitting one another. I haven't hit anyone,
she added proudly. Despite provocation.
I've found a guide.

Triumph
surged outward, so strong she wasn't entirely sure Enris had
heard
her.
I may have found a home. Louli's impressed by our sample. She's sent for someone to verify its value. You should be here. Come.

She should never have left, Aryl told herself, eyeing a pair of Humans wrestling on the floor a little too close for comfort.
I'll be there as—

“KaeCee! There you are.” As the Carasian clattered toward them, it used its closed lower claws to shove oblivious combatants out of its way. “Louli wants you topside! Now.”

“This wasn't my fault,” KaeCee protested.

Aryl might have sympathized, but she had a sinking feeling the summons wasn't about the fighting at all.

The M'hiray would have to deal with this Human, too?

“Tell Louli,” Gurdo said with some relish. “AS FOR YOU—” The “you” in question was apparently everyone else. It rattled away, shoving and pushing.

With a discordant wail, the 'bot band either died or gave up. The lack of deafening “music” did more to quench the participants' enthusiasm than the Carasian. Some headed for the exit doors. Most headed for the counter, or began righting tables and shouting for drinks.

The rest were on the stage, retrieving the tossed items despite outraged protests from the naked performers. Gurdo roared something and headed for them next.

“This won't take long,” KaeCee said with a pronounced quiver to his voice. “Promise you'll wait right here for me?”

“I'll come with you,” Aryl offered.

“No, no.” He looked at the clouded window, not her. “Louli doesn't like surprises. Stay here.” With a tug on his jacket, a brush of both hands through his dripping hair, he headed for the stairs with the air of someone about to face punishment.

Fine, Aryl thought. She'd go up the Carasian's stairs and surprise him.

“Hold on—”

She whirled to face the constable. “I said I was sorry. Explain what a ‘fine' is so I can finish my business with you and leave.”

Maynard tilted his head. He had nice eyes, Aryl noticed absently. Right now they were troubled. “Forget the fine,” he said quietly. “Listen to me, Femmine. KaeCee's trouble. Not this kind,” with a nod at the smashed tables and groaning patrons. “Another order altogether. Cross him, and you'll disappear without a trace.”

He couldn't mean KaeCee. “Him?” Aryl's lips twitched.

The constable nodded grimly. “Doesn't look like much, I'll grant you. But somehow KaeCee dances a step ahead of the law. He's got connections, too. We can't touch him. Not yet, anyway. Don't let him touch you. That's all I'm saying.”

This Human thought of her as one of his own, unaware she was something far more dangerous. Still, the warning seemed well meant. “I'll be careful,” Aryl promised.

“You do that. But if you run into more than you can handle, or learn anything about KaeCee I should know, contact me. Here.” He offered her a small brown rectangle, careful to keep it low as if no one else should see.

Aryl took it, then looked a question.

“It's a burst.”

“A burst?”

“Pop it in any comport or reader on Stonerim III. It will send an alert to the constabulary. Where you are. That you need help or want to talk.”

“Your help,” Aryl countered warily. “To talk to you, no one else.”

Maynard smiled for the first time. He reached to press his thumb against the rectangle. “Just mine.”

Aryl walked away, the rectangle in her closed fist, fist at her side. With every step, she was less sure why she'd accepted it. Humans weren't M'hiray. They were too many, too different. Dangerous in number. Humans were to be avoided—or used, if safe. Her fist lifted when she passed an ownerless drink oozing yellow smoke at an empty table. She should toss the “burst” into it . . .

Instead, Aryl tucked it in a pocket. She'd discard it later, less obviously.

She wouldn't need it.

A warm flash of
gladness
filled her as Aryl stepped once more on Lawren Louli's thick carpet—in drier shoes. It had nothing to do with what was going on; Enris, her Chosen, reacted to her presence. His smile would have lit the darkest night.

She smiled back.
I missed you, too.

Naryn. Haxel. Worin? She sent them each a greeting.

They were pleased to see her—well, Haxel had the look of someone planning a “discussion” for later, presumably about the bar fight which hadn't been, Aryl told herself firmly, entirely her doing.

KaeCee stood near Louli. He'd looked dismayed by her arrival, but quickly wiped any emotion from his face. Now, he kept glancing from her to Enris and back.

Maybe he wasn't a total fool.

“All here. Shall we get down to business, then? Sit sit.” Louli had transformed into an effusive host. She beamed from one to the other, finishing with Aryl. “I've introduced the respected and renowned KaeCee Britain to the rest of your delegation, Aryl. KaeCee, this is Aryl di Sarc.”

“I've had the pleasure,” KaeCee said, with a slight bow. He'd decided to smile. It didn't reach his eyes. “Glad you could join us, Aryl.”

Dangerous, this one, despite his appearance. She didn't doubt the constable.

Haxel had a way of going still when she picked up trouble. Aryl made sure to brush her fingers over the First Scout's wrist as she passed.
Watch him.

Enris didn't need a warning. His relaxed stance covered an inner
alert
.

One of the M'hiray's white crates sat in the center of the table, its lid open. Though chairs had been added, no one sat. Worin stood behind his brother. Naryn faced the Humans, Haxel to one side. Aryl stopped on the other, across from KaeCee, beside Enris.

“Shall we continue?” Naryn suggested, gesturing to the crate.

“Go ahead, KaeCee. I've taken my look.” Louli crossed her arms. Her fingers ran from elbow to shoulder and back as if restless. Aryl didn't let the peculiarity distract her. What could Naryn have found?

The Human tugged the crate closer with a casual finger, his expression bored. He tipped it forward and peered inside.

Then looked up, eyes wide. “Where did you get this?” Almost a whisper.

“It's ours,” Naryn asserted. “As are the rest.”

KaeCee licked his lips, eyes flicking between all the M'hiray. “There's more?”

“Well, well?” Louli interjected. “That what I think it is? What do you think?”

He reached into the crate with care, pulling out a bag. The bag itself rippled with color. Not only color, but numbers. “Watch.” When he set it gently on the table, the numbers moved across the bag's surface, coming together in a final, complex pattern. “That's a Triad seal, Louli. Can't be forged. Only the First from a site can apply it.”