Demon's Revenge (High Demon Series #5), page 15
"Doesn't like them, but he knows how," Erland said. "You have to realize he's been King for more than six thousand years. Comp-vids weren't always around, you know."
"And there'll be something different if I'm King that long," Ry agreed.
"Yes." Erland smiled.
* * *
"We're having difficulty getting gishi fruit," Perdil growled the moment he walked into the pastry kitchen.
"Why? The fruit should be in season now," I said. I would know; I figured the northern grove on Kifirin was ready to be harvested.
"I'll look into the matter," Perdil stalked out of the kitchen. I had enough fruit to make two more batches of ice cream. Wanting to smile (the ruse was likely working—pirates didn't want nannas or wheat) I went about my business instead.
* * *
"Stop fretting. Did you get the errand done?"
"No," Perdil was in a growling mood and almost didn't bear talking to. "He managed to slip away from both the guards. Rylend Windle was more elusive than we thought and boarded the ship before we could stop him."
"Doesn't matter, if he comes back, we'll have him then. Meanwhile, the way is clear, wouldn't you say?" Zendeval Rjjn sounded happy, while Perdil was in the worst of moods.
"You won't be smiling if Ned demands ice cream; he eats more of it than should be allowed."
"Are you going to stop him?"
"Me? Not on your life."
"See? You complain to me, but you'll be as smooth as butter with anything my cousin wants."
"So would you," Perdil growled again.
"Yes, but things are looking particularly well for me at the moment. I may get what I want with little or no trouble."
"And I'm telling you now to learn manners and finesse. This one isn't like the others."
"Are you offering lessons?"
"Hmmph." Perdil walked out of Zendeval's office.
* * *
"Aunt Glinda, what was Great-Grandmother Belarok like?" Lara fingered the brooch that Glinda gave her. Glinda had given Lara and Kara jewelry owned by Queen Belarok for wedding presents. Glinda was glad Eldevik had settled down after the claiming. She'd been worried that Reah would come and fight with him over his treatment of Lara in the claiming.
"My mother was gentle and loving," Glinda smiled. "As was my father. They were so proud to have a da [ to wiughter, I think, and I was a little spoiled while they still lived."
"Did they ever take you off-world?" Kara asked. Her gift had been a bracelet.
"Very few times. Father always had four High Demons around us if we traveled anywhere. Mother wasn't able to skip. She said something about it, once—said there was a reason that she couldn't really discuss. She wasn't happy with my father about it, either."
"Why? Why couldn't she skip?"
"She said something about the stupid suppressor, I think. Whatever that meant. She never went into detail, and I was too young to ask. I wasn't supposed to be able to skip when I was eight and nobody had bothered to train me. When the palace was attacked by my oldest brother, I got my trial by fire, skipping away because I was so frightened. I landed in a garbage heap somewhere in Veshtul, and a comesula business owner thought I was one of their children and shouted at me for getting my clothes dirty."
"You didn't run to one of them and tell them what was happening?"
"Kara, I was eight and I'd just seen the most horrible thing ever. My mother and my aunt were raped by High Demons and they died that way. They couldn't skip away because of whatever it was that stopped them. It ended up killing them, I think. The fact that I could skip at such a young age saved my life. I lived among the comesuli for several years until your grandfather came looking for me. He trained me after that. We still have little respect for one another."
"That is not true," Gardevik Rath walked into the room, giving each of his granddaughters a peck on the cheek.
"Do you know what it was that kept grandmother Belarok from skipping away when she was attacked?" Kara looked at Garde.
"That." Garde's voice was flat.
"I don't know what it was," Glinda said. "I think mother called it a suppressor once. But she only said it once."
"They were designed by a now-dead race," Garde sighed. "As a means of control. Lendevik wanted a way to keep the females at home and under his thumb. He had one of those tiny gadgets shot into the collarbone," he pointed to his shoulder at the right spot. "It kept them from skipping away. Controls were available, too, for mindspeech and other things, but he never used those. Lord Nedevik refused outright to have one implanted in his mate. He and Lendevik seldom saw eye to eye on those things. Nedevik wanted to help Le-Ath Veronis when it was attacked by Ra'Ak many turns ago. Lendevik didn't. Le-Ath Veronis fell; we ended up with the comesuli and none of the vampires."
"An honored High Demon tradition. Take what you want and give nothing in return." Kara glared at her grandfather.
"What?" He stared at her, a puzzled frown on his face.
"Mom. I'm going home, Aunt Glinda." Kara skipped away.
"What happened to the world that made the suppressors?" Lara asked. Her grandfather said it was a dead world, now.
"Wars," Garde said. "Everybody trying to control everybody else. The suppressors were designed to be stronger and stronger through subsequent turns, controlling more and more things, until the various factions destroyed one another with them. There weren't enough left alive afterward to save the race. They are all dead, now."
ith="+0">"I hope that technology died with them," Lara shuddered.
"So, my father and alien technology killed my mother." Glinda stared at Garde.
"Glin, it's in the past. Do you think your father wouldn't regret that, if he were here?"
"I would hope so. My mother might have gotten away, only she couldn't."
"What was Kara talking about?" Garde asked.
"She misses Mom," Lara said.
"And she blames me for that."
"I didn't say that."
"You don't have to."
"Aunt Glinda, I'm going home." Lara skipped away.
"You didn't need a suppressor, did you, Garde? You had those girls."
"Is everybody out to beat me up?" Garde flung up a hand.
"You haven't talked to Lissa, have you?"
"No, why?"
"Radolf and Ilvan were embezzling from the restaurant. While living in Reah's house."
"That took testicles."
"You don't care that they were stealing from Reah. Mistreating her. Did you get what you wanted and now you don't care anymore, Garde? Is that it?"
"No! I wish you would all lay off. I didn't mean to hurt her. Truly. It just turned out that way."
"You wouldn't treat Lissa that way."
"Lissa is my mate."
"So, since Reah isn't your mate?"
"All right! I blame her for Tory's desertion. She cost me years without my son. Are you happy now?"
"Don't ever say that again within my presence." Kifirin was there, suddenly, smoke billowing from his nostrils. "None of that was Reah's fault. Someday, perhaps, you will know the full truth of this. For now, blame the King of Karathia and your son's sensitivity and swift anger. My daughter had nothing to do with this."
"She said he was too young."
"In private and to another. And she qualified that afterward, saying he was getting better. Only that wasn't passed on, was it? Your son is immortal. You have plenty of years to spend with him. Do not persecute Reah for this. She has suffered enough already, and my part in that is not small." Kifirin disappeared.
"Wylend's meddling did this, Garde. Tory would never have known otherwise. Do you guard every word that you speak to Lissa or do you speak your mind in private?" Glinda paced in front of Garde.
"What's going on?" Jayd walked into the room.
"Ask your brother, I'm going to look at the gishi fruit groves." Glinda skipped away.
* * *
I didn't like staying alone in the apartment. Ry had helped me handle being on Stellar Winds. Made me feel safer. I felt every one of the twenty-five years I'd been out of the ASD. I wanted to skip here and there to investigate this or that. Felt horribly restricted because I couldn't. Zendeval came by the kitchens at least twice a day, spoke to Perdil each time but watched me [t wibly rewhen he thought I wasn't looking.
I sent mindspeech to Lendill, now, since Ry wasn't here to do it. So many people had come to depend upon Rylend Morphis. Teeg sent him to take care of sensitive situations he didn't want to involve himself in. Lissa even asked him for help at times. So much weighed on his shoulders, but like his father, he managed all of it with a beautiful smile and a diplomatic word. Now, I hoped he was coming into everything he desired. He deserved that and more.
"Reah, we're having a rush tonight in the bar," Jerves was at my elbow and I hadn't even heard him walk up; I was too busy preparing plates of desserts. "Mr. Rjjn wants the employees to dress properly and be out on the floor to make sure everything goes smoothly."
"He wants an orgy to go smoothly?" I stared at Jerves in shock. That's what a rush was. I'd seen news programs that showed portions of a rush held in this bar or that on Stellar Winds. A rush was an event that drew certain types of crowds—the ones who enjoyed group sex.
"It will be recorded," Jerves admitted nervously. "We want it to go well, in case we wish to advertise with portions of it."
"And what does he expect me to do?"
"Dress appropriately and make sure it keeps to sex. No violence is allowed. Call the guards if anything looks to go in that direction."
"Dress appropriately?"
"Nicely. As if you belong in the crowd."
"Ah. Slutty. I left my slutty outfit at home."
"Reah, there are plenty of shops here. Go find something and be there at twenty-two bells. That's when it's scheduled to start."
"Right."
"Let your assistants handle the desserts. Go now." Jerves was beginning to fidget again. I figured Rude Rjjn ordered his assistant to come and tell me because he was too cowardly to do it himself. Forcibly preventing myself from blowing smoke, I tossed my apron aside and stalked out of the kitchen.
* * *
"She wasn't happy and said she didn't have anything appropriate to wear," Jerves almost had a nervous tic as he spoke to Zendeval moments later. "I told her to get something at one of the shops and be there at twenty-two bells."
"Keep the assistants in the kitchen. Perdil and Master Cook Dardell will be on the floor, helping."
"How many guards do we have?" Jerves was now shifting from one foot to the other.
"Twelve. Not enough, but Nedrizif took away six of mine tonight for another project."
"Of course. If you need my assistance with anything else," Jerves sincerely hoped that wasn't the case.
"Get images of Reah tonight. Bring them to me only, do you hear?"
"Yes, sir."
* * *
The dress was nearly identical to the one Ry had bought for our visit to Starshine. I bought shoes that didn't have quite as high a heel. I had jewelry that was good enough to wear already, so I hauled my purchases up the elevator to change. I didn't have much time.
By the time I got back to the bar, the music supervisor was already making the an [makavenouncements for the rush. A crowd had gathered and most were drinking and likely taking drugs. I saw several who were already slipping out of their clothing. Feeling completely out of place, I went in search of Master Cook Perdil.
Perdil came to my shoulder, but I wasn't that tall. He hadn't gotten the instructions to dress appropriately, I noticed. He had on the slacks he normally wore, with a white shirt, the sleeves folded back a time or two. He wore his hair shorter than most dwarves I knew, and his eyebrows were trimmed.
Master Morwin, the Amterean Dwarf who'd tutored all of Lissa's children, wouldn't dream of trimming his eyebrows. Perdil wasn't Amterean. Likely he was from Liffel II, but I wasn't going to mention it to him. Most Liffelithi were too involved in crime and amassing fortunes to even think about cooking. Perdil was unusual as a dwarf, and he and Master Cook Dardell were standing together when I found them. Dardell appeared ready to participate in the rush, in my estimation.
"We're short on guards tonight," Perdil informed me over the noise of thumping music. Strobe lights were beginning to search out participants. Employees ran through, tossing thin mats onto the floor. The ads I'd seen had depicted people on the floor, the chairs, standing, against the walls, on the bar, everywhere.
I'd also seen images of the bartenders pouring alcohol in a participant's mouth as they were having sex. Of course, the ads made much of a single male getting attention from two or more females. I shook my head in disbelief as the first couple disrobed to the music and dropped to the floor. That opened the gates, with screaming, shouting and frantic searching for a partner.
Perdil jerked his head toward the western edge of the floor. I skirted frenzied bodies as best I could and took up a position so I could guard against violence.
I discovered my thoughts about Master Cook Dardell were correct; he grabbed a young woman who was already disrobed, lifted her onto a stool at the bar and buried his head between her legs.
"It's something, isn't it?" Zendeval had found his way to my side.
"I don't recall that this was part of my job description."
"It says other duties as required," Zendeval Rjjn pointed out.
"Then I'll delete that from my next application," I snapped, arms crossed tightly over my chest as I scanned the crowd.
"You look lovely," he almost shouted to be heard.
"Sure," I said, still keeping my eyes on the crowd. Was anyone expecting it? I wasn't, and I was watching. A young man was suddenly screaming as he leapt upon the bar, a knife in his hands. Zendeval ran, but I was faster. My foot barely hit the barstool as I used it as a steppingstone onto the bar, and I had the knife in my hand and the man's head whacked against the top of the bar before anyone else knew what was happening.
Chapter 10
"My records show I was conscripted by the RAA." I was trying to explain myself to Mr. Rude Rjjn.
"I saw. I just hadn't realized that you were more than I imagined."
"All conscripts get the same training."
"I know that." He didn't, he was lying. I knew it. He just didn't know that I knew it. He had no idea wh ^cia><="+at kind of training Regular Alliance Army got. "What did you do for the RAA?"
"It's in my records. I served as a cook." One of Lendill's rules was be as honest as you could. Always. That kept you from living more of a lie than necessary. According to my temporary records, I'd served as a cook for a military installation on Tulgalan. All six years. It listed my age as thirty-four.
"Why are you grilling her like a steak pulled from an ancient cow?" Perdil snapped at Zendeval. "Her records were available. It's your fault if you didn't read them." He was pacing behind me as I sat in a chair before Zendeval's desk. His private study was nicely furnished, but I was surprised there weren't any images of nude women on the walls. "And if you are short-handed and your guards are slow, be grateful that you had someone trained well enough to deal with that." Perdil meant the man with the knife. I had no idea how he'd gotten the weapon—it wasn't a kitchen knife; I knew that for certain.
"The guards are working on his identification," Zendeval snapped back at Perdil. "If he's a guest, then he'll be sent out on the next ship." Schooling my face, I watched Zendeval, wondering what might happen to the man if he wasn't a guest but an employee. I was afraid to dwell on that too long.
"I hear the rest of the rush went very well," Perdil sighed. "Zen, we are tired and it is late. Let us go to bed. You can laze about tomorrow if you want; Reah and I cannot."
"My apologies." Zendeval stood and dismissed Perdil and me. Gratefully, I rose and walked unsteadily out of his office. "Perdil, a moment," Zendeval called. Perdil rolled his eyes and walked back inside, closing the door and leaving me alone in the hall outside Zendeval's suite. Shrugging, I walked toward the elevator.
* * *
"That was one of our employees who went crazy," Perdil confirmed as Zendeval sat down again. "You know we get one occasionally who cannot be controlled."
"Then the guards should be discreet."
"They will be. Do not fear."
"My plans were interrupted because of this. I do not wish for this to happen again."
"Calm yourself. The full moon is coming. I believe you can achieve your goals then, no?" Perdil stalked out of Zendeval's suite.
* * *
"My King, here are the images." Mordis handed a comp-vid to Nedrizif.
"This is the little cook Zendeval is hiding from me?" Ned thumbed through the vid, watching the woman as she leapt to the top of the bar and disarmed the rogue employee. "Moves quite well, too, in addition to being beautiful. Does she visit the voyeur rooms?"
"No, my King."
"Too bad. Rumor has it that Zendeval will send her in with the others. He plans to make his bid, I think. Make sure our other buyers get these images." Nedrizif handed the comp-vid back to Mordis. "I may make a bid myself."
"My information shows that she is the cook who prepares the ice cream you like so much."
"What? Perdil did not do this?" Nedrizif was standing in an instant, outrage apparent across his features.
"No, my King. The kitchen assistants cen in were quite clear. Master Perdil did not do this. This one—Reah Windle—created this dessert."
"Then I will certainly bid against my cousin."
"Of course, sire."
"And I will increase the control I have over him," Nedrizif added.
"Of course, sire."
* * *
"Mom, how could this happen?" Tory rubbed his forehead with shaking fingers. He'd just met Raedah and Tara. Knew they were almost finished with their medical certificates. Met their mates, Philavik Weth and Rindavik Foth, even. Knew he had three sets of twins and their actual ages.
"Kifirin did this," Lissa said softly. "He gathered your seed and placed it while Reah was sleeping. Twice she woke to find him sitting on the edge of her bed, telling her that she was pregnant again."
