Alterant (Belador #2)(49)

“Because no one, not even the deities associated with VIPER, can stop it.”

“With all the power we control in the coalition, we can’t stop this? Why not?”

That was what Tzader had been asking everyone at VIPER for the past hour. He’d even contacted Macha, who’d been unable to affect the stinking fog that continued to leach through coastal states only. “No one knows for sure, but VIPER resources are speculating that it might take either the person who created the fog or someone who can wield the same majik to influence it.”

“The fact that this fog can cause immediate aggression in humans and trigger Alterants to shift into beasts would suggest that it’s sentient.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Tzader agreed. The fog had taken on a living quality.

“We’ve got to find Evalle before someone cuts her down.”

“I know, but no one is telling us anything, including Brina.”

Quinn’s expression offered consolation. “And you don’t want to press her until we have something on the traitor to give her?”

“Not with Brina on a tear right now. Evalle needs Brina on her side, since she’s the most powerful person allowed to accompany Evalle in the Tribunal meetings. I figure if we can convince Brina that Conlan’s not a threat, and show her we’re doing all we can to find the traitor, she’ll support helping Evalle.” And maybe realize Tzader put Brina’s safety first above everything.

He’d intervened to protect Brina many times since meeting her when she was fourteen. He’d lost his heart the first time he’d heard her laugh. The sound had stayed with him like a favorite song playing over and over in his mind. She’d been laughing at how he’d missed a bull’s-eye by an inch with his knife, but she hadn’t known that he’d been practicing with his nondominant hand. He’d been so taken with her that he’d let her believe she’d outmatched him when she’d tossed her dagger and stabbed dead center.

Her father had warned Tzader long ago that she’d heel to no man’s command except the Treoir patriarch, and at times she tested limits even with him. Tzader had smiled, thanking her father for his advice and more determined than ever to win the heart of the Treoir jewel.

Both of their fathers had wanted this union. Everyone had.

None as much as Tzader.

Had Brina really stopped loving him?

Something must have changed. She’d made it clear she wanted to break off their relationship.

Quinn spoke, pulling Tzader back to the issue with Evalle. “The Tribunal might forbid us from contacting Evalle—”

Tzader interrupted. “The Tribunal has ordered her not to contact us.”

“That would explain why we haven’t been able to reach her telepathically, and Brina would have to support a Tribunal declaration.”

“I’ll stand down from going after Evalle if Brina can explain how leaving Evalle to be hunted like a dog by VIPER is honorable.”

Quinn curved his lips in a grim reaper smile. “In other words, we begin searching by sunset.”

“Right.”

A voice came into Tzader’s mind, asking, Maistir?

Tzader answered, Yes?

Conlan O’Meary reporting in. I’m entering the building now.

Tzader sent back, Very good. He said to Quinn, “Conlan said he’s on the way in. Sure you still want to do this probe?”

“We all do things we’d rather not, including Brina. Perhaps she is more objective than you or I. However, I feel the need to point out that Conlan had an alibi for the night the traitor lured us into that Medb trap in Utah.”

Tzader had also considered what had happened two years ago. He owed his life to Quinn and Evalle, who had been linked to him when they’d battled the Medb to escape. He’d suffered a fatal wound, which he’d survived only because neither Quinn nor Evalle would unlink even though they could have died with him.

Nodding, Tzader said, “I’ve thought about that. Conlan has the ability to split his image. He could have left a lifelike replica at his home while he traveled to the Salt Flats the day we were captured by the Medb. The only way we’d have known was if we’d sent someone capable of telling the difference to interact with the copy at his home. None of us suspected him of anything back then, so that didn’t happen.”

“Good point.”

Tzader wished he had Quinn’s mind lock ability so he could be the one taking the risk. He’d been hunting the traitor every minute he could spare from his Maistir duties. When he did find that rat bastard he was going to make him regret the day he was born.

Quinn flexed his hand. “It’s been a while since I probed someone’s subconscious this deeply, and, if you recall, the last time ended in less than ideal results.”

“That’s a diplomatic way to say the guy stroked out during the session,” Tzader joked. “He was a troll convicted of eating a human family. If you hadn’t gone that deep we’d have never found where his sidekick was hiding. Saved a pile of lives with that get.” Tzader scratched his chin. “And imploding his brain wasn’t your fault either.”

“If I hadn’t opened a path for the demonic spirit hunting the troll to reach through and take control of his mind, the troll would have survived.”

Tzader started to question his friend’s barometer for justice when Quinn added, “Don’t get me wrong. I have no sympathy for a psychopathic predator. I just believe he deserved a far less humane punishment than a quick death.”