Blood Double (God Wars #1)(30)

*

Belen of the Nameless Ones had come to Harifa Edus. It lay in the path of swirling death, and he was unsure how to protect the planet. He felt the shields immediately, however, and had he been corporeal, he'd have nodded his approval at the elaborate construction.

Not many might realize how intricately the multitude of shields had been woven together, and neither he nor any of the others might get past them. The Mighty Hand had accomplished this, and to most outsiders unused to his work, they would think it a collaboration between many of the powerful instead of one of the Three.

Belen considered sending his appreciation to the Mighty Hand, when the power made its presence known and trapped him before he could devise an escape.

*

"Her eyes are the same?" Kalenegar, whom no Larentii had seen for millennia studied Pheligar, who worked as Archivist and Liaison to the Saa Thalarr. Kalenegar's eyes had been cobalt blue from birth, and that differed from the bright, sky-blue eye color of any other Larentii.

His hair, too, had always been a deep red. While any Larentii could change his hair color if he chose, none did so unless they disguised themselves. Kalenegar had always kept his appearance the same. He also stood out, but that was to be expected. What the five Wise Ones could do together, Kalenegar could do alone.

"Yes. I was much surprised to see it," Pheligar admitted. "And she displays many of the talents, Vhirilaszh."

"I will see this for myself, then, very soon. I know the Vhanaraszh has been foretold, but I did not expect her now."

"Do they ever come when you expect them?" Ferrigar, Kalenegar's father, interrupted.

"Father, I have little time and less patience for teaching. If she is the Vhanaraszh, it is my hope that she will already know much. This way I can give only a minimum of instruction. She can operate on her own afterward. If she had been born Larentii, I would have no need to teach." Kalenegar handed his father a hard stare.

"My child, I did not realize how much my curse might affect the race. Once it was pronounced, I learned I could not reverse it. Things are coming around, now, but we still have few females. It is no surprise that the Vhanaraszh was born to another race."

"My sister is dead because of your anger, Father, and my brother likely separated his particles because of your indifference."

"Child, did you come here to learn of the Vhanaraszh or to torture me?"

"A bit of both, Father. I will be the judge of this woman—I will decide whether she is the Vhanaraszh."

"Will you let me or Pheligar know?"

"I will let the Liaison know. Good-bye, Father." Kalenegar folded away.

*

"Increase security around Deonus Wyyld's palace," Norian Keef paced inside his palace study. "I have informed the Founder, but it never hurts to watch his back carefully," Norian added.

Skel Hawer, who'd had his name and credentials changed to Shel Kawn, sat inside Norian's opulent study. As Ildevar Wyyld's heir, Norian was accorded finer rooms at Ildevar's palace. "I understand, Director," Skel nodded. "The security teams will be briefed and personnel increased to protect Deonus Wyyld."

"See to it—I'm depending on you to protect his life," Norian sighed. "Meanwhile, I must travel to Campiaa and speak with Teeg San Gerxon regarding the threat to his life. If there's a conspiracy here, I want to kill it before it has time to take root."

"Of course, Director," Skel agreed.

*

"My love, he will never suspect," Skel gloated. "I am glad now that you did not inform me of your plans before. I passed the detection tests with no trouble, and that fool, Norian Keef, has now placed me in charge of Wyyld's security. It could not have been better orchestrated."

"It was difficult, fooling you for such a short time, my darling, but it was time my double dropped away—it works to our advantage that all believe me dead. Rathik took pleasure in destroying my pretender, did he not? His nose told him all along that she was not me, and he informed me on many occasions that he hated that she wore my face." Erithia Cordan smiled at Skel's image on her comp-vid.

"I believe he did take a great deal of pleasure from the act," Skel agreed.

"Is he safe, my darling?" Erithia asked.

"Yes. We've managed to place him outside both Alliances, and he is comfortable. I will bring him in when the time comes to destroy Ildevar Wyyld."

"As I'd hoped," Erithia smiled prettily at Skel. "I wish you were with me, now. What fun we might have. Instead, I must meet with those I have here, and devise a plan to kill the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. It is a terrible shame that we were thwarted in our first attempt to take Teeg San Gerxon."

"We will have other opportunities, my love, do not fret," Skel reassured Erithia. "I believe Rathik may be working on those plans with those who are with him."

"I am saddened that Nall is hunted, now. Theele was the perfect place for him to launch an assassination attempt. I know not how he was discovered. There is not a more discreet plotter in either Alliance."

"Nall has been relocated and is now working with Rathik, my dearest. Do not fear."

"I rely so much on you; please assure me you are not tiring yourself."

"Erithia, do not concern yourself, I am fine," Skel replied. "All will be well. When we finish with our plot, both Alliances will be in our grasp while Karathia and Kifirin become isolated worlds. Neither will come after us—they have survived in isolation in the past and we have no need of them, anyway. All will be as you desire, love." Skel nodded to Erithia and terminated the communication.