Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(3)
"I wonder if the two events are connected," Kooper muttered before turning to leave.
"I'll make sure she reads this right away," Renée called after Kooper. He raised a hand, letting her know he'd heard.
"Rainy, your sire is here," Heathe's voice sounded on Renée's comp-vid. Heathe used the nickname he and Grant had given her. Renée was four-and-a-half years a vampire and Montrose, her sire, had come to check on her. He did so twice a week, although Lissa informed him four months earlier that Renée was capable of working on her own.
Renée didn't mind; a few vampire lessons notwithstanding, she liked her vampire sire.
Very much.
*
Kondar
"Dorthil should have thought twice before tossing me in here with you," Firth Quel murmured as he worked on the locking device holding them inside the abandoned underground bunker. "I designed these locks myself."
"Dorthil has never bothered with research, you know that," Edden Charkisul agreed. "At least he failed to install vid-cams here. That proves he moved hastily. He doesn't have enough of the troops to back him. He may have a riot on his hands already."
"The populace is unarmed," Melis Norwal, Edden's Chief of Security, pointed out. "What will they do when Dorthil attempts to shut down the news agencies with armed troops?"
"I'm hoping that the troops will side with their friends and family, some of whom may work for those news agencies," Edden huffed. "We have to get out of here, and we have to stay alive. Dorthil may find at least three of the five Presidents standing against him. Especially when he starts shutting down their sources of information."
"Where do you wish to go? We must stay hidden until it is safe," Melis reminded the High President.
"I wish we could fly to the Avii. It is my hope they'd take us in. I can call troops from there—we still have a fleet between there and Yokaru."
"Then we need an airchopper or a ship," Melis nodded agreement.
"Or allies with those things," Hadris Jem observed.
"Hush, I hear something," Firth whispered.
"May the gods be merciful," Edden breathed and pulled Berel behind his back to protect the boy.
*
Wyyld II
"They died of radiation poisoning?" Queen Lissa examined the images Ildevar provided.
"When there was no source of such on their planet to begin with. I've had forensic specialists working on these bodies the moment radiation poisoning was verified in the autopsies."
"Did they find anything?" Lissa, Vampire Queen of Le-Ath Veronis, asked.
"Something frightening," Ildevar sighed. "I believe it may have been left behind by one of the Hidden."
"They're all dead," Lissa began.
"Their works may not be dead," Ildevar responded. "This, if my fears are correct, could destroy everything."
"I need to speak with my sister," Lissa muttered angrily.
"I wouldn't mind being included in that conversation. Kaldill, too, has expressed interest." Ildevar named the King of the Elves, who resided in a hidden section of Wyyld II.
"Fine. If I can find her, I'll let you know."
"Finding the Mighty can be difficult, even in the best of times," Ildevar agreed. "If I find her first, I will send a message."
*
Kondar
"Stay calm," Edden breathed as the door swung inward. Jhak stepped inside the bunker, a weapon slung over his shoulder. Three others with weapons walked in behind him.
Berel gripped his father's arm. Would they perish at the hands of a trusted guard?
"We've come to get you out of here," Jhak said softly. "You have to come now—there is rioting in the streets. The people now believe you dead and Dorthil has commanded the troops following him to fire on anyone who attempts to oppose his takeover."
"But you," Edden hissed accusingly.
"I know. They threatened my family. They're outside—in the airchopper. We can make it to Aviaa if we leave now."
"If Dorthil's troops don't shoot us from the sky, first," Melis muttered and held out his hand to take Jhak's weapon. "Follow me, High President. We'll get you safely away."
*
Fyris
Vhrist
"I hear my sister sailed away last night. Tell me she sailed for Lironis," Tamblin demanded.
Rath refused to cower before the King. "That was her plan, my King," Rath lied. "If she does not arrive in Lironis in three days, I suspect treason."
"I suspect treason already," Tamblin snapped. "My son went with her, did he not?"
"She did not wish to travel without him. She trusts none of the guards—not after that filth," Rath jerked his head toward Yevil, "attempted to murder her." Yevil, released from prison, stood at the King's right hand. Tamblin held up a hand to keep Yevil from speaking.
"Remember you are in the presence of the King," Tamblin thundered. "Yevil is my trusted advisor."
"And the one who arranged to kill your firstborn," Rath hissed. "Everyone knows it—except you. Timblor died for nothing, because Yevil wanted it thus. He desires all our deaths—do you not realize that?"