Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(81)
That gave Evalle no chance to speak with Storm first. She waved a hand, telling him she’d be over in a minute to talk.
He nodded, though clearly not happy to wait.
Now would be her only chance to find out if Tristan was really on the Medb team or not.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Alterants filed into Evalle’s battle dome from both Gate One and Gate Two. Adding Tristan and his sister to the other Alterants, Evalle would have eight to convince to leave, nine if Boomer could be swayed.
Alterants eyed each other with wariness, all ready to attack at the first provocation. Silence fell across the dome as if someone had sucked the air from the room.
Evalle walked over to where Storm stood on the other side of the warded dome. “Can you hear me?”
Reading her lips, Storm shook his head.
She could use this soundproofing to her advantage. Lifting a finger to ask for a minute, she walked back to the others mingling around and keeping their distance from each other.
Since Tristan had been in captivity for the past week, he shouldn’t have the infection going around in Atlanta. Evalle reached out to him telepathically.
The call echoed back at her as if someone had backhanded it.
She couldn’t waste what little time she had before Kizira appeared. She walked into the middle of the Alterants and started her pitch. “The Medb offer is a trick.”
Several turned to her. Boomer coughed again. He might heal quickly, but his throat had to still be raw. “You got a better offer than immortality?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then shut up.”
She’d have to fight Boomer again, but with words this time, not her weapon of choice. “Sorry I had to stab you, but I was trying to not kill you.”
“You couldn’t kill me.”
“Wrong. If I hadn’t pulled out my dagger, it would have stayed until you bled out. But let’s talk about options. The Medb will use you to do their dirty work. Once that’s done, you’ll be of no use to them.”
Boomer came back with, “What’s a little dirty work if we’re immortal?”
“There’s a catch to that offer. Has to be.” She looked around, gratified to find everyone listening. Bernie had moved close. Evalle had heard about Imogenia getting caught. If Bernie was here, Kol had traded him to the Medb. And Bernie had a girlfriend.
Evalle believed he’d be her first recruit. “The goddess Macha has offered protection inside her pantheon for Alterants. She’s submitted a charter that will give us status as an accepted race.” Just as soon as Evalle showed up with Tristan’s information on the origins of Alterants and five Alterants willing to claim loyalty to Macha. No point in cluttering her speech with a lot of detail right now.
“But no immortality?”
Boomer would not let that go. “No, and you’re a fool to believe you’ll get that from the Medb. Whatever they do, they’ll turn you into their slaves. Wouldn’t you rather be free?”
“I’m practically invincible,” Boomer bragged. “Give me immortality and no one will dare try to enslave me.”
She gave up on Boomer and turned to Bernie. “Doesn’t that sound good to you?”
Bernie had his arms wrapped around his chest, shoulders hunched. “But we’ve been traded to the Medb.”
Black Satin piped up. “He’s right. I haven’t seen an Alterant sponsor who isn’t a dark witch, mage or wizard. They’re all cutting deals to hand us over for Noirre majik right now.”
“You’re sure?” Evalle asked.
Black Satin’s head bobbed up and down. “Heard them.”
Evalle had another card to play, but it was a gamble. “If you will testify at a Tribunal meeting that you were traded for Noirre majik, and”—Evalle looked around the room—“if the rest of you’ll agree to go with me, I have a way to get us out of here safely regardless of any deal.” She doubted she had enough of the potion for all of them, but Evalle would risk contacting Tzader.
If he’d answer a telepathic call, she could depend on him to send in Beladors to bust the other Alterants out of here.
Bernie asked, “Will someone help me get my girlfriend away from Imogenia?”
Evalle told him, “If you leave with me, I’ll personally help you.”
As more Alterants asked similar questions, Evalle gave more assurances, telling them all they’d have the full force of the Beladors to support them if they joined Macha’s pantheon.
“Why should we believe you?” Boomer asked. “The Medb passed a test to prove they weren’t lying.”
Energy sparked and Tristan appeared in the battle dome, which meant he had use of his teleporting ability inside here. He ordered the room, “Everyone line up between the gates.”
The others immediately shuffled into a wobbly line.
Evalle crossed over to Tristan and kept her voice soft. “I’ve been trying to find a way into T?μr Medb to help you, your sister and your two Rías friends escape. This was the only way I could—”
“Get in line, Evalle.”
“Listen to me, Tristan. One of the Alterants has evidence of the Noirre majik deals. I can call in the Beladors if you’ll help me get these Alterants out. If you’re worried about your sister being safe, I have a potion that will turn her invisible. Storm’s here and he’s keeping it for me. We’ll go after your two friends, too.”