Demon’s Quest (High Demon #4)(41)
Author: Connie Suttle

"Jusef is fine and busy herding the help around in Glinda’s palace kitchen," my grandfather smiled.

"He’s a good cook," I said.

"Jusef?" Radolf asked.

"Amterean Dwarf," I said, pulling Denevik toward a barstool at the island. Tory, Drake, Drew and Lok were already there, having their drinks and a light snack.

"Reah," Lissa and Gavin walked into the kitchen, "your name has been cleared. The police on Tulgalan just arrested Aldah for his father’s murder."

Chapter 10

The breath caught in my throat and I was paralyzed for several ticks. "But—how? Why?" I couldn’t understand this. Fes and Aldah had always been Addah’s prize pupils.

"His brother—Rane? Is that right? Turned him in," Lissa explained at my nod. Edan and Ilvan were both just as stunned as I was.

"Did Rane see it?"

"No. He caught Aldah washing one of his cooking knives off in the house," Lissa said. "He saw blood. Aldah didn’t see him, and Rane didn’t say anything at first. But with Fes in the condition he is, Rane said he wanted justice for his oldest brother."

"That had to be a kick in the stomach for Rane," I muttered. Addah had always belittled him, so Rane settled for doing Addah’s books.

"Is it safe to go back to Tulgalan?" Ilvan asked.

"You’re still welcome to stay here if you want," Lissa smiled at him.

"I could use a couple of good assistants," Radolf remarked, tossing a hand in the air dramatically.

"Are you serious? Work in this kitchen?" Ilvan sounded thrilled.

"I’m willing, if you’re serious about the offer," Edan nodded. "I’d prefer to go back to school and get a medical degree so I can practice medicine again, but since I have no funds, this is the next-best thing."

"What did you just say?" Lissa came around to stare at Edan.

"I’d like to practice medicine again?"

"Yeah. That’s the one. Karzac!" Karzac was there in a moment, his light-brown hair a bit ruffled, as if he’d ripped a surgical cap off quickly before folding in.

"Lissa?" He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Do you have room in your teaching classes for this one? He wants to practice medicine again." Lissa nodded toward Edan.

"What sort of medicine did you practice before?" Karzac was sizing Edan up.

"Pediatrics," Edan admitted. "I worked with a group that provided free medical care to indigent worlds," he added.

"Good enough. I’ll fit you in," Karzac said.

"But I can’t pay—I have no funds."

"Not a problem," Karzac waved it off. "Tuition here is free to all residents. Cook if you want to earn your pocket money."

"I’ll help." The words were out of my mouth before I thought.

"Reah, no. Let me do this on my own," Edan was there and pulling me into a hug.

"Can we plan to go to Addah’s funeral?" Ilvan was next to us, hugging us both and sobbing.

"Ilvan, honey, it’s all right," I was rubbing his back. This had hit him harder than I thought. With Tory, Drake and Drew helping, we got Ilvan onto a barstool and a stiff drink in his hand. I was rubbing his back still, while Radolf offered a towel.

"I can arrange to send flowers and monetary assistance." Wylend folded in with Corolan and Erland.

"Would you?" I looked at my Karathian Warlock mate.

"Done," Wylend said.

"I’ll handle it," Erland agreed.

"I’ll write the card," Corolan offered.

"Farla, there’s a mountain of flowers in the entry, and this came with them." Indiva handed a thick card to Farla. The envelope was addressed to her and the Desh family. It also bore the royal crest of Karathia.

We wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family, the card read. We hope that this contribution will assist you in some way during your time of grief. Sincerely, Wylend, King of Karathia and Reah, Queen to be. Inside, nestled in a protective wrapper, was a credit chip worth one hundred thousand Alliance credits. Farla fainted.

"Wylend sent flowers and a credit chip for a hundred thousand," Dee said, setting the comp-vid in front of Gavril. What do you want to do?"

"Exactly the same," Gavril grinned.

"Wise choice," Dee smiled and went to make it so.

"Farla, this just came, along with another flower delivery," Baretis handed over the envelope, this time. This one bore the newly designed crest of the Campiaan Alliance. Farla sat down to read this one.

Reah and I wish to express our condolences on your loss. Please accept this contribution toward your expenses at this difficult time—Teeg San Gerxon, Founding Member, Campiaan Alliance. Another credit chip, also for one hundred thousand Alliance credits, was tucked inside the envelope. Farla fanned herself with this envelope, attempting to retain consciousness.

Wylend stayed for dinner, and the duck was perfect. "This is the recipe we’ll use in the restaurant," I clinked wineglasses with Radolf. Wylend and Corolan spent the night. They took very good care of me, leaving early the following morning. Radolf was there afterward, and we didn’t get out of bed for a while.

"My heart’s love," Radolf kissed my hand then pressed my fingers to his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong beneath my hand.

"Where did you come from, love?" I asked him. "You are a gift to me."

"Just what I always wanted to hear," he smiled, leaning down to kiss me.

"Mother, Fes is waking!" Farla had arrived at the hospital to check on her eldest before making final arrangements for Addah’s funeral. Rane had come earlier to sit with his brother.

"Thank the stars," Farla was nearly running down the hall toward Fes’ room.

A doctor stood beside Fes’ bed, checking his vitals. The physician smiled, his green-gold eyes twinkling a little. "He should be fine now. Let the staff know if you need anything." The doctor left the room.

"Mother," Fes reached out a shaking hand to Farla.

"Fes," Farla was in tears as she grasped his fingers in hers.

"Mother, Aldah has gone mad. He killed Father and then turned on me."

"They’ve already arrested him," Rane said. Farla was sobbing.

"Fes, do you know why he did this?" Rane asked softly. He couldn’t fathom why his brother had stooped to this measure.

"He became angry, because father still refused to share some of his special recipes with us. He accused father of keeping all of us under his thumb by withholding what we were entitled to. Father shouted back, of course. All this happened in the car on the way home. Then, when Landor let us out at the front gate, Aldah pulled one of his cook’s knives from its case and stabbed Father. I tried to stop him, that’s how I got this." Fes held up his bandaged hands. "When Father fell, Aldah stabbed me. Twice."