Demon’s Quest (High Demon #4)(49)
Author: Connie Suttle

"We can move her now," Lendill said softly, walking up to the four High Demons. "We want to put the Strands in the dungeons on Le-Ath Veronis, so we’ll move Reah there. I didn’t know this was going to be anything but an investigation, and the information I had before we left Tulgalan was spotty. I’d never have brought her if I’d known, but I think we’re still alive because we did. Thank you for coming to help." He gave a respectful nod to Jayd and Glinda.

"Thank Reah and Denevik, she called him and he asked us for help," Garde said.

"I think I’ll wait until somebody checks her over and she wakes," Lendill said. "Farzi, Nenzi, are you ready to travel with Reah? Gavril said he had to get back to Campiaa, and for you to stay with Reah."

"We stay," Farzi agreed, moving carefully so Reah wouldn’t fall.

"I can carry her," Denevik approached the reptanoids carefully. Farzi let Reah’s grandfather lift her. Lendill, now more comfortable with his newly-found skill, folded everyone, Lok included, straight to Le-Ath Veronis.

"I still remember what to do," Edan said softly, checking Reah’s vitals.

"He does, I am advancing him swiftly in his classes. He will have his medical degree quite soon," Karzac agreed, standing behind Edan and watching closely as he examined Reah.

"Dehydrated and weak," Edan sighed. "Will you wake her or allow her to sleep a while longer?" He gazed up at his mentor. Karzac’s green-gold eyes smiled just a little.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"I’d like to see my baby open her eyes, but you’ll know best."

"We’ll wake her—I think Radolf has something ready she can eat."

"According to our prisoners, the warlock’s plan was to take a few students and get away. The Ra’Ak had other ideas, once they saw how many were at that handball match." Norian shook his head as a comesula offered a cup of hot tea to the ASD Director. Norian spoke with Lissa, Gavin and Tony inside Lissa’s private study.

"This just proves how crazy they’re getting," Lissa shook her head. "Normally, they’d bite a few, turn them loose and let them infect others. What did the Strands say about placing the new spawn in stasis?"

"They said that one of the Ra’Ak placed a shield around the gym to keep anyone from escaping. Then, after the Ra’Ak bit everybody, the warlock managed to put the new spawn in stasis, making them appear to be humanoid dead. He set a trap, after the Ra’Ak modified the original plan." Norian sipped tea and watched Lissa carefully. He knew, just as she did, that the entire Reth Alliance was devastated by the news of so many deaths. All of Boodreatis was in mourning and donations and condolences were pouring in from everywhere.

"This may be the worst I’ve seen," Lissa muttered, hugging herself. Gavin moved to lift her before taking her chair and settling Lissa on his lap.

"Little rose," Connegar appeared and knelt beside Lissa and Gavin. Reaching out, the tall Larentii brushed Lissa’s cheek. "Those young ones and the others were already gone, once they were bitten," he said gently. "Conner escorted those souls herself. They are safe upon the other side."

"But what about their parents? Their friends and families?" Lissa brushed tears away.

"My love, monsters take lives every day. We do what we can, and what we are allowed to do. Our work lies ahead of us, to destroy these monsters and bring what little peace we can to those left behind. The Wise Ones say Reah is a key element in tracking these murderers."

"Then we need her on her feet soon," Lissa muttered.

Connegar nodded at Lissa’s words. He didn’t say what he, Pheligar and a few other Larentii had discussed with the Wise Ones—that a power of some kind seemed intent on destroying Reah and allowing mentally ill Ra’Ak to move willfully throughout both Alliances, leaving death and chaos in their wake.

"Breah-mul, put your arms around my neck, love." Lendill nuzzled my cheek carefully after Karzac woke me and stepped away. Edan was there, too and he smiled encouragingly as Lendill moved to lift me up. I was dressed in clothing Great-aunt Glinda had brought to replace what I’d lost after turning Thifilatha. I was grateful—Glinda has good taste and I wasn’t clothed in ruffles and frippery.

"Daddy?" I whispered, holding a hand out to Edan after Lendill lifted me.

"Baby, how do you feel?" He took my hand and kissed it.

"Tired."

"I know. We’ll feed you and get you back in bed," he promised.

Lissa’s dinner table was completely full, and Radolf sat to eat with us as well. Tory and Ry were off on some investigation for Lendill; he said as much when he settled me on a chair and then sat beside me. Radolf had the other side, with Farzi and Nenzi next to him. I wondered how long Aurelius would be out, but knew not to bother him with that question. His assignments took as long as they took, and there was no hurrying them.

"This came just a bit ago from Wylend," Lissa passed an envelope down the table toward me. I hadn’t seen Wylend since I woke on the second day after my injury, and he hadn’t bothered to say good-bye. I figured he had business to attend to on Karathia.

"Here," Lendill opened the envelope for me and pulled the message out. I opened the note bearing the official crest of Karathia, expecting an explanation. I got it in spades, as Teeg would say.

Reah Desh Nilvas Silver, it began, Our engagement is hereby ended. We were informed that you spoke against Our choice as heir, naming another whom you deemed more suitable. On Karathia, that is considered treason. Therefore, as a favor to one whom We once considered worthy of Our care, We are merely banishing you from this world, rather than pronouncing a sentence of punishment. We will not welcome you within Our presence from this day forward—Wylend Giraldus Arden, King of Karathia.

"Radolf," I quavered, handing him the note and rising from my chair. Radolf was still a citizen of Karathia. Was he supposed to stay away from me, too? What about Erland and Rylend? And who’d told? Only one person had heard me say that Wyatt didn’t want to be heir—Teeg. He’d told Wylend. Had Teeg known what the result would be? I was betting that he did. Teeg knew just about all there was to know about everything. Now, I’d been f**ked by both of them, and not in any good way. I skipped away before Lendill could reach me.

"What the bloody f**k?" Radolf stood, staring at the letter sent by Wylend.

"What does it say?" Lissa was standing, too, an expression of concern on her face.

Radolf read the contents of the letter to everyone present.