Wyyld II
"It took many centuries to make Gaelar N'Seith as we knew it," Kaldill Schaff, King of the Elves, said as he touched the leaves of the gishi tree growing outside his window. "We were never successful in our attempts to grow gishi fruit before. This soil seems suitable, don't you think?"
"I'll wait to taste the fruit," Lendill Schaff, Prince-Heir and Kaldill's only remaining son, replied.
"Cynic," Kaldill laughed.
"I miss the old place," Lendill sighed.
"As do I. One cannot be choosy when one's planet is reduced to rubble by rogue gods and a ranos cannon," Kaldill responded philosophically.
"They were aiming for Ildevar. They had no idea that the Elves and Gaelar N'Seith would fall as well. You hid us from everyone too successfully." Lendill's voice held regret.
"We would have been overrun long ago, had that information been available to many."
"My King, someone is here to see you," a servant arrived and bowed to Kaldill.
"I had no idea I should expect guests," Kaldill replied.
"I'm glad you're not cursing," Lendill smiled.
"I can, if you wish to hear it."
"No, thank you. Who is it, Hillen?"
"A Larentii, my Prince. He says he has questions for the King."
"Why did you keep a Larentii waiting?" Kaldill lifted an eyebrow.
"I did not wish to interrupt your time with the Prince."
"I see the Prince every day. I only see the Larentii once in a while," Kaldill waved an arm. "Send him in. Immediately."
"Daragar," Kaldill crowed as the Larentii appeared before him. "I haven't seen you in years."
"I have questions and important information," Daragar replied. "Shall we find a private place to converse?"
"He's a bona-fide Difik," Gardevik Rath appeared beside Kooper.
"How do you know about this?" Lissa's hands went to her hips and her eyes narrowed at her High Demon mate.
"Torevik, our son, has apparently had a conversation with Salidar, who'd spoken with Trajan."
"Of course he did," Lissa tossed up a hand in resignation. "Is there anybody who doesn't know by now?"
"The information is kept among the powerful," Garde defended himself.
"Except that King Jayd knows it, Queen Glinda knows it and likely half the High Demon population on Kifirin knows it. Are you trying to panic everybody in the Alliance?"
His name was Ulrin, but the people of Lironis had called him physician or healer so long that few remembered his proper name. His handwriting was tiny, like the tracks a small insect might make should it step in ink and then amble across parchment. At times, I imagined the insect tracks would be easier to read.
Lissa's Journal
"So Marid built the shield around Fyris to begin with. Why is that? Who hired him? I really need to talk to Bree," I muttered.
"There's a long line for that," Kooper reminded me. "Trajan says everybody on Avendor is getting fidgety because Ashe has been gone so long, too."
"When they get back, we need a conference with all three. There should be a signal or something that they'll pay attention to, no matter where or when they are. I suppose we can put a huge light on top of my palace that'll send a beacon through space and blind all the pilots landing at the space station," I joked.
"That only works for mythical Earth heroes," Kooper pointed out with a grin.
"Hey, I'll have you know I read comic books when I was in high school," I said, pointing a finger at Kooper.
"I studied herpetology," Kooper countered with a grin.
"So, when people called you a snake lover, you took it as a compliment, didn't you?"
"I've never loved a snake in the—what do you call it—the biblical sense?"
"You know, it must have been interesting around your household growing up," I said.
"Mom always made a cake at the full moon, because we were hungry after the change."
"Dessert after rats and mice?"
"We-ell," he tried to smother a chuckle. "Our neighbors never complained about the lack of vermin."
"Koop, stop making me laugh," I said. "I almost snorted coffee."
Got it on my mind to change my ways, but I don't think I can be anything other than me.
- The Pretty Reckless "Light Me Up"
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