Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind (20 page)

The other Reapers agreed Kullen was to take a back seat to Rylan in the questioning of the one known as Sern. Although he was chaffing at the bit not to be in charge, Kullen agreed to the plan by keeping silent the rest of the morning. He pouted—if a Reaper could be said to pout—listening to his bloodkin speculating about the woman supposedly sent by the Prime. He didn't trust her and if it was the last thing he did, he was going to make her pay for calling him a prick.

Sern sat down on the rim of the Reflecting Pool of Alel's Force that had been re-christened the Reflecting Pool of Women's Empowerment. Unknowingly, she sat in the exact same place where once Kamerone Cree had sat as he contemplated the punishment the Court of Military Justice had handed down to him. She did not see Cree watching her, a bemused smile on his chiseled lips, but she could feel his light scan of her mind and was annoyed.

"Get the hell out of my head, Reaper!” she snarled beneath her breath. “I've had enough Reaper shit for one day!"

Kahmal stood beside Sern, looking over her head toward the cage in the plaza. It was too far away to see Cree's expression but she got the sense that he was laughing. “What happened in there?” she asked Sern.

"Kullen is an arrogant, self-important son-of-a-jackal!"
Sern charged.

"Son of a wolf, actually,"
Cree corrected her but Sern ignored him.

"Kullen hurt me,” Sern complained.

"Oh,” Kahmal said. She took a seat next to Sern. “I take it he didn't believe we were there to help."

"That man can fry for all I care,” Sern said. “Cree or no Cree!” She reached up to rub at the pain that was still lingering in her head.

"I'll punish him for hurting you, wench,"
Cree sent to her in a soft voice.

"You'd better!” Sern said aloud and Kahmal knew she was conversing with the Prime Reaper.

"Count on it."

Somewhat mollified, Sern relaxed, staring down into the still waters of the pool. “When are you going back in there, Kahmal?” she asked.

"Whenever you feel up to it."

Her shoulders slumping, Sern let out a long breath. “Might as well be now and get it over with but if that bastard attacks me again, I..."

"He'd better not,"
Cree warned in a voice that made Sern shudder.
"Tell him he will answer to me for his stupidity and remind him I spread my scent on Kahmal so he would know I am here."

Feeling more secure, Sern got up, dusted off the seat of her uniform slacks, and fell into step beside Kahmal. Now that she knew what might be thrown at her from Taegin Kullen, she was better prepared to meet the man's attack. This time, he might find himself on the receiving end of a mind-fuck, she thought, a tight grin on her pretty face.

Rylan listened intently to the questions the Amazeen Major was asking Taegin but another part of his mind was on the one called Sern. The younger woman had sealed her thoughts carefully against any casual scan and even a deeper one came up against a blank gray wall that the Reaper was surprised to find could not be scaled. He tried several times to get past her security blocks but could not. At last, he gave in, hanging his head, knowing she would now come to him.

"You give up too easily, Reaper."

Rylan's lips twitched. “
It was not my intent to invade, wench, but to ask entrance."

"Unlike your conceited bloodcousin,"
Sern grumbled.

"Kullen can be a bit pigheaded,"
Rylan admitted.

Sern made no comment to his assessment of his kin. She waited for him to speak his mind.

"I am Rylan, bloodson of Kamerone. Kullen sensed his presence. How is the Prime?"
he asked.

"Angry at being brought back to this place,"
Sern told him.
"And anxious to leave when we have the ten of you with us."

"And how are you planning to accomplish that feat, wench?"

Sern shifted her eyes among the vid-coms until she found the one under which she saw Rylan Cree's name.
"You do not need to know the particulars,"
she told him
. “Only that you will not meet the fate reserved for you. You need to be prepared to go with whatever happens."

Rylan Cree was sitting on his bunk, his hands to either side of him, fingers curled over the edge of the bunk. He was a handsome man—Sern knew he would have to be since he was a bloodson of Kamerone—but he did not have the same imposing authority of his bloodsire.

"I've not had his challenges or troubles, either,"
he told Sern, intercepting her wayward thought.

"Troubles make the man, eh?"
Sern questioned.

"Or breaks him,"
another voice spoke up and she realized it was another of Kamerone's bloodsons.

"I doubt anything could break your bloodsire
,” Sern said.
"Are you Braiden?"

"Corydon,"
was the reply.

"I am Braiden,"
another said.

"And I am Kaelan, youngest of the Prime."

"No longer the youngest,"
Sern said and put a smile in her voice.
"You have a brother named Jaelin on Terra."

"Did you hear that, Kiel? There is a Reaper even younger than you!"
Kaelan shouted so loud every Reaper winced and Sern squeezed her eyes closed at the pain.

"Curb your enthusiasm for the wench's lies, young Cree,"
Kullen growled.

"I've news for you, you arrogant bastard,"
Sern shouted in her own mind voice.
"Cree promised me he would punish you for hurting me and what Cree promises, he delivers! He told me to remind you that you have his scent and his promise to punish your stupidity."

There were chuckles flitting through Sern's mind along with a vulgarity that made her ears burn. She glanced at Kahmal and found the major frowning at her.

"I am finished with my interrogation,” Kahmal told the Chief Guard. “You were right. I have learned nothing from these beasts."

"Tell her Corydon, son of Kamerone, would love to teach her some things that would curl that pretty red hair of hers,"
Corydon whispered to Sern.

Sern smiled, switching her gaze to the vid-com where Corydon was grinning broadly. “
You are his bloodson, all right,"
she told him and she saw him wink. Which she glanced at Taegin Kullen's snarling face she almost laughed aloud.

Once outside the Titaness, Sern could not hold in her mirth and told Kahmal what Corydon Cree had whispered to her.

Kahmal stopped, looked down at Sern with an eyebrow cocked. “He said that?"

Sern nodded.

The Amazeen Major wasn't exactly pleased with the Reaper's words but then neither was she displeased. For the remainder of the day, she would be unable to get those sensuous words out of her mind and the image of Corydon Cree flitted unbidden from time to time.

The Prime Reaper was not in the cage when the women walked over to Fleet Command headquarters. Relieved to find out Chanz and Aegean had taken Cree to Dr. Kym's office, Kahmal asked Tyrian if she, Deon and Aegean had had any luck in disabling the ships in the docking bays when they took the
Alluvia
in for refueling that morning.

Tyrian shook her head. “Their security is very strict. We were watched very closely and weren't allowed off the ship while it was being provisioned. It's already in its docking harness and we were sent back here by shuttle."

"So much for making sure we aren't followed when we leave,” Kahmal said. A thought struck her like a bolt of lightning. “They are going to allow us back on the ship this evening, aren't they?"

"They weren't going to but Chanz argued we had nowhere else to sleep with every available room on Rysalia Prime booked for the Feast. They grumbled about it, but we have a shuttle at our disposal,” Tyrian replied.

"When did Chanz and Aegean take Cree to Kym's?” Kahmal asked.

"Just a few minutes ago. Dr. Kym's secretary was furious with us that we weren't here when she came looking for us the first time. I explained we were seeing to the ship but that didn't seem to cut any ice with that Chrystallusian dwarf,” Tyrian complained.

"At least we know our Reaper is in friendly hands,” Kahmal said.

"What about Ceatie?” Sern asked, concerned with the old weretiger's wellbeing.

Tyrian's face broke out into a grin. “He was sitting in your chair in front of the computer. I warned the provisionaries not to provoke him and he responded by giving them a nasty snarl. I don't think anyone will try to access our data banks with him guarding the terminal."

"Good boy, Ceatie,” Sern said and she sensed the weretiger's grunt of acknowledgement.

"Were you able to communicate with the Reaper cadets, ‘Lia?” Tyrian asked.

"They know something is being planned and they accept that we are on the up and up. Kullen still has his doubts but whom the hell cares?” Sern replied. “He'll go along with the other cadets."

"His bloodsire was a brutal man,” Kahmal said, having thoroughly studied the files on the original seven Reapers. She met Sern's eyes. “And Kullen killed several Terran women in his day. Let us hope his bloodson isn't of the same bent."

"Cree will bring that bastard to his knees for hurting me,” Sern asserted. “This I know!"

Kahmal smiled. “I've no doubt of that, ‘Lia."

Cree was once more in shackles but the bands were loose on his wrists. He walked between Chanz and Aegean, who kept their hands on his upper arms. As he passed down the corridor of the Fleet Command, women were standing in the doorways, watching him. Not a sound followed in his wake and the few times he looked to his watchers, he did not see the hatred he had expected to see on their faces. The women's silence and their still faces unnerved him more than had they been cursing him or glaring in his direction. None of them ran from him or hid at his approach. They simply watched him as he passed.

"What is wrong with this picture?” he muttered to himself.

Shei-Ling, the Auxiliary Prophetess’ secretary met them at the door to her office and bowed slightly. “Her Grace asks that you go right in, milord.” She stepped aside, sweeping her hand toward Kym's inner office.

LeJong Kym was seated at her desk, her fingers laced upon the uncluttered surface. There was a slight smile on her face. “Come in, Kamerone,” she bid. She turned her dark brown eyes on Chanz. “Remove his fetters, lieutenant. He poses no threat to me.” She looked back at Cree. “Do you, milord Reaper?"

"No, milady,” Cree agreed. “I do not."

Chanz let go of Cree's arm and unlocked his shackles, briefly meeting his gaze as she stepped back, saluted, then she and Aegean exited the office behind Shei-Ling, who closed the door firmly behind them.

"Sit down, please,” Kym said.

The Prime Reaper took his seat before Kym's desk and made himself comfortable. He had no idea why he'd been summoned but any time spent outside the cage was to be treasured. He massaged his wrists slowly.

"Let me begin by telling you this office is secure,” Kym told him. “What we say here remains here."

He nodded, expecting nothing less.

"You are looking well,” she said. “Perhaps a bit thinner than when I last saw you, but healthy."

"Had it been left to Sejm, such would not have been the case, I assure you,” he said.

"Ah, yes, Sejm.” Kym sat back in her chair. “I should be sorry to hear of her passing but I can not seem to dredge forth the necessary regret."

"She has died?"

"So the goddess tells me,” Kym replied.

"I'm sure someone, somewhere will mourn her passing,” Cree said.

"Would you care to wager on that?” Kym asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Perhaps Tylan Kahn?” he suggested.

"Perhaps, but even that is doubtful."

They were silent for a moment, each looking at the other, speculation sparking in their gazes.

"You weren't happy on Terra, were you, Kamerone?” she finally asked.

"I was happy being with Bridget,” he replied. “I was happy at the birth of my son."

"Kamerone might have been happy,” she said, “but the Reaper in you was miserable."

"You can't separate Kamerone from the Reaper,” he said quietly.

She smiled. “Don't be so sure."

He crossed his right leg over his left, bracing his ankle on his knee, curling his fingers over his shin. “Why did you send for me, LeJong?” he asked.

"For several reasons, actually, but first things first.” She leaned back in her leather chair, swiveling it slightly away from the desk. “I want to assure you when the time comes, you will leave Rysalia Prime—with your bloodkin—in safety, and there will be no retrieval teams sent to bring you back this time."

"It didn't seem to me the Prophetess-Mother had any intention of allowing that to happen,” he remarked.

"The Prophetess-Mother is getting on in years and her health is growing worse by the day.” A glint formed in Kym's dark eyes. “History might prove it to be something she ate that was her undoing."

Cree stared at her for a moment then nodded slowly. “'If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?'” he quoted.

"'And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?'” Kym finished the quote from the Terran called Shakespeare.

"How did she wrong you?” he asked.

"She tried to kill the man I love,” Kym answered. “She was responsible for lies being told to him, for him being cheated of his rightful reward, and she tried to have him hanged. For that, she has been paying since the day he left Rysalia Prime and eventually she will give her life in exchange for her treachery."

"Do I know this man, LeJong?” he asked quietly.

"I would venture to say you see him each time you look into a mirror, Kamerone,” she answered.

He didn't know what to say to her admission. When he would have spoken, she held up her hand to silence him.

"It is enough that you know I have deep feelings for you,” she stated. “Let it go at that.” She sat forward in her chair again, braced her elbows on her desk, and threaded her fingers together. “Now, let's get back to business."