At least it appeared to be only one level. He'd planned the basement to be a recreational space that doubled as a bunker.
The main floor had four bedrooms, all with individual baths, a great room, and large eat-in kitchen.
Too big a place for one man.
He'd hoped to make this house a home that he, Brina, and their brood could use when they visited the human world. That had been the idea five years ago. He'd built it as a surprise he'd planned to show her after they'd made their commitment to each other.
Then he'd suffered the worst surprise of his life.
Her father and Macha had warded Treoir castle against all immortals except Macha and Brina.
When Brina's father and brothers went off to battle, Tzader's father had joined the team. Before leaving, his father asked Macha to pass his immortality to Tzader if he died in battle.
He died. Brina's father and brothers died.
No one realized Tzader had been barred from entering the castle, and Brina could no longer leave for fear of being killed. The Belador power required a living Treoir descendant residing on that island. That would be tough enough on any young woman, but Macha believed Brina was safe only in the castle.
Or was that simply the easiest way for Macha to maintain control of Brina?
Tzader pointed out the turn for the dirt road to his house. When Quinn pulled off and started through the woods, the vehicle dipped into a deep gully. Anything but a tall SUV would have bottomed out.
Quinn groaned.
"Sorry to ding up your new ride, Quinn."
"That's not a big deal. I was actually thinking about this mess with Macha. I want to ask you something."
"What's on your mind?"
"I would've asked sooner, but I was too lost in my grief over Kizira right after the battle. I tried to ask Evalle, and she brushed it off. What actually happened when you broke into the castle when the traitor was attacking Brina?"
That moment raced back to Tzader as if it had been yesterday. He swallowed hard. "That sucked."
"Never mind, Z. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's okay. Really." Tzader blew out a breath. "During the battle, I stood outside the castle with the last line of our defenses against the Medb coven and the gryphons. At that point, I believed the gryphons were all still compelled by the Medb to kill any and all Beladors."
"I would have thought the same, because of the one that attacked me and--" Quinn paused, then said, "We both know what happened then. Please continue."
Tzader would never forget the look on Quinn's face when he came walking up holding Kizira's body.
"Anyhow," Tzader continued. "A gryphon blew us aside like we were bowling pins. I didn't know it at the time, but that was Evalle, and she was trying to keep us out of harm's way."
"Of course."
"When I came to, I heard two gryphons crashing around inside the castle, and all I could think was that they were going to kill Brina. I ran inside."
"But the ward ..."
"Yep. It got me. Enough power exploded across my body to light up Atlanta. I hit the floor and felt my life force draining out. I went to a dark place, and I couldn't feel anything. Then all of a sudden, I sensed a flicker of life inside. I couldn't feel my heart at first, but then I heard blood pounding in my ears. When I opened my eyes, Evalle was telling me telepathically that she was the gryphon. I called off the guards, she shifted back to human form, and we found the traitor throwing the spell on Brina and Lanna."
"So Macha does know you literally died getting to Brina during the Medb attack, and she was still going to withhold knowledge of your child from you and Brina. I keep having a hard time with that."
"Me too. I argued with Macha one time about her not offering any help for breaking the ward so that Brina and I could be together. She convinced me I was being dishonorable to ask her to basically break her word to my father. I apologized and let it go."
"Something tells me you've changed your mind."
"I have nothing to base it on--yet--but I can't get past thinking it was just one more time she's manipulated me and Brina."
"Didn't Macha give you her blessing for marriage?"
"Sort of. I thought she had, but--"
"What?"
"It may just be me being paranoid about everything now that I know Macha's been keeping the baby from me, but maybe she never wanted Brina with a Belador. It's the only thing that makes sense to me right now."
"What about Allyn? You told me Macha was ready to marry Brina to him at one point and he's a Belador."
"You're right." Tzader considered that.
Quinn navigated the twisting, bumpy road silently for a bit. When he spoke, he sounded thoughtful. "Maybe it's not about you being a Belador. Maybe Macha specifically wants someone she can always manipulate. You would never stand for it once you and Brina married and had a family."
"Damn right."
"I'm very interested in hearing what the dragon has to share with us."
Tzader tried not to think about it. What if the dragon's champion lied and the dragon either couldn't or wouldn't help Brina? Tzader would have put everyone he considered family in jeopardy and lost Brina forever ... as well as his child.
After more directions, Quinn pulled up to Tzader's house and commented, "I've always wanted to see this place, Burke. Very nice."
"It might be if there was more than a foldout sofa."
"How long have you been here?"
"Close to five years."
At the look Quinn gave him, Tzader explained, "I expected Brina to decorate our home the way she wanted." He pushed those words out past a lump in his throat. "Thanks for the ride. I'll meet you at Evalle's at eight."
Quinn parked, sitting still in the dark. "How are we going to get Brina to the dragon if we manage to free it?"
"Honestly? I don't know, but I'll sell my soul to Deek D'Alimonte if that's what it takes to save Brina. He's probably the most powerful being I can get to at the moment."
Quinn's silence shouted louder than if he'd voiced his concern. Finally he spoke. "No one comes back from Deek if he makes that type of deal."
Tzader swallowed a lump of emotion that kept threatening to climb up his throat and strangle him. "I know. But no matter what it takes, I won't leave her in limbo with no memory, subject to Macha's whims forever."
"You're immortal, Tzader. Forever will be a long time at Deek's mercy."
"I've thought of that."
"Very well. Get some sleep."
Chapter 17
TAmr Medb, home of the Medb coven
While Cathbad teleported away from TAmr Medb to check out the wizard requesting to meet her, Queen Maeve had time to poke at her surly dragon to gain new information.
When she turned to her throne, the dragon's head faced her, but his eyelids were at half-mast.
She threw a slap of power at Daegan's head, lighting up the entire throne.
His eyes blinked open, blazing with hatred. As the energy settled down, black diamond centers appeared in his silver eyes.
"We have an agreement that you would not sleep when I am present, or would you prefer I take away that privilege for another millennium?" she taunted. She'd recently allowed Daegan to rest, but only as a means to an end.
He remained silent, that deadly glare always in place.
She snapped her fingers. "That's right. You can't speak either. I granted you that privilege as well, and you abused it." She flipped her index finger at him, releasing his vocal chords.
Smoke swirled when Daegan puffed out a breath. He cleared his voice. "What do you want?"
Hmm. Her patience with him might just pay off after all. "You know what I want. To pull all the history from that gaudy scrying wall. There is more than we've found. I know there is."
That scrying wall held secrets it was going to give up.
Daegan's voice had been smooth as warm ale at one time, but he'd spoken only a few words in two thousand years. Now his words rumbled
out rough and gravelly. "As you know, I'm limited in what I'm allowed to see when I'm barred from moving my head."
"Yes, yes, the other queens didn't fawn over you so often by allowing such freedoms the way I do." She rolled her hand. "You were saying."
He growled something under his breath. "When Flaevynn first came into power as queen, she destroyed a large scrying bowl originally placed here for each queen's use, and built the stone waterfall. That wall holds only what has happened during Flaevynn's reign. A mere six hundred and sixty-six years," he added with sarcasm. "She sent members of the coven covertly into the human world to find the largest of rare stones. When it was finished, she believed her wall a masterpiece."
More interested in recent events of the past decade, Queen Maeve could live with seeing only Flaevynn's time here. "Our tastes clearly differed. Basically, she had none." Maeve cast a look at the towering design composed of many different gemstones. A waterfall cascaded over scarlet emeralds, diamonds, black opals, jadeites, and more. Most were fist-size and dazzling, but some were far larger. A spectacular assortment, but the assembly looked ridiculous. Something a novice would design.
On the other hand, Cathbad had yet to break the chant Flaevynn had used to create it.
For as much a fool as Flaevynn had been, she'd built in exceptional security to prevent others from accessing her wall.
Maeve tired of this game they played. "What was the chant that powered the wall, Daegan?"
"The words were cloaked from me."
"You are worthless. You know that? What do you offer me in trade?"
"I know of Kizira."
Maeve let out a hefty sigh. She answered in a droll tone. "I saw the battle scene, and even know the name of the man. Vladimir Quinn. If you want to be of use to me, then tell me what Kizira said to Quinn as she died."
"No one knows. You are correct in thinking Kizira shielded her last words from Flaevynn... from everyone except the Belador warrior, Quinn. What you do not know is that Kizira was the one who placed the security on the scrying wall. Flaevynn would not risk draining her power, and so compelled Kizira."
Well, well. That was new. Just as Queen Maeve had suspected, Kizira could answer many questions.
Daegan's eyes blinked slowly with the focus of a predator. He asked, "Why have you not brought the Belador Quinn here to torture for answers?"
"Why would you care?"
"I don't. As you said, I have nothing more to do for the rest of eternity so I have decided to discuss these things with you. Note that I just shared significant information about Kizira. If I share more, I will expect something in return."
She concealed her pleasure at this first chink in his stubborn emotional armor. Evidently Daegan enjoyed the tastes of talking and sleeping she had given him. He believed himself superior to everyone, including her, and capable of resisting all temptation, but he was no different from any other captive who had suffered for years upon years.
They all broke eventually.
She took her time, breathing deeply and acting as if she thought hard on his comment before replying. "Quinn is too powerful for simple torture. He would require more time than I'm willing to invest to gain answers. I accept your offer to trade for information."
"Ask me what you will. I will share what I can."
She didn't believe he would be quite so accommodating as he sounded, but this was a start. She tested him. "Which Alterants have you seen here?"
"All ten that Flaevynn brought to TAmr Medb, before they were forced to evolve into gryphons."
"Once that happened, were the gryphons united behind Evalle?"
"Not when they left to join the battle at Treoir. The most powerful gryphon at the time was called Boomer. He hated Evalle." He added, "Boomer was one of the five with golden heads."
Queen Maeve thought back over the Treoir battle scenes she'd reviewed when Cathbad had managed to replay them on the scrying wall. "I didn't see this Boomer on Treoir."
"You're saying Evalle leads the gryphons now?"
"Yes."
Daegan was silent a moment before saying, "Once Kizira died, Boomer would have become the leader, as he was the most powerful gryphon. If Evalle now leads the pack, that means she killed Boomer at some point."
Correct, since Queen Maeve knew there were now eight gryphons. She'd seen one that did not have a golden head die during the battle. What Daegan said made sense.
She couldn't believe how careless everyone had been with her gryphons. Kizira's name came up in relation to practically every topic. The dead priestess had been privy to everything in TAmr Medb. She could shed light on so many things.
Queen Maeve said, "We believe Quinn has entombed Kizira's body within a cemetery in Atlanta. I wonder why he did not burn her body and salt the ashes. Why is he saving her, when others could make use of Kizira's body? What do you think he has in mind to do with her?"
Silver eyes smoldered with menace. Daegan remained silent so long, she began to think he needed another energy slap.
He said, "Perhaps Quinn wanted her body close so that he could commune with her spirit or grieve in private. His actions would be a mystery only to those who lack compassion. What would it matter what he's done with her body, since Kizira is out of reach for others? Unless you think to act as Flaevynn would and destroy the mausoleum just to punish Quinn."
Maeve did not rise to the bait of Daegan's dig over her lack of compassion. In truth, she took it as a compliment, but he hadn't intended it as such.
But why be so foolish as to goad her?
"Unlike Flaevynn, I do not resort to chaotic tantrums. I can withdraw the answers I want from Kizira, dead or not. Only fools such as you underestimate me." She smiled, and floated away as if she dismissed the conversation.
She watched Daegan from the corner of her eye as she moved past the throne toward the scrying wall, pretending to leave his field of view.
He slumped his head, eyes softening with relief.
Did he really think she would allow his impudence to go unpunished?
As his eyelids closed, Maeve pointed her finger at Daegan and said, "No, no. Bad boy."
His eyelids jerked open and would stay that way, unable to blink until she left this room again.
The throne shook and rumbled. Smoke boiled from his nostrils.
"Careful, Daegan, or I'll put plugs in your nose." Laughing with delight, she circled the room and returned to the center just in time to see Cathbad appear with a freakish-looking man.
The wizard.
Cathbad began introductions. "This is Grendal, who requested a meeting with you. Grendal, this is Queen Maeve, who leads the most powerful dark witch coven in all the worlds."
Grendal had yellow skin. Not jaundice-like, but a dingy color that came from pushing dark majik to extreme limits at personal cost. He had half-inch-long hair, much brighter yellow than his skin. Why would anyone with that hideous coloring wear a robe the color of spring leaves? Runic symbols had been embroidered on the robe with gold and red thread.
Whoever had given him that hooked nose did him no favors.
Just looking at him hurt her eyes.
"Queen Maeve." He dipped his head in deference to her and began, "I have captured four white witches from the Atlanta covens."
She tilted her head back to look down her nose, as she would to observe a rodent. "Why would this matter to me?"
"I used a Noirre spell to trap them."
Cathbad stepped over to stand next to Maeve. "You failed to mention that when I came for you, Grendal."
"I thought you might delay my meeting."
Power sizzled around Queen Maeve. The effort to keep from slamming this Grendal into her scrying wall took all her control. "Where did you gain Noirre majik?"
"It was a gift."
"I find that hard to believe, when it is our proprietary majik and we do not gift it to anyone," she countered.
Grendal lifted the palms of his hands in a show of peace. "I stand corrected. You
did not give it to the witches whom I persuaded to part with it," he clarified, smiling. "Your predecessor, Flaevynn, was not as discerning when it came to sharing Noirre. She offered it in exchange for Alterants at the Achilles Beast Championship."
Cathbad turned to her. "Our warlocks spoke of this when I interrogated everyone. I dismissed it as inconsequential, based on the amounts they believed to be used in the trades. As I understand it, Kizira was sent to oversee a sponsorship our coven provided for the battles between Alterants and other beings. The games were blocked from view on the scryin' wall, which means the venue was a heavily warded location."
What Cathbad was not saying is that they had no way to know exactly how much Noirre had been exchanged.
Giving her a meaningful look, Cathbad said, "What Grendal claims may be true."
"It is true," Grendal reinforced. "I have no reason to lie about that, since many knew that Noirre was traded. VIPER chose to overlook those rumors. Or I should say that Sen allowed those who made illegal trades to slip away while he waited to capture Evalle, but she had already been teleported here."
Maeve seethed at yet another careless use of Medb resources. Noirre should be treated like their blood, and protected at all costs.
Grendal added, "Your coven is being accused of the white witch kidnappings, and of being behind a missing witch council member."
Waving that off, Maeve said, "I'm not concerned about petty issues in the human world. The white witches and Beladors accuse us of every discomfort they suffer, but VIPER requires proof. It will be difficult to prove we have committed any crime when we have not touched a white witch." Then she amended, "At least, not in the last two months."
"You are correct ... as long as there is no proof," Grendal said with a sly undercurrent. "However, if VIPER did receive evidence of the Medb kidnapping these witches, that would shift VIPER support in favor of Macha and the Beladors again. Such a pity after you went to so much trouble to get the coalition in the palm of your hand."
Cathbad said, "The solution is simple. We hand you to VIPER, and their missin' witch case is solved. This smacks of blackmail. We do not pay for such things. We make the problem go away. Permanently."
"I'm not here to waste my time or yours. Trying to overpower me will waste majik we can both put to better use."