hence, don’t trust any of them?
Agilia leaned forward, her face colored in anger. ^Why have you brought these two with you, Denged? Only you were summoned.^
^They are the leaders of my battalions,^ he replied, standing unperturbed by Agilia’s mood. ^And as such, they should share in any praise for accomplishment.^
Gilc and Errece straightened next to him, looking at him for a moment with pride on their faces, and respect for the great leader Denged was to them.
Do you sleep at night, knowing they and their knives are so close by? thought Agilia. Have you ever been with either, or both of them? Have you even been with a woman since Nahlai?
Agilia wanted to have Denged analyzed, but his mind was far too strong. Even after Nahlai, after she drove him into temporary madness, no mental probes were effective. When he shuts his mind down nothing, and no one, gets in.
^Very well, Denged. We, Monitors of Mal, given authority by Mal over all TELREC, officially thank you for your destruction of the Iganinagi. We also give you new information.^
^Yes Agilia?^
^Nahlai is on Novan.^
Gilc and Errece knew of her, knew of the pain she caused Denged. They both clutched their knives, a fire coming into their eyes. Agilia knew Nahlai was the one woman whose blood would soil their knives, whose body would be ripped apart by the Maenids. Denged still stood, impassive, his great face as stone under Agilia’s gaze, his mind closed and dark to her gaze.
^Your orders?^ he asked.
^Nahlai has gotten close to the Cuhli-pra. Rhonva failed in his attempted assassination of her. She will not be easy to find, and Graid, the Rell Kal-Alçon, seems to protect her.^ She squared her gaze on him, assuming her most commanding pose. ^You must succeed where others have failed.^
Denged knelt before her, an action that brought a quick gasp from Agilia. Never in her time knowing him, had he ever shown anything but utter strength with anyone, striking an almost defiant pose. Now, lowered on one knee, his elbow resting on the other, his head lowered, he seemed so tragic to her. She was stunned to hear his voice, loud and sure.
“She shall die at my hands.”
He raised his head, a tear falling down his cheeks, his aspect aflame with vengeance and death. He left quickly, with Gilc and Errece close behind.
What is he? thought Agilia, sitting back. Mentally, he may be our strongest agent ever, and he wasn’t even a product of our genetic engineering! What worries me most is what Rhonva exhibited—the ability to channel great force through his body. Denged has shown none of that, but if he possessed such an ability, it would be far greater than anything Rhonva possessed. And yet, something has always drawn me to him. Something about his pain, about his suffering, and the strength he shows in the face of it. Her eyes fell on the doorway, wishing she could come up with a reason to summon him back, to cesct with him more.
^Agilia,^ cast Qergien anxiously, ^are you at all concerned he may discover the truth about the death of his parents?^
^Who knew about that mission? Only Rhonva, the Monitors, and Mal. There is no one left to tell him.^
^I have nest reports that Rhonva was with Nahlai for quite a while out of cast-net range,^ cast Raent. ^We have no knowledge of cescts between them.^
^True, but why tell her?^ countered Agilia. ^He hated her; that much was evident by even the simplest of scans. ^
Raent pressed on. ^What of Graid? He may have gotten much out of Rhonva, before he was killed.^
Graid, how I hate him! He is too random, too unpredictable. We have no knowledge of his strength, or abilities!
^We must capture Nahlai.^ Agilia rose and headed for the door, as the others followed. ^She will give us the information we need about Graid. Then, Denged may do as he wishes with her. Raent,^ cast Agilia, pausing for a moment, ^you will learn to cease questioning my every decision. Mal is not the only being that can put Monitors to death.^
3
Music: once defined as the arrangement of notes to form a melody, it evolved with the creation of the cast-net. First, emotional responses were added into old works, cuing up sadness at a particular passage, joy at another. As the depth of the cast-net experience was more fully realized, older works faded into the sands of time, replaced by works meant to be enjoyed on the cast-net. Lyrical expression fell into disuse, as great mental depth could be added to a single note. The separation between musical composition and narrative broke down, with some abstract thinkers still producing works cued to shapes, and complex thought., But for the most part, all musical composition became associated with a narrative, save for short, transitional pieces nest between programs.
In a great cavernous hall in the same building Jay resided in with Anies on Core, hundreds of the Maenids were gathered to celebrate the defeat of the Iganinagi. Mountains of cushions rose and fell throughout the space, and on them lounged many of the Maenids casting and laughing, playing with each other as predator animals do after a long hunt. The lights pulsed to the rhythm of cast-net entertainment, with many of them dancing wildly. As most of their roas were spent training and hunting their prey, they relished this rare occasion to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Among those throngs of women, Jay rest on a cushion with Anies and a few of her friends. She had been through another long roa of training. Though Jay could not become a TELREC, as most of the women called Maenids were, she could be a civilian soldier among them, almost equal in rank to a CRODAM officer. Jay found there were many civilians among the hundreds of Maenids, most with their own agendas for being there. Some were abused as children; some were devout Novans looking to purge the world of the sinners, while others simply gloried in battle, delighted in the killing. They were all accepted, without question, so long as they followed orders, and never, ever incited rebellion or discord among them.
Jay also discovered there was a tight sisterhood among the Maenids. They cared for one another, praising each other for accomplishments in battle, helping one another to learn new methods of combat. She had spent some time with Anies’ friends, and they were very supportive in her gradual progression through the training. Jay assumed all the women who were Maenids would also prefer the company of women, but they were a diverse group. Throughout the room some paraded men on the ends of leashes, being whipped and kicked, while others enjoyed torturing a chained man. What Jay mostly saw was an assertion of physical power, for though men and women were evenly matched mentally, as children and as adolescents women still felt inferior physically.
She had learned much of the past of Anies’ friends, but little of Anies herself. Jay was constantly digging, trying to find some way into Anies’ persona, trying to find some weakness she could exploit. Anies seemed to want Jay only for the sex and as some conquest to be shown off; the last of the Iganinagi. Even now other Maenids would come over and congratulate Anies while examining Jay, nodding and smiling.
^Look—over there,^ cast Anies.
Denged entered with Gilc and Errece. They moved slowly, as all who they passed bowed low before them. Denged even extended his hand, and many women reached up and held it, for a moment. They took a circular path through the room, appearing as royalty—gracious, and aloof. He made his way through half the chamber, before sitting with Gilc and Errece at three raised chairs at the front of the hall.
^I nest he went to a meeting with the Monitors, and defied the Monitors by bringing Gilc and Errece!^
^Why’d he do that?^ asked Jay, straightening herself to get a better look.
^Because he knows how valuable those two are.^ She ran her fingers down Jay’s arm, her eyes clouding with lust. ^He always treats them right. Nest his words.^
Denged stood, and with a motion of his hand, brought an end to all cast in the room.
^To my loyal Maenids: I have gathered you all here, on this night of rest, as thanks for your dedication to the cause we fight for. As I gathered all of you, over the past ten cas, I knew one roa we would stand united as a force to be reckoned with on these globes. A
force bound by one truth, one purpose. Many of us have endured a youth that left deep scars in our souls. Endured unique and terrible aspects of pain and misery, on globes where there should be none. Been betrayed by those who supposedly loved us most.^ He paused for a moment, and Jay could see many paused with him. She scanned Anies for any reaction, but found none. ^But in our unity, we find strength. In our camaraderie, we find trust and support.^
^I would like to take this moment to thank Gilc and Errece for their exemplary leadership, for their steadfastness and resolve. I may have been granted authority over them by the TELREC, but I consider them, and myself, to be facets of one mind, one body.^ He raised his fist in the air. ^Long live the Maenids!^
^Long live the Maenids!^ they roared back at him.
The Maenids cheered, clenching their fists, whipping or beating the slaves some of them had. Denged sat down, the passion evaporating from his face. Gilc and Errece both drew their swords, and raised them high in the air, to the chants and cheers of the room. More food was brought in, as well as sixty male slaves, bound in chains. Jay nest something familiar about them.
^Who are they?^
^Some of the last of your people,^ cast Anies, leering at a couple of women who passed by. ^They were rounded up only a troa ago, and have been through intense interrogation. They were given to us, as playthings, to