Rift in the Sky

“No, no.” He looked at the clouded window, not her. “Louli doesn’t like surprises. Stay here.” With a tug on his jacket, a brush of both hands through his dripping hair, he headed for the stairs with the air of someone about to face punishment.

Fine, Aryl thought. She’d go up the Carasian’s stairs and surprise him.

“Hold on—”

She whirled to face the constable. “I said I was sorry. Explain what a ‘fine’ is so I can finish my business with you and leave.”

Maynard tilted his head. He had nice eyes, Aryl noticed absently. Right now they were troubled. “Forget the fine,” he said quietly. “Listen to me, Femmine. KaeCee’s trouble. Not this kind,” with a nod at the smashed tables and groaning patrons. “Another order altogether. Cross him, and you’ll disappear without a trace.”

He couldn’t mean KaeCee. “Him?” Aryl’s lips twitched.

The constable nodded grimly. “Doesn’t look like much, I’ll grant you. But somehow KaeCee dances a step ahead of the law. He’s got connections, too. We can’t touch him. Not yet, anyway. Don’t let him touch you. That’s all I’m saying.”

This Human thought of her as one of his own, unaware she was something far more dangerous. Still, the warning seemed well meant. “I’ll be careful,” Aryl promised.

“You do that. But if you run into more than you can handle, or learn anything about KaeCee I should know, contact me. Here.” He offered her a small brown rectangle, careful to keep it low as if no one else should see.

Aryl took it, then looked a question.

“It’s a burst.”

“A burst?”

“Pop it in any comport or reader on Stonerim III. It will send an alert to the constabulary. Where you are. That you need help or want to talk.”

“Your help,” Aryl countered warily. “To talk to you, no one else.”

Maynard smiled for the first time. He reached to press his thumb against the rectangle. “Just mine.”

Aryl walked away, the rectangle in her closed fist, fist at her side. With every step, she was less sure why she’d accepted it. Humans weren’t M’hiray. They were too many, too different. Dangerous in number. Humans were to be avoided—or used, if safe. Her fist lifted when she passed an ownerless drink oozing yellow smoke at an empty table. She should toss the “burst” into it . . .

Instead, Aryl tucked it in a pocket. She’d discard it later, less obviously.

She wouldn’t need it.

A warm flash of gladness filled her as Aryl stepped once more on Lawren Louli’s thick carpet—in drier shoes. It had nothing to do with what was going on; Enris, her Chosen, reacted to her presence. His smile would have lit the darkest night.

She smiled back. I missed you, too.

Naryn. Haxel. Worin? She sent them each a greeting.

They were pleased to see her—well, Haxel had the look of someone planning a “discussion” for later, presumably about the bar fight which hadn’t been, Aryl told herself firmly, entirely her doing.

KaeCee stood near Louli. He’d looked dismayed by her arrival, but quickly wiped any emotion from his face. Now, he kept glancing from her to Enris and back.

Maybe he wasn’t a total fool.

“All here. Shall we get down to business, then? Sit sit.” Louli had transformed into an effusive host. She beamed from one to the other, finishing with Aryl. “I’ve introduced the respected and renowned KaeCee Britain to the rest of your delegation, Aryl. KaeCee, this is Aryl di Sarc.”

“I’ve had the pleasure,” KaeCee said, with a slight bow. He’d decided to smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Glad you could join us, Aryl.”

Dangerous, this one, despite his appearance. She didn’t doubt the constable.

Haxel had a way of going still when she picked up trouble. Aryl made sure to brush her fingers over the First Scout’s wrist as she passed. Watch him.

Enris didn’t need a warning. His relaxed stance covered an inner alert.

One of the M’hiray’s white crates sat in the center of the table, its lid open. Though chairs had been added, no one sat. Worin stood behind his brother. Naryn faced the Humans, Haxel to one side. Aryl stopped on the other, across from KaeCee, beside Enris.

“Shall we continue?” Naryn suggested, gesturing to the crate.

“Go ahead, KaeCee. I’ve taken my look.” Louli crossed her arms. Her fingers ran from elbow to shoulder and back as if restless. Aryl didn’t let the peculiarity distract her. What could Naryn have found?

The Human tugged the crate closer with a casual finger, his expression bored. He tipped it forward and peered inside.

Then looked up, eyes wide. “Where did you get this?” Almost a whisper.

“It’s ours,” Naryn asserted. “As are the rest.”

KaeCee licked his lips, eyes flicking between all the M’hiray. “There’s more?”

“Well, well?” Louli interjected. “That what I think it is? What do you think?”