Imryne, of House Melrae: Soft Weapons

[aithne]

(War Child Dramatis Personae)



Imryne, of House Melrae
Book One: War Child

Chapter Seven: Soft Weapons


Where, when the gods would be cruel,
    Do they go for a torture? where
Plant thorns, set pain like a jewel?
    Ah, not in the flesh, not there!

The racks of earth and the rods
    Are weak as foam on the sands;
In the heart is the prey for gods,
    Who crucify hearts, not hands.

--Swinburne, Satia te Sanguine



(Imryne, in Fanaedar)

As they walked back from the market, after they were well out of earshot, Jevan said, "Drop point, but for what?"

"Were I to give a guess, I would say messages, probably coded so they look like part of the construction of the bags," Imryne said. "Very clever, really. We need to find and track Dro."

"Messages, money, about anything, I suppose," he mused. "And nobody knows anybody. Something got screwed up, and Abburth needed to change something?"

Imryne shrugged. "Possibly, or they had more money than they could pass through this drop point."

She glanced over at Jevan again, and was taken aback once at how he looked right now. She could not get used to him looking like a drow, and she was looking forward to getting home so Ilfryn could remove the spells. "Won't know until we talk to Dro, I suppose," he said. "But are both of them being funded by Abburth or just one? And which one? And what's the other one doing?"

"Could be both of them, could be one of them. We need to talk to Dro, I think right now we can't jump to any conclusions."

"Me, either. Anything else tonight?" he asked.

She gave a gusty sigh. "Goddess be good, I hope not."

"Good, let's go home. I could use the rest. If Tar will let us." He grinned at her.

Imryne took a slow, sweet breath in, thinking about Tar finally being home. "I'm hoping Ilfryn has been working on tiring her out. Though I have to admit, I've missed her. I still have a bit more energy."

Jevan smiled wryly. "Tar may be getting a workout, but she is still insisting on only me in certain places just in case she isn't pregnant," he pointed out. Evidently, this had been discussed while Imryne had been talking to her mother earlier. "So I'm guessing she probably is needing more release."

"Well, let's go home and find out," she said, and they did just that.

Tar, it turned out, was quite insistent on indulging in the things she had been missing for two strands. Imryne was more than happy to indulge her; sex took the edge of the darkness she could feel stealing up around the edges of her spirit. She was going to have to pay the singer for the song sometime, but she was going to put it off as long as she possibly could.

She had missed Tar, and having her home was sweetness itself. She had shaved her head sometime while Jevan and Imryne had been out, so she even looked like her old self again. None of them got much sleep that night. Between bouts, they were lying in a sweaty pile, Tar's head pillowed on Imryne's stomach, her legs thrown over Jevan's, one hand on Ilfryn's chest. Imryne and Jevan were telling the other two about what they had seen while they were out, and that Imryne intended to go out early the next morning to catch Dro. "Do you two want to come with me?" she asked.

Ilfryn raised his head. "Not unless you think you need me. I'm hoping to sleep in tomorrow."

Tar's free hand slid up Imryne's side and cradled one of her breasts, almost absently flicking one fingertip over her nipple. "I kind of liked being out, but if you think it's a problem for me to come with, then I won't."

Imryne thought about it, even as she purred at the feel of Tar's hand on her breast. "I think there are too many mages out and about for it to be too safe for you. Ilmra's shop is close to that cluster of mage shops down there."

Her wife raised her head. "Ilmra?"

"Yes, that's what she said her name was."

Tar frowned. "Funny, I used to have an aunt at Hune by that name. She was a clothes maker, made almost everything I wore when I was younger."

"She said her house was destroyed, but so long ago that she didn't remember. She seemed a little scrambled in the head. But she did sew that dress I brought back for you last night."

Tar sat up, then scrambled out of bed and to her wardrobe. Rummaging around in the back, she pulled out the dress she had been wearing the night that she had come to Melrae for a tryst and had ended up stranded by the destruction of her house. She then pulled out the dress that Imryne had bought her.

The fabric was different, but the cuts were nearly identical, with the same neat stitching and embroidered designs on the neckline. "I don't think that is a coincidence."

Imryne was sitting up now, and shook her head. "Nor do I. Maybe you should come with us."

"Maybe not. You have bigger people to catch right now than a clothes maker." Tar smiled, a little. "I think she we can track down later."

"I don't think she's going anywhere. Another time, though," Imryne said, opening her arms and inviting Tar back to bed. Tar tossed the dressed back into her wardrobe and came back to hop into bed, pouncing on Imryne and nibbling her neck.

Things devolved from there, and it was a while later when they got to sleep. Jevan slipped off to his own bed sometime during the night. The opening of the next ilit came far too early, and it found Imryne and Jevan, Jevan disguised once more as a drow, down the street from Ilmra's shop. They saw a young male in nice clothing come down the street, carrying a box. He detoured into Ilmra's shop. "Wait till he comes out, then follow," she murmured to Jevan.

"Don't want a look inside the purses?" he asked.

She thought for a moment. "Hm. Yes. Distract her for me?"

He nodded and they went down the street, entering Ilmra's shop. Jevan started talking to Ilmra, who apparently didn't recognize him from last night. He was asking about pretty nightgowns for a woman he loved. Ilmra appeared to be delighted to talk to him about such things. Dro was unloading the purses, and in the pile were one red and three blue.

He collected payment silently from Ilmra, who shoved a cloth bag at him while she was talking animatedly with Jevan. He stepped out of the shop, and Imryne took the chance to swiftly examine the purses. The three blue ones were heavy, as if they had metal in them somewhere. The one red purse was lighter, and when she opened it she could see some unusual stitching on the inside. She would have to cut it open if she wanted to see what was inside.

She chose to simply close it, instead. The blue purses also had interesting stitching, but instead of gold or such sewn inside, it felt more like there were stones sewn into the lining. Imryne glanced over at Jevan, who had Ilmra showing him nightgowns that appeared to be designed to be worn for about five minutes before it was discarded on the floor. Casually, she picked up the red purse and tucked it away, shrugging so her dress covered it. Then she poked around the other purses, endeavoring to look bored.

The next time Jevan glanced at her, she nodded to him, and Jevan immediately told Ilmra that he'd buy the scraps of silk he was holding. He gave her a few coins and fell in beside Imryne as she exited. "I think Dro went this way," she said. "Let's see if we can catch up."

They were in luck. They found Dro at one of the larger eateries in the center of the market, one of very few customers this time of day, eating first meal alone at a long table. "You know, I'm hungry," Imryne said. "How about you?"

Jevan smiled. "This looks like a good place." They picked their way through the tables, and Jevan sat down to Dro's left. Imryne didn't want to appear too threatening too quickly, so she sat down on the other side of Jevan.

She leaned forward and craned her neck a little to talk to Dro. "Any idea what's good here?"

Dro eyed her, then answered, "Haven't had a bad meal yet, but rothe steak and cave fisher eggs are my favorite."

"Sounds good to me. You come here often, then?" she asked.

He looked as if he wasn't quite sure what her intentions were. "Weekly."

"Early to be down at the market every week. Quiet this hour of the day, though."

"I am a vendor," he said. "I sell my stuff to the stores every week, eat breakfast, and go home and make more."

There it was, Imryne's opening. It had been a long time since she'd done this, and she'd wondered if she wouldn't be any good at it any more. Now, though, she knew that there were some skills that were never lost. "Oh, what do you make? I like males who are good with their hands." She smiled at him, looking at him a little sidelong.

She could see Jevan stiffen slightly, and then relax. Dro said, "I am very good with my hands. Purses, mostly."

"Leather worker, then. Who sells your things? I'd like to see them."

"Ilmra does," he said. "She is the only one I sell to, she buys the whole lot every week."

She smiled again, this time putting a little more hunger into it. "Oh, I've heard of her. A little strange, but she carries things some of the nobles like."

"She is a bit strange, at that." He paused, and then evidently decided to lay out his hand. "Are you wanting to go someplace more private? I can show you what I can do with my hands."

Perfect. "After a meal, yes," she said, smiling. She ordered food and kept talking to Dro, switching places with Jevan so she could sit next to him. Jevan looked less than pleased by this, but he didn't complain aloud. Imryne used the time to extract information about Dro, officially learning his name and the fact that he was from a family of merchants who had set out on his own a few years ago.

Once they had eaten, Dro led them to the place he lived, near the back of the high market in a section the nobles didn't usually go. The building he led them to was narrow and tall, and looked to be the victim of intentional disrepair. The place had a palpable air of sleaziness. Imryne felt her breath quicken. There had been so many times she'd come to places just like this, as Melrae Imryne. She tried to remind herself that it was not the usual she was seeking here, though that was what Dro certainly thought.

At the door, Dro turned to her. "He watching the door, or joining us?" he asked, glancing at Jevan.

"Joining us." She gave him a smile. "Shall we?"

He unlocked the door and led them up a long stone staircase, the walls stained with time and what looked like blood. The top floor appeared to be entirely his, and as he opened the door, Imryne had to admit she was impressed. The interior of Dro's place completely belied its exterior. It was richly decorated, everything new, with beautiful fabrics and fancy, gem-studded fittings. The room they walked into prominently featured a large bed.

Imryne raised an eyebrow. "Very nice. Leatherworking pays so well?"

"Very well, yes." Dro was getting closer to her, almost within arm's reach. She looked him in the eye, trying to keep his attention on her and on Jevan, who she could feel radiating quiet menace.

She stepped towards Dro, as if about to embrace him, but a moment before she did so she caught his smooth chin in one hand. "Now, Dro. You're lying to me. I hate it when a male does that." She curled her fingers, and her nails dug into the soft, sensitive skin below his jaw.

"This some kind of game, baby?" Dro said, looking slightly confused. "I like it a bit rough."

Abruptly, Jevan was at Dro's back, and from the way Dro's eye widened the point of a dagger was touching his back. "Don't think so," Jevan growled. "Tell the lady what she wants to know."

Imryne tried not to be irritated with Jevan. Ah, well, this one wasn't destined to be any fun anyway. Too bad. It's been a long time since I had a toy. Dro was going as pale as it was possible for drow to go. She said, "And here I hoped we could be a bit friendlier about this. Tch. I'm in a position to enrich your life, if you tell me what I want to know, and if you're cooperative with me. Otherwise, this may end in a very unfriendly way. Understood?"

Dro nodded very slowly, as if afraid to make any sudden moves. "Good," Imryne said, and released his chin and took a half-step back. "Now. I know you have contacts who bring you items to put into your work. Who are they?"

"Don't have names. Better that way. I go on second day morning to Noquar compound. There is a package left out by the servants' entrance that looks like garbage. If it's got a red mark on it, I take it, if not I leave it."

"And in that package is what, exactly?" Imryne asked.

She thought that Dro's continued cooperation had a lot to do with the fact that Jevan was still holding a dagger to his lower back. "Always the same, a piece of paper. Different things on the paper, but still just paper."

"What kind of things are on the paper?"

"I am not a military man, but to me they look like compound floor plans. Guard movements, locations of senior family members, lists of lovers. That type of stuff." Dro was getting slightly less scared-looking, as if he'd made up his mind that they really didn't intend to kill him if he cooperated.

Imryne did not smile. She wanted him to stay scared. "How did this arrangement come to be?"

Dro took a deep breath. "Got myself in a bit of trouble with Claddath. Thirza came and gave me a break. Saying if I would do this, she would make the trouble go away. She did and she pays as well, for me to keep my silence. Hence my room."

"I see. And that is not the only arrangement you have," Imryne said.

He nodded. "That arrangement worked so well that I thought I would advertise my services about a bit. Got into a good arrangement with some people outside the city. Millithor was my contact and they set up the meeting with the people outside. I assume they are from Abburth."

That confirmed quite neatly what Imryne was suspecting. "Where do you pick up their deliveries?"

"That's the genius part," he said, sounding proud of himself. "First day, Lloth's rest day, I meet the guy in the main temple to Lloth for services by Xalyth. We sit apart and when the crowd is breaking up we get into the aisles to leave and we trade identical coats. My pockets are empty, his are full of gems."

"I see. Does this person know your routine, when you usually make your delivery?" she asked.

"Yes, I suggested the blue purse thing, copying the red purse thing. I sew the contents of three pockets into the bags and keep the fourth pocket for myself, as the arrangement."

So the people the Jenn had apprehended should not have been there. It might have been entirely coincidental that they had been picked up there. Very, very strange. "So this person would have no reason to ever come near the shop, then. Interesting."

Dro frowned. "Shouldn't have."

"Very interesting, indeed," she said. "So, I have a proposition for you. Little extra work for you, and little risk. You keep your silence about ever seeing me and my guard, and you make a copy of all of the papers you pick up from Noquar and give those to me, as well as letting me know if those who give you the gems change their routine or stop contacting you. In return, a good amount of gold or gems." She smiled thinly. "And your life."

"Any arrangement for money and my life, good mistress," he said, sounding utterly heartfelt.

Imryne chuckled. "Good. I already know where to find you every first day. Someone will meet you in the crowd and make the exchange after the services."

"I understand. I suppose the sex is out?" He half-smiled at her, a bit wanly.

"For now," she said. "Keep your silence and do your work, and you might see me again." Imryne gave him a slow, smoldering smile.

Dro brightened. "Good doing business with you, lady." Jevan stepped back, taking his dagger away from his back and sheathing it with a whisper of steel.

"Good doing business with you as well. I hope to see you again." Imryne turned and walked out, not looking back, and Jevan fell in behind her. They were silent until they reached the street.

Jevan muttered, "Greedy, isn't he?"

Imryne smiled briefly. "Best kind of male to do those sorts of deals with. He'll have half-convinced himself he's in love with me by tomorrow."

"I have to admit it worked on me," he said. He had fallen in next to her, instead of walking directly behind her. "And I can't blame him at all."

"Well, in your case it was far more genuine on my side," she said. "Though I have to admit that he wasn't half-bad looking. Might follow through one of these days."

"That's just nasty, Imryne," Jevan said. He was looking at her, disgust written on his features. "He was creepy and sleazy."

She snorted. "What, you think my tastes are always so refined as you and Ilfryn and Tar? Not nearly."

Disgust was being replaced by consternation on Jevan's face. "I guess I did."

"Melrae Imryne likes to occasionally slum a bit," she said, unaccountably irritated. "A harmless perversion in a noble female, as long as I'm careful about when I choose to go out. I haven't in a while. Tar throws a fit when I do."

"I think I would have to agree with Tar," Jevan said.

Imryne's strides had gotten longer, her shoulders held stiffly. "I knew you probably would."

He took a sharp breath. "Sorry, my elven culture, I suppose. I will try to get over it."

"A good idea," she said, and her voice was blade-edged. "And we probably shouldn't discuss this in public. I want to return that purse to where I found it, and go home."

He was silent as she accomplished that, and equally silent on the way home. Imryne was stewing and trying not to show it. They made it inside the gates, and Jevan followed her through the doors into the inner house. As they passed through the doors, Imryne's irritation began to melt into worry. Jevan was never quiet like this, he always had a comment or three for her as they came inside. And what was she so angry about, anyway? She hadn't felt the need to go into the lower city for anonymous sex for ten cycles. Though, unaccountably, playing with Dro had awoken that urge, a little.

That in itself, was worrying. Those urges were sometimes the harbingers of an episode, and she hoped it was simply the exercise of her outside persona that had occasioned the urges. She took a breath that shook, just a little. "Let's go find Tar and Ilfryn," she said as the last set of doors closed behind them.

He looked at her, frowning. "You can. I need some time alone." Then he turned on his heel and walked away. Imryne watched him go, open-mouthed. Then she gritted her teeth and walked to the set, trying not to stomp. What was wrong with him?

Tar and Ilfryn were both in the set. "How did it go, love?" Tar asked.

"Pretty well, except for managing to piss Jevan off just now." She sighed and sat down in one of the chairs. "The guy was most useful. We'll need to have someone make a trade with him for information just after the Xalyth Lloth services on first day. Sounds like someone inside Noquar is selling them out to Claddath. Millithor's the one getting gold from outside the city."

"So Claddath has a spy inside Noquar. Prelude to an attack. And Millithor is being funded by Abburth, which probably means they are Ellistraee people." Tar eyed Imryne. "And how did you piss off Jevan?"

Imryne groaned quietly, and rubbed her forehead. "I told the guy that if he kept his mouth shut and did his job, I might come back and sleep with him. I mentioned to Jevan afterwards that I might follow through on that one. Jevan...didn't take it really well. He thought the guy was sleazy."

Tar pressed her lips together. "Oh. We have had this argument, ourselves."

"I know," she said. Those had been memorable discussions. "I mentioned that to him, he said he'd side with you on that one. I lost my temper some. He stalked off as soon as we got back."

Tar sighed and pulled her feet up onto the chaise, hugging her knees. "You will have to give him time to accept that part of you. I still don't either, very well. He loves you, fiercely. He comes here to find out that you have two other lovers and he accepts that, but then he finds out you sometimes have a need to find people outside our group to sleep with--he feels rejected or cheapened." Her voice was sharp now, though controlled. "His people mate for life like ours, but his idea of that is one, not many. And you, my dear, probably told him to deal with it. Like it was an order."

Imryne's mouth had fallen open. Sweet goddess, I am an idiot sometimes. "You're right. I did. I need to apologize to him, when he comes back. If he does." She twisted her mouth. "And I know none of you like that part of me. I try to keep it to a minimum, for your sakes."

"Might be better if you went to him," Tar pointed out. "Rather than him having to come to you again. He has to act like a slave all day, give him some pride back."

"He did say he wanted some time alone, but...you're right."

"That's male speak for wounded pride and feeling unloved," Tar said.

"Now she tells me," Imryne muttered. "All right, I need to go talk to him."

Tar was looking a bit impatient. "Go, and make sure you reassure him that you love him and that any dalliance outside the group doesn't mean you love him any less. And make sure that he knows he can, if he wants someday, have another girl for a night as well."

Imryne blinked. "I'd thought that was understood, but...probably wouldn't hurt to actually say it."

"He may currently look drow and even act like one but he is an elf to the core," she said sternly. "And search yourself. Are you all right if he does?"

She paused and thought about it. "I...think so."

Tar quirked her mouth. "I wondered about that."

"I think I would be, but the idea would probably take some getting used to, which I can start now." She smiled weakly. "All right. I need to go talk to him."

"Interestingly painful, isn't it?" Tar was trying to hide her smirk.

Imryne chuckled, and came over to hug Tar and then Ilfryn. "You're right, it is. Back in a bit, I hope."

Fortunately, Jevan hadn't gone far. He was up on the roof again, a little way over from where he usually was, moving through a workout like water. He moved so far sometimes that she could barely see where he was going.

She levitated up onto the roof, landing softly. "Jevan? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

He paused in his workout and looked at her for a moment, then sheathed his sword and sat down. "I suppose."

Imryne took a deep breath and came over to drop to her heels nearby, out of arm's reach, her dress puddling around her feet. "I'm sorry, Jevan. I think I just trampled all over you, without so much as a by-your-leave. I know that there are parts of my life that are going to be difficult for you to accept, and just sort of ordering you to deal with it isn't helping any. I love you, and I don't want to lose you."

"No, it didn't really help," he said. "I have trouble turning on and off. I love you too. I don't want to lose you either. I just was taken off guard."

She looked down at the stone of the roof. "I've had a lot more practice than you turning my emotions on and off. I hate the person I am outside, Jevan. But I need to be her sometimes, and that has consequences for the rest of my life. I still shouldn't let that hurt you, if I can prevent it." She looked up at him wondering if he could see the fear in her eyes. "If I do have a dalliance outside the group, it doesn't mean that I love you any less, or that I don't want you. And the same privilege is extended to you, you know."

"It's different for me," he told her. "Being part of Ellistraee's people, we have encounters, but only in ritual. But that is the only exception. Once you are with someone, in my culture, it's assumed you won't until ritual. I just have to accept that difference. It just hit me like you loved me less."

"No, Jevan. I don't love you any less. I don't think I could." Her heart was hurting, as well as her head, and for a moment she struggled not to cry. Bursting into tears would not help. "And I'm sorry I keep on sort of ordering you to deal with things I ought to know that are going to be difficult for you. I will try to stop doing it."

"Thanks. I will try to stop being so touchy," he said.

Imryne scooted over to Jevan, sitting next to him and putting an arm tentatively around his shoulders. She wondered if he was going to shake off her touch. "And I'll try to stop surprising you. I think you saw one of the ugliest parts of me, today."

Far from pulling away, he leaned into Imryne. "It was a bit scary."

"I know. Believe it or not, you handled it better than Tar did." She gave him a wry smile. "Of course, she found out after the fact, and she was next to a shelf full of small and fragile figurines at the time. I found out the strength of Tar's temper that day. She usually keeps it very well-controlled and hidden away."

"That probably wasn't good." He paused, seeming to search her face for something, she wasn't sure what. "You don't have to answer. But can I ask why? Is it something we can't provide?"

She looked down. Tar and Ilfryn had asked the same question, once. "I'm not sure I can explain it very well, but I can try. I've done it every so often ever since I was young. First, it was a rebellion against my mother. Then I got over the rebellion, but I was still going out into the city every once in a while, looking for something to lose myself in for a bit. At this point, it seems to be a release of something inside of me, something I hate. Every so often, I go find someone I ordinarily would never look at twice, someone who doesn't know who and what I am. It's better than some of the other things I've done to myself over the years."

Jevan nodded. "I understand, I think. I have that part I hate too."

"Which part is that?"

"The part that likes the kill, the vicious, the cold, the hunter part of me," he said. "It likes the blood, the death, the dying, the thrill of the risk of getting killed. I hate it too, but it's there."

She took a sharp breath. "You do understand, then."

He reached for her hand, closing his fingers over hers. "I understand it. We just deal with it differently."

"We do. I'm sorry, Jevan."

He leaned into her a bit more. "It's all right, my love. It helps a lot to know that. It makes a certain sense to me now. I just felt it was because we couldn't love you like you wanted, or that we were inadequate in some way."

Imryne chuckled dryly. "It has nothing at all to do with love. It has more in common with the various ways I've tried to kill myself."

"Your way is probably much better than mine. I assume the people you are with are still alive?"

She gave a half-shrug. "Well, if they're dead, it wasn't my doing. What's your way?"

He was looking down, now. "When I am struck by that mood, what is left of them couldn't even possibly be called a person."

"Ah. That's quite a bit more permanent than mine." She tightened her grip on his hand. "How often does that mood come up, and how much warning do you have?"

"Depends. Before, quite often and little warning." He looked at her. "Now it hasn't hit me since I have been with you."

"Well, I assume it will be back one of these days," she said. "Try to give me warning beforehand, if you have any yourself."

"I would never hurt you, you know that." His voice was absolutely certain, steady as rooted stone. "It might return but when I got here, it became controllable, somehow."

"Strange. I wonder why. I'm glad it did, though."

Jevan smiled. "My mind is off of it likely, we have more important things to do. I don't want to scare you with this, but I felt more alive when I found you. Like the part of me that was doing the killing was really trying to kill what was left of the good part of Jevan."

"And being around me strengthens the good part?" she asked.

"It makes me feel love again, and the other part retreated. I know it may return but for now I have felt better than I have in decades. Misunderstandings aside." He smiled at her, and Imryne felt warm all the way to her toes.

"Well, I'm glad. And I'm so glad we found each other again, Jevan." She smiled back at him. "I think I need to learn more about your culture. I seem to have some gaps in my knowledge."

He chuckled. "I can teach you." She smiled and leaned in to kiss him. The kiss quickly turned quite involved. "Make love to me sometime soon," he said, after they parted.

Her body was still ringing with the desires of the morning, with the aftermath of the fear that she had done something stupid enough to lose Jevan forever. "Now's good for me, how about you?"

Jevan kissed her and in that kiss was all the answer she needed.

They undressed each other, taking their time, laying their clothing down as a barrier between their skin and the rough stone of the roof. There was something a bit different about Jevan this time, as they made love to each other. He was in much less of a rush, seeming less like a starving man afraid that she was merely an illusion that was going to melt away soon. Instead, he took his time, moving slowly, teasing her. Imryne returned the favor, laying him flat and kissing her way down his body, starting from the tip of his ear. She had intended to go all the way down to his feet, but got distracted right around his hips by a certain delicious hardness that she elected to lavish attention on, finally taking him inside her mouth, listening to his breath hitch and harshen with no small amount of pleasure.

He finally took her shoulders in his hands, urging her upward, and she lost no time straddling him. They moved together, slowly, building a rhythm that trembled on the edge of fever for a very long time before finally spilling over.

Eventually, they got dressed and slipped back down into the set. Tar grinned when she saw the two of them. "You kissed and made up," she noted. "Come here, both of you." They both embraced her, laughing, and then Ilfryn closed his book and wrapped his long arms around all of them. Imryne hid her eyes, bright with unshed tears, in the center of their embrace.

That night, when they went to bed, they talked Jevan into joining them for sex and then sleep. The next morning, Jevan as usual was first up and Imryne was not far behind him, going to bathe and dress to see her mother before first meal. When she arrived, her mother was still in her robe, fresh from a bath. "I have more questions for you, and some news," Imryne said.

Triel nodded and led Imryne to her study. "Always a pleasure, daughter. News first, then," she said as she closed the doors.

"The people from Abburth appear to have been dealing with Millithor. At least someone in there, if not the entire house, is aligned with Ellistraee. I haven't figured out what possessed the people from Abburth to show themselves so openly and get themselves captured, though, and what they were doing where they were. The other piece of news is that I believe Claddath is gearing up for an attack on Noquar. Someone inside of Noquar is passing information to Thirza."

Her mother frowned. "That is good news. And the other reminds me of something I read once. I assume the Abburth people are dead?"

Imryne nodded. "House Jenn'Yxir killed them, yes."

"Do you know what they did with the bodies? Or even if they still have them?"

"I don't know, but I can find out," she said. "I was going to ask to see them, if they kept them. Olorae said they questioned the bodies, but asked the wrong questions."

"I wonder. Keep talking daughter, I am paying attention." Triel got up and began hunting around on the bookshelves, tipping certain ones out to see he writing on the outsides of the pages.

Imryne watched her mother and said, "Well, there's not a whole lot more than that. I got to the male who's passing the messages from Noquar to Claddath, and we'll be getting copies of everything that comes through his hands. I have to admit that I don't particularly care who does what to who there, but it makes me wonder who inside of Noquar is betraying them."

"And it would be of great interest to Noquar if Claddath makes you mad. So what are your questions?"

"What, if anything, you know about Millithor, for starters," she said.

Triel sucked in a thoughtful breath, running her fingers along a row of books. "Millithor, small family, pretty recent. Met their mother once, I think. Nice woman, young for a mother but up and coming. Might be a force to reckon with in the future."

"Particularly if they're being funded from Abburth," Imryne said.

"Very much so. Sounds like they are Ellistraee people. Might be a good contact and a way to get to Shobalar."

"That's what I was thinking." She sat back in her chair, thoughtful. "I may still open talks with Maerret, but that would be more towards the future, there. I'm going to need to blame someone else for Abburth's meddling."

Triel asked, "What do you think the council will do about Abburth?" She tipped another book back and glanced at it, then made a grumbling noise and put it back.

"I assume the house they've been contacting will be destroyed as worshipers of Ellistraee. Greyanna more or less made it clear those were her intentions, at least. She may have something else planned," Imryne said. "But she has to find them, and I've been charged with finding them for her. So I should come up with something for her to blame."

"So, tell me more about what the Abburths were doing. Bringing money, or weapons?"

"What I know is that they are transporting a rather large number of jewels into Fanaedar, which are then going to Millithor. I don't know what Millithor is doing with them. I know when the drop is made, and was planning to see if it happens tomorrow. It might, or might not, depending on whether it was the same people who got caught as are making the regular drops." She shook her head. "I almost think it's two different groups of people."

"So you have to supply a house. Give them one, just not Millithor."

"That's what I was thinking. I just have to come up with a likely suspect," she said. "There's more going on here than I'm seeing, I know. I have some time before Greyanna will start to get impatient. I was going to use that time to see if I could find these people."

"Good plan." Triel pulled out another book, and made a pleased noise. "Aha! I found it." The book she brought over to the desk and flopped down in front on Imryne was marked with Ellistraee symbols, and she opened it to show Imryne. "Four houses took down Fanaedar. Xalyth, Kilsek, Vandree and Dinoryn."

"What happened to Dinoryn?" Imryne asked.

"Read it, and see. The one who wrote this tells the story better than I could."

She did, and was quickly absorbed. In the final days when House Fanaedar's fall seemed assured, the house started sending out massive waves of warriors in mad rushes and strange, nonsensical charges. At first it puzzled the opposing houses, but then one of them noticed that the bodies were being stolen every night. They cut one open to find that the warrior had swallowed one of the sacred objects of Ellistraee. The house, knowing it was going to fall, was sending out its treasures in the only way it could. The large objects were magically shrunk down and then swallowed.

When the other houses caught on, House Dinoryn was charged with collecting and keeping the bodies, piled in rotting mountains in their courtyards. House Fanaedar was not finished, however. When they knew they had been caught, the final waves of warriors were carrying slightly different magics in their bellies. As the bodies were piled higher and higher, the rot and the crush opened the bodies. When that happened, a series of devastating magical explosions obliterated House Dinoryn.

"Is this a way to smuggle something into the Jenn, or is it a way to damage them?" Triel said once Imryne was finished reading. "Or neither, and they were just stupid?"

"I'm willing to believe they're not stupid, so one of the first two is probably the case," Imryne said.

Triel nodded. "I wonder. Is there someone inside the Jenn that needed something so badly they would sacrifice themselves, or do the Jenn know something or have something that Abburth needs destroyed?"

"I might be able to tell, if I take a look at the bodies," Imryne said. "If the bodies have been destroyed, it's probably the first."

"You might." Triel took off one of her rings, the one she habitually wore on her left hand that was carved with the symbol of Ellistraee. She handed it to Imryne. "Somewhere on the body of these men if we are right is a tattoo that only a follower of Ellistraee can see. If this is set to explode the ring touched to it will stop that. If it has something that it needs to give to you, it will reveal its location in the body. Get caught with that though, it's a death sentence."

"I know," she said, giving the ring a dubious look. "For more than just me."

"It had to have been something important indeed if they tried to smuggle it this way."

"Worth the risk. I'll see if the Jenn will let me in to see the bodies." Imryne smiled. "I could bring someone who could pose as a priestess of Lloth with me. Would give me a good excuse to see the bodies alone, if the priestess insisted."

Triel raised an eyebrow. "Tar? Is she willing to risk it?"

Imryne chuckled. "Tar is bored, Mother. She's willing to risk most anything, if I let her. I'm not sure I will, I can think of something."

"Then by all means, take her." Triel paused, then smiled. "How is Jevan, by the way?"

She felt heat rising to her face. "Very well, I think. We had something of a misunderstanding yesterday, but I think we've cleared that up."

"Good, I would hate to see you sad again." Her mother inclined her head. Even in just her robe, she had a powerful, commanding presence. "He doesn't have to be a stranger. I have had my share of elven men in my time in ritual. I would like to know him. Not in the way you do, but as a lover of my daughter."

Imryne almost gaped, remembering to keep her mouth closed just in time. "I could certainly bring him to breakfast or dinner sometime soon, or after dinner for conversation. I would like you to get to know him."

"Any time, daughter." Triel smiled, seeming pleased. "Anything else I can help with?"

"Not that I can think of. Thank you, Mother."

"Thank you, Imryne. I chose wisely for my representative."

"I'll try to continue to be worthy of your choice," Imryne said, meaning it. She came over to kiss her mother on the cheek and then left her there, sitting in her robe, looking down at the book that described the downfall of House Fanaedar.

Imryne arranged a visit with House Jenn'Yxir for the middle of the second period of the day. When she asked Tar if she wanted to go, Tar grinned and agreed happily. "I'm getting to like this intrigue stuff," she said. "And this time I don't have to be away from you for strands." She rubbed her freshly shaven head and made a face. "I think my shaved head days are over. I'll get Ilfryn to grow out my hair, again." She caught Imryne's hand, pulled her down into her lap where she sat in the chair. "But I will still be shaving other parts."

"I rather like your shaved head," Imryne said, smiling and kissing Tar and said shaved scalp. "But other parts might be interesting, too."

"The head thing is easy, when you keep at it, but the growing it out and shaving and growing out again, it's becoming a pain. I will shave it again after this is all over." Tar wrapped her arms around Imryne, pressing her face into Imryne's neck, and sighed happily. "Let me go get out the Lloth outfit again. I should probably pick up a few more sets of regalia."

A bit of magic and some judicious wardrobe alteration later, and Tar was once again a fierce Lloth priestess, looking much different than the one who had gone into Faen-Tlabbar. Ilfryn had turned Jevan back to the right color, and he had changed himself a bit and strapped on some big swords. He looked hilarious to the rest of them, who knew that Ilfryn usually never handled a blade longer than two handspans long, but he would pass to those who didn't know him.

Suitably gotten-up, they walked over to House Jenn'Yxir, where they had been invited during the second period. Olorae came to collect them from the reception hall, and they walked down through the outer house into the cells below the house. The dungeons had surprisingly few inhabitants, Imryne noticed as they walked. Evidently either most people captured by the Jenn didn't live to be imprisoned, or they weren't capturing all that many. Her mother's Ellistraee ring seemed very heavy where she was carrying it between her breasts. For such a small piece of metal, it seemed to carry a heavy load of importance.

They were led down even farther to a cave that had only one entrance, unnaturally cool. There were five bodies laid out in the center of the chamber, in a neat row. "The small one," Olorae said, gesturing towards the slight male in the middle, "seems to have been the leader."

"The others were guards?" Imryne asked.

Olorae nodded. "We think, yes, they were very non-cooperative."

An eerie wail rose in the room, rising into a shriek. All of them turned, Imryne unnerved despite knowing that this was a part of the plan. Tar stood, eyes closed, voice now ululating. "The dead will speak. No warriors may remain. You, you, and you, out." She pointed at Ilfryn, Jevan, and Olorae in turn. "You, stay. Assist me."

Her eyes wide, Olorae retreated, Ilfryn and Jevan just behind her. Tar began to chant, loudly. Imryne bent, looking at the center corpse, and lifted his shirt up to see a faint mark of Ellistraee on his chest where the breastbone ended. "Make sure nobody's watching," she said low, to Tar. Tar nodded and kept chanting, watching the door.

Imryne slipped the ring out from under her dress, slipped it on, and touched it to the corpse's mark. A section of the corpse began to glow, extending from just above the mark to three handspans below it, a thumb-joint wide. She quickly checked the others, and saw that all of them had the same mark and the same thing inside of them.

She looked at Tar and mouthed, I'll open, keep chanting. Tar handed her a knife and she went to work on the one in the middle, slitting him open and extracting a black rod made of stone. It was so covered in gore that she couldn't see much, but to the touch it was heavily carved. When she had pulled it out, Tar went to work on him, pulling out his intestines and cackling as she chanted. Imryne repeated the same with the other ones, finding rods made out of the same stone. Tar yanked out the guts of the others in turn, making a rather startling mess.

When the last rod had been extracted and stowed, Imryne said into Tar's ear, "Done now." Tar's chant rose to a shriek, she threw her arms into the air, and fell into a quite dramatic faint, as they had agreed. Imryne raised her voice. "Guards, in here now!"

Jevan and Ilfryn came rushing in, followed by Olorae whose eyes widened at the mess. "You, pick her up," Imryne said, pointing at Ilfryn. "We need to get her into the soft room before she wakes up." To Olorae, she said, "She has something, but every time she does this, she collapses and then goes crazy for a bit after she wakes up. Excellent diviner, though." She glanced around, coughed slightly. "My apologies for the mess."

"Find anything interesting?" Olorae asked as Ilfryn bent to shoulder Tar.

"To my eyes, not unless you find intestines fascinating," she said. "The priestess saw things, I could tell."

"And she will tell you tomorrow when she wakes," Olorae said, and Imryne couldn't tell if she was being ironic or not. Not, she decided on the balance. "Well, I am sure if you find something interesting, the council will know shortly."

"Yes, they will," she said. "We should get the priestess back to Melrae."

"Well, I hope that you had more luck than that Millithor diviner," Olorae said sourly.

Imryne blinked. Oh, they didn't. "Oh, you had a Millithor diviner in? I didn't know they had diviners."

"She didn't make it past the door," the other female growled. "I nearly killed her for the insult. The forty-third house, demanding to see our bodies. Or are they forty-fourth? I can't keep track of the lower houses at all."

You'd think they'd know better. "Strange behavior on their part," she said. "Perhaps I'll ask my mother what she knows of them. They're so low, I know nothing about them."

"Might be a lead for you. It would be a very short battle, if they are the betrayers."

"It would be, at that. We'll see. Thank you for your hospitality, Olorae," she said.

"Good luck, Imryne." Olorae led them up and out of House Jenn'Yxir, Ilfryn trying not to bend under Tar's weight. She was not heavy, but he was unused to carrying even her weight. Fortunately, House Melrae was not far, and once they were safely in the set Tar "woke" abruptly. "Well, that was useful," Imryne said. "Good job, Tar."

Tar was stripping out of her bloody clothing. "Thanks," she said, wrapping the dress around itself to keep the gore off the floor.

Imryne eyed her wife appreciatively. Tar's was a body built for nudity, compact and sleek, and her breasts in particular were quite a treat to look at. "Now, let's see what it was we got," she said, pulling the rods out and wiping them off with the cloth of the bag they had been in. She held them up to show Jevan and Ilfryn. "I'm pretty sure these fit together somehow." She was trying to match the correct ends, and Ilfryn came over to give her a hand.

The pieces went together quickly, making a staff that was longer than Imryne was tall. "Give me a few hours, I can tell you what it does," Ilfryn told her.

"Thank you. And I need to go make a visit to Millithor. I need someone to blame this on that isn't them," she said.

Jevan had sat down, and Tar, having pulled on a short shift, had made her way onto his lap. "What if you don't?" he asked Imryne.

"What, if I tell Greyanna the truth? They probably all die. Greyanna's likely to tell us and the Jenn to go work together and squash them."

"And we go to destroy them but don't. We fold them into the house here."

She considered it, trying out the idea. "That will only work if she tells us and only us to take care of the problem. If the Jenn are involved...Hm. I might be able to work it so I can at least spare the family. I don't think Olorae's nearly as gullible as she looks, though. I might be able to ask for the privilege of going it alone, though."

Jevan nodded. Tar, on his lap, was watching both her and Ilfryn, who was turning the staff this way and that. "We are twelfth house, destroying number forty-four should be child's play. Olorae is suspicious of Millithor anyway. We get more troops, more Ellistraee priests, and lots of money with more coming."

Put that way, it was certainly tempting. "Destroy the house, leave a few token bodies around. Hm."

"Matron mother is the one that will probably have to die, but we can save the rest of the house. Kill a few orcs and be done with it."

"Which is too bad, my mother said she was young but had promise." Imryne frowned. "But if I can present her body to Greyanna...this would work."

"Greyanna will want this put to bed as soon as possible, she won't want the word getting out of Ellistraee worshippers in Fanaedar," Jevan pointed out.

Tar had perked up, and said, "No one is going to remember the faces of such a low house around town. We keep them here for a few weeks, and people will forget."

"We could attack as soon as we're prepared, maybe tonight," Imryne said. "The matron mother should be kept in the dark; her shade will be questioned."

Jevan smiled. "Yes, we kill her and then round up the rest quickly."

Imryne closed her eyes briefly, fitting the last few pieces of the puzzle into place. "Easy enough, it sounds like. I'm going to need to go tell my mother about this."

"Need me to talk to Zyn?" he asked.

"I think so. I think we can absorb the new people, but Zyn would know for sure." Imryne smiled then, remembering her talk with her mother earlier. "Though I'm going to need to bring you with me to talk to my mother one of these days. She wants to meet you."

Jevan took a startled breath. "Why?"

"She's had a number of elven lovers, in ritual, and she'd like to get to know you. Just as the lover of her daughter, not as anything else. She's fond of elves in general, I think."

"I can understand that, I suppose. If you want to do it now, I can talk to Zyn shortly," he said. "Or do you need to talk to her alone?"

"No, there's nothing I'm going to say to her that you can't hear. Come with me, what she says might change what you talk to Zyn about."

"All right." He kissed Tar and she slid off of his lap, rising to come over to kiss Imryne. Jevan was looking nervous as he stood and brushed imaginary dust off of his trousers.

Concerned, Imryne kissed Tar and then went to slide an arm around Jevan's waist. "Are you all right?" she asked.

Jevan nodded briefly. "Yes, it's just the whole meeting the parents nerves. And your mother is a powerful lady. If she doesn't like me for some reason, we could be parted again."

"You know, I really doubt that she won't like you. She knows I love you."

"I love you too, but she doesn't have to love me and I don't want to think about it if she doesn't," he said.

Imryne supposed that Triel, being a matron mother, would be a daunting figure for most people. Tar and Ilfryn certainly seemed to believe her so, though Imryne had never seen her mother be anything but sweet to them, or to any of her sisters' spouses. "I know, but I truly think she will. And if she doesn't, I can be stubborn about it, you know."

"I know you can be stubborn," he said with a smile. "Let's go before I lose my nerve and go talk to Zyn instead."

She laughed and bent to kiss Ilfryn, who was so deep in thought over the staff that he barely seemed to notice. They walked into the heart of the house, and despite her words she had a few nervous twingings in her stomach. Triel was a matron mother, and in this house her word was an absolute law. If she took a dislike to Jevan, and Imryne could not argue her out of it, Imryne would have the impossible choice to make between her family and leaving with Jevan.

She sincerely hoped to never have to make that choice. They were met at the door by Triel's guards, and escorted into the study. Triel came on only moments later. She smiled when she saw Jevan, an excellent sign. "Imryne and Jevan, I presume?"

"Yes, Mother, this is Jevan," Imryne said. "Jevan, Matron Mother Triel, my mother."

Triel extended her hand towards Jevan. "Just Triel or Mother, Jevan."

He bent over her hand, enclosing her fingers briefly in his. "Triel. It is good to meet you."

"Good to meet you. You have your grandmother's eyes," she said to Jevan as he let go of his hand and went to sit down. Jevan looked briefly startled by her statement. "Well, daughter, what news today?"

Imryne pulled a chair over for Jevan, and seated herself in her usual place. "You were right, mother. Those bodies hid something." She handed the Ellistraee ring back to Triel. "And Olorae suspects Millithor of being Abburth's contact, mostly because one of Millithor's people attempted to demand to see the bodies. Our idea is to make it look like we've eliminated Millithor, but instead fold most of Millithor into our house."

Triel slid the ring back onto its customary finger. "That was a young house error. It's a good plan, but Greyanna will want the mother."

"We were going to strike to kill her and bring the rest in, and destroy the physical house with a fire hot enough to destroy bodies within," she said. "I hand Greyanna the body of the matron mother, and Greyanna is none the wiser."

Her mother smiled. "It's a good plan daughter. We have the room, and the extra guards and priestesses of Ellistraee will be useful. Killing their mother will cause a bit of a rift, though."

It was a part of the plan that Imryne knew there were problems with, and hadn't managed to work them all out yet. "I know. They will not be very pleased with that. I may have to do some fast talking with the daughters and sons; if I win them over, I think this will go much more smoothly."

"Millithor is still a small house, so there should be less extended family to deal with and fewer guards but with Abburth backing they could put up more of a fight than expected. Do you think that assassination will benefit us more?" Triel took a breath in through her nose. "I was just contemplating killing Millithor's mother, blame the Jenn and in walks Imryne with a deal that saves the house. Saves the explaining, 'sorry we had to kill your mother but...'"

"That might be possible," she said, as the last pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "In fact, quite possible, and you're right, it would make this much easier. A strike team in Jenn colors, and me on their heels. We can ask Zyn for a small team that know how to keep their mouths shut."

"Only we three and whoever you choose would ever know," her mother said, smiling. "I think that might be best. You show up before the main strike happens, they assume it's the Jenn's force and not ours that destroys their house. Or we tell them that we are going to destroy the house, making it look like we beat the Jenn to it."

"I like that last. Give them a few minutes to think about it, grab the valuables, and come with us. And I have something that should prove that I'm telling the truth." She smiled a little. "That item that the five drow from Abburth died to protect."

"That should convince them." Triel chuckled slightly. "Again, daughter, very good thinking. Had we been a Lloth house, we would probably be first house by now with all the scheming."

Unwilling to take more than her share of credit, Imryne said, "I have to admit, that particular idea was not mine, but Jevan's."

One of Triel's eyebrows raised, and she focused her dark gaze on Jevan. He looked like he was trying very hard not to squirm. "Well, impressive by the both of you then. Even if it was just your idea to take Jevan as a lover."

"Thank you, then. He's been very helpful, so far. I will, Ilfryn is working on figuring out that item now. I'll go talk to Zyn, and see if he has a team for me."

It was almost funny, to see how Jevan wasn't quite sure where to look as Triel still watched him. "Good work. Are you going tonight?" she asked.

Imryne nodded. "That was my thought. Get this done and wrapped up, take the body to Greyanna. With luck, she will be impressed."

"Might want to tell her first," her mother suggested. " An explosion in the city tends to make her a bit ugly without fore-knowledge."

She resisted the urge to say, what, uglier than she is already? "True. I will go visit House Xalyth after all is arranged here, then."

Triel nodded, satisfied. "Good night daughter, and Jevan."

"Good night," she said, and rose, taking Jevan's hand in hers. They backed out of the study and then walked out of the matron mother's apartments. Jevan visibly relaxed once the heavy doors closed behind them. "See, not so bad," she said to him quietly.

"No, not so bad," he said, the words almost a sigh.

"She likes you, I don't think she's going to try to part us." She put her arm around him, resting a hand on his hip. "Let's go find Zyn."

Jevan put his arm over her shoulders, and they walked in step towards the outer house where Zyn usually was this time of day. Jevan seemed very unwilling to let go of her. Zyn was alone in the weaponsmaster's pinfold. "Zyn, I need your help with something," she said. "We need to kill a matron mother of a low house--and only the matron mother. Whoever goes in, the team needs to be able to keep their mothers shut, as we're going to be blaming the death on another house."

Zyn had been oiling one of his swords, and at her words he put the blade aside and stood. "So small is better," he said.

"Yes. I think I can probably talk Jevan into going along, if it helps." She glanced at Jevan, and smiled a little.

Her brother smiled widely, the scar across his face twisting his mouth a little grotesquely. "It does. So then I think Jevan, myself and Ilfryn should do. I would pull one of the house mages, but then they would have to know."

"All right," she said. "The second part of this is that I will have to go in and tell this house that I offer them sanctuary, and we will get them out and destroy the house before another house has a chance to do so. We will need to burn it so well that bones would be difficult to find. That's a job for our house guards, I think."

"It is. But they don't have to know anything other than we were ordered to destroy the house. On our return I will take charge of them, and we will go," Zyn said. "Jevan can take you back to talk to them quickly."

Imryne nodded, pleased. "We will need the matron mother's body, but I can retrieve that when I go in to speak with them. I need to go warn House Xalyth that we are taking action against Millithor."

"I will tell Ilfryn and come up with Jenn clothing for the three of us. If you can darken up Jevan when you get back, we can be on our way." Zyn looked like he was looking forward to this. There was a light in his eyes, and he looked at that moment so much like Triel when she was hard at work on what she did best.

She wanted to tell him that, but she didn't know how he would take it. Instead, she just said, "Ilfryn can do that. All right. Jevan, shall we?" Zyn nodded, and she smiled at him and strode back to the set. She had a quick, sketchy wash, put a few extra pins in her hair, and pulled on one of her heavy dresses. Jevan cleaned up as well, pulling on a clean house uniform. The slave collar around his neck was getting a little scratched, Imryne saw as he was binding his hair back. She would have to see if she could polish it a little sometime soon. She briefed Ilfryn and Tar on what her mother and Zyn had said, and left to go speak with Greyanna.

Imryne called for another two guards, and with them at either side and one step back and Jevan directly at her back she left for Xalyth. House Xalyth was a massive structure at the far end of Fanaedar, impressive not only in scale but for the sheer amount of ornamentation on it. There was scarcely a surface that had been left uncarved, and what could not be carved was inlaid with metallic tile. Houses Kilsek and Vandree flanked Xalyth, just as massive as the first house. Kilsek rivaled Xalyth for ornamentation, but Vandree's style was more reserved, far more restful to the eye.

She arrived at the gate and was met by a bored-looking guard, who straightened suddenly when she told him that Melrae Imryne was seeking audience with Xalyth Greyanna. The guard scurried inside, returning in a few minutes to escort them to a sitting room on one side of the massive, echoing reception hall just inside the front courtyard. The sitting room was just as ornamented as the outside, crawling with Lloth symbology.

Greyanna appeared, dressed casually in a sleeveless dress that was embroidered subtly with shimmering thread. It looked better on her than anything she had ever worn to council, Imryne thought. Greyanna was so often overshadowed by her clothing that it was a shock to realize that, out of her ornate dresses with high collars, she was something approaching passable, even attractive. Her hair was bound simply with a silver ring at the nape of her neck, a warrior style that let her hair fall almost to its full length, to her knees. "Good evening, Imryne. News already?" she asked.

"Indeed. I've discovered which house has ties to Abburth. It's a low house, and should not pose any real challenge to destroy," she said.

"Which house?"

"Millithor. A young house that made a very bad mistake."

There was an undertone to Greyanna's voice that made the hairs on the back of Imryne's neck stand up, a kind of sleek hunger. "A deadly one. Well, alert the Jenn and have them destroyed. Have them bring the body of Lythrana here. I think that is her name. Make sure they cut the infant out of her stomach and kill it as well."

Imryne did not flinch, though she hadn't known that the matron mother of Millithor was so pregnant that the child would be considered a threat. "Very well. Though I think that my house could do this without the Jenn's help. It's a very small house."

"That is up to you, then, if you don't mind the risk." Greyanna looked almost amused, her lips curving in a slight smile as if to say, and you do not wish to share the spoils, do you?

Let Greyanna believe that Melrae was greedy. All the better to cover the truth. "We do not mind. Did you want the body of the infant as well, or shall we burn it?"

"Burn it," she said, waving one hand dismissively. "Are you striking in the third period?"

Imryne inclined her head. "That was my plan. I don't want to give them a chance to discover that they have been found out."

"It's a good plan. I will alert Kilsek and Vandree. The rest can hear about it tomorrow," Greyanna said.

"Or see it, when the house goes up in flames soon." Imryne smiled, just a bit. "My House thanks you for the chance to eliminate this house. It will be a great pleasure."

Greyanna smiled in return. "I am sure it will. Sorn sends his love. If you have some time in the future and would like to see him, feel free to stop by."

Goddess, Sorn. Whatever possessed you? "I might do that. Is he still pleasing you?"

"Very much so," the other female said, and the sleek hunger was back, and far sharper than before. "I am heading back now to watch him please some of my other husbands and wives."

Somehow, Imryne found it in her to give Greyanna a satisfied nod. "Oh, good. My mother will be happy to hear it."

"Yes, he is very popular." Greyanna said. "Good ilit, Imryne, and good hunting."

"Thank you, Greyanna," Imryne said, and bowed. She held her horror at arm's length all the way back to Melrae, and into the rooms of her set. The blood thudded thick and dull in her ears.

Before the opening bell, House Millithor will be no more.