Betrayal: Book Three of Allies and Adversaries by Kevin Gordon
^Oh Uld, this is the best time ever!^
Uld was dancing with three women with his shirt hanging outside his pants, shuffling his pale, thin body back and forth as Kurd cast those words to him, stumbling through the thicket of gyrating bodies. In their minds, a hundred different songs shuffled back and forth, as they played with each other on the cast-net. Uld was uncharacteristically carefree—his boots were off, abandoned beneath a pile of clothes. Sweat glistened on his body, and a perpetual toothy grin was plastered to his face.
^Well, Kurd my friend, I deserve it!^
It was on the tallest spire on Topside that a massive celebration roared through the night. Uld invited three hundred of his associates—some Leviathan politicians, some from the clubs he helped oversee, others from CRODAM, a few TELREC, and many, many performers to a suite that had a view of the stars. Through all his life, Uld operated in the lower levels of Core and Foundation, doing back-alley deals, getting pleasured in places a few steps below the pavement, all in darkness and hushed tones. Now, with the death of Ksilte, SC-1, and all those who stood against him in the Leviathan, he wanted to declare his victory to Holis itself, finally bask in the light of its radiance.
^Someone get that damn kid back on the stage!^
Around the perimeter of the hall, performers gyrated and danced. Some were ancient, withered specimens, some were buxom, healthy women and muscular men, others were adolescents, stolen off the streets, chained and forced to perform for food and clothing. Two guards grabbed the child Uld cast about; a young girl who writhed and struggled against them, kicking their legs with all her might, aiming for that soft spot she learned, too early on, that men had. They were ready for her and in moments she was back on the stage, people all around laughing at her. Kurd walked over to her, grabbed her face, and pulled her face down to his.
“You better dance sweet and hot, little girl. Or I’ll go kill your parents. You hear!”
Kurd hated to speak, but this girl was too young for an implant. She scowled at him, and started to slowly dance again.
“Spread those legs, sweet thing.” Kurd thought of all he would do to her later on, after the party broke up. He looked over to Herdl, who was sitting in front of two young boys that danced wildly for him. He shook his head, thinking what was in store for those boys later—sex, then death, parts of them eaten by that powerful representative of the Leviathan.
Sick bastard.
Over on a sofa sat Suld and Aeolle. Suld had just arrived, keeping up the pretense of his depraved attitude. Aeolle was happy to see him, as she felt very out of place. The party started off well enough, with Uld making speech after speech, thanking his faithful friends, casting of the future under his leadership, rattling off new appointments he forced Iant Cou, the majority leader, to make. But it quickly degenerated, leaving her sick and nauseous.
^Where have you been, Suld?^ she asked, wrapping her arm around his, drawing some comfort. ^You know I miss you if you’re gone too long.^
^Business.^ Suld scanned the room, making mental note of all present. There were some he didn’t expect to see, enjoying themselves, and others he expected to see that were not there. He nest that Uld had executed many people in the past few roas, eliminating those that he even slightly suspected might threaten him. It was nest that the TELREC did his dirty work.
^Why aren’t you dancing with everyone?^ asked Aeolle. ^I know dozens of women who would love to do things to you. And men too. Or is it you really like being with me?^
Suld knew he wouldn’t be able to take this for too long. What appeared in front paled to the things being done on the cast-net. He longed to return to Gan-Elldon, and take a very long shower.
^I’m just tired. A long roa. ^
Aeolle drew close to his face, as if they were lovers, then cast softly and privately. ^You don’t have to lie to me. You don’t want to be here, any more than I do.^
^What do you mean?^ he asked, in shock. ^I couldn’t wait to help Uld celebrate! Later I’ll join the fun.^
^I’m a woman, not a little girl,^ rebuked Aeolle. ^I’ve been around all kinds of men. Rich, powerful, smart, stupid, crazy, boring, faithful and depraved. I know men. I may not know women, but I know men. I know you, Suld. You put on a good act, they all believe you. Only I know what kind of man you are. Maybe that’s why I stay around you so much.^
Suld sighed. ^How long?^
^Long enough.^ She crossed her legs and leaned back, letting out a long sigh, the age seeming to appear on her face in an instant. ^You and Ksilte. My, how I miss him.^
Suld nodded, his lips drawn tight, feeling he was at a disadvantage.
^I confess, I’ve needed to cesct with you for a while,^ cast Aeolle privately. ^I know you probably respected Ksilte, believed in his causes. You are an honorable man. That’s why . . . you know, my life has always been based around men. I’ve changed myself countless times to please the man I was with at the time. If he wanted a strong woman, I was that. If he wanted a little girl he could boss around, and smack, well, I was that too, just to get the attention. All my life I’ve drifted from fantasy to fantasy, a chameleon, blending in wherever I’ve been. Yet through it all, I’ve felt something solid, beneath it all. When I wake up, and the man of the night is still sleeping, snoring in bed, I get up and go to the mirror. Sometimes I see that woman, buried beneath it all, serious and forgiving. I’ve tried to bury her, indulge myself even more in the labyrinth of the cast-net, but when Ksilte lost his son, I don’t know. I can take a lot of things, but this stuff done with children, I just, well . . . they are innocent. They haven’t even had time to find out who they are, what they want to be.^
^We are on Novan. There is nothing for them to be.^
^I know, I know. Just the cast-net. But they can still be someone, have their own values. Can’t they?^
Suld looked at her deeply, seeing things for the first time he couldn’t believe he didn’t see before.
^You were one of those children, weren’t you?^
Aeolle leaned forward and turned away, clasping her hands together tightly, gritting her teeth.
^Yes,^ she grudgingly admitted. ^I had to dance like that, for men and women, naked. I had to do things, things I didn’t even understand, just to please other people! I had to hide myself, hide who I was, from those people, only imagining what they were doing with me on the cast-net, what was done with the countless virt-lives made of me. How I hated them! But I grew to understand they were the only way I would be able to make it in these globes, by satisfying them, making myself necessary for them.^
Aeolle looked up into his eyes, the first man she ever told about her youth, and saw only stern, unforgiving judgment.
^I know you don’t like who I am, but did you grow up like that?^ she demanded, visibly hurt. ^Did you have to face every new roa with not hope, but despair, with misery? Face parents who sold you to that hell, who would watch from the audience, and negotiate who would have you every night?^
Suld cursed himself for his quick judgment.
^There is a filth on me that will never wash away,^ she cast wiping away a few tears. ^When I sleep at night, alone, I am curled into so tight a ball, trying to hide myself from prying hands and peering minds. I crave vindication, for someone to come out, and yell at the top of their lungs; ‘what you went through was wrong! The people who did it should be punished!’^
She sat back in the cushions, breathing heavy, letting the tears stream down her face. Suld brought her close to him, his arm over her shoulders.
^I’m sorry, Aeolle. Truly, I am. No, I have never had to experience that. Maybe that’s why I have more respect now for men like Ksilte. I grew up far away from Novan, far away from their addiction to the cast-net, their negation of their selves. I grew up with parents who told me I could do anything, learn anything. Parents who loved and cherished me, and were there for me. I think myself brave sometimes but Ksilte, and Novans like him, are truly the brave ones. Those who can face the temptation and resist it, turn away from
it, even after tasting it, they are the miracle of our culture. I curse the roa his life faded from my view.^
Suld held her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers, smiling gently to her.
^You are so . . . kind, Suld. So kind. I need to tell you something. You may not like me, after this.^
^Go ahead.^
Aeolle wiped the tears from her face, and regained her composure slowly, sitting up to face Suld.
^I was there when Ksilte died. Well, not when he actually died, but I visited him with Uld, when the TELREC had captured him. My heart died that roa, to see him in such pain, on the floor. Uld was very mean to him, gloating over his defeat, showing him a virt-life of his son in a . . . fleshival.^
Suld had to concentrate hard to restrain himself, to restrain his thoughts. There were too many here who delighted in gleaning errant casts, blackmailing those with too open a mind. He kept a forced smile on his face, snuggling close to Aeolle.
^His son is alive?^
^I believe so. Uld only got the virt-life—he had no need, or desire, to see if he was still alive. Suld, Ksilte pleaded to me! He begged me remember this other side, the real Aeolle. He cast that I could. He touched me, and that’s why I’m casting to you.^ She took a deep breath. ^Uld wants Ellore. He will do anything in his power to find her, and make her his. He wants this final piece of vengeance against Ksilte, and those like him. You wouldn’t believe how he thinks about it. It is all he thinks about. He may have tortured and killed his enemies, but he has been saving himself for her. After this party, after things have settled down, he will hunt her, until he has her. He already tried, and almost got to her as she was fleeing her home after Ksilte died.^ She drew herself up, facing him with a resolution he had never seen before. ^I just couldn’t live with myself, if I didn’t tell someone. Someone who might be able to stop him.^
Aeolle glanced over, and saw Uld approaching them. Suld was still holding her hand, so she reached over and kissed him. Uld plopped his sweaty body down on the sofa next to her.
^Can anyone join in?^ asked Uld, leering at the two of them. She kept on kissing him while she cast.
^Can’t you see we’re having a tender moment?^
Uld, very high on several sorts of mental stimulants, slouched next to her.
^I didn’t know my parties brought that out of people! Suld, you know, I always felt you were like a brother to me.^ He faced forward, as if Suld were standing in front of him. ^I mean, we agree on everything! We always agree on everything. Suld, Uld, Uld and Suld, our names just go together, don’t you think? But we never do anything together. Why is that?^
^You always seem too busy,^ replied Suld.
^You know, you’re right. I was too busy before, fighting that damned Ksilte.^ He spat on the floor. ^That’s what his name always made me want to do. Spit a real big one! Ha! What a man that Ksilte was, and I do mean was! Once those ‘RECs got through with him, I’ll bet there was nothing left. They looked hungry.^
Uld grew thoughtful for a moment, thinking on Gilc and Errece, the two TELREC with Denged. Denged was invited to the festivities, for after all, Uld appreciated that he eliminated Ksilte. But he was very glad when Denged refused, as he couldn’t imagine the three of them here.
^They had to be the meanest ‘RECs I’ve ever seen! But that was then . . .^ Uld woke out of his thoughtfulness. ^And it wasn’t me. You never seemed to have a problem with those stinkin’ ‘RECs, did you Suld?^
^No.^
^Nope. I always see you put ‘em in their place,^ chuckled Uld. ^They come in, all big and puffed out, and one word from you, and they go all soft and cuddly. But only with you. I may get what I want from them, but I gotta ask ‘em, real nice. See they like that. They know they’re the boss with me. Not with you. I’ll bet they hate being nice to you, doing things just to please you. I’ll bet they’d like to have something on you.^
Suld stopped kissing Aeolle, and leaned over to face Uld.
^What did you cast?^
Uld looked at Suld with eyes of malice, dancing with a black hate, and Suld looked back with eyes of death, full of an absolute confidence in himself. But Uld had many drugs in his system and stimulants working on his CMS system and he turned away, knowing he was at a disadvantage, not up at the moment for a confrontation of that magnitude.
^I have other things to do. Other women to find.^ Uld smiled. ^Then maybe you and me will get together, Suld.^
^Maybe.^
^Tell me Uld,^ cast Aeolle, trying to distract him. ^Why do you tolerate Kurd? He has all that power, in his hold over Herdl. He, through Herdl, could threaten any of your plans.^
^Yeah, I suppose.^ Uld looked over at Kurd, who was still dancing with some women, smiling and shaking his hands in the air. ^I don’t know.^ His mind went cloudy for a moment. ^For some reason, I have never been interested in causing him pain. Besides, he always does what I ask, even making Herdl do my bidding. No, he has always been with me, loyal and faithful. And with Ksilte and SC-1 gone, and people like him under my thrall, the Leviathan belongs to me.^
Uld sprung to his feet, throwing his hands in the air.
^I rule these damn globes!^
Cheers went up all around, as he made his way back into the throng of people.
^You know he means it,^ cast Aeolle. ^You like a challenge, and so does he. Right now, you are the most powerful Novan, the only one who can challenge the TELREC. He may have Ellore on his mind, but afterwards, it will turn to you.^
Suld nodded. ^Thank you for telling me of his plans. I owe Ksilte a lot, if not for me, then for all the good he and his colleagues did on Novan. Their deaths must not be in vain. And good people, good women, like yourself,^ she blushed a deep red, ^and Ellore, must never be allowed to fall into the hands of those like Uld. I have been content to sit on the side, playing this game of pretense, ignoring the atrocities going on around me, so I could hold onto those things I judge to be precious. But the time has come to risk all, just to do what’s right.^ He looked around the room, at the naked children, the mutilated bodies hung high for sport, the countless men and women who planned to do much worse after the party, in private. ^Never again will I tolerate being at a place like this.^
Suld reached over, and kissed her again.
^Thank you.^
Aeolle watched him leave, sailing through the people like they were not even there. They seemed to float away in front of him, so powerful he was. She got up and went over to Herdl, who was still watching the young boys dance. She watched him for a few moments, her mind coming to a decision.
^Herdl! You sexy thing.^
He sheepishly turned around.
^I have been looking for you all night,^ she cast with sultry eyes. ^You look like you need me.^
^I do?^ he asked, glancing furtively to see if it was some trick.
^Yes.^ She grabbed his arm, and pulled him away with her. ^I want to spend all night nesting you moan my name.^
The dead, sickly thing that was Herdl’s soul moaned, while he looked back longingly at the boys, then followed Aeolle out the door. Uld watched as they left, something about the scene leaving a bad taste that he wouldn’t soon forget.
Chapter 8
Uld was dancing with three women with his shirt hanging outside his pants, shuffling his pale, thin body back and forth as Kurd cast those words to him, stumbling through the thicket of gyrating bodies. In their minds, a hundred different songs shuffled back and forth, as they played with each other on the cast-net. Uld was uncharacteristically carefree—his boots were off, abandoned beneath a pile of clothes. Sweat glistened on his body, and a perpetual toothy grin was plastered to his face.
^Well, Kurd my friend, I deserve it!^
It was on the tallest spire on Topside that a massive celebration roared through the night. Uld invited three hundred of his associates—some Leviathan politicians, some from the clubs he helped oversee, others from CRODAM, a few TELREC, and many, many performers to a suite that had a view of the stars. Through all his life, Uld operated in the lower levels of Core and Foundation, doing back-alley deals, getting pleasured in places a few steps below the pavement, all in darkness and hushed tones. Now, with the death of Ksilte, SC-1, and all those who stood against him in the Leviathan, he wanted to declare his victory to Holis itself, finally bask in the light of its radiance.
^Someone get that damn kid back on the stage!^
Around the perimeter of the hall, performers gyrated and danced. Some were ancient, withered specimens, some were buxom, healthy women and muscular men, others were adolescents, stolen off the streets, chained and forced to perform for food and clothing. Two guards grabbed the child Uld cast about; a young girl who writhed and struggled against them, kicking their legs with all her might, aiming for that soft spot she learned, too early on, that men had. They were ready for her and in moments she was back on the stage, people all around laughing at her. Kurd walked over to her, grabbed her face, and pulled her face down to his.
“You better dance sweet and hot, little girl. Or I’ll go kill your parents. You hear!”
Kurd hated to speak, but this girl was too young for an implant. She scowled at him, and started to slowly dance again.
“Spread those legs, sweet thing.” Kurd thought of all he would do to her later on, after the party broke up. He looked over to Herdl, who was sitting in front of two young boys that danced wildly for him. He shook his head, thinking what was in store for those boys later—sex, then death, parts of them eaten by that powerful representative of the Leviathan.
Sick bastard.
Over on a sofa sat Suld and Aeolle. Suld had just arrived, keeping up the pretense of his depraved attitude. Aeolle was happy to see him, as she felt very out of place. The party started off well enough, with Uld making speech after speech, thanking his faithful friends, casting of the future under his leadership, rattling off new appointments he forced Iant Cou, the majority leader, to make. But it quickly degenerated, leaving her sick and nauseous.
^Where have you been, Suld?^ she asked, wrapping her arm around his, drawing some comfort. ^You know I miss you if you’re gone too long.^
^Business.^ Suld scanned the room, making mental note of all present. There were some he didn’t expect to see, enjoying themselves, and others he expected to see that were not there. He nest that Uld had executed many people in the past few roas, eliminating those that he even slightly suspected might threaten him. It was nest that the TELREC did his dirty work.
^Why aren’t you dancing with everyone?^ asked Aeolle. ^I know dozens of women who would love to do things to you. And men too. Or is it you really like being with me?^
Suld knew he wouldn’t be able to take this for too long. What appeared in front paled to the things being done on the cast-net. He longed to return to Gan-Elldon, and take a very long shower.
^I’m just tired. A long roa. ^
Aeolle drew close to his face, as if they were lovers, then cast softly and privately. ^You don’t have to lie to me. You don’t want to be here, any more than I do.^
^What do you mean?^ he asked, in shock. ^I couldn’t wait to help Uld celebrate! Later I’ll join the fun.^
^I’m a woman, not a little girl,^ rebuked Aeolle. ^I’ve been around all kinds of men. Rich, powerful, smart, stupid, crazy, boring, faithful and depraved. I know men. I may not know women, but I know men. I know you, Suld. You put on a good act, they all believe you. Only I know what kind of man you are. Maybe that’s why I stay around you so much.^
Suld sighed. ^How long?^
^Long enough.^ She crossed her legs and leaned back, letting out a long sigh, the age seeming to appear on her face in an instant. ^You and Ksilte. My, how I miss him.^
Suld nodded, his lips drawn tight, feeling he was at a disadvantage.
^I confess, I’ve needed to cesct with you for a while,^ cast Aeolle privately. ^I know you probably respected Ksilte, believed in his causes. You are an honorable man. That’s why . . . you know, my life has always been based around men. I’ve changed myself countless times to please the man I was with at the time. If he wanted a strong woman, I was that. If he wanted a little girl he could boss around, and smack, well, I was that too, just to get the attention. All my life I’ve drifted from fantasy to fantasy, a chameleon, blending in wherever I’ve been. Yet through it all, I’ve felt something solid, beneath it all. When I wake up, and the man of the night is still sleeping, snoring in bed, I get up and go to the mirror. Sometimes I see that woman, buried beneath it all, serious and forgiving. I’ve tried to bury her, indulge myself even more in the labyrinth of the cast-net, but when Ksilte lost his son, I don’t know. I can take a lot of things, but this stuff done with children, I just, well . . . they are innocent. They haven’t even had time to find out who they are, what they want to be.^
^We are on Novan. There is nothing for them to be.^
^I know, I know. Just the cast-net. But they can still be someone, have their own values. Can’t they?^
Suld looked at her deeply, seeing things for the first time he couldn’t believe he didn’t see before.
^You were one of those children, weren’t you?^
Aeolle leaned forward and turned away, clasping her hands together tightly, gritting her teeth.
^Yes,^ she grudgingly admitted. ^I had to dance like that, for men and women, naked. I had to do things, things I didn’t even understand, just to please other people! I had to hide myself, hide who I was, from those people, only imagining what they were doing with me on the cast-net, what was done with the countless virt-lives made of me. How I hated them! But I grew to understand they were the only way I would be able to make it in these globes, by satisfying them, making myself necessary for them.^
Aeolle looked up into his eyes, the first man she ever told about her youth, and saw only stern, unforgiving judgment.
^I know you don’t like who I am, but did you grow up like that?^ she demanded, visibly hurt. ^Did you have to face every new roa with not hope, but despair, with misery? Face parents who sold you to that hell, who would watch from the audience, and negotiate who would have you every night?^
Suld cursed himself for his quick judgment.
^There is a filth on me that will never wash away,^ she cast wiping away a few tears. ^When I sleep at night, alone, I am curled into so tight a ball, trying to hide myself from prying hands and peering minds. I crave vindication, for someone to come out, and yell at the top of their lungs; ‘what you went through was wrong! The people who did it should be punished!’^
She sat back in the cushions, breathing heavy, letting the tears stream down her face. Suld brought her close to him, his arm over her shoulders.
^I’m sorry, Aeolle. Truly, I am. No, I have never had to experience that. Maybe that’s why I have more respect now for men like Ksilte. I grew up far away from Novan, far away from their addiction to the cast-net, their negation of their selves. I grew up with parents who told me I could do anything, learn anything. Parents who loved and cherished me, and were there for me. I think myself brave sometimes but Ksilte, and Novans like him, are truly the brave ones. Those who can face the temptation and resist it, turn away from
Suld held her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers, smiling gently to her.
^You are so . . . kind, Suld. So kind. I need to tell you something. You may not like me, after this.^
^Go ahead.^
Aeolle wiped the tears from her face, and regained her composure slowly, sitting up to face Suld.
^I was there when Ksilte died. Well, not when he actually died, but I visited him with Uld, when the TELREC had captured him. My heart died that roa, to see him in such pain, on the floor. Uld was very mean to him, gloating over his defeat, showing him a virt-life of his son in a . . . fleshival.^
Suld had to concentrate hard to restrain himself, to restrain his thoughts. There were too many here who delighted in gleaning errant casts, blackmailing those with too open a mind. He kept a forced smile on his face, snuggling close to Aeolle.
^His son is alive?^
^I believe so. Uld only got the virt-life—he had no need, or desire, to see if he was still alive. Suld, Ksilte pleaded to me! He begged me remember this other side, the real Aeolle. He cast that I could. He touched me, and that’s why I’m casting to you.^ She took a deep breath. ^Uld wants Ellore. He will do anything in his power to find her, and make her his. He wants this final piece of vengeance against Ksilte, and those like him. You wouldn’t believe how he thinks about it. It is all he thinks about. He may have tortured and killed his enemies, but he has been saving himself for her. After this party, after things have settled down, he will hunt her, until he has her. He already tried, and almost got to her as she was fleeing her home after Ksilte died.^ She drew herself up, facing him with a resolution he had never seen before. ^I just couldn’t live with myself, if I didn’t tell someone. Someone who might be able to stop him.^
Aeolle glanced over, and saw Uld approaching them. Suld was still holding her hand, so she reached over and kissed him. Uld plopped his sweaty body down on the sofa next to her.
^Can anyone join in?^ asked Uld, leering at the two of them. She kept on kissing him while she cast.
^Can’t you see we’re having a tender moment?^
Uld, very high on several sorts of mental stimulants, slouched next to her.
^I didn’t know my parties brought that out of people! Suld, you know, I always felt you were like a brother to me.^ He faced forward, as if Suld were standing in front of him. ^I mean, we agree on everything! We always agree on everything. Suld, Uld, Uld and Suld, our names just go together, don’t you think? But we never do anything together. Why is that?^
^You always seem too busy,^ replied Suld.
^You know, you’re right. I was too busy before, fighting that damned Ksilte.^ He spat on the floor. ^That’s what his name always made me want to do. Spit a real big one! Ha! What a man that Ksilte was, and I do mean was! Once those ‘RECs got through with him, I’ll bet there was nothing left. They looked hungry.^
Uld grew thoughtful for a moment, thinking on Gilc and Errece, the two TELREC with Denged. Denged was invited to the festivities, for after all, Uld appreciated that he eliminated Ksilte. But he was very glad when Denged refused, as he couldn’t imagine the three of them here.
^They had to be the meanest ‘RECs I’ve ever seen! But that was then . . .^ Uld woke out of his thoughtfulness. ^And it wasn’t me. You never seemed to have a problem with those stinkin’ ‘RECs, did you Suld?^
^No.^
^Nope. I always see you put ‘em in their place,^ chuckled Uld. ^They come in, all big and puffed out, and one word from you, and they go all soft and cuddly. But only with you. I may get what I want from them, but I gotta ask ‘em, real nice. See they like that. They know they’re the boss with me. Not with you. I’ll bet they hate being nice to you, doing things just to please you. I’ll bet they’d like to have something on you.^
Suld stopped kissing Aeolle, and leaned over to face Uld.
^What did you cast?^
Uld looked at Suld with eyes of malice, dancing with a black hate, and Suld looked back with eyes of death, full of an absolute confidence in himself. But Uld had many drugs in his system and stimulants working on his CMS system and he turned away, knowing he was at a disadvantage, not up at the moment for a confrontation of that magnitude.
^I have other things to do. Other women to find.^ Uld smiled. ^Then maybe you and me will get together, Suld.^
^Maybe.^
^Tell me Uld,^ cast Aeolle, trying to distract him. ^Why do you tolerate Kurd? He has all that power, in his hold over Herdl. He, through Herdl, could threaten any of your plans.^
^Yeah, I suppose.^ Uld looked over at Kurd, who was still dancing with some women, smiling and shaking his hands in the air. ^I don’t know.^ His mind went cloudy for a moment. ^For some reason, I have never been interested in causing him pain. Besides, he always does what I ask, even making Herdl do my bidding. No, he has always been with me, loyal and faithful. And with Ksilte and SC-1 gone, and people like him under my thrall, the Leviathan belongs to me.^
Uld sprung to his feet, throwing his hands in the air.
^I rule these damn globes!^
Cheers went up all around, as he made his way back into the throng of people.
^You know he means it,^ cast Aeolle. ^You like a challenge, and so does he. Right now, you are the most powerful Novan, the only one who can challenge the TELREC. He may have Ellore on his mind, but afterwards, it will turn to you.^
Suld nodded. ^Thank you for telling me of his plans. I owe Ksilte a lot, if not for me, then for all the good he and his colleagues did on Novan. Their deaths must not be in vain. And good people, good women, like yourself,^ she blushed a deep red, ^and Ellore, must never be allowed to fall into the hands of those like Uld. I have been content to sit on the side, playing this game of pretense, ignoring the atrocities going on around me, so I could hold onto those things I judge to be precious. But the time has come to risk all, just to do what’s right.^ He looked around the room, at the naked children, the mutilated bodies hung high for sport, the countless men and women who planned to do much worse after the party, in private. ^Never again will I tolerate being at a place like this.^
Suld reached over, and kissed her again.
^Thank you.^
Aeolle watched him leave, sailing through the people like they were not even there. They seemed to float away in front of him, so powerful he was. She got up and went over to Herdl, who was still watching the young boys dance. She watched him for a few moments, her mind coming to a decision.
^Herdl! You sexy thing.^
He sheepishly turned around.
^I have been looking for you all night,^ she cast with sultry eyes. ^You look like you need me.^
^I do?^ he asked, glancing furtively to see if it was some trick.
^Yes.^ She grabbed his arm, and pulled him away with her. ^I want to spend all night nesting you moan my name.^
The dead, sickly thing that was Herdl’s soul moaned, while he looked back longingly at the boys, then followed Aeolle out the door. Uld watched as they left, something about the scene leaving a bad taste that he wouldn’t soon forget.
Chapter 8