The Nemesis Blade by Elaina J Davidson

contain this meeting to the natural order of things, and I
will see you in my office at nine tomorrow.”
    Mr Longwater
merely nodded.
    “Which member
from Beacon aided Mr Longwater in this venture?” Isaiah asked.
    Silence, and
then, “That would be me.” The Beaconite sighed and rose. “Jason
Mullar.”
    “Thank you, Mr
Mullar. If you would be so kind as to join Mr Longwater in my
office tomorrow? Understand a representative of the Valleur council
will be with us, as well as your ambassador, sir.”
    Jason Mullar,
like to Josepp Longwater, nodded.
    Isaiah smiled.
“With that out of the way, there is one further point of business.
Mr Kris Westlake, where are you?”
    The Beaconite
rose.
    “Mr Westlake,
those two gentlemen would like to have a word, if you please.”
    “I haven’t
done anything!” Westlake blurted.
    “Relax, sir.
It is a mere problem they have and you may be able to assist them.
You will not in any way be detained or disadvantaged, I promise
you.”
    Kris Westlake
stared over his shoulder. One swathed man, one half-naked, both
exceedingly strange. Well, a night in the Valla Palace and now a
mysterious meeting; he could spin tales back home.
    “I’ll speak
with them, Mr Kronig.”
    “Thank you.
Now, please continue.”
    Isaiah left
the podium and wandered back down the aisle as if he had not a care
in the world. He winked at Fuma and Amunti as he passed into the
outer space.
    While Amunti
and Fuma awaited Westlake, who now dragged his feet, Fuma murmured,
“How did he know we wanted Westlake?”
    “I told him
while you were staring at the Maze yonder.”
    “He was most
effective, wasn’t he?”
    Amunti
grinned. “I could think of a few worlds that could use the likes of
Isaiah Kronig.”
    Kris Westlake
halted before them. The gathering was silent and all eyes were
trained on them.
    “Mr Westlake,
we are no threat to you,” Fuma said. “We heard you recently spoke
to the Vallas and something you said has proven upsetting. We would
like to hear it from you, and that is all.”
    Relief flooded
into the Beaconite. “No problem. Whatever I know.”
    “Excellent.
Shall we find something to drink while we talk?” Fuma offered.
    “Great.”
    All three
joined Isaiah and, as the swing doors swung shut, the noise of many
voices erupted inside.
    Amunti
laughed. “The same worlds over!”
    Isaiah
approached. “I need to return to Galilan to do homework on the
conference.”
    “I shall call
to Sirlasin to return you to your office. Isaiah Kronig, thank you
for your help, and well done. You are good for Valaris.”
    Isaiah gave
the sweetest smile.
    Fuma stilled a
moment and then a harassed looking Sirlasin was there. “All well?”
he asked.
    “Put my two
dinars in, yes, but now I need a lift home, so to speak,” the
Electan murmured.
    Sirlasin
nodded, flicked a glance at Westlake, and took Isaiah away.
    “Come, Mr
Westlake, the coffee shop is that way,” Amunti prompted.
    “Please, call
me Kris …”
     
     
    Lintusillem
     
    Jonas handed
the drawing over.
    “He says
Luvanor, Sanctuary or Valaris.”
    Minos stared
at the layers. “Not Valaris. Wrong layers. Sanctuary, maybe, but
I’d wager Luvanor. You say he drew this? It’s damned good.”
    “There is
drawing and then there is drawing,” Jonas said. “And now I know the
difference.”
    Minos stared
at him. “Really?”
    “Hell, yes.
How long before we have answers?”
    Minos
shrugged. “Six months.”
    Jonas barked a
laugh. “You have one week. What can I do to help?”
    His brother
looked down on the drawing and then at his books.
    “Start by
brewing lots of tea, brother, and I may need you to get samples
…”

Chapter
9
     
    Farspeaker
skills cannot be taught. An adept is born with the talent of
hearing ‘voices’ and then trained to listen specifically.
    ~ Steps of the
Magical Condition
     
     
    Xen III
     
    I t was akin to entering a different world.
    The
Peacekeeper Palace was white and silver light, but the