The Nemesis Blade by Elaina J Davidson Page A

farspeaker
enclave was a leap back in time. Set in the hills outside Shanghai,
it was a low, single storey building. A series of walls surrounded
the entire complex. It was much like a low fort from bygone days,
the image reinforced by the flying of various pennants.
    Inside light
was had from many fires. There was at least one roaring in every
chamber and the whole was somewhat smoky. Ceilings were low and
wood-beamed and, despite the flames, it was cold. The floors were
flagged, with multi-coloured rugs scattered about. All furniture
was of wood, large and functional.
    The major-domo
took them out to the hills in an electric vehicle, which had Teroux
in rapture - and planning to incorporate it into his stage
production - and handed them over to a man with the peculiar name
of Daisy.
    After Albert
left - it felt more like abandonment - Daisy looked the three
Vallas over with insolence.
    Tianoman
bristled and Tristan laid a hand on his cousin’s shoulder and
smiled at the man confronting them.
    “We would
appreciate it if you could take us to the leader of this
facility.”
    The man
snorted. “We don’t have a leader.”
    Tristan
reminded himself to be patient. “May I then enquire as to whom we
should speak to regarding finding someone?”
    “We are not in
the business of finding someone.”
    Tianoman
bristled again and this time he was not stopped. “Now listen here,
flower man, we have leave from your Peacekeeper to use the chain.
Either you get your butt and mouth moving or Le Maximillian will
hear of it.”
    Daisy flicked
another insolent glance. “The Peacekeeper has no authority
here.”
    Teroux smacked
palms together and stepped forward. “I hope, my good man, you are
at least slightly in awe of Elixir?”
    The man’s
whole being stilled. “Elixir is revered among all farspeakers.”
    Teroux snapped
his fingers. “And he is my grandfather.”
    “Ours, idiot.”
Tianoman murmured.
    Tristan held a
hand aloft. “We are farspeakers also, Daisy.”
    “Is that a
threat?”
    Tristan threw
his hands in the air. “No, damn it. I am merely saying we are aware
of the procedures regarding communication over distance. We would
not unduly upset your current links and we do not seek to usurp
anything. Our grandfather is a farspeaker, as we are, and all four
of us require your help. We know well we cannot simply piggy-back
an existing loop.”
    Daisy stared
from one to the other and then, “Follow me.”
    He turned on
his heel to stalk through smoky chamber after smoky chamber. The
three followed. He finally came to a halt in a circular room. A
fireplace burned smokeless in a central pit - that meant it was a
magical creation - and six men and two women sat around it, each on
a cushion lotus-style. They were of varying age and dress, and all
had eyes closed. There was nothing else in the chamber, other than
an exit opposite.
    Tristan
glanced enquiringly at Daisy, who seemed uncertain, so he tapped
the man on the arm and gestured back into the previous chamber.
Daisy nodded and all four trooped out.
    “They are out
there; we cannot interrupt,” Tristan murmured. “How does it work
here?”
    Daisy glared
down and then, “I’m not a farspeaker.”
    Tianoman
smirked, but said nothing.
    Tristan
nodded. “Seems to me you are the de facto leader, then, for you are
free to come and go, right? I know, no leaders, but you, my man,
are vital to this enclave, do you not see that?”
    Daisy
shrugged, and unbent a little. “I guess.”
    “Decidedly,”
Tristan smiled.
    Daisy drew
breath and let it out. “You have two choices before you. Either
exercise patience and wait for one to exit trance or ask another to
enter the circle.” He inclined his head. “Of course, as a
farspeaker, you could yourself enter the circle.”
    Tristan shook
his head. “We are not privy to the chain and would waste time
trying to establish a link.”
    “This person
you want to find, is he or she a farspeaker?”
    “Yes - a
she.”
    Daisy