Instructions from Ilya,” Ruthann replied.
“Of course,” Anya muttered. “If he had all of this knowledge on how to kill Yanka, why didn’t he do it himself?”
“He had major mummy issues I reckon,” said Hamish. “To have to plan her down fall so far into the future.”
“Our dear Professor Freud would’ve had a field day with him,” Cerise added.
“I’ll ask the Groenn Skær for the prophecy,” Anya decided out loud.
“Steady, Anya,” Aramis took her hand and their power linked. She felt how concerned he was before he shut off his emotions. “You need to go with an escort of some kind. Elemental beings can be unpredictable.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I know that but…”
“You’re worried he will rape her,” Yvan said quietly. Anya looked up at him in shock. That wasn’t something that even occurred to her. Yvan’s face was dark with anger.
“He wouldn’t rape me either!” she protested. “His power touched mine and I felt no evil in him.”
“There’s a lot of mythology relating to fertility forest gods and human women,” Fox said from her chair.
“You seem to be forgetting that Ilya gave it to him for a reason and I very much doubt that the reason was rape,” Anya snapped. Aramis’s hand moved to the centre of her upper back, where her shoulders were hunching with anger.
“Easy, Anya, it’s not that I don’t trust Ilya’s judgement,” he said softly. “Be cautious about it, that’s all I ask.”
***
“Excuse me, my lady, there’s a telephone call for you.” A slender girl held out a silver box. Yanka recognised it as one of the machines Vasilli had been teaching her how to use.
Yanka took the phone and held it carefully to her ear, “Hello?”
“Tsarina,” a voice purred down the line, “I have located friends of Anyanka’s here in New Orleans. The majority of the group are still missing, but I will keep watch for their return.”
“Is that all?”
“No, Tsarina, General Ladislav is here too.”
“Has he seen you?”
“No, Tsarina, I haven’t made contact with any of the Darkness here in America. I wished to work unhindered.”
“Have you been spying on our own people, Veruschka?”
“Not intentionally, but the General is making his presence known. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s trying to rally supporters. He has been to see the Conseil Neutres. I have seen some ex-members of the Darkness with him. He is gathering an army of Rogues.”
“Need I ask about how you feel about this?”
“You’re the only who has ever held my loyalty, Tsarina. That will not change. Shall I bring him to you? Alive, if you should wish it.”
“Thank you, but no. Let him play his little game and plan his coup d’état . It will be a good way to separate those loyal, from those who are not.”
“As you wish. I’ll keep watch on him while I wait for the girl.”
“Thank you, Veruschka, your loyalty will be rewarded.” Yanka pressed the black button on the phone and ended the conversation.
“What has happened?” Vasilli was watching her.
“That piece of der’mo Ladislav is trying to raise supporters against me.”
“You should’ve let me kill him,” Vasilli laughed. “What a fool. I hope you will make an example of him.”
“I will, but for now, we wait and let him come to us.”
Chapter Seven - Early Spring
It started with the drums as a deep thrumming that grew in Anya’s ears until she woke. She fumbled for the glass of water beside her bed as she sat up. She’d only gotten to sleep two hours beforehand and her head pounded.
Ruthann had been trying to contact the Groenn Skær on her behalf. He had told her how vast the forests of the north were, but Anya was impatient. That had been three days ago.
Anya had kept herself busy with Aramis, trying to learn more about her magic or frođleikr as he was increasingly referring to it as. He’d missed being a part of the Álfr, even though it was a self-inflicted exile,
“Of course,” Anya muttered. “If he had all of this knowledge on how to kill Yanka, why didn’t he do it himself?”
“He had major mummy issues I reckon,” said Hamish. “To have to plan her down fall so far into the future.”
“Our dear Professor Freud would’ve had a field day with him,” Cerise added.
“I’ll ask the Groenn Skær for the prophecy,” Anya decided out loud.
“Steady, Anya,” Aramis took her hand and their power linked. She felt how concerned he was before he shut off his emotions. “You need to go with an escort of some kind. Elemental beings can be unpredictable.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I know that but…”
“You’re worried he will rape her,” Yvan said quietly. Anya looked up at him in shock. That wasn’t something that even occurred to her. Yvan’s face was dark with anger.
“He wouldn’t rape me either!” she protested. “His power touched mine and I felt no evil in him.”
“There’s a lot of mythology relating to fertility forest gods and human women,” Fox said from her chair.
“You seem to be forgetting that Ilya gave it to him for a reason and I very much doubt that the reason was rape,” Anya snapped. Aramis’s hand moved to the centre of her upper back, where her shoulders were hunching with anger.
“Easy, Anya, it’s not that I don’t trust Ilya’s judgement,” he said softly. “Be cautious about it, that’s all I ask.”
***
“Excuse me, my lady, there’s a telephone call for you.” A slender girl held out a silver box. Yanka recognised it as one of the machines Vasilli had been teaching her how to use.
Yanka took the phone and held it carefully to her ear, “Hello?”
“Tsarina,” a voice purred down the line, “I have located friends of Anyanka’s here in New Orleans. The majority of the group are still missing, but I will keep watch for their return.”
“Is that all?”
“No, Tsarina, General Ladislav is here too.”
“Has he seen you?”
“No, Tsarina, I haven’t made contact with any of the Darkness here in America. I wished to work unhindered.”
“Have you been spying on our own people, Veruschka?”
“Not intentionally, but the General is making his presence known. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s trying to rally supporters. He has been to see the Conseil Neutres. I have seen some ex-members of the Darkness with him. He is gathering an army of Rogues.”
“Need I ask about how you feel about this?”
“You’re the only who has ever held my loyalty, Tsarina. That will not change. Shall I bring him to you? Alive, if you should wish it.”
“Thank you, but no. Let him play his little game and plan his coup d’état . It will be a good way to separate those loyal, from those who are not.”
“As you wish. I’ll keep watch on him while I wait for the girl.”
“Thank you, Veruschka, your loyalty will be rewarded.” Yanka pressed the black button on the phone and ended the conversation.
“What has happened?” Vasilli was watching her.
“That piece of der’mo Ladislav is trying to raise supporters against me.”
“You should’ve let me kill him,” Vasilli laughed. “What a fool. I hope you will make an example of him.”
“I will, but for now, we wait and let him come to us.”
Chapter Seven - Early Spring
It started with the drums as a deep thrumming that grew in Anya’s ears until she woke. She fumbled for the glass of water beside her bed as she sat up. She’d only gotten to sleep two hours beforehand and her head pounded.
Ruthann had been trying to contact the Groenn Skær on her behalf. He had told her how vast the forests of the north were, but Anya was impatient. That had been three days ago.
Anya had kept herself busy with Aramis, trying to learn more about her magic or frođleikr as he was increasingly referring to it as. He’d missed being a part of the Álfr, even though it was a self-inflicted exile,
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