Working God's Mischief by Glen Cook Page A

middle, too. Lila and Vali, same as before. Piper, hang on to this.” She handed him the soul egg of Zyr, wrapped in Aelen Kofer cheesecloth.
    He was startled by the weight. It was as heavy as iron. “What?”
    â€œJust hang on to it. Going through. I’ll need my hands free. You drop it in transit, we’ll all end up sorry. Maybe. I can’t say for sure. I just know that I can’t take you home and mess with that at the same time. Pella. Come.”
    The boy was admiring the cold Andorayan Sea and cliffs of ice to the north. His aunt had destroyed the Windwalker up there just a way.
    Hecht shoved the egg inside his shirt, adjusting it securely.
    Korban Iron Eyes shouted at his rowers to turn the barge. He meant to head right back into the Realm of the Gods.
    The family Hecht clumped up. Iron Eyes said, “In a few hours there’ll be no more Nine Worlds. We’ll seal the Realm and let it die. Heris. Caution your ancestor against jumping in there again. He’ll die. There will be nothing left but the Trickster’s soul egg.”
    â€œI’ll tell him, though I can’t imagine him wanting to go back.”
    â€œIt’s been a joy knowing you, Heris. Recall the Aelen Kofer well, with an occasional much of ale, if you can.”
    Hecht grasped what Heris did not. Iron Eyes was saying goodbye forever. He meant to have no congress with the middle world henceforth. For him this was a chapter writ complete.
    Hecht felt the soul egg. It now felt as heavy as a dozen bricks, and warm, but it was secure. He wrapped arms around Anna and Pella, who did the same to him. Heris and the girls squished in hard against the core threesome, holding onto one another as well.
    The light went out for Piper Hecht.

 
    10. Alten Weinberg: Fearful of Tomorrow
    Empress Apparent Helspeth was depressed. She did not foresee a time when she might feel normal again. News of Katrin’s demise had not yet officially reached Alten Weinberg. Even so, the Empress-to-be felt the crushing weight of Empire. How much worse would that become once every greedy Elector and noble started bullying her?
    Where were Ferris Renfrow and the Commander of the Righteous? Especially Piper Hecht? Algres Drear was fierce and tough but he was not enough.
    â€œHilda, why do I obsess about a man older than me and already taken?” Helspeth had confessed her uncontrollable interest in the Commander of the Righteous. Lady Hilda had not been surprised.
    â€œHardly uncontrollable, if painfully more obvious than you think,” Lady Hilda had told her. Now she said, “Maybe because you miss your father.”
    â€œMy father was still alive when I caught this fever.”
    â€œYes. I know. Plemenza.” Lady Hilda had heard it over and over once Helspeth opened up. “Why ask questions if you won’t listen to answers?” Lady Hilda returned to her needlework, almost sullenly, till, suddenly, she giggled.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’ve had how many chances to make your fantasies come true since Katrin brought him here? But you’re still a virgin.”
    â€œI’m not just me, Hilda. I’m a symbol. And a commodity.”
    â€œI’ve heard it all. What the hell is she doing here?”
    Hilda meant Lady Delta va Kelgerberg, whom she detested. The feeling was mutual. Va Kelgerberg had been one of Helspeth’s ladies, once upon a time, but had weaseled her way into Empress Katrin’s court.
    â€œWhatever, she’s sure to be as unpleasant as possible.” Helspeth gloated secretly. In just a few days va Kelgerberg’s life would turn very difficult indeed. In just a few days her harvest would begin to come in.
    Helspeth had no immediate opportunity to find out why Lady Delta had appeared. Algres Drear intervened. “Your Majesty.”
    â€œCaptain?” Drear needed schooling on etiquette, especially in front of her women. A half dozen of those sat around the big