CentreRule

Book V

CentreRule

Published by E A St Amant at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition August 2011

Verses and poems within, by author

Web and Cover design by: Edward Oliver Zucca

Web Developed by: Adam D’Alessandro

eimpressions Toronto Canada

Copyrighted by E A St Amant May 2006

Author Contact: ted@eastamant.com

E A St Amant.com Publishers

www.eastamant.com

All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, emailing, ebooking, by voice recordings, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author or his agent. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, companies, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances whatsoever to any real actual events or locales in persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The Circle Cluster, Book V, CentreRule = ISBN -13: 978-0-9780119-4-9; Digital ISBN: 978-1-4523-8382-8. Thanks to the many people who did editorial work on this project and offered their many kind suggestions, including Dr. Phil Miller, T R St Amant and Susan Alsbury. This series would not have been possible without all the long hours of work by Val Gee.

By Edward A St Amant

How to Increase the Volume of the Sea Without Water

Dancing in the Costa Rican Rain

Stealing Flowers

Spiritual Apathy

Restrictions

Book of Mirrors

Perfect Zen

Five Days of Eternity

Five Years After

Five Hundred Years Without Faith

Fog Walker

Murder at Summerset

This Is Not a Reflection of You

The Theory of Black Holes (Collected Poems)

The Circle Cluster, Book I, The Great Betrayer

The Circle Cluster, Book II, The Soul Slayer

The Circle Cluster, Book III, The Heart Harrower

The Circle Cluster, Book IV, The Aristes

The Circle Cluster, Book VI, The Beginning One

Non-Fiction

Atheism, Scepticism and Philosophy

Articles in Dissident Philosophy

The New Ancien Régime

By E O Zucca and E A St Amant

Molecular Structures of Jade

Instant Sober

Living Animal

Chapter 1

Arck entered the main hall of LotusEater alongside the blind Ariste Dule, Vorcey. Her fur was a light-gray color, but not as vibrant as Grey’s. She appeared thin and tired, but this might have been due to the losses at Edede or even Pulsarite travel itself. He had heard that she’d once written that no matter how beautiful the Pulsarites were, and especially LotusEater, she’d prefer not to travel in space at all. For an Ariste Druid, this was a controversial statement.

In the hall, there was a viewing stage for the Kyrtle, and the brettiscreen was live, but the Kyrtles weren’t actually inside the hall, although it gave the illusion of it. Hundreds of wide-crimson-leafed dwarf trees, annzy from Panpapus, a planet in the Scutro Star System, gave off a fresh aroma of sweet spices. More Aristes sat on this conference than any other group, and this time, it included many Hunters.

He recognized Hana Goldceter. From volscyl dreams, he knew that she was one of the most powerful Ariste Druids in the Cluster. She was the one they called the Recluse and was partnered with the Pulsarite, Zilianrel, whose presence was also here. To see her now in public was a note-worthy event, and not just for Arck, but for everyone. Hana was an unusually large golden-furred Druid with bright golden eyes, larger by far than Grey’s. She belonged to the golden-furred subgroup in the Grey Cabal.

The Aristes could be immediately contrasted by the tall Hittitean Freeguard. Although Syte was here with the three other Kiji Wizards, he’d by far the largest contingent. His grim old bewa-warrior and stō, the scraggly haired Rutyur Salts, was sitting with the leader of the Syte Loyalists, Paarker Quenn, the lieutenant with the oblong deformed cranium. However, Syte himself sat with his lover, Sylvia Tylrick, just back of them. Fain was there, but as though to be inconspicuous, he wasn’t wearing any insignia, neither his, nor Taff’s, and his two daunting-looking stō s, the contentious frightful-looking female, Ruby Obiss and the rake-thin freakishly-tall male, Holin Able, weren’t with him, but rather, sat beside Cler’s feeble-looking stō, Heer Vose.

This Arck thought was wise. The only stō who was close to any wizard was Griss Gra who sat just behind Cler and Kryce.

Cler tied his long blond hair back, and Kryce’s facial bird-look–the combination of slightly protruded eyes which moved independent of one another and a hooked nose–was striking today.

The Mij Maullers were there and many others in the Zoraselmain enterprise: Yerites, Mantars, Daxzes, Tonts, and Massaps.

The most impressive were the Flowerholders. He counted twelve of them, including the frail-looking Jeff Lag, to who he waved. They cut straight across the Races, yet were all together sitting as one group. All were dressed with the Proudhon’s crests and colors–the beautiful tints of shimmering blue in the cloop-cloaks, armbands, veils, pants, dresses, and whatever else they wore. He’d heard this had been coordinated by Jissy and Dol.

Hornblende isn’t here, he whispered to Vorcey nervously when they had sat.

Strom, Swaddly, and Tob are here, she mindspoke. He’ll come.

At length, after the hall was filled, and as though to upstage Arck, Lord Hornblende strove into the hall of LotusEater and stepped to a seat reserved for him near the front of the hall. He was alone except for five Massaps and this was as Arck had hoped. He didn’t want to put Recep or Angroust, the two leaders of Hornblende’s united front, in a politically awkward position with their leader.

At Hornblende’s hips three strips of interwoven cloth lined with golden beads and gems, acted as a belt to sodder-stoke, a baliwax-falchion, modine-devices, and two annujet-discs. He carried a great black baliwax sword on his back as was the tradition for the Noutrus warriors. The stolen Siji-Noloyds swung openly from his neck and on his huge bare chest lay the white phlox-flower, whiter still against his weathered black skin. The five Massaps, dressed in traditional patterns, wore Freeguard insignia and stood close behind him. They were clean and well looked after. Arck couldn’t tell if they were slaves, but he suspected that they were.

Everybody is here now, Vorcey mindspoke, You can begin.

Arck stood up and went to the center of the hall. He could feel the omni-presence of the Pulsarites and he looked out at the gathering, and then he looked over at Vorcey. These are my first commands ever, he said in a clear forceful voice. They are mine alone, and if they’re not immediately followed, we will reckon together on all accounts.

As peculiar as it seemed, it was so quiet that a child’s light-hearted melody floated down to them from a hallway until one of Jissy’s crew rose and quietly closed the door. I’ve come here as my own man, he continued, and I’ll accept no compromise. My first command is that I be appointed High Lord of the Zoraselmain Council, the administration of its every affair to be left in Maye Stynn’s hands.

He looked over at the High Lady, but she looked away.

Still, he couldn’t get the vision out of his mind that she was a former image of herself; a spent force.

My second command is to have complete operational power over the Freeguard, he continued. I’ll also Captain Coldfire, which for practical purposes I leave in the present capable hands of the captain Fain Back. I understand that a Pulsarite, Whitmore, has been designed for the Ariste Greywheter Druid, but on behalf of the Massap Insurgents which make up the great bulk of our resistance, I command this Pulsarite be partnered with the War-Lord Majaw Dijve and his excellent Mantar Druid, Mya-Ter. This will be the first Pulsarite for the Massap and the three Mij Maullers are to accompany, advise, and protect him on Whitmore. I also decree that Lord Dijve become Operational Commander of the Zoraselmain Organization while I am away. The War Lord will be afforded an army of Massaps to accompany his Pulsarite Command and The Stolern Lateral Universal Unit Guarantor, the so-called CatSluug, will finance it in the amount of three hundred full units to be furnished by the Grey Cabal.

He paused and sipped from his glass of clear cold water which had been placed before him by Jissy. My next demand is made of the Council itself, namely, after this gathering which I have ordered, it must disperse and stay dispersed, neither meeting in secret nor colluding in any enterprise without the explicit consent of my command. Expulsion is the result of any infraction. Instead, prepare your individual armies and fatten your coffers. The time for earning wealth, building reserves, and for planning your tactics for a life without CentreRule and the Overseer is growing short. Captain Drew Dawson’s pirating of Center’s ships has been effective, and I’m allowing you to do likewise, but do not take any unnecessary civilian lives. I’ll need your armies to gain and keep the peace when I act. When I stand before the Beginning One, CentreRule must be replaced the moment He falls. Believe me when I say, this time is near. Majaw, there are six planets that are to be captured and held to the end: Hittite, Massapussa, Panpapus, Echo, Redwood, and MantisMurken. These will be our strongholds. This invasion is to be started in the near future. Next I command the immediate and unconditional return of the five Siji-Noloyd discs. They are rightfully the Massaps’ and will go to Majaw Dijve. Furthermore, I demand the return of the phlox volscyl flower from Lord Hornblende, the bluebell from the Greywheter Druid, and the crucifer from Durakerk Laiver.

Lord Hornblende abruptly rose. I came with safe-bond posted by the Freeguard Witch, Strom, your own brother, Tob Bolkant, and the Flowerholder, Swaddly Daxz. I will return neither the phlox-flower, nor the Siji-discs.

Then today you will die, Hornblende, Arck said, taking several steps toward Hornblende.

So will many others, he boasted and released his Dread-personality into the hall.

Suddenly Arck created a radiant blue flame actiniform and the four Kiji-Wizards and the three Mij-Maullers raised their fires.

Everyone in the hall stood up and the Flowerholders volscyl symbols were suddenly radiant.

The effect was startling, but more stunning-still was that Syte’s team proceeded into one of their collective bewa-trance annujet-ballets, raising twenty discs which spun and hovered in synchronicity, dipping, rising, and flickering in a beautiful orange-green sama-fire. Soon those discs surrounded Hornblende on all sides. It was as though a poetry of annujet dance and no one could count how many discs were actually in the air.

Syte came to stand beside Arck even as the gathering looked on in wonder. Some members moved off to the walls.

Grey leapt upon the great table of black-augite and she burned brilliant white actiniform. The whole scene was apocalyptic. Rethink this plan of action, she mindspoke. He hasn’t done you harm.

Speak aloud or be silent, Arck demanded.

Though he was tense, he realized that the hall itself was lit in a wonderful show of color. Grey turned to Hornblende and the Council and spoke aloud in her most compelling voice. There is no faith greater than mine in your ability, Hornblende, and like you, I do not tremble at the foot of the Overseer, but today, I fear for our future if Arck’s demands aren’t met. I can assure you this is not some secret complot of mine. If we fight here, you will die, but our Cause will be lost forever. I believe that Arck has come here to resolve these things. In this, I willingly give up my lead quarters on board Whitmore to the War-Lord Dijve and return the bluebell flower to Arck as was commanded.

She immediately gave the bluebell-volscyl to Arck.

Lord Hornblende you are asked to return the-Noloyds and the volscyl flower, Syte said in a spellbound voice, now in his ennui of philosophic haze with his cynosure-network-volscyl encyclopedia raised and his bewatrance perfected. Like Arck himself, Syte could be in the two-separate realities at once.

Hornblende, we have been allies a long time, Durakerk said coming up and placing the radiant green crucifer volscyl flower beside the Druid’s bluebell. Taff is dead, but do not forsake his goals. Our leader offers you a pact, possible clemency for kidnapping and stealing the noloyds. You now have a Pulsarite, do not let greed for revenge destroy us. There’s no proof that the Grey-Cabal had anything whatsoever to do with Taff Hart’s death.

Hornblende, Kryce said further, pleading, look at our combined power. You can’t be victorious. Look at Edede’s grief, surely it has presently no equal, but even with the death of so many Aristes and the destruction of Burydane and Lorryies, the majority of druids have signed a peace with the Grey-Cabal so they may destroy this evil which makes slaves of us all.

The hall was now wild with actiniform, light from annujet-discs, and controlled by Syte as though in a daunting expectation.

Hornblende looked over at Arck, then Fain, his expression in the wild display of power and light, was one of irresolute dread. In my heart I believe that the Grey-Cabal was responsible for Taff’s death, and many other crimes. The Redace Hanrahan who slew him was intimate with the Proudhon. How could that be coincidence? He turned to Durakerk. Arck doesn’t ask you to return your noloyd-disc though you aren’t a druid, he continued. Many Mauller Druids complain of this. Dover Spear is here in the hall, she will testify to what I say.

He returned his attention then to Arck. All which you do, Hornblende said, and all which you think, is predisposed to the Greywheter’s manipulation. Now am I to believe that suddenly within your breast you have found the undying strength to throw off this life-long influence which you have been created under? This without the steadfast friendship of Taff Hart. I demand to be safely returned to Tragal as was promised.

Arck’s cheeks flushed and he stepped closer. He was no more than a few paces away and now he burned the bright smalt-blue of an escalating sama-flame. He knew he dare not touch the Taja directly or he would give the Overseer their location, but he prepared himself to throw what fire he could at Hornblende, the Kiji-Wizards and Mij-Maullers would have to do the rest.

Dread had you for too long, Arck whispered. If I say you will take your place, which you so selfishly stole, in my train of power, you should be happy not to have to plead for it.

Still Hornblende hesitated, but Tob came over. Lord Hornblende, he said, respectfully, I beg you now, as a sign of friendship, give my brother the flower and the discs.

Hornblende stepped back and ceased his golden actiniform flame. He removed the phlox flower and placed it with the crucifer and the bluebell. In time, Arck, he promised solemnly, you may have the Siji-Noloyds for the War-Lord, but not now. He then gave a Menatt-style lightening-quick bow. Arck looked over at Syte, and then, at Vorcey. The blind Druid had predicted this might be the outcome of a public confrontation. He hated to issue the order for Hornblende’s death, but he saw no way out, but before his eyes caught Syte’s to give him permission to tear Hornblende apart with his annujet-ballet discs, Fain stepped over.

His desire for revenge against Dread is so great he would be irrational, Fain whispered with the logic of Taff. Let me take him out of the hall and speak to him aboard Tragal.

Arck looked Fain in the eye, realizing suddenly that for some reason, he supported Hornblende in his refusal to return the noloyds. He wondered what they were up to and if it had something to do with the goregem.

He stepped aside and picked up the three volscyl flowers.

The crucifer would go to Tob’s sweetheart, Rose Hay, the white phlox to Jissy Rang, the Matron, and the bluebell he would keep for himself for the time being.

Go in peace, Fain, he said, I swear, the next time I see Hornblende, if he still has the Siji-Noloyds, I will cut him to pieces.

Chapter 2

The Centrite attendant had a beard and was a little plump – innocuous, but perhaps too much so – and he looked at Tilly Croft with timid eyes. You have not paid for your room yet sir, he said You are my signed customer and you must pay in full now.

Activating his new implanted-cowagers, Tilly scanned the clerk. A flame blazed in a fireplace in the lobby behind them. Fear of failure and a self-hatred constantly plagued Tilly, but the attendant seemed to be what he appeared. Tilly nodded and handed him a catsluug worth many lors.

Hold the room for two more days, he said in a low hard voice.

He bundled up against a continuing rainstorm which was blowing in from the west across the main continent on Greenace, Centre, and went outside. This side of Pónther Mountain in a small resort town, Peeck, he’d waited for a contact from Blacleft. After Blacbeed had been destroyed by Kryce and Grey, the Betrayer had been saved by the Overseer. Later the Betrayer returned to his pulsar ship and repossessed or returned to the body of Blacleft.

The rain had subsided somewhat from earlier in the afternoon. Evening was only an hour away. He turned to another street off the hotel. He walked quickly, lost in thought. He needed the rain, and the approaching darkness. This waiting was punishing him. He needed to walk, to act, and to be in motion. He looked at the chalet-windows as he passed. Would his master destroy him for his misadventure on Edede? All the patience he had endured and all the stinking Ariste pleasantries he had tolerated, had come to naught. He had underestimated that sniveling Centrite bitch, Sevinn Suean.

The rain is annoying, a voice said behind him.

Tilly spun, his annujet-discs at the ready. Who are you? he said without thinking.

I’m one who remembers his manners, a tall rake-thin Centrite said calmly in perfect Ace, even in the dark, and even in the cold rain.

Tilly put away his annujet-discs and bowed. He saw at once that the Centrite was a Chrisarmain Veda-Fakir from CentreRule. He might be an ally of Dread. However, he wasn’t showing his banners.

The Centrite dressed in black silk which doubled as tzz and clipper protection. He was short enough to be a Hittitean, although he was plainly Centrite. His hair was a scarlet-color and was in two long braids which covered his small ears and fell to his shoulders. He wore a small pointed red beard on his chin and his jaw was squarely shaped.

My name is Imparl, he said, and I want to help you fulfill your function, Tilly. Come with me! I’ve been told about the place where you’ll find the one you seek and it’s not this planet. Coldfire takes the Zoraselmain-Proudhon to his death and you will be the instrument of it.

––

The holding bays on LotusEater, had been–at Arck’s request–totally transformed for Tob, Strom, and Swaddly’s reception from the new-born Pulsarite, Tragal. The Proudhon stood at a central landing dock dressed now in a beautiful blue cloop-cloak, hemmed with cloth-crested with a circle divided in four by wrent or baliwax-blades fused with a star in the center. One of the four parts showed the eternal tree, another, the Hittitean rune for the House of Liebrent, the third, four of three equal stars encircled, and the fourth, the flower and blade symbol for the selma/sarma unity. On each arm, he wore two bands. One with the Grand Macon in flight carrying a young rider to freedom, and the other, with a warrior whose weapon was raised against the Centre Binary. Behind him were three banners of Fain and Taff’s: the one of the naked female and male Freeguard, facing each other with their arms reaching upward into the sky. The second was a depiction of the planet of Goldage with its millions of islands, yellow on black, and the third, the massive Maje star, glowing on the planet of Hittite.

Beside them, were Syte’s banners: a child giving a red flower to a Freeguard warrior and the abstract of the planet, Hittite in the Maje Solar System. Adjacent to Syte’s, were Long and Cler’s banner: a fire caught between the beautiful blue gilian tree of Photan Forest-Jungle with its golden apples and different androgynous warriors representing the Races of the Zoraselmains. Beside Arck, stood Fain and Vorcey. Hundreds of LotusEater’s Aristes had come out to greet them. Grey wasn’t among them. Arck had ordered Tob, Strom, and Swaddly to LotusEater from Tragal and he was giving them a hero’s welcome to let everyone close to his command know that his friends were never again to fall into anyone’s hands, friendly or not. At length, Arck felt the outer bay doors open and then the green lights went on. The inner great bay doors began to open and a slight breeze created by the slight changing air-pressure issued through the gigantic hold. The ceptor locked into place. It was about a minute until equalization and unloading. He spotted Tob, then saw Swaddly and Strom. Music, brett-fireworks and a laser-show accompanied their arrival.

Do you know what everyone is saying? Tob asked after they embraced. Arck shook his head. That at the Isle of Hope on Edede you turned back the Overseer.

The image-makers are creating a legend, he said rather sadly to his brother, and it’s entirely to their own advantage. At this rate, I will be only good to them dead.

He looked over at Strom and nodded. Any tale that can be told contains not the eternal truth, the Mockingbird screeched.

Arck saw that Mockingbird was quoting the late Saand Greyrune. Strom placed a spell of silence on the Familiar and came over. May I introduce the Freeguard Witch, Soaal? she said softly.

I saw you at the council meeting, Arck responded looking into Soaal’s ghostly blue eyes.

This close, her hair was so blond as to be white, and her skin was so pale as to be an albino. Will you be staying with LotusEater? he asked, almost as covetous of her allure as he was of Strom’s. They were both exceptionally striking women.

I came only to meet you, she said with a breathtaking and inviting smile, and then I must spend time with Wur Wenl before I return to Kryce and Cler.

He pointed to her Familiar. That’s a mascure just like Menhaden’s.

Indeed, she said, it is Touch.

He was surprised, and sensed some intrigue behind it. His eyes went from the mascure to Swaddly, but before he could say anything, Vorcey interrupted.

There are attendants to help you with your things to your new quarters aboard LotusEater, she said to Strom and Soaal.

Can your reunion with Rose wait a few minutes more? Arck whispered into Tob’s ear when Soaal and Strom had left. Swaddly had taken up with several Daxz attendants and was out of earshot. I don’t have much time. Tob nodded looking rather puzzled. Come with me, Arck continued, and I’ll tell you the story of my time on Edede and the society I found there among the Aristes.

They walked to the Kyrtle-Portal, and Arck could tell Tob was amazed at the sight of it. It gives you the feeling of being underwater, Tob said at length, or as though you might at any second crash through the floor and end up in the water.

They sat down on the see-through floor and absorbed their surroundings. Tob looked around. The water just beneath them seemed so full of life. The sea plants, some tall as small trees, were swaying in the current and all the colorful fish and other creatures swayed gently back and forth.

You just keep looking more fit, Tob whispered, more muscular–handsome.

Never mind that, tell me about your tales.

On Nuway we searched for the goregem, Tob said. We had stalked the Heart Harrower for many days, but the search was just a decoy. Taff wanted to find the goregem badly–that’s all, but by chance, the wizards actually trapped the Harrower on that inhospitable planet and were just about to pounce when he ordered a pulsar ship from his fleet to break into the stratosphere. The planet gave way to a horrible catastrophe of the worst weather. The Heart Harrower bought himself a three-day reprieve by nearly destroying Nuway.

For hours, Tob told Arck the rest of what had happened on Nuway. Are you hungry? Arck asked after Tob had finished his story. There’s an eatery a minute away, Conch.

Tob nodded and they arrived in the restaurant, sitting where they pleased for it was empty of costumers. Arck laughed when he saw Stepp Aristalena, the Given from Burydane as a table-server. Stepp, he said, this is my brother, Tob. They greeted each other. I’m so happy to see you are well.

Stepp left with their order. Their seats looked out on the courtyard and a colorful flower-garden one floor below. The railings were bordered with bright blue and vivid pink flowers and interspersed with small emerald-color trees from Greenace, dales. Stepp served them momentarily and they ate and drank for the time being in silence.

With my disenfranchisement with Grey, Arck said, I may not express to you all that I wish to tonight. Grey can make the most hidden recesses of my mind accessible to her at will without me even knowing it. Long ago I should have told you this. We were raised together. I suspect she can do it to you as well.

That’s why you can’t tell me some things?

Arck nodded. This is the more true that you are a Flowerholder.

Does she interfere with my thoughts, do you think? I have wondered about that same question.

He nodded. I’m cut off from you by my desire to keep my designs from her, Arck continued. What she does so easily to you, she also did many times with me, but, her ability to do this has been greatly reduced with my present resistance to it.

Can I learn to resist?

With Kryce’s help, I believe so. He is patient and is a good teacher. As well, stay away from her as much as possible. This will be easy if you keep Rose close. Tell Rose what I have just told you, she’ll understand about druids. The Freeguard-fighters are taught from birth to resist the Druid’s wills, their voice, and their mind probes. Rose could teach you much too.

You are going away?

He nodded. I can tell you nothing at all about it, except that you are the first to know and it will be for some time.

Why do people say that Grey is responsible for Taff’s death?

Many believe that Grey knew that Disbelief was on Nuway and that Dread was on Edede. That Tilly Croft was Huntuu and that Taff would be short of the protection of Lord Hornblende. Moreover that Burydane and Lorryies would be sacrificed in her scheme to get Dread. Only the Overseer surprised her.

You surprised her too.

I wouldn’t be too sure of that. However, indeed, some parts of the accusations are ludicrous. For instance, that Jade killed Taff, but how could she have effected that. It maybe isn’t complete coincidence that I was raped by Jade and that he in turn killed Taff, but whatever the connection between the two events was, Grey had nothing to do with it.

Arck preceded to tell Tob about Burydane, the Hunters, Deccacats, Dules, and many other things. He told of the virtue and the ulrick, how Dread in the guise of Blacbeed had come to live among them. How Blacbeed had defeated Grey in the virtue and how Tilly Croft had let Arck defeat him in the ulrick.

Go, see Rose now, he said when he was finished. Send my regards. In hours I meet with the Noloyd and Flowerholders. Then I will be gone. Here we must say our true good byes.

Is it impossible for you to take me with you? Arck nodded. You must delay your decision then, Tob pleaded.

You can see why I took up your time now. I must go alone.

Will I remain on LotusEater?

Kryce is coming into a Pulsarite within the month. It is all arranged, and the Flowerholders are to go with him, excepting Menhaden and Boroddo who have asked to travel with Hornblende. I am taking Coldfire and Fain. I can only answer the question of you coming with me one way. No matter what you do, no matter what you say, you cannot come.

Chapter 3

Arck lay in bed with Deng in Taff’s old quarters aboard Coldfire. The fierce blond bewa-warrior was the opposite to Sevinn in every way. Where Sevinn was dark-skinned, short-haired, soft, supple, and petite, Deng was pale, long-haired, hard, muscular, tall, and weighed nearly what Arck did. Deng was clearly giving of herself and Arck needed the release so desperately, even though he knew he would never love Deng as he had Sevinn. He could feel Coldfire’s sights on them as they made love, but this didn’t bother him. Afterwards, Deng left for work and he lay back. He was falling asleep when Coldfire spoke.

In madness, the Pulsarite said softly in his magnificent -sounding voice, passion lies in carnal pleasure with reason.

Arck came up on his elbow. What does that mean?

I don’t know. It’s an old Ariste Druid expression about gurt.

Arck laughed softly to himself. What do you think of my plan?

Taff didn’t draw this scenario for me when discussing you, but Fain seems fine with it.

I’m full of surprises. Has Taff taken-over Fain’s psyche?

Coldfire hesitated. I can see that they’re sharing each other in some manner, not so unlike you and the bewa-warrior. Fain denies it publicly. The Ariste say, No two friends were ever allied in war where their grievances were their secret bonds. However, in regards to my own reaction to your plan, you are the Supreme High Commander and it is your right to command me.

My decisions about becoming Commander were somewhat spontaneous and made for reasons best left unexplained.

It intrigues me, Arck, and for us Pulsarites intrigue is important.

Taff used to say that every Pulsarite likes adventure and therefore they are dangerous to have as allies, but yes, I do have an adventure for you.