Brander leaned against the tech room’s doorframe as Jhor explained to the new arrivals what the House was and how safe—or not safe—the premises were.
His gold gaze bounced from the heads to the stiff medic khentauree, but he said nothing, only nodded his head to the right, towards the stairs. Sanna’s head swiveled to them, then back. Chiddle, spear held in front of him, remained focused on the non-Ambercaast mechanical beings, and from his confrontational stance, his trust swam shallow.
LX70 mimicked him, and every place that could light up on her torso and chassis was lit up, a not-subtle threat. Those lights had appeared after Sanna talked her into a corner and she could not truthfully answer the questions. So she lied—and it was obvious she did so. About the only thing ENZ said she spoke true was her claim that she imitated the identity of her closest handler so humans did not reject her help.
She did not appreciate his assessment, which sent her and Sanna into an extended buzz session that lasted until they reached the House.
With a concerned, parting glance at Jhor, Lapis followed Brander and Patch to the second floor study that Faelan used for private chats. Two guards stood to each side of the entrance, one rebel, one Minq. Lapis smiled at them before peering into the open door.
The candlelit room smelled of paper, leather and ink, though the warm scent of a late meal hung in the air. To the left, Midir lounged in a comfortably padded chair to the side of the desk, eyes closed, head buried in the back cushions, his heels digging into the seat as his knees rested against the armrests, elbows planted firmly on them. She thought it an uncomfortable position, but he did not seem in pain, so she did not ask.
A softly glowing Ghost stood on the other side, his sprites absent. He said something in a low tone to Jo Ban, who sat behind the desk, his chin propped up by his palm. Caitria waited with him, arranging a pile of medicinal-looking things on the side table. They all turned to the new arrivals.
“An eventful night,” the Minq terrboss murmured.
Midir half-laughed. “Layne already checked in.”
“They’re alright?” Lapis asked as Caitria motioned to her. She slumped into the chair next to her and slowly shrugged out of her coat. Why not wait for her to visit the makeshift clinic after the report?
Patch crashed next to her, unwilling to hide how tired he was and how much he wished to fall face-first into a bed. Brander clicked the door closed and took the seat near Midir, though by the smudges under his eyes, he could use sleep more than a debriefing.
“Yes. A yelling match ensued, but the mercs were outnumbered and their backup never arrived, so their bluster went nowhere.”
Jo Ban straightened. “Layne commented about their lack of cohesion. Their training is inferior, and it shows.”
“They were dozens crawling all over Green Castle—but so were shanks,” Patch said, rubbing at his eye before fiddling with his patch.
“They’re hunting for something or someone,” Jo Ban said. “Perhaps it was the khentauree you rescued, but Ghost thinks they’re searching for something else.” He waved his index finger at them. “Layne asked to send a group to Kelvington’s. I gave permission because it’s a lead that might illuminate our enemy.”
“Why do you think they’re searching for something else?” Lapis asked, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. Selda bustled in and set a steaming tray of warm wake juice and finger foods on the desk. Her special seasoned fries called, and Lapis leaned over from Caitria’s ministrations and snagged some before anyone else could touch the tasty bits. The cook retrieved an empty tray with plates from the side of the desk, and hustled on out with a motherly smile.
“These are addictive,” Jo Ban muttered as he grabbed several fries.
“Don’t I know it,” Caitria said, shaking her head. A thick strand of red hair fell from its pin, and she paused to readjust it. “Faelan won’t let anyone touch them if he’s around.”
“She’s trying to fatten you all up,” Midir said, laughter underlying the words. The Minq glanced down his thin frame, hmphed, and crunched away. Patch peeled himself from the chair and poured himself wake juice, then held it up and glanced around. Only Ghost demurred. He passed mugs to the others, handed her one, and sank back into the chair with a groan.
Caitria plopped painkiller packets in their laps. Patch nicely opened hers and dumped it in the wake juice.
“Your question, Lanth,” Ghost said. “They found khentauree but still searched. They seek something else. Perhaps it was the medic, but I do not think so. I think they stumbled upon her while searching for their target.”
“They tore houses apart and interrogated staff,” Patch said as he tore open the second packet.
“Sanna already told Ghost what she and ENZ experienced, so we have the gist of it,” Midir said. “Once things die down, we’ll send someone to check on the mansions and rescue staff if necessary.”
“I am interested from where the etak were stolen, but I am more curious about this medic,” Ghost said. “She is unlike any I have encountered. Front line fighters faded into landscapes, not medics. Their patients could not disappear, so neither did they.”
“But she can.” Patch nodded as he sipped his drink.
“Sanna doesn’t think she’s an LX70,” Lapis said.
“She is not,” Ghost agreed. “Her advanced abilities came later than the LX70 models. Taangis did not upgrade older khentauree with newer modifications because the rest of the chassis and the programming would need reconfiguration. This often cost more than a new purchase. The LX70s were one of the earliest, so upgrades would have been even more expensive. Not only would they need to replace the upper torso mechanics and wiring, the deer-like chassis with a horse-like one, they would need to replace the cheresti tubes.”
“Cheresti?” Jo Ban asked.
“It is an old recipe for khentauree blood,” Ghost said. “The elder military models used it. Sponoil was superior, so the military replaced khentauree whose chassis used it. The cheresti models were sold to private businesses, the first non-military use.”
“So is she an LV model, like Sanna said?” Lapis winced as the padding peeled from her wound, and Caitria winced in sympathetic pain with her. She slathered enough numbing lotion on it afterwards, she could not feel her entire shoulder.
He shook his head—a very human motion. “Sanna said so to prick her into more information. She may have the markings of a medic, but she is not one. We must proceed with caution. Something is not right with her.”
“Do you think the modder worked on her, maybe messed with something he shouldn’t have?” Lapis asked.
“Perhaps, but that would not explain her ability to fade into the landscape.”
“I’m shocked a modder took up residence there, especially in that neighborhood,” Midir murmured, rubbing roughly at his face. “Those mansions are humongous money drains to prove court nobles have enough metgal to impress Gall—or were. I guess most have fled or are dead.”
Jo Ban raised a mug to that; the rest of them followed.
“I doubt Gall would have approved of a modder, even for his closest advisors,” Midir continued. “So he hid, and hid well.”
“Seeza and her father are as corrupt as they come,” Patch told them. “And that modder seemed like the kind of person they’d favor. Jhor said he knew him from his time in the Dentherion army. He had anger issues and lit the lead scientist’s lab on fire after they let him go.” Lapis unbuckled the pouch and handed it to Patch, who gave it to Jo Ban. The man peeked inside and grimaced before withdrawing the pages. “The letter implies he had a solo operation, but considering where he holed up, I doubt it. I’m betting someone like Seeza and her dad paid his upkeep, and got rid of him when he became a liability. There was a tech-trapped box in his sleeping quarters that might have more info, but if the mansion didn’t burn, I doubt it’ll still be there.”
“We’ll find out,” Jo Ban murmured as he set the bag down and perused the pages. “Hmm. Embrick’s one of the nicer neighborhoods in Trave. It borders the ones the ‘shroud took out, so his family might have evacuated. I’ll ask the Minq still in the city to check.” He sighed. “I’m not certain how much we can devote to this right now.”
“Let us take the lead,” Ghost said. “This involves khentauree, and while the etak and the medic do not trust us, they will see khentauree as safer than humans.”
“Sanna and LX70 butted heads the entire way back to the House,” Lapis said as Caitria re-wrapped her wound. “Are you sure about that?”
The buzzy chuckle did not make her feel more confident in Sanna’s attempts at extracting information. “I am sure. Sanna is headstrong, that is true, but there are other mine khentauree that she might confide in. Jhor wished to move them to Ambercaast, and that may be our wisest choice. They can interact with Cuddle Bear. He is persuasive, when he must be.”
Lapis still wanted to know how Cuddle Bear, a giant of a khentauree who, in his previous life, was a crane, came by his name. She still refused to ask.
“Were you thinking of taking them into Ambercaast, or settling them in the workstation?” Midir asked.
“To begin with, the workstation. At Jhor’s request, Katarina has expanded the medical dock Cuddle Bear rests in. It is a place of warmth and comfort, and with Black Hat, terron and khentauree patrols, it is as safe as this mansion. He will work on chassis for the etak, and the medic can think on her existence and choices. If they behave, perhaps I will introduce them to others.”
“Is that wise?” Patch asked.
“We offer good will, and then, perhaps, they will speak more freely. So yes, it is wise.” Ghost made a ticking sound. “I know your concern is for us, considering how military khentauree have responded to you. We know caution. We know tact. Maybe Sanna is not so tactful, but I am.”
Lapis smiled. “Sanna gets results.”
“Yes. And if she thinks the khentauree endanger Jhor, then the results will come faster.” He shrugged, a very smooth, human-like motion. Why had she not noticed before? “We must find a way to carry them to Ambercaast without putting them back in a box.”
“We’ll see what we can do,” Midir said.
“I can alter the railing on the platforms,” Caitria offered as she brushed her hands together. “And I’ll talk to Jhor about special seating. Maybe we can make a bench with clamps or straps, unless you think we should hold them.”
“No,” Ghost said.
Lapis prodded at the padding and attempted to stifle her yawn, but that seemed to make it larger. Patch looked no better, and Brander eyed them before tucking his black hair behind his ears.
“Get some sleep, and don’t worry about the Night Market. We’ll send someone else tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds good to me,” Patch murmured, rubbing at his side. “The orangies had dogs. We took the tunnels so I’m not sure they’ll pick up the khentauree scent, but we need to run more guards.”
He nodded. “I’ll talk to Sherridan and we’ll set up a double patrol. I’ll alert the terrons, too.” His half-grin held a tinge of satisfied spite. “I dare those asses to tangle with one of them.”
“They will learn,” Ghost said.
