Qip looked at Bree and Tam, who were sitting close together on a small sofa. Tam shrugged, indicating that he knew nothing.
Bree spoke quietly. “She was supposed to marry Prince Nessa but she didn’t.”
“You don’t know the truth!” Aradella snapped at her cousin.“I wassupposedto marry Mekos, but Olina found out and—” She stopped talking, too angry to continue.
It was Mekos who told the story.
For the most part, Qip listened in silence, but at the mention of Valona’s name, he interrupted. “The country she was born in threw her out. They feared her power too much to kill her.”
“Country?” Aradella asked. “Like on Earth?”
“Yes,” Qip said. “Exactly like that.”
Mekos told what Vian said would happen—if he and Aradella hadn’t interfered, that is.
“Humph!” Qip said. “Maybe those three evil women would have killed each other. Or maybe they would have formed an alliance and destroyed us all. Urah, Olina, and Valona united.” He shivered at the image.
At the mere idea that Vian might be wrong, Mekos and Aradella smiled broadly.
Tam was looking at Aradella. “You rode a wolf? You stabbed that woman?”
“I did what I had to.” Aradella kept her chin up.
Bree mumbled, “I have no doubt she made a wolf obey her. Poor creature was probably terrified.”
Her voice was so low that only Mekos heard her and he choked down a laugh.
Qip said, “Vian knows whatcouldhappen. But we’ve seen that her visions are not set in eternity.”
“How do we change the future?” Mekos asked. “We’re to the point where we’ll do anything.”
“I don’t know,” Qip said honestly. “I need to think and to consult with some people.” Their eyes were wide as they looked to him for answers. “Go to the garden. Occupy yourselves while I figure this out. I will see you at dinner.”
His expression showed that he was done talking. They picked up their empty plates and glasses and left the room.
16
Qip stood back as Darr opened the heavy door at the end of the house. The door had been designed to discourage entry so it was well concealed. Darr went up the circular staircase first as he needed to raise the trap door in the roof. When it was safe, he motioned to Qip to come up. At the top was a camouflaged lookout. It was so well hidden that people below could look at it but not see it. From the high vantage point, Qip could see his entire garden. More importantly, he could see his visitors.
“Look at them,” he said as he scanned the garden. “They’re separate, as far apart as they can be. What Cappie told me was awful. How cantheydo anything? They barely speak to each other.” Mekos had found the archery court and was shooting arrows into the target, landing them on top of each other. For the most part, he had his arms around Aradella and was giving her lessons on the use of a bow. From the way they acted, there was no doubt that they’d soon go into the forest to be alone.
On the opposite side of the big garden were Tam and Bree. It was easy to see that his desire for her was so strong it’s a wonder the trees didn’t burst into flame. Bree seemed to be unused to male attention so she stepped away, but her eyes never left Tam. The two of them were taking turns lifting heavy stonestatues of cherubs. Their laughter was so inordinately loud that it could be heard in the tower.
“What do I do with them?” Qip looked at Darr. “And where is your friend?”
The metal man pointed toward a flower bed.
“Ah yes, I heard that Nevers love flowers. Did he tell you about his life?”
Darr nodded, then shook his head. The light behind his eyes dulled to the point that it was almost dark.
“That bad, huh? I guess that means Olina? Or was it Valona? Urah?”
Darr held up three fingers.
Qip groaned. “All three. That poor man.” He looked back at the couples. “Why was this dumped onme? Am I to tell them how to get into Empyrea? What would they do if they did get in? Snip at each other?”
He looked to the left. Aradella and Mekos were holding hands and running into the trees. “Aradella’s hatred and resentment is like a crap-colored fog surrounding them. If she directed that hate in the right direction, she could conquer the planet, but she seems trapped inside it.”
