“Bit” was an understatement. Unusual artifacts, most of them quite small, were on every available surface.
“Is it Jobi?” Mekos asked.
Qip smiled. “Yes, Jobi is my benefactor.”
“And mine.” Aradella motioned to the miniature furniture. “Ian will love this.”
At his name, the small man flew into the room and went directly to stand on Darr’s shoulder. The metal man nodded toward the setup.
They watched Ian fly to it. He ran his hand over the table,then the plates. He picked up a fork and admired it. Ian seemed to know who had done it. He looked at Darr. “Thank you.”
Darr bent his head in a bow of acknowledgment.
“Shall we?” Qip said as he sat down. “Please begin.” He watched the young people heap their plates full, and waited to start talking.
“Did you find out anything?” Mekos asked. He was already on his second plate of food.
“Yes,” Qip said. He was trying to keep his face expressionless. He had no intention of telling them what he’d been through in the last hours. He was able to reach Zeon, but Vian didn’t answer any calls. Zeon had gone into one of his trances, then returned, and said, “It might work.” That caused an explosion from Qip. “That’s all you can say? Itmightwork?” Zeon had been so annoyingly unperturbed by the anger that Qip blurted, “Your son is falling in love with Bree.”
“I know,” Zeon said. “They were destined to be together, but Reena made some very unpleasant threats if I allowed it.” He hesitated. “She said that Bree is desperately needed elsewhere andnotwith my son.”
Qip made a sound that was anger and exasperation mixed. “You sacrificed those two for... for what?”
“I don’t know!” Zeon half shouted. “I do not have free will in this. I want the best for my son but he can’t have Princess Bree. And you farken well better keep them apart!” At that, Zeon cut the connection.
Yet again, Qip muttered, “Whyme?”
The five of them were looking at Qip, waiting to hear what he had to say. He took a breath. “As you have guessed, you were sent here for a reason.” He looked back at the trusting young faces. “Vian has set a great and mighty task onto your shoulders. The truth is that I don’t know if you can accomplish it.”
Like all young people, their expressions said,Yeswe can! Try us!
In other circumstances, Qip would have smiled, but these people—with their families—were talking of overthrowing Empyrea. “Before you can go forward, tomorrow you must procure two objects.” He couldn’t help glancing at Darr. His left eyelight blinked three times. Yes, they both knew it was a lie. Obtaining the objects wasnotthe goal.
“We have some magic things,” Aradella said. “We could—”
Qip raised his hand. “What you will obtain is fundamental to your success.” He did not look at Darr. He knew he’d again see the blinking eyelights. But Darr was programed to send messages subtly. He sent a little flashing light that landed on the table next to Qip’s hand. It could as well have formed the wordsridiculous rhetoric.But they both knew there was no way Qip could tell them the truth.
Qip did his best to ignore the censure. “The first item you must obtain is the Rose of Vaheal. It’s a simple object and it’s being held in plain sight.” He looked from one to the other. “The rose is used as a prop at our little playhouse. I’ve seen it there for years.”
“You couldn’t slip in and take it?” Mekos asked.
Qip leaned forward. “If it could be stolen, I would have done it years ago. It must begivento a person.” He paused long enough to see the questions they were forming—but he had no intention of answering them. “It’s a purple rose in a little white vase. It’s hardly noticeable. Somehow, you must get someone in authority to give it to you.”
Aradella made a sound of derision. “Bree can get it. All she has to do is look at a person and they capitulate. I’ve heard several men say, ‘What is mine is yours.’”
Qip tried to conceal a frown at the jab. He looked at Bree. She said nothing but he saw her pick up a steel fork and conceal it on her lap. To his amazement, she folded it in half—with one hand. Seconds later, she straightened it and put it back on the table.
As he tried to not show his shock, Qip cleared his throat,and looked at the others. “The second thing you’re to get is a medallion.” He shrugged. “However, I doubt if you can do that—and stay alive, that is. The ancient medallion is worn by the Monster of Sheean.”
“What kind of monster?” Tam asked.
Qip took his time answering. “You asked about misfits. Sheean is one of them. His DNA was changed. In other words, he is like me and we are what we are.”
“Like you?” Tam asked. “I think I speak for all of us in saying that we don’t understand what you mean.”
Qip put down his fork, Darr took his plate away, and the older man leaned back in his chair. “All of us here in this room are misfits.”
“I am for sure,” Mekos said. “I am a Lely, but the others are quite ordinary.”
