I thought for a moment. "Dumadi is a warrior, is he not? A... leader. He's a planner. Adoer I think we need to give him a way to feel like he's doing something useful."
"What do you mean?" Elias asked.
"I think if we give him what he's asking for, at least as much as we can, he will want to help us. He'll want to strategize."
Zander tapped his fingers on the table. "We've got safe houses all over the world. We could fortify one. Remove all ability for outside communication. He could have books and puzzles. Nonelectronic means of entertainment."
"At least he could cook, exercise, and have room to move around," Axoular chimed in.
"A comfortable bed," I pointed out.
Cindy nodded. "We can fortify the house. Make sure nobody can contact him. We've gotten pretty sophisticated with wards. We can block radio signals, cell phone signals, all kinds of stuff."
"What about him communicating with the Leyak?" I asked. "We need him to be able to talk to them."
Leaning forward, Cindy looked energized and ready to get started. "We set up that communication chair for the mermaids. We could make something work for Dumadi. Maybe only the back porch of the house can have communications on it or only the attic or something like that."
"That's a great idea," Elias said.
"I'll get our best people on it," Zander said. "Cindy, can you go back and start the process? Get the witches to the house?"
"Sure. I'd be honored. Are you going toremoveelectricity, or do you want me to magick it ineffective?"
Zander tapped his lip with his finger, thinking. "It would be very convenient if you could magick it. That way we could still allow, say, the hot water heater to work. But nothing he could use to create a portal. We don't know if he can make the portals they used in the bookshop."
She nodded. "Difficult, but doable. Let me go get the ball rolling since we're also dealing with the rogue."
With a formal nod at Zander, Cindy hurried from the room.
"Anything else?" Zander asked.
I looked at Riley who sighed. "How about this? We don't mention Linna. Tell him the deal with his new prison and see if he goes for it."
"And if he doesn't?" Zander looked from Riley to the three men sitting with her. "Then what?"
Elias's nostrils flared. "Then we'll arrange very supervised, heavily guarded visitation. We will come to him, and he doesn't get to touch."
Riley nodded once. "I think that's more than fair after what he's done."
"Good," Zander said. "Because that's how it's going to be. I don't think any of us, even us, are willing to give him an inch more. Not even to save the babies."
We headed back down to Dumadi's chambers, without Zander this time. He ran straight to his office to get things rolling with the house.
"We have come to an agreement," Roan said, acting as leader. He was Zander's right-hand man, so this was what he was used to doing.
Dumadi was sprawled on the bed, looking bored. He sat up when we came in and looked at all of us. "What agreement would that be?"
"You will be moved to a safe house. It will be fortified with wards and other security measures. You will not be allowed to leave, and nobody will be allowed to come in except for us. You will have books, puzzles, and other forms of entertainment."
"What about a TV?" Dumadi asked.
Riley shook her head. "No electronics that could be used to communicate with the outside world or to make a portal."
He frowned. "What about my people? I need to be able to communicate with them if I'm to uphold my end of the bargain."
"You will be able to," I said. "The witches will create a way for you to communicate."
He was silent for a long moment, thinking. "And what is the other agreement?"
