I push out the tears which have been sitting behind my eyes ever since I heard about Deus. Now seems the right time to shed them, even if I was doing my level best not to.
Dalox growls under his breath, moving from foot to foot and not meeting my eyes.
“Those who took the humans from their planet should pay for what they have done.”
“And the humans shouldn’t be banished,” Maggie pipes up. “Should they?” She gives Driok a pointed look.
“I doubt the female is complicit in whatever Deus is up to,” Driok says to Dalox. “My mate is correct that she should not be banished.”
“You do not know where Deus is?” Dalox says to me with a resigned air.
“I don’t know.” I sigh.
“Would you tell us if you did?” Driok says, trying to be clever.
“That would very much depend on his reasons for disappearing, wouldn’t it?” I reply. “If I thought for a moment he was in danger, I would tell you.”
Driok huffs out some smoke.
“If I thought for a minute he was in dangerfrom you, I wouldn’t tell you,” I add, giving him a smug smile.
“Adelicate flower.” Driok turns his gaze on Maggie, who shrugs and gives him a grin.
“That’s my girl,” she replies.
“Just one thing,” I pipe up. “How did you know Deus was gone?”
“His life-force signature is no longer registering on our instruments,” Dalox rumbles.
“You were tracking him?”
“What do you take me for? A sarkarnling? Why would I not be tracking the biggest troublemaker this side of the galaxy?” Dalox gives me a smile which is far more fang than anyone would like, probably even his mate, Gillian.
“Dalox tracks all of us.” Driok sighs as if this is the biggest non-secret in the entire universe. “On this occasion, it seems he had good reason to.”
“I presume you will have seen how hard he worked yesterday for Dexx?” I suggest.
“Dexx has advised me of what he did. He has also said a number of his warriors were approached by Deus to see if they would be interested in coming under his control,” Dalox intones.
The ice in my stomach grows heavier.
“Under his control?”
“It seems he was wanting to rebuild his sector and his crew.” Dalox watches me carefully. “To what end, it is unknown. But Dexx’s warriors are loyal to him, and they reported back.”
I don’t know what to say. This is entirely news to me. I keep my face as emotionless as possible, but I know my silence isn’t helping Deus.
Nor is it helping me, given the way Dalox’s face darkens.
There is a commotion by the door, and to my ultimate relief, my friends bustle through, babies in tow, and several warriors come in behind them carrying packages.
“Don’t mind us,” Gillian says. “We’re here for Lydia.”
I can tell immediately Dalox has absolutely no idea what to do in the face of this onslaught of human females and sarkarnlings. He snarls at the warriors helping them, but it does him no good as the items are put down, and the warriors beat a swift retreat.
The noise continues as everyone talks at once. I get hugs and waves while Driok and Dalox attempt to re-establish some sort of order.
They fail, of course.
