danger. I hear that some of the remaining rogues outrank you."
"I know. Lissa and I had this discussion already."
"There is something else," Nefrigar said.
"What's that?"
"I have been instructed to bring you to a meeting. In the Archives. Edward, Tybus and your reptanoids must come as well."
"When?"
"Now."
* * *
Avendor—present
Adam's Journal
"We're on Kiarra's planet in the past," I handed a glass of wine to Merrill. He preferred wine—I was having a Jameson's on the rocks.
"We have a meeting with Conner, and then we can go into the past if you want," Merrill held up his wineglass in a silent toast. "Pheligar says Belen has given all of us carte-blanche on tracking and destroying the enemy."
"I'm interested in this meeting with Conner," I muttered. "She came for Kiarra earlier, and I'd be worried except that Pheligar, Renegar, Graegar and Barrigar went with them. Pheligar said that Connegar and Reemagar went to collect Lissa, who didn't know about the meeting."
"Nefrigar and his sons have been sent to collect Reah, Edward and several others," Kalenegar appeared inside my study. "Are you ready? It is time to go."
"You're escorting us?" Merrill asked.
"I am. Bring your drinks. You may need them."
* * *
Lissa's Journal
"What's this about?" I studied my surroundings—we were in the Larentii Archives. I'd never been there. Reah, who was mated to Nefrigar, had been several times, but she always said she'd only seen parts of it.
All the ceilings were clear and the building—if you could call it that—stood far in the north on the Larentii homeworld. Calling it huge would belittle what it was. Calling it huge to the hundredth power might come close.
Everything inside was in stasis, and some might consider it a museum as it held books, recordings, drawings, valuable sculptures and works of art. I stared at a Caspar David Friedrich painting that was supposedly destroyed in World War II. The piece was beautiful, haunting, and I'd only seen black and white photographs of it in the past. Here was the stunning reality.
"That is the original, Pulled away before the building housing it was bombed," Nefrigar and his sons appeared, accompanied by Reah, Edward, all eight reptanoids and Tybus.
"Lissa, how nice to see you again," Tybus came forward, took my hand and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
"Hey," I put my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Daughter, it is wonderful to hold you again," he whispered against my ear. I felt like sniffling against his crisp, white shirt. I had a father, but he and I were estranged. This man was offering something I'd never experienced—a father's unconditional love.
"Come," Nefrigar smiled as Tybus and I drew apart. "It is time."
"Time for what?" Reah whispered to me as we followed Nefrigar farther into the Archives, past storage systems I didn't recognize and shelves of items that defied explanation.
"No idea," I muttered as we walked. Reah and I gasped as we passed through a wide, marble entrance into what appeared to be a grand hall, where tables were lined up in neat rows.
I imagined so many Larentii young had studied at those tables at one time or another; every Larentii had a parent and a surrogate, along with others as they matured, who taught them what they should know and how to use their power properly.
"Choose your seats—all are open," Nefrigar smiled as he held out a hand, inviting us to sit. "Others will arrive quickly."
They did. The Saa Thalarr, Spawn Hunters and all their healers began arriving in groups. All were accompanied by Larentii.
Others I didn't expect appeared, including Erland, Gavin, Winkler, Rigo, Drake, Drew, Roff, Toff, Nissa, Ry and Trik. Ildevar Wyyld appeared, accompanied by two Larentii. The Starr brothers—all four of them, came with Garegar and his Protector, Lanigar.
Trevor appeared, accompanied by Lenigar. I blinked—Lanigar and Lenigar were brothers, with Lanigar being the eldest. He'd been a Protector for the previous Wise
"I know. Lissa and I had this discussion already."
"There is something else," Nefrigar said.
"What's that?"
"I have been instructed to bring you to a meeting. In the Archives. Edward, Tybus and your reptanoids must come as well."
"When?"
"Now."
* * *
Avendor—present
Adam's Journal
"We're on Kiarra's planet in the past," I handed a glass of wine to Merrill. He preferred wine—I was having a Jameson's on the rocks.
"We have a meeting with Conner, and then we can go into the past if you want," Merrill held up his wineglass in a silent toast. "Pheligar says Belen has given all of us carte-blanche on tracking and destroying the enemy."
"I'm interested in this meeting with Conner," I muttered. "She came for Kiarra earlier, and I'd be worried except that Pheligar, Renegar, Graegar and Barrigar went with them. Pheligar said that Connegar and Reemagar went to collect Lissa, who didn't know about the meeting."
"Nefrigar and his sons have been sent to collect Reah, Edward and several others," Kalenegar appeared inside my study. "Are you ready? It is time to go."
"You're escorting us?" Merrill asked.
"I am. Bring your drinks. You may need them."
* * *
Lissa's Journal
"What's this about?" I studied my surroundings—we were in the Larentii Archives. I'd never been there. Reah, who was mated to Nefrigar, had been several times, but she always said she'd only seen parts of it.
All the ceilings were clear and the building—if you could call it that—stood far in the north on the Larentii homeworld. Calling it huge would belittle what it was. Calling it huge to the hundredth power might come close.
Everything inside was in stasis, and some might consider it a museum as it held books, recordings, drawings, valuable sculptures and works of art. I stared at a Caspar David Friedrich painting that was supposedly destroyed in World War II. The piece was beautiful, haunting, and I'd only seen black and white photographs of it in the past. Here was the stunning reality.
"That is the original, Pulled away before the building housing it was bombed," Nefrigar and his sons appeared, accompanied by Reah, Edward, all eight reptanoids and Tybus.
"Lissa, how nice to see you again," Tybus came forward, took my hand and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
"Hey," I put my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Daughter, it is wonderful to hold you again," he whispered against my ear. I felt like sniffling against his crisp, white shirt. I had a father, but he and I were estranged. This man was offering something I'd never experienced—a father's unconditional love.
"Come," Nefrigar smiled as Tybus and I drew apart. "It is time."
"Time for what?" Reah whispered to me as we followed Nefrigar farther into the Archives, past storage systems I didn't recognize and shelves of items that defied explanation.
"No idea," I muttered as we walked. Reah and I gasped as we passed through a wide, marble entrance into what appeared to be a grand hall, where tables were lined up in neat rows.
I imagined so many Larentii young had studied at those tables at one time or another; every Larentii had a parent and a surrogate, along with others as they matured, who taught them what they should know and how to use their power properly.
"Choose your seats—all are open," Nefrigar smiled as he held out a hand, inviting us to sit. "Others will arrive quickly."
They did. The Saa Thalarr, Spawn Hunters and all their healers began arriving in groups. All were accompanied by Larentii.
Others I didn't expect appeared, including Erland, Gavin, Winkler, Rigo, Drake, Drew, Roff, Toff, Nissa, Ry and Trik. Ildevar Wyyld appeared, accompanied by two Larentii. The Starr brothers—all four of them, came with Garegar and his Protector, Lanigar.
Trevor appeared, accompanied by Lenigar. I blinked—Lanigar and Lenigar were brothers, with Lanigar being the eldest. He'd been a Protector for the previous Wise
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