Gren studied the map, eventually working out the images presented. "That's an outcropping of rock in the Western Sea," he complained, raising his gaze to Zellar's face. He looked away quickly—he couldn't keep his eyes on Zellar's raw, left countenance for long; Zellar didn't like it and Gren found it uncomfortable anyway.
"It's perfect," Zellar declared. "They call it The Tooth for a reason—it's steep and pointed, plus the rock is extremely sharp. It's also ten clicks from the shoreline. Nobody goes there. Tandias will find a safe place for you to stand while you tap into the core beneath the water."
"We could tap another planet," Gren muttered, staring at his shoes. They were worn through the soles, but Zellar refused to find shoes or additional clothing for him. He was tired of sleeping on the floor, too, but Zellar had struck him once already for complaining.
"Tandias and I intend to exact the greatest amount of revenge against the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. This," Zellar tapped the corner of his closed and useless eye, "she did this to me. She destroyed Tandias' brotherhood, too. We both want to destroy her and her planet. Tapping from multiple locations kills it faster."
Gren stared in shock—tapping the planet killed it? He wanted to moan in frustration. He had begun to regret his liaison with Zellar, and this only made it worse. His parents were on Le-Ath Veronis. They liked it there. "Ah," Zeller nodded and turned away with a laugh. "You didn't know that, did you? Get used to it," Zellar turned again swiftly and slapped Gren hard across the face. "And don't let me hear your complaints again. You'll go with Tandias tomorrow, you'll take the power and then we'll make our plans."
* * *
"Just put your swimsuit and a change of clothing for dinner in your bag," Roff sat on Toff's bed while Toff dithered over what to take to the beach house. "We'll take extra clothing later and leave it there, so you'll have it if you need it."
"What about sunburn?" Toff turned to his father.
"Ry can provide a shield for everyone—it's a simple spell any warlock can manage. Nissa can probably do it as well, I've just never asked," Roff replied.
"Papu, I don't know why I never thought we were related before—our eyes are the same color. Our hair is the same color, too. Master Morwin is teaching me about genetics in my science lessons."
"You should have met your older sister," Roff sighed and stared at his hands. "Did you read her records, too? Members of our family either have black or light-brown hair. Your grandfather had light-brown hair. His parent had black hair."
"I read the records; my sister's name was Giff, but much of the information refers to her as him. Why is that?"
"Lissa can identify which comesuli will be male or female after the turn. Giff was destined to be a female Winged Vampire, which is quite uncommon. Her loss was a grievous one, child."
"Did I know her?" Toff looked troubled. Roff beckoned with a hand, so Toff went to sit beside his father.
"She watched you whenever I couldn't," Roff placed an arm around Toff. "Fed you, bathed you, did everything for you that she could. We both loved you, son, very much."
Toff hung his head. He imagined that mentioning Griffin's visit when he'd first come to the palace would only upset his father, so he didn't say anything. More and more, though, he found himself disliking Lissa's father, and felt the strange man had many things to answer for.
"Come now, finish packing you bag and I'll fly you to Casino City. I imagine that a bauble might be found there for Nissa."
"Really? We can go shopping?" Toff beamed at his father.
"We really can," Roff grinned and tousled Toff's hair.
* * *
"We will form the circle in four days," Tiearan informed the village elders. "I hoped to do it sooner, but the illness that swept through our humanoid population has prevented it." Tiearan wanted to vent his frustration, but as chief of the Green Fae, he couldn't. All those inside their boundary were affected in some way or another by the energy drain from the core's tapping. Peaceful inhabitants snapped at one another. Several fights had broken out within the humanoid population, and then the fever came, sweeping through those who were susceptible and leaving them weak afterward.
"I will be ready." Willow had come, but was anxious to return to his animals. He'd only come to hear the date and had no desire to be around the others longer than necessary. Tiearan nodded as Willow walked toward the wide barn door. He'd chosen the barn where they crushed grapes for winemaking, because it was more than large enough to hold the elders without bringing them too closely together. Tiearan had seen firsthand what pushing them together might accomplish during this trying time; arguments often came, and he had no desire to act as peacemaker on this day.
"All of you, gather here in four days. The circle will convene and we will repair this blight. Go now and prepare. Charge your crystal and be ready." Tiearan dismissed them with a sigh.
* * *
"It doesn't hurt," Nissa smiled at Trik. For the first time in his life, Trik had walked with the others to the beach, closely watched by Roff. Lissa and a few others had chosen to stay on the balcony overlooking the private stretch of sand attached to the beach house. It wasn't really a beach house, although that's what everyone called it. The structure was actually a smaller palace, suited to its location near the beach on the light half of the planet.
"What can you tell me about the rite?" Trik asked. He, Nissa, Roff, Ry and Tory were all sitting on the sand after playing in the surf for nearly an hour. Roff stood farther down, looking westward over the sea.
"Grampa Glendes usually does it," Nissa began. "He takes you head in his hands and everything goes dark. You won't remember anything past that until you wake up, but Daddy says that Grampa described it once. He said it's like looking at a star field at night, when Grampa looks into your mind. The more stars there are, the more powerful the wizard will be. Grampa will wake the wizard's talent with a little power of his own, and Daddy says that all the stars, which were only pinpoints of light before, will shine like the sun after that. You'll be able to tap your power after Grampa Glendes wakes it up."
"Nobody ever described it to me at Belancour Manor," Trik huffed. "They all said I didn't need to know."
"They were wrong to ignore or mistreat you," Toff muttered angrily. He could identify with Trik easily.
"I wish you were coming, too," Nissa nudged Toff's shoulder with her own. Toff made sure to sit beside her when they'd all flopped onto the wet sand.