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"You lost some of your brothers" I rubbed his back

"And all sisters Only seven of those in beginning All gone, now"

"I’m sorry, Farzi"

"The ones whothem And us They sell us to Master Arvil He place chips" Farzi pointed to a spot on his chest Arvil had implanted location chips on the reptanoids, just as others did for their pets or children Farzi could never escape Arvil San Gerxon No wonder Arvil sent theain if they ever thought to run

"So, they used you Then sold you to Arvil, so he could do the same"

"Yes You are exact But on full moon, we do as our father did He have to turn, Reah We have to turn But we still knoho is friend e turn We do not harm Enemy--we know the and I wasn’t about to argue I nodded

"We like Reah to co for you, Nenzi" I ht not have for any of the rest of Arvil’s crew, but I would for these There was an honor of so with the down upon them, each reptanoid became what their father had been before them, a lion snake shapeshifter I wondered if Norian Keef knehat they were Soly allowed their creation, even if he’d not given his children any of his ti a parent I knew that feeling Perhaps that’s why I felt close to theth, the others varying in size with Nenzi being the shortest at around eleven hands I gathered their clothing, placed it in a neat pile and followed behind them as they slithered toward Grish’s plantation

The house was quiet--there was only one guard posted outside Grish’s suite Seven lion snakes and I held back, watching as Nenzi crawled up the door facing until he looped hi froht have thought to look upward, otherwise An open transomlay above Grish’s bedroom door; Nenzi used that to crawl inside

We waited Nenzi ca his path His lion snake dropped silently onto the floor and we crept outside again I followed the reptanoids that night as they hunted prey--capturing rodents, sleeping birds and other snakes I didn’t turn ht it was important that they knew I didn’t find them repulsive A few clicks before dawn, they returned to our original gathering place, regained their humanoid shape and dressed

The saainst the wall the day before pronounced heart failure as the cause of Grish’s death and got away froht the warlocks had done it and didn’t want to tangle with any of them Nenzi had been discreet--when I went in with the others to check on Grish, I didn’t see any sign of bite marks anywhere

Severalwas out, after they atteue with Arvil over who noned Grish’s lands Arvil and the warlocks won Arvil shot two; three others were fried by Celestan, I think Ry, Tory, the reptanoids and I took a long hile that argument took place When we returned, it was to see Grish’s re away in one of the hoverbuses kept at the plantation

"I’ll need staff here--we must plow and plant quickly," Arvil said when I returned to the plantation He didn’t see with Farzi and two other reptanoids, ended up in the nearest city, looking to hire workers Nenzi drove

"We made sure they could do as they said," I told Arvil later I didn’t tell hi We found experienced workers who kne to operate the equip over the fact that Lendill ht have, in his words, a cow, if he could see ere doing right then I just shrugged, smiled at the inexplicable cow stateht-days later--rain had cos up a little Arvil sent Carthin soet the drakus seed to plant--I suppose it was a secret location only he and the Hardlows knew Ry said he could follow the signature path and sent the information to Lendill when Carthin returned

Delvin feels power signatures fro around that? I sent to Ry We were having an after-dinner drink around the pool Farzi and the others had been out in the fields, supervising the work Nenzi headed the machinery repair detail He was happiest, I think, when he carease and muck

Mom, Ry answered my mental question She has a shield around me that no wizard or warlock can crack When I lifted an eyebrow, he explained She’s mated to Kifirin, remember? She’s what he is

And I didn’t bow to her?

She doesn’t like it

Thank the stars I thought I’d messed up, somehow

"I haven’t heard froet all the reports from them, now" Lendill flopped onto Norian’s sofa "Why do you have a bigger office than I do?"

"Because I’ "Why are you worried that Reah isn’t giving you the reports? Ry and Tory have more experience at this"

"They didn’t kno Grish died, but Ry thinks Reah knows soht Grish was dead the next uard posted outside all night"

"Doesn’t ent is this way They’ll have to contact San Gerxon if they want to keep getting paid"

"True And I didn’t shed a tear over Grish--he’s probably been setable shipments for years That’s how he met up with his Alliance contacts, most likely"

"Undoubtedly"

"I still want to hear from Reah"

"Then send herwith uilty"

"Neither do you"

"That’s why I put you on this" Norian was grinning at his oldest friend

"Do you think she’ll ever get over this--all of it?" Lendill leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes