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Malachi said, "But if he’s reaching down from Russia and into the Ukraine, then Turkey isn’t that far off"

Rhys said, "He’d run into Svarog"

Phillip shook his head "Volund doesn’t fear Svarog"

"He should"

"What does he want?" Malachia map of eastern Europe in his mind He pulled back, looked at all the continent Not as the hu borders He pictured the slowly shifting spheres of power, ebbing and floith the centuries One Fallen rose, another slowly toppled Where was Volund in that cycle? And why had Jaron ceded power of Istanbul when he had held if for centuries?

Irin presence shone through Europe, a bright glowing thread that wove throughVienna

"What does Volund want?" Malachi asked again

Phillip shrugged "Power To control as much territory as possible And wipe out the Irin, of course It’s always been the theory that Volund was the pri"

Malachi’s eyes narrowed "So…"

Rhys said, "But you said there’sfrom one direction Volund has little influence in western Europe"

"We all have allies," Malachi said,into place "Volund’s strongest area has always been Russia, correct?"

"Since he destroyed Barak" Leo smiled "How did you know that?"

"I just did Concentrate" He spread his hands over the table, using cups and silverware to mark his mental map "Volund wants to expand his influence from his base in Russia, but he doesn’t want to be noticed What does he do?" He grabbed a saltshaker near his right elbow "He gets Jaron out of Istanbul"

"Or Jaron leaves," Rhys said "Either way, he’s gone"

"And with hi is cunning, but he does not hunger for power"

"And how did you know that?" Rhys asked

"I don’t know! It doesn’t matter" Malachi’s left arht and on the opposite side of the map "Now Volund comes from the north and the east He needs help fro it"

Phillip nodded "There areup in France and Gerori leadership there is fractured It used to be controlled by Barak, but Volund killed him Noe don’t really knoho controls it"

"But we know soan tothe direction of ori in the north He’s ht ar in the west" He lifted his left "Volund wants to wipe the Irin from the earth And where is the center of the Irin world?"

"Vienna," Leo said "But--"

"Exactly And ould Volund send an arrow to Vienna when he could give them…" His arms closed in on a ?"

Chapter Twelve