“The Realm Jumper has many advantages, yes, but it can accomplish nothing that a large group of powerful wizards could not.”
“Perhaps.”
“And your tone says you believe otherwise.”
She smiled, a shading of amusement that he called her out. “I don’t trust magic, so I’m always asking what if. The Realm Jumper can access all nine of the other Realms, but what if, just maybe, it can access more?”
“The Tenth Realm? That’s a fable.”
Her smile widened, and she inclined her head an inch. “More likely I’m pissed the best I can claim is a draw with the Corpse Bloom Queen.”
He stepped closer, keeping a respectful distance but placing himself behind his desk and into the center of authority. “Ah yes, the Pale Lady. Unexpected, that.”
Fallon put her hands in her pockets and leaned back against the wall, one knee bent and the sole of her foot propped against the vertical surface in a false façade of casual repose. “Was it unexpected for you as well?”
“Of course. When it comes to the necromancers, I would not leave unmentioned even a suspicion of their workings.” There was a globe on his desk, done in browns and gold with very little primary color. His index finger stroked with lazy ease over a section changed more than any other because of the Great Collision, an area where necromancers ruled. “We now have in-fighting amongst the necromancers to consider in our future plans. Reign and the Pale Lady have ever been at odds, but this display means that she, at least, has decided no longer to keep it hidden from us. Open warfare has been declared in their ranks, and we will be drawn in.”
“Necromancers not able to make friends with one another? Shocking,” Fallon said with deadpan delivery.
“I would not take this so lightly. Of all in our alliance, she has an especial hatred for you.”
“Let me lose sleep that yet another necromancer wants me dead, or undead, or whatever.”
“Oh, she wants you dead. She wants you obliterated down to the mention of your name. She would not keep you around even as a trophy to display.” The handsome lines of his face sharpened, and the predator flickered over his features for the briefest moment. “But it’s not as if that is what all of them wish, is it?”
Fallon met his gaze straight on. “Beware taking that path, Phoenix Lord. I am not yours to poke and prod.” She straightened, hands still in pockets but body more visibly ready for battle, Tenro glinting behind her shoulder.
The barest tilt of his head signaled the acceptance of her words, and he continued. “Do you have any word why Reign did not try harder to reclaim the Realm Jumper? Using only the Skin Dweller in such circumstances is almost pathetic.”
“We came up with the same reason I’m sure you did – something better is out there that he wants and his efforts are focused elsewhere. We have Tec working on it, but…” Her words trailed off.
“With the theft of the items in the vault, too many variables.”
“Too many variables,” she agreed, her attention locked onto a ten-foot tapestry of a phoenix in full glory, its wings and its neck straining upwards. “Esh will come to you soon. He’s still holding onto anger, but even if he wanted to leave his heritage alone, Nalah is too curious to let information go unclaimed.”
“Of course he’ll return. From the moment his fire awoke, that conclusion became inevitable. He is of phoenix blood. When the blood calls, he will answer, and he will stand beside us in all battles.”
“Such good luck one so strong and talented came into his power in these tense times, when war is edging ever closer.” Fallon’s voice held a weary, far away note, her vision fixed on the phoenix.
“War is always close. Our existence is to hold it at bay.” For those few words, the false pleasantness was gone, and pure determination and fierce purpose were all that existed. With a deep breath, he became again bland politeness. “Please thank Lord Kyo for his assistance in returning one of ours to us.”
Fallon took her attention away from the tapestry and once again faced him, her face as devoid of true feelings as the Phoenix Lord. “Lord Kyo needs no thanks and is always ready to help his allies. He does ask that you share a financial burden that came out of this mission. It seems the Blackguards accuse us of not informing them of the true danger of this mission, which caused their man to get caught and killed. To smooth over relations, Lord Kyo has offered monetary compensation, which they have accepted.”
“Of course. Should I include a note of condolence?”
“No need. The man killed was a violent scumbag who had no family. Personally, I think the world is better off without him and am sure he would have died soon enough, but…” she gave a small lift of her shoulder, the move shifting Tenro and causing her red hair to curl around the sword’s hilt. “Politics and all.”