CHAPTER 19  
   

It was not exactly darkness but, it was most definitely not light. It was a haze of reds and browns mixed with stringy purples and deep dark black. The only sound that Taylya could register was the constant thumping noise around her. She noticed, this detail, almost after the lights because they were really the only sensations that her body would register. She did not feel cold nor was she hot. She felt no air rushing over her body and while she was sure that her skin was surrounded by fluid it was almost as if it were not really there. Taylya was not even sure she felt gravity pulling her body down. It was as if she were floating in a void. Even her lungs did not feel as if they were working and that was the final straw. Her brain finally snapped to full alert and as her conscious mind emerged, she finally realized where she was.
Someone had obviously been monitoring her. The cover around her was peeled away by several gloved hands as another pulled the long slime ridden tube from her throat. Taylya shot up to a sitting position and began coughing out fluid. A man rapped in an almost paper like suit gave her a bucket as another began wiping her down with a towel. The world began to come into focus and Taylya noticed one passive looking, familiar, face on the other side of the room. He just stood there with a file in his hand, watching, as the medical assistants did their work. When the burning in Taylya's lungs began to subside, she coughed once more and directed a very vengeful sounding accusation at the familiar individual who was definitely no doctor, “what the hell am I doing here? I had a broken arm.”
It was a doctor in paper clothing who replied, “you had other injuries as well. This was the quickest way to...”
Jeuhal was relatively unemotional as he interrupted the doctor with, “your father ordered it. You were overdue, after all.”
Taylya took a towel from a medical assistant and after drying her face some more she spoke to no one in particular but, it was a comment most obviously meant for Jeuhal, “just parental concern or was it another way of him saying I've spent too much time with humans?” Then Taylya gave him the evil eye and really did level an accusation, “or was it yours?” He might have spoke but, Taylya decided she really did not want to hear it. She slid out of the mucus shell that she had been encased in and took yet another towel before demanding her clothes. She also asked Jeuhal, “how bad is it?”
Jeuhal just shrugged, “we've been hurt. The cities defenses are holding though.”
As someone handed Taylya her clothing, all neatly folded in a square, she noted that Jeuhal had not mentioned the very place where she was injured, “and the temple?”
Maybe he just did not think it that important? He sounded almost bored as he replied, “temporarily out of service.” When Taylya gave him another evil eye, Jeuhal added, “we still hold the ground. The fixed points are in tact but the actual location is buried. The Camelonians have an oil drilling team looking it over. They think there is an underground fire. All of the dirt on top is holding in the heat.” That made Taylya wonder what was fueling it, how was it getting air? The only answer she could quickly come up with was that when the Orc began dropping ordinance on the spot, they must have been using some kind of special munitions. Her technical evaluation was short lived, however. Jeuhal said the one thing to her that she could not ignore, “your father wants to see you.”
The doctor did not seem ready for her to leave just yet and Jeuhal was in no position to ignore him either. They conversed about the folder in Jeuhal's hand and Taylya would almost swear they were in some kind of negotiation. Finally, the doctor had some papers in his hand and he made reference to them as he gave Taylya one last look over. As Taylya finished with her uniform she practically had to push the man away as she stated firmly for the last time, “the arm is fine. It feels perfectly normal.” The incident made Taylya wonder about a few things and, as she rode the elevator to her father's floor, she noted that Jeuhal was still hanging on to that folder with both hands. Given the way the doctor acted about it, Taylya took a guess at something that should not be, “are those my medical records?”
Jeuhal acted pleasant and dismissive as he replied, “some of them.”
Before Taylya could push the issue, the elevator doors opened. Jeuhal most definitely took advantage of it and did not hesitate in stepping out.  He made sure he was busy after that and it was not long before Taylya found herself in her father's office. He seemed a bit rushed and was dressed as if he were heading into combat. Taylya had to figure that was exactly where he was going, although, she wondered with who. As she had waited, she absorbed as much information as she could. Every report from every unit, of the Noveus-Faeyu, eventually found it's way to this floor of the building. There had been limited time but, Taylya had discovered enough about the situation. Apparently, the Notae were taking full advantage of  it and had already violated any number of agreements they had made.
Quintescau Ceascu seemed rather unconcerned about it when Taylya brought the matter up. She kind of thought it was only for her benefit because, at the moment, he seemed rather unconcerned about a little too much. Then, Taylya noticed, he gave the matter some thought and seemed almost delighted when he told her, “I want you to make a report on the matter. Study the implications and evaluate the long term impact on our current policies. This attack will end. There is no doubt that when this happens, some of our operations will have to be amended.”
Was he serious? Taylya wasted no energy on hiding her anger about this, “you want me to do a study? That's what you have Jeuhal and all of these stupid office workers for. My sister is up north right now. That is where the bulk of the attack is at.” Quintescau paid it almost no mind and it infuriated Taylya. It showed as she continued, “even if you don't have an inkling of parental concern, I happen to know that Camiceau is too important in your dealings with Montceaus Odaylya. You've been dangling a union with the Olyan-Notae, over his head, for years. You can't do that without Camiceau. Now you're just going to leave her out there to the mercy of the Orc?”
That seemed to amuse her father. He stopped preparing his field gear and walked to his office window. He looked out on the city and then chuckled before looking back at his daughter, “is that what you think has been happening?”
What did he mean by that? As far as Taylya was concerned, it was pretty obvious. She put her hands on her hips and remained hostile, “she is the Star Child, is she not? You know damn well know Montecaus wants in on that action. As I recall, the Emperor practically had to twist your arm to enter into that deal, and you've been skillfully avoiding it ever since.”
“Montceaus and I,” Quintescau stated thoughtfully, “have our differences, naturally. On this matter, however, we are in complete agreement.” He then looked back at his child and told her, “I care for my children as any parent would. I also have a duty Taylya. I have a duty to my species and in that, we are all required to sacrifice.”
“You bastard,” Taylya spit out without hesitation, “you didn't send her up there to be safe. You were hoping something would happen to her. I can't believe the Emperor would go along with this. He needs the Star Child as much as you do.”
Quintescau hesitated and went to looking back out the window. Then he finally said, “who do you think came up with the plan?”
What was that supposed to mean? What kind of insane plan was this? Taylya suddenly realized she did not care. She stormed out of her fathers office and went right for the elevators. The safety of her sister was about the only concern she had and to hell with their politics. She knew who she had to see now and, given the current situation, she was pretty sure that person was reachable. The only real question was if her father would stop her.
Taylya was already out of the building when Jeuhal nervously approached his uncle and commander, “you don't want me to stop her?”
Quintescau would almost think it funny, “do you really think you could? Maybe it is time she finds out for herself.” Jeuhal had no idea what that meant and, more importantly, he knew better than to ask.
At the same time, Taylya knew better than to test her fathers good graces for too long. He wanted her close for some reason and was quite surprised that there was no tactical squad waiting for her at the front door of the building. Maybe they were in the garage, expecting her to requisition an automobile? She was not really sure but, also, not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He would hesitate to throw her in detention because it would cause too much of a scandal but, Taylya was certain, he had even more secure prisons that were not so well known, if he needed them. Taylya did the one thing she was sure a tail would not expect of her. She took the bus. Not only would it be unexpected but, it was hard to follow someone using that mode of transportation. A surveillance team would stick out like a sore thumb if they truly were following her. Taylya did not see anything that even remotely looked suspicious, so, she began to breath easy.
The one thing that did worry Taylya was that they may have already deduced her destination. Her father most certainly would have figured it out but, as with the bus, things around the Camelonian Embassy looked normal enough except for one little detail. The old house, sitting on a heavily wooded lot, that was walled in, looked to be more obvious than was usually the case. Taylya suspected that a great deal of the time, there was never even anyone there. They certainly did not advertise themselves but, now, there were heavily armed security guards patrolling the perimeter and they were making themselves very obvious. Taylya found herself challenged by them before she could even use the buzzer at the front gate.
“What do you want elf,” asked the gruff little man in black.
Before Taylya could even answer, a very amused looking David Cross came strolling up. He was in his black uniform, just like he might be patrolling Coven Hill. He seemed relaxed enough and had a smile as he answered the question for Taylya, “she wants to see Sir Ian.”
Taylya was not even going to broach the subject with Cross. She simply nodded and then asked, “David, what are you doing back here? I thought they simply could not get along without you at Coven Hill.”
That only made him laugh, “so the story goes but, then again, we both know that isn't true, don't we?”
Taylya locked eyes with him, “are you going to let me in, or not?”
He actually thought about it but, finally, he nodded to his underling who opened the gate. He motioned for Taylya to follow and left her in a drawing room. It looked quite Victorian in décor, much like the house itself. If Taylya had been asked to guess, she would have said that a little old human lady lived in this place. It certainly did not look like an embassy. It also had toys in the floor. Some human children even ran in and grabbed them at one point. They barely paid her any mind at all. They seemed to be more interested in rejoining whoever was talking and laughing down the hall.
When Ian Balfour walked in the room, it was obvious he was not one of those making laughter. He seemed rather irritated, if nothing else. He wasted no time closing the door behind him and, as he poured himself a drink, he stated, “I have to admit Tay, you're not the first person I expected to show up at my front door, today.” When his drink was fixed he added, “and naturally, like every other free loading cocksucker in Feyland, you want something.” When Taylya did not respond he laughed, “besides that Tay, I don't think you can pay the price.”
Taylya was dead serious when she replied, “that's never going to happen, ever again Ian.”
He waived the notion off, like it was nothing at all, “unlike you, I got old. So, that's not what I'm talking about. You can go back to your father and tell him...”
Taylya cut in with, “I don't think he would approve of me being here, if he even knows.”
She had his interest. He sat down with his drink, laughed again, and then said, “of course that bastard knows you're here. He knows almost as much as I do but, just for a second, I'm willing to entertain the idea that maybe he doesn't. That being the case, maybe you do have something to offer.” Before Taylya could say anything, Ian cut her off, “no, lets start with what you want.”
Taylya replied in a matter of fact way, “I need to go north.” She saw the look that he developed and she could read the thoughts in his mind, “don't tell me you can't, Ian. I've seen the intelligence reports. You still have product coming down out of the Triangle. You still have ways of getting there.”
“Why my dear,” Ian said in a superior tone, “I never said otherwise. I'm just not sure you'll like the means.” He then said in a more subdued tone, “I'm guessing this has to do with your sister. She's still up there, ain't she? Last I heard, she was keeping an eye on that little American girl.” After Ian thought it over he added, “course I have to question who is watching who.”
It suddenly struck Taylya and a cold shiver ran up her spine, “you already know, don't you?”
Ian was not about to tip his hand. You did not get to where he was by being stupid or, running your mouth about just anything, “depends on what it is you think I know.” He then put his drink down, stood up, and was about to leave, “and judging by your little reaction there, you really don't have much to offer me. Trust me dear, you'll be better off in town.”
Taylya stood in front of the door and when it looked as if Ian might try and physically remover her, she reminded him, “remember, you're the one who pointed out you got old. I wouldn't even think about it.”
With a sigh of frustration, Ian went from irritation to amusement, “and I thought all my free loading relatives, in there, were bad. I don't think a damn one of them wanted a thing to do with me until they suddenly thought the Americans were going to start dropping nukes on their heads. Then they all come running to my door, looking for sanctuary.” He chuckled, “they just didn't expect to get trapped over here. Serves the fuckers right.” That actually peaked Taylya's curiosity. This was his house? The décor just looked so, not Ian. He read her mind and with a hint of hostility he told her, “it belonged to my mother, all right?”
Taylya let it go no matter how funny she thought it was. She hid that and remained serious and slightly hostile, “why is my father willing to sacrifice his youngest daughter?”
That actually confused Ian, “who says he is?”
“What's so important Ian,” Taylya got in his face as she demanded, “what is Cami really doing up there? How do you know and I don't?” He almost spoke but, Taylya guessed what he might say so she cut him off with, “and don't give me this all knowing crap, don't forget, I really know you.”
Ian walked away for a minute. He stopped behind a high back chair, leaned on it, and stroked his unkempt mustache as he thought about it. Then he said, “so you want to know what's so special about your sister, is that it?”
Taylya was not happy with his laughing, “it's not funny. I fail to see why you are so amused.”
“I am amused my dear,” Ian replied, “because the answer is, not a damn thing. That's the part you can't seem to rap your little elf mind around.” Before Taylya could say another word, Ian suddenly said, “fine Tay, you want to go get yourself killed. Be my guest, only, don't say I didn't warn you. Major Cross is headed that way in a few hours. He knows where we left the American and, I'm pretty sure, John and his little band of merry men will happen by there sooner or later.” What was even more surprising than the fact that he was going to do it, was the fact that Ian had not asked Taylya for any payment. When she put that to him, Ian replied with, “you are giving me something. You're getting the hell out of my face. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go wish that some relatives would do the same.”