CHAPTER 35

His grandmother, the woman who raised him, had been a deeply religious woman. Somehow, it had just never taken with Hoop. He supposed he believed in some kind of higher power but, the difference between him and most church goers was that Hoop never really cared. He could not see any omnipotent power being interested in one little old Mathew Hooper and he could never see that anything he did was particularly damning nor, did it even matter in the grand scheme of things. That was why he pretty much charted his own path.

That had a lot to do with why he wound up here, right now, in this small bungalow on the outskirts of Kalean-Erc. Quite specifically, it had a lot more to do with who was on top of him, Taylya. She might not have been human but, she was definitely all woman. The ears were a bit of a distraction at first. Hoop almost felt like he was having sex with some hooker from a scifi convention but, later, they turned out to be quite erotic in nature. Not that Taylya really liked him touching her ears, in fact, she acted almost like it was taboo. That kind of confused Hoop. He would have almost figured the elves would get into that sort of thing but, apparently, they did not.

None of the foreplay really mattered too much. Hoop liked where it was all going as he felt the full force of the rhythmic rolling of Taylya’s hips. It was a damned shame, and quite frustrating, when he had to snatch the gun out from behind the mattress. Taylya also stopped, rolled off, and grabbed hers from the nightstand. When all was said and done, they were both laying in bed, very naked, and pointing too semi auto handguns right at the door that had just burst wide open.

Their visitor closed it behind him as he casually walked in laughing. He had a machette in his hand but, he did not threaten with it. That was a good thing because Hoop was more than ready to blow Ian Balfour away if he did. The guy had to know that yet, Balfour, just laughed. The only thing he did with the long blade was point to the wall and say, “Steeken and Bullets are just outside so if you two want to shoot it out, you’re more than welcome. I don’t think these walls are likely to stop a forty millimeter grenade. Do you?”

Hoop did not figure the guy had body armor on under that seersucker. Ian Balfour was known for liking his comforts and it was way too hot for armor today. That meant Hoop could kill the guy long before he died from a grenade launcher. None of that mattered though. If he really did have his two Orcs with him then they could have taken down this bungalow anytime they felt like it, so, it was more than apparent that the guy had come to talk and not shoot. Hoop lowered his weapon. He had to push Taylya’s down since she was far less trusting.

Balfour laughed at the two laying naked in the bed, “do you two always keep guns around when you’re doing the dirty deed? I mean, aren’t you afraid of an accidental discharge or something?”

Hoop slid some sheets over to Taylya who gratefully accepted the cover. He then set his weapon down on the bed, easily within reach as he told the guy, “fuck you Balfour. How the hell did you find us anyway?”

“Are you really that stupid Mathew,” Ian replied. “I own over half this town. Nothing happens here that I do not hear about and…” Ian pointed at them as he continued, “you two have committed the ultimate sin of being very predictable.” He thought it over and then added, “speaking of which, after you’re done with our pretty little elf here, does Mark, Luke, and John come parading through next?”

Hoop actually thought about picking his gun back up but, Ian pointed at it with the machete and told him, “I wouldn’t do that.”

Taylya snarled at the man, “what do you want Balfour?”

“Don’t toy with me girl,” Ian replied, “you already know why I’m here. You two have royally screwed a few things besides each other. You are making my life a little more complicated than I care for. I’ve cut throats for far less.”

Taylya snapped back, “we made a deal. You’re not involved anymore!”

Hoop elbowed his mate and then gave her a nasty look before he said something that he thought was actually smart, “we didn’t do anything. Anders is the one you had a deal with. He’s the one that fucked up.”

“Oh yeah,” Ian replied, “speaking of fucking up,” he gestured with the blade, “is she always on top like that?” This time it was Taylya stopping Hoop from getting and raising his gun. Ian found it amusing and then told them, “I’ll deal with Anders and that’s not your concern. What is your concern is my concern. This little ladies father is not going to cut my dick off because you two numb nuts can’t control a little fucking girl.”

Taylya replied with a sneer, “why would you care Balfour! This is my problem and not yours. We made a deal and…”

Raising the blade as if it was his finger, Balfour cut her off politely, “oh I beg to differ princess. You may owe me for services rendered but, that does not mean that the situation was something I had no interest in. I had every interest in wanting to stash your sister somewhere safe. The key word there, is, SAFE!” When they did not reply he asked them, “you don’t even know where she is, do you?”

Again they did not respond so Ian went on, “fortunately for you, Horshen’s sorry little ass got word to me. She came back home after she finished whatever adventures she thought she was looking for.”

Hooper was surprised to hear that but, he also did not doubt it. He was pretty sure that Cami could handle herself in the Hurt. She had sure as hell led them down some false trails that required an almost endless amount of back tracking. He would have kept looking but, outside events prevented it. At least, as he had told Tay, there was every chance she would go back to Nordhalt and it seemed as if she had. That left Hoop saying, “so what’s the goddamn problem then?”

“The problem you fucking yocal, “ Ian told him, “is that you two didn’t bother to tell me any of this. The problem is that she was ever out sniffing the bush in the first place. The problem is that I have to hear about this from that sorry little piece of shit Horshen. Do you have any idea how much that information cost me?”

Hoop did have a reply for that, “boo fucking hoo. You may own a piece of everything in a thirty klick radius, including half my goddamn team but, you don’t got no piece of me.”

Again, Balfour pointed upwards with the blade and revealed, “ah, again Mister Hooper, I beg to differ.” Balfour pointed to Taylya and said, “why don’t you ask your girlfriend. She seems to know a lot about giving away pieces.” Hoop snarled and Taylya put her hand roughly on his shoulder and pushed him back down. She still said nothing so Balfour did for her, “if her dear old Dad ever found out about what you two have been doing, there is every chance that he would string you up and make little Hoopie pieces out of you. Nasty business that is. You know the fathers around these parts don’t settle daughterly accounts with a shotgun.”

Taylya huffed, “what do you want Balfour?”

“I want you two cocksuckers,” he paused and then asked, “or are you just the cocksucker here?” Balfour got no reaction so he went on, “you are going to control that little idiot sister of yours and that is even if you have to tie her to a tree doing it! That was an understanding that we had right from the start. If you can’t,” he noticed that both of them were looking away so Ian told them, “look at me because I want you to know exactly how serious I am. If you don’t, then I’m going to do it and none of you are going to like it, Cami least of all. Is that fucking clear?”

The drive back to Phvengs was short. Ian had his Orcs park his classic Rolls in the old shed out past the tree line. They dropped him off at the side entrance before doing so. Ian nodded to the little cluster of Noveus-Faeyu soldiers who were hanging around the door. He then walked right back to his study and began pouring himself a shot of bourbon. The Americans were a lot of things but, Ian would not fault them for bourbon. They did that well enough.

Ian did not bother to offer his guest a drink. The guy already had some of the wood grain liquid in his hand and he, unlike Balfour, only ever sipped. Ian took a big swing from his glass and then filled it back up. He finally just kept the bottle in his hand as he leaned on the front of his desk and told his guest, “all right, it’s done.”

Quintescau Ceascu snickered as he swirled the ice in his glass, “do you know what is something that both of our species, most definitely, have in common, Sir Ian?”

Ian dramatically waived his glass around but sounded most gracious as he replied, “I haven’t a fucking clue.”

“Our children,” Quintescau replied, “think their parents to be idiots. For most, it is quite annoying. For those of us with some intelligence, it is just useful.”

“Well I am certainly glad,” Ian told the guy, “that you are feeling, so, uh shall we say, high and mighty superior today. Well la dee fucking dah, Quintescau. It doesn’t really concern me, in case you haven’t noticed.”

The elf found that amusing and he went on, “yes, a man in your position would certainly have more important and pressing issues at the moment.” Quintescau changed tracks, “what do you suppose they will do next?”

“You already know that you pointy eared bastard,” Ian replied, “else why did I bother with all this shit. They’re going to haul ass right back to that little prick, Horshen, and find out if it’s all true or not. You know Quintescau, while I’m playing your fucking games for you, I’m loosing revenue in the process.”

“I would have thought,” Quintescau remained as pleasantly monotone as ever, “that the market has never been better? Did I not tell you this would happen?”

“Better my ass,” Ian took his alcohol and walked behind his desk where he sat down, “it might be wider but, how long is that going to last. That’s not to mention that I got way too many assets tied up on the other side of the Dell. I really don’t think a London bank is all too safe for me right now. Interpol is already snooping around, not to mention the CIA.”

Quintescau almost wanted to laugh at that. He simply shrugged it off though, “you’re not doing anything illegal in Britain, are you Ian?”

The guy was most definitely a condescending prick and Ian knew that was his point. That was why the human’s answer was short and too the point, “fuck you. I got to remind you Quintescau, that when the Americans figure this shit out, and they will, it might not be against any of their laws but, they aren’t going to be happy about it. Now you got their army in here, sniffing around the triangle, and you’re about to give them a reason to do more?”

“And here I was,” Quintescau set his drink aside and waived his hand, “thinking that you had voted for full disclosure. Are you rethinking your position Ian?”

“You ask me,” Ian said pointing his finger, “remember? I still ain’t seen the goddamn favor you claim, not yet.”

It was definitely funny to the elf as he replied, “and here I thought, making Cavendish angry was good enough for you. Tell me Ian, why is it that you and Sir Arthur are always at opposite ends? It would not be because of, maybe, a woman?”

“That’s none of your business,” Ian shot right back. “You know, Cavendish maybe an ass hole but, he isn’t stupid and nether am I. He’s got to see exactly what I am.”

Politely, Quintescau replied, “and what might that be?”

“You’re trying to cut us out of the picture,” Ian put on the table.

“I never took you for the patriotic type,” Quintescau replied. Then he continued, “the fact is that no matter what happens to your people Ian, you will still be in a sound position.”

Ian had to point out, “that’s not a denial. In fact, that sounds to me like a confirmation.”

“It is neither,” Quintescau replied, “it is not only the Americans who tend to be short sighted. All of you humans seem to do that. There are too many factors involved for any one man to control. Your people have survived far worse than this. I don’t see why your current situation should concern you any.”

“And that’s total bullshit and you know it,” Ian replied in an accusing tone. “I may not be the most flag waiving pecker head on the board but, that doesn’t mean I’ll sell out my heritage for some goddamn petty ass dictator that’s tired of being petty.”

Again, the elf laughed but, this time he stood up and began to prepare to leave. As he did, he asked, “and what do you think Solenceaus is?”

Ian made no bones about it, “I never said I had much use for him ether. That doesn’t mean I have to keep financing your own private army. Tell me Quintescau, why did you ever come to me in the first place? You don’t have to answer that because we both know. You’d never have gotten this far without my help and that was because you couldn’t get it from own dirt eating heathens.”

“All of which is true Ian,” Quintescau finished buttoning up his tan coat and he then placed his red beret on the top of his head. As he prepared to leave he did have one last parting comment, “it does not negate the fact that you have profited as much from our arrangement as have I. You are interested only in the acquisition of wealth and, as long as that remains so, we shall still require the others services.”

The elf stood at the door and waited. Ian did not disappoint either, “and you’re only interested in some goddamn two thousand year old, fucking, vendetta.”

“Again,” Quintescau did not take offense and was quite reflective as he gave his final comment on the situation, “you humans are so incredibly short sighted. I suppose there is no purpose in me trying to explain to you why that only seems to be the case, rest assured though, it is not. I have far more, important concerns.”

When the door closed behind the elf, Ian kept right on looking at it and mumbled, “bullshit.”