Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [37]
No. The signs were clear. It was Vaelan. The mine was not in Vaelan, but those who mined the crystal could be found in that city.
Vaelan was where she and Iahn would go.
CHAPTER TEN
"Wake up, Warian! Lost your wits since you left? I asked you what you've got against my squad?"
Warian blinked again. His assessment of the situation in Eined's apartment shifted. It was painful making the mental adjustment to reflect his uncle's appearance.
"Zel? What're you doing here? Are these your men, ransacking Eined's place? I thought they were burglars."
"Eined's missing, Nephew! These fellows are looking for anything we can use to figure out what happened to her. The family thinks she's been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped! By whom?"
"Don't know. Some bastard hoping to claim a ransom. Like I told you, if I knew, I wouldn't be tearing apart yoursister's apartment."
Warian took a deep breath. His strength was trickling back. Calling on his arm's hidden reserve was apparently something he shouldn't do lightly. He said, "Sorry. I didn't know what they were doing here. It looked like something I should break up. You have to admit-stumbling upon it, it wouldn't look good."
Zel just grinned his crazy Zel grin. Truth to tell, Warian had never quite trusted his Uncle Zeltaebar. If the Datharathi family had a truism, it was that Zel never told the whole truth.
His uncle scratched his ear. "So, what are you doing back? Did you get some sort of message from Eined? What'd it say?"
Warian realized how his presence must look. He raised his real hand. "No, Uncle, I received no message. I just got into town today, and thought I'd go see Eined. She's my favorite sister."
Zel snorted. "Your only living sister, you mean?"
"Always the sensitive one, Uncle."
"Seems a little strange that you'd come back just when Eined goes missing, though, doesn't it?" Zel fixed Warian with a penetrating stare.
"And the suspicious one. You think I'd hurt my own sister? I want to know what's happened to her, too! You think I know something you don't?"
"I don't think it, I know it. You wouldn't be here otherwise. And I don't mean here in Eined's home. I mean back in Vaelan. You swore you'd never return. Something's made you decide otherwise. What gives, Nephew?"
Warian considered telling his uncle about his arm, but since Zel hadn't mentioned the method by which his nephew had just decimated his crew…
"I'd like to call a family meeting-I'll tell everyone at the same time."
Zel whistled. He said, "You don't have the authority to call a meeting. But don't worry!" Zel made a calming gesture at Warian, who'd started protesting. "The next meeting's in two days. Come to that. In fact, your presence will be in my report-it'll be better if you're there to answer the questions that come up."
"All right, then."
Warian looked around the room-it was in complete shambles-then back at Zel. "About Eined-did you find a ransom note?"
Zel shook his head and said, "Nothing like that. She just walked out and never returned-no messages, no preparations-just, gone."
Warian wondered if his sister had merely had enough Datharathi politics and left Vaelan, as he had. Could be the case. On the other hand, he'd received no message from her. If she were leaving the city, he imagined he'd be the first person she would contact.
Aloud, he said, "Well, perhaps she'll turn up. She won't be happy to find what you've done to her place, though."
Zel snorted. "Nothing gold can't fix."
Warian sighed. The classic Datharathi answer.
"Say, Zel-one of your men thought I was a 'plangent.' What was he talking about?" Warian decided to play dumb despite his conversation with the rickshaw driver, who'd told him about the new Datharathi innovation. He was curious about Zel's angle.
A sour smile came from Zel. "The family has opened a new front on trade. We're now