Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [47]
"You couldn't 'stand for it'? What does that mean? What did you do? Is that why she ran?"
Xaemar said, "We did nothing. We merely offered to heal her misconceptions. We told her all infirmities of body and mind are healed for those who become plangents. We told her we had scheduled an appointment for her at the Body Shop."
"The next thing we knew," said Sevaera, "she was gone. Flew the coop."
"You were going to make her?" accused Warian. "With the very thing she most feared? None of you have changed at all, have you? The same old Datharathis, willing to use force if they can't get their way."
"Force? No…" objected Xaemar
"You threatened to cut off her stipend if she didn't take the improvement," volunteered Zel in an off-hand tone.
Warian nodded. Sounded just like Xaemar. His uncle did not have the good grace to look sheepish. He just shrugged as if to say "So? It's just business." Warian recalled when things had reached their worst before he left Vaelan. Xaemar had cut off his own stipend. No big surprise. He'd do it to anyone who didn't tow the Datharathi line.
"Be that as it may," said Xaemar, "where did she go? Enough assigning blame. She's not right in the head, and as family, we owe it to her to find her and help her."
Warian snorted. If his sister were actually sick, then he hoped she was found. But was his family misrepresenting his sister's plight in order to put a better spin on the situation? He'd learned that accepting his family's claims at face value was sometimes risky. But he didn't know why she would vanish into hiding. His family was hardhearted, sure, and stubborn, but Eined was part of the same family. She could hold her own in family politics.
Zel said, "As far as I can tell, she's still in the city. My agents tell me they've sighted her a couple times."
"Tell your agents to bring her in, dear Zel," instructed Sevaera. "The longer she is out and about without taking the crystal to stabilize her mind, the sicker she becomes. The poor thing could hurt herself. Or someone else."
Warian asked, "If being a plangent is so great, why doesn't Zel have to 'take the crystal?' "
"It's like I told you, kid. I say, 'Don't fix what…'"
Xaemar interjected. "Zel, Eined, and even you-if you stay-will embrace the family business, Warian. We must display a united family front, after all."
"I've already got a prosthesis." Warian raised his arm.
"A malfunctioning prototype on its last gasp. And you're no plangent-the newest prostheses aid both physical and mental skills. It's a complete solution," explained Xaemar.
Zel gazed at Xaemar, saying nothing. Warian guessed Zel was silently cursing out his brother for being such a highhanded canker.
"Well," said Warian, "let's have that argument later. First, I want to see Shaddon and find out what's going on with my arm. If my simple one-piece prosthesis can malfunction, who knows what kind of failure all your new 'whole-body prostheses' could undergo." He made a fake shiver. Sevaera glared at him.
"Enough blather." The thoughtful expression returned to Xaemar's face, yet he spoke. "Zeltaebar, find Eined. Restrain her if you must, for her own safety. Bring her here. Warian" -Xaemar turned his distracted gaze on his nephew-"You will go see Shaddon at the site. Leave tonight. Sevaera will accompany you."
Warian sighed. "We'll see."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"Datharathi!" exclaimed Ususi. Her hand flew up, instinctively preparing to cast a blood ravening bolt or a gout of flame.
Large clay vessels obscured Ususi, Iahn, and the woman who'd followed them into the narrow alley. The woman, Eined Datharathi, was young, with dark hair and eyes and tanned skin. She wore a voluminous cloak, and the blue sash around her waist was fine silk.
"Datharathi-as in the crystal?" inquired the vengeance taker, one arm on the woman's elbow as if casually escorting her. In truth,