The World of Lupi by Eileen Wilks

Author:Eileen Wilks [Wilks, Eileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-02-26T15:40:45.748000+00:00

The candles had burned halfway down. They’d discussed much and settled little, and it was almost time for Cullen to leave for his second performance.

Not that he had to dance anymore. Not for money, at least, and Rule had expected him to quit when the Rho put him on retainer for the clan—“like a damned lawyer,” Cullen had said. But he continued to do two shows a night, two days a week. He’d told Rule he was hanging on to the part-time gig because the extra money helped.

Perhaps he believed that. Rule didn’t. Cullen had never been much interested in money, seeing it mostly as a means to acquire the scraps of paper that were real treasure to him—bits of old spellbooks and such. No, Rule had to believe that dance gave Cullen something he needed.

At the moment, though, it was a confounded nuisance. “We’ll need to wind this up soon,” he said when he was able to get a word in. “Remember to be cautious about what you discuss after the circle is broken.” There would be a number of meetings after this one, he was sure—less formal, but maybe more meaningful.

“I still don’t know what you want.” Ben was cranky. “What is it you want us to do? It’s all very well to talk about doing battle with Her, but She’s not here.”

“Keep your eyes open,” Rule said promptly, “and your noses to the ground. See if what I’ve said about the realms shifting, bringing changes, matches with what your clan is experiencing. I told you about the banshee sighting in Texas, for example.”

“Possible sighting,” Javiero corrected. “But I checked into it, and the stories of the witnesses hold up.”

“What’s happening in your own territories?” Rule asked. “Send word back about anything you learn that’s unusual. Try to find out what others of the Blood might know or guess, too. You, Ben, might send word to the trolls, see if they’re aware of any changes.” Ben’s clan was based in Scandinavia, which possessed the only remaining troll population of any size.

“Trolls.” Ben snorted. “You ever tried talking to one? Might as well talk to a tree.”

“Speaking of talking to trees,” someone said, “I’ll volunteer to check with the dryads.”

That sally earned several grins and chuckles. Dryads were notoriously shy… and notoriously amorous, if you could overcome their timidity.

Ito shook his head. “I don’t know dryads or trolls, but I know trees. With trees, you don’t talk. You listen.”

There was a moment’s silence, all of them mildly embarrassed on Ito’s behalf. He was well liked, but not well understood.

“We’re getting off-track,” Randall said. “Asking us to look for abnormalities is like telling us to pay attention to the letter s. Once your attention is called to it, you see it everywhere. Of course people will find oddities if they’re looking for them.”

“The letter 5 is common. Oddities are, by definition, uncommon. I’m not asking for news of, say, your sister’s new hairstyle… however odd it may be.” There were grins and a couple of chuckles.

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