“The fae?” she asked in surprise. “I didn’t know there was a fifth race.”
“There might as well not be,” Kural said. His nostrils flared. “Nasty, vicious little creatures.”
“Some of the only ones who can beat him at games of skill,” Jaco confided to the others in a stage whisper.
“They cheat,” the wizard said.
“Mmm. And you’re one of those who know the most about them.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that I cheat, too? Because I don’t, I’ll have you know. I never cheat.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” the other man said. He smiled. “I meant you’re indisputably the best one to meet with them and extend the diplomatic olive branch.”
Kural’s jaw dropped. “Oh. Oh, no. Absolutely not.”
“We need someone we can trust and we can trust you. Not to mention that you can get through the wards you’ll need to break to enter the fae lands in the first place.”
“They’ve never bothered anyone in years,” he argued in return.
“And we would like to keep it that way,” Jaco said promptly. “Enough, Kural. You’re going. You should take your apprentice with you.”
He snorted. “Her father wants her to stay safe. This is the opposite of that.”
“Or you could let her talk for herself before she slits your throat,” Dotty suggested.
“I’d second that caution,” Justin said.
“Excellent,” the Master of Ceremonies said as if everyone had enthusiastically agreed to the plan. “I have several people I can send to the various human settlements.”
“Whoa, wait.” Justin spread his hands. “Why not us? Me and Tina?”
“Because you don’t know anything about the human governments,” Zaara said.
“And ye’re not so good with thʼ diplomacy,” Lyle added.
“I can be diplomatic! And Tina…will also be there.” He looked at her. “Please don’t piss off any diplomats like you did in Berghold.”
“Then they’d better not cheat at dice.”
“Don’t play dice with anyone!”
“I have a suggestion,” Zaara said. Everyone looked at her and she smiled. “Kural and I will accompany Justin and Tina to the human lands, give them an overview, and introduce them to relevant leaders. They will stay to establish diplomatic relations while Kural and I continue north to the fae lands.” She nodded to Justin and Tina. “Humans recognize power and bloodline and they have very specific ideas of other human nations. Justin and Tina aren’t from any of the rival noble families, and they’ll be introduced by two wizards. It’s fairly perfect…if they can pull it off.”
“We can pull it off,” Justin said dangerously.
“Done,” Jaco said promptly.
“Wait, really?” The young man looked unsettled.
“Yes.” The Master of Ceremonies tapped the map. “Speed is of the essence and there are very few people I trust with the knowledge of why this is so essential. Also, the humans are famous for in-fighting. All you need to do is convince them that Insea is more concerned with its problems than with theirs—and that we’re training a guard force to combat those internal problems. Therefore, it presents a dangerous populace and an undesirable target.”
Dotty leaned back in her seat. She was enjoying this.
“That leaves us with the dwarves, the elves, and the orcs,” Jaco said. “Dotty, you told me you’d worked with two orcish villages. I assume you’re one of the best to go to them.”
“Well…” She shrugged. “They think I’m dead and they certainly won’t recognize me. But they are speaking of uniting again, which means we definitely should talk to them about diplomatic relations. And I suppose I also know a good deal about their culture. Okay. I’ll go there.”
“I’m reluctant to send anyone alone,” he said, “and I must remain here. I propose that Dotty and Lyle go both to Berghold and the orcish territories. Dotty has done a valuable service for Berghold and will therefore be welcome, and if orcs are likely to respect any other race, it’s the dwarves.”
“What about the elves?” she asked.
The man paused and looked uncertain. “That…is a puzzle and one I am not certain of how best to address. I will think on it and send exploratory messages.” He stood. “All of you, take the next day to prepare. You leave at dawn the day after tomorrow, and I’ll do all I can to speed you on your way.”
Chapter Six
Nick’s first impression of the Mattis family was of lanky height. Jamie Mattis and his father shared a tall build that wasn’t quite filled out. While Simon moved with studied efficiency, his hair entirely gray but his manner spry, Jamie still moved like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his height.
Emilia Mattis, the oldest child, was the shortest of the group but he would guess from a distance that she was still five-six or taller. Even her mother Aimee, whose round face and straight black hair spoke of her Chinese heritage, was unusually tall.
His second impression, as the group scrambled out of the taxi, was that they had recently been in a fight of some kind. Emilia was tight-lipped, her shoulders hunched, and she lagged behind the rest of the group as they approached the PIVOT headquarters, while Jamie hung back and spoke urgently to her.
Whatever she said to him, he looked like a whipped puppy when they reached the lobby.
Nick had to take a moment to steady himself before he stepped forward to greet the parents. He couldn’t think about the two miserable children trailing in their wake without remembering too many moments from his childhood.
It hurt to be forgotten.
“Mr. Mattis, Mrs. Mattis.” He nodded to them and held a hand out for them to shake. “I’m Nick Ryan, one of the founders of PIVOT. Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for showing us around,” Simon said. Nick formed a snap judgment in that moment of someone who liked to do things correctly. He would be polite and engaging. He had come here today because he owed it to his daughter to try to find a cure for her condition.
And it would be killing him that no matter how many specialists he’d seen, nothing had worked so far.
“We appreciate your work,” Aimee added. She wore her hair cropped short and spoke in a southern drawl that surprised him. “These are Taigan’s siblings, Jamie and Emilia. Jamie, Emilia, this is Mr. Ryan.”
He saw the resentment flare in Emilia’s eyes at being treated like a child but she, like her brother, shook his hand and muttered a polite greeting.
“Why don’t we start with the lab?” he asked. He moved to the elevators and made a mental note to allow each of the Mattises time to ask private questions. The children, at least, looked like they would benefit from the opportunity to be away from their parents. On a whim, he added, “If the two of you would like to stay on to ask more questions after the tour, perhaps we could have one of the laboratory assistants show Jamie and Emilia the city.”
Emilia only leaned into the corner of the elevator and sighed, her arms folded, as her mother shook her head.