The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure - By Storm Constantine Page 0,235

delivered another summons to the palace. Flick was sure they would now be asked to leave the city. Pellaz had not returned to them and because he had taken Peridot with him to Kalalim earlier, he might already have gone back to Immanion. The interview with Opalexian could have proceeded very badly. Flick was now regretting opening his mouth to Pellaz. He had been stupid. He should have just ended the meetings and put it all behind him. Instead, he had torn up the very fabric of their security. The Kamagrian would have been furious enough about Terez and Lileem. Why make matters worse by bringing the Tigron of Immanion into their city?

Opalexian received them in her private salon and her initial mien of relaxed sociability was intimidating, if not disorientating. Perhaps the meeting with the Tigron had not gone as badly as Flick had feared.

‘Pellaz has returned to Immanion,’ she said to them, ‘but asked me to convey his apologies. He will contact you again presently.’

‘What of Lileem and Terez?’ Mima asked. ‘Will you help Pellaz find them for us?’

Opalexian paused. ‘The Tigron has intimated he will undertake a search. However, I hold out little hope for his success.’

It occurred to Flick then that Opalexian might not want Lileem and Terez to be found. They had transgressed one of the Kamagrian’s laws, and it might not portray a desirable message to the populace if they returned safe and sound.

‘What of us?’ Flick asked. ‘Where do we stand?’

Opalexian made a languid gesture. ‘You are citizens of Shilalama. It is not our way to dole out punishments. In the event, your unwise and headstrong actions have yielded some interesting, and beneficial, results.’

‘Does that mean we can continue living here?’ Ulaume asked.

‘Yes, although if any of you attempt a similar experiment to that of your unfortunate friends, whichever one of you remains will be expelled. Is that not reasonable?’

‘You’re happy with the Tigron knowing about Kamagrian?’ Flick asked carefully.

‘We have come to an arrangement,’ Opalexian said. ‘That is all you need to know. I am assured of his silence, as he is assured of my… co-operation. The reason I have summoned you here tonight is to impress upon you that you must mention to no other citizen that Pellaz has been here. If any har or parage asks, you were merely visited by a high-caste friend from another Jaddayoth tribe. Invent your own story. But it had better be convincing, because I will be displeased should this information come out. That, incidentally, is the only other circumstance under which you will be removed from our community – far removed, I might add.’

‘Did you threaten Pellaz in a similar way?’ Mima asked coldly.

Opalexian smiled. ‘I’m sorry this sounds like threats. Please put yourself in my position. My whole purpose is to safeguard the well being of my tribe and strange though it may sound to you, I look upon you three as fondly as anyone else in this city. You are like naughty children, and you need to know the rules, but I trust you understand that now.’

‘You said Pell would contact us again,’ Mima said. ‘Does that mean he will return to Shilalama?’

‘He will not be seen in the streets,’ Opalexian said. ‘You will meet him here at Kalalim in future. Only Exalan and ourselves will know of these meetings. I have granted the Tigron access to you, Mima, because of your relationship. These things are not supposed to be of importance to hara and parazha, but because of Pellaz’s unique position, this has to occasion an exception.’

‘So, we will be supervised.’

‘Not exactly. You will be given time alone together, if that is what you should wish.’

But close enough for you to listen in, Flick thought.

Opalexian cast him a piercing glance and smiled.

Pellaz did not contact Flick, or any of the others, for over a month. Long though they talked into the night on a regular basis, trying to think of ways to find their lost friends, no ideas sprang to mind. They could not risk trying to duplicate the event, because they had no certainty they’d end up in the same place. And if Lileem and Terez had been torn apart or vaporised by what they’d done, it would be insane to follow their path.

The house felt different, as if the bricks themselves were grieving. Every day, Flick returned from his patrols and was still surprised not to see Lileem in the kitchen, laying out food and utensils for him to