Page 83 of Made

“Ever again,” said the sphinx, encouraging the overseer to add the phrase. When she didn’t, the sphinx said. “Say it.Ever again!”

There are no words to describe how much Araxinthe hated being publicly humiliated, at the mercy of a creature who doesn’t even walk on two legs.

Lips pulled tight and thin, she said, “Ever again,” under her breath.

“I’m sorry,” the sphinx’s smile stretched ear to ear. She was having a fine time. “I don’t think everyone heard you.”

“Ever again!” Araxinthe said loud enough to be heard by all. Then, making it apparent to everyone that she’d had enough,she stood and turned to one of the guards, saying, “Bring the lions to my library,” just before vanishing.

The sphinx shot Kagan a parting grin, gathered up her pieces of broken eggshells, then disappeared, leaving the brothers to wonder if she’d needed a portal at all. It seemed she was free to come and go as she pleased.

Esme was across a lengthy expanse of pavilion, but she was still where Kagan could see her and take solace in that. It wasn’t much, but it was his to hang onto, and he wasn’t in a hurry to give it up. When one of the black-clad guards pushed him from behind, he snarled and turned to defend himself. The idea of being touched without permission was unthinkable to one such as he.

Without hesitation, the guard grabbed Kagan’s shoulder and pushed his or her thumb into his clavicle. Before Kagan could choose how to react to that, he was paralyzed by an electrical surge that seemed to originate with the guard, who had no visible weapons. When Keir saw his brother’s eyes roll toward the back of his head, he launched himself at the guard, but was intercepted by another who gave him the same treatment.

Esmerelda, witnessing the entire scene, was screaming for them to stop and straining to free herself from invisible physical restrictions. Two of the saffrons put a stop to that by removing her from the pavilion. Fortunately, Kagan was too preoccupied with electricity coursing through his body to be aware of Esme’s treatment. If he’d known, it would have amped his agitation, which was already barely controlled, even higher.

Killian was hesitating, unsure how to proceed. He reasoned that attempting to stop the guards physically would simply render the same fate as had befallen Kagan and Keir, but at the same time, he abhorred doing nothing and hated himself for it.

“COME NOW!” Vox said, walking their way with a determined stride. The guards both ceased and stood at attention. “There’s no need for that. Why not simply ask our guests to accompany you?” The guards looked at each other, but gave Vox no answer. “Never mind. I’ll deliver them to the overseer.”

She kindly gave Kagan and Keir a couple of minutes to recover before saying, “I apologize for the unconscionable behavior. We haven’t had outsiders here for, well, millennia. I suppose we need some recurrent training on how to interact with visitors. Gentlemen, follow me, please.”

The courtesy was appreciated. Keir and Kagan were both still feeling the effects of being partially stunned.

The triplets walked quietly, observing what could be seen along the way. None of that information proved useful.

Araxinthe’s “library” contained not a single book. There were, however, all sorts of symbols of various sizes that would appear in the air, seemingly spontaneously. Now and then, one would float around the room leisurely before disappearing, but most came and went in the blink of an eye.

She sat at a giant glass table the top of which reflected an array of imagery that would, again, come and go quickly. Keir stared, trying to make sense of it, but his mind would dismiss the images as soon as they disappeared.

Three large chairs appeared in front of her table.

“Sit,” she said. They did. “Vox, to what do they owe the honor of your escort?”

“Yer guards be a bit heavy-handed,” said Kagan.

“Oh?” she asked in a way that indicated she didn’t care, and didn’t like that Kagan had answered instead of Vox.

“The lion is right,” Vox said. “I see no reason to be inhospitable. After all, he’s simply trying to free someone whowants to be freed. Perhaps we’ve been isolated for so long we’ve forgotten civil behavior?”

The sephalia, having the same thought at the same time, turned toward Vox in unison wondering if she might be a potential ally. That thought was quickly followed by wondering how “civil behavior” is reconciled with kidnapping.

“Do not presume upon our friendship, Vox,” said Araxinthe.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Vox replied. “Just food for thought.”

“I’m sure you have matters that require your particular attention.”

“Yes. Well.” She looked at three faces expressing identical concern. “I’ll be close if you need me.”

“Hmmm,” said Araxinthe in her non-committal way.

After Vox disappeared, Araxinthe focused on Kagan. How she knew which of them was Kagan went unexplained.

“You did well, Sephalian. I’m not sure there is a single historical case in record of Dorianis taking a liking to someone who came near her eggs.” Since Kagan’s personality valued economy and since he saw no cause for response, he offered none. “I’m sending you home for a day to recuperate and prepare for the next challenge.”

“I’d prefer to proceed now,” Kagan said.

---