Chapter 10 b.

Still waiting for Ly to reappear Viky’s frustration evaporated the heartbeat she saw Dereniik hobbling towards her suite. She hadn't been worried about him of course. He was just interesting and intelligent company. It was inappropriate for a newly bonded woman to inquire after an older unbonded man but that wouldn't have stopped her if she had seen a mutual acquaintance. But she hadn’t and didn't know where he lived to visit. He hadn't been at the canteen at the same time she had for the last few days so seeing him now released a small knot of tension she refused to acknowledge.

“Commander Dereniik welcome.” She kept the skip out of her step and resisted a broad smile favouring instead one she hoped was small and sincere.

“My lady, the day is all the brighter for your greeting.” He gave a small formal half bow.

“Do you have time for refreshment? Is this a social visit?”

“Thank you, refreshments would be delightful.”

Excellent, he hadn't answered her second question. So, something, hopefully something important and interesting, something he could use her help with, had occurred. After settling him in her reception room Viky raced through preparing and serving drinks. She had nothing but juice and made a mental note to get Jess to show her how to make tea. Sitting on the edge of her seat, sipping from her own mug, they made the required small talk. He wouldn't be hurried, formalities would be adhered to, but he didn't wantonly squander time.

“You have anticipated me asking for your help?” Dereniik grinned. “Are you disappointed I don't come by socially?”

“No, not at all. You're an important Commander with better things to do then waste your time with silly women at tea parties.”

“My lady, Viky, I don't believe you would ever be a silly woman at a tea party, or anywhere else for that matter.”

Viky grinned. “I'd love to help. What do you need me to do?”

Dereniik took another sip of his juice. The lines around his eyes were pronounced so he was either tyred or in pain. Or both.

“This may be a delicate matter, or it may be nothing at all. A Commander has recently been murdered. He was not well regarded by his teammates and if I'm reading his personality correctly potentially did not have functional relationships with many others. I need to inform and interview his widow and talk to a couple of his other teammates. In these sorts of situations, a woman is quite often reassured, or more comfortable, in the presence of another woman. If I am wrong and she is greatly distressed by his death the other woman of her sisterhood should be available to offer comfort, but I would appreciate your input and observations initially. I regret needing to ask you to do this and please feel under no obligation to accompany me if you find this in any way stressful.”

Viky needed to think.

Happiness and sadness collided with no way to know which would triumph.

Feelings bound together into emotions she couldn't articulate.

Did she want to deal with this?

But it was Dereniik asking.

He'd saved her life.

He believed in her.

It wasn't her grief, nothing personal.

The woman may not be grieving.

“Give me a couple of heartbeats, I'll get my shawl.”

*

Viky had never been to this part of the city and Dereniik had needed to rest twice before reaching the tunnel leading to their destination. The ceiling was high, ribbed, reinforced, and decorated with intricate scroll work and set with precious stones. Each vent covered by a grill of elaborate filigree. Light levels were lower but augmented by a profusion of gems that glinted in stunning patterns adding sparkle to white marble walls and floor. Swaths of iridescent blue God’s Fire bathed the area with soft radiant light.

The people that crossed their path were mostly older with more servants visible. The sounds of little children, a constant feature from her suite, were few and far between.

Dereniik gestured to the Glyph above an arch leading to an enclave at least three times the size of the one she currently inhabited with her sisters.

Seeing her surprise Dereniik explained. “Women who's bondmate’s are part of Teams permanently assigned to the capital are given living accommodations equivalent to those of First Families, Major House’s or whatever regional variation a person would have been expected to enjoy if the team had been Commissioned elsewhere.”

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“That makes sense, I guess.” The Rifts had no regional equivalent because her people valued community over the individual.

Dereniik chuckled. “My team leader was from the Rifts, said the best times for him when we're all out camping or roughing it.”

“It must be hard, not having a team anymore.”

“It is. I miss them every day. One of the hardest things is people not talking about or even acknowledging that I once had a team. I can understand for other men it's a reminder of their own mortality. Something they also could lose. But talking about them, remembering them, that's important to me.”

Viky was thoughtful. “Doesn't it arouse morbid memories? Make you experience the tragedy of losing them all over again?”

“We had far more pleasant memories then morbid ones. They were with me every waking moment for three rotations of training, and we worked together for five rotations. You can't tuck that much experience into the back of your mind and forget it. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”

“But when people know, how do you cope when they become paralysed trying to say the ‘right thing’, or worse still offer cliches or empty platitudes?”

“Having a small Reading skill helps. People’s motives are usually in the good to passive range. Evil intent is very rare. I focus on the positive. Thoughtless comments are annoying but generally stem from the individual being so concerned or caught up with their own affairs they haven’t given enough bandwidth to care or show concern for the feelings of another. But that doesn't diminish the sincerity of most people.”

“Most?” Viky raised an eyebrow.

Dereniik chuckled. “The opinions of the few I care about then. This is the door, you ready.”

“You haven't actually told me what I'm supposed to do.”

“I believe in you. I don't think you need to be implicit instructions and there are too many variables to cover every situation we may encounter.”

Viky nodded; she could make this work.

***

Dereniik knocked on the door with the base of his crutch while taking stock of his companion. She was a beautiful little thing, wavy red hair, multi toned violet eyes and unconscious charm. Not his first choice, it was disappointing Lady Islington had not been available, but if the widow was emotional, backing out and letting a woman handle the situation while he recruited others from her sisterhood was essential. And with the remaining time he had left every opportunity to try and help Viky through the grieving process needed to be seized.

A young servant opened the door, and they would lead to a large reception room and announced to Lady Lilliah, a woman of middle rotations.

The woman stood, revealing her considerable height and chic lavender costume. Her hair was short, and muted yellow, styled in a popular First City arrangement. She had gently arched cheekbones, cream-colored flawless skin and large, feline shaped, sapphire blue sparkling eyes. They danced all over Dereniik with un-abashed amusement before exposing Viky to the same inspection.

“A Deputized Operative Commander, come to visit little old me. And not just any Deputized Operative Commander but the hero of Negeeb, Commander Dereniik himself. And a beautiful companion, It is a pleasure to meet you Lady La’navikya. Ned, be a dear, fetch refreshments for us. Be seated, be seated. Anywhere you like.” She twittered.

Dereniik took the seat on her right and Viky settled on the lounge opposite.

Every Deputized Operative Commander remembered the first time he had to tell relatives of a love one’s death. There'd be nothing in the three rotations of training to prepare them for the most unpleasant of jobs. It didn’t matter if the loved one had met death by natural disaster or foul play, if they had suffered or died quickly. If the death was unexpected or if the person had been missing for rotations. Death was an enemy, everybody knew that and nobody wanted to know their loved one had succumbed.

“My lady, there is no easy way to say this, but by now you would be aware that your bondmate Commander Isoloo is missing. I am sorry to report he has died.” Dereniik’s next words would be based off her reaction.

“Dead, is he? Yes, well I guess that would account for some of his team coming home. Is his funeral pyre going to be organised by the Education Department or will I have to make some effort to arrange it?

Casual indifference was not a reaction Dereniik had been expecting.

“My lady, is there anyone within your sister hood that you wish us to inform or fetch for you?”

“Millicent made the most wonderful floral display when Trakeidy died. If I must make the arrangements I will recruit her services, and Elsa will arrange everything, you know how organised people from Amaranth can be, but all my sisters will chip in. But for now, let us enjoy refreshments. Ned makes the most divine First City Ferment, and I doubt I'll ever have a real-life hero visit me again.”

God’s light why was he always on duty when the best beverages were offered.

“My lady, I am pleased you are taking this news well. Had you been informed or were you expecting his demise?”

“Commander Dereniik,” the woman smiled while nodding her head. “My bond mate was one of those men who had little value for life. His own or others. I've been expecting this news for rotations. It doesn't make me particularly happy or sad, it was inevitable and now it’s a fact. Our mutual absolute disinterest in each other was never a secret. From the start we bonded for convenience and to pretend otherwise would be distorting the truth.”

Dereniik had heard of situations like this before, certainly when people became older love enduring was the exception rather than the rule. The woman was not old and displayed an attractive merry vitality, she would be appealing to others. Her indifference towards Isoloo may not have ment she was apathetic to all.

“My lady, if it is not distressing or distasteful would you mind if I asked you some questions about your late Bondmate?”

“Of course not, I would be delighted to be of any assistance. But don't call him my late bondmate, you make it sound like he's just delayed. If he's dead there's no coming back and I can clear all the horrible stuffed heads of dead animals From his room.” The woman answered.

Across the room Viky raised an eyebrow.

“Did Commander Isoloo have any enemies?” Dereniik asked.

“Yes, at least ninety-nine possibly twice that many. Do you mean to say he was killed?”

“That is a distinct possibility my lady.” Dereniik waited for a reaction, she didn't seem surprised.

“I wonder if that will negatively affect the children?” Lady Lilliah showed the first signs of concern.

“That will depend on the relationship they had with their parent, with you and other significant adults in their life. With support most children weather the storm.”

“Yes, yes you are correct of course. I think I will take you up on your offer and have a couple of my sisters called. I have mostly been able to shield the children, consulting with them we will need to reach a consensus on how to best proceed. They are of course the innocent parties in our life.”

“If you tell me which suites the sisters you wish call live in, I can fetch them for you.” Viky offered.

Dereniik nodded his approval.

“All the girls are at Lasting Light’s place, the boys could be anywhere so don’t mention anything till no children are present. I don’t want my sons to learn of this until I have a better understanding of what will be best for them.”

Yes now she was concerned. Not for herself but it made Dereniik reasonably sure she hadn’t had anything to do with her Bondmate’s death.

They left later than Dereniik had hoped. He hoped his words had helped Viky and Lady Lilliah. There would be a cost, there always was. In his mind he had grieved and moved on from his own personal tragedy. During the day panic attacks occured when reminded of his ordeal in the forest. But in the night his dreams morphed into nightmares of epic proportions.