Remiel again waited for Sitara in their normal trysting spot. He jumped to his feet when she arrived, but hesitated to embrace her. She didn't encourage him.

He grinned. "Tonight, Angel. We're taking the man Kevlin tonight."

"How?"

"Don't worry about that. You've got a different part to play."

Sitara drew closer and embraced her gift. It came without its recent hesitation, but still barely penetrated her skin. Its peace comforted her in the face of what was surely to come.

Connected with her gift, she felt his excitement like a nearby flame. Whatever had hindered him during their last meeting no longer interfered with his emotions.

"Tell me," she said, steeling herself against her coming duty.

"Masego himself will dig the information out of the man," Remiel said, taking her hands with trembling fingers. "Under cover of the party, we'll take the bearer. They'll be complacent, thinking the secret is sure."

"And the stone?" Sitara asked. Capturing Tia Khoa had been Bajaran's bold declaration of revolution. Had he succeeded, so much would have been different.

"We'll take it and flee tonight," Remiel said. He squeezed her hands. "It's really happening, Angel."

He sounded excited, played the part perfectly, but her actinopathic senses caught an undercurrent of fear. It shouldn't surprise her that all servants of Masego felt fear around him.

"How are we getting out?" she asked.

"That's where you come in," Remiel said, growing more serious. "You are to meet the Shadeleech Tanathos and bring him into the palace."

"What?" Sitara trembled with fear and sat on the edge of the bed.

He still held her hands and surely felt her fingers trembling. "It's all right, Angel. The plan's set. I'll give you all the details. All you have to do is act out your part."

That was easy for him to say. He'd never met the terrifying Shadeleech. Even with her body safe hundreds of miles away from Tanathos, he had nearly destroyed her when she touched his cesspit mind via Mindlink. That contact still haunted her dreams.

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Remiel settled beside her on the edge of the bed and drew her to him. He held her with surprisingly gentle arms and stroked her hair.

"It's all right, Angel. You can do it."

This unexpected tender moment unnerved her. Remiel had never done anything like this before. In the past, he had always delivered his message, then demanded she submit to him and allow him to claim his payment.

"I'll be fine," she lied, pulling away from his embrace.

"Are you sure?" He studied her face, another unusual choice. Usually he focused his lecherous gaze on other parts of her.

"I'll do my duty," she promised, her mind turning from Tanathos to Kevlin.

She'd try to shield him from Masego's cruelty if possible. All he had to do was surrender the name of the new bearer. Masego would focus on that greater prize, and perhaps she could save Kevlin's life.

It might prove the perfect moment to turn him. If she could win that man, she'd gain access to his formidable allies. With careful planning, she could raise the forces she would need to destroy Masego just as he overthrew the current government.

Remiel pulled her to him again and stroked her hair, his face leaning on her head. "Tell me about your family."

Sitara recoiled. Did he think to gain extra leverage over her? If so, he'd chosen the wrong questions. She hadn't spoken with her family in years and wanted nothing to do with that life.

"Tell me about yours," she retorted.

He actually did. "I grew up right here in Tamera. My father died when I was young, and my mother spent most of her time caring for my sickly little sister."

Remiel took her hands in his and talked about struggling to provide for his family, to find work in an often cruel city. His story resonated strongly with her. These were the very injustices she sought to overthrow, the changes that motivated her to carry on with Bajaran's work.

She touched his mind with her power and was surprised yet again to find no mental shields blocking her access to his thoughts. Using the technique Masego had recently taught her, she skimmed his thoughts, drawing images from recent days.

He was ashamed.

The truth stunned her. She barely felt when he gently drew her back into his arms and held her while continuing his tale. She barely heard his words as images flashed through her mind.

Remiel was ashamed of what he had done to her, what he forced her to do. He hated himself, but couldn't think of a way out of the bargain. More than anything, he feared Masego.

She blocked the flow of images. She couldn't handle that much truth. It contradicted too much of the simple hatred she felt for this man.

Remiel stood. "I don't usually speak of these things, Angel, but I wanted you to know. You're different and I hope one day . . ." His voice trailed off and his face reddened.

She didn't want to ask, but the words came unbidden to her lips. "You hope what?"

"It doesn't matter," he said quickly and turned toward the door. He paused in the center of the room. "I'm sorry we don't have more time, Angel. I've got things to set up for tonight."

He placed a folded parchment on the dresser. "Your instructions are all in here. I'll see you later."

Sitara scarce believed he'd left her again without claiming his payment. The thoughts she'd gleaned from his mind rattled her to the core. She hated to think he might not be Masego's evil lackey. Her new confusion clouded her hatred, and that made her angry.

Good. Anger would be her best defense against Tanathos.