The Fireseed Wars

Sirna was still pacing back and forth when Aranth, wearing a lead-streaked back-and-breast, exited the chamber. If she hadn't known that it was Aranth, she might not have recognized him with his head bald. "Hello, friend."

His head turned and the moment he saw her, his face turned as white as one of the Investigator's robes. "Sirna! Danar Sirna? Is that really you?"

"Yes, it is. Although a little worse for wear after being left behind by a certain 'friend' at the Foundry to be manhandled by Roxthar's thugs." By the end, her voice was approaching a scream.

"By Xappha's Mandibles, it is you. You're alive! Come here," he said, reverting to First Level speech so that they couldn't be understood if overheard, "let us find a more private meeting room. I'm very sorry that I didn't look for you, but I thought everyone was already dead or trapped when the upper floor collapsed. Damn glad you made it, by Galzar!"

"Yes, it's me, Aranth, or should I be calling you Ranthos?"

"Ranthos in public, in private whatever you want."

Sirna muttered a string of curses calling forth all the demons of Second Level, Khiftan Sector, as she led him to a wing of the palace that was still under renovation. It was deserted so she lit a taper for illumination. Running out of breath, she ended with, "Yes, I survived with no help from you or the rest of the Team."

"I'm so relieved. How is the rest of the Hostigos Kalvan Study Team?"

"All dead as far as I know. There was no time for anyone to evacuate."

"The Red Hand of Styphon was at the door," Aranth said sheepishly. "After the floor gave way, I just snuck out a back window before I was picked up for Investigation. I heard a woman scream and some shots. I thought everyone was dead or captured."

"That was Lala… she tried to reason with the Styphoni. They reasoned her into the next incarnation. One or two of the Team were taken prisoner-I'm certain they perished." She shuddered. "What are you doing here and why haven't you joined up with the Harphax Kalvan Study Team?"

"First, I work for your boss, Phidestros. Secondly, it wasn't that easy getting out of Hostigos, not with the Investigation under way. Besides, I like Aryan-Transpacific and decided to take an outtime sabbatical. I knew Dralm-damned well that if I reported in I'd be slammed onto the first conveyer going back to Home Time Line."

"For dereliction of duty, perhaps," she said snidely, knowing it was beneath her. But, Dralm-damnit, he was my friend and he left me to die.

"Don't go all Paratime Police on me, Sirna. I don't see you reporting to the Harphaxi Depot."

She felt her face burn. "I didn't have an opportunity to report in."

"Look, I said I was sorry. If you're some sort of prisoner here, I'll even help you escape. Will that be penance enough for my speedy exit?" He looked as contrite as a little boy; or as much like one as a soldier, with a walrus mustache and a body built like it was made out of barrel staves, could approximate.

She laughed. "You always did know how to press my buttons. And, no, I'm not a prisoner here. Nor do I want to go back to First Level any more than you do. As the only undergraduate, I was always the odd person out on the Hostigos Kalvan Study Team. If I go back to Dhergabar University now, they'll never let me go outtime again."

Aranth nodded. "If you survive the debriefing, you mean. Even if they don't blame you for the disaster our teammates made, you'll be under suspicion for the rest of your tenure at the University. You'll always be known as the 'Girl Who Bugged Out.'"

"I didn't bug out! I was knocked out, then tossed onto a cart by some greedy peasant who sold me to the first brothel he could find!"

Aranth couldn't help but grin. "So you decided to add a new minor to your outtime curriculum?"

"Stop that! The bawdy house he dropped me off at was the Gull's Nest, which just happened to be Captain-General Phidestros' command post. Phidestros saw that I was useful as a healer and I've been under his, and the Iron Band's, protection ever since."

"I'll bet," Aranth added, with a grin.

"He even saved me from Roxthar!" She went on to explain how Phidestros had refused to allow the Investigator to remove her from the Gull's Nest.

"You've got Lytris' Own Luck, Sirna darling. I heard the story about how the Captain-General had rescued some trollop from the Holy Investigator. I didn't see you in the starring role! Not many men have the bullets to beard the Investigator on full rant, or have lived to tell about it. Dralm help you, if Roxthar ever gets his talons into you."

Sirna shuddered, nodding her head. "I know. I have nightmares about him and his beady eyes! They say he's killed thousands of Hostigi."

"Make it tens of thousands! I know, I was there in the field, trying to avoid being caught. I've fought in a dozen wars, and more battles than I like to think about, and no man has scared me as much as that demon in human form."

"So how did you escape, Aranth?"