Tally Road Original Story- Chapter 25

"We're going to find, and rescue, Elistary Brinmont Doestral Evensring."

"I thought that was what we were already doing?" said Boodins.

"And you can speak for yourself- there's something going on with that Finn that I need to know more about." said Siertes.

"Yes," said Rai, "but I am not expressing an interest in that. My purpose was to rescue Elistary Brinmont Doestral Evensring and return her to Restred with Boodins. I will ask that you respect my intention, 'aons."

"Oh, sure." said Siertes offhandedly.

"Thank you." said Rai politely, but the reptilian assassin wasn't quite finished.

"I mean, you can ask. Hell, I even respect your intention. I just don't share it. I'm gonna find out what Finn's up to."

Rai's tail lashed, but his voice was still polite as he asked, "With whose aid?"

"I was thinking I might as well use yours." said Siertes.

"I have one condition." said Rai firmly.

"I can guess."

"You will not be asked to guess. The condition is this: I will not work with, with Voustrets Talanstre Laimontre again. You will not mention the name to me, 'aons..."

"That's two conditions." pointed out Siertes.

Rai winced. "Please..."

"Oh, all right. But you're being too sensitive. Just because the guy's screwing a..."

"Siertes!" interrupted Dene anxiously. "That's not fair!"

"What? You and your 'fair'. Crazy wolfess. What about fair to her? She looked happy. At least until she saw our kitty. Fair is expensive, most people can't afford much of it."

"Is that one of your Tompar sayings?" asked Boodins curiously.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Um." said Boodins, cowed by Siertes' sudden hostility. "You know. The kinds of things you people say..." She regarded him with narrowed eyes for a minute before she spoke.

"Yeah. That's one of the things us people say. And it's true- fair must be expensive, not many people around here can afford it either. Between puppy knowing all about us people, and kitty wanting to claw the eyes out of other kitty, I don't see much fair just lying around."

"What about me?" asked Dene, while Boodins looked abashed and Rai pretended he didn't hear.

"Oh, you're fair enough. That must prove you're crazy." said Siertes. "Stay that way, I like it."

Rairate had been studiously ignoring this. To him, fair meant tolerating other people's impossible behavior with as much grace as possible. Now, he changed the subject back to what he needed. "We are likely to start by searching for Finn, as he seems to be implicated. You may come along. Can you accept my conditions, 'aons?"

Siertes nodded, looking about. "Yeah. I... yeah."

"Then you may come along." said Rairate, satisfied. Dene glanced at him quizzically, but said nothing.

Boodins' tail wagged. "So- where do we go?"

"Delmas. We need to see Ka." said Dene.

Rai quirked an ear. "What do you propose to do? We're not with... shall I say, our situation has changed, and how do you expect to seek admission?"

"Admission?" asked Boodins.

"To see this important person."

"Actually, she might have a chance." said Siertes. "Aintar don't stand on ceremony. You can see Ka if you're determined, you'd just better impress her." She winced. "Wolfess can, anyway. I'll be lucky if I see Delmas at all. This is going to be hard."

"I want it understood that we're looking for information about Elistary." said Rairate. "That's all."

"You can't blame me if I find out things too. From Finn." said Siertes. "I need some answers. Assuming I even have freedom of movement. This is going to be really hard..."

"Not to relay to... you know who I mean."

Siertes shrugged her lean shoulders elegantly. "How am I supposed to do that on Delmas? They'll keep me in a box, most likely."

"You're not to relay information to the person I speak of."

"Is that fair?" asked Dene. Siertes laughed, not kindly.

"Your 'fair' here doesn't mean anything to me. I can't live with it, Dene Tieschet. I'm sticking to what I know that I need." said Rai.

Dene shot a reproving glance at Siertes. "I'd call that fair."

Siertes shrugged. "I'd call it fair enough."

Dene was about to speak, when Siertes continued, "...which isn't saying much. By your standards."

The nerdy Runge had had enough. "How about you worry about your standards and I'll worry about mine?"

Siertes looked amused.

"Perky! All right, then."