The rain had started again, a cold misting drizzle that seemed pointless, too little to water the earth, until you realized everything was soaked from it. It had been hanging around for the last two days, leaving the countryside a vivid shiny green and the browns and grays of timber and tree trunk dark slashes against the silver-gray back drop of perpetual mist, looking like something drawn in water colors by a master. It was weather typical of the time before autumn, when the days were unsure of themselves and the winds mixed breed children of the sea and the snow capped peaks of the Kenno that rose straight and tall from the shore before disappearing into the clouds.

He inhaled deeply as he left, filling his lungs with air that tasted of the rain and the salt mist from the breakers that challenged the cliffs, creating the crevices for the sea birds to nest in, in the spring. If the tide had turned it was later than he’d planned. His pace quickened at the thought, his feet sure on the slick, flagged walkways as he tried, his head uncovered in the mist, to let the air take with it the futility of the last hours when he exhaled.

He swung himself on Briony’s back and sent her flying for home, giving her her head, letting her race the wind so that the mist would wash the stink of the past day from his skin and the sting of the chill would clear his head before he had to face his brother. Face him, hell he didn't care about facing him, he cared about telling him that he’d failed. The time they’d had of a fragile peace filled with space enough, they’d hoped, to rebuild, to plant and then reap the seeds of a crop different from war, to conceive and nurture the promise of a new generation was done and there was no extending it, now that it had been shattered by a communiqué sent in the open to ask about a hotel on a backwater planet that should have been forgotten by everyone except him. Malac, would be furious and sure to start the interrogation again.

He crooned to Briony, dropping his hand to stroke her neck urging her on, faster and faster, until she outpaced his thoughts. She was a delight, this creature, who consented to bear him and his burdens, who sang in his mind with glee in her power and the speed of her flight, even as he laughed aloud and let the wind of her passage tear the sound of it from his mouth. He leaned low against her neck, laying his cheek against the smoothness of her hide and felt what she felt, her exaltation and pride, as she flew high above the earth, her wings hardly even straining to maintain her speed, burning up the miles between Caer Krinon and Caer Kista…home.

He took the time to see to her himself, buying time before facing Malec, but finally she was settled, her thanks a warm spot in his mind as she settled to sleep. Then he decided to change first, before taking another deep breath, this one filled with the scents of damp pine and wood smoke and heading to his brother’s office. He didn’t bother to knock, knowing Malec was probably growing more and more impatient at the delay. Instead he squared his shoulders and walked in, taking a chair before the fire and waiting until Malec acknowledged him.

Malec had been staring sightlessly into the fire when when his brother entered. He hadn't looked away. Perhaps he was looking at the fire that had been consuming their world for centuries and was about to return. Finally, without looking around he asked, "Tell me."

Malachi gave it to him straight.  "The Ministry said no. Kenget'Ster has the right to demand a return to active vendetta since we can not produce the Maelcom's other heir.  Twelve years is the specified time when the head of a house dies.  That he apparently meddled enough in the affairs of earth to the point where they needed a sanctuary site they also adjudicated against us deciding that it meant that we were establishing undisclosed bases."  He paused to throw another log on the fire.  "I spoke with the Minister in private and he still refuses to open the case file to anyone but the Maelcom's other heir, and he might not then either. He has full discretion."

"It never ends," Malec said heavily. "Until we've completely destroyed everything, we'll be fighting the same war over and over.  Well, we'd best go find out what we can.  Ignorance serves us not at all."

Malachi didn't budge.

Malec looked up at his brother. "What, having visions again?"

"What can she tell us.  According to Mule she didn't even know."  Malachi kicked a log, sending a shower of sparks upward, the log blazing wildly.  "Mach...he was exhausted, he needed time to heal.  He never wanted it, Malec.  And he left her."

"That he left the sigila there might have been a sign to us, Malachi. Perhaps that is where he hid his amulet. And you can bet House Kenget'Ster will be headed there. If Mach valued the place then we should be willing to defend it."

Malachi sighed and stood.  Then he headed for his room for his arms...sword, knife and the shuriken, his throwing stars.  His brother was ready when he returned.  Malachi traced the sigila and opened the portal.  When they were both in he sent them across the universe.  They exited the portal in Dinah's lobby.  He looked at Leslie and said, "Mac sent me.  I need to see Dinah."

Leslie had been well trained in this matter.  She asked them to wait and headed to the pool where at that moment Dinah was just touching down.

Celie was standing by the pool chewing on her nails, while she held the cellphone to her ear, reporting events as they happened. Asher was beside her staring up enjoying the sight. Jazz said 'whoa' and Leslie was trying not to shriek. David looked longingly upward as Mills huffed. The twins and their sister Billy were slathered in oils lying in the sunshine, and not missing a thing. Jeeves was trying to distract the 'normal' visitors so none of them would have a heart attack if they looked upward.

What they were all so interested in were the two people floating in the air beside the chimney. There was no mistaking them for chimney sweeps though. Mabel was pointing and Julian was flitting around the chimney like some overgrown fairy. Hey, he's bisexual, dammit.

"So?" Mabel asked.

"Yup its there," Julian replied helpfully.

"But what's it about?"

"Well," he opined after staring at it and then rubbing his chin, "it's magical."

"Nothing to do with the Awakened?"

"Don't think so. Doesn't feel like that. Feels magical,"

"What does that mean," Mabel asked frowning.

Julian floated over to the chimney and put his finger out toward the sigila. They began to resonate and then the air around the chimney changed. Julian suddenly was flying backwards head over tintype.  When he finally came to a stop and got himself right-side up he said, "See?"

"All right, all right." I believe you.

The two then floated downward to the ground, landing gently.

Celie handed the cell phone to Mabel. "It's there, Dinah.  Maybe you should come see it?"

Dinah said she'd be there and hung up the phone.  She looked at Marc and Kalket, playing chess on the patio and sighed.  "Wanna spend a few hours at the beach?"

Kalket looked up and smiled. Marc sighed. "What now?"

"Might as well get it over with," Dinah said.  "Mabel wants me to look at something, some sigila Attleboro Mule says are on the chimney.  She says she had a letter from him today with the contracts and I need to see it and sign the documents."  She grinned.  "You can sit at the pool and ogle the Jo's who are sunbathing today."

Kaket frowned. "I don't like boys."

"You'll like these," Marc assured him.  "I suppose we should go armed," Marc muttered.

Dinah, for reasons that were a mystery to her, nodded in the affirmative.

Kalket suddenly looked very interested. "Shall I get my sword?"

"Right," Marc said. "And just where are you gonna hide that thing? It's six feet long and weighs as much as Dinah."

'Oh, all right. But you are no fun any more now that you are civilized."

Ten minutes later they emerged by the pool, the scene not much changed since Mabel had requested Dinah's attendance.  Mabel was at a table, a sheaf of papers held down by a tea pot in front of her.  Julian and Jeeves were fencing on a parquet surface outside the patio area and over to the side Bertie was practicing his putts on a green provided by Julian at Mabel's request, trying to think of an excuse to miss the tea party at Mrs. Killington's later.  He was quickly losing his taste for high society.

Dinah headed for Mabel's table and the sheaf of papers.  "You're a notary, right?" she asked as she sat down, getting ready to read. Mabel nodded in the affirmative.

Kalket's arrival caused a bit of a stir. Not often does an 8-9 ft warrior who looks pretty enough to eat, get your mind outta the gutter, with golden hair down to his butt and eyes the colour of the afternoon sky, show up at pool side.  Jeeves was forgotten and Julian was heading on over for an introduction. So were the twins and Billy.  From the look of things, there was going to be a traffic jam at his end of the pool.

Marc sighed. He'd seen it before. If nothing else the Tanu had pheromones to die for.

Mabel looked at him narrowly and then turned her attention to Dinah.

Dinah read the top sheet, the missive from Attleboro Mule while the blood drained from her face and her eyes got wide.  She passed the note to Marc and stood up.  "Julian can show me?"

Julian was nearly licking his chops over Kalket but did drag himself away to come over to where Mabel was frowning at him.

"Dinah wishes to see," Mabel explained.

"Me too," Julian commented, and got kicked by Mabel for his pains.  "Oh, right. Come on," he said taking Dinah's hand. The two of them flew up to the chimney and came to rest just above the sloped roof right where the sigila were on the chimney.  "I did sense the place was protected by magic, but this was pretty hidden. They weren't, er, broadcasting their presence, if you get what I mean."

"Of course they weren't. God damn him!  No wonder he spent so much time up here!" Dinah said flatly.  "Do you know what the sign means?  What the symbology is?"

"I'm not familiar with this particular brand of magic, at least not in the symbols themselves but the magic and it's intent is very clear. I'd guess he was afraid for you and put it here to protect you from a powerful enemy.  His, most likely. Did you piss off some mage?"

She glared at him.  "Not unless I pissed you off.  You're the only mage I know these days except his cousins who drop in from time to time, just to stay in touch, doncha know!"  She stared at the sigila.  "We can go back to standing on the ground when ever you're ready.  And thank you."

Julian, feeling a bit fey, swooped her around a bit rather than taking her straight to the ground.   He was, Dinah suspected, also angling for a look at the Jo's who seemed fascinated with Kalket.

Dinah felt her feet touch down and headed back to Mabel.  Leslie intercepted her as she got there.

"There's two men in the lobby to see you, Dinah.  They said to tell you Mac sent them."

Dinah opened her mouth and shut it with a snap.  "Well that's just fine!" she said, tartly.

Marc decided to follow her into the lobby. There he saw two men who would, no doubt, feel at home drinking mead with Kalket. Hell, they probably knew 'The Song.'  Their hair was in warrior braids, with feathers and gems braided into them. They wore gems round their necks and on their fingers. The gems were cut, he noticed, with sharp edges. Weapons then, too.

Dinah, still in less than a welcoming mood, marched up to them, hands on her hips.

She'd dressed today in faded jeans and a low cut tee shirt, her pendant hanging loose from her cleavage where it usually nestled.  Malachi saw it and dropped to his knee, touching his forehead to the floor.  His brother, just stood, his face flushing red, then paling.  Malachi lifted his head, murmuring, "Lady, you should have said."

Dinah was in no mood.  "Oh get up!  I've maids who do the floors.  I should have said what?"

Malec answered her, his voice harsh.  "That he named you his heir, Lady."

Malachi scrambled to his feet and Dinah led both men back to the pool area, Marc remaining behind for a moment. Jeeves was there too.

"I've got a bad feeling about this. I suggest you break out Mabel's Uzis."

Jeeves nodded, and decided to lock a few doors while he was at it.

Kalket was standing speaking to the Jo's when the two warriors caught sight of him. Both Malachi and Malec dropped into a fighting stance and drew weapons.  Kalket, catching this out of the corner of his eye, whirled around and drew a knife as long as a few swords the girls had seen. Kalket grinned happily.

Bertie missed his putt and didn't line up another.

Malec put a hand out to stop Malachi from advancing and regarded the blond warrior. "Forgive us," he said with a slight bow to show respect. "I mistook you for House Kenget'Ster."

Kalket twirled his knife around a bit and brought it up into a salute at the end of the movement. "Kalket, Lord Healer, Redactor Guild at your service." He gave the two newcomers a bow.

Malec bowed again, lower, as did Malachi.  "I am Malec'Maelcom, Head of House Sere'Ster and my brother Malachi'Maelcom."

Dinah looked from them to Kalket and back again, her temper short and her patience thin.  "Well, now that we've settled that, perhaps you could explain what brings you here today?"

Malec held out the letter from Attleboro Mule. "I fear you may be in danger from Mach's enemies. Now, having seen what you wear on your breast, I am certain you are."

Marc had walked around the crowd of warriors to where Mabel sat, and took the letter that Mabel held out to him. He read it swiftly then regarded Dinah.

Julian, who'd been watching silently, suddenly said, "Uh oh. I feel a fluctuation in the Force."

Nicco, who'd just appeared from the beach, with gelato stains on his tee shirt, looked around too.

Bertie looked over his shoulder and surprised himself by taking a much firmer grip on his putter.  The Jo's, quietly, reached for their bags. Dinah swore and moved towards Celie and Asher, upending a table and shoving them behind it.

On the beach a portal opened, spewing warriors dressed like Malec and Malachi, swords drawn and knives in their hands, deathly silent and stinking of power too long contained and demanding use, spreading out across the beach.

Kalket gave a delighted war whoop, and jumped to engage the nearest one. Mabel reached for the Uzi Jeeves was handing her, but her line of fire was blocked by the two, er, friendlies and Kalket. The two Ms pulled out serious looking swords, which made Kalket pout. Nicco called forth power and surprised one of the bad guys. He went down smoking; Julian was angling around one way, while Marc angled around the other.

Malachi leapt the pool area wall, landing in fighting stance, Malec right behind him.   He feinted to the left and twisted right, slicing one as he passed and swinging his sword in an arc that decapitated the next.  Malec moved left and engaged, using his knife to open a wound on the warrior's arm and then jabbing to his gut with his sword.

Kalket, despite having only a knife to use, easily gutted one attacker then grabbed the dying man's sword to chase another one off to regroup closer to his remaining allies.

Bertie surprised himself as he tried to retreat to the pool, swinging his putter like a baseball bat and connecting twice as he fled.  The Jo's, hand guns drawn, grabbed him and pulled him down, Billy Jo hissing "You ass, stay down." as she squeezed off a shot.

Behind them, Mabel and Jeeves, side by side were laying down a sweeping fire.

There were five attackers down, with not a minor cut on the good guys side. Julian took down another, with a shot of pure power to the guy's gut. Marc called up power and then shot his hand out forcefully, which drove the rest of the attackers backwards as if they'd been hit by an invisible truck.  "Begone," he hissed, putting Coercion in his voice.

Kalket and the two brothers moved in to finish them off.

Meanwhile sirens were heard in the background, shattering the sudden stillness.  The Jo's looked at each other, stood, grabbed their badges and holstered their guns.  Then, bikini clad and smiling, they went off to do battle with local law enforcement.

The intruders, the few survivors, sensing impending defeat, opened a portal and were gone.

Nicco, with much experience in that quarter made the bodies disappear. He was sitting on a lounge chair swinging his legs innocently when the local gendarmes insisted on coming through to check to make sure everything really was all right.

Mabel met them, hands on hips. "Can we help you, officers?  As you see, there is nothing whatever the matter here."

"We had a report of shots fired, lady."  The cop, who'd moved to Virginia beach like most of the other local police, from places like New York City for the peace and quiet knew the smell of gunpowder when he found it.

"We're rehearsing, officer, for a school play.  What they heard were cap guns, I suspect," Dinah said.  She pointed to the table where Jules sat and they lay.  "Those."

Julian bowed to an officer who picked one up and fired it into the air. It gave a satisfying bang. But the weapon was clearly not real, as it was cheap plastic and the muzzle was solid.

The cops knew darn well something had gone on here, but ... and then the Jo's all came over in their nothing bikinis and smiled at them and then weaponry, of a certain sort, were forgotten in favor of weapons of an entirely different sort. The Jo's wrapped their arms in those of the officers and walked them out to their patrol cars, chatting and sashaying away.

Kalket was looking after them enviously.

When they were gone Dinah advanced on the brothers fury flooding out of every pore, determination an almost visible force quivering around her.  They took a step back.  She pinned them with her eyes, stopping them in their tracks.  "Okay, explain.  Now!"

Kalket forgot the Jo's and watched her, grinning.

"Lady," Malachi said in a tone that indicated he was surprised she was asking, "you are Mach'Maelcom's heir.  They want you, alive if they can, otherwise dead before you name your own if they can't."

"Forgive us, Lady," Malec added. "It was the letter. Once we saw it, we feared that this would happen and came to protect you. Little did we know your powers are quite adequate to the task."

Dinah, who'd huddled behind a table with Asher, holding him back, and Celie breaking her arm she was clinging so tight during the excitement sighed.  She waved them to a table, where Marc and Julian were already sitting, shamelessly eavesdropping.  "Xavier," she called, "I need a drink.  And a round for everyone else"  Then she looked at the brothers.  "Okay boys, let's pretend I'm stupid and you know everything.  Use small words and speak real slow."

Malachi rubbed the back of his neck.  "May I see the Maelcom's amulet?"  He gestured to the pendant she wore, then pulled a piece of silk from his waistband, indicating she should place it there.  He said some words, too low for her to hear and it changed growing larger, a disc of hammered gold with a fiery milky white gem set in the middle.  Then the gold split open in his hand revealing an thin inner cavity.  He lifted the small key it contained and met her eyes.  "Did he leave anything else here?"

Dinah pressed her lips together.  Then she called to Asher.  "Upstairs in the attic, there's a small chest, it's carved and locked...southeast corner.  Would you get it for me, please, and the keys in the office."  She then swung her eyes back to Malachi and waited.

Xavier served drinks and then turned the pool lights on.

Nicco walked over to stand at Malachi's elbow looking at the amulet.

"You aren't what you appear to be," Malachi commented to the boy.

Nicco met his eyes, and after a moment the man nodded.

Kalket, too large for any of the chairs around, was standing by somewhat awkwardly until Julian made him a large chair out of thin air. "There you go, Herc."

Nicco's eyes closed for a second and then a man stepped out of nothingness. "Nicco tells me, Signorina Dinah, you are entertaining again."  Carmine's lips were twitching, as he ruffled Nicco's hair. As he did his eyes took in all the persons present, lingering for a moment on the two brothers.

"All we need now," Julian said, grinning, "is for Michael to show up with Azael."

Dinah quelled him with a look worthy of Mabel.  She was about to answer Carmine when Asher returned, setting the chest in front of her and handing her a set of keys.  She selected one and opened it removing an object tightly wrapped in silk.   "Asher, if you wouldn't mind," she said nodding to the chest and Asher removed it, giving her room to set the object on the table and begin unwrapping it, revealing a small stone box, hand carved and very old.

The brothers gazed at it as if they were having a religious experience.

She pushed it towards them.  "Is that what you came for? Then take it."

Carmine, playing catch up, leant down, making Malec stare at him a bit aggressively. "They cannot touch it, cara.  It is warded only for you."

"Perhaps you'd best explain to us what this is, and why it is so important to your enemies," Marc suggested.

Malachi nodded.  "Lady when he gave it to you, did he say anything? Or when he gave you the amulet?"

Dinah narrowed her eyes, then cast her mind back to the morning he left and the last night they shared.  "He gave them to me separately.  He gave me the box and asked me to keep it for him, that if he didn't come back he wouldn't need it anymore and it was mine, to do with as I wished.  He gave me the pendent before that."  She stopped, remembering it as if had happened yesterday.

"It was strange.  He was strange that night.  He wouldn't let me put it on.  He did it.  And he made me promise to never take it off.  Then he said he was sorry.  He couldn't give me what he knew I wanted, but instead he said...and I can't explain it but it was almost like a ritual...he said, 'I give you everything I have.'"

"It was Lady," Malec said, his brother breathing hard.  "You are his heir, the heir to everything except the position he held as Maelcom.  That came to me as the next in his line.  But everything else he gave to you.  Open the box, it is there, what he gave his life for, waiting for you."

Malachi handed her the key, encouraging her with his eyes.  "Open it."

Dinah, baffled and feeling like an ass, opened the box and felt her mouth fall open.  She shut it absently and looked again.  Then she opened it all the way turning it to face the others, her eyes flying to Marc's.  Inside was no longer a box, it was as if it were the doorway into the universe, a miniature galaxy suspended within it's space.

"You are the heir to his power, Lady, and to that of all those in his line.  That is why they want you...that and the worlds he held in trust, that he passed on to you."

'But your world seems to be going on just fine without all of this," Julian pointed out.

"Were House Kenget'Ster to claim her and her heritage, our House would be utterly destroyed," Malec explained. "The war would indeed be over, forever."

"I don't want it."  Dinah made it a declaration, firm and unyielding.  "It should have been yours, you take it."

Malachi shook his head.  "It isn't possible for you to give it to us.  We aren't his heirs, you are.  He knew what he was doing, trust him."

"Besides," Malec said, "you can't pass them on except through death, not now, while we are in an adjudicated vendetta.  Kenget'Ster would be fine with that.  If they killed you in the absence of an heir, all that is yours is theirs to claim and the worlds...the worlds are fair game again."  He looked at her, wonderingly.  "I can't believe he never told you.  To name you and leave you blind, what was in his mind?"

"Forgive me," Carmine said, "but the question I would ask, is what he hoped to gain by giving this to her, and not you, his family and allies. Perhaps if you can answer that question you will know what was in his mind."

Malachi glanced at Malec, then spoke.  "You are right to ask but the answer doesn't lie there, not completely."  He paused, aware of his brother's eyes, hard on his face.  "We, our House, we are star wanderers, it is what the name means.  We are a house of traders, not tied to a world or system like the landed houses.  So our lines are not just carried on only through mating and children, but also inweaving and through our heirs.  Dinah is now a member of our House.  She has been since Mac placed the amulet around her neck and said the words."

"I have chosen a mate and she is carrying my heir.  Not all do."  Malec said, taking up the explanation.  "So we inweave, by petition or invitation, usually from among our trading partners and to strengthen the lines within the House.  We also do it to bring in new genetic lines or manage others.  It is always better to have a wider range and type of material to trade, especially on the established routes where we are known and our clients are somewhat jaded."

"So you supply genetic material to, what, use to create new lines for...whatever?" Marc asked. "To, whomever pays?"

Malachi nodded.  "We buy, sell and trade genetic material among the unimensional worlds, yes.  It might be to create a new line within a House or clan.  Or to add a new trait, like enhancing night vision or a woman wants a green eyed son.  But we can manipulate it within an existing sequence...to manage it.  Often we are asked to consult, make recommendations on strengthening lines or changing them in a desired direction over time.  We also search for and harvest new genetic material from outside the unimensional worlds...we are licensed for all that, plus the seeding and cross-genetic work we do on the uninhabited worlds we find in preparation for those who will follow, bringing life with them and among the non human sentient races, like the dragons...that is free."

"So Mac liked Dinah's genes, eh?" Julian commented from his end of the table. "I wonder if he guessed about your Gifts, Dinah, given that you didn't even know about them at that point."

"How the hell would I know?  He refused to tell me anything, said it was too dangerous, that they could use the knowledge in my mind to find me."  Dinah was clearly fuming.  "If he weren't dead already I'd kill him!"

"They came here?  After him?"  Malec asked.

Dinah nodded.  "Almost killed us both; he would have died if Stephen hadn't..."  She narrowed her eyes at the look on Malec's face. "What?"

"We knew he was in hiding, he was exhausted, close to powerless...he'd escaped after..."  Malachi stopped and then started again.  We knew he was running from them, but not to where."

"So, to make certain they didn't come back to attack you," Julian said to Dinah, "Mac put the sigila on your chimney to ward the house, apparently."

Malec nodded agreement. Whether to stop additional speculation or because Julian was correct, however, remained to be seen.

"So," Kalket piped up. "You hate this other house and they are trying to kill you so you want to kill them first. I take it negotiation hasn't worked in the past? Or is this a blood feud, which allows no compromise or cessation of hostilities?"

Malec spoke, his voice tired,  "It is a formal vendetta, conducted according to the protocols of the Ministry of Vendetta and Duello as agreed upon by both parties at the time it was adjudicated there was proper cause for conflict.  We, Sere'Ster declared and submitted the matter to the ministry.  Kenget'Ster had the choice of whole house or single combat.  They chose whole house because that is what they want, the prize they play for...the house, licenses, all the genetic stock and all the house lines."

Malachi shifted in his seat, avoiding Malec's eyes.  "I think I see...what the Maelcom had planned.  He pushed the designation of this place through as a sanctuary site, knowing it kept you safe for ever, because it is almost inviolable.  But from what he said the night before he died, I think he also never told you because he knew it would buy us a breathing space, a time of peace to rebuild and perhaps end this thing."

Carmine had pulled up a chair and had been listening silent and unmoving as only a vampire could. Now he asked, "If he had told you, cara, what good would it have done? Perhaps you would have refused the Gift knowing its price. Perhaps you would have come more to the attention of the rival House. It seems that, from my admittedly criminal viewpoint, he took the course that worked best for his House and for you."

"He spoke of you only once, Lady," Malachi said.  "At least that I know of, after he came back.  But he was changed, there was no question.  The night before we fought above Caer Katon when I was almost asleep...  We knew that in the morning...and it was very cold, the wind coming off the snow on the peaks, so we'd brought the dragons to circle the fires.  When it's like that we sleep inside the wing folds, but the Maelcom...he just sat and stared at the fire for a long time, as if he were seeing somewhere far away.  I fell asleep watching him.  He was still there when I woke at dawn, and that was when he spoke...before the battle began.

"I told you some of it before, when I brought you the news he had been killed, how he asked me to make sure you knew.  He told me about you, and that you could be trusted.  Then as we were mounting, he said he didn't know if it would ever end it but if anyone could end it he'd done what he could to make sure that when the time came they had the chance."

There was silence among the listeners then, as they sensed the sadness both from the brothers and from Dinah.

"I would be honored to help you in your struggle if you will have me," Kalket offered, making Marc frown.  Kalket laughed at him. "It is wonderful to die in battle. If you are fighting for something you believe is right, all the better."

"How would you know," Dinah muttered, clearly still cross and more than a little unsure.  "Have you ever done it?"

"No, but I've sung The Song for both my father and mother, who died happy, knowing their lives had given my people hope."

She sighed.  It was obviously hopeless.

Malec smiled, his first.  "If I could I would accept your offer, but the protocols forbid outside aid.  It is to ensure that while we might chose to destroy ourselves we don't also destroy the universes.  But, when Dinah comes, as she must and very soon, you and any others she designates as a part of her personal retinue or guard may join her, members of the House or no."

"You must take me then, Dinah," Kalket stated. It wasn't a request.

Marc, looking from him to Dinah, nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. You will need protectors in a world at war."

"Who said I was going anywhere?" she gasped.

"The Maelcom hoped you would help us. I now ask you formally to help us. But the choice, of course, is yours, although the formal ceremony is considered mandatory," Malec said, nodding his head in acceptance of her decision whatever it might be. "

Malachi concurred, then said, "You must come for the ritual."  He said it as if that explained everything.

Dinah kept a hold of her temper and glared at him.

"You must be formally presented to the House and the unimensional worlds as his heir and confirmed as such publicly.  Now that we have found you we have seven standard days to do that or there will be penalties assessed for concealing you.  Plus, if you end the war as I think the Maelcom thought you could, then you will be able to pass on the worlds whenever you wish."

"Why," she asked, afraid of the answer, "do you think Mac thought that?  I can't even fight."

"I think," Malec said quietly, "if you were to ask Mule, and he answered, that the Maelcom set it up for your hotel to be contacted by him, now as the mourning period ends and we must return to war.  I think he planned it all.  I think you should trust him, like he trusted you."

Dinah looked at Malec for a moment, her eyes clearly filled with complicated thoughts, responsibilities. She opened her mouth to speak, when a redheaded woman, dripping wet and wearing only a little sliver of a black bikini, appeared next to Julian.

"Darling, the fluffy towels aren't. . . " She cast her sharp green eyes about, taking in the scene. Turning back to Julian, one slender eyebrow crooked, she smiled prettily. "I've interrupted something, haven't I?" She used her innocent voice.

Dinah, having refused to commit to anything before morning saw Malec off and found Malachi a room. She dropped him a hint about attire for breakfast and the unsuitability of feathers, and left him before he could say anything more to her. After she detoured and sent Jolie an email. Then she headed back outside where only Julian, Nimue in his lap, Kalket and Marc remained, still at the table, a box holding a doorway to a galaxy that she now seemed to own still on the table in front of them, Mac's amulet next to it.

She scowled at all five of them as she sat down.

"So, with me and Kalket along, you won't have to worry so much about keeping your woman safe!" Julian was saying, with a grin. Nimue elbowed him.

Kalket nodded his approval. "They seem to use a lot of magic. We need magical expertise."

"Whoa, guys!  Stick the clutch in!"  Dinah said.  "Why is everyone so sure I'm going when I don't think so?"

Marc just looked at her. "You loved him. He trusted you with this. Could you live with yourself if you didn't?"

"Marc, set that aside for a minute, huh.  And tell me what use I'd be.  I've never used magic, I've no idea what this power of his is that I've got, and I don't know how to fight except with you."

"That's why we're going with you," he explained patiently. "And fighting with me over this won't help. I've no idea why your friend Mac thought you could stop a war, but isn't it damn good for the ego to think he thought that highly of you? Don't you want to find out why he believed you could help?  Surely he thought you could, or he'd have given his legacy to any number of other people."

Dinah glared at him, and reached a finger out to stroke the gem in the amulet, wondering if she'd ever get her pendant back.  At her touch it flipped open, revealing a hollow center.  From it sprang a double helix, impossibly dense, that lifted itself about six inches or so out of  the amulet and then stopped, glowing and spinning slowly.

Marc's eyes opened wide as he leaned in closer to study it. "Well, I'm going. You can damn well come along or not, as you like."

"Way ta go, Pancho!" Julian said approvingly. Nimue just glared at Marc.

"He's been paying far too much attention to that young fellow Cassidy, if you ask me," Kalket opined.

Dinah wanted to kick them all.  "Okay, guys" she said, eyeing the helix as if it wanted to bite her, "what's the plan?"

"We all go back for their ceremony, check things out, make sure we're backing the right side, and give them their extension on the truce. Then, if you still aren't interested we all come back here. They can maybe figure out a way to make things better with the additional time," Marc replied.

Kalket was shaking his head. "Truce is fine, we had them all the time, but then we were sensible enough that the ritual slaughter was only formally allowed twice a year and only for a limited time. These fellows... How can you have any sort of life if you are constantly at war. Very silly if you ask me."

"Yeah," Julian agreed. "True. But still. Dragons, swords and battles!"  Kalket and Julian smacked palms and shouted "Slonshal!"

Dinah moaned and laid her head on her arms, muttering, "Oh please, just kill me now."

Nimue patted her on the shoulder. "I understand the feeling, dear."

"Sounds like a plan. Come on, I'll do it in private though." Marc pulled her to her feet. "Let's make mad wild sex and torture Kalket as he hears us."

"Oh, Marc," Nimue said, climbing out of Julian's lap and standing across from him, her weight shifted casually to her right, "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Yes?" He asked, obviously more concerned with Dinah than Nimue.

Mistake. Nimue's fist flew out swiftly, gracefully, and with perfect accuracy.  Marc was flat on his back before he realized that Nimue had just clocked him.

"Darling," She leaned over him, getting directly in his face. "Mock me again, and I'll emasculate you in every possible way. No offense, Dinah."

"None taken," she said, grinning.  "Teach me to do that?  Please?"

Marc was testing his jaw. Again. Redheads....

Nimue smiled up at the other redhead. "With pleasure, my dear. With much pleasure."

--------------

Much later, back at Marc's aerie, Dinah bestirred herself from the haze of sexual bliss she was wrapped in.  "You seem remarkably excited by the prospect of the next few days."

"I've been manipulating genetics for eons. Of course I am. But, you know, I do have an idea how you might be feeling about it. Mac was pretty ruthless saddling you with all this without a by-your-leave. Mind you, I've done that sort of thing a time or two myself, but still... I do understand it hurts to feel manipulated. Particularly by someone you love."

She nodded, playing with his chest hair.  "I'm still sorting all that out.  What you going to tell Stephen?"

"That you need me for a few days and I'm leaving the keys with him."

Dinah laughed as she pictured it.  Then she sent her hand exploring.  "Wanna kill me again?"

"Oh yeah," he replied, and did his best to send her over any physical limit she thought she had.

Later, as they lay exhausted in each other's arms, he said, "If you need to talk about him, it's fine. Don't think it will bother me, all right?"

She lifted herself up on an elbow, looking at his face, then eased back down.  "I've talked about him more in the last few days that I ever have.  Now it feels like I didn't know him at all.  At first, he thought the way to keep me safe was to make sure I remembered none of it when he left.  So this is preferable."

"Ah, the ignorance is bliss plan. Yeah, seldom works. Makes people resent you. Not to mention look at every word you say critically wondering what you really mean.  So.. you only knew he'd given you a pretty piece of jewelry to remember him by."

"Yep.  He wasn't here that long, a few months at most.  He showed up one afternoon in the fall looking for work.  Back then I was dead broke and going under so I told him no.  He offered to work for room and board doing handyman stuff.  Then after Madame Olga came with her friends from hell and I mean that literally, things got a bit zooey and he got a bit protective.  Anyway we went to the New Year's party at Hoolihans and later that night he took me to his world, only I think it was way in the past, not as it is now...across the worlds he called it.  A few days after that the constructs came.  By spring he was gone."

"And took your heart with him," Marc said softly stroking the side of her face.

"Yeah, for a long time," she agreed softly.  "I expect part of the reluctance is I put it all away, like the box, finally, and got on with my life and now, it's all back again."

"I've tried that. Doesn't work. Better to drag it all out into the light and examine it in the clear cold light of reality. Then afterwards you don't have to lock it away and hide from it. You can admit it is a part of you, part of what makes you, you, and move on."

"I'm glad you're coming with me," she said after a while.

"You couldn't keep me away."

"Swords, dragons, genetics and a woman hot for your bod whenever she can get it.  What more could a man want?"  Dinah quipped.

He laughed and then neither of them could talk any more.