Ahh, I relent. . .



"Well, I think he's been gone long enough," Copper remarked, glancing up at the sun.

"What?" Grath looked up at her. "Oh, yeah, the cat. Where'd he go to anyway?" Copper gave him a look composed of pure exasperation.

"Zanzibar left about two hours ago to find his family. Where were you?" Grath grinned.

"Right here?" Copper shook her head.

"Kaz, prepare to lift ship. If he's not here in the next five minutes we're leaving without him."



Zanzibar melded with the shadows and continued his solitary trek. His passing left no trace; he could not be followed. He went on.



Rroyvan knew instinctively when he drew near the stream. The cool scent of growing things slipped elusively through the trees, and he sped his pace up. There was a small mossy glade ahead, cloaked in shadows. . .



Zanzibar slid through the trees with an effortless ease. He was getting close, he knew it. . . there. The clearing was there.



Rroyvan knew Zanzibar was there. . . the very air whispered of the dark Firenzev's secret presence. He balanced comfortably in the fork of a tree, his rather large blaster on his back. He scanned the shadows carefully, and listened.

Then he spoke.

"Sia."



"Sia." Zanzibar nearly laughed. Still. . . He could just barely make out his brother's form in a tree. He slipped around through the shadows.



"Lae." Rroyvan turned to see those odd eyes of his brother watching him. He stood slowly.

"That is I," he said in Firenzev.

"I know." Zanzibar spoke in the same language. Then he switched to Basic. "Velveetza is well?"

"Of course. You found Devan?"

"No. But I have found something else."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It is called. . . friendship."

"Ah. Friendship is a valuable thing." Like all true Firenzev, they shied away from the real subject. If Rroyvan had addressed it right out, Zanzibar would assume he wanted to talk about something else entirely.

"Yes."

"And who have the privelige of that special bond?"

"A strange company, my brother."

"Truly. You always had that strange talent of making interesting friends, did you not?" Rroyvan thought he detected a hint of a smile.

"Indeed. You have heard of the mercenary Copper?" The gray cat started at the abrupt change of subject.

"Of course, I more than most."

"Indeed. I had forgotten."

"And what of it?"

"There is also the one called Claw."

"Yes, I've seen him too. Now what of it?"

"I suppose you know of her companions."

"All those rabbits?"

"Yes."

"Oh. I see."

"Do you?"

"Indeed."

"And?"

"A strange company indeed, my brother."

"Yes. But an interestingly heroic one, yes?"

"Mmm. They suit you."

"Ah. I owe them a could-be life debt."

"Could-be?"

"Hmm, yes. If they choose to claim it."

"Oh." Zanzibar watched him through half-closed eyes.

"Yes." Rroyvan blinked.

"Devan?"

"Kroys." Now Rroyvan's brother addressed the situation directly.

"No."

"Yes. Devan may have captured me, but he did not injure."

"And Kroys did?" Rroyvan demanded, shocked.

"Yes! Have I not said that? Kroys! Yes, the very one who made a treaty with you, the very one who owns those abominable ship mines, the very one who promised to let you live in peace! He was the one who almost killed me, and would have if my friends had not saved me," Zanzibar hissed.

"When?"

"A day ago." Zanzibar moved slightly, and now Rroyvan could see the bandage that covered the wound.

"And of Vorsyelvo?"

"Kroys' orders. And he will imprison you, and Velveetza, and all your family if you do not leave Firen or hide." And he left then.

It took Rroyvan a few seconds to realize that Zanzibar had said "your family", instead of "our family". . . but by then he was gone.