Dedication: To Sapphira, for kindly offering to help me with my writer's block and then refraining from doing me physical harm when I told her I had the part done and hadn't posted it. She's a peach. ;-)

Author's Notes: Yeah. Okay, I'm not a good person. You guys knew that, right? Good. I've got the next few parts of this one written out, so there shouldn't be any more long delays. Stop laughing! I can do things on time if I try yeah, I totally can't. It's sad. *g*

Part Seven

Renee walked with the guards through the silent mob. Her mind was a blur; her feelings tied up in a knot that threatened to strangle her.

Her fellow guards walked on either side of her. The lord, her lord now though she didn't even know his name, was walking a few paces in front. Stretching on ahead as far as she could see was the path cleared for them by the crowd. The path was lined on both sides by tight packed bodies, walls of monsters watching them as they passed by.

I should run, Renee thought. But she'd also thought she should help the guards, so what the hell did she know? She felt paralyzed by indecision and every step was a tick of the clock and a chance thrown away. If she ran they might catch her, if they caught her they might kill her, if they killed her she would have traveled a million years to die in this strange place that would be Earth and it would make no difference in the end.

To hell with that.

Renee took a deep breath and squared her shoulders and walked on.

They were almost to the Gate. Yulin had described the Gate to her and she'd seen it briefly when she was sneaking up on the city, a dark massive thing standing sentinel in front of the palace. She hadn't expected it to be beautiful, but it was. She hadn't expected it to be frightening, but it was.

Almost as tall as the palace, made out of some kind of black stone roughly hewn into the shape of a great arch, the Gate glowed in the moonlight. It was all rough flashing planes and sharp shadowed edges, an architectural wonder pulled from a demon's dream. It didn't look the gateway to anyplace that Renee would want to go.

Renee didn't notice the guards until she almost stepped on them. They lounged in the shadow of the Gate, ten or more darker forms within the black. They were sprawled on the grass like great cats; when they noticed the party approaching they rose, uncoiling themselves upwards in ways that would have made the best human contortionists weep with envy.

"Lord Avaren," One of the Gate guards said. "We expected you."

Translation, Renee thought. Our spies told us you were coming. We are many, and know all.

Lord Avaren inclined his head. "I'm glad that our arrival does not come as an unpleasant surprise."

Translation, Renee thought. We are too powerful to care who knows our plans. Attack us at your peril.

The guard dropped his eyes submissively and moved aside. The rest of the guards followed suit, dropping into place beside him to form two lines on either side of the path. Renee was pretty sure this was a gesture of respect and not a trap. Pretty sure.

She followed Lord Avaren as he walked between the lines of guards and passed under the Gate.

Walking through the Gate was like walking through a bad dream, a nightmare tunnel of darkness with the Palace waiting at the end of it. The doors to the palace were twice as tall as a man and ten times as wide, already standing open as if in anticipation of their arrival.

If Renee wanted to run, this would be the time to do it. The Gate guards wouldn't stop her; it would probably amuse them to see the Lord deserted by one of his guards. The Lord's guards would want to chase her, but the Lord would stop them. He wouldn't want to arrive alone at the Palace. It would be a sign of weakness.

Renee looked surreptitiously to her left, where the first guard was walking with his armful of enemy. His enemy, not hers. Her fault that he was captured. Her responsibility to get him out again.

All right then, Renee thought with a twisted inner smile, Abandon hope all ye who enter here. She walked side by side with her fellow guards into the Palace.

The entry hall just inside the door was too big to be called large and too stark to be called grand. It was a rough cave the size of ten rooms stitched together and the ceiling was so high that the upper reaches of the room were swallowed by impenetrable shadow.

Renee found herself wondering if there were warriors hidden up there in the blackness. It would be the perfect place for an ambush. She shook the thought off. Paranoia was a weakness she couldn't afford. Not when she was dealing with a species that could smell fear. If she was going to survive this trip, she had to be the person she was pretending to be. That meant acting as much like the other guards as she could.

So, like them, she pulled her shoulders back, focused her eyes on Lord Avaren's back and followed her Lord as he led them down the halls. They turned a corner and suddenly everything started to look a little too familiar. They turned another corner and they were in the throne room.

Renee couldn't stop herself, her head started to swivel to the right. She caught herself and wrenched her eyes to face front again before anyone could wonder why she was staring at a wall. A blank wall, an empty canvas of stone not yet filled with Nahema's frozen statue scream. One less thing to worry about: Future Renee, Past Renee now, hadn't been there yet.

One less thing to worry about and a hundred left to go because the throne room was crowded with 'people' talking in small standing groups or lounging on the hard rock floor. Renee had the sinking feeling that what she was seeing here was a casual meeting of the high court of the Atavus. Once again, she had to slap down the small voice in the back of her mind that told her to turn and run.

She was an Atavus and she feared no one, Renee told herself. She was a guard and she would not leave her Lord.

She was a lunatic and she was going to die, the small voice screamed. Quiet, Renee told it.

And then all the voices dropped out of her head and left only a rushing vacuum where her mind had been because the crowd shifted and there was a split second when she saw the other side and it was Howlyn, Howlyn was there, Howlyn was sitting on the throne, she was walking towards Howlyn.

Renee's feet stopped moving but she saw with sick relief that it was okay because the other guards had stopped too, staying by the doorway while the Lord walked forward and the crowd parted to form that same pathway she was becoming so familiar with. She wondered if there was some cultural significance to the way the Atavus always formed paths lined with people. She wondered if Yulin would know. She wondered when her heart would start beating again.

Okay, she said firmly to herself. You knew this was coming. You're in the palace; Howlyn is the king, where did you think he'd be? How stupid are you?

Pretty damn stupid, as it turned out. Because she hadn't thought about it, hadn't wanted to think about it. And now she was here and he was here and if she tilted her head to the side and looked down the open path she'd be able to see him and he'd be able to see her.

"I greet you, Howlyn." Lord Avaren said formally.

"I greet you, Avaren." Howlyn's voice said and Renee closed her eyes at the sound of it.

Renee couldn't help herself - she had to look. Just to know if he was looking back, she had to know. She tilted her head a fraction, just a fraction. Her heart stopped beating again.

Howlyn wasn't looking, that was good. Nahema was standing beside his throne. That was bad.

Damn it, Renee thought with panicked illogic. How many times do I have to kill you? She moved back, out of sight.

"You are strong," Lord Avaren was saying. "That is well."

"You are loyal. I am pleased." Howlyn said, giving the traditional reply. He sounded a little bored, Renee thought. He must have to do this little ritual over and over again, and god forbid he do it differently with one lord than with another. That kind of routine would drive her crazy.

Focus. That was what she needed right now. All right, so what did she have to avoid? Couldn't let Nahema notice her; that might change the future. Couldn't let Howlyn notice her; that might change the future.

Basically, she needed to be invisible, which would be a whole lot easier if she wasn't standing next to a guy with a prisoner draped over his shoulder like a mink stole.

Members of the court kept sneaking glances at them, although so far none had been bold enough to stare. If they did, Renee had the horrible feeling that she'd be expected to challenge them. One death match per day was definitely her limit.

She became aware that the conversation between Howlyn and Lord Avaren had changed in tone. They sounded much more conversational now, less formal.

"My tribe is healthy," Lord Avaren said. "And yours?"

A courtier-Atavus walked past the guards and out of the room. Another followed.

"Strong." Howlyn purred, sounding very satisfied with himself. Renee allowed herself a mental eye roll.

Another Atavus walked past them and vanished into the corridors. The same thing was happening at every door. The room was slowly emptying as the Atavus slipped away. Renee felt panic clutch at her. She no longer had to tilt her head to see Howlyn; she no longer wanted to know if he was watching her. She kept her eyes on Lord Avaren's back.

"How was your journey?" Howlyn asked, and Renee could tell by the sound of his voice that he was looking in her direction. Look at the unconscious guy, she commanded him silently. He's the star of this show.

"Eventful." Lord Avaren said with a nasty smile in his voice.

"So I assumed." Howlyn said. There was a dreadful echoing quality to the words and when Renee looked up she knew that it was because the room was empty now. The crowd was gone, and Renee was alone with her Lord, the guards, Howlyn and Nahema.

"I have a gift for you," Lord Avaren said. He waved his hand and the guard bearing the prisoner stepped forward. The guard carried his burden to the foot of the throne and then dropped him unceremoniously at Howlyn's feet. Kneeling, he pulled back the prisoner's hair to expose the red circle on his throat.

Howlyn's growl raised the hairs on Renee's neck.

"You bring an excellent gift, friend." He said, with the growl still rumbling in his voice. "I have waited long for one of these infidels to be captured."

Lord Avaren smiled. "I thought you would be pleased. He is yours to end. "

"Tell me," Howlyn said with a carnivore's eagerness. "How did you capture him? He is the first to be brought to me alive."

Nahema had been eyeing the prisoner from her spot at Howlyn's side. Moving forward, she came to crouch beside his fallen body. She took his chin in her hands and tipped his head back, her eyes searching his face. Howlyn watched her. Renee watched him.

"I was fortunate,' Lord Avaren said. "And he was unlucky. His first strike ended one of my guards, but he was prevented from launching another by the rest of my protectors."

"Aaaah." Howlyn drew the word out in a way that was somehow insulting. His eyes remained fixed on the prisoner and Nahema. She stroked the prisoner's face and Howlyn growled low in his throat. "I would offer to replace your lost guard," Howlyn continued without looking away. "But I see you must now travel with four guards. The three remaining should be more than sufficient to protect you while you remain within my walls. Unless you feel unsafe - "

"I do not travel with four guards," Lord Avaren broke in sharply. "I have only the three, now and always."

Howlyn looked up, his eyes sharp on the Lord's face. "I see. Fortunate that you should find a replacement so soon after the loss of your guard." Renee could feel his eyes moving over her and her comrades. She stared at Lord Avaren's back. I am an Atavus, she told herself, and I fear nothing.

"More fortunate than you know." Lord Avaren said, and Renee's heart sank at the boasting note in his voice. "My new guard," he continued. "Was delivered to me upon the very moment of my need. The assassin was using weapons."

Lord Avaren made a subtle hand gesture and the guard standing in front of the throne pulled the bag off his shoulders, the assassin's bag, and emptied it on the floor. Metal things hit stone with an iron scream of protest. There were more of the things like throwing discs that had killed the guard, and another pole like the one the assassin had used against Renee, and smaller things like daggers. They rolled across the floor like metal marbles.

Nahema picked up one of the small dagger-things and turned it over in her hands, still crouching by the body of the assassin. She cut her palm with it and watched as it healed.

Howlyn remained still until the last of the weapons had clattered its way to a stop. "You were exceedingly fortunate," he finally said in a rasping voice. "The rebels who use weapons are the most cunning of their treacherous breed. This makes your gift all the more precious. You have my debt, and doubly so if you can tell me a way for others to repeat your success."

Lord Avaren showed no reaction, which Renee guessed meant that he was ecstatic. Now if only he would just bow his head and leave

"The rebels are not the only ones who are skilled in the use of weapons." Lord Avaren said.

Renee drew in a breath.

Nahema was carving patterns into the face of the assassin, small marks that healed almost as fast as she made them so that it was as if a shadowy movie drawn in blood writhed across his skin.

Howlyn was intent on Lord Avaren now. "Tell me."

"My new guard defeated the rebel with his own weapons." Lord Avaren said, drawing out every word. "It was as if a child fought with a warrior, so quickly did the assassin fall."

Again Renee felt the butterfly brush of Howlyn's eyes across her skin. It was torture, not looking at him.

"A guard?" Howlyn said with blatant disbelief. "What guard would use weapons?"

There was a thin smile playing around Lord Avaren's lips. "A guard who values their lord's safety above their own pride, or so I'm told."

Howlyn made a sound halfway between a laugh and a growl. "A novel view."

"Indeed."

"Could this paragon teach others?" Howlyn asked.

"If they would learn." Lord Avaren replied. Renee wanted to scream. Now she was supposed to teach the Atavus how to fight? Great. While she was at it, why didn't she just go around the planet exterminating humans herself. Save the Atavus some time.

"They will learn." Howlyn said. "As thanks for your service, you may present the rebel formally at the next full court."

"And if he does not survive that long?" Lord Avaren asked.

"Present a trophy in his place. I promise you, all will understand the import of your gift."

Nahema looked up at Howlyn. "He has a pretty mouth," she said, her claws stroking the assassin's face and smearing her bloody pictures into nothingness. "Perhaps that can be Avaren's trophy."

"A fine idea," Howlyn said with a growl. "Go now with Avaren's guard and take the rebel to his cell before he wakes. Tell the Keeper that his face is not to be harmed. If he complains, you can think of ways for him to amuse himself."

Nahema lit up with a childlike joy that made Renee feel sick to her stomach. The guard collected his prisoner again, Nahema waiting impatiently, and the three left the room together. Renee wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not.

Not, she decided as she heard Lord Avaren speak.

"My guards are at your disposal, Howlyn. When shall my new protector begin her service to you?"

"Her?" Howlyn said.

This is it, Renee thought. Not saying anything would be suspicious.

(Idon'twanttoIdon'twanttoIdon'twanttodon'tmakeme)

Renee raised her head and looked at Howlyn. "Yes." She said.

And felt like she was living through the worst moment of her life all over again.

It was all there; the sudden awareness a black glitter in his eyes for that split second before his eyelids dropped and transformed his eyes into dark hungry crescents. Heat visible under his skin and that twice-damned smile just starting to curl his mouth. And so much worse, the same things in her as there'd always been when she saw him. Her throat suddenly sandpaper, her heart stopped and racing at the same time, light flashing through her and between them like lightning, fire in her eyes and in his smile.

WHY? beat against the inside of her mind like the wings of a caged bird. Why him, why this, why always this? God, she had to stop it, she had to look away, and it was like staring at the sun.

Renee breathed out, a long shuddering breath, and saw the mirror of her need in Howlyn's face.

"Howlyn," Lord Avaren said again, apparently oblivious to the fact that he was standing in the middle of a lightning storm. "When shall she begin her service?"

"As soon as possible." Howlyn said. His voice was like velvet; Renee thought she could bury her face in it. His eyes were still locked with hers and she thought she might die if he didn't look away. She couldn't blink, couldn't even breathe.

"Excellent." Lord Avaren said. "You may go now," he said in the general direction of Renee and her fellow guard. "I will be safe enough here with the King."

Howlyn's eyes flicked to Lord Avaren for a second, just a second, but it was long enough to break the spell.

Renee dropped her eyes to the floor and inclined her head obediently. She followed the other guard as he turned and left the throne room, carefully matching the speed of her steps to his. It was important not to run. She could feel Howlyn's eyes on her back long after she had left the throne room.

______
End Part Seven
*rubs hands together* Ah fun. Enough with the setup already, now we're starting to come to the scenes that made me want to write this story in the first place. Excuse me while I chuckle. Heh heh heh.