The Precious Orb faded to gray, then black. Rizla rose in one fluid motion and looked down at him. 

“What are your thoughts?” 

Suga grunted before replying. “Elymas is a fool.” 

“We knew that,” snapped Rizla.

The folds of Suga’s lids widened ever so slightly. He’d have to be careful. Terrible things had been known to happen when she grew angry or afraid. Now, she was both. 

“The Gibbor announced the birth of the child. Should we have done so?”

The fat man shrugged. “It hardly matters who blinked first since no none actually has the child.”

“True enough.”  She thought over his words before accepting them. “Did you see Elymas?” Her voice held a hint of laughter. “He looked like he might explode!”

“I wish he would.” The force of his words caused his belly to quiver. “He’s gone too far, Rizla. You heard the complaint the Nawab brought before the King. He’s killing children. The populace will grow sentimental.” 

‘Yes, he is a great fool, and not good at hiding the obvious.” Her hand sliced through the air, sword-like. “Anyone with understanding could see he knew of the child despite his denials.  Fulcruchen knows. I’m unsure about the dying King. Tell me the truth, did we wait too long?” 

 Suga regretted speaking. She was getting agitated, and he feared the damage that might occur. Villages burned for no apparent reason, plagues released, mountains spewing chunks of earth in broad daylight. 

“Should we have announced the birth? Will we feel the chastisement of the Curse Blessed?” she continued.

Suga flinched. It was not often she named the Dark. When he spoke, his voice was measured. 

“What matters is this: no one has found the child,” he repeated. “Besides,

we reported the rise of the Sea Star months ago. Everyone in the Nevers, even those working the Hungry Rocks, knows what that means.”

Too late, he remembered she’d once worked the Hungry Rocks. He took a deep breath and continued.

“My suggestion is that you enter the castle tonight and put a stop to Elymas and his follies. If that is possible, of course.” 

“Of course, it’s possible.”  She was pacing, working the energy off. “I will put a stop to the Skyll, then once he’s brought to heel, I’ll find the child.”

“A perfect plan,” Suga agreed, then added, “And don’t forget, the killings must stop.” 

“The Wabbers?” Her eyes grew round. 

“Exactly.  Elymas has grown excessive. Anything untoward might draw,” He chose the word carefully. “attention.”

“I will kill Elymas!” she flared.

“That would draw even more. Take away his power and the killings will stop.” 

Calculation replaced the rage in her eyes.  “I will deal with Elymas and then the Wabbers will be safe. You’re right, it was excessive but they’re hardly more than marsh creatures. I didn’t think. . .” she shrugged. “The little man who spoke to the King won’t be heard from again.”

         “Milo, his name was Milo,” Suga added. Normally, he’d have forgotten his name, but the pathos of the man’s voice had caused him to listen and because he did, he knew others had listened as well. A man like Milo was dangerous. “He was a passionate man who made himself heard.”

          “He won’t be heard again. Didn’t you see the Red Robes escort him from the throne room? By now, he’s dead.” 

         “Yes, he should be,” said Suga. His tone was so bland that it was hard to imagine he’d expressed grudging admiration only moments before. “Short of death, how do you plan on dealing with Elymas?”