Page 67 of Keeping Sarah

“He has been preoccupied by the—"

“Let me stop you right there,” Rex said abruptly. “Understand that whatever you say, the contra will know. So, ifthere is anything you do not wish for her to know, do not say it in front of me at this time.”

What is he hiding about Justice Bateen?

“I see.” Barthen looked me over with more suspicion. “Then I will say it this way. He has been preoccupied with hisspecial project, so I doubt he has realized his account on Halla has dried up. He needs to renew the funds immediately. Can you see to that?”

In my head, I asked Rex, “Justice bankrolls things here on Halla?”

Justice is one of my benefactors.To the council, he said, “I will send the message. What else?”

“Thespecial project,” Angeles said, “is going smoothly and should be ready for the first test runs in the coming weeks.”

Rex’s relief inside of me was palpable. “That is very good to hear.”

And all the more reason to get us separated.

Huh?

Never you mind.

Over the course of the meeting, I learned that not only did Justice Bateen fund much of Faithless, but he was also an investor. The fighting arena was his and it was a fact that Rex did not appreciate, as most of the profits went to Justice.

After the meeting ended, Xylic came to us and said, “It is good to have you here in the flesh again, Rex, though perhaps it is best that Justice’sspecial projectis near to completion.”

What does one have to do with the other?

Rex said, “Yes, well. Soon, all will be right again.”

“And yourhostess…she is amenable to your occupation, it would seem?” he asked.

“She wants this over just like I do. But yes, this is a mutual arrangement of sorts.”

“Hmm,” he pondered. “Do you think it is because she is the contra that she is more reasonable than the rest of the conduits?”

In my mind, Rex asked, “Care to field this one?”

I took control of my body and addressed Xylic’s question. “The conduits are perfectly reasonable people, Xylic. But they were misled for centuries. And while Faithless is an affront to their beliefs and Rex is a scoundrel, they understand that sometimes, we must put grudges aside to be able to survive the challenges life throws at us.”

His eyes narrowed on me. “Youare the contra speaking, aren’t you? Rex went away?”

I nodded and smiled at him. “Rex is still here, but he thought I should speak for myself, regarding the conduits. I believe they should have been given choices, not orders. When people can choose for themselves, you see who they really are. I have given them choices, and do you know what they did?”

A few of the other members walked over and joined us. Xylic shook his head, wearing a bemused smile. “Do tell.”

“They made me a dress.”

They laughed, and Xylic asked, “This one?”

“No, one far prettier, actually.”

Barthen thought about what I said, how giving the conduits choices could produce positive effects. “So you believe our people can co-exist?”

“If we stop attacking each other, then we can push Halla forward and progress,” I told him. “A boat doesn’t go anywhere if its occupants are paddling in opposite directions.”

Xylic smiled again. “I like the idea of working together, though I do wonder if the conduits will keep their tempers.”

“As long as I am their queen, they will.”

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