Page 48 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Vic smiled. “I’ve met Aelryn.”

Orsini smiled. “As have I. Nowthereis a noble man. Do you know what his name means?” Vic shook his head. “Bright Guardian.”

There were other names too, ones he’d only heard of. He bent down to peer at the present Geran leaders. “You keep track of these shifters?”

Orsini nodded. “As I told you, I follow neither group, but—”

“But that isn’t exactly true, is it? You said you contacted theFridanleaders about Jake.”

For a moment, Orsini stared at him; then his face tightened. “I have tried for so many years to be impartial, but you’re right. Iam lying to myself. Everything I have learned so far leads me to one inescapable conclusion, and that is—”

“There’s a war coming,” Vic said in a low voice. “A battle between Fridans and Gerans. Someone went to a lot of trouble to fabricate that so-called ‘artifact.’” He swallowed. “Someone wanted this war.”

“I fear you are correct.” Orsini pointed to one of the leaders circled in red. “In which case, remember this person.”

Vic read the name aloud. “Theron.” He glanced at Orsini. “Why him?”

“His name derives from ancient Greek, and it meansto hunt. But that is merely a name, after all.” Orsini shivered.

Vic laid a hand on his arm. “Are you all right?”

He took a deep breath. “When I was a child, my father used to bring me here to educate me about the artifacts, to teach me what he knew of our history. And then Theron came to the archive.” Orsini stared at the panel. “He was not alone, but he was the only one of the visitors that day whose presence touched me. I cannot tell you what it was about him that sent a shiver through me. Perhaps it was nothing more than a child’s overactive imagination.”

“Or maybe it was instinct,” Vic suggested.

“Perhaps that too. All I know is, I have never forgotten him.” He expelled a breath. “And now, let us talk of mates. I have so many questions.”

Vic smiled. “As long as you understand I don’t have all the answers.”

He glanced at the panels that Orsini hid once more behind doors.I’m going to remember those last names in red.

What did Sun Tzu say?Not that Vic had had many occasions to quote the Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher, but one saying had stayed with him: “Know thyenemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.”

But if Orsini was correct, and the split between the brothers had been blown up out of all proportion, then maybe war could be averted.

If they could convince their fellow shifters it was not the only path.

“WELL? WHATdo you have to report?”

“Vic Ryder left the archive two minutes ago, sir. Do you want me to follow him? Should we eliminate him?”

Theron rolled his eyes. “Oh please. Use your brain. That’s all we need—a martyr.”

“Sir?”

He should have known better than to employ sarcasm. The foot soldier on the other end of the phone was great when it came to doling out death and mayhem but excelled at little else, especially interpreting the nuances of speech.

“Let him go. We know where he’s headed next, after all. If he has useful information, then we’ll get to hear it eventually. Right now it’s enough that we know he’s visited the archivist.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Return to base and report to your commander.” He finished the call.

“Are the Fridans proving a nuisance?”

He smiled at Fielding. “Your source was correct. Ryder went straight from Paris to the archive.”

“You don’t appear concerned about that.”

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