Page 85 of The Light Falls
His phone rings, and he barks out a hello.
“She wants what? A meeting? With me? Why?” He listens for a minute, then hangs up. “I’ll be damned.” He thinks for a few minutes, then points at a young man in the corner. “Find the kraken. Probably in one of the pubs. Pull him out and get him sober,” he orders him.
The young man blanches. Fisk sees his reaction and sighs.
“Tell him it’s an order from me. Take at least a dozen men with you. Whatever you do, don’t threaten him.”
Clearly afraid of the task given to him, the man still straightens his shoulders, nods firmly, and hurries out. That action shows a lot of respect for Fisk.
Rivan comes walking in and stops in front of the old man. “Fisk.”
Uneasy, several of the Fae pull weapons out of thin air.
Rivan holds up his hands. “I’m unarmed. Only here to chat with an old friend about a new queen.” He leans against one of the desks. “What do you say, Fisk? Or are you going to ban me, too?”
Fisk motions for the men to lower their weapons. “For fuck’s sake, I’m a cirein-croin and quite capable of handling one phoenix. Besides, this one is out of shape. Hasn’t fought in years.”
“Pulling no punches, I see,” Rivan remarks with a wry smile. “You’re right. I haven’t touched a sword since the rebellion ended almost three thousand years ago.” He leans over and whispers loudly. “But I’m still a hell of a lot faster than you.”
Fisk laughs and the tension eases. “Did you know she declared war on the Water Fae?”
“I heard. Did you hear she wants to meet with you to negotiate a treaty?” Rivan asks, his eyes intent.
“Camon just called,” Fisk replies.
That bastard waited all night. What the hell is he up to?I throw a furious look at Kavi, and he nods in agreement.
Rivan scratches his chin. “Funny. She ordered him to set it up yesterday. Are you sure he’s on your side?” Deep gold eyes watch Fisk carefully.
Nice, Rivan.
He rubs a hand over his head. “You can never be sure with the High Fae, but I’ll take precautions.” His eyes meet Rivan’s. “It was a pretty bold move. Declaring war, then arranging a meeting. Does it mean what I think it does?”
“Sometimes a treaty is the only way to get things done without going through the council,” Rivan states with a nonchalant shrug, but his intense eyes convey more to the old man. “Why team up with Brixton? I thought you were always against his methods.”
“Nyssa is gone. The situation is untenable for the Lesser Fae. We deserve more,” he states simply, but emphatically. “Are you going to join up with your father?”
Rivan shakes his head. “I went to see him. He feels my presence would only be a reminder of the defeat the Fire Fae suffered the last time.” He chuckles, but it’s a bitter sound. “Maybe it’s time for me to look beyond the Fae kingdoms. The human world is a fascinating mixture of supernaturals. I doubt anyone would even notice a phoenix in the mix.”
Fisk reaches out and grabs Rivan’s arm. “You’re right. I don’t trust Camon. Not fully. Stay. Go to this meeting with me. I need someone who can see the middle path.”
Rivan hesitates. “You should know… I care for Meri. She’s my friend. I’m not sure I can be the neutral soundboard you need.”
Fisk considers his words. “You care about both sides. Even better.” He points to the map. “I want to be close to the water to draw on its strength, but I doubt she’ll be comfortable on a ship. What do you think about Stib’s Cliffs?”
Rivan studies the map. “I doubt Cormal will let her hold a meeting with her enemy on top of a cliff.”
“Underworld Cormal?” Fisk asks cautiously.
I hear the concern in his voice, and I laugh silently in the shadows.That’s right, old man.Meri’s protected by me.
He nods and flashes Fisk a sardonic smile. Rivan’s finger slides along the map to a large body of water farther inland. “Here. You can pull from the lake. It’s on flat ground, allowing both of you to see your enemies coming. The two sides can portal in at the exact same time.” He pauses. “I wouldn’t give Camon the coordinates until the last possible minute. And I would limit the number of people on each side to five.”
Fisk beams at him. “You might not have picked up a sword in a while, but you sure as hell remember how to think like a warrior. I agree. With one condition.” His smile disappears. “I want Kaius to join her.”
Rivan studies him. “You know he isn’t your grandson.”
“I never got to say goodbye, and it haunts me,” Fisk murmurs.
