Fate's Edge

was being locked in.
    “Should we do something?”
    Helena was really too permissive with her crew. Agents under his command never questioned his decisions in such a manner. Karmash weighed the choices at hand. The real question was what would piss Helena off more, acting against her orders or losing Kaldar Mar to some Edger insanity.
    Nobody bothered to question the winners. If he delivered Kaldar Mar, all would be forgiven. He might even be commended for taking the initiative.
    The two guards took position by the doors, brandishing their rifles.
    If he screwed this up, there would be no coming back.
    Karmash gritted his teeth. He couldn’t take a chance on losing Kaldar. That would be unforgivable, and Helena wasn’t known for her mercy.
    He shrugged off his camouflage cloak. Mura stepped out from behind a tree trunk, her orange skin bright against the greenery despite camouflage paint. Karmash nearly winced. True, as a slayer, Mura was never meant to be used in a forest setting, but her skin was almost fluorescent. She would’ve never made the cut in Spider’s crew. Helena’s standards clearly differed.
    To the left, Soma emerged from the underbrush and crouched. Thick, monstrous muscle sheathed the hunter’s frame. His hair dripped down his back in long blond rolls, matching the crest of fur running down his spine. The hunter raked the forest floor with his enormous claws. His gaze bored into the two guards below.
    “Soma,” Karmash called.
    The hunter didn’t answer.
    “Soma!”
    The man slowly turned his head and peered at Karmash with pale eyes. His face showed no expression; it was like looking at a wolf.
    “Do not kill the male. Helena needs him alive. Do you understand me?”
    Soma didn’t answer.
    “Do you understand?”
    Soma glanced at Cotier. The scout gave him an understanding look. Fury boiled inside Karmash.
    “Don’t look at him. Answer me!”
    “He can’t,” Cotier said. “He gave up his power of speech for the glory of Gaul. He understands.”
    Karmash growled under his breath.
    “Would you like me to take out the guards?” Cotier asked.
    “No.” Karmash started toward the camp.
     
    THE choir filed onstage, their faces rapt, lit up with inner joy. Their voices blended into one. “Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah . . .”
    The side door opened, and Yonker walked into the aisle. He wore a black business suit. A crimson Superman-like cape perched on his shoulders, held in place by a gold cloak chain. Her gaze fastened on the chain. The Eyes of Karuman. They hadn’t gotten the emitter exactly right, but they were close, very close.
    The crowd gasped.
    Yonker raised his arms.
    Nobody laughed. Nobody called him out or ridiculed his outfit. An older woman in the back row began to weep. The man in front of them rocked back and forth, mumbling, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.”
    Dear Lord, what sort of madhouse is this?
    Yonker began his procession down the aisle. People reached out, crawling over each other to touch his hands. Fifteen feet.
    How exactly would Kaldar pull this off in plain view? She had to shield them from the rest of the audience somehow.
    Twelve feet.
    Six.
    Audrey hopped off her seat, putting an extra bounce into it. Her breasts went up and down in the satin cage of her bra, and Yonker stared down her cleavage. She held out her hands, smiling her big smile, tears glistening in her eyes. Yonker held out his hands, and she hugged him, sliding her hand under his cape to grab his ass. Ed’s eyes widened, and he pulled her closer.
    “Excuse me.” Kaldar rose. His arms covered hers and he gently untangled her from Yonker’s chest. “My wife is getting too much into the spirit.”
    “That’s fine.” Yonker waved his hand magnanimously and went on to the podium, his chain intact.
    That hug lasted barely five seconds. Not nearly enough time to exchange the chain. The realization sank in like a heavy stone to the pit of her stomach. They had failed.
     
    KARMASH strode to the house on the left, where the murmur of voices announced the presence of people. The three operatives followed him.
    “Where are you going?” Cotier murmured, a step behind.
    “We need sword meat.”
    “There is only one Edger man and one woman.”
    Karmash was getting tired of this constant opposition. “You haven’t fought the Mars. I have. We’ll need a shield of bodies between us. Trust me on this.”
    The door loomed in front of him. He punched it open and walked into