Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

“Your realm must be subject
     to Queens’ Law.” The sidhe realms had many rulers but only two queens: Winter and
     Summer. The queens had great power and only a fistful of laws, but when they said
     “thou shalt not,” they meant it.
    Those subtle eyebrows lifted subtly. “You know of Queens’ Law?”
    “Some. There’s one that says no one is allowed to invoke a certain Name.” Lily ripped
     off another bite of bread, but didn’t eat it. She looked squarely at the halfling.
     “Do people in your realm know about Rethna? What he did, what he tried to do, and
     what happened to him?”
    “Stop.” Alycithin turned to the elf standing behind her, who’d watched Lily closely
     the entire time. The one with the gun. She said something short and musical to him,
     then to the other elf. They didn’t like it. They argued—at least Lily assumed that’s
     what they did, because although they sounded terribly polite, Alycithin responded
     in a voice cold enough that their balls should’ve shriveled on the spot.
    The two elves bowed and left. Not the apartment—they went into another room. A bedroom,
     Lily thought, though she only caught a glimpse before the door closed on them.
    Alycithin turned back to Lily. “They do not speak your language, but they understand
     some of it. I would protect them from hearing that which can be dangerous to know.
     Why do you bring up Lord Rethna?”
    “Because you haven’t landed in the middle of a war between Robert Friar and the lupi.
     The war is between the lupiand the one we don’t name. Ever.
She
is who Rethna invoked, and
she
is who Robert Friar serves. You may not be invoking
her
name yourself, but if you’re helping Friar, you’ve signed up on the wrong side.”
    Silence stretched out between them. Alycithin didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Didn’t even
     blink. Lily’s heart pounded. She was gambling big-time now. Alycithin might not give
     a tinker’s damn who Rethna had served. She might be on the same side as Friar, already
     recruited into the Great Bitch’s service. She might simply not believe Lily.
    “And why,” the halfling said at last, “should I believe you?”
    “Why did you send your people out of the room? Why did you leave Sean out of our little
     tête-à-tête? Why have you allowed me to steer the conversation so far? Something’s
     already bugging you. Something’s not right. That’s why you wanted this chat.”
    “It is customary to dine with one’s captives or see that they have other company for
     meals. The code calls for captives to be treated civilly. This includes providing
     opportunities for pleasant conversation.”
    She sounded abstracted, however, as if she were speaking automatically while her mind
     was busy with some other subject. Lily decided to take a step back. T.J., her mentor
     in homicide, used to say that once a fish takes the bait, you let him run out the
     line. Grandmother put it another way: it’s best if your enemy persuades himself to
     do what you want. “You were right about the bread,” Lily said politely. “It’s delicious.”
    “We were pleased to find a good bakery, as none of us possess that skill. Tell me,
     Lily Yu…but we never did settle on what I am to call you, did we?” Her smile was a
     work of art, warm and lovely. “We use few titles, and I am not familiar with the nuances
     of those you use. What title do you prefer?”
    “Special Agent is correct. But why don’t you call me Lily?”
    “Lily. A pretty name. It sounds similar to our word for acertain type of happiness. Your English does not have an equivalent. It is the happiness
     one feels at a pleasant surprise.”
    “Given your remarkable command of English, you probably know that here in America
lily
means a type of flower. But I was named for my grandmother, who is Chinese.”
    “I do not have any Chinese, I’m afraid. Is it permitted to ask what it means in that
     tongue?”
    “Oddly enough, it has no precise meaning. This is uncommon with Chinese names.” Should
     she ask what Alycithin’s name meant? Cullen said names were a big deal to elves, but
     what kind of big deal?
    “Languages are interesting, are they not? My language has many more names for some
     things than English does. For example, we have sixteen words that would translate,
     if rather poorly, as
enemy
.”
    “Does that mean you see sixteen types of enemies?”
    “It does.” Alycithin took a moment to select a slice of fresh pineapple.