“Sadly,” Kezia continued, “the trust of the kamvasa has been breached.”
Dead. Silence.
“Someone has used our hospitality against us,” Kezia said, her eyes turning like lasers to the platform where kamvasa guests were sitting. “The dishana, the goblets gifted to our first terrin, have been stolen.”
“No, my sister. Not stolen.” Tenzin spoke, and as she did, she raised her hands and lifted Ben with her in a giant whirlwind.
Ben turned to her, shouting over the roar of the wind. “What are you doing?”
“Making an entrance!” She smiled wide and pulled the scarf from her hair, letting the wind whip around her, gathering a storm of flower petals from the crowd. “You have the emerald goblet?”
“Yes.”
“Follow my lead.”
Ben moved with her, adding his own power to hers until the air danced around them. They rose over the crowd and the stage, up and into the air, surrounded by a storm of flowers.
While Tenzin conducted the wind, Ben encased them both in a calm cushion of air.
“Are you ready?”
Ben pulled the emerald goblet from his jacket. “Ready.”
She turned to him and locked her eyes with his. “Time to use that charm, min shon.”
“Min what?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Ben felt the air easing. They landed on the raised platform, a cascade of flowers still whirling around them. As the blossoms settled, Ben walked over and raised the goblet to Radu. “Not stolen, my friend. Protected.”
Radu’s eyes went wide. Ben could tell he had roughly a thousand questions, but he stepped forward and held out his hand. Ben placed the emerald goblet in Radu’s palm without hesitation, then turned to René.
“Monsieur DuPont?” Ben called. “If you would.”
The vampire rose from his position on the platform and sauntered down the stairs. The crowd cleared for René as he walked up the stairs and across the stage until he reached Kezia.
Without a word, he took Kezia’s hand, bowed deeply, and kissed her knuckles before he drew the citrine goblet from an inner pocket and placed it in her hand.
That left Tenzin alone in the center of the stage, holding the ruby goblet to her chest and staring at Vano, the vampire who had tried to kill her.
Vano stared at Tenzin and he didn’t flinch.
“Shall I tell them, Vano, how I came to have this goblet in my possession?”
The corner of his lips twitched. “Because you are a thief. Hazar!”
Tenzin rose in the air, the goblet in her right hand. Ben rose with her and drew a short sword from his jacket. They hovered over the Poshani, their eyes trained on Vano.
“Long have I honored the Poshani and admired their hospitality,” Tenzin said. “But four days ago, the trailer where I was promised shelter was abandoned, left behind when the kamvasa moved on.”
“Vano told us you had asked to remain,” Kezia said. “He showed us a letter signed by you and Benjamin.”
“It was not written by us,” Ben said. “Your brother lied to you.”
The crowd all started to speak at once. Ben could hear some supportive voices, some who questioned them.
“And then, while I was in my day rest” —Tenzin’s eyes rose to the platform of guests— “Vano’s allies burned my shelter with me inside.”
Every vampire on the platform rose from their seat, looking at the surrounding crowd with suspicion.
The Poshani crowd erupted in shouts until Radu stepped forward and raised a hand. “Brothers and sisters!” He glanced at the vampire guests. “There must be an explanation for this. Patience.” Radu turned to Vano. “Brother, tell me our former guest is mistaken. That there has been a misunderstanding.”
Vano might be a scheming bastard, but he couldn’t hide the truth on his face. Ben watched Kezia’s expression. He glanced at Radu, then at the crowd.
“There is no mistake," Tenzin said. “The ashes left behind prove my tale. Vano attempted to kill a guest of the kamvasa and lied to the Hazar and the darigan about it.”
Vano’s silence told his story.
Ben’s attention was drawn to a disturbance at the back of the crowd. Men were shouting and pushing a man forward. He made his way to the edge of the stage, and his face was pale and drawn with worry.
“Who are you?” Ben asked.
The man glanced at Tenzin, then at Vano. “I am one of those whom Vano ordered to burn the caravan.” He pointed at Vano, who was baring his fangs. “He told us the vampire inside had murdered a Poshani girl. That she was a murderer and the terrin had ordered her death for betraying our hospitality. He showed us a paper signed by all three. That is the only reason we followed his orders.”
Kezia’s face was grim. “The terrin made no such order.”
Radu said, “I know of no murdered girl.”
Tenzin stepped forward and raised her hands. “This is a mystery easily solved. Is anyone missing a daughter?”
There was muttering, but no one spoke.
“A mother?” Tenzin asked. “A sister? A friend? Have any of your women or girls gone missing?” After a long thread of silence, Tenzin turned to Vano. “I would never betray the hospitality of the kamvasa.” She turned to Kezia. “As a daughter of Kali, I swear it.”
Kezia turned to Vano and raised her finger. “You have betrayed us.”
“She’s lying!” Vano yelled. “They are thieves! I would never—”
“Why would she lie?” Radu raised the emerald goblet. “Our dishana have been returned to us. Only yours is withheld. Would thieves do that?” Radu looked at the Hazar. “Take him.”
The crowd erupted in shouts and cries as the Hazar flew toward Vano and grabbed him by the arms and legs before he could fly away.
“You!” Vano screamed at Ben. “I let you live! I showed you mercy—”
“You tried to kill Tenzin.” Ben rose and flew toward Vano. He flung the Hazar away from the vampire with a sweep of his arm; then he grabbed Vano by the throat.
For the first time since he’d turned, Ben gave in to the rage and the power that simmered just below the surface of his tightly controlled exterior.
Squeezing
