secret, but would do what they could to assist the human race. The treaty also created the Mortal/Protector Liaison Office, or MLO, which employed that handful of mortals who were aware of Protectors and what they did.
For years, Zephron had been lobbying to renegotiate the treaty so that Protectors played a more open role in society. The formal negotiations were to take place in two weeks—with lots of meetings and positioning and politicking going on in the meantime. At the moment, except for a few dissenters, it looked as if the mortal governments were leaning toward accepting full Protector disclosure.
She voiced all that to Zephron, and he nodded. “I’m pleased you’ve been following our efforts,” he said. “In fact, the mortals’ only real hesitation at this point centers around the Outcasts.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The very existence of Outcasts disturbs some mortals. They fear that if the ban of secrecy is lifted, mortals may not trust
any
Protectors. They also fear that Outcasts would decide to ignore the rules and start a full-scale war with the mortals.”
“They could have done that already,” Izzy said.
Zephron nodded. “And the mortals well know it. They also know that Hieronymous is the most vocal of the Outcasts, the only one currently with the clout to band the others together.”
“And they know that Hieronymous
really
doesn’t want Protectors on par with mortals,” Izzy said, finally getting it.
“Exactly.”
“But if Hieronymous is out of the Outcast business, everything will be better. The mortals won’t be as afraid, the negotiations will go smoothly, and the treaty will go off without a hitch.”
“That, of course, is my hope,” Zephron said.
Izzy nodded, still a little uncertain. Zephron knew more than anyone how deep Hieronymous’s hatred of mortals went. Could he truly be turning over a new leaf? Or was Zephron grasping at the best hope he saw of pushing the treaty through? For years, Izzy knew, the renegotiation of the treaty had been her uncle’s pet project. To have it now be so close ...
As if reading her mind, Zephron spoke, his face clouded. “Of course, if it’s all a ruse ...”
She nodded, understanding. If it was a ruse and Hieronymous was merely trying to infiltrate the Council to further some nefarious plan, well, that would be disaster.
But if he was sincere ...
Could he be sincere? The prospect was almost too much to hope for, and she wondered if she, like her uncle, was grasping at a foolish notion.
Because if Hieronymous Black was really coming over to the good side, then there was no reason at all to reveal her father’s deep, dark secret to Zephron. After all, re-assimilated Protectors could associate with whomever they pleased.
Which meant that, for the time being at least, she was justified in keeping her mouth shut.
Chapter Four
Mordi pulled his Ferrari up in front of the Los Angeles bungalow, and killed the engine. The sun was just starting to set, and so he sat in the car for a bit, watching the vibrant streaks of purple slice the sky over the trees.
He told himself that he was simply watching the celestial show. Of course, that was a lie. In truth, he was stalling.
He’d paged his cousin Zoë that morning, wanting to talk to her about their shared role as the token Halflings for the treaty negotiations. She’d insisted they meet here. At the time, Mordi hadn’t thought anything of it. He’d wanted to meet; it was only fair they do it at her convenience.
Now, though, he had to wonder. Was she making an overture? Telling him without telling him that he was welcome back in the family? The thought pleased him more than he’d expected. For years, he’d told himself that it didn’t matter. He’d done what he’d had to do, and if his family couldn’t accept that, well, that was just too damn bad. He’d spent his whole life alone. He’d gotten rather used to it.
If that was really true, though, then why was he still
For years, Zephron had been lobbying to renegotiate the treaty so that Protectors played a more open role in society. The formal negotiations were to take place in two weeks—with lots of meetings and positioning and politicking going on in the meantime. At the moment, except for a few dissenters, it looked as if the mortal governments were leaning toward accepting full Protector disclosure.
She voiced all that to Zephron, and he nodded. “I’m pleased you’ve been following our efforts,” he said. “In fact, the mortals’ only real hesitation at this point centers around the Outcasts.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The very existence of Outcasts disturbs some mortals. They fear that if the ban of secrecy is lifted, mortals may not trust
any
Protectors. They also fear that Outcasts would decide to ignore the rules and start a full-scale war with the mortals.”
“They could have done that already,” Izzy said.
Zephron nodded. “And the mortals well know it. They also know that Hieronymous is the most vocal of the Outcasts, the only one currently with the clout to band the others together.”
“And they know that Hieronymous
really
doesn’t want Protectors on par with mortals,” Izzy said, finally getting it.
“Exactly.”
“But if Hieronymous is out of the Outcast business, everything will be better. The mortals won’t be as afraid, the negotiations will go smoothly, and the treaty will go off without a hitch.”
“That, of course, is my hope,” Zephron said.
Izzy nodded, still a little uncertain. Zephron knew more than anyone how deep Hieronymous’s hatred of mortals went. Could he truly be turning over a new leaf? Or was Zephron grasping at the best hope he saw of pushing the treaty through? For years, Izzy knew, the renegotiation of the treaty had been her uncle’s pet project. To have it now be so close ...
As if reading her mind, Zephron spoke, his face clouded. “Of course, if it’s all a ruse ...”
She nodded, understanding. If it was a ruse and Hieronymous was merely trying to infiltrate the Council to further some nefarious plan, well, that would be disaster.
But if he was sincere ...
Could he be sincere? The prospect was almost too much to hope for, and she wondered if she, like her uncle, was grasping at a foolish notion.
Because if Hieronymous Black was really coming over to the good side, then there was no reason at all to reveal her father’s deep, dark secret to Zephron. After all, re-assimilated Protectors could associate with whomever they pleased.
Which meant that, for the time being at least, she was justified in keeping her mouth shut.
Chapter Four
Mordi pulled his Ferrari up in front of the Los Angeles bungalow, and killed the engine. The sun was just starting to set, and so he sat in the car for a bit, watching the vibrant streaks of purple slice the sky over the trees.
He told himself that he was simply watching the celestial show. Of course, that was a lie. In truth, he was stalling.
He’d paged his cousin Zoë that morning, wanting to talk to her about their shared role as the token Halflings for the treaty negotiations. She’d insisted they meet here. At the time, Mordi hadn’t thought anything of it. He’d wanted to meet; it was only fair they do it at her convenience.
Now, though, he had to wonder. Was she making an overture? Telling him without telling him that he was welcome back in the family? The thought pleased him more than he’d expected. For years, he’d told himself that it didn’t matter. He’d done what he’d had to do, and if his family couldn’t accept that, well, that was just too damn bad. He’d spent his whole life alone. He’d gotten rather used to it.
If that was really true, though, then why was he still
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