After the King and Manmehan left, Saya and Barhan were awkwardly apologizing, but Deneve didn’t have it.  “Just stop, both of you.” Deneve sighed, “You both planned on using me for this end, along with those other two.”  They both looked at her guiltily, not denying it. “Whatever it’s done now so long as Mediah has Valencia as an ally, I don’t care.” She stated. “I’ll see if I can find your key. But don’t expect me to continue being your errand boy anymore.”

“Of course,” Saya said immediately as she headed to the door. “Thank you, Deneve. Even if it’s fruitless, I want you to know I appreciate it.”

Barhan lingered as if he wanted to say something. “I’m leaving for Sand Grain tomorrow. I know you are upset with me. So if you don’t come back to the house till after I leave, I understand.” He said. “We still are engaged after all. So it would be best to keep up appearances.” 

“I’m not angry, well maybe a little, but I’m mainly disappointed.” Deneve stated, “You are just like the rest of them.” She gestured toward the palace. “Using people to get your ends. I understand Saya’s reasoning. She at least wants the fighting to stop, but you want power. Like Sahazad intends to maintain his control and the weak little snit Manmehan wants whatever keeps him in his little world.”

“You were willing to help Bareeds, so what is the difference now?” Barhan asked crossly.

“Bareeds just wanted to take his rightful place that his family was dead. So I was willing to help him with that. That is vastly different than just grasping for power,” Deneve explained. 

Barhan looked at her stoically. As Deneve spoke, rage started to enter her voice. “I don’t like what you did and how you used me. Had you explained the situation and asked for my help, I probably would have done it. You didn’t trust me, and now I have a reason not to trust you. If you hurt Bareeds or use him in any way, shape, or form, I will end you.” Deneve said coldly.

“I do not doubt that you have the ability and will to do so,” He replied ruefully. “I realize that I made a mistake. I don’t want to do anything to lose your trust again. You have been a better friend to me than I’ve been to you. For this, I can only say I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. However, I still stand by what I said. We’ll see when I return how,” Deneve stopped and gave a wry smirk, “grateful the royal family is of my help.” Barhan nodded as he headed to the door. 

Deneve rummaged around the villa for some cheese, bread, and fruit. Deciding she needed a drink change, she made a pitcher of chilled coconut cocktails instead of grabbing fig wine.

She couldn’t deny that she cared for Saya and Barhan, but her priority was Bareeds. And to find they planned on using her along with the rest of the royal family stung a good bit. 

She chuckled to herself. They probably feel like she did right now. They were both pretty remorseful and probably didn’t expect to care about her either. She reached for her drink and drained the glass before helping herself to another one.

“Why do you look like someone just kicked you?” A voice asked.

Deneve chuckled as she looked across the terrace to see Lord Red floating just beyond the banister, “Why don’t you just come over here and get a drink?”

“Well, I can’t say no to that, can I? Lord Red bantered lightly, floating over the railing coming to rest lightly on the floor.

Deneve stepped inside briefly to get another glass and poured him one. “Here.”

“Thank you,” Lord Red said politely, taking the glass from her. His eyes searched her face. “You seemed upset, and I wasn’t sure if I should intrude.”

Deneve shook her head with a smirk, “Royal family political bullshit.”

“Sounds positively horrid,” he replied, grinning.

“Please, help yourself,” Deneve said, gesturing to the food plate. 

“I may do so in a bit, thank you,” Lord Red replied, “but I came to see you because I made some interesting discoveries about those machine creatures.”

Deneve was immediately intrigued. “What did you find?” 

“Well, I found that most of these Laytenn weapons are buried in the desert.” He laughed lightly as Deneve’s face fell in disappointment. “But they have a power generator or engine.” He pulled an item out of his pack that looked like a metal box with a few openings and bulges on it.

“Odd,” Deneve said, studying it.

“Here,” Lord Red offered it to her for inspection. 

Deneve took the engine. The first thing she noticed is that it is lighter than the size would suggest.  There was a socket where something was would fit into it.

“What else did you find? She asked as she continued studying the item. 

“I found there are two different Laytenn, the type that attacked me, and another type that to be not aggressive.” He explained, “Of course, this is conjecture as we don’t have a working engine to test it.  I did find an ancient book that spoke of using defense weapons to protect their relics. Shame though that they didn’t write down how they created them.”

“Pity indeed,” Deneve agreed, handing him back the engine as she took another gulp of her drink. 

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it will help us get home.” Lord Red said ruefully, taking his first sip of the coconut drink. His eyes widened for a second before a smile crosses his face. “This is good.”

“I know, right,” Deneve chuckled, “I had one at the tavern and made them teach me how to make it.”

She topped off their glasses with the pitcher. “I have been recruited to go to the Cokro Chamber somewhere in the Valencia Castle. The black spirit seems to think the place is familiar and not in the get-me-more-power way.”

Lord Red leaned in, interested. “It may be nothing, but if I can be so bold since my investigation is done, I would like to go with you.”

Deneve thought about it for a moment. Lord Red would have been angry at her in the past for taking on such a commonplace task. But he had changed somehow, and honestly, Deneve was curious about it. “I would appreciate the company.” 

“It’s settled then, but now I think we need to drink more of this,” He added, holding up the now near-empty pitcher.