21 - No, You Two are Staying!

Into the quiet after Ilax’s wry comment, someone stepped out of the crowd in the Milari screen. It was Ilia, her brother Maks holding her hand.  “Konsiliarch, please excuse my interruption.”  She sounded much more grown up than her twelve years… no, Ilax reminded himself.  She was thirteen now and Maks was eleven.

“Papa.  We think that you and Haraklez are going to spend a lot more time in Lainz, and we don’t know how long it’s going to be before this war stuff is done.  Maks and I would like to come to Lainz too.” She took a deep breath and plunged on before he could answer.  “We know it’s dangerous but it’s just as dangerous here if Prime figures out that we’re here and there’s no place on this whole planet that isn’t in danger because Prime’s got the high ground –“

Ilax unlocked his teeth.  “You and your little brother are much safer where you are than with Hara and I!  You’re staying THERE!”

“Excuse me, Surdeniliarch.” The voice was from Trovi.  “I’m sorry to say that your child is correct.  There is nowhere on the planet that is safe from Prime.”

“Husband.” Ilax turned to Kyrus who leaned forward from the throne.  “I understand and I know that you desperately miss your children.” He glanced over at Ilia and Maks.  “You two don’t have to worry that you’re losing your father, chicks.  He mentions you every day, no matter what’s going on.”  He rolled his eyes and Maks giggled at his step father.  Ilia tried to keep a straight face.  “I have a suggestion.  We have the galleries set up at Vertical Falls for the new flock… and a whole new set of eggs who need keepers.  Why don’t we arrange to make it even more hidden that we have, and say that if any of our allies wish they will have a safer place to send their people.”

“AND YOU SAY YOU AREN’T GROWING YOUR DAMNED EMPIRE AT OUR EXPENSE!”  The bellow came out of the group of Nadumon.  “Our home is already destroyed and we’re squatting here on Lainz land, at Lainz’s mercy…”

“Shut up, Sven.” Head snapped.  “The Lainz gave us shelter when Prime showed us what he thought of our existence.  They have not asked for tribute, taxes or any kind of control of our lives.  In fact they’ve provided us space, food, water, shelter and we have been giving our research and development skills in return.  It is barter.  Perhaps you should have your therapist check into your blood balances to see what is causing this paranoia.”

Ilax looked from his husband to his Konsiliarch, now standing behind his children, glanced over at the Nadu Head and her man still nose to nose in the screen, then over at the Trovi.  His sigh was audible as he made the best of the situation. “We have a new project on the table and I, for one, do not feel that offering new warbirds and a safe space to everyone’s children and pregnant women and elders is a bad idea.  Ilia… when your big brother gets back to the city tomorrow, I’ll send him up to get you and he’ll be able to show you how to fly a warbird on a flightstick.”

He turned back to the Nadu screen, resolutely ignoring his children’s delighted squeals from Viltaria.  “Researcher Sven.  Perhaps we can talk about measures to reassure you…”