The Far Reach (Southern Vampire Mystery)

Chapter 18 - White Water

Nautical Note: There are two kinds of sailing. There is blue water sailing when you are on the open sea and navigate by stars and electronics. And there is white water sailing where you sail from port to port, making slower progress but having the security of markers you see along the shores and on land.

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The ride from New Orleans to Jackson seemed to fly by. Most of it was spent working with Mr. Cataliades, reading and reaching an agreement on the conditions and terms that would be offered the Packs if they wished to avail themselves of Sookie's services as Sachem. The terms that had been easy to decide had been those involving travel expenses, accommodations and advance notice. The less easy terms to decide included whether to demand that every job have a time limit or whether there were some jobs that would just be too small to have the telepath jumping on a plane with her entourage. Sookie had stared at the backs of both Owen and Shari and realized that she did, indeed, have an entourage. 'If Gran could see me now,' Sookie thought wryly.

The telepath's prior evening had been a mixture of work and passion. The thought that they would be separated for so long had triggered something in both Sookie and Eric. Sookie had taken some extra time before she left this morning to straighten up and put away. The thought of some maid finding their toys or wiping assmarks from furniture made her cheeks flame. At one point Eric had positioned a large mirror so that Sookie could watch him first behind her and then within her, their love making unfolding like a softly lit porn film. As she remembered it again, she felt her lady parts twitch. Sookie glanced up at Mr. Cataliades who had stopped mid-sentence and was smiling at her in a knowing way and she found herself blushing furiously again and cursing demon telepathy. She forced thoughts of her meeting with Emil Touissant into her head instead.

Emil, the Packmaster of Greymane Pack had arrived shortly after Eric left for the television station. He was younger than Alcide Herveaux, but built much the same. Instead of dark, wavy hair, his was blonde though there was nothing feminine or slight about him. His shoulders were so broad Sookie suspected he must have had the suit jacket he wore custom made. He bowed over her hand and when he straightened, Sookie had an opportunity to admire his clean, well-manicured hands and his well-trimmed mustache and goatee. He spoke with the soft, rolling accent of the Creole and Sookie thought his manners were more refined than hers.

Thalia had opened the conversation, asking the Packmaster whether he bothered to screen the guards he sent them, or if he just looked for the bottom of the barrel when making their assignments. Emil had growled in reply and the negotiations were underway. Thalia had used the information Sookie had gathered during the screenings to challenge the contract already in place. Emil had used Stuart's execution to prove that getting anyone to want to work in the Palace was a fool's errand. With positions now known, the two verbally circled each other warily. Thalia demanded a rebate and replacement of most guards with 'competent' help. Emil demanded restitution for Stuart's family and assurances that unacceptable behavior would not result in immediate executions. Thalia demanded first right of refusal for any presented for employment. Emil demanded medical insurance and paid life insurance for the families of those accepted on staff. After an hour, the two had agreed that the Palace would continue to use the Greymane Pack as a source of guards and the Pack agreed to allow the Palace to screen and refuse any Weres it found to be unacceptable with the understanding they would be sent back to the Pack.

Sookie sat to the side, watching the maneuvering of the parties and listening intently to the thoughts of the Packmaster. She could tell that his Pack needed the income this contract represented. He was genuinely frustrated that so many of his guards were being accused of security breaches, but for most he was not surprised. Emil was also under some pressure to force concessions or at the least secure restitution for the execution of Stuart. His ascension as Packmaster was recent and he was anxious not to appear weak to those who followed him.