The Empire of Ytilaer

Chapter Forty-Two - Due to Ytilaer

  "OK, I've got good news, and I've got bad news..." Engres stated, as he began the meeting he had called.

  Once again, the Noitcif core group was assembled around the marble meeting table in the smaller meeting room. Espen, Vassil, Fleet, Tarquin, Rience, Lee Rose, and Royce waited for Engres to continue. They all knew about Rience's lawsuits and Tarquin accompanying the doctor to implant the PIVL device, but this was Engres' first update since watching Jax for almost a day and a half.

  "What is the bad news?" Fleet pressed.

  "Jax is planning to attack Noitcif tomorrow when the portal lock-down is lifted."

  Gasps and looks of shock erupted around the table.

  "Well, what good news can there possible be, then?" Royce squawked.

  "I hacked their work-around. Should set them back at least two weeks."

  Sounds of relief sounded all around the table, and someone mentioned that Engres was 'just too good at preforming illegal activities'.

  "I mean, it's great, I know," Engres continued, once the voices had subsided. "But this can't go on forever. Ytilaer is sure to eventually come up with a fool proof fix - one that I won't be able to hack in an expedient manner. So, we need to think of a plan. A good one. Soon-ish."

  "You cannot keep them at bay indefinitely, in other words," Lee Rose spoke up.

  "Exactly, Sister-in-law," Engres stated earnestly, which was the first time he called the windowed queen by that title. "Ytilaer longs to bust in here to not only squirrel me away again with the Stone of Potenza, but they will also be seeking to capture Rience" - he gestured to the man himself - "which would leave us with almost no recourse. I'll be dead within twenty-four hours, Jax will get control of the Stone, Rience will be incapable of doing any more suing or contacting all of you... well, you get the idea," he finished as he saw the disturbed expressions from around the table.

  "You're right, Engres," Espen agreed. "We need to put this whole thing to rest somehow..." he murmured, trying to decide the best course of action. "... I probably should meet with Jax in neutral territory to try and reason with him. Perhaps... in the desert to the east of LA, for example. We'll tell him that Rience will drop his lawsuits, if Jax stops trying to dismantle the portal shield between Noitcif and Ytilaer. We'll also make him sign a truce never to attack Noitcif."

  "And, let him know that we have his place bugged and will be able to tell if he's still planning to attack."

  As the murmurs of agreement sounded around the table, Vassil looked up from braiding his hair and met Engres' gaze.

  "Maybe you should email him the agreement initially, so as not to put anyone in danger prematurely," the duke suggested. "Although meeting upon a neutral stretch of land is poetic, it is not practical at this stage."

  "Fine with me," Engres replied with a shrug. "What do you say, Kid?"

  "I think that's a good idea, Vassil. Does anyone else want to comment?"

  The rest of the members in the room all spoke among themselves briefly, before stating they had nothing to add except to meet again after Jax's response.

  "It's settled, then," the king proclaimed. "Engres, you will email Jax the conditions of our discussion tonight."