Page 40 of Throwing Fire

“Drogan Tessanta. You asked about strong men. He was one of the few I was able to identify. He was based in Ystrile, which is the southern-most outpost. It’s a trading settlement, central for the Csolaros farmers, the miners of Begh and the Horse-men. Like Kaliddy, substantial wealth flows through Ystrile. Father felt it was the best point of penetration.”

“You saidwas.”

Payton nods. “I went to Ystrile three times to try to arrange a meeting between Mister Tessanta and Father. I was wholly unsuccessful. Either Mister Tessanta is no longer there – as all I spoke to strongly implied – or he does not want to be found, and his resources are more substantial than ours.”

“Those would be some pretty fuckin’ substantial resources.”

“Even so.”

“You said there wasn’t the same concentration of creds in theE.C.,” I say and Payton nods. “They got enough pull to put a hundred CeeBees on Kez’s head?”

“I would not have thought so, but if there was, it would be in the hands of someone like Drogan Tessanta. If one of your strong men found a way to pull the wealth out of those farmers and miners and ranchers, there is substantial wealth to be had.”

That don’t make me feel any better. And I’ve still got nothing solid. Probably asking too much to think Payton would have all the answers. “Definitely last question. Ever heard of Jaxon Mereia?”

“Yes, I know Mister Mereia. And I am aware of Miz Kerryon’s unfortunate history with him.”

CHAPTER 16

Kez takes a long sip of tea but doesn’t say anything. So I do. “How’s that?”

“Mister Mereia was our chief contact in the Eastern Colony,” Payton says unapologetically. I gotta give her points for spine. “He told Father about the incident.”

Finally.

“How long’s he been in the E.C.?” I ask.

Payton gives me a small smile. “Is that absolutely the last question?”

“Probably not. If you’d told me you knew him at the beginnin’, this woulda been a shorter conversation.”

Payton spreads her hands. “I have no way of knowing what you wish to know, Mister Snow. I went to the Eastern Colony eleven times over the course of two years.”That’snot in her file. At my scowl, she says with a hint of apology, “I gathered a great deal of information and met with a large number of individuals. Telling you everything I learned would take days. I can tell you that I met Mister Mereia on my fifth trip to the Eastern Colony. He was in Kaliddy at thetime. Father ordered me to become intimate with Mister Mereia and I did. That intimacy did not lead where Father wished it to go, however. Mister Mereia did not give me any useful information nor help me establish a network of contacts. I came to realize that this was because Mister Mereia is a profound misogynist. So I introduced him to Father directly. Their relationship was more successful.”

“Successful in what way?” Kez asks.

“Despite the potential difficulties, Father intended to proceed withrhodistribution. As a first step, that would have involved distribution into Eastern Colony. Mister Mereia would have been our first distributor. Father felt he had sufficient contacts to?—”

I wave that away. I got no intention of expanding into the E.C. Only one thing I care about. “Where is he now?”

“That, I have no way of knowing.”

“No? You don’t keep in touch with your old flames?”

“Mister Mereia is hardly that, Mister Snow.”

“What is he, then?” Kez asks.

“A target, Miz Kerryon.” Payton’s dark eyes glint. “I do not expect you to understand.”

“Why’s that?” Kez asks flatly.

“Because I’ve read your file. You have been free to follow your heart. Wherever it led.” Those dark eyes flick to me. “I have not had that luxury.”

Kez lets out a long breath. “Sorry.” She rolls her neck to release tension. “All this talk about Jaxon.”

“Three words,” I say softly. She meets my eyes and smiles. To Payton, I say, “You got no idea where he is now?”

“No.” She takes a long breath, holds it and lets it out. “But I know where he will be. And I am willing to tell you, but I have a question of my own.”