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About This Book
Having decided to present the mer people, the Pelohahani, to the Kufram or leader of Zomar at a royal reception, Jeff and Carl prepare for trouble. They made any number of enemies during the failed coup attempt by the Wahela tribe, some of whom are still at large. The presentation of the Pelohahani exceeds all expectations, for Zomarians had always thought the Pelohahani to be a mythological people. A construct of dreams and fantasy. The reality of their beauty and poise creates an explosive celebration that nearly gets out of hand.
Now eager to return to Hochberg in the north with the good news of a powerful ally, Jeff and Carl spend long hours preparing the Gilnora for what looks to be a hard voyage. They also must hurry to return the Pelohahani to the sea for they cannot spend long periods on shore. Returning to the palace one afternoon after a long day working on the Gilnora, Jeff's suspicions and fears are aroused when he finds no guards at the door to their suite. Inside he finds only death and blood. All of the servants but one have been murdered. But where are all his friends and loved ones? The Pelohahani are safe, as are the others. But someone is missing. Racing to his bedroom accompanied by Balko, his wolf companion, Jeff finds nothing amiss at first. Then he suddenly spots a torn garment and a spot of blood. Raiella's underclothing. Kidnapped!
Pushed beyond reason, Jeff explodes in a fury that nothing will contain. Accompanied by Balko and a new Zomary military friend, he leaps onto horseback and charges down the hill to the waterfront to a location learned through a violent and brief interrogation of captives. Inside a warehouse the three eliminate guards and quietly descend stairs to the dungeon level. Slipping cautiously along a wall, a scream of pain suddenly pierces Jeff's heart.
Losing what little reason remained, he kicks open a door and finds Raiella. Hardly recognizable from all the wounds, she is about to be killed. The three friends hold nothing back and turn the dungeon cell into a killing field of blood and sudden death. Freeing Raiella, Jeff carries her up the stairs but is wounded. All three nearly die during a bloody battle on the ground floor in the dark with enemies all around. Bleeding out from the wound, Jeff collapases but hears a new onrush of feet as he passes out. Friends have found them.
Recovery for Jeff and Raiella is slow but they do recover and eventually embark on Gilnora. Well out on the Great Southern Ocean, Jeff and Carl join the Pelohahani in the ocean and quickly adapt to the new environment. Here they meet a long time friend of the Pelohahani, Sea-swift, and at the same time are nearly taken by a Morlock, the top predator.
Finally nearing Hochberg again, Jeff and Carl anxiously wonder how their mates will accept the new women who have joined with them. Jeff's fears are well founded. Zimma, always hot-headed, reacts violently and breaks their mating bond, thereby condemning herself, for the laws of joining on Aketti are not those on Earth. They cannot be broken unless true infidelity is present. To do so otherwise means death, or worse.
In the final segment, Zimma is nearly recovered when the Dark Powers, always in opposition, send a Demon Lord to take her for his own. At the end of the confrontation Zimma is dead, Jeff is destroyed and then, in a blast of actinic fire, they both disappear. The final chapter spells out a running battle with invaders and a final victorious return to Rugen.
Thus ends The Devil Take You.
Now eager to return to Hochberg in the north with the good news of a powerful ally, Jeff and Carl spend long hours preparing the Gilnora for what looks to be a hard voyage. They also must hurry to return the Pelohahani to the sea for they cannot spend long periods on shore. Returning to the palace one afternoon after a long day working on the Gilnora, Jeff's suspicions and fears are aroused when he finds no guards at the door to their suite. Inside he finds only death and blood. All of the servants but one have been murdered. But where are all his friends and loved ones? The Pelohahani are safe, as are the others. But someone is missing. Racing to his bedroom accompanied by Balko, his wolf companion, Jeff finds nothing amiss at first. Then he suddenly spots a torn garment and a spot of blood. Raiella's underclothing. Kidnapped!
Pushed beyond reason, Jeff explodes in a fury that nothing will contain. Accompanied by Balko and a new Zomary military friend, he leaps onto horseback and charges down the hill to the waterfront to a location learned through a violent and brief interrogation of captives. Inside a warehouse the three eliminate guards and quietly descend stairs to the dungeon level. Slipping cautiously along a wall, a scream of pain suddenly pierces Jeff's heart.
Losing what little reason remained, he kicks open a door and finds Raiella. Hardly recognizable from all the wounds, she is about to be killed. The three friends hold nothing back and turn the dungeon cell into a killing field of blood and sudden death. Freeing Raiella, Jeff carries her up the stairs but is wounded. All three nearly die during a bloody battle on the ground floor in the dark with enemies all around. Bleeding out from the wound, Jeff collapases but hears a new onrush of feet as he passes out. Friends have found them.
Recovery for Jeff and Raiella is slow but they do recover and eventually embark on Gilnora. Well out on the Great Southern Ocean, Jeff and Carl join the Pelohahani in the ocean and quickly adapt to the new environment. Here they meet a long time friend of the Pelohahani, Sea-swift, and at the same time are nearly taken by a Morlock, the top predator.
Finally nearing Hochberg again, Jeff and Carl anxiously wonder how their mates will accept the new women who have joined with them. Jeff's fears are well founded. Zimma, always hot-headed, reacts violently and breaks their mating bond, thereby condemning herself, for the laws of joining on Aketti are not those on Earth. They cannot be broken unless true infidelity is present. To do so otherwise means death, or worse.
In the final segment, Zimma is nearly recovered when the Dark Powers, always in opposition, send a Demon Lord to take her for his own. At the end of the confrontation Zimma is dead, Jeff is destroyed and then, in a blast of actinic fire, they both disappear. The final chapter spells out a running battle with invaders and a final victorious return to Rugen.
Thus ends The Devil Take You.
