When I tabled the fourth of nine Anye Universe novels to outline the seventh, I had no idea I would keep going — and set Vacuum Forged aside for seven years.
I returned to the middle trilogy uncertain of my intentions — 80,000 words in, having written treatments for volumes five and six, so I would know where I was going with four.
Seven novels in thirteen years. Maybe I should do something else with whatever time I have left.
But then I read this.
Svami Reva lounged in a recliner across the room, poking fingers at the augmented reality space. He acknowledged their arrival without looking. “You’re wasting your time.”
“Maybe.” Suban addressed the prisoner in Low Desert. “Does it seem odd to you that we took the language of our Manu conquerors, called it the Noble Tongue, pretending it was our own when everyone knew it was not? You’d think our people had no shame.”
The man kept his eyes down. Suban dragged a chair over. “You should be afraid of me. Do you know what I am?”
That provoked a response. “A policeman. Zirna Zapha. What else?”
“You wound me.” Suban smiled across the table at him. “Am I not also your brother?”
“Not my clan.” He looked back through hooded eyes. “I don’t care about you.”
“That’s acceptable.” Suban showed his phone. “Do you know this sigil?”
“Internal Security.”
“That’s right. I’m Broken Claw, Low Desert, and a special kind of policeman.” Suban showed fangs. “I told the woman I’d kill her enemies. Who do you think will stop me — these men?”
The prisoner broke eye contact. Suban felt in his pocket for relic coins he’d found among Rani’s keepsakes, putting one on the table. “Manu gold, older than our people.”
He nudged it across. “How many do I have?” Another coin appeared alongside. “How many will I lay down before I tire of the game?” A third clinked on top of the other two. “You could afford a house, a wife.”
The prisoner blinked. Suban covered the treasure with a hand. “Do you doubt what will happen if you say ‘no’ to me?”
“Paun Dagar. The woman is his cousin.”
Damn. Now I don't know what to do.
John Dyer Writes 
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