the shit out of you."
"My, that's some threat you've got going."
"No threats. Only promises."
Solin paused before he spoke again. "For the record, I don't take such promises lightly."
"And I don't give them lightly. If you doubt me or my skills, ask M'Ordant who I am and what I'm
capable of. I've come a long way from the numbed Oneroi you turned centuries ago. I want your help,
Solin. I know helping someone goes against your grain, but suck it up and assist me."
There was a few seconds of silence as if Solin was thinking. "If you're here as a human as you claim. I
assume you have the barking of a god. Who is it?"
There was no need to hide that from him. If he really wanted to know, it wouldn't take him long to find
out "Hades."
Solin snorted. "You bargained with Hades? Are you insane?"
"I was definitely sane and in control while I was Oneroi. Then someone changed that. What I am now is
anyone's guess, even my own."
More silence greeted him.
"All right." Solin said at last "I don't make this a habit but you've made me curious. What do you need
from me?"
"I need permits for an American archaeologist to excavate Atlantis."
Solin burst out laughing. "I know you're insane now. Have they really found the site?"
"Does it matter?"
"On this plane of existence, yes. You start poking there and you'll piss off people best left alone."
"Since the human's days are numbered, I don't think that's going to be a problem. Let her have a bit of a
thrill before she dies. What's the harm?"
Solin sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. "No. you didn't."
"Didn't what?" Arik asked.
"Promise a soul exchange with Hades. You do have nerve, I'll grant you that."
He wasn't sure if impressing his brother was a good thing or not but at least Solin sounded a little more
agreeable.
"Aside from the permits, what else?"
"That's it. She wants to meet the official who grants them to make sure they're not forgeries."
"How soon do you need this?"
Arik glanced to the other two, who were watching him expectantly. "How soon can you do it?"
Another brief pause. "Give me an hour to arrange it. I have a few government friends who owe me. I just
have to decide who I want to intimidate or blackmail."
Arik looked at Megeara and spoke in English. "He needs an hour to set the permits up. Can you meet
him then?"
Her jaw slackened before she nodded.
"She can be there," Arik told Solin. "Good. I'll pick you up."
"Why?"
"Because I have to meet the god who's this arrogant and stupid face-to-face."
Arik wasn't sure if he should be flattered or insulted. Perhaps he should be a little of both. "Then I'll
allow the good doctor to give you your directions." He handed the phone to Megeara, who was still
gaping.
Geary couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was it really that simple? Could nothing more than a
phone call gain her the elusive papers she needed? "Hello? Kyrios Catranides?"
"Yes, and you are?"
"Dr. Geary Kafieri."
"Nice meeting you, Doctor. As my brother said, I'll be needing directions on where to pick the two of
you up so that we can procure your permits."
Geary still was a bit reserved. It wasn't in her nature to trust people, and especially not after all the years
she'd been trying to accomplish what the two of them seemed to be able to do in one hour. "I thought
you were an only child."
Solin didn't hesitate with his answer. "Yes and no. I have a number of half siblings. One of whom
happens to be Arik. Now if you'll be so kind as to give me your address."
She did even though she kept expecting this to be a joke.
"Very good," Solin said once she finished giving him the address and directions for the marina. "I shall
see the two of you in about an hour."
"Thank you."
He hung up.
Geary ended the call, then handed the phone to Brian. "He's getting us the permits. Do you think he can
really do that?"
Brian shrugged. "If anyone can, he can. Solin travels in the highest of circles. Even those I can't
"My, that's some threat you've got going."
"No threats. Only promises."
Solin paused before he spoke again. "For the record, I don't take such promises lightly."
"And I don't give them lightly. If you doubt me or my skills, ask M'Ordant who I am and what I'm
capable of. I've come a long way from the numbed Oneroi you turned centuries ago. I want your help,
Solin. I know helping someone goes against your grain, but suck it up and assist me."
There was a few seconds of silence as if Solin was thinking. "If you're here as a human as you claim. I
assume you have the barking of a god. Who is it?"
There was no need to hide that from him. If he really wanted to know, it wouldn't take him long to find
out "Hades."
Solin snorted. "You bargained with Hades? Are you insane?"
"I was definitely sane and in control while I was Oneroi. Then someone changed that. What I am now is
anyone's guess, even my own."
More silence greeted him.
"All right." Solin said at last "I don't make this a habit but you've made me curious. What do you need
from me?"
"I need permits for an American archaeologist to excavate Atlantis."
Solin burst out laughing. "I know you're insane now. Have they really found the site?"
"Does it matter?"
"On this plane of existence, yes. You start poking there and you'll piss off people best left alone."
"Since the human's days are numbered, I don't think that's going to be a problem. Let her have a bit of a
thrill before she dies. What's the harm?"
Solin sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. "No. you didn't."
"Didn't what?" Arik asked.
"Promise a soul exchange with Hades. You do have nerve, I'll grant you that."
He wasn't sure if impressing his brother was a good thing or not but at least Solin sounded a little more
agreeable.
"Aside from the permits, what else?"
"That's it. She wants to meet the official who grants them to make sure they're not forgeries."
"How soon do you need this?"
Arik glanced to the other two, who were watching him expectantly. "How soon can you do it?"
Another brief pause. "Give me an hour to arrange it. I have a few government friends who owe me. I just
have to decide who I want to intimidate or blackmail."
Arik looked at Megeara and spoke in English. "He needs an hour to set the permits up. Can you meet
him then?"
Her jaw slackened before she nodded.
"She can be there," Arik told Solin. "Good. I'll pick you up."
"Why?"
"Because I have to meet the god who's this arrogant and stupid face-to-face."
Arik wasn't sure if he should be flattered or insulted. Perhaps he should be a little of both. "Then I'll
allow the good doctor to give you your directions." He handed the phone to Megeara, who was still
gaping.
Geary couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was it really that simple? Could nothing more than a
phone call gain her the elusive papers she needed? "Hello? Kyrios Catranides?"
"Yes, and you are?"
"Dr. Geary Kafieri."
"Nice meeting you, Doctor. As my brother said, I'll be needing directions on where to pick the two of
you up so that we can procure your permits."
Geary still was a bit reserved. It wasn't in her nature to trust people, and especially not after all the years
she'd been trying to accomplish what the two of them seemed to be able to do in one hour. "I thought
you were an only child."
Solin didn't hesitate with his answer. "Yes and no. I have a number of half siblings. One of whom
happens to be Arik. Now if you'll be so kind as to give me your address."
She did even though she kept expecting this to be a joke.
"Very good," Solin said once she finished giving him the address and directions for the marina. "I shall
see the two of you in about an hour."
"Thank you."
He hung up.
Geary ended the call, then handed the phone to Brian. "He's getting us the permits. Do you think he can
really do that?"
Brian shrugged. "If anyone can, he can. Solin travels in the highest of circles. Even those I can't
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