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It wasn't just an annoying game, though. Their suggested locations told him something of their general state of mind, as his probably did in return. His first two tries had been populated areas. A baseball stadium in downtown Logden. A public park in the nearby town of Karina.

Typically, public settings were supposed to give a sense of comfort for meetings that might otherwise be uneasy. A way of ensuring neither party got any ideas about making a scene.

But these Rainlords knew better, of course. He hadn't really expected them to agree. They would've been placing themselves at a tremendous disadvantage, what with their hearts that bled for civilians and so-called "innocents."

Still, though, it would've been funny if they'd agreed. Careless and stupid of them, but funny. And it had been a simple way of testing them. If they'd said yes to those, then clearly they hadn't brought their best and brightest to Vantalay.

Naturally, their suggestions were the opposite. Isolated areas, far away from people. Truthfully, any of them would've been fine. Vanderberk was just fucking with them because he could.

But the news from Melmoore was troubling enough that he supposed he should stop being a dick already and get on with it. They were suggesting a place called Dakinsalla.

Oddly enough, he was already familiar with the name. It belonged to a waterfall basin, relatively nearby but still nestled deep in the mountains, just like Logden itself was.

He'd been there before. It was a favored spot of one of Gohvis' mutant followers. A real weirdo named Lucanus. The guy probably wouldn't be too pleased to find the place utterly obliterated upon his eventual return.

But eh, fuck him.

Vanderberk went over to the Rainkid. "Tell them I agree," he said, allowing the kid to move his head again. "Dakinsalla is fine. Nod if they've gotten the message."

And he waited.

The reason the Rainlords had sent him a letter instead of just using the kid to relay their suggestion was because Thaddeus had crushed the kid's windpipe yesterday. Vanderberk still wasn't sure why. He only knew that there'd been a conversation, and Thaddeus hadn't liked whatever the kid had to say to him.

Vanderberk had not been pleased. He nearly sent Thaddeus back to Ridgemark. If he didn't want the Killer with him during the meeting, then he absolutely would have.