Gasps filled the air as fear sliced through the room. Beside Amryn, Ivan stiffened. Carver’s hand clenched around hers.
The emperor, however, did not look surprised by Zacharias’s revelation. His gaze sharpened as he viewed the High Cleric of Esperance. “Lisbeth shared your suspicion with me after she read your letter. Why didn’tyoutell me, Zacharias?”
“I . . .” The high cleric blinked, clearly unprepared for the question. “I thought it would be prudent to write to High Cleric Bartholomew first, so he could summon the knights directly. I meant no offense, Your Eminence.”
“An empath?” Sadia breathed, terror twining through her.
“What is your evidence?” Ivan demanded, his clipped accent hardening his words.
“Was the empath a rebel?” Jayveh asked, one hand pressed protectively over her abdomen.
“There is much we don’t know,” Lisbeth said soothingly, raising her voice to be heard over the clamor. “For now, we must embrace calm and—”
“The empath is no longer in Esperance,” Zacharias cut in.
Lisbeth scowled, her calm—apparently—abandoned. “How do you know that?”
He took a step toward the dais, placing himself in front of the Chosen. He had the rapt attention of the entire room as he said, “I know, because I know who the empath is. And the creature is here. In this very room.”
Amryn’s heart lurched. She swore Carver wasn’t breathing.
Zacharias made the sign to ward off evil as he twisted to face the Chosen. He lifted an accusing finger. “Sheis the empath.”
Chapter 8
Carver
“Me?”Sadiasqueaked,rearingback from Zacharias’s leveled finger.
Samuel slid in front of his wife, his cheeks flushed as he squared off before the high cleric. “She’s not an empath, you bloody lunatic!”
Carver’s pulse hammered, sweat rolling down his spine. He forced his fingers—which had been inching for the dagger sheathed at his side—to curl into an empty fist. His other hand gripped Amryn’s too tightly, but he could still feel her trembling. His own body vibrated as every muscle strained to keep still despite the adrenaline shooting through him.
“Sheisthe empath,” Zacharias insisted.
“You’re targeting her because of me,” Samuel snapped, fury in every word. “Accusing her of being some mythic monster just so you can punish me. You vindictive—”
“Enough!” Lisbeth shouted.
Tense silence fell, giving way to the emperor’s aged voice as he demanded, “How can you know she is the empath, Zacharias? Only a knight can truly know.”
“All the evidence points to her,” the High Cleric of Esperance said.
“Explain,” the emperor commanded.
Zacharias drew himself to his full height. “The moment the unnatural healing occurred during the Feast of Remembrance, I knew a powerful empath was at the temple.”
“Healing?” Jayveh asked, a slight quiver in her voice.
“Yes,” the high cleric said. “Some empaths have the ability to heal.”
“But . . .” Jayveh’s forehead creased. “Why would an empath heal anyone? They’re evil.”
Amryn’s breath hitched.
Carver gritted his teeth.
“It is not for us to understand the ways of evil,” Zacharias said. “But there were too many miraculous recoveries that night. The healings could have only happened by supernatural means.” He looked to Samuel. “Your wound was especially grievous. I saw it. And yet, with Sadia by your side, you made a complete recovery in moments. Not even a scar remained when the physician looked at you.” His head tipped to the side, a taunting sheen in his eyes. “Explain that, scholar.”
