"Impossible," Loudon scoffed. "They're extinct."
"My conversations with her and current events have led me to believe otherwise," Graydon said.
Harlow nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. It fits something I've long suspected."
Harlow paused as he met each of their eyes. "Caius is right. There is a traitor among us. This person worked with our enemy to orchestrate the Sorrowing, and they entered our defense codes so Dethos could slip past unremarked."
"None of us would work with them," Loudon said in a subdued voice. "There has to be another explanation."
"They knew too much about how to breach our security," Harlow said. "That knowledge could only have come from one place."
"Us," Caius supplied.
Harlow dipped his chin in agreement. "Us."
It was also likely the traitor was in the highest echelons of their House.
Graydon stirred. "The emperor has been apprised of the situation. His forces are on standby. They will step in if necessary."
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.
Harlow shook his head. "We can't count on him. In many ways, his hands are tied, and what he can do is limited. If there is a traitor in my House, it stands to reason there are traitors in other Houses. Ours wasn't the only one affected by the Sorrowing. He will not be able to hunt them down without risking losing support from the Overlords."
"And yet if we do not find a way to stop this, our enemy of old may come out the winner in this millennia-long game," Graydon said.
That wasn't an option.
"Kira seems to be at the crux of this," Silas said. "The generals at Ta Da'an seemed to recognize her. She spoke their language. I find it interesting they almost seemed to fear her. They ran instead of fighting when they lost control. That's not like them."
Graydon agreed. "Of us all, she probably knows this newest evolution of our enemy best."
Caius shifted. "You have such faith in her. Are you sure your judgment isn't clouded, Little Storm?"
Graydon fixed him with a neutral stare. Not many would dare make such an insinuation. But this was family; sometimes you made allowances. "I have never let my personal feelings affect my judgment. Perhaps your considerable age has blinded you to reality."
Of course, making allowances didn't mean being stepped on.
Graydon had earned his place. Caius would remember that or Graydon would remind him with fist or blade.
"My, how the Storm has grown."
Graydon inclined in a half bow. "I was taught by the best."
Since Caius had been one of those teachers, there was no way he could argue.
Harlow watched the Nexus for several seconds before nodding once. "We will watch and wait. If there is a new plot by the enemy of old, we need to see what it is. The sacrifices of those who have gone before will not be forgotten."
The others nodded. "Never forgotten."
"Dismissed," Harlow ordered.
Graydon lingered as the others filed out. Only when they were gone did Harlow release a sigh and shake his head. "What is it you're not telling me?"
"Many things. You'll have to be more specific."
Once, the look Harlow leveled on Graydon would have been intimidating. Graydon would have spilled everything to his pseudo father. Unfortunately for Harlow, that time had gone.
"Don't play games with me, Little Storm." Anger flashed in Harlow's eyes. There and gone in a second. "I'm the one who taught you the rules."
