“Don’t bullshit me!”
Something crashed into the pillar next to Graydon, sending shards of shrapnel in several directions.
“My son, Harlow!They threatened my son!”
Roake’s Overlord knelt on one knee, his head bowed in a rare show of subservience.
Seeing it, Torvald closed his eyes, reining in the soul’s breath that had started to leak out of his body to take on a physical form that the Tuann referred to as manifestation.
For someone like Torvald, whose control over theirkiwas normally impeccable, the mistake was an indication of the depths of his rage.And how tenuous his grip currently was.
Several moments passed before Torvald regained composure.When he spoke, it was like the loss of control never happened.
“Technology like the one used to mimic Caius requires its subject’s features to be mapped out down to the tiniest, most infinitesimal detail.Every pore.Every blemish.Every strand of hair.”Torvald regarded Roake’s Overlord with a gaze that couldn’t quite hide the extent of his frustration.“It requires time and patience.Both difficult to obtain without the subject’s cooperation.The fact that this invader was able to infiltrate all the way to Roake’s heart means they were familiar enough with Caius and his habits to fool even those familiar with him.”
Kneeling, Harlow was a virtual statue as Torvald berated him.His head bowed, he stared at the ground, giving no sign of life.
Neither acknowledged Graydon’s arrival as Torvald’s voice rose to a near shout.
“And now you want to tell me that the person in question is unaccounted for?”Torvald made a derisive sound.“You can see how the Houses might take this news.”
“I can.”
“Then you must know the difficult position your failure has put me in.”
“I do.”
The emperor rubbed his forehead tiredly.“Of all the times for something like this to happen.This will divide us further.”
Harlow lifted his head as the worst of Torvald’s anger subsided.“I suspect that’s the point.”
“I can’t be seen as aligning myself with you or Roake,” Torvald admitted grudgingly.“If I use my authority to protect you, it will undermine my authority when I’m most vulnerable.”
“I understand.”
There was a hint of apology in Torvald’s expression.“You’ll have to find a way to soothe their ire on your own, old friend.I can’t help you.”
“This is Roake’s problem.It is fitting that we be the ones to solve it.”
From the grim note in Harlow’s tone, Graydon suspected the Overlord already had an idea of how to do that.
“This will cost you greatly,” Torvald warned.
“I’m aware.”
“A scapegoat might pacify them.”
Harlow’s expression darkened.“Roake will not sacrifice its own.”
“Even if that person is guilty?”
“Caius did not do this,” Harlow insisted.
There was a bone deep conviction on his face that Graydon knew no amount of arguing would budge.
Torvald knew it too, which was why he sighed and shook his head.“I hope you’re right.Asanth and Kashori are out for blood.They will convict him—and thus Roake—in absentia.Your only move is to have him speak in his own defense.”
With him missing, that wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded.
