“What for?”Etan crossed his arms.“It’s too dangerous to risk Menon on a rescue mission.Especially for a pair of deserters.”
“The Artems might pay for their daughter’s safety,” Nalu said, nudging Hilo.
Etan jutted his chin.“You get her, then.”
“I could.”
“Noneof you are leaving this place,” came a new voice – Saros, emerging at last from the chamber beyond, Malia following close behind.“Etan is right, Kai.It is far too high a risk to send you into Soliz until we’ve learned how to harness Menon’s powers in full.”
Kai flared.“I’m not leaving them there, and I don’t need your permission to – ”
“Kai.”The patented smile drained from the old man’s face, leaving behind a coldness, a mean steel to his eyes.“I will not repeat myself.You will stay here, or we willkeepyou here.”
Etan and Nalu jumped at that, standing on either side of Kai.But Hilo hesitated.“Lady Ione is in danger,” he said.“You know what the Moths’re capable of – ”
“Ione should have considered that before she ran off,” Saros replied, impassive.“She left the safety of Caelos of her own accord, and if she thinks we will put ourselves at risk over some childish outburst, she is sorely mistaken.”
Malia’s gaze slid over each of them, landing finally on Kai, heavy enough to silence his response.She seemed to be calculating something, but whatever it was lost her interest; she spun on her heels and clacked past them down the hall.
It was Cynthia who spoke next, her voice low: “What about River?”she challenged, her sharp eyes trained on the Archpriest.
“If River was stupid enough to follow her, then…” A hint of sorrow shadowed his expression, but Saros shook his head.
A bright, searing fury overpowered even Menon’s presence.“River thought of you as a father,” Kai gritted out.
The sorrow deadened.“He made his choice.Do not be as blind as he was.”
Was.Like River and Ione were already dead.Kai stepped towards him, to do what, he didn’t know – but a hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling him back.Hilo, his expression grim; behind him, Cynthia shook her head, warning.
“Kai,” Saros commanded.“Look at me.”
He did, balking at the ice that had returned to Saros’s eyes, the predatory glimmer.
“Stay,” he said, the flat, calm tone drowning out all else.“Do not argue.”
Kai quaked, his pulse growing hot and fast.If it’d get him out of here, he’d remind them all what Menon could do.Drown them.Freeze them.Shatter them.Wasn’t that the violence Saros wanted?He imagined unleashing himself here, ice blades spinning, cutting down any who would stand in his way.He saw Saros’s face in his mind’s eye, one long cut slicing his patronising smile in two.
But try as he might, he couldn’t move.
A door at the end of the hall scraped open, and in came the clacking of boots that sent a chill up Kai’s spine.His mother shot him a cross look as she sped past him to stand beside Saros.
“What now?”Kai managed, dismal.
“She was getting refreshments,” Etan said helpfully.“Mam loves a show.”
Nalu elbowed Kai hard in the ribs.“No better show than Kai floundering like a beached whale.”
Malia ignored them both.“I’m doing your thinking for you,” she snapped at Kai.“As usual.”
And then she unleashed a blinding smile and patted Saros’s shoulder.“Old friend, as much as I understand your concerns, I think this would be a fantastic opportunity.No point in letting Menon waste away without some real practice.”Her smile widened as she nodded towards something behind Kai.
Saros followed her gaze – and whoever he saw approaching finally wiped the smug little look from his face.
Not all of the high priests from the meeting, but many of them, plusCetosiofficers, financiers, some of Malia’s and even Da’s oldest backers.And at the head of the small group, Ione’s and River’s parents.
Malia beamed, her stage smile.“Two of ours have been detained by Soliz, presenting us with a unique opportunity for Menon to spread his wings, so to speak, and return them to us.”She aimed her smile back at Saros.“And if there is any large loss of life, any collateral damage, then I’ll be more than happy to remind Lodestone’s council that House Artem’s only daughter and Menon Incarnate’s Holy Seleneschal were the ones at risk.”
For the first time, Saros looked nervous.“They – they defected.”
