He turned his head to look at me.“When the council asks you questions, be sure to answer them truthfully and from your heart.”
I nodded, then lay my head on his chest, gently caressing the bit of hair between his pecs.“Thank you for all you’ve done.”
He kissed the top of my head in answer, and we both drifted off again.
I woke to the second bell ringing.Gauging time was no easy task in the Underground, but the clock tower bells still reverberated through the foundations.I reached for Darion, but in his place was an empty indentation in the bed.The sheets were cold.Very cold, as if he’d been gone for a while.Panic hit.I knew it was irrational, but it didn’t stop the way I felt.
I hopped out of bed, cleaned up at the washbasin, and threw on some clothes.I wanted to check on Elena; I hadn’t seen her since last night when I’d helped her to bed, and guilt hit me at the thought of her being alone.
The hallway outside my room was empty.I knocked on her door, but no one answered.After knocking again, I gently opened the door.“Elena?”Still no answer.
The room was deserted, and the bed had been carefully made.The panic I felt doubled.I raced out of her room, not sure where to go but determined to find some answers.In my haste, I nearly ran into Caldren, the head of the guard, whom we had met at the entrance yesterday.
“Cassian Nightbrook,” he said in a booming voice, “the council has summoned you.”
Chapter twenty-six
The Emberlight Council
Caldrensilentlyguidedmethrough the hallways, ignoring my questions about the whereabouts of Darion and my sister.There was little I could do besides follow him.
Soon we entered a room dominated by a large table with nine people sitting behind it, facing toward us with stony expressions.They were all strangers to me except for Kael, who had greeted us and seemed to know Darion well.I wasn’t particularly happy to see that he was a member of the council.In the shadows along the edges of the room, dozens of figures watched.I scanned their faces, hoping to spot Darion or Elena, but I didn’t really expect to see them, and the dim light made it impossible to see details.
The murmur of voices died down as we approached the middle of the room.Caldren bowed to the nine people in front of us and joined the crowd.This entire thing felt like a tribunal, which made me jittery.My skin itched under yesterday’s clothes.
In the center of the table was a middle-aged woman with long dark hair and olive skin, more handsome than beautiful.
“Members of the Order of Emberlight,” she said in a smooth but commanding voice.“Both Emberborn and Unkindled, I draw this council to order.”
The remaining voices went silent.
The woman cast an assessing gaze toward me.“Welcome, Cassian Nightbrook.My name is Mireth Averin.I am the high steward of the Emberlight Council.”She gestured to the people beside her.“Tell us why you are here.”
“To join your ranks.To bring an end to Tarnasau’s reign of terror,” I said.Now that I was staring at their stoic faces, my words felt inadequate and hollow.
“And you have completed the Trials,” she said as she pulled out the parchment Adela Fenn had given me back in the clock tower.
“I have.”
“With or without Darion Thorne’s help?”Kael said sharply, leaning forward with a predatory look in his eyes.
A few muted gasps came from the crowd.My instincts were right.This man didn’t like me, and his gracious host guise was disappearing fast.
“Kael,” Mireth said in a warning tone, shooting him a disapproving look.
An older man with a gray beard who sat next to Mireth cleared his throat to speak.“Kael’s question is valid.I would like to hear whether Cassian completed the Trials on his own merits.”
Mireth sighed, looked at me, and nodded.
This reallydidfeel like a tribunal.I projected my voice.“Darion Thorne accompanied me on my trip through the Royal Catacombs.At that point, I was unaware that he was a member of the Order of Emberlight.I cannot undo the past, nor do I know how his presence altered my path for good or ill.”The weight of the council members’ eyes was on me, but I continued.“If that disqualifies me, then I will withdraw my request with much regret.”
More gasps came from the crowd.
Kael had a slight smirk on his face.“If that’s the case, then I move for a summary judgment and accept his withdrawal.”
Heated voices erupted throughout the room.
Mireth stood and banged her fist on the table.“Quiet!”she yelled with such authority that the room went entirely silent.Her eyes pierced mine.“I ask you again, Cassian Nightbrook.Tell uswhyyou are here.”
