I closed my eyes, digging deep, truly considering her question.Darion’s words from last night danced in my mind:Be sure to answer them truthfully and from your heart.WhydidI want to join the Order of Emberlight?At first I’d been driven by my desire to avenge my parents’ murder, but that was no longer the only reason.I thought of the many near misses Elena and I had had and how I could best keep her safe.I thought of the man we’d seen brutally murdered in the public square.I reached for my locket and felt its shape in my hand.Then I opened my eyes and let out a long breath.
“When I was eleven, Tarnasau’s thugs slashed my parents’ throats before my eyes.I held my mother’s hand as she lay dying.”
My throat tightened, and tears threatened to spill out.The image was still vivid, as if it had happened yesterday.I choked down the emotion that nearly overwhelmed me.
“My mother could barely speak, but on that day, she made me promise to protect my sister.Everything I have done since has been in service of that promise.But I want more for my sister than protection.I want her to live free of fear.I want that for all Emberborn.All Velmorrians.And I can’t do that by myself.Thatis why I am here.”
Mireth nodded with a smile, and the crowd exploded into cheers.Several of the other council members, including the old man sitting next to Mireth, said, “Hear, hear!”Kael’s face was neutral, but his smug look was gone.
Mireth looked at the parchment I’d delivered.When she spoke, the crowd grew quiet again.“Adela Fenn spoke highly of you, although your time in the tower was short.She was impressed with your abilities.But there’s a curious note here.She said her father, Edric, the master of ledgers, was unable to locate your lineage.This is a rare occurrence; the Emberborn kept meticulous records as Tarnasau’s grip tightened.”
“Edric said he would continue to search,” I replied.
“Indeed.We await his results with great interest.And Adela made another curious note as well.I understand you have Veilsense?”
“That’s right.”
A few people in the shadows leaned forward, whispering urgently.
“That is a much sought-after Ember by the Crown.If Tarnasau is aware of this, it could explain why you are on the Royal Guard’s watch list and seem to have garnered so much attention.That puts this council in a tricky position.Your Ember would be valuable to us, but it would also put us at greater risk.”
“A revolution is a risky endeavor,” I said.“I will do what I can to make the risk worth it.”
Mireth nodded with a crooked smile.“Well said.And Darion Thorne has spoken highly of your skills as a thief.That, too, would be an asset.If you join the Order of Emberlight, we’ll ask for your pledge of loyalty.You must never reveal the names of any of the members or anything you learn in our service.You will do everything in your power to help us topple the Tarnasau Dynasty.We will vote as a council, and if we vote in your favor, you must pledge your loyalty to the Order.Is that acceptable to you?”
When I had considered joining the Order of Emberlight before, I’d never worried that my pledge to the council might interfere with the promise I’d made to protect Elena.
“I have a question before I give you my answer,” I said.
“Of course.”
“What is to become of my sister?”I asked.
“She may stay here for a short while until the city has quieted down—your escape has stirred up quite a ruckus topside.After that, we will ensure that she is safely transported to the Northlands to go into hiding.”
“I request to be part of the contingent that sees her to her destination,” I said.
Mireth paused for the slightest moment, then nodded.“We can accommodate that.”
Analon had become so dangerous that it might be safest for Elena to leave, despite the twisting in my gut at the prospect of being so far away from her.I knew in my heart that my sister would always come first, no matter what promise the council asked of me.
Be sure to answer them truthfully and from your heart.
I cleared my throat.“I must be honest—no pledge I make here will ever supersede the promise I made to my mother.My sister will always be my top priority.”
Mireth smiled with a keen look in her eye.“If you had said anything else, it would have disqualified you immediately.A person who would break an oath to a dying parent has no honor and cannot be trusted.”
“So that was a test?”
“It was.And you passed.If you are ready to proceed, we shall vote.”
Until that moment, I hadn’t been sure I could do the pledge.But the fact that the Order not only honored prior pledges butexpectedpeople to uphold them tipped the scales in their favor.
“I am ready,” I said.
“Council, do you have any further questions?”Mireth asked.
The council members shook their heads and remained quiet.Kael’s face was expressionless.
