“I don’t have the patience to train them.”
Ellian’s lips twitch. “Kyzen does. And he won’t be alone. Thayla will train the female Attendants, and any whose primary Designation isn’t Defender.”
“I’m sorry?” I blink.
My men offer no help. They stare, just as shocked as me.
“I’m not the right person for that. I have about as much patience as Creed.”
He huffs.
“Perhaps,” Ellian says evenly. “But you already don’t see the Attendants as lesser. You’ll give them confidence, and they needto defend themselves. Until this shift is accepted, some of them will face resistance.”
Yemi and I share a long look. She isn’t close to many Attendants, and outside of this table—aside from Havar—she really isn’t close to anyone. There’s an unspoken bond among the Designation, though. They all know what it’s like to be treated like shit.
Damn it.
“Okay.”
“Good, thank you. Creed, work out the rotation for whatever works best for all of you, and inform Amick prior to the address and Gladian after.”
They nod to one another, then Ellian turns his attention to Amick.
“You’ve unofficially overseen the Attendants for years. I don’t want to make you a fully-fledged Chancellor because of the added responsibilities that will bring in addition to this, but I do want your continued oversight of the Attendants. In a deeper capacity, though. Compile profiles. Determine where they’d thrive within the Designation.”
“Already done.”
Of course it is. My proactive genius.
“Still,” Ellian continues, “speak with them. Ask what they want. Identify any issues and who’s causing them.”
“I can.”
“Well, then what the hell am I doing?” Riven asks. “Sitting here looking pretty?”
A collective eye roll answers him.
“I haven’t identified who I think would make a reliable Chancellor for the Plentifuls. Until I do, you’re now an acting liaison for them.”
Riven sneers. “Eww. Fine. What about freeing the Veilatara? You knew I’d ask.”
Ellian stiffens and turns to Derivius.
“My turn?” Derivius dabs his lips with a napkin and clears his voice. “All High Chancellors undergo a binding more severe than a normal Chancellor’s. There are matters he can no longer speak of. Certain histories. Knowledge granted by the Beginning Gods. If he doesn’t answer you, it’s not a refusal. It’s restriction.”
“You can’t even speak on the Veilatara?” Amick presses.
Ellian’s silence is answer enough.
“Do you know where the original Gods Binding is hidden in the Sanctum?” Kyzen asks.
Ellian’s face darkens.
“My, you all had the hard questions ready,” Derivius says with a smirk that earns him unamused glares.
“Why don’t you tell us?” I ask.
“I can’t.”
