It’s well past time we got a clearer picture of this man and where he truly stands.
“True,” he grits out.
I hum. “And what happened to the Attendant when your family found out?”
“I don’t know. Truly. My parents have always claimed she ran away.”
“But thanks to your power and domain, you sensed their deception.”
He bristles the smallest amount and I arch a brow.
“Why did that shock you?”
“I guess since none of you have brought my power up, I figured you either didn’t know or were ignoring the topic.”
“We haven’t brought it up because you’re uncomfortable with us. Granted, I don’t know if my brothers or Thayla, for that matter, know you have a Domain under the Goddess of Accord. I haven’t bothered to share it with them.”
He slumps back into the chair.
“You’re telling the truth.”
I scoff. “Of course I am. I rarely lie. Plus, there’s no point in lying to a being who can sense if I am.”
He drags his bottom lip through his teeth as he bobs his head. The smallest amount of respect flares in his eyes.
“Does Thayla have that ability?”
“I believe so. It’s hard to say for sure just yet. According to Lambrit, her ability to observe and read people was a remarkable skill she had prior to even having power. We’ve barely touched on her power of Accord, though. It’s by far the most challenging.”
“It took me a while to figure it out and examine the signals your mind sends you. I can’t imagine attempting to master that domain while also dealing with six fucking other ones.”
An obnoxiously loud breath falls from his lips as he runs his hands through his hair. I wait him out.
“I’ve never told my parents that ability manifested for me. It isn’t seen in everyone under the Domain, and it isn’t one that my brothers have. They still don’t know I know they lied to us that day. I don’t know what happened to Cece, but I do know she didn’t run away, and my parents either know what happened to her. Or…”
“Or they’re the ones who made her disappear, and now you’re fearful of how they’ll react to finding out your Binder is an Attendant.”
“Yeah.”
“I can understand the fear that’s caused for you. What I don’t understand, though, is why you haven’t been honest with Yemi.She’s very analytical and will receive this much better than continuing to believe you’re ashamed she’s an Attendant.”
“She thinks I’m ashamed of her? I’ve told her I’m not.”
“Telling her and showing her are two different things, I’m afraid. I do agree telling is much easier, but alas, we have to do what we have to do to make our goddesses happy.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
He shifts in the chair and I sit here silently, patiently waiting for him to add anything useful to this conversation.
He doesn’t.
“Since apparently that’s all,” I say, shuffling some papers around on my desk. “Here is the list of evidence I’m going to present, the Law I’m claiming and can defend that Harriseen broke, as well as a copy of the Law of Doppia Disaccord. It’ll be helpful if you’re well versed in all of them. Please have a detailed conversation with Yemi about the particulars of this morning. We’ll all get together prior to the trial and make sure our stories corroborate. Our stories will need to be airtight and aligned if we plan to get anything past the Goddess of Accord.”
He glances between the stack of parchments I’m attempting to pass him and my face.
“I never agreed to being your Mediator.”
“Of course you did.”
