“Investigate however you choose,” Kreya said to the council, directing her words to the members who werenotMaster Subene. “Speak to the doctors who treated the victims. Review the causes of the deaths. Interview the hospital staff and determine who had access to these patients prior to their deaths. There is proof to be found, now that you know where to look. All we ask is that you find the truth and proceed accordingly. If we’re wrong, we apologize. But if we’re right, isn’t that worth confirming?”
She met the eyes of the other masters, looking for agreement.
To her shock, she saw only doubt, suspicion, and resistance.
He’s corrupted the council,she thought. She didn’t know how, but somehow he had won them over. It made no sense. These were masters of their craft, respected, educated, and smart.Well, except Master Subene.But the others shouldn’t have been so easily swayed. Most of them were old enough to have fought in the Bone War against Eklor, to have lost friends and family.
“We sympathize with all you have suffered,” Grand Master Lorn said with what he must have meant as a pitying smile—it came off as a caricature of one—“but Master Subene and Master Anitra are correct. This is the thinnest of evidence you present for the gravest of accusations. With respect to all you have given to and suffered for Vos, your desire for revenge is overwhelming your grasp on reality. Correct me if I am wrong, but as I see it, you have no concrete evidence that Master Eklor’s gift is anything but that: a gift.”
Jentt stepped forward. “I know how grateful you must feel for the return of your son. But no gift is free.” He did not look at Kreya as he said this, but Kreya felt the words burrow into her. She had been willing to pay the cost, though, with full knowledge of it. Those people in the hospital had not even been given a choice.
Stran spoke up next. “It’s not your fault someone died so your son could live. You didn’t know. Not knowing—well, I would’ve done the same as you. But now that you do know, you cannot stand by and do nothing—”
Grand Master Lorn interrupted, his temper beginning to fray. “We do not do nothing! And believe me, Master Eklor is being carefully monitored. He is not a free man, forgiven of all past wrongdoings. But thus far, we have seen notrueevidence, beyond wild speculation, that Master Eklor is still the man he was. All of us have seen the bone reading showing clearly andindisputably the destruction of the last of his soldiers, and the guards on the wall have reported to the council of your own team’s findings in the forbidden zone. Master Eklor has shown every sign of change, and I believe it is right for our souls, right for the healing of this land, to open ourselves to the gift of forgiveness. And to allow Master Eklor to gift us with the benefits of his skills.”
Master Subene sighed in obvious relief, and Kreya narrowed her eyes. She studied each of the masters, all of whom were nodding in agreement.
Yes, everyone feared death. But waseveryonewilling to pay such a cost? She wouldn’t have believed it. Could it be denial? Perhaps they could pay anything if they could deny the cost existed. Pretend there wasn’t a problem. Pretend they didn’t see. How willingly would people delude themselves if it meant saving the life of one they loved? How many lines would they cross? And if all they had to do was refuse to look at the lines they were crossing...
She had to shake them into facing the truth!
“He uses human bones,” Kreya blurted out.
Beside her, Zera hissed in her breath.
Kreya plowed on. “That’s what the spell requires: words, a life force to give, and human bones to create the link. Even if he used his own life force and the hospital deaths were only a coincidence, he would still be breaking the law.”
“Lies!” Grand Master Lorn shot to his feet. “I witnessed my son’s rebirth, and no human bones were used!” She read shock and disbelief on the faces of the other masters. If she could just make them listen, make them believe...
“I have seen the closet where he keeps them, in your palace,” Kreya continued relentlessly. “He has been using the bonestaken from the fallen soldiers—ourfallen soldiers—in the forbidden zone. Search your palace, and you’ll find them. In the third hallway.”
The masters chattered to one another, and she could feel the outrage rising.Good,she thought.Now we have their attention.Eklor had committed multiple atrocities. The masters couldn’t ignore them all. Surely, they’d investigate now.
At last Eklor spoke. “There are no bones from the war. I burned the bodies on the plains, along with the remnants of my soldiers, and mourned them. Whether you wish to see it or not, I have repented and come to Cerre a changed man.”
“Your hatred of Master Eklor has blinded you to the truth,” Grand Master Lorn said.
“And your love for your son has blinded you,” Kreya countered. Lorn had been standing at the pyre when Eklor performed the spell. Hehadto have seen the bones Eklor used, and he was far too educated a bone worker to mistake them for anything but what they were.
Zera asked the question. “Why protect Eklor now? Your son already lives. Discovering you were tricked by a vicious worm disguised as a human being won’t undo that.”
Grumbling spread up and down the council, but it wasn’t in agreement with Zera.We have no allies here,Kreya thought. She hadn’t anticipated that. She’d thought they’d at least be met with neutrality, if not open minds.
Drifting closer to Kreya, Jentt whispered in her ear, “We’re missing something. There has to be a reason they’re not listening. They aren’t being rational. He got to them somehow.”
Kreya nodded. Just the suspicion of wrongdoing should have been enough to launch an investigation. It wasn’t as if they’d demanded Eklor’s immediate arrest. All they wanted was for themasters to act sensibly and cautiously—and then, obviously, toss him in jail and swallow the key.
Jentt’s right. Eklor has something on them,Kreya thought. Blackmail. Threats. Or a bribe? A promise to resurrect them and their loved ones?There’s something we’re missing...Seemingly unconcerned, he was twirling that valley-damned talisman again.
“What is that?” Marso whispered to Zera.
“Not one of mine,” she whispered back. “Unfamiliar pattern.”
If Zera didn’t recognize it... But there were more pressing matters than solving the mystery of one measly talisman. Whatever it was, he hadn’t used it to attack them or to escape. She focused back on the council.
“You must at least consider the possibility—” Jentt was saying.
“Enough,” Grand Master Lorn said. “Your baseless accusations, combined with your theatrics, are making a mockery of all of us. All of Vos is grateful for your past efforts against a true threat to our world and lives, but you must accept that time as past, lest you who were once Vos’s heroes become our villains.”
