Page 61 of Dead Wrong

“I’ll send you away as soon as possible without arousing suspicion,” Cirian said as we pulled through the large, golden gates of the chateau. Members of Mother’s private militia stood stationed at the gate, and we stopped long enough for the driver to show them identification. “It’ll buy you some time to locate where they’re holding the necro—Bastien. Don’t try anything on your own unless you absolutely must. I don’t know how long that stone is going to be able to sustain your magic, so use it as a last resort, do you understand?”

I nodded, gritting my teeth behind the mask and swallowing back bile. The Anima stone felt heavy against my leg, hidden in the pocket of my trousers.

“We’re here,” Cirian announced as the car rolled to a stop across from the stairs to the main entrance. More militia members walked the grounds outside of the chateau in patrols of four. Two more guards were stationed at the front door, armed and vigilant. “Adoranda sure seems paranoid that there will be a retaliation to her attack. That bodes well for us. It means she’s still afraid and that the Rebellion hasn’t lost its teeth quite yet. Come, open the door for me.”

I did as he instructed, climbing out of the car and holding the door for him as he exited. An Unseen servant shimmered into existence at the base of the stairs, bowing to Cirian as he approached, his own mask of authority firmly in place.

A sliver of black material around the Unseen’s neck drew my attention, and I shuffled a few steps closer to try and get a better look at it.

It appeared to be a thin strip of leather with a golden clasp in the front. A collar, perhaps? It felt immediately out of place, but I couldn’t mention it now.

“Good day, Acolyte. You are expected by the madame. This way, please.”

Cirian hurried up the steps after the Unseen, and I followed suit, doing my best not to draw attention. The guards eyed us as we approached but didn’t speak as the Unseen pulled open the door and ushered us inside the foyer.

I stifled the gasp in my throat. Inside, the foyer had been transformed into what I could only describe as a war room. A long wooden table ran through the center, a large map unfurled and covered in annotations. Several higher-ranking militia members gathered around it, speaking in hushed tones, their attention focused on surveying the placement of small figurines atop the map. I tried my best to pick up on the conversation, but we moved too quickly to catch more than a few words. The Unseen led us down the familiar hall off the foyer, stopping in front of Mother’s office. The doors were already open, a militia member posted on either side. The Unseen gestured for us to enter, and we found the Cardinal seated by the desk on the far wall.

“The madame will be with you shortly,” the Unseen announces, closing the doors behind him after he exits.

Cirian moved for the desk, taking the seat beside the Cardinal. I did my best to hover in the background, not too far, but not too close, either. Being back in Mother’s office sparked a new onslaught of memories, but I had to push them back into the slurry.

This was not the time for distractions.

“I’ve never seen such a force here,” Cirian mused as he sunk into the plush chair. “Adoranda must be frightened of something.”

“She is ready to seize a victory,” the Cardinal replied, her hands folded neatly in her lap. “It is imperative, Cirian, that you only listen as we discuss the Reviled. Listen and observe, is that understood?”

Cirian nodded. “Yes, Your Eminence.”

The doors opened then, Mother striding in, flanked by more militia soldiers. A decorated militia member flanked her, and it took me a second to recognize Renata through the fresh scars across her face. I was relieved to see that she was still alive, though it meant her hands were all the bloodier.

“Glad you could make it, Sancha,” Mother greeted the Cardinal, then her eyes shifted over to Cirian. “And young Master Cirian. I wasn’t expecting to see you today, but it is, as always, a pleasant surprise. Wonderful you should join Sancha on this most auspicious of days.”

“The pleasure is mine, madame.”

Mother took her seat at the desk, shuffling a stack of papers out of her way as she dug into a drawer for her pipe. After a moment, a sweet-scented purple smoke drifted from the end, and she returned her attention to the visitors.

“Well, let us get down to business, then. Renata, could you please share with the Cardinal how you came across our Reviled guest?”

Renata nodded. “Aye, ma’am. The Reviled was found amongst the rebels at their base camp. At first, we thought he might be a prisoner of theirs, but when I saw him tending to the wounded Unseen, I knew that they must have recruited him for his vile magics. Who knows what kind of deplorable experiments they were cooking up?”

I bit down on my tongue to keep from interjecting, anger steaming the flesh behind my mask.

“And what is the latest?” Mother asked, a plume of smoke exhaling from her mouth.

“He’s yet to speak, Your Grace. But he can only resist for so long. We’ll have the information you seek soon enough.”

“What information are you intending to extract from them?” asked the Cardinal, her voice even.

“The leader of the Rebellion has managed to slip through our fingers once more,” Mother answered, flashing a glance at Renata before continuing. “As well as a person of great interest to me. We believe that the Reviled knows to where they’ve fled, so once that information has been extracted, you may do with him what you wish.”

A person of interest? It could only be Lynette. A wave of relief washed over me. Maybe things weren’t looking as bleak. All we had to do now was get Bastien out of here.

“I will return to my efforts, Your Grace,” said Renata, giving a bow before exiting. She didn’t look in my direction as she went, and I wondered if she even mentioned finding me amongst the rebels last night.

“While we wait,” said Mother, leaning back in her chair and focusing her attention on the Cardinal. “I was hoping that we could discuss a matter of business, Sancha.”

“I don’t see why not,” the Cardinal replied, folding her hands across her lap. “Speak your mind, Adoranda.”

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