Page 52 of The Cerulean Sister
August tries his best to get 99 to stand down, pulling at the arm locked in place. "Ferren is confused, and I know you do not want to keep any possibility from her, my friend."
There is a long pause as the three of us wait for 99 to either attack further or let the lord general say what he fully intended to.
"You are not bound by our laws. If the emperors will not investigate the temple from what you have given them, then go to Cosima and collect more evidence yourself," Lord General says when 99’s grip loosens slightly.
I glance over at August, hoping he is level-headed enough to explain.
"It would be easier to request clearance to travel to Cosima than to ask them to investigate a temple," August confirms with a nod.
"She is not going back to that place,” 99 growls but backs off.
"I will continue to work on the emperors." Lord General pushes past 99 easily. "But if they deny it, I know you will submit another petition to investigate it yourself. The best we can do is to station you in the birthlands with the rest of the fleet. In the event Priestess Ferren does find herself on Cosima, we would be close." He eyes 99 like he is trying to convey something more.
"I can't just go back. Every lesser, high, and elder priestess likely knows who I am, that I retrieved the stones, and how I left. There are wards around the city, Lord General," I say in an almost amused laugh that he thinks I could just walk back in with no consequences.
"I have heard the messages sent through our beacon." He gives me a leveled look. "An offer of forgiveness was presented."
It feels like a violation, an overstep into the private domain I once held so dear. I no longer have loyalty to the temple, but knowing the messages sent just for me were played by him, echoing off metal Viathan walls, makes my stomach turn.
"Those were sent tome."
"I apologize if we gave you the illusion of privacy through our beacon."
I struggle to remember what exactly the messages said, but he clearly analyzed them more than I did. I wanted to listen and then forget. By the time we got to Thea's, every message before seemed to float away.
"You think the highest priestess would simply welcome her with open arms and not be in danger?" 99 snarls.
"That is not what I am saying, 99th Commander. It is a means to get around the wards. They have extended an offer, a way in."
"Viathan strategy," Calliape mutters behind me.
I pause and try to remember the message sent from the temple, but my mind goes to Crixa’s.
I hope you reconsider.
"Confess my transgressions and take the vows again," I whisper as I remember the words of the elder priestess in the message. "I have seen the ritual before. A high priestess, she was . . . humbled greatly but was able to move around on her own after she retook her vows and eventually assumed her old duties."
99's posture is so straight as he watches me speak. Suddenly, with him no longer violently objecting, it feels too real, like the malformed suggestion is gaining traction on its own. I have to sit on the small bench at the foot of the bed just to gain balance again.
"I am trying to assist you, Priestess Ferren, to work around two worlds’ limitations on a conjunction year." Lord General steps toward me. "But I do see some advantages here. You have a way into the Estate, and if you get hard evidence of corruption, the Viathan government wouldhaveto intervene. Force our hands. If evidence is found while the fleet is in the birthlands, a representative would have to be sent to investigate." His voice is a little more even.
"Who would they send?" I ask.
"Me." 99's deadly voice makes me look up from the spot I picked to stare at on the floor.
At times, I think we all forget who 99 truly is, his station here. To us, he is 99, but to the three worlds, he is the 99th Commander and has a brutal reputation that follows him.
"Conjunction year rules. We can act quicker if something is found happeningduringa conjunction year. Anything and everything can be seen as an attack to gain control. From a temple trying to make more divine children to faulty stabilizers in our infrastructure. 99th Commander would have jurisdiction to investigate," Lord General confirms.
"What kind of evidence?" I ask and then feel my face drain of all blood that I am even entertaining the idea.
"It couldn't be anything like what you presented in the council meeting. It would have to be more solid," he advises.
I have to force myself to shut my jaw. I have no words for him other than to shake my head. Evidence, something more solid, not the memories from the point of view of a high priestess. He means something less . . . divine, more tangible for a Viathan to wrap their head around.
"That is what I offer to you, how I extend my help lawfully. I will deploy the 99th Commander the moment I hear of any temple or faction within it breaking a three worlds’ law. How I come across that information is up to you," Lord General says.
"Thank you for your candor," I reply, shock defaulting me back to politeness.
