Page 66 of The Study of Fire
“It’s not your fault they died.”
“I know, but I took the emotional turmoil of the massacre from Moon Man. It threatened to drown him. And I promised to help the souls somehow. But not now.”
“Good. The dead can wait. We need to protect the living.” He kissed her long and hard. It was a promise.
Valek left. Muscling through the cold wind, he hurried across the campus. There wasn’t much time for him to switch into his guard’s uniform and report for the evening shift change.
* * *
He’d just reached his rafter when the councilors and master magicians entered the great hall. Settling on the narrow wooden beam, he exhaled a long breath. That was close.
Roze pounded her gavel, and everyone quieted. Valek noted that Cahil and a few of his pet Daviians were also in attendance.
“I call Marrok Ixia to appear before the council,” Roze said.
Marrok entered. He strode to the podium despite being flanked by two guards.
Once he faced the council, Roze said. “Marrok Ixia, please tell the council why you are here.”
“I am here to set the record straight about the events surrounding the escape of Ferde Daviian.”
“May I have your permission to use magic to confirm your statement?” Roze asked.
“You may,” he said formally.
This should be interesting. Valek leaned forward to get a better look. Not that he could see Roze’s magic, but Marrok’s grip on the podium tightened as if he fought to stay upright against a strong gale.
“Marrok Ixia, report,” Roze ordered.
His mouth moved, but no words came out. Marrok gazed at Roze in panic.
“You cannot lie. You can only speak the truth.”
“I…” He swallowed, then the words gushed from his mouth. “I freed Ferde.”
Gasps and murmurs sounded. Cahil smirked. Poor Marrok had been forced to spew a lie.
Roze leaned back, giving him a smug smile. “Continue.”
“I planned to frame Cahil, so he’d be arrested, and I would be promoted to team leader. Once in charge of the soldiers, I would then join Ferde and the Daviians in their attempt to provoke a war with Ixia. But Cahil figured it out. He beat the information from me, and then went to join Ferde in my place.”
“Freeing a prisoner from the Council Hall’s special cells is a difficult task,” Roze said. “Did you work alone, or did you have accomplices?”
“I had help.” Sweat glistened on his forehead.
“Who helped you?” she asked.
Marrok’s body shook. “Yelena and Leif Zaltana.”
CHAPTER11
Astunned silence filled the room. Its sharp edges dug into Valek’s heart. Marrok was obviously being forced to accuse Yelena and her brother, but no one spoke in her defense. Not even Irys. But Bain and her appeared to be mentally communicating. Perhaps they considered it too dangerous to speak up at this time.
Roze dismissed Marrok, thanking him for his confession. Marrok stared at her blankly until the guards grabbed his elbows and led him away. Cahil trotted after them.
“We’ve always known Soulfinders are dangerous. Now, we have proof that Yelena is just like her predecessors. She has also recruited her brother to help with her schemes. I suspected this would happen, and I have already written up an arrest warrant for them. Once captured, Leif will be interrogated to determine if his involvement was by his own choice or if he was forced to comply. If it was by choice, he will join Yelena in the special cells until we can safely execute them.”
Fear zipped through him. Yelena certainly wasn’t being paranoid when she had said the council was against her. Or was it just Roze? They all quickly signed the warrant. Perhaps not. Valek noticed that Bain and Irys left the great hall before it was their turn to sign the document. Perhaps Yelena had some allies after all.
