Jerome’s middle of the night without so much as a goodbye exit had shown Ahn a different side of Seff. Angry, bitter, lost in an emotional breakdown Seff. His near apocalyptic temper tantrum had been the most entertaining Seff had been in centuries. It had been great!
At the moment, Jerome was acting as a guard in Ahn’s cell deep in the Timnath-Heres Hall dungeons along with Marcus and Spencer. Hugo, who was designated as makeshift warden, was slouched against a wall, his ever-present cigar in place and his eyes drooped closed. Seff had no real business in the underground holding cell, Ahn was pretty sure Cobra had it covered, but here he was, inexplicably present, staring at Jerome from across the room, still stoic and unreadable as ever. Jerome would glance in Seff’s direction every once in a while, then roll his eyes when he would catch The Above member staring.
Ahn wanted to poke at the embers a bit. He was bored. Why not? “Hey, Jerome. Did we ever debrief you on the mission once you arrived back home?”
Jerome eyed Ahn out of the corner of his eye but other than that didn’t move from his post near Ahn’s cell. “Of course.”
“We did? Huh. My memory fails me. I think it’s this gratuitous display of glass artwork. Remind me?”
Spencer snickered, Marcus shook his head and Jerome sighed. “After being updated on Aria Jinni, I was to prepare to regroup and retrain with Cobra with the sole purpose of tracking down The Eleven leader Pythia Del. That was the plan, however, now I’m a co-conspiring babysitter.”
“Conspiring? No, it’s called dedication. Yet…” Ahn turned to Seff. “There was another reason we needed you to return so urgently. Less official, you see. Seff, could you bring him up to speed on that reason?”
Seff broke his unending one man staring contest with Jerome to glare out of the glass door that sealed the holding cell closed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he muttered.
“Your memory fails you, too? Damn this glass! I’ll help. See, Jerome, Seff here was–”
The glass of Ahn’s cell shook then rippled outwards in waves. Seff’s spirit mass marker–a bull’s head–appeared on the glass, its image distorted as the rippling increased in magnitude until the center shot inwards to a point, mere inches from Ahn’s neck. Ahn took a step back. He looked up to find Seff glaring at him, his eyes tinted gold.
“Sheesh.” Ahn held his hands up in surrender. “The angel doth protest too much, methinks.”
Seff, although one of Ahn’s closest friends and confidants, looked like he would break Ahn over his knee if he could get past the glass. Too bad he couldn’t! Ha!
The glass door to the complex slid open and a rush of cold air filled the holding cell. Seff stopped his rampage and Ahn stood up straighter when Bon Baji entered, holding a clear container in front of her.
He groaned. “Are those necessary?”
Bon Baji shot him a look that was set to incense. “Shut your idiot mouth, Ahn. You’re lucky they haven’t stuffed you in this box!”
Ahn eyed the small box in her small hands and winced. “Fair enough but don’t think I’d fit. You could though.”
Bon Baji’s eyes flashed red. Ooh. Scary. “Ahn! Your mouth!”
Ahn slid two pinched fingers across his lips. “Zipped.”
Bon Baji turned to Hugo and kicked him, rousing him from his nap. “It’s time to transport the prisoner–”
“Whoa! Prisoner? Don’t you think that’s a little harsh?” Ahn exclaimed from behind the glass, pouting.
Bon Baji continued, not even turning to acknowledge his outburst. “He needs to be in place by the time Khavah Dantò’s retinue reaches Timnath-Heres Hall. Gives you plenty of time but not enough to fool around with.”
Hugo yawned and rose to his feet, accepting the box with little interest. “Not that my opinion has ever mattered around here but I do agree with Ahn. He doesn’t need restraints and definitely not restraints of this magnitude. He’s not Shemhazi.”
“Shemhazi was restrained because of his power. Ahn is being restrained because nobody knows what is going on in his fool head.”
“Considering the current circumstances, I would say her assessment is fair, Ahn,” Seff agreed, his arms crossed. “Play along and make this easier.”
“Fine. I’ll put those on but only if Bon Baji promises to carry me into The Great Hall. I do enjoy a piggyback ride from time to time.” Ahn smiled as hard as he could because sometimes that worked with her.
Bon Baji snarled at him. “Oftentimes I wonder why Anais left you. Other times, such as today, I understand perfectly well.”
Sometimes it worked on her, sometimes it didn’t.
“So wow, that was a bit much but okay, I get it. This isn’t the time or place for my sense of humor,” he said as he walked closer to the glass wall. “I’m sorry. My teasing comes from a place of worry. I’m a little anxious. Terrified might be the better word.”
Bon Baji heaved a sharp, exhausted exhale before her shoulders relaxed and the anger drained from her face. “You have nothing to be scared about. Khavah is not about to see you harmed over this. Punished, maybe, but you will live.”
His face brightened with a genuine smile. “Thank you, Bon Baji. That was kind of you.”
“I didn’t say it to be kind.”
Ahn’s smile widened. “Of course.” He tapped on the glass, looking at Hugo. He held his arms out and pushed his sleeves up. “Shall we?”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Timnath-Hermes Hall
Elysian, Caelian Realm
The Timnath-Heres Hall was splendid. It was always splendid. Ahn couldn’t remember a time where it was described as anything but splendid. Even the name was splendid. Timnath-Heres meant, “A fragment of the sun”.
Ahn wasn’t all that impressed with much of Elysian. It was more steel and metal than he cared for but he had always believed in letting the citizens mold the look of the city. Timnath-Heres was older than Elysian, ancient, and was designed by the first to live in Caeli. It shined, was resplendent, covered in gold and ivory…it was nice.
Most of Timnath-Heres was filled with those who had some influence
in Caeli. Although Caeli was considered an oligarchy, they did welcome the opinions of those who’d been of service to Caeli. The number was small by design.
One of the most influential of these was a human elder by the name of Dennes. He was the High Priest of Be’er Sheeba, a ridiculous temple that “worshiped” the angels of Caeli. Not a traditional deity setup, but they served as advocates for angels, an appellate court for those who didn’t agree with a reading of Tambour or a judgment from The Fallen. He sat on the front row, in robes that looked too heavy for his frail body. To the right of the High Priest was Ose.
Ose was a mystery to all, including Dennes. Soon after the end of the war, as Dennes was put into place at Be’er Sheeba, an heir system much like The Temple of Tambour was implemented to guarantee him a successor. After a long complicated search, Dennes showed up one morning announcing Ose, a human apparently, as his heir.
You could have heard a pin drop in that room. Or a pen, because Gadriel did drop his pen in surprise. Maybe the shock came from Dennes finding someone outside of their pool of candidates, or that Dennes was adamant about Ose or maybe it was Ose’s really weird get up. No, Ahn was certain… it was Ose’s odd choice of clothing.
Nobody knew who Ose was. They had no history, no family and no identity and their spirit essence registered no scent at all. Even those with the most sensitive of noses, such as Penume, or powerful in spirituality, such as Pythia Phi, couldn’t pick anything up.
Ose’s entire countenance rang of secrecy and it made a lot of people wary but Dennes was insistent. In the end, it was their skill at gathering information that aided Cali on numerous occasions such as tipping Aria and himself off about the Aeon Terra Raid or notifying them every time that someone defected so they could be added to the Blood Border uncrossables list that gained Ose their trust. To an end, it wasn’t benevolent voluntee
r work. Ose had built and maintained an organization called SEKRÈ that gathered and sold the information to both angels and humans alike. As the head, it provided Ose a lot of power. Power that Caeli had to reign in on plenty of occasions. Luckily, in the last few decades, Ose’s thirst for power seemed to have calmed.
Maybe it was Dennes’ influence. Dennes was a good man. Be’er Sheeba was a good place.
Ahn didn’t dislike Be’er Sheeba as much as he put on. It lacked the authority that it needed to be powerful to any degree that would make any difference. Truth be told, his gripes about Be’er Sheeba didn’t stem from the work they did, the surreptitious Ose or the patient and kind Dennes. It was their patron guardian…Anais Dantò.
That woman raked his everlasting nerves. If he never saw her again it would be too soon.
“To your feet! Now enters Her Nobleness Khavah Dantò, Divine Matriarch of The Twelve Noble Families of The Glory Beyond, Great Mother of Caeli, and the spirit Umoya.”
Ahn rolled his eyes. “Spoke too soon,” he mumbled.
The large intricately decorated golden doors of Timnath-Heres groaned open and Ahn plugged one ear as the trumpets blared and the drummers drummed and the singers sang. Doves flew up above and he swore he heard a harp playing which was impossible. No harps were allowed in Timnath-Heres because Parker hated harps and they had been banned for centuries. Everyone was to their feet as she entered and someone started weeping and honestly, honestly, Ahn was over the entire event before it even got started.
Serving as her retinue was Khavah’s family, one of the most well-known clans in all of Caeli–Ezili. Leading the procession down the long aisle was Elle Dantò, who he affectionately called “Little El.” She winked at him and offered him a quick smile before her face went blank again. She was one of the brightest Astral Bodyguard neophytes and he’d always had high hopes for her. Liam did too. Ahn would be proud to see her in any capacity but secretly he wished there was a way to steal her from her fate as the High Priestess of Tambour. It would be a shame to lose a skilled fighter such as her.
Behind her was her aunt, Pythia Phi, the current High Priestess of Tambour and next to Pythia Phi was Yusuf Dantò, The Shark, Luminary General of Reconnaissance. Center was Khavah herself. She had her arm wrapped around her eldest son’s arm, Kano, known by most as the Griffith.
Bringing up the rear of the procession was Jezebel herself. It made sense for her to be in the back. To be the last to enter, to have the last word in an argument, to always be the center of attention even when it had nothing to do with her. Ahn thought about being respectful and kind and he also thought about curling his lip in distaste and snarling. She deserved it! Ruined a perfectly good potential mating because she wanted more power. Well, she got it! Her mate was an idiot and a philanderer, but he held power…more power than Ahn did. For all the intelligence Anais possessed, she sure was terrible at picking someone to stand at her side for all eternity.
He grumbled. At least I made her laugh.
The retinue approached the stand and made way for Khavah to descend further into Timnath- Heres.
She wore a long black gown that hugged her chest and flared out at her hips in layers and layers of black and gold fabric. Her hands were covered in black lace gloves and a pair of heavy golden gauntlet like bracelet adorned her wrist. A crown like gele sat delicately on her head in a way that made her look just as powerful as Winter Dantò was.
Of the four vessels, Winter Dantò was as powerful as she was exacting and wise. Summer Dantò was warm and passionate and Autumn Dantò was precise and motherly. Ahn counted his blessings; if Spring Dantò had shown up, he would have fear for his life. Spring Dantò was an atomic bomb of emotions, most of them flippant.
In a surprising show of affection–because he was sure she was pissed–Khavah approached him with a gentle smile on her face, placed her hand at the back of his neck and brought his head forward until their foreheads touched.
“Greetings, Ahn of Eliyah,” Khavah said as she took a step back. “I am pleased you have offered us this opportunity. Your willingness to proceed with these questions should be appreciated by all.” She swept her hand to her side, a signal. Those who understood it rose and made their way to the row of official benches behind Ahn.
Ahn hadn’t known who would be interrogating him but wasn’t surprised by those chosen. Kano was an obvious choice. Dennes, of course, and any member of The Above would have made sense, so when Parker stood, Ahn understood. Pythia Phi was amongst them as well. But he almost bit his tongue off when Anais took her place at the center bench, signifying her position as Court Marshall Head.
Timnath-Heres grew silent when Anais held up a hand, a sign they were about to begin.
“Greetings, Ahn,” Anais intoned, her face serene and smooth. “It has been quite some time since we’ve seen each other–”
Her calmness irritated him so damn much! Did she not…was she not– “Oh, you mean when you left me for that idiot Balladan and broke the heart I didn’t know I had, you hell harpy?” Ahn snapped.
The hall grew even quieter…if that was possible. He could feel Khavah’s glare burning a hole in the back of his head. Bon Baji’s too. Anais’s eyes narrowed to points for a faint second but she recovered quicker than Ahn wanted. “It is…unfortunate that we have to have our reunion under such circumstances. I won’t waste any more time with the unnecessary. We’ll get right into it. Phi?”
Pythia Phi graced him with a gentle smile, much like the one her mother had given him. “For the record, could you state your full name?” Pythia Phi started.
“Ahn’anakim’melkyal Te, noble son of the clan Eliyah.”
“And your position?”
“Although I am suspended at the moment due to,” and he held up his cuffed wrists, “this, I am the leader of The Above and one of the four High Commanders of Caeli.”
Pythia Phi nodded. “Although I’m sure most of you are familiar with the creation of Caeli, I will refresh any of you who happened to fall asleep during your studies.” Pythia Phi’s statement brought a few rounds of laughter from those in the audience and Ahn was glad. The tension in the room was stifling.
“When The Creator cast us aside, it was Khavah, our Divine Matriarch, who convinced those who would see us in darkness for eternity to give us a way out. With that we have Caeli, we have The Above, those four precious beings sent to us to help us make Caeli not only an asset to The Glory Beyond, but to the Earthen plane as well. We have The Fallen and our Mutare ranks. We have order, we have rules, and we have peace.”
Pythia Phi’s smile slipped a little. “Although there are not many here who can question your authority as the leader of The Above, Ahn, we do, however, have to inquire into your motives as we are directly tied to and are impacted by your actions. That is why we are here today.”
“Understood,” Ahn intoned.
“Aria Jinni,” Kano stated, his deep voice resonating in the Great Hall. “What is your relationship to her?”
Ahn scratched behind his ear in an effort to keep the annoyance off his face. They knew the answers to these questions. He figured they were asking just to mess with him. Like witness intimidation or something. He inhaled deeply, filling his chest with air and exhaled louder than necessary before answering. “She is my cousin. Her father Yofiel is my mother’s eldest brother. Aria has a doll in my likeness that she once covered in tar and lit on fire.” Ahn clasped his hands and held them to his chest. “She was such a kind person.”
“Uh-huh,” Kano rejoined dryly. “And did you conspire with anyone else in your scheme?”
Ahn shook his head firmly. “The other members of The Fallen, as well as The Above, were left in the dark. I’m sure you can tell. Bon Baji is so mad she can’t even look at me without scowling,” Ahn finished, winking at her. Bon Baji scowled at him and he had enough sense to bite back laughter.
Dennes narrowed his eyes. “I find it hard to believe that angels as close as you four are would not share th
is…path you’ve taken.”
“’I am their leader. My job, in part, is to protect them. Even if it’s my schemes they need protection from.” Ahn stood his full height, his golden manacles clinking. “It is my job to serve this realm to the best of my abilities. It is my job to do things that some may find distasteful or corrupt or unethical. Not my reputation,” he said turning towards the audience, his voice rising until it was an impassioned roar, “my position, nor my life is more important than to see this realm flourish and survive–”
Anais stood, her hands slamming down on the judicial bench. Her face was drawn tight like a storm was passing over it and there was no eye to calm her down. “Save your lies for the kids at MATE because you won’t fool any of us with this noble do-gooder speech of yours! Answer this. Who gave you the authority to act on behalf of not only The Above but The Fallen and my mother? Who do you think you are? If it were up to me you’d be–”
In a move Ahn had never seen in any hearings of this magnitude before, Khavah Dantò rose from her seat and walked forward, not stopping until she stood between Ahn and the tribunal.
“Mother!”
“Silence, Anais. This is a preliminary court hearing. Your questions are too forward.”
“How can they be too forward? Preliminary or not, these questions have to be asked!” Anais barked. “I’m just trying to–”
“I won’t repeat myself, Anais Dantò. Enough,” she commanded.
A Third of the Moon and the Stars Struck Page 16
