"My leadership got Gerhard killed."
Turgen gave a resigned nod. "Knights have perished under all of our commands. It's a difficult burden and it never becomes easier. Quite the opposite, truth be told. To achieve Master, a knight must be very intimate with loss."
"And all of you agree? Even Master Sonu?"
"Master Sonu especially," Schmidt answered. "He suggested you as a potential candidate two years ago."
"I see."
"You don't appear very," Turgen rolled his hand as if reeling out the words, "amenable to the idea."
"It's…uh… I'm just a bit overwhelmed," Allan said. "Forgive me, it's just with the past few days this all feels so sudden."
Turgen raised a hand. "There's nothing to forgive."
"Do you need an answer now? Can I have some time to process this?"
"Of course."
#
Allan sat in his new room staring at his laptop. He knew it would be days before Master Turgen requested a field report. The others, as well as the video footage, would detail most of it. But he needed to remember everything now, as crystal clear as possible. And not just the report from the catacombs, but everything that had transpired since meeting Victoria. Her life might very well hinge on something he recalled, and he was running out of time. They'd called for a meeting.
He glanced at Ibenus on the stand beside him, hoping the sword might somehow jog his memory. Instead, a sharp pain started in his missing toes, like long needles being slid into each one, joining near his heel. Clenching his teeth, Allan pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth. You're not real. You're not real.
After a very long minute the pain receded, leaving an annoying tickle. Allan let out a breath and checked the clock in the corner of the screen.
Twenty more minutes.
Surely someone was coming for him. They couldn't possibly have this trial, or tribunal, or whatever it was without him. He shook the idea from his mind. Just nerves. He clenched his hands and continued to type.
A knock came from the door. "About ready?"
Allan turned as Matt stepped inside. "Yeah." He reviewed over his notes and closed the laptop.
"So what did Turgen want?"
"They, um, offered to make me a Master."
"Wow." Matt's eyes widened. "Can't say I'm surprised. Well deserved."
Allan shrugged. "I don't know. It just doesn't feel…earned."
Matt snorted. "Really?"
"It's like they're just giving it to me as some consolation prize. Oh, you lost your foot and sword? Here's a promotion."
"That's not it at all." Matt shut the door. "Allan, they're offering it to you because you deserve it. Tom never became Master when he was hurt."
"Yeah, but—"
"No." Matt folded his arms. "Seriously, if Schmidt, Turgen, or Sonu were to die today, who would replace them? You killed a god, man!"
"Naked," Allan said. "No one ever mentions that part."
Matt nodded. "Yeah, that does add to the story, doesn't it? But seriously, who would you choose? Malcolm? No. He's all barbecues and Mardi Gras floats now. Luc? Sure. He'd be good."
"Luiza?"
"She'd be great, too. Me? No, they won't even give me a team. You heard Schmidt earlier. They were joking but it's still true. Taras? Maybe one day. He's too…intense. Uwe?"
They both laughed.
"What about Daiyu?" Allan asked.
"Never met her in person."
"She'll make an excellent one."
"Good for her," Matt said. "But they're asking you, man. Do you honestly think they'd offer the Order to you just to make you feel better?"
Allan thought about that. "You're right."
"Doesn't happen often. Hell, you should ask to be stationed back home. You'll love ordering me around. You like fishing?"
Allan shook his head. "Not really. But I think I'd be staying here. Master Turgen wants to groom me on the museum circuit and his connections. Said it'll take a long time."
"Really?" Matt grunted. "You know I'm the antique expert, and you don't see him asking me. And you still think they're not serious about wanting you to become a Master?"
"I said you were right. Now you're just pushing it."
"Just want to be sure it's through that thick head of yours."
"Consider me scolded. And thanks. It's what I needed to hear."
#
"It's time," Luc said.
The knot of apprehension tightened in Victoria's stomach. She'd known it was coming, watched the clock counting down the minutes. But now she felt herself at the precipice, like those criminals she'd once arrested must have. Though their penalty was only prison. Hers could be far worse.
Chaya, leaning against a chest of drawers, motioned her pistol, ordering her to stand.
Forcing at least a mask of confidence, Victoria stood. "Let's go."
Luc opened the door and led her out into the hall, Chaya behind her. The mansion was silent, the only sounds being crickets outside the windows and their own footsteps on tile. Her stomach rolling somersaults, Victoria rubbed her wrist absently. Chaya had at least offered the courtesy of removing the sturdy zip ties when Victoria had needed to use the toilet, though she insisted on her keeping the door open. Luc had been kind enough to look away but Chaya, never one for modesty, watched the entire show with cautious eyes. Once done, they'd left the restraints off.
They passed the staircase and continued along the corridor. She'd imagined this drama playing out in the second-floor briefing room, the entire Order stadium-seated before her. Now that she thought about it, it was obvious that Allan's injury would have made that problematic. She hadn't been given a chance alone with him since he'd awoken, the opportunity to tell him how she felt, that nothing had changed with them. Now, she feared, she never would. She'd never kiss him or hold Ibenus again.
No. That isn't going to happen.
She'd come too far, earned an angel's love, and they sure as hell weren't going to deny her Ibenus. He had chosen her, found her worthy, and by God so would the Valducans.
They entered the dining room and they were all there, seated along three sides with one empty like a Last Supper painting. No, not all. Sam wasn't in the tribunal. She was likely watching over the baby Victoria saw when they arrived. Babysitting would definitely put a damper on funtas. Victoria wondered if she'd ever see Sam again.
Master Turgen and Schmidt sat in the middle. Ignoring the stern faces, she met Allan's eyes. He sat between Turgen and his friend Matt. Allan gave an almost imperceptible nod, assuring, and at once Victoria's fear abated.
She could do this.
Master Turgen gestured to the single empty chair opposite him and she walked to it, chin high. She was Ibenus' champion and she wasn't going to quail before these people.
"Miss Martin," Turgen said once she'd taken the hard, high-backed seat. "We have questions we want to ask you about your activities with TommyD."
"I know why I'm here," she said, confidence mounting with each word. "I've shown you everything I sent and discussed with him. Luc," she said, turning to him. "I am terribly sorry that my actions brought this down on you. One day I hope you will forgive me, but I don't expect it of you now. That was my fault and I hurt you."
Luc's cold expression remained unchanged.
"And what of Gerhard?" Turgen asked. "He can't simply forgive you. And now Umatri is in the hands of his killer, the same man you betrayed him to."
"I have freely admitted to everything I've done, but…TommyD's appearance in the mines and the terrible things that he did, was nothing I was privy to. I told him to stay away. I had hoped to buy time to correct the mistakes I had made."
"But you still didn't tell us," Schmidt said. "That was the final mistake."
Victoria folded her hands across her lap, fingers intertwined. "And what would have happened to me had I told you? Would I still be here?"
"No," he said. "Bu
t Gerhard might still be alive. Allan might not have been injured."
"The only definite is what would have happened to me. Having no knowledge of TommyD's intention would have gained you no insight into his ambush."
"Then how did he find us?" Chaya asked.
"I don't know. But I suspect he was looking for the getaway car. Would my confession have led you to not using Samantha as eyes on the cameras?"
Chaya narrowed her eyes but didn't answer.
"We were all already paranoid he might find us," Victoria continued. "In fact, your not knowing how he found you the first time led to everyone being even more cautious than you would have been otherwise."
"Now you're speaking hypotheticals," Turgen said, steepling his slender fingers before him.
"What I want to know is why." Malcolm's eyes didn't hold the loathing contempt as Chaya's or Turgen's. More like a physician determining an ailment. "Why did you betray us?"
"I already told you that," Victoria said.
"Indulge me," still studying her.
She swallowed. "James, my partner, was killed by a demon. I was written off as mad because no one believed me. And then I discover that your Order has kept these things secret out of some fear of what people might think, but with no consideration for how many would suffer for not knowing. I was angry. I wanted the world to know what was out there and how to protect themselves, and I wanted them to know damn well who was letting them die by not telling them."
"Do you not remember why?" Luc rumbled. "I told you."
"Yes." She nodded. "You told me that people would kill you for the holy weapons and you were right. I…" Victoria fought the welling tears. Not now. "I didn't understand at the time."
"And what was that?" Turgen asked.
"I didn't know the extent that TommyD would go. As I said, I was angry. I lashed out before I grew to know what kind of people you really were. Most importantly, I didn't understand about the weapons."
"I told you about the weapons," Luc said. "Allan, I know, explained it."
Allan nodded but still hadn't said anything. He looked as terrified as her, his lips pursed and colorless like he was afraid moving them might break something but Victoria couldn't tell what was behind those eyes. Was he scared for her, of her, what?
"I was told," she said. "And it was explained as clearly as I believe you could have. But I didn't understand. How could I understand what the weapons were? Before any of you were bonded, could you have understood what they were?"
"But you had seen the monsters," Luc said. "And you didn't believe us?"
Anger flashed, heating her cheeks. Victoria opened her mouth, closed it. "There's an enormous difference between belief and understanding," she said carefully. "Gerhard came believing in the weapons, but everyone was scrambling about trying to show him a demon because he didn't understand. Why then is it hard to believe that I didn't understand what all of you take for granted? The weapons, the bond, what that means."
"She's right," Allan said. "I didn't help her understand. That is my fault."
"Don't blame yourself," Matt said. "She knew what she was doing."
"Matt's right," Turgen agreed. "She has already admitted she came intent on betraying us."
"And it was my job to make her understand," Allan said.
"Don't excuse her," Schmidt said. "No one blames you."
"But it's still my fault. She was my student and it was my job to make her understand."
"She came intent on destroying us," Chaya said. "You're only mistake was accepting her as your student."
Turgen raised a silencing finger. "Sir Allan's errors in judgments are not what we are discussing."
"So what are we discussing?" Victoria asked. "I've told you everything. I don't know where TommyD is. There is nothing more I can tell you. So what possible outcomes does this," she swept her arm across the row of seated knights, "have? Or are you just pretending to be a court?"
Turgen glowered at her. "Miss Martin—"
"Is it death by firing squad, or the sword?" she asked. "Is that the debate?"
"No one is going to kill you," Malcolm said, earning every eye in the room.
Chaya snorted. "That hasn't been decided."
"We don't have a choice." Malcolm leaned forward, his seat creaking. "Ibenus has chosen her as protector. We know that."
"So you just want to let her go?" Matt asked. "After what she did? One knight is dead, a weapon is gone, and Allan's in a fucking wheelchair, man."
"You think I don't know that?" Malcolm snapped. "Taras and I recovered Gerhard's body. I scooped his brains up myself. But that still doesn't change the fact that Victoria isn't responsible for what happened to them."
"She admitted she sold us out," Luc said.
"She has. But the fact remains that she is bonded to a holy weapon." Malcolm turned to Matt who was still glaring at him. "You once told me that no holy weapon has ever bonded with their protector's killer."
Matt nodded, seeming unsure where this was going.
"So," Malcolm continued, "if we believe that a weapon can see into our soul when it makes the bond, then Ibenus would have known of Victoria's betrayal. Therefore, if she was in any way responsible for what happened to Allan, Ibenus wouldn't have bonded. And if she's not responsible for Allan, then she can't be responsible for Gerhard." He looked over the room, letting that sink in. "Ibenus has chosen Victoria. As knights, we must honor that decision. Killing her would defy our vows."
"Where was this when I was brought on board?" Matt asked. "You threatened to kill me. Now you want to protect someone that has openly betrayed us?"
"That was different," Malcolm said. "You were possessed. We'd never encountered that before. Allan told me that I should trust you because you were bonded. He was right. I was wrong. And I'm not making that mistake again." He returned his attention to Victoria. "So to answer your question, the outcome is that you either stay or you go. Either way, Ibenus is yours."
"Sir Malcolm," Turgen snapped. "While I respect your opinion, you can't speak for us all."
Schmidt shook his head. "He's right, Alex. Victoria is not to blame for Allan."
"We'll she's not staying here," Chaya insisted.
"Agreed," Orlovski said with a nod.
"I have no problem with that," Malcolm said.
"Glad we agree on something," Matt said. "But she can't leave until we have Umatri back."
"So are we just supposed to keep her in chains?" Malcolm asked.
"You want her just walking around here?" Matt asked with a wide gesture.
"If Victoria goes, I go," Allan announced.
Victoria met his eyes as stunned exclamations erupted around him.
Turgen placed his hand on Allan's arm. "Allan, there's no—"
"No," Allan said, holding Victoria's gaze. "I'm still sworn to Ibenus. I go where he goes." He turned to the old man. "I accept your offer, Master Turgen. I'm honored to do it. But if Victoria leaves, I'm going with her."
"Allan," Turgen said. "You're putting us in a very difficult situation. We can't trust her."
"Then let's give her the chance to earn it back. Let her hunt. The eel is still the highest priority. After that…" A hardness grew in his voice as he met Victoria's eyes. "She can earn her way in by killing TommyD, and retrieving Umatri, and whatever information TommyD might still have on us. Would you be willing to do that?"
Victoria nodded. "Gladly."
"So there." Allan awkwardly pulled Ibenus out, setting him on the table, handle facing Victoria. "That is my proposal. Either we agree and she stays and earns lost trust or we both leave tonight."
"Allan," Matt said, "You're in no condition to leave right now."
"Then don't force me to."
Schmidt drew a long breath. "I'll agree. But as long as she is in this house she cannot be outside her room without an escort or have any access to the archives."
"Agreed," Malcolm said.
A silence fell as the knights were deadlocked, four to four, one Master each way. But Victoria no longer cared. Whatever they decided, she'd have Ibenus and she'd have Allan. The rest of them could go to hell after that. Then she'd go to Paris and kill that bastard for what he did and return Umatri if for no other reason than to atone.
"Agreed," Luiza said, sealing the majority.
Brow crinkled, Matt turned to his wife. "You can't be serious?"
She smiled humorlessly. "Why not?"
"After what she did. You're willing to hunt beside her."
Luiza shrugged. "Mal's right. Besides, the last time I took a risk on a hunter I married him."
Matt shook his head, lips tight, but didn't speak.
Victoria held her smile, she met Luiza's stare and gave a silent thanks. Allan was beaming, the same satisfied glow he'd had when they'd found the Paris building from the video. The bitter taste of that betrayal returned, spoiling Victoria's elation. She didn't deserve his trust. Not until she atoned. Then her gaze returned to Ibenus. They needed to get back to Paris.
Schmidt rapped the table, silencing the whispered conversations. "Now that we have a strategy for Victoria, we still need to plan our next move. With Allan's condition, and my own…" he gave Turgen a defeated frown, "physical limitations, I will be unable to accompany you to Paris. That still leaves six hunters."
"Excuse me," Victoria said, raising her hand.
"Yes?" Schmidt asked.
"I would like Ibenus now."
There was a hesitation. This was the commitment. Schmidt smiled, a sliver of teeth beneath the gray moustache. He opened his palm, gesturing to the sword. "He is yours."
Episode 161: Subterranean Warzone
"We have a special episode for you, cryptozoologists." TommyD sits before a wall of pockmarked beige stone. A slate gray helmet with a square LED lamp has replaced his trademark fedora, though he still wears his black Ray-Bans. "I'm here with a special report that only Monster Seekers will tell you about."
Familiar photographs of black-clad figures exiting a parked van and storming an abandoned building play across the screen. "After our last episode where we brought you absolute proof that a secret team of covert monster hunters exists, including the identity of one Luc Renault, I continued my investigation."
Ibenus (Valducan series) Page 24
