“So?”
“So, there’s no record of a Select named Arvid.”
His eyes narrowed. “But Lucy, it was only recently that a census of the Select was conducted. He died shortly before that. Prior to that, no one had any idea about the Select remaining in Oosa, their names, or where they lived.”
“So you stand by your claim—that you served this . . . ‘Arvid’ until he died of old age.”
Percival looked down. “Of course. Why would I make up something like that?” He glanced back her way and tapped at his chest. “Just look at me. Clearly, I’ve aged little since I first met you—which means that my claims are true. I started serving Filip shortly before that, and then, following his death, Arvid became my charge. And, as I told you before, he died only recently.”
“So you say.”
“But what else would account for my continued youth?”
“Ehyeh only knows,” she said.
He put his hands to his face and rubbed it. “Uhhh. I just—” He sat up straighter and squared his shoulders. “What is this all about anyway? You mentioned something about treason. What is it I’m accused of having done?”
Lucy stood and paced. “Go ahead, Petrus, tell him. I can’t bring myself to speak to him any longer.”
Petrus leaned in. “When Mara and the twins were captured, someone suggested we might have a leak. Then, when Dixon, Dax, and Aliza, suffered a similar fate, it became clear who that leak was—or is.”
Percival looked from one of his visitors to the other. “You think it was me?”
“I know it was you,” Lucy said. Then, when he opened his mouth to speak again, she held her hand up, signifying that she was not through.
“Outside of me, Jerrett, and Velia, no one knew where Dixon and the others were. But, of course, you stole a glance at the map we were using. I suspect you then hid in the closet in the next room to get the other details you required. Interestingly, within hours of Spec’s returning to them all, they were captured. So I can only surmise that you got word to your comrades in time to do that. What I’d like to know is: how did you do it? What dark magic are you mixed up with, anyway?”
Percival stared at her. “What closet? What other facts? You think that I, somehow, got word to someone about all this?”
“Not just to ‘someone.’ To Zarek, himself,” Petrus said.
Lucy stood. “You’ll get your hearing, Percival. On that, you needn’t fear. However, we require information from you—and we require it now. We need to know everything about which you’ve informed the enemy.” She glanced her cohort’s way. “Petrus will lead the interrogation,” she then added.
“Lucy, I swear, I’ve told no one anything of a confidential nature.”
She approached the door, then called over her shoulder, “Get on with it then, Petrus. I’ll be preparing my things to go.”
“Wait! Lucy!” Percival cried. “Where are you going? Hear me out!”
She turned back.
“I swear—it wasn’t me.”
Her lips pursed, she turned away again, and then stepped out.
The Council members sat around the table located in a secret part of sanctuary.
“Well, we’ve heard your evidence, Lucy,” Piers Hamilton said. “But—what if you’re wrong?” A businessman best known for opposing everything, and for always asking difficult questions, he stared at her.
“I’m not wrong.”
“What if you are?” he repeated. “Look, Percival denies any knowledge of this.”
“Of course he denies it.” She slapped a handful of papers down on the table. “You didn’t think he’d just spill everything without a fight, did you?”
Eben Taft, the well known scientist, leaned in. “You know, Lucy,” he said, “I’m inclined to agree with Piers on this one.”
“As am I,” Skylar Hadwin spoke up.
She glared at each of them in turn, then looked at the legal expert, Heather Larkspur. “Well?” she asked her.
“I believe you can keep him banded and held for now, out of an abundance of caution,” she said, “but you haven’t much to go on here. In truth, you’ve little more than suspicion, so you must use care in how you question him.”
Lucy shook her head. Turning to Mildred Crane, best known for her work with issues relating to health and healing, she scowled. “Well, I’m sure I don’t need to ask you for your thoughts,” she muttered under her breath.
The woman pulled back. “Excuse me?” She pursed her lips. “Why wouldn’t you ask me?”
“Because you always agree with whoever seems to have the most support on his side at any given moment.”
“Well!” she exclaimed.
“Look,” Piers interrupted, “I agree with Heather that we can and should hold Percival, but let’s use care with the interrogation tactics that we use. We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves here.”
Skylar addressed Lucy. “Do you recall our discussions about the book When the Two May Overcome that you brought to me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember how it cautions against acting rashly? How it emphasizes that things are not always what they seem? I think the words are something like . . .” He put his fingers to his forehead. “Let me think.”
“‘Beware the obvious when you ought follow the obscure,’” Lucy recited.
“That’s right!” he cried. “That warning is repeated, again and again. I’ve thought all along that it pertained to Broden’s situation.”
“You mean that his appearing guilty, since he’s with his father, Zarek, is too obvious? So, perhaps he’s not?”
“Right. Just as Percival’s guilt seems too obvious.”
“I’d like to think that all of that is true,” she said. “It’s so hard to imagine Broden having turned to the dark side.” She paused, shook her head. “Fine, then. I’ll have Petrus continue questioning Percival. But if he can’t come up with anything shortly, then I’m headed into Chiran myself.”
“We can’t stop you,” Piers said, “but I recommend you reconsider. We’ve suffered enough losses already.” He held his jaw tight, then added, “You know, if the twins don’t survive this—”
“Ah!” Lucy cried. “How can you even say that?”
“Because, it is possible—and you know it. Now consider this: should that occur, we’ll need to go up their line to their next eldest sister for the next ranking member of the Select.”
“Adamina?” Skylar asked.
“Yes,” Piers said. “She was the sixth-born. And as much as I’d prefer not to have another sixth leading the first family after Lilith did so—although illegitimately—we may need to seek her out.”
“Now who’s getting ahead of himself?” Lucy muttered.
He tapped on the table with his quill, staring at her all the while. “I propose we put together a plan of action,” he said. “At this point, only you and Dixon know the whereabouts of Rowena’s other daughters, and he’s already been captured. What if something dreadful happened to you, as well?”
Lucy stood. She paced for a minute, then approached a nearby portrait and appeared to study it. “I don’t like the idea of disclosing where they all are,” she finally said. Then she turned back. “But I agree it may be necessary to make some sort of arrangements.”
“From a legal standpoint, I suggest we exercise extreme caution here,” Heather Larkspur said. “Perhaps the information could be locked up somewhere, allowing this body to retrieve it only if we all agree that we should do so.”
Shrugging, Lucy said, “I could live with that, I guess.”
Heather patted her hair bun. “Then again, there is another issue to consider, and that is that none of us is getting any younger.” Sitting ramrod straight, she paused, pursing her lips. “What if something should happen to any of us?”
Stepping back to the table, Lucy sat, She rubbed her face with her hands. “I don’t like it, but I agree with you all about this. So, I’ve a proposal. I’ll put the informa
tion in a lock box that can only be opened on the approval of any three of this Council.”
“How will you do that?” Eben asked.
“There is a magic trinket that I created that should do the trick. Once we complete the process, the box will only open when any three of you—collectively—place a hand against a side of it.” Looking around at the other Council members, one by one, she held the gaze of each, momentarily. “I will, however, add a fourth requirement.”
“Oh?” Eben asked. “What would that be?”
“I’ll add that along with the agreement of any three of you, the box will only open if one of Mara, Jerrett, Velia, or Basha, also places his or her blade on the fourth side of the box.”
“Why one of them?” Heather asked.
“Dixon and I already know where Rowena’s other daughters are, so we’d have no need to access the information. Then of course, Mara is an obvious choice. As to the others? I chose them because they’ve spent so long with the twins—with me. They’ve proven themselves loyal, time and time again.” She glanced at the others. “So . . . will that be acceptable?”
They all nodded their agreement.
“Very well then. I’ll complete the matter before I leave for Chiran.”
“And where will this box be kept?” Skylar asked.
“For now, with Jerrett and Velia.”
Chapter Forty-One
As the Council members stepped out through various hidden passageways to their assigned sanctuary offices, a knock came at the door. Lucy made her way through the room of marble floors and pillars, and past numerous paintings hanging on the walls, to answer it.
Velia stepped inside. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No. Your timing is perfect.”
She glanced around. “I’ve never been in here.”
She stepped around a pillar, examined the nearby paintings, and then looked up at the ceiling mural that depicted scenes from one of the most important books of history and prophecy: The Book of the Blood. She studied it for a moment, then turned her gaze once again, to the walls. There, she noticed what looked like a window to a room situated near the back that did not let in any light.
“Is that where witnesses go when they give testimony?” she asked.
“It is.”
“I see. So, that’s where I was when I testified for Mara all those years ago.”
“That’s right.”
Cocking her head, Velia looked hard at Lucy. “So, what am I doing here?”
Lucy took her elbow and directed her to the conference table. There, she offered her a seat, then sat to her right.
“Well?”
“I’ve looked for some time now, for an opportunity to speak with you—in private. I have something we need to discuss, and I can’t take the chance that anyone might overhear.” She drummed the tabletop with her fingertips.
“What’s troubling you, Lucy?”
She sighed, then looked down. “Mara’s . . . pregnant,” she said, as she glanced back up, her eyes tear-filled.
Velia pulled back. “What?”
Lucy wiped her eyes dry, then told her all about the mix-up with the herbs at the compound.
“After Mara regained her memories, when I met up with her in the city, after she rescued the twins from The Tearless, I gave her what I thought was more barrenseed tea.
“But . . . it wasn’t.”
“No.”
“Oh, great Ehyeh!” Velia ran her fingers through her hair, then tucked a stray sprig of it behind her ear. “She told you this, via the compact, did she?”
“No. In truth, I’m not sure, based on her communications to date, that she even knows.”
Velia pulled back. “But then— How do you know this? I mean—” She shook her head. “Honestly, Lucy!” She stared at her. “What makes you think she’s pregnant?”
“Think about it, Velia. Think about how sick she was—every day, for weeks—but not constantly. And she was tired—all the time.” Lucy went through all the symptoms she felt certain indicated that Mara was pregnant.
“I hate to admit it, but I think you might be right,” Velia said as she stood and then paced. “And she’s stuck in that prison. Lucy, you have to tell her!”
“I was hoping we might do that together.”
“What? Now?”
She nodded. “I brought the compact with me. I don’t often carry it because, as you know, I don’t want others to learn of it, and of its power. Moreover, she’s made sure I know not to try to reach her during the daylight hours when the guards watch over them all. But we could reach her with it now.”
Velia sighed deeply. “Gracious Ehyeh, I hope you’re wrong. I mean, I’d love it for Mara—to have a child. I think she’s long wanted one of her own, but . . .”
Lucy bit her lip. “I don’t know if there’s anything she could or would do differently if she knew, but I feel I must tell her.”
“And you’ve mentioned this to no one else? Dixon doesn’t know?”
“I spoke about it briefly with Leala and Fidel shortly after I discovered what had happened with our stock of herbs. Unfortunately, Basha was already at the border, or I’d have asked her what she thought I should do. I wanted to speak with you when I returned, because I know that the three of you are the best of friends, but I just haven’t had the opportunity until now. And— Well, as to Dixon, he’d already left with Dax. It didn’t seem right to share that kind of information via the flits.”
Velia sat down again. “Yes, I think that was right. Besides which, it wasn’t really your information to share.” She paused. “All right, go ahead then, try to reach her.”
Lucy removed the compact from her pocket. She opened it and called out, “Mara?”
Far away, in a prison in Chiran, the action alerted the Oathtaker when the compact vibrated. As nightfall had descended some time earlier, the twins slept soundly in the next cell, beneath their mother’s shawl. Dixon and Aliza also currently slept, as Dax kept watch for them in the meantime, for marauding rats, killing off as many as he could so that they wouldn’t return at a later time.
She opened the compact.
“Mara!” Velia cried on sight of her face therein. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Goodness, it’s so good to see you!”
Her eyes flickered away momentarily, then turned back. “You too, Velia, and you, Lucy,” she whispered. “It’s good you waited for dark to contact me. Thank you for that. But please, keep it down. Most of the others are sleeping. I don’t want to awaken anyone.”
Lucy nodded. “I’m happy to see that your bruises are gone.”
Mara patted her cheek, then rubbed it. “Yes, they are.”
“Mara, how . . .” Lucy swallowed hard. “How are you feeling these days? I mean—has the grippe returned?”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “It—” She breathed in deeply, in an effort to keep from outright weeping. “Whhhhuuooooooo,” she exhaled slowly, then sucked in another breath. “Lucy . . . it . . . wasn’t the grippe.”
“No?”
“No.” Mara covered her eyes with one hand and shook her head. Then, looking back into the compact, she bit her lip. “Lucy, I’m— I’m pregnant.”
A tear rolled down Lucy’s cheek. She brushed it away. “I thought that might be the case.”
“I’ve no idea how this could have happened. I used the barrenseed tea faithfully, I swear!”
“I know, Mara. I think I can explain.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You knew? How?”
“I didn’t know, but I came to suspect as much.” Lucy explained about the mix-ups with the herbs.
“Then it really is true,” Mara said. Her gaze turned to Velia. “You’ve never miscarried, right?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
Mara swallowed hard. “I’ve just been quite sick again of late and—” She stopped short.
“And?”
“And I’ve been having cramps.”
“I see.”
“I think I’m l
osing the child, Velia.” She choked back a great sob. “Oh, what’ll I do? What’ll I tell Dixon?”
Tears rolled down Velia’s cheeks. “He doesn’t know about any of this?”
She shook her head.
“Do the twins know?”
She nodded, then explained how the discovery had come upon her. “I can’t believe the thought hadn’t occurred to me earlier. But as soon as Eden mentioned her moon cycle, I just . . . knew.”
“Listen, Mara, you have to tell Dixon.”
“I can’t.” She swallowed hard. “I should never have taken the girls to the border. I—”
“Stop it,” Velia ordered.
Mara stared at her, her brow lowered. “He’ll blame me. He should blame me!”
“I said, ‘stop it.’” Velia looked down, pausing, then turned back up. “Dixon loves you, and he knows the risks an Oathtaker faces. He cannot and will not blame you for being who and what you are. Those are amongst the very things that endear you to him.”
Mara sucked in a breath. “He knows something is up. The twins were going to tell him!” she exclaimed. Then she brought her voice back down. “I can’t even see him, Velia, to know how he reacts. I don’t know what to do.”
“You should tell him.” She looked, via the compact, deeply into her dear friend’s eyes. “Tell him, Mara. If nothing else, he’ll be able to grieve with you.”
She closed her eyes. “I’ll think about it.”
“Tell him. Do it as soon as you can.”
Hearing something in the next cell, Mara looked that direction, then turned her attention back. “I’ll think about it.”
“We’re doing everything we can from this end,” Lucy added. “We think Percival is wrapped up in this—although we’re not sure just how. He’s undergoing questioning now. So, we’ll be sure to keep you informed.”
“Take care of yourself,” Velia added.
Mara nodded. “Thank you.” With that, she closed the magic trinket.
Rustling sounds filled the air. Mara jerked her head toward their source.
Ephemeral and Fleeting Page 32
