“Those take the longest to heal,” Niccolo said. “Allen… we need to radio the Council.”
“We have to deal with Dain first.”
“Deal with him? He’s already ash.”
“He has to be properly banished, or he’ll be back in 10 years.”
“Right, which the Council can do.”
“No, we have to leave the Equites out of this,” Allen told him. “If they get involved, then what we did means nothing.”
Niccolo’s eyes narrowed, “What are you suggesting then?”
Megara turned to him, “We’re taking him to the Valle to be banished, and then buried where Mom can’t find him.”
“I realize that you all belong to an Elder and the Winchester, but I’m just a heku, and you’re going to get me banished.”
“You don’t have to go to the Valle then,” Megara said. “I’m not injured, and I can walk in there and get the job done while you wait in the car.”
“I can’t let you go in there alone!”
“Why not? Mom does it all the time.”
“If I let you walk in there alone and they keep you… I’m responsible,” Niccolo told her.
“If you walk in there, then they will keep us!” Megara said angrily. “If I walk in there, they have to let me go.”
“No they don’t. This isn’t happening. I’m the pilot, and we’re going back to Council City to face the Equites over this.”
“Niccolo?” Alexis whispered.
He looked down at her and took her hand, “How are you feeling?”
She swallowed hard and a tear fell from her eye, “We have to take Dain to the Valle.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Please”
“You and Allen are in no shape to face the Valle. They would kill me, and Megara’s too young.”
“They won’t touch her. We have to finish this,” she said weakly.
Allen smiled slightly when he saw Niccolo’s resolve fading. Finally, the heku nodded and then stood up and went back into the cock pit.
“We’re going to get him banished,” Megara said when Niccolo was gone.
“No, we’re not,” Allen told her. “We’re going to tell the Council we threatened him.”
“How?”
“We’re going to say that we forced him out of prison, and Alexis threatened to turn him to ash if he didn’t follow our instructions.”
“Does he know we’re going to say that?”
“He’ll have to follow along to stay above ground.”
***
Derrick stepped into the council chambers, “Sir? The airplane is back in U.S. air space.”
“Where?” Chevalier asked.
“It came in from Mexico and is flying toward the north east.”
“So they’re heading back to Island Coven.”
“No, Sir. It looks like they’re on a direct course to the Valle.”
“Which means they have Dain.”
Kyle looked over at Chevalier, “We can’t let them walk into the Valle Council.”
“If they have managed to turn Dain to ash, then they are correct, and the Valle would be the safest place for him to be sentenced and buried.”
“Em…”
“I’ll have to deal with Emily. Keep a trace on that airplane, and when they leave the Valle, I want to know.”
“Do you want us to contact them?”
“No, let’s see what they do.”
***
“Sir?” The Valle’s Door Guard stepped into the Council Chambers.
Valle Elder Ryan looked up at him, “We said we aren’t to be disturbed for the next 48 hours.”
“I know, Sir. However, the Winchester children are here.”
He sat back and frowned, “You’re certain?”
“Yes, three of them at least.”
“Is Chevalier with them?”
“No, Sir. It’s just the children.”
“See them in,” Elder Randall said, leaning forward onto the desk.
Allen came in first, with Alexis leaned up against him. He was mostly healed but was grasping his side with one arm and supporting Alexis with the other. Megara came in after them and had a small leather bag clutched tightly in her hand.
“Why are you injured?” Ryan asked, seeing the damage to the eldest two.
Megara stepped forward and held up the bag, “We have Dain.”
“Dain did this?”
“Yes”
Randall looked down at the bag, “Dain is there?”
“Yes”
“Why have you brought him to the Valle?”
She looked nervously at Allen before turning to the enemy elder, “We want the Valle to sentence him, and then bury him where Mom can’t find him.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Randall said. “The Equites are fully capable of doing that.”
“We’re trying to keep the Equites out of this,” Alexis said, trying to stand up straight. “It’s for the benefit of all heku if we keep Mom and the Equites on good terms.”
“So it’s ok to turn her against the Valle?” Ryan asked.
“No. She won’t turn against the Valle. She’ll turn against us,” Allen explained.
“The Valle holding Dain will surely cause Emily to become furious with us. We won’t do anything that could cause her to attack.”
“She won’t,” Allen said. “She’s not going to know you did it. If we didn’t need to sentence him, then we would have buried him where we found him. However, we don’t want him above ground in 10 years, so we need help for that.”
“So we sentence him and you bury him?” the Valle’s Chief Interrogator asked.
“We want you to bury him also. It will be easier if we don’t know where he is.”
“This seems too dangerous.”
Alexis was on the verge of tears, “Please, help us. We can’t go to the Encala, because they would tell Mom where he is. We have to have the Equites free from blame. The Valle are all we have left.”
“We have nothing to gain by banishing Dain,” Ryan told her. “It’s not that we don’t want to help…, but we see no benefit in doing this and only see what could happen if Emily retaliates.”
“She won’t though.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“I’m begging,” Alexis said softly.
The three Valle Elders turned their chairs and held a brief conversation in private while the other Valle Council members watched the Winchester children.
When they turned, Randall addressed them, “We have agreed that we will sentence Dain to 800 years… but we will not bury him, nor will we hide him from your Mother.”
“800?” Megara asked, frowning. “That’s too long.”
“Not for his infractions.”
“400”
“This isn’t up for negotiations.”
“800 is too long! He’s still young,” Alexis said.
“800 years, or we don’t do it,” Randall told her.
Allen held his hand out to stop his sisters and then sighed, “If that’s your final answer…”
“It is.”
Megara handed Dain up to the Chief Enforcer and then stepped back. Alexis buried her face in Allen’s shoulder and cried as their brother was sentenced to 800 years in suffering for his crimes. Megara watched and then lowered her eyes as tears escaped. He trusted her, and she’d betrayed him for the good of the family and the heku as a whole.
“It is done,” the Valle’s Chief Enforcer said. He held the bag down, and Megara looked up with red eyes and took it from him.
“May we call a doctor in to look at you?” Ryan asked, looking over at Alexis and Allen.
“No, we have to get back and face the Equites over this,” Allen told him.
“They don’t know?”
“I’m sure they do by now.”
“You did this without permission?”
Alexis nodded and then started for the door.
“I wish…�
��
She turned to look at Ryan.
“I wish we could be friends with your mother again.”
Allen eyed him suspiciously. He was aware that the Valle’s new stance was wanting Emily dead. He had no doubts that this new found act of friendship was a façade to lure her into their grasp.
“I think she does too,” Alexis told him.
“We can’t involve ourselves in this.”
“I know,” she said, and then allowed Allen to help her out of the enemy palace.
Niccolo was waiting by the rental car at the Valle’s gates, and he looked tense and fidgety. Once they were all seated, he turned to Megara, “I thought you were leaving Dain with them.”
“They wouldn’t take him,” she said, looking down at the bag. “They sentenced him though. We just have to figure out how to bury him without any of us knowing where he is.”
He started to drive toward the airport, “Why is that exactly?”
“Mom’s going to blame us for banishing him,” Allen explained. “We don’t want her to be able to guilt us into his location.”
“Well… I’m in enough trouble as it is.”
“You’ll bury him?” Alexis asked, shocked.
Niccolo nodded, “Yes. I’ve listened to you three for long enough to know that this is all for the good of the Equites. At least I can spend my years in prison knowing I did something.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled slightly and took the bag from Megara, “I’ll drop you off at the airplane, and then come back when I’m done.”
Alexis turned to Allen and cried again as he slipped an arm around her. Niccolo was worried because the three Winchesters with him were all upset, and he was afraid that the Council was going to make it worse.
“I have an idea,” Niccolo said as they pulled up to the plane.
“What’s that?” Allen asked.
He sighed, “I think I should take the blame for all of this.”
“Why?”
“I’m already going to be back in prison. I can say that I forced Alexis into freeing me from my cell. Then I kidnapped you all to Peru. I restrained Dain long enough to make Alexis turn him to ash. I took him to the Valle, but they refused, so I buried him.”
Allen frowned, “No! You aren’t going back to prison for this.”
“I’m already going to be there. I can take the fall.”
“They could banish you,” Megara said to him.
Niccolo glanced at Alexis in the mirror, and then sighed, “I’d survive. I’m heku.”
“We aren’t going to let you get blamed,” Allen said, opening the door. “Please bury Dain, and then let’s get this over with. I’m sure the Council is anxious to talk to us.”
Niccolo watched Allen help Alexis onto the plane, and then he took off for the heart of Allegheny National Forest.
***
“They’re here,” Derrick said to the Council.
Chevalier stood angrily and stormed out through the back door, while Derrick held the front door open for Allen, Alexis, Megara, and Niccolo. Alexis was being supported by Niccolo as they walked up to stand before the Elders.
“Where’s Dad?” Allen asked.
“We felt it was a conflict of interest to have him here right now,” Zohn explained. He then looked at Alexis, “Can we bring Dr. Edwards in to look at you?”
“No, let’s just get this over with,” she said.
Kyle glared at Niccolo, “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“I know, Sir.”
“He did nothing wrong,” Allen told Kyle. “He was forced to do everything.”
“Is that true?” Kyle asked him.
Niccolo shook his head, “No. They’re in enough trouble right now without adding what I did into the mix.”
“How did you get out of prison?”
“I broke him out,” Alexis answered.
“Did she threaten to turn you to ash if you didn’t fly them?” the Chief Interrogator asked him.
“No, they did not,” Niccolo said. “Once I heard what they were doing, I felt that it was for the good of the Equites.”
“Even if it extended your sentence or sent you into banishment?”
“Yes, at least then, I would be in the ground knowing that I protected the faction.”
“Where is Dain?” Kyle asked finally.
Alexis choked back a sob, “Banished.”
“Where are his ashes?”
“I hid them,” Niccolo said. “Where they won’t be found.”
“He’ll be back in about 10 years then,” Zohn said.
“No, the Valle sentenced him to 800 years before Niccolo buried him,” Megara said.
“So you not only broke a prisoner out of Island Coven, but then stole an airplane, banished a fugitive without authorization, and went to an enemy faction?” Quinn asked.
Allen swallowed hard, “Yes.”
“The Valle refused to actually bury him though,” Megara added. “So we were going to figure out how, when Niccolo graciously offered.”
“So you know where he is?” Kyle asked him.
“Yes”
“And you will tell us?”
He sighed, “No, Sir.”
“Why not?”
Allen interrupted, “We’re keeping the Equites out of every part of this. Mom won’t be able to blame this Council for any of it… not one tiny part.”
Alexis looked up at Chevalier’s empty chair. No matter how old she got, she still craved his affection and always felt comfort knowing that she could lean on his strength when things got too bad to bear. Now that she needed him, he was absent, and she wanted nothing more than to see him.
“We’ll take the punishment,” Allen said. “We are all willing participants, and it was done to keep Mom in good standing with the Equites.”
“Now she’ll be mad at you though,” the Chief Interrogator said.
“She’ll forgive us someday,” Alexis whispered.
“Wait in the hallway while we discuss this,” Zohn said. “Except Alexis. Stay for a moment.”
Alexis watched the others leave and then turned back to the Council.
“How badly are you injured?”
“I’ll heal.”
“Your arm doesn’t look right.”
“I can see Dr. Edwards when this is done,” Alexis told him.
Zohn nodded and then turned sad, “Garrett…”
She looked at the ground as a tear escaped.
“He’s asked to officially break the bond with you.”
Alexis could only nod.
“We’d like to postpone his request until things calm down.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“However… he feels betrayed, and we’re honestly surprised that the bond didn’t break on its own,” the Chief of Staff said.
“I didn’t betray him is why.”
“He doesn’t see it that way.”
Quinn stood, “Wait in the hallway.”
She nodded again and then walked out with a limp. Once Derrick closed the doors to the council chambers behind her, she looked up as Chevalier moved to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. She buried her face in his strong chest and cried.
“I can talk to him,” Chevalier said softly.
She shook her head, “No. If he can’t trust me, then this is the right thing for us.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
Allen looked up at his Dad, shocked, “You are?”
“Yes, very. What you’ve done to protect your Mom and the Equites is beyond what words can explain. You’ve made it possible for Dain to be punished without the risk of your Mom taking off.”
“I thought you’d be mad.”
“I was at first. Now though, I see why you did it, and the long-term outcome is much better this way.”
“She’s going to need you,” Alexis said, looking up at him.
“I know.”
“We should go tell her,” Allen said. He looked ba
ck at the stairs.
“No, I need to tell her,” Chevalier said. “This is something that’s going to take time for her to get over and forgive you.”
Megara looked over when Miri came up with Asher. He reached out for Alexis, but it was obvious that she wasn’t able to hold him.
Allen sighed and looked up at her, “Are you mad?”
Miri nodded, “Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. You’d do it again.” She handed Asher down to Megara and then blurred away.
Chevalier watched her, “She’ll be ok.”
“And Garrett?” Megara asked him.
“I don’t think he’s going to get over this.”
“I want to talk to you about Niccolo,” Allen said to his Dad.
***
Chevalier carried Alexis into the council chambers. Her strength was giving out, and the long deliberation by the Council made it almost impossible for her to stand any longer. Chevalier didn’t care what the Council thought. He was going to stand by his children as their decision came down.
“We can bring in a chair,” Zohn said when he saw Chevalier carrying Alexis.
“I’m fine,” he said sternly.
No one wanted to cross him, so Zohn simply cleared his throat and began, “All charges were unanimously agreed up on by the Council and you four were found guilty on all of them.”
Allen tensed, and Alexis buried her face in Chevalier’s shoulder as his grip tightened.
“However, we feel that punishment will be handed down by Emily, and that there’s no reason for this Council to punish you for the crimes committed. We do want to lay down some things though.”
Allen nodded and watched the Council as Megara gripped tightly to Chevalier’s side.
“You three will be watched closely,” Quinn said to the Winchester children. “You are to be on probation until further notice. One infraction will result in a long prison sentence.”
“Yes, Sir,” Allen said.
“We understand your reasoning behind what you did, but we can’t condone the insubordination and lack of respect to this Council.”
“Alexis,” Kyle said sternly. “You are released from your duties as the faction peacekeeper until such time as this Council feels you are ready to return.”
Banishment : Book 9 of the Heku Series Page 33
