Healing Eden (18 page)

“Then our malran is guilty too.” Angus stood as quickly as his aged body would allow. “If you charge Maxis, you must charge Eryx as well.”

“His charge is to protect us,” the man answered. “I see no wrong in his actions.”

“You might want to hear the rest.” All attention snapped to Eryx, his words silencing the murmuring crowd. “I, too, have interfered in human destiny, though I believe my actions were warranted.”

He prowled down from the dais. “The human male and one of the females were in dire condition when they were found, wounds inflicted by Maxis and his lackeys. On the basis of historic precedence, I healed both humans.”

“What basis?” Angus spat his words with enough venom to sear the air. “You expect all to be held accountable to the tenets, but you’re to be spared the consequences? You think—”

Angus flew through the air and slammed against the rear wall, his torso snapping against the stone a mere second before his head did the same.

Eryx stood, calm with his hands behind his back. “I can hold you there for days and not break a sweat, Angus. I hold this throne, as my family has since the beginning of our race, for two reasons. Power, and the honor with which I yield it.”

Angus’ shaky breaths reverberated through the cavernous room.

Every ellan ignored the old man, eyes riveted to Eryx. “In my grandfather’s reign, a rebellion fighter fled to Evad and slit a human’s throat in an attempt to divert his pursuers. My grandfather ordered his healing, stating the intercession corrected a wrong inflected by one of our own. The council reviewed the action and approved it. This case is no different.”

He loosened his mental hold on Angus, and the old man collapsed to the floor in an ungraceful heap.

“Now you know the facts,” Eryx said. “All of them. I stand by my decisions and the integrity with which they were made. Had it not been for Maxis and the rebellion’s actions none of them would have been necessary.”

“What became of the human healed by your grandfather’s men?” This from a woman in the front row, her question more sincere than argumentative.

“The human never knew how he came to be healed as it occurred when he was unconscious.”

“And the impact of the healing?”

Eryx tried to make eye contact with whoever asked the question, but couldn’t find them in the crowd. “There are no records of the human beyond the healing, though I intend to research it.”

The same ellan who’d motioned for the charge against Maxis stood. “The captured humans are still in Eden, my Malran?”

Eryx nodded.

“How do you propose they be dealt with? If their treatment was as you say, modifying their memories is no longer an option.”

And that was the kicker. The wrinkle he’d been unable to iron out no matter how he’d angled the situation, save one. “I propose these humans be given the choice to remain and live in Eden for the rest of their days, abiding by Myren law. If they agree, they can remain here, safe and alive.”

Angus’ voice shook. “And if they don’t?”

“Then the council will have to decide if they live or die. If they choose death, then I will be the one to carry out the sentence.”

* * * *

From his place along the side wall, Reese shifted his weight. Not enough to call attention to himself, but enough to shake the tension gripping his spine. Man, the malran had balls. No doubt about it. Playing chicken with your own skin was one thing, but stepping up and saying you’d take an innocent’s life if someone else said it had to happen?

Yeah, kind of made his tiny, upcoming confession look like a cozy, fireside fantasy. If the spiritu was right and courageous acts held more influence, then Eryx had just put a few extra weights on the light side of the scale. Reese wasn’t entirely sure how anything he could say would make that kind of difference.

Eryx eased onto his throne, arms relaxed against the gleaming platinum armrests. “The humans’ fate is in the council’s hands. As to sanctions against me for my actions, you’ll have to do what you think is right. However, as malran, I have the right to take my own measures.” He motioned the council page from his place on the front row. “Dunstan, make note. Maxis Steysis is hereby formally charged with treason against the throne and the Myren race.”

Dunstan scribbled in his overlarge tome, his long ruby-colored tunic wavering with each broad pen stroke.

“Ramsay.”

Ramsay snapped to attention at Eryx’s command.

“Effective immediately Maxis Steysis is wanted by me and this council. Should he resist arrest, any and all force, including death, is acceptable in bringing him to justice. Further, any individual suspected of affiliation with the Lomos Rebellion will be apprehended and brought forward for trial with this council.”

Ramsay jerked a nod and resumed his original stance facing the assembly.

Another ellan stood, his hands gripped nervously at his belly. “So you believe there to be a greater threat beyond Maxis? That the rebellion is truly active?”

“It’s beyond belief,” Eryx said. “I have proof Maxis is intent on not only promoting Lomos Rebellion ideals, but plans further transgressions against the human race.”

“My Malran.” An elder ellan situated in a box along the rear wall stood at her ivory balcony. “Perhaps it would be wise to share your evidence with the council. While your judgment and information may not be in question, as your advisors and representatives of the people, we have a right to know what challenges our race faces.”

Gaze locked on the ellan, Eryx nodded.
“You’re up.”

Eryx’s summons right-hooked through Reese’s head. He’d expected and braced for it, but hearing it rattled everything from head to toe.

Council members ducked close to each other and their whispers rippled across the room.

Reese’s knees shook, thighs tensed and prepped to run. Sweat broke out along his spine and pressure circled his throat. He’d been in this same situation before, felt the same cloying response at his swearing in, and look what he’d done.

No one looked his way. Not Eryx. Not Ludan or Ramsay, not another word spoken aloud or via link.

Because the choice was his. His heart kicked at the realization and adrenaline buzzed beneath his skin. Clio believed in him, and Galena claimed to as well. Surely he could follow his mother’s example and live with honor.

He stepped forward and the room spun. “The evidence is mine.”

The chatter among the council settled. Dunstan’s quill scratched the journal parchment.

Odd, the only person he could bear to watch as his gruff and grated admission slipped free was Ramsay. “I’ve shared Maxis’ plans with the malran and confirmed them with access to my memories. I offer those to the council as well.”

“And who, exactly, are you?” The question came from the old man Eryx had slammed against the wall.

“My name is Reese Theron.” He chanced a glance at the crowd, faces blurry beneath his hazy vision. He could do this, get it out and be done with it. Be free and live a good life. A right life.

The image of Galena, lying beside him, peaceful in sleep, blasted to the forefront of his mind, and a root of resolution wrapped around his heart. “I know Maxis’ plans because he’s my brother.”

Gasps and shouts filled the hall.

An ellan stood and spoke.

Another right behind him.

Then Eryx.

The voices ricocheted without context. The white noise in his head and the thrum of his pulse buzzed too loud to make sense of their meaning. Someone gripped his shoulder, and Reese shook himself into focus.

Eryx stood beside him, Ludan and Ramsay at his left. The ellan filtered out of the room, half of them already gone, the rest in line to exit.

“You did good,” Eryx said.

“What happened?” Praise the Great One, he sounded vulnerable. Kinda wimpy, really, spotlighting how he’d strolled off to la-la land at the absolute worst time.

Eryx glanced at Ramsay and Ludan, and jerked his head toward the grand entrance. “Give me a few. And put a tail on Angus. That son of a bitch is on my last nerve, and I’ve got a good idea he’s hand-holding Maxis.”

Ramsay nodded, but his stare was on Reese. For once, the contact didn’t seem based in anger, but whatever his once-friend was thinking, Reese couldn’t discern it.

“What you did took courage,” Eryx said after they’d walked away. “I know the last thing you wanted was to make that info public knowledge, but you probably saved a lot of lives.”

Reese swallowed, bile sloshing in his gut. If Eryx knew what had finally gotten his lips moving, he wouldn’t be so quick to offer praise.

“The pardon is yours, but one wrong move negates your clean slate. We clear?”

Reese cleared his throat, even a simple answer difficult to formulate. “Yeah. We’re clear.”

“Good. Then let’s clear something else. This fresh start? I think step one is you clearing out of the castle.”

If he’d felt upside down and disconnected before, it was nuked now. “I’m sorry?”

“You. The castle. Fresh start. I think space is a good thing for everyone involved. Too much history and hot tempers with you and Ramsay in fighting distance. Frankly, I don’t need that shit right now.”

And it got him a long damned way from Galena. Yeah, if he were in Eryx’s shoes, he’d be shuffling the traitor out the back door too.

“I’m assuming you’ll stay at your homestead?” Eryx said.

Reese stared out the two-story arched window on his left. The gold flecks from the brick-laid thoroughfare winked in early afternoon sunlight, and the rainbow-laced sky stretched without a single cloud to the horizon. “To start.”

“Got anything you need sent there?”

Translation:
No, you’re not gonna say good-bye to her either.

“Nothing I need.” At least not that he’d admit. He faced Eryx and straightened to attention. He could whine like a damned dog when he made it home, but for now he needed to keep his back up. “If I think of something, I’ll go through you.”

A nod, a handshake, and that was it. Eryx, Ludan, and Ramsay were gone, and he was as free as the day he was born. No commitments, and no threats or hidden shame hanging over his head. So, why in histus did he feel like the world had just gone to shit?

Galena took the stairs down the main foyer as fast as she dared, her footsteps as frantic as her heart’s rhythm. Brenna wasn’t anywhere. She’d searched every guest room, scoured the living areas, and even checked the royal wing. Not one worker had seen any unfamiliar women up and about.

“Praise the Great One, Lena. Are those yesterday’s clothes?” Orla stood beside a castle maid, a checklist in her hand and a frown on her face. “You’ve got more wrinkles on you than I have on my forehead.”

“Now’s a bad time, Orla.” Galena strode to the soaring window overlooking the entry gardens. Empty, not a single soul wandering the well-tended paths, at least not from what she could see at this angle. “Have either of you seen Brenna?”

“Is she awake?” Orla joined her at the window.

“I hope so.” Galena glanced over her shoulder. No sounds filtered from the dining room or receiving room, and no guards roamed the halls. “If not, we’ve got problems because she’s gone.”

Orla’s eyebrows rose. She held out her tablet to the castle maid. “Wait for me in the kitchens. Not a word to anyone until I tell you otherwise.”

The woman scurried off, her long skirts swishing with each step.

Orla lowered her voice. “What do you mean she’s gone?”

“I mean I went to check on her and her bed was empty.”

“Maybe she’s just looking—”

“I’ve looked everywhere. The guest wing, the rooms down here, the royal wing. If she’s inside the castle, she’s huddled tight.” From the foyer all she could see were the garden’s white sand paths up front. She’d have to walk the garden if she wanted to be sure Brenna wasn’t there.

“You think someone’s taken her?”

Galena swallowed. “I don’t know what to think. Maxis took Lexi. What if he wanted his property back?” She shook her head. “The things he did to her were horrid.”

“We need to alert the guards, Jagger at least.”

“No.” Galena gripped Orla’s shoulder. “The last thing Brenna needs to see is a man bearing down on her, let alone one of our warriors.”

Orla scowled, the tiny age lines around her mouth making the movement even more pronounced. “I don’t like it, Lena. If the castle’s been breached—”

“Thirty minutes. Thirty more minutes and I’ll find Jagger and tell him myself. If you help me and we split up we can cover more ground.”

Hands planted at her hips, Orla let out a huff. “All right, thirty minutes. I’ll get Jilly to help too, but we meet back here and stay in constant contact, agreed?”

Galena opened the front doors with her mind, and the warm afternoon air rushed against her face. “You two search the house. I’m checking the gardens.”

“Galena.”

Orla’s voice stopped her mid-stride.

“Constant contact every five minutes or I’m contacting Eryx myself. I don’t like the way this feels. Not one bit.” Orla white-knuckled the stair rail. “You may not be my blood, but you’re still my baby girl.”

Galena’s heart and breath hitched. For all the high expectations Orla may have had for her through the years, she’d also nurtured and held her when no one else would. “I’ll be fine. Just help me find her.” She turned away before Orla could say anything else, the fear in her former nanny’s demeanor more than she could process right now. It couldn’t be Maxis. The guards posted at the castle since Lexi’s kidnapping were elite, loyal to the core. Even those she’d known since childhood underwent regular screenings now, their memories constantly scrutinized for signs of treason.

Opening her senses, she hurried through the labyrinth paths, carefully combing the sections with tall grass and hip-height flowers. She might not be as skilled as her brothers in detection, but she could at least reach a good twenty to thirty foot perimeter. Even if her senses didn’t lead her to Brenna, a little early warning system wouldn’t hurt if Maxis had more people on the grounds.

The paths ended on the east side of the house. Nothing but workers and warriors wandered near the castle. Vibrant green grass with silver sparks stretched in a slow downward slope to her left, and the evergreen and indigo forest beyond it looked more like puffs of bold color than actual foliage. Surely Brenna hadn’t made it that far. She might have been fully healed physically, but with no more than forced broth and water for nourishment, she had to be weak. Too weak to make the forest on foot.