Loki leaned forward to speak past Pele. “I would find that amusing for the few minutes it would take to destroy you.”
Pele lifted her hand and flicked her fingers. Lightning shot from her fingertips and spread across the sky. Thunder rolled around the Nether Realm. “Enough!”
Evalle held her breath. Just her luck she’d have the Tribunal meeting where a god went postal. That’d end up being her fault, too.
As if nothing had happened, Brina calmly launched into what she had to say. “There are still questions we have not answered about Alterants—”
What? Evalle could hang herself without Brina’s help.
“—but Evalle has proven to be a valued member of the Beladors. She’s put mankind and our tribe ahead of her own needs, which impaired her ability to deliver tangible evidence for you. As we are living proof of the intangible within the world of the humans, can we not accept her actions as intangible proof of her reliability?”
Way to go, Brina. That’s more like it.
Brina wasn’t done yet. “Evalle was also part of the VIPER team tasked with finding and returning the Ngak Stone before daylight in Atlanta yesterday morning. She acted selflessly, risking her life to stop the Kujoo warlord and at one point when she took possession of the Ngak Stone—”
A collective gasp erupted on the dais.
“—Evalle voluntarily handed the stone over to be placed in the VIPER vault,” Brina continued. “Might I point out that many of our kind would not have relinquished an artifact so powerful? As warrior queen of the Beladors, I consider her one of my best.”
Really? Evalle couldn’t believe her ears, but Brina’s voice rang with sincerity and passion. Tzader had stated over and over that Brina was always ready to stand up for her Beladors. All of them.
Ares appeared unmoved by Brina’s declaration. “What of the seven Alterants that shifted and attacked humans in recent days?”
Seven? Evalle spoke to Brina mind to mind. I just heard about the attacks on the West Coast. Now is not the time for them to lock me away with a surge in Alterant attacks. I know the Tribunal won’t see it this way, but I could help with this outbreak. Beladors are the strongest arm of VIPER, but they can’t link their powers to face an Alterant, not after what happened in Charlotte.
Two months ago, nine Beladors had linked to stop one Alterant. They should have been able to contain him, but he’d shifted and ripped the head off one of the Beladors before any of them had a chance to unlink.
When linked, if one warrior died, they all died.
I agree. Brina addressed Ares. “With these new Alterant discoveries, we need Evalle’s abilities in VIPER more than ever.”
With one disgusted snort, Ares gave his opinion of how much he thought of Evalle as an asset.
Pele and the gods spoke among themselves for several minutes, but Evalle started to feel optimistic about being returned to VIPER long enough to help them deal with this problem. Maybe she’d been worried unnecessarily.
Worried sounded so much better than terrified.
When the trio of entities finished talking, Loki leaned against one of the columns that decorated the dais, and Ares tapped his fingers on the hilt of the sword sheathed at his hip.
Pele paid no attention to the gods when she spoke. She had a soft voice, but power surged beneath the feminine tone. “Evalle has committed a larger transgression.”
What the hell? Evalle got an air cuff upside her head kinetically from Brina for cursing. Sorry.
Brina asked Pele, “What transgression?”
“When we last met, Evalle was told not to associate with another Alterant. We have learned that while hunting said Ngak Stone she communicated with the escaped Alterant Tristan.”
That blasted Sen must have ratted her out even though he knew the circumstances. She’d also sent Tristan back to his spellbound cage in South America with him begging her to kill him instead.
She’d hated doing that to him. Tristan had only wanted what she wanted, what any person wanted—to be free. Death would have been more humane, but neither could she have killed him in cold blood.
Tristan would gut her if he stood before her now, and she couldn’t blame him, even if she had been doing her duty when she’d sent him back.
Pele asked Evalle, “Do you deny communicating with the other Alterant?”
Evalle said, “No. I did speak to him, but doesn’t the fact that I returned Tristan to captivity count for something?”
Ares pointed out, “We let you live.”
Brina kept her hands linked in front of her, docile to an untrained eye, but she wasn’t a warrior queen in title only. When she spoke her words rang with authority. “Evalle communicated with Tristan only to gain valuable information that was key to getting the Ngak Stone away from a dangerous predator. Had she not, the Kujoo might have destroyed much of the human world. Due to Evalle’s efforts the stone is now secure in the VIPER vault.”
Ares crossed arms bulging with muscles and dismissed Brina’s explanation. “No provision was made at our previous meeting when this Alterant was ordered not to associate with another Alterant. She should have asked for an exception to the terms before agreeing, and that is but the least of her charges. Any aid she gave to recovering the Ngak Stone does not justify her part in releasing deadly Alterants in the human realm.”
I did not release Alterants, Brina, Evalle sent to her queen mind to mind.
I believe you, Brina replied, then addressed the Tribunal. “What evidence is used to charge Evalle with this?”
Still amusing himself by tossing miniature fireworks the size of a baseball from the palm of one hand, Loki said, “Let us get to the point. You told Tristan you wanted to see Alterants freed.”
“Tristan said that. I didn’t,” Evalle argued.
Brina swung a look at her that promised retribution if Evalle had just fed her a bunch of hooey.
Evalle shifted her hands to open palm out at her sides. Do I look like a glowing beacon in the red light district? I never told him that. Sen had obviously given his own version of what had happened that night, editing at will.
Pele asked Evalle, “What did you say to Tristan about the Alterants?”
Anything less than truth would burn her. Evalle said, “I told him I wanted to help Alterants so we wouldn’t have to be locked up or destroyed.”
Loki interjected, “I see no difference.”
Ares’ voice boomed. “Guilty as charged.”
Evalle argued, “No, there is a difference, because it was taken out of context.”
Shaking her head at Evalle, Pele said, “Context doesn’t matter. In our world, words are as dangerous as any other weapon and should be wielded with care.”
Loki said, “She influenced the Alterant Tristan, who released three others from captivity. Now we have even more beasts shifting and killing humans. It appears this could be part of a plan by this Tristan to turn Alterants loose on the world.”
Un-freaking-believable. Forget being locked away. They could dust her if they thought she played any part in the Alterants that are now shifting and killing. “If that’s the case, why don’t you bring Tristan in for questioning?”
Pele glared at Evalle, power blowing across Evalle so sharply that it bumped her back a step. “Macha ordered the Alterants caged. We do not have Tristan’s location.”
Evalle tossed a look of question at Brina, then swung her attention back to Pele. “I asked the Ngak Stone to return Tristan to his original prison.”
Pele picked up on Evalle’s glance. “Brina is under oath to her goddess. She can only divulge information voluntarily.”
Brina gave a brief shake of her head. “Unfortunately, I can share nothing about the captured Alterants, O Goddess.”
Pele told Evalle, “We cannot locate Tristan without Macha’s assistance, which she is not offering. Since Tristan does not fall under the jurisdiction of a specific pantheon that is a part of the coalition, we cannot demand his presence.”
In other words, Tristan was safe from the Tribunal.
For now.
Chills skittered along Evalle’s spine, but so did a hot streak of anger over the injustice of twisting her words to make her responsible. Without thought to ask for permission first to speak, she said, “So Tristan commits a crime and doesn’t even have to answer for it, but I do?”
Don’t push this, Evalle. You’re not helping your case if you annoy them.
I have to push this, Brina. Humans are dying and I have a bad feeling that something is happening for so many Alterants to shift at one time. We need to know why, and I’m the best one to put in the field to find out. But I can’t get that information or help anyone stop these attacks if the Tribunal is going to drag me in here every time there’s an attack.
Ares’ booming voice shook the ground. “Insolence is not tolerated here, especially from a beast.”
I got your beast in my boot. Evalle kept her hands at her sides, when she wanted to shake her fist at the god. “I didn’t change and kill a human. And I didn’t release the three captured Alterants. And I have nothing to do with the ones who are shifting and killing now. Why am I being held responsible for the actions of others?”
Brina started, “My apology for her disrespect—”
Pele lifted her hand in a signal the floor was clearly hers. She silenced Ares with a severe glance, then addressed Evalle. “A fair question. Alterants are an unknown element in our world and not a recognized race. Until someone can determine their origin or they are accepted into a pantheon, their status will not change.”
Evalle deserved credit for not rolling her eyes. What deity was going to invite Alterants into a pantheon where the god or goddess ruling it would be responsible for powerful beings that might shift involuntarily into beasts and kill everything in sight?
Ignoring Loki’s drawn-out sigh, Pele continued, “When other Alterants have shifted and killed, they were captured or destroyed. You are the only Alterant we have allowed to remain with the Beladors rather than cage you as an undomesticated beast.”
Anger clawed up Evalle’s spine at being compared to a rabid animal.
Without pausing, Pele said, “You were permitted a great deal of freedom for the past five years because you were the only female Alterant identified until this new one was discovered. Her pregnancy raises the possibility that male Alterants are seeking females for breeding. That alone is reason enough to require placing you in a secure location.”
Schooling her face to neutral took some effort once Evalle caught Pele’s point that she would now be a magnet for rutting male Alterants. She’d happily offer to neuter those Alterants, but Pele wasn’t finished.
“Are you being held accountable for the actions of others? Perhaps. Associating with an escaped Alterant this week and indicating you would like all Alterants to be free lays the responsibility of the three escapees and the more recent Alterant shifting at your feet.”
That pretty much killed any chance Evalle saw for walking away from this free.
She spoke to Brina. I live with the proverbial axe swinging over my head every day because, fool that I am, I protect humans when my life counts for nothing.
Not true! Brina shouted in Evalle’s head, this time with a thicker Irish brogue. You are Belador and we will find a way to take this mantle of burden from your shoulders.
Evalle maintained her blank expression when she answered, I appreciate your sincerity, but the only way to do that would be by defying this Tribunal. I would never put the entire Belador tribe in conflict with VIPER or a Tribunal decision, so I’m stuck answering for the crimes of others until I can figure out where Alterants came from . . . but know that if they try to lock me up I will not go quietly.
Brina spoke to the Tribunal. “I believe Evalle is not just safe to walk among humans but that they need her now. She is an asset both VIPER and the Beladors cannot afford to take out of active duty. Not with this new threat having surfaced.”
Evalle wanted to smile and give a shout with a fist pump for Brina, but keeping her mouth shut and showing no emotional reaction would better aid her warrior queen.
Ares stepped forward, his standard grim expression twisted with irritation. “An impassioned statement in favor of the Alterant to be sure, but if we allow this Alterant to remain free, will you pay the price of this Tribunal’s judgment if you are wrong?”
His blatant challenge struck Evalle with a cold fist. Ares dared Brina to put her neck on the line with Evalle, but the Belador warrior queen couldn’t make that commitment because—
“I will,” Brina confirmed.
Evalle shouted into Brina’s mind. No! You can’t risk the future of the Beladors on me.
Will you not uphold your vows?
Of course I will, but I’m, I’m—
What are you, Evalle?
A bad gamble.
No, you are a Belador who has sworn to protect your tribe, just as I have. I vowed to protect every Belador, too, which includes you. Even if this Tribunal will not recognize you as one of us, we do. I do.
Evalle swallowed hard at the gift of Brina’s faith, but that was even more reason to accept that she’d been cornered. She told Brina, I’ll . . . Evalle drew a breath, determined to get the words out. She could not put the most important person behind the future of the Beladors at risk. I’ll let them lock me up.
You. Will. Not. I will not allow it.
Evalle would never doubt Brina’s support again and she would not let her warrior queen down, starting with trying to convince the Tribunal not to place Brina in jeopardy.
Ares said, “I admire your loyalty to the Alterant, Brina of Treoir, but that does not mean she is safe to move among humans.”
“May I speak again?” Evalle asked Pele.
Ares ignored the direction of Evalle’s question and snarled at her. “Speak one last time and be done with it.”
Brina’s shoulders moved as though she’d taken a breath, preparing to intervene once more, but Evalle answered first.
“Is there not some way to clear my name once and for all? I only ask for the same chance any of you would want if you stood in my place today.”
Fury rolled through the air, and Ares’ formidable gaze turned black. He warned Evalle, “Do not compare yourself to me. I am a god.”
Evalle saw her last chance slip away with his anger.
Loki stopped playing with his tiny fireworks and glanced over at Ares, who didn’t notice the sly smile that lit Loki’s eyes. “I say we grant the Alterant’s request.”
Evalle’s mouth slipped open at the unexpected support from Loki’s corner, even if the real reason behind his comment was only to poke at Ares, who reached for his sword.
As moderator of this Tribunal, Pele took a step back, placing herself between the two gods once again. Addressing Loki, she said, “She must first answer for the three escaped Alterants.”
Loki nodded. “Agreed. Let the one who returns the three escaped Alterants to VIPER be cleared of prior transgressions. That would stand as proof of her safety to humans and solve the missing Alterant problem.”
That was an answer, if not the answer, to Evalle’s problems. How would she find the escapees? And if she did find them, how could she condemn someone to life in a cage when she would fight to the death to avoid the same thing? “About those three—”
“Silence!” Ares shouted.
“Let the Alterant speak,” Loki said in the most gracious benefactor voice anyone had ever heard.
Evalle knew better and attributed the intervention to Loki yet again antagonizing Ares, but that was Pele’s problem, not hers.
Pele nodded. “You may speak.”
Ares sent her death looks. Not getting any yea votes from that corner.
Evalle said, “Thank you. If the three Alterants come with me willingly, I’d like to ask for a provision that they have a chance to plead their cases to a Tribunal court.”
Brina didn’t move, but her posture
stiffened.
Ares said, “No.”
Loki beamed a rich smile. “I see no problem with that.”
“This is not a vote,” Ares argued.
“Oh, but it must be,” Pele said, stepping in before things heated up again. She turned her back on Brina, Evalle and Sen to confer with the two gods. Ares glared the look of death at Loki, who grinned nonstop.
Evalle told Brina, The only way I’ll bring back three Alterants, if that’s even possible, is if Macha will guarantee their safety while they are waiting to speak to the Tribunal and not just toss them back in a prison. And if any of those three killed in self-defense I want them freed.
Your freedom is in question at the moment, Brina reminded her.
No one’s freedom is worth more than mine. I know Alterants have just killed in the last two days without cause, but that doesn’t mean they are all insane murderers. If an Alterant stands in this court and says he fought to defend his life and doesn’t turn into a red lightbulb, he’s telling the truth and deserves to be protected.
Brina nodded slightly. I will allow an Alterant his freedom if the Tribunal finds him innocent of murder and he swears loyalty to the Beladors.
Evalle released her breath. Her chances of finding the three escaped Alterants would be minuscule if she didn’t have her Belador buddies and Storm to help her.
When Pele turned around, she addressed Evalle. “We have reached an agreement and support Loki’s offer.”
Only by one vote, based on Ares’ steaming frown.
Evalle had already been burned by not clarifying the rules of engagement last time. “Is there anything I can or cannot do while searching for the three missing Alterants?”
Brina would know where the three had been before they’d escaped, since she was the one who’d ordered them caged. If Evalle asked to be sent to the locations with Storm, then he could track from there.
Evalle brightened at that thought until Pele said, “You may not request help from anyone with VIPER, as the escaped Alterants are not their problem and their assets must be used to defend humans against the current problem. Neither can you ask Brina to share what she knows, as she is under an oath of silence regarding the Alterants.”
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