“The Union has spies all over. They’re called Loyalists. They’ll seem like normal people, maybe quieter than usual. Maybe they disappear for periods of time. To be perfectly honest, you never can tell. It’s hard to trust anyone these days.”
Conner nodded.
Detrick sat silently, riding out the conversation, trying to appear as uncaring as possible that Ned and Conner were literally discussing his job right in front of his face without realizing it.
“I’ve been reading up on that group Cleric Morley was organizing—the CLA,” Conner said. “The Coalition for a Liberated Aeos. There weren’t many of them yet, but they’re being dismantled member by member. So far the papers haven’t said much about the organization itself, just that they’re slowly arresting its members.”
Ned’s brow furrowed. “The CLA. I’ve never heard of them before. Are they new?”
“No one knows,” Detrick said quickly. “All we know is what the papers are putting out.” Detrick was unaware of Conner’s research into the CLA. The newspapers had been blowing it way out of proportion. As far as he knew, there were only a handful of members to begin with, and they hadn’t even accomplished anything.
“And that’s partly why I’ve been so interested. I want to know what they’re all about. I wonder if I should talk to Cleric Morley,” Conner said, pensively stroking his chin.
“Are you crazy?” Detrick asked. “Cleric Morley is under house arrest. Why do you even want to talk to him? You want to join up or something?”
“Not necessarily, but maybe get his side of things.”
Ned shook his head firmly. “Conner, that’s a terrible idea. You shouldn’t even be thinking about going near a group like that. It would be an absolute death sentence. No way.” Detrick thought Ned sounded a bit panicked.
Conner sighed defeatedly. “It seems to be the consensus around here that everyone disagrees with everything I say.”
“Well, that and we don’t want you to, you know, get killed or whatever,” Detrick said.
All three shared in an awkward laugh. Ned rose from his chair to check on dinner. Conner went to the bathroom. And Detrick decided this would be a good time to confront Ned about Conner’s paternity.
“Did you ever have children, Ned?”
Ned replaced the lid of the pot he was stirring and looked at him curiously. “How did that cross your mind?”
“Because I think you know who Conner is. I think you know he’s your son.”
Ned stared down at the counter. It took a moment for him to speak, and it was barely above a whisper. “Detrick. This is a very dangerous situation for Conner to be in. And same goes for you, for that matter. Please don’t say anything to him about this. If the Union knew where I was, I’d be dead. And because of that, Conner can’t know that I mean anything to him.”
“What does that mean? Why would the Union kill you?”
“I’m in hiding. When I left my family behind, it was because I was running from the Union. They wanted me to be a researcher—developing harsher forms of torture for their prisoners. They thought that since I was a physician, I’d— Well, that’s digressing a bit. But I couldn’t be a part of that. I couldn’t use my knowledge to cause suffering to innocent people.
“Anyway, Gwenith and I agreed that the best course of action would be for me to leave. Our plan was for her to approach the Union. She’d say she caught me trying to escape but couldn’t stop me. In doing so they’d recognize her loyalty and spare her life, as well as the boys’. I’m in Weston instead of somewhere else because it’s the nearest city to Edgewood. It’s as close as I can be to the family I left behind. The narrative I gave Conner about deserting them isn’t true.” Ned’s eyes suddenly shot past Detrick. “Conner…” he choked out.
Detrick spun around.
All three stood in silence.
“So it’s true? You’re my dad?” Conner asked weakly. His eyes were glassed over.
“Yes, Conner, I am.”
Conner let out a quiet sob, and Ned rushed past Detrick and threw his arms around his son. Conner squeezed his arms around his father. They cried into each other’s shoulders, reunited as family. Detrick couldn’t help but tear up at his dear Conner’s moment of happiness.
Conner and Ned spent the next hour deep in discussion. Conner brought his dad up to date on Gwenith and Gavin, about their woodworking shop, about the paladins threatening to shut them down. And Ned told Conner stories about when he and Gwenith were younger, about their courtship, and about the day they’d found out she was pregnant with Conner.
Detrick sat and watched the amazing thing happening before him. He was beyond overjoyed for Conner, and as he watched him bond with his father, he grew to love him so much more.
After a while though, Detrick began to feel increasingly unwelcome. Both Ned and Conner despised his kind. Not to mention, he now had another person he had to lie to about his true nature. Maybe he and Conner were too different… He started wringing his hands together. “I’m—I’m gonna step outside to get some air,” he announced. His hands were starting to perspire.
“I’ll come outside with you,” Conner said.
“When you two come back inside, dinner should be ready,” said Ned, turning off the stove.
Detrick and Conner stepped outside to the small balcony.
“Did something we say strike a chord with you, Det?”
“Uh, no. It was just hot in there. I’m fine.” He gripped the railing of the balcony with both hands, perhaps too tightly; his knuckles were turning white.
“I wasn’t serious about talking to Cleric Morley, you know. I mean, I can’t help but be curious about the CLA, but still. I know my priorities are here.” He cleared his throat. “And Detrick, I realize we promised each other we’d take a step back from all this Union talk, and I’m sorry it’s come up so much tonight, but…”
Detrick looked at Conner. “But what?”
“I still wonder sometimes…why you won’t tell me…”
Detrick stared into the distance toward nothing in particular. “It’s so unfair. All of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s so unfair that you can’t—that we can’t trust whoever we want to. It shouldn’t be that way.” Detrick knew he must have looked positively guilty, but he didn’t care. He was flooded with shame. He knew that, in a perfect world, there would be no secrets between them. Detrick was at a crossroads in his relationship with Conner. He knew they were no longer just friends, but at the same time, they had no other choice. If the Union ever found out everything he wanted to tell Conner, it would surely cost him his life. He’d been neglecting that fact for far too long.
Detrick was caught off guard when Conner grabbed his hand and laced his fingers through it. At first, he moved to withdraw his hand, but that wasn’t what he wanted. Conner’s warm hand in his own was so calming to him, and yet it was so dangerous. The more Conner worked his way into Detrick’s heart, the more Detrick was tempted to tell him everything.
They stood in silence, and Detrick felt Conner’s eyes on him. He wished so badly that he could fall into Conner’s arms and confess all the things he’d kept hidden. He’d beg for forgiveness for his dishonesty, and Conner would stroke his hair away from his face and tell him that everything would be alright.
Conner would fix him. He had that power.
“Listen,” Conner said. “Forget I said anything. This has been a long day for all of us. Let’s just take it easy tonight, okay?”
Detrick nodded and squeezed Conner’s hand.
Ned opened the door and quietly announced that dinner was ready, causing the two to hastily pull their hands away from each other. They exchanged nervous smiles and headed inside.
After a filling dinner and more conversation, the three headed to bed. Detrick offered to take the floor, so Conner took the couch.
They were quiet for a while, but Detrick’s mind was a madhouse. “I’m really happy for you, Conner,” he whispe
red from the floor.
“Thanks.” He reached down and grabbed Detrick’s hand again. “And thank you for coming with me.”
Detrick wanted to tell Conner that it was nothing, that he’d do anything for him. “I’m glad I could be here.”
“And seriously. I’m here for you, okay? If ever and whenever you want to talk to me.”
“Goodnight, Conner.” Detrick removed his hand from Conner’s and tucked it under his pillow.
CHAPTER 18
DETONATION
They woke the next morning and, after more visiting with Ned, they began to prepare for the journey home. It was far too short a visit for Conner, but Detrick was ready to be back in his own house, where he didn’t have to hide from his duties to the Union. It kept nagging at him that Conner was making his suspicions about him very clear. And he also was beginning to feel like he’d neglected his primary responsibilities for too long.
Ned advised both of them to speak to nobody about their visit. And he urged Conner to stay away for many months before returning. The trips could draw unwanted attention, not only from the paladins, but from anyone who saw him enter or leave Ned’s house.
“It was so great to catch up, Dad,” Conner said, hugging his father one last time. “And I promise not to say anything to Mom or Gavin.”
“All right. I love you, son. Take care of yourself.”
And they were off.
They walked silently, the occasional yawn breaking their silence.
Around midday, they were leaned against a tree eating lunch when Conner finally spoke more than either of them had all morning.
“I was thinking—I’ve decided I’m fine with you not telling me what you’re hiding…for now. But I need you to know that if you want us to be close, secrets can’t be a part of that. As it stands, I think there’s an expiration date on our relationship.”
“What about our agreement?” Detrick asked. He was worried, but he knew Conner was probably right. Putting it off didn’t make their relationship any healthier; it was only hurting it.
“I don’t know. After everything we talked about with my dad, and after having you deny it on multiple occasions—which really hurts, by the way—I don’t think that’s the best strategy.”
Detrick tossed his apple core into the dirt, defeated. “Well, maybe I don’t feel comfortable with you prying into my life at every opportunity. Did you ever think about that?”
“Really, Detrick? That’s an overreaction, don’t you think? How do you expect us to be friends if you won’t even treat me with respect?”
“You’re not my friend, Conner.”
“Excuse me? What’s with the low blows from you today?” His voice was dripping with irritation.
Detrick waved his arms to dispel what he’d said, realizing Conner had probably misunderstood what he meant. “No, I don’t mean that. I mean, you’re different than a friend. It’s…it’s complicated.”
“Then what am I? Something to occupy your time while you wait for someone more like you to come along?”
“Are you serious right now?” Detrick shook his head. “You know what? Forget it.” He stood up and dusted himself off before slinging his pack over his shoulder. “I’m done. Let’s go. I’ve got enough to deal with at home without you instigating arguments.”
Conner stood up too, heaving his own pack onto his shoulder. “Fine. And by the way, that wasn’t an argument I tried to incite. It’s called asking for common decency from someone I thought cared about me. But I guess that’s too much for you to handle.” He began walking, shoving past Detrick.
“Hey, you have no idea what I have to handle, so stop assuming you have me figured out.” Detrick followed after Conner but made sure to leave several paces between the two of them.
“I’m not assuming anything, Detrick,” Conner said without turning around. “But how do you think I feel, hanging around someone who clearly doesn’t respect me enough to tell me what he’s hiding? And don’t try to deny it. I know what I saw in the Temple.”
They were now fully engulfed by the forest that would usher them home.
“I’ll tell you this, though,” Conner said. “I’m guessing you know exactly why your dad was there.”
“Guess all you want if it’ll make you feel better.”
Conner turned around and shot Detrick a look that said, “Don’t test me.” And Detrick decided he didn’t want to.
The rest of their journey was made in silence. Even while they camped that night, they hardly spoke.
By the time they arrived back in Edgewood, Detrick’s legs felt like jelly, his back ached, and he was looking forward to sleeping in an actual bed for the first time in many nights.
* * *
It had been over a week since Detrick and Conner had spoken, and Detrick had no intention of speaking to him any time soon. He knew that if and when the two spoke again, he’d have to face the same scrutinizing questions, the same invasive prying that had left him feeling victimized.
His personal feelings aside, he knew Conner’s presence was wrong for him because it placed him in a very precarious position. Every time he was around Conner, another notch was cut from his loyalty to the Union. He’d felt it wear down over time, and now he could hardly relate to the person he was when he’d first returned from the Citadel last year. There was no doubt that his fealty had wavered. Only being away from Conner could illustrate this in bold, vibrant colors.
He tried to put Conner out of his mind as he sat in his living room with James and his parents. Victoria was on the radio, and she spoke with a level of ferocity that was unusual even to her. It was as though she was trying to make up for lost time. Kellis, Detrick noticed, wasn’t in attendance. But Victoria was back to her former self, and Detrick was determined to restore his own former glory—to take back what had been a truly stellar reputation.
“Catharsis is still on for September, so we’ll have this year’s as well as last year’s heretics to put to the flame. That means you, James,” Victoria said with a dark laugh.
“I’m aware,” James said, frowning.
“Indeed. If your wife thought she could get you out of it by killing herself, she was dead wrong.”
A disgusting comment.
James drew his fist to his mouth, perhaps to stop himself from speaking out. Detrick didn’t blame him. That was blatantly uncalled for.
“And Detrick,” Victoria continued. “You said you wanted to become more involved in things. Well, here’s your chance. I’ll be delivering a host of documents on several of the trials I’ve got coming up. To prove that you’ve not forgotten what you learned during your time at the Citadel, you’ll be conducting research and composing reports on these trials, which I’ll then use in my deliberations on the sentencings.”
“Thank you so much. I won’t disappoint you,” Detrick said.
“I’m not quite finished. If you complete this task successfully, you’ll be offered a permanent, compensated position as my aide. One, I might add, that can lead anywhere you’d like it to. As such, I seem to recall you expressing interest in a Magistrate position.”
Although that was true, he wasn’t as excited as he’d always hoped he’d be at such an opportunity. At this point, working for Victoria again sounded exceedingly unpleasant. “Yes, Grand Magistrate, that’s correct. And I’m honored, truly. But I must ask—what about Kellis?”
“Kellis Ender is facing something of an early retirement. You needn’t worry yourself about it,” Victoria said hotly.
“What does that mean?” Detrick’s mom asked. “Did something happen?”
“I said that’s enough!”
Detrick wondered what this meant for Kellis, as it was clear she’d say no more on the matter. Between that and her illness, he wondered if the two were related. After all, Kellis was the one who’d told his parents about her heart condition. Maybe that was his way of covering for himself? And although Victoria was never one to indulge her inferiors with unneeded inform
ation, the fact remained that she’d flown off the handle at a supposedly simple question.
He wanted to investigate the matter further when he had the chance. Maybe, in the meantime, his parents would be able to uncover something. He’d always liked Kellis and hoped nothing dangerous had happened to him.
That aside, Victoria was actually offering him a permanent job. The future he’d always worked toward was still possible. “My task will be done, Grand Magistrate, and it’ll be done well,” he assured her.
“Good. You possess a great aptitude for law. Don’t squander it on frivolity.”
Detrick paused to consider these words. What was she hinting at, exactly?
* * *
Detrick woke early after his first uninterrupted night of sleep in a quite a while. He was grateful for the opportunity to redeem himself, and for the first time in a long time he was optimistic about the future. Someone from the Citadel would be stopping by that afternoon to bestow several weeks’ worth of work to him, and he’d accept it gladly.
He exchanged morning greetings with his parents before setting out to town to run a few errands for them before his work arrived.
He stood in line at the market with a basket full of food, staying aware of his surroundings in case certain people happened to pass by.
“Excuse me, young sir. Where did you find the canned tomatoes?” the elderly woman in line behind him asked politely.
Detrick directed her to the appropriate aisle and watched from the line to make sure she headed to the right spot. “Just past the— Yep, that’s it.”
When she kneeled down to grab a can, everyone in the store was thrown to the floor as an ear-splitting explosion rocked the very foundation of the building. Detrick’s consciousness flickered violently as wood came crashing down from the ceiling, smacking him on the head. He cried out when a splintered rafter tore open a gash in his arm, sending a blast of searing pain through his entire body.
All around him, people were struggling to stand or helping others to escape the building. Detrick stumbled over debris to help anyone he could.
Powerless: Aeos Book One Page 13