Mark quickly ran to her cell as soon as Zohn released him, “We tried…”
“I know,” Chevalier told him. “Make sure anyone involved with this is released and taken to the council chambers.”
“Yes, Elder,” Mark said, and started going cell to cell.
“Elder!” Miri yelled, and ran out of her cell.
Chevalier turned and frowned, “Miri?”
“They have Allen. He wasn’t brought to the prison.”
“Kyle…”
“On it,” Kyle said, and disappeared.
Chevalier turned and handed Emily to Kralen, “Get Dr. Cook, as soon as he comes, meet us in the council chambers.”
“No,” Emily whispered, and reached out to Chevalier.
“I need to deal with Dustin, Em, go with Kralen,” he said, and kissed her forehead.
She nodded and wrapped her arms around Kralen.
Kralen immediately started up the stairs with Emily.
“Get the Cavalry back here,” Quinn said to Silas.
“Right away, Elder,” Silas said, and also headed up the stairs.
Chevalier took a deep breath, his features were dark and ominous, and he was obviously furious. The Elders all left the prison once they were sure anyone involved with Emily’s imprisonment was released. Dustin cringed slightly at how angry the Elders were when they returned to their seats and sat down.
“Where’s the rest of the Council?” Quinn asked.
“They had the choice to either be quiet about Emily or to leave,” Dustin said. “They all chose to return to their covens.”
Chevalier couldn’t yet speak. He concentrated on those in the trial area to try to keep from ripping Dustin apart.
Kyle came in with Allen and shut the door as Allen ran to Miri and pulled her into his arms. Kyle walked up and sat down in his chair.
“I’ll handle this,” Zohn growled. He knew Chevalier was too angry to speak.
Dustin smiled, “I agree, Elder. Such insubordination can’t be tolerated.”
Zohn glared at him, “Don’t think you’re off the hook. Before we deal with the insubordination of those in the trial area… I want to deal with you.”
“Me?” Dustin asked, shocked.
“How dare you put Emily in the prison… she obviously was dragged out of bed and thrown into a cell without any warmth or food.”
“She directly refused to answer my question about why she turned two Valle to ash.”
“So for that you condemn her to death?” Zohn yelled.
“No, I put her in prison as a punishment.”
“Did you check on her?”
“Yes”
“Did you see she can hardly breathe and has a fever?”
“Yes”
“She could have died!” Quinn yelled.
Dustin sighed, “I would have released her the second she answered my questions.”
“So this all started because Emily told you no?” Zohn growled.
“Correct”
“Derrick!” Quinn yelled.
“Yes, Elder?” Derrick asked, walking into the trial area.
“Get the Council back here, now.”
“Right away,” he said, and disappeared.
Zohn shut his eyes for a moment and then looked out over the trial area, “First, let’s start with the Cavalry.”
Mark, Silas, and Kralen stepped forward.
“You were given what orders?”
“We were banned from the prison and from attempting to bring Emily food or warmth,” Mark told him.
“And you chose, as a unit, to break those orders?” Zohn asked.
“Yes, we did,” Mark said, not ashamed of that choice.
“You then attempted to do what?”
“We got Emily’s robe and slipped a sandwich and drink into the pockets… we then tried to get it into the prison,” Mark explained.
“Who stopped you?”
“The prison guards did. Kralen and Silas attempted to restrain them while I got to Emily, but they called for backup and we were stopped.”
“Then imprisoned?”
“Not at first. The entire Cavalry was called into the council chambers and relieved of duty. Silas was the first to be sent to prison, and then Kralen and I when we began to fight the guards.”
“You disobeyed a direct order by the Council,” Zohn said. “Then when you were relieved of duty, you fought the palace guards?”
“Yes, we thought it was our last chance to get help to Emily.”
“Is the Cavalry on their way back?”
Silas nodded, “Yes.”
“And all are willing to be punished for attempting to help a prisoner?”
“Yes,” Mark said proudly.
Zohn nodded, “You three will be Emily’s guards until the Cavalry returns. As soon as this is over, return to your posts.”
“What!?” Dustin yelled.
“Yes, Elder,” Mark said, and grinned.
“Be quiet,” Quinn said to the Coven Liaison Officer. “We will deal with you later.”
“Allen and Miri, step forward,” Zohn said. Hand in hand, the two moved toward the front when the Cavalry stepped back.
“Yes, Elder?” Allen asked.
“How did you get involved in this? You aren’t even supposed to be in the palace.”
“I know, Elder. Alexis called and told us that Mom was in prison and that the Elders were gone. Miri and I came to free her,” Allen explained. “So Alexis ashed the guards, and Miri and I tried to get to her… but the prison guards caught us.”
“I’ve been banished for 300 years,” Miri said, and looked at Kyle.
“No, you have not,” Zohn told her. “Miri, you were in prison?”
“Yes, Elder,” she said softly.
“Allen, where were you?”
Allen glanced quickly at his Dad and then back to Zohn, “I was in the interrogation chamber.”
A low growl escaped Chevalier.
Kyle looked at Zohn, “He was left on the rack.”
Zohn nodded, “Are you injured?”
“I’ve healed,” Allen told him.
“Where is Alexis?”
Dustin cleared his throat and then answered, “She is too young… so we confined her to her room with Dain.”
“Has she also been starved?”
“No”
“Allen, Miri, step back,” Zohn told them. They both bowed and moved back by the Cavalry.
Chevalier blurred instantly from the room.
Zohn looked over at the last remaining heku, “Why do we have an Encala in here?”
Mark stepped forward, “I put out a call in the prison for help… anyone that was in sight of Lady Emily that could lock her eyes and try to help her… the Encala answered.”
“So you attempted to lock her?” Zohn asked.
“Yes… at first she refused, and then the guards found out and moved me.”
“I promised to reward him for his help,” Mark said.
Zohn nodded, “You are free… get out of Council City.”
The Encala smiled and blurred away.
“He was spying on us!” Dustin said angrily. “You let him go for attempting to help a prisoner.”
“I can’t even deal with you right now. It will take the entire Council to decide,” Quinn snapped at him.
Dustin leaned back in his chair, “I did nothing but punish someone for refusing to answer a question.”
“Shut up,” Zohn told him.
“Allen, Miri, stay in Council City for now… all of you get out of here,” Quinn said to those in the trial area.
Mark, Silas, and Kralen immediately went to the bedroom and walked in when they found the door was open. Dr. Cook was sitting on the edge of the empty bed.
“How is she?” Mark asked angrily.
“She has pneumonia,” Dr. Cook told him. “The Elder has her in a cool bath, trying to get her temperature down.”
Mark sighed, “We tried to get to her.”
> “He almost killed her. She’s pretty sick.”
Silas growled lightly and turned to Kyle when he walked in with a tray.
“We thought soup maybe,” he said, and sat down the tray.
The heku all waited silently until Chevalier came out with Emily cradled in his arms. She was in a clean nightgown and had a tight grip on him.
“It’s down to 102 degrees,” he told the doctor, and laid her down in bed.
“Much better,” Dr. Cook said, and listened to her lungs again.
Chevalier looked over when Allen and Miri came in.
Allen walked over and sat on the bed next to Emily, “We… tried…”
“I know,” Emily said softly, and started to cough. Chevalier was able to bottle up the fury so he could help Emily.
“Permission to deal with David, Sir?” Mark growled.
“What did David do?” Kyle asked.
“He yelled for her the entire time, expressing his love and devotion.”
“Granted,” Chevalier told him, and watched Mark disappear from the room.
Miri walked into the bathroom and came out with a cold rag. She gently laid it across Emily’s forehead.
“Get me supplies, anything she’ll need in the next few weeks,” Chevalier said, then stood up and started packing a bag for her. “Allen, go pack for Dain and Alexis.”
Allen nodded and walked into the adjacent room.
“She’s too sick to travel,” Dr. Cook said.
“No, I’m not,” she whispered, and started to cough.
“Do what I said,” Chevalier ordered.
The doctor nodded and went through his bag, setting out enough antibiotics and fever reducers to last. Miri disappeared into the bathroom again, and came out with an armful of things that she slipped into the bag before Chevalier closed it.
“Where are you going?” Zohn asked when he stepped in.
“I’m taking my family away until she’s well,” Chevalier told him.
Zohn nodded, “Once the Council is here, we are going to deal with Dustin.”
“I’ll have my phone,” he said, and gently picked Emily up. Miri slipped leashes on the two dogs and followed him up to the roof. They both got into Winchester 1 and Chevalier laid Emily down on the soft couch.
“Where to, Elder?” Emily’s pilot asked as he crawled into the helicopter.
“You… out, get me Kralen,” Chevalier told him, and covered Emily with a blanket. Miri took the bags from Allen when he got there, and then took Dain as Alexis and Allen got in.
“Please… may I come?” Miri asked softly.
Chevalier nodded, “Yes.”
She smiled and sat in front of Allen, and leaned back as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Elder?” Kralen asked when he got to the roof.
“You’re coming with us. I’ll tell you where once we’re in the air, and then we go to radio silence.”
“Yes, Sir,” Kralen said, and went to the cockpit to start pre-flight checks.
Mark appeared on the roof, covered in blood, “David is taken care of… might I suggest Jaron come also? In case you need to leave for any reason.”
Chevalier thought and then nodded, “Do it.”
Jaron blurred onto the roof a few seconds later and crawled into Winchester 1 next to Kralen. Thirty minutes later, the helicopter took off from the palace. Chevalier heard Kralen talk to the palace base and then announce radio silence. Chevalier handed a paper up to Kralen with coordinates on it, and then sat back and watched Emily during the flight.
Chapter 23 - Palau
Chevalier carried Emily into the white bedroom and laid her down on a soft bed surrounded by sheer white netting. He covered her up and checked her temperature before leaving her to sleep. Allen and Miri were helping Alexis and Dain get settled in the house, while the dogs played out on the sand, chasing the waves off of the white beach.
“This home is beautiful,” Miri said when she walked out and found herself alone with the Elder.
“It’s secluded, that’s what I wanted.”
Miri nodded and looked out the large picture window that overlooked the beach.
Allen finally came out, “They’re settled. Do you want me to head to the mainland and get some supplies?”
“Yes, you and Miri go,” Chevalier said, and turned toward the bedroom door when he heard Emily coughing.
“Island is secure,” Kralen said as he and Jaron walked in.
“This will be a boring mission. Find a bedroom and make yourself at home,” Chevalier told the guards.
“Yes, Elder,” Kralen said, and walked down the hallway with Jaron.
“Daddy?” Alexis whispered, and he turned toward her. “Am I in trouble for ashing the prison guards?”
Chevalier smiled, “No, you aren’t.”
They both turned when Dain ran out of his room, completely naked, and ran across the large living area and into the kitchen after the dogs.
Alexis giggled, “Mom said it’s better than his biting phase.”
Chevalier grinned, “I’ll agree with that… see if you can get him dressed though.”
She nodded and ran after her little brother.
***
“Check,” Chevalier said, moving a piece on the chessboard.
Kralen’s eyes narrowed as he studied the board.
Alexis turned a page in her book, and without even looking up, spoke, “He’s naked again.”
“Jaron will get him,” Kralen said, and moved his queen.
Miri came out of Emily’s room and shut the door softly, “Her fever’s gone, but she’s still sleeping.”
“Thank you, Miri,” Chevalier said, not looking up from the game.
She smiled, “Not quite fair is it? A Captain can’t win a game against an Elder.”
Chevalier chuckled, “Now you tell him. He’s won the last two.”
Allen came in from the back of the house and kissed Miri lightly.
“Gag,” Alexis said, still reading.
Allen grinned, “Get used to it, Shorty.”
“Dad!” Alexis yelled.
“Stop calling her short… Check mate,” Chevalier said, and grinned.
“Damnit,” Kralen growled, and then looked out the window as Jaron chased after naked Dain on the beach.
Chevalier turned suddenly when he heard his name called from the bedroom. He walked into the room, shutting the door behind him.
Emily looked over at him when he walked in and whispered, “Where are we?”
He sat down on the side of her bed and took her hand, “We’re in one of my homes.”
She nodded and tried to take a deep breath but started to cough.
“I brought you here to recover, away from Council City,” he explained.
When she could finally talk, she looked over at him, “Dustin?”
“I haven’t heard. They had to call the Council back first.”
“Don’t leave me with him again, please.”
“I won’t, I swear. I didn’t even know that the other Elders put Dustin in charge… enter,” he said, and turned to the door.
Miri came in with a glass of juice and a bowl of fresh fruit, “I thought you might be hungry.”
Emily nodded, “I am.”
Chevalier helped her sit up and she took the glass from Miri.
“Thank you,” she said, and watched the pretty heku.
Miri smiled, “If you need anything, just let me know.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Emily hadn’t notice before, but Miri had beautiful brown eyes and possessed a natural grace and softness.
“It’s ok, I understand,” Miri said, and then left her room, shutting the door behind her.
“What will they do to Dustin?”
Chevalier handed her the bowl of fruit and then sat back, “I’m not sure exactly. Zohn and Quinn will try to find if he broke any laws, if he did, he’ll probably be banished.”
“If he didn’t?”
“Then I
’m not sure… it’s not that easy to get rid of or punish a member of the Council.”
“So he’ll still be on the Council when we get back?”
Chevalier sighed, “Maybe.”
After another coughing fit, Emily put the empty bowl aside and laid down, “Who all is here?”
“The kids, Miri, Kralen and Jaron.”
“Where is here exactly?”
“We’re on an island outside of Palau.”
Emily smiled slightly, “You have another island?”
“Yes, no one knows where this one is… except Kyle, that is.”
Chevalier grabbed his phone out of his pocket when it rang and answered it, “Yes?”
“Quinn here, just have an update for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“We can’t find any rules broken. She directly disobeyed an order from the leader of the Council. Obviously, he went overboard and is aware that we’ll be watching him closely.”
Chevalier sighed, “I figured as much.”
“How is she?”
“Awake, the pneumonia’s slowly going away.”
“When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”
“We’re still looking for a way to relieve Dustin.”
Chevalier answered by shutting his phone.
“He’s still there, isn’t he?” Emily asked.
“Yes, they can’t find a way that he broke the rules,” he explained, obviously angry.
Emily took his hand and pressed it against her cheek, “You need to eat.”
“I can manage.”
“Go, all of you. I’m ok here.”
“I can’t leave you here alone. You’re still too weak.”
“I’m just going to take a nap. You’ll be back before I wake up.”
Chevalier sighed. He knew it was getting harder for all of them to resist her scent. In the three weeks they’d been on the island, no one had fed and most of them were going on almost a month.
“You won’t get out of bed?”
“I swear.”
“This island is secure, it has a quarantine warning.”
“Go,” she told him, and then rolled onto her side.
He kissed the top of her head lightly and went into the large living room.
“Anyone that’s not fed in 5 weeks needs to come with me,” he said, and looked over the heku.
Kralen sighed, “That’s all of us.”
Ferus : Book 6 of the Heku Series Page 59