“And that’s part of the reason Gabriel didn’t drag her back here himself,” Avilar said, “but then she left Lyebel without our permission.”
“She’s protecting Jason, I’m sure,” Tevek assured him. “We give our knights independence and authority for a reason—she doesn’t have to ask permission to take initiative.”
“Lord Alric believes she has demonstrated a disturbing trend of disrespect for authority,” Najeen said. “I am inclined to agree.”
Tevek shook his head. “Gabriel has made this personal despite my pleas. There’s no reason for him to take Elade off the front lines, just as I’m sure there’s no reason to be concerned about what she’s doing now. If Jason is willing to help the Alliance, this may very well prevent a war.”
“The rebel leader, Adar, seems to think the artifact was not a divine spark at all,” Moers said. “Unfortunately we haven’t been able to get more of an explanation from him or Devarath. She insists she is offering Moore protection and pursuing an important lead on the infestation she cannot discuss.”
Tevek rubbed his forehead in thought for a moment. She must have learned something new to trigger her suspicions, and she must have believed Jason was somehow a part of it. He couldn’t fathom what that could be, but it posed the possibility that the young man wasn’t on his way to help Solaria after all. What else could it be?
“I’m sure she has a good reason,” he said after a moment. “We’ll just have to be patient.”
Moers stirred in his chair. “With all due respect, Highlord, I think perhaps you are the one who has made this too personal.”
“And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Dagrid?”
“I think you know.”
Tevek grunted. “Perhaps you should spell it out for me anyway.”
“You’re too close to her,” the other man whispered. “She’s your friend and I can respect that, but as the Highlord you should be serving the interests of the order over a particular individual. She is disobedient and willful. She operates independently, but we are an organization of unity, a brotherhood of solidarity.”
“She saved the Galvian Resistance from annihilation and kept a divine spark out of Crell hands,” Tevek reminded him. “I think perhaps this council is overreacting.”
“She also miraculously survived an encounter with a man who was able to strip away the powers of more experienced Bound,” Galadorn added sharply. “Perhaps you can tell us how she managed that?”
Tevek bit his lip. He was surprised they were tip-toeing around this issue so much; he would have expected them to come right out and say it. Perhaps they didn’t completely trust Gabriel’s reports…or, more likely, they were willing to give Tevek the benefit of the doubt. Some of them might have suggested that their Highlord hadn’t known the truth about Elade, that he had been duped along with the rest of them. Tevek could try and lie just to save his own skin…but he wasn’t about to do that.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. The timing here couldn’t have been worse. Aside from the major war threatening to engulf the order, the recent passing of Dame Sillion—one of Elade’s strongest supporters—left he and his partner more vulnerable than ever. Two years ago, the Conclave had only accepted Elade’s knighthood by a four to three vote, with him placing the tiebreaker. Such a tepid majority was exceedingly rare in the Dawn, and it didn’t exactly exude confidence to the other knights. Since then, Galadron had been elevated to the Conclave and the balance had shifted. Gabriel had been well aware of this; Tevek just hadn’t expected the man to act so boldly when his best friend was essentially a political cripple.
“Perhaps, Lord Galadorn, you aren’t aware that Dame Devarath is our reigning champion-at-arms?” Jekoro said sharply, breaking his silence to this point. “She hasn’t been defeated in two years. I have no doubt she was able to crush this Crell man in single combat.”
Galadorn shot him an annoyed look. “And you really think he challenged her to a stand up duel? Don’t be absurd.”
“Whether he did or not is irrelevant,” Tevek murmured. “She would defeat him under any circumstances, but that isn’t why you brought me here.”
They fell silent, and he let out a tired sigh. Regardless of what he said today, they had already made up their minds, at least about her. The only question was whether or not they would damn him too, and that came down to the simple question of whether or not she had kept her condition from him. Just looking at the faces of the other knights, he could already tell what each of them thought. Moers and Galadron were certain he had betrayed them. Najeen and Jekoro were hopeful he hadn’t, but even they had doubts. Avilar hadn’t decided one way or another.
But the time for deception was over. Tevek had known this would eventually come, and there was no reason to delay the pain any longer.
“The Imperator could not sever her bond to Maeleon because she does not have one,” Tevek said. “Elade is Unbound. And before you ask, yes, I have known this all along, even when I first took her as my squire.”
They didn’t gasp or sigh or leap across the table. They just sat there in stunned silence, even the ones who had suspected the truth all along. And somehow, that made Tevek feel even worse.
“Sacrilege,” Galadron breathed eventually, “from the Highlord of the Last Dawn…”
“So it is true, then,” Najeen whispered. The sadness in her voice was palpable; she and Jekoro had likely put up a valiant defense on his behalf. Now they undoubtedly felt foolish and betrayed.
“Lord Alric informed us not long ago,” Avilar said into the silence. “She admitted to it, but we weren’t completely certain you knew about it, or if so, for how long.”
“Since the beginning,” Tevek murmured.
“We suspected as much, but we wanted to be certain.” The old man rubbed a finger across his forehead and sighed. “The situation in Lyebel has deteriorated since you left. Elade attacked Sir Lavonde when he insisted she return with him.”
Tevek frowned. “Then he must have struck her first. She would not attack him without provocation.”
“He attempted to restrain her. We gave him the order—he was well within his rights to do so.”
“Her very presence is an affront to the order,” Moers hissed.
“She has served with distinction in her time among us,” Najeen said, though her voice lacked conviction. “Especially at Serogar.”
Moers snorted. “That’s irrelevant and we all know it.” He turned to Tevek. “If this Imperator man hadn’t taken your powers, I would assume Maeleon was punishing you himself.”
“That’s quite enough,” Avilar said, his voice soft but controlled. “The bottom line is that Tevek has knowingly and willfully violated the Code and lied to this Conclave. We must respond.”
“I have lied,” Tevek said, “and I do regret having to deceive you. But if I were to face the same choice again, I would not change my actions. Elade deserves a chance to serve the same as anyone else.”
Galadron shook his head. “You can’t actually mean that. She can’t be trusted.”
“There are many knights in this order who would disagree," Jekoro reminded him. “At least a half dozen survived at Serogar because of her. The Highlord himself would be dead were it not for her intervention on more than one occasion.”
“Her actions speak for themselves,” Najeen agreed. “This is an issue long overdue—”
“There is no issue,” Moers interjected. “The Unbound owe no allegiance to any god or king or country. They cannot be trusted with the deadly and dangerous techniques wielded by this order. We are an organization of brothers and sisters, bound together by the will of our lord and blessed by his divine touch.”
“She has proven her allegiance with her actions.”
“Irrelevant,” he insisted. “The Code forbids her service. There is nothing else to discuss.”
“That’s a rather myopic view for a man whose people threaten the entire world,” Jekoro pointed out. “Perhaps we should
disregard your service because you were born with Crell blood.”
“That is not the same thing and you know it,” Galadron scoffed.
“This is an organization of brotherhood, but also one of tolerance,” Najeen said sternly. “We recruit our members from all races and all nationalities. It is our diversity of heritage as well as our unity of purpose that gives us strength.”
The Solarian man shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re actually defending a woman who lied to this Conclave for four years.”
“I don’t defend the lies,” Jekoro corrected. “What I defend is her right to serve. Punishing her for an accident of birth is not an action befitting a merciful and just organization.”
“She has a gift,” Tevek said. “A rare and beautiful gift we should nurture, not condemn. If we sought to teach Unbound how to control their abilities rather than forcing them to the fringes of civilization, Obsidian would be a much safer place.”
“Yes, we’ve heard this speech before,” Galadron said. “But Maeleon’s Code is our law, and our law is very clear.”
“Lord Galadron is correct,” Avilar said. “The Code is very clear in this matter. There is nothing to debate.”
Tevek started to respond, but the older man cut him off.
“And just as relevant, Highlord, is the political reality of this Conclave. The four of us, including Lord Alric, agree that Dame Devarath is to be restrained at our next opportunity—by force, if necessary. She will be brought to the Citadel for extensive questioning before being stripped of her arms and armaments. If she comes peaceably, we may offer her exile over incarceration, but if she raises a sword against any of our knights again, we will not be so merciful.”
Najeen offered him a sympathetic smile, but Tevek turned away and tried to quell his anger. It wasn’t as difficult as he thought it might be; right now his guilt was thick enough to bury everything else. Regardless of his motives, he had lied to the Conclave and to his closest friends. There was no avoiding that.
“As for you, my friend, some of my associates have recommended a similar treatment,” Avilar went on. “I, however, I do not agree. Regardless of this mistake, you have led our forces with valor and distinction for nearly twenty years. You are our face in the world, known to every leader and embraced by all who share our ideals. Perhaps most importantly, were I a younger man, I would still follow you onto any field of battle, no matter the foe.”
Tevek glanced back up and stiffened his posture. “What would you have me do?”
“You are permanently relieved from your position at the head of this Conclave, and you are reduced in rank to knight. Beyond that, judgment for this crime is beyond our simple council. You must speak to Our Lord Maeleon himself and beg his forgiveness. If he is willing to offer you atonement, then so shall we. If not, then I suggest you resign in peace and embrace the respite you deserve.”
Tevek clasped his hands together behind his back. Whatever happened with the Binding Ritual, he was not going to just sit quietly and let them dispatch Elade so easily. If they continued to insist even after his powers were restored, then he would resign anyway. He hoped their suspicions and doubts were inflamed by the passions of the moment, though he suspected nothing would change. Gabriel’s influence clung to this council like a bitter aftertaste; Tevek had no idea the man’s influence had spread so deeply over the years. Such was the price of spending time in the field rather than behind a chair…
“Very well,” he murmured. “I shall kneel before Maeleon and seek his counsel.”
“Then proceed to the Knight’s Rest, my friend,” Avilar said, smiling tightly. “I shall join you there shortly.”
Tevek nodded. Even if Maeleon wouldn’t forgive him, he would make certain that Elade retained her freedom. No matter what the Code said, she deserved a chance to make amends for the things she had done in her former life. More than that, she deserved to serve because she was a paladin. She had proven herself to them by deed, and that should have meant more than a circumstance of birth. Of all the wrongs the Dawn set out to right in this world, the injustices shown to the Unbound remained largely unpunished. He had never been happy with that, and now his stubbornness might have cost him everything.
Sighing one last time, Tevek turned and left the chamber, his booted footfalls heavy against the cold marble floor.
Chapter Eleven
“Garos is truly a mighty and imposing fortress. It’s also about as likely to deter a Crell invasion as a big sign with ‘NO’ painted on it.”
—The mutterings of a Solarian soldier
It was late afternoon by the time Jason and the others came upon the great fortress bastion of Garos. Nestled between the banks of the mighty Sanathir River and the northern edges of the Avalon Mountains, it guarded one of only two reliable passageways from Galvia into Solaria, the other being the ancient Fortress of Isen to the north. Ostensibly Garos was a port city, offering protection to dozens of small fishing villages along the banks of the river and overseeing the flow of ships heading towards Lyebel or ports in Asgardia. In truth, Garos was little more than a wall against the Crell, built at the end of the previous war for that singular purpose.
Jason had passed the city a number of times on his travels between the two countries, and he had always felt safe inside the fifty-foot high stone walls. Unfortunately, that safety came with a hefty price: almost all the important nuances of a city—from corner stores to street cafes to just the bustle of ordinary people going about their business—were largely absent. The walls enclosed about a mile of land, but of the fifty thousand people who lived within, at least two thirds of them were strictly military. As a people, Solarians didn’t like to be reminded they lived in a dangerous and often dark world, and so few civilians had migrated here. They also held the eminently rational fear that if the Crell ever did break the cease fire, Garos would be their first target.
As a result, Jason felt safe but not particularly comfortable here. On this particular day, tensions were worse than ever. In response to the growing Crell border forces, the Alliance had begun fortifying their border outposts. That meant even more soldiers than usual, along with more questions and incriminating stares. Fortunately, for the first time in what felt like an age they weren’t actively being hunted and didn’t need to hide who they were. It hadn’t taken much to get past the guards at the gate, and they suggested the travelers head to the garrison tower.
“How are you feeling?” Selvhara asked worriedly, nudging her horse up beside his.
He sighed tiredly. Considering he had been out for four days, it seemed odd to feel so fatigued, but he was. The others were too, he knew, given the all-nighter they had pulled to make it here so quickly. But that wasn’t what she meant. His head still pounded just as it had when he had first awakened. It had improved slightly in the open wilderness with less random thoughts and emotions bombarding him, but the moment they had gotten near Garos it had flared up as badly as ever.
“I’ll be all right,” he said. “I probably just need some sleep.”
She nodded but didn’t reply. He turned forward again, being sure to guide his mount carefully through the busy main street. He might not have been worried about knocking over merchant stalls or playing children, but the streets were packed with military men and women who wore an aura of readiness like a thick autumn cloak. Their disciplined thoughts bombarded him from all angles, and he actually found it worse than the casual background “noise” of the Lyebel streets. He couldn’t block it out, and he couldn’t focus on any one person anymore, either. Slowly but surely, he feared it was driving him mad.
He had heard stories of Unbound dealing with this from a young age, and he couldn’t imagine how any telepathic child didn’t immediately go insane. Tam, for whatever reason, had never developed significant telepathic abilities, though his energy manipulation skills came with their own set of drawbacks. Jason wondered idly how many barns his friend had inadvertently torched in his youth.
Eventually the group approached the garrison tower at the center of the city. It spiraled upward quite majestically, and he caught a glimpse of several white-feathered griffons and their riders taking off from its summit. He and the rest of the group tethered their mounts, and Gor stayed behind to watch them. Even the most hardened soldiers making their way through the streets gave the chagari a wide berth.
Two conversations later, they were escorted into what he assumed was the commander’s office, given the decorum and spacious layout. A pair of well-armored guards stood silently in the corner of the room as his friends took their seats. Jason remained standing and glanced out the sole window. It was just high enough to give a perfect view of the fortified western wall and subsequent battlements.
A few minutes later a man only a touch older than Jason strode into the room. His uniform and insignia marked him as a full colonel.
“Mr. Moore, I presume?”
Jason turned and nodded. “That would be me, Colonel…?”
“Ectar,” he said, shaking the offered hand formally. “Dame Devarath.”
Elade similarly took his hand, and Jason hastily introduced the others before jumping straight into the heart of the matter. “Colonel, I was hoping to be able to speak with General Iouna. I was led to believe he has been given command of the city.”
Ectar smiled faintly and sat at the desk in the center of the room. “The General commands the Sixth Legion, and his forces have been ordered to defend this province, including Garos. The city itself is still under my authority, however.”
“Ah.”
“Our troops in Lyebel suspected you would head this way when you asked about the General. I admit I’m curious why you came here.” Ectar pursed his lips and glanced to Elade. “I should also inform you Lord Alric requested you be detained if spotted, and the king himself has ordered his officers to do the same.”
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