Eternity of Vengeance (Extended Edition) : Book 7 of the Heku Series
Page 87
“No one else?” she whispered.
“No, just those 2.”
Emily glanced up at Mark and he smiled.
“We’ll be there.”
After getting nods from both Silas and Kralen, Emily reached out for Chevalier’s hand. He smiled and took her hand, and then led her down to the council chambers.
The Council was shocked when she stepped in, and the guards around her stepped closer as she sat down in the chair normally occupied by Alexis during tense meetings.
William smiled, “It’s really good to see you.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see us,” Sotomar added.
Emily checked behind her for guards, and then turned back to the enemy Elders. It was silent in the council chambers for a few minutes before Zohn spoke.
“She’s here, now what did you want to tell her?”
“I came to apologize for what Salazar did,” Sotomar said. His eyes showed true regret, “We didn’t know, or we would have stopped it.”
Emily watched him briefly and then turned to William.
He smiled, “I just wanted to see you. I still consider us friends and I want nothing more than to renew that friendship. The entire Encala faction sees you as an ally.”
Emily reached up and whispered to Chevalier. He nodded and then spoke to Sotomar, “The Valle attacked Thukil.”
Sotomar nodded, “Yes, we did. That had nothing to do with you.”
Emily looked over at Chevalier and he saw the hesitation.
“Go ahead, Em.”
She sighed and then whispered to Chevalier. His eyes narrowed as he repeated what she said, “Leave the Equites alone.”
“We have no plans…”
“Or I’ll have to deal with you,” Chevalier relayed from Emily. Sotomar gasped and looked at her.
Chevalier felt her fear intensify and he sighed, “It’s not your job to protect the Equites, Em.”
William chuckled softly from beside the Valle.
Sotomar glared at him and then turned to Emily, “Please… you have to understand that the attack on Thukil had nothing to do with you.”
The council chambers fell silent while the Council and enemy Elders watched the pain in her eyes and how she tensed.
“It’s faction business,” Sotomar explained.
Again she whispered to Chevalier, and he sighed before repeating it, “She said that she is an Equites, so that makes it her business.”
Quinn smiled and sat back in his chair.
It was obvious that Sotomar was starting to get angry, “So that’s it, is it? You’re back with the Equites and enemy to the other factions?”
She shrugged slightly, but watched him.
“Fine, if that’s how you want to be! We can start back at square one and the Valle will resume their mission to seek control of you,” he snapped.
“Do not threaten her!” Chevalier yelled, standing suddenly.
“You’ll be hearing from us,” Sotomar said to him, and then quickly swept out of the council chambers.
William was still grinning, “And they say the Encala are temperamental.”
“I suppose you will also resume your quest to gain control of the Winchester?” the Chief of Staff asked him.
William shook his head, “Nope. We’re busy enough rebuilding and don’t have time to make enemies out of someone we consider a friend.”
A slow smile spread across Emily’s face.
William bowed to her, glanced across the Equites Council, and then left.
Mark’s anger got the best of him, “The Valle can’t just back off, can they?”
Chevalier shook his head, “No. They still consider her a Valle because of Ulrich.”
“Then we can just contend that she belongs to all,” Quinn said. “Her father was an Encala, yet her husband is Equites.”
Emily frowned and looked over at Quinn.
He turned to her, “What?”
“I’m an Equites,” she said softly.
Quinn smiled softly, “We know that. I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned that about you.”
She looked down at her hands, “I’ve been disrespectful, spoiled, unpredictable, selfish, and impulsive.”
When no one answered, she continued, “If you’ll accept me back, I will try harder.”
Zohn frowned, “Accept you back? We never thought you left.”
Emily looked up at Chevalier and studied his eyes, “The Valle are mad. With me being here it puts the Equites at risk.”
“I could use a good fight.”
“We’re talking an eternity of trying to get me.”
“I’ve already told you,” Chevalier said, taking her hand in his. “I’ll protect you forever.”
“We all will,” Kyle said softly. “Equites protect their own.”
The End
Books in The Heku Series
Book 1: Heku
Book 2: Valle
Book 3: Encala
Book 4: Equites
Book 5: Proditor
Book 6: Ferus
Book 7: Eternity of Vengeance
Thanks for following me on this adventure through the world of the heku. I hope you've enjoyed it. ~ T.M.