“It was begun by Kurnin,” said the voice of an elderly man not far away. His voice made Iviana’s stomach tighten. “When he was first instated as Island Leader of the capital island and placed on the council, he won many council members to his side, as well as some outside the council.”
Tears began to fall from Iviana’s eyes, for she knew the one who spoke to her. It was Waymith.
He continued, “When this island was first discovered to be inhabited by cannibals, it should have been brought to justice and its people saved from their horrific practices. Instead, Kurnin saw it as an opportunity. In exchange for the council’s silence and allowing them to continue living as they wished, the cannibals agreed to keep this prison within their labyrinth. They are the ones who keep us fed―”
“Barely,” Japha added.
“And clothed.”
Japha rolled his eyes.
“Waymith,” Iviana whispered through her tears.
It was then Japha realized Iviana knew the elderly man and helped him forward.
When he was set upon the ground before her, Iviana reached her arms through the bars and took hold of his hands. Tears flowed freely down her face.
“It is my fault you are here, isn’t it?” she said. “They imprisoned you here because I was helping you. They wanted to leave you for dead and I got in the way.”
“No, no,” cried Waymith. “I demanded they take me here. I did not want them to discover who had been nursing me to health. I had to get myself out of the way so you would be safe.”
Iviana only sobbed harder. It truly was her fault. She had pressed him too far, had tried too hard to take things into her own hands.
“This is the girl you told me about,” Jaela realized, kneeling down beside Waymith.
“There, there, dearie,” Waymith comforted. “It is not so bad. Your courage only gave me the courage to do what I ought to have done long ago. It brought me to my daughter.”
Iviana looked up and saw the arm Jaela had placed around Waymith... her father.
“This is what happened to your daughter?”
Waymith nodded. “I may tell you now what I would not before, for it is clearly too late to conceal it from you.”
“Father, let me,” said Jaela. “You are too weak.”
Waymith nodded and Jaela began, “Years ago, back when my father was on the council, Kurnin was forming his pact with the cannibals and developing his secret brotherhood. It was his goal to imprison those whom he deemed dangerous... that included me. When my father learned of their plans, they tried desperately to win him to their side. When they could not, they beat him daily, until he became what he is today. When he was too old, beaten and sickly, they left him in that shack to fend for himself and hid me away here.
“From what he tells me, a few members of the council brought him food from time to time. For years, they did just enough to keep him alive, but nothing to heal his wounds or his crippled legs―the legs they themselves had crippled with abuse and neglect. It was months before you discovered him that they had stopped seeing him altogether, had stopped keeping him alive, for he was meant to have died long ago. I believe it was only the Great One’s grace that kept him safe, that we could be together again.” She looked on her father with a teary smile and Waymith patted the hand she had placed on his back.
Shynn continued with, “My husband and I were not imprisoned for our gifts, like most. We were simple Healers. Unfortunately, we not only discovered the cannibals, but also the prison. We then made the mistake of attempting to inform the council of our findings. We were immediately returned and locked away with the others.
“Jaela, here, is one who was imprisoned for her gifts. Her Seer’s eye is not only far more accurate than is natural, but she possesses seven other gifts, half of which had never been seen before. Over there,” she pointed to a sad, young blonde girl, “is Teena. She can read the thoughts of others. Retra, beside her, is a Shifter. Byron,” she pointed to an older man not far from them, “can fly. Nemlin can move things with his mind…” And on she went.
Iviana could only shake her head. Her world had just turned upside down. Certainly, she had always disliked the council―especially Kurnin. She knew they could be irritating, but this corruption was beyond anything she had ever known. She began to understand why Marquen had seen fit to hide himself in his hills, why the council had hated her for not only having a gift, but having multiple gifts. She could scarcely believe she had not been imprisoned. The fact she was well known as the only Seeker may have been the only reason she had been spared.
Shynn stopped her introduction of the prisoners. “My dear, are you all right?”
Breathing hard, she replied, “No. Of course not. This is unjust... this is―”
“We should not have told her these things,” said Jaela.
Iviana turned to her. “But why not?”
Jaela only shook her head.
“Jaela fears what you will tell others,” said Shynn. “She fears for your life. She has been here from the beginning and has seen too many join her fate.”
Iviana’s heart went out to Jaela and to every prisoner, but there was something they did not know. “I see no way that I can get you out of here on my own, but there is a new Realm Leader. He was not raised in the Greater Archipelagos and we are very close. He will save you all from this injustice.”
“No!” cried Waymith, reaching for Iviana’s hands through the bars. His eyes filled with passionate tears. “You must trust no one, do you hear me? You do not know this land like we do. Jaela’s own mother was on that council with me and had Jaela placed here herself. You don’t think we trusted her with our whole heart? Promise me you will flee this prison and tell no one what you have seen. It may even be too late, if you’re found escaping. You must be careful, my sweet girl.”
Iviana wrenched her hands away from him. “I can make no such promise! I promise only to return to you, either as a prisoner or to free you―all of you.” With that, she fled the dark, somber room.
Jaela and Waymith’s pleading followed until she was out of sight, but Iviana cared not. She was sickened. She hated that this realm, that so prided itself on unity and purity, had secretly stooped to such a level, that an entire realm had allowed it to happen, knowingly or unknowingly, by letting their council do what they would at will. She would not. But how could she fight it?
–
Iviana tapped lightly on the door to Flynn’s hut. She knew he was probably still sleeping, for it was yet early, but hoped he would awaken to the light tapping. She did not wish to alert others to her presence at his doorstep in the middle of the night. She had dealt with enough rumors in the past.
Thankfully, she heard a shuffling within the structure before a weary Flynn, with hair in a tumble, pulled open the door with a yawn. “Ivi, what are you―”
“Hush. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He stepped aside to welcome her.
Iviana lit the lantern on the table. “Sit down, Flynn.”
He did not hear her, staring instead at the wounds on her neck and arms. “Iviana, what happened?” He turned from her, saying he would find some ointment a Healer had left with him for a cut. He returned with a warm, wet towel and began patting at her wounds.
Iviana attempted to swat him away. “Never mind that, Flynn. It’s a long story and it’s not why I’m here. Flynn... there’s something you don’t know about the council.”
The towel in his hand paused as he peered up at her. “There is?”
Iviana couldn’t help noticing the waver in his voice, as if he was frightened, but could not fathom the reason for his reaction.
“I went back to the cannibal island.”
Flynn’s face was a mess of worry. “Why in the world did you go there, you crazy dragon-lady? And all alone! No wonder you’re so beaten. For goodness’ sake, Iviana, what got into you? I told you I was handling it.”
“That’s just it. You’re not handling it, because y
ou can’t. There’s something you don’t know about that island... and you’re really not going to like it.”
Flynn’s eyes dropped to the table, but not before they had betrayed him.
Iviana’s stomach dropped as well, but she would not believe what she had seen. Watching him closely, she continued, “There’s a secret in the heart of the labyrinth.”
Flynn’s gaze did not leave the table and his face was beginning to pale.
Iviana found it difficult to breathe. “You know?” she cried, her eyes sparkling with sudden tears. “How could you not tell me? I’ve been asking and asking about that island. Why has nothing been done? Kurnin and his ‘brotherhood’ should be imprisoned.”
Flynn’s eyes met hers at last. Seeing tears there, he grasped at her hands. “Don’t be upset, Ivi. I only learned of it when we returned from the Great One’s quest. When I told them about our run-in with the cannibals, I assure you I was shocked by their lack of surprise and it was quite some time before I got them to confess their secret. I’ve been discussing it with them ever since, trying to form some compromise. I just haven’t been able to get anywhere with them.”
Iviana’s mouth fell open and the tears dried with the sudden heat of her cheeks. The pounding in her heart was all she could hear for a few moments before she drew her hands from his. “Compromise...?”
Flynn’s tone grew desperate as he said, “I know it sounds pathetic; trust me. You just don’t know these people. They’re wily―dangerous. You have to be careful how you tread. I’ve been dealing with them this way for months. It’s all so much more difficult because I went with you on that quest. You were right when you said I shouldn’t leave. Kurnin got his claws back into the council while I was away and stirred up a lot of trouble for me. It was all Naii could do to hold my place. It seems Kurnin started some secret brotherhood before he was ousted from the council, but the brotherhood did not die with his position. I’ve had to kowtow from the moment we returned from the quest just to keep things in order, to keep them from dismissing me.”
Iviana’s heart softened. She knew well how Kurnin could be and there was no way she could understand how difficult Flynn’s position was. She had never tried to govern an entire planet... nor anything else for that matter. “There is a courageous man inside you that I know and love well. Being stuck in that stuffy room with that stuffy council day after day has stifled him. You’ve just got to unleash him on that wretched brotherhood, for the sake of those people.”
Flynn appeared frustrated, thinking over her words, but swiftly frustration turned to anger and he leaped from his chair to pace the room, fuming with thoughts Iviana could not read. “This all started in the name of your great-grandfather, you know,” he said bitterly.
“Oh, did it?” Iviana scoffed. “Pray, explain.”
“They did it because they feared losing all that Latos did for the realm in bringing it into peace and order.”
“I’m sure that’s what they say and maybe it’s even what they think, but come on, Flynn. You’re not a boy anymore; you’re a leader chosen by the Great One. Lead them. I mean, if you made use of the gift He gave you, you could have this world turned upside down.”
Flynn’s eyes flashed as he spat, “You think I can just go around using my gift to control people? You have no idea how careful I have to be, Ivi.” He took a breath, settling himself. “I’m dangerous,” he finally admitted, looking wearier than she had ever seen him. “Being a Speaker isn’t a gift. It’s... it’s more than I know what to do with. I mean, you remember when my sister was ill?”
Iviana nodded.
“When I spoke out my doubts, she grew worse again. If you had not stopped me, my words could have killed her. I could have killed my own sister and not even known what I was doing. I don’t know the full extent of what I could do... the damage that could be wreaked.”
He paused and took a deep breath while Iviana studied his anguished face. She could feel the fear emanating from him. She realized now why he had grown so quiet of late and wished she had known sooner all that he was thinking about his gift. She could have been helping him with it, testing its limits, discerning what circumstances warranted its use.
“Besides,” he continued wearily, “the council obviously does not care much for gifts such as mine. If they thought I was using my words to turn their minds to my will, I would end up in that dungeon as well, if not dead.
“As for those prisoners,” he added. “...not everyone on the council is as messed up as Kurnin. It cannot be that many of the people in that dungeon do not deserve to be there.”
Iviana’s blood turned cold at his words. Looking him over a long while and at last turning away, she pressed her eyes closed, for she understood something she wished she did not. The man behind her was a stranger. She understood the transformation Brenna had been seeing. Flynn had compromised and he was one of them now.
8
Iviana
With Naii in tow, Iviana climbed the stairs of the council hall. After leaving Flynn’s hut, she had raced to Naii and Nimua’s home. To her surprise, they had already been up and dressed. It seemed Nimua had been alerted in a vision that Iviana was in some distress.
Iviana spared no time in telling them all she had discovered. Naii had been shocked and ashamed she had unconsciously let her fellow council members keep such a secret from her. Had she known, she could have done something sooner. It was all her traveling to other islands that had made it possible to keep such secrets.
It was difficult to convince Nimua that Flynn would be no help to them. She simply could not believe he had strayed so far from the friend they knew. Iviana understood, for she would not have believed it if she had not seen the puzzle pieces fall into place. Of course, he looked worn and weary with shadows under his eyes. It was a wonder he could sleep at all. Though Flynn had sounded callous toward the plight of the imprisoned people, he would surely be struggling with guilt. It would have been months since he had learned the council’s secret, judging by how long he had not been himself. It wasn’t a wonder he had felt so far away, keeping such a secret from them. Who knew what else he was privy to that he had not shared.
The three had discussed what could possibly be done. Iviana knew no way of freeing them from the prison without a key, for the bars that held them were wide and strong, obviously made to last for ages. In addition, they would need someone to contain the cannibals while they moved the people out of the mountain and off the island. Actually getting them off the island was the main complication, however, for they would need numerous dragons and Swimmers for such a task. Homes would need to be found for them, as well. Not to mention the work that would need to be done in healing the people physically, mentally and spiritually after such a horrific experience.
There was simply nothing to be done but to confront the council and reveal to the world the injustices that had occurred. Hopefully, the world would be on her side.
The look on Flynn’s anguished face when he caught sight of Iviana’s entrance into the council chamber was a blend of guilt, irritation and... terror. The latter two ripped through Iviana’s heart. Though she had spent hours convincing Nimua he would not help them, she had not truly believed it until that moment. That was not the look of one who was prepared to support her.
“What is this young woman doing here, Naii?” called Grandia. “We had nothing scheduled with her.”
Naii gazed over the whole of the room, including Flynn, searing them with her blazing lavender eyes. “She has something she would like to discuss.”
Though most of the room was left momentarily speechless by her icy glare, Grandia replied, “That is all very well for her, but she is not a member of this council and does not decide when she will make an appearance. She may put in a request and we will look into her matter.”
“I am one of this council,” declared Naii, “last I checked, anyway. And I make her welcome here today.”
“Oh, very well,” said Cinos impatiently.
“Lets get this over with.”
“No,” called the fearful voice of the young Realm Leader. All eyes turned to him, but he offered no explanation, only stared into the floor.
Iviana knew he was frightened. Of what, precisely, she was uncertain. But before anyone could back him, Iviana began, “I want the prisoners freed.”
Flynn shot her a miserable glance before returning his gaze to the floor.
“Excuse me, young woman?” muttered Cinos as if she was crazy.
“The prisoners you have held captive within the mountain on the cannibal island―I want them freed.”
Long ago, when Iviana had first faced this council, they had been all murmurs and shouting. This time, they were silent. Iviana hoped that was a good sign.
Tentatively, Grandia asked, “You have seen for yourself what it is you speak of, I imagine? This is not some rumor?”
Iviana glared at the woman. “I know as well as you that it is there... and birthed of this council... Kurnin’s ‘brotherhood.’”
“Iviana, do you realize what a serious accusation you’ve just made?” asked another gentleman of the council. He turned on Naii. “I suppose you believe this girl’s lies?”
Naii’s face grew deep red with anger as she glared back at the man.
“Oh, come on,” interrupted Iviana. “I did not come here to beat around the bush or watch you sidestep the issue. You have committed a serious transgression and every person who is or has been involved will have to answer to the Great One. No one has the right to determine His anointed gifts are unsafe or―”
“Blasphemous,” said Grandia. “Blasphemous is what they are. Those people’s gifts are not of the Great One. They are given by the Dark One himself to wreak havoc on this world.”
“Here, here,” said another gentleman.
The murmuring and shouting of old commenced and Iviana did not attempt to gain their attention. Even so, a loud whistle sounded through the room and all eyes turned to its source: Naii.
“What have you to possibly say for yourselves?!” she demanded. “You have kept this from me for a reason and it is the conviction in your hearts that knows it is wrong.”
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