“Oh yes? And who says so? You? You put Peter up to it, of course,” she shouted and swung her hair contemptuously. “Peter has no mind of his own.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Orion responded mildly.
Fiona turned to face the mayor, trembling with fury. “You see! You see–” she screamed as she jabbed the air. “I told you he would say anything, just anything to avoid responsibility.”
“Oh, well,” the mayor hedged. “I do think Orion has given us a lot of food for thought, don’t you think, Fiona?” He smiled weakly.
“You believe him?” she asked, astonished.
“Of course,” said the mayor, glancing at Orion. “It’s Orion.”
Fiona sniggered, and shook her head. “I would not be so quick to believe everything Orion says. How do you know he’s not lying?”
The mayor looked at her in confusion. “It’s Orion,” he said again, spreading his hands.
“And he can’t lie? Can’t he lie like anyone else? I know you don’t believe everything anyone tells you!” she retorted.
“No,” the mayor said as though explaining something obvious to one of limited understanding. “But Orion cannot lie.”
They were momentarily distracted by the opening door as Shady entered.
“Goodness, everyone’s here!” he exclaimed. “Hello mayor, Fiona.” He nodded cheerfully, then noticing the friction in the air, looked at Orion with a puzzled expression. “Is there something wrong? Of course, you’re back, so something must be wrong…” he said with a friendly chuckle.
“Yes,” Orion said. “I’ve been accused of lying.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Shady turned on Fiona accusingly. “Are you saying Orion’s lying?”
“No, no,” the mayor interceded. “We were just going, as a matter of fact. I think what you’ve told us is extremely important, Orion. I – uhm, we – should go and discuss these matters with the Roo– the police chief as soon as possible.”
“And the matter of the Cypress Ritual,” Father Griffith reminded him. “That will be addressed without delay, I should think.”
“Oh, of course,” the mayor nodded vehemently. “We will have a conference on the matter as soon – within a day or two. In the meantime, it is a relief to know that Peter is searching for–” he waved generally, “and probably making sure people are… well, where they should be and so forth…” he finished weakly, catching Father Griffith’s eye. “Come on, Fiona. We should be going. Professor Shady, delighted to see you,” he concluded and flashed a warm, hurried smile towards the newcomer.
“Not you,” Orion said quietly, laying a hand on Fiona’s arm. “LiGa business,” he explained, turning to the mayor. “I am sure you don’t need her to talk to the Rooster.”
“Oh?” The mayor looked harassed. “Very well. Fiona, please come and see me when you’re done.”
Fiona said nothing. She regarded Orion with a fixed, shallow smile. She was breathing faster, and her fingers tapped unsteadily on the back of the chair.
“Sit!” Orion commanded after the door has closed behind the mayor. Fiona sat heavily in the chair.
“There were certain issues I did not wish to bring up in the presence of our mayor. He is a good man, and he likes you…”
“What?” Fiona demanded hoarsely.
“Well, the first thing is pretty inconsequential–” Orion said. “I’m more upset by your incompetence than the fact that you tried to lay a trap for me…” he said softly.
Fiona shifted in her seat, and her eyes swiveled around the room seeking a safe haven.
Father Griffith looked at Orion. “What are you talking about?”
“After I left you last night, I was on my way to the islands – as you now know – but on the way, I was almost attacked by five thugs.”
“Almost?” Bruce said.
“Sloppy work,” Orion replied disdainfully. “They ran away. But before they ran, they had the presence of mind to tell me who had commissioned them for this–” he waved his hand dismissively, “pointless exercise,” he sneered. “It was you,” he pointed accusingly at Fiona.
“I– I,” she began ineffectually. “I didn’t,” she added lamely.
“Sloppiness is inexcusable, my dear,” Orion said. “As a LiGa Immortal, there is no room for sloppy work. If you decide to get something accomplished, you must do it well. You must make sure of its success.
“You see, I did not tell the mayor certain things – because I did not want to unduly upset him if there is no need to do so… But we were at the fights the previous evening. Did you know that?” he asked pleasantly.
“No,” Fiona said. “How would I know where you were? Why should I care?” She laughed dismissively.
“I ran into Spider at the fights,” Orion continued. “You know Spider, don’t you?”
“Who?” Fiona demanded. “Never heard of him or her. You and I don’t run in the same circles,” she sneered.
“Oh. My mistake. I should have explained. Spider is – was – the Golden Dragon’s first mate. Teodor’s right hand man. Not anymore, of course, seeing as Teodor is dead. Interestingly enough, Spider told me that Teodor apparently thought he might take over from Patron–” he ventured and regarded Fiona narrowly. “Take over the Light Veil crossings. How? you might ask, since we all know it’s by committee, but it turns out Teodor wasn’t all that smart– he was told that he would get the support of the mayor’s office in the event of … Patron’s untimely demise…
“Now, isn’t that interesting? Because of course you and I know that although the mayor’s office sends a representative to the Light Veil Committee, it does not and cannot dictate the outcome of the final vote, so support there wouldn’t necessarily count for much. You know that, and I know that… but if someone wasn’t all that smart and he was persuaded by someone else who was high up in the mayor’s office, well… you never know? The not so smart person might actually believe the load of shit that the support of the mayor’s office counted for anything!
“A stupid person like that might even attack Patron’s ship,” he added ominously.
“Are you accusing me?” Fiona bridled. “If so, say it straight out. Don’t beat about the bush.”
“Have I been? I’m sorry. Yes, to clarify: I am accusing you, because I don’t for a second think that the mayor would even consider making such a suggestion.”
“Why me?” Fiona asked defensively.
“I hate to interrupt, but–” Cat raised her hand. “I think I may need clarification. Did I hear correctly that you’re accusing this woman of ordering some people to attack you last night, and we’re discussing the pirates’ attack on Patron’s ship?”
Orion assented that her grasp of the conversation thus far was accurate.
“I see…” Cat smiled sweetly. “Well, don’t mind me–” she waved them on. “Go on, please. This is fascinating. Don’t you think, Roland, Bruce? Apparently this is how we are expected to behave now that we are immortals. We must all watch our backs, I suppose, although I had hoped for a more civil existence. Really, Roland, I have absolutely no intention of bumping you off–” she squeezed his arm quickly. “Promise. Orion can tell you. And you too, of course, Bruce, my love.”
“Glad to hear it!” Bruce retorted with good humor. “I’ve seen you play bridge. But Orion, seriously, you just accused her of something terrible. Is that all accurate information? What if you’re wrong? Or, possibly worse, what if you’re right?”
“There’s worse news,” Orion warned. “Besides, it would take a lot more than a couple of street thugs to do me harm.” He laughed.
“You don’t care?” Father Griffith asked, appalled.
“I care, of course,” Orion said. “I am insulted. Deeply. That anyone – let alone a fellow immortal – would think so meanly of my abilities as to send–”
“Yes, yes, of course, but are you sure?” Father Griffith sounded worried. “Are you sure Fiona sent those men? And if so, how?”
“But what if they lied to you?” Father Griffith ventured, leaning forward earnestly. “Shouldn’t we try to give each other the benefit of the doubt? You just said you didn’t think the mayor would have asked that pirate captain to attack us, don’t you think it’s only fair to give this woman the benefit of the doubt too? People can lie. When they’re scared – as I’m sure those men were last night – they are even more likely to lie. Maybe they had a suggestion from you… maybe they knew you don’t like each other. Anything–” he pleaded.
Orion said nothing, but smiled at the priest. It was a kind smile. It said: you don’t know what you’re talking about.
“He’s right!” Fiona said shrilly.
“I’d keep my mouth shut right now, if I were you,” Cat said, patting Fiona on the arm. “I personally don’t doubt for a split second that Orion’s instincts are right. Our Roland here, though, has a particularly forgiving heart, but don’t try us too far.”
“You said there’s something even more important–” Bruce said. “What is that? I hesitate to even ask.”
“It is my understanding that the islanders are hoping to reach across the Light Veil. They believe it will be possible to create an opening in the Veil,” Orion said slowly. “Do you have any idea what that means?”
“Yes,” Bruce interjected quickly. “If you mean a passage between Pera and where we come from, I can imagine the implications. And it also fits in with what that woman – that immortal – told you about Carl’s assistant.”
“That’s right,” Orion said, not taking his eyes off Fiona. “I know where he was staying in Pera… and I know there was a fire there yesterday afternoon. The police found the place. More importantly, so did Peter before the police. And he has already found an important clue. There may be others. Probably are. If so, the police will find them.
“And we, I mean Peter, will find him.”
“What did he find?” Fiona asked, her voice hoarse.
“Who, Peter?” Orion asked innocently. “He said he found a light bird feather, which is great. Turns out it belongs to one of two light birds assigned to the blind policemen that were reported missing about two, three weeks ago. Light bird feathers have a unique light signature,” he explained to Cat, Father Griffith and Bruce. “The blinders have several light birds that they use as messengers. They are all tagged and identified.
“It’s a great bit of luck that Peter found a piece of the feather, isn’t it, Fiona? Now I hope he can locate the bird, too. We hate to lose light birds. They are very precious for us in Pera. We would never cage them…”
“I’m leaving!” Fiona cried, brushing her hair away from her face and walking quickly to the door.
“No.”
“You can’t stop me,” she said, her hand on the handle.
“I’m not finished,” Orion said, his back to her. Fiona licked her lips nervously. Her hand trembled.
“Sit,” Orion said quietly. Fiona remained hesitantly by the door, her hand on the handle. She removed her hand. “Well–” she said defensively. “What more do you want to talk about? I don’t know anything about this – this person you say was Carl’s assistant. You’ve already insulted me–” She let out a derisive laugh, “Most likely it’s a desperate effort to deflect blame from yourself. I see through you, you know!”
“Do you?” he asked pleasantly, turning to her. “Can you?” Fiona looked uncomfortable. “You can’t, I know,” he nodded. “It’s a terrible handicap, isn’t it? Terrible. Frightening.
“No, I am not finished,” he insisted as he shook his head and gestured towards the chair she had vacated. “Why don’t you sit?”
Fiona sniffed. “I’m going to stand.”
“Very well. It’s all the same… You know I don’t care about a little thing like what happened the other night…”
Fiona said nothing while she fidgeted with the door handle.
“That’s all part of my job,” Orion continued reasonably. “What does cause me a great deal of concern, though, is what I learned when I visited the islands–” he took two steps towards her. They were almost within touching distance now. Her sharp intake of breath was magnified in the silent room. As Orion took a small step closer, Fiona retreated so that her back was against the wall.
“You know I do not make snap judgments– Well, I do,” he corrected after a momentary consideration, “but when I do, it’s for good reason and based on solid, incontrovertible information. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Fiona shook her head impatiently.
“So…if … I ever find out that you are in any way involved with the islanders’ bizarre ideas… relating to the Light Veil…and I know, on good authority, that you were on the Island of Birds talking to the Elder the day before Dragan was found dead…” he added as he stepped closer to her and raised his hand.
To Cat it seemed that the screaming must have been going on for hours. One was suddenly caught in the middle of it, this horrendous torrent of pure fear, and it seemed to last forever…
It was Father Griffith who reacted first, rushing directly to Fiona’s side to quell the uncontrolled shriek. “Stop!” he cried, inserting his arm between Fiona and Orion.
Orion took a step back. Fiona’s scream had subsided to a moaning sobbing as she clung to Father Griffith. The priest opened the door and took her outside.
“Calm down, calm down,” he said, trying to soothe her. Fiona was shaking, putting her weight on his arm. She was a substantial woman, and Father Griffith strained to support her. “Come. You should sit down.” He led her to a bench along the hallway.
“He’s evil!” Fiona shuddered. “You see that, don’t you? He’s completely evil.” She burst into tears once again, burying her face on his shoulder. He patted her vaguely, uttering words of consolation.
Evil? he wondered. “You’re exaggerating,” he told her in a normal voice. “You’ve both had a trying time. Just calm down.”
“I’m trapped,” she said indistinctly.
“I’m sorry?” Father Griffith leaned closer.
“I’m trapped here,” Fiona repeated more loudly. Her tone was imploring, pleading.
“How do you mean?” he asked sharply. “What do you mean ‘trapped’?”
“They won’t let me leave,” she moaned. “They won’t let me go back home.”
“Why not? How can they keep you here? Who are they?”
Fiona sobbed. “Can you help me?” she asked in a small voice.
Father Griffith hesitated. “Help you? How? I know very little about this place. I arrived yesterday.”
“You– you can get out of here…” she sobbed.
“Well, yes, I should think so. We are only here for a month or so, I believe. I’m sure you’re mistaken,” he added. “Patron is the one to talk to. She brought us here in her ship. You know her, don’t you?”
Fiona looked at him tearfully. “She won’t take me,” she said in a broken voice.
“Well–” Father Griffith paused, at a loss. “I don’t know… Really? I doubt she can make such a decision? You’re overwrought– understandably. Why don’t you go home and rest? I’m sure you’ll feel better after a good rest.”
“Thank you,” Fiona smiled gratefully. “Perhaps you are right. I might be overreacting.”
Father Griffith was thoughtful. “Yes…and of course, Orion must be mistaken…Those men who attacked him last night: it’s a terrible thing that they blamed you.”
Fiona sighed. “It’s such a relief,” she said, “to feel I have a friend here.”
“Of course you have friends,” Father Griffith replied robustly. “By the way,” he said after a pause, “I think I may have met a friend of yours already… Evan Nightshade? He said he knows you.”
Fiona appeared to have regained her energy. “Of course I know Evan. He is a dear friend whom I haven’t seen in ages I’m afraid. When did you meet him?”
“How interesting. I met him shortly before we were invited to Pera.”
“It’s a small world, isn’t it? Evan and I did a lot of work in Africa together,” Fiona sighed wistfully.
“Oh yes?”
“I feel so much better now, knowing we have so much in common.”
“Oh yes,” Father Griffith repeated noncommittally. “Well, I’d better get back and you should go and rest. Afterwards, I am sure you and Orion will find a way of sorting out your differences. Such harsh accusations on both sides– No, it’s not right. We are a community, all of us.”
“Ah, Orion,” Fiona shook her head sadly. “I’m afraid, Father, that he is too different… too different from us. From you and I, I mean. I may have been rash in calling him evil, but…well, it is unfortunately too close to the truth. You don’t know him as well as I do, or for as long as I have.”
“Well, no,” Father Griffith conceded. “I have not been acquainted with Orion for any length of time, but, I strongly feel that there is true goodness in him,” he added.
“I hope you never know the dark side of him, Father. There is true darkness there,” she insisted and suddenly shivered.
“I’m sure a rest will do you good,” Father Griffith counseled.
Fiona darted a furtive glance at the closed door behind which… was Orion. “Perhaps…I was hasty,” she said, wearing an expression of contrition. “Perhaps it would be best if I did try to mend fences, as it were,” she smiled wanly.
“Yes, yes,” Father Griffith urged her. “That would be splendid. I am sure it is nothing that cannot be worked out. Come with me – if you’re feeling up to it,” he added solicitously.
Fiona drew a deep breath and sighed. “I think so, Father. Thank you.”
Together, they re-entered the dining room.
“What if she’s involved in that thing with the islanders?” Cat broke off, eyeing Fiona narrowly as the latter walked to where Orion was sitting.
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