Hard Boiled

by T L Christianson

  She nodded, but I could feel her uncertainty as the fleet stopped at the checkpoint. I pulled her to me, gripping her hand in mine as I strode between the cars to the porch.

  The other two Briony guards had joined their buddy and were talking to the lead car. After an initial chat, I knew they'd be checking ID's and processing the group through our system to allow them inside.

  Power surrounded this group of mostly Primes—all Harrow—all Elibera.

  Evgeni was here, along with my parents, Wei and Biyu Long, several Prime uncles, cousins, and relatives. The Council didn't meet often, but when they did, all Harrow members tried to be present.

  It was a relief to see so much support but also worrisome. What did Evgeni have planned? What exactly was he going to talk to the Council about?

  If my house was willing to stand to try to change the Council’s ruling on our bond, I would be strong and prove myself worthy of their loyalty.

  "Ashe, Sydney, come… sit," Evgeni called from the second car, a blue Range Rover.

  Trailing around the vehicle, I slid into the back seat with Syd.

  "How was the trip?" I asked.

  He smiled, "Good. Thank you for doing what needed to be done. The package is safe."

  When the door was closed and the windows up, Syd poked her dad's shoulder from where she sat.

  "George had better be healthy and taken care of! If you hurt him, I'll never forgive you!” she spat.

  "Syd," I touched her arm, but she shook me off.

  Her eyes were sparkling and bright, almost as if they were lit from within.

  I nearly groaned for so many reasons but held my tongue. This was between father and daughter.

  Garin turned in his seat and gave her a stern look, motioning to the guardhouse. "Do you really want to talk about this while they might hear you?"

  "No!" she whispered, "But I need to know what you want with George. Is this about Celine?"

  Evgeni tilted his head to the side, "We'll talk about this later. Just know that he's completely safe—a lot safer than he was here."

  She stared at her father as if trying to judge the truth.

  Evgeni’s thoughts were innocent and relatively open.

  Sydney met my gaze and mouthed, can I trust him?

  I nodded, speaking under my breath, "You can. He'll be true to his word. If he says George is okay, then he's okay."

  She pursed her lips and widened her eyes, before whispering, "Because George knows where my mom is."

  I hissed back under my breath, "That man is manipulating you! Your mom is dead. There is no conspiracy! Tell me! Tell me what has you so convinced?"

  Her fiery gaze was on me now as she continued our whispered conversation. "Why are you so quick to judge? There's proof!" She turned back to Evgeni, who sat facing the back seat, watching us with a slight smile on his lips. "Evgeni?" she asked, "What are you doing here anyway? Why are you speaking to the Council?"

  Evgeni narrowed his eyes, "I'm here for a few reasons. The main one is the coupling that took place between your dragons—it’s obvious that something needs to be done about your bond—and second, did Ashe tell you that they plan to question you about George's escape?"

  What? Me? Why?" Syd stared wide eyed at her bio-dad.

  The corner of Evgeni's mouth curved upward. "Yes, you’re to be questioned. Apparently, you told George that you would rescue him the day before he escaped. Did you do that?"

  She pressed her lips together before staring out the window, "Maybe."

  Once inside the mountain, the entire Elibera contingency made their way through into Briony. Syd and I followed in their wake.

  The Council chamber was a natural cave with a high domed ceiling punctuated by a large circular skylight. The sun shone through it, casting a wide beam of indirect light onto a dragon carved on the wall.

  The rest of the space was dark in contrast, lit only by a fire that roared in the middle of the room in a black stone pit.

  I'd been inside this space only once before as a boy with my father. It was the heart of the Dragonborn government. Council members sat on curved benches on two sides of the fire pit, and on the far end was a raised throne-like bench where the PL and his mate sat.

  When the Council was situated, Sydney's grandfather held his hand up, displaying the sacred symbol tattooed into his palm. "Council is in session. Conner Carrick, you have petitioned the court to hear an item on the agenda."

  My father stood. "Yes, I have. It concerns the Tetrad of my son Ashe Carrick and the coupling incident here at Briony," he answered loudly.

  All eyes turned toward us, where we stood in the front row behind the Harrow Council members.

  Syd clung to me, her fingers clawing into my clothes like a cat.

  I touched her chin, tilting her face up to me. "Don't show fear," I mouthed.

  She nodded, trying to put on a brave face.

  "Prime Ashe Carrick," the PL boomed into the whispers. "What have you to bring before the Council?"

  My heart was racing, and my hands were sweaty. I blamed the fire, but I knew the truth. What happened in this room could change the course of both our lives.

  "I would like to ask the Council for a change in verdict regarding my Tetrad with Prime Sydney Lambert. I would also like the bond officially acknowledged," I called out with a confidence I didn't feel.

  Murmurs and whispers ran through the other Council members while the Elibera members assessed me.

  Arthur's mouth pursed into a line of displeasure, and he shook his head. "The Council refuses to acknowledge your incomplete bond. Has anything changed? Is there any reason you should call us to order…" he looked around the room, "Or are you simply wasting our time?"

  Evgeni stood, walking around the fire, in front of the Council members, as if he were the PL himself.

  Looking over to Arthur, he said, "All of Harrow and I wish to acknowledge the bond.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Some new information has come to our attention about Tetrads. That they're… different, they're special." He gazed around the benches, filled with Council members and then at the group of Harrow Primes standing behind them and filling in the far side of the circle across from Arthur.

  Arthur gazed around the room as if bored of this conversation, a condescending smile flitting across his lips, "So tell me, Evgeni, what new information do you bring before us?"

  Evgeni pretended to be considering his question. "Age, Arthur. Age. The average age of those who enter into a Tetrad is much younger than that of wyvern bonds. After all, Tetrads are hardly common and we haven’t seen a bond like this in almost thirty years. Perhaps, it's time to examine this sacred union and bring to light how it differs from a wyvern bond."

  Arthur scoffed, shaking his head. "We all know there's no difference."

  Sydney's dad cocked his head. "No Arthur. I believe there are several differences, like the age when Primes enter the Tetrad. For example, let's use yours as an example. How old was Elise when your bond was completed?"

  The PL scoffed. "That has nothing to do with this…"

  "I think it does. Because Celine and I were sixteen when we formed the Tetrad—the exact same age as Sydney." He turned toward Zane Brooks, "Dolores Angeven is your mother-in-law, and she had a Tetrad. How old was she and her mate when they bonded?"

  Zane shook his head, "I don't know."

  "I do. She was fourteen, and he was nineteen." Evgeni searched the faces of the Council. "What other Prime bonds do we know of? Huh? Anyone?"

  An old woman crept forward, her black, almond eyes sharp, a smile on her face. It was Biyu's grandmother, "I had a bondmate… long ago, I was seventeen and he was sixteen when our bond was sealed."

  Evgeni held his hands out. "Can we assume that perhaps the age of Aesyre who enter into Tetrads is younger than wyvern bondmates? After all, a Tetrad is a completely different thing than other bonds—can we agree on that at least?"

  Murmurs and agreement came from the Council and the crowd. />
  Evgeni shrugged and held his hands up to Arthur. "So, tell us, Arthur. Are all these young Tetrads a fluke? How old were you?"

  He smiled almost gleefully. "I was twenty-six."

  Evgeni nodded. "Okay… and Elise? Can we assume that she was also in her twenties?"

  Arthur glowered at the Harrow Prime but didn't speak. Syd's grandmother's eyes were wide.

  "How old was Elise, Arthur?" he asked again.

  "This is ridiculous! I'm calling an end to this nonsense…"

  Trey Bryant, one of the Eton Council members, spoke, "Arthur. Prove Evgeni wrong. Tell us how old she was."

  Arthur's face was red and angry. "It doesn't matter."

  Victoria Angeven stood and said, "I think it does." She turned to the Council. "Elise was fifteen, and Arthur was nearly twenty-six."

  An audible gasp ran through the crowd.

  Evgeni pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows. He let the crowd mumble and murmur before clearing his throat. "This age of majority—eighteen—isn't some physical benchmark. It's a random number put forth by the mundane world. But, we are different as Dragonborn, and yet you all claim to follow the ancient laws, when in fact, you're following an arbitrary mundane law.

  "In our world, in the dragon world, we've lost touch with what is normal for us. The normal age of a Tetrad appears to be younger than that arbitrary mundane age of eighteen, and yet Prime Ashe Carrick and my daughter have been criticized, tortured, and kept apart. You all have sullied the ancient laws you claim to uphold!”

  When he spoke again, his voice was low and deadly, "If you want to uphold the ancient laws, then how dare you pick and choose which ones to follow! Any soul who condemns this couple," he motioned to us, "condemns us all. We are Dragonborn. We are not mundane. We all should be held to our own laws and not the laws of that world out there."

  I had to hand it to the bastard—he pulled a rabbit out of a hat. The quiet crowd suddenly erupted with chatter.

  PL Lambert held his hand up to quiet everyone.

  When they hushed, he said, "Those are pretty words you speak, Prime Garin, but things change. Perhaps that might have been true in the past, but these are different times."

  Evgeni shook his head in irritation. "Call the vote, Arthur."

  Arthur's gaze lingered on Sydney. "Before we move to vote, I would like to address the situation that arose last night." His eyes searched the Council chamber, "The escape of George Miller. Someone helped him. He didn't just disappear, and there are two suspects in this room." Arthur looked deviously toward Evgeni. "Sydney will be questioned about his disappearance. All non-Council members, please leave the chambers." The large group began to exit through the crowd when the PL added, "All except Sydney Lambert. She will stay here to have her mind swept."

  "What? No. Mind swept? Mind swept about what? George Miller? Are you out of your mind, Arthur?" Evgeni asked, frowning, hands on hips. "If he escaped, it's due to your own incompetence."

  "You shall address me as Prime Leader!" Arthur thundered.

  "Council, are you going to allow him to do this to an innocent girl?" Evgeni narrowed his eyes at the PL. "This is the same bullshit you did to Celine, and now you're doing it to your granddaughter as well. You and I both know that Sydney has absolutely nothing to do—or could possibly have anything to do—with your inability to hold George Miller."

  I folded my arms across my chest, wanting to hear Arthur's answer as well.

  "She was missing from her quarters all of last night," he bellowed over the crowd. A few people turned to look back before continuing on their way out.

  "That's because she was with me!" I yelled.

  Arthur speared the Council members with an amused glance. "So, you're implicating yourself as well?"

  Evgeni shook his head in my direction.

  I nodded to the PL. "We were together. Mind sweep me, don't do that to her! Why on earth would Sydney have anything to do with George's escape?" I asked, bracing myself. I should be able to do this. It would be tricky, but I could block them from parts of my mind. After all, I've had years of practice and training.

  The PL considered me, then his smile broadened. "No… Sydney will do."

  I hesitated. "What? No! Look at her. She's terrified!" I held Syd to me as her gaze darted between mine and her grandfather's. "I can handle a mind sweep… no… you could hurt her. Absolutely not."

  "You said you only wanted to question her. There's no need for a mind sweep!" Evgeni yelled.

  Arthur's lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine. You want a ruling from the Council about it?”

  I held my breath as the council voted on the mind sweep.

  Arthur tallied the votes. “Drake House? Four yeses. House Harrow? Four Nos… not entirely unexpected. Eton? Two yes, two no. However, in a tie, I decide, and I am for the mind sweep." He looked lazily at Evgeni, "There, are you happy? It's already decided. Guards? Hold her there."

  Sydney's gaze met mine, fear lacing her features as the soldiers moved into position around us. I held her in my arms.

  "You can do this!" I whispered, pressing my forehead against hers. "You're strong. Lock the vault! Lock your mind now!! But don't fight them… whatever you do, don't resist."

  The soldiers pulled her away from me, causing Eondian to growl and snarl at the separation.

  "Don't hurt her!" I warned when one of the guards made her stumble.

  Evgeni turned to face Arthur one last time as the soldiers prodded him. "You'll pay for this, Arthur! Mark my words!"

  "Is that a threat? Should I have you thrown into lockup?" The PL asked, a malevolent smirk curling his mouth.

  Evgeni held his arms wide, "It seems your lockup isn't so secure. It can't seem to even keep a weak old man who's practically a mundane inside.”

  Both Evgeni and I were forcefully pushed from the Council chamber until we stood outside the closed, thick wooden door.

  "We could've fought harder," I told him.

  Evgeni squeezed my neck. "No, son. We would've only been fighting our own people."

  As soon as we were in the artificially lit antechamber, Evgeni thumped my back hard, "Dragon's teeth! This is why I didn't want her knowing about George."

  "You knew that they'd do a mind sweep?" I asked angrily.

  "I thought they might try. They wouldn't mind sweep you. You'd be able to block them."

  "Uh…" trailed Corbin, who stood in our little trio, in his wrinkled uniform. "We are fucked!"

  I ground my teeth, "No. She can do it."

  Evgeni shook his head, "Maybe, but probably not without help. See? If the two of you were bonded already, you could protect her mind. You'll have to try without the bond."

  I wasn't entirely confident I could reach her at all. Leaning against the carved rock, I fell into a squat on the ground. Closing my eyes, I focused on her, trying to reach her mind.

  22

  Sydney

  I tried to shake the guards off, but my movements only caused them to tighten their grip.

  “Is this completely necessary?” I asked as they held me in place before the Council. “I didn’t break George out! That’s ridiculous!” I allowed the truth to flow through my words.

  My grandfather stared harshly down at me, that stupid smirk on his lips. He was a spiteful, angry man.

  What was a mind sweep? What were they going to do? I hadn’t been afraid until I’d felt a surge of fear from Ashe.

  Was this revenge because we’d beat him on one point? That his dirty secret… his hypocrisy concerning his own bond was now exposed.

  I couldn’t dwell on that now. I had to figure out how to keep the Council from knowing what I knew about George.

  I had to protect Ashe and Corbin.

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I searched the eyes of the Council members. “How does this work? What are you going to do?”

  “Miss Lambert?” My grandfather asked coldly as if I were a stranger. “Will you allow us to see your memories?”

&nbs
p; I shook my head. “No. I’ll answer any questions, but I’m not going to agree to something you refuse to explain to me.”

  Elise pleaded with me, “Sydney dear. I’m sure you’re innocent, and so you have nothing to fear…”

  “No. If you thought I was innocent, then you should’ve voted against this whole thing!”

  She shook her head. “I can’t go against Arthur, dear.”

  “It doesn’t matter if she consents. The Council ruled it so,” sneered my grandfather.

  “Don’t fight him, Sydney,” Biyu whispered as she shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

  Then I felt it.

  Arthur called on his dragon.

  At first, it was just a gentle brush against my mind, pushing in, like someone using their thumbs to push down on my scalp, but then it became harder. Then it began to hurt until blinding pain ripped through me.

  Memories of George seemed to bubble up and splay open. First, a memory of George and me in the jungle working on bats. I saw the mosquito netting and a giant cockroach fall out of my boot.

  I screamed. “Get out of my head!”

  The memories kept popping up faster than I could push them away. I tried to focus on different memories, like memories from my classes at the Academy and Rebecca.

  Arthur pushed harder, forcing things to just pop up.

  I saw Logan standing in front of me in the Library, and I felt all the emotions over again when he touched my arm.

  Fighting against Arthur, agony tore through me. I shrieked and twisted against the guards who held me, thrashing as hands dug tighter into my skin.

  “Stop resisting!” Elise spat at me. “It only makes you look guilty!”

  “I’ll show you! I’m trying to show you!” I panted, barely able to speak, “Just stop hurting me!”

  Aaraeth reared up as she helped me hold my ground against them.

  I had to block them out because if they broke into my mind, they’d see what Ashe had done. I struggled… but I had to hide what I knew.