James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

"I understand, but… it’s not that simple," Elocien cautioned her. "Tenvar is Gifted. There are rules that prevent us from simply marching into the Tol and arresting him. Laws that I cannot break without undeniable, air-tight proof." He gave Asha an apologetic look. "As long as he is inside the Tol, he’s under the Council’s jurisdiction, and the Gifted are the only ones who can bring him to trial and punish him. It’s part of the Treaty."

Asha stared at him in disbelief. "But he made me a Shadow against my will. He lied about Davian. I remember . And Erran saw too - "

"Which no-one can know," Elocien pointed out gently. "As for you remembering - how are you going to explain that to the Council? You can point the finger all you like, but unless they really believe you’ve got your memory back, all it will do is warn Tenvar that we know what he did." He sighed. "Watching him… it’s the best we can do, for now. I promise you, as soon as we get the opportunity to do more, we will."

Asha shook her head, still trying to clear it. She should have realised that. "You seem very calm about all of this."

"I’ve had the entire day to be angry," said Elocien. "And believe me, I was." He stood, putting his hand on her shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "If you’re feeling okay, I should get the others. They will want to know you’re awake."

Asha nodded, lying back down and staring at the roof as Elocien left, trying to sort through her churning emotions. Grief and horror at what had happened. Fury at Tenvar. Fear, knowing what he was capable of.

She took a few deep, steadying breaths as she mulled over what Elocien had said about the Gifted, about Tenvar’s immunity so long as he was inside the Tol. A plan began to form, just an idea at first, but fully fledged by the time Elocien returned with the Augurs.

After receiving delighted hugs from the others - particularly from Erran, whose relief was so evident it made her laugh - she turned to Elocien.

"I think I have a way to solve our problem with Tenvar. To have him locked up," she announced.

Elocien frowned. "We can’t risk an incident between the palace and Tol Athian, not at the moment. Tensions are already high and rising as it is, with my brother’s recent outbursts against the Gifted," he warned her.

"It wouldn’t involve you or anyone else here," Asha quickly assured him. "If it fails, the worst that happens is that Tenvar knows I’ve remembered." She outlined her idea, her four companions listening in attentive silence. There was a pause once she’d finished as everyone considered what she’d proposed.

"It’s still a risk for you, though," noted Erran eventually, his tone uneasy. "There’s no telling what Tenvar’s reaction will be."

"I can handle it," Asha told Erran, locking eyes with him. After a moment, Erran nodded his acceptance, and the other Augurs soon followed suit. They were concerned for her, but none of them was going to try and convince her out of it. For that, she was grateful.

Elocien hesitated for a second longer, then inclined his head too.

"So you’ll need a meeting with Councillor Eilinar. And access to the storeroom in the Old Section," he observed.

"That should do it."

Elocien nodded, more to himself than to Asha.

"I’ll see what I can do," he said quietly.

Asha threw open the door to Ilseth’s study as hard as she could, the resultant crash echoing down the hallway.

Ilseth jumped up, eyes wide for a moment. Then, seeing who it was, he sank back into his chair again, trying his best to look unconcerned.

“How can I help you, Ashalia?” he asked with cool politeness. “You really should be more gentle with the door.”

Asha paused for a long moment. Then she turned and closed the door carefully, taking a key from her pocket and with a quick twist, locking it.

Ilseth frowned. “Where did you get that?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Asha slipped the key back into her pocket.

“I suppose it doesn’t,” said Ilseth, looking more amused than concerned. “What would you like to say to me?”

Asha stared at him. “I want you to know that I remember.”

“Remember what?”

“Everything.” Asha swallowed a lump in her throat. “I know Davian was missing, not dead. I know you made me a Shadow against my will. I know you had something to do with what happened in Caladel.” She clenched her fists, trying to contain her anger. “And now you’re going to tell me exactly what.”

Ilseth just smiled a pleasant, nonchalant smile, though his eyes betrayed a sliver of shock. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He sighed. “Perhaps you’re confused. I know Shadows have very vivid dreams about their past, sometimes -”

“Don’t patronise me. I’m going to get your confession.”

Ilseth smirked. “How? Force?” He chuckled. “Ashalia, you may be safe from Essence thanks to the Tenets, but don’t for a second think that you can overpower me.”

Asha reached into her pocket and drew out a small black disc, holding it between her forefinger and thumb for Ilseth to see. “Familiar?”

Ilseth’s smile slipped, though he still didn’t look concerned. “You’re a Shadow, Ashalia, in case you’ve forgotten,” he said, his tone verging on mocking. “You can’t use that.”

“But I don’t need to use it.” Ilseth was wrong about her ability to activate the Vessel, but she didn’t need him to know that right now. “I just need it to make contact with your neck. Or have you forgotten how it paralyses? I certainly haven’t.” She stared confidently at him. “One touch, and you won’t be able to move. And I’ll be able to do whatever I like to you. You can feel everything, you know. See everything, hear everything. But you can’t make a sound.” She gave him a cold smile. “We could be here for hours, and no-one would know.”

There was a long silence. “You don’t have it in you,” said Ilseth eventually.

“There was a time I didn’t,” admitted Asha. She gestured to her face. “Before you did this to me.”

She took a step forward.

Ilseth scrambled up from his desk, scowling at her. “Why even bother? This section of the Tol has no Remembering, child. Even if I said what you wanted to hear, no-one else would believe you. You’ll be thrown in prison. If you leave now, though… I won’t chase you. I swear it.”

Asha laughed in his face. “You swear it? That’s reassuring.” She took another step forward. Ilseth took a corresponding step back, looking concerned now, even though the desk was still between them.

For a few seconds Ilseth contemplated the locked door; realising that there was no way to safely slip past Asha and the black disc, he dropped all pretence of calm. “You’re a stupid little girl,” he spat furiously. “You were supposed to die with all the others. And you will die now, I promise you. But it won’t be quick like them. I’m going to give you over to the Venerate. Do you know what they will do to you? You’ll beg for death.”

Asha took another step forward, reaching the desk. “Where are Davian and Wirr?” she asked, steel in her voice.

“I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew,” snarled Ilseth, tensing himself to spring at her.

Then suddenly he was flying backwards, as if an unseen hand had gripped him and slammed him against the wall. He shouted in alarm, struggling against invisible restraints and staring at Asha in wild-eyed disbelief.

"It’s not possible," he gasped. "You can’t be -"

“Enough.”

Ilseth’s head snapped around at the voice from the other side of the room, though Asha didn’t take her eyes from his panicked features. From the corner of her vision, she could see Elder Eilinar appear as he removed the Veil.