James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

The lock clicked again, and the door swung open.

Three Gifted strode into the room, two men and a woman, the last one inside closing the door behind them. The first, clearly in charge, stopped and studied Taeris with cool blue eyes.

"Taeris. It has been a while," he said eventually, stepping forward and offering his hand. There was no smile, but if the action wasn’t friendly, it at least held a measure of respect.

"Nashrel. It’s good to see you," said Taeris, gripping the man’s hand and shaking it firmly. "You don’t seem surprised to see me."

"We had word. An anonymous note, about a week ago." His gaze shifted to Caeden. "Said you were alive, scarred, and that you were likely to turn up with an accused mass murderer."

Taeris sighed. "Dras, then."

Nashrel raised an eyebrow at that. "Lothlar?"

"Ran into him in Desriel. It’s a long story."

"I’m sure." Nashrel paused, still watching Caeden. "Is it true?"

"Another part of that long story."

"We might have to hear it soon, then." Nashrel turned. "You remember Elder Haemish and Elder Ciahn? I didn’t want to risk gathering the entire Council in case an Administrator got wind of it, but these two… volunteered to be here."

"Insisted on it, actually." Haemish was an older man, wrinkled with greying hair that on many people would have made them look distinguished, but on him just aged him further. He spoke with an unconscious sneer. "Thought it would be a good idea to make sure you weren’t coming back from the dead to cause more divisions, Sarr. The damage you did five years ago was enough."

"That’s enough, Haemish." Ciahn was perhaps in her early forties, an attractive lady with a strong bearing. She smiled at Taeris. "I’m glad you’re alive, Taeris. None of us thought you deserved that sentence." She glared to her right. "None of us."

Haemish muttered something under his breath, but gave a reluctant nod.

Nashrel turned to study Caeden again. "So your young friend here…."

"Caeden." Taeris gestured to the Elders. "Caeden - as you’ve probably gathered, these are Elders Nashrel, Haemish and Ciahn. We can trust them."

Caeden nodded. "Pleased to meet you," he said politely.

Nashrel and Ciahn nodded back, but Haemish glared at him with ill-concealed disgust. "So you’re the murderer." He turned to Taeris. "You have a lot of explaining to do."

"Haemish. Please." Nashrel gave Taeris an apologetic look, but then sighed. "He’s right, though. It’s probably time we heard that long story of yours."

Caeden flushed under the stares of the three Elders as Taeris finished explaining the events of the past few months.

After a few seconds of silent study, Nashrel shifted.

"Show us your arm," he said quietly.

Caeden rolled back his sleeve, revealing the wolf tattoo, but otherwise bare skin beneath.

"That doesn’t prove anything," pointed out Haemish. "We would know if the sha’teth were no longer under our control."

"Would we?" asked Ciahn.

Haemish scowled. "I suppose… maybe not." He rubbed his forehead, then looked at Taeris. "But tell me this. Do you still think it’s Aarkein Devaed behind all this?"

Taeris hesitated. "Yes," he conceded. "You know I do."

Haemish grimaced. "And there it is. Sha’teth thinking for themselves. An enemy that can create Echoes, supposedly one of Devaed’s favourite tricks. Ancient monsters in the mists of Deilannis. And Taeris Sarr at the centre of it all, bringing us the solution to our problems, saving the day. Fulfilling the prophecies of Alchesh Mel’tac, just like he always wanted.” He raised an eyebrow at Ciahn. "Sound familiar?"

"That was a long time ago, Haemish," said Ciahn reprovingly.

Taeris reddened as he listened to the conversation. “I’m not asking you to believe, Haemish. Just help Caeden regain his memories, find out what this Vessel does. And if you don’t believe he’s Gifted, just test him - you can see for yourself just how strong he is. At worst, you’ll be gaining a powerful ally.”

Haemish shook his head. “At worst, Sarr, we’ll be reminding a murderer who is not bound by the Tenets how to fully utilize his powers.” He sighed. "This invasion from the North - these Blind - are just men. They don’t have dar’gaithin, or eletai, or any of the old monsters alongside them. We can agree that they’re dangerous… but that is why the Council has already made a decision about them."

Taeris stiffened. "Which is?"

"Unless the king changes the Tenets, the city can fend for itself. If they don’t want our help, we’ll do what is safest for us - which is to stay behind these walls. If the invasion succeeds in taking the city, then we will negotiate." Haemish stared Taeris in the eye.

Taeris looked at him for a long moment in disbelief, then turned to Nashrel, horrified. "Is this true?"

Nashrel, who had remained silent up to this point, gave a tired nod. "I’m afraid so," he said quietly. "I was against it, but some of the rhetoric we’ve heard coming from the palace lately… it’s dangerous talk, Taeris. The king has always felt like a neutral party when it comes to the Gifted, but these past few weeks, he’s sounded more like a Loyalist." He looked at the ground. "We have to start thinking about ourselves."

"But you won’t be able to hide behind your walls. Not like in the war," said Taeris, his tone urgent now. "These people won’t negotiate. I told you what we saw in Gahille!"

"What you claim you saw." Haemish sighed. "Taeris, we went through this five years ago, and it nearly tore the Tol apart. Devaed is dead , if he was ever even alive. We need to face the reality of the invasion, not pretend it’s some ancient evil come to destroy us."

Taeris groaned. "You’re being obtuse, Haemish."

Haemish stiffened, but Nashrel held up his hand. "You lied to us once, Taeris. He has a right to question."

Taeris said nothing for a moment. "What about Ilseth Tenvar? You said yourself he was a traitor, a conspirator in the deaths of hundreds of Gifted students - and I told you that he sent the Vessel to Caeden before I knew any of that. Surely that verifies at least part of what I’ve said. And surely you want to understand more about what Tenvar was involved in, too." Taeris gave Nashrel a steady look. "You know me, Nashrel. We may have differing views about many things, but I’m not a fool. I haven’t risked my life, come back here just to tell you a lie."

Nashrel held Taeris' gaze for a few seconds, then sighed. "I know," he said reluctantly. He looked around at the other two Elders. "He makes some valid points, and this isn’t a choice that should be left to us alone. We need to discuss it with the others." He turned back to Taeris. "Whatever we decide, though, no-one here will turn you in to Administration. You have my word."

Taeris looked relieved. "Thank-you," he said. "Please, take what time you need. Caeden and I can wait -"

" You can wait here. We owe you that much." Nashrel shook his head slowly. "But we do not know Caeden, except for what you’ve told us, and what we know of his crimes. It would be irresponsible of me to have him wait anywhere except for in a cell."

Caeden felt his heart sink, and his muscles tensed. They were going to lock him up? Every nerve in his body screamed for him to do something; his thoughts immediately flashed back to the last time he was imprisoned. He clenched his fists, and light beads of sweat began forming on his brow.

Taeris glanced at Caeden with a worried expression. “Alleged crimes,” he corrected. “First I need your word that he will be released back into my custody as soon as you have made a decision, either way. And that he will come to no harm in the meantime.”