Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series (108 page)

“
What are we supposed to do
with her?” Zohn asked.

“
Stay out of her way, keep
the guards away from her, and when she wakes up, tell her we’ll be
back tomorrow,” he said, and walked out, followed by
Kyle.

“
What brings the Equites to
the Council today?” William asked, smiling slightly.

“
The Valle Council has been
overthrown by several of their covens,” Chevalier explained. “They
came to the Equites seeking help in reinstating the Council, and
were on their way here when we thought it best if we came
instead.”

“
Why a coup?” Elder Aaron
asked.

“
Emily was on her
way…”

“
This has to do with
Emily?”

Chevalier sighed, “Yes.”

“
Go on then,” William
said.

“
She was on her way from
Council City to the island when she stopped for the night,
apparently, too close to a Valle coven that was trying to turn a
mortal.”

“
And he died?”

“
Yes, the coven demanded
that Emily be punished, but the Council refused, said it was an
accident. They’ve been overthrown, their Chief Interrogator and
Elder Vizia were killed, and the rest are imprisoned, awaiting
banishment.”

“
While it’s disturbing,”
William said. “I don’t see as though we as Encala need to get
involved.”

“
We’re afraid if the
current Council remains, they will not abide by the alliance and
will again be at war with both of our factions… and, of course…
they will first come after Emily to punish her for the death,” Kyle
explained. “We don’t want to get involved either, but we also don’t
want to risk a war with the Valle.”

“
We’ll need to discuss it
as a Council, to see if it involves us enough to intervene with the
Equites,” William said. “We understand that protecting Emily is
essential, but starting a war with the Valle may not be in the
Encala’s best interest.”

Chevalier nodded, “All we can ask is that
you consider it. Please let the Equites Council know your
decision.”

William nodded and Chevalier and Kyle left,
headed back for the McLaren that was parked outside of the city.
The ride to Council City was quiet, each contemplating both sides
of the coup. One side would bring the Valle back as Equites
enemies, and one that could reinstate the trusted Council, yet
endanger the relations between covens.

When they pulled into the garage, things in
the city seemed quiet and it was just after midnight. They called
for the Council and found them already meeting in the council
chambers. Chevalier and Kyle joined them and sat down as the others
waited.

“
Have they called?”
Chevalier asked.

“
Yes, William called a few
hours ago… the Encala have decided to take a wait and see
approach,” Zohn explained.

“
I figured they would,”
Chevalier said. “They sounded unsure about helping the Valle regain
their council.”

“
As are we,” Zohn
said.

“
As much as I hate to admit
it, I think I agree,” Chevalier said. “Yes the alliance is nice,
and things are peaceful, but this could backfire. The way I see it,
we need to prepare to defend ourselves against attacks from the new
Valle.”

“
Then we need to be
prepared to answer to the former Council if they are ever
reinstated and wonder why we didn’t help,” Quinn said. “That could
be a problem.”

“
I fear that Emily will try
to free them,” the Chief Interrogator said. “Once she gets word
this was caused by her, she will go to them.”

Kyle nodded, “Yes, she will. We may need to
make it a priority to keep it from her.”

“
That means keeping her
away from Damon,” Chevalier said. “I’m sure he knows by now, and
would love nothing more than to send her into that rat’s
nest.”

“
About Damon…” Quinn said,
grinning slightly. “He’s been turned to ash.”

Kyle grinned, “Did she say why?”

“
No, she didn’t say
anything,” Zohn told them. “According to the guards, she walked
down without saying a word and then left a few seconds later. They
didn’t even know he was ash until cell checks.”

“
I say leave him,”
Chevalier suggested. “Banish him for 1,000 years and put him in the
ancient’s room.”

“
Is it just me, or is she
moodier this time?” Quinn asked.

“
It’s not just you. She’s
sicker, and moodier,” Kyle said.

“
How is she?” Chevalier
asked, glancing toward the door when he heard Emily get up in her
room and start to walk around.

“
She’s fine. She woke up
after about 24 hours and attempted to eat, and then just did things
around the palace,” Quinn said. “We, of course, let her go without
guards.”

“
Derrick, ask Emily in,
please,” Chevalier said as she walked down the stairs. She came in
to the council chambers a few minutes later in only a bikini and
sarong. She had a towel in one hand and sunglasses holding her hair
back.

“
What did I do now?” she
asked, crossing her arms.

“
Nothing, why do you always
assume that?” Quinn asked, glancing nervously at his
hands.

“
Because it’s normally
true.”

Chevalier ran his eyes over her and then
grinned, “Yes, that’s normally true. We want to talk to you about
guards.”

“
I don’t need guards,” she
said, narrowing her eyes.

“
The Ferus have regrouped,”
Kyle lied, keeping Chevalier from having to. “We feel it would be
best if you had someone with you.”

Emily glanced at Kyle and blushed, then
looked at anyone on the Council other than him, “No.”

“
What about just 1 guard…
one that never stopped you from doing anything, just a shadow, if
you will,” Quinn suggested.

“
No,” she said, and turned
to leave.

“
Em…” Chevalier said, and
she turned back to them. He couldn’t help but notice the smallest
bulge on her abdomen, somewhat accentuated by the sarong tied low
on her hips. The Council all shifted nervously. The bikini and
sarong were just low enough the Equites crest tattoo peeked out
over her lower back.

“
What?”

“
Please, we promise the
guards won’t interfere, they will quietly follow you
and…”

“
Talk about me? Spread
rumors that I’m a two-bit whore sleeping with everyone on the
Council?” she asked, irritated.

“
That was one guard,” Zohn
said.

“
It was not. He mentioned
the guards… plural… were talking about it. I’m better off by
myself. If I see the Ferus, I’ll deal with them myself.”

“
You’ve been too weak to do
any damage,” the Chief Interrogator said.

Chevalier winced slightly when he saw the
anger cross into her face.

“
Too weak? Want me to prove
I can still ash you?” Emily asked, taking a step
forward.

“
No… no, I just mean that
you’ve been sick,” he said nervously.

“
No guards, period,” she
said, and left the council chambers.

Chevalier grinned and stood up.

“
Elder!” Kyle whispered.
“The ancient’s room.”

He sighed and sat back down.

“
So much for thousands of
years of patience,” Quinn chuckled, and thumbed through papers on
his desk.

“
Where did you want the
pool?” Zohn asked.

***

“
Who’re you?” Emily asked,
watching the two guards posted outside of the stables. She fidgeted
nervously, pulling down her t-shirt as they turned towards
her.

“
City guards, we’ve been
assigned to the stables,” the tallest one said.

Emily’s eyes narrowed, “Are we expecting an
attack on the horses?”

The guard grinned, “I don’t know, Ma’am.
We’re just following orders.”

Emily shook her head and quickly bridled her
stallion. She was still feeling weak, though she wouldn’t admit it,
and had to use a make-shift stair out of hay to get onto his back.
She cantered through the city and slowed the thoroughbred into a
walk as she rode out toward the derelict Durango. She wanted to see
if anything was left of it, something to get her out of the city,
and away from the guards posted at every room.

She stopped, eyes wide, when she saw the
Durango and the guard posted outside of it.

“
What the hell are you
doing here?” she asked him angrily.

“
This is my new post. The
guards are now scattered throughout the woods,” he
explained.

“
Who’s orders?”

“
The Council’s,
Ma’am.”

“
Which member of the
Council?”

“
That I don’t know. My
General gave me this location.”

Emily growled, and kicked her stallion into
a fast gallop, quickly heading for the hills west of the city. She
knew that the Council was aware that was her favorite spot to run
the horses, and she was sure they would also post guards there. She
wanted to see if the guards were just at her favorite spots, or if
they were all over the area.

She saw the dark figures before even getting
all the way onto the hills. She bypassed them and ran the stallion
straight into the woods. Within just a few yards into the trees,
Emily saw another guard, standing out in the middle of a small
clearing. She ignored him and turned back for the palace.

The brief ride wore her out, which irritated
her more, and it took a little longer to return the stallion to his
stall. She walked over when she saw the Elders out by the new
stable addition and one of the Cavalry took her horse for her.

“
What the hell’s up with
the guards at the stable and out around the trees?” she asked,
putting her hands on her hips.

“
We told you,” Zohn said,
stifling a grin. “The Ferus are building numbers.”

“
And… what? They’re after
our horses?”

“
No, but we’re protecting
all areas of the city.”

“
Em, we have an appointment
in an hour,” Chevalier reminded her.

She spun toward him, her eyes fierce, “No, I
have an appointment.”

“
I’m not allowed to
go?”

“
No, you
aren’t.”

“
Em…”

Emily just screamed and stormed off into the
palace.

“
Her temper’s actually kind
of endearing,” Quinn said, watching her leave.

“
Oh, hell, don’t let her
hear you say that,” Chevalier chuckled. “She’s fierce and menacing,
remember that if she asks.”

“
Back to the question at
hand. I say we let Emily do it,” Zohn said, watching the new
addition.

“
That trailer is what? 8
horses?” Quinn asked.

“
Yes, it’s for 8 horses,”
Chevalier said, thinking. “It’d give her something to do, but I’d
rather not send her out alone to buy them.”

“
Make that a stipulation.
Either we send Kralen and Silas to find horses, or we let her go
with them,” Quinn suggested.

“
I may not word it quite
like that… damn, I hate that motorcycle,” Chevalier said, turning
to watch Emily leave the city on the Harley.

“
You’re not sending guards
behind her?” Zohn asked, shocked.

Chevalier grinned, “I sent them out an hour
ago. They’re stationed at the medical building.”

Quinn chuckled and turned back to the
stables. They again began discussing changes to the Cavalry.

“
Duty calls,” Zohn sighed
when they were summoned to the council chambers an hour
later.

The three Elders returned and took their
seats, surprised to see four Valle standing before them, surrounded
by city guards.

Chevalier leaned forward, “Ok, we’re
here.”

“
We’re representatives of
the Valle Council, and have come to request that the Winchester be
turned over to us for punishment,” one of the Valle said. He was in
traditional guard uniform and bore the emblem of the Valle’s
Imperial Guard.

“
No,” Zohn said, sitting
back in his chair.

“
She maliciously killed a
mortal that we were turning. It was a violent and painful death,
and we seek restitution.”

“
It wasn’t maliciously
done. It’s a proximity affect, and uncontrollable,” Quinn
explained.

“
That doesn’t matter. She
needs to pay for his death.”

“
No,” Chevalier said, his
eyes narrowing.

“
You give us no choice than
to attack and take her ourselves.”

“
Bring it,” the Chief
Investigator said, grinning.

“
You can’t protect her
forever. Winchester or not, she’ll pay for the death,” he said, and
the Valle turned and left the palace angrily.

“
Saw that coming,”
Chevalier said, leaning back. “Damn how do we get guards around
her?”

“
We don’t,” Kyle said. “If
we push guards on her, she’ll slip them… if we don’t, then she’ll
do as normal and stay around the palace, occasionally going out for
a ride. She’s still too sick to leave for long.”