Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) (10 page)

“I’m so glad you made it,” she said, reaching for Kyr’s hands in a familiar gesture.

It was a struggle for Ty not to step between them out of instinct, Kyr could tell. But they both maintained their roles. She gave Halda a big smile.

“Thanks for seein’ us on such short notice,” she said, careful to maintain her Wrym accent.

“Of course.” Halda returned the smile and glanced at the thin male. “Thank you for greeting my guests, P’oq. We’ll visit in my chambers before the next session begins.”

“As you wish, Councilor,” P’oq said with a deep bow. If he was curious about Kyr and Ty, his expression gave no indication of it.

Kyr released Halda’s hands and took one of Ty’s as they stepped into the council building. The entrance was expansive, stretching up several stories. A wide staircase led up from both sides of the foyer to the second level. Halda headed to the staircase on the right, so Kyr and Ty followed her. The only sound was of their footsteps on the hard reyanite floor.

What the hell was that?
Ty wondered.

I have no idea. Can you get a read on her?

No. Her thoughts are all over the place. On the plus side, that means she isn’t under Vycor’s influence
.

Kyr’s grip tightened as Halda led them down a hallway on the second level to a set of double doors. Before the older female reached the doors, they opened with a flourish, propelled by two female Wrym dressed in green gowns and head cloths. Neither of the females looked up as Kyr and Ty trailed into the room behind Halda.

“Bring tea and cakes,” Halda instructed to no one in particular as she walked over to a settee and sat down. Looking at Kyr and Ty, she flicked a hand at the adjoining loveseat. “Please sit.”

They obliged, settling on the loveseat as the doors to the chambers closed. Kyr was wondering where to begin the conversation when Halda leaned forward and pinned her with an intent look.

“All right,” the councilor said. “Now tell me what the hell is going on around here.”

Chapter 11

“Uh.”

That was as much as Kyr managed in the face of Halda’s burning scrutiny. She tried again to get a read on the councilor’s thoughts and was stymied when she couldn’t.

“There,” Halda said, her dark red eyebrows drawing together. “I know a mental touch when I feel it. You two are no Wrym, and I want to know what’s going on.”

Do you think we can trust her?
Kyr asked Ty.

I think we’re going to have to
.

Although she agreed, Kyr was still wary. “Our apologies for any intrusions, Councilor.”

“I’m not asking for apologies,” Halda said testily, all pretense of cordiality vanishing. “I’m looking for answers. I overheard you introduce yourself to P’oq, who has been acting as strangely as my fellow council members. Since you got past the main guards without an appointment, I knew there was more to you than meets the eye. I’m correct, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” Kyr admitted, deciding they had little to lose now. “You’re correct. We’re not Wrym, we’re Danes.”

Halda didn’t even blink over that news. “And why are unannounced Mynders in my megai?”

Before Kyr could reply, there was a rap at the doors. Both doors opened after Halda called out to the Wrym to enter. The two females wheeled in a cart topped with a large teapot and a towering tray of cakes and mini sandwiches. Kyr’s stomach all but danced in anticipation even though they’d just eaten breakfast. Her cheeks burned when Ty gave her a curious look. She was just as puzzled as he was over her surge of hunger.

It took a few minutes for the Wrym to pour and serve the tea and set the food offerings on the table between the seats. Once Halda had approved their efforts and dismissed the females, her gaze turned pointedly back to Kyr.

“We’re here on behalf of the palace,” Kyr lied. “Rumors have been circulating from all of the megais about unusual behavior among some of the citizens, and we’re working on figuring out what’s causing it.”

“You said you’ve noticed P’oq and your fellow council members acting strangely,” Ty said after sipping his tea. “When did you first notice it?”

The tea is fine to drink
, he thought.

Kyr silently thanked him and took a sip of her own tea as she awaited Halda’s answer. The councilor appeared to give Ty’s question some thought.

“It was around the time they returned from a visit at the Vawn palace,” she said at last.

“They visited the palace?”

“Yes. We were all called to an audience with the Guardians, along with the councils from the other megais.”

Halda paused to take a tea cake covered in pink frosting. Kyr realized she was moistening her own lips as she watched Halda take a bite. Flushing, she took another sip of tea and avoided Ty’s penetrating gaze.

“I was unable to attend,” Halda continued after she finished the cake. “The day we were scheduled to leave, I took a spill down the stairs and suffered from a couple of bruised ribs and a sprained wrist. Traveling that far was out of the question.”

“When was that?” Ty asked as he loaded several of the tea cakes and sandwiches onto his plate.

“Not long before the Ascendant returned,” Halda responded. “In fact, P’oq informed me that the purpose of the audience was to discuss the ball celebrating Ma’jah Kyr’s return.”

Kyr and Ty both felt Halda’s sorrow as she thought of Kyr’s death. It touched Kyr enough to have her eyes stinging. Since Halda was looking down into her teacup as she gathered herself, Ty switched plates with Kyr. She was too grateful to be embarrassed, and just silently thanked him as she ate one of the cakes.

“You said P’oq told you about the purpose of the audience,” Ty said. “Did you not know the purpose before it was held?”

Halda frowned. “No, actually. It was a little odd, though we did all assume it pertained to the Ascendant. And then when Syd and Nevyll returned and started making decisions I questioned, well…”

“What kinds of decisions?” Kyr encouraged when Halda trailed off.

For a moment, Halda hesitated. Kyr could tell that she was uncomfortable speaking ill of the two males who had served with her for most of her life. Kyr sent out the thought that she and Ty were to be trusted, taking care to keep it subtle so Halda wouldn’t perceive it.

Eventually, Halda sighed and set her teacup down. “They dole out unreasonably harsh punishments, even when I offer up persuasive arguments. They do and say things that instigate confrontations with those we’re meant to counsel. We’ve sent more Wrym to the palace prisons over the past six lunar cycles than in all the time I’ve been a member of this council. Good homes are being broken, and I can’t live with it any longer. That’s why when I sensed you earlier…well, I hoped you were here to help.”

Kyr set her empty plate and cup on the table and met Halda’s gaze. “We are. We’ve got news to share, Councilor, and it won’t be easy to hear.”

Halda’s lips pressed together into a thin line, but she nodded in acknowledgement to urge Kyr to continue. So Kyr did, explaining in a general way what they had discovered regarding the lifting of repressions, influencing of Alametrians to commit crimes, and the shadowy conspiracy within the palace. Although Kyr felt Halda’s shock and dismay as she listened, her expression reflected none of that. She’d been in a position of authority for too long to lose her composure over awful news.

Still, the councilor’s voice wasn’t quite steady when she spoke after Kyr finished. “You’re saying that all of the Wrym who this council found guilty and sentenced to prison are probably in the Dark Lands right now fulfilling some unknown goal for Advisor Vycor?”

“I’m afraid so,” Kyr said.

“And the Advisor used his abilities, which are beyond any Mynder’s power to overcome, to influence
Dem-Shyr
TaeDane to kill the Ascendant?”

“Yes.”

Halda rose from the settee and walked over to a tall window. Kyr easily read that the other female needed to process what she’d been told. Giving her privacy with her thoughts, Kyr exchanged a look with Ty.

She believes us.

He nodded.
She’s scared for herself and her people.

Who could blame her? This really sucks.

Yes, it does
.

Once again, his easy agreement comforted her. She knew he wasn’t any happier about bringing this news to people’s doorsteps than she was. Added to being the bearer of bad news was the reality that every person they told became a possible target for Vycor. They were putting lives at risk in an effort to save many more. Not for the first time, the weight of responsibility pressed like a mountain on her shoulders.

“You say that this is occurring across all of the megais?” Halda asked without turning around.

“Yes, Councilor.”

“This is troubling on so many levels.” She turned and looked between Ty and Kyr. Her eyes were lit with the fire of indignation. “Lifting the repressions is simply unconscionable. Never mind the smaller offenses we’ve seen over the past couple of lunar cycles. There is bound to be massive in-fighting within all of the megais as people begin experiencing negative emotions again. Many people will be hurt or killed. And what is stopping the mayhem from spreading from one megai to another?”

“We believe that’s actually one of the Advisor’s goals,” Ty responded.

Halda nodded slowly. “You say he wants to assume power. By creating chaos, he could ultimately step forward and put an end to it with these new abilities you mentioned.”

Kyr hadn’t thought of it in quite that light, but realized the Wrym was right. And if Vycor’s abilities weren’t enough to stop the trouble he’d caused, the V’larian weaponry sure would be.

“People will flock to him for help,” Halda continued, “and eventually rely on him for leadership.” For the first time, true fear reflected in her expression. “If he has connections in the Dark Lands as you said…”

None of them needed her to finish the sentence to understand her worry. Her megai was at great risk if the protections were lowered.

Halda walked back to the settee and sat down, her expression grim. “What can I do to help you in your efforts?”

“We need to scan as many Wrym as we can,” Ty said. “That way, we can learn how far Vycor’s influence extends. Then we can help you develop a plan to secure the megai.”

“Then that’s just what we’re going to do.”

Chapter 12

Not long after Halda vowed to help them, she was called back to business for the council’s daily session. She instructed Kyr and Ty to wait for her in her chambers. She intended to explain to Syd and Nevyll that she’d received a surprise visit from friends, and request an early conclusion to the day’s proceedings. There was little doubt in her mind that the male council members would jump at the chance to stop work early. Evidently, along with their increasingly harsh punishments had come an equally poor work ethic.

When they were alone, Kyr shifted closer to Ty. She was suddenly filled with doubt. Vycor and Shaya had gotten to all of the megai councils. The fact that Halda was outside of the Advisor’s influence appeared to be an anomaly. If the highest officials within each megai had already fallen victim to Vycor’s evil, who knew how many other Alametrians were under his influence? What kind of a chance did they have when it was impossible to trust anyone?

Ty put his arm around her and pulled her tight against his side.
We’re going to defeat him, Kyr
.

You don’t know that any more than I do. I sense your doubt. Even more, I sense your fear
.

He didn’t reply. She tilted her head so she could look into his eyes.
Will you tell me what’s really bothering you?

The pain that entered his eyes surprised her, but she pushed that reaction aside. She had to know what caused it.

She had to know how to help him.

I’ve allowed you to keep whatever it is to yourself up until now
, she pointed out, bringing a hand up and touching the side of his face.
You know you’re not really hiding it from me.

Kyr…

Please, Ty. You’re my amanti. We share everything, for better or worse. If our roles were reversed, you wouldn’t let me keep something from you and you know it.

He was quiet for a long moment. She felt him weighing whether or not he should share whatever burdened him. She relaxed, sensing victory was at hand.

“I can’t,” he said at last.

Her lips parted in disbelief, not only because of his refusal, but because he had firmly closed off the mental connection they shared. She hadn’t even known he could do that.

“What do you mean,
you can’t
?” she asked.

He pulled away from her so he could rise from the loveseat to pace. The deliberate physical separation from her exacerbated their mental disconnect. Anger festered hot and unwelcome in her chest, so she made a conscious effort to subdue it. Whatever Ty was keeping from her was obviously causing him immense distress. She had to do her best to keep that in mind and not just slap some sense into him.

“At least give me a hint,” she implored, clasping her hands together to avoid the whole slapping scenario.

“I can’t,” he repeated, this time with some heat behind it. “Am I not allowed any private thoughts at all?”

Anger retreated, leaving hurt to eat a hole in her heart. “Of course you are,” she said. “I didn’t mean—”

“To press me?” he interrupted. “Then can we please drop the subject?”

That brought the anger back in a snap. Fortunately for him, the doors opened to admit the two Wrym females for clearing the food service trays. Otherwise, there was every possibility she would have thrown the teapot at his head.

* * *

Not long later, Halda ordered a horse and carriage to drive them through the governing center. She made a grand show of wanting to give her “friends” a tour of the area, and they were all smiles as they climbed into the carriage.