Andrei

The days in Sinclair’s absence passed under a cloud of tension and paranoia, but they were otherwise uneventful. There were no attacks on the house, no further taunts, and no sign of Lidia Ruza, but we were still ostracized by the whole of Oskari. If there were any exceptions, they didn’t come forward. Meanwhile, Rhydian Sinclair hadn’t returned, and we were under the assumption he’d gone looking for his daughter.

Despite my best efforts, Commander Reider refused to tell us where she went, but there was one other person who might have known Sinclair’s secrets. That night, I found her in the farmlands, pacing the porch at the workshop.

“Father S, thank Delphia you are here.” Adeline rushed forward the second she saw me, and if she hadn’t looked so distraught, I might have anticipated another hug. “I didn’t know what to do, and she—” Catching her heel between the planks, the Delphi stumbled forward.

Of all the things, I’d failed to foresee, this wasn’t one of them. Steadying the girl, I asked, “Have you been crying?”

“It’s horrible. Truly horrible. And I—and he—but she—”

“Slow down,” I said. “Stop. Breathe. Think, and then speak.”

The Delphi puffed her cheeks out and managed a quick series of breaths through her nose. In and out, in and out. Not exactly how I would have done it, but it seemed to have worked.

“Do you promise to believe me?” she asked.

“I promise to hear what you have to say.”

“That will do,” she said, turning and walking—carefully—toward the door.

When she opened it, Emerich Bach sat slumped over on the kitchen chair. The blood had already dried, but the cause of death was obvious—he’d been slain by a throwing star to the temple. This was disturbing on multiple levels, for not only had the man been a friend and an ally, but a troubling pattern emerged. Father Keller, Father Belaia, Father Bach.

“When did this happen?” I asked. When my left upper cheek twitched, I stuffed my hands into my over-sized pockets and formed tight fists.

“Approximately one hour ago,” she replied. “One minute we were discussing ethics in science, and then next—I didn’t want to leave him.”

I stepped inside and considered the scene, the trajectory leading me to the fluttering curtains. The throwing star would have come in from the open window.

“It doesn’t look good,” Adeline said. “Enforcer Rhian has one just like it, no?”

Taking into account the height of the window, and how deeply the weapon was embedded into Rick’s skull, I found it difficult to believe a Strachan was responsible. They had excellent aim, but the force behind the throw would have required much greater strength. It wasn’t as though I suspected Sinclair, but I was worried I might need to present a case.

“What motive would she have?” I asked.

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“None, Father S. None,” Adeline said. “The true criminal here is the Legacy Varis.”

“Why do you suspect the Legacy?”

“Because I saw her.”

“Can you prove it?”

“I wouldn’t be panicking if I could!”

Yet another mind game designed to cause dissension, and our enemy was trying to frame our Enforcer. Again.

Neither of us felt comfortable leaving the remains in the workshop. If Helena Varis was responsible for Emerich Bach's death, things were escalating, and we had to get back to the house to check on the Commander and Bells. Unceremonious as it was, I hauled Rick over my shoulder, and we made our way back to the house in silence.

When we arrived, however, nothing seemed out of place.

Bypassing by the kitchen with Rick's body, I ignored the initial questions from the Commander such as, “What happened?” and, “Are you okay?” and comments from the Legacy such as, “You’re tracking mud,” and, “Please, not on the couch.”

I set the body down on the couch, and returned to the kitchen where the Legacy and the Commander were seated over tea. Adeline hadn’t moved from her place beside the table, staring them both down with the heat of a thousand fires.

Following all the commotion, Bells stumbled down the stairs with a few unintelligible grunts. Judging by his hair and his state of semi-undress, he’d been asleep.

After Adeline and I explained the circumstances surrounding Rick's death, the Legacy was quick to come to her own defense.

“That weapon is one of a kind,” she said. “Never mind the woman is positively unstable. For the life of me, I cannot understand the fascination you all have with her. Now, I agreed to overlook Mister Bach’s defected status as a favour to Michael, but need I remind you, Rhian Sinclair is an Enforcer. It is her duty to hunt the defected. I truly don’t see the problem here.”

“The lady has a point,” Bells said. “I don’t think Rhian did it, but the lady has a point.”

“Okay, I hear what you're all saying," Reider said. "But I have to admit, Rhian has been acting out more than usual lately.”

Adeline stepped forward and swatted Michael across the back of the head.

Despite the overall mood in recent months, I found myself feeling more easily amused than I would have in the past. To this day, I whole heartedly believe everyone needs an Adeline.

Michael rubbed where it smarted. “Ow.”

Bells shuffled in place, eyeballing the Successor as if to make sure he wasn’t about to be next.

“How dare you,” Adeline said. “Enforcer Rhian is risking her life in Verena to protect you—to protect all of us. And what have you done lately, Commander Michael, besides doubt her and canoodle with this awful woman?”

“Verena?” the Legacy and I asked in tandem.

“Canoodle?” Reider added.

The revelation as to where Sinclair had gone was concerning. It didn’t take long for me to conclude why she’d gone to Verena—their silver mine was no secret to most Amali. While knowing first-hand how dangerous it would be for a Partisan in Verena, I doubted the Commander could have stopped her even if he'd tried. When Sinclair had her sights set on something she needed, there was no telling the lengths she’d go.

“Blanchett,” The Commander said. “What are the chances Lidia tricked you into thinking you saw Helena outside the workshop?”

Bells stepped up in her defense. “Delphi, mate. Immune to telepathy, remember?”

“From another angle,” I said. “What are the odds Lidia Ruza could trick any one of us into assaulting each other?”

The Legacy brought her hand to her chest as if she’d been deeply wounded. “Brother Strauss, are you suggesting my mind has been tampered with?”

“Father Strauss,” I corrected, recalling the day we first met. It felt glorious.

“This scenario is far more likely,” Adeline said, turning her fiery gaze to Varis once more. “Where were you, Legacy Varis, at approximately eight o’clock this evening?”

Fortunately for the Legacy, an unexpected arrival prevented the resurgence of the finger of truth. Unfortunately for Sinclair, she was about to get some terrible news.