Kevlin stood in the midst of the chaotic crowd, chilled by the unexpected turn. Why had Leander pushed so hard? Why couldn't he just hold the course?

How could the emperor do this? Leander was one of the most respected defenders of the empire alive. The last thing they needed now, at the brink of open warfare with the Grakonians, was to fracture and fight among themselves. If Tanathos accomplished nothing else by his assaults here in Tamera, he'd already done much to weaken the empire.

A hand touched his arm and he turned to find Ceren standing close beside him. Startled, he retreated, prepared to run. Only the fact that she met his gaze, her emerald eyes unclouded by darkness, helped him stand fast.

Ceren had changed into a tasteful blue dress. Her long, auburn hair fell about her shoulders in loose waves, and her face looked clean, untroubled by recent events. What a change from the last outfit she'd worn. He hated what had happened to her, but he doubted he'd ever forget either.

Ceren dropped her eyes, and a gentle blush rose in her cheeks. It looked like he wasn't the only one with an active memory.

Kevlin glanced around for Indira. She hadn't returned to the council chamber with him, but the last thing he wanted was for her to see him speaking with Ceren. Even though Ceren had been forced to do what she did, the wounds were still far too fresh to risk alienating Indira more. Besides, he didn't want that many broken bones to deal with.

"What are you doing here?" Kevlin asked. "I thought you were meeting with the keisara?"

"I was."

She took a step forward. Kevlin backed away again and bumped into Gabral.

"Watch your step, mercenary."

Ceren drew close to both of them, and Gabral gave her a short bow. She ignored him. "Kevlin, I need your help. We have a serious problem."

"I know."

"Really?"

"Everyone knows."

"They do?"

Kevlin frowned at her and swept an arm at the chaotic room. "We all heard what just happened. Leander's stripped of title and banished. I'd say we have big problems."

Ceren gasped. "What?"

"Where have you been?"

"I just barely arrived."

"Now is not a good time."

Ceren grabbed his arm. "Listen to me. The keisara just ordered us to fetch Remiel from the prison. She wants you to deliver him to her quarters for questioning."

"She did what?" Kevlin drew Ceren out a side door, with Gabral in tow.

"Why would she do that?" Kevlin asked.

"She claims that she has more information, information to help force Remiel to confess."

"Excellent," Gabral said. "I'll inform the emperor at once."

"No." Ceren grabbed the sleeve of Gabral's coat and pulled him back. "The keisara forbids it."

"Why would she do that?"

"That's the problem. She said she feels useless, that she wants to participate in breaking this conspiracy. She insists that we do this at once, and that no one interfere. She means to interrogate Remiel personally."

"We must fetch him," Gabral said.

Kevlin asked, "Are you insane? Ah'Shan hasn't interrogated him yet. He's locked in the dungeon under the heaviest possible guard. No one's getting him out of there."

Gabral gave Kevlin a disgusted look. "I forget sometimes how lacking your education is. When the keisara issues an order, it must be obeyed."

"But this is madness."

Gabral gestured back at the council room where the emperor was calling for order. "Leander forgot that and rebelled against the emperor. Look what happened to him. We must obey."

"We should at least inform Harafin."

"Harafin is busy," Gabral said.

Indeed, Harafin's voice rose above the clamor, calling for Nerys to explain his recent actions. Gabral was right. They couldn't interrupt without drawing everyone's attention. They would be forced to reveal their purposes before the entire council.

Would that be so wrong? Kevlin didn't know much about high nobility, but this summons ran counter to all his instincts.

Leander's explosive encounter with the emperor was still too fresh in his memory. He couldn't risk angering the keisara the way Leander had just enraged the emperor.

"All right," he said finally. "What exactly do we need to do?"

"Simple," Gabral said. "On the keisara's authority, we'll remove Remiel and escort him to the Keisara's Tower."

"She requires Kevlin to bring him alone," Ceren reminded them.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Only because she didn't realize I was available. I'll accompany Kevlin and ensure the keisara's safety.

Kevlin chose not to argue. As much as he disliked Gabral, in this case he welcomed the help. Remiel may not be Actinopathic, but he'd proven himself an extremely dangerous man.

They descended to the Underground Palace. As they walked toward the long stair that led down to the dungeon level, Kevlin caught sight of a familiar slender form with bouncy brown hair.

"Marjani, wait."

"Hello, Sir Kevlin. What can I do for you?"

Kevlin drew Marjani aside. Gabral frowned at the delay so he gestured them on. "I'll catch up in a minute."

After they passed out of ear shot, Kevlin said, "Marjani, I need you to hunt down my brothers."

Marjani smiled and blushed. "I'd be happy to."

"Tell them to meet me at the Keisara's Tower. I may need their help.

Marjani raised an eyebrow. "A little cryptic, don't you think?"

"By necessity. Tell them it involves Remiel."

"I will."

"Hurry."

Knowing his brothers would come helped ease some of his worry. Marjani moved off with a purposeful stride and Kevlin jogged after Gabral and Ceren. He kept his hands clenched tight to quell a growing tremor in his fingers. He had plenty of time to deal with this and find some time with Harafin before the Trembling Madness became a real concern.

By the Lady, I hope we're not making a mistake.

# # #

Harafin stood in the center of the council chamber and raised his hands for attention, reiterating the emperor's calls for order. He forced calm on his expression and his mind. He could not allow his personal emotions to interfere with these procedures. He wasn't sure he could salvage the mess Leander had made of things, but with a little time he was sure he could help.

"May I draw our attention back to the main reason we convened this meeting?" Harafin motioned for Nerys to approach. "There are serious accusations of lying and aiding the perpetrators of heinous crimes that must be answered."

Emperor Tegnazian gestured for him to proceed.

"Sentinel Nerys, are you prepared to answer truthfully?"

Nerys nodded, looking nervous, but determined as he faced the emperor. "May I point out, Your Excellency that recent events are being painted in the most negative light."

He held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Let me be among the first to add my condolences to the families and friends of the slain. Terrible deeds were done yesterday and, as we all just witnessed, they have driven some to commit vicious crimes of hate."

"However, I feel obliged to point out that we must not apply the same condemnation so rightfully deserved against the perpetrators of those acts also to the tools they used. Tools are by their very nature neutral. Although certain artifacts were utilized to commit crime, might we still recognize and applaud the spectacular effectiveness of those artifacts?"

"You wish to applaud the murder of three men?" Ah'Shan asked.

"Of course not," Nerys said quickly. He glanced around the room at the angry stares on all sides and sighed. "Murder is a terrible thing. All I wish to point out is that the artifacts should not be condemned in the same breath as the murderer."

His eyes lit up with excitement. "Can't you see, they worked! Everything worked better than we could have imagined."

Harafin felt a powerful urge to beat the idiot into the ground. Did he really dare attempt to turn these proceedings into a marketing pitch?

Emperor Tegnazian scowled at Nerys. "This is not the time nor the place to trump the excellence of your wares, Sentinel. You shame yourself."

Nerys bowed low. "I am deeply sorry, Your Excellency. Please forgive me."

He made a great show of humility, but the damage was already done. Harafin noted several nobles and military officials regarding Nerys differently. For them, the discussion of truth just became secondary to the desire to acquire the very tools of destruction that had caused so much damage.

"Perhaps," Emperor Tegnazian said gravely, "That depends entirely on your explanation of lies spoken in connection with this investigation, and your flight from Justice that sparked the regrettable confrontation outside the Sentinel Tower."

"I confess I fled from Stalwart Leander," Nerys said. "The man attacked me in my shop and I feared for my life. He was completely unreasonable."

The emperor waved a dismissive hand. "We know all too well Leander's actions. What have you to say about the artifact used in the attack and murder of two Pallian Stalwarts and one Sentinel?"

Harafin reminded himself to stay calm. Leander's outburst offered Nerys the perfect opportunity to shift blame entirely to the Stalwarts. This entire interview was becoming a farce. He doubted Nerys actively supported the attackers. The man would see no profit in it.

"I admit I initially mis-represented the import of the multi-projectile distribution artifact."

"The what?"

"The box that fires half a hundred crossbow bolts in a matter of seconds."

A wave of whispered exclamations rippled around the room. Those nobles and soldiers already interested in Nerys's artifacts grew visibly excited. They would see only the tremendous potential of the device, and care far less that the perpetrator used it to release Tanathos from prison.

"Why did you do this?"

Nerys wrung his hands together. "I admit I feared that the box itself would be condemned."

"So you lied to protect your investment?"

"No," Nerys protested. "I lied to guarantee focus remained fixed on whoever committed that atrocity, not on the tools he used to achieve victory."

"Who committed the crime?"

"I cannot say for sure. I only know who purchased the item."

"Give me the name."

Nerys glanced around the room nervously. "May I interject, Your Excellency, that we generally hold in great confidence the identities of any who purchase our artifacts."

"Just give me the name."

"I will. It's just, I want it clear that I only reveal this name due to the exceptional circumstances, and under any other conditions . . ."

"Enough!" Emperor Tegnazian slammed an open palm on the top of the table. The report echoed like thunder through the room. "I understand completely that your greatest concern is to protect your profits. You try my patience. Give me the name."

"I sold the box to a man named Remiel."

"The same man currently imprisoned as a conspirator?"

"The very man." A fresh wave of whispered conversation rippled through the room.

Harafin frowned. "Nerys, you have a standing policy to sell only to nobility. This man posed as a servant. Why would you sell him this device?"

"He represented a benefactor who wished to remain anonymous. I chose to respect that wish."

"Why?"

Nerys hesitated. "Because he agreed to pay a hefty premium, and agreed to purchase a number of other artifacts."

"Such as?"

"Several shield cloaks and distribution rods."

Emperor Tegnazian stared down at the fidgeting Sentinel as silence settled back over the room. "Sentinel Nerys, your actions are disgraceful. Your lust for profit cost the lives of many, and contributed directly to instability in the realm and the escape of a most dangerous criminal. You will surrender all the revenue collected over the last week to be divided evenly among the families of the fallen."

Nerys paled, but the emperor waved away his protests. "As to your standing among the Sentinels, I leave that decision with Master Harafin."

He banged the broken head of the gavel on the table. "This council stands adjourned. The Ruling Council will meet in private."

People filed from the room, talking excitedly among themselves. They had much to discuss. Harafin joined the Ruling Council. He would deal with Nerys later, and was honestly not sure what he would decide. The man disgusted him, but did that merit demotion, or blocking him from his Actinopathic gift?

Nerys left the room, surrounded by a large knot of nobility and soldiers jostling for attention and calling out orders. The sight left a bitter taste in Harafin's mouth. No doubt Nerys would profit greatly from today's events, while one of the best men Harafin knew would pay a dear price.

While he waited for the room to clear, Harafin closed his eyes and extended his senses toward the Sentinel Tower. He needed something productive to do. He would restore the barrier shield around the Tower and add a few additional enhancements he'd been pondering in recent days.