We have located Examiner Tirian,” Tatyana announced. “He has been arrested.”
They were seated in a wide circle with Josef’s desk at the center. The professor’s features were creased with pain, his gaze shattered. One look in Josef’s direction was enough for Sean to forget Dillon’s issue, forget his own unease, and just plain burn.
Dillon said, “You’ve gone after the wrong guy.”
“Nothing’s changed,” Sean agreed. “You’re still looking in the wrong direction.”
Tatyana studied them both. Back and forth. “I would say,” she replied, “that a great deal indeed has changed.”
Carver asked, “What is your impression of this school?”
“It all comes down to Josef,” Sean replied.
“He’s the best,” Dillon added.
“Everything about the Examiner and his work is under official review,” Tatyana said. “We have been asked to deliver a verdict on whether the school should be shut down.”
“Different question, same answer,” Sean replied. “Wrong direction.”
“Right,” Dillon said. “The school is not the issue.”
“Tell us why,” Carver said.
“He listens.” Sean glared at the Counselor. “Unlike some people.”
Dillon said, “He didn’t believe the mind-speech thing was possible. But he gave us a chance.”
“I invited you to repeat the experience,” Tatyana protested.
“So you could dismiss us,” Sean shot back. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Tatyana frowned but did not respond. Which was a very telling reply as far as Sean was concerned.
“The mind connection was real,” Dillon said. “What if the other stuff is real too?”
“We don’t like Tirian any more now than we did before,” Sean said. “But the guy is innocent.”
Tatyana said, “Because your brother claims he saw what escaped a trained Watcher.”
“Tell you what,” Sean snapped. “Why don’t you drop the claim business for a while. See how that fits.”
Josef spoke for the first time since they’d entered. “Your tone is not proper for addressing a Counselor.”
Sean just sat and fumed.
Dillon asked, “What do you figure was the Examiner’s motive for going after us?”
“Fury over being proved wrong,” Tatyana replied. “Your abilities challenge every assumption he made in founding this very school.”
“You’d be nuts to shut this place down,” Dillon said. “Josef and his team do a great job here.”
Carver protested, “You heard what I told the Counselor. Not a single student has ever passed through the Academy.”
“Then don’t let any more apply,” Sean replied. “Make them Messengers. Or bureaucrats. Whatever. Tirian’s concept isn’t bad. He brings them in young, he trains them, he protects them. They’re fine for whatever.”
Tatyana demanded, “What about their loyalty?”
Because it was the Counselor who asked, Sean wanted to dismiss that as well. But he had to admit, “We haven’t been here long enough to know for certain.”
“We’re the new kids on the block,” Dillon agreed. “We’re shut out of a lot.”
“Ask Elenya about the loyalty issue,” Sean said. “She’s been here for years.”
“Excellent point,” Tatyana said. “I will do just that.”
“What about the first attack? You’re pinning that on the Examiner as well?”
It was Tatyana’s turn to hesitate. “If we accept that there was indeed an initial attack—”
“There was,” Sean insisted. “It happened.”
“We have theories, but no explanation that satisfies. Tirian is being questioned over his role as well.” The Counselor rose to her feet. At a motion from Carver, Sean and Dillon followed suit. Tatyana stood there, ignoring the four men, frowning at the side wall. Finally she declared, “I accept the twins’ observation, Professor. Your school has a temporary stay.”
The giant released a long breath. “Thank you, Counselor.”
“New Examiners will be assigned to undertake a full assessment of all students. This is necessary.”
“I understand.”
She glanced at the twins. “I was wrong to dismiss your claims. I apologize.”
Sean wasn’t ready to play nice just yet. “You’re wrong about Tirian as well.”
“Perhaps.” Though she clearly did not believe them, at least the dismissal was no longer her standard response. “But the judicial process has now been set in motion. The Judge assigned this case feels Tirian pronounced himself guilty by fleeing.”
“What if he was taken?” Sean looked from one adult to the next. “And what if he’s been released because you’re ready to hang him?”
“We don’t hang anyone. What a barbaric thought.”
Carver halted Sean’s retort with a cautionary squint and said, “The Examiner claims this was precisely what happened. That he was kidnapped.”
Sean asked, “Where does he say he was held?”
“He claims to know nothing. He was found wandering about the Serenese capital city in a confused daze.”
But the Counselor was back to frowning at the wall. Then, “You proved your abilities to Josef. Do the same regarding your means of identifying who was actually behind the attack.”
Sean decided that was as far as Tatyana was going to bend, so all he said was, “Right. Good. Okay.”
“Professor, you have my permission to share with them whatever you deem to be in the best interests of truth. Only take care. If the Examiner is indeed innocent, we do not know who was behind the attack. Or whether they might try again.”
“Very good, Counselor.”
She turned back to the twins, her gaze once again carrying the quality of an executioner’s blade. “I suggest the two of you get to work. Tirian’s trial starts in four days.”