Chapter Twenty-Two

Neith

 

Custom dictates regular visits to the families of those who lose a member to death. Typically, a visit once every two weeks for anywhere between four and five months is normal. Since becoming Arbiter, I’ve had to visit various families once a week. Apparently, it’s what a good Arbiter does. Also all the families I’m visiting—except for the Sirous—have a death tied to me because of my Pursual.

 

In the case of Invier’s family, I wish I could tell them their son is alive. Since Bel sent a cryptic note saying she can’t find him, I’ve had to ask Sohr for help.

 

It’s been a week since I saw him and I’m nervous. Did something bad happen? Or, is he just mad at me? No, if he was okay, he would have at least reached out to his family by now. Based on my visit to their home in Pichelin yesterday, they haven’t heard from him.

 

Today’s visit is especially hard as guilt whips my chest making it hard to breathe. Adela’s father has converted his expansive foyer into a shrine to his daughter.

 

The home was already dark, having been decorated in the gothic-style. Now, a table is laden with altered photos of Adela. Some have horns coming out of her ears. There’s one where her eyes are nothing but black holes. Another is a red-hued image of her. Each more disturbing than the last.

 

I’ve done my best to keep my mind off her and what I did. Anytime her death-scene creeps into my consciousness, I lock it up and place it far behind the other issues on my plate—finding Invier, keeping Father and me safe, the Phalanx, destroying the rebels …

 

Standing here, in her home, however, I can’t keep those painful memories tucked neatly away and the image of her blood leaking out of her comes rushing back. I squeeze my eyes shut to get rid of it but fail. Goose pimples rise on my arms and I rub at them, absentmindedly.

 

“Are you all right?” Father asks, a bushy eyebrow raised high on his forehead.

 

“Fine,” I reply brusquely as I glance at another scary image of Adela. I’ve driven Titan Seltan insane if not, then close to it. I wish Bel was by my side. She’d say something which would give me strength at a time like this.

 

At least Father is here because coming to this house alone would be out of the question.

 

Like Father often says, Maintaining your alliances is a never-ending job. The relationships require constant attention or your ‘friends’ will be easily poached by your enemies. I swallow my discomfort and focus on getting through the visit.

 

Stepping into the waiting room, I’m able to cast off my discomfort. Here, the walls resemble a rich damask fabric. Burgundy and silver. The walls are also adorned with mirrors of all sizes, each bringing in light from outside to brighten the room. Tracery windows line the northern wall, overlooking a garden of dark-hued plants and flowers such as the black hollyhock plant. I remember being much younger and hating to be told to go play in Banne’s garden because the tall plants seemed spooky when seen at the corner of my eyes. Even the grass out there is ebony. As are the tulips. His goth obsession is excessive.

 

I pivot from the window as he enters the room. Dressed in a drab tan robe which he grips across his chest his bare feet drag across the thick carpet. When he lifts his head, the man’s eyes are red-rimmed.

 

“Banne!” Father greets him but gets a grunt in response. My father is too good an actor. Watching him hug his fellow Titan, one would never guess he watched the man’s daughter die and approved it. “How are you today? Have you eaten anything? I need you to eat, my dear friend.”

 

“I ate,” says Banne as he sinks into an oversized chair. His gravelly voice seems to echo off the lofty ceilings and mirrors.

 

“That’s good because you must not starve yourself like the last time.”

 

While Father and the Titan discuss, I slink back to the window. A soft breeze ruffles the flowers outside. They bob and weave, unable to break free from the wind’s wishes. For the umpteenth time, I wish I could ask Titan Seltan to assist in finding Invier. I know better, however. Although the Seltans are known for their information network, I can’t allow him to learn Invier is alive until I’m ready for him and others to know.

 

He may question how Adela died and start to dig. Luckily for us, he’s been so morose because of her loss, he hasn’t asked too many questions. Father recently reminded me that using Mehrdad’s gun was genius because it ties him directly to Adela’s death, confirming our version of events. The memory of me shooting her makes me shudder.

 

Only five people know what really happened—Father, Sohr, Bel, Invier, and I. Nobody will reveal the secret of Adela’s murder.

 

Tired of agonizing, I interrupt the Titan’s small talk by asking, “Any word on where Goran is?”

 

“Yes, have your people heard anything?” Father urges. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him for what he did.”

 

Interest quivers in the man’s hollow eyes and he straightens. “Actually, yes, I might have some information.”

 

Thoughts of everything else disappear and I zone in on the Titan.

 

“My team believes he’s hiding on Keshim. It’s a small island his late wife inherited as a child. Nobody thought to look at her family’s assets but once my team did, we noticed activity there.” He adjusts himself in his chair. “We’ve determined there is a series of crisscrossing tunnels underneath a modest-looking house. Some lead to extensive underground bunkers.”

 

“How good is your intel?” Father rubs his mustache in thought.

 

Banne picks lint from his robe as he says, “I am yet to verify the information, but it makes sense. The house was abandoned for years only for there to be recent energy spikes. The family must be there.”

 

“I wonder if he’s also hiding his stash of pre-disarmament weaponry, that bastard!” A vein throbs on Father’s forehead. “Nome Cyra held on to weapons which should have been destroyed.” His voice shakes with rage.

 

“Bastards, all of them to the last.” Banne is more alert now, his anger feeding him energy and making his voice more forceful. “My source confirmed Cyra partnered with the rebels as we suspected.”

 

“With this information, the council will be forced to storm their compound,” I say.

 

“And it’s about time. Goran needs to pay for what he did to my child,” Banne says, his eyes becoming wet. I ignore the fierce kick to the gut I feel as guilt rears up within me. Neither Adela nor him were innocent. I tell myself in an effort to ignore the tumult of emotions that grow.

 

Focus on the next step.

 

“Banne,” I say as he wipes tears.

 

He doesn’t respond and I call him again. This time his eyes meet mine. Already sunken, they are much redder now. “Are there any others within our midst assisting the rebels?” I ask.

 

“Not that I know of, but I’ve learned several of the Lower Houses have ties to the rebels in some way or another.”

 

Father exhales sharply. “That’s not good.” He sighs again and then says, “We must investigate.”

 

I swallow. I’ve been waiting to learn of the Cyra’s relationship to the rebels and with this news I know I can leverage the situation to my family’s benefit.

 

“Banne, have your team contact our head of security. We’ll ready the forces set aside to find Goran. I will also begin investigating the Group of Sixty to find which of the Lower Houses are collaborating with the enemy.”

 

Father nods his approval as does Banne.

 

“If you will both excuse me,” I say and walk out of the waiting room. It’s time to get the ball rolling. Goran, the rebels, and Invier are on my immediate to-do list.

 

Once Goran is no more and the rebels have been crushed, it will be the perfect time to bring Invier back. A wedding would be the perfect culmination to all the recent craziness.