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Kai made her report to the hastily convened Triang Council in a monotone. She left nothing out, including her honest assessment of her own performance.
The Black Dragon looked down at her notes, “I can’t see anything in this that you did wrong, Jade Cat.”
Kai blinked, “An entire building destroyed, one of the Triang members murdered and two of the Fire Service’s best Salamanders seriously injured, and you’re not even a little bit angry?”
“You saved the majority of the people in the area through your warning about the explosives to the Chief Fire Officer.” The White Tiger pointed out, “At that time of day, the streets would have been full of locals having their lunch and Tourists on sightseeing trips.”
“The Wood Horse is dead.” Kai said.
“From what the coroner’s report says, the final blow was self-inflicted,” The Crystal Dragon said, “He would have died from his wounds before you rescued him.”
“I don’t care; he died a few feet away from me. He was my client and my responsibility.” Kai snapped finally, her self-loathing bubbling upward.
“He did get a warning to us though and we know to take extra precautions.” The Black Dragon said.
The Silver Wolf rubbed a hand across his face, “Have we any idea who the Killer is yet?”
Kai looked at The White Tiger, who nodded, “I have a suspicion. It’s incredibly nebulous at the moment and I need to get more information on it, but we do know that the killer is working for the Fae in this matter.”
“Is that why you’ve left me out of this meeting?” the voice from the door made everyone jump. The Gold Phoenix stood there; her mask slightly wonky where she’d obviously put it on in a hurry. Kai’s assistant stood behind the Phoenix looking shell shocked but carrying a chair from the outer office.
Kai looked at the others. None of them had moved, Well, I suppose it is my office. She took a deep breath and went over, “I don’t know the official channels to contact you.”
“I thought you would contact me telepathically. The Queen doesn’t know...”
Well that makes sense at least. “You haven’t told her that you’ve been to a Triang Meeting?” Kai led Phoenix to a chair that Edward put beside the desk before scurrying back out of the room and locking the door behind him.
“I’m not supposed to take up my official duties until after my acceptance ball and the Queen refuses to tell me anything. If it weren’t for the Ard-Chomhairleoir, I wouldn’t be able to leave the city to come here.” She sounded hurt and very young.
We have a chance to keep her on our side here. Kai thought.
“We thought it might be better to have firm evidence to present to the Queen before involving you; as you’ve said, you aren’t officially the Gold Phoenix yet...” The White Tiger said in a reasonable tone.
“Neither are the Glascat, Airgead Búraló or Criostail Raicleach, as I recall from the last meeting, which was an official one.” Phoenix pointed to each Triang member as she named them, “And you’re not even supposed to be a part of the Triang, Tíogair Bán.”
“None of our races are breaking the Treaty by targeting one of the others though.” The Silver Wolf snapped, “those who have died to date have done no harm to the Fae and have even been aiding them in the case of the Wood Horse, yet they have been killed and the rest of us are under threat.”
“Calm down,” Kai said, returning to her seat, “We need to know something before we can really bring you into this, Phoenix.”
The golden mask stared at her, “You want to know if I can be trusted. If I am going to tell the Queen everything or if I am going to be loyal to the Treaty.”
“Smart girl.” The White Tiger muttered.
“I’m not exactly a child, you know.” Phoenix shot at him.
The Black Dragon raised one hand and the room became silent, “Enough recriminations and sniping, thank you. We are not a group of human politicians jockeying for power and position. We all have enough of both for fifty of them.”
Kai bit her bottom lip to stop herself reacting to the emotion pouring off of the gold Phoenix. The girl had folded her arms across her body and was staring past the Black Dragon.
“Well?” The Crystal Dragon said, leaning toward phoenix.
“Well, what?”
Kai sighed, “What is it going to be, Phoenix? Will you help us catch the killer and make the Dark Cities safe again or...” she paused for a moment and slid her mind out toward phoenix, “... or are you going to do as you’re told by your birth mother and carry out whatever selfish plan she has in mind?” hoping that the girl heard her.
The others stared at Phoenix, their masks hiding their faces, but only the Crystal Dragon appeared to be able to hide her emotions. Kai could feel contempt, frustration and irritation rippling around her so strongly that it was as difficult not to react to them as it had been to the resentment from the Gold Phoenix.
She took a deep breath and decided, “If we are to trust each other in this, if we are to work together in this case and in other matters, we must all bare our souls.”
The Black Dragon turned toward her, “Are you saying...” she trailed off as Kai removed her Mask.
“Yes I am.” She said, laying the ornate, enamelled piece carefully onto the table in front of her.
“Jade Cat is right.” The Crystal Dragon removed her sparkling mask and smiled at Kai, “She often is in these matters; it was one of the reasons I nominated her in the first place.”
Kai smiled back at Amira.
“I have to say that it makes sense,” The White Tiger removed his mask.
“Zhao!” the Black Dragon said, “You’re not officially part of the Triang Council until I die; this risks your life too much.”
The detective looked at her, “We must all be in this together, wife.”
The Silver Wolf looked around the table and sighed, “I’m too new at this. I only received my commission from Jai-Lo the week before he was killed. I want to find his murderer and if this – unveiling – will help, then I am willing to go along with it.” He removed his mask and laid it on the table.
The Black Dragon looked at the Gold Phoenix, “If you are willing to join us in the bounds of the treaty, then I will do this.”
Kai licked her lips and closed her eyes for a moment, praying that Tabatha would see sense. The clunk of a heavy mask being placed down made her open them again.
“I may be related to the Fae Queen by birth, but my true parents are human. I have lived in one world and am being forced to acclimatise to another. It will be good to know that I have people in Te Ling that I can rely on and trust.”
Kai grinned at Tabatha.
“Then it is as it must be.” The Black Dragon removed her mask, “We have all seen each other’s faces and should any of us break the pact this creates, all will forfeit their lives.”
I’m not sure how I’d forfeit mine... I can’t die. Kai shrugged the thought away, “So now we’re all of one accord, how about we try and get the Smiths away from the Dark Cities, then deal with this killer?”
––––––––
“SHE WAS SEEN WHERE?” The Fae Queen frowned, “I don’t believe I gave her permission to go to Te Ling by herself.”
“You gave me the decision, if you recall, your majesty.” The Ard-Chomhairleoir said, “It was to make her feel less confined.”
“Did you also say that she could visit with the members of the Triang?” the Maor Ard tapped the report in front of her, “My source says that she came out of the office of Kai-Lynn Riordan late last night.”
“Is this the same source that also said that the Derwin-Hepler & Reading-Smith building was blown up and the CEO killed?” The queen smiled, “Has your tame hybrid struck again?”
The Maor Ard sighed, “He really is proving to be worth the effort, your majesty. I have a little more work to do on his techniques, but so far so good.”
“Have we calmed my daughter’s fears about her adoptive parents yet?”
“Sadly not,” The Ard-Chomhairleoir said, “She is still trying to find a way to get them back to the UK.”
“May I make a suggestion, Banríona?” Ceann Maoirseoir spoke up from the other end of the table.
“Suggest away, Head Mage,” The Queen said.
“Send them home by private jet and I shall arrange an accident over the mountains...”
“What of the jet’s crew?” The Ard-Chomhairleoir protested.
“I will ensure their survival and the Maor Ard can send a team to retrieve them.” The Ceann Maoirseoir glanced at his colleague.
She nodded, “This seems like a simple, yet effective plan.”
“Then it shall be done.” The Fae Queen stood up and looked at the Ard-Chomhairleoir, “Come High Councillor, we must talk privately.”
He stood and moved to her side.
“The rest of you, put into practice that which we have discussed thus far. I will reconvene this meeting in a sennight’s time, by which I expect our small difficulties will have been solved and the plan be almost complete.”
The others stood and bowed, before walking away from the pavilion.
“Lord Faidren, I appreciate that you wish to aid my daughter in her role as Ruler of the Orient, but I do not like the tack you have taken thus far,” The Queen began walking down the steps toward the garden behind the pavilion.
“I merely offered her the emotional support that she felt was lacking,” he pointed out, following her.
“Encouraging her to go into Te Ling unaccompanied is not emotional support; it is very close to treason. She is too young and naive to be able to deal with the Triang yet.” The Queen paused for a moment as a servant dashed past them, “You might even say that you have endangered her life.”
“Never. I will protect her life with my own,” he swore.
Aoife turned to look at him, one eyebrow drifting upward, “You will? Excellent. You are my first choice for her husband anyway.”
It was Faidren’s turn to be shocked.
“She needs the firm hand of an older husband, and you were friends with Aedan; it’s a perfect match,” The Queen said.
“Does she not get a say in this? As you say, she is very young, and I am at least five times her age.” He said.
The queen shook her head, “I don’t want her to be alone. Once her adoptive parents are gone, she will need to turn to someone. I want that person to be you.”
He took a deep breath, “I am sensible of the honour you do me, your majesty, offering her hand to me...”
Aoife stopped moving and turned toward him, “This is not just an offer, Faidren. It is an order. You will marry my daughter and aid her rule of the Orient.”
He stared at her.
“Is there a problem with that?” She said.
“Your daughter might have some different ideas on her future...” he tried to point out.
“I am her mother and her queen, she will do as I say...” Aoife said, “... and so will you, Lord Faidren.” She swept away down the path, leaving him staring after her.