OCIOUS HAD SUMMONED HIS STAUNCH ALLIES AND HAD reluctantly agreed to the presence of the older Runaways. It had been heart-rending for Abakum and the Knuts to enter the lavish suite of rooms that had belonged to Gracious Malorane in happier days, and seeing Oksa there only made their memories more poignant.
Oksa was still trying to come to terms with the idea that her time was running out and she couldn’t stop thinking about the Outside, and her mother and Gus, who also had a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. They had to be in a great deal of emotional, as well as physical, pain. At least she could hope for a speedy recovery. The Werewalls and Runaways were exchanging bitter words some way off and Oksa couldn’t muster enough concentration to hear what they were saying. Her ears were still buzzing, transforming all sounds into an indistinct din. Despite being unable to make out the details, though, she’d realized what was going to happen and was trembling with fear.
“The things you have to do to stay alive,” she murmured ironically, in a bid to stop herself crying at the thought of drinking that elixir.
Sitting on the ground, with their backs against the sofa where Oksa was lying, Zoe and Tugdual turned to look at her and she was surprised by how worried they were.
“It’ll be a breeze,” said Tugdual hoarsely. Zoe remained silent, unable to utter a word.
They both went back to following the agitated discussion between the adults a few feet away. Oksa was worn out. She fell back against the cushions and watched her two friends. They seemed to have buried their differences, which would have pleased her in any other circumstances. But they seemed to be colluding over something she couldn’t make out, which had brought them closer, and that bothered her. Surprised at her own spontaneity, she rested her hand on Tugdual’s head and ran her fingers through his silky hair. She’d never have dared to do that a few weeks ago. Tugdual leant back against the sofa, moved by her gentle caress.
“We have to summon all the young people in Edefia!” suddenly rang out Ocious’s voice. “We’re bound to find a few young men or women in love.”
The Master of the Werewalls looked concerned, which didn’t bode well at all.
“What’s he talking about?” asked Oksa in a low voice. She was finding it hard to hear.
“About the Diaphan,” replied Zoe, before Tugdual could say anything.
Oksa saw Abakum pacing up and down, looking preoccupied. They were all lost in thought. Except for Orthon, who kept his eyes fixed on the three teenagers.
“That will take too long! We have to find another solution,” declared Abakum in response to Ocious’s suggestion.
When Orthon pointed triumphantly at Tugdual, Oksa suddenly realized what the Felon was plotting.
“No way! Not that,” she whispered, her face crumpling.
“Why complicate matters?” said Orthon.
Oksa felt as if she’d just been stabbed through the heart. For the space of a terrifying second, she imagined the Diaphan sucking every scrap of devotion from the man she loved, which is exactly what Orthon had in mind.
“Why scour Edefia to find someone who’s passionately in love,” continued the Felon, “when there’s a young man perfect for our needs right here… Or at least, perfect for the Diaphan, which will save our Gracious’s life!” he added with a sardonic snigger.
“Out of the question!” objected Naftali, white with rage.
“You’re mad!” hissed Abakum.
Lying motionless on the sofa, Oksa felt as though her blood had drained away. This was the worst solution imaginable. She’d already lost her gran, her mother and Gus. If she had to lose Tugdual’s love too, she knew she’d die.
Tugdual hadn’t moved. He sat there with his head tipped back towards Oksa, studying the veins in the blue marble ceiling. He looked a million miles away, lost in thought, even though his body was there. Orthon, on the other hand, was in seventh heaven.
“You should have joined us while you had the chance,” declared the Felon to Tugdual.
To everyone’s surprise, Tugdual raised his head and eyed him with icy calm.
“Don’t kid yourself! I’d never have followed you, NEVER!” he remarked. “I’ve always taken responsibility for my actions, both good and bad, even if I’ve sometimes made the wrong choices. And I accept full responsibility for the decision I’m taking now and its consequences.”
He paused briefly, which some of them read as a hesitation and which gave others the hope they’d be proved wrong for believing the worst. Then Tugdual stood up, trembling uncontrollably despite himself. He turned away from Oksa to face Ocious, ignoring Orthon completely.
“You can take me,” he said breathlessly. “I’m ready to… meet your Diaphan.”
Oksa wanted to protest, but pain and lack of comprehension made it impossible to speak. Her sight blurred by burning tears, she saw Naftali go over to Tugdual, who abruptly pushed away the hand held out by his grandfather.
“No, Tugdual, we won’t let you do this!” stammered Brune.
“We don’t have a choice.”
“Think about Oksa,” added Naftali.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing,” retorted Tugdual. “She’s all I think about. DO YOU WANT HER TO DIE?”
“Let him do what he wants,” snapped Ocious. “He’s old enough to make his own decisions.”
The Master of the Werewalls didn’t try to hide his satisfaction. He’d just killed two birds with one stone: not only had he found a way to save that scatterbrained Young Gracious but he was also getting his revenge on the Knuts. Those two stubborn individuals would have made powerful allies if they’d chosen the right side… Today, their cool-eyed grandson would pay for their mistakes, despite his incredible potential.
“You’re fooling no one,” Zoe suddenly said in a shaky but determined voice.
“Zoe, stay out of this,” warned Tugdual.
“Tugdual’s love is a sham,” continued Zoe. “He used his considerable skills to seduce Oksa, he tricked her into caring for him and now he has her wrapped around his little finger. But the only thing he’s really interested in is her power.”
Tugdual tried to silence her by firing a Knock-Bong, which she avoided by leaping to the other side of the room with the agility of a cheetah. Her face hardened and her eyes filled with a cold glitter that surprised everyone, briefly reminding the Runaways of Reminiscens when she’d fired the deadly Granok at Mercedica. Zoe’s face wore the same determined, and pitiless, expression.
“Why would he sacrifice himself then?” asked Ocious sceptically. “Getting up close and personal with a Diaphan is no picnic for a young man.”
“Tugdual’s always been fascinated by Beloved Detachment,” replied Zoe. “He was totally captivated by the story of my gran and that of the fifth tribe. He’s always been obsessed with the idea of meeting a Diaphan.”
Oksa looked from Zoe to Tugdual. She was appalled by Zoe’s revelations, which felt like dagger blows to her heart. Tugdual kept silent, his fists clenched, his eyes fixed on Zoe to the exclusion of everyone else. Oksa felt as though she didn’t exist for either of them any more. Or worse, she felt like some pawn in an implacable game: she was being used by a power-hungry Tugdual or by Zoe, who was desperate for revenge. Or for the truth… it didn’t matter. Either way, Oksa’s heart was shattered into a thousand pieces.
“Anyway, he knows he’s got nothing to fear by putting himself forward because he isn’t in love with Oksa,” concluded Zoe, just as icily. “It changes nothing for him. But it makes a huge difference to us: Beloved Detachment won’t work and the Diaphan won’t be satisfied.”
The Werewalls and Runaways looked shaken at this potential spanner in the works.
“I do know someone with enough love in their heart to save Oksa, though,” announced Zoe to her perplexed friends and enemies.
“Who’s that, my dear great-granddaughter?” whispered Ocious, intrigued by Zoe’s self-possession and charismatic personality.
Oksa distinctly heard Tugdual murmur: “No, Zoe…” which confused her further, then he threw himself out of the broken window that had been shattered by the entrance of the Ink Dragon and soared into the dark skies over Thousandeye City. In a whisper, Zoe said:
“Me.”