Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Siroc

T he color washed from her cheeks. "What is this about?"

Obviously, she would have questions and maybe I allowed my thoughts about the Elders to come through too much. She looked up at me, full of trepidation.

The answer was complicated and not one that pleased me. "The Council of Elders has a seer named Elnok. They think he may be able to extract some memories from you." My voice was clipped as I took up my warlord's spear from its holder beside my door. It was difficult to remain neutral when talking about the fool who had managed to turn the Elders from a group of wise advisors into paranoid extremists. I was sure that the only thing Elnok could see was his own twisted ambitions.

Jane shuddered beside me. "What is he going to do to me?"

"The same thing he always does," I muttered. "Gaze into your eyes and tell you what you're thinking. And if you're not thinking what he says you are, he'll say you're lying." I stopped walking and turned her towards me. "I say this to prepare you, not to scare you. You're under my protection," I said fervently. "I am the warlord. They can do nothing to you."

Her blue-green eyes widened even more. "Then why do we have to go?"

I suppressed a growl. "Because the Elders are respected and revered. It is customary for all Mitrans to answer their summons. Even me. And you."

She looked so small and helpless, standing there with her narrow shoulders hunched. She looked healthier than she had when we'd found her outside at the East Tri-link Gate, but she was still far too thin. I cupped her chin and tilted her face up. "Jane, I promise, you have nothing to fear. The Elders have put some faith in this fool seer, but I do not. This is a formality. Nothing more."

I watched her throat move as she swallowed thickly. Her eyes locked on mine and I watched her expression shift from fear to trust— trust I had not yet earned, but she had no choice. I was all she had. Well, me and Urix. But she was his patient. His interest in her was solely to protect her and to restore her health.

My interest was…different. She was a subject in my Thrail and she was under my protection, but when I looked at her, protective urges surged through me. And there was something else mixed in with them that made my hands want to reach for her and my body lean toward hers. There was a desire to be in her space, to soak in the tones of her voice and the light, sweet scent of her. Forbidden things, for certain. Like my claws, they were urges best kept sheathed.

"Okay," she said. "And you'll be there with me."

"I will not leave your side."

The last remaining traces of tension fell from her face and I felt as if I'd won a battle. I liked having the power to put this female at ease. I liked her trusting me.

We continued on through the passageways, ignoring the occasional looks she received. Her appearance was surely surprising to some, but most of what I saw in the expressions of my people—both human and Mitran—was concern and curiosity. The females were likely aware that what had happened to Jane could've happened to them had they been in that cave system instead of her. The males knew it could've been their mate who was taken.

For Jane's part, she kept her gaze straight ahead and did not look at anyone. Perhaps she was afraid of what she'd see. She had to be aware that she'd known some of these people before her disappearance. Despite the renewed color to her cheeks and the slight buzz of hair on her head, her ordeal was on display for all to see.

We passed through the main hall. Its towering, curving ceiling had been carved out of rock millennia ago by my own ancestors. The floors worn smooth from millions of footfalls. Most meals were taken here with the fiery stoves and furnaces lining one wall and the tables lined up for the feasts we regularly had. Oil lamps had long been replaced by a cleaner and efficient lighting system that could be adjusted for different occasions and would never fail, leaving the people in darkness.

My Thrail was one of those that had embraced new technologies as they came to us. Some, like those in the east, such as Thrail Sakra, held onto many of the old ways, eschewing most forms of technology. Although recently, they'd incorporated a modern medical clinic to serve the needs of the humans and their offspring. The warlord there had found his mate in the human medic. They'd endured some adventurous ordeal, although some details were still shrouded in secrecy. Unlike Thrail Sakra, we had an advanced infirmary. Without it, Jane would've had to have been transferred to a different Thrail or even off the planet.

"This way." I gestured towards a set of massive and ancient wooden doors. "They're waiting for us in there."

A guard stood before them, spear in hand. He nodded as we approached, but blocked the doors with his body. "The Elders would like to see the female alone," said the guard.

"No," I said. "I will accompany her." As warlord, my word was rule, but I rarely contradicted the Elders' decrees. The guard hesitated for a moment, then bowed and opened the doors to admit us.

Jane looked up at me, nervous again. "Are you going to get in trouble?"

I glanced down at her, amused. "You know I'm the ruler of this Thrail, yes?"

"Yes, but—"

"We come here to placate the Elders, nothing more. They have no authority over us."

She nodded, but the nerves stayed, tightening the skin around her eyes and thinning her lips. She moved a little closer to me, causing her shoulder to brush my arm. My skin reacted to the contact, prickling with awareness. She was looking to me for protection, and it angered me that she felt she needed it against my own people.

We entered the main chamber of the Council of Elders. No one entered here except for the Elders and those they invited. It was not as large as the main hall, obviously, but it was sumptuous and well appointed. Books, manuscripts, and datascreens filled shelves on the walls. Deeply cushioned couches and chairs were arranged throughout, and a softly gurgling fountain fed by the underground spring that supplied us all water, made for a relaxing sound. It was an inviting space, or it would be if not for the individuals who kept it.

"Siroc, we asked to see the female alone."

I nodded respectfully to my predecessor, Magni, who was the primary spokesperson for the Elders. As the past warlord, he had a commanding presence. He was still tall and strong in his later years, with horns inlaid with gold that came from our own mines. Rough, uncut diamonds dangled from hoops drilled through the tips of his horns. He wore an elaborate fur cape parted in the center to show off his bare chest. He was very proud of his stature.

I thought many times that Magni had made a better warlord than an Elder. He had not given up power easily, even as advancing age dictated that he step aside and a new warlord be found among the young males of the Thrail. He clung to the little power he still held, reaching for it, despite the fact that he was no longer the warlord.

"I stay with the female," I stated. "She is under my protection."

"She needs no protection from us." His gaze moved over Jane. "We simply wish for the eminent Elnok to speak with her. Our seer believes he can uncover the truth behind her ordeal." He spread his hands benevolently. "We wish to help."

I smiled, knowing I was showing probably too many teeth. "Of course, El-Magni. But Jane wishes me to stay, and so I shall. She is one of my subjects, after all."

Magni's eyes narrowed. The rest of the Elders gathered behind him, several dozen in total. Not every Mitran who reached a certain age was admitted to this group. One had to have contributed something important to our society to be invited to this esteemed group. But in several recent cases, members had been voted in simply because of their connections. I didn't like it, but what they did was of no concern to me. After all, the Council of Elders had no actual authority. "Very well." Magni walked towards Jane, keeping his gaze benign, but his jaw hard. "Sikla, bring in the seer."

A door in the rear of the chamber opened and a male entered. He was tall and thinner than most Mitran males. He wore a hooded purple cloak in a shimmery silken material, with holes for his horns and elaborate silver embroidery along the hems. He claimed to not come from any Thrail, but to be from all of Mitra. He had darkened the skin around his eyes, making them seem deeper and fathomless.

The Elders surrounded him with a deference that made me sick. All I saw was a fake. An actor. I did not know what Elnok wanted, but he wanted something. At the feasts, he gazed out upon the main hall filled with revelers as if they were his subjects. When his gaze fell upon me, I saw nothing but deception. Still, he had not actually done anything. I figured if he entertained the Elders, he was doing me a service. Some Thrails adored their Elders. They were a source of counsel and wisdom, but our current group offered little of those things. When it was my time to enter the Council, I would make changes. But for now, I had greater duties.

"Elnok," I said flatly. "This is Jane Miller. She has no memory of what happened to her, and I expect you to not upset her."

Elnok pressed his long fingers together. "I would never intentionally cause upset to any Mitran citizen," he said earnestly. He approached Jane, stepping much closer than she liked. I could see her recoil back, her body going tense.

He reached out. His claws were always extended. That bothered me, too. Typically, we Mitrans did not extend our claws or allow the spikes on our arms, back, and shoulders to rise unless there was a threat. There was no threat in this small female. For that matter, there were no current threats at all in my Thrail.

And yet, Elnok's claws remained long and sharp as he reached out for Jane's slender hand. He had to pull it away from her clenched body. "Relax, child," he said in a silky voice. "There is nothing to fear."

She flicked me a glance that said, oh, yes there is . I wanted to slap away Elnok's clawed grip and put myself between the seer and Jane. My hand tightened on my spear.

"Now, look at me, child."

She did so, meeting his gaze with her own. "I'm not a child," she said coolly. "I'm an adult woman."

Elnok's eyes narrowed. "Of course, you are," he said in a patronizing tone. "Forgive me. Now, open your mind. Let me see what lies hidden, even from you."

Jane's expression did not change. There was no evidence that she was relaxing under Elnok's strange regard. I would tolerate this charade for as long as it seemed she could manage it. I'd placate the Elders and then get her out. After this annoying little game, I would never subject Jane to this absurdity again.

Elnok began to sway back and forth. He kept his grip on Jane's hand iron-tight, despite her muscles clearly indicating that she was trying to pull free. The seer hummed and began to mutter nonsense.

I clenched my jaw and watched the farce unfold. Elnok's little performance lasted for a few minutes before he dramatically dropped Jane's hand and staggered back several feet. "I see treachery! Deceit!" He pointed to Jane, finger trembling. "This female is not who she says she is. She knows more than she admits."

Magni's stance shifted to one of defense in an instant. "Siroc, you heard the seer."

"Yes, I did," I said dryly. "Very informative. We will take our leave now."

A great, unsettled murmur went through the Elders. They shook their heads, talking amongst themselves and wringing their hands.

"Not acceptable," said Magni. "She must be confined in a cell until we find out the full extent of her past."

Behind Magni, the seer was completing his performance. He stood weakly, being supported by other Elders, as if he were drained and fatigued by the use of his magical gift. "Listen to your elder, Warlord," Elnok said in a thready, ominous voice. "El-Magni is wise. He has more experience than you."

This time, I did step between Jane and the Elders. "I will not imprison one of my people because of the vision of a self-proclaimed seer. Jane has suffered through an ordeal that has left her scarred and missing her memories. She will receive the healing she needs," I declared, making my words very clear. "This female is under my personal protection. I will monitor her, personally." My gaze moved around the group, meeting each set of eyes with my own hard ones. "You have had your interview. This is over."

I turned, catching a flash of relief in Jane's face as I gestured towards the door. I placed my fingers on her lower back as we walked towards the exit.

"Thank you," she whispered in a raspy voice.

Before I could reply, Magni slammed the butt of his spear onto the floor. "Siroc." He never called me "Warlord," or my appropriate title of Pal-Siroc. "You put this Thrail in danger by allowing her to roam these glorious halls. The lives of humans and Mitrans, and the children who have just been born, are threatened by allowing this creature to walk freely."

I turned slowly, meeting my predecessor's gaze, and tipped my spear in Elnok's direction. "You put too much weight on this one's words."

"And you, too little. He has made many accurate predictions. I demand that you—"

"You can demand nothing of me." I was done, patience exhausted. Magni was so far out of line, I could have ordered him into confinement, but it was my rebuke of the past warlord that drew gasps from the Elders in the chamber. "I am warlord," I stated. " Not you, Magni. This is finished."

I turned with my heart beating fast, blood pumping hard in my veins, and my spikes itching to rise from my skin. This time my hand fell heavier on Jane's back as I propelled her towards the door. Not that she needed any encouragement. She was ready to bolt for it, if I allowed it. The silence in the room behind me was as loud as a crack of rock. The door closed behind us, and I took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly to ease my own unsettled nerves.

"You will never step foot in that room again," I said to Jane. I turned my gaze to hers. "Do you still object to being under my protection?"

She looked up at me with eyes bright with tears and profoundly full of trust. "No, I will go with you wherever you ask, just not in that room. Are you sure I'm safe?"

I could not say yes. I didn't trust Elnok before, but I was alarmed by him now. There was no logical reason that I could see for him to target Jane with such strong words. What was she to him? What did he stand to gain from turning the Council of Elders against this human female? He must believe there was an advantage to be won and for the first time I worried what his true ambitions were. Elnok wanted more than the adoration of our Council. He had warped them. Manipulated them into a malleable mob that served him. "You are safe with me," I said, meaning every word. "But do not stray far from me."

"I won't," she replied, looking up at me as if her life hung on the tip of my spear.

In a way, it did.