Flameseeker (Book 3) (34 page)

XXXV

An emergency meeting was called later that night
when Jarial and Omari arrived at the Citadel with Tachus and Masrah in tow. As
the rest of the Citadel slept, the Council of the Nine gathered in the main
meeting chamber.

Jarial sat in his old seat, the one for the Fifth Seat,
Illusion. Next to him sat Omari, who observed the meeting in silence. Percival
sat atop his shoulder and looked around curiously.

In most cases, Jarial would have not even thought
about trying to spare someone like Tachus. But his journey had opened his eyes
about many things, namely Kaijin. Jarial could no longer help the man whom he
had thought of as his own son. Kaijin was beyond the help of mortals. He was a
man purposed for divine things.

Killing Tachus would prove nothing but further the
feud between the two families. And mixing Kaijin in that feud would only result
in disaster.

Sable purred in his lap, breaking Jarial from his
thoughts, and he gave her a loving scratch behind her ear. She closed her eyes
contentedly and purred louder.

Maira, who sat to his left, nudged him in the arm
with her elbow. “I hope you know what you plan on saying about all this,” she
whispered.

Jarial looked at her sourly. He really didn’t have
anything planned, and simply hoped that everything fell in place naturally. “I
plan to speak the truth and pray the Council decides wisely,” he whispered
back.

Elder Burke stood from his seat at the head of the
table. “Thank you all for coming at such a late hour. I now call this meeting
to order.” His gaze turned to Jarial. “Master Glace, if you may.”

Jarial inclined his head. “Yes, Elder.” He cleared
his throat. “Honored Councilmembers, after thorough investigation and extensive
travel throughout Aransiya and Ankhram, I have sought out the ones responsible
for Master Faulk’s untimely death.” He gestured to Tachus and Masrah, and all
eyes followed his direction. “This is Tachus and Masrah Beshara. Tachus is the
one responsible for conspiring this murder, and Masrah is the one responsible
for carrying out the act.” He paused and looked at Tachus directly. “Tachus
Beshara, do you admit to this crime?”

Tachus shot Jarial a glare, then took a deep
breath as he faced the other Councilmembers. “Yes, I do. And I will say that I
deeply regret his death.”

The Councilmembers glared and scowled at Tachus
and murmured amongst themselves. Elder Burke held up his hand to silence them.
“Please go on,” he said to Jarial.

Jarial nodded curtly, then looked to Masrah.
“Masrah Beshara, do you also admit to this crime?”

Masrah lowered his head and, keeping silent,
nodded.

Jarial arched an eyebrow. “You have nothing to say
for yourself?”

Masrah shook his head.

“Masrah has taken a vow of silence ever since he began
working for me,” Tachus explained. “I shall answer in his stead. That is
correct that he is responsible for carrying out the act of killing your fellow Councilmember.”

The Councilmembers exchanged glances with each other
again, their scowls deepening.

“Well, then,” Burke said. “If they do indeed admit
guilt in this despicable crime, then there is only one viable punishment for
this.”

Tachus’s eyes widened. He gave Jarial a hard look.

Jarial caught his gaze and then cleared his throat
again to get the elder’s attention. “Elder, before you pass judgement too soon,
there is something you should know. Recently, there had been a rogue priest who
had been in possession of an afriti, who had turned away from its master, the
Firelord, Ignis. The afriti had grown powerful and nearly set an entire Ankhran
city ablaze. It was very reminiscent of what happened to Easthaven.”

The mention of Easthaven got everyone’s attention,
and they scooted on the edges of their seats.

“Part of me thinks that the afriti could have had
some influence on its destruction, too,” Jarial continued.

“Did you not say that Xavorin was at fault?”
Gwenneth asked.

Jarial nodded. “Yes, and I do stand by my
reasoning on that, however, the city was smoldering in the wake of its
destruction, so one cannot rule out the possibility of the afriti making its
presence there as well at some point.”

Omari opened his mouth to say something, but after
Jarial cast him a warning gaze, he wisely closed it.

“Both Tachus and Masrah assisted us in stopping
this afriti, both nearly losing their lives to protect the innocent and preventing
a devastation that might have surpassed Easthaven’s.”

The Councilmembers gave reluctant nods and turned
to each other, muttering. Burke silenced them again.

“That does not excuse the fact that he and his
accomplice murdered a man in cold blood,” Burke said.

Jarial pursed his lips. “No, it does not, however,
I think there is merit in them both to risk their own lives to protect others,
would you all not agree?”

More murmurs rose from around the table.

Burke rubbed his temples, as he thought.

Virgil slammed his fist on the table, and everyone
jumped with a start. Sable hissed from Jarial’s lap.

“Is this so hard to comprehend? Those two men
killed our fellow brother! They deserve nothing more than death!” A few other Councilmembers
nodded in agreement.

Jarial gritted his teeth.
Damn you, Virgil.

As the voices around the table rose, Burke
silenced them again. “There is only one way to settle this: a vote.” He nodded
to Lars. “Master Ustan, if you may.”

Lars quickly got up and hustled to a nearby desk
where he retrieved a stack of parchment, some quills, four inkwells, and a
small burlap pouch. He gave the pouch to Burke, and then set a parchment and
pen before each member, uncorked the inkwells and placed them around four
points on the table, and then he sat down.

“Based on all that you have heard here,” Burke explained,
“if you feel that Tachus’s sentence should be death, then write ‘yes’. If what
you heard does not justify a sentence as death, then write ‘no’. When you are
done, fold the paper several times and place it in this pouch.”

Jarial picked up the quill and stared at the blank
parchment. He looked beside him at Omari, who stared back at him, frowning.
Omari didn’t have voting tools, as voting was reserved for the Councilmembers
only.

Everyone began writing in silence. Jarial could
feel Tachus’s stare as he tapped the undipped quill against the parchment until
the paper began to pockmark. He looked discreetly at his peers, who wrote with
their hand covering the paper. Yates and Lars finished first, and hastily submitted
their folded slips. Soon, one by one, everyone else began turning in their
slips until Jarial was last. Pursing his lips, he quickly dipped his quill in
the inkwell and, shielding the parchment with his hand, wrote ‘no.’ He heard
Omari clear his throat, and he looked beside him as he folded the parchment
into a small square. He didn’t care whether Omari had seen his answer or not.
Jarial slid back his chair and got up, Sable hopping off his lap and sitting
beside his chair. He glanced at his peers a moment before dropping his ballot
in and returning to his seat. Sable hopped back into his lap, curled up, and
resumed purring.

Burke stood from his chair. “Thank you, everyone.
Now, let us begin the vote.” He shook the bag and pulled out the first ballot.

Jarial scooted to the edge of his seat and held
his breath.
Gods, please spare this man.

“One ‘yes,’” Burke announced, placing the unfolded
parchment aside.

Jarial exhaled and looked around the table. Virgil
sat back against his chair, looking smug.

Burke pulled out the next ballot and unfolded it.
“One ‘no.’”

Virgil curled his lip and glared at Jarial. “Of
course, Jarial would be the one to say ‘no,’ defending every low-life he comes
across.”

Jarial narrowed his eyes. “You do not know
whose
vote that was!”

“I don’t know why we are even doing this in the
first place. Why would anyone here spare these two after their crimes against
Master Faulk?”

Burke’s voice boomed across the table before
Jarial could retort. “Enough! We must follow proper protocol!”

Jarial was grateful for Burke’s reply, but it did
little to quell his anger. Jarial wanted nothing more than to see Virgil
replaced, but he knew that would never happen. It had been one of the many
reasons he had initially left.

“Two ‘yes,’” Burke continued, taking out the third
ballot.

Virgil raised his nose up at Jarial, his sneer
twisting to a smirk.
I’ll gladly wipe that smirk off that bastard’s face,
Jarial
thought.

“Three ‘yes,’” Burke said.

Jarial rubbed his hands nervously.
Only two
more ‘yes’s’, and he’s done.

“Two ‘no,’” Burke said.

Garmin cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence
in the chamber. Jarial heard Tachus behind him, shifting his weight. Sable
moved in his lap, and she batted at Percival, who remained on Omari’s shoulder.

“Three ‘no.’”

Hope rose in Jarial, but he kept the feeling off
his face.

“Four ‘no.’”

Virgil reeled. He looked around the table,
dumbfounded. “How can you people possibly spare this man?”

When no one responded, Omari leaned over to Jarial
and asked quietly, “What is with him, Master Glace?”

Jarial smirked slightly and muttered back, “Ironically,
he acts and sounds like you.”

Omari scowled. “I do not act or sound like that!”

“I beg to differ.”

“Four ‘yes,’” Burke announced.

Tension filled the room as Burke reached in for
the last ballot. He licked his lips as he slowly unfolded the parchment. He
looked at it, and his hands shook, face turning pale.

Everyone in the entire chamber leaned in to hear
the final vote.

“Five ... ‘no’ ...”

Everyone seemed to exhale all at once. Relief
poured from Tachus and Masrah behind Jarial. He looked over his shoulder and
smiled at the two men. Tachus returned him a small smile and nod.

“This ... This is preposterous!” Virgil exclaimed,
springing up from his chair. “We are sparing two murderers! What has become of
this council?”

“As death will no longer be an option for the two
of you,” Burke said, ignoring Virgil, “your punishment will still be served.
You will work for the Council until you have satisfied us that you have the
merit Jarial says you do.”

“Yes, Elder,” Tachus said, inclining his head. “We
understand and accept.”

“Good. Now then.” Burke stood. “This meeting is adjourned.
Tachus, Masrah, you will both be escorted to the cells beneath the Citadel. For
now, that is where you both will stay until we have finalized your sentencing.”
He turned to the rest of the Councilmembers. “Thank you all again for coming at
such a late hour. We will meet again in the morning to discuss other issues.”

Jarial knew what the ‘other issues’ meant, but he
did not say anything about that. Picking Sable up, he stood, but didn’t leave
right away. He watched the rest of the Councilmembers leave with Tachus and
Masrah in tow. Soon he and Omari were the last ones remaining.

Omari still didn’t stand and remained focused on a
spot on the table as he looked pensive. “This cannot be happening.”

Jarial set Sable on the table, and she sat and
began washing herself. Percival leapt from Omari’s shoulder and onto the table
and playfully mimicked her washing routine. “Are you still upset about this?”
Jarial asked.

“Upset at the fact that they tried to kill me? Of
course I am! And now, they are spared from death!”

“That issue has been resolved, Omari. They will no
longer try to harm you. The assassination attempt obviously had everything to
do with your family feud, but now that matter has been settled, and I do not
foresee something like that happening again.”

Omari bit his bottom lip. “But their actions are
unforgivable.”

“I agree, but Tachus helped us fight that afriti.
I think he deserves a second chance.”

Omari sighed.

Jarial sat back down. “Listen, Omari. Tomorrow,
you’re going to be decided for the Council seat. Virgil is the most hated
member, and your attitude disturbingly mirrors his. Do not give them a reason
to hate you, or they will simply move on to someone else.”

“Yes, well ...” Omari lowered his gaze. “Forgive
me, Master Glace. I am just angry at all that went on. I would like to be more
like you. Everyone on the Council seems to like you.”

“Well, all except Virgil,” Jarial corrected. “But
yes, I am well-liked here, and they are still trying to make me come back. But
I will not. It’s time to hand it over to the younger generation. Make a
difference here, Omari. Think logically on your decisions rather than making
them based on your personal feelings. That is how you earn respect and become
well-liked amongst your peers.”

“I am trying, sir.”

Jarial placed a hand on Omari’s shoulder. “Don’t
be afraid to make mistakes. My master once told me that I would make all of the
same mistakes he made and more. And now I say the same thing to you.”

Omari managed a small smile. “And I will say the
same thing I once told Master Faulk: I promise to make you proud.”

* * *

Jarial spent the night at an inn in the city and returned
to the Citadel the following morning. He left Sable behind at the inn. He
pushed past the throng of students, not stopping to greet them, and met Omari
at the doors to the Council chambers. Omari looked better that morning, the
cloud of anger and stress no longer seeming to loom over him. Percival was nowhere
to be seen. Jarial assumed Omari left his familiar behind in his room, as well.