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“May I inquire who your source is?” I asked, making sure my hands remained steady on my knees.

Lady Uryami shook her head. “We prefer not to divulge it at this time.”

“But are you certain that the report is true?” I pushed.

That seemed to be the right tactic, as the councilors fell silent.

“Do you have proof?” I insisted.

“Regardless of the proof,” Councilor Jerti finally spoke for his colleagues, “any report of an activity potentially harmful to the Joy Vessels has to be thoroughly investigated, no matter where it came from.”

“What do you know about the Watchers, Joy Guardian?” Lady Uryami demanded.

I’d been training for this. We’d planned for the scenario of any one of us being discovered. Yet the question exploded in my brain like a bolt of lightning. My heart skipped a beat, then pounded hard inside my rib cage.

“The watchers of what?” I feigned ignorance, schooling my features into an appropriate expression.

Councilor Terent shifted impatiently.

“The Watchers are a renegade group who claim to protect our Joy in the Temple of the First Priestess,” he explained.

“But that’s our mission, my lord,” I replied, continuing to play the part of a clueless and innocent man. “As its Guardians, we dedicate our lives to protect the Joy.”

Councilor Terent waved a dismissive hand at me. “Some of our sources believe that there is a connection between the Watchers and the Joy Guardians. Do you know anything about that, Joy Guardian Kurai?”

“I’m afraid, I do not.” Somehow, I managed to keep my voice steady and firm. “I also do not see a point in having another group of shadow fae to protect our Joy when the Joy Guardians have never failed at that task.”

“True,” Councilor Terent agreed. “The Joy Guardians have been rigorous and diligent in their duties. It is not this council’s opinion that their service is inadequate. However, some people in this kingdom seem to believe that more effort is necessary.”

Actually, most of our kingdom’s population, including the Royal Council, severely underestimated the threat to our Joy when they brought humans to our world. They failed to see how vitally important preserving our Joy was for our kingdom to continue.

“Those who call themselves the Watchers, apparently, view humans as a threat to our ancient Source of Joy,” Councilor Jerti said.

“How so?” I raised my eyebrows in fake disbelief.

“That is something we’re trying to determine. As a Joy Guardian, can you share with us your views on possibly harvesting and storing human joy along with the joy of the fae from the Above?”

They did not want to hear my views on this.

For if they learned how I truly felt about polluting or diluting our Joy in any way, they would order my immediate execution.

Displacing the queen’s Joy Vessels was punishable by law.

As a Watcher, I swore to kill anyone threatening our Joy when a mere intention to harm humans carried a death penalty.

I wasn’t afraid to die. Dying while protecting the Joy was the highest honor for a man in my occupation. But if I were executed before my mission was complete, it would mean I had failed.

So I cleared my throat and gave them one of the answers I had prepared for this kind of situation.

“I assume their concern lies with the quality of human joy which, as some may believe, is not compatible with our original kind. As you know, esteemed Council, humans are void of magic. As a result, their joy may not be as potent or as enduring as that of the fae from the Above. It may not even survive long outside of their human spirit. In which case, how can we be sure that their human joy doesn’t deplete or even kill ours if it comes in contact with it, either directly or through contamination via our tendrils? ”

The mere thought of such a disaster made my blood run cold in my veins.

The council members exchanged worried glances with each other.

“Is that the official opinion of your temple?” Lady Uryami asked.

I had to buy us time, at least until the second portal was opened.

As the court assembled the caravan to retrieve more humans, my mission was to round up the existing Joy Vessels and help the other Watchers transport them back to their world.

After that, we would destroy the spell that opened the portal.

Doing that would seal the path to the world of humans, protecting our Joy for many centuries to come.

Until the time came, however, I needed to calm the councilors’ suspicions.

“The Master Guardian hasn’t determined our official position on it yet. There hasn’t been a need for it since the Joy Vessels were never meant for the temple anyway.”

That was true. Although the Joy Guardians’ magic was used to open the portal and create the leilatha harnesses, the Joy Vessels had always been meant for the use of the Royal Court only.

“Reportedly, the Watchers also believe that since humans have no magic, they are below every sentient species in Nerifir. They think humans are actually closer to animals than to fae,” Councilor Terent said.

I’d heard that belief expressed among the Watchers. Personally, I’d held no opinion on that either way, until I met Ciana. Her intelligence was unmistakable, and her emotions were more complex and diverse than those of many fae I knew .

“Humans are not animals,” I argued adamantly. “They certainly deserve the same respect and treatment as fae.”

Lady Uryami leaned closer. “Tell me then, Joy Guardian, do you not support the Watchers’ beliefs? In your personal opinion, can human joy be mixed safely with the joy of magical beings?”

No. Of course it could not. How could I ever believe otherwise? I swore to protect our Joy in its ancient form. The idea of any modification to it was supposed to be abhorrent to me from the start.

But the truth would give me away.

“Possibly,” I replied evasively instead. “However, I fully trust the judgement of the Master Guardian. If such a decision becomes necessary, I believe it is wise to wait for his full and thorough assessment of the matter.”

Lady Uryami nodded, thankfully looking satisfied with my answer.

“Just to clarify, Joy Guardian Kurai…” Councilor Terent lifted a quill, ready to record my words. “Is it your official statement that you know absolutely nothing about the Watchers?”

I resisted the urge to rub my wrist where the wide golden bangle concealed the Watchers’ scorpion tattoo. The physical pain from getting it was still fresh in my mind, but also was the pride at having a visual sign of my dedication to our cause inked with gold into my skin.

“Yes, my lord. I know nothing but what you have told me here tonight,” once again I lied for the Joy.

“How long are you planning to stay in Kalmena, Joy Guardian Kurai?” Councilor Jerti inquired.

“My mandate is for at least four weeks or until I’m absolutely certain that the leilatha spell functions as intended in all harnesses and no joy is missed or warped during its transmission from a human to a fae.”

“Very well then,” Lady Uryami concluded.

“You can remain in Kalmena until your task is complete. Meanwhile, we shall send delegates to the Temple of the First Priestess to question all other Joy Guardians. Our investigation has to be thorough. We cannot allow any harm to come to the queen’s Joy Vessels. ”

I didn’t want to hurt any of them, definitely not Ciana.

But the words of my vow echoed in my head.

“Protect the Legacy of the First Priestess, her temple, and the Joy by all means necessary.”

All means necessary…

Including murder.