Page 59

ZARETH

I stride down the marble corridors of Orthani’s central hall, tension coiling inside my gut.

The looming meeting with the High Council twists my nerves.

Though I’ve attended countless assemblies to display my House’s psionic prowess, this time is different.

After all that’s happened—my entanglement with Selene, the swirl of sabotage, my choice to defy Orthani tradition—I enter these chambers no longer certain where my true loyalties lie.

Outside the ornate double doors, I pause to steady myself.

My mind hums with a faint buzz of anxiety, recalling how I once proudly showcased my mastery here, bending lesser minds for the Council’s amusement.

Back then, I believed Orthani’s hierarchical order was absolute.

Now, after kneeling to Selene and forging uneasy truces with Vaelith and Eryx, that confidence has cracked.

A swirl of complicated emotions churns beneath my calm facade.

I push open the door, stepping into the expansive Council chamber.

Tall columns flank an oval table where Orthani’s elite gather—nobles, old families, and a handful of ranking warriors.

The massive stained-glass windows cast colored light over polished floors, giving the room a solemn air.

I sense the flicker of tension from every occupant.

They’ve summoned me to address “the purna situation.” Selene’s name has been whispered among them for weeks, especially after her rumored illusions—almost said illusions, but must avoid that word—her rumored transformations at the gala and her infiltration of Orthani’s power structure.

I spot Vaelith at the corner of the table, arms crossed over his broad chest, gaze scanning the assembly.

He looks stern, as always, yet there’s a subtle shift in how he carries himself.

The watchers know his stance on Selene has softened, though they haven’t fully grasped the extent of it.

He glances my way, offering a curt nod. I step around the half circle of chairs to stand at his side, ignoring the skeptical stares from the rest.

The Council’s officiator, an ancient dark elf with etched lines across her face, bangs a staff for silence.

“Zareth Velcorin, we appreciate your attendance.” Her words echo through the hush.

“We gather to address a pressing concern: the rumored purna in Orthani’s midst—this Selene Varess—and the chaos she might bring.

We demand an explanation for why she remains unconfined. ”

My gut tightens, but I keep my posture confident. “I am aware of the concerns, Councilor. Selene Varess is formidable. But she’s proven… useful,” I say, carefully selecting a diplomatic tone. “She’s under my House’s watch, not running rogue through Orthani.”

A ripple of uneasy murmurs flows among the nobles. The officiator narrows her eyes. “Useful? We hear rumors that she manipulates lords, that her powers cause distortions in the city wards. This is no ordinary infiltration. She is purna—Orthani law states they must be captured or eliminated.”

I swallow the urge to lash out. They speak as though Selene is a pest to be crushed.

My chest burns with indignation. But I recall my plan: publicly defend her by presenting her as “my vessel.” She demanded no illusions—I must appear to own her, ironically.

The memory of her forcing me to kneel still stings.

Yet if this pretense keeps her safe, I’ll do it.

I incline my head, injecting haughty confidence into my voice.

“Indeed, purna are usually threats. However, Selene is no ordinary purna. She has unique talents that complement my own psionic mastery. I’ve claimed her as my vessel.

” The word stands out—vessel. A savage hypocrisy, given she’s truly the one controlling me in many ways.

But Orthani’s tradition demands such a show.

A collective gasp ripples through the chamber. A handful of nobles shift uneasily, while others murmur in shock. One old baron hisses, “A purna as your vessel? Have you lost sense? They are abominations.”

I steel myself. “Abominations they may be in Orthani’s eyes, but harnessing her power benefits us.

If we enslave her mind fully, we can direct her rare talents against Orthani’s enemies.

” My stomach twists at the lie, but outwardly I exude calm.

“Rest assured, the risk is contained. I keep her in check.”

A few nod warily, but the officiator leans forward. “You speak as though you personally control her. Have you collared her mind? Because we recall your earlier difficulty—whispers of a collar attempt that failed.”

Heat prickles my cheeks. They remember how I bungled that attempt, how I ended up begging in the psychic plane.

“That was a preliminary trial,” I say tersely.

“I have since refined our arrangement. She does not resist.” It’s not untrue—she overcame me, and I now yield to her. They need not know the specifics.

Another noble rises, sniffing disdainfully. “Word is Commander Vaelith also protects this purna. Are we to believe you share one vessel?”

My heart hammers, seeing Vaelith stiffen.

The entire hall’s gaze swivels to him. A hush falls.

Vaelith exhales, stepping forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.

“Yes,” he says simply, voice firm. “Selene has proven her loyalty in a series of covert missions. She’s useful to Orthani’s cause, and I vouch for her continued survival. ”

An uproar breaks out. The Council’s members talk over each other, scandalized that their stoic Commander sides with a purna. My chest tightens, bracing for the condemnation that must follow. Vaelith meets the barrage of questions with stoic calm, crossing his arms again.

The officiator bangs her staff for order. “Commander Vaelith, you step dangerously close to treason, defending a purna. Orthani’s traditions forbid leaving such a being alive unless enslaved.”

Vaelith’s jaw flexes, but his voice remains steady. “The city has changed. We face external threats—rumors of the Red Purna, new barbarian raids, chaos stirring. Orthani can harness Selene’s strength. She’s no mindless savage; she works with us, not against us.”

A wave of outraged chatter surges. Some nobles scowl, others mutter about purna infiltration. I see in their eyes the fear that times are shifting. My pulse quickens, realizing Vaelith and I stand united, defying centuries of Orthani law. A swirl of conflicting pride and dread courses through me.

A tall noblewoman, wearing layered robes of shimmering black, stands abruptly.

Her voice drips with disdain. “This is madness. We’ve always eradicated or enslaved purna.

You both claim she’s your ‘vessel,’ but can you prove she’s under your control?

Or is she controlling you, sowing rebellion among us? ”

I grit my teeth. She’s not entirely wrong.

Selene does sway me with more skill than I care to admit.

But I can’t let them suspect. I step forward, letting my psionic aura flare slightly— a demonstration that I remain a potent threat.

“I assure you, she’s bound to my House’s mastery.

If she dares betray Orthani, I’ll crush her mind.

” My voice resonates with enough aggression to silence a few murmurs.

Inside, I recoil at the cruelty of my words, but it’s the role I must play.

Vaelith inclines his head, supporting my claim. “I stand as witness. I’ve seen Zareth’s mental bind on her. She obeys him.” He hates lying, I can see the tension in his back, but he forces it out. “If that fails, I will personally ensure she’s contained.”

The Council weighs this new alliance—Zareth and Vaelith, once borderline rivals, now presenting a united front. I sense their hesitation. Orthani’s council rarely encounters such defiance from two powerful houses.

The officiator lifts her staff again, eyes narrowed. “Very well. We’ll accept that you keep her in line for the time being. But if she disrupts Orthani’s stability, we’ll hold you both accountable. Ensure she does not compromise the wards or the city’s security.”

I school my features into calm. “Understood. She’ll remain my responsibility.”

A final wave of muttering washes through the assembly.

The officiator then shifts topics, discussing troop deployments against rumored barbarian threats.

My mind drifts, tension slowly easing from my shoulders.

We’ve successfully shielded Selene from an immediate order of execution.

Still, the council’s grudging acceptance is fragile.

One misstep, and they’ll condemn all of us.

Eventually, the meeting dissolves, nobles rising from their chairs, forming clusters to gossip.

Vaelith and I remain at the center for a moment, ignoring the pointed stares.

Then we move toward the exit together, stepping into the corridor.

My heartbeat slows, relief mingled with leftover adrenaline.

He turns to me, voice lowered. “That went better than I feared. They nearly demanded her head.”

I exhale, running a palm along my jaw. “Yes. I was ready to conjure illusions—nearly said illusions, must avoid that word—and mental bolts to prove my ‘dominance’ over her. Thankfully, we didn’t have to. But the slightest slip could unravel this ruse.”

He nods, expression grave. “We must hurry. The Red Purna will strike soon. If the council catches wind that we’re aiding Selene in evacuating Ai, they’ll see it as treason.”

A swirl of conflicting emotions rattles me. “I know. But we must protect Ai, and I… can’t abandon Selene, either.”

Vaelith glances away, discomfort flickering. “Neither can I. She’s claimed more of me than I care to admit. So, we proceed carefully.”