Drake couldn’t believe the old man would give up so easily. Just like that? Lord Proudglade was going to roll over and play dead?
Still, he allowed himself a very small, very satisfied smile. When he glanced at Sky, he saw her grinning his way unabashedly. He was starting to like her grin quite a lot.
“On what grounds do you wish to end this cabal?” the Judge asked Lord Proudglade.
Drake knew just how unusual Proudglade’s request was. Calling a cabal was a huge deal. It required the consent of four other manor lords and a considerable investment of time and resources from the noble court, who had to rearrange their schedules and the schedule of the entire capital city to accommodate nine incoming manor lords on their entourages.
No manor lord was foolish enough to call a cabal and then cancel it halfway through. That suggested they had called it frivolously and without proper foresight. Or rather... no manor lord was foolish enough to call a cabal, cancel it, and be allowed to call one again.
“Lord Gloomwood’s claims are unprecedented, disturbing, and possibly intended to confuse and mislead us all,” Lord Proudglade said. “Therefore, I call for this cabal to end before any more of it can be tainted by his possibly deceptive testimony.”
Drake’s smile disappeared. If the man was going to be a sore loser, that was fine. Even censured, he was still allowed to defend himself.
“We have no proof Lord Gloomwood can say things he does not believe,” the Judge reminded everyone in the room.
“Because today he ensured any who could reveal his crimes could not be interviewed!” Lord Proudglade threw one hand out in frustration. “It is quite possible that he has now used his ability to speak that which he does not believe to sow discord and confusion among this noble court. He is an outworlder. We have no idea what he is capable of.”
And you’re a sore loser, Drake thought silently. With no fucking proof.
“Lord Proudglade.” The Judge’s face went placid. “I will offer this warning once. We do not have any testimony supporting Lord Redbow’s claim that Lord Gloomwood can speak that which he does not believe. Lord Gloomwood himself has provided an account of the events the night he left Captain Ro’s camp, one Lord Redbow has not challenged. You remain a friend of this noble court, but you will not repeat unproven claims in this cabal.”
Lord Proudglade sighed heavily. “Forgive me, Judge. I spoke rashly.”
Drake glanced at Sky to find her still standing with a fierce expression on her face. She looked like she was on the verge of yelling at the Judge for attention. Fortunately for both of them, the Judge turned to Sky at last.
“Lord Skybreak. You remain censured for the crime of illegally exchanging magical items, however, as you raised your grievance before you were censured, you may air it in a moment.” The Judge turned back to Lord Proudglade. “And it is only after we have resolved all the noble court’s current business that we will allow a vote on ending the cabal.”
Lord Proudglade bowed his head.
“Lord Skybreak?” the Judge said. “Air your grievance.”
Sky stood straight and tall, and her voice immediately commanded the chamber. “Though all the testimony brought before the court today, it is now clear Captain Ro’s mercenaries, who were working directly for Lord Redbow, assassinated my steward. Whether or not they also attempted to turn my strongest ally against me remains to be proven by further testimony, but I now have no doubt Lord Redbow was behind this crime.”
The Judge looked to the accused. “Lord Redbow? Your defense?”
The man simply sighed. “I am aware Captain Ro took a contract to assassinate Steward Rodney as described in the accounts given today.” He looked to Sky and Drake. “However, I did not order the assassination of Rodney. For that contract, Ro was employed by someone else.”
Redbow was telling the truth. He could do nothing but tell the truth. As much as his earlier successes thrilled him, Drake was taken aback by this new information. If Redbow hadn’t murdered Steward Rodney and tried to pit him and Sky against each other... who the fuck had?
“I demand to know who offered the contract on my steward,” Sky said coldly.
“I do not know that information,” Lord Redbow replied smoothly. “Captain Ro never told me who had hired him, only that he had taken the contract.”
“Then I will have an answer from your thralls!”
“Unfortunately, Lord Skybreak, I believe your allied manor lord murdered Captain Ro and every single man in his mercenary party.... as Lord Gloomwood himself has stated. However, I do wish you luck in finding the culprit. Perhaps it will be in Ro’s letters?”
“I will find out who murdered my steward,” Sky growled. “You can be assured I will.”
Lucien, Sky’s pattern-recognizing thrall, would translate Ro’s letters sooner or later. This was a setback, but it wasn’t going to stop them from finding the culprit. They just had to be patient.
“Lord Skybreak?” the Judge asked. “Do you have anything to dispute, or do you acknowledge that Lord Redbow did not order the assassination of your steward?”
“It seems I have no choice but to acknowledge that, for now,” Sky said. “But when I learn who was behind the contract on my steward, I reserve the right to air this grievance again.” She glowered at Lord Redbow. “And to punish the culprit myself.”
The Judge turned to Lord Proudglade. “You called this cabal. You swore to the noble court that the matters you wished to discuss were worth requiring eight other manor lords to make the long trip here. Is this no longer your belief?”
Lord Proudglade looked as pained as if he were trying to piss out a kidney stone. “As I said, Judge, I simply believe that after all the testimony given today, continuing this cabal for the purpose it was called will not yield the desired result.”
The Judge’s tone became noticeably stern. “Whether the cabal will result in an outcome you favor has no bearing on whether it should continue.”
Lord Proudglade simply shook his head. “My concern is that any outcome would remain suspect. If Lord Gloomwood can speak that which he does not believe... which I am only saying is now a possibility... then all the testimony he gave today is meaningless.”
Before Drake could interject, Proudglade continued.
“However, if he is correct that there is a person with a rarity that can change what people see, then none of us can trust anything we believe. Anyone of us could be... mistaken... about the beliefs they bring to this cabal. We must first investigate his claim.”
“And this, in your mind, justifies calling a premature end to this cabal?”
“It does, Judge.”
“Seconds?”
“I second!” Lord Redbow said immediately.
Drake would take this win. His enemies were retreating in poor order, scrambling away with their tails between their legs after he’d slammed them to the mats. He was still bothered that Lord Redbow actually wasn’t behind everything that went on with Steward Rodney and this person who was changing what people could see, but that could wait.
“I now call for a vote,” the Judge declared. “Five lords must vote together to call a cabal. Five must also vote to end it. If you wish this cabal to end now, raise your hands.”
Drake glanced at Lord Blackmane, who had started to tentatively raise his hand. “Don’t you dare,” Drake mouthed.
Blackmane lowered his hand at once. He even looked properly abashed.
Proudglade, Redbow, and Mistvale all raised their hands. Shortly after, Lord Ashwind did as well, but only after a stern glare from Lord Proudglade. What did the man have on him?
Lord Brightwater did not raise her hand. Neither did Lord Frostlight. The former was expected, but the latter was a surprise. Lord Proudglade’s alliance was already fracturing.
It seemed, murderous people hunting habits aside, Lord Frostlight was no more pleased by the idea that she might have been manipulated into an alliance than any normal person would be. Busting up Lord Proudglade’s party was going better than Drake had hoped.
“Lord Frostlight?” Lord Mistvale said quietly. “We should evaluate the veracity of these odd and disturbing claims before we proceed.”
“Or we could simply find out who’s playing us all for fools right now,” Frostlight replied coldly. “Vote however you like. I, however, am not ready to end this cabal.”
Drake wanted to cheer her on. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all. No, she hunted people for fun, murdered them, and made trophies out of their corpses. She was definitely still bad. Still, he could respect her for taking no shit from her so-called allies.
“The vote is four to five,” the Judge said. “This cabal will continue. Lords Gloomwood and Skybreak remained censured for their crime, and we await testimony from Lydia Estoria and Samuel Marcos regarding Lord Redbow’s—”
“I withdraw my grievance,” Lord Redbow said.
The Judge offered him such a hard glare even Drake was taken aback. “You what?”
She was, it seemed, entirely done with today’s nonsense.
Lord Redbow nervously adjusted his stupid-looking hat. “As Lord Proudglade has said, in light of this new information about the possibility that someone has a thrall who can change what people see, I am no longer fully confident my accusation has merit.”
“You aired your grievance before the noble court.”
“And I did so before this disturbing news came to light,” Lord Redbow said smoothly. “I apologize for the imposition, but Lord Gloomwood’s... testimony... offers new possibilities.”
“Yes, we’re all very much aware of that.” The Judge now sounded about as snarky as she’d been all day. She sighed in exasperation. “Very well. Lord Redbow, your grievance against Lord Gloomwood is withdrawn, as is the order to seize Lydia Estoria and Samuel Marcos.” She turned to the other manor lords. “Are there any other grievances?”
Lord Frostlight stood.
“Don’t,” Lord Mistvale said firmly.
“Lord Mistvale!” the Judge shouted. “Speak out of order in this court again, and I will censure you for this cabal and the next!”
The goddamned elder vampire immediately clammed up.
The Judge looked to Lord Frostlight. “Air your grievance.”
Lord Frostlight smiled what could only be a predatory smile. “Based on Lord Gloomwood’s testimony, it now seems possible that I have been misled in one or more matters. This is unacceptable no matter who is responsible.” Her raptor-like gaze passed across all those in the chamber, including her so-called allies. “I call for an inquisition. I say every manor lord now standing in this court must answer whether they know of, or have employed, any person who can change how people perceive events.”
Drake could barely believe his luck. When Lord Frostlight thought she was being fucked over, she went straight for the throat. Which was no surprise, given she was an assassin.
An inquisition was very different from asking for testimony from blood thralls. It was also extremely rare. Few manor lords ever called for an inquisition because an inquisition, in the noble court, meant that manor lords themselves all had to answer the question posed.
That included the manor lord who called for the inquisition itself.
Drake had been excited by the possibilities an inquisition offered when he’d first read about it, but unfortunately, he could think of no way to convince five manor lords to agree to call an inquisition without first revealing that someone had a thrall who could change what people saw... which would get him censured. As a result, he’d discounted the possibility.
Now, however, Lord Frostlight was calling for an inquisition herself. But would anyone second it? Drake and Sky could not second the inquisition since they remained censured, so would Lord Blackmane...?
“I second,” Lord Brightwater said. “I also wish to know the answer to this question.”
“The inquisition is seconded,” the Judge said. “I now call for a vote. If you wish this inquisition to occur, raise your hands. I will remind each of you that five must vote in favor of this inquisition, and that all of you must answer the question if this motion passes.”
“Which, if you are not involved in this business of deceiving the noble court, you will all happily do,” Lord Frostlight added.
The Judge merely glared at her. “The vote is called. Raise your hands.”
Drake immediately raised his hand, as did Sky, Lord Brightwater, Lord Blackmane, and Lord Frostlight. He couldn’t believe it. They hadn’t just put their enemies on their heels today. They might actually unravel this whole damn conspiracy before supper!
“The inquisition is called,” the Judge said. “Lord Proudglade? I will put the question to you first. Do you know of, or have you employed, any person who can change how people perceive events?”
Before Lord Proudglade would answer, Lord Blackmane’s manor lord box exploded in a shower of frothing water and wildly flopping fish people.
Drake couldn’t believe the old man would give up so easily. Just like that? Lord Proudglade was going to roll over and play dead?
Still, he allowed himself a very small, very satisfied smile. When he glanced at Sky, he saw her grinning his way unabashedly. He was starting to like her grin quite a lot.
“On what grounds do you wish to end this cabal?” the Judge asked Lord Proudglade.
Drake knew just how unusual Proudglade’s request was. Calling a cabal was a huge deal. It required the consent of four other manor lords and a considerable investment of time and resources from the noble court, who had to rearrange their schedules and the schedule of the entire capital city to accommodate nine incoming manor lords on their entourages.
No manor lord was foolish enough to call a cabal and then cancel it halfway through. That suggested they had called it frivolously and without proper foresight. Or rather... no manor lord was foolish enough to call a cabal, cancel it, and be allowed to call one again.
“Lord Gloomwood’s claims are unprecedented, disturbing, and possibly intended to confuse and mislead us all,” Lord Proudglade said. “Therefore, I call for this cabal to end before any more of it can be tainted by his possibly deceptive testimony.”
Drake’s smile disappeared. If the man was going to be a sore loser, that was fine. Even censured, he was still allowed to defend himself.
“We have no proof Lord Gloomwood can say things he does not believe,” the Judge reminded everyone in the room.
“Because today he ensured any who could reveal his crimes could not be interviewed!” Lord Proudglade threw one hand out in frustration. “It is quite possible that he has now used his ability to speak that which he does not believe to sow discord and confusion among this noble court. He is an outworlder. We have no idea what he is capable of.”
And you’re a sore loser, Drake thought silently. With no fucking proof.
“Lord Proudglade.” The Judge’s face went placid. “I will offer this warning once. We do not have any testimony supporting Lord Redbow’s claim that Lord Gloomwood can speak that which he does not believe. Lord Gloomwood himself has provided an account of the events the night he left Captain Ro’s camp, one Lord Redbow has not challenged. You remain a friend of this noble court, but you will not repeat unproven claims in this cabal.”
Lord Proudglade sighed heavily. “Forgive me, Judge. I spoke rashly.”
Drake glanced at Sky to find her still standing with a fierce expression on her face. She looked like she was on the verge of yelling at the Judge for attention. Fortunately for both of them, the Judge turned to Sky at last.
“Lord Skybreak. You remain censured for the crime of illegally exchanging magical items, however, as you raised your grievance before you were censured, you may air it in a moment.” The Judge turned back to Lord Proudglade. “And it is only after we have resolved all the noble court’s current business that we will allow a vote on ending the cabal.”
Lord Proudglade bowed his head.
“Lord Skybreak?” the Judge said. “Air your grievance.”
Sky stood straight and tall, and her voice immediately commanded the chamber. “Though all the testimony brought before the court today, it is now clear Captain Ro’s mercenaries, who were working directly for Lord Redbow, assassinated my steward. Whether or not they also attempted to turn my strongest ally against me remains to be proven by further testimony, but I now have no doubt Lord Redbow was behind this crime.”
The Judge looked to the accused. “Lord Redbow? Your defense?”
The man simply sighed. “I am aware Captain Ro took a contract to assassinate Steward Rodney as described in the accounts given today.” He looked to Sky and Drake. “However, I did not order the assassination of Rodney. For that contract, Ro was employed by someone else.”
Redbow was telling the truth. He could do nothing but tell the truth. As much as his earlier successes thrilled him, Drake was taken aback by this new information. If Redbow hadn’t murdered Steward Rodney and tried to pit him and Sky against each other... who the fuck had?
“I demand to know who offered the contract on my steward,” Sky said coldly.
“I do not know that information,” Lord Redbow replied smoothly. “Captain Ro never told me who had hired him, only that he had taken the contract.”
“Then I will have an answer from your thralls!”
“Unfortunately, Lord Skybreak, I believe your allied manor lord murdered Captain Ro and every single man in his mercenary party.... as Lord Gloomwood himself has stated. However, I do wish you luck in finding the culprit. Perhaps it will be in Ro’s letters?”
“I will find out who murdered my steward,” Sky growled. “You can be assured I will.”
Lucien, Sky’s pattern-recognizing thrall, would translate Ro’s letters sooner or later. This was a setback, but it wasn’t going to stop them from finding the culprit. They just had to be patient.
“Lord Skybreak?” the Judge asked. “Do you have anything to dispute, or do you acknowledge that Lord Redbow did not order the assassination of your steward?”
“It seems I have no choice but to acknowledge that, for now,” Sky said. “But when I learn who was behind the contract on my steward, I reserve the right to air this grievance again.” She glowered at Lord Redbow. “And to punish the culprit myself.”
The Judge turned to Lord Proudglade. “You called this cabal. You swore to the noble court that the matters you wished to discuss were worth requiring eight other manor lords to make the long trip here. Is this no longer your belief?”
Lord Proudglade looked as pained as if he were trying to piss out a kidney stone. “As I said, Judge, I simply believe that after all the testimony given today, continuing this cabal for the purpose it was called will not yield the desired result.”
The Judge’s tone became noticeably stern. “Whether the cabal will result in an outcome you favor has no bearing on whether it should continue.”
Lord Proudglade simply shook his head. “My concern is that any outcome would remain suspect. If Lord Gloomwood can speak that which he does not believe... which I am only saying is now a possibility... then all the testimony he gave today is meaningless.”
Before Drake could interject, Proudglade continued.
“However, if he is correct that there is a person with a rarity that can change what people see, then none of us can trust anything we believe. Anyone of us could be... mistaken... about the beliefs they bring to this cabal. We must first investigate his claim.”
“And this, in your mind, justifies calling a premature end to this cabal?”
“It does, Judge.”
“Seconds?”
“I second!” Lord Redbow said immediately.
Drake would take this win. His enemies were retreating in poor order, scrambling away with their tails between their legs after he’d slammed them to the mats. He was still bothered that Lord Redbow actually wasn’t behind everything that went on with Steward Rodney and this person who was changing what people could see, but that could wait.
“I now call for a vote,” the Judge declared. “Five lords must vote together to call a cabal. Five must also vote to end it. If you wish this cabal to end now, raise your hands.”
Drake glanced at Lord Blackmane, who had started to tentatively raise his hand. “Don’t you dare,” Drake mouthed.
Blackmane lowered his hand at once. He even looked properly abashed.
Proudglade, Redbow, and Mistvale all raised their hands. Shortly after, Lord Ashwind did as well, but only after a stern glare from Lord Proudglade. What did the man have on him?
Lord Brightwater did not raise her hand. Neither did Lord Frostlight. The former was expected, but the latter was a surprise. Lord Proudglade’s alliance was already fracturing.
It seemed, murderous people hunting habits aside, Lord Frostlight was no more pleased by the idea that she might have been manipulated into an alliance than any normal person would be. Busting up Lord Proudglade’s party was going better than Drake had hoped.
“Lord Frostlight?” Lord Mistvale said quietly. “We should evaluate the veracity of these odd and disturbing claims before we proceed.”
“Or we could simply find out who’s playing us all for fools right now,” Frostlight replied coldly. “Vote however you like. I, however, am not ready to end this cabal.”
Drake wanted to cheer her on. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all. No, she hunted people for fun, murdered them, and made trophies out of their corpses. She was definitely still bad. Still, he could respect her for taking no shit from her so-called allies.
“The vote is four to five,” the Judge said. “This cabal will continue. Lords Gloomwood and Skybreak remained censured for their crime, and we await testimony from Lydia Estoria and Samuel Marcos regarding Lord Redbow’s—”
“I withdraw my grievance,” Lord Redbow said.
The Judge offered him such a hard glare even Drake was taken aback. “You what?”
She was, it seemed, entirely done with today’s nonsense.
Lord Redbow nervously adjusted his stupid-looking hat. “As Lord Proudglade has said, in light of this new information about the possibility that someone has a thrall who can change what people see, I am no longer fully confident my accusation has merit.”
“You aired your grievance before the noble court.”
“And I did so before this disturbing news came to light,” Lord Redbow said smoothly. “I apologize for the imposition, but Lord Gloomwood’s... testimony... offers new possibilities.”
“Yes, we’re all very much aware of that.” The Judge now sounded about as snarky as she’d been all day. She sighed in exasperation. “Very well. Lord Redbow, your grievance against Lord Gloomwood is withdrawn, as is the order to seize Lydia Estoria and Samuel Marcos.” She turned to the other manor lords. “Are there any other grievances?”
Lord Frostlight stood.
“Don’t,” Lord Mistvale said firmly.
“Lord Mistvale!” the Judge shouted. “Speak out of order in this court again, and I will censure you for this cabal and the next!”
The goddamned elder vampire immediately clammed up.
The Judge looked to Lord Frostlight. “Air your grievance.”
Lord Frostlight smiled what could only be a predatory smile. “Based on Lord Gloomwood’s testimony, it now seems possible that I have been misled in one or more matters. This is unacceptable no matter who is responsible.” Her raptor-like gaze passed across all those in the chamber, including her so-called allies. “I call for an inquisition. I say every manor lord now standing in this court must answer whether they know of, or have employed, any person who can change how people perceive events.”
Drake could barely believe his luck. When Lord Frostlight thought she was being fucked over, she went straight for the throat. Which was no surprise, given she was an assassin.
An inquisition was very different from asking for testimony from blood thralls. It was also extremely rare. Few manor lords ever called for an inquisition because an inquisition, in the noble court, meant that manor lords themselves all had to answer the question posed.
That included the manor lord who called for the inquisition itself.
Drake had been excited by the possibilities an inquisition offered when he’d first read about it, but unfortunately, he could think of no way to convince five manor lords to agree to call an inquisition without first revealing that someone had a thrall who could change what people saw... which would get him censured. As a result, he’d discounted the possibility.
Now, however, Lord Frostlight was calling for an inquisition herself. But would anyone second it? Drake and Sky could not second the inquisition since they remained censured, so would Lord Blackmane...?
“I second,” Lord Brightwater said. “I also wish to know the answer to this question.”
“The inquisition is seconded,” the Judge said. “I now call for a vote. If you wish this inquisition to occur, raise your hands. I will remind each of you that five must vote in favor of this inquisition, and that all of you must answer the question if this motion passes.”
“Which, if you are not involved in this business of deceiving the noble court, you will all happily do,” Lord Frostlight added.
The Judge merely glared at her. “The vote is called. Raise your hands.”
Drake immediately raised his hand, as did Sky, Lord Brightwater, Lord Blackmane, and Lord Frostlight. He couldn’t believe it. They hadn’t just put their enemies on their heels today. They might actually unravel this whole damn conspiracy before supper!
“The inquisition is called,” the Judge said. “Lord Proudglade? I will put the question to you first. Do you know of, or have you employed, any person who can change how people perceive events?”
Before Lord Proudglade would answer, Lord Blackmane’s manor lord box exploded in a shower of frothing water and wildly flopping fish people.
