A Sacrifice of Names

Chapter 28

"You dare accusing me of being blind?!"

The man standing opposite of Garran flinched, the regent's words spoken with such calm it would strike fear even in the hearts of the mightiest warriors present. His gaze belittling whomever he would rest it upon.

"We do not, my lord," the man spoke haltingly, the heels of his boots digging deep into the variety of detailed rugs covering the regent's tent's floor. "But for so long they have been here. This attack was planned, they have waited till our forces were weakened. Should they strike now we won't be able to stop them, unless..."

"Unless what?" Garran craned his head.

"The human...."

"Ah, yes. And I assume you know exactly where that filth has been hiding?"

"No, my lord, but-"

"But?" Garran bristled, turning himself around, his chin held high.

"But we know someone who might." The man sounded positively hopeful as Garran looked him over for a moment, his cold, grey eyes still devoid of any emotion. The regent picked up his cane, pointing it in his direction.

"And why aren't they here to tell me exactly where the vermin is?"

The soldier lifted his hand. "Igraine!"

Garran's gaze shifted towards the entrance of the tent where a tall, fae woman entered, her blonde hair speckled with dried blood, but her auburn eyes persistent.

"Igraine was the one who watched over the third woman that was taken from Talamh by your orders, my lord. The changeling we sought."

The woman named Igraine lowered her head slightly. "I tended to her wounds, my lord. I was the one who took the being to a lesser fae named Keely so she could remove the mortal glamour from her."

"And why were you not the one to do so? Are your magicks not stronger than that of a lesser being?"

Igraine swallowed, "it was a test for her, my lord. She was keen on proving herself to join us, so we thought-"

"You thought what, exactly?" Garran asked coldly. Although Igraine had kept her head high, the way her hands clenched together did not go unnoticed.

"We thought it would be fun to see her fail," she admitted, the strength in her voice faltering. "We thought she would not succeed, but then we saw the girl walking around Aves as one of us, one of the chosen. After that, we no longer bothered with her."

"And you failed to report so?"

"No, my lord, we documented her name, just like we did with the others, but she was at the ball, you saw her yourself-"

"Silence!" Garran's voice reverberated between the canvas walls of the tent, immediately quieting all those present. "So you say I am the one responsible for not recognising her for what she truly is?"

"No, my lord...." Igraine whispered, taking a small step back.

"But now we know where she is, or where she could be," the soldier interrupted. "If Firas doesn't already have her-"

"Firas is dead," Garran interrupted, a wicked grin ever so slightly curling the ends of his lips. "Betrayed by his own guard, the poor fool."

No one said anything as the regent returning to his chair.

"The rat left with two of ours, the pureblood and lesser being followed her to Daleagh, but both have been seen amongst Firas' forces, so there is a big chance she has left Daleagh with them to come here," another soldier muttered.