Eclipse: Time Thief (Romantasy)

58. The Graduates

I traced a crack in the table and avoided the eyes of Piercey's graduates sitting in the conference room with us. Somehow it reminded me that I belonged here and yet didn't, that it was true of everywhere I'd ever called home. I didn't fit in anywhere.

Piercey used his teaching voice as he continued with the end of his report. It grated at me today. "Flare has united six Prophets who have formed a council and agreed to work toward combining their lands. Others have refused, including the Prophet of the Valley. There's talk of war brewing." Piercey settled his clipboard onto the table. "We need to decide our next steps."

"I say we ally with Max." Val nodded at me. "She's proven to be very capable and she has the people's best interests at heart."

"I agree." Another graduate spoke up from the far end of the table. "Flare is an enemy to us all. If she uses the Prophets to conquer lands and create nations, they'll never be nations for the people. They'll be nations of terror and oppression."

I held my breath as the next graduate spoke. They were all in agreement. I'd assumed they would fight me, maybe because Piercey always had in his own way.

"Then it's settled." Piercey's eyes shifted to each person at the table. "We ally with Max against Flare. We'll need to keep her alive while sabotaging her efforts."

Nash gripped my hand beneath the table.

"It's tempting to kill the Prophet," Piercey said, "But Flare will use it to her advantage. It's better to isolate the major players and keep them busy defending against us."

I should have known Piercey would come up with an excuse to not kill. So, I rose, and nodded at Nash. "Show them your back."

Piercey drew back at the interruption. "Max–"

Nash pulled his tunic over his head and turned so the overhead lights shone against the scars weaving down his spine.

"Eskel." I watched the graduates take in the devilishly elegant script running down the middle of his back. "Written in blood."

Piercey lowered his head. The table fell silent.

"I could tell you as many stories of Eskel's ruthlessness as their are days. Not only did he conscript Nash and use the threat of hurting his daughter to force him to serve a cause he didn't believe in for years, but the Prophet also tried to force Nash to bind himself to him."

The graduates murmured at this violation, because binding yourself was meant to be sacred.

"He used his power to carve his name into Nash's spine, healed him, and did it again. How many times must you do this before it leaves behind scars not even power can heal? This was done to one man. What else has he done? What will he do if left in power?

Val looked at Nash as he put his shirt back on and sat down.

"The Prophet of the Valley, Eskil the Ruthless, must not remain in power. He is poison to the people. He uses his power against his people. Do not abandon them to suffer another day beneath his crushing rule. We should kill him now."

Piercey raised his head again with his eyes unyielding. "The Prophet of the Valley has refused to surrender or join forces with Flare. It'll mean war. He will be fighting Flare and keeping her distracted. That's the best chance we have of holding Flare off."

"Innocent people will die." My voice hitched.

Piercey's eyes shone with tears. "And if the Valley falls to the Flatlanders? Into Flare's hands? Are you prepared to handle the vacuum of power it will create while we also battle Flare?"

"I can't turn my back on my people," I said. "My chief agreed to hold off on attacking the Prophet until we all join, but they are prepared to defend themselves at a moment's notice."