Fire Angels

Chapter 17 Part 1 The Darmen Stalker Scandal

"It was him," I cried. "I know it as surely as I know you."

"I believe you," said Tomas. "Truly I do. It's just... Oh God! Darmen Stalker. The negotiator between the Duke and Hierarch Jarraz."

"I'll get Father," said Lucien. His face was grim.

"Lucien, what are you going to tell him?"

"That Darmen Stalker is a murderer and should be arrested for such," said Lucien. "What do you suggest I tell him, Tomas Holyhands?"

"That," snapped Tomas. "Of course that." The two men stared angrily at each other.

"What you should tell him is that Darmen Stalker has colluded with necromancy," I said. "He handed Tasha over to those who tortured her and fed her life force to demons. He witnessed at least some of it. I saw him in her memories."

Lucien's face became even grimmer.

"Never fear. He shall pay for it if it's the last thing I do."

As the door slammed on Lucien, Tomas pulled up a chair and sat down beside me. They had carried me to this ante room when I had collapsed during the reception. I was lying on a chaise. My head still ached from the fall and if I closed my eyes, Tasha's violent memories replayed themselves in the blackness behind my eyelids. I had tried to swallow those memories whole without thinking through them, without chewing them over and now they returned as strong and savage as when I had first seen them. It was like some horrible play which I could not stop. Only it was twice as close as any play. My tongue could almost taste the salty sticky hessian they had bound around it and feel the agony as the sparkling cold knife cut into it... No! I would not think about that. My hands trembled and the water spilled from my glass.

"Dion, Dion" said Tomas. He reached over, took the glass from my hand and held it to my lips. "My poor little sister." He stroked my cheek. I noticed his hands were trembling too.

"What's the matter, Tomas?"

He was silent for a moment and then he said,

"You are sure of this, aren't you? This is nothing to do with what happened this morning?"

"Don't you believe me Tomas? How can you? You suspected Darmen Stalker yourself."

"No, No, Dion that's not what I meant." He sighed. "Oh Dion I am ashamed. Finally we find the man who is responsible for Tasha's death and, after all my cries for revenge, the first thing I think is that I wish it was some other. Darmen Stalker is the southern negotiator, Lady Blanche's trusted adviser and Hierarch Jarraz's secretary. I suppose I should not be surprised after what happened in Glassybri, but what kinds of trouble will our accusations cause for the Duke? Will Lady Blanche countenance her adviser being arrested or will she take her vote and give it to the Patriarch in outrage? And how will it affect our making a peace with the south if we arrest their emissary?"

"You cannot make an honorable peace with necromancers," I told him, angry at the direction his words seemed to lead. "Are you suggesting we keep quiet?"

"No," snapped Tomas. He pulled away from me. "That's not what I mean. Do you really think I would be capable of letting my sister's murderer free for such reasons?"

"No," I lied; for in truth I had wondered for some time what he in his ambition was capable of.

"I suspect my father will be in favor of such a plan," said Tomas ruefully.

He was right. Lord Sercel was aghast.

"You plan to accuse the Southern emissary of necromancy and murder on the strength of Dion's claims that she has seen a dead woman's memories?" he cried.

"Yes," said Tomas firmly.

The Lord-Elector reasoned and then pleaded. Tasha was dead he told us and revenge would not bring her back. Could we not at least wait until a treaty had been signed? Tomas and Lucien stood adamant however and I pointed out that no college of magery would accept a treaty signed with one tainted with necromancy.

Lord Sercel turned on me. "It seems you have become mighty fond of the lime-light these days, Enna," he said cuttingly.

"Don't blame her!" snapped Tomas.

"Well I only hope you are prepared to undergo a mindsearch, Enna. Your testimony will not be admissible in court. In fact I would send for Ren Daniel and have him perform one at once if I were you."

"I will go to the Duke publicly tomorrow and accuse Darmen Stalker," said Lucien.

"Must it be you?" said Lord Sercel.

"I will not let Tasha's murder go unpunished. Will you support me father?"

Lord Sercel sighed.

"Of course not. Have a care for our patrimony, Lucien. One of us must remain on some kind of terms with the Duke."

"Then you will stand against me," said Lucien tensely.

"I will not, my son. Remember this is not the first time we have been on opposite sides. I merely seek to preserve our family, that's all."

"So be it," said Lucien. "I shall send for Ren Daniel."

He left the room.

"I am appalled," said Lord Sercel quietly.

"Aye," said Tomas, "But if Darmen Stalker is a murderer and a necromancer, he cannot be acceptable as a peace emissary."

Lord Sercel shook his head. Then he smiled crookedly.

"Do you know this is the first time I have ever seen Lucien intent on more than hunting? All his life I have prayed for this moment. May Aumaz protect us from our wishes."

Thus began the Darmen Stalker scandal.