Watcher in the Darkness, Book 3: Imprisoned

Chapter 42, part 3

Biker Fairy jerked hard on Aliese the Whore's chain. She tripped, falling to her hands and knees at the base of the Elders' thrones.

"Speak, ifrit," Elder Two said. "Tell us of your relationship with Lord Khalid."

Aliese the Whore got to her feet with difficulty. "I have served my lord faithfully, and in all ways, since before humankind harnessed the power of fire." Her voice slurred, because it's hard to speak with a broken jaw. "I have been loyal to him as no other woman has. Yet, here I am."

Khalid didn't even have the decency to look ashamed.

"Did you bear witness to the crime of which your lord stands accused?" Elder Three said.

Aliese the Whore shook her head at the unfairness of it all. "I did."

Elder One, at least, seemed sympathetic. "Tell us, then, of what transpired, and spare no detail."

Aliese the Whore's breath wheezed through her crooked nose as she fought tears. "My lord commanded that I should come along to collect his necromancer from that bloodsucker. He worried the Princess of the Mists would collect herself and rightly seek revenge. He wanted his property secured before that happened."

"This seems a simple enough task," Elder Two said with a frown. "Did you not question why your master would require your presence on such a menial errand?"

"I don't make a habit of questioning my lord's orders. Besides..." Aliese the Whore bowed her head. "I know now why he wanted me there."

"And why is that?" Xi said with smug satisfaction. I could tell that he already knew the answer, but wanted it stated for the record.

Aliese the Whore closed her eyes. "Because the only other witness was the bloodsucker."

I laughed once in the back of my throat. People wonder why vampires hate demons.

Xi began to circle Aliese the Whore. Even hobbled, she turned to keep him in her line of sight. "Therefore, do you believe it was his intent to reveal my sister's True Name in your presence all along, regardless of what that meant for you?"

Tears glistened in her eyes. "I do."

"And did your master reveal my sister's True Name in your presence?"

"He did."

"Were there any other witnesses to the crime, beside the vampire?" Elder Three said.

Aliese the Whore lifted her shoulders with a tired sigh. "There was the necromancer and a revenant."

The Elders considered one another. "Should we bring them here?" Elder One said.

Elder Two shook its head. "Revenants are dangerous and unpredictable. It would be folly to bring such an abomination to this place."

Elder Three stroked its chin. "I know of this revenant. She was a respected witch, in her time. That which reanimates her now is her burning need for revenge. It will not occur to her to use her knowledge of the Princess of the Mists' True Name to exploit her powers."

Elder One nodded in agreement. "Once her bloodlust has been sated, she will pass from this world."

"Then it is agreed," Elder Two said. "The problem will resolve itself."

"But the necromancer may speak the princess's True Name," Elder Three said. "She should be here."

I felt a stab of panic. "No!" I wasn't supposed to speak, but it burst out of me. "No, Karen didn't hear anything. She was unconscious." Nik held out his arm when I took a step toward Khalid. "Tell them you had Karen knocked out, and that she couldn't have heard you say Gwen's True Name. Tell them!"