Nada's Escape

38- Cause.

The archive centre must be several kilometres from the Huntsmen's village because it seems to take forever to make it back to the meadow. I hadn't noticed the distance with Darcell, some combination of shortcuts and a cracking pace, I think.

Somewhere in the midst of a lavender field I realise that Finley is going to be waiting for me. I try to reach out for the static but I can't feel it anymore. I stop, gulping in breaths of calming lavender scent, just out of breath from the run. I put my hands over my eyes, block out everything and listen. Several heart beats of concentration pass before I hear it thrumming faintly at the back of my mind.

Finley? I'm coming. I just didn't realise how far away I was.

Okay. Comes the reply, devoid of expression or tone. This connection isn't going to last much longer, I think, and then wonder how I could possibly know that.

When I finally make it to the place in the hedge paths where Finley sits waiting I'm tired and I tell him so. The corners of his mouth turn down a little bit and he passes me a bottle of water.

"Well at least you're here. The council wants to see you this afternoon." Finley looks tired too, I notice as he stands. "I should warn you, I think my father means to pressure you into making an oath to the council." I almost choke on a gulp of water, sending it gushing down the front of the ripped dress.

It makes sense. All the Huntsmen swear an oath when they became of age. But I can't because I have to leave. I point at Finley's wrist, where the leather bracelet with the Warrior Mage's symbol sits.

"That's what holds your oath to the council isn't it?" I ask, starting to wrap my mind around this new dilemma.

"Yep. I swore it almost two months ago." He replies, grimacing at a space above my head. Disappointment thrills through me at the confirmation.

"So it would be too suspicious to use the new ribbons to get out of my oath to the council..." I muse aloud, twisting on the spot. I open my palm in order to remind myself that the mark is still there. "Right. I will just have to convince them that this is enough."

The slow spread of a triumphant smile on Finley's face in my peripheral vision tells me I have the right plan.

But first I see to my growling stomach, brainstorming as I go, even though Finley spends the time staring out the kitchen window. It's awkward, but I'm glad he's keeping his distance for now.

Whilst Finley's family home is nothing short of a mansion on the hill, he says he's taken this smaller place to avoid the 'empty passages' up there. I'm not sure I understand this reasoning but I am thankful that I won't accidentally run into his father in this little bungalow. When we leave to meet the council, we've somehow worked out a strategy.

Finley takes point on my defence; at first it's all I can do to stand still in the aura of their arrogance. He speaks clearly and compassionately, meeting the eyes of each Huntsmen in their semicircle. I'm sure he knows all their names. There are thirteen, arrayed in front of the setting sun, including Percival, Macie's elderly sponsor, and the three I watched exit the archive facility earlier today. Finley's father shoots daggers at me from the leftmost edge of the circle but the rest begin nodding with Finley.

The 'nay's after Finley finishes speaking decide that I don't need to take the oath.

Finley's father raises his voice, stealing the sigh of relief that I was about to release, "Well. I think that's everything for today."

"Wait." I finally speak, having to push mentally against the finality of Finley's father's words. "We need to talk about all those girls you still hold trapped in Seven."

Finley's father wrinkles his nose, "You may be a Huntswoman, but you are not a part of this council."

"But she is entitled to petition it." Finley jumps in for me. "And as the only person chosen by the Warrior Mage in one hundred and fifty years, I suggest this council listens." I keep my fist tightly closed over the symbol that I don't want, even now where it's useful.

"An update on the situation please, Rivers." Finley's father dismisses his son's words with a wave and turns to the tall, brown haired Huntsmen from the archive centre.

"As of this moment we have four fighters, two weepers and a fence-sitter who have refused to take the pledge or who have no sponsor. Given the timeline, the remaining lady and three fencers have agreed pledge themselves the day after tomorrow, however there's no one willing to conduct the ceremony." Rivers explains and then steps back into place. I bite my lip at the thought of Macie pledging to obey Percival. Poor girl!

"Despite the fact that what you're doing in Seven is evil," I begin but suddenly every member of the council starts muttering out of sync with each other, obviously disturbed by my words.

"I think I can help you." I continue, but they've stopped listening. So I resort to a shout.

"You can't sentence all them to death just because you don't have time to run a ceremony!" I burst out and the chatter clatters to an end. A couple of them take a surprised step back.