Strange Aeons [Book 1]

26. Winds of War [part II]

Garaham slowly passed a hand on his face, closing his eyes for a moment. Five minutes of precious and quite awkward silence fell, until a portal opened, right beside Garaham, and River came straight out of it. He was wearing a light blue tank top and dark blue jeans and, as always, he was a marvel to be seen. Right beside his suited-up, smaller and darker brother, the comparison was merciless. The resemblance, in the features of their faces and in their structure, was unmistakable, but Garaham looked like the one who got all the wrong DNA genes, while the others had flocked in mass towards River.

«Sorry for the delay, you caught me, uhm, by surprise.» his debonair signature smile made more than one heart, old or not, flutter heavily. Garaham cleared his voice. River looked at him, turning his smile into a grin. «Hey bro. We have to stop meeting like this!»

«Enforcer River.» Della Rovere raised to his feet, again, facing the tall man, before Garaham could retaliate with more than a murderous glare. «We were discussing some disturbing news. It appears that your underling, Staccato, could be charged with having something to do with the werepeople attacks at the Academy and that his meddling with those freaks could have provoked the attack of the concert hall.»

«That's ridiculous!» River snapped, taking a step forward and moving a hand in the air, almost dramatically. «I understand Staccato isn't the most forward or friendly mage we've ever gotten in the Order, but to go from there to such allegations is absolutely preposterous! Where is the proof of that?»

«We merely wanted to hear your opinion, no official accusations have been moved, yet.» Zachariah replied, standing on his own, now, facing a clear situation under his jurisdiction. «However, be assured: if you, in any way, would be found guilty of covering up for something like this, your name won't save you a second time.»

«Staccato is innocent.» he declared. As simple as that. Garaham turned his head towards his brother, frowning. He was all about saving his underling's sorry asses from the fire, but River never really had that attitude, at all. «I had already entertained the notion of something like this, seen the disturbing coincidences you have certainly noticed to call me here. I faced him about them, and I am positive he has nothing to do with it.»

«I'm so sorry, truly, but how can you be sure? Of the many things everyone knows you master...» Garaham's voice was a carpet of hatred «... mind-reading and being good at not being lied to, aren't between them.»

«As much as my incredible talents could lay elsewhere...» River replied, shooting Garaham with a sideways glare «... I don't only have Staccato's word. He can't be in bed with the werepeople. They have attacked him, not much later than some days ago. They stormed his lair. In Perch Street.»

Garaham kept his poker-face just because he was so good at it, while River caught the right moment to share a smirk with him, as the Council flared up like a Christmas light.

«You mean that the explosion was caused by the werepeople?» Zachariah jumped up.

«I had had some reports of werepeople activity in the area, but I could never verify them properly.» Manuela Luisita Pordelada Dos Santos chimed in, thoughtfully. «That tragedy finally makes sense. We chalked it up to the usual mage losing control of some contraption by the presence of damaged fluxes all around, but this is surely a better answer.»

«This is bad, though. The werepeople have way too much information they shouldn't.» Zachariah turned towards the Councilwoman. «Manuela Luisita Pordelada Dos Santos, could we have a leak in Division 4?»

«Zachariah, I sympathize with your sad situation, but wash your mouth before insinuating such insults.» the Councilwoman hissed. «No one, in my Division, would ever pass information on the werepeople. I choose my personnel with the same care as the disciples of Christ!»

«That's not the kind of thing one wants to hear when looking for a Judas, is it?» Zachariah remarked, snarkily.

«Stop this! We're not getting anywhere, bickering between ourselves. It might as well be what the werepeople wanted all along!» Jägermann stood up, stomping his fists on the table. «Zachariah will launch a full inside investigation about this, with the help of Reyansh. And everyone, and I mean everyone...» his eyes stopped on Manuela for some seconds. «... will comply. But we still have to receive all the information we were seeking from the Undertide.»

«You never told us how that was going, Giorgio.» Shaquana spoke up, for the first time. Della Rovere nodded.

«Because I have no news. Lucifer, as always, had sent his emissaries to tell us that if any demon is helping the werepeople it would be a long investigation, but he would look into it. As we all know, this means at his leisure and, in turn, an indefinite amount of time. The Pearly Gates remain sealed shut, with nothing as much as a "Go Away!" coming from behind them.»

«Seeing what usually "Go Away!" from the Archangel Gabriel, or God himself could mean, maybe it's better so.» Viceroy commented, softly.

«The Elysials, as usual, have been of no help. The Senate didn't even entertain the thought, the Regime is too busy fighting on the Fairy Court's borders, the Empire, as usual, launched its investigation, but ultimately Frederick II says he has found no evidence of his people contacting werepeople.» Della Rovere explained.

«And the Fairy Court?» Shaquana asked.

«Oberon hasn't asked us, but he usually doesn't. We have a meeting with Titania set up for next week. But if the situation is so dire, I could send Thanatos and a task force to try and convince the Innkeeper at Lexington to pledge for an earlier meeting.»

«Why travel to Lexington, if we have a Finnegan's Wake here in the city?» Manuela asked, frowning.

«Because Titania much prefers that particular Finnegan's Wake, as well as that Innkeeper. You don't ask why with the Fairy Court, Manuela Luisita Pordelada Dos Santos, you comply and hope they'll show. At least, they can't lie. This could be the only way to get some true answers.» Della Rovere sighed.

Garaham was feeling shivers down his spine that he was trying hard to conceal, while River, beside him, looked like he was the epitome of calm and inner peace. He had crossed his large arms over his massive chest and was listening to the Councillors, who had probably completely forgotten about them. It was a sad irony, Garaham thought, he had spent his whole childhood being ignored by a Councilman, exactly like in that moment in time.

River, though, usually grew restless and tantrumy when nobody was looking at him. In this instance, though, he looked at ease. Garaham frowned.

«I would like to volunteer for the task force if this is an option.» he said, stepping forward. By the looks that went around the table when he did that, it became abundantly clear that they indeed had forgotten about their existence.

Manuela Luisita Pordelada Dos Santos and Della Rovere exchanged a glance.

«I see no harm in this. Thanatos will greatly benefit from your insight on werepeople anyway.» Della Rovere said, clearly appreciative. «If it's not a problem for you to go to Lexington.»

«It is not, Councillors. On the contrary: I'll reach it on my own, and then join the task force directly on-site if I'm allowed. I have... places to be.» he replied.

This time, the glance was exchanged between Cavanaugh and Della Rovere.

«Granted.» Della Rovere finally said.