Free Edge of Darkness ~ A Darkness & Light Novel Book Three by K. L. Schwengel Page B

provide me with your evidence, Lord Vaedryn," Ariadne said. "As well as a thorough accounting of each Council member's standing on the matter, and the reasons for the position they have chosen. If I find your decision bears merit, we shall talk again. Until such time, Lady Ciara shall remain free, and under the continued protection of Commander Garek. Should your guard approach her again, they do so in violation of an imperial edict, and shall be dealt with accordingly. Is that understood?"
    Vaedryn looked as though he had a mouthful of rocks, but whatever thoughts ran through his head remained there. "As you will."
    Ariadne remained pointedly motionless.
    Vaedryn shifted in his chair, then bowed from the shoulders. "Your Highness."
    The Emperor's sister smiled. "I shall expect your accounting by tomorrow evening, my lords and ladies. Good day."
    Ariadne turned, her gaze sliding Garek's way, a signal Ciara couldn't interpret passed between them. Garek gestured Ciara to follow Ariadne, and he and Berk fell in slightly behind and to either side of her. Ariadne's guards took up the rear of their procession. No one said a word until they were well away from the Council Chamber, and then it was Ariadne who finally broke the silence.
    "The impudence of them," she said. "And how considerate of them to wait until Dain and Bolin are well out of the city." She fell back to slip her arm around Ciara's shoulders. "Are you all right?"
    Ciara nodded. "Yes. Though I can't blame them for feeling how they do."
    "I can. It was my brother and the Council who demanded you be brought here, if I recall correctly. Bolin was against it from the beginning, but none were willing to listen to his warnings. I could have done more in that regard, I suppose." She sighed, her focus growing distant as they walked. "Dain put too much weight on what the mage's were saying because of his irritation with Bolin over some other matter. I should have stood up for Bolin. Still, the Council need look no further than each other if they want to lay responsibility at someone's feet. Not at you." Ariadne looked past Ciara's shoulder at Berk. "Or you."
    Berk held her gaze for a moment before looking away, a frown pulling down the corners of his mouth. Garek gusted out an exasperated sigh and Ariadne drew them all to an abrupt halt.
    "The two of you are quite the pair," she said to Berk and Ciara, her hands on her slim hips, head cocked. She studied them both for far too long, then turned her attention Garek's way. "Commander, will you escort Ciara to her rooms please."
    Berk started to say something but stopped at a shake of Garek's head. "You're off. Get back to the barracks."
    Berk nodded silently and started away, but the commander stopped him with a hand across his chest.
    "We'll be talking later, so you're aware."
    "Commander--"
    "Later."
    "Aye."
    Berk headed down the corridor, and Ciara turned her attention back as Ariadne said, "I owe you an apology for not seeing this sooner. I need to sneak Thadeus and Laryn aside and have a word with them. Go with Garek. I'll join you before dark, and we'll discuss how best to proceed."
    She gave Ciara with a quick hug, then headed back toward the Council Chamber. Garek watched her go, his thumbs hooked behind his wide belt, a frown wrinkling the parts of his face not hidden behind the mass of his red beard. His right index finger tapped the grip of a knife at his belt in a steady rhythm.
    Ciara gave him a moment to work through the thoughts playing behind his eyes before pointedly clearing her throat.
    "Yes, lass?" he asked, without looking her way.
    "I think we should go," Ciara said. "Before the Council decides to send someone after me again."
    Garek grunted. "They wouldn't dare. Not till they've had time to work through the lady's threat leastwise." All the same, he turned and gestured Ciara ahead of him.
    They walked a while in silence. Bolin's rooms, her rooms now, she thought with a flush of warmth, were situated at the