Free 6: Broken Fortress by Ginn Hale Page B

caused an unnatural, sudden hush. Wah’roa slumped back down into his seat.
    “Kyle’insira was responsible for stopping the assassination attempt,” Ji continued.
    “Our thanks go out to you,” Gin’yu told him.
    Kahlil inclined his head to her. She smiled, and the expression seemed to lighten her otherwise dour countenance, if only for a moment.
    “Ji advises the council,” Besh’anya whispered to Kahlil. “We’re with her.”
    She led him to Ji’s chair, beside Wah’roa’s. Everyone in the room watched his movement. All the while, Kahlil scanned the gathering for Jath’ibaye as if he could have somehow overlooked his blond, towering figure between two of the mousy secretaries or behind the cluster of scrawny, yawning runners. It seemed wrong that he shouldn’t be in his own chambers when so many other people were.
    “…and in the hour of darkness, the Kahlil shall return, and in his wake, divine wrath shall fall upon our enemy and he will be no more…” Wah’roa quoted the scripture so softly that Kahlil doubted even he was meant to hear it. Certainly, none of the other representatives seemed to take notice.
    “Now that Kyle’insira has arrived, we should continue.” Gin’yu rose from her seat and gave Kahlil a severe glare. “There are questions that the council would like to put to you, Kyle’insira. We hope that you will be forthcoming and honest in your answers.”
    “I will do my best,” Kahlil responded.
    “Ji will sense it if you are not,” Litivi informed him with what he probably felt was a menacing glower. If the circumstances had been different, Kahlil might have taken the time to knock that sneer off Litivi’s face before answering. But instead he chose to behave civilly.  
    “I understand,” Kahlil replied. “Ask what you will.”   
    “Tell us how you came to know of the assassination planned against Jath’ibaye,” Gin’yu commanded.
    “A Bousim spy in the Lisam gaunsho’s house reported it to my commander.” Kahlil could see that the council members were not pleased with his answer.
    “And what happened after your commander was informed of this plot?” Gin’yu asked.
    “He sent me out to stop it.” Kahlil shrugged.
    “And why didn’t you or your commander simply inform Jath’ibaye of the danger he was in?” Gin’yu asked.
    Kahlil almost laughed at the suggestion. What self-respecting gaun commander did she imagine would go running to the leader of the Fai’daum at the first sign of trouble?     
    “It was hoped that the problem could be handled within the gaun’im.”
    “The Bousim family wanted to protect Jath’ibaye?” Tai’yu asked. His tone was soft, but his expression was concerned. Hirran, too, seemed intent upon this specific question. At least the pair of pretty girls gathered around her were taking rapid notes.
    “Yes,” Kahlil replied. “Their holdings border your lands. Of all the gaun’im, the Bousim family would be most likely to suffer the worst losses if there were another war.” Kahlil couldn’t help but think of Alidas. He had wanted so deeply to avoid another war.
    “And yet Nanvess Bousim was one of the conspirators in the assassination plot?” Tai’yu asked.
    “Yes.” Kahlil nodded.
    “If the Bousim gaun’im are as anxious to maintain the peace as you claim, then why would the heir to their household do such a thing?” Gin’yu demanded.
    “I don’t know,” Kahlil replied. He didn’t like where these questions seemed to be leading.
    “You couldn’t guess?” Gin’yu asked. “You couldn’t offer even one reason why we should believe that the first heir to the Bousim house would risk so much?”
    “He might have been promised lands.” Kahlil did not want to mention Nayeshi without first consulting Jath’ibaye.
    “Which lands?” Gin’yu demanded before Kahlil could gather his thoughts.
    “I don’t know,” Kahlil replied.  
    “Did they discuss the Iron Heights?” Litivi suggested. “Or