Free Six Heirs by Pierre Grimbert Page A

involved in the affair to their homes. Each of them would be questioned and placed under protection for a while.
    They took justice very seriously in Ith.
    Three knocks sounded at her door, and Lana went to open it, forcing herself to recover a dignified bearing. Self-pity was far from being a valued virtue in the Eurydis cult.
    An old man looked at her compassionately. Short, thin, without a mask, dressed in a plain robe, and barefoot. Emaz Drékin.
    “Your Excellence,” she said, inviting him in.
    “Come now, Lana. This is no time for protocol,” he scolded gently, taking her in his delicate arms.
    She returned his embrace, sobbing, her dignity ceding to emotion.
    They released each other after a moment, and Lana closed the door behind them.
    “Do you want an infusion?” she offered, trying to sound natural again.
    “Another time, my child, another time. Before anything else, we must speak about important matters.”
    Lana agreed and went to sit at the small bench in front of her table, inviting the Emaz to do the same. She had a feeling that Drékin came not only as a friend, but also as a high-ranking leader of the Temple.
    He sighed for a moment, searching for words, then launched into a discussion that, despite his calm tone, was nothing short of an interrogation.
    “Lana, did you know this man?”
    “No. Not at all.”
    Lana was making an effort not to burst into tears.
    “Had you ever seen him before?”
    “No, I don’t think so. Not in my class, anyhow. Unless he was wearing a mask, of course.”
    The Emaz let the silence linger. He was still hesitant to speak about certain things.
    “Do you know what the Züu are?” he asked her, finally.
    Lana’s eyes widened in fright. Yes, of course she knew. A sect of murderers who committed their crimes in the name of a judiciary goddess, that’s who they were. In previous centuries, the Züu had systematically massacred all the Eurydians who disembarked on their island. How could she not know that, she who had studied the history of Ith?
    “You think that...?”
    She didn’t finish her sentence.
    “Sadly, yes. The officers found your name in a note on his body, and other details about you. It was written in Ramzü.”
    Lana let it sink in. She thought she had simply come across a demon. She understood now that the attempt was premeditated.
    And that she was far from out of danger.
    “Lana, what I ask of you now is very important. The Temple cannot allow for renewed opposition with the Züu, new martyrs, a new crusade. So, tell me why they are after you.”
    Lana thought for a moment, which seemed to be an eternity to the Emaz.
    “Unfortunately, I do not know. I have no idea.”
    The old man looked disappointed.
    “Ah, well. We couldn’t have changed their minds anyhow, but we might have known how to protect you.”
    “What you’re saying is awful! This means that they will try and try again until they succeed!”
    “Perhaps not, my child, perhaps not. This is the other thing I must speak with you about. The Temple can arrange to shelter you, but at the price of a large sacrifice, one that you are not obliged to accept.”
    Lana prepared herself for the worst.
    “Go on.”
    “Except for the young Rimon, all of your disciples are still wondering whether you’ve survived. The Temple has kept this information secret up until now...”
    Lana was horrified.
    “You aren’t about to suggest that...”
    “It’s the best thing to do, my child. Consider it. Unfortunately, the young Orphaëlle perished in the attack. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain by dying in the next dékade.”
    Lana wondered how the Emaz could think such a thing. To take advantage of the young girl’s misfortune.
    “The witnesses will be unable to say who was killed,” the Grand Priest continued. “For them, there was at least one masked woman among the victims. If we announce you are deceased, we won’t need anything else to trick the Züu.”
    “I understand perfectly well,