“Well,” Vestra crossed her arms and tilted her head at Aven, “What was that?”

  “That man is Hanion vis Dreamweaver,” Aven forced out through gritted teeth. “He’s a murderer and an associate of my father’s. And now he’s got his claws in my sister. I-”

  “Whoa,” Vestra held up a hand. “Slow down. Your sister? What the hell are you talking about?”

  Aven struggled to explain everything while shame and panic kept intruding on his mind. The Shadow Order. Hanion’s role. And Aven’s part in it.

  “So, sum up, you tried to stab a Tenebras official’s bodyguard at a peaceful conference to finish a murder you tried to commit a year ago?” Vestra’s eyebrows raised.

  When put like that, it only reinforced his idiocy. Yet the rage still burned.

  The door burst open, and Aelia burst in, Esharah close behind.

  “Vestra vis Nightblood, your duties here are finished,” Aelia announced. It was the most commanding Aven had ever heard her.

  It only earned a chuckle from Vestra, “Can’t do that, Aeli. Governor’s going to be livid, you know. I’ll need to make sure our dangerous little voidtouched doesn’t go attacking anyone else.”

  Aelia glared at Vestra for a second, then rushed past her to Aven’s side, “Aven, what...what on earth was that?”

  Aven explained again. It was a little easier the second time. Maybe a tiny bit of the initial panic had receded, leaving behind something more like grim resolve. Aelia would at least listen and understand.

  “First your mother and now your sister...” Aelia shook her head, troubled.

  “Wait, mother?” Vestra asked.

  Aven groaned. More complications.

  And even more piled on when Governor Iraias burst in the door with Madame Truthteller following.

  “Explain.” The governor stared at Aven with eyes like chips of ice. “Now. Explain why I should not have Vestra take your head.”

  The third time wasn’t easier. It was all the more harrowing when Governor Iraias was staring at him with such intensity, with Madame Truthteller listening to the truth of every word.

  “He speaks true,” Madame Truthteller confirmed when Aven was finished.

  For a long moment, Iraias was silent, his face unreadable. His voice was still calm when he spoke, but it sounded like that calm was close to breaking. “Executor Etrani, were you aware prior to this that Lady Elesmara Genthus was Aven’s mother?”

  “Yes,” Aelia answered.

  “And you did not think it relevant to mention that fact beforehand when delivering a report from Lady Genthus?”

  “No.” Aelia kept her answers straightforward as ever. “My belief in her report was based on its contents, not on the connection to Aven, so I thought the detail unnecessary. I thought that including it would only distract from the relevant information concerning the voidspawn. I assume you did not mention Lady Genthus’ attendance out of a similar desire for economy of detail.”

  Governor Iraias closed his eyes and pinched his nose. As great a loss of control as Aven had seen in the man. “Your assumption...is correct. And it seems both negligences in communication have contributed to this tangled mess. Be that as it may,” he turned back to Aven, “Whatever sordid familial drama is forming here cannot, and will not, further endanger this conference.” His jaw tightened, “However, your connection to Elesmara Genthus could still prove an asset. Be grateful to your mother; it is her presence that is paring you from worse punishments. That said, you have proven unable to control your actions, so you will be placed under Vestra’s supervision for the remainder of this conference.”

  Aven winced. But he couldn’t really protest, not when he’d just lost control like a rabid dog in the middle of a diplomatic function.

  “It will be difficult to smooth matters over, however,” Governor Iraias continued. “Already, Tenebras’ military representative has demanded a duel to erase the dishonor.”

  “You’re not taking such a suggestion seriously?” Aelia asked.

  “Of course not.” Governor Iraias’ lip curled in distaste at the thought. “We aren’t barbarians to settle matters of honor with battle. Nonetheless, we must take measures. Since your outburst was public, your apology to Tenebras’ ambassador must be public as well. As well as your formal apology to Hanion vis Dreamweaver. We will choose an appropriate time to make recompense. Thanks to Vestra’s swift actions, we can regard this as only an attempted assault, not an outright murder.”

  That hit Aven like a punch to the gut. An apology to Hanion. For trying to kill a murderer. But refusing further would only cement the narrative that he was an uncontrollable monster. A liability. It could be far, far worse. It likely should have been.

  “Understood, sir,” Aven answered. Aelia’s relieved sigh was at least a bit of a balm to the sting. And Esharah’s mental touch was a quiet, steady presence. He wasn’t alone in this. “...but to be clear, there is a known assassin at this gathering.”

  “Two known assassins, including the former Vulgares Teja,” Aelia interjected.

  “And are you willing to bring formal accusations against either of them?” Governor Iraias asked.

  Aven hesitated. All of Hanion’s crimes...technically were Aven’s. All the murders that Aven was aware of, Hanion had only been the assistant. Aven was the one who actually wielded the blade. Beyond Aven’s own word, however, he didn’t have a scrap of evidence. And with Teja, there was a similar lack of proof as to her identity if Mother was vouching for her.

  “I will judge that your hesitation means ‘no,” Governor Iraias said. “In which case I cannot simply arrest members of other delegations. My commissars will be watching these individuals closely, I assure you. In the meantime, you will remain under Vestra’s guard.” He turned to Aelia, “Executor, I suggest you spend the remainder of this evening working to remedy the incident your captain has caused.”

  Aelia flinched but nodded, “Yes, Lord Governor.”

  Governor Iraias gave a final, withering look at Aven before leaving, Madame Truthteller trailing after him like a wraith.

  Vestra hooked her thumbs in her belt, grinning, “Well, this just got interesting.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Interesting,” Aven spat.

  Vestra just laughed.

  “Aven,” Esharah touched his arm. “Don’t let this break you.”

  He couldn’t bring himself to answer. He just gave a weak nod, then looked to Aelia. “Aelia...I’m so sorry. I...” he trailed off. What more could he say? His idiocy had just made all her work that much harder. She’d been managing well enough before he’d decided to charge at a man across a crowded hall.

  Aelia’s face was a mask of professionalism, but her mind, through Esharah, was a torrent of distress and worry. “It’s...we’ll adapt, Aven. That’s what we have to do. I just...” whatever she was going to say faded as she shook her head and glanced to Esharah. “I think...we need to return to the hall.” She turned back to Aven. “Be careful. Please.”

  Esharah’s parting message reached only Aven and Vestra’s minds, “And Vestra, don’t abuse your position.”

  Vestra grinned and said aloud, “I’ll only do what I have to, little sister.”

  Esharah’s mental presence stayed behind, but just enough to watch. Aven knew the bulk of her attention would be elsewhere. Cleaning up the mess he’d made. Helping Aelia navigate the whispers and stares.

  While Aven alone was left to stew helplessly over his own failures, past and present.

  * * *

  The Frelund delegation arrived before sunset, only the one from Orienbar still absent. Outside of Aelia’s general revulsion towards those who scorned punctuality, that was an acceptable outcome. She had not counted on Orienbar in her plans. A small province distant from the border, they had less to fear from the voidspawn and less to offer in defense than the larger provinces.

  Handling the aftermath of Aven’s outburst added a new set of obstacles to handle. She had to think of them as obstacles to stop her hands from shaking. This was just...complications to her agenda. Nothing more. Just another puzzle to solve.

  Not a scene of horrors. Not an image of the man she had come to love turning into a feral, murderous monster before her eyes.

  “He’s still Aven,” Esharah whispered.

  And Aelia knew that. Just knowing it didn’t make the image easier to bear.

  “On behalf of Captain Arvanius, I deliver my sincerest apologies for his outburst,” Aelia spoke in a calm, level voice.

  The Tenebras ambassador, a portly, sweating man with too-soft hands, was nodding along absently. Trellian Rosval was an administrator, not a warrior. Not a man used to such violent spectacles. It twisted Aelia’s gut to realize that she was becoming accustomed to such violence.

  “Arvanius,” the man repeated, glancing towards the door where Vestra had dragged Aven. “Heard the boy was a patricide, a voidtouched, and a lunatic. Madness making someone like that a captain. What under the heavens was your Governor thinking?”

  Aelia pressed her lips together tight. This man spoke out of ignorance, not malice. “Captain Arvanius has rendered great service to Hellfrost and Septentrion. He was critical in exposing the crimes of the former executor’s regime and in ensuring that those crimes faced justice. Further, he defended Hellfrost well against the traitor Sergrud fel-Maies, and-”

  “A murderer is a murderer,” a man at the ambassador’s side interrupted. A hard-eyed, blond-haired soldier whose hand tightened on his belt as if ready to draw a sword – though the hypothetical sword, thankfully, was not currently present at this gathering.

  “That is...tautologically true,” Aelia blinked, pausing for a moment to let Esharah help cool her annoyance at the rude interruption. “I’m afraid I did not hear your name, soldier...?”

  “Legatus Ellis Tovran,” the soldier clapped his fist over his heart and bowed stiffly. “12th legion.”

  Legate of an entire legion. Undoubtedly the military representative who tried to claim a duel against Aven. Aelia sent a query to Esharah.

  “He’s likely a third-circle vis,” Esharah replied. “If it came to a duel...it would depend on his specific domains.”

  If it was an even fight, Aelia had firm conviction in Aven’s victory. For the best that such an outcome had not come to pass.

  The legate’s gaze drifted past Aelia, to the side, where Aven’s sister was still standing. It was then that Aelia realized the woman had not retreated from the scene. Aelia had been so absorbed in damage control that she’d missed that fact. Nor did she look like a woman terrified for her life. The man with strange eyes was still by her side. Hanion vis Dreamweaver.

  From Aven’s description of his sister (albeit a brief one; he’d always been reticent to discuss family), consorting with murderers was not in her character. Assuming that remained true, that left two potential causes for her presence alongside Hanion vis Dreamweaver: deception or force.

  “Esharah,” Aelia asked through their mental connection. “Could you deliver a message to Aven’s sister?”

  “Not without the Dreamweaver knowing,” Esharah replied. “But...wait, I have an idea. Let me coordinate with Mensikhana.”

  The Kvormskaja Mindspeaker was not attending this gathering, but the range of her Mindspeaker abilities was further than Esharah’s. Enough to reach the gathering even from back at the guesthouse.

  “You and I need to distract Hanion for a moment,” Esharah’s presence returned.

  Aelia had no idea what a typical distraction was supposed to look like in this case, but she decided the best option was to address the man directly.

  “Pardon, Hanion vis Dreamweaver,” Aelia turned away from the Tenebras ambassador. “I must offer my apologies on behalf of Captain Avarnius.”

  The Dreamweaver showed only an instant’s surprise at being addressed before giving a small smile, “Honored to make your acquaintance, I’m sure, executor. But I can’t imagine why you would apologize to me. Surely your apologies should be directed towards Lady Helena. She was clearly the one her mad brother sought to attack, no doubt trying to finish the work he’d already done to harm his own family.”

  Ah, was that the story this man was telling? Better to cut it off at the root then.

  Aelia raised her voice, “No, no, Captain Arvanius was quite clear that it was you he intended to speak to, Hanion vis Dreamweaver.”

  Stares. From what Esharah had picked up, most had no idea exactly what Aven intended with the outburst. Well, if they all already suspected he was a madman, lies would not detract from that. Aelia always believed that truth was the most effective weapon against slander.

  “I...can’t imagine why that would possibly be,” Hanion vis Dreamweaver’s smile tightened. “I was, of course, a good friend of his father, Gaius Avarnius, may he rest with the Paragons. And it was clear there was far more on Aven’s mind than speaking.”

  “Aye,” Legatus Ellis Tovran gave another vigorous salute at the statement, though Aelia couldn’t quite figure out why he thought it necessary to interject.

  “But I can’t imagine what ire Aven might hold towards me,” Hanion vis Dreamweaver continued. “I’m nothing more than a friend of House Arvanius.”

  At the same time, Aelia felt a new presence in her mind. One that made it so clear that all of Aven’s words were only a delusion-

  “I’ll thank you to restrain your vis powers on my mind,” Aelia said. “Our conversation will be perfectly suitable spoken aloud.”

  Hanion started, just barely noticeably. His eyes narrowed as if searching for something in Aelia.

  “You don’t have experience being around other mind domains, do you, Dreamweaver?” Esharah’s voice echoed in both Aelia’s and Hanion’s heads. Amused. “Tread carefully here. You’re not the only one with power over minds now. Nor necessarily the most powerful.”

  A new presence rose above them. One that was...vast. Far beyond Esharah or Hanion vis Dreamweaver.

  “She speaks true,” the Truthteller’s voice reached all their minds at Esharah’s invitation. “And you do not.”

  Hanion vis Dreamweaver’s mind withdrew, and Aelia breathed a relieved sigh that her head was no longer a potential mind vis battleground.

  “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the man gave a sweeping bow to Aelia. Low enough to momentarily hide his face. A clever social tactic to hide his expression. “And I thank you for the warning. I will be careful.”

  “You have nothing to fear from a voidtouched,” Legatus Ellis Tovran interjected himself once again. “I assure you of that.”

  With the dreamweaver looking away, Aelia took the opportunity to give Helena a glance. Aven’s sister had a remarkably stoic face. Yet Aelia was certain she caught a brief look of surprise that had nothing to do with the current confrontation. Just a flicker.

  “Mensikhana delivered the message,” Esharah confirmed. “We’ll set up a chance for Helena and Aven to meet.”

  “I hope such an unfortunate incident will not overshadow a wonderful opportunity for cooperation,” Aelia gave a last bow of her own before withdrawing. “Please, enjoy the hospitality of Septentrion.”

  Withdrawing gave Aelia a moment to breathe and collect her thoughts again. There were still eight individuals Aelia had planned to meet today. Dinner was only an hour away, where seating would limit the people that Aelia could speak. And also eliminate the avenues for escape from social situations. Her placement among the other Septentrion executors at the meeting would limit chances to interact with the outside delegates. Unless...

  “Esharah,” Etrani asked, “could you please contact Governor Iraias’ chamberlain and request a change of seating?”

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  patreon.com/OrpheusDAC