Caden glanced up at Valerius. If the Black Dragon King had ever been unfocused and unconcerned about the day to day goings on in his territory, he was not now.
“I was, Valerius,” Marban said with a sigh. “And I did not see it.”
“I did see it and I didn't think it was important!” Rose cried.
She was sitting on the couch and buried her face in her hands. Caden went over to her and crouched down by her side. He put a hand on her nearest arm.
“It’s okay, Rose. You’re not to blame for this,” Caden assured her.
“The wall was mostly clear when I saw it,” Rose told him, eyes wet with unshed tears. “A few hands. One or two. Not that it’s better for anyone to have been drawn in but--”
“I get it,” Caden said. “We didn’t know this was possible. You said so yourself that you thought it was some kind of weird art.”
“Art.” Rose shook her head vigorously. “The Behemoth makes people’s deaths into… I don’t know. It’s so awful!”
“The truth is that none of us could have anticipated this,” Jahara said as she turned away from the screen. “We still don’t understand how the walls work. As is obvious on their face, other than the one wall that Anwar uncovered in the desert, the other two are in places where the Behemoth could not possibly emerge from in its dragon form.”
“So that leaves it having a human form,” Mei said with a tap of her chin. “It must. It’s the only way these walls make sense.”
Caden glanced up at the screen again, looking for any trace of Wally’s rat bodies, but there were none. Wally had told them before shifting and losing the ability to communicate that he would be hiding in cracks and behind garbage. His rat bodies would be spread out so that it would appear to most people as if normal rats were merely living their day to day lives in the Below’s walls. Caden had seen Wally squirm into a triangular-shaped missing part of the wall that had looked too small to fit the plump rat, but he couldn’t even see a whisker sticking out. If anyone came out of that wall, Wally would follow them.
Anwar, who had been quietly stroking his chin and looking at this new wall, stated, “The wall I found in the desert looked old. It appeared to be part of a temple. But this one and the one in the Gray Mountains? They cannot be more than thirty-years old. Valerius created both of these places after the war. So someone must have built these walls after that.”
“So this plot against us has been in the makings since before Shifters revealed themselves potentially?” Tez put out there, looking like he’d smelled something foul.
“What if revealing the existence of Shifters was part of the Behemoth’s plot?” Esme suggested and spread her arms wide. The diaphanous arms of her gown sparkled. “You can’t very well destroy all Shifter-kind without humanity.”
“We need to go back to our territories,” Illarion grunted out. He slashed a hand through the air towards the screen. “As the idiot Gold Dragon says, our territories could be riddled with this rot!”
“It actually makes the most sense for the walls--at least the new walls--to be in Valerius’ territory. Not to say that there can’t be some in your own, but the fight--when there is one--will be focused here,” Marban said.
“Why is that, insect?” Illarion snarled.
Marban smiled up at Illarion. It wasn’t a nice smile. “Because Valerius and Raziel are not only the strongest, but have proven that they can defeat the Behemoth unlike say… Mephous. I believe you were swatted away like a fly and out of the fight well before it ended.”
The Green Dragon King was nothing if not predictable. His eyes flared a sulfurous green and he loomed over Marban who looked completely unimpressed.
“You will find that Mephous and myself are more than capable of toppling your little empire, insect,” Illarion gritted out.
“I am sure.” Marban waved the thought away. “If my little empire was not within Valerius’ territory.” He smiled almost sweetly at Illarion. “And then, we come back to my point once more: you are no match for Valerius and Raziel.”
These words appeared like they would cause Illarion to stroke out in front of everyone, but with an effort, he pulled back his anger. He let out a brittle laugh and brushed off the front of his suit.
“Then I most certainly should go home. Valerius the Great does not need me in his Councillor’s estimation,” Illarion stated.
“You have been threatening to take your toys home from the beginning!” Tez cried with a shake of his head. “You are looking for an excuse! If you want to go--or must go--then say so. Do not use Marban’s words as a reason.”
“None of you appreciate me! You think yourselves above me! Fine! You can do as you please!” Illarion turned to leave.
Caden jumped up. “Illarion, that’s not true. We do need you. Please come back. Everyone’s a little frayed.”
Illarion’s hand was on the doorknob to the suite, already turning it and about to walk out. Caden was sure this time he did mean it.
“And when the Behemoth comes and you’re not here when you’re needed?” Caden called out. “Illarion, you and Mephous are strong, but we need everyone to defeat this thing.”
Illarion turned his head so that Caden could see his profile. The Green Dragon King’s jaw was clenched but he surprisingly released it. “Caden, Mephous and I have stayed this long because of you and Iolaire. You respect us and want us here… but the others don’t. We will see if you or they are right about the battle ahead.”
And, with that, Illarion left. Caden felt a hole open up in the pit of his stomach. He knew that Illarion really was leaving and he knew, too, that it was not good. He turned to face the other Dragon Shifters.
