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“Lorian,” Anahi admonished. “We know of the Red Masks’ existence.”
“And their threat,” Helly added.
“Five years ago maybe,” he said lightly.
More footsteps announced another person’s entrance. Bastian appeared then with a huff. “I don’t move quite as fast as I used to,” he said with a small smile. “Now, what is this I’m hearing about what is going on? You are discrediting the existence of the Red Masks? Even after Basem’s blatant use of them after the tournament?”
“I believe in their existence, but I saw no threat, except what you see before you. She is turning the city against us, initiating riots in the streets and infiltrating our sacred halls. Can none of you see what she is doing to us? How she is trying to turn us against one another?”
“I wouldn’t have to do any of that if you weren’t leading the very people you allowed to escape,” Kerrigan snarled.
She shouldn’t have said it. She had no proof. Not yet at least. Just Dozan’s word, how Lorian had treated her these months, and what he’d done today. But she knew he was the leader. He was the one who had been trying to kill her. Why else would Isa have run away like that at the sight of his dragon? She’d known.
But the looks of disbelief, coupled with Lorian’s stark laughter, hurt.
“Kerrigan,” Helly said softly, “we cannot accuse people of such things.”
“Aye,” Anahi said with displeasure in her expression. She had gone from helpful to neutral to disapproving. “Master Lorian still deserves your respect. Whether or not you should be behind those bars.”
“Of course, Mistress Anahi,” she said in haste. “I only meant—”
But Lorian cut in with another laugh. “You believe I am the leader of these Red Masks?” He turned back to his colleagues. “Do you not see now? She is trying to place the blame on me. It’s absurd. You can take this to the council if you wish, Hellina, but I am going to move to have her expelled.”
“Expelled?” Kerrigan gasped.
Helly looked dismayed for one second before straightening and giving him an imperious look down her nose. “If you do this, it will end your career. The council election is next year, Lorian.”
His nostrils flared. “Are you proposing that you will oppose me?”
“It is not the time to make enemies,” she said pointedly.
He balked at the blatant threat. A part of Kerrigan cheered for her. That she’d go up against Lorian for her.
“This is not about you two,” Anahi said. “It is about the girl.”
“Agreed,” Bastian said, coming between them. “None of that. What we need is a compromise. Lorian wishes to see the girl expelled. Helly believes that she should be let go. Surely, there is a middle ground.”
Anahi nodded. “I concur with the honorable Master Bastian.”
Lorian and Helly huffed at the same time and looked away from one another.
“Kerrigan was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She likely shouldn’t have been at the protest in the first place.” Bastian looked to Kerrigan, as if to say I told you so. “But unless you can prove that she started all of this, Lorian, I believe that her infraction is more a problem with political action during her training and less to do with inciting violence. For that, I would offer a third choice—probation. Kerrigan would be monitored for the duration of her training and grounded from flying for a month.”
“What?” Kerrigan gasped. “But we start flying tomorrow!”
“It seems fair to me,” Anahi agreed. “A compromise.”
Lorian’s lips tipped up at her objection to the punishment. It wasn’t getting her kicked out, but it was something she clearly cared about.
Helly sighed and shot Kerrigan a pained expression. “I agree with Bastian if you do, Lorian.”
“Helly,” Kerrigan breathed. “But…”
“No, Kerrigan, you were warned about the protests already. This is a fair alternative.”
She shut her mouth. Because if Helly was saying it was fair, that likely meant she thought that Lorian had a chance with convincing the council to kick her out of the program.
“Fine,” Lorian ground out. “Probation it is. But I’ll be the one watching.”
Then, he whipped his black robes around him as he vanished. Anahi shot them a pained look before following in his wake. Helly produced a key and opened the iron gate. She bristled as the iron touched her skin as she removed the manacles. The rush of magic returning to Kerrigan sent tears to her eyes.
“Thank you.” Kerrigan threw her arms around Helly. “Fordham found you?”
“He did,” Helly said. “And he’s fully depleted. Nearly killed himself doing it. We were lucky that Bastian was already with me at the time. I gave Fordham a tonic, and he should be out for the rest of the day.”
“Gods,” Kerrigan whispered.
Helly patted her back comfortingly until the tears dammed up. Kerrigan brushed the back of her hand under her eyes and looked to Bastian. “Thank you for your help. I can see that Lorian could have come out ahead.”
