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Briefly, he explained what the Pendragons had told him in the moments before we’d all arrived at the scene. We couldn’t take it in.
‘And you knew?’ Raiden said, his voice tight with anger as he faced the High Council. ‘When were you planning to tell the rest of us?’
‘Good point,’ Elinora said, her lips pursed. ‘When were you?’
‘Please, try to understand how difficult it’s been for us,’ Aveta pleaded. ‘Bob didn’t have a choice. The Pendragons were threatening his family and home. He had to give them something, and he tried to protect Wulfram by giving them Trinity instead. I know, I know,’ she added as we all chorused our disgust. ‘But what would you have done? What would any of us have done in his position?’
‘Tell the High Council what was going on. Done anything rather than betray my father,’ Aurora snapped.
‘Bob paid for his mistake. He couldn’t live with himself when the fae killed Zephyr. He confessed to his wife, and she was so furious that he’d helped the Pendragons that she told her sister and brother-in-law, who decided to get rid of him and use his death to turn the witches against all fae. They have now all had their magic removed by the Guardians and have been excommunicated from magical society. I promise you, they’ll cause no further trouble.’
‘And when were you planning to tell everyone this?’ Sirius asked.
‘We can’t! This must never come out!’ Kendrew cried. ‘Can’t you see that? The witches must know they can trust us. If they discover one of the High Council was responsible for the death of Zephyr they’ll turn on us. We won’t be able to control them, and Havok Pendragon will take the opportunity to start a war.’
‘Havok Pendragon is dead,’ Wulfram said flatly. ‘Aidan killed him.’
‘And Wulfram killed Malliss,’ Keely added.
‘And Killian and Aidan killed two of their henchmen,’ Harley finished.
‘Havok Pendragon is dead?’ Aveta sounded dazed. ‘You’re sure about this?’
‘I saw it with my own eyes,’ Emrick told her.
She covered her face with her hands. ‘Thank the goddess.’
‘Even so,’ Sirius said, ‘I believe you’re wrong. Unless you tell our people the truth about Bob I refuse to be part of the High Council. Don’t you see how hypocritical it is? You’re saying the witches must trust you, yet at the same time you’re openly admitting that you intend to keep lying to them. I won’t be part of that. Tell them the truth. Apologise to them. Give them assurances that the Council has two new members, including a new leader, and that things will be more open and honest from now on. That’s the deal or count me out.’
I’d never felt prouder of my husband in my entire life.
‘And me,’ Elinora said defiantly. ‘Sirius is right. I can’t be the leader of any organisation that behaves so disgracefully and in such a duplicitous fashion. Confess to the witches or you’ll have to ask the Guardians to find another leader.’
I saw the slightest twitch of Hector’s lips and knew he approved fully of her statement. It seemed the Guardians had chosen wisely.
‘Very well,’ Amlodd said. ‘It seems we have no choice.’
‘Don’t look so worried,’ Emrick said kindly. ‘I reckon things are going to get a lot easier from now on. Trust me.’
‘Sirius, you’ll accept our offer?’
Sirius hesitated and looked at me. I smiled at him. There was no way I wanted him to turn down such an incredible honour, especially seeing how he’d already forced a U-turn on the Council members. With his influence and Elinora’s I could only believe that the High Council would become a greater force for good.
‘What about our school?’ he asked me.
‘We can still run it, can’t we? I mean, Zephyr managed to run a fish and chip shop and he was the leader. And all the members have jobs, don’t they? Even Aveta still does some midwifery at her great age.’
‘Yes, thank you very much, Trinity,’ Aveta said wryly. ‘She’s right though. We certainly don’t want you to give up your plans for the school, especially now the Pendragons are out of the way. You can do both. Have no fear of that.’
‘Then,’ Sirius said when I nodded at him, ‘thank you, and I accept your offer.’
‘Excellent!’ Elinora said, beaming at him. ‘As soon as your leg heals we’ll make the announcement. In the meantime, the rest of us had better start preparing a statement, don’t you think? Time to be honest with our community.’
‘At least it should be easier to appease them, now the Pendragons are gone,’ Kendrew said thoughtfully.
‘They’re not gone,’ Wulfram pointed out. ‘Yes, Havok’s out of the way, but his cousin Spite is still on the scene, and his daughter Siofra is very much alive.’
‘You think they’ll take up Havok’s mantle?’ Aveta asked worriedly. ‘Then we still need to act. You must find the Sword of Feidhlim, Wulfram. Everything depends on you proving to our community, and to the fae, that you truly are the Great Guardian.’
