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Master Leonheart's gaze flicked over Dehlion’s shoulder and roamed over the rest of us until they landed on me. He didn't make eye contact, instead I felt him studying the part of the mark that was visible on my neck. Once he had verified that they did, in fact, have the moon marked with them he told Ronan andDehlion to wait there before disappearing through the large oak double doors at the back of the chamber.
He emerged a few awkward, silence-filled minutes later. "Please follow me."
We did as asked and our little group passed through the double doors into what was, evidently, the council's main chamber. A large open area was surrounded by pillars, each of which had plant life growing up it, as though nature itself was reclaiming the structure.
In the center sat a large round table surrounded by chairs, each of which was filled with what I could only assume were members of the fae council. Numerous gazes glanced our way, many of which landed on my mark with an intensity that made my chest tighten even further.
"You bring us the marked?" A man asked as he pulled on a long white beard as though it was a habit he had when he was deep in thought. His piercing blue gaze had already landed on me before Dehlion or Ronan could answer.
"We do," Thorn said from behind me, surprising me.
I hadn't even realized he'd come in with us until that point. For some annoying reason a wave of reassurance passed over me as I confirmed his presence by glancing over my shoulder. I quickly schooled my face, wiping any trace of emotion from it so no one, not even Thorn, could tell what I was thinking or feeling. The last thing I wanted was for my own emotions to be used against me.
"General Thorn. Strange for you to bring one back yourself," a younger man said, his beard barely more than scruff on his chin.
Thorn stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. "The circumstances under which she was discovered led us to no other option."
"Is that so?" the younger man questioned, raising his brows in what appeared to be disbelief.
Thorn nodded, as did Ronan who I could see out of the corner of my eye.
A woman cleared her throat, drawing my attention to her. She was just as tall and elegant as the first man, her long silver hair braided intricately so it formed what was almost a web over the top of her head, one that was decorated with various beads and chains until it almost looked like a crown in and of itself. "And has the marked been in...contact with any other fae?"
"No, my lady, not as far as we know." Thorn responded almost alarmingly fast.
I couldn't help but wonder about the pause before she said contact. Was she actually asking if I'd had sex with any fae? If so then Thorn had just outright lied to them. Was the thought of being with me so awful that he didn't want to admit it or was there some other reason? I knew we weren't allowed to be in a relationship, but surely that didn't have any bearing on sexual relations.
"And what of her history?" Another male asked, his hair closer to an amber color than the other sun kissed I'd seen. His golden eyes were watching me, gauging my reactions as people were speaking and in that moment I was beyond grateful that I'd had reactions trained out of myself thanks to my time in the military.
"She can answer for herself," I said, butting in. I wasn't an object to be talked about as though I wasn't there. Thorn twitched beside me as though he wanted to scold me for speaking rashly to the council.
"Forgive us, my lady," the older man with the white beard said, dipping his head slightly. "We mean no disrespect to one such as yourself, and there have been cases where those brought to us that weren't able to understand. We merely wish tounderstand where you came from since most fae are within the veil."
I nodded and pasted a congenial smile on my face. "I was orphaned, so I'm afraid I can't answer that beyond the obvious."
"Where did you grow up then?" One of the other men asked while at the same time a woman asked, "How did you remain undiscovered?"
Mentally I packed any emotioned I'd had away before I answered. "I grew up on the streets for the most part before being taken in, briefly, by the chantry and once I was of age I joined the military. The only reason I escaped discovery was thanks to my friend who is a mage." I looked over at Wyn and felt the council's gazes shift from me to her. "She was able to glamour my mark for a time and then, when that wasn't possible I was old enough to hide it myself."
"Until you weren't," the younger man snipped.
I swallowed the anger that rose within me like a tidal wave. "A training accident exposed my back, which led to my discovery."
"Your back? But your mark is on your neck, is it not?" The faux crowned woman commented.
"It was on my back initially, when I came through the veil it appeared on my neck as well." I tried to remain nonchalant about it, as though Thorn and Ronan hadn't both commented on the size of my mark, but it was hard when all the members of the council glanced at each other and whispers spread between them.
The older man with the white beard finally spoke after the whispers had made their way all around the circle. "We would like to have you tested to see how powerful your mark is along with how much magic you possess if you are amenable? The process may take a while," he warned.
I tried to glance at Thorn and Ronan out of the corner of my eye but as far as I could tell their faces were as blank as my own. With no other information to go on about this testing I nodded hesitantly. "That's fine, but may I ask if there's somewhere for my friend to train in magic?"
"Certainly. She would be more than welcome at the College of Mages. They can evaluate her and get her set up. As a refugee in this land you both have certain things you are entitled to that we will ensure you receive. You will both be taken care of, have no fear in that regard. Fae are not unkind to their people like humans." The older man had a smug air about him as he spoke at last. I wasn't sure what he meant about being unkind, maybe just the fact that magic and being marked was outlawed in the human kingdom? Or was it more than that?
I dipped my head. "Thank you."
"Thorn, Ronan, you will escort the new mage." They both clasped their hands over their hearts and bowed their heads. "Dehlion I want a report on what you encountered while you were outside the city. Fenvalur, please escort the marked to the testing chambers." Mr. White beard spoke in a way that made me sure he was the head of this council. He stroked his beard and for the first time I realized that the end was tied with a scrap of leather that appeared to have a bone wrapped in the center. An unsettling thing to realize at this point.
The man who had first greeted us when we entered the building stepped forward and offered Mr. White beard a low bow, his own long beard drifting forward until it almost brushed against the floor. What was it with these guys and beards? For that matter, why did all of them have long hair as well? It was strange.
