Crest (Ondine Quartet Book 3) (15 page)

Warmth bloomed in my chest.

"I disagree."

I turned to Julian in disbelief.

"Of course, the actions of the
sondaleur
, Ms. Rossay, and Mr. MacAllister were all commendable. But there was an excess of resources used in the offensive," he said. "The chevaliers were more than equipped to handle the rescue operation on our own."

I stared.

First, he spoke with an assurance I'd never heard before. In that moment, Julian really seemed like Head Chevalier and heir to the LeVeq family.

Second, did he really believe what he said? The selkies ripped apart that factory. We might've succeeded without them, but the cost would've been much higher.

If Rhian was surprised at his response, she didn't show it.

"Why do you feel it's important to distinguish between the two?"

Julian's eyes grew the most serious I'd ever seen it. "Because sending in two groups under separate leadership can cause chaos. Strengths and weaknesses for chevaliers and gardinels vary widely. Leaders of each respective group have different concerns. Managing that in the heat of battle can be problematic." He inclined his head toward Tristan, a glint in his eye. "With all due respect, of course, Your Highness."

Tristan's response was just as cool. "Of course."

Julian actually made some sense. But wasn't the entire point to work together despite our differences? Wasn't that why gardinels trained chevalier elites?

"All of this is irrelevant," Marquis Genevieve said. "It doesn't matter whether the plan worked or not. The point is the Governor entrusted the lives of our people to a teenager. We have no proof she's the
sondaleur
."

"And what makes you think she's not?" Tristan asked.

The Marquis smiled, eyes dark under heavy lids.
 

"Because if she was, she wouldn't risk the lives of others to fulfill the prophecy. She'd be outside, actively ending the war, not bringing nixes to our community and placing our children in danger."

A murmur stirred among the chamber. Anger flared in Tristan's eyes and I knew he was thinking the same thing.

What a coward.

Their strategy was a two-pronged attack.

Point out how dangerous I was, then show everyone I haven't done anything to fix it.

The first tarnished my right to be a leader by highlighting my inability to protect; the other eliminated the prophecy's aura and at the same time encouraged my departure from Haverleau.

Clever.

Anger stirred in the pit of my stomach, seeking an avenue of expression.

"Head Chevalier," Marquisa LeVeq suddenly addressed her son. "Do you believe Kendra Irisavie is the
sondaleur
?"

I narrowed my eyes. What was she pulling?

Julian tensed. "I believe what we've seen so far points to it being true."

I smiled.

"But there is nothing conclusive so I can't say for sure."

Hurt lanced through me.

We'd trained and worked together all this time. He didn't believe in me?

"I do know she's a great fighter." Julian didn't meet my gaze. "And will be a valuable asset to the chevaliers."

Triumph flickered through the Marquisa's eyes, the exact same shade as her son. "An excellent point."

My jaw clenched.

She was trying to pit her son against me.

Marquis Blanchard gestured toward the chamber's upper tiers. "The people wish to know why the Governor supports the presence on the Council of someone whose mother was notoriously unstable and whose friends include questionable individuals. How can we trust her?"

Applause and a few shouts from the crowd.

Hurt transformed into fury. It writhed in my chest, begging for release.

Tristan's eyes cut to me.
Not yet.

Hands knotted tight under the table.

Inhale. Exhale. Focus.

Keeping my mouth shut grew more painful by the moment.

Rhian lifted her hand, eyes cool, and waited until the noise subsided. "In this chamber, Naida Irisavie will be spoken of with respect."

The deadly stillness of my grandmother's tone immediately brought the temperature down a few degrees.

"Not only was she was a member of this community but she was also the Clairvoyant who foresaw the traits of the
sondaleur
."

"Who just so happens to be your granddaughter!" he exclaimed. "This is nothing more than the Irisavie's continued grab for power —"

"That's enough, Duval," Cecily Moreaux snapped at him. "There are other issues that must be discussed."

"I agree. What about the Redavi ondines being killed?" Marquisa Blanchard's face pinched. "We're all terrified our daughters, sisters, and mothers will be next!"

"Our sons, fathers, and brothers as well," Tristan added.

She waved her hand imperiously. "Yes, yes, also quite tragic. But your people knew the risks in becoming gardinels."

I imagined throttling her neck while informing her she'd known the risks in serving on the Council with me.

"Appropriate action needs to be taken." Marquisa LeVeq spoke up. "The number of deaths continue to rise. Why, my own niece is coming to Haverleau tonight to secure better protection. How do you guarantee our safety, Governor?"

"She can't," I said.

Deathly silence accompanied my statement.

Tristan and Rhian leaned back in their chairs.

Showtime.

Marquisa Genevieve gave a nervous, incredulous laugh. "What?"

"She can't guarantee your safety. No one can. Especially since the person behind the deaths is an elemental among us."

I'd planned a bold opening move and it had exactly the effect I wanted.

A thick silence consumed the chamber, threaded with paranoia and shocked discomfort.

Eyes locked on to my current target. Marquisa LeVeq was the kind of ondine who looked as if she'd never wanted for anything in her life.

Empath unfurled, brushing within her.

Fear. I'd have to think about what that meant later.

She recovered quickly. "This is ludicrous! Are you insinuating one of us is a traitor?" Her voice rose shrilly, echoing sharply in the chamber's sensitive acoustics. "A murderer?"

"I'm not insinuating anything, Marquisa." I gave a careless shrug. "I'm stating a fact."

"How dare you? How..." Marquis Rosamund spluttered, his jowls quivering with indignation. "How do we know it's not you?"

Marquis Blanchard nodded, a triumphant look slithering through his beady eyes.

"He's right. We don't know if she's really the
sondaleur
." He pointed a pudgy finger at my face. "But we do know the war has worsened since her arrival."

I considered doing something nifty with my blade to prove who I am, but a look from Tristan stopped me.

"I suppose for the same reasons we don't know it's you," I said calmly. "You head the financial committee managing funds for gardinel services, Marquis Blanchard. How do we know you didn't share classified information with Aquidae? Eliminate a few gardinels. Line your pockets with extra money."

The color drained from his face and Empath lightly fluttered through him.

"And you, Marquis and Marquisa Rossay?" I continued.

They were distantly related to Aubrey. Other than a touch of red in the ondine's hair, there was no resemblance.

Aub's eyes glittered with cleverness and fierce loyalty while only greed and weak narcissism shone in hers.

"You're both closely involved with the Redavi network." Empath touched the threads inside them. "It wouldn't be difficult for you to find out the schedules and whereabouts of all the victims."

"Enough!" Marquisa LeVeq stood and faced Rhian. "How can you possibly allow her to serve on this Council when she directs such accusations at its members?"

"For the same reason you can accuse me of treason and making a bid for power," Rhian said wryly. "It is her right, by magic and law, to sit at this table and discuss what troubles our people."

"This is outrageous." Her voice shook. "The Governor proves she has no right to sit among us."

Rhian raised her brow and looked marvelously disinterested. "Again, Marquisa? You have said the same thing at almost every Council session and every meeting for years. Haven't you learned not to waste your time?"

It was a threat. Subtle, but distinct.

Marquisa LeVeq was too caught up in her indignation to notice.

"You are no longer fit to be among the Redavi, much less lead us." She paused dramatically. "The people deserve better and I'll make sure they receive it."

A few shouts of agreement from the audience.

"Well said," Marquis Blanchard huffed.

"Then I guess you're going to have to come after me too, Marquisa," I said coldly.

She startled. A pale, delicate hand touched her throat. "What are you—"

"I will pass Original Magic's trial today. I will be the next ondine to preside over this Council."

I pronounced each word crisply, eyes tracking everyone opposed to me at the table. Their mouths hung partially open, too shocked to respond.

"If you choose to come at me after Magic has deemed me worthy, I'll make sure you understand why I stand there. But for now, I've had enough."

I stood and forced myself to unclench my fists.

A beat of stunned silence followed by shocked murmurs.

Marquisa LeVeq blinked rapidly. "You can't leave."

"I thought you didn't want me seated here."

She flushed. "This is utterly childish behavior. The Council is still in session."

"I have a traitor to investigate, a war to end, and preparations to pass chevalier induction. I don't have time to play Council games, Marquisa. Once I'm Governor, I'll be happy to return provided you are ready to discuss actual matters and not silly complaints based off long-standing personal issues."

And with that, I straightened my shoulders and strode out of my very first Council session.

The audience went wild.

As soon as the door shut, exhaustion and relief barreled into me and I slumped against the wall.

"You did well,
sondaleur
." Jeeves stepped out of the shadows, periwinkle eyes twinkling with approval. "Very stylish exit."

Coming from him, I took that as a high compliment.

Effortless charisma rolled off Augustin Genevieve. With gleaming silver hair, a brilliant smile, razor-sharp intellect, and a wardrobe of pin-striped suits any CEO would envy, the distinguished demillir was one of my favorite people in Haverleau.

"You think it'll do any good?"

"The most important task was accomplished."

He gestured toward the main doors and we walked out into the quiet courtyard.

Today wasn't about convincing the Council. In discussing our plan for the session, we'd come up with a simple strategy.

By walking out, I'd accomplished three things. First, I proved the Council couldn't boss me around.

Second, I cast enough doubt on other members to hold them accountable. Finally, I separated the concerns people had over me from Rhian's position as Governor, thereby protecting her power.

"Did you sense anything?" he asked.

I considered what my magic uncovered. Marquis Blanchard had been genuinely outraged. But I also sensed an inflated ego that could be dangerous.

Rosamunds were greedy, but lacked cunning. Arrogance and entitlement cloaked the Genevieves, but it was the kind of haughtiness that found betrayal distasteful.

"I don't think it's anyone on the Council," I said slowly. "But..."

"But?"

Mentioning this was uncomfortable, especially since I knew he was Julian's real father.

"Marquisa LeVeq."

Eyes instantly hardened,
 
transforming him from charismatic Chief Counsel to the ruthless chevalier he once was.

How in the world had he been with that Marquisa?

We climbed up the Governing House's imposing marble steps and passed two Royal Gardinels manning the ebony doors.

Jeeves stopped in the immense entrance foyer, his expression tight.

"Be careful with Patrice," he said. "She can be very stubborn and single-minded once she sets a goal. And right now, she wishes to remove the Irisavies from power."

"Is she capable of this?"

"Maybe." He paused. "But I have a hard time believing she'd have the guts to pull it off."

The traitor didn't directly kill. But whoever it was effectively pulled the trigger by providing Aquidae with the necessary info.

I remembered the fear resonating through Marquisa LeVeq. It took a lot of to kill someone and I didn't think she had the stomach for it.

"I'll keep an eye on her."

"A wise choice." Jeeves leaned against the wall and studied me. "She's been snooping around the Training Center."

I sighed and rubbed my face. "She's going to find out sooner or later."

"Agreed. I do think it would be wise,
sondaleur
, to take the offensive."

Jeeves and a few trusted allies ran the secret ondine training program. Rhian had a special facility constructed beneath the Training Center for weapons and magic development. Amber and Chloe were the program's first two participants.

We wanted to open it up to other ondines, but doing so meant taking the program public. Given what I just faced in the chamber, I wasn't sure the Council or Haverleau were ready for more changes.

Marquisa LeVeq and her cronies were deadset on bringing the Irisavies down and we were embattled on multiple fronts.

I studied the portrait of my grandmother on the wall. It'd been painted a year before my arrival.

Patrician features exuded a cool authority that still remained strong. But the classic beauty had long since faded. Grey and white streaks now replaced the raven hair and a web of wrinkles covered what was once smooth, creamy skin.

I swallowed. She didn't have much time left.

"Jeeves, how can I convince the Council to approve the ondine program?"

He considered. "Besides achieving our objectives, you accomplished something else today. You established your personality and showed the people what kind of leader you are."

I frowned. "Someone who won't sit at the table?"