Nemesis (27 page)

Seriously?
“They have? Not a word about magic, and the king’s murder… the other centaurs are just accepting it?”

“They are none the wiser. It seems we have averted a war, for now. But your presence is still required to oversee the treaty signing.”

Of course. Couldn’t let me do something actually useful, could you?
I wanted to say. And why the hell had she told Ada she’d have to act as a shield?

Ada herself was plainly thinking the same. I’d almost feared I’d gone too far, pushed her over the edge. She’d bared her soul to me and I’d…

Why I ever thought you’d have the slightest bit of sympathy.
But what choice did I have? She was in the Alliance now. I’d rather drive her away than see her get hurt again.

I clenched my fist–re-bandaged, seeing as I’d managed to open up the wounds again–and gave Ada a look that told her to step forwards.

“So, do we still need to go?” Ada asked. “I got your message yesterday.”

“Oh?” Ms Weston’s expression was a challenge.
Dammit.

“I’m not your shield, or your weapon,” said Ada, looking her in the eyes. “Firstly, it wasn’t in my contract. I’m under no obligations.” She drew in a breath, and Ms Weston raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue. “And more importantly, I have no control over magic. Whatever you think I’m capable of as a shield, I can’t guarantee that it wouldn’t destroy the Alliance along with everything else. Are you willing to put your own people at risk?”

She kept eye contact with Ms Weston the whole time. Kind of impressive. But I felt like the biggest asshole for not intervening, even if it would have made things worse for both of us.

What a freaking mess.

“You certainly make a good case for yourself. I confess I expected an immediate response.”

Damn her.
“What, you thought I’d to call you back?” asked Ada. “I’d have thought this would be the sort of thing you’d discuss with your employees face to face first.”

I almost thought Ms Weston would shout at her. Instead, the boss shook her head. “You did have the option to call into the office out of hours. I’ve been in contact with Aglaia constantly, thanks to your brother’s… earpiece.”

“Markos?” I raised an eyebrow, forgetting I wasn’t supposed to be interfering. “You talked to him?”

“He was the one who informed me of the situation, yes.” Ms Weston turned her disapproving stare onto me instead. “He seemed reluctant to discuss the nature of the traitor centaurs’ bargain with outsiders. At least, I assume bargaining was involved.”

Oh. Shit.
The source. She knew
something
was up, though I doubt even she could guess at a hidden magic source. Had she thought Ada knew, and tried to blackmail a reaction out of her?

“I have no idea,” I said, keeping my blank, professional Ambassador expression on. “Centaurs are secretive by nature, and easily offended. They don’t take kindly to their sort liaising with offworlders. I’m amazed Markos’s sister let him stay around long enough to witness the execution.”

Ada’s face paled slightly to hear me speaking casually about someone’s death. Well, we’d had a lucky escape from Tryfon’s lot.

“Neither of you know?” Ms Weston’s laser stare managed to spear both of us at once. “If not for the new Queen’s swift actions, war might have broken out on Aglaia within the week. For either of you to keep vital information from myself and the council, however noble your motives, would be a direct violation of your contract with the Alliance.”

Damn.
Now ninety per cent of her glare was levelled on me. And I had a creeping suspicion I knew why.

My family had a history of violating Alliance code.

“So,” said Ms Weston slowly, “I hope you’ll both consider my words carefully. If the situation is irredeemable, you should leave Aglaia immediately and not interfere further. As for your ability, Ada, there are a few things I want to discuss further with you, but now isn’t the time.”

No. It isn’t.
I only hoped she hadn’t told the council the extent of Ada’s ability with magic, and was doubly glad I hadn’t brought
mine
up. I’d barely scratched the surface, really.

“So you want us to go to the meeting?” asked Ada. “Even though I’m not an Ambassador?”

“Yes. You’re one of the few people aware of the situation on Aglaia, and we need more witnesses for the signing of the treaty. I think you’d benefit from sitting in on the meeting.”

Ada frowned. “What about whoever killed the centaur king? It wasn’t just the rebels.”

She didn’t know the half of it. The Conners. Cethrax. Even though I’d forced those guys to hand themselves in, I didn’t know if their confession was enough to put the whole family behind bars. Given their connections, probably not. I’d relented and called up Carl yesterday, and he’d said no one had seen Aric at Central that day at all.

“Have you spoken to Carl recently?” I asked Ms Weston.

“No, I haven’t. The council is waiting for both of you, so if you will…”

Ada shifted to leave, but I stayed put.

“I left you a message,” I said, “Several members of the Conner family were arrested on Aglaia, and confessed to crimes that suggest the entire family was involved.”

Ada turned to stare at me. Damn. I’d have to explain this to her, too.

“Yes, I received it,” said Ms Weston, “but that’s a matter for Valeria, not for us.”

What?
“Really? Aric works here.”

“His tracker disappeared yesterday, and we’ve been unable to contact him.”

“Wait, what?” I said.

Ms Weston’s eyes narrowed. “We do have people looking for him, but we don’t have the staff to spare to go chasing after every rumour while the council’s offworld. We’ll have to wait until they get back.”

“It’s not a rumour,” I said. “Neo Greyle’s Enforcement Officers took a statement from the two men who were arrested, implicating their whole family. Aric might come back to try and steal something again.”

Out of the corner of my eye, Ada shifted position, looking from me to Ms Weston with her brow furrowed in confusion.
I’ll tell her later.

“As I said: it’s Valeria’s problem, and I can assure you that our security is tighter than it’s ever been. Kay, I know you feel you have to intervene in everything after what happened last month, but we are capable of defending ourselves without you here.”

“Wynn Conner works in West Office,” I said. “I’m pretty sure she’s in on this, too.” I hadn’t met his sister. She’d been three years ahead of us at the Academy.

“Kay, whatever you think
this
is, being a magic-wielder does not entitle you to give me orders. If you have a concern about security matters, then Carl is the person to speak to.”

I clenched my teeth to avoid saying something that would get me into a world of trouble. “Yes, I understand.”

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“Then leave, both of you. The rebels are no longer a threat, and you’ll be going to the meeting place on neutral ground.”

“More blasted meetings,” I muttered, as Ada and I headed downstairs. “What a joke.”

“What was that about?” she asked, still looking at me in total confusion.

“Later,” I said, heading for the stairs.

Ada made an impatient sound. “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, catching up with me at the top of the stairs. “That was underhanded of her.”

Yeah. It was. I’d never thought even Ms Weston would suggest something so ruthless and cold. Quite apart from the fact that Ada couldn’t control her powers. And, as was all too clear, they scared her. But there was no time for another confrontation with the boss.

“She’s never gone that far before,” I said. Did she want to push Ada into quitting? She had to be considering it by this point. But of course, it was the Alliance or her bitch of a guardian, who’d better hope we never met face to face again. It was none of my business, really, but the last thing Ada needed was her own guardian guilt-tripping her when she had enough crap to deal with already.

Last time I’d seen Nell was when I’d showed up at the hospital while Ada was in a coma. Nell had caused such a ruckus yelling at me about how it was all Central’s fault Ada was in there in the first place, she’d drawn the nurses’ attention and they’d kicked me out. I didn’t think Ada even knew about that, but still.

“Yeah. Guess I asked for it by joining the Alliance. Never mind.”

“What?” Her guardian had really done a number on her. “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s your fault. Have you talked to Nell?”

“No, I haven’t,” she snapped. “Because she’s never at home, she’s always out. The people who ran the other shelter here in London are struggling because of the pressure the Alliance has put them under, and she’s dead set on blaming all of you.”

Like things couldn’t get any worse. “I’ll look into that once we’ve dealt with this meeting. I can have a word with the council–”

“You don’t have to do a thing,” said Ada. “She’s wrong. It’s
not
your fault, it would have happened no matter what. Anyway, what was that about Aric?”

“Long story,” I said. “I caught a couple of his cousins acting shady in Valeria yesterday… you know, I’m going to have a word with Carl before we leave.”

We reached the foot of the stairs, and I made for the guard office. Luckily, Carl was in the office and not patrolling. He looked up from the desk as I entered.

“Kay? Aren’t you going offworld?”

“I’m going there now, but I wanted to check if you’d seen Aric.”

“This again?” said Carl.

Of all the times for him not to believe me. “You must have heard by now, about two of Aric’s cousins being arrested on Valeria for illegal trespassing. They suggested their whole family’s in on their plan, whatever it is.” I didn’t want to bring up the Campbell family in front of Ada when we didn’t know for certain. Ada herself was openly frowning at me now. Maybe even she wouldn’t believe me.

“Valeria’s doors are closed,” said Carl. “They finally decided to take extreme measures against Cethrax. No one’s allowed in or out for the next twenty-four hours. Last I heard there were three more ravegens running around in the capital.”

I swore. “Why did no one tell me this?”

“Because I’m the head of the guards here, Kay, not you.”

Damn. He was right. I didn’t have a counter-argument to that, because the Conner brothers hadn’t known it was me who’d forced a confession from them.

“Ms Weston said Aric’s tracker disappeared,” I said.

“The idiot probably broke his communicator,” said Carl. “I can’t send people chasing after Aric when no one knows where he is.”

“Dammit,” I said. “Okay. What about Cethrax? The Conners were the ones who gave bloodrock to those ravegens.”

“Kay… what?” Ada stared at me. “You think Aric’s working with
Cethrax?
When did that happen?”

I sighed inwardly. We were running late to the meeting already. “Tell you what, never mind. Just keep an eye on him if he shows up. Ada, you go and meet with the rest of the Ambassadors. I’m going to make a quick call.”

I left Carl’s office, skimming through the contacts on my communicator.

“Hello?” Tara’s suspicious voice rang in my ear. “Kay, why are you calling me?”

“Because I needed to speak to someone from West Office.”
And, unfortunately, you’re the one person who might listen.
“Wynn Conner’s family are involved in something shady, offworld. I need someone to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t try and get into the Passages. I think Cethrax is involved.”

“What? I haven’t seen her, Kay, but what you’re saying is–”

“It’s true. Ask anyone from Valeria’s police force. I’m heading to an offworld meeting, and I reckon Conner’s going to play his hand while the council are gone. Just keep an eye out.”

“Right. If you say so. But–”

I hung up, cutting off her response.

Ada said, “I’m completely lost, Kay. You think Aric’s family are dealing with Cethrax?”

“Yeah, they are, but I don’t have proof.” I lowered my voice. “The story’s too long to tell right now, but let’s just say I spotted them doing something illegal while I was invisible.”

“Oh.”
Ada nodded, the confusion clearing from her expression. “You aren’t telling anyone that.”

No. Maybe my paranoia was running in overdrive again, but considering what had happened to the only other people with the same ability as me, I wasn’t about to tell even the higher up members of Earth’s Alliance. They only knew the basic details of the experiment, not what the outcome had been, and I intended to keep it that way.

“Now I’ve convinced three people I’m off my head, let’s go and deal with this bloody meeting.”

Outside the building, Raj and the other Ambassadors waited with the council, all of whom gave the pair of us disapproving looks for showing up late.

“She’s authorised?” Raj queried, with a glance at Ada.

“Yes, Danica thought it would be good experience for her,” said Mr Sanders.