Amick #3
I scoff. “Of course I am. I rarely lie. Plus, there’s no point in lying to a being who can sense if I am.”
He drags his bottom lip through his teeth as he bobs his head. The smallest amount of respect flares in his eyes.
“Does Thayla have that ability?”
“I believe so. It’s hard to say for sure just yet. According to Lambrit, her ability to observe and read people was a remarkable skill she had prior to even having power. We’ve barely touched on her power of Accord, though. It’s by far the most challenging.”
“It took me a while to figure it out and examine the signals your mind sends you. I can’t imagine attempting to master that domain while also dealing with six fucking other ones.”
An obnoxiously loud breath falls from his lips as he runs his hands through his hair. I wait him out.
“I’ve never told my parents that ability manifested for me.
It isn’t seen in everyone under the Domain, and it isn’t one that my brothers have.
They still don’t know I know they lied to us that day.
I don’t know what happened to Cece, but I do know she didn’t run away, and my parents either know what happened to her. Or…”
“Or they’re the ones who made her disappear, and now you’re fearful of how they’ll react to finding out your Binder is an Attendant.”
“Yeah.”
“I can understand the fear that’s caused for you. What I don’t understand, though, is why you haven’t been honest with Yemi. She’s very analytical and will receive this much better than continuing to believe you’re ashamed she’s an Attendant.”
“She thinks I’m ashamed of her? I’ve told her I’m not.”
“Telling her and showing her are two different things, I’m afraid. I do agree telling is much easier, but alas, we have to do what we have to do to make our goddesses happy.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
He shifts in the chair and I sit here silently, patiently waiting for him to add anything useful to this conversation.
He doesn’t.
“Since apparently that’s all,” I say, shuffling some papers around on my desk.
“Here is the list of evidence I’m going to present, the Law I’m claiming and can defend that Harriseen broke, as well as a copy of the Law of Doppia Disaccord.
It’ll be helpful if you’re well versed in all of them.
Please have a detailed conversation with Yemi about the particulars of this morning.
We’ll all get together prior to the trial and make sure our stories corroborate.
Our stories will need to be airtight and aligned if we plan to get anything past the Goddess of Accord. ”
He glances between the stack of parchments I’m attempting to pass him and my face.
“I never agreed to being your Mediator.”
“Of course you did.”
“What? How did I agree?”
“Just now. Maybe not verbally, but your admission and body language are agreement enough. You may still be on the fence about trusting us, but you care about Yemi. That’s enough for me.”
“Why are you so openly trusting of me and want this friendship between our groups to work out so bad?”
I try to guide by the rule that no question is a dumb question.
Sometimes, though, people just ask ridiculous things.
“I’m trusting of you because this relationship, whether you like it or not, is inevitable.
I don’t agree with my fate being decided for me, but there are some instances I have to admit that the Valories’ interference was the right call.
It’s no coincidence that your Valtrue formed the way it did, and our Binders are tied.
Our two groups are supposed to work together.
We will. The quicker you accept that, the easier my life gets. So if you would…”
I jiggle the stack of parchments at him once again. My frustration only begins to bubble when he finally stands and takes them from me.
“Your trial is in five days, right?”
“That’s correct.”
He nods, flipping through the papers briefly. “Where’s the rest of your evidence?”
My jaw locks.
“That’s all I’m presenting to you for now.”
“All you’re presenting or all you have?”
My eye is desperate to twitch, but I force it to hold steady.
“You have everything you need for now.”
He hums and gives me a tight smile as he marches to my door without a proper goodbye. My shortness didn’t settle with him well.
“Nero,” I call, halting him before he can open it fully. He doesn’t glance back at me. “I swear to you, no matter how your family reacts after this, we’ve got you. You do have people to turn to.”
If not for the way his shoulders drop a fraction, I’d assume he didn’t hear me. I don’t believe this talk went as bad as the last, but unfortunately, Kyzen isn’t here to confirm that or not.
“Finally,” I mumble as I rearrange my desk and force myself to focus on the tasks at hand.
My quiet breath is interrupted by a knock at my door, and I stare forward as irritation blooms hot in my chest.
“Yes,” I call.
“Uh, Mr., um…Rising Chancellor Amick.”
I turn toward the nervous female standing in my doorway.
“I’m here for my evaluation we had scheduled.”
Of course.
My first Attendant.
Too many things to do, and not enough time to do it.
Why must Kyzen be in the Court when I need him here?