Chapter 56
Poppy tosses and turns all night, and as a result, keeps me up all night. But even if she were lying as still as a stone, I don’t think it would’ve produced a different outcome. I’m too wired to sleep.
In the morning, I get on my tablet and try to understand what Order Five is, but there isn’t exactly a file on the Uprising’s online network labeled Rules and Regulations. Still, there must be rules, considering Kallister invoked one last night.
In the mess hall at breakfast, I ask Gray who participates in the vote that Adrienne had mentioned.
He brings his coffee to his lips, answering with, “Only the Authority members and the mission leads.”
My gaze shifts to Saint, the other mission lead at our table. “So you get to vote, too?”
Saint nods.
“And if everyone votes to disband the council, then what?” I look around. “There’s an election? People throw their hats in the ring to be the new leader?”
Karra flashes an annoyed look. “You don’t get it. Order Five isn’t about elections. If it passes, Kallister becomes the new leader. He gets full control.”
A line creases my forehead. “Why Kallister?”
“Because he’s the one who invoked the order,” Gray explains. “He’s signaling to everyone that he believes he is most fit to lead.”
“Can anyone challenge him?”
“No.”
“And if the order doesn’t pass?”
“At that point, a new council would be voted in.”
“This system is fucked up,” I say. “Has something like this ever happened before?”
Henley joins the conversation. “Before this current Authority, there was a stretch when there was only one leader. But I think that was like ten, fifteen years ago?”
Gray nods. “I’ve never had Order Five invoked since I’ve been here. But we’ve also never had a mission go that far south. Bramble was a huge loss. KC and Declan destroyed the intelligence rooms before Silver Block swarmed—”
“Blew that shit up,” Karra confirms.
“—so we do have protocols in the event of a breach. But Bramble was an invaluable location.”
Saint gives me a grudging look. “Kallister’s not wrong to be pissed. This is a big hit for us.”
“How are you going to vote?” I look between the two mission leads.
Neither man answers, which makes me frown.
“You can’t seriously be considering disbanding the Authority and giving Kallister full control.”
“What Authority?” Karra mutters. “Fiona’s dead. Teriq will be dead soon.”
Gray disagrees with her bleak assessment. “There’s a reason they took him prisoner. They must consider him useful.”
“When is this vote?” I ask.
“Tonight,” he says.
“And what will happen to Adrienne?”
“This big of a screwup? She’ll be stripped of leadership regardless of how the vote plays out. Maybe spend some time in a cell.”
“She doesn’t deserve that,” I protest.
Nobody answers, and for a moment I wonder if they believe she does deserve it. Why, though? Because her idea of peace is different from theirs?
After breakfast, I pull Gray aside.
“You can’t vote to let Kallister take charge,” I say, unable to tamp down my uneasiness.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.”
“You know I’m right. The Uprising needs the balance that the Authority provides. We can try to get Teriq back. Replace Fiona. But that group leadership is crucial. You don’t want one person making all the decisions. Not even Kallister.”
“Maybe.” I can see him relenting a little.
“Why don’t we go talk to him? Try to convince him it wasn’t Adrienne’s fault that everything went south. Evlynne is the one who compromised the bunker.”
When Gray hesitates, I take his hand.
“Please. Let’s talk to Kallister. Maybe he’s had a change of heart after sleeping on it.”
Although he looks unconvinced, Gray shrugs. “All right,” he says, but I think it’s mostly for my benefit. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”
When I link with his mind, Kallister says he’s at the Temple, so Gray and I head down there. He’s talking to Hawkins, but the scowl-faced inciter stalks off the moment he sees us. I can’t say I miss training with the guy. He’s always such a surly ass.
With the blue glow of the daggerstone and those old religious symbols both below and above us, it feels almost fitting meeting here. Like we’re offering some sort of sacrifice to try to save Adrienne’s position in the Authority.
“Look, Adrienne messed up,” I start, getting right to the point.
“She did more than mess up,” Kallister retorts. “She endangered hundreds of lives and cost us an invaluable military installation. Fiona’s dead because of her. Teriq is a prisoner.”
“Yes, but it’s not like she set out for that to happen. Nobody could’ve predicted that Evlynne would reveal the bunker’s location to the Company.”
“If that’s what happened,” Kallister says, lifting a dubious brow.
“It is.” I hesitate, but after sitting on the news all night, I decide it’s time to reveal Evlynne’s secret. “When we linked, Evlynne did more than apologize. She told me Fisher is Travis Redden’s son.”
I’m met with dead silence.
“Hellfuck,” Gray says in disbelief. “Why didn’t you say anything last night?”
“I was still wrapping my head around it. And before you ask, she didn’t offer any other details,” I lie, keeping Fisher’s bloodmark to myself.
For now, anyway. “But she did betray us, Kallister. Why else would she abandon us and steal that plane? Why else is Fisher missing from the valley? Their house deserted? I know you want to place all the blame for this on Adrienne, but none of us anticipated what Evlynne did. As for Adrienne, she has certain ideas of what this world can be, and yes, maybe they’re more idealistic than yours—”
“I think the correct words are na?ve and impossible,” he interrupts. “The Continent doesn’t do peace. Even before the Last War. Humans are not built for peace.”
That brings a frown to Gray’s lips. “So, what, the world is doomed, then? Should we just go and slaughter everyone on the other side and be done with it?”
Kallister looks annoyed. “Of course not. I’m just saying, working with the enemy? It’s not going to happen. We take the enemy out, and we work with the people who are left.”
“What if they don’t want to work with you?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
There’s a long pause before Gray speaks again, his voice quiet and persuasive. “You still have time to withdraw Order Five.”
Kallister cocks his head at him. “Is that what you want me to do? Or is that what she wants?”
“She has a name,” I say, my voice tight. “And yes, I believe shaking up the leadership structure right now is a bad idea. People are angry and afraid.”
“That’s exactly why they need one strong leader to take over. But it won’t be Adrienne. After what she did, she is not fit to lead anymore.”
Gray voices a protest. “I agree with Wren. I think we can show Adrienne some grace. How about we take some time before you call a vote to reorganize our entire way of life?”
“You sure about that, Gray?” Kallister’s tone raises my hackles, a note of politeness that borders on condescending. “Are you sure you want to take the advice of the woman whose parents killed your family?”