21. Griff #2
“You were behind everything,” Griff said.
Though he was still looking at the High Scholar, he knew it was really the rest of the Pentarchy he was speaking to now.
“You used the Pentarchy’s discretionary funds to hire the Brotherhood to smuggle in a void relic so that you could use it to kill the High Commander.
It wasn’t enough for him to die—you wanted him to die in a way that would take attention away from Nalax and give Sanjarka a new threat in the Empty Eye cultists.
That’s why you waited until tonight to make your move: a high-profile assassination on a national holiday?
It’s hard to imagine something more incendiary.
And even if someone put the pieces together and saw through the ruse, everyone knows about the High Merchant’s recent spat with the High Commander. He made the perfect scapegoat.”
With every word Griff spoke, he could sense the High Scholar’s aura churning with more wild emotion.
Her gaze darted about the chamber as if seeking escape.
A flutter of panicked yellow in her aura gave away her intent to bolt an instant beforehand.
What Griff didn’t anticipate, however, was her twisting the jeweled band on her finger and vanishing from view with a brief flare of runeflame.
An invisibility charm!
Griff cursed, scanning the chamber amid startled cries from the other councilors.
Thankfully, normal vision wasn’t the only means he had of seeing.
It didn’t take long for him to spot a faint flicker of color over by the trap door.
Whatever magic High Scholar Vesalain was using wasn’t perfect.
It had helped cloak her aura, but it had failed to disguise it completely.
“This way!” Griff shouted, barreling toward the trap door.
It creaked open ahead of him, seemingly of its own volition. He reached it seconds later, squinting at the stairs down.
Cal appeared at his side, his gaze roving over the stairwell and the nearby landing. “Where is she? Do you see her?”
Griff caught another flicker near the bottom left of the stairs and pointed. “There!”
He started down the stairs, but he’d barely taken a handful of steps when Cal leaped past him. Griff’s eyes widened in shock. The Void-cursed fool had literally thrown himself down the stairwell!
Cal crashed through the space just ahead of where Griff had pointed. Griff heard a heavy thump followed by a pained cry as Cal toppled to the landing, his arms wrapped around seemingly nothing but air.
Griff hurried down the stairs after him. “The ring!” he shouted. “Take off her ring!”
Cal grappled with the air for a moment, then let out a triumphant shout as the High Scholar flickered back into view amid a burst of dissipating runeflame. “Got you!”
The High Scholar struggled a moment longer in Cal’s grip, her eyes wild. She stared up at Griff as he approached.
“Please, Inspector. Surely, you of all people understand. I did only what I had to for the sake of Sanjarka. Pern’s warmongering was a threat to us all! This was the only way to preserve peace!”
Staring down at the frantic councilor, it wasn’t pity Griff felt this time, but disdain. “You’ve lost sight of what really matters, Councilor. And now, you will pay for it.”
Shouts rang out nearby. Griff helped Cal keep the struggling High Scholar restrained until protectors arrived to take her into custody at the High Commander’s orders.
Griff watched them lead the defeated woman away, a sense of victory rising in his chest. Another case closed.
He turned to congratulate Cal, then frowned when he realized Cal had shuffled back. At some point, he’d abandoned his Kelsith disguise, returning to his own natural appearance.
“Come on,” Griff said, holding out his hand. “Aren’t you the one always telling me to celebrate?”
Cal managed a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes…or his drooping aura. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You…we did it.” The smirk Cal flashed him was brittle around the edges. He bowed, tipping a hat that appeared in a burst of duskflame. “Which I guess is my cue to leave. It’s been fun, Inspector.”
Griff’s stomach clenched, his pulse quickening. “You’re leaving? Now?”
Cal offered a shrug, not meeting Griff’s eyes. “Seems like as good a time as any, now that the case is done.”
He stepped past Griff toward the stairs leading down.
Griff’s heart leaped to his throat. “Wait!” he said, holding up his hand.
Cal paused, cocking an eyebrow at him. “You’re not seriously about to arrest me, are you? Because a deal’s a deal, and I’d say I’ve more than fulfilled my end of the bargain.”
A jolt of hurt shot through Griff. “Of course not,” he huffed. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward and gripped Cal’s hands in both his own. Cal’s eyes widened, flicking down to stare at their linked hands. “I’m not arresting you, Cal. I’m asking you to stay.”
“To…stay?” Cal repeated, his voice hesitant.
Griff nodded. Recalling what his father had told him, he swallowed and finally let out the words that had been brewing there.
“This has been way more than a bargain to me, Cal. I see the real you, even if you don’t.
I’m not naive enough to think this will all be smooth sailing.
Light, I don’t even know if it’ll work out. But I want you to stay anyway.”
Griff held his breath as Cal stared at him.
For once, he found Cal’s bright aura utterly unreadable.
Then, just when Griff thought he might pass out from his heart beating in overdrive, Cal broke out into a beautiful smile.
Wrapping his arms around Griff, he tugged him close and kissed him until Griff worried he might collapse from lack of oxygen instead.
“Is that a yes?” Griff said, struggling to catch his breath.
Cal rolled his eyes. “Of course it is. I’ve wanted to stay for a while now. I just…I didn’t think someone like you could ever feel the same way about a gutter rat like me.”
“That’s because you’re an idiot,” Griff said.
Cal scoffed and playfully shoved his shoulder. Then, something shifted in Cal’s expression, his grin fading. He straightened his shoulders, a sudden look of determination gripping him.
“But if I’m going to stay, that means taking responsibility for what I’ve done.”
Turning, he strode purposefully back up the stairs. Confused and a touch worried, Griff followed him up to the top chamber. Protectors and attendants filled it now, seeing to the remaining councilors. Cal strode through the crowd, heading straight for the High Judge.
Frowning, Griff followed. When High Judge Septima spotted him, she flashed him a weary smile.
“Ah, Griffin. Splendid work as always. To think that one of our own could have fallen so far…” She shook her head sadly before turning toward Cal, her brow scrunching.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve met. ”
Cal jutted a hand out toward the High Judge. “Oh, we have, even if you don’t remember. I’ve gone by many aliases, but there’s one in particular I’m sure you’d recognize: Blackjack.”
Griff’s heart froze in his chest. He stared at Cal, barely able to comprehend what the Void-cursed fool was doing. High Judge Septima appeared equally taken aback.
She glanced from Cal to Griff, seeming uncertain. “Is this some sort of joke, Inspector?”
Cal shook his head. He clasped his wrists together and thrust them out toward her. “Nope. No jokes, no tricks. I’ve come to turn myself in.”
Swallowing, Griff managed to find his voice.
“He speaks the truth. This man is Blackjack.” He strode forward, resting a hand on Cal’s shoulder.
“But he’s also the one who helped me solve this case.
Without him, I never would have been able to recover the void orb or stop the High Scholar’s plot.
He’s done this city a great service, and no matter what crimes he’s committed in the past, I’m willing to vouch for his character in the present. ”
Cal shot him a grateful smile. Their gazes met and held, something unspoken passing between them. The High Judge stared at the two of them a moment longer, then cleared her throat.
“Well then…this is a very serious matter. Blackjack’s recorded crimes are numerous, and punishment will need to be served. You must stand trial before a magister and be sentenced accordingly.”
Cal bowed his head. “I know, and I understand. I fully accept the consequences for my actions.”
High Judge Septima stared at him a moment longer.
“Indeed. Glad to hear it.” Her voice softened.
“However, in light of recent events and your aid to Inspector Denton, I believe a certain degree of leniency might be in order. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I leave this matter in your capable hands, Inspector. ”
Griff smiled at the High Judge, mouthing his thanks. Cal peered up at Griff, appearing dazed. “Did I really just do that?”
Griff pressed a kiss to his forehead, warmth flowing through him. “You really did. Congratulations, Cal. It looks like Blackjack’s days were numbered after all.”