The Broken Ones

Chapter 12:3 -The council meeting

-So, the rumours were true, Harel said at last with unnerving smile.
-I wasn’t aware there were rumours, Ana responded.
-Oh, but you have always been the center of all rumours here at the Academy. Like last year with the fire. And now with you keeping a guard. Brokens will think the world’s a dangerous place if you, Ana- the immortal girl, keep a guard. They’ll all get one just because you have one.
-I wouldn’t recommend it.
The man gave short snort like laugh before he continued.
-Let’s move on to more important matters. What do you have to report?
-There have been other rumours spreading, other than me keeping a guard.
-Like what?
-About the flute.
The council listened intensively taking in Ana’s every word as it was the truth and wanted to know more. But Harel had a smile on his lips and it was he who controlled the council, that much was clear to Soi. It was Harel who held the word and the silence, the other council members remained silent.
-Isn’t that more like a myth than a rumour? He asked mockingly.
-I’ve seen it myself, in Sofara.
This wasn’t the truth, Ana hadn’t seen the flute only got it described to her by the pub owner of the Black Eye. But Harel and the council didn’t know that and Harel’s face had turned serious.
-And how do you know it was the flute? It could have been an ordinary flute, he disregarded Ana’s statement.
Ana opened her mouth to retort but the white haired man held up a hand.
-Of course the council will take it into consideration that the flute actually exist and look further into this matter. Anything else?
-It’s about Sam…
-He’s a monster, we know.
Ana was startled and Harel smiled a little before he continued.
-But his betrayal is of little importance. Actually, you having a guard were by far more interesting news. Why don’t you tell us a little about your guard if you have nothing else of substance to report?
It wasn’t a question, but an order followed by that unnerving smile.
-What’s to tell, he’s not that interesting, Ana tried to disobey his order with a bored yawn.
-Well, where’s he from?
-From Sofara.
-Really, Harel said in affected manner. –Somehow that seems even less likely than that the flute actually exist and that you’ve seen it.
Ana stiffened and her face turned into stone. Soi couldn’t understand why. Not that he liked Harel and the council that much either but to close up completely wouldn’t matter to them.
-Why? Ana asked forcedly.
-Miss Ana, his appearance is not the common one for a man from Sofara.
-It’s not? Ana asked serious yet dumbly.
Soi had to hold back a smile as he was thinking how Ana hated stupid questions. Harel’s smile turned down in the corners.
-His name then?
Ana’s lips were sealed but she had to answer. Soi couldn’t see the danger in the council knowing his name and he forgot Nibbles warning words about keeping absolutely quiet, but that only concerned about broken matters so what harm could it do.
-My name’s Soi, sir, Soi said with a bow.
Ana stared perplexed at him, her head shaking a little from side to side. But Harel seemed pleased and the other council member begun to whisper eagerly to each other. It was the first time they broke their silence. Soi couldn’t understand why his name could be of any interest. Yes, it wasn’t the most common name but among broken who traveled from all over the world to the Academy his name couldn’t be the strangest.
-Mr Soi, how very good of you to come forward with your name as your lady wasn’t willing to offer it. Now, if you don’t mind me asking, how long did you stay in Sofara before you met Ana?
-Eh… two years.
-And before that, where did you live?
-At sea.
-Oh, and before that? Harel had a false smile on his face.
-Casmil.
Soi hadn’t told a lie, he had stayed in Casmil some nights when he worked at sea and the ship was at harbor before departure. Soi didn’t like where the questions were going.
-You were brought up there? Harel asked skeptic.
-Yes. Soi knew this wasn’t the answer Harel was expecting when he furrowed his white eyebrows together.
-Hmm. Any sisters?
-No, sir. I have two brothers.
The questions were getting too personal. Why would Harel only ask if Soi had any sisters and not if he had any brothers? It felt like he wasn’t asking questions to get to know him better but rather to confirm an already set picture of who Soi was. Soi decided to go on Ana’s tactic with cut off answers and a stone face.
-You must be an exceptionally good fighter to survive Ana’s mission, there are not many people who survive an attack from a monster. You have survived several. Where were you trained?
-In Casmil, sir.
-You’re not some kind of broken to be this good, are you?
-No, sir, simply talented.
That set off some laughter among the council members and Harel grinned.
-I see you take after Ana.
-What do you mean, sir?
-You have the same sense of humour.
-As you were mentioning me, I have something else to report, Ana cut in.
-What about? Harel wasn’t pleased about the interruption.
-It’s about the monsters, what they really are.
-So, what are they then? Harel kept his piercing eyes on her, letting her know how little he approved of her intrusion of his game of twenty questions.
-They a sort of brokens, they have hurt themselves to…
-We already know! Harel interrupted with a loud voice which startled some of the members but Ana kept her back straight.
-Why wasn’t I told? She asked with a cold voice.
Harel and Ana’s eyes met and Harel was the first to turn his head away with a worthy face.
-Why should we tell you?
-Why shouldn’t you? Shouldn’t this information be spread across the world so people won’t turn into monster? Ana wrinkled her eyebrows together –Everybody has heard about the broken ones but no one have heard of the monsters. If they knew what the monsters really were, if we could spread this information…
-That’s not a decision for you to make, miss Ana. Leave it to the council and concentrate on the work we have assigned for you.
Ana bit her tongue back and lowered her head stiffly.
-What will you have me do?
-Go to Beroal, our new chairman wants to meet you.
Ana lifter her head cautiously.
-Our new chairman? She asked.
-Jack.
Ana’s eyes widened with fear. It was the first time Soi had seen her really scared. Her face paled, her eyes brightened as if they were close to tears and she clenched her fists.
-Why does he want to meet with me?
-You’ll find out when you go there. I suppose you’ll take your guard with you?
-Why shouldn’t I?
-Good, just making sure, Harel said before he waved her away with a disconcerting smile.
Ana turned and walked away with her head held high. As Ana and Soi left the council building Ciron met up with them again.
-I’ll take it the meeting didn’t go well. Is it sparks coming through your fingertips?
-The meeting went excellent, now if you’ll excuse me…
Ana sped up her pace, making her limp more heavily.
-See you at the ball then, Ciron left with a cold whisper.
Ana cast a bewildered look after him.
-What ball? Soi asked with a low voice.
-I don’t know, Ana answered with a worried voice.
When Ana didn’t know what was going on it was bad.

To be contiuned...
By J.L.Frick