Chapter 58: The Council
Alpha Kieran paced the length of the council room.
Three deaths in the span of two weeks, all without his knowledge.
Three of his people slaughtered.
He had proven beyond doubt that there was someone within his own walls, working for the rogue king, creating chaos.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Enter."
The door swung open, and Soren stepped inside, his face drawn and tired. Behind him came the priestess Miranda and five council members.
They took their seats around the long oak table, their expressions grim. No one spoke.
The weight of the past days hung over them like a shroud.
Kieran turned from the window and faced them.
"As you well know," he began, "my son Cassian was attacked by someone suspected to be working for the rogue king. He was shot with a poisoned arrow and nearly died."
There were scattered notes of acknowledgement across the council.
"Now we have two deaths on our hands with no explanation for how it happened," Kieran continued. "And the death of a guard whose throat was slashed. The killer would have gotten away with it too if not for the guard that saw him."
Kieran let the words hang in the air before he continued.
"We may have caught that one person but I have reason to believe that there is a traitor in this pack working with our enemy."
His gaze swept across the faces of his council, watching their reactions.
Alpha Kieran finally turned to the priestess.
"Miranda. You examined the bodies. Tell us what you found."
Miranda rose from her seat, folded her hands before her and addressed the council.
"I have examined the bodies of the traders and I can say that that was no ordinary killing."
"What do you mean?" One of the elders asked.
"The men had no visible wounds. No cuts or puncture marks, no blunt force trauma to the skull or vital organs. And yet they were dead."
"Then how did they die?" Another demanded impatiently.
"That is what I have been trying to determine." The priestess answered.
"The only abnormality I could find was the complete lack of blood in their bodies almost like every drop had drained from them, through their noses, their ears, the corners of their mouths. Whatever happened to those men, it did not come from a blade or a weapon."
"Was it sorcery?" Alpha Kieran interjected.
"That is one possibility," Miranda answered. "But I have never seen sorcery that leaves a body completely drained of blood with no external wounds. It is something else entirely. Something I am yet to identify."
"Whatever it is, it is connected to the rogue king. I can feel it in my bones. He is making his move, and we are sitting here in the dark while he picks us off one by one." Alpha Kieran muttered.
"What would you have us do?" Elder Gareth asked. "We cannot let this continue."
Kieran straightened.
"I want everyone to be on high alert and I mean everyone." He looked at each of them in turn. "We need this sorted out immediately. Have the guards tighten security at all entrances. No one comes in or out without clearance. And begin questioning people discreetly. I do not want panic spreading through the pack, but I want every person in this compound and in your respective households watched."
The council members nodded.
"Gareth, you will oversee the questioning of the lower quarters. Mira, the servants and kitchen staff. Theron, the guards...I want to know if anyone saw anything unusual on the night the traders disappeared."
"Yes, Alpha," they said in unison.
"The rest of you will make sure all household staffs are investigated and anyone of them found wanting be forced to answer."
Kieran’s gaze swept the room one final time.
"This meeting is adjourned. Report back to me with any findings, no matter how small and keep your eyes open. The traitor is among us, and I will not rest until they are found."
The council members rose and filed toward the door.
"Stay for a moment, Soren. I need to speak with you."
Soren nodded, stepping aside to let the others pass, then closed the door behind the last council member.
Kieran crossed to the window, staring out at the compound. He did not turn around when he spoke.
"Ares returned some days ago with news."
Soren’s footsteps paused. "Oh? What kind of news?"
Kieran turned slowly, his eyes meeting Soren’s.
"He says he knows for a fact that the rogue king is not camped outside the borders like he is making us believe."
"What do you mean?" Soren asked.
"Exactly what I said." Kieran’s gaze did not waver. "Ares was able to infiltrate their camp and he knows for sure the rogue king is not there like they would have us believe."
Soren’s throat worked in disbelief.
"Are you saying he might be here?"
"That is exactly what I am saying."
...
"Where is he?" Soren backed Alistair against the wall of his study.
"You have some fucking nerve putting your hands on me after you tried to have me killed, Soren. Remember who saved you whilst you ran away like a scared little dog when the guards were at your heels."
Soren released Alistair, his chest heaving.
He eyed the man with disdain.
"You saved your own hide" He spat. "You know I would have told on you the minute I am caught."
"Agree to disagree." Alistair smirked. "You are safe and your king thinks the guard whom you killed was killed by the same person who did the other two."
"Yes but who did the other two?." Soren snapped. "You claim you are not the one but you went through extreme measures to find a willing scapegoat, Alistair."
Alistair said nothing in response.
"Do you know that he is not at the borders?" Soren declared.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean your king... he is here"
Alistair froze in shock.
"How do you know that?"
"You did not know? Interesting." Soren chuckled. "It would seem that your king has grown impatient with you. Oh, Alistair, whatever will you do?"