The Spirit Watcher by Cory Barclay

Author:Cory Barclay [Barclay, Cory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cory Barclay
Published: 2018-11-30T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“What is the meaning of this, Jareth?” Overseer Malachite bellowed. He had regained his strength from the cut to his neck. He’d lost quite a bit of blood, but the wound had missed the mark: an inch in either direction and Nersi probably would have struck an artery. As it stood the flesh wound was now a blackened dot.

A few people in the crowd gasped at Malachite’s words, calling Lord Onyx “Jareth.” It was taboo to use a Council member’s real name in a formal setting with other Council members. Even something as informal as a party still dictated proper decorum.

Jareth, still naked as the day he was born, shrugged. He stood with his hands on his hips, his buttocks facing the crowd behind him.

“Step down, man,” Malachite added, standing up from his chair. He hobbled as the blood rushed to his head, and reached a hand out to grasp the arm of the chair. Then he stood, less than a foot from Jareth. He was a tallish man, taller than Jareth, but the senior lord didn’t seem intimidated.

“I’m afraid not, Malachite.” The fact he didn’t use his master’s own title of “Overseer” spoke volumes. He said, “I couldn’t let you die, but it is time for you to relinquish control over the Brethren. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.”

“This is madness!” Malachite said through gritted teeth. His eyes lingered to his right and he saw a cat scampering into the ballroom, limping along. “Misty, why did you not warn me about this treasonous insurgence?”

The cat meowed.

“Lady Opal,” Jareth said, motioning for her.

Dosira walked to him. “You’re lucky I held onto it, husband, or else it would have burned in your fury . . . like the rest of your belongings.” She handed her husband a folded piece of parchment. She gave Jareth’s naked body a quick up-and-down look and a smirk showed on the corner of her lips.

Jareth unfolded the paper and cleared his throat. He showed Malachite the official letterhead of the Brethren Council as a header. He said, “What I have here, Malachite, is a Council vote. It decrees your immediate expulsion from leadership.” He turned the paper so it faced Malachite. “As you can see, it has seven signatures for ‘aye,’ and six signatures for ‘nay.’ The ‘aye’ vote wins, which in this case means the end of your Overseer career.”

Malachite sputtered, unable to believe what he was hearing and seeing. He snatched the paper from Jareth. For an instant, he considered the juvenile reaction of ripping it to shreds. He read each name on the ‘aye’ half of the page, committing the names to memory. He would have his vengeance . . .

Lord Obsidian and Lady Chalcedony, Lord Onyx and Lady Opal, Lord Constantin and Lady Mariana, and Lady Jade. They all voted to expel Malachite from his duties. In a moment of epiphany, the puzzle came together. He realized why Jareth Reynolds had been so adamant about continuing the marriage between his son and Constantin’s daughter.

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