The Order of Merlin by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter [Carpenter, Thomas K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Carpenter
Published: 2022-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

The grim reality facing Benedita was the only thing on Pi's mind when she stepped through the portal. Benedita was a survivor, fighting a war she'd never wanted a part of, and she would keep on battling, long after they'd left her in Montanhas.

So when the gruff tone of Invictus intruded into her solemn meditation on Benedita's sacrifice, Pi couldn't help the ball of flame that climbed out of her throat and formed itself as a collection of fiery words, directed at the head patron.

"You ancient, wrinkly ball sack," said Pi.

She took a step forward, but felt a little dizziness from the portal travel and getting her head knocked around by twin explosions.

"We wouldn't have survived that shit show without Zayn. Might I add that your notes were complete bullshit. There were survivors on Montanhas, demons too. We barely got out with our lives. Look at my sister."

The old man glowered from across the table. Fury condensed itself in his black eyes, and if he opened his mouth and hot gasses blew out, turning them to ashes, Pi wouldn't have been surprised.

"You don't know what you're messing with," said Invictus. "You're children with great powers. Nothing more."

"If we don't know, then tell us!" exclaimed Pi. "You're asking us to trust you, yet you've done nothing but ship us around the realms with little more than a few phrases to keep us on the right path."

Invictus lifted his chin. "If I told you, then you’d want to know more, and that knowledge would drag you deeper and deeper into ruination."

"People died in Montanhas," said Pi. "It was awful. They sacrificed themselves."

The ancient mage snarled. "Then you understand what might become of you. I make no apologies for my actions. This realm is at great risk. I will spare no effort to save it from the demonic one, and that includes sacrificing the lot of you. Especially when you're being foolish and bringing others into the Order without my permission."

Aurie took a step forward, stumbled, and grabbed the table for balance. Everyone in the room stared at her. A twitch of sympathy passed across Invictus' expression. Only a twitch.

"Why? Why do you keep us in the dark as if ignorance is a virtue?"

"In this case it is," said Invictus. "The beings that we're dealing with have power over thought itself. To know is to risk!"

Aurie pinched the bridge of her nose between forefinger and thumb. She wavered, and Pi went to hold her up, but she waved her off. They shared a brief smile.

"I just watched a group of people head into a place they knew they would probably never return from. They didn't do it because they were ordered, they did it because they were family," said Aurie.

"I'm your family," said Invictus with booming gravitas.

"It sure doesn't feel like it," said Aurie.

Up to this point, Zayn had been standing to the side, trying to look as small as possible. The mention of family brought his eyebrows up. Outside the room, no one else besides Sam Arlington knew they were distantly related to the Head Patron of Invictus.

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