Trion Rising by Robert Elmer

Author:Robert Elmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan

19

This is the “Council of Safety” they told me about? Oriannon wondered.

Seven older Owlings sat in straight-backed black leather chairs arranged in a large half circle around a crackling fire, looking as if they might be enjoying an after-dinner cup of tea and a good book. Only this was no social visit, to be sure. Oriannon recognized the gray-haired Suuli and the slightly younger, dark-eyed Becket Sol— but none of the others— two women and three men, none quite as old as Suuli but perhaps close. Each wore a variation of the woolen pullover most Owlings seemed to favor, comfortable and simple, shapeless and gray.

“I said, come in, Oriannon.” Suuli repeated his greeting. “No one’s going to be hurting you.”

The fire created a halo of flickering golden light around them and the dark animal skin that served as a rug in front of the fireplace. Beyond and above, only the shadows hinted to her that the cave— this “Great Hall”— was bigger than she knew. So Oriannon stepped into the circle of light, feeling like a moth. What other choice did she have?

“What’s it like outside, boys?” asked another man. “What’s going on?”

The older shrugged as if he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

“Another attack from the water thieves, like on the Lake of the Trout.” He sounded cool, not like the way he’d been screaming a minute ago. “They’re using disruptors this time to open their pipeline back up. Sending out a swarm of probes too.”

“You mean this isn’t the first time this has happened?” Oriannon couldn’t believe it. “And you all just act as if it’s no big deal?”

“Silence.” The younger warned her with a poke in the ribs before he went back to warming his hands by the fire.

“Not the first time, young lady.” Suuli leaned back in his chair. “And certainly not the last.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that this place is so different from what I’m used to. And nobody wants to explain things to me.”

Becket Sol finally set down his mug on the stone floor next to his chair and turned to face her. “We were thinking perhaps you could explain it to us.”

“Becket, not so fast.” Suuli frowned as he looked over at the other Owlings. “I thought we agreed.”

But Becket only frowned and stood up to pace in front of the large stone fireplace.

“Agreed what? To not upset our visitor? Well, even though I was the one to pull her out of the lake, I have to confess I’m still wondering if I did the right thing.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “Am I the only one here who sees a connection between coming to Lior … and now this latest attack, this threat to our survival? What do you think the probes are looking for?”

“Becket, please—” Suuli tried get the other Owlings to sit down, but Becket only shrugged him off.

“You have to admit it doesn’t look good,” said one of the others, a dark-haired woman who reminded Oriannon of someone she knew.

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