The Catalyst

Chapter 36

After two days of feverish sleep, Jaden woke up surprisingly refreshed, his thoughts finally clear again. He almost convinced himself that what had happened in Tessa's chambers was only a dream. Then he saw his chest in the mirror. Icy panic seized him and he nearly cancelled all his meetings. Except his fear to be alone proved stronger, and he decided it was better to keep busy.

Moira met with him first. The low table offered refreshments just brought in by a servant whilst her colleague stoked the hearth. Behind Jaden, the sun shone through feathery clouds and illumined the room.

"I've been meaning to ask your permission for something." Moira crossed her legs, hands in her lap. "I've made a selection of prisoners who are only guilty of petty crimes, or who've already suffered a long penalty. I'd like to interview them and possibly offer them a second chance." Moira pushed her hair behind her shoulder and leaned forward. "Instead of staying in the dungeons, the best candidates could serve in the garrison or the army, with a salary so they can get their life back on track. What do you think?"

"Of course you have my permission. It's an amazing project." Warmth spread across his chest when Moira's smile widened. Matt would've been so proud of her.

His second meeting was with Kemon Clay, who brought some troubling news.

"We've finally received word from the barracks . . . My father is gone. And he took his best men with him."

Jaden said, "I take it they aren't on their way here to show their support?"

"No." Kemon glanced away. "There's something else you should know. You've heard the rumor about my father and Tessa? Well, it's true." Kemon looked at Jaden again. ". . . You don't look surprised."

"With Matt, we had our doubts," Jaden said. "I suppose it was in the way Tomas talked about her sometimes, and the way he reacted when other people mentioned her name? Things like that."

Kemon's hands were clenched into fists. "Turns out, even my mother knew. Well, she knew he had a mistress, she just wasn't sure who it was. I was absurdly dense, wasn't I, all those years?"

Jaden chose not to answer that.

"Let me go to the barracks," Kemon said. "Let me talk to our troops in your name. They need to hear the truth, lest they follow my father on his mad quest to serve a woman who will never love anyone but herself."

"All right, then."

"Thank you," Kemon said. "I won't let you down. Although perhaps I should wait for Kitera's return?"

"That's not necessary," Jaden said. "You should go now."

"Understood."

After Kemon left, Zemisha D'Azuriani took his place.

Well, first she gave herself a tour of the room, moving with feline-like grace as her fingers brushed the leather bindings of the volumes lining the bookshelves.

"Fiction works, how refreshing!" Her Azurian accent was surprisingly charming. "No books on your northern gods?"

"I'm not the most religious guy," said Jaden.

Zemisha's hourglass figure was flattered by a pale yellow dress with a slit from mid-thigh to ankle, her feet clad in fashionable short-heeled boots. Choosing a seat by his side, she crossed her legs, the slit widening to reveal smooth tan skin.

"I've been hearing these rumors," she said, "concerning my imminent imprisonment. Yet I sit here by your side unshackled."

"Forget the rumors, my lady. As far as I know, you haven't done anything wrong. Just tell me, why do you wish to stay in Veicira?"