The Rogue Guardian

Chapter 31: Ultimatum

"What?" Kay blurted out. Liz slapped his arm to quiet him, then grabbed Evvie's hand.

"Did you--?"

"No!"

"She didn't--?"

"Not to me."

Liz bit her lip. On her other side Lucien chewed on his shirt sleeve, his anxiety evident.

"So this is, uh, not good?" I asked.

"Shh!"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation but leaned forward over the hole on the roof with everyone else. There appeared to have been a similar rustle among the High Circle below. The twins were leaning over the arms of their chairs toward each other in heated debate. The woman in purple and the unidentified man had stood up in outrage. The fifth member of the circle was talking loudly, though it was unclear if anyone was listening. As we watched, the young man who had been late stood up lazily, unfazed.

"Friends, should we let the lady explain herself?"

"What is there to explain?" Asyl hissed. She began to stand, but Haven grabbed her hand and yanked her down quickly.

"Quiet, Asyl." But it was clear in Haven's voice that they were not on Ysmay's side either.

Dahra smothered a smile but not a smug glance at Ysmay, who only folded her hands together and waited patiently for the whispers to stop and for all to sit.

"The simple fact is that the Phoenix has been a part of this city far too long to continue having no power over it. Not just for the sake of advancing our cause. I am not that petty, or that power hungry, or that foolish. There's a reason the High Circle was formed. To prevent internal wars. To let each part of Maenar function without intruding on each other. Once, the Phoenix would not have affected these goals. But we're too big now, too strong, too close to our mission. We have as much pull over the direction of Maenar as any other group represented here. It's a fact whether you like it or not. It's only logical to allow us a seat here."

Asyl scoffed. "It's worked fine until now."

"Yes, until now. But the more we plan the more we can interfere with everyone else. Until we have a seat we cannot coordinate with the other factions."

A different man spoke. "So submit to Haven and Asyl your plans and let them coordinate with us. You don't need a seat for that."

"That puts us at the mercy of the twins' decisions."

Huddled beside me, Wes winced. "Oh no, don't go there."

"Too late," Liz murmured. Evvie squeezed her hand harder.

"I didn't realize that was such a horrifying fate," Haven said, their voice slick and cold as steel.

Ysmay turned her head to look at them, expression guarded. "I am not a fan of sentimentality. You both know how grateful the Phoenix is for your help. We hope to continue having as much to be grateful for. But we all knew from the beginning that there would come a time these dynamics would have to shift. I will not put off doing what needs to be done for the sake of your hurt feelings."

Asyl stood again, too quick for Haven to catch her. She stepped forward, close enough that it seemed Ysmay would step back. "So you thought to take all our kindness and help and then turn away? You thought we needed no payment for the danger we put our own people in on your behalf, the room and safety we gave you?"

"Have we not repaid you in all the ways you asked?" Ysmay said, voice level.

"Sister," Haven murmured, a warning. Asyl stepped back, still fixing Ysmmay with a vehement stare, and gripped the arm of Haven's chair. Her fingers tapped against the dark wood impatiently.