Chapter Nine

"A mission? So soon?" Queen Brystianne asks worriedly, brushing back a few strands of her flaxen hair.

Lord Penbarin smirks at her condescendingly. "Are you pulling out now?"

"No! But we mustn't rush things either. She's hardly received any Training yet."

Matt shrugs. "Well, Neriah just met to talk to her and said that Prim—Merle doesn't really need any more Training, 'cause she'd been the Order for so long."

"So you're sending her on a mission?" Sir Syford asks, appalled. "We don't even know for sure yet if she is to be trusted!"

Lady Arabella unexpectedly giggles. "Well, the fact that she's Dillon's soul-mate ought to be enough proof…"

"What—" Brystianne starts.

"No, it's got to be Ethan!" Lady Devine argues. "He certainly seems to have taken a fancy to the girl…she is pretty enough, after all."

"How do you know?" Brystianne asks.

The whole Tribunal (save she, Neriah, and Matt) laugh.

"Isn't it obvious?" Lady Elenna asks wonderingly. "The way they act around each other! Just like Isabel and Arkarian!"

"Can you believe we actually put bets on when they'd get together?" Lady Arabella laughs.

No one told me about this…

There's a pause. Then:

"50 denarii on two weeks for her and Dillon!" Lady Elenna declares.

"60 denarii on two months on her and Ethan!" Lady Arabella says shrilly.

"Wait…don't you all feel bad, betting on their happiness?" Brystianne asks wonderingly.

Another pause.

"No."

"Not really."

"Anyway," Matt says in a would-be authoritative voice. "Should we go ahead and send her on her first mission?"

"I still say it's too early!" Queen Brystianne argues. "We don't want to overwhelm the poor girl!"

"But we should!" Lord Penbarin argues. "This will give her a chance to show her true colours, for once and for all. We can send a large group, just in case."

"Making us all the more obvious to the Order!"

"Wait," Neriah says. Although her voice is soft and gentle, it carries throughout the room. "I think she, Ethan, and I should go. Her old, strong ties to the Order should help us with this mission. I can go, as her Trainer, and Ethan…I think it'd be good for him. Besides, his instincts, skills of animation, and illusion are unparalleled."

"Lady Neriah…it's so risky."

"I think we can risk it. It's only exterminating the rest of the Order. Both Keziah and Lathenia are dead, so I think we shouldn't have to fear a few ordinary people."

"…I suppose," Sir Syford says unwillingly.

Most of the Tribunal members are nodding, albeit grudgingly.

"Fine," Matt says. "Let's contact Arkarian."

O.o Merle on a mission? That can't be good...

Only Merle and Blake belong to me!