TWENTY
ALDEN SAT TAPPING HIS PEN ON the edge of his desk. The pile of scrolls in front of him seemed to double every time he left the room, but he couldn't focus long enough to do anything with him. They were all from the Council anyway, and he wasn't on the best of terms with them at the moment.
He stared out the window, remembering the graceful moonlarks he'd borrowed from the Sanctuary only a few months ago. And every time he thought of the moonlarks, he thought of how horrible it must have been for Sophie to grow up alone in a world where no one understood her. But at least her human family had cared, which was more than he could say for her friends the Black Swan. They'd sent her off into a sea of humans, with an ability she didn't understand and couldn't control.
He heard his wife's musical voice chime down the hallway, and he quickly wiped his eyes and attempted to straighten his cape. He quickly gave up on trying to make himself look presentable. He was too exhausted to care.
"He's in here," Della said from outside the door.
When Alden heard her soft rap on the door he called, "Come in."
Della cracked the door open and peeked her head around the edge. "Councillor Terik is here to see you. Is now a good time?"
"Of course," Alden lied. It was never a good time to receive visitors from the Council anymore.
Della disappeared and Councillor Terik entered the room, carefully closing the large doors behind him. "Lord Alden."
"Councillor Terik," Alden responded, standing up and shaking Terik's hand. "It's very pleasant to see you. Please, sit." Alden motioned to the singular chair on the opposite side of his large desk, then sat as well.
After a couple moments of awkward silence, Alden asked, "What brings you to Everglen today?"
"I'm afraid it's not good news," Councillor Terik said. "At least, neither you or I will think it's good news. Emery and Alina are positively delighted."
"What is it?" Alden asked, rubbing a hand through his tangled hair.
"Nelson's gadget has located the children in the Black Forest, a forest in Germany in the Forbidden Cities," Councillor Terik informed Alden.
Alden sighed. "I was expecting the children to have a little more time, although nothing else seems to be going to plan, either. I'll inform the others."
"Actually, that's what I was sent here to talk to you about," Councillor Terik said.
"What's the problem?" Alden asked, already sensing Councillor Terik's foreboding air.
"Emery asked me to inform you that as an Emissary, it is your duty to lead the Goblin task force to track down the children—"
"No," Alden said forcefully. "I won't do it."
"And there's no incentive I could give you to make you change your mind?"
"No. I won't help the Council with this. They're headed in the wrong direction."
"So you won't lead the task force?"
"No."
"I don't want to have to do this, Alden—"
"Then don't," Alden answered, slumping down farther into his chair. He already knew the bargain Terik was sent to propose.
"Would you do it if it were the only way to keep all parties involved from Exile?"