Another chapter done, the story is starting to come together.

Ch 8 A Call to Justice

People milled outside the area the guard had blocked off, various Lords and courtier's yelled for attention, trying to get information about what was happening, women cried and had vapor's. All trying for attention. In a small island of calm Dorian, Gareth and Lori stood, Gareth still trying to comfort Dorian's sister. Dorian stood to the side staring off into space, he still cast out his mind, wincing from time to time as he touched a bit of hysteria, but of the one man he wanted, there was no sign.

"So who's the one who found her" the guards voice broke him from his semi-trance.

Before he could say anything Gareth answered the man "We all did" he said quietly.

"What brought you to this corner of the garden" he asked.

"We were following Dorian" he said pointing to Dorian.

The guard turned to him and asked "Why did you choose to come here".

He took a breath and said quietly, glancing at the commotion beyond the barricades. "Perhaps you should talk to Herald Alberich, I've been working with him" He wasn't sure how much he was supposed to tell the man, Alberich had made a point of telling him not to talk to anyone.

"I'd like to hear from you first" the guard captain said.

When Dorian just stood there biting his lip, the man sighed. "I'm the guard in charge of this investigation, I work directly with Alberich" he said thinking that he hated working with highborns, it was much easier in the city. You couldn't force a highborn to talk.

Dorian nodded sharply "I've somehow linked to the killer, I felt him attacking the girl" he said softly.

At that his sister's head whipped around and she stared at her brother as if she hadn't seen him before.

"Oh, you're the one who provided the list of suspects" the man said.

Dorian nodded again "They thought it was someone I might have had contact with, I don't know who he is. I wish I did" he said.

It was then that Alberich arrived, he took one look at the scene and frowned "Get them out of here, our only lead, he is" he said sharply to the guard. As they were being led away Dorian heard the healer report that it was too late, he hadn't been able to save the girl. Too much blood had been lost. He felt a wave of grief and frustration, he had been so close.

Not far away another paced his room fuming, so close. He had almost been seen, if She hadn't been there he might have killed the other's, but it wasn't time for her yet. He wasn't done with his work yet. At the memory of the man holding her, a wave of red rage washed through him. She was his and no one else's. The boy would pay, but only after he was done. He wasn't important enough for a change in his plans. Soon, the thought soothed him. Soon.

Dorian started, stumbling as they walked behind the guard, for a moment he had felt the man, a second of rage and he shivered with the force of it.

The queen sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples, trying to sooth the headache building behind her eyes. She looked over at Alberich "I suppose we'll have to set up a meeting with the Council". He didn't answer and she burst out "Damn him anyway, in the palace of all places. In front of most of the court".

"Cocky bastard" the guard muttered.

Alberich looked up with a grim smile "His downfall, it will be".

The council was as bad as Selenay had been expecting, the Lords shouted and squabbled, chewing every subject to bits, but resolving nothing. They quieted once Selenay waved for silence "I'm sure you've heard the rumors about what happened to Lady Fianna" she said.

She had to wave for silence again, before continuing "There has been a man killing women these last few months, he stuck again last night during the party, we think he was able to sneak into the palace complex among the guests".

"Don't you know for sure" one of the Lord's asked.

"We don't know anything for sure yet, it's too early in the investigation" she said.

"I heard one of yer Herald's felt him with their gift" another said.

At this several of the other's muttered and Selenay heard someone say "If they know who he is go get him, so this doesn't happen again".

"The boy who is helping with the investigation isn't a Herald, he's the son of one of my Lord's" she said.

"Well get him, we want to speak with him" a man said from the back.

"He is still a boy and we are keeping his identity a secret for his protection" she said, she looked them over and added "if this information leaves this room, it could endanger his life and he is our only lead" she said giving them a stern look.

The meeting went on for several more hours before it finally wound down and Selenay could escape, though it would be some time before she would have time to sleep, it would be a long night.

Dorian, Gareth and Lori had fallen asleep in the room where they had been sent to wait by the guards. Dorian started awake when he heard the door open and the low murmur of voices, he rubbed his eyes and sat up watching to see who would be coming in.

Alberich was the first one in followed by the captain and as the last person entered, Dorian rose to his feet and bowed "Your Majesty" he said in a choked voice.

She looked tired, Dorian had never been this close to her before. He looked over to Alberich and waited to hear what they had to say.

"So you are the young man who's been helping in the investigation" Selenay said.

Dorian nodded and turned to the captain as he started speaking "So you've been tapping into the killer's mind" he said.

"Yes, since he started killing, about two weeks after we got to Haven" he said.

"Hmmm" the captain said, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"What are you thinking" Selenay asked.

"The timing is suspicious, I think it's important" he said.

"How" Alberich asked.

"It's something I've seen before, sometimes a person or event will start a criminal on a path of killing, a revenge of sorts on people who remind him of the one who wronged, or obsesses him". He stopped for a moment thinking then turned back and continued "It's not common, but I've seen it once or twice before".

"Who would he be obsessed by" Dorian asked.

"All of the women, a similar look, have" Alberich said thoughtfully.

"I've noticed that, they always looked familiar, like I had seen them before somehow" Dorian said softly.

"Who would that be" the captain asked.

"Oh" Dorian exclaimed, a sick feeling in his stomach, he turned to look at his sister as she lay on the couch with Gareth, both still sleeping soundly. The other's followed his gaze.

"It could be" the Captain said.

Dorian hugged himself, suddenly cold.

"Now we know what he want, we can set up a trap" the captain said.

"No" Dorian said in a grim voice.

"Do you want him to kill others, we need to stop him now. He had been keeping his killing to once a month, but sometimes this kind of person will step up their schedule as they come closer to what they want" the captain said grimly.

"Not Lori, she's an innocent, he'll want me if he finds out about me, use me instead" he said.

"You're too young" Selenay said, frowning

"I'm not a little, I'm old enough to decide for myself, you haven't felt his mind. He's not going to stop unless we stop him and I couldn't live with myself if he got her, I have to do it" he said firmly, conviction strong in his voice.

Selenay nodded "Alright, I'll abide by your choice, but no chances. You follow our instructions exactly and never, never go off by yourself" she said.

He nodded "I agree" he said.