Chapter Five
When Merle opens her eyes blearily, she knows right away that the Guard has, in fact, captured her. The blindingly white stone walls are one indication. Another would be that her wrists are tied behind her to the white chair she's sitting on.
"Perfect," she mutters.
"Oh, you're up."
Her head shoots up—her spinning eyes curse her stupid instinct to look up whenever being addressed—and she sees an eighteen-year-old with shocking blue hair and bright violet eyes looking at her sternly.
"Arkarian…"
"So you know who I am." Easily, he summons a stool and sits in front of her. "Now who are you?"
"What's it matter?" she asks defiantly. "I'm in the Order; you're in the Guard. So just kill me now."
Arkarian smiles grimly. "I see you are unfamiliar with our practices. No, I won't kill you, and neither will anybody else if you cooperate."
"And why should I? I'm sure you can't understand, but even us lowly Order members know something of loyalty."
"Admirable. So I'm guessing that the Order is, in fact, still quite vital even with the loss of Lathenia."
Screen your thoughts, screen your thoughts, screen your thoughts! You were prepared for this!
"If it is or isn't, you'll never find out from me."
"Very well, then—would you at least tell me your name?"
"What! Oh, fine, I guess…they called me Ciara."
"But that's not your true name."
Merle looks up quickly. "What gives you that idea?"
Arkarian grins; Merle blinks, disconcerted. Why is the Guard so…nice? If Merle had been a member of the Guard caught by the Order, she'd already be dead.
"I think there's someone you need to meet." He walks to the door, but pauses. "You seem very…calm. Most likely a high-ranking officer."
Why the hell are they being so nice! It must be a ploy!
"Merle?" a voice asks tentatively.
"What the—Dillon?"
He's hardly changed physically from their last meeting—same brown hair, vivid green eyes, lopsided smile. But he seems to have changed profoundly in other ways since then.
"I see you're still in the Order," he says ruefully, avoiding her eyes.
"I see you're still a traitor," she says casually.
"Lathenia really got to you, didn't she?" he asks wonderingly, looking Merle right in the eye for the first time. "All this time I'd wondered, but she's really got you convinced."
"You were convinced once, too, Dillon," Merle says softly. "Always railing against your parents—some parents!—and the Guard, but now…"
"I've seen the error of her ways."
"One year with the Guard can't change eleven years of the Order."
"Can't it?"
"No! Have you really forgotten us! Or what drove you to take me to Lathenia herself!"
"Dillon?" Arkarian inquires.
"I'm not proud of it," he says quickly.
"Anymore," Merle adds sourly. "Anyway, you've got me, haven't you? Between the two of you—and the more that I suspect are waiting outside—I'm sure you can easily handle a 17-year-old girl."
"Merle," Dillon shakes his head. "That's not the sort of thing the Guard does."
"Then what do you want with me?" she asks, surreptitiously trying to free her hands. Why hadn't Lathenia taught her how to do this?
"I wouldn't bother if I were you," Arkarian says airily. "That rope's been imbued with steel and is as strong as diamonds, so it's not coming off. And doubtless, you've realized that your hands have been tied very tightly. I'm sure Lathenia wouldn't want you to know how to free yourself in case she wanted to use that on you."
"Undoubtably," Merle says wearily before remembering that she was talking to members of the Guard. "What. Do. You. Want?" she repeats slowly.
"Merle," Arkarian says. "Surely you know that you're not in a very good position. It's hardly been two days since the final battle; the Tribunal will not be lenient with you. However…" he casts a side-long glance at Dillon. "there is a way you could make everything easier for yourself."
Merle stays silent, knowing it's in her interest to listen.
"If you see the error of your ways, you could…join the Guard."
"Are you crazy!" Merle bursts out. "Why would I do that? I'm loyal the Order and Lathenia only! And even then, why would you trust me? If you were in the Order and I in the Guard, I'd be dead by now!"
"That's the point," Dillon says slowly. "We're the good guys."
They—they're the "good guys"! What d'they think they're—wait. Ooo…Lathenia always said this was their greatest weakness…and I can use that…
Merle smiles up at Dillon and Arkarian suddenly, catching them off guard. "Of course…but…no!" Childishly, on an impulse, she sticks her tongue out at Dillon. "Tell me one good reason why I should join the Guard and I will."
"I'm in it." He smiles wanly.
"I said a good reason."
"The Guard—" Arkarian begins.
"No. I want to hear from Dillon."
"Me? Well…" he considers for a moment, clearly weighing different arguments, before looking Merle right in the eye. "We'll never betray you."
"Never?"
Yeah right, she thinks, guarding her thoughts carefully.
"No."
"Well…"
"It's a good reason."
"Fine," Merle says slowly. "A promise is a promise. Where can I sign up?"