((This inconspicuous chapter heading is also the name of a song by Deine Lakaien.))


Chapter 10
Traitors

'Got you.' Dorian stood in the door with his arms folded, Milena frozen on the spot in his study. 'Now. What are you doing, why are you doing it, and most importantly, who are you doing it for?'

'Magister, I …'

'Talk.'

Her eyes closed, and in her dejection, Dorian was reminded of Fenris with a pang. He'd never before felt that all elves looked the same, but the thought made him feel guilty. 'I'm not a spy. I just … tried to find out … Could you tell me of the Inquisitor? You know him, don't you?'

Dorian closed the door behind him. 'I know him. What do you want with him?'

'I want … I want to meet him.'

'He's not coming.'

'No! He can't come. You can't let him.'

'Let him?' Dorian glared at her. 'He doesn't need me to let him do anything at all.'

'No?' Suddenly her nostrils flared in anger. 'You still own him, don't you? He's your property. I know what you did to him. What his position is officially.'

'I fully intend to remedy that situation, Milena, not that it's your concern.'

'It is, though.'

'How? I tried looked into your genealogy. It's interesting. And faked. By my father, no less. What is going on?'

'I … you know that? Since when?'

'Very recently. And I want the truth from you. Now.'

'I was betrayed and would have been killed if I hadn't vanished. After the man who did it was dead, I dared to resurface. I turned to Halward Pavus because I thought he might be sympathetic. And he was. Please, don't turn me in.'

'Specifics. Now.' He saw her distress, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. 'If you're so innocent, why would you be afraid of me?'

It was enough. She cracked. 'Because I'm not an innocent!' Her hands were knotted together in front of her, her eyes wild. 'I betrayed my own blood and when I was betrayed in turn, I didn't even have the grace to let myself be killed.'

'Milena, I said specifics, not unbridled pathos. I may have time right now, but my patience is wearing thin really fast.'

'I … my name isn't Milena. It's Varania. Fenris is my brother. He bought me a life as a free woman by selling himself. When he ran, I was promised a seat in the Magisterium if I …'

'Shut up. I know of your part in that.' He tasted bile. 'I want you out of my house by tonight.'

'Magister Pavus, please. I … your father gave me a place here.'

'I won't turn you in. I just want you gone.'

'I … please tell Fenris I am so sorry.'

'I'll tell him no such thing. Why would I?'

'Because … I can help you. I know who was in Danarius's inner circle. I can tell you names. Big names. I want these people to pay as much as you do.'

Dorian wanted to chase her out, and he probably should. She didn't have a history of excessive honesty. But there was a chance … a slight one, but a chance that she was speaking the truth. 'You want a deal? You get a deal. I ignore – not forget or forgive, because I may never be able to do that – what you did to Fenris. You can stay and keep your position. But I will not tell Fenris to meet you or lure him into a meeting with you. Maybe I'll tell him you want to speak with him. What he does with that information is up to him, and I will only speak of you to him if your information proves useful.' That last, of course, was a blatant lie. He'd tell Fenris the moment she left the room. But of course, she bought it.

'I … thank you Magister. I deserved being screwed over by Danarius, but Fenris didn't deserve what was done to him. People can change. I'll help. Even if you don't do anything for me. I'll help in any way I can.'

Dorian pursed his lips. He thought of Gereon Alexius. Of the man he'd once been, not the one he'd become. 'People change, but it isn't normally for the better. Here's your chance to prove me wrong.'