angelic creature seem so… ruffled before. They're not buying it either, he realized. Maybe trying to sell everyone on her good points isn't the best way. Torm knows it's hard for me to see her good side. But you know her better than anyone here, he thought. Convince them so we can go.
'Now you stand before us again, pleading for more leeway,' she continued. 'It is not a pattern that lends itself much to confidence and optimism on our part.'
Tauran spread his hands again. 'As I have said before this court in the past, I believe our best hope of gaining her trust and ultimately turning her to a path of goodness is to give her some room, some freedom. We must allow her to feel her way through this on her own.'
'Such a course is risky.'
'My plan involves more risk, to be sure, but I believe the greater rewards are worth it. The less we interfere, the more likely it is that she will embrace this new outlook. The more we restrict her, attempt to confine her actions to that narrow path, the more she will resist and turn against us.'
The High Council was quiet for a long moment. Kael wondered if they were silently conversing or merely thinking. The half-drow caught himself wanting to pace and had to force himself to remain still.
He could see both points of the debate. On the one hand, Aliisza was willful and impudent. She was not bound to serve anyone and could wreak havoc on Tauran's schemes at any inopportune moment. And Kael detested the idea of relying on immoral fiends, full-blooded or not, in order to hunt down Zasian. The holy power of Tyr and Torm should be enough!
On the other, Tauran's arguments about the extraordinary nature of the circumstances made for compelling testimony. Members of the Triad were arguing, fighting even, and the entire Court seemed paralyzed, unable to come to any consensus on what to do. All the gatherings, all the proceedings-where little more than debate ever occurred-were growing tiring and irksome. The loyal champion of Torm wanted action.
Even if it means being near her? he asked. As if to answer, Kael felt a strange, uncomfortable sense of curiosity invade his thoughts. He did want to be near her. Why? he wondered, struggling to understand such strange emotions. You have Tauran already. What else do you need? Kael thought again of Aliisza risking herself to save those two children. Would she have done that for me? a tiny part of him wondered. No, he decided, trying to push that thought away. You only want her near to prove to yourself once and for all that she was the uncaring fiend you've always imagined, he scolded himself. And you cannot let that jeopardize Tauran's plans. You have duties.
Still, the image of his mother lingered.
'Here is my fear in all this,' the High Councilor said at last. 'That you-and we-are being manipulated by these fiends in ways that we do not yet understand, and we will be filled with regret when we do, when it's too late. You yourself have admitted to such once already, the second time you stood before us, after the alu escaped your custody.'
Several murmurs of agreement arose from the other Councilors gathered there. Kael scanned them all, studied their faces, and saw nothing but grim countenances and disapproval. They reflected Kael's own suspicions. Vhok, Aliisza, and Zasian had pulled off a most extraordinary trick in order to breach the House's defenses.
'I have little doubt that you believe you are fit to repulse such subterfuge,' the High Councilor continued, 'but these beings-these invaders-are clever. Even now, they may be continuing a plot they hatched long ago, designed to take advantage of your willingness to give them leeway. It is in our nature to offer forgiveness, redemption. Such generosity, though natural and good, can be taken advantage of.'
'I am well aware of the risks, Councilor,' Tauran answered, staring down at the polished stones of the floor. 'But I am also well aware of Vhok's and Aliisza's motivations. I, perhaps better than you, know what they want, what they seek. Not what they claim to want, but what they truly desire. I, unlike you, am in the field, confronting such beings. I deal with them, know their cunning firsthand. I have already used such knowledge to gain their cooperation. It will aid me in keeping my wits going forward, I assure you.'
The Councilors stirred, shifting or murmuring among themselves, but none of them confronted Tauran on that point.
Kael nodded slightly to himself. Yes, he thought. We can use them to our advantage, instead of the other way around.
'Perhaps you'd care to explain how you knew right where to find the half-fiends?' came a voice from behind the pair of them.
Kael recognized the voice before he even turned around. He closed his eyes and stifled a groan. No! he fretted. Tauran almost had them won over. Why now?
'Micus,' Tauran said, turning to face the newcomer. 'What are you doing here?'
'Making certain the Council knows all the facts about your theories, Tauran. They need to understand just how erratically you've been behaving of late. I'm here to make sure they do.'
'Micus, I already told you, we-'
'Tell them,' the other deva interrupted, pointing at the members of the Council. 'They are the ones you need to convince. I have already made up my mind.'
Tauran stared at his friend for a long moment. It seemed to Kael that he debated something, but whatever was on the angel's mind, he did not share it. Instead, he turned back to face the members of the Council. They all remained silent, waiting expectantly.
'As you are well aware,' the deva began, 'it's been more than a decade since we-since I-lost track of Aliisza the alu. Her escape was remarkable, leaving her son, Kael, trapped in her body for the duration. He managed to adapt, learning to use her body's innate magic in order to alter his physical form to his own, more familiar guise. Despite his heritage, you all know him now as a devout and loyal servant of Torm, a champion in combat, and a noble companion.'
The angel paused and looked over at Kael, who only nodded once in appreciation. Privately, though, the half- drow beamed. It had been a profound struggle to learn to exist in another's body, a half-fiend's body, and he was pleased with himself, just a little, not only that he had succeeded, but that others had noticed.
Tauran continued. 'For reasons that neither of us can explain as of yet, Kael experienced an odd sensation earlier this day, a sudden and strange connection with his mother. Whether that link was due to their blood relationship to one another or some astral bond between Aliisza and her body-or perhaps both-it was strong enough and focused enough that Kael was convinced he knew where she was. The pair of us set out at once to locate her.'
At that point, the Councilors began murmuring among themselves again. Tauran waited patiently while they absorbed what he had described, but Kael glanced over at Micus, who frowned.
'Is this as Tauran has described?' the High Councilor asked, and it took Kael another moment before he realized the solar was speaking to him.
He blinked, trying to find his voice. The solars had never called on him before.
'Yes, High Councilor,' the half-drow replied. 'I have no explanation for it, but it was unmistakable, and the sensation led me unerringly to her.' He looked at Micus and asked, 'Is that so hard to accept?'
The scowling deva shook his head. 'Only in that it seems less plausible than the prospect that you two have known where Aliisza was all along and merely went to join her at an appointed time and place.'
Kael gaped at Micus while the chamber erupted in a dizzying cacophony of incredulous debate. To the half- drow, it seemed as though half the Councilors argued for an immediate investigation into Tauran's activities while the other half decried his unfair persecution. Tauran said nothing, but he, too, turned to look at his old friend with a sorrowful expression.
When the High Councilor had at last restored quiet, he turned back to Micus. 'Please provide some evidence for your accusations, Micus.'
Micus bowed his head, as if the words he was about to impart pained him greatly. 'Before I proceed, let me be blunt. It brings me no pleasure to disclose these points. Tauran is my friend, and I have observed him on countless occasions carrying out his duties with both supreme devotion and suitable aplomb. His energy seemed tireless, his dedication unquestionable.'
Then why are you turning on him, you backstabbing bastard? Kael wondered.
'But that merely makes his recent erratic behavior all the more noticeable,' Micus continued. 'I have observed, to my great chagrin, that Tauran has begun to question many of his values, as well as those of the House. He has chosen courses of action that fly in the face of our established procedures and policies. He has
