Disappoint? That was one way to put it, he supposed. Better than admitting, even to himself, that what he’d really done was sold Florian out, delivered him over to be tortured and killed.
There were things Thaddeus had done that he’d never forgive himself for. Imagine how much less Celia would forgive him.
He took a deep breath and went back to trying to concentrate on the conversation at hand. Solomon was telling his tale of a different world, and the evil that he and Celia found there. An evil that was identical to what was happening here.
“That leaves us with two areas that we know have gates,” he was saying. “One here in the Greenweald, and one in Dunfield. Now we have to figure out how to shut them down. Here first, then there. Which also means we need a way to get back to Dunfield. I’m thinking the water spirit that took Celia could do it, but without Justice, I’m not sure how to get her to cooperate. Any ideas?”
Thaddeus cleared his throat. So far, he’d sat quietly, trying to avoid the attentions of both Solomon and Willow.
“You have something?” Solomon asked him.
“Maybe. We actually think there is another set of gates. Given what Jocasta told us, we believe that those bigger gates that you both saw feed the others. But there didn’t seem to be a gate to Whispering Pines in either of those places. It stands to reason that there are others. Plus, we don’t think Malachi would want to be that far from them.”
“Then you think others are…. where?”
“Subtle Hemlock. Our House. Well, the House of three of us, anyway.”
Solomon nodded. “That makes sense, I guess. But does it matter?”
“I think so. We have no idea how to shut them down. None of our magic is going to do it, and I’m sorry, but swinging a sword at it isn’t going to work either.”
“Then?”
“We need to get to Malachi. Force him to tell us how to do it.”
He was about to go on when the door to the room opened and Darius entered, followed by Celia.
She was different from the last time Thaddeus had seen her. The soft, spoiled girl was gone and, in her place, walked a toughened, experienced woman, albeit one moving strangely, as if her limbs were stiff, or she was having a hard time seeing.
Thaddeus watched her warily, waiting for her to notice him.
She didn’t. Her eyes were unfocused. She looked around the room, her head turning slowly, showing no more reaction when her gaze swept over him than when it passed over an empty chair.
“Celia,” Solomon said, “Thank the gods you’re safe.”
There was no answer.
“Celia?” he repeated.
“Uh, Solomon?” Darius said, “We need to talk…”
Thaddeus saw what the problem was, and beside him Melanie sat up a little straighter in her chair. Solomon was not going to be happy about this.
“About what?” he said.
“I had to… well, control her.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Thaddeus thought Solomon knew exactly what Darius meant. His tone of voice had taken on a dangerous undertone.
“She refused to come. When I got there, there were four men gathered around the bottom of the stairs, one of them bent over and cursing. They were discussing the best way to go after her, and what they would do when they did. I stopped them, but it took almost all my strength. I tried to tell her that, but she wouldn’t listen. She said that she was staying there, and for me to leave. I couldn’t convince her, and if I left her…”
There was silence in the room as everyone stared at Celia. She showed no reaction or discomfort at being the center of attention.
“Let her go,” Solomon said.
“Of course,” Darius replied.
“Wait.” Melanie spoke up for the first time. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
“I don’t care,” Solomon replied.
“You should. What do you think she’s going to do when she’s free? Smile, sit down and join in the conversation? No. She’s going to have a screaming fit and go right back where Darius found her. Then what? We ignore what’s going on? Let it continue while we deal with her?”
Solomon was frowning, an expression that was much more unnatural for him than his usual smile.
“I don’t like—”
“I know,” Melanie said, “and I don’t blame you. Honestly, I don’t blame her, either. I’d be furious if Darius did that to me. But for the moment, just for now, leave her in his control. They can both stay right here, where you can watch them.”
Solomon considered for a moment, then, “Can she hear me?” he asked Darius.
“I think so,” Darius replied.
Solomon nodded. He rose to his feet and took Celia’s hands.
“I’m sorry for this,” he told her. “I’m not sure what happened between us, but I’m not your enemy. We’re going to fix this, then we’ll figure out what to do.”
There was still no reaction from Celia.
Solomon sighed, then turned back to Thaddeus. “What were you saying?”
“I was saying that our best course of action is to get to Malachi. We need to get the answers from him, and maybe put the whole thing to rest right there. He’s been behind everything, from supplying Jamshir with the Soul Gaunts to what’s going on now.”
“Why are you doing this, Thaddeus?” Willow asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? I don’t want the Greenweald destroyed any more than you do.”
“Yes. I suppose I can believe that. There’s more, though, isn’t there? If this Malachi is removed, who will assume the position of Head of House Subtle Hemlock? You?”
Thaddeus laughed. “At one time, I certainly had those ambitions. There are a couple of people in this room that might have said something
