Alterant (Belador #2)(97)

What would that do to the Beladors?





THIRTY-FOUR




When the teleporting ended, Evalle ignored Sen, who stood next to her with arrogant pleasure. She barely noted the plush grass beneath her feet and black sky filled with shooting stars and two moons.

The most beautiful and deadly part of this parallel universe were the two gods and one goddess positioned on a shining gold dais this time. An arch of diamond-shaped sparkling lights curved above their heads.

Water dripped off Evalle’s nose and soaked her clothes. That might be why she couldn’t get her eyes to clear, but she doubted all of the water on her face was left over from being drenched.

Was Storm really gone?

Defeat devastated her. She wanted to curl up somewhere and hide, but not with Brina’s fate still in jeopardy.

Pele addressed Evalle. “You come before us with not one of the three escaped Alterants?”

“About those,” Evalle started in.

Ares interjected, “Four, counting the one you helped escape.”

Denying she’d played a role in Tristan’s escape would be futile. “Of the first three, one was killed by the Medb.”

No sympathy to be found on that dais.

“I used my last gift to keep them from being killed, and I destroyed all of the fog when I did. I saved millions of lives—”

Ares said, “You were told to deliver the Alterants. The fog had not reached the point of harming millions of lives—”

Evalle argued, “But I ran up against the Medb while trying to bring in the Alterants. Kizira took credit for the fog and said she planned to expand it across North America.”

“And,” Ares shouted to let her know she’d made a huge mistake by interrupting him, “we suspect that only the creator—who you say is the Medb—or someone associated with that pantheon could disperse the fog. If that is the case, you may now explain how you were able to wipe away a sentient fog that no deity in the VIPER coalition could affect.”

Trying to save the world had cast her as being in league with the Medb? She’d give the Tribunal credit. “I don’t know. It had to be your power, because I used the gift you gave me.”

Wrong suggestion. Every regal face on the dais hardened with insult.

Loki spoke up. “I call Brina of Treoir.”

No! Evalle tried to reach the warrior queen telepathically. Don’t come to the Tribunal meeting, Brina.

But Brina’s holographic image took shape between Evalle and the dais. Brina said to Evalle, I must come when summoned.

I failed big time. Those words cut her heart with the sharpness of a razor against raw skin.

I know. I heard about Tristan escaping.

That was an accident, Evalle pled. Tristan has information on the Alterants that might sway the Tribunal if they’ll just let me explain, but they’re blaming me with the fog because I used my last gift to make it go away permanently.

You shouldn’t have been able to do that when VIPER deities could not influence the fog.

I have no idea why it worked. Maybe it was the power of all three of these in the gifts or the fact that I was in the fog when I called on the gift, or maybe Kizira just lied about being responsible for the fog . . . I don’t know, but I swear I’m not with the Medb, Brina.

Brina nodded, then spoke to the Tribunal. “I ask that you allow Evalle a chance to explain—”

“That was not our agreement, Warrior Queen,” Ares charged. “You accepted the terms, and I see no Alterants or the one known as Tristan, freed at her hands.”

The dark heavens surrounding them shook and rumbled with the force of his declaration.

Pele agreed. “No deity among the VIPER coalition has been able to stop the fog from spreading. Yet your Alterant destroyed something she now tells us was created by the Medb. Based upon her own testimony, she is aligned with your enemy and yet you defend her?”

Brina answered, “No one has proof of who was behind the fog. The Medb could have been lying to her.”

Pele’s impatience was evident in her refusal to debate the fog issue further. “Regardless, this one”—she pointed at Evalle—“has answered beyond any doubt that her loyalty lies with seeing her fellow Alterants remain free.”

The goddess directed her attention to Evalle. “Is that not so?”

Not the way Pele stated it.

Evalle would not stand here and have her loyalty called into question. “I am not involved with the Medb. I am loyal to the Beladors. I have no idea why the gift worked, but even with what you’re accusing me of I would use it again to protect humans across this continent.”

“As well as Alterants?” Loki challenged softly.

Evalle considered all that had transpired and figured this would be her last chance to speak up for Alterants. “Would I like to see all Alterants who’ve done nothing wrong be free? I never said those specific words, but as one myself, I can only answer that question as yes. We should have the right of every other free being. I left here with the goal of bringing those three escapees back to face judgment that I thought would be fair.”

Evalle paused to consider her next words. When no one on the dais stabbed her with a lightning bolt, she added, “I told the other Alterants that I believed a fair and just Tribunal would have given each of them the chance to plead his case to remain free. And Tristan has information that sheds light on the origin of Alterants and will answer many questions.”