Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(59)

Not the best news. But not the worst, either.

“How long until they’ve matured?” Ari asked.

“About two years or so.”

Janco groaned. By then they’d be reporting to Commander Owen.

Yelena pulled the drawing of the Harman tree from her pack and handed it to Nutty. “Do you recognize this?”

She studied the picture. “No, sorry.”

Yelena hid her disappointment, but Janco knew discovering why those Harman trees were so important to Owen and the Cartel was vital to their success.

“How long have you been involved?” Yelena asked Nutty.

“Bavol asked me to help him with some crossbreeding a few years ago, but he said it was a matter of high security and it would be treason if I told anyone.” She glanced around as if expecting him to jump from the nearby grasses and yell at her for divulging the information. “Then a couple seasons ago, he asked me come to the plains. He’d built this hothouse as a prototype. He was working with two others, but he wouldn’t tell me who they are. Said it was safer for me to not know. The last time I saw him, Bavol suspected he was in danger and told me to stay here and that he would send someone.”

“See? I told you she wasn’t working for the Master Gardener,” Esau said.

Nutty pulled at her ponytail. “Is Bavol all right?”

“As far as we know,” Yelena said. “The Cartel moved all the Councilors to the Greenblade garrison.”

“The Cartel?”

“I’ll explain in a bit, but first, did you discover who was working with Bavol?”

“I saw them. They came for a brief visit soon after I arrived. Bavol told me to hide in the hothouse. I peeked out. I recognized one of them.” She hunched down as if afraid of getting caught.

“Who is it?” Yelena asked.

Nutty bit her lower lip.

“We need to know.” Yelena’s tone held patience.

Janco, in contrast, had to suppress the desire to shake the name from the girl.

“Will he get in trouble?” Nutty asked.

“It depends on whether he knowingly helped the Cartel, or if he was tricked.”

“It’s Oran,” she blurted. “One of our clan’s elders.”

Yelena clutched her tunic in distress. There could be more members of her clan involved with the Master Gardener, and that would throw suspicion on her entire family.

“Shouldn’t be too big a surprise,” Esau said. “He has the knowledge and could arrange the transport of the plants without trouble. Hell, even I’ve discussed these plants with him many times.”

Nutty pressed her hands over her heart. “Have I done something wrong?”

“No,” Yelena said. “You were helping Bavol. You had no idea what he was doing with the information.”

Nutty didn’t relax. “What about Oran? Should I have reported him?”

“To who?” Janco asked, but he didn’t wait for an answer, “Bavol’s your clan leader, and the Council is under the Cartel’s influence. If you said something to them, you could have been arrested or conscripted or killed.”

“And Oran could just be helping Bavol, as well,” Mara offered. “We’re jumping to conclusions. He might not be the Master Gardener. Esau, didn’t you think it might be someone from the Greenblade Clan?”

“Yes. They have a few experts with the knowledge and skills, as well,” Esau said.

“Have you met Oran Cinchona Zaltana?” Yelena asked Janco.

“Not that I can recall,” he said.

“Hold on,” Esau said. He pulled a notebook and a thin piece of charcoal from his pack. Drawing a quick sketch of an older man, Esau turned the page to face Janco. “Is this the man you saw in the Greenblade hothouse?”

“Yes! But why does he look so familiar?”

“You’ve met Bavol, correct?”

“Yes...” Janco wasn’t sure where this was going.

Esau drew a picture of Bavol next to Oran. “They are half brothers.”

Ah! Finally, they had a name and a face for the Master Gardener. Except the Ixians were the only ones who looked happy about it. Nutty wilted, and Yelena fidgeted with the fabric of her tunic.

“What about the other person with Oran?” Onora asked Nutty.

“Can you describe him?” Esau asked.

“Her,” she corrected him. Then, sounding doubtful, she said, “I can try.”

“It’s just like when you’re clinging to the very top of a tree when on expedition with me,” he said. “Just describe the parts, and I’ll work on putting it together.”

“Okay.”

As she worked with Esau, Ari leaned close to Janco. “I hope she’s better at description than you are.”

Janco made a rude noise. “Forgive me for not being perfect at everything.”

When they finished, Esau showed them the picture. The woman had blond hair and large oval eyes. Pretty and pale like an Ixian, she appeared to be in her late thirties. Janco didn’t recognize her.

Yelena cursed. “That’s Selene Moon.”

“Who’s Selene?” Janco asked.

“Owen’s wife. She was born in the Greenblade Clan but took his clan’s name when they married. I don’t remember her file saying anything about her being good with plants,” Yelena mused.