Broken Veil (Harbinger #5)(89)

“After I was abducted, I was hidden in a cesspit in the Fells,” Sera said. Eyes widened with surprise. Some of the ladies covered their mouths involuntarily with their handkerchiefs. “I witnessed firsthand the cruelty that we do to each other, especially to those less powerful than us. I intend to make some radical changes in our society. To pass laws that will condemn the slavery of children. No more will deeds be bought and sold. No more will people be treated like chattel.” She sighed. “Some of my ideas will not be popular. They will stoke animosity and anger. But I intend to take care of our people. Instead of using all of our wealth to build sky ships, I intend to use it to build bridges. I’m not saying we will disband the Ministry of War. But I see now that we erected it to pursue our interests in other worlds instead of improving the lives of our people.”

She paused, choosing her words deliberately. She didn’t know how the council would react. “Some of you may not feel comfortable in the world I intend to rebuild. Lord Fitzroy had some excellent ideas, and we had only just begun to implement the simplest of them before he was killed. I will continue to pursue his plans with a vengeance and look for more ideas to further improve the condition of our people. We must do this, my friends. And I tell you why. Our enemy is no longer the rulers of Kingfountain. It is the Queen of the Unborn. She is freed from her prison at Cruix Abbey.

“For too long we have guarded the secrets of the mastons, veiling them behind the Mysteries. Keeping the poorest among us in ignorance. These secrets must be shared with everyone, lest Ereshkigal destroy us from within. She will use our own thoughts against us.” Sera shook her head. “The war we face now is a battle for our minds. If we do things as we’ve done them for the last few centuries, then we will fail as a people. From this day forward, the Mysteries will once more be known by their proper name: the Medium. And all children in want of an education shall be given one. We will open new abbeys and new schools throughout the empire.”

She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table in front of her. All eyes in the room were fixed on her. Most of the council members looked nervous and worried. Her latest revelation was still sinking in. Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Unborn, had won power in secret by manipulating kings and queens. She’d persecuted the mastons to the brink of extinction. Her return would cause terrible events to unfold.

“I propose an amnesty for the traitors,” Sera said. “Those guilty of crimes against us or those who do not wish to live among us any longer shall be exiled. This world is certainly big enough. Our cartographers will choose a location that is wholly uninhabited. These people will be colonizers in a way. They will establish their own society. Rule themselves as they please. We will provide sufficient provisions for them to survive for several years, and then we will leave them be. Without sky ships, they will be stranded. Perhaps Lord Welles, since he sought to be our governor, would prefer ruling such a society to facing charges for his crimes. Those who do not accept the amnesty will be charged through the Ministry of Law. It may take years to try all the cases, but we will grant each person a fair trial and an advocate to speak on their behalf. Those found guilty will suffer the consequences of their crimes, including prison sentences for lesser crimes. Execution for treason or murder.”

She leaned back in her chair, looking at their faces one by one. Silence.

Mr. Durrant’s brow was deeply furrowed. His mouth was pinched into a frown. “Would the exile be permanent?”

She stared at him. “Yes.”

The door to the privy council chamber was thrust open, causing looks of alarm to spread over the small group. It was one of her guards, Lieutenant Wilton.

“Your Highness,” he said breathlessly. “A tempest bearing the name of Serpentine just hailed us. They’re en route from the Fells. Prince Trevon is on board.” He struggled to breathe. “He’s on his way to Lockhaven now!”





I am back at the hospital with a group of malnourished and sickly children whom we recovered from the cesspit in the heart of the Fells. It is morning, and I am still alive. But I’m deeply worried about Cettie and what has become of her. The monster from the grotto attacked us in that awful place, but the iron door held the beast at bay. It raked its foul claws on the metal door. It howled and raged. Our only light was the lantern I held. Then all went quiet. Sickly, deathly quiet. We waited, unsure, trying to calm the children. But it was still out there. The orb told us it was lurking, waiting for us to emerge.

We unlocked the children from their bonds. We readied ourselves to face the monster. How many hours had we been trapped down there? I have no idea. But we felt, finally, that we should go. That we should trust the Mysteries, which said we should leave. We knew, from the orb, that Sera and Cettie had been transported to Cruix Abbey. We had to tell the government, anyone who would listen. I knew they were both in grave danger.

The monster attacked as we emerged from the locked chamber. I made the lantern I carried as bright as the sun. It charged at us still. I heard Juliana’s pistols fire twice. It was too big, too monstrous to be stopped by such a small weapon. And yet it worked. It shrieked in pain and then slumped to the floor. For a moment, I thought I saw a man standing behind it with a drawn sword. An angel from the Knowing, perhaps? I don’t know. The beast was dead. I brought the children with me while the others left on the Serpentine. I pray they make it safely to Lockhaven. That the empress, and dear Cettie, may be returned whole and hale.