A Crown Of Smoke And Ash - Sloane Murphy Page 0,41
and Creek to the archives, they may need you to unravel any wards they come across. But know this, if there are hybrids in a force that is coming, you are going to need every helping hand you can get on your side.”
"It is decided then," Levi says. "After we have the proof, we will confront the Elders, tell them about the hybrids, about what we know so far, and try to get them to side with us, rather than a divided attack. We know that something is coming, even if we don’t know exactly what."
"You will need the other factions too," Marie adds, and he nods looking to Kain and Roman.
"Will your people come if we call?" I ask.
"I will need to return home, to speak to my Generals. See if any of the ancients who have been hiding for so long will aide us should the worst happen," Kain tells me, but he doesn’t look hopeful.
"Are we not moving too soon?" Roman interrupts. "As yet, we do not know who or what we face. Surely if we speak to all of these people, we risk showing our hand too early."
Silence meets his words as everyone contemplates the weight of them.
“He could be right,” Creek agrees. “Maybe we should speak to the Witches, learn what there is to learn, and try to find out what we can about the hybrids, and who the rogues are gathering with before we involve others.”
“Fine,” Levi grits out, obviously not agreeing. “While you and Remy go to the archives, and Marie gathers the Witch council, Kain, Roman, and I will do everything we can to find out more about the hybrids, where they are coming from, to see if it all is as interlinked as I fear. Once we have more information, then we will approach the factions, agreed?”
Murmurs rise across the table, the knowledge and weight of what could be to come settling on each of us.
“I will take leave now, there is much I should prepare before gathering the council,” Marie says. “You take care in those archives. They have been protected for far longer than any of us probably realize, and with what they contain, I imagine there are more than a few people who would rather you didn’t get your hands on the proof of their guilt.”
“Thank you, Marie,” I say, standing to hug her. “For always being on my side.”
“As all those before were, I will always be. You are mentioned a great many times in the grimoires of our ancestors, Remy. You have helped our line, our faction, more times than I could ever hope to repay.” She hugs me back tightly, before doing the same with the rest, and leaving us to the tasks we each know we must be successful in if we have any hope in moving forward.
“I don’t like this,” Kain says, pacing in the sitting room. “How do we know she won’t betray you?”
“We don’t. It’s a foolish plan, there has to be another way,” Roman says from where he sits by the fire. Darkness draws outside, bringing the first chill of winter with it. I sit, wrapped in a blanket, the same blue as Levi’s eyes, quiet as they each try to find another option, an alternative to trusting the woman who has practically raised me.
“She will not betray us,” Creek insists, but Levi laughs.
“Just because she is your mother? Do not forget that she did nothing when the sword was being raised over Remy’s head. Just as her own family did nothing. Why would we trust her now?” Levi asks.
“Because there is no other choice,” I say softly. “The faster we can get the information from the archives, the faster we can find those Hunters. A small group of allies perhaps, before we try for the others. And without them, without the information from the archives, we will have no leverage with the Elders, and no proof for the rest of the Hunters.”
“There has to be another way to find the location without letting the Hunters know what we know,” Kain insists but I shake my head.
“We did. Ben, one of the Elders, he was my friend, and he knew that I knew something was wrong. He was on our side, but he was killed. We do not have time to wait for him to recycle, if he will at all. He could have chosen the true death.” They each remain silent as they take it in. The knowledge that