apprentice—but that boy could be absolutely impossible, as infuriating as Castien was, though in a different way. The fact that he dared to talk to the Grandmaster of the Order in such a tone wasn’t even born of his familiarity with Castien as a fellow Master he shared a lineage with; Zaid had been that way with every Grandmaster, not just Castien. That boy was so undisciplined.
Judging by the slight narrowing of Castien’s eyes, he didn’t appreciate Zaid’s insolence, either.
“What I did with my apprentice is none of your concern,” Castien said coldly. “I am merely informing you all, so that you are not surprised by people’s increased curiosity on the subject.”
“With all due respect, but you made it our concern, Master,” Master Kuli said, her voice quiet but firm. “While I do not agree with Zaid’s phrasing, the subject matter is troubling and might have ramifications for all of the Order.”
“Exactly,” Zaid said, his gray eyes focusing on Castien. “I couldn’t care less that you fucked that pretty boy of yours—I would have been more surprised if you didn’t—but I don’t understand why you didn’t wipe his memory of you and any sensitive information he possessed before letting him go. That was the easiest route you could have taken to avoid this mess.”
Amara pressed her lips together, unsurprised by Zaid’s lack of ethics. But no matter how distasteful she found his solution, she had to admit it was a solution, however morally dubious. She was rather surprised Castien hadn’t taken that route.
Castien stared Zaid down. “That would have been a waste of our resources and time,” he said. “Eridan might have been returned to his family, but he was still raised and taught by us. We did not spend two decades training him just to wipe his memory and be done with it.”
Zaid raised his dark brows. “I’m sure that’s why you didn’t erase his memory.”
Castien’s eyes narrowed, his anger flaring, cold and biting. “If you have something to say, say it.”
Before her two grand-apprentices could come to blows, Amara cut in, “This is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. With the increased scrutiny on the Order, we cannot afford it. We must present a united front.”
The tension around Castien dissipated as he turned to her. “I agree, Master Amara,” he said, dismissing Zaid with a derisive glance.
Zaid’s jaw tightened.
Amara looked away from him, making a note to herself to monitor that situation. Castien and Zaid had always butted heads when they were boys, like two brothers that were too different to get along, and that hadn’t changed much as they grew up.
“We have a traitor among us,” Castien said, looking every Master in the eye, one by one. “Likely an unclaimed initiate or a member of the servicing department who resents that they have not been chosen by a Master. Though, it could also be a way to divert attention from their identity. That ‘source’ of the article, whoever they are, must be identified as quickly as possible. If they were willing to gossip about me and Eridan for financial gain, there is no stopping them from betraying all secrets of the Order next time.”
Unease filled the room.
“Look for people who were not in Hronthar after the wedding reception,” Castien said. “Weed out those who had a valid reason to be out and have little reason to resent Eridan. Get me the names. I will handle the rest.”
Amara shivered. She had little doubt how Castien was going to handle it. Castien had always been less than merciful to those he perceived as traitors.
“How can you be sure Eridan was the target, and not you?” Amara said.
Castien’s gaze traveled over the Chapter members, sharp and penetrating. “My enemies are not stupid enough to think an article like that would do anything to me. Eridan is the one the article was aimed to hurt, and the one whose social standing will be affected. When you look for potential suspects, pay closer attention to the initiates who have had conflicts with Eridan in the past.” He glanced at his watch and stood up. “You are dismissed. I’m almost late for my appointment.” And he strode out of the chamber as the Masters bowed.
Amara frowned, troubled.
There was something… off about Castien.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: An Act of Kindness
“He’s late,” Warrehn gritted out, pacing the room.
Eridan looked down at his hands. “He probably had to deal with the fallout of that article.”
His words only made Warrehn scowl. “I’ll sue them for libel.”