Eden's Ore: Revelations

By B.V. Bayly

Gabriel is left for dead.
The Horsemen have spread their corruption, targeting the Church's highest order and forcing the Patriarchs to fracture. The Council of the Church demand the white ore in Gabriel's chest be removed and kept for the Church. As Gabriel's life hangs in the balance, Nate and his allies must scramble to awaken him before the Church falls. Claire provides a single hope - the Sphere - a sanctuary for ore users hidden underneath London. Only they can find what Gabriel needs to come back from death.
Meanwhile the Horsemen's corruption continues to spread, the Patriarchs turn one another, the demand for Gabriel's white ore only increases. Their only hope to disappear from the Church's watchful eyes. Find refuge with the Sphere and hope they can heal Gabriel. And even if they do, the Church still stands on the edge of destruction. TERA fully prepared to take advantage and push them off.
They have no choice but to destroy the corruption. Travel into the dark zones – areas abandoned by the civilized world – and find who is poisoning the Church from within. With the world on the brink of war, no one is safe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.V. Bayly
• Release date: Nov 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311360304

Book preview

Chapter One

The air was electric. Commander Nate Reinhart could feel the energy buzz across his skin as he rappelled backwards down the rock wall of the crater. He had never seen an explosion like that. Ever. It was as bright as the sun and just as awesome in power. It consumed everything it touched. The hardened steel and concrete walls of the weapons facility had disintegrated. The trees and ground all around burned to ash. The explosion carved a massive crater down into the bedrock. Nate briefly closed his eyes. He remembered just after the blast that an object hung in the air. The bright white energy from the blast rushed back to it. Something had been left behind, deep in the bottom of the crater, and he wasn't going to leave until he found it.

His legs pushed off the rock wall in rhythm as he continued deeper into the crater. All he could think about was Gabriel. What was left of him? His mind pictured him standing in front of the black ore in the basement of the weapons facility. It was a boulder – not the small fragments Gabriel could handle. But he detonated it anyways, determined to destroy it. He was the only one who could; the power of the white ore embedded in his chest gave him that power.

Nate kicked off the wall again, downward as fast as he dared in the dark. The line swung awkwardly to the left, pushing him off balance. Keep it steady! He spoke through his radio to his team at the top of the crater.

The team above was nervous and pissed off. So they should be. He was risking all their lives on the slim chance that Gabriel might be alive. The area was still hostile – who knows if any of their enemies had lived through the blast, or if more were coming. Nate steadied himself as his boots touched down on the glassy, fused bottom of the crater. It didn’t matter. It was selfish, but he didn’t care. If Gabriel had survived, Nate needed to find him. He unclipped the rope from his carabineer and turned around, staring across the reflective ground. He clicked on the small blue light attached to his vest and marched forward.

The entire bottom of the crater was scorched black. Near the center a single object stood out from the smooth bottom. Nate sucked in a broken breath as he approached it. In the weak blue light, a pale body was sprawled out against the blackened rock bed. His heart thundered in his chest as he raced towards it.

Gabriel! Nate dropped to his knees and slid across the slick bottom right next to him. Gabriel’s skin was white, too white; a color Nate had seen too many times on the battlefield. He placed his hand on Gabriel’s bare chest; his clothes had nearly all burnt away. The shard embedded in his chest was cracked in half. His chest didn’t move. A quiver started in Nate’s bottom lip, as his head dropped down, his jaw tight and eyes wet. Not now. He pushed back against his feelings. Right now he needed to focus; he needed to take Gabriel home.

Something pulsed under his hand.

Gabriel? Nate snapped his head upright. Gabriel didn’t move, didn’t breathe, but that was something. Nate stared at his chest, willing it would rise. He pressed his cheek against Gabriel’s ice cold chest. There had to be something; a breath, a faint contraction of his heart, anything.

Sir? Nate’s radio broke his concentration. We got movement on the ridge.

He was out of time. Lawrence, find a perch – I want your scope on whoever is there.

Nate’s feelings disappeared as he snapped into action. He looped some extra rope around Gabriel’s limp body and hauled him up onto his back. The nylon rope cut deep into his skin, but he didn’t care. This wasn’t his first time bringing a soldier home, and memories of others flooded his mind. He clenched his teeth. He had felt something. It had been small, faint, but it was there. The white ore implanted in Gabriel’s chest was special – a fragment left behind from the creation of the world. Gabriel couldn’t be dead. Nate refused to believe it.

The burning in his legs numbed as he staggered under the extra weight, and headed towards the line connected to his team at the top of the crater. He pressed the loop of the thick rope through his harness and snapped the carabineer shut. He tried his best to be calm, breathing deep, but his hands shook. He double tapped his quivering fingers to the silver disc stuck just behind his ear, leaving the channel open. Get me out of here! The line tightened immediately and he slowly marched up the rock face, his boots struggling to find any grip on the blast-carved stone.

Daylight approached as he made his way up the smooth rock face. Nate fought to keep his feet against the slick wall. Come on! He needed to move faster. Whoever was on that ridge most likely wanted him and his team dead, and right now he was a sitting duck. His mind argued with itself, annoyed about his current position. Why hadn’t he dragged Gabriel out of that room? What good had it done, destroying one black shard, no matter how big it was? Why had they even agreed to the mission?

The rock face chipped as a bullet pounded into it just inches away from his face; a pop echoed in the distance. The glassy wall of rock shattered just above him as more bullets pounded into them. A small chunk of rock fell down, smacking him in the face. Shots fired! Nate could feel the blood leak down his cheek as he clicked off the small blue light on his vest, hoping to hide.

A boom followed from above. One down. Lawrence calmly responded. It’s a small group – southeast on the ridge – 450 yards. Another boom echoed into the air. Another target dead. His team had him covered.

Nate gripped the rope and hauled himself up the line, his arms burning with each pull forward. Get me out of here!

A spray of gunfire echoed across the crater. Suppression fire. Lawrence grunted. I’m pinned. Moving position for another shot.

It’s small calibers. Grutz and I are circling on them. Just hold on, sir. Ing was running. His voice bounced in the radio.

A spray of bullets crackled across the stone just above Nate. He ignored it, desperate to get out of the crater. More shots riddled the area. Chips of rock rained down all over him as they shot at him blindly in the dark. The sting of a bullet grazed his left shoulder; his arm went limp. The rope slipped from his left hand. The heavy line burned into his other palm as he dragged down the line. I’m hit! He drew his side arm. He used his legs to twist around and keep Gabriel behind himself as he opened fire at the ridge. It was too far for accuracy, but he needed anything to keep them from shooting at him.

Grutz’s gruff voice was quick. Engaging the enemy. Grenade out.

The ridgeline exploded with a flash of fire. Status? His heart pounded as he held his gun on the ridge. A gentle tug every few seconds moved him up towards the top of the crater.

Enemy down. Grutz’s breath was heavy.

Clear. Ing sounded the same.

A final boom echoed across the carter. All clear, Lawrence happily announced. All enemies down and accounted for. We’re good. Get the commander out of there.

A hardened face peered over the rocky lip of the crater. It’s about time! Volmer glared at Nate. His face glistened with sweat as the sun crested the sky. The light from the morning sun had left their position exposed. Robins appeared on the edge of the crater, his arm stretched out. Nate grasped it and struggled up over the steep ledge, his left arm still useless.

Ing, call for extraction. Nate tried to sound as calm as possible as he fought back the urge to collapse onto the ground.

Yes, sir. Ing responded from somewhere in the trees on the other side of the ridge.

Careful! Nate removed the tight straps from around his chest. His arms burned as he passed Gabriel to Volmer and Robins. They gently laid him on the ground. Robins took off his pack to attend to the graze on Nate’s arm.

Nate knelt down beside Gabriel, ignoring Robins, and gently pressed his fingers against Gabriel’s throat. Find me something to wrap him up in. He searched for the pulse he thought he’d felt before.

ETA is thirty minutes on a fast bird. Ing returned to the group with Grutz. We’re going to have to find cover until they arrive. He was antsy to leave, walking right past the group and into the trees away from the crater. Nate ignored him and focused on Gabriel.

Dub. There was a flicker under Nate’s fingers, or was it his imagination? He closed his eyes and focused, his fingers frozen to Gabriel’s throat.

Sir, we’re wide open here. Robins finished dressing Nate’s wound. Commander Reinhart?

Wait! He glared at Robins. No one move! He blocked out every sound, every sense – except his two calloused fingertips. Come on, kid, he whispered.

Dub. Again, a small pulse pushed back against his fingers.

Nate twisted around. Make sure that bird doesn’t leave without Osho and a full medical team aboard for Gabriel!

I’ll be damned. Volmer grunted with his thick Russian accent. The kid’s strong.

Nate grinned as tears burned his eyes. Damn, rights! He touched Gabriel’s face. He was alive. Good job, kid.

Thank you, each of you. Nate studied his men. Let’s get him home. Prep a stretcher. The group went to work, each of them dropping their packs and spreading out into the trees to find what they needed.

Sir, Grutz edged towards him, You need to see this. He held out several emblems.

Nate grabbed them. They were patches from uniforms – no words, no picture, just a pattern. The pattern identified which side soldiers were on during a fire fight. He recognized the pattern as their own. Where did you get these?

The group on the ridge. Grutz didn’t say anything else.

Nate frowned. Why would they attack us? He felt sick. Had they gunned down their own soldiers by mistake?

Grutz scratched at his face. I dunno. He shrugged. They saw us first and still attacked. I checked their radios; they were patched into our frequencies. He shook his head. But they were also patched into another. Listen. He handed Nate one of the radios.

Nate twisted the top dial and the radio sparked to life. Enemies in retreat. It was a relay message. Pursue targets through quadrants 11, 14, and 17. All targets are to be eliminated. Rally and evacuation points are located in quadrant 28. His eyes widened. Who was giving the orders?

It’s an encrypted signal – specific to these radios. I tried to duplicate it on ours, but no go. Grutz rubbed the nape of his neck.

Nate sighed. This just got more complex. Someone’s giving orders to our soldiers – ones that trump our own. He turned around and eyed the rest of his men. We seem to be out of the loop.

You think it’s the Church? Grutz stepped up beside him. Did they turn on us?

Maybe. Nate stared at Gabriel. Where else could he take him?

The team retreated, carrying Gabriel on the make-shift stretcher. Nate led them past the toppled trees and into the old forest. They needed to stay under cover. The sun had already flared across the horizon and begun to climb over their backs as they pressed deeper towards the extraction point. He had briefed the soldiers on their situation. The extraction point might be a trap, but they needed to get out of there fast. So, Nate did what he knew best; he planned a trap within the trap.

He remained focused as they marched through the moss roots of the old forest, the canopy above their heads hiding their movements as they continued towards their destination. His eyes checked the navigator on his forearm. The holographic screen pointed to a clearing three miles from their current location. Ing had called in a new extraction point to east of the old position, a better place to fight if things went sideways. They would arrive first – setup an ambush and keep eyes on the bird as it landed to make sure no surprises came with it.

Nate froze, holding a fist up for his team to halt. A silhouette moved between the tree trunks 200 yards ahead of them; one, then another. Lawrence, scope up. Robins, with me, he whispered into his comm as he drew his pistol.

He barely made a noise as he leap-frogged back and forth with Robins, from one tree to another towards the silhouettes. Nate took a deep breath, his back pressed against the last tree. He was close. The group was just beyond him, in a small clearing. They suspected nothing. He glanced around the rough exterior of the thick tree hiding him. The clearing was full of wounded soldiers, their bandages soaked with blood. They were oblivious to Nate and Robins, now on opposite sides of them and setup for a crossfire.

Lawrence, what are you seeing? Nate whispered, as his mind systematically picked the targets to take down first. His shoulder ached as he held his pistol.

Lawrence let out a breath across the comm. Emblems are ours.

That doesn’t help. Nate whispered.

Scope their ears. Look close. Grutz insisted. The radio I lifted off the soldier had an old school earpiece, not a disc. Check each of them.

Lawrence whispered back. Checking… A long silence passed. No ear piece on any of them.

Alright, weapons hot. Nate kept his pistol drawn as he walked out from behind the tree and pointed at the first target on his kill list. I am Commander Reinhart of the Church of Humanity. Who is in command here? He held his gun on the individual.

The soldier’s eyes were wide and full of terror. N-no one.

One of the other soldiers stood up. We’re all that’s left. Half the platoon turned on us.

Alright. Nate’s heart pounded. Everyone’s weapons stay on the ground. He kept his pistol on them. My team is going to come in – we’re going to vet each of you. You check out, you join us. You don’t – we’re going to have a problem.

Everyone checked out. There was nothing suspicious on any of them. All of them had the same story – turned on by their own platoons. Nate kept a close eye on the group as Ing treated each of the wounded with adrenaline spikers and cauterizing paste. It would hold them together for now.

Nate didn’t know what to think. Was it possible the Church had turned on them? He knelt down beside Lawrence – who was leaning against a fallen log beside Gabriel, his sniper rifle across his lap, loaded and ready. Lawrence had served with Nate at the IP for years. What do you think?

Lawrence shrugged. Someone knew we were coming. Those two snipers built that blind knowing we would be coming in on that side of the weapons facility. Lawrence motioned over at the soldiers. Their stories. The attack at the crater. Someone’s pulling the strings. Maybe the Church, maybe someone else.

Nate didn’t even want to consider the Church, but somehow the enemy had known every step of their plan. Only a dozen people knew about the op. One of them had to have leaked it. Let’s just hope the bird’s still good.

Lawrence lightly jabbed his fist into Nate’s good arm. If Osho is on board – it’s good.

He was right. Alright! Nate stood up and hollered at the group. Lawrence, Robins – you’re on point with me. Grutz and Volmer are on the tail. Ing I want you near Gabriel. I need two people on his stretcher. If you can walk, then you can carry someone or something. It’s just over three miles. We are going to do this fast so keep up. Saddle up and let’s move out!

Chapter Two

The stories from the soldiers shook Nate’s confidence in the Church of Humanity. Someone had ordered the platoons to attack their own, but with no evidence Nate didn’t have much to go on. Everyone had been ordered back to the massive Cathedral in St. Petersburg – the Church’s headquarters in northern European Commons. Either they would be safe there or all killed. The transport helicopter Ing had called in, touched down in the old wood grove with Osho on board. It was safe. Nate happily met him and loaded everyone up, pushing the weight limit of the transport. As they landed back in the safe zone, Nate didn’t know who to trust. He commandeered an ambulance from the transports waiting for them along the old Kazakhstan border, disappearing from the crowds of wounded soldiers with Gabriel.

I don’t like this. Nate locked eyes with Dr. Osho. The ambulance swayed as it took a sharp corner. Easy on the corners. He hollered up front to Lawrence.

Sorry. Lawrence kept his eyes on the road. Not quite used to this thing.

Nate wouldn’t let anyone else take the wheel. He didn’t know who he could trust, so he commandeered an ambulance from the transports waiting for them along the old Kazakhstan border.

Osho shrugged and steadied himself against the inside wall. I’ve heard of lots of cases where the mind fractures on the battlefield. Friendly fire happens.

Friendly fire? You don’t believe that. Nate could see it in Osho’s eyes.

I’m not sure what to believe. Osho shook his head. Why would the Church invest so much only to ambush their own? It doesn’t make any sense.

Maybe they wanted us out of the way. Nate dropped his head and rubbed his neck. Maybe they wanted Gabriel out of the way. After that blast, maybe they think he lost control again.

Now, you’re just speculating it’s the Church. Osho rolled his eyes. They said they weren’t going to hunt ore users anymore. The council declared it. Besides, where else can we go? I can’t do anything more for Gabriel until I have the proper equipment, and that’s at the cathedral.

Nate leaned forward, his hands holding up his chin. He gazed at Gabriel. His face was pale, white, and being wrapped up in all those grey military blankets just made him look dead. He didn’t have much choice.

Gabriel’s current condition will appear like death to most people. We can keep it to ourselves. If he is a threat to the Church, it is better they think he’s dead. Osho leaned forward to check Gabriel’s vitals. Once we arrive I can get a better idea of what’s happened to him. We’ll decide what to do then.

Fine. Gabriel did look dead. The thought made Nate’s heart ache. He wanted Gabriel back. He wanted Osho to wake him up. Now. Just tell me you can fix him.

I’ll do my best . Osho put his hand on Nate’s shoulder.

Nate leaned back against the wall of the ambulance. All he could do now was wait.

They arrived in St. Petersburg within the hour, pulling up to the tall old cathedral with its massive military base beneath. As they unloaded Gabriel, Nate kept them away from the other incoming troops. They needed to slip inside without anyone seeing Gabriel. They took a private elevator down to the lower laboratory floors. No one seemed to care as they wheeled the stretcher towards an examination room in the far wing. Gabriel was hidden under the heavy grey blankets. Nate stayed quiet, ignoring everyone Osho politely greeted. After they entered the room, Nate ordered Lawrence and Robins to check out what was happening in the rest of the facility. He shut and locked the door as they left.

Find out what’s wrong with him. There was no point in beating around the bush.

Osho was his usual calm self. Yes, I understand your rush, but this is going to take some time. He touched his balding head.

How long? Nate knew the answer wasn’t going to be what he wanted to hear.

Gabriel is in critical condition. I need everything we have here and more if I am going to get him to recover. Osho shook his head. He’s not exactly normal, Nathaniel. I have no idea how long it could take.

Nate knew the Doctor was right, regardless of how much his gut wanted them to leave the vicinity of the Church. Gabriel needed to be stable first. Just … we don’t have a lot of time. He pulled the blanket back from Gabriel’s ghostly face; it was jarring.

I’m well aware of that. Osho pulled the blanket down further and attached sensors to Gabriel’s chest. His heart is slow, maybe two beats per minute, certainly not possible by human standards. The shard must be keeping him alive, but I will need to do some more tests to check his brain activity. Osho focused on gathering equipment. I’m not sure what you want to hear.

I want to hear that you can wake him up. Nate was annoyed.

Nate, his brain may be severely damaged. His body might simply be hanging onto the ore somehow. Osho voice lowered. You need to prepare yourself for the worst.

He pressed his teeth together. I’m not giving up on him!

That’s not what I’m saying! Osho raised his voice. I don’t know what we are dealing with here. Gabriel isn’t human – he’s something else!

What the hell are you talking about? Nate pointed at Gabriel. Look at him! That’s still my son! He struggled for control. I – I mean Calvin’s. Nate felt the sick sting of guilt as he thought about his best friend, Calvin. Nate was supposed to protect Gabriel and the family after Calvin had died in the so-called accident at TERA. Gabriel’s mother died in the storm that drove the white shard into Gabriel’s chest. Now, Gabriel might be gone as well. Nate had failed to keep his promise.

Osho grabbed him by the shoulder. I understand how you feel – I do. You did your best to raise him, which makes you as close to being his father as anyone. We’ll find a way. Gabriel’s stronger than we could possibly imagine.

Tears threatened to slide down Nate’s face. I shouldn’t have left him there. He broke. The black ore … I knew it’d kill him. It was too much.

Well, it didn’t. Look at me, Osho put both hands on Nate’s shoulders, Gabriel destroyed that ore. It released so much raw energy that nothing in that weapons facility was left. Only Gabriel was left in the crater – there’s still hope.

A knock at the door echoed in the room. Nate wiped his face and cleared his throat. What?

It’s me, Clarence answered from behind the door.

Osho motioned towards the door. Answer it. We can trust him.

Nate breathed out, wiping his eyes and sniffing as he crossed the room. He opened the door with a half-hearted smile.

I came as soon as I heard. Father Clarence limped into the room, his arm in a sling from the ambush at the weapons facility. Still, he looked healthy for having been shot twice less than twenty-four hours ago. I’m so sorry, Nate. We will all miss Gabriel.

Who told you he was dead? Osho furrowed his brow.

Father Clarence’s eyes brows shot up. What? He pointed at the body, slowly walking towards it. He’s alive?

Sort of. Nate’s voice was froggy. He shut the door.

He’s in a strange coma. Osho went back to putting the rest of the sensors on Gabriel. I’ll know more soon, but he’s certainly not dead. However, I think it’s best if we keep everyone believing that.

What’s going on? Father Clarence was lost.

Something happened – Nate was interrupted by another knock at the door. He froze. Who else is out there?

Clarence shrugged.

The door swung open. Nate snatched his pistol and drew it. Cardinal Vincent stood rooted to the ground, his wide eyes locked onto Nate’s pistol.

Commander! Vincent’s hands reached high, his words coming out fast. W-What is going on here?

Nate sighed and put the pistol away. Just a little jumpy. He marched around him and locked the door to the room.

I came as quick as I could. Vincent edged away from him towards Osho. I saw the satellite images of the crater – such destruction. His eyes drifted to Gabriel on the table. His sacrifice will be remembered. Has he had his last rites?

He doesn’t need any. Nate double checked the door.

Cardinal Vincent twisted on the spot to face him, his black robes spinning around him. Commander Reinhart, the dead deserve their rights. They should be buried with respect!

Well, it’s a good thing he’s not dead, Osho added smugly.

What? Vincent’s mouth hung open, his thin white goatee traced around his lips. He twisted back to Osho.

Who told you he was dead? Nate asked sternly, marching back over to the others.

Father Clarence was quick to answer. The Patriarchs. They’ve told everyone.

Isn’t that interesting. Nate crossed his arms and glanced at Osho.

Vincent tripped over his words. Wait … please … He pointed to Gabriel. Gabriel survived?

Nate pointed to the chairs in the corner of the room. Sit.

Vincent, I suggest you listen closely and answer honestly. Excuse me, I need to see to Gabriel. Osho pressed a button and a muted holographic wall shimmered down from the ceiling to surround him and Gabriel.

Nate sat first. This all has to stay between us. No one outside of this room can know. Not until we understand exactly what happened.

Clarence struggled to get down into his chair, half- collapsing into it. Of course.

"So be it, the Cardinal agreed.

Gabriel is half dead. His body is alive, but we don’t know much else just yet. It’s going to be best to let everyone believe he’s dead. Nate took a breath. We don’t know what’s happened to him. He might still be gone. His jaw quivered.

Vincent grasped his rosary, fingering the beads. We will commit him to our prayers. Every moment I can spare.

I appreciate it. Nate bowed at him. They needed a miracle and prayer seemed like a logical place to start. But we have a bigger problem.

Father Clarence furrowed his brow at him, shifting in his seat to get comfortable. What could possibly be more important?

As we retreated from the blast zone, we we’re ambushed. Nate paused, eyeing their reactions. It was our own soldiers. They openly attacked us. We found a group of wounded soldiers as we retreated. All of them had the same story. Their units were ambushed by members of their own platoons.

Our own soldiers? Father Clarence twisted to the Cardinal. How come we didn’t hear about this?

The briefing hasn’t happened yet, Cardinal Vincent mumbled.

And I doubt you will. We were either betrayed or someone ordered us to be cut free – I’m not sure which. Nate leaned forward in his chair. Think about it. They knew where we would cut through the wall. Those snipers aimed for us. They didn’t find us; they didn’t stumble upon us. They set up a blind and shot at us. When I went into the crater after Gabriel, more of our own troops attacked us. Only about dozen people even knew about the op. Someone wants us dead.

Father Clarence stayed silent.

Nate twisted to face Vincent. You’re quiet.

These soldiers are bound to our Lord and the Church. Vincent crossed his arms. A commitment you don’t turn your back on. I find it difficult to believe.

I’m not saying they turned their back on the Church. Nate pulled out the radio and tossed it onto the table top. The soldiers who turned on us all carried one of these. He pointed at it. Encrypted frequencies – someone was giving them additional orders. We need to find out who.

Clarence picked up the radio. Looks old. Nothing like the comms we use now.

Vincent touched his finger to his mouth, tapping it. There was a minor disruption in our communication right after you gave the attack order. He pointed at Nate. No one was quite sure what it was. It didn’t appear to affect anything, so council proceeded as if there were no issues.

What kind of disruption? Nate frowned.

A system wide blip, only for a moment. Vincent shrugged. No one thought anything of it.

And you didn’t think to mention this? Nate was pissed.

At the time, I was assured it was nothing. The Patriarchs insisted we continue. Vincent glared at him as he paused. They are my superiors and I respect their position.

Father Clarence shook his head. Whoever it was, they could’ve jacked into our systems, hiding the signal under our own. We never would have even detected it.

Nate huffed and leaned back in his chair. You’ve been compromised.

Vincent kept his eyes locked on Nate. The attacks in North America were flawless. We hit the weapons facility here to cover our tracks while we stole ore from TERA across North America – it worked. TERA is calling them terrorist attacks from an unknown source. Why did the raids in North America go so well? His eyes bounced back and forth between Nate and Clarence. If we were betrayed, if someone inside leaked the information, why didn’t both sides of the operation fall apart?

Nate didn’t have an answer. I don’t–

The steel door to the room boomed as someone pounded against it. Open this door. By order of the council!

CHAPTER THREE

Nate jumped up from his chair, his hand nervously gripping his pistol. Keep all of this between us. Get Riley on it. His voice dropped down to a whisper as he shuffled towards the door. His heart pounded in his chest. What the hell did the council want?

I’ll take this. I'll send it to Riley for safe keeping and see what he can find out. Vincent stood up and picked up the radio.

Clarence struggled up from his seat. Remember you’ve got friends you can trust.

Good to know. Nate took a deep breath and reached for the door. Behind it was a glaring Patriarch Goodwin in crimson robes.

Why is this door locked? What’s going on in here? Goodwin was annoyed. Why did you not report in?

They’ve lost a loved one. They have a right to privacy. Father Clarence stepped forward, hobbling towards the door. Excuse me, your Excellence.

Patriarch Goodwin faked a smile and stepped aside, letting the injured Father through, then stepped into the room. Two guards followed him in. He cleared his throat. Forgive me. His accent made the apology sound snide. I came down myself to pay my respects to the fallen.

With two guards? Nate pointed out.

Yes, well.