The Forsaken Hero

"So, as you can see, this changes nothing," Undill said quickly, struggling to regain control of the conversation. "Let us forswear this surrender and prepare ourselves to slay the demons."

"I concur. There can be nothing productive to come from speaking with these deceivers anymore. If you permit me, I’d like to take them into church custody. We’d like to ask them about the nature of their plans for this empire and how they intended to betray you."

I froze, my tail stiffening. I shot a wide-eyed look at Elise, my heart accelerating painfully. I wouldn’t let them take us, even if it meant retreating to Haven. I would never allow the church to take me again.

To my surprise, Elise didn’t seem fazed.

"You’d like to end this now, wouldn’t you, Father," she said, smiling faintly. It was an expression I’d never seen her wear, a sort of sly, confident look, like how Jessia looked whenever she teased me.

Father Ithris stood, clasping his hands behind his back in a dignified manner. "Come, Undill, let us waste no time here."

She rose, but Elise’s next words stopped them in their tracks.

"I wonder, Grand Duke, how the church retrieved a crystal from the aftermath of a demon massacre. You said it was a ninth-level core, right?"

The Duke nodded. "That is correct."

Elise turned to Father Ithris. "You expect us to believe the demons attacked, took the time to slaughter thirty thousand people, and then didn’t steal a ninth-level core? That’s a priceless artifact we’re talking about, one that could take a demon’s evolution to the eighth level. Something, I might think, you would know." Her eyes narrowed. "But I hardly think a greedy inquisitor would stop to think of that."

Jessia burst out laughing, causing everyone to flinch and glare at her.