A Shade of Vampire 37: An Empire of Stones(9)

“Who are they?” I asked Tejus quietly, recalling his strict instructions not to talk before we’d left the castle.

“They’re the Impartial Ministers,” he replied, and I remembered the guard mentioning them. “They will judge the imperial trials—they live like monks in an old ruin not far from here, and are the ultimate ministerial authority.” He smirked. “Some say they are immortal. I don’t believe that, but they have been around for a long time.”

“Do they advise you, like the other ministers?” I asked, catching sight of Lithan and Qentos approaching the pavilion.

“No. They only advise other ministers. They are supposed to be completely impartial, guiding only by what is right for Nevertide as a whole, hence their name.”

“But can’t we speak to them about what’s been going on at Hellswan? They might know more than the others,” I declared. Judging by the look of them, they had probably been around before the castle was built.

“My ministers would have already consulted them,” Tejus replied grimly. “As king, I am not permitted to seek out their advice.”

I pursed my lips in frustration. Like the rest of Tejus’s ministers, I didn’t really trust Lithan or Qentos. It wasn’t so much anything they’d done exactly—it was more their general muttering and apparent lack of knowledge that made me question their ability and willingness to help their king.

Queen Trina moved to speak with another of the ministers, and as she did so, I caught a glimpse of Ash at the back of the pavilion.

“Ash is there!” I turned to Tejus. “I need to speak to him—I’ll be back.” I rushed off without waiting for an answer, which I imagined would be a ‘no’ I was going to ignore anyway. I avoided the sentries, giving the pavilion a wide berth as I made my way to Ash.

He was standing alone looking pensive, but when he saw me, his expression broke into a broad grin.

“Hey, you,” he greeted. I smiled—Ash’s Americanisms were coming along.

“Hey, how’s Ruby?” I asked. “Is she okay?”

He nodded. “She’s fine. Safe. We’ve been staying in the Seraq kingdom since the night the barrier came up around Hellswan. I thought Tejus had erected it at first, which is why we left…but Ruby thought otherwise. It was the entity, right?”

I nodded, glad that Ruby had stuck up for Tejus.

“So are you working with Queen Trina now?”

“I’m helping her with the imperial trials – strategy mostly, and syphoning when it’s permitted.”

I tried to smile, glad that Ash was no longer working in the kitchen, but I wasn’t entirely convinced of my friend’s safety if she was staying with Queen Trina.

“I thought that might be the case—Jenney mentioned that you might. I saw you leave that night – I tried to call out…but, well – it was pointless. I don’t want Ruby to think I abandoned her…But now that the barriers are opened, are you both going to stay with…the queen?” I asked as politely as I could.

Ash gave a short bark of laughter. “Another fan of hers, I take it?”

I glanced toward the pavilion. “Let’s not go there. I know you want Ruby with you, but please tell her that Tejus will come and get her if she ever wants to come back.”

“He will, will he?” Ash remarked, looking skeptical.

“He will,” I asserted.

“All right. I’ll tell her.” He smiled crookedly. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or not, but the light seemed to dim from his eyes.

“How are you?” he asked after a pause.

I swallowed.

I’m not good.

“Benedict’s missing…well, not exactly missing – he left the castle. I think he’s in an old temple by the cove…Tejus and I are going there after this.”

Ash looked horrified, and it was a reminder to me just how bad things had gotten since Hellswan Castle had been blocked off by the borders. I had left out the part about the entity taking him…I wasn’t sure I wanted it reaching anyone else’s ears, especially not Queen Trina’s and it would only worry Ruby half to death.

“When you find Benedict, get out of that castle, Hazel. Both of you.”

I shook my head. “I can’t,” I whispered. Ash glanced in the direction of Tejus and nodded with bleak understanding.

“I should get back. Tell her I love her,” I said softly.

“ ‘Course,” he muttered.

“Thanks Ash.”

He nodded and then fixed his gaze back on the pavilion. I felt awkward suddenly, like I was speaking to the enemy or something, and hurried back to join Tejus. I was aware that I’d started to resent Ash a little bit…I understood that working for Queen Trina was probably a really good career move for him, but I couldn’t help the irrational feeling that he’d somehow betrayed Tejus, and taken my best friend away from me when I needed her the most. It was selfish of me to think like that, but the feelings were there all the same. Ash was right about one thing though – if I wasn’t willing to leave Hellswan to stay elsewhere in Nevertide, as soon as Benedict was free then I would give him that option. Not with Queen Trina, but perhaps there was somewhere else that wasn’t constantly under threat. Just until we could get out of here for good.