The Order of Ja'el

Chapter Five

Silence punctuated the room as Jada, Zora, and Vlad stared at Millow. The quiet then seemed to stretch into eternity as each mind raced with possible explanations all too dangerous to share.

The instant that Millow had uttered the accusation, she knew she was unsafe. She was on the palace's premises which were entirely within the domain of the royals. They could accuse her of committing even the most farfetched offence to protect their secret and then shut her up—permanently. Her very presence there, without a direct invitation as a member of the Order, was all they needed. Jada's extended invitation didn't matter, and either way, it certainly wasn't in Jada's interest to protect her now.

Millow cursed herself for her failure to stop the outburst before it happened. Still, confusion swept through her mind as it was undeniable that she'd heard Ja'el's voice, yet inexplicable that the King, his sister, and the Commander's wife had been able to do the same. Carrying an honest report back to High Priestess Elian about hearing Ja'el's voice meant admitting that the others did too—if she told the whole truth. The High Priestess might quicker think Millow was lying than believe that others outside the Order could now hear Ja'el. An accusation of attempting to deceive the High Priestess would result in Millow being stripped of the priesthood and sentenced to death.

Before she could think of what to say, Vlad suddenly spoke. "Junior Millow," he began with a threatening tongue, "I don't know what you think you saw or what you believe yourself capable of by accusing the King of the Sky Colonies on the day of my official coronation, but let me make one thing clear: this devious plot by the Order to strip me of my throne, feigning Ja'el's voice and accusing others in this way, will cost you your life!"

The "what!" and "wait!" echoing from Zora and Jada held no sway with Vlad's decision. Before anyone could say another word, he shouted, "Guards!" Within seconds, two elite royal guards appeared out of nowhere. They swept into the room, each grabbing one of Millow's arms as they awaited further instructions from their King.

Jada was shocked. They'd all been made to believe that Vlad had left his guards behind in Igo. If he had journeyed here alone, how long had his guards been in the Capital? More questions arose than answers, but Jada shook them off and focused all her willpower on the unfolding, life-threatening situation with Millow.

"Your Supremacy Vlad," Jada started softly, "may I speak with you? Privately?"

"Not without me!" Zora interjected.

Vlad's eyes grew wild as he glared at them both before nodding. "Fine! Follow me. Guards, wait here and keep your eyes open. This plot by the Order may be far from over."

Leading Jada and Zora into his private study, Vlad closed the door behind them but didn't turn around right away. Instead, with his hand against the door, he said gruffly, "If either one of you is about to tell me that killing that meddling little priestess isn't the right thing to do, I suggest we end this sidebar now and return to more serious matters. The decision has already been made."

"We can't just execute her!" Zora retorted. "How does that make us any different from the Order?!"

"This is a war, woman!" Vlad flared. "Perhaps it is the war of wars that Ja'el speaks of in Her whispers! Obviously, our Goddess expects there to be sacrifices in Her name! But don't act for a moment like this isn't also in your best interests. Would you prefer flogging? The Skyfall? To see each other die? I am protecting you both. I'm saving your lives!"

"Haaa!" Zora jeered. "You're saving your own skin! We didn't ask you to be our saviour, so withhold your arrogance, Vlad! We can more than handle ourselves!"

"Against the Order?!" He spat back condescendingly. "You are one person, Zora! One little fighter from the Earth Colonies with no army and no alliances in the Sky!"