Light Within

PART THREE - Chapter 18: Where Duncan is Thrown Out

Cobalt stops and stares at the wall. He stretches out a hand to brush the dragon, fingers curving into hooks as though he aims to gouge out the stones. He clenches the wall, and with a tight jaw he says, "Look at you. Despicable creature." His wrinkled hand trembles. "This is utterly ridiculous. The other Councilors should see it. I, for one, voted to wholeheartedly give you Dark Within. But I was overruled by the other two, and the prophet." His steel gaze slices Duncan's skin. "Your sins should require lifetimes of penance. If I were in charge, I would have cast you into the eternal flames of hell long ago. Unfaithful wretch." His nails scrape the wall. He drops his hand and continues guiding Duncan down the hall.

Duncan steps into a multi-level chapel spread with scarlet carpet. His parents huddle against one another as they sit on a pew. The moisture in his mother's eyes stirs his suppressed emotions, and tears rush down his face. He runs the rest of the distance and throws himself in her arms, burying his face in her plush sweater. Static crackles across the threads—don't let the lightning out!

His father stands. "Well?"

"We will not be giving him the punishment of Dark Within," Cobalt says.

A whooshing breath flees his mother's lungs, and her relief transfers to him, melting into his panicked bones like a soothing balm. Duncan clutches her arms while she rubs his back. The frantic electricity in his veins slows.

"However—"

And then she tenses again. However. He isn't done.

"The Council has strict guidelines for his development," Cobalt says. "He is to be put through the priesthood with rigor."

"He's already in the priesthood," Father says.

"Greater rigor." Cobalt clears his throat. "It should be your sole focus. Nothing is more important than keeping him in the fold of Gale. He must remain on the righteous path, no matter the cost. His sins in the Life Before, you understand, are severely egregious. He can never be saved without atoning for them."

"We understand," Mother says. "We'll increase his studies."

Cobalt says, "When he comes of age eighteen, then we will request for him to be transferred to the cities."

"What?!" Mother's grip tightens. "You want him here in Marche?!"

"It doesn't have to be Marche," Cobalt says. "The Council wants to keep an eye on him. He can live here in Marche, in Iavore, in Precipyre, or in my Altyra City. Anywhere that a Councilor can keep an eye on him."

Duncan continues to hide his face in Mother's sweater. Live in Marche? With all the noise, all the clatter, all the clamor? Cars honking, people walking, shouting, talking—beep beep! Screeeech! Hey, get out of the way! Watch it! Shop doors jingling, radios blaring, extra, extra, read all about it! He clamps his hands over his ears. Boom, boom, boom goes the storm in his lungs.

"We got it," Father says. "Are we done here?"

Cobalt gives a silent affirmation that Duncan can't see. Another Light Within enters the chapel and whispers, "Councilor Cobalt, I have a message about Hazel Shepherd ..."

Mother's weight shifts underneath Duncan, and then she's tugging his hand toward those loud streets. Thump thump thumpthumpthump go all the feet around him. Vrrrroooom! Automobiles shriek, whir, and rumble, rattling his bones to the core. He keeps his eyes locked on the ground and rips his hand from his mother's, clasping his ears.

"Duncan!" Father yanks him into a taxicab that appears by the curb. He's sandwiched between his parents in the back seat, buried between their shoulders.