Page 244 of Elemental Becoming

The implication crashes into me, and I begin to understand the true scale of what we’re facing. The enemy is so much bigger than I thought.

This isn’t a war years in the making—it’s been centuries in the making.

“How do they find members?” I ask.

A look passes between the councilors.

“That,” Garrick says, “is one of the few things we know with some certainty. We’ve captured Shadowed Hand operatives before. Not many. Fewer still willing to speak. But over the centuries, certain patterns have emerged.”

“What kind of patterns?”

“They rarely recruit the content,” Master Orlon says quietly. “They seek out the overlooked. The resentful. The ambitious. Those who believe the realm has failed them.”

“People who feel powerless,” Sienna adds. “People burdened by debt. Grief. Anger. Jealousy. They offer solutions where others offer patience.”

“Or justice where none exists,” Edric says.

I lower my head into my hands. The weight of everything I’ve learned presses down on me, each revelation stacking atop the last until it feels impossible to draw a full breath. For a fleeting moment, I understand why people choose ignorance. It would be easier.

Thane’s hand leaves my leg and settles against the small of my back. His thumb moves in slow circles, grounding me.

Seeing my distress, he straightens. “Why don’t we take a short break and reconvene in twenty minutes?”

Chairs scrape against the floor. Several councilors murmur their agreement. I immediately lift my head.

“No.” My voice comes out stronger than I expect. “Please. I’m fine.”

A lie. Or at least not the whole truth.

“It’s a lot,” I admit. “But I need to know.”

The room stills.

Thane studies me for a moment before giving a single nod. The concern in his expression doesn’t lessen.

“Justice?” I ask.

His expression hardens.

“Not everyone who joins them begins as a villain, Amara. Some are victims. Some have legitimate grievances. Corrupt officials. Noble abuses. Broken promises.” He pauses. “The Shadowed Hand finds those wounds and convinces people that the only way to heal them is through loyalty.”

“They’re patient,” Orlon says. “A potential recruit may be observed for months. Years, in some cases. Relationships are built. Trust is earned. By the time the offer is made, many believe they’re joining a cause rather than an organization.”

“And what cause is that?” I ask.

Sienna’s expression darkens. “That the realm is broken.”

My heart sinks.

“They believe the clans are weak and should never have united. That the council is corrupt and peace has failed.” She folds her hands atop the table. “Every recruit hears a slightly different version. But the message remains the same.”

Edric lets out a humorless laugh. “They don’t recruit followers, Spiritborn.”

His gaze meets mine.

“They recruit believers.”

“And once someone joins?” I ask.