Page 91 of Guardian

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All members of the Council of Nine were assembled, seven men and two women including Virginia, when Winter entered the chamber accompanied by Logan. Virginia had gone ahead and informed the council in broad strokes about what had happened after Logan had escaped the lead cell at the council compound. Aiden had joined her to directly appeal to his father for leniency, given that Winter’s and Logan’s actions had saved Barclay’s family from certain death.

Now they were finally ready to hear Winter and Logan speak in their own defense, and decide their fate.

Winter didn’t let her gaze linger too long on any individual council member, feeling intimidated in their presence. Instead she looked forward, fixing her eyes on the gavel in Barclay’s hand. Logan had instructed her beforehand only to speak to the council once spoken to and show the utmost respect.

“Well, Logan,” Barclay started, “it seems we all underestimated you.”

Winter took a breath of relief. This sounded like good news.

“Not only did you act against the council’s orders and subsequently lose your charge to the demons, no, you were also reckless enough to let your friends from Scanguards blow up one of our portals with you inside. Have you completely lost your mind? What if it had killed you instead of sending you into Zoltan’s Underworld?”

“It worked, as you well know,” Logan said.

Barclay growled. “Yes, it worked. That doesn’t mean the council approves of your actions. What if you hadn’t been able to come back? Then not only would the demons have a psychic at their mercy, but also a Stealth Guardian warrior. Or did you not even consider this possibility before making such a foolhardy choice?”

Several councilmembers grumbled in agreement with their leader.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Logan said. “However, I didn’t go into this without a plan. I knew it would work, and I knew how to escape the Underworld. With Winter. I’d planned for every eventuality.”

Winter dropped her lids, not wanting to catch anybody’s eye, so they wouldn’t see the doubt in them, because even she had wondered whether they’d make it out of the Underworld. She doubted that escaping a torture chamber by bridging a bubbling lava pit had been part of Logan’s plan. There’d been plenty of improvising involved in her rescue.

“Then maybe you also planned for the psychic to be captured by the demons after you rescued Aiden and his family?” another councilmember chimed in, his words dripping with sarcasm.

“Since you mention the successful rescue of Aiden and his family, Councilmember Ian,” Logan pivoted like a skillful politician, “that rescue would not have been possible without the help of said psychic.” He motioned to Winter. “Winter saw the attack in her vision and—”

“Yes, yes, we’re already aware of this,” Ian said impatiently, “but what I’m trying to point out is that a psychic under your protection was snatched by the demons. It’s the very reason the majority of this council voted to eliminate her.”

At that Winter shivered. She hated that word. It sounded so clinical, yet it was cruel.

“With all due respect, councilmember,” Logan said, his voice sounding even tighter, “Winter has proven to all of you that she can be of use to us. That her visions can save lives.”

“Nobody is disputing that fact,” Barclay calmly interjected.

Winter lifted her eyes and looked at Barclay, who sat in the middle of the crescent-shaped table. He did his best to look impartial, but she knew from Aiden that he was on her side. He was willing to let her live. But five others on the council weren’t.

“Maybe it’s time to let Winter speak for herself,” Barclay said kindly.

A few councilmembers uttered their displeasure, but Barclay made a motion with his hand. “Any questions for the psychic?”

A woman raised her hand.

“Riona, go ahead.”

The woman looked straight at her, and Winter had to meet her gaze in order not to appear rude. “When you were captured, what secrets did you divulge to the demons?”

“None!” Winter said immediately.

Riona raised her eyebrows. “Come, come, Miss Collins, according to the reports we received, you were a prisoner for over six hours, and you expect us to believe that in that time the demons weren’t able to influence you in any way, be it by using their mental powers or by means of physical torture?” She let out a laugh. “I wasn’t born yesterday, neither were my colleagues.”

Winter felt her shoulders stiffen. This woman wouldn’t be easily convinced. “Zoltan tried it with charm at first. He told me that your race isn’t any better than his. That you kill just as indiscriminately as he does.”

Gasps went through the assembly.

“His words, not mine,” she said quickly. “But his charm didn’t work on me. I wasn’t fooled by his propaganda. So he tried to get into my mind.”

“So you gave him information,” Riona coaxed, and exchanged glances with her colleagues.