Becka squared her shoulders and walked right up to him, bracing for a showdown. Knowing Quinn and Brent were behind her helped her confidence, which was shaken after yesterday’s repeat poisoning.
Well, she was mostly ready. If she had to remain standing much longer, Becka might have to lean on the wall to pull it off.
“Sister Becka!” he exclaimed. “I assumed you would still be recuperating in the infirmary.” He shook his head, looking her up and down. “You appear a tad pale. How are you faring?”
“I’m pushing through,” she replied, unable to keep the sharp edge out of her voice. Calder remained a prime suspect in her poisonings, although only because of the potential motive of jealousy over her return to status as the heir. “And still alive, despite certain efforts to the contrary.”
“I’m grateful to hear you’re recovering, again.” He offered her his arm, his expression a mixture of anger and concern. “May I assist you to your chair?”
It took Becka a moment to process his statement, long enough that he raised a brow, and damn if he wasn’t about to repeat the question for her.
“Uh, sure. Thanks?” She threaded her arm through his, leaning into him. “I’m surprised to hear you upset. I haven’t exactly been on your list of favorite people.”
He paused for a moment. “Whoever harms you also attacks House Rowan.”
Becka barked out a short, hoarse laugh. “I didn’t think you liked me. At all.”
A slight smile curved his lips, and he blew out a breath before answering. “Pardon, but I can’t say as I do. Your years living outside of these walls have changed you, not necessarily for the better. But you are family. What kind of monster would I be to not accept you, or at the very least, have your back, despite your flaws?”
He appeared genuinely concerned for her safety. Perhaps she’d been too quick to name Calder as a suspect? Either his show of concern was a very good act designed to put her off the scent, or he was innocent.
Becka sighed. Nope, she still didn’t trust him.
“Your candor is, as always, refreshing, Calder.”
They walked into the room, arm in arm. Everyone else was already there and there was a collective double-take of initial confusion, followed by smiles. Elder Eirian gave her an approving nod, most likely for powering through and showing up. Lady Wynne smiled; did she even like her, or was she just happy to see Calder and her getting along better? Lord Cedric’s astute gaze narrowed on Becka, and she raised a single brow.
Maura’s reaction was inscrutable to Becka, as she appeared to have no reaction, while Astrid raised her chin and gave a single nod of encouragement.
When Quinn and Brent followed her into the room, the collective gazes turned sour and conversations were brought to a halt.
“Unannounced visitors is not our standard protocol, Becka,” Duchess Maura said, greeting the newcomers to her council chambers with an imperious frown. “This chamber is for council members and their invited guests only.”
Becka grabbed a nearby seat, not waiting for anyone else to join her. Although she was determined to make a show of strength, wise energy conservation was key to today’s plan.
“Lucky for them, I invited Enforcer Quinn of House Oak and Brent Douglas of the Sawatch Enclave to join me. I understand it may be unusual to have them present, but I feel like we need to address roadblocks in the investigation.”
Maura’s pique appeared to fade as she graced Becka with a rare nod of approval. “As you say. I agree we need the investigation to produce results, especially after repeated attempts on your life. It’s unfortunate it has drawn out this long.” Maura took her usual seat and then motioned for the rest of the council to sit, which they did one by one. Brent and Quinn, not having been offered seats, remained standing.
Once the council members settled in, Becka cleared her throat. “Enforcer Quinn, what’s holding up your investigation?”
Quinn cocked his head at her. “To put it bluntly, I have not been allowed to question members of or visitors to the household.”
“That seems like a simple request,” Becka replied. “Council, Mother, may the enforcer directly question members of the household?”
“No,” Maura replied. “Thus why I constrained his actions. Quinn’s unique ability to discern falsehoods could be used for purposes not related to the hunt for the poisoner. I do not trust the enforcer to remain on topic and fear he will use this moment of weakness to broaden his scope.” She uncharacteristically thrummed her fingers on the table. “I also do not wish House Rowan to be the subject of an investigation that draws progressively more fish into its net.”
“I’m in agreement with Maura,” Astrid replied, wrinkling her nose in Brent’s direction. “You know fae dislike the intrusiveness of your races… scans.”
“It’s not scanning,” Brent bit back. “Your emotions naturally permeate the surrounding air. We can’t avoid picking up hints of what you’re feeling, just as you can’t avoid emitting those scents. And we can’t read thoughts or catch lies.”
Becka did a slow double-blink, Brent’s words shaking something loose in her mind. “Reading emotions is the nature of being a wolf. It’s as natural as breathing to them, or magic to the rest of you.”
Brent inclined his head to her. “Just so.”
Astrid waved a hand in the air, as if she could wave away their rebuttal. “It’s invasive. Vott may not mind it, but I don’t have to like it.”
Becka shook her head, holding up a hand to stall the discussion. She had to find a middle ground between these two. “Quinn. Brent. Can you offer a compromise? Perhaps something with… oversight?”
Quinn took a deep breath. “I would like Duchess Maura’s permission to bring in two additional assets.”
“Go on,” Maura replied.
“I know this is a big request to House Rowan, but with two more enforcers on site we can interview every person in the household. The interviews can be done with a council member present to ensure no irrelevant questions are asked. I wouldn’t even need to be a part of the interviews.”
Maura’s jaw clenched so hard Becka swore she heard a tooth crack. “Why not just utilize our fae guards?”
“We can’t use your household guards, as there is the outside risk they’re compromised by Shadow-Dwellers.”
“But I thought the Shadow-Dwellers were not implicated in the poisoning?” Maura replied.
“That is correct, but we know the Shadow-Dwellers are a long-term threat to Becka. The potential for them to infiltrate your household and guards remains,” Quinn explained.
Maura frowned and crossed her arms, unmoved by his argument.
Quinn shifted his weight between his feet and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “I give you my personal guarantee that my enforcers will focus solely on the hunt for the poisoner.”
Becka had heard enough talk within the council chamber to understand Maura likely feared Quinn or his associates would report House Rowan’s anti-human sentiments to the government. But right now, Becka needed Maura to trust Quinn.
“Enforcer Quinn has my implicit trust. If he vouches for his team, that’s enough for me,” Becka said.