Presuming there were a sufficient number of people he could trust, that is.
I changed the subject just a bit. “I’m not sure the next thing we need to look into is even in the tower. Assuming you’re still trying to track down Orden’s operation, our best lead is Elora Theas.”
Derek winced when I said the name. Derek and Elora had been romantically involved, and they’d had a falling out after he discovered what she was up to.
So, I wasn’t surprised that Derek looked decidedly unhappy when he replied. “You’re not wrong. There were other members of the group that went with her and Vera, but I believe they’re either still in the tower or in hiding elsewhere. Perhaps working on the artificial attunements that Orden described.”
“Do you know why Elora isn’t with them?”
He glanced away from me. “Yeah. She came to me for help. She knew they’d gotten into danger after they kidnapped Tenjin and they needed more allies. She… expected me to agree to help her. I threw her out of my house.”
Awkward.
I’d done worse to Jin in a similar situation, though, so I could sympathize. “You did the right thing. Do you think she’s still trying to gather more support?”
Derek nodded. “Definitely. She’s charismatic, and House Theas has powerful friends everywhere — even outside of this continent, if rumors are to be believed. I suspect she’s been gathering people and sending them to wherever Orden had been holding the kidnapped visage.”
“And you don’t have any idea where that place is?”
He shook his head. “I’ve tried following her directly, but I don’t think she’s actually been going to that location. I think she’s just giving information to people, then they’re probably meeting with other intermediaries to learn the rendezvous point. In truth, you were one of the people I was watching. I suspected that even if you weren’t directly involved, you might know something.”
I sighed, taking a drink of water before replying. “You might have been close to the mark, in truth.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you saying you were involved?”
I shook my head. “Not directly or intentionally. But,” I tensed, then steeled myself to continue, “Katashi mentioned that my brother was involved.”
Derek didn’t look even slightly surprised. “Right. That’s why I was investigating you.”
I blinked. “You knew?”
Derek shrugged. “Sure. When Elora first tried to get me involved, she told me that Tristan was one of the people leading the operation. Tristan, Elora, and I were friends in school, before we’d earned our attunements. She thought that telling me he was involved would help convince me.”
“And it didn’t?”
“Quite the opposite, actually. I’d assumed Tristan was dead for years. And now he’s alive and engaging in clandestine operations involving kidnapping visages? That’s nothing if not suspicious.”
Derek paused, looking contemplative. “I considered agreeing to help just to learn more about what they were up to. It would have been the wise move, in truth. But Elora has always been able to see right through my attempts at guile. I think that would have led to a far worse confrontation.”
I turned my head down, staring blankly at my food. “I wish you’d have at least told me he was alive.”
“You didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Not until Katashi told me that Tristan was one of the kidnappers.”
Derek gave me an apologetic look. “Uh, sorry about that. As I said, I thought you might be working with him, or otherwise aware of his movements.”
It was a logical assumption.
Trust within a family sounded so reasonable on the surface.
I set my jaw and tried to regain my focus on the conversation. “All right. I don’t blame you. For the moment, let’s focus on moving forward. If you’ve already turned Elora down, and she’s looking for allies, do you think I could convince her to let me in on her plans?”
He raised a hand to his chin, seeming to consider that. “Doubtful. Your connection to Tristan would be a good opening, but she has ways to determine if someone is telling the truth. Beyond that, Orden probably has been keeping her apprised of the situation, including your role. It would probably just get you captured.”
“Okay. What about one of the others, then? Would Orden have told her about Patrick or Marissa?”
“Maybe not, but they’re not significant enough for Elora to pay attention.”
Marissa turned toward us, looking a little hurt. “…Are we really that unimportant?”
I hadn’t realized she’d even been listening.
Derek waved a placating hand at her. “Not that you’re not amazing, Marissa. I’m just saying she’d probably only be interested in someone with a great deal of power — magically or politically.”
Marissa frowned. “I s’pose that’s how most nobles think, ain’t it?”
Derek gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry, sorry.” He turned back to me. “Anyway, I don’t know if we have anyone who would be able to infiltrate her operation.”
I considered that. “Keras? He’s obviously powerful.”
Derek shook his head again. “Definitely not a good idea. I doubt she’d work with him, and if she did, I’d be worried that she’d convince him to stay on their side.”
I got the implication and felt mildly offended on Keras’ behalf. He didn’t seem to be the type to be easily tricked into changing his allegiances. But, then again, I didn’t really know Keras. And Derek was right about the possible risks. “Okay. Weird question, but do you know if my mother is connected with them?”
Derek frowned. “I was hoping you could tell me that. I know she’s on the Council of Lords with Elora, and that she tends to push for bolstering our military, but I don’t know if she’d agree with using artificial attuned for that purpose.”
Mother was something of a traditionalist, which made me think that she’d oppose making artificial attuned. But if the idea of gaining more military power for the country conflicted with her sense of traditionalism, I didn’t know which would win out. “I’ll see if I can contact her and find out if she’s involved.”
“Good. Just be discrete. I suppose I’ll see if I can talk some sense into Elora, but don’t get your hopes too high.”
I nodded absently, my mind already shifting into other topics. I’d figure out how to extract what Elora knew later. “Do you think I need to be worried about reprisals for taking action against Orden, or based on how much I know?”
“Yes, but I don’t think anyone will act immediately. I spoke to Lord Teft and Vice Chancellor Bennet while you were asleep and filled them in on the situation. We agreed that you and the others should continue attending your classes normally, but I’d advise you to continue to stay here at night.”
I folded my arms. “I wish you would have talked to me before discussing anything with Teft. He was clearly involved with Orden on…some level, if not with this plan.”
Derek chuckled. “I suppose his situation isn’t much different from mine, in a way. I don’t think Orden ever let him in on any of the details, though. Teft would never have approved of attacking Tenjin. He might not look like it, but he’s fiercely devoted to the goddess.”
Teft? Religious?
Huh. Wouldn’t have expected that.
I mean, virtually everyone worshipped the goddess to some degree, but I didn’t take Teft for the type to be particularly dedicated to anyone other than himself.
…That was kind of a mean line of thinking, though, and it wasn’t exactly fair. He’d pushed himself to near unconsciousness keeping us safe from Mizuchi, and in spite of his antics in class, he was extraordinarily careful to make certain his students were taking proper safety measures.