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Chapter Forty-four

Izzy met with the Inner Circle that afternoon, in an emergency meeting called by Elder Bilius. All the elders were present. All, that is, except Zephron.
“The High Elder does not have time for these administrative details,” Elder Trystan said in response to Izzy’s query.
She nodded, duly chastised. “You wanted to see me?”
“The treaty negotiations have been pushed forward to tomorrow morning,” Bilius said. “The mortals are anxious, particularly after the school bus incident. Their ambassadors want to use that incident as a rallying cry to gain mortal support for the treaty.”
“I see,” Izzy said, though she didn’t see what that had to do with her.
“Obviously, we will also be pushing up the schedule for Hieronymous’s re-assimilation,” Armistand added.
“Oh.” Now she understood. “Yes, er, well...”
“You do have a positive opinion at this point, do you not?” That came from Bilius, along with a significant scent of hope. She frowned, once again remembering how he’d come a full 180 degrees from his original point of view.
“Well, child?” Dionys said. “We would like your recommendation. ”
“You can file the formal papers later, of course,” Trystan added.
Izzy swallowed. The elders hadn’t moved, but it seemed as though they were surrounding her, a tight circle moving closer and closer. She thought about Mordi’s doubts and about Bilius’s previous distaste for Hieronymous. She remembered the odd metallic smell she’d scented earlier on Patel... then remembered smelling the same scent on Hieronymous himself. Did that mean something?
And then, again, she thought about Mordi. He might not trust her, but she was beginning to wonder if she’d made a mistake by not trusting him. Hadn’t he known his father better than anyone else? Wasn’t this re-assimilation coming along a little too easily?
She couldn’t know for sure, and that’s what finally fueled her answer. “My recommendation is for further testing,” she said. “It would be imprudent to admit Hieronymus to the Council at this point. He hasn’t completed the tests, and politics should not be the deciding factor.”
The elders looked at each other, then Bilius said, “Thank you, child. We shall certainly give your recommendation the utmost weight.” He smiled, then, and though she tried to read his emotions, she couldn’t. All she could pick up on was a keen desire for Hieronymous’s return. The elder waved dismissively. “That will be all.”

Chapter Forty-four

Izzy met with the Inner Circle that afternoon, in an emergency meeting called by Elder Bilius. All the elders were present. All, that is, except Zephron.
“The High Elder does not have time for these administrative details,” Elder Trystan said in response to Izzy’s query.
She nodded, duly chastised. “You wanted to see me?”
“The treaty negotiations have been pushed forward to tomorrow morning,” Bilius said. “The mortals are anxious, particularly after the school bus incident. Their ambassadors want to use that incident as a rallying cry to gain mortal support for the treaty.”
“I see,” Izzy said, though she didn’t see what that had to do with her.
“Obviously, we will also be pushing up the schedule for Hieronymous’s re-assimilation,” Armistand added.
“Oh.” Now she understood. “Yes, er, well...”
“You do have a positive opinion at this point, do you not?” That came from Bilius, along with a significant scent of hope. She frowned, once again remembering how he’d come a full 180 degrees from his original point of view.
“Well, child?” Dionys said. “We would like your recommendation. ”
“You can file the formal papers later, of course,” Trystan added.
Izzy swallowed. The elders hadn’t moved, but it seemed as though they were surrounding her, a tight circle moving closer and closer. She thought about Mordi’s doubts and about Bilius’s previous distaste for Hieronymous. She remembered the odd metallic smell she’d scented earlier on Patel... then remembered smelling the same scent on Hieronymous himself. Did that mean something?
And then, again, she thought about Mordi. He might not trust her, but she was beginning to wonder if she’d made a mistake by not trusting him. Hadn’t he known his father better than anyone else? Wasn’t this re-assimilation coming along a little too easily?
She couldn’t know for sure, and that’s what finally fueled her answer. “My recommendation is for further testing,” she said. “It would be imprudent to admit Hieronymus to the Council at this point. He hasn’t completed the tests, and politics should not be the deciding factor.”
The elders looked at each other, then Bilius said, “Thank you, child. We shall certainly give your recommendation the utmost weight.” He smiled, then, and though she tried to read his emotions, she couldn’t. All she could pick up on was a keen desire for Hieronymous’s return. The elder waved dismissively. “That will be all.”