Chapter 8
When a knock sounded on the door to her makeshift cell, Frieda looked up from the book she sat reading. In the last few days, she hadn’t had many visitors and enjoyed the chance to relax and not have a million concerns about which to worry.
Her cell occupied a separate floor from where they had kept Abigail, and Frieda had no doubt that she had a larger room and more luxuries. And yet, it felt more confining. They hadn’t bothered to reinforce the window and had posted only one guard at the door.
Should that offend her or not? Abigail had two guards. Frieda liked to think of herself as dangerous, under the right circumstances. Or, at least, conniving. Before making any decisions, she planned things out carefully so that everything went smoothly. She didn’t like surprises.
Surprises like what had happened a few days ago.
Everything had spiraled out of control since she’d first let Abigail escape. Dominick had brought her before the Council to explain what had happened, and she’d told them, in the most uncertain terms as she could, that she’d freed Abigail because this was not how they were supposed to operate.
Naturally, they’d been furious. Immediately, Aram had demanded a trial for Frieda for letting a sentenced woman go free, and all of his cronies had jumped on board. Some had supported Frieda, of course, but even they appeared reluctant to stand by her with an open admission of guilt.
The thing was, Frieda felt sick of all of the manipulation and lies. She was done putting up with it, and the time had come to take a stand. The Council had become fragmented and corrupted in the last several years, divided against itself, and Frieda had grown tired of fighting shadow battles against her fellow members. Everything happening with Abigail had simply shone a light on how deep the corruption went, and shown her that she needed to take a stand.
Frieda set her book down and walked to the door. Jun Lee stood there. Not the Augmented Reality avatar of Jun Lee she’d grown used to seeing over the years, but the man himself.
He looked even more vibrant in person, though he carried a decorated hickory cane.
“Frieda,” he said, leaning on the cane and smiling. “It’s good to see the real you.”
“You as well,” she said. “It’s been what, twenty years?”
“Longer,” he said. “The last time I saw you in person, you were a little girl.”
Frieda laughed. “I haven’t been a little girl in a really long time.”
“Nor I a young man,” he said. “And yet, here we are.”
“Here you surely are,” she said. “Pulled some strings to come visit me while I’m locked up?”
She expected him to perhaps chuckle, or at least smile. Instead, he sobered up, and his expression became grim.
“I’m only the first to arrive.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Council is gathering. All of us.”
“Everyone?” Frieda asked. “That hasn’t happened in …”
She shook her head. She didn’t even know how long ago something like that had happened. Even hundreds of years ago, the Council was reluctant to bring everyone to the same location at the same time because of security.
“Not in my lifetime,” Jun said, just above a murmur.
“Should I feel flattered?”
“The Council has stripped you of your command of the Hunters. They plan to start the trial as soon as everyone arrives because of the security risks. Some have called for your removal from the Council.”
“They couldn’t do that.” Frieda shook her head. “My forefathers founded the Council.”
“Exactly why many of them don’t trust you,” Jun said. “They feel like you got handed your position and didn’t have to earn it. They want you out.
“Also, we’ve looked into the two dead Hunters. Their deaths have been added to your crimes.”
“What?” Frieda asked. “Aram did that.”
“The Hunters answer to you,” Jun said. “Aram is making a case that you acted unilaterally in sending them and are withholding things from the Council. It’s a compelling case.”
“But I didn’t do it,” she said. “He’s the one who betrayed us.”
“I know,” Jun said. “We have no real evidence that you had anything to do with it, but unfortunately, there isn’t evidence against him, either.”
Frieda sighed, rubbing her brow. She’d landed in the precise position Abigail had, though with higher stakes.
“Still, this needed to happen in person?”
“Any decision on this level must be made by all of us in person. We can’t take the risk of anyone outside hacking into our systems and being able to watch the events that take place. It’s too personal and important. We will remove all technology from the meetings.”
“It’s risky,” Frieda said.
Jun nodded. “Incredibly. I voted against it, even for something so important as this, but I lost, and so the trial will take place soon. Aram feels confident that we will all be protected.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Many got hired just this morning, with more being sought in the coming weeks. They erected an electric fence and have regular patrols. We should be safe.”
“It’s still an ignorant decision,” Frieda said.
“Yes,” Jun said.
“I guess our goal isn’t to hide anymore,” Frieda said. “Aram is turning this place into a fortress.”
“Indeed,” Jun said. “Impractical and quite expensive. With operating costs this high, however, it won’t be long before the trial commences. Everyone is preparing their travel plans now, and we will vote within a month.”
“How will they vote?”
“Things will work out in your favor,” Jun said. “People have had time to think about it, and sentencing Abigail to death was a poor decision. Aram will seek to have you stripped of your command, but not from the Council. It’ll be an easy feat, considering all the evidence against you.”
“You hope,” Frieda said.
Jun stood in silence for a long moment. “Yes,” he said. “I hope. Execution for treason is on the table.”
Frieda sighed. “What else did you find out about Jim and Michael? Do we know who killed them or why?”
“No,” Jun said. “No one has taken responsibility. We have people looking into it, but it isn’t encouraging. A Hunter’s life is a risky life. We ask much of them.”
Frieda shook her head. “Not in this case. They went somewhere without approval and weren’t even on assignment. I don’t know who sent them, but they didn’t act under my orders.”
Jun scratched his chin. “You’re certain that Aram sent them?”
“As certain as I can be,” Frieda said. “This past year, he’s acted erratically. If he has betrayed us, we need to find out why. A lot of things have gone on that the Council hasn’t received notification about. Something strange is going on, and we need to get a handle on it before it gets out of hand.”
Jun nodded. “I agree. As soon as the trial is sorted out, I will assist you in investigating this issue.”
“Thank you, Jun.”
“We’ll sort this out, Frieda,” Jun said. “I shall return to discuss things with you in preparation for the trial.”
Jun stood and gave her a hug, and then headed out into the hall. Frieda sat alone in her room once more, trying to figure out her best move.
From in here, she wouldn’t be able to investigate Aram. She had limited communication with her assistant, and Martha could only do certain things while Frieda remained locked up anyway.
No, she would need to be patient and let things run their course. Aram would strip her of her command, which would give him control of the Hunters. Frieda felt confident, however, that once they set her free, she would manage to find all the evidence she needed to bring him down.
It had gone past the time that they should begin reorganizing the Council and remove some of the most egregious blemishes. Frieda sat on the bed and picked up her book, hoping to distract herself. Not being in control felt so difficult.
Had Abigail gotten away? Had she found the house? Though a difficult decision for Frieda, Abigail should learn the truth about Arthur and herself now. Tough times drew near for the young woman, and Frieda didn’t envy her position.
