Chapter 78: A good thing or a bad thing

The council hall smelled faintly of polished cedar and burning sage. Moon light streamed through the windows, softening the edges of the stone pillars. The elders sat in their familiar places, forming a circle around the long table.

At the head sat Orion, broad-shouldered and composed, his fingers drumming lightly against the carved oak. To his immediate right sat Ronan, his second-in-command, his dark hair falling over one brow as he twirled a silver ring between his fingers. The rest of the elders spread outward in their usual order, Lysander with his steady gaze; Caspian, the oldest, wrapped in a heavy cloak; Mary, composed and attentive, Daniel, missing one hand but never his irreverence; and Tobias, whose jaw was always set a little too tight during these meetings and his uninterested gaze.

"The festival details are done," Orion said at last, his deep voice carrying easily across the vaulted chamber. "Every necessary thing has been put in order. Unless there are objections?"

Only murmurs of agreement answered him.

"Good." Orion exhaled once, but the restless tap of his fingers remained. "Then let’s move to why we’re really here."

The shift in the room was immediate. Caspian lifted his brows. Lysander’s pen stilled. Ronan straightened slightly in his seat, eyes sharp. He knew there was more to why Orion had called them but he was also lost...okay, that wasn’t true. He had ideas about what some of the things to be talked about were.

"This," Orion said, glancing around the table, "concerns Sophia."

That name rippled through the council like a thrown stone. Tobias’s eyes flicked up suddenly interested. Caspian tilted his head, curiosity in his eyes while Daniel gave a low whistle.

"I knew it," Daniel said, leaning back with a grin. "You’ve been spending too much time with the girl."

Orion frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Aren’t you here to tell us how you are going to marry her?" Daniel asked with a frown, his brows etched in confusion.

Ronan snorted without looking at him. "Don’t start, old man."

Orion shook his head as he sighed tiredly. He wasn’t ready to address that matter yet.

"Last night, Eldric brought something to my attention," he said, letting the pause stretch until they were all watching him. "Sophia can read what’s written on the altar in the shrine."

There was a pause as they all absorbed what Orion just said.

"What?" Tobias asked finally.

"She read a scroll recovered from the shrine," Orion said. "Eldric copied a bit of it and she was able to translate it."

Caspian’s brows drew together. "Are you certain?" His voice was hoarse, like stone scraping stone. "That language is supposed to be a lost language. We couldn’t find anything to help us translate it at all. Not even the best scholars we have were able to translate the language."

"I’m certain," Orion said simply. "Eldric confirmed it before he left my home that night."

Daniel barked out incredulous laughter, shattering the tension. "What are you two smoking these days? Same thing Ronan’s on?’

Ronan released a snort. He raised his hand slowly, middle finger extended toward his father. "Classy as ever, old man."

"This isn’t a lie nor a joke. She read it. She could understand the language." Orion told them.

Mary pressed her lips together, confusion visible on her face. Lysander’s expression didn’t change because he already had this knowledge. Orion and Sophia had been in his home early in the morning due to her shifting issues.

"Earlier this morning, Eldric and Sophia went to the shrine. I don’t yet know what they found though." Orion told them because Eldric had failed to report to him on their findings and the man in question wasn’t even here right now.

"Where is Eldric when you need him?" Daniel muttered with a shake of his head.

"But you had a game with her just this evening right?" Caspian asked him.

Orion frowned but wasn’t surprised at all that the man knew about the game with Sophia.

"I did."

"And she didn’t tell you about her findings?" Caspian asked him.

Orion had been a bit occupied with the game that he failed to ask. But he didn’t admit that out loud.

"No, but she did ask me what I knew about the moon goddess." He told them.

"Oh no." Daniel muttered with a groan that everyone shared.

"What do you mean by that?" Orion asked them slightly offended at their reactions.

"You are the last person anyone should ask about the moon goddess." Tobias told him.

"But I am curious though, what did you tell her?" Ronan asked him.

Orion shrugged. " She got the usual from me. It’s not like I believe in the moon goddess or anything."

Several elders exchanged looks, and even Mary exhaled in exasperation. They all knew how Orion answered questions about the Moon Goddess.

For a moment no one spoke. The only sound was the faint crackle of the torches in the hall.

Then Mary leaned forward, her fingers clasped. "Orion...we need to know, is Sophia’s ability to translate this language a good thing or not?"

The question hung heavy in the air. Everyone held their breath because they were scared about what the answer will be.

Orion’s gaze swept over the table, Ronan was watching him like a hawk; Lysander’s expression was unreadable; Caspian appeared grave; Daniel had a frown on his face just like Tobias Tobias; Mary was waiting eagerly for an answer while Madam Tyler was quiet and observant.

Orion had no idea why the woman was quiet. She was extremely quiet which was unlike her. Normally, she would have reprimanded Orion for not believing in the moon goddess but she said nothing now. He decided to address the others first and made the decision to ask her what was wrong after the meeting.

"I don’t know yet," he said finally.

"What if she is the Luna though?" Madam Tyler asked them.